TSAre you kidding me?! and DHScuse me?!

I am disturbed by the new backscatter devices and even more disturbed by the grope frisking that is your only alternative. I think both "options" are un-Constitutional and a highly suspect addition to our airport "security" processes.

But I wasn't moved to blog about it until I read this deeply disturbing rumor. It seems the Department of Homeland Security has a new policy of not only seeking out people who object to the new security measures but having them investigated.

The terminology contained within the reported memo is indeed troubling. It labels any person who “interferes” with TSA airport security screening procedure protocol and operations by actively objecting to the established screening process, “including but not limited to the anticipated national opt-out day” as a “domestic extremist.” ... For individuals who engaged in such activity at screening points, it instructs TSA operations to obtain the identities of those individuals and other applicable information and submit the same electronically to the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division, the Extremism and Radicalization branch of the Office of Intelligence & Analysis (IA) division of the Department of Homeland Security.

You don't have to object to the new security measures to object to this labeling as extremists peaceful American citizens who are exercising their Constitutional rights. As citizens of this country, we have the right to object to unreasonable searches. And we have the right not only to disagree with but to peacefully protest the actions of our government.

I hope you will join me in objecting to this. Be loud, be proud, and stand up to the kind of Fascism that I had hoped we were done with when Bush left office.

Moving along from religion to politics

"Things are not always as [the media] portrays them through highly
selective editing of reality... A fuller truth is found on the cutting room floor."
~ California Attorney General Jerry Brown

The most inflammatory clips from the so-called ACORN investigation were faked.

I think James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles' behavior is reprehensible in the extreme. Fox News' behavior in giving these scam artists an (eager) audience is even worse.

Rachel Maddow tears Breitbart's ACORN tapes apart

Haiti

I need more words than a Facebook status update provides to respond to this excerpt from a press release from CBN:

"His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion... where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. This history, combined with the horrible state of the country, has led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed. Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath."

First off, note that they admit that the pact is only alleged but then note that it is famous [so it must be true!]. But also note that Robertson used the words "true story" in his initial comments. He allowed no possibility that this story might be one INVENTED by the recordkeepers of the time.

But what really gets me is the disclaimer in the last line. I'm sorry, but if you believe that the people of Haiti are cursed, who else but God would have cursed them? It certainly wouldn't be the devil, since in this little fantasy they are his partners! So who else but God would (or could) have caused the earthquake?

But then again, why am I expecting logic here of all places? *bangs head against wall*

Here is Keith's scathing response to both Robertson's comments and Rush Limbaugh's latest racist crap:


To donate to the victims of this terrible NATURAL disaster, please text "HAITI" without quotes to 90999 (Red Cross, $10 added to your phone bill, 100% goes to charity) or 20222 (Clinton's charity, $5), or text "YELE" to 501501 ($5 to Wyclef Jean's org). I believe these numbers work in the US only.

...

This is a dummy line that is apparently required to get the comments link to show up.

Selfishness at its ugliest

I just came across an article that suggested that we should not have public health care because of the quantities of currently uninsured people who are likely to flood into our country's already overburdened health centers, seeking the care they have long postponed.

Spreading the gratitude around

A cousin writes that she is "sending thanks out to everyone who has served our country or has supported family members in the military. They rarely get the credit and recognition they deserve."

My response: "I'd like to see them get more benefits. I think twice yearly national holidays with full media coverage, lots of speeches, assemblies in every school, and special attention at every major sporting event and performance is enough credit and recognition. No other group gets so much."

Beyond that, I think these twice yearly, lip-service-only holidays contribute to a culture of war by honoring only service in the cause of war. Here is my post from last year where I go into more detail about my feelings about this.

I refuse to celebrate [veterans of WWII] as the greatest generation because in doing so we are celebrating courage and sacrifice in the cause of war. And we are miseducating the young to believe that military heroism is the noblest form of heroism, when it should be remembered only as the tragic accompaniment of horrendous policies driven by power and profit.
~ Howard Zinn

Here is the list of some of the people I am honoring today for their service in the cause of equality and peace:

• Ella Baker - Godmother of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
• Jimmy Carter - ethical President, effective advocate of peace
• César Chávez - founder, United Farm Workers
• Esmé Raji Codell - author, educator, friend to children and creative teachers everywhere
• Anne Nicol Gaylor - co-founder, Freedom From Religion Foundation
• John Holt - education reformer, father of unschooling
• Richard Oakes - key player in the Occupation of Alcatraz
• Margaret Sanger - activist for birth control freedoms
• Gloria Steinem - feminist, author, political activist

Health care for all

"Because in one party, in one demographic, in one protest movement, we are all brothers and sisters. We are united in membership in the party that insists that every chance at life be afforded to every American seeking that chance.

"We are united in membership in the party that insists on the right of everyone to the startling, transcendent blessings of the technological advance of medical science. We are united in membership in the party that is for life, that is against death, that is for lower premiums, that is against higher deductibles, that is for the peace of mind that can be provided only by the elimination of the fear that cost will decide whether we live or we die!

"Because that's the point, isn't it? It is hard enough to recover, to fight past pain and to stave off death, if just for a season or a week or a day. It is so hard, that eventually for you, for me, for this president, for these blue dogs, for these protestors it is so hard to recover, that for all of us there will come a time when we will not recover. So, why are we making it harder?"

Keith Olbermann, "Countdown" 10/7/09 segment 5 of 5

A vote for families

We received our ballots today for the general election on November 3, so this seems like a good time to share with my Washington readers my intention to vote to approve Referendum 71 and my deep hope that you will, too. This referendum will continue the domestic partnership law previously approved by our state legislature. It provides equal protection to all families so partners and their children can be covered by the health insurance policy of the head of household, so family members can visit each other in the hospital, so partners can take family leave to care for their sick partners or children, and so loving parents can adopt children in need.

In the case of my dear cousins Randi and Kauleen, it will enable Kauleen to adopt her own son!

Let me repeat that: If this is returned into law, Kauleen can adopt her own son. I must say, I find it outrageous that anyone could have a problem with that.

Please, join me in removing this obstacle to the health and security of our friends, neighbors, and family members.

Why Vote to Approve R-71

Tired of this

Despite Lou Dobbs' continuing idiocy and statements on a certain private billboard in southwestern Washington (if you've ever traveled the I-5 corridor, you know the one), Barack Obama has a U.S. birth certificate.

How many people have to verify this before the right-wingnuts will shut up about it?

Last chance to vote

Vote for the ideas you want to see move on to the second round:
http://www.change.org/ideas

A few of the top-rated ideas strike me as things not deserving of big slices of attention from our new government. Let's see if we can bump up the biggies.

Here are a few of my personal favorites:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/repeal_the_patriot_act
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/restore_separation_of_church_state
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/rebuild_and_repower_america_with_a_green_stimulus_package

Voting ends today.

Joy joy joy joy joy

My Backwards Bush countdown is less than 20 days!!!!!

But I just noticed there seems to be a discrepancy with the official one. Hmm. Oh, well. Horseshoes, hand grenades, and Backwards Bush...

More Spearhead

Sad to say this one is going on two years old and still relevant. :-(

Time To Go Home

Thursday 13

13 Random Thoughts

1. I get more frustrated with Seattle traffic when it's moving along than I do when it's stop-and-go. I think it's because the left-lane hogs are *so* obvious then.

This does not mean that I will be shifting my commute into true rush hour, however. I do hate to dawdle when I'm behind the wheel.

2. Dawdle? Is that right? What an odd word. (Yeah, that's right. I just looked it up. But the etymology is mostly unknown.)

3. I always forget about link tracking. A few weeks ago, I blogged a link to the Web site for a store that I visited in a professional capacity, just 'cause I loved the store. Well, I found out yesterday that the store owners followed that ol' Zombie Princess trail and found my personal blog. Oops. I'm so glad I only had nice things to say about them! I definitely was not wearing my professional hat when I wrote that post, though. They were entertained. (Just in case: Hi, Roy! Hi, Diane!)

4. Some people think "idealogues" like me are distressed by Obama's cabinet choices. I saw him called a "closet centrist" today. Sheesh. Do they really think we couldn't tell he was a centrist?! Obviously, they have no idea what a truly leftist candidate would campaign for. Perhaps they've forgotten all his talk of finding common ideals and middle ground and how we're not red states or blue states but the United States.

Weren't they listening? Or do they just think we weren't?

I'll try not to generalize for the other 66,882,229 (or so) people who voted for him, but as for me, he is doing exactly what I expected and hoped for. I may not love all of his cabinet choices, and I'm waiting with some interest to see where he'll go for some of the open slots (e.g., Education), but the general direction he's taking is one I can get fully behind.

5. When I was a wee lass of about 12, I took some piano lessons. Last night, Chloe asked to learn one of the few songs I remember from that time. It's a nocturne and kind of a fun song to play, because it's really pretty easy but it sounds good. I hear she did some practicing on Frank's electronic keyboard today and got a totally different sound.

6. In other Chloe news, when I left this morning, I discovered a note taped to the front door. She had made me lunch! She wanted to spare me yet another day eating a slice of pizza (the quickest, easiest, cheapest food item available in the MS cafeterias, and my default choice). Nice start to the day, having her take care of me like that.

7. I have had "Against All Odds" stuck in my head for three days. It's not even my favorite Phil Collins song. That would be "In the Air Tonight." (Drum solo, baby!) Maybe I can switch to that one.

8. I still have my fingers crossed, Steph. And toes.

9. A small rant: "...cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon almighty God." So, Kentucky's answer to the religious, um, commitment that led to 9/11 was to fire back with an alternative religious commitment? Yeah, that's the ticket.

How many Supreme Court cases do these people have to lose before they get a clue that a statement like that has no place in American law? Even the conservative courts will throw it out.

Funny how Christians usually have no problem seeing a statement like that as a problem if it reads "almighty Allah" or "almighty Odin" or "almighty Goddess" or "almighty Buddha." And yet we have citizens and public officials who believe in each of those deities and who are subject to the very same Constitutional protections (and public safeguards) that they are.

As for me, I have a t-shirt that reads, "I pledge allegiance to the Earth—one planet, many gods—and to the universe in which she spins." You should see the looks I get when I wear it.

10. Ack. I have not blogged about our weekend. Well, it was fabulous, replete with friends and food and dancing ducks and daily Charades. I have videos. Will I ever get them posted? Who knows? You're all still waiting anxiously for clips from Chloe's play six months ago, right?

11. I got to do some indexing last night. For those who don't know, indexing is the process of writing index entries which combine to form the index of a book or Help file. Yes, someone creates those suckers by hand, and I am one of those someones. I'm damned good at it, too. I indexed about 600 files in about six hours, and that includes editing them all together. How did I do this? Well, it comes down to experience. I can hold an entire index in my brain and write index entries that slot together slick as you please. Some of my dearest friends have the same ability.

Indexers of the world, UNITE!

12. I can spend hours wading through the always colorful histories of various royal families. The latest tour worked through the Dutch and French and Spanish lines, which are all connected, of course, if you go back just a bit, either by marriage or by blood.

It really wouldn't be that hard for a girl to find a prince to marry. There are dozens of them.

13. The other song that's been stuck in my head is "Way Back Into Love" from the Music and Lyrics soundtrack. Sweet movie. Catchy songs. I think we watched it Sunday night, so maybe that song has been in my brain even longer than "Against All Odds."

A letter to President Obama

This is attributed to Alice Walker, but I don't know if she really sent it. Either way, I like the sentiments.

Open Letter to Barack Obama

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done.

We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate.

One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker

A prediction (essentially) comes true

"There's no question that in the next 30 or 40 years,
a Negro can also achieve the same position that my brother has..."

— Robert F. Kennedy, May 1961

Gratitude

Sandra has been doing a weekly Wednesday gratitude post. Today, I am inspired to join her.

Today, I am grateful for:

1. Approximately 63,893,037 votes.


2. Young people like MJ who give their money and time to support the ideals they believe in, even though this country doesn't recognize them as capable of contributing.

3. Like-minded friends and relatives who host fun parties and inspire Frank to make crab dip and shrimp étouffée.

4. The Internet.

5. Hope.

Split personality

Can you guess what part of the state we live in?

Dreams made real

"All right! There you go! America, I love you! I'm proud of you!"
— Annie Kinsella in "Field of Dreams"

"My lady... It is is a new day."
"It is a new world."
— Nurse and Viola in "Shakespeare in Love"

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day
live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character."
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Let there be no reason for any American to fail to
cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth"
— Senator John McCain

"All things are possible."
— Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States of America

I don't know if I can put into words what Barack Obama's election means to me. It represents so much more than who will sit in the Oval Office for the next four years. Instead, it's about my daughters' futures, my hopes for this country, my hopes for the world, and the America that I want to love both in image and in reality.

For the first time in eight long, painful years, I am proud of this country and excited to see what will happen next. The American flag is my flag again, and the White House will soon once again be a symbol of cooperation and equality.

We spent tonight over at cousin Sonya's watching the election coverage with an multinational, multiracial, multiaged group, all of whom came together with the same enthusiasm and hope for the outcome of the election and what it would mean for America's direction over the next four years.

Some favorite moments:

• When Ohio went to Obama. That's when I started to believe.
• All the networks projecting Obama as the winner at 8:00:01 p.m. Pacific Time, even though not a single vote had been counted on the West coast. This was exciting, but it made me very nervous. Remember "Dewey beats Truman"?
• McCain's beautiful concession speech. (Where was this McCain through the election?)
• Footage from across America of people of all colors moved to joyful tears by Obama's election.
• The gravity on Obama's face as he gave his victory speech. It was not the expression of an arrogant or overconfident man. He knows exactly what he's gotten himself into, he takes it very seriously, and he will not act rashly. And did you notice that the hug Michelle gave him seemed one of comfort more than celebration? These are not stupid people; they know how difficult the next four years are going to be. I think that's a very good sign.

Good night, everybody. See you in the new world.

The Doings Report

I haven't done one of these in a long time, mostly because I've been focused on getting some Europe memories into the blog. That and recovering from jet lag, which it doesn't seem like I've quite managed even now. I'm still really tired, not sleeping well, irritable.

On the bright side, we're back in our routine, mostly caught up with the vacation backlog and kinda started on the holiday prep. The house is a disaster area, which gets to Frank and me but disturbs the girls not a bit. What we need is to invite some dinner guests over; that would motivate us to get things shipshape again.

MJ and Chloe have been computer-oriented since our return. MJ is reading and reading and reading, blogging again (yay!), and doing other writing but won't tell me what. Chloe is doing a little bit of a lot of things: writing for NaNoWriMo, watching anime, hanging out on MySpace, doing e-art (see her blog for a sample), reading, buying people, etc. Oh, and she's been putting in sessions cleaning her room.

Frank has also been blogging, keeping on top of the dishes (those that are not lost in the bowels of the house), and keeping us fed. He's put in some time getting materials ready for the Maier Family Cookbook that cousins Sonya and Becky are putting together, in anticipation of the big reunion next summer.

As for me, I've been working. A lot but not too much. In my off time, I hang out with the fambly and read and blog and wish there were more hours in the day and more gumption in my soul.

This past weekend, we went down to Corvallis for Non-Con and had a lovely time. We really missed the Traaseths and the Mayers (who were all there last year), but we had the Winklers and Buchholzes and more of the Hessels than last year to fill in the gaps. Fun people, fun times. The kids did lots of trick-or-treating on Friday, first in downtown Corvallis (the streets of which were packed with people) and then in Zenmomma's easy-to-hit-a-lot-of-houses-in-a-short-time neighborhood. MJ, Chloe, and Qacei were Spike the vampire (from "Buffy") and two of his babes. MJ pulled off the male look so well that some enlightened souls called her a fag when she was out walking later with Conor (who made a very convincing Hunter S. Thompson). If they had seen her in Qacei's lady-vampire outfit a little later, there would have been no way they'd make that mistake.

Saturday, we played music. Frank and Carolyn brought their guitars, and Bret, his bass, and they had a grand time fiddling out tunes with like-minded people. I accompanied them on Jon's drum, and it was good listening practice for me. I need practice.

My favorite song of the night was Hey Sarah Palin. "Oh, if you become VP, it's Canada for me." I hadn't heard it before and found it quite entertaining. (warning: just a bit of explicit language)

Sunday was our traditional closeout breakfast at Sunnyside Up. It was pretty hectic because it was homecoming weekend for the Beavers, but we cleared a few tables to help out and had a nice visit. We left Chloe behind for a few days' apprenticeship as a barrista, then made our way back home, listening to the Seahawks tank.

Now, I'm procrastinating a trip to work. I'd rather crawl back in bed and sleep for a few days.

Something for Obama supporters

Check this out.

Salacious but titter-free meme

Stolen from Frank.

Would you do meth if it were legalized?
Nope. I barely do caffeine.

Abortion: for or against?
This question pisses me off. OF COURSE I'm not for abortion. Nobody is.

I am for reducing the occurrence of abortion by providing people with safe, free birth control and the information that will help them use it correctly. I am for helping women who get pregnant unexpectedly to pursue the options that best suit their lifestyles and mental and physical health. I am for providing financial aid to women who get pregnant unexpectedly to enable them to keep their babies. And I am definitely for keeping the government out of my medical business.

I don't know many so-called pro-life activists who can say all of the same. Most of them want to sit on their moral high horse without actually addressing the problems that lie under our abortion statistics.

Would our country fall with a woman president?
No. How successful she would be depends on the woman, of course, and on the Congress sitting at the time, and on any number of other factors.

I think this question overestimates the importance of any given president.

Do you believe in the death penalty?
No. I understand the temptation of the death penalty, but I don't think there's any way to be sure we are performing executions justly and humanely.

Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
Yes. As long as alcohol is legal (and I'm not suggesting it shouldn't be), it is hypocritical in the extreme to prohibit just about any other substance.

Are you for or against premarital sex?
Silly question. Do I believe someone who engages in premarital sex is commiting a sin? No. Do I feel any guilt over the premarital sex I have engaged in? No. Do I think premarital sex is for everyone? No. I wouldn't marry someone I'd never slept with, but that's just me.

Do you believe in God?
No. But I will stand on a soapbox and defend your right to do so, up until the moment you want to legislate your particular theistic beliefs.

Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
Yes, of course. Love is love. I also think we don't have any authority to make it illegal.

Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are moving to the USA?
Of course not. Was it wrong for my great-greats to move here? No. Do I think we have a resource problem because of the large numbers of people coming in? Of course.

Should the alcohol age be lowered to 18?
There shouldn't be an age restriction at all. I believe the age restriction creates most of the problems associated with teen drinking.

Should the war in Iraq be called off?
Yep.

Assisted suicide is illegal. Do you agree?
Do I agree that it is illegal? Not completely (see Frank's answer). Do I agree that it should be illegal? No.

Do you believe in spanking your children?
No. I don't believe in your spanking yours either.

Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Probably. That's a lot of money. :-) But I'd be more likely to burn one to make a statement.

You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free." — President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), "The American President"

Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
No. But I've closed comments because neither do I want to argue about any of this. If you disagree with me, you can do the meme on your own blog.