Snooch to the Booch

Jay and Silent Bob, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Happy Halloween

Oops

Oops, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Snoogans

Snoogans, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

...

..., originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Preemptive Strike

Ok, for those of us who are political junkies, we are following this Plame thing. It is looking like Scooter Libby, VP Cheney's chief of staff, will get indicted today for making false statements to a grand jury.

For all of my Republican friends, don't start cryin that this is a partisan attack and that indicting on making false statements is just a way to make the Grand July not look like a waste of time.

All I have to say to that cry baby defense is remember that making false statements to a grand jury led to the impeacment of the President of the United States.

Do not say perjury is a technicallity. Remeber it is what lying about ones personal sex life that led to the impeachment of the POTUS.

Also, remember Clinton lied about having an affair (which is awful), but Libby and probably Rove are lying about commiting TREASON.

_______________________

Update Noon: Scotter was indicted on 5 counts: 2 perjury, 2 making false statements, 1 obsruction of justice

A Scary Video

Here is a link to a NASA time lapse photo of the Gulf of Mexico Region for this summer.

It is truly scary. Watch how hot the Gulf gets. Nothing but a power generator for hurricanes.

Why

Why, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Enough Said

13 Hours of Work by Mike Luckovich

Palestine

My friend Amy is in Palestine for the next 2 months.

I have added her blog of the trip my sidebar. She is there as part of The Christian Peacemaker Teams. Please remember her and her community memebers at Community of the Holy Trinity, as they miss her while she is gone.

First Thoughts...returns

It has been a while since I have posted first thoughts. No excues really, other than laziness. Well, here we go!

Readings for Sunday, Oct 9:

Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14

Well, after reading the Matthew passage I am reminded why I have not posted the last several weeks. These parables are hard. They, at first read, present the Jesus that is mean and judging. He is not the one I like. "`Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." Ouch. But, Tripp's sermon from last week helps me to look at these hard parables through a different lens. One of context. This parable comes right after the one from last week. Which comes right after Jesus clears the temple of the money changers. He is being punked out by the big wigs of the temple, and it doing what he does best...turning the tables and punking them out in return (pun intended). So, this parable continues that streak.

Jesus continued the conversation by speaking to them with Comparisons. "The God Movement is like a governor who gave a big dinner for his party chairman. He told his secretaries to invite the prominent dignitaries, but they refused to accept. So he told his secretaries to try again. 'Tell them,' he said: 'The banquet is all arranged for-the steer has been butchered and the hogs barbecued. Y’all come on to the dinner.' But they couldn’t have cared less. One left to go out to his farm; another went to his store, The rest of them taunted and insulted the secretaries. At that, the governor had a duck fit, and ordered the names of the scoundrels to be struck from the list of his friends. Then he said to his secretaries, 'Plans for the banquet are all made, but the people I invited aren’t fit to come. So go to the various precincts, and whoever you find there, invite them to the banquet.' Well, they went to the precincts and brought in everybody they could find, good and bad. The banquet hall was filled with guests, and the governor went in to greet them, There he saw a guy sitting at the table who looked and smelled like he had just come in from his farm. The governor said to him, 'Hey, buddy, how did you get in here, looking and smelling like that?' He just clammed up. Then the governor said to the waiters. 'Tie the bum up and throw him in the back alley.' Outside there’ll be yelling and screaming, for the big ones were invited but the little ones got in. (Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan)

It takes on a whole different perspective. God invites everyone, but judges those who like the people in the previous lessons who say they are his, but then continue to disregard his invitations and instructions. (Please note that the Governor is the one who says to kick out the disinvited guest...not the secretaires)

Meanwhile back in the desert our recently freed friends are beginnig to miss Moses. He has been up in the mountain for a while, and well, without him to remind the people that the LORD of their ancestors is the one true God they want something to worship. So they approach Aaron (I had never realized that before this reading), the 2nd in command, and he says to give him all of their gold, and he will melt it and make an idol for them. Now, I don't know if this was Aaron trying to be sneaky and punish them for forsaking God [ed. I realized I did not finish this thought...Is Aaron punishing them by getting rid of their gold?] or if he was just as bummed out. But, anyway he makes an idol, and their ruccus worshiping it interrupts the nice conversation God and Moses were having. God is ticked and says, "Get down there and tell them that because they are so pig-headed and keep forgetting that I am providing them with food everyday, I am going to get rid of them. Screw 'em. I will make you the father of a great nation."

Moses replies, "Woah there buddy. I know you are ticked and all, but just take a second here. What will the Egyptians say? Huh? 'Oh, look, their God freed the only to kill them. We could have done that.' Come on now, LORD, you can change your mind. It is ok. Remeber what you told Abe, Issac and Jake? You promised them and yourself that you would make a great nation from their decendandts. You want to be know as a liar?" With that the LORD changed his mind.

God can change God's mind? There are countless times through out the Hebrew Bible that God does that. I think this just furtheres the argument my by Jesus in the parable. You see when the governor invites people to the party, he and only he decides who can come and who can not. Is this not the Good News we are to witness? We are to be the secretaires and invite all to the table. It is up to them whethere or not they come, and if they do not come, do not worry about it becasue the Governor will have other parties. Maybe, by being thrown out of this particular party, the big wigs are brought to their knees and humbled and will come to the next party as the least of these?

So, as the secretaires going out and inviting others to the party, we should follow Paul's advise and do it with a rejoicing heart. Do it with gentleness and humility, for we are but servants of the LORD. For if we do these things the peace of God will be with us. Let us go invite with a song in our hearts:

Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Who can declare the mighty acts of the LORD *
or show forth all his praise?
Happy are those who act with justice *
and always do what is right!
Remember me, O LORD, with the favor you have for your people, *
and visit me with your saving help;
That I may see the prosperity of your elect
and be glad with the gladness of your people, *
that I may glory with your inheritance.
We have sinned as our forebears did; *
we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.
Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *
and worshiped a molten image;
And so they exchanged their Glory *
for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.
Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *
and fearful things at the Red Sea.
So he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, *
to turn away his wrath from consuming them.

Serenity

The Balad of Serenity (an mp3 link)
by Joss Whedon

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me...


I have never been a fan of Sci-Fi. I prefer stories about human follies and triumphs versus those of aliens and laser gun toting superheroes.

I love Firefly; a t.v. show that was canclled after only 1/2 a season. I love Serenity; the movie that opened this past weekend and is a follow up to the tv show.

I love a sci-fi movie and tv show. Why is this? Well, I think it is because both are about people. Not about laser guns or spaceships. They follow flawed, real people.

anyhoo...

SEE THE MOVIE...

this was a wast of time post, but heck...your are reading it anyway

Katrina Help

Click Here for the list of Agencies I have come up with.

Thanks
jt

In honor of 9/30/05

Serenity opens on Friday!!!

You scored as Shepherd Derrial Book. The Preacher. Out here, folks need a minister, if only to remind them that God hasn't forgotten them. It isn't about making them worship, it is teaching them to do right by themselves and other people. Why is that so hard for some to understand? Shepherd Derrial Book 88% Zoe Alleyne Washburne 81% Simon Tam 81% Capt. Mal Reynolds 75% The Operative 75% Hoban 'Wash' Washburne 75% Kaylee Frye 75% River Tam 56% Inara Serra 50% Jayne Cobb 19% Which Serenity character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Update

Here is the news from Baton Rouge as of 9/11

Yesterday, our entire team went to Plaquemine Civic Center. Our census is beginning to go down as we sent 20 people on a bus to Texas. It is so exciting to see these people pack up what little they have, clean up their areas, and line up for the bus. This shelter has been a safe haven for so many over the past couple of weeks, and as they move on, they face a life a uncertainty and new beginnings.

Our day was spent in ministry to this community. We played with the children, talked with the parents, and took care of medical needs. We have treated several wounds from the storm, but infectious disease has been kept at bay. We have been blessed with two wonderful doctors - Dr. Jack (from MN) and Doctor J (from NY). These two men came to help completely on their own, and will be staying at the center through the end of the week.

Today we will be going to Plaquemine for our last day. Our after school tutoring center opens this afternoon on the stage. Many volunteers have worked to clean, arrange, and stock the center with supplies for the children. Today, we are arranging volunteers to come in to tutor and read with these children. Some in our group will be going to other shelters much less fortunate that our run by churches. We have learned a lot about "bureaucracy" during this trip, and have seen firsthand, that not everyone has access to the same services. Continue to pray for all of these victims to get the help and support they need.

The Red Cross is now moving into the "transition phase" of caring for these people. Their lives are returning to whatever "normal" is going to be for them. Now that their immediate needs (food, housing, clothing, and medicine) have been met, it is time for them to transition into becoming self sufficient once again.

Most of the 9/7 group will be homeward bound for Northern Illinois this week. Donna, Sue, and Mary departed yesterday, as Donna hurt her leg. More groups are beginning to join our team, and we are now represented by volunteers from South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Virginia. We are not all working in the same areas, so we don't have as many updates about the other locations. We do know that a lot of tear down and rebuilding has been done, and that are workers have worked tirelessly to help this area. We have become our own "family" down here, and leaving will be difficult. Please pray for all of our team members for safe travel and emotional well being as we also begin to transition back to our "regular" lives.

A huge thank you for all of your donations, support, and prayers. A very special thank you to the Sunday School Classes of Trinity Lutheran Church for the wonderful home cooked (southern style of course) meal last night! Thanks Trinity! This church has taken on a monumental task of caring for the volunteers, as well as volunteering in the relief efforts themselves. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to serve in the days to come. Lynn

Did I miss something?

I have hear/read the phrase "Claptrap" more times in the last 2 weeks than I ever have the previouse 28 years.

Did I miss the new Britney song or something? Why has this prase/word (which is it, by the way? Can something be both a word and a phrase?) become so used in the last 2 weeks?

Help me...i am a lost soul

The Satruday Update

Here is Lynn's update for 9/10

September 10, 2005

Today took our team to various shelters in the area. The Plaquemine group has now been on site since Thursday, and the residents are calling us by name. Our first baby "arrived" at the shelter this afternoon. She was born the 7th by C-Section. We have a crib set up next to a hospital style bed for mom. The rest of the family is sleeping next to her on a mattress. Just imagine what this family is going through bringing their new bundle home - to a homeless shelter with 411 people! Please pray that the mother and baby remain healthy until they can find permanent housing.

Our three year old who they thought had leukemia - has severe mono! Who would have thought you could be thankful for mono? Infectious diseases are being kept at bay. Treating boils, wound care, and dispensing meds was the order for today. Our medical clinic has now moved into an emergency care center now that the basic needs have been met.

Tomorrow, most of our team is coming with us. There is a tremendous need to play with these children. They have nothing to do on the weekend, and are beginning to go stir crazy. Our "non medical" team is going to play with the kids, scrub floors, and spray down beds and living areas.

Today a group of mental health workers arrived to help. The local school is having a difficult time with not only the influx of children, but behaviors as well. These children are given tons of candy, and are not getting enough sleep. They are in new schools that may be different than what they are used to. I hope to meet with the Supt. of Schools tomorrow, and together with the mental health workers we are going to start some parenting sessions, and an after school homework club. I hope to get into the schools on Monday to see what else we can do to help. Imagine that - me working with school children! (For those of you who do not know me, I am the Director of Curriculum for CCSD #46).

Our Fort Wayne Seminarians arrived safely tonight, after their bus accident in Memphis. Another group has arrived from Northern Illinois and will be joining us tomorrow. Volunteers are scheduled here through the 23rd and more calls are coming in. It is amazing to see everyone working together to help those less fortunate than themselves!

God Bless them all!

If You Are Able

(NOTE: I am keeping this at the top of the page, scroll down for my normal updates.)

Donate to the Red Cross

Here are some other options:

ABC-USA Missions

Lutheran Church Charaties (From Cousin Rev. Andy)

ELCA Disaster Response

ECUSA Relief Fund

A comprehenisive list of other services is here at Daily Kos



Larry the ECC has specific pages let me know, and I will add it to this list.

News From The Front

I just got 2 emails from Rev. Andy, my cousins husband. My Cousin, Lynn is in Baton Rouge doing some relief work with Lutheran Charaties (photos and updates).

Here are 2 emails from here. One is from Thurs., Sept 8, and one is from this morning.

Thurday 9/8

Dear Andy,

Hi - Finally getting the last 6 people out into the field. Patience is the name of the game and change is the order of the day.

The hopitality is amazing - just had lunch with a displaced preK teacher whose husband is a synod worker - they have been evacuated since the Hurricane (to Houston) - their Lutheran School is closed and she was quite concerned about her students who she didn't know where her students were. She was allowed to come back to see her home today - but they have to be out by 6 pm. She was happy that they had not sustainged water damage. She had to clean out the rotting food from her refrigerator and people have been advised to bury their rotting food!

People are wandering the streets looking for food and clothing. We have a group on a work crew - a hospital group and a large group at the "Miracle Center" where the last of the evacuees are being brought. A local pastor runs the center. Next door to Trinity is a Baptist Church that the Red Cross is running a food distribution center. Thousands of meals are being served twice a day. I met the Baptist pastor helping with the distribution - and on top of all they are doing they are feeding our volunteers! Everyone is truly working together.

We have got things fairly well organized for our group for now. Changes are continuous based on the calls we receive to help. This church has been amazing! I visited the school at lunch time. They have received 63 new students this week. They have all received new uniforms, and look like they were fitting in well. The cutest little pre-schooler was having a major meltdown and when I asked if it was because of being displaced, I was told that she had been attending preschool the past three weeks here, and was having a difficult time adjusting to her new class size of 12 from a class of 22!

The guys unloaded the semi of medical supplies today at Covington-Slidell. Everywhere is in need of so many things.

Thanks for the prayers - please continue. I have never been so frightened as I was last night driving the last couple of hours into Baton Rouge. There is a mandatory curfew from 10 - 5, and no gas available after 10. We had 400 gallons of gas on the trailor, but stopping was risky because of our precious cargo. We had to stop and wait for a car that was running low, and we had to move three times so people did not realize what we had in our trailor. Finally made it in at 1:30 am and we were up and going at 5 today. We're on our way out to a hospital center now so will close for now. Hope to get a chance to update soon.

Love, Lynn

Friday Morning or Late Thursday night

Good Morning!

It's 11:00 and I'm about done for the night.

Our one medical team came back with incredible stories from the storm refugees. There is rampant pink eye, and various other diseases sprouting up. There is not enough medicine to meet the needs.

Part of our group is staying in a motor home in Covington. They are on a chain saw mission. They took our cook Ernesto along and are living in a motor home a parishioner donated. It sounds like that area was extremely hard hit. They are attempting to get other motor homes to make a camp for people to stay in. It is far from here so we won't see them until we get ready to leave. My driver, Scott is there so hopefully he'll decide to come back and pick me up.

I will be working at a shelter tomorrow from 7 - 7. The needs are tremendous and there is plenty of work to be done. At least we are doing what we came to do.

Went on a food run tonight. Stores were closed after 8. Finally, found an open WalMart. It was packed with people. Armed policeman at the door - and empty food isles!!! No milk or eggs. People had baskets full of food.
I assume these are people that have finally found housing and have had to start over. It took us over an hour to check out.

5:30 comes early. I'll call you tomorrow night. I love you. Lynn

Please pray for Lynn and everyone helping out.

Last Post for the Day

I just came across this diary at dailykos. It talks about a small miracle amdist the Hell in the Superdome. The story comes from the LA Times. Read the article for the Hell, but here is the miracle...i cried:

Suddenly, incongruously, the first notes of Bach's Sonata No. 1 in G minor," the Adagio, pierced the desperation.

Samuel Thompson, 34, is trying to make it as a professional violinist. He had grabbed his instrument — made in 1996 by a Boston woman — as he fled the youth hostel Sunday where he had been staying in New Orleans for the last two months.

"It's the most important thing I own," he said.

He had guarded it carefully and hadn't taken it out until Wednesday afternoon, when he was able to move from the Superdome into the New Orleans Arena, far safer accommodations. He rested the black case on a table next to a man with no legs in a wheelchair and a pile of trash and boxes, and gingerly popped open the two locks. He lifted the violin out of the red velvet encasement and held it to his neck.

Thompson closed his eyes and leaned into each stretch of the bow as he played mournfully. A woman eating crackers and sitting where a vendor typically sold pizza watched him intently. A National Guard soldier applauded quietly when the song ended, and Thompson nodded his head and began another piece, the Andante from Bach's Sonata in A minor.

Thompson's family in Charleston, S.C., has no idea where he is and whether he is alive. Thompson figures he is safe for now and will get in touch when he can. In the meantime he will play, and once in a while someone at the sports complex will manage a smile.

"These people have nothing," he said. "I have a violin. And I should play for them. They should have something."

A sense of beauty in the midst of Hell.

Good News

I just heard the G-Rod said that any child refugee can enroll in Illinois schools. They are considered homeless, and therefor do not need to meet residency requirements.

I have heard this going on in other states as well.

Psalm 40

The last couple of days during lunch I have made my way over to the chapel in Northwestern Hospital to pray. Today, I was angry, fustrated and in no mood.

Instead of starting right off and praying, I picked up the Bible that was in front of me and opened it up. I opened to Psalm 40:

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the desolate pit,*
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.

It is a Psalm of hope and promise. But what struck me and what I prayed on was verse 1.

Waiting patiently for the LORD. It is hard, but I pray for patience. I pray that the people of the Gulf have patience.

I keep praying on this.

Unreal

This quote (found on page 3) made my stomach almost wretch. This is from Homeland Security Cheif Michael Chertoff:

"The critical thing was to get people out of there before the disaster," he said on NBC's "Today" program. "Some people chose not to obey that order. That was a mistake on their part."

Mr. Chertoff, have you seen the photos of the people who stayed? No? Well, most of them are the poor, the elderly, the unemployed, the homeless, those who have no way to get out of town, those who have not the money to catch a bus out of town. How about instead of blaming them for their state of afairs, you look in the mirror. There were 36+ hour of warning for this storm. There could have been convoys prepared for those who could not get out on their own. They could have been plans in place to move people from the Superdome in case something like this happened.

Urf...sorry to keep posting this stuff, but if I do not get it off my chest I will be ill.

Honest Questions

Here is a link to a diary which is a snip of editorals from across the country.

Things are bad. Real bad.

Happier News

Chris Jones in today's Chicago Tribune has a great article about the beauty of Chicago theater.

Here is my favorite quote:

t's easy to think other cities must have something like this wonder. They don't. Most of them cannot hold the community together. And they don't have our tradition - of edgy comedy, of actors who look like actual people, of grit on the stage, of the sweat of self-revelation on the performer's brow. They don't have the Chicago actor's stubborn willingness to go on with the show for 10 people in the house. They don't have our capacity and love of probing the dark underbelly of the art and of life. They don't have the sheer fun of being able to pick from scores and scores of live shows to see each and every Saturday night. We think the Chicago theater scene is a wonder. Unique. And the very life-beat of Chicago itself.

Sorry, One More Thing

Bush said this morning, "Nobody anticpated the levees breaking."

Sorry Georgie, either you are uniformed or are lying.

Here is a link for you with a wonderful list of article, essays, and many other pieces, saying that BECAUSE YOU TRANSFERED MONEY TO IRAQ instead of keeping it HERE, they could not do necessary repairs...ass.

Before you think I am making politcs out of this...this goes beyond politcs into human decency.

Here is another great post with links about how uninformed or full of crap our leader is.

I was going to post a Rant

But then I came across this editorial in the New York Times:

September 1, 2005
Waiting for a Leader

George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end.

We will, of course, endure, and the city of New Orleans must come back. But looking at the pictures on television yesterday of a place abandoned to the forces of flood, fire and looting, it was hard not to wonder exactly how that is going to come to pass. Right now, hundreds of thousands of American refugees need our national concern and care. Thousands of people still need to be rescued from imminent peril. Public health threats must be controlled in New Orleans and throughout southern Mississippi. Drivers must be given confidence that gasoline will be available, and profiteering must be brought under control at a moment when television has been showing long lines at some pumps and spot prices approaching $4 a gallon have been reported.

Sacrifices may be necessary to make sure that all these things happen in an orderly, efficient way. But this administration has never been one to counsel sacrifice. And nothing about the president's demeanor yesterday - which seemed casual to the point of carelessness - suggested that he understood the depth of the current crisis.

While our attention must now be on the Gulf Coast's most immediate needs, the nation will soon as why New Orleans's levees remained so inadequate. Publications from the local newspaper to National Geographic have fulminated about the bad state of flood protection in this beloved city, which is below sea level. Why were developers permitted to destroy wetlands and barrier islands that could have held back the hurricane's surge? Why was Congress, before it wandered off to vacation, engaged in slashing the budget for correcting some of the gaping holes in the area's flood protection?

It would be some comfort to think that, as Mr. Bush cheerily announced, America "will be a stronger place" for enduring this crisis. Complacency will no longer suffice, especially if experts are right in warning that global warming may increase the intensity of future hurricanes. But since this administration won't acknowledge that global warming exists, the chances of leadership seem minimal.


Ok, I am back.

I have a couple of ideas that could win the good will of the people back.

1.) Assure those who are the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak (you know, the ones who could not afford to evacuate the cities) that they will be taken care of. That they will be loved.

2.) Bring home the national guard troops to help in the recsue/recovery efforts. Around 2/3 of the national guard of MS, LA, and AL are in Iraq providing woefully inadequate numbers for such a massive effort.

3.) Call for sacrifice amongst the American People. They want to help. They need to know how.

4.) Talk to the American people like they are adults, not chlidren. You are very condecening in your speeches. We are not as stupid as you think. While you are at it, work on not having that stupid smirk on your face that you get everytime Iraq is discussed.

5.) Give the American people updates on what is going on. Do not rely on the media. It is your job to lead the people. Do it.

6.) As rebuilding begins in The Gulf Coast, DO NOT contract out the jobs of rebuilding infrastructre to your buddies. Follow in the footsteps of FDR, create the GCRP (Gulf Coast Rebuild Project). Let the people who are now jobless work. Give jobs to them. Have the people take pride in their efforts. This can be co-oridninate through the Army Corps of Engineers.

7.) GET RID OF THE TAX CUTS. Right now the only people who need the relief are those directly affected by Katrina. The rest of us can Sacrifice the tax cuts (see number 3), and since they will not truly affect most of us we can handle it. Call on your buddies to pay more.

8.) Ignore the car lobby, and enforce CAFE standards. Make sure that our automobiels meet strict emissions and fuel comsumption standards.

9.) Regulate the utility companies this and the upcoming winters. Make sure that they charge honestly for heating fuel. There is no way people of even median income can afford the upconming $700 heating bills this winter.

10.) Act like you are in charge! Yesterday's speech did not do that. Yesterday, you pawned out every job. At least look like you give a damn!

A couple of Photos

Ceremony, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

I have uploaded a couple of wedding photos...most of them are the posed ones...i will add more candids as the days come

First Thoughts Week 2

Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20

Man, I feel like Sonny, Robert Duvall's character in The Apostle, when he is in his bedroom yelling at God.

"I don't know who's foolin' with me, you or the devil. I love you Lord, but I'm mad at you!".

The readings this week, particualarly the Exodus and the end of the Gospel reading are full of such promise for the followers of God. They assure us of God's presence among God's people.

"The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."--Exodus

"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."--Matthew

Tell that to the folks living down in the Gulf of Mexico. Tell that to the residents of New Orleans whose entire town is gone. 90% of Biloxi, MS gone. These folks have every right to say, "I don't know who's foolin' with me, you or the devil. I love you Lord, but I'm mad at you!". Mad at you for breaking the promise. There were more than two or three gathered in your name, where were you? Do you not see the blood of the Lamb upon us? We asked and it was not done. I'm mad at you!

I have been praying and meditiating on these readings over the last 24 hours as the news down south worsens. I have been trying to find the silver lining in the midst of the chaos and destruction.

I think I have something. This morning I heard the governor of Louisana, Kathleen Blanco, and what she said reminded me of the promise of baptism. Through the death, burial and reseurction of Lord Jesus we have live anew. She did not bring up baptism, but the analogy she used reminded me of it.

There is a sense of hope in looking at this destruction through the image of baptism. Though the destruction is unfathomable and there is a sense of hell on Earth, through the grace of Baptism we are reborn stronger than before.

Paul give us more hope in the Romans passage, "For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near."

But it is damn hard to trust that things will be ok. DAMN HARD.

Listening to first person accounts of the hell in Dixie it seems that things will never be ok. The man who's wife slipped from his hand in the rushing water, he can do nothing but asume she is dead [Update 11:24 a.m.: the man's name is Harvey Jackson...God be with you, Mr. Jackson and all others in your same situation}. To see bodies floating by, life snuffed out in an instant. God I am mad at you!

But through faith we have to be living examples of the healing power of God. "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law....Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."--Romans. We have to use the stregth and power the Holy Spirit enabled us with in baptism. We must be lights in this darkness. Full of grace and unconditional love.

We must take hope in the Lord:

"For the LORD takes pleasure in his people
and adorns the poor with victory."--Psalms 149:4.

May The Lord Give You Peace!

---------------------

Please feel free to leave your thoughs!

Kind of Cool

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Brother Roger

Brother Roger, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

I fount this moving picture of Brother Roger in the Phillipines at the Taize Website.

Eternal Rest

Brother Roger

Here is a link to Brother Roger's funeral.

I found it at the Taize site.

First Thoughts Week 1

Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-27

If you look at the Romans passage, you have all you need. That is how you do it. That is what you need to know to be a good Christian. Simple enough. End of story.

It looks so easy on paper, doesn't it. Well at least the first part. "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers." That is not too bad. But look at what happens in the second part of the passage:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Bless those who persecute you? Live in harmony with one another? Do not repay evil with evil? Feed my enemies? You mean I can not call for the assassination of them?

The first thing that struck me was the line, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Wow, let me bring up the political realm here. For 12 years prior to our recent invasion of Iraq the United Nations had sanctions against Iraq. We currently have an embargo against Cuba. North Korea is sanctioned. Burma, Iran, Libera, Balkans, Lybia, Sudan, Syria, Zimbabwe...all sanctioned. We are starving our enemies. We are breeding hatred toward our country because we are avenging for ourselves. We are missing the last part of the above quote: for by doing this [feeding] you are heaping coals upon their heads. The heaping of coals is purification. Cleaning. We are breeding hatred by imposing such draconian means of punishment. People hate us because we are not helping to feed them. Imagine this...A country , say North Korea which is in famine, is doing something we do not like, but instead of inhibiting trade and supplies, we increase it. Imagine what could happen to the people inthe country. Joy, happiness, looking at us as people who care.

This goes for me, too. On a smaller scale. I am selfish. Rude, and arrogant. I think that is human nature. I work at trying not to be, but when approached by someone asking for help, I tend to be a priest crossinng to the other side, instead of a Samaritan helping a Jew. I am aware of this and working on it.

This goes into what the Gospel reading says, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done."

Christ tells us to follow him with all we can. The image I have is of the traditional Mexican Cross. The cross is covered with items. Items from what represent life before Christ. Vices. When we take up our cross we are putting all of the junk on it. When we loose our lives to Christ, only the, can we begin to do the things Paul states in the Romans passage. There are still things that I want to keep in my pockets instead of putting on the cross. I am working on listening to the call.

This is where I totally understand Moses, Who am I that I should go to Pharoh? Who am I that I should love my enemy. But God's response is a response I need to trust. I, being a 21st Century American, a cynical, broken person have a problem believing it. I do, but I alway say but...God says, "I will be with you"...I just need to accept that.

God will be with us. We need not worry about what others think. God was with Moses when he confronted Pharoah. God was with Christ when Christ was nailed to the tree. God was with the apostles when they were beset with grief. God was with Paul in prison. God is with us when we act counter culturally and do the thinks expressed in the letter to the Romans.

May the Lord Give you Peace!

Please leave comments. Let me know where you sit with these readings.

First Thoughts

I am going to be trying something as a spiritual discipline. I am going to try to look at the coming week's lectionary readings, and offer my thoughts on them. These will be gut reations, and probably ramble a little. They are me working through the readings. I have no theological training, just a life long church goer.

I will be using the RCL as found on the ABC-USA site. Although, the schedule will be determined by the ABC-USA RCL, you will see the readings coming from, here.

BS Bush

CORRECTION BUSH, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

President Bush and the Wingers are doing what they do best. Sliming all in their way. They are trying to slime Cindy Sheehan, but it is not working. Now, anyone who opposed the war are weakening America and not what the majority of people...since when is 54% not a majoity?

Shoot, if your 51% election win was a mandate...wtf is this?

Oh yeah, Mr. Moyer above is harming America, too. You know..he was one of the people in attendance at your speech...the one where you are taking a vacation from your vacation.

(via Kos via Atrios)

Who Said It?

"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of addaddination, but if he thinks we're trying to addaddinate him, I think that we really ought to go a head and do it...It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war...and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."

Go ahead and guess.

Yup...the stalwart of the pro-life, religious right...Pat Robertson. He said it about Hugo Chavez, Presidend of Venezuela.

An E-mail

Below is an email written to Larry Northern, the patriot who mowed over the memorial crosses at Camp Casey. The email was written by Iraqi war vet, Perry Jefferies from Operation Truth, the 2005 version of Vietnam Vets Against the War.

The email:
Mr. Northern:

I am a Veteran of the Iraq war, having served with the 4th Infantry Division on the initial invasion with Force Package One.

While I was in Iraq,a very good friend of mine, Christopher Cutchall,was killed in an unarmoredHMMWV outside of Baghdad. He was a cavalry scout serving with the 3d ID.Once he had declined the award of a medal because Soldiers assigned to him did not receive similar awards that he had recommended. He left two sons and awonderful wife. On Monday night, August 16, you ran down the memorial cross erected for him by Arlington West.

One of my Soldiers in Iraq was Roger Turner. We gave him a hard time because he always wore all of his protective equipment, including three pairs of glasses or goggles. He did this because he wanted to make sure that he returned home to his family. He rode a bicycle to work every day to make sure that he was able to save enough money on his Army salary to send his son to college. At Camp Anaconda, where the squadron briefly stayed, a rocket landed inside a tent, sending a piece of debris or fragment into him and killed him. On Monday night, August 16, you ran down the memorial cross erected for him by Arlington West.

One of my Soldiers was Henry Bacon. He was one of the finest men I ever met. He was in perfect shape for a man over forty, working hard at night. He told me that he did that because he didn't have much money to buy nice things for his wife, who he loved so much, so he had to be in good shape for her. He was like a father to many young men in his section of maintenance mechanics. They fixed our vehicles with almost no support and fabricated parts and made repairs that kept our squadron rolling on the longest, fastest armor advance ever made under fire. He was so very proud of his son-in-law that married the beautiful daughter so well raised by Henry. His son-in-law was a helicopter pilot with the 1st Cavalry Division, who died last year. Henry stopped to rescue a vehicle belonging to another unit on what was to be his last day in Iraq. He could have kept rolling - he was headed to Kuwait after a year's tour. But he stopped. He could have sent others to do the work, but he was on the ground, leading by example, when he was killed. On Monday night, August 16, you took it upon yourself to go out in the country, where a peaceful group was exercising their constitutional rights, and harming no one, and you ran down the memorial cross erected for Henry and for his son-in-law by Arlington West.

Mr. Northern - I know little about Cindy Sheehan except that she is a grieving mother, a gentle soul, and wants to bring harm to no one. I know little about you except that you found your way to Crawford on Monday night in August with chains and a pipe attached to your truck for the sole purpose of dishonoring a memorial erected for my friends and lost Soldiers and hundreds of others that served this nation when they were called. I find it disheartening that good men like these have died so that people like you can threaten a mother who lost a child with your actions. I hope that you are ashamed of yourself.

Perry Jefferies, First Sergeant, USA (retired)

Last Night

Last night I went to the peace vigil outsid of St. Gertrude's Church up in Roger's Park. Last night there were 1,625 registered peace vigils outside of churches, schools, on street corneres, parks. Last night at least 100 people were gathered at the corner of Glenwood and Hood. Tears were shed. The Holy Spirit was present.

Ginger, who's son is currently in Iraq, organized the gathering, and we opened with a couple of songs and she told us her son's story. Then the meeting was run as a quaker meeting. People spoke if moved by the spirit. One person invoked the recent Peasant revolt in China as an example of what can happen, and how the peasants did what they did at the fear of death, at least we have the bill of rights to protect our actions. Another person invoked the saints and especially the late John Paul II. Though he did not agree with all of the pontiff's postitions, the one that was most overlooked during all the news stories surrounding his death was his ABSOLUTE horror at this war. A student from Loyola brought the sad news of the murder of Brother Roger, and invoked his name and the work of Taize as an example of living for peace and justice. After her, someone spontaneously broke into the the Taize song "Jesus, remember me/When you come into your kingdom." 100+ voices then joined. An older lady spoke on behalf of the children who are loosing brothers and sisters in this war, and how the death of her brother during WWII forever changed her life. Some one offered a prayer for all the innocent victims in Iraq. Someone offered a prayer to the Creator to send the Sprit upon us and make us instruments of peace.

Ginger will be joining Cindy Sheehan in Crawford, TX this weekend and will be taking a letter of support signed by all present to her.

The winds of change are moving. These kind of actions will do much more than the loud protests (which have thier place), but this meeting was different in that the Spirit was present and working. We ended with this song:

Well, I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside.
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside,
I'm gonna study war no more.

I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more.

Let me close with this verse from one of my favorite songs:

Cure Thy children's warring madness;
Bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, shelfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in sould.
Grant us wisdome, Grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom's goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom's goal.

The Other War

Monday night when Mae and I got home from the Sox/Twins game we had a very cryptic message from our friend, Sherry. The message said, "I assume you have heard about 'S'. If not, stop by the [Uptown] ministry tomorrow and talk to Pastor Bob." Mae and I were trying to figure out who S was (I am not usinging his full name). She remembered he was one of the kids she worked with at the ministry.

Yesterday, she spent the day going through photos with Sherry for S's visitation and funeral this weekend. S was the victim of a drive-by shooting on Sunday. His mother, a dear friend of Mae, did not find out until 3 hours later. By the time she got to the hospital her son was dead.

Dead. 18 or 19 years old.

This is the war going on our own land. Gang warfare has taken so many lives so soon.

How can we confront this? How do we fight it?

I think a major thing that can be done is to make this news. I could not find any archival reports about this murder in any of the local newspapers.

The other is to continue the fight for civil rights. While Blacks and Latinos and other minorites have made great strides in the last 50 years, there is still much to be done. But, there is a new 'ism that is emerging. Especially in the urban areas. Classism. We have the super rich and the super poor. There is such a disconnect between the two groups that reconciliation seems impossible. We need to open our heart and minds and arms to those less fortunate than us. We need to be employing people from within our neighboorhoods instead of outsourcing jobs. We need to work to created community businesses instead of mega low marts opening up and putting all the mom and pops out of business. We need to work to developed poor areas, using people who will live there to build, union workers. We need to control housing costs.

There is so much that can come together to end this war, we just need to start.

Brother Roger Slain

Brother Roger, the founder of the ecuminical community Taize, was slain during a service yesterday.

Brother Roger and his Taize community are a strong influence in what my Christian walk has become.

This is a sad time.

Borther Roger touched so many, even Pope Benedict XVI:

Visibly shaken and speaking extemporaneously, the Pontiff said this morning that he “received very sad, terrifying news; that Brother Roger, founder of the Taizé communities, was killed in a knife attack, most likely by a deranged woman”.

“This most sad news strikes me even more because just yesterday I received a letter from him,” the Pope said, “a very moving and loving letter in which he was wholeheartedly one with the Pope and all those who were in Cologne” for World Youth Days, an event that to which he could not come because of his health conditions, but in which he was “spiritually present”.

Benedict XVI also noted that, in his letter, Brother Roger said he intended to come to Rome and that the Taizé community wanted to walk with the new Pope.

“In this moment of sadness we can only commend to the Lord’s goodness the soul of His faithful servant who has reached eternal happiness,” the Pope added.

Thank God for Brother Roger

A Mother's Eyes

There has been a good conversation going on over at Tripp's blog about Camp Casey in Crawford, TX.

For those who do not know about it, Cindy Sheehan is a mother of a KIA soldier in Iraq, Casey. She is staging a sit in at President Bush's Crawford ranch. She just want to meet with the president one on one to ask him some very important questions. "What is the nobel cause my son (our kids) died for?" and "Why did you kill my son?" She believes that the war is illegal and immoral...which it is.

She is the new face of the anti-war movement. Not the long haired radicals, but the sad eyes of a mother who lost a child for no good reason.

The discussion over at Tripp's turned to the effectiveness of such a protest. He see no use in it because the president will never meet with her, and even if he did would not take anything she said to heart...so why do it? This, I believe, is a short sited and lazy way to look at protest. (Tripp is far from lazy, but this argument is.)

I, on the other hand, believe what is going on is Crawford is one of the best things that has happened for the anti-war movement. I know, too, that President Bush will not meet with Cindy. I know that if he did he would sweep it under the rug. I have seen her being smeared by the right wing pundit class who know how to fight a war eventhough they have never been. I have seen her refute those smears with grace and love. Here is an example of an exchange that happened the other day as reported by Jodie Evans at CodePink:

The first question of the morning pool came from a young soldier who had just returned from Iraq. He was polite, addressing her as Ms. Sheehan. Surrounded by cameras he told her he was sorry for her son's death, he said he had lost many friends in the Iraq War also. "Death is a part of war and what we are doing is more important, bringing freedom to the world. Think of all the people who died for the freedom we enjoy. So your son's life is just a drop in the bucket."

Those of us standing behind the cameras gasp, but Cindy's face continued to listen to him calmly and openly. Forced by the gasp he quickly said "but I feel for your son."

At this moment Cindy put her arm on his shoulder and holding him to her side they walked out into the field together, she asked the press to give them some privacy. They honored her in a way that I have never seen before, they were still shooting photos as the 2 walked away. Cindy drew the young man close like a mother, they spoke for about 5 minutes during which the shift in his feeling was palpable. He stepped away and pulled a book he had written about his experiences in Iraq and gave it to her. Then they hugged a long deep embrace, you could see the conversation continuing.

She walked back towards us and the press as he left. Yet again, this woman had made me cry with her strength her love and her courage (oh I forgot to mention everyone else in the camp had tried to keep this young man from confronting her). As we walked back to our make shift office in Casey's camper I was pouring my heart out in awe of her, she stopped me and said "do you know what that young man said as we were hugging? He said his mother agrees with me. She told him that if he had been killed in Iraq she would have done the same thing ...and then he called me Mom."

This is the new face of the anti-war movement.

But, why do I think this protest is a good thing. I see something happening that has not happened since the war began. I see people talking about it. Really talking about it, not just lip service. No, I see and hear people talking about the wast of life. I see right wing people look begining to take off the rose colored glasses. I see the left wing people opening their arms and hugging those who need it. It see the middlle of the road people discussing it. This is what the protest is doing now. These discussions will come up again in 2006 when people go to the polls to elect members of congress. Remeber, the civil rights movement grew out of people in Motgomery, Alabama just wanting to change the way segregated seating was handled on the busses (not get rid of segregated seating, just change the was the ruels were enforced), but it grew from there to fighting for de-segrated seating to the voting rights act.

Ms. Sheehan is changing the direction of the wind. Something that has needed to be done for a long time.

Who Says?

There has been a lot of nay saying about Howard Dean and his leadership of the DNC and his courting of the Netroots community. Well, yesterday in Ohio they had a special election to fill a vacant House seat, and a repbulican won. But there are NO tears being shed by Netroots and Democratic party...well the party maybe, becausse the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did nothing until it looked like Iraqi War Vet Paul Hackett might actually win. The Netroots were behind him from the begining raising over $30,000/day in the last week and a half of the the campaing. What does this have to do with Chaiman Dean? Well you see the 2nd District of Ohio is 70% republican. In fact the the reuslts from 1998-2004 have been about 75% for the Republican candidate and 25% for the Democrat candidate. That is why the DCCC did not give a hoot about this race. BUT, Dean's strategy is that every Republican seat in the House is up for grabs. He is giveing the power back to the states and allowing them to choose thier candidate and letting the people build the candidate. Not letting the establishment in DC pick the candidate (something they started doing in the Clintion era, and we see how good that has worked.).

So, what happend in a 70% Republican district when the people are allowed to run a campaing...The Democrat lost by less than 4,000 votes or about 4%...hell of a lot better than the 50% margins of the last elections...

This is a new democracy!

The War on Terror is OVER!!!

Dateline: According to the braintrust running our country we are no longer engaged in the war on terror. No, we are now involce in The Struggle Against Extremeism. Apparently the war on terror was not polling well. Either that or the word war was turning people off since we are not doing so well. We are, after all, used to kicking some ass and getting out and winning our wars. But now that we are engaged in a struggle, well, as Stephen Colbert says in this report from the Daily Show (hat tip crooks and liars for the link), "a struggle is something we can live with...like the weight on our hips."

This mess is going so well the damned adminstration has to re-brand it. What asses.

The Poem

This is the poem that my friend Ziggy read at our wedding.

This is for Mae.

___________________
As the sun shines in the midday sky; and
The moon makes the tide roll in; and stars
Guide the sailor to the places unknown.
You are my light.

The stones that mark the place of time:
Unmoveable; solid; They tell the story.
Staying in their spot. Unmoving: eternal.
You are my rock.

The trees that give shade to those who tire, and
food to those who hunger; shelter to the
weak, and rest to the weary.
You are my refuge.

As the water falls down the rock and
Carves it story. As it leaves its
mark in the canyon floor, and brings forth beautiful life
You nourish me.

You are my light, my rock, my refuge, and nousihment.
You guide me when I have lost my way.
You are there; solid; unmoving; endless.
You wrap your arms around me; envelop me.
You fill me in body, mind, and soul.

The endlessness of the gifts of creation;
Tell the story of my love to you.
The pieces that have been in place since the
Begining of time are the reminders of
All you mean to me.

Brother Sun and Sister Moon;
Brother Wind and Sister Water;
Brother Fire and Sister Mother Earth;
All are gifts; since the begining

With the eternity of these gifts,
I give you my all. For as long as they
Have been on earth, and for as long as they remain;
My love for you will join them: everlasting.

It Is Orfishal

Happily Ever After, originally uploaded by Si Adam.

We is Married.

I hope to have more pictures soon on Flick, but for the time being check out Si's Flickr.

The Time Has Come

Mae on the Phone, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Aint she cute.

No, this is not a good by cruel world blog post. This is a, HEY I AM GETTING MARRIED on Saturday post.

Yup. Saturday at 4 pm the wedding begins. I am guessing about 4:15 we will officially be married. If I am timing things right, that is when the preachers release the mojo. Ain't holy mystery grand!

I have know Mae for roughly 2.5 years, 1.5 of that we have been engaged. It has been a fantastic time. Really, eventhough most of that time was 400 miles apart. I think that may even have helped strengthen the relationship.

I am excited about this. Those who konw me find this hard to believe, as I am one who usually does not show emotion outwardly. But last night I was cleaning the apartment, and I couldn't stop. Anyone who knows me knows this is a sure sign something is up. I tend to live with the Radar O'Reilly system of stuff. Piles, i like piles and i know where things are.

Any way. The next time I post I will be a married man.

Have fun everyone and be happy

Woo Woo Is Missing

Ronnie 'Woo Woo' Wickers is missing

From the MSNBC website:

WMAQ-TV

CHICAGO - Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers' famous chant hasn't been heard inside Wrigley Field lately.

Wickers' wife reported him missing on June 29. After this story was posted on NBC5.com, several viewers have e-mailed to say they have spotted the Woo Woo in recent days at sporting events and an Independence Day parade.

Police said they don't know where Wickers was last seen, but said this is not the first time he has disappeared.

Woo Woo was last reported missing in 2002, when he went to visit friends. Then again in 1987 when he failed to show up for the Cubs' home opener. At that time, he was working and couldn't get off.

Woo Woo has been a staple at Cubs games since the 1960s.

I hope Woo Woo is safe. I talked with him for about 10 minutes after a game last year, and he is a sweet sweet man.

New Template

What think you?

I found this Here. Lots of Free blogger freindly templates.

Peace

On A Lighter Note

Though I don't really want to see it based on its title, I will need to go see The Break Up staring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. You see, they are filming right outside my office for the third day in a row. I saw Vince yesterday. Ahhh...Chicago.

London Attack

London Attack, originally uploaded by greggchadwick.

I woke up this morning to the news of the attack in London. I was/am numb. The person I know who lived there moved back to the US in the past couple months. She is safe.

I sent prayers to the victims and the people who did this. All suffer in such situations. I pray for peace, daily, hourly. I pray for wisdom for leaders. I pray, it seems that is all I can do.

If you are up to it, Flickr.com has a page setup for people to send pictures of this tragedy . It is here.

It's A Girl

Cliff, Anna and Sofie have a new arrival. Stop by and wish blessings to Delaina Rose Healy and her loving family.

Hoodathunk

That a rock star would have so much pull that his/her words get twisted in a state department memo to mean the exact opposite of what the star meant. Shoot, hoodathunk the State departement would ever quote a rock star to beging with...what is this werld comin to?

A State Department release from Monday doctored remarks from U2’s Bono, twisting his quote to mean the very opposite of what he apparently believes. Here’s the State Department paragraph, two graphs below the lede [besides underlining, excerpt appears exactly as published]:

Bono, lead singer of the Irish band U2 and longtime activist for aid to Africa, echoed Geldof’s praise for President Bush as he told an American television interviewer June 26, “[Bush] has already doubled and tripled aid to Africa .… I think he has done an incredible job, his administration, on AIDS. 250,000 Africans are on anti-viral drugs; they literally owe their lives to America.”

In fact, Bono only said the latter half of that quote during his appearance on Meet the Press last Sunday. The first part — “[Bush] has already doubled and tripled aid to Africa” — is deceptively transplanted from an interview Bono did with Time magazine that Tim Russert quoted on the show, and the State Department has taken it entirely out of context. Here’s the full quote:

Question: Which of the G8 leaders do you think remains the toughest nut to crack?

Bono: The most important and toughest nut is still President Bush. He feels he’s already doubled and tripled aid to Africa, which he started from far too low a place. He can stand there and say he paid at the office already. He shouldn’t because he’ll be left out of the history books. But it’s hard for him because of the expense of the war and the debts.

In other words, Bono was relaying President Bush’s claim (which he repeated during his press conference with Tony Blair this month) that his administration has tripled aid to Africa. Yet we know Bono does not believe that Bush has tripled aid to Africa. On Meet the Press, Bono said that while Bush has made a commitment to triple aid, that will only be the case “if he follows through” on that pledge.

This blatant dishonesty is even more relevant in light of the study by Susan Rice that Brookings released this week. Rice’s analysis showed that…

…U.S. aid to Africa from FY 2000 (the last full budget year of the Clinton Administration) to FY2004 (the last completed fiscal year of the Bush Administration) has not “tripled” or even doubled. Rather, in real dollars, it has increased 56% (or 67% in nominal dollar terms). The majority of that increase consists of emergency food aid, rather than assistance for sustainable development of the sort Africa needs to achieve lasting poverty reduction.

Taken from Think Progress.

OOOO...Fun

Click the button...become one, too.

via Tripp

Why Should We Attack Thee

Let me count the ways

Yep, the above link is a list of only 9 of the reasons we went to war.

This administration can not decide why the hell we are there, so they keep changing the reason. They would not have to keep doing that if we would not have gone in in the first place.

Even that first reason we were given, seems to be made up.

I am so sick of all this shit. I was talking to a guy last night who has just finished his tour in the Coast Guard. He was telling me about his Marine buddies that are either over there now, or have recently returned. Tears were coming down this kid's face. A face which was red with anger. And eyes that were those of a person whose entire world has been a lie. He told me how his friends over there are fed up with being lied to. He told me about his friends that are over there who are so tired of living on the edge because they do not know what they are supposed to be doing. He told me about his friends who have returned, but they are not his friends who went over there. He told me about his friends that have the stare of an old man seeing his life go past him, and they are only 24. He told me about his friend who grabbed his arm and would not let go because he wanted to hold on to something that was not steel. He told me about his friends, brave Marines, who just burst into tears for seemingly no reason.

We have an arrogant president and administration that will not admit they screwed up. We have a president and administration that will not call upon us to sacrifice. I would be willing to forgo some niceties if it means people come home faster and safer. We have a president and administration that will not call those who support this war to arms. We have supportors of this war who are not willing to go and fight themselves. To them I say, put up or shut up. There are those who support this war, and yet they say they are not dumb enough to enlist to go over there. There are those who say this is God's will, but it doesn't include me.

Piss off.

[This rant was uninteded, but I guess I just needed to vent.]

Pay No Attention To The Men Behind The Microphones

Do not pay attention to what the right-wingers are calling Sen. Durbin. They (Hannity, Rush, Drudge) claim he has called out troops Nazi's. As usual, this is the right pulling comments so out of context that they make no sense. Durbin, (pdf) in a floor statement,was reading from a memo supplied by the FBI and then made some comments. If the brain trust on the right really listened to what our Senator said, they should feel ill instead of self-righteous.

When you read some of the graphic descriptions of what has occurred here [at Guantanamo Bay]--I almost hesitate to put them in the [Congressional] Record, and yet they have to be added to this debate. Let me read to you what one FBI agent saw. And I quote from his report:

'On a couple of occasions, I entered interview rooms to find a detainee chained hand and foot in a fetal position to the floor, with no chair, food or water. Most times they urinated or defecated on themselves, and had been left there for 18-24 hours or more. On one occasion, the air conditioning had been turned down so far and the temperature was so cold in the room, that the barefooted detainee was shaking with cold. . . . On another occasion, the [air conditioner] had been turned off, making the temperature in the unventilated room well over 100 degrees. The detainee was almost unconscious on the floor, with a pile of hair next to him. He had apparently been literally pulling his hair out throughout the night. On another occasion, not only was the temperature unbearably hot, but extremely loud rap music was being played in the room, and had been since the day before, with the detainee chained hand and foot in the fetal position on the tile floor.'

If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.

How about these folks pay attention to the fact that what he was saying is that there is severe mistreatment of detainees goingon at Gitmo? How about they see that, even though, these folks down there may have hate towards our country, they are still humans? How about they stop defending and start paying attention? They should listen to what the Senator has to say:

"The President could declare the United States will apply the Geneva Conventions to the war on terrorism. He could declare, as he should, that the United States will not, under any circumstances, subject any detainee to torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The administration could give all detainees a meaningful opportunity to challenge their detention before a neutral decision maker. Such a change of course would dramatically improve our image and it would make us safer. I hope this administration will choose that course. If they do not, Congress must step in."

What really irks me about this whole situation is the fact that people from both sides of the aisle are calling for reforms, if not closure, of Gitmo, and yet, you have these ass-clowns on the right wing airwave who take any criticism of our dear leader as an attack on the very fibers that this country stands for. I wish they would open their eyes and realize that disagreementand opposition to, instead of blind loyalty, are the very fibers that our country is built on. Going all the way back to Hamilton and Jefferson.

If we are to become, again, the beacon of hope to the world, then we must realize that smearing those who criticized the leadership is not what we are about. We are about: holding our leader accountable, with respect; we are about challenging authority; and, we are about showing dignityto those who are opposed to us and showing the world that we respect our enemies as human beings eventhough they despise us...we are better than that.

(Cheers to Daily Kos for alerting me to this and Talk Left for the scoop.)

1700

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Is it really worth it?

WARNING* Gratuitous Crackers

HumpDayCrackers, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Happy Hump Day...

This picture made me spit out my coffee this morning.

HOOO HOOO

Pleased to meet ya. Hope you guess my name.

Interactive blog time.

I have had Sympathy For the Devil stuck in my head for like...shoot...I don't know...3 days...I am going crazy. Here is a cool article about the song.

Help me here...please. Must.......get......new.......song....in.....my.....heed.


(what do you currently have stuck in your heed?)

Disgusting

There is something SO WRONG about our market system when you read things like this:

General Motors was among the Dow Jones industrial average’s biggest percentage gainers, jumping 1.6 percent after its CEO told shareholders it will cut thousands of U.S. jobs and close more plants over the next few years.

25,000 people are loosing their jobs and people are rewarding this by snatching up stock. Think about this a second. That is a quarter of my hometown. A third of my college town. 10x Mae's hometown. That is an overflow crowd at The United Center.

People are profiting from this. I feel Ill.

I Know I Am A Geek

when I yell at the streaming video of CSPAN on my computer at work.

These people are drive me nuts. The debate is about Justice Brown for the Appellate Court in DC. The dems bring up relevant material. It took Sen. Boxer 15 minutes to read the list of Civil Rights organizations that opposed the Justice's nomination. But I hear the same three things from the republicans...she is the daughter of share-croppers, she got 75% of the vote for retention and our favorit...upperdownupperdownupperdown that is all Frist says.

The think that cause me to yell at the computer was the who 75% thing. It sounds like a lot, but she was unopposed. They say there were 4 other justices on the ballot and she got the highest...her name starts with a B it was on the top of the list...we all know how people vote on judges...how many? Ok. Punch 1,2 and 3

grrrr

A Hero

"We must recognize the full human equality of all our people - before God, before the law, and in the councils of government. We must do this not because it is economically advantageous - although it is; not because the laws of God and man command it - although they do command it; not because people in other lands wish it so. We must do it for the single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to do."
Day of Affirmation Address, University of Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966

Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy.

I have always admired RFK. A complex man. A broken man. A man of honesty.

His views on the world seem so radical, right now, amidst all of the conflict and apparent hatred. His view of equality amongst all peoples of the world. His hope for tomorrow. His quest for social justice.

His concern for the "right" in our nature stikes a cord that resonates to all people. We all seek the right. We seek the fullness of humanity: the love of our brothers and sisters, and to love our enemies. His views were put so simply, "[I]t is the right thing to do."

"Bay of Pigsgate, Teapot Domegate, Slaverygate"

From Crooks and Liars:

Here is a clip from The Daily Show's take on Deep Throat...sort of goes with the below quote.

Quote of the Day

I just heard this blurb advertising tonights Majority Report re: all the Deep Throat hooplaa, "...[W]hile we watch the mainstream "liberal" media filling up with convicted felons bemoaning the lack ethics of a whistleblower."

I find this truly amusing.

Step Right Up

HIM, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

This is the show I am working on right now. Here is ticket info:

WHERE:
Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 Street parking and under the viaduct; CTA accessible (Western and Belmont bus stops)
WHEN:
Opened Thursday, May 26, 2005, at 8 PM. Runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 7 PM through 6/25/05
TICKETS:
Viaduct Theater Box Office, 773.296.6024 (open 7-10 PM Thursday – Saturday, and 6-9 PM on Sunday) HotTix
$15 on Thursdays/Sundays; $18 on Fridays/Saturdays Half-price on Thursday, 6/2 and Sunday, 6/5 for industry members with headshot/card.
Call for group rates.

Here are reviews:

Chicago Sun-Times: Hedy Weiss
"A "curiosity" in both concept and execution, this rarely produced work, now in an elaborate and ingenious production by the Viaduct Theater, also serves as a reminder of how Chicago theaters still will dance out on a limb to experiment.”

“Anchoring the play are brief, revealing, well-acted scenes between the artist, Him (David Schultz), and his insightful if admittedly bourgeois wife, Me (Julia Siple), which unfold in a tiny parlor seen from different angles thanks to clever set changes. There is love between these two but also a certain disconnect. And interspersed among their intimate scenes (which have some Eugene O'Neill-like echoes) are stylized routines exposing the human comedy: two clowns who burst each other's balloons; a sweaty carnival barker and snake-oil salesman (terrific work by Paul D'Addario) who thrives on lies, and the three Miss Weirds (Ariel Brenner, Christine Cummings and Marssie Mencotti), who nearly steal the show with their hilarious, verbally brilliant riffs on men (and other strange creatures). Best of all is a circus sideshow (applause throughout for set designer Robert Whitaker, whether for his vintage folk art-style cutout curtain with openings for human heads and appendages) or his magenta burlesque stage.
Cheers, too, for Alison Siple's marvelous costumes. Director Whitney Blakemore (working with Sheri Reda), and TS Henry Webb, the funky conductor of an onstage band, has staged "Him" with great invention. And her large cast captures the spirit of the piece.


Chicago Tribune: Chris Jones
"Whitney Blakemore's astonishingly expansive production, which gives the work all the sets it needs and, at the core of the staging, seems to understand both its style and its pain. And, indeed, for fans or students of cummings in particular, or the literature of despair
in general, this heavy work has all kinds of interest. The language is dazzlingly rich. And you'll probably not get the chance to see it again around here anytime soon.”

"You have to admire the Viaduct for attempting this almost impossible play - which requires some 20 actors, a live band, a re-creation of carnival oddities and a constantly changing set and frame of reference."