A voice that was silenced by those proclaiming to be progressive and open-minded weren’t quite so much when put to the test. It’s not hard to see why when you read this article blasting Hillary Clinton. There’s a powerful push to get her into office, despite the coy “I haven’t decided” b.s. that she is spewing. I’ve said it before, but I’m sick of Clintons and Bushes in the White House. Time for a real change for a politician that actually speaks up for the “little people” who don’t have big lobbyists, big PACs, nor big money to influence Washington.
Category Archives: ethics and morals
Cankey and the Dead
City Jackdaw has this interesting story up. I’m thinking of recent stories of funeral directors keeping bodies instead of burying them or taking their organs and selling them or the gold fillings out, etc.,m…and it appears that this sort of thing is not so in the distant past…
A Jewish voice on Gaza
DN! interviewed Henry Siegman, a rabbi that represents strong Jewish organizations and what he had to say regarding the bombing of Gaza will blow you away.
For one thing, he doesn’t believe Hamas is any more a terrorist organization than Israeli fighters were when they fought to take the land away from the Palestinians to form their own state. They killed innocents to take the land away.
And now they want to deny the Palestinians that same right to a land they can call their own without interference by Israel.
While I’m watching this segment, I’m thinking of my continuing studies on religions–just for the record–every single major religion: Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, has blood on their hands for killing innocents.
“Kill them all, and let God sort them out…” seems to be a common theme throughout history.
Only, “do unto others as you wish to be done to you” doesn’t quite fit into that thinking.
Self-defense, in my view, is the only legitimate excuse for killing another. And that is only after all other avenues have been taken–such as diplomacy. Or poking the stick to keep one at arm’s length. Trying self-defense without intent to kill (like martial arts).
But diplomacy is becoming a lost art. It’s easy to just drop a bomb and believe that will end it, but in reality, it just creates more problems. Peace isn’t easy–compromise and humility are key factors in creating and sustaining Peace. Being humble isn’t valued in this society–it’s seen as weakness or worse–low self-esteem, when in reality, it is a recognition that we are part of Creation, and even though we are all important in that we bring our own uniqueness to the world, we are also a small part of that world and it takes all of us to make the world go ’round.
More on ALEC
Reading the post from Diane Ravitch the other day, this caught my eye:
The “Property Insurance Claims Act,” on which both the Civil Justice and Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Forces will vote, tilts the playing field in favor of property insurance companies. It would benefit those companies that are represented by the ALEC member Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCIAA). The bill would restrict the time frame for the insured to bring a claim, require the insured to submit to mandatory appraisal, and cut back existing law protecting property owners in many states. PCIAA’s vice president of state government relations, Joe Woods, is the private sector co-chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee of the Commerce task force, which will vote on the bill first. – See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187796/alec-agenda-dallas-evisceration-medicaid-school-privatization-and-expansion-gas#sthash.yQQZCEtA.dpuf~~~~~~~~~~
The thing is…they are already doing this. Like everyone else (that is greedy), they want to up your premiums…and then not pay when there is a claim.
When I still had my house, there was an issue with brand new eaves troughs I had installed by a so-called professional. They ended up putting water into the house instead of taking it away. But it was so gradual (and being mercury poisoned, not as “with it” as I would normally be), the damage wasn’t discovered until I noticed mold on several pairs of shoes, a book bag I used in college, and other stuff in a dark closet.
The insurance company refused to pay for the damage, even though the whole house had spots of mold, along with the attic. The “inspector” they sent used a penlight…read that again: a penlight…to “inspect” the attic. After which he proclaimed that he “didn’t see anything”. Lied through his mossy green teeth…
I knew they were lying, but like I said, I was pretty toxic at the time and didn’t have the wherewithal to even think about how to fight back. Nor could I trust any lawyer in my town, which my ex’s family owned.
I had been with this insurance company for decades, so I trusted them. They had an A-1 rating by the insurance rating company…
None of that mattered when the fit hit the shan.
So…yeah…this may be news to y’all, but isn’t to me.
It’s a different world, folks. They take your money and then refuse to pay a legitimate claim….after years of paying premiums.
Now ALEC will make sure they pay even fewer claims.
…because they want it all.
The Koch brothers and their ilk want it all.
More on Gaza and what it’s like to be Palestinian
DN! has another good piece on life in Gaza….if you can call it that. Existence is more apt a word…
Israel targeted yet another hospital…and yet another playground with children.
I just can’t wrap my brain around anyone justifying this–only a mentally ill person would rationalize killing children and innocent people whom have nothing to do with Hamas.
And the cruel mind games Israel is playing—calling people and telling them to leave because they are about to be bombed…when there is clearly nowhere else to go. As the piece illustrates–a man who left to go to “safety” was bombed there, too. Where are they to go?
Another segment the other day said that Israel is also playing mind games by calling people up and telling them they are in their crosshairs. And there are drones overhead all the time….even when there was supposedly a cease-fire that Israel claimed to uphold. Who would trust someone like that?
DN also had this up yesterday of a Palestinian’s account of his own personal tragedy. It’s hard to watch–he clearly is heartbroken over losing so many members of his family.
Again, Israel has a lot of fire power because of the United States giving them billions every single year. I do not support my tax dollars going towards killing innocent people…innocent children playing on a playground…people in hospitals that have already been greatly harmed…
~~~More of this segment also explores the overreach of the NSA, CIA, et al, and how the Fourth Amendment is ignored. Brian Ross has stated that he now begins telephone conversations with “I’m an American citizen, are you?” because he says they are not supposed to be listening in on American citizens’ conversations. This is a protective measure. It is incredible how paranoia has become so extreme that journalists now feel like criminals and have to act like they’re mafia or something in order to develop contacts and be able to investigate the very people who are trying to usurp the press’ ability to investigate them.
Meanwhile, the petition for Freedom of the Press and Whistleblowers has now reached over 100,000 like-minded folks who believe in the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment which a healthy democracy needs to survive.
First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. – See more at: http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1/amendment.html#sthash.8k4V7g5s.dpuf~~~~~~~~~~~
Fourth Amendment:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. – See more at: http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment4/amendment.html#sthash.Ihw0OGGC.dpuf~~~~~~~~
Spirituality and Rationality
(This blog is on spirituality, so if it’s not your thing…)
Dr. Carol Hand has one of the most stirring blogs on spirituality I’ve ever read.
I love, love, love, the Native American approach to spirituality–they don’t dictate to each other or complete strangers what they should believe or how they should worship. They worry more about their own spiritual path than others’.
When I was growing up, my belief was that the world could only know Peace if we were all Christians–hence the reason for missionaries and witnessing to others our beliefs.
It took my taking a class on religion in college to realize that despite what you might hear in the press or religious leaders, we aren’t that far apart in our beliefs. As I’ve written about before, all religions have the eerily similar belief in treating others as you wish to be treated. This was such a powerful discovery for me–as at this time, after my divorce and the turmoil that followed, I was questioning God’s existence.
Two things happened that brought me “back”–one is a dream I’ll keep private, and the other is my daughter going through a terrible time. She made it through, although she still has “days” that I think are more related to the poison in her mouth (amalgams) than to anything else.
Anyway, Carol’s post highlights the Native American tradition of seeing women as connected directly to God by our ability to give life. I love this. The European tradition as seeing menstruation as “dirty” –something to be ashamed of, others see it as the blood that gives life to the growing baby. As I wrote that, The Red Tent popped into my head. Even though women were banished to the tent for menstruating, they had a wonderful camaraderie that is absent in our society today. (Not only that, Big Pharma has developed a Pill to stop women from menstruating for three months (or more)…someone I knew was getting married and didn’t want to have her period on her wedding day….unbelievable. God, how Big Pharma must hate women and their icky periods….)
Back on subject—
It does make sense to keep one’s visions to oneself–lest it create jealousy or judgment. Wise.
This passage was powerful and reflected my own conclusions:
When I realize that the temptation to judge and compete with others is becoming too strong to resist, I look at the context and forces around me. Often I find that it’s time for me to change course, to be honest about what is my responsibility to do, and to simplify and refocus my life on what really matters on my path. I have a responsibility to do what I can in my thoughts and actions to end and prevent harm. I have a responsibility to judge actions and their consequences, but I cannot judge or demonize others whose paths I can never know.
~~~~~~~~~
It is hard to resist those powerful urge to judge and compete with others…but if one truly follows the “do unto others..” it helps keep one on the right path. After all, we can only control our own actions and reactions, not those of others.
Peace to you all.
Americans protests of Israel bombing/blockade
In New York City, protesters staged a “die-in” at an Israel bank. The article is slanted towards Israel…saying that the protesters were siding with terrorists…so what else is new?
…people who kill innocent people cannot claim innocence nor can they claim to be the victim here.
The destruction of Gaza
Global News has photos up on the utter destruction of Gaza. I can’t even imagine what they must feel like. Well, I take that back–I do know how it feels to lose your home, but not by bombing.
My heart goes out to the Palestinian woman crying over losing her home.
The 7th photo shows an ambulance driver’s charred body from being hit by an Israeli rocket. I’d like to see Netanyahu explain this away–he’ll say that the ambulance driver was a member of Hamas, I’m sure…./snarky to the extreme
Warning for the next photo–children who were bombed by Israel. It is horrible. I’m sure they were members of Hamas, as well/snark with disgust
Before, this, they were starving them. Interfering with their ability to earn a living or blocking paychecks. Now I learn that they were also restricting their water! Water!
Do unto others as you would have done to you.
Blood on your hands, Israel. Blood on your hands.
Why Hamas is launching the rockets…
DN! has a good report up this morning on *why* Hamas is not backing down. Palestinians don’t necessarily support Hamas, but they are left without any other means to break the blockade of Israel the bully. It impacts their ability to get supplies, water, wages, etc. It affects every single thing in their lives.
As President Kennedy said–when you make peaceful protest impossible, then violent protest is inevitable….
March on Detroit: the right to water
It is outrageous that General Motors and two sports arenas have not paid their bills…and yet, their water has not been turned off.
It is outrageous that children are being taken away from their parents when their water is shut off.
As a response to this–what about drilling for wells? There are probably laws against that, but I say go for it. It will be hard, but at least one has access to water.
Meanwhile, General Motors and the city’s two sports arenas, which owe millions in unpaid water bills, have not had their water turned off. – See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187784/water-rights-march-detroit#sthash.87CJMFVo.dpuf
Meanwhile, General Motors and the city’s two sports arenas, which owe millions in unpaid water bills, have not had their water turned off. – See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187784/water-rights-march-detroit#sthash.87CJMFVo.dpuf
Eagle 
You must be logged in to post a comment.