This is a crazy study that I've been watching develop on the NY Times website over the last few weeks. Now, they actually have developed a way for you to search by state, city, and county to see what contaminants are in our drinking water and have been over-looked by the people supposed to be regulating it. This is simply outrageous, that for a nation so wealthy, it continues to allow simple infrastructure issues like this to harm its citizens. Time for an uprising!
http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters/contaminants
More Info
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A Poem
The thought occurred to me today, my love,
That you will die.
I prayed that I could go first,
but that would only leave you feeling as I.
I sometimes wonder about my death:
The setting, the circumstances, the inevitability.
But I cannot ponder your's, my love.
My insides ached, emptied
thinking for that second that I might be left behind.
If sooner or later,
I will never have enough time
To be with you.
I would gladly go first
To avoid being here without you.
But I have a better idea -
maybe we can both avoid the feeling:
We'll count to three
and never have to leave each other's side.
That you will die.
I prayed that I could go first,
but that would only leave you feeling as I.
I sometimes wonder about my death:
The setting, the circumstances, the inevitability.
But I cannot ponder your's, my love.
My insides ached, emptied
thinking for that second that I might be left behind.
If sooner or later,
I will never have enough time
To be with you.
I would gladly go first
To avoid being here without you.
But I have a better idea -
maybe we can both avoid the feeling:
We'll count to three
and never have to leave each other's side.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Why the Absense; US Politics; Poverty action
In this post: why I can't write more on this blog right now; US politics; news articles; putting poverty on the political agend
In response to a friend gently prodding me to write more on this blog, I should say that I am quite busy writing on the Palestine blog (see web address above). I'm living Palestine, eating, breathing, feeling Palestine right now, and so that takes most of my time.
It's not that I am unaware of other issues in the world, especially those concerns in the US right now: rising prices (then wildly dropping prices) in almost every sector, financial instability, hurricanes, elections, etc., etc. I have tried to comment, where applicable, on my Palestine blog about the connections between concerns in the US and Palestine-Israel. For example, I have made several references to the US elections and how different candidates' positions may impact this region.
However, we must also keep in mind that, for now, however bad things get in the US, there are other regions in the world where it is much worse and has been for decades. I feel frustrated when people in the US become so infatuated with their own circumstances that they forget about the other people in the world. Simply because the financial situation in the US gets difficult does not mean that US foreign policy ceases to negatively impact the rest of the world. (In fact, those in the world spurned by US foreign policy probably suffer worse when the American public isn't paying attention). And, Americans should keep in mind that their government's foreign policy has a lot to do with the hardships they feel at home.
My interests and time are quite specialized right now, but I imagine that when I take a break from living in Palestine, I will have more time to write here. In the mean time, I will try to be more deliberate about sharing interesting web sites, articles, and action items on this blog.
I want to make a few comments on the US election, then offer an action item and two interesting articles below. First, regarding the US elections: I'm not inspired by any of these monkeys running for president right now. The Republican party is morally bankrupt and has been for a long time: they focus on American "security" at the expense of every else's; they say they're pro-life, then kill hundreds of thousands of people with war; they greedily prop up big business and say they're fiscally conservative while spending record amounts of money on "defense" and running up the deficit; they put the environment and wilderness up for sale; and their policies on issues like gay marriage are just plane bigotry.
But . . . the Democrats aren't much better. They feign liberalism while waging many of the same retarded wars, selling themselves to the same big businesses, and saying whatever they need to get elected while continuing crumby policy. Obama's lofty speeches aren't going to get it done: what's needed is a sea change in US policy, especially foreign policy. Regarding the US relationships to Israel, which is at the heart of the unrest in the Middle East, Democratic administrations have continued the same blind support for Israel that Republican administrations have displayed. In this election, we have Obama and McCain vying for who can support Israel more strongly--how ridiculous is that???
I actually agree with the Republicans that Obama isn't much different than any other wishy washy liberal politician: as far as policy goes, he's mostly giving the same old liberal lines with a few tweaks to make it sound nice.
So . . . if it's not clear already, I won't be voting for either of the two major candidates. But, before people accuse me of giving a vote to the worse of the two evils, let me also point out that because of our great "democratic" system in the US, my vote is safe--my state will ultimately go Democratic. That means that I can vote my conscience without "helping" the Republicans. Besides, I'm not interested in voting against someone; I'm only interested in voting for someone, for policies that I really believe in.
The recent conservative craze over Palin's ascension is just ridiculous. Just what we need: another ignorant, loud mouth like Bush spewing insults at the rest of the world. Oh wait, never mind, that won't happen because she'd only be the VP--the most useless position in gov't until the president kicks the can. Still, it's a little annoying that McCain thought he needed to throw the conservatives this kind of meat. Hopefully he can keep her under control.
And now, the "liberal" feminists are second guessing their blind support for a candidate just because she's a woman. Wait, you mean someone's policies and attitude actually having something to do with it? Voting for someone simply because of his/her race, sex, etc., or not voting for him/her for those reasons are equally sexist, racist, or whatever -ist. Concentrating on shallow attributes like that and not policy, honesty, etc. are how people like Alberto Gonzales (an Hispanic and one of the most corrupt Attorney Generals we've ever had) get into office.
Anyway, enough my ranting. Below are two articles and an action item for helping to end poverty.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080902/ap_on_re_as/japan_us_hiroshima
You mean the US Speaker of the House is the highest ranking serving gov.'t official to visit the site where the US dropped atomic bombs (the only nation to ever use nukes, killings hundreds of thousands of people)? No sitting president has ever visited? Not once? It's high time we make amends for murdering hundreds of thousands of civilians and repent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7602498.stm
Good for Desmond Tutu for speaking against the Church on the issue of homosexuality.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/voteoutpoverty_mobilization/wn8sswurf7m8ddd5?qp_source=act_0809_vop_ec
Take action here to put poverty on the political agenda.
In response to a friend gently prodding me to write more on this blog, I should say that I am quite busy writing on the Palestine blog (see web address above). I'm living Palestine, eating, breathing, feeling Palestine right now, and so that takes most of my time.
It's not that I am unaware of other issues in the world, especially those concerns in the US right now: rising prices (then wildly dropping prices) in almost every sector, financial instability, hurricanes, elections, etc., etc. I have tried to comment, where applicable, on my Palestine blog about the connections between concerns in the US and Palestine-Israel. For example, I have made several references to the US elections and how different candidates' positions may impact this region.
However, we must also keep in mind that, for now, however bad things get in the US, there are other regions in the world where it is much worse and has been for decades. I feel frustrated when people in the US become so infatuated with their own circumstances that they forget about the other people in the world. Simply because the financial situation in the US gets difficult does not mean that US foreign policy ceases to negatively impact the rest of the world. (In fact, those in the world spurned by US foreign policy probably suffer worse when the American public isn't paying attention). And, Americans should keep in mind that their government's foreign policy has a lot to do with the hardships they feel at home.
My interests and time are quite specialized right now, but I imagine that when I take a break from living in Palestine, I will have more time to write here. In the mean time, I will try to be more deliberate about sharing interesting web sites, articles, and action items on this blog.
I want to make a few comments on the US election, then offer an action item and two interesting articles below. First, regarding the US elections: I'm not inspired by any of these monkeys running for president right now. The Republican party is morally bankrupt and has been for a long time: they focus on American "security" at the expense of every else's; they say they're pro-life, then kill hundreds of thousands of people with war; they greedily prop up big business and say they're fiscally conservative while spending record amounts of money on "defense" and running up the deficit; they put the environment and wilderness up for sale; and their policies on issues like gay marriage are just plane bigotry.
But . . . the Democrats aren't much better. They feign liberalism while waging many of the same retarded wars, selling themselves to the same big businesses, and saying whatever they need to get elected while continuing crumby policy. Obama's lofty speeches aren't going to get it done: what's needed is a sea change in US policy, especially foreign policy. Regarding the US relationships to Israel, which is at the heart of the unrest in the Middle East, Democratic administrations have continued the same blind support for Israel that Republican administrations have displayed. In this election, we have Obama and McCain vying for who can support Israel more strongly--how ridiculous is that???
I actually agree with the Republicans that Obama isn't much different than any other wishy washy liberal politician: as far as policy goes, he's mostly giving the same old liberal lines with a few tweaks to make it sound nice.
So . . . if it's not clear already, I won't be voting for either of the two major candidates. But, before people accuse me of giving a vote to the worse of the two evils, let me also point out that because of our great "democratic" system in the US, my vote is safe--my state will ultimately go Democratic. That means that I can vote my conscience without "helping" the Republicans. Besides, I'm not interested in voting against someone; I'm only interested in voting for someone, for policies that I really believe in.
The recent conservative craze over Palin's ascension is just ridiculous. Just what we need: another ignorant, loud mouth like Bush spewing insults at the rest of the world. Oh wait, never mind, that won't happen because she'd only be the VP--the most useless position in gov't until the president kicks the can. Still, it's a little annoying that McCain thought he needed to throw the conservatives this kind of meat. Hopefully he can keep her under control.
And now, the "liberal" feminists are second guessing their blind support for a candidate just because she's a woman. Wait, you mean someone's policies and attitude actually having something to do with it? Voting for someone simply because of his/her race, sex, etc., or not voting for him/her for those reasons are equally sexist, racist, or whatever -ist. Concentrating on shallow attributes like that and not policy, honesty, etc. are how people like Alberto Gonzales (an Hispanic and one of the most corrupt Attorney Generals we've ever had) get into office.
Anyway, enough my ranting. Below are two articles and an action item for helping to end poverty.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080902/ap_on_re_as/japan_us_hiroshima
You mean the US Speaker of the House is the highest ranking serving gov.'t official to visit the site where the US dropped atomic bombs (the only nation to ever use nukes, killings hundreds of thousands of people)? No sitting president has ever visited? Not once? It's high time we make amends for murdering hundreds of thousands of civilians and repent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7602498.stm
Good for Desmond Tutu for speaking against the Church on the issue of homosexuality.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/voteoutpoverty_mobilization/wn8sswurf7m8ddd5?qp_source=act_0809_vop_ec
Take action here to put poverty on the political agenda.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
CockTales
On Feb. 28th, I had the opportunity to attend the play, CockTales: The Penis Monologues at Univ. of Puget Sound. Proceeds went to the local sexual assault center, and as I walked through the door, someone from the sexual assault center handed me a card with the statistics: "1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have been sexually assaulted."
I was offended that such a card was being handed out at a event promoting men's issues, what in means to be a male, learning to love yourself as a male, etc. However, I also had mixed feelings about the card. I thought, "Well, at least they're now admitting that sexual assault happens to men," because I have often read statistics and heard presentation where people say that sexual assault or domestic violence doesn't happen to men. But I felt angry that this card was being handed out as fact when it is quite obvious that in our society men are embarrassed to report something like being sexually assaulted or beaten up, especially when a woman in the aggressor.
For better or for worse, women in our society are encouraged to play the victim, and men are told that they should not, cannot be the victim. Men should suck it up and "act like a man." So, when instances occur when a man is indeed the victim, he is quite confused and doesn't know how to act or even what to say: there is no name, many times to put on a man who's a victim of a woman. So, many men are embarrassed or don't even know to report when a crime has happened against them.
We simply don't know that 1 in 33 men have been sexually assaulted. This may be the reported number, but there are many more instances that go unreported, especially when it comes to men.
It's too bad that we could not have had a discussion about these problems after the play. The play itself was humorous and insightful at times. I was pleased and excited that men at the school were stepping up and talking about some of the struggles and joys of being a man.
The play is meant to be a spin off of the "Vagina Monologues," and in some of the monologues, the points were made well. In many of the monologues, though, the script was read, not memorized, and that was disappointing to me. One guy talked about how he is a feminist, and he kept apologizing about talking about men's issues. He said, I would really like to be able to love my body, but I feel guilty about it, and I feel like it's not ok for me to be proud to be a man and be a feminist at the same time. Some of what he said was profound, but I felt sad that he kept having to qualify everything with, " . . . but I'm a feminist."
Another presenter stood up on stage and showed pictures in pop culture of the ideal male body, and he pointed out that men also have an image to live up to (as women do). Then, he pulled off his shirt in front of everyone and said, "Women, get used to it: Most of us men are not going to look like Vin Diesel." He said, I don't have pecs and six pack, I have man-boobs and a beer belly.
Two players talks about their relationship as heterosexual "life-partners." They made some good points about how its important for men to have close relationships with each other, and we shouldn't let homophobia keep us from having deep relationships with each other.
The last presenter was perhaps the most powerful. He read his story of how his girlfriend announced to him that she had been pregnant but had aborted the baby w/out telling him or consulting him. He talked about how he felt angry and cut out of the decision process for such a momentous decision. He said he didn't want to take her ability to decide away, but he would have liked to have been included.
I think we need more discussions on what in means to be a healthy male in our society. Men shouldn't have to be ashamed to be men. They shouldn't be told that they will never be victimized, or that they are rarely victimized. Abuse and sexual assault are human problems, not gender problems. Women will benefit much more and receive less oppression from men when male culture in the US is more healthy, when men can admit when they are victims and be proud of the things that make them a male. Men and women both have things to be proud of and ashamed of that the sexes do.
I was offended that such a card was being handed out at a event promoting men's issues, what in means to be a male, learning to love yourself as a male, etc. However, I also had mixed feelings about the card. I thought, "Well, at least they're now admitting that sexual assault happens to men," because I have often read statistics and heard presentation where people say that sexual assault or domestic violence doesn't happen to men. But I felt angry that this card was being handed out as fact when it is quite obvious that in our society men are embarrassed to report something like being sexually assaulted or beaten up, especially when a woman in the aggressor.
For better or for worse, women in our society are encouraged to play the victim, and men are told that they should not, cannot be the victim. Men should suck it up and "act like a man." So, when instances occur when a man is indeed the victim, he is quite confused and doesn't know how to act or even what to say: there is no name, many times to put on a man who's a victim of a woman. So, many men are embarrassed or don't even know to report when a crime has happened against them.
We simply don't know that 1 in 33 men have been sexually assaulted. This may be the reported number, but there are many more instances that go unreported, especially when it comes to men.
It's too bad that we could not have had a discussion about these problems after the play. The play itself was humorous and insightful at times. I was pleased and excited that men at the school were stepping up and talking about some of the struggles and joys of being a man.
The play is meant to be a spin off of the "Vagina Monologues," and in some of the monologues, the points were made well. In many of the monologues, though, the script was read, not memorized, and that was disappointing to me. One guy talked about how he is a feminist, and he kept apologizing about talking about men's issues. He said, I would really like to be able to love my body, but I feel guilty about it, and I feel like it's not ok for me to be proud to be a man and be a feminist at the same time. Some of what he said was profound, but I felt sad that he kept having to qualify everything with, " . . . but I'm a feminist."
Another presenter stood up on stage and showed pictures in pop culture of the ideal male body, and he pointed out that men also have an image to live up to (as women do). Then, he pulled off his shirt in front of everyone and said, "Women, get used to it: Most of us men are not going to look like Vin Diesel." He said, I don't have pecs and six pack, I have man-boobs and a beer belly.
Two players talks about their relationship as heterosexual "life-partners." They made some good points about how its important for men to have close relationships with each other, and we shouldn't let homophobia keep us from having deep relationships with each other.
The last presenter was perhaps the most powerful. He read his story of how his girlfriend announced to him that she had been pregnant but had aborted the baby w/out telling him or consulting him. He talked about how he felt angry and cut out of the decision process for such a momentous decision. He said he didn't want to take her ability to decide away, but he would have liked to have been included.
I think we need more discussions on what in means to be a healthy male in our society. Men shouldn't have to be ashamed to be men. They shouldn't be told that they will never be victimized, or that they are rarely victimized. Abuse and sexual assault are human problems, not gender problems. Women will benefit much more and receive less oppression from men when male culture in the US is more healthy, when men can admit when they are victims and be proud of the things that make them a male. Men and women both have things to be proud of and ashamed of that the sexes do.
Rev. James Lawson: Nonviolence and Social Justice Advocate
On Feb. 25 & 26, I had the privilege to attend two presentations in Tacoma by Rev. James Lawson, a person who was, in some senses, the more quiet master mind behind nonviolent tactics of the civil rights movement here in the US. He was close to MLK Jr. and advised him and others on how to put nonviolent philosophy into action.
The two talks were entitled: "Where do we go from here?: Forty Years since Martin Luther King Jr." and "Dialogue on Economic Justice and the Church."
One thing that struck me as I listened to his first speech is that, in many ways, as a movement, we're worse off today than in the 1950-60s. Lawson pointed out as much, and one reason I believe this is the case is that most people in the US do not feel pressured, do not feel outrage at gross injustices, like they did during the civil rights era. The injustices still exist, but perhaps not quite at the same level, so people are content to not rock the boat too much. It's not worth it to us to go out and get gassed, bitten by dogs, etc. over what may frustrate us a little today.
There's not a cohesive movement like there was during the civil rights era. We are not united around a common struggle or committed to nonviolence like that movement was. Lawson has spent most of his time since the 1960s working with workers' rights in LA.
Another thing that struck me as he talked is how racism and oppression seek to emphasize the "others" differences from us rather than notice what we have in common. Lawson pointed out that whenever we point out that another person or people are different and from us and we don't attempt to understand them and guard their rights, we are essentially going down the road to discrimination. Although we are all different in our beliefs, life-styles, etc., we must acknowledge our common needs, fears, rights, etc.
Lawson is close to 80 now, and sometimes he talks so softly you can hardly hear him. But, when he wants to make a point, his voice booms out against the ridiculous war-mongering, wealthy elite, selfish, anti-gay, anti-environment society and administration that exist in the US today.
The two talks were entitled: "Where do we go from here?: Forty Years since Martin Luther King Jr." and "Dialogue on Economic Justice and the Church."
One thing that struck me as I listened to his first speech is that, in many ways, as a movement, we're worse off today than in the 1950-60s. Lawson pointed out as much, and one reason I believe this is the case is that most people in the US do not feel pressured, do not feel outrage at gross injustices, like they did during the civil rights era. The injustices still exist, but perhaps not quite at the same level, so people are content to not rock the boat too much. It's not worth it to us to go out and get gassed, bitten by dogs, etc. over what may frustrate us a little today.
There's not a cohesive movement like there was during the civil rights era. We are not united around a common struggle or committed to nonviolence like that movement was. Lawson has spent most of his time since the 1960s working with workers' rights in LA.
Another thing that struck me as he talked is how racism and oppression seek to emphasize the "others" differences from us rather than notice what we have in common. Lawson pointed out that whenever we point out that another person or people are different and from us and we don't attempt to understand them and guard their rights, we are essentially going down the road to discrimination. Although we are all different in our beliefs, life-styles, etc., we must acknowledge our common needs, fears, rights, etc.
Lawson is close to 80 now, and sometimes he talks so softly you can hardly hear him. But, when he wants to make a point, his voice booms out against the ridiculous war-mongering, wealthy elite, selfish, anti-gay, anti-environment society and administration that exist in the US today.
Intro
Welcome to my new blog, treyeism. This blog was inspired by the first blog I started, Palestine-delegation. I realized after I had blogged there for a while that I needed a way to communicate the other happenings in my life, especially the other activism I am involved in that does not directly relate to Palestine.
So, this blog is a place for me to journal about anything else in my life other than Palestine. To see what's happening with me and Palestine, please see my other blog at www.palestine-delegation.blogspot.com.
As this is a continuation, in some senses, of the Palestine blog, I will not repeat some information I have already posted at Palestine-delegation. However, I do want to reiterate my commitment to Nonviolence and Pacifism. I am fully against all forms of lethal violence and violence in general, and I will not endorse groups or persons who support such acts. Nonviolence is a spiritual act and philosophy for me, the most important thing in my life.
Since I am moving soon to Palestine to live there for a year, I may not actually update this blog often in the beginning. However, I do intend this place to be a journal for me (for everything other than Palestine).
I hope you find it useful.
So, this blog is a place for me to journal about anything else in my life other than Palestine. To see what's happening with me and Palestine, please see my other blog at www.palestine-delegation.blogspot.com.
As this is a continuation, in some senses, of the Palestine blog, I will not repeat some information I have already posted at Palestine-delegation. However, I do want to reiterate my commitment to Nonviolence and Pacifism. I am fully against all forms of lethal violence and violence in general, and I will not endorse groups or persons who support such acts. Nonviolence is a spiritual act and philosophy for me, the most important thing in my life.
Since I am moving soon to Palestine to live there for a year, I may not actually update this blog often in the beginning. However, I do intend this place to be a journal for me (for everything other than Palestine).
I hope you find it useful.
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