The Innocent In War

There is a story out about a pregnant Iraqi woman who was gunned down while on her way to deliver her baby. Two more precious souls died.
If she were having her cousin drive her in a different country, one not battered in war, she may have flown through a red light to make it to the hospital--it happens. What gets her killed is trying to ignore the checkpoint, because this a Iraq; this is war. It's normal to hurry to the hospital when labor begins, but this is Iraq,; this is war.

Was she killed by a stop loss soldier on his 3rd or 4th Iraqi tour?
Was she killed by a soldier who has watched his buddies being blown to bits by IED's for the past months, wondering when his turn will be?
If this soldier makes it out if Iraq alive, who will he be when he comes home?

These are men who are forever changed; each processing their experience in different ways.

It's all tragic. Our government started the ball rolling on a war that is efficient in killing innocent people--Iraqi's & Americans.

Until tomorrow,
Deanna

We Are The Majority

Ava Lowery is a fifteen year old whom I have never met. I don't know what she looks like, or what her favorite subjects are in school. What I do know about this brave, intelligent young woman is that she GETS IT.
Her incredible talent for making videos has helped launch her websitePeace Takes Courage.

Take some time to review this special piece of work. She is speaking about issues around this war that should be blasted on mainstream media. We are the majority--we can stand up for this country's Bill of Rights, Her Constitution, Her Freedoms.

This incredible teenage has received death threats for speaking the truth. That is the most un-American thing anyone can do.

Please pay her site a visit.

Peace,
Deanna

What's Really Going On In New Orleans?

Dropping Knowledge is a website that all of humankind needs to visit. It's a global project; one that is desparately needed. If you have a burning question, ask it here. If you have in mind an innovative person to participate, share it here.

This video is just one reason people need to wake up in America.

Corporations rule the roost. Congress is intimidated by the money. Not an excuse, just the fact.

The frustration level gets so high for myself & my husband because we do not have the resources to do what we want--to go to NOLA to help, or to travel to where there is not assistance(generally countries & areas in USA that mostly brown-skinned people inhabit).
We would become homeless in less than a month.

So, we focus on what we CAN do---write letters, this blog, try to educate people around us, and give money where we believe it will help the most. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are in the same boat as us.


And, it's Memorial Day. Please take a moment to read this diary that my husband wrote.Daily Kos: A tearful memorial for a soldier. Please take a moment to remember them.

Until tomorrow,
Deanna

Randi Rhodes

It's 94 here in northern Illinois today. I'm going to try to enjoy the weather in my inlaw's pool.

For anyone following the Enron scandal, Randi Rhodes will be discussing it on her show today, among other goodies--like the confirmation of the new NSA Michael"Negraponte-Boy" Hayden.

Have a great Sunday!

Peace,
Deanna

Impeach

The president's lack of aptitude in dealing with MOST issues is astounding!
In previous posts, I've laid out why our incompetent president needs to be impeached & links to my research. I find it very appropriate to call for impeachment during this Memorial Day weekend. George has NOT been a soldier's friend.

I copied the Official Impeachment Text fromMichael Moore's website:

OFFICIAL IMPEACHMENT TEXT

WHEREAS, Jefferson's Manual section LIII, 603, states that impeachment may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush has intentionally misled the Congress and the public regarding the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war against Iraq, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1001 and intentionally conspired with others to defraud the United States in connection with the war against Iraq in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush has admitted to ordering the National Security Agency to conduct electronic surveillance of American civilians without seeking warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, duly constituted by Congress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code, Section 1805; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush has conspired to commit the torture of prisoners in violation of the UN Torture Convention and the Geneva Convention, which under Article VI of the Constitution are part of the "supreme Law of the Land"; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush has acted to strip Americans of their constitutional rights by ordering indefinite detention of citizens, without access to legal counsel, without charge and without opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the President of a U.S. citizen as an "enemy combatant", all in subversion of law; and

WHEREAS, In all of this George W. Bush has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President, subversive of constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the State of ___________ and of the United States.

Be it resolved that George W. Bush, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.

It doesn't get any more clear than this kids!

Peace,
Deanna

Bike To Work

Normally, I am whining about how my local newspaper has lame articles for their front page stories. Never do I see copy of the Iraq War on the headline.
Today, however, an article caught my eye. I enjoy bike riding and I will ride my bike to work when the weather permits.
It's about 5.3 miles one way & takes me approx. 35 minutes. It's a good ride. There is actually a story about riding your bike to work on the front page of the newspaper. Because of gas prices, its an efficient way to go. There is also discussion on building bike lanes in the urban areas. That would be sweet!
I'm still going to complain that the WAR is not a headline......but, at least this is a good article.

Peace,
Deanna

American Idol/American Fraud

Ok, I admit it; I watch American Idol. These kids are great and they bring me to tears from their talent.

I was excited that Taylor Hicks won & just as happy for Kat--she's going to go far also. As for Elliot, Paris, Ace & the rest.....I believe they will all find work doing what they love.

On the other hand,Jeff Skilling & Kenneth Lay's 15 minutes is up! They are headed for the slammer. These two former Enron execs were convicted today of charges ranging from insider trading to conspiracy and fraud. NPR : Lay, Skilling Convicted in Enron Collapse

Until Tomorrow,
Deanna

Bob Dylan

Today is Bob Dylan's birthday; he is 65 years old.

Visit his official websitehere to check out performance dates & interviews. He's an icon.

Peace,
Deanna

Not Ready To Make Nice

The Dixie Chicks are the bomb! When individuals stand up for what they believe in, I applaud loudly.
These women have received nasty letters, had their music boycotted & have been sent death threats because of their political views about our incompetent president. They were on Letterman.

Watch this.

Peace,
Deanna

My Pets

Charlie is the coolest dog ever---my great dane. And he loves his kitty.


I had to work a very long day today........so........meet my critters.

Also visit the other place we stayed in Key WestAtlantis House .
And my new favorite restaurant in Key West Blue Heaven Restaurant

Peace,
Deanna

Fun In The Sun

This is the coolest place. Hubby & I stayed here, at the The Barnacle Bed & Breakfast on Big Pine Key, for 3 nights. We got to sea kayak, lay in the hammock & take a nap & have fun with the little Key Deer that come right up to you, fearless---looking for food, of course.


This young buck was determined to come right in our room. They really are beautiful.
More pics coming soon--today, I have flowers to plant & laundry, and other chores.
More tomorrow,
Peace,
Deanna

Suicide At Gitmo

On Thursday, while I relax in Key West on vacation, 4 men attempt suicide at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a mere 90 miles south of where I am.

I had been thinking of the prisoners at Gitmo as I stood at the southernmost point in the United States, sending them a silent prayer. I avoided the news while on vacation--I really needed to step back from the constant stream of information I had been taking in on a daily basis. Balance, I always preach to my kids......you have to maintain balance with all things. I wasn't even taking my own advice until I was forcing myself NOT to watch the news while on vacation.

I was burning out.

But......I wasn't suicidal. I wasn't imprisoned with no charges stated against me. I wasn't housed in a mesh cage. I wasn't feeling like there was no hope.

When there is no hope, one may choose to take control of the only thing left--their own life. Many Gitmo prisoners over the past few years have come to this point. At least having their "day in court" gives them a chance to fight for their lives, defend themselves, gives them a chance to prove innocence----or prove guilt. It gives them a chance.

This is a very cruel form of torture. OOPS---USA doesn't torture--I forgot.

Until tomorrow.
Deanna

I Have Returned

We are back from the Florida Keys.

It was a blast! We had a wonderful time. I'll try to post a couple pics of where we stayed & I have some recommendations for some great places to see & FOOD!

Until tomorrow--Deanna

We're On Vacation

As of 7pm tonight, I am officially ON VACATION! Finally. This is a much needed break.
Hubby & I leave for the Keys tomorrow morning.
So, no posts for a week or so, but you can search the links to the left & keep up with the "goings on".
When I return, I will, hopefully have a renewed momentum for following all the BS.

Until then.

Deanna

Missing Children

During this very turbulent time in our administration, there are many issues to be concerned about. Many have been discussed on this blog. Today, I'd like to remind anyone reading this how important it is to not forget about the 1,000,000 children that are reported lost or missing each year. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

I can remember when I took my son to the county fair. He was 4 years old and was enjoying the animals & rides & having a ball with me and his grandparents. In a minute he was gone, no longer holding my hand & became lost in the large crowd.
One minute he was there, the next gone. I began frantically looking for him, calling his name. Several people could obviously see the fear in my face & began helping me, along with my parents..........this went on for an HOUR! We made our way through the fair to where the police had a tent. There he was, playing cards & laughing with a police officer! My G-D, he'd been there almost the entire time he was missing. A wonderful woman found him crying & brought him to the tent. I have no idea who that woman was, but she saved my son's life. ANYTHING could have happened to him. We were so lucky.

My son is now 19 years old and thinking about how I could have lost him forever that day, still upsets me. Now, think about how a mother of a missing child feels as each day goes by........excruciating.

Deanna

A New Low

Chimpy's approval rating has hit an all time low---31%

Who ARE these people who like this man? Are they dumb? Ignorant? Stupid? Blinded by their righteousness?

Anyone who's elevator goes to the top floor can figure out what this administration is all about--keeping the $$$$$$ in their pockets along with all their buddies(corporations & high level officials from all over the world)

Bush's own words from 2002 "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption".

I'm still trying to figure out if he's dumb, ignorant, stupid or blinded by his righteousness. His lack of competence is overwhelming.

Frankly, I just don't get it.

Until tomorrow,
Deanna

Your Ability To See The Truth

I'm starting to get used to the looks now; you know the ones. Eyebrows raised, small smirk at one end of the mouth, or even a shocked look of "What in the world are you talking about?"

When the subjects of world news, politics, Bush, global warming, oil prices, racism etc.... come up, I usually have something to say. Let's be honest, I passionately have something to say! My co-worker's, members of my extended family, people at the grocery store.....I tend to make some person in my immediate vicinity rather uncomfortable with what is coming out of my mouth. Well, so be it.

I think some people really don't want to acknowledge that our government & huge corporations are looking to dominate everything in our world--smashing the little guys(you & me) in the process. We're considered collateral damage. I hear this comment the most, "Well, that is your opinion." I asked one women who gave me that comment, "When did you research this issue?"--She retorted, "Well, goodness sake, I watch the news , nothing is said about THAT. If it were a big deal it would be front page news." I guess it IS hard to contend with THAT logic!

That takes us to the media. Our lovely media. What a great job they are doing. Um......who owns media companies? Oh yeah, big, fat white guys who own multi-billion dollars corporations who are mostly republicans. I forgot. I can see now why Mrs. Skeptical would believe her country is not being taken hostage. AlterNet

Kids, all you need to do to find your country's truth---FOLLOW THE MONEY!

If, for example, General Electric, owns a media company & has their hand on making weapons, why would they want their media talking about ANTI-WAR news? We are being squashed by the money, people. It's the old saying, "Money talks, and bullshit walks."

So ask yourself, "What IS your ability to see the truth?"

Unlike Bush, I Like To Read

I wanted to make a list of some books out there to help the consciousness.

The Bush - Haters Handbook: A Guide to the Most Appalling Presidency of the Past 100 Years

9/11: The Big Lie

Ambushed: Secrets of the Bush Family, the Stolen Presidency, 9-11, and 2004

Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and the Hidden Paths of Power

No True Glory : A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah

Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics

How Would a Patriot Act? Defending American Values from a President Run Amok

9/11 Synthetic Terror: Made in USA

9-11 Descent into Tyranny

You can make very safe bets that Little George is not reading any of these----actually, he's most likely not reading ANY book.

Peace,
Deanna

Goss Loss

Well, another late one for me today. I'll just have to send ya this link on Porter Goss.Goss Leaves CIA; NSA Deputy Eyed for Job - Yahoo! News

Nite,
Deanna

To Heck With You Rummy

Donald's Rumsfeld's ability to lie is stunning.

He was heckled by several people today in Atlanta during a speechCNN.com Video.

He is very good at lying---he has had a helluva lot of practice.

A great book I've read The Exception to the Rulers : Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Love Them by Amy Goodman & David Goodman talks about how Rumsfeld repeatedly lied about meeting with Saddam Hussein in December of 1983 to aid him with his chemical weapons program. Even when confronted with the video from CNN's Jamie McIntyre, Rummy only went on the attack, shouting "Where did you get this video?" From the Iraqi television?" As it continues to play he says, "Isn't that interesting? There I am."

Where did Saddam get his chemical weapons to attack the Kurdish people? Rummy helped facilitate Saddam's buying spree.

Amy Goodman does point out in her book that there is some dispute over whether the 1988 gassing was done by Saddam against the Kurds, or by the Iranian soldiers fighting in the area. The CIA analysts raised the possibility of a third point-Iraq did it, but the intended target was Iranian soldiers.

Bottom line: the Kurds are still dead & our government put forth effort to supply the dictator.

Any thoughts?

Peace,
Deanna

The Long Day

My post will be short tonight; I am exhausted.

But, I made enough money again today to put gas in my Dodge Caravan.

Tonight, visit my new friend Dusty at It's my Right to be Left of the Center and Moments In Time

Peace,
Deanna

Melting Pot

The protests from May 1st from the Hispanic community has been for the most part, well organized, peaceful & strong. From Atlanta to LA to Chicago to New York City, people from ALL races came out in support of immigration rights. Smaller cities & towns like Champaign, Illinois, Garden City, Kansas and Tuscan, Arizona also had their fair share of demonstrators donning T-shirts reading "God Bless America" and singing "We Shall Overcome".
Read what the Los Angeles Times had to say. Parents kept their children out of school, took off work, shutting down many businesses & boycotted shopping for the day.

I was listening to NPR yesterday when the figure of an estimated 11,000,000 illegal immigrants came across the radio.
I'm not sure exactly what the answers are to this situation, but that's a lot of people who have come to this country looking for a better life. Coming to the land of immigrants...........face it, we ALL come from immigrants. Except, of course, the Native Americans, who we killed & stole land from, but that's a week worth of posts right there.
It hardly seems appropriate to criminalize these hard-working people. I think working to help immigrants become legal, would be beneficial to them & America. It's what our country's back-bone is---hard working immigrants.
Any thoughts?

Peace,
Deanna

Mission Accomplished

May 1, 2006 marks the 3rd anniversary of the "Mission Accomplished" lie of the Iraq war.

It's the party all the religious nuts celebrated, but any American who was paying even a small bit of attention, knew that soldiers & Iraqi civilians were still being killed on a daily basis. And it continues..........and continues..........who is celebrating today, on this 3 year milestone?

Since BushCo. has done such a marvelous job in Iraq, there's talk about shaping up Iran. The bullies on the block are still hanging out on the street corner & there is no one who is standing up to them(except, maybe Feingold).

What exactly HAVE we accomplished?

Suffering & death. More people hate us now, which makes terrorism worse.

I call on my Congress to hold Bush & Co. accountable. You have given this man too much power, I demand you take it back.

No more WAR PARTY!


Deanna