Looking Backward: 9-11 - and Beyond

"The main mistake continues to be the capacity to view one's own country, values and policies as righteous, innocent and well-intentioned, while viewing the enemy as evil and dangerous. We've seen this attitude among Arabs and Israelis, Americans and Islamic militants, Turks and Kurds, Syrians and Lebanese and other such pairs of foes. " (09/11/2007)
(http://www.ramikhouri.com/)

Rami Khouri, in his consistently insightful blog, captures the heart of USian blindness today as we've been for a long, long time!

Listening to NPR - I hear over and over again - how we poor, unappreciated benevolent USians just can't force those Heathen A-rabs to takeover the "good fight" for their country. The key issues now relate to Our Inability to Win the War (not the immorality of our cause) as well as the related cause of stopping the Horrific Al-Quaida (Iraq) - who evidently will be invading the golf courses and beaches of Hawaii and Florida and areas around Hollywood soon without the Good Fight continuing. (While there certainly are real threats today, they rarely come in the ways our leaders speak of them.)

Perhaps - some sane voices will prevail, though it seems more likely that they'll be a lot of posturing and 6 more months will be bought - for more continuation of the present craziness.

I wonder more and more if somehow something like bombings of Iran - will be the patriotic push in 2008 - to try to pull the elections in favor of the Republicans.

Rarely do forces of rationality prevail in showing how we readily build extremists with our policies and are so consistently backwards in seeing what we do abroad as well as unfortunately in the U.S.

It is sad - that we in the U.S. of A. - really do have the potential to do so much good in helping end poverty and needless deaths both within the U.S. and in the rest of the world. Why we hide our heads in the sand in Cuba, Venezuela as well as Iraq and Elsewhere in the Middle East. General P or Ambassador C - was talking of how Iraq was now starting to be a significant purchaser of U.S. Weapons yesterday- as if - fomenting the Arms Race - and helping our precious corporate entities - who help share the killing of others further and further around the World.

It is sad! I hope that we can and will do better! Thanks!

Rojo's First Birthday - August 31, 2007

Today we celebrate Rojo's 1st Birthday (though we don't know his exact date of birth). He's been a delightful pup - accepting of the "abuse" our 8 year old has given him, being flexible to the whims of all of us and just being an enjoyable member of our household. He's a sociable - Doofuss - looking back on walk and running into things, with no concern - moving immediately into the next moments of his life. He loves the attention of people and dogs and sometimes overwhelms others, because "subtlety" is not exactly his middle name.

I took him on his first walk by our pond and enjoyed seeing a beaver and a great blue crane. Later on we "woofed" Happy Birthday to him - as he alternately enjoyed the attention and looked very puzzled.

Happy Birthday Rojo!

Being Open with Other Men - My Penis and Me

I have tried off-and-on over the past 26 years to connect with other men in a variety of ways. The Pro-Feminist Men’s Movement has helped me significantly, particularly in the 1980’s. My first men’s gathering was so meaningful for me that I helped coordinate the planning for another one which was very successful.

In 1983 I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, USA. I went with a number of fellow members of the Madison Men’s Center to the Upper Midwest Men’s Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota in October, 1983. We were greatly inspired by Andrea Dworkin’s first speech to a predominantly male audience. Out of the initial efforts of eight of us, we formed Men Stopping Rape, Inc. of Madison which did some incredible work helping share and educate men about rape related issues in the Mid-1980’s and beyond.

Fathering my son in the late 1980’s as well as moving to Oakland, California (where of financial necessity I began working full-time) curtailed most of my activist work. A few years ago I joined a men’s support group in the Bay Area which helped me connect with men in some ways and frustrated me in other ways.

I have found it hard to connect at a deep level with other men. To a large degree my issues may relate to how alone emotionally I grew into adulthood from my childhood. It is hard as a man to connect with others at a deep emotional level. This is of course doubly hard when one hasn’t learned to connect deeply within one’s birth family and with peers.

Recently I’ve read a lot on various blogs related to (heterosexual) men and our sexuality. Though I have had male lovers in my distant past, I would at a minimum identify myself as: “straighter”. Much of what I’ve read has fascinated me, both where I’ve found commonality and differences with other men.

Though it feels scary to talk about my own body as well as my feelings and life experiences, I would like to share some of me. I hope that over time more other men will be honest and share more of who they really are underneath the webs of silence, as well as varying levels of dishonesty (at least among some of us).

I grew up feeling very alone as a child. I was a tall, awkward young boy who rarely had playmates. I remember visiting the houses of others with kids to play with. I don’t remember having a “best friend” as a child. I loved sports. I had season tickets (alone) at Purdue University (men’s) basketball games starting either at age 7 or 8 and walked alone close to one mile to the (night) games. My parents and younger brother had no interest in sports. I was in swimming classes and for several years a youth Saturday morning sports program. Though I enjoyed much about physical activity, I wasn’t good at everything I tried.

I remember first being aware that I was developing pubic hair just before my 12^th birthday when we were in Israel. Moving into adolescence I don’t have a lot of clear memories in many areas related to my growth. I remember being 13 in the summer of 1964 away from home for the summer having a peer group of at least two boys and I think two girls. I remember having a crush at one point on Betsy Linton from Philadelphia, but I don’t remember being with her alone or any reciprocal feelings on her part.

After my father’s death later that year my grades in school went up significantly. My abilities at running improved as my physical growth slowed, though I never was a great runner. I went to several dances at the beginning of ninth grade, but simply sat on the sidelines alone and didn’t know “what to do” with others. In the late fall I was terrified when a female classmate asked me to go with her to a Sadie Hawkins (“girls invite the boys”) dance. I declined the invitation. The summer ninth grade I asked the same girl out for my first date. The experience was traumatic for me. I don’t know what I expected, but I found that we seemed to have nothing in common.

During the 10^th grade I had no dates and went to no dances. In the 11^th grade I began dating Carol Denenberg, a 9^th grader, whose family I knew. Late that school year I found out that we had “split up” without my knowledge. She was with another classmate. Though I held Carol’s hand, I never kissed her. I was naïve!

Late in the 12^th grade I briefly had another girlfriend who I kissed – she was 19 and I was 17. Shortly after I graduated from high school I lost my virginity (technically at least) with another young woman who was also older than me. I was scared and inept and ejaculated very quickly. I’m sure that I gave no pleasure to my partner!

It wasn’t until I was in my last semester of college that I had sex feeling like I had significant control over my penis and the sex itself. Sex was still focused completely on penile-vaginal intercourse. I remember waking up with my girlfriend – having sex – and not remembering how it started. That was a thrilling feeling!

As a teenager I was certainly a slow learner! I had no peers to discuss things with – certainly among boys we didn’t talk. The world of “girls” was a mystery to me. My “relationships” lasted weeks and I didn’t know my “girlfriends” very well. Occasionally I had fairly platonic relationships that lasted a little longer, but lacked closeness.

I remember being 19 years old and discovering masturbation for the first time while taking a bath. I’d been with several female partners having “sex”, but hadn’t masturbated previously. My high school class was “The Class of 69” – but I didn’t have a clue about the sexual meaning of that – which was obvious to most of my classmates.

As a teenager my sexuality was probably most vivid in “wet dreams” when I ejaculated. I didn’t know much about them and didn’t get pleasure from them. The other part of my “sexuality” was waking up in the morning with “piss hard-ons” some of the time, which went away when I went to the bathroom. Pretty boring!

Reflecting back upon my early sexual development it seems congruent with the distance that I had from my peers and parents. We didn’t have television because my father felt it would keep us from reading a lot. Dad never talked with me about sex. Nudity in our household was accepted but sexuality seemed distant. It wasn’t that anything was “forbidden”. The emphasis in our lives seemed to be on being “good, upper-middle class Jews” who achieved. As an 11^th grader I lettered in track and cross country, was in the band, the orchestra and the dance band and was taking college economics classes at Purdue University with juniors in college. I had no social connections beyond the brief time with my girlfriend at dances, movies and similar.

At 20, I was floored when my mother out-of-the-blue – asked me: “George, are you a virgin?” to which I replied “no”. She said: “Good, your father wasn’t a virgin either and I was very glad of it.”. That was the end of my single “sex” conversation with my mother.

At 25 I had my first lasting girlfriend and we were married about eight months after we first dated.

In my 30’s and early 40’s I first really discovered my sexuality in positive ways. Because of the influence of Feminism in my life, I moved very clearly away from a focus upon “performing” with my partners. I didn’t mostly focus upon my penis and “routine sex”. When I had good sex it was a time of celebration with my partner, losing track of time and place and other “realities”. It was being in the gentle sexual touch we shared.

There was no correlation between time, orgasms or similar and “good sex”. Good sex was simply a wonderful few hours of being with a partner I loved making love with.

Little did I know how good I had it in those days at least sexually. In my mid-40’s I began to notice an increasing inability to get and sustain erections, particularly with a partner. Nothing physiologically was “wrong” with me – from exams with my doctor.

In 1998 – I was jarred into reality when I really “couldn’t get it up” repeatedly – I couldn’t deny to myself the issues that were moving gradually in my body. The only ways that I could really feel my sexual connection with my penis was when masturbating. Gradually over time even that has varied in how difficult it is to orgasm or get partially erect. Often when I do orgasm it isn’t with a very erect penis.

It may sound crass and silly, but it really is a weird and discomforting experience to not know – without touching one’s penis with one’s hands, whether and to what degree one has an erection. It is a strange feeling to feel very aroused – and then to find out that one isn’t erect at all. It is confusing to occasionally be erect and not to know it. Gone too are the piss hard-on’s except once recently – which pleasantly surprised me.

After some years and pressure from my second wife, I began trying to use Viagra. It seemed helpful at first and gradually became more inconsistent in effectiveness. Viagra, to be effective (for some at least), needs to be taken on an empty stomach. It’s hard to be spontaneous at all on a weekend to need to plan to have sex at least 4-5 hours after eating. When one’s partner isn’t a morning person and doesn’t want sex on a weekend morning generally, it’s hard to find a time when Viagra will work effectively. I didn’t realize the effects of food until my doctor referred me to a urologist at my request. After seeing him, I wrote my doctor to suggest telling other Viagra patients the food issue.

Most recently I went to another urologist who pleasantly shocked me. She suggested I try something and a few minutes later I injected my penis with a solution (Trimix) which brought about an strong and lasting erection within a few minutes. Unlike Viagra it didn’t seem to depend a lot upon my mood/emotions and other things. It felt much more like I used to feel before my mid-40’s. I masturbated after I got home feeling Very Much Better than I had felt in a long time when masturbating. After masturbating I still had “strength” in my cock which gradually lessoned over the next half hour or so.

Since then I’ve had mixed success with Trimix. It’s moderately expensive. It doesn’t necessitate not eating before it. The solution needs to be refrigerated. I overcame my fright at injecting myself. My partner hasn’t taken to it. For now - it'll be not tried anymore.

I can and do enjoy my sexuality! Feminism thankfully has given me a base to recognize that I’m not my cock. I can enjoy the feelings I get and get aroused (if not always within my penis). I can have orgasms fairly regularly, but I can’t generally have successful intercourse with my partner.

I’m not seeking sympathy from others! I do hope that other men will share their sexual lives particularly when they have issues – as I’ve had in my life. It’s not like this kind of thing is talked about more than the Viagra ads and ads for seeing high priced doctors who promise to make us “whole”.

In some ways what I feel relates to the increasing aches and pains that I feel in my mid-50’s and other ways that I feel myself aging. In other ways it feels different. It feels sad to get excited when I feel my cock – tingle a little and react – as it did quite frequently when younger –and now does perhaps 1-3 times a year – in normal day-to-day life.

I never felt that because I felt mild or stronger feelings in my cock, that it meant anything in of itself. I never “needed sex”. Physiological sexual feelings sometimes came from feeling sexual excitement and sometimes just “happened” – for no apparent reason.

It feels ironic that as I grow and presumably am maturing in some important ways in my life, my sexual being faces limitations far more significant than the lessoning of sexual activity that many men feel as a “normal” effect of aging. I presume that with the popularity of Viagra and sexual-healing clinics for men, that I’m far, far from alone in my issues.

I can only imagine that many, many other men must feel very alone and inadequate when they find their penis weakening sexually as I’ve felt. It didn’t feel good when I got up the courage to share what I was feeling with my men’s group several years ago and found that the others couldn’t or wouldn’t relate to what I expressed. They let me talk, but clearly much of what I said made them uncomfortable.

I hope that as men others are doing a much better job than I did relating to each other in our various lives as: sons, fathers, uncles, cousins as well as best friends, good friends, workmates and our other life roles. Gay men may have issues I don’t face. We each have our own issues.

I’m thankful for much in my life! I accept my penis as it is. It gives me pleasure as well as doing its other functions as advertised.

Thanks!

Reflecting upon the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

When I think now of the tragic collapse of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis now I think of a way of life we live in and look at in the U.S. today. My visions are not of one bridge or many bridges, but rather of how we look at our infrastructures and economies in general as well as how we see our connections as "people" together and separately.

I remember being in Switzerland as a child and hearing my parents talk afterwards of how the Swiss were planning the highways, train system and similar for the coming decades to meet the perceived needs of the country for the long-term future. I also remember being in Israel 25+ years ago and hearing how then (at least) it was not possible for people to speculate investing in land around the major urban areas to profit from and control the economic development of the country.

In the U.S. we far, far most commonly live in a variety of worlds of what I would call "smoke and mirrors". Our major corporations often must look for short-term profits, else their leadership will be replaced. Our large industries of the past such as the automobile industry have huge numbers of retiries who are dependent upon health benefits and pensions that seemingly will not be payable for the long-term.

We have plenty of long-term needs in this country for things that are being deferred or otherwise underfunded including our bridges and highways. We have necessary immediate needs such as the funding of our wars and military. We also have bleeding cancers such as our healthcare system and our general system for our military veterans where we never seem to solve the basic issues that remain unpaid for and not planned for.

I am 56 years old. My generation is beginning to "get old" and be replaced in the workplace by my 20 year old son's generation. Twenty to thirty years from now those who are working are not going to want to pay for the healthcare and other needs of my generation. We should be saving as a society for the debt needs of the future.

Some individuals are saving for the future. As a society though we are borrowing and deferring things to the future - both individually and within our government entities and similar.

The solutions to many of our problems are both complex and simple. We need to end the power of those who look at our lives through microcosms of "looking out for themselves" (only) and seeing life in naive visions of the past (fictional) worlds of the past.

We live in a world now where many people have many major health needs in some cases related to lifestyle choices that they make, but in other cases related to luck. We can not afford indivually to pay for the huge costs of cancers, birth defects, diabetes, heart conditions and many other ailments.

We live in worlds of many people who are not super wealthy and can not afford to pay the huge costs that exist for housing, healthcare and other major expenses in their lives. We need to change our taxation systems so that those who have money pay sufficient taxes to support our needs for now and for our future lives in the coming decades.

We need to recognize that "we" are people who are not Mostly White, Christian, in their 20's, 30's and 40's, Heterosexually Married with 2 Children, in good health, while some of us are that way and we all need to figure out better ways to live together.

In our current worlds we have the ability to dialogue and work together through our politicians, schools, places of worship and in many other places. It is hard, but we need to start working out our problems from the local level to national and international levels of our lives.

We have many things we an improve in our society. We can have a rational healthcare system. We can have a political system which isn't controled by "payoffs" to politicians and others to get short-term and long-term gains for the few at the cost of the many. We can help families raise healthy children who get healthcare, education and a way-of-life that celebrates the natural beauties of our lands and our spirits and hearts, rather than simply - television, video games, professional sports - and a craving for that which we never seem to have - the "beauty industry" of the perfect bodies of thinness and whatever - in the distance beyond.

Getting there is difficult - we need to try!

Thanks!

Impeach GW - Why Focus There ?

It was invigorating recently while in the Midwest in Madison to see so many: "Impeach Bush and Cheney" lawn signs in the neighborhood I stayed in.

I then return(ed) to a world where the Republicans and a few Democrats in Congress repeatedly rebuff most everything that might pressure GW to change his policies.

Until or unless far more people feel that they are negatively effected by The War in ways that really threaten the complacency of those "middle of the roader politicians" it seems likely we will continue to have posturing and more games, but no real change. People oppose the War - not because it "is wrong" but because we're not "winning".

Pressure on impeachment seems good only as a "cheerleading" towards a much larger cause. GW deserves to be impeached, but others have let him and his cronies do so, so much damage and have often been complicit in what has happened.

I hope that in September Congress will begin to really move to push GW. I fear that the Republicans will continue to speak out of both ends of their mouth, feeling that they'll not pay a price in the 2008 elections.

Time will tell both as to what will happen this fall and in 2008.

I hope for the best. I'm cautious in wondering both if the Democrats will blow things as well as wondering IF 2008 proves a great year for the Demos, if they'll really be effective at changing things for the better. GW being out of office should be an addition by subtraction, but that isn't enough. The Supreme Court alone will be a thorn for decades.

I hope that my cynicism proves short-sighted. I hope that more younger people will do more and that the changes in our lifetimes will finally move towards a better path in various ways.

Thanks!

Returning to My Past

Over the past week I've been in Chicago and Madison - where I lived most of the time during and after college from 1969-1989. I've visited old friends and old haunts of my earlier life.

It is interesting for me to see the feelings that come out, particularly in relation to areas of both pain and pleasure in my past and present. To see where I lived with my ex-wife when we were first together, to see how the cities have changed and not changed, to see some I'd not seen in 25 years - as we are gray and "aging" - is both sobering and satisfying.

To reflect upon the mistakes and joys of my earlier life is helpful. Tomorrow I will return to the Pacific Northwest and move back towards "normalcy".

I've enjoyed parts of what I've experienced. Parts of it have also been hard for me.

Thanks!

Kayaking on the Lake

Recently I bought an 11.5 foot long kayak. Finally on Tuesday I made it out on the lake nearest to our house on a fairly hot morning. Having never been in a kayak before I was initially tentative, not wanting to flip it over. I quickly saw that I should have brought a hat and gloves for my hands, but otherwise I was fine.

The kayak skimmed along and was easy to control. I try to be careful with the wakes of motor boats and similar, though as I get more comfortable and used to the water, the easier it gets.

It is relaxing and beautiful to move along the shore in my new boat. My arms and shoulders tire, but I can rest as I wish and move in my new world. In the boat I see a whole new view of land and water. Hopefully next week I'll get out for at least 4-5 hours and have more time to explore.

Thanks!

Sadness, Memories, and Mixed Feelings

My ex-mother-in-law died late this afternoon at age 94 peacefully with her only child and grandchild, our 20 year old son at her bedside the last several hours. My son had called me in tears yesterday telling me that she was near death.

I brought flowers when I first met Peg in 1976 which she very much appreciated. Over time our relationship became difficult, particularly after she moved to Oakland when widowed. She was a wonderful, doting grandmother. It was very hard for our son to see her lose her independence over the past years. She got her purse snatched, then not that long after broke her hip and deteriorated greatly over the last 5 or so years of her life.

I have memories both of a most caring person and one who could be very, very tough, particularly on her only child. Peg's father had moved their family from Windsor, Ontario to Nova Scotia for work and then died, leaving a widow and three young children. Not being able to support her family, her mother moved the four of them back to Windsor where family could support them. No doubt being the oldest child this greatly affected her for the rest of her life.

I remember the story (just before my time) of when my (now ex-) wife B and her mother visited B's best friend's mother. The mother was explaining how hard it was coping with her daughter living with her boyfriend/fiance (who she later married). Peg was saying how kids were different these days and one had to understand and accept them. B was thinking to herself: "Gee, Ma sure has changed her views dramatically in a good way!". Just after they got out the door, mother said to daughter: "Now if you ever do that, I'll kill you!"

Hopefully daughter and grandson will remember Peg mostly as the good person she was. I will always have my mixed memories. I wish that I had been more patient and accepting of her than I was. She wasn't happy living well beyond when she could control her own life. B will be freed from the burdens the last few years increasingly put on her. Most of Peg's friends have already passed on, but a memorial mass will celebrate her life in her Oakland parish.

I hope that all will find peace within their memories!

Gaza - an Excellent Perspective

Mitchell Plitnick, one of Jewish Voice for Peace's (http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/) has written an excellent summary of the situation in Gaza which I highly recommend reading at:

http://blog.mideastanalysis.org/?p=57#more-57

JVP itself has plenty of insightful reading on its website related to Israel and Palestine. It supports a peaceful, just solution to Israel's, The West Bank's and Gaza's issues relating to the need for an independent, positive Palestinian State. Affirming the need for peace as Jews and Americans is important to me! Avoiding and opposing Anti-Semitism while working for a just peace is important.

Two Palestinian States ?

I find the actions of Israel and more importantly perhaps the U.S. related to the split between Fatah/Hamas and West Bank/Gaza difficult to accept and fully understand. I can understand how the U.S. and Israel desparately want a "moderate" force - e.g. Fatah to support. It is perplexing though to think that Gaza can be essentially ignored and put on the back burner along with Hamas.

Listening to NPR I heard several Middle Eastern (e.g. "Arab") speakers both speak of the need of supporting the (former) Unity Government and dealing (talking) with Hamas.

Talking with Hamas is important. Talking does not mean supporting.

IF Israel and the U.S. were willing to begin a pullout of Israelis from All the West Bank Settlements and in that way to push aggressively with their own population to seek a lasting peace perhaps I could understand things.

As it is Fatah lacks the legitimacy it needs because it isn't the elected government. Neither the U.S. nor Israel has significant standing with any other forces in the Middle East. It is difficult to understand how the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza - which is desparate - will be dealt with successfully. Equally importantly it is hard to understand how releasing monies that should never have been held back will somehow magically resolve things. I don't see how things now can evolve in more than a repeated "patching" of little things, while ignoring the much larger issues.

I hope for the best! I fear that things will get a lot worse!

Thanks!

Compliance verses Compromise

Several days ago I heard mention of the U.S. interrogation techniques with "terror suspects" with all kinds of coercion including various levels of torture. The commentator talked of how pressure techniques including these could bring compliance, but not compromise. As a result he noted that pressured individuals would say what they felt their interviewers wanted to hear and/or whatever would get the pressures upon them lessoned. The truth, of course, was generally far, far from what was gotten nearly all the time!

The interviewer talked of how one could also interview prisoners and similar and seek to get them to compromise their beliefs and cooperate and give information which would be true. This would of necessity take time and effort and not always succeed. When it did succeed the knowledge gained likely would be true. In the former situation one never could know if what was said was true. Most commonly information gained through "compliance" is not true.

The discussion of these two different approaches seems relevant to me for how we deal with our interpersonal relationships often (with pressure - not torture). When we seek "compliance" often others may agree with us, but what do we gain? When we seek "compromise" we may both get at truths and understanding of each other.

Thanks!

40th Anniverary- The Occupation - Some Thoughts

The 40th Anniversary of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is passing now - and with it thoughts and feelings come into and out of me - as an American Jew.

It was sickening and frightening to hear a women talk of having been in Hebron recently and heard Settlers (Jews living in a Settlement within Hebron - an otherwise Palestinian city) - who were mostly American immigrants - talking openly of Palestinians - referring to them with the "N" word. The blatant racism is scary to me.

Certainly Israelis are killed and hurt and scared of both within Israel because of Palestinian suicide bombing, missiles from outside of Israel, etc. At the same time we - the others in the U.S. and within Israel - can not possibly understand the depths of fear and loathing that Palestinians face every day within The West Bank and Gaza.

Israel - has the power. The U.S. is tilting the power more strongly towards Israel.

Palestinian radicalism and violence - is a natural response to 40 years of occupation and the failure to end the occupation in peaceful ways. Most Palestinians are peace loving and not violent.

Peace will be hard to achieve - but it is most necessary and important now!

Thanks!

Taxation - Values and Perhaps the Economy

This morning I heard an "expert" explain how if all the CEO's salaries and compensation packages were lowered from their extremely high figures it wouldn't raise the wages of the hourly workers who make a fraction of their top boss'es earnings.

I realize that I'm a "crazy radical" and naive as anyone! It seems to me that our taxation policy should reflect certain key values. We should encourage people to work. We should encourage employers to hire workers. We should do all that we can to allow people to live independently and not be dependent upon the government or others.

Why should employers be responsible for paying much more than the wages that they pay to their employees? Why should health care and other benefits beyond perhaps vacation pay be their responsibility?

Why shouldn't employees simply pay income taxes and no other taxes on their income? Why should "passive income" and "unearned income" be protected in various ways from taxation and wage earners pay as many taxes as they pay?

I realize that I'm a crazy dreamer!

I could imagine in my wildest dreams a society in the U.S. where wage earners paid progressive income taxes and no other taxes on their income. Social Security and Medicare costs should be paid out of the revenue from all taxation. Healthcare should be a nationally funded program that families and corporations pay based upon income (and in some cases "receipts" as income is endlessly avoided and deferred in some cases).

Taxes should be paid on income and on inheritance and minimally on our purchases that we make. We should have a fairly high deduction for ourselves and our families, and then perhaps two or three tax brackets.

I'm part of a family of four with two children and two adults. Perhaps we should have a deduction of $10,000 for each adult and $2500 for each child. Thus we have $25,000 tax free.
Then perhaps we should pay 10% taxes on our first $50,000 in taxable income and maybe 35-40% on all additional income. There are no other deductions. Based upon our taxable income we pay for our medical treatment with a deductible, copayments and a family maximum that we pay.

Under such a system a family of four, like ours would pay taxes (if 35% highest rate) as follows:

Gross Taxes Percent
Income

$25,000 $0 0%
$50,000 $2,500 5%

$75,000 $5,000 6.667%
$100,000 $13,500 13.5%
$125,000 $22,500 18%
$150,000 $31,250 20.83%
$200,000 $48,750 24.375%
$500,000 $153,750 30.75%
$1,000,000 $328,750 32.875%
$10,000,000 $3,478,750 34.7875%

If the marginal rate were 40% the rates would be marginally higher at lower incomes and moderately higher at higher incomes.

Now estates could be taxed perhaps with an exemption of somewhere between: $5,000,000 and $10,000,000. This should exempt most "small business people".

This to me is a fairly simple, progressive tax system. The real estate industry would oppose it because there is no real estate exemption to benefit mostly middle and upper income home owners. Charitable organizations would oppose this because donations would lose their tax savings particularly for higher income individuals.

Lower and middle income workers would be a lot better off! Those with investments but not a lot of income from them would similarly do well. Small employers would no longer be paying a lot of payroll taxes and benefits for social security, medicare, and health benefits.

Yes, the super-rich might be hurt! Yes, the reasonably rich might be hurt!

Sorry! Thanks!

We're So Kind - RE: Iraq!

Per a newspaper article I read from last week's paper,

1.) Per UN figures - 40,000 Iraqi's must flee their homes and become refugees monthly,

2.) Supporting the U.S. - such as being a translator for the U.S. and/or otherwise helping the U.S. Government/Troops - can easily help make one a target - for being killed or becoming a refugee,

3.) So - aha - how many Iraqi refugees have been accepted by the United States recently?

Would 1% - or 400 - perhaps seem "reasonable" or is that too small a figure?

Would you believe it - we've been SO GENEROUS - and let in 69 (sixty-nine) people in total over the past 7 (seven) months.

Thanks!!!!

Talking about Peace - Israel/Palestine ??

After a several hour discussion with my brother-in-law and my mother about Israel/Palestine I'm tired. My brother-in-law's mother lives in Northern Israel and has been there recently. He talks of a world view where Israel wants peace but the Palestinians prevent it.

We agree on the need for a Palestinian state including Gaza and the West Bank - with secure borders and a true peace. Jerusalem - he says Israel will never give up any of. I don't know how Jerusalem can be resolved between mutually exclusive demands of both sides.

I see a need for trust building. I see a need for American Jews to confront the U.S. Government and help change how the U.S. Government treats the Israeli Governent as well as others in the Middle East. He believes that I am wrong in opposing Israeli Government positions.

It is hard to face the truths of the divides among American Jews. Building peace will take time and breaking down barriers between us. It will be hard to imagine a peace when "liberals" like my brother-in-law and I disagree as strongly as we do.

Listening to each other is important. Talking with each other is important. Thanks!

I Must be Confused - RE: Israel, Fatah, Hamas etc.

Per Scott Wilson of the Washington Post proximate to May 18, 2007:

"Israel this week allowed the Palestinian Fatah faction to bring into the Gaza Strip as many as 500 of its troops trained under a U.S.-coordinated program, to counter Hamas, the Islamic movment that won Palestinian parliamentary elections last year."

"The troops deployment illustrates the increasingly partisan role that Israel and the Bush administation are taking in the volatile Palestinian political situation."

"But both Israel and the United States, each deeply unpopular among Arabs in the region, have been trying to avoid the perception of taking sides in a conflict that this week in Gaza has resembled a nascent civil war."

Hmmmmmm - Let's assume that several of the major leaders of countries in Europe were to decide that they should fund one of the major Democratic Party candidates (indirectly of course - in "legal ways") and provide a clear platform allowing she or he to get a lot more positive publicity. They would be presuming that it would be in their best interests (and the rest of the world's of course!), if a Democrat, and this particular one, were to be elected.

I presume that our current administration would admire their pluck and sadly say: "We tried to get their support for a Republican, but unfortunately they wouldn't support Him."

Now let's, see: Arafat was a corrupt dictator and not one to be trusted. His successor wasn't seemingly corrupt, but he couldn't bring things together before the elections and bring about any kind of "successes" with Israeli and USian authorities.

Democracy is the Answer in the Middle East. Oh, my gosh, why did those crazy Arabs elect Hamas? Couldn't they see how WE in the U.S. were doing everything in our power to create a viable Palestinian State under Abbas, the Fatah candidate.

Oh, he lost political power with the election results, yet we still: "Israel this week allowed...."

Now of course Israel might possibly have had the support of the U.S. Government in this, don't you think!?

Thanks!

When We Hurt

Today is my 56th Birthday.
The weather has changed from yesterday's warmth and sunshine to today's coolness and clouds.
Our house has some type of sewer related problem which will hopefully be fixed within the next few hours.
I'm behind on sleep and feeling very tired.
I'm also sad.

When I am hurting
It may be
because of something unexpected like
a friend who has been hit by a car
or something expected like
the recent death of my aunt - cancer related
It may be because of something or somethings
nasty
which others have done to me

When I am hurting
because
I have hurt
the one I love
I have failed
because
I have made
major mistakes
hurting
the one I love
I am sad.

I reflect
and hope
that
I will do better
moving ahead
at age 56,

Not
Using perceived hurts
or Other Pain
to Falsely Justify
Hurting Others

I'm glad
to have the chance
to Do Better

May my 56th Birthday
be
A Day of Growth
A Day of Hope
A Day to Reflect
and perhaps to be Sad

Caught Amongst the Trees

Caught amongst the

tangled branches of

the large dark tree

Seeking the breath

of the cool forest

Moving outside –

- Also inside

takes

much patience, energy,

thought – and

Perhaps,

Some Luck

The perspiration drips

from the upper branches

The whispers of the wind

move in slowly with their

sweet, but subtly strong energy

Tis “only” nature – but

Is it really a tree? Or

Rather – human nature

05/15/2007

Respect

Respect is something that comes back time and again in my life.

Yesterday, my mother's 80th birthday, which meant something to her. To her aging husband it meant things perhaps in moments, but Not when he felt "wronged" or otherwise not feeling any need to defer to her feelings. For her respect comes in moments countered with periods when she doesn't matter. This, of course, hurt her, though it is little different from how it's been over the 34 years they've been together.

When my partner and I have our difficulties communicating nearly always each of us feels that the other isn't honoring and respecting the other. Not feeling heard and having one's words or feelings accepted as valid and important (in one's mind at least) is common in our relationships and our world in general.

Respect is accepting the other, whether an individual, a group, a nation, or whatever. Respect is not knowing what is best for the other. It is not knowing what the other should be feeling. It is not knowing what is best for the other.

Respect for others comes out of groundedness and respect for oneself. When I (or We) feel deep pain and hurt inside we can not respect ourselves. When we can't live comfortably within ourselves, it is doubly hard to support others. Being able to escape the "me, me, me" feeling of neediness isn't always easy for us as individuals or groups or countries we are a part of. The religious dogmas which tell us: "you are better than all the others" can feed zenophobia and hatred among people who feel attacked. Economic inequalities and often related political exploitation fuels dissonance among those who "succeed" and those who are put down.

Among those who are a "minority" or feel that way respect among their fellow group members is often very important to cope with the dominant culture. Nearly all, if not all of us feel like we are a "minority" in some parts of our lives. When we don't see ourselves as a minority, we often don't feel a wholesome pride in our culture and being.

I hope naively perhaps that we will find better ways to respect each other in the future. IF we do we may deal with how we in the U.S. abuse children, women, Muslims and others perceived as Muslims, People of Color, Gays/Lesbians/Bi's/Transgendered Folks and many others.

It is hard for people to heal their hurts. We can say we are sorry. We can also work to change the systems that cause the hurts.

Thanks!

Time Management and Priorities

In 1976 or so in my early days with The Social Security Administration in Chicago I heard a story about the Detroit Downtown Social Security Office. In those days urban social security offices were swamped with claimants due to the problems with the Supplemental Security Income program which began in 1974. It had been normal in our office for claimants to wait 2-3 hours for service and there was no internet or other alternatives for service (before we began our telephone service).

The manager of the Detroit Downtwon Social Security Office was asked why he didn't have a section of his office taking claims over the telephone to ease the pressures on his staff. His response was: "I have 25 claims representatives taking claims all day long. How could I spare staff to take claims over the telephone?"

Taking claims over the telephone was more efficient than in the office. It also was a way to skim part of the workload (in a sense prioratizing it) so that those filing for retirement, disability and survivor benefits could not waste a lot of time just waiting.

Obviously, the manager was taking a short-sighted view of the problem that he faced. His claimants had no choice. They had to come into his office. He couldn't control the number of people who needed service. He could control how they were served.

Much of life is similar to the story above. We face time pressures day-in and day-out in our lives. We make choices, but often not good choices, as to how we live our lives. We see only the surface of our issues - and feel trapped.

When we're in "crisis moments" we may have few options. Much of the time though, it is our normal lives, seemingly out of control. When life is more leisurely, we have no need to organize things efficiently and prioratize, so we often are inefficient. Then things revert to long-term "craziness" and we're stuck.

Much in our lives doesn't need to be so complicated. We make choices as to what is important and often choose to take on too much in our lives. Even when we face such situations in our lives we do have far more choices than we see.

Thanks!

Rachel Corrie and Jonathan Kozol

Yesterday we saw a very well done production of: "My Name is Rachel Corrie" and afterwards heard her parents and sister and others talk about the play and her life. Rachel Corrie was killed at age 23 by an Israeli Defense Force bulldozer just over four years ago in Rafah in Gaza trying to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes there.

The play was written for a single narrator (Rachel Corrie) speaking from her diaries, emails and other writings about her life. The play portrays her as a lively, fascinating individual questioning much in worlds trying to work to make our lives better for All of us humans.

The play is very political, but also very personal and beautiful in exploring what is important in life (for all of us) as well how she was quirky and funny in many ways. I was crying at various times as the seriousness of her life grew once she arrived in Gaza shortly before her death.

I am reading Jonathan Kozol's "The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America" a fascinating book helping expose the underbelly of the U.S.'s public school system. Kozol's books are always fascinating and scary as he talks with poor, generally Black children in our inner cities.

Both Corrie and Kozol point to the need for all of us to work in many different ways to help make our planet a better place. They both indict the leadership of the U.S. in multiple ways as well as exposing the need for major changes in much in our lives and the lives of others affected by our lives.

Thanks1

Resignations - Corruption in the Bush Administration

--- "I can not tell a lie. I have never lied." ---

Such a statement reflects my perspective on the basic tenets of the Bush adminstration.

Mr. Bush and his advisors seem to believe that they know what is best for all of us at least nearly all the time. Where we agree with them - great, where we disagree with them - we are simply WRONG - and they will do things the RIGHT way.

The pressures on Bush to force his Attorney General to resign are another example of someone being caught doing wrong and when the political pressures are too great, he'll be gone (assuming this happens which seems likely now).

When someone such as Colin Powell (it seems like an eternity ago) stands up for himself or wants to, s/he must decide whether to leave or to keep their mouth shut.

Fortunately - reality - The War in Iraq, the draconian changes in laws such as in the Patriot Act and many other things show clearly a few people who have created far, far more terrorists than they've weeded out and whose vision of the world leaves out many of us.

Most of us face a world where tax cuts for the wealthy primarily are not our highest priority. Most of us face a world where health care needs are not simply tax credits which do not take care of the needs of the poor and often are not helpful or unnecessary for the well off.
Most of us face a world where we increasingly see how veterans' care neglect is the norm, not an exception as "little people" don't matter and people with wealth already have the ins to get what they want.
Most of us see advisors like Karl Rove and Dick Cheney seeking a world where we are not important.

Sound bites and lies can delay the truth being told, but the truth will start coming out eventually. One can only hope that more Democratic politicians will start to develop a backbone (and some depth to their thinking) and some Republican politicians will see it in their own self-interest to begin to change.

The politics of deception are the norm today. Mr. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" and "faith" have been shown for what they are.

Hopefully more of us will do more to bring about substantive change!

Thanks!

Grieving

Tears Under The Sea
- Surging Up - then
slowly sweeping ashore

Diffuse
Quiet - as Memories are Stirred
Images over many Years
Her Smile -
her Gentle - Strong
caring love
Her Inner Beauty - shared and Visible

No More -
The Cancer took her Away from Us
A full life she had

Giving to Many -
- her large family
- the students and others she counseled
- neighbors and friends
were Helped
in so Many ways.

In my childhood
her kindness wasn't as visible to me
She was different (in my image)
- seemingly simple - not fashionable
but kind and loving

Later on she Saved
one Important to Me
in So Many Ways

Taking a young, troubled Adult
- who hadn't made it through his childhood Intact

Accepting him -
when He was Weak,
Trying to help him
find his path

Becoming - over Time
His Surrogate Mother

A small, but vital part
of the many loving,
caring things she did
for all around her.

Most of her dreams -
She made real -
with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren,

caring for other Children,
Having - a house
Open to others
who Sought sustenance, advice and Learning -

Helping her Learn
the Yiddishkite
That was her life

Now - Others close to her
must move on -
saddened, but having taken in
a Rare gift
in many, many different ways.

Death is an awakening
Bringing individually
Our Spirits - more Alive
Teaching us - we are a little more
than we've seen and believed,
Helping our hearts - reopen
and Be.

I'm sad - but happy to have had my life
Touched and given such a gift
Lucky to have been able to
Say - My Farewell
a Month ago
and to now
Feel the loss and much more
in my life as I return home.

Words - fail -
Feelings - Memories
linger on
Now and Beyond
3/19/2007

(My aunt - 77 - died early 3/17/2007 after nearly two years of facing cancer)

Rojo - with protection + Onyx (after his surgery)

Rojo has 5+ days of wearing the plastic cover after he was neutered yesterday.

Heroism - "Serving Our Country"

I'm having a lot of difficulty accepting the purported Heroism of our soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere. In saying this I'm not saying that our soldiers aren't necessarily sincere, nor questioning their feelings that may be called "patriotism" by themselves and others.

Though it is an exaggerated and not similar example, I think of a gang member who saves the life of his comrade through pulling him away from a bullet that might have killed him. Such a young man (or woman) is doing a good deed and saving the life of another.

One may argue that being in a gang isn't "patriotic" and that being in the military is. I will agree with the former statement, but disagree with the latter one.

One of the biggest problems our country has faced over many years is its irrational support of military, rather than diplomatic solutions to problems it sees. If Iraq (or for some Vietnam and Iraq) were the only "mistakes" and if "mistakes" weren't Simply because: "we didn't win", but rather because the cause was wrong, then I might see things differently.

The United States Government does do some good around the world. We also have a history of invading and otherwise controling the economic interests of others through the world where we have economic interests. For a long time this meant The Americas as we dominated in many smaller countries. Increasingly things like oil and other valuable resources become more and more important in other parts of the world.

I don't see the legitimacy of the current government in Iraq. It serves at the pleasure of the U.S. I don't see how we are "doing good" in our entire operation in Iraq. Certainly some good things are done for the people, however at least as many bad things are also done. I don't see how we can know who should legimately rule this country. Unfortunately we've created such a mess that the Iraqis may go through a lot more pain until they figure out how to run their own country, assuming that we even let them do that at some point in time.

We have a clear responsibility to do our best to make peace in Palestine - The West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. has interfered with peace efforts that the Israelis have made and helped make peace much more elusive. We could help end the losses of life and economic oppression as well as the lives of fear that both Israelis and Palestinians have today.

We aren't doing this now! The U.S. is clearly allied with the Israelis and against the Palestinians. A "neutral stance" and pressure could help both sides find peace.

I think that we have many heroes among us! Many incredible people help children, adults and elderly people be educated, be physically and mentally healthy, as well as doing many other things for others. Some famous people like like the actor Danny Glover help push for a society free of oppression.

For me a lot of the true heroes don't seek fame and often don't get it. Men like Paul Kivel of Oakland, California, commit themselves to issues of racism, sexism, and even progressive Judiasm and help all of us and our children. Far, far more women such as Alice Walker and Marion Wright Edelman have helped millions of people in the U.S. and elsewhere have better lives.

Our soldiers mean well. Far too many of them are in Iraq because they need the money from their service and because they have had a faith in the leadership of this country. I admire Ehren Watada and others who at least in part resist what they see as wrong.

Patriotism comes from building our country and the world to be a better place! I know that most soldiers want to think and some do think that they are doing this in the military.

I believe that building peace and love and caring and a world free of oppression is the true way we can serve our country and be a hero.

Thank you!

"I didn't Mean it That Way"

Often in life we make statements that may not sound to the listener the way we think we intended the words to be heard:

I didn't mean that I don't love you but .....

Of course I respect you my child. What I said to you was for the best even though you may not see it that way now.

I have nothing against (take your pick): Arabs, Jews, Feminists, Black People ... Some of my best friends are (take your pick).

Upon hearing that my partner (Black Woman) is Jewish: "Oh, you and Sammy Davis Jr.

Frequently the statements are not as blatant. The person listening may have had a lot of painful experiences in their life related to what the other person is seemingly flippantly saying.

As a White Man I often don't realize how others who may be Female, of Color, or of a Working Class Background may be "translating" in their daily lives, making the dominant culture people such as me "comfortable" and living in a "foreign" world for themselves (at least in the area I'm talking about).

Listening and really hearing, feeling and thinking all can help a little at least!

Thanks!

Palestinian - Jewish Communication etc.

Last evening I attended a meeting with nine others to try to begin coordinating plans for peace related events towards ending the occupation of The West Bank and Gaza for the 40th Anniversary of the beginning of the Occupation (in June, 2007).

We were: three Palestinians, four Jews and probably three White Christian ("normal folks").

We had few visible boundaries between us and much mutual respect.

It is strange how "Muslims" are in the U.S. this scary monolithic people who we are so afraid of.

It is also strange how most people in the U.S. don't understand the importance to millions of people in other parts of the world (many of whom are Muslim) of the Palestinian people having their own completely independent state.

I will continue feeling a need to work with other Jews, in cooperation with others to try to help change things for the better in the U.S. primarily seeking changes in U.S. foreign policy. While Jewish Israelis are certainly not the sole "problem", their fears must be dealt with in building peace for all in this part of the Middle East. It will take work among all - U.S. people and leadership, the Palestinians, other Arab and nearby countries and the Israelis to finally achieve peace.

Let's not pretend though that the hurts of the wars and the occupation have hurt Israel and Jews More than they've affected the Palestinians. 40 years of occupation and 59 years of the State of Israel have greatly affected the Palestinians. The Palestinians aren't a meaningless part of the Arab/Muslim world which lack importance any more than we, the Jews of the U.S., are meaningless because we don't live in Israel.

Thanks!

Thanks!

A Different World - I May Not Understand

I, a White Man, live with my Black Partner and her two (biracial) children who are now 8 and 11 years old. I also have a son from my first marriage who is attending an Ivy League University. We are certainly "upper-middle class" and indeed our family income is around three times the median income for our area.

The first week of school I met the mother of a classmate of our 8 year old in the halls of their school. She has a child in the fifth grade, in whose classroom I work as a parent volunteer, as well as an 18-19 year old son I've never met. She is White and her husband is Black.

Q, the fifth grader, dresses nicely and is a cooperative, pleasant boy. He clearly struggles academically, though he seems to fit in fairly well with his classmates. R, our fifth grader, has been accepted in the public schools' gifted program which should allow him in middle school to have his core classes with other similar children.

My 19 year old son S got over a 4.0 grade point average 2nd semester last year and dipped "significantly" to a little over a 3.6 gpa last semester. This woman's 18-19 year old's girlfriend gave birth to a child a few months ago. The woman told me that the girlfriend had lied about her age to her son and was only 15 (perhaps 16 by now).

I'm retired and on a federal pension. My partner has an excellent job she will start soon, with temporary work since her last job ended. This woman has told me that her husband needs to lose a signifcant amount of weight before he can safely have major surgery he needs to be able to have a chance at working again. She quit her job to take care of him and now has her three children, the girlfriend (fiance) and the grandbaby in her household.

We live in a different world from these people! My guess is that we don't understand their issues and struggles and probably they know little of what we face.

There are other divides in our country and the world. I hope that we can learn from each other and accept and care for each other. Thanks!

Those "Feisty???" Democrats ???

It seems pathetic that the Democrats in Congress can speak so seemingly strongly against President Bush's Iraq failures and general policies, but then can't unify and work minimally with some Republicans where helpful to really take a STRONG stand against current policy!

I don't hear anyone saying that we should oppose the individual troop members in Iraq. I don't hear anyone saying that we should do any more than trying to help end the killing and let the Iraqis determine their own future without our interference.

Yes there may be chaos if/when U.S. troops are withdrawn! There certainly is plenty of chaos now also.

The grandstanding and protecting of posteriors seems more important than actually working to end the War! Obviously "the people" haven't spoken loud enough yet to really change things more than superficially.

Thanks!

Candidate Predicting for 2008

My perspective is hardly insightful or unique!

The Democratic Party seems more predictable than the Republicans.

I'd be very surprised if the Democratic Party contenders don't narrow down to:

Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama and
John Edwards

very quickly. None of the other Democratic candidates seem likely to be able to raise enough money and have visibility to compete.

The main questions about Clinton seem to be:

1.) Is she electable? - Does she have too many people opposed to her to win a general election?

2.) Her position(s) on Iraq also may come into question particularly if Democrats push towards the more - "pull out now" direction which much of the electorate seems to favor.

The questions about Obama seem to be:

1.) Is the country really ready for a Black President?

2.) Where does he really stand on most issues?

3.) Is he too inexperienced as a politician?

The questions about Edwards seem to be:

1.) Will his strategy of being "the liberal candidate" (or most liberal) work?

2.) Can he move up from the #3 position and be in the limelight?

It seems hard to predict what may happen!

The Republicans may have more potential major candidates if Bush's position on the War remains unpopular towards the end of 2007. If Bush looks "good" on the War (doubtful) John McCain may pull into the lead well ahead of other candidates.

If McCain's stance in support of Bush now - doesn't prove popular, I'd guess that:

Chuck Nagel - would be the "middle of the road favorite" and perhaps

Sam Brownback would be the "traditional Conservative" choice and

maybe Mitt Romney will become a major Conservative candidate.

We'll see what happens! A lot can change in 2007 and in early 2008.

Perhaps - the voting public will have a little input ???

Thanks!

Combatants For Peace - An Interesting Group !

Combatants For Peace - is a most interesting group!

Hearing a Palestinian former "terrorist" talking with an Israeli Jewish former counter-intelligence specialist (Israeli Army) of the necessary dialogue between Palestinians and Israeli Jews was most positively illuminating!

These two men spoke of their pasts, the forces from both of their pasts who inflame things with violence and the need to break down the distrust between their peoples.

Talking of the need for dialogue to build a true, lasting peace was most helpful for me! Their patience and realization that it will take time to be successful working with non-violence (only) is very true to me.

www.combatantsforpeace.org. Another important group together with: Tikkun, Jewish Voice for Peace, Brit Tsedek among Jews and other groups representing others.

Thanks!

More of Onyx and Rojo

The Exodus from Iraq

Based upon the data I quoted about the Middle East and the U.S. recently Iraq's population is approximately 1/11th of the population of the United States.

Based upon the numbers shown in an article originally written by Sudarsan Raghavan of the Washington Post entitled: "Exodus from Iraq creates friction in Middle East" if one were to multiply the given Iraqi numbers by eleven, we would have:

1. Almost 22 million who had fled our country,
2. 18.7 additional millionwho had been forced to move to safer places in the U.S.
3. As many as 550,000 USians fleeing their homes each month.

It's hard for me to imagine such staggering numbers.

Similarly, suicide bombings that kill 30 to 120 or so Iraqis would be killing - 330 to 1320 Usians - quite regularly lately at least!

This is pretty scary to me! We talk of the 3000 (now) + dead USian soldiers.

Pretty scary (and unnecessary) !!!

Thanks!

The US - and "interests" - and control ???

Below are some population figures I just got off the internet. The U.S. spends more money on its military than the rest of the world put together (or close to it). The U.S. has a "larger" economy that its population would otherwise indicate. The U.S. also uses a disproportionate amount of the world's resources.

I think a little humility (including Listening, Really Listening to people in other countries) might be a good idea for our leadership and our people.

We have around 4.5% of the world's population and are dwarfed by China and India. The Middle East and neighboring relevant countries have a population greater than ours. Our national debts each year, deficits in exports vs. imports and amount of our economy which is owned by others from outside the USA - all point to our weakening position in the world - outside of our military strength.

Thanks!

George

http://www.photius.com/wfb1999/rankings/population_0.html (1999)

1 World5,995,544,836

2 China 1,246,871,951

3 India1,000,848,550

4 United States272,639,608

5 Indonesia216,108,345

6 Brazil171,853,126

7 Russia146,393,569

8 Pakistan138,123,359

9 Bangladesh127,117,967

10 Japan126,182,077

11 Nigeria113,828,587

12 Mexico100,294,036

13 Germany82,087,361

14 Philippines79,345,812

15 Vietnam77,311,210

16 Egypt67,273,906

17 Turkey65,599,206

18 Iran65,179,752

19 Thailand60,609,046

20 Ethiopia59,680,383

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/population/ (figures change by the minute there)

Afghanistan - 31,169,572

Egypt - 79,730,153

Iran - 65,769,071

Iraq - 27,197,408

Israel - 6,397,086

Jordan - 5,934,475

Kuwait - 2,410,483

Lebanon - 3,905,296

Saudi Arabia - 27,555,162

Syria - 19,125,487

Turkey - 70,882,634

TOTAL: 334 Million (adding only the million totals)

USA: 298,562,280

On Racism - related to our Fearless Leader

"Well" , he said: "I really think he shatters the myth of white
supremacy once and for all."

Charles Rangel, Democrat, U.S. House of Representatives from NY - long time Black politician responding to what he thought of President Bush.

What more can one say? I like it.

Molly Ivins

I am very saddened to hear of the death of Molly Ivins. Her incredible powerful wit was incredible! Her political insights and awareness pushing over and over again against the policies of President Bush, pointing out the silliness of Texas politics and talking of "Shrub" (as she referred to him) were all unique. Her battle against breast cancer over 7-8 years at least sadly ended yesterday. She will be missed.

Thanks!

Pics - a few minutes ago - 01272007 - Onyx/Rojo

Onyx - more pics

Onyx - Our 2nd Puppy !!

Yesterday I got a phone call asking if I would be willing to foster a (Black Miniature) Golden Doodle - 3 months old - until a permanent adoption was completed. I drove an hour and picked up two pups - each around 10 lbs in size - and brought them to another foster home - which had a 3rd littermate of the two pups. When I got home the three other (human) household members said: Geo, can t we keep him! Now - we have two pups for good - Onyx - is about 10 lbs vs. perhaps 36-38 for Rojo, who now looks huge!

Onyx has peed and pooped in the kitchen this evening already.

He should be somewhere in the 30-35 lb range when fully grown perhaps. Rojo will probably end up 60+ lbs in size. So our - Labradoodle - is Red or Golden and our Golden Doodle is Black!

Fun - and 2-4 hours of sleep - before taking him out - if he does not pee in the plastic crate we will use for a few days.

A "Simple Time"

I went to California for my mother's surgery on Monday. My mother is approaching age 80 and my step-father is approaching age 85. Nothing is ever simple with the "ole folks"!

Tuesday morning we were off to the hospital at 5:30 a.m. The surgery was completed ahead of schedule. My step-father held up quite well (for him). We went home Tuesday evening, got a good night's sleep and came back to take Ma home Wednesday morning.

Things seemed very normal at home Wednesday and we all went to bed perhaps a little early.

At 3:30 a.m. Thursday - Ma - said: "Wake up G - I's - in tremendous pain - and wants to go to the emergency room. We were in the emergency room from 4:00 a.m. til 4:00 p.m. - when there was finally a room to admit I. By that time most possible problems had been ruled out with various tests.

Then Ma - discovered that she was dehydrated because she's not drunk anywhere enough liquids. Once she began drinking water, her digestive system went from - way too slow - to ooooooooooeeeeeeee - and wouldn't let up.

I took her home to get a nap, but she couldn't lay down without ooooeeee - and quickly made an appointment to see a doctor at 7:00 p.m. at the clinic at the hospital. Her appointment felt rushed in her estimation - and gave her no relief.


It took forever for her to get her blood test done. She seemed more than a little out of it - and went with me back to the emergency room - and asked a nurse we'd dealt with earlier - if she could get a bed to lie down on there (understand that there were a good 20-30 or more people waiting for help in the emergency room). That (of course) didn't work!!! We went up to I.'s room - and then were sent home to get some sleep.

Friday morning - we were up and doing fine until we were about to head off to the hospital. I couldn't find Ma's keys - which I'd had. I looked all over several times and couldn't find them. We used I's keys and I dropped her off at the hospital.

I went back to the house - looked a 3rd or 4th time and still couldn't find the keys. M .- picked me up and we both searched unsuccessfully for the keys. We were off to the airport for my flight home. M. - said - we've searched the whole house - Ma - must have the keys in her purse. I told her she'd searched the purse, but acknowledged that this was possible. M. talked with her husband - who was with the Ole Man and Ma - and Ma said again - that she'd looked in her purse and that I'd lost the keys.

A minute later - as we arrived at the airport to drop me off - M.'s cell phone rang - and she said: "She's found the keys in her purse" - and - yup - she was right!

Flying home was rather a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (*smiling*!!!)

Thanks!

The Absent Minded Regressor (me!)

Yesterday, in preparation for my trip which I am now on, I bought some dental floss. Of course, while emptying my pockets before doing laundry I didn't feel nor remove the dental floss. I couldn't find it and then looked in the dryer. There was the entire dental floss wrapped around parts of the laundry with separate pieces of the plastic and metal elsewhere in the dryer, fortunately not melted!

Silly me!

Gettin Old and Fergetful!

Thanks!

Ehren Watada - Objections to War ?

Ehren Watada, an officer the the U.S. Army, has taken a courageous stand in refusing to go back to Iraq, contesting the legality of this War. He has appeared at various protests against the War in the Pacific Northwest. Watada had offered to go to Afghanistan instead, indicating that he wasn't opposed to wars in general. Now he faces up to six years in military prison, facing a certain military court conviction, after the military judge has indicated that he can't contest the legality of the Iraqi War in his court defense.

In this case strangely I find that I agree with the court position. The place where this War should be contested should be in protests in the streets as well as in Congress. The military is not the place for individual soldiers to Not Face Consequences when they refuse military orders. If Watada's resistence leads to others doing similar, perhaps politicians will finally take strong enough action to stop the War. I admire his stand. I think that he should do as he is doing and face his trial standing up for his beliefs.

Watada is doing an admirable thing! He will pay for his convictions in part. He also is growing as a person and hopefully will be a better person for his actions.

Watada apparently though doesn't see the clear pattern of U.S. foreign policy which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela and elsewhere today as well as Nicaragua, Cuba, The Phillipines, Iran (again), Mexico and many other countries. Native Americans were lied to and conquered as the U.S. was "settled" and our country has a shameful history since then.

We are not "bad people" or a "bad country".

We do need to recognize that our foreign policy intends to support what are labeled "our interests". Such interests often represent a narrow view of the world which at various times ignored and ignores the interests of most people in other countries as well as in our own country.

Seeing the similar patterns over time and working to change the system as a whole is most important! Labeling other countries such as France negatively when they refuse to support our aggression is not helpful. Recognizing how our foreign policy often represents powerful U.S. and increasingly multi-national economic interests is important.

It is said in the media now that there is a political divide between:

1.) some Republicans (primarily) who remain scared of "terrorism" and support an aggressive foreign policy largely supportive of Mr. Bush (or at least his aims) and

2.) most Democrats (primarily) - whose voting public wish a withdrawal from the international arena (not just Iraq and Afghanistan) including not supporting a hypothetical future military action in a country where there is a known terrorist threat to the U.S.

The "War on Terrorism" represents a political effort of Mr. Bush and his allies to paint many groups opposed to U.S. policy as somehow in a united effort against us. Ignorance and scare tactics help make people believe that Sunni and Shiite bitter enemies of each other are somehow united against us. Individual efforts elsewhere are bunched together generally totally inaccurately.

There are serious threats of nuclear war and terror particularly with countries like North Korea. Iran is certainly a potential threat to the U.S.

We should be talking, talking, talking with our "enemies" and others. We will disagree with others, but we can respect them and respect the threats they may pose to us by talking with them and keeping communication open.

The efforts of the Bushites help create new real threats and build a state of perpetual war efforts. As people in other countries are not listened to and are labeled "the enemy" by the Bushites, more and more people do in fact turn to Islamic fundamentalism and other efforts that do in many cases become real "terrorist threats".

The reaction to this among many U.S. citizens unfortunately is not to learn the deeper meanings of what is going on. People generally don't see much of this! They react in some ways similar to popular U.S. reaction after World War I - putting their heads in the sand and wanting no part of what is going on in much of the rest of the world.

After World War I the rise of Hitler and facism was heavily influenced by how the U.S., England and France tried to punish the Germans and ignored the effects of their actions until it was too late.

It is unclear what the effects may be of U.S. efforts to disengage from foreign conflicts. Some politicians are trying to work on a middle ground which might help. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico brokered a peace agreement in Somalia. Jimmy Carter, despite his age, works for peace in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Hopefully over time U.S. citizens will begin to be more aware and help push our politicians in good ways.

www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org - is a good source of self-education on Israel-Palestine issues.

Howard Zinn (www.howardzinn.org) - wrote a wonderful book (available in paperback) entitled "A Peoples History of the United States" which is a great primer for understanding the present state of the U.S. as being a continuation of the past.

There are many similar good sources of information on the internet related to other important issues.

Thanks!