PERSONAL NEWS #52

Finally plunked my buttocks down in front of the home computer and set about composing my "personal news". I'm not sure who said the quote ... half the battle is in just getting started. So strap yourselves in for a nice, long babbling of words.

During the weekend of April 1st thru April 3rd I attended 2 1/2 days of basic training for "non-violence & peace". This spiritually enlightening and informative training is presented by "The Fellowship of Reconciliation".

http://www.forusa.org

Their motto being "for a world of peace, justice and nonviolence" and I highly recommend that others take the training. [Also joining me on this course were some of my fellow Dept of Peace folk.] During the course of 2 1/2 days I met and got to know some wonderful and deeply inspiring individuals. For me especially, I was deeply touched by vibes and aura of Susan and Evelyn. [Attendance: Mia, Kolya, Carol, Karen, Maria, Liz G, Tom, Cy, Susan, Evelyn, Donna, Wang-Feng, Heather, Janet, Kate, Liz and Jane] I've been doing more meditation since this training and find it very soothing. During the meditation I have the lights off in my apartment. The soft, scented glow of several candles gently illuminates the living room and the CHANT cd by Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos plays in the background. It all lends itself to calmness. One of the chant/songs we sang during the training goes like this........

Oh lord prepare me
To be a sanctuary
Pure and holy
Tried and true
And in Thanksgiving
I'll be a living
Sanctuary
For you

Lord teach your children
To stop their fighting
Start uniting
All as one
Let’s come together
Loving forever
Sanctuary
For you

On Tuesday, April 5th, I participated in the monthly National Dept of Peace conference call [9pm]. Matthew Albrecht was the moderator that evening and sadly Marianne Williamson couldn't join the call, as she was visiting her mother in hospital. Many people from all over the US joined in the call. It’s really exciting being part of these calls and even injecting occasional commentary. Some of the topics touched on were ... set up houseparties, suffragette Julia Ward Howe, reintroduction of the bill in September, set up "Peace Summit" in ones area, etc. Earlier that evening I had an appointment for massage therapy on my back, neck & pelvic area. This massage therapy is covered via my jobs insurance and one gets 12 visits per year. Only have to pay $20 per visit, which is great. The session only last 15 minutes and during the first 5 minutes it sure hurt like hell, but I felt fantastic afterwards.



On Wednesday, April 6th, I participated in the NYC Dept of Peace Strategy Committee conference call with Carol, Coco and Karen. We covered many topics on this call ... such as ... Mothers Day vigil, volunteers, education workshops, elevator pitch, mission statement and possibly organize a World Peace Day Summit in September.

Thursday, April 7th, was the monthly Kucinich 2008 Meetup and held at a new location in Manhattan. Ellen and I were in attendance for the meetup. Several days later we learned that two gents went to the "old" location for the meetup. Unfortunately, they encountered an incredibly unbalanced vicious individual who "used" to be involved with NYC Friends of Kucinich. I'll leave it at that, because any further talk about that person would just bring bad vibes into this blog. Think peace, joy, love and justice.

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Saturday, April 9th, turned out to be a beautiful sunny spring day. It was a gorgeous day and warm enough so that I could wear my sandals. That evening I attended a meeting with National and NYC Dept of Peace members. Those in attendance were: Marianne, Dot, Matthew, Kevin, Carol, Liz, Karen, Ellen, Joe, Maria, Kelly, Marie, Cielito, Nick and I. An intense, productive and as well as a fun meeting which combined some tasty food from a health food place. We mostly discussed and worked on the DoP Citizenship Primer. To read up on the final version and pass it out to friends, family and co-workers ... go to:

http://www.nyc-dop.com OR http://www.ThePeaceAlliance.org

On Sunday, April 10th, I hung out for abit with Kevin [DoP member] at his work address and we gabbed about two of our fav bands [ie: U2 & Pearl Jam]. Later on I attended Marianne Williamsons lecture at Covenant House, as well as help out at our NYC DoP table. We did brisk business in selling of new "peace bracelets" by Marylou, plus buttons and t-shirts. Some quotes from Marianne during her lecture were:

1] Put out love, then love comes back to you
2] Media is a psychopathic institution
3] Authenticity demands truth
4] Ego doesn't want you to be firmly grounded in who you are
5] State of being is more important than state of doing
6] Honesty without compassion is brutality

It was another gorgeous spring day outside, such a blessing, and did lots of chores in the morning before heading out to seize the day.

Please stay tuned for more "personal news". . . . .

From "All Souls Peace" JOIN IN AN UPCOMING PEACE TASK FORCE EVENT Here In NYC

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 @ 12:45PM
IN THE WARE ROOM
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF ALL SOULS
(80TH & LEXINGTON)
"HOW DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVES CAN WIN: SOLUTIONS FROM GEORGE LAKOFF", FILM SCREENING (film released Sep. 9, 2004; running time 25 minutes)

FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION MODERATED BY PAUL BENNETT, FORMER CHAIR OF THE PEACE TASK FORCE
Lakoff is a Professor of Linguistics at UC Berkeley and author of a number of books, including "Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate – The Essential Guide for Progressives"and "Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think". Language is a powerful tool. Conservatives use terms like "tax relief" and "war on terrorism" to get the public to think about issues their way. Lakoff explains how progressives can be just as effective, if not more so, how we can use language to effectively frame public debate in terms of our values, the traditional American values. By 'reframing' the debates that are polarizing our country, we can take America back.

ACTION ALERT FROM UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
Or call 212-868-5545

SUNDAY, MAY 1: END THE WAR! ABOLISH NUKES!
March and Rally Against the Iraq War & for Nuclear Disarmament Assemble
11AM, 1st Ave North of 50th Street
NYC March by the United Nations
Rally in Central Park

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE PEOPLE AT MOVEON.ORG -- WE AMERICANS NEED TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS -- TIME IS CRUCIAL AS THE REPRESSIVE REPUBLICAN REGIME AIMS TO TAKE OVER AND DESTROY ALL IN AMERICA [Please read, become involved and share with others. Peace & Solidarity]

In the next 9 to 10 days the Republican leadership is planning to pull the trigger on their scheme to break the rules of the Senate, seize absolute power over judicial appointments, and stack the courts with extreme judges. Overnight, some of our most treasured rights, like the 40-hour work week, basic environmental protections, and the right to privacy, would be in danger. We must act. We can win this fight if we sound an unwavering note of protest on a national scale in the next two weeks--emboldening the Democrats to fight in Congress and ensuring that moderate Republicans know the American people are counting on them to hold the line.

We're kicking off the 9 to 10 day sprint with a drive towards 10,000 letters sent to the editors of at least 1,500 different newspapers nationwide. These letters are extremely powerful tools to shape the national debate and apply direct pressure on the Senate. Two weeks ago MoveOn members published thousands of letters in papers in all 50 states. Soon afterwards, three Republican senators came out against the nuclear option, including John McCain. If we get three more, we'll win. It just takes a few minutes to write and send a letter online--please write one today.

http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte_t.html?t=1&zip=11222<e_campaign_id=20&id=5369-2148547-FIrras.Gban542xuqFOAiw

The Republican scheme is known as the "nuclear option". It would break the Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster--the right to extend debate on controversial votes--that has protected minority rights for centuries. Once they "go nuclear," there will no check on who they can force into lifetime appointments on the federal courts, and the Supreme Court. Janice Rodgers Brown will most likely be the first judge the radical Republicans push through using the nuclear option--onto the D.C. Court of Appeals, a stepping stone to the Supreme Court. It's not hard to see why she is so important to them AND so dangerous for the American people. Judge Brown is against the most basic protections for workers and the environment that have kept our country strong since the Great Depression. She follows a radical judicial philosophy, (often called "Constitution in Exile") that says courts have a duty to block Congress from interfering with a corporation's "right" to profitably pollute, or an employer's "right" to demand unlimited hours at any wage from their employees. With judges like Brown flooding the bench, and as many as four Supreme Court vacancies coming in the next four years, bedrock laws from the Clean Water Act to the 40-hour work week could be struck down and eliminated forever. We can stop this, but we have to act now. Please send a letter today:

http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte_t.html?t=2&zip=11222<e_campaign_id=20&id=5369-2148547-FIrras.Gban542xuqFOAiw

After this letters-to-the-editor campaign, we'll send out signs you can put in your windows and give to your neighbors, then organize door-to-door canvasses in major cities to hand out more window signs and flyers. We'll run hard-hitting ads on television, in print, and on the radio. We'll flood target senators with constant phone calls and all manner of grassroots pressure. And we'll culminate next week with a day of coordinated national rallies in cities all over the country. Our big push began yesterday on our local editorial pages. The most powerful weapon we have against this assault is the power of our voices. Please take a few minutes to write your local paper about why extremist Republicans must not be allowed to break the rules and roll back decades of progress protecting poor and middle class families by forcing through judges like Janice Rodgers Brown.