oneheartforpeace

One Way to Recognize a True Leader

2012-02-03T01:33:00.000-08:00

The Quality of Mercy

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute of God himself;
And earthly power doth then show like God's
When mercy seasons justice.

William Shakespeare
1600

This piece is from The Merchant of Venice, first performed in 1596 and published in 1600, when Portia speaks to Shylock in Act IV, Scene I.

A Little Debate on Why our US policies on Iran MUST change : VIDEO

2012-02-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting COMMENT posted at Common Dreams February 2, 2012 under the following VIDEO: I notice that the propaganda is hard at work here. Mr. Nasr refers to an acceleration of Iran's nuclear weapons program. Speaks of "getting beyond the mushroom cloud."

He and everybody else ignores the fact that the NIE of several nations, and the UN, have found no evidence of a nuclear weapons program. When that came out while we were being Bushwhacked, Israel immediately said we had to nuke them before they made a bomb. (The prediction at the time was that if Iran did begin a nuclear weapons program, it would take some ten years to produce a bomb.) The only reason the UN made a sort of washy comment last year that could be interpreted as Iran possibly having a weapons program is that we now have an American running the Agency, and most likely furthering the Obamanation's policies.

As to the threat of a nuclear attack by Iran, let's look at the facts. Israel has two to four hundred nuclear armed ICBMS. The US has over three thousand.

Picture Iran after ten years of sacrifice and effort producing a bomb, even two or three. They are going to fire a nuclear weapon at either of these crazies, knowing that they are just looking for an opportunity to turn their country into slag?

My main fear is that there will be a black op pointing to Iran and We the Sheeple will go along with it just like we did on 9/11. That missing cruise missile has had me uneasy for several years.

CLICK for video here of Jonathan Tepperman interviewing former Obama advisor and Iran expert Vali Nasr who explains how a White House push for escalating sanctions, and against negotiations, makes war, intended or not, more likely.

Whether the Commenter or the former Obama advisor is more correct, the thing we can all do is find our best and most creative ways to say NO to war and YES to Diplomacy. Find a place to gather and hold such signs on February 4 (SATURDAY) or go to worldcantwait.org and organize one on line. Be sure to make some attractive clear signs and flyers ASAP.
This boat at sunrise (internet cache) may be a beautiful reminder on a pamphlet cover that although there are seas between us, we still long for a world at peace and for such a lovely moment as this.

Will Common Sense Prevail in U.S.-Iran Relations?

2012-02-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

By USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya

The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

W.B. Yeats “The Second Coming”

While some might apply Yeats’ lines to U.S. politics generally, they apply in particular to the case of the United States and Iran.

Two notable exceptions are L. Bruce Laingen and John Limbert; the former who was chief of mission, and the latter who was a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979. Both were detained in Iran for 14 months. After criticizing the bellicose statements regarding Iran made by the current Republican aspirants to the presidency (with the notable exception of Ron Paul), they recently concluded in the Christian Science Monitor:

“Despite setbacks, the US should not give up on the effort to end over three decades of futility with Iran. Otherwise Americans risk stumbling into another armed conflict with unpredictable and disastrous consequences. Americans should keep their heads on their shoulders and apply the classic tools of statecraft: patience, firmness, persistence, open-mindedness, and a readiness to listen.

”Above all Americans must keep their poise, and ignore the droners – even the loudest ones – who would stampede their country into yet another Middle East fiasco.”

As the Senate Banking Committee prepares to mark up another “comprehensive” Iran sanctions bill – in response to the House bills (HR 1905; HR 2105) passed last year, and as Iran hawks in the Senate propose a resolution barring “containment” as a policy option regarding Iran (George Kennan, RIP), it would be useful for our elected officials to re-think the premise for sanctions as a legitimate tool of statecraft.

From the statements of all supporters, the premise for sanctions – unilateral, extraterritorial, multilateral – appears to be that economic hardship, brought to bear generally upon target populations or applied specifically to particular “bad actors,” will suffice to change the strategic behavior of a sovereign government.

But the fact is there is no warrant in recorded history for that assumption.

So why the enduring appeal of economic sanctions?

For some, an alternative to war. For others, a box to be checked on the way to war. For many, a rhetorically popular stand with key constituents.

What gets lost in the fog of politically-driven policy (as opposed to the fog of actual war) is the demonstrable fact that sanctions make “patience, firmness, persistence, open-mindedness, and a readiness to listen” the most difficult thing not impossible. Put another way, the opportunities for frank negotiation among sovereign states are inversely proportional to the escalation of sanctions placed on the targeted state.

In a weird variation of the law of unintended consequences, that may explain Section 601 (c) of the Iran Threat Reduction Act (HR 1905):

(c) RESTRICTION ON CONTACT. — No person employed with the United States Government may contact in an official or unofficial capacity any person that — (1) is an agent, instrumentality, or official of, is affiliated with, or is serving as a representative of the Government of Iran; and (2) presents a threat to the United States or is affiliated with terrorist organizations. (d) WAIVER. —The President may waive the requirements of subsection (c) if the President determines and so reports to the appropriate congressional committees 15 days prior to the exercise of waiver authority that failure to exercise such waiver authority would pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the vital national security interests of the United States.

The thing speaks for itself, and it speaks volumes. One can hope that if not wisdom then common sense will prevail and that the Senate will be mindful of Mr. Laingen’s and Mr. Limbert’s informed admonitions – not to mention George Kennan’s.

Finding our Departed Ones in Presence

2012-02-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

"...Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence..."

From: To Bless The Space Between Us
(entitled Benedictus in Europe, Ireland & the UK)

On The Death Of The Beloved
— John O’Donohue

Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.

We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.

UPDATED Thurs from FCNL: Peace Actions for Diplomacy with Iran

2012-01-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

PLZ SEE the Updates at end of post!

The new motto of Saturday's Peace Actions toward Diplomacy with Iran is:

HUMANITY and the PLANET come FIRST: We are seeking to de-emphasize the differences between our nations, governments and cultures and to emphasize the similar needs, joys, concerns and connections between the humanity of the world.

Watch for another post here/and or nomorecrusades which will aim to simplify the material/actions in this post.

The list of groups who are supporting these actions keep growing:

The U.S. Day of Mass Action to Stop a US War on Iran: SATURDAY -- FEBRUARY 4, 2012 NO war! NO sanctions! NO intervention! NO assassinations!

Endorsers include:
World Can’t Wait * United National Anti-War Coalition (UNAC) * International Action Center (IAC) * SI! Solidarity with Iran * Refugee Apostolic Catholic Church * Workers World Party * CODEPINK Women for Peace * American Iranian Friendship Committee * ANSWER Coalition * Antiwar.com * Peace of the Action * ComeHomeAmerica.us * St. Pete for Peace * WAMM, Women Against Military Madness * Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality-Virginia * WESPAC Foundation * Minnesota Peace Action Coalition * Twin Cities Peace Campaign * Bail Out The People Movement (BOPM) * We Won’t Fly * Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) * Granny Peace Brigade * Veterans for Peace – NYC Chapter 034 * Waco Friends of Peace * Malcolm X Center for Self Determination * David Swanson, Author of When the World Outlawed War * Phil Wilayto, Author of In Defense of Iran: Notes from a U.S. Peace Delegation’s Journey through the Islamic Republic * Ramsey Clark, Former US Attorney General, awarded UN Human Rights Award * Cindy Sheehan, National Co-ordinator of Peace of the Action * Ray McGovern, Veterans for Peace * Karla Hansen, Producer/Director “Silent Screams” * George Phillies, Editor for Liberty for America * Larry Everest, correspondent for Revolution Newspaper, author of Oil, Power & Empire: Iraq and the US Global Agenda

Visible street protests and other events and outreach will happen in many places, including around the world: in Ireland at Shannon Air Base (forward base for NATO); in Dacca, Bangaldesh; in Calcutta and other cities in India.

Stay tuned for more announcements, write here to endorse the Call for Mass Action, and/or to get more info. You can also use this page to find or organize a protest in your area -- GO here

Notice which country is surrounding Iran with military. So WHO is the aggressor in the Middle East? We must end our US/Western complicity and silence.

Become a Citizen Diplomat and help get the word out -- Call your legislators, writer letters to the editor, send letters to world leaders, create a petition and gather signatures.

By the way, news and groups in Iran are paying attention to our efforts for peace.
These are nurturing peace and goodwill unlike our western threats and military gesturing. Let's stop being the US bully in the world...

READ more on peace efforts with Iran, diplomacy and similar conversations at nomorecrusades.blogspot.com or CLICK here

==========
UPDATE from Friends Committee on National Legislation:
Iran: What is Congress Trying to Do?
Thursday, February 2, 2012 5:01 PM

Right now, most of Congress seems to think that Iran needs to be punished and
isolated. New Iran sanctions just went into effect last week, and more sanctions are coming out of the Senate Banking Committee today. These are headed for a vote on the Senate floor in the next few weeks. Please urge your senators to oppose these new sanctions as ineffective foreign policy and to speak out in favor of this one:

DIPLOMACY NOT WAR with Iran

GO here

Three decades of sanctions have not persuaded Iran to agree to full transparency
of its nuclear program. Continued pressure could have the effect of pushing
Iranian leaders to demonstrate their power. As Princeton Professor Anne-Marie
Slaughter argues, the current course of sanctions piled on sanctions "leaves Iran's government no alternative between publicly backing down, which it will not do, and escalating its provocations." 1 [ #1 ] This kind of escalation is a "dangerous game of…chicken" that could lead to violent conflict.

Instead, the U.S. should be finding ways to keep Iran within the international
community; open lines of diplomatic communication, as former head of Joint Chiefs
of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has recommended; 2 [ #2 ] and reduce the incentives
for Iranian leaders to take Iran's nuclear program to the next level.

Business leaders 3 [ #3 ] and many former U.S. officials and foreign policy experts 4 [ #4 ] are endorsing this view. Yet as our lead foreign policy lobbyist Bridget Moix noted this week, 5 [ #5 ] the people making decisions aren't weighing the diplomatic options that could steer the U.S. and Iran away from violent conflict - and the policy of threats that Congress is undertaking is closing down the space for diplomatic options to be seriously considered and pursued.

As the Senate takes up new sanctions legislation, your senators are hearing from
people in your community who support tougher sanctions on Iran. Your senators need to know that some of their constituents want a different approach. Please urge your senators to oppose the new sanctions legislation introduced this week by Senators Tim Johnson (SD) and Richard Shelby (AL):

GO here

Sincerely,

Diane Randall
Executive Secretary

Footnotes:

1. here ] Anne-Marie Slaughter, " Saving Face and Peace in the Middle East GO here ] ,"
Project Syndicate

2. [ GOhere ] FCNL's Letter to Congress: Time for Diplomacy, Not War, With Iran [ GO here ]

3. [ GO here ] Richard Sawaya, " Will Common Sense Prevail in U.S.-Iran Relations? [ GO here ] "
USA Engage

4. [ GOhere ] Jim Lobe, " Growing Elite Opposition to Military Option Against Iran [ GOhere ] ,"
Antiwar.com

5. [ GOhere ] Bridget
Moix, " Can War With Iran Be Prevented? [ GOhere ] "

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Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 2nd Street NE Washington, DC 20002; 800-630- 1330; www.fcnl.org
Reply to dianerandall@fcnl.org
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Belonging

2012-01-25T19:54:00.000-08:00

oh to belong to the
infinite - to variety - to the show of light in the wild-thrown sky.

**********

The East belongs to God
The West belongs to God
North and Southern lands
rest in the peace of His hands,

He, the sole just ruler,
intends the right things for every one,

...be this One glorified and praised
Amen.
Allama Iqbal

“Why doesn't the Earth fall? How can you walk upon it? It's the music. It's the music of the Earth, and the Sun, and the Stars. It's the music of yourself, vibrating. Yes, you are music too! You're all instruments. Everyone is supposed to be playing their part in this vast Arkestra of the Cosmos.”
- Sun Ra

“Many native cultures believe that the heart is the bridge between Father Sky and Mother Earth. For these traditions, the four-chambered heart, the source for sustaining emotional and spiritual health, is described as being full, open, clear, and strong. These traditions feel that it is important to check the condition of the four-chambered heart daily, asking: "Am I full-hearted, open-hearted, clear-hearted, and strong-hearted?"”
- Angeles Arrien, "The Four-Fold Way"

“Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.”
- H. Jackson Browne, Jr.

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared..." St. Paul
- I Corinthians 2:9

“Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling into at night.”
- Edna St. Vincent Millay

“I believe that life is given us so we may grow in love, and I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower - the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.”
- Helen Adams Keller

“With love one can live even without happiness.”
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian novelist

“The world is a theatre of love.”
- Kashmiri Proverb (historical region of northwest India and northeast Pakistan)

“Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and blows up the bonfire.”
- François de la Rochefoucauld

“Our love is like a well in the wilderness where time watches over the wandering lightning. Our sleep is a secret tunnel that leads to the scent of apples carried on the wind. When I hold you, I hold everything that is - swans, volcanoes, river rocks, maple trees drinking the fragrance of the moon, bread that the fire adores. In your life I see everything that lives.”
- Pablo Neruda

“Before, I always lived in anticipation . . . that it was all a preparation for something else, something "greater," more "genuine." But that feeling has dropped away from me completely. I live here and now, this minute, this day, to the full, and the life is worth living.”
- Etty Hillesum

“The Place you are right now God circled on a map for you.”
- Hafiz, "Marrow of Flame" by Dorothy Walters

“The present is holy ground.”
- Alfred North Whitehead

**Photo of recent northern lights as seen from Australia above found here

A Bit About The Friends (Quakers) Work for Peace

2012-01-24T04:44:00.002-08:00

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) fields the largest team of registered peace lobbyists in Washington, DC. Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL's multi-issue advocacy connects historic Quaker testimonies on peace, equality, simplicity, and truth with peace and social justice issues which the United States government is or should be addressing. FCNL is nonpartisan.

The Friends (Quakers) also began Friends World College which has (or have had) centers in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and East Asia -- a "university without walls". Much of the work is/has been in the form of independent study projects. The major fuculty activity is one-to one advising. Everyone keeps a journal recording their experience, reading, study summaries, and personal activity in the arts. (Since arts and crafts of various sorts are highly valued at this school, the journal may also have poetry, drawings, photography and samples/records of weaving, performances including theatre, dance, mime and so on.)

The Friends World College was inspired by the poet, visionary and educationist Rabindranath Tagore -- who's theories and practices of education which began when he was a child -- and was eventually embodied in schools where people of many cultures and faiths live, work and learn together. Sometimes Friends say that their World College is the "spiritual descendant of Santiniketan and Visva-Bharati -- Tagore's world learning communities.

Lavender Grace

2012-01-22T15:25:00.000-08:00

Patricia Goedicke's Poem

IN THE OCEAN

At first my mother would be shy
Leaving my lame father behind

But then she would tuck up her bathing cap
And fly into the water like a dolphin,

Slippery as bamboo she would bend
Everywhere, everywhere I remember

For though he would often be criticizing her,
Blaming her, finding fault

Behind her back he would talk about her
All through our childhood, to me and my sister,

She rarely spoke against him

Except to take us by the hand
In the ocean we would laugh together

As we never did, on dry land

Because he was an invalid
Usually she was silent

But this once, on her deathbed

Hearing me tell it she remembered
Almost before I did, and she smiled

One more time to think of it,
How, with the waves crashing at our feet

Slithering all over her wet skin

We would rub against her like minnows
We would flow between her legs, in the surf

Smooth as spaghetti she would hold us
Close against her like small polliwogs climing

All over her as if she were a hill,
A hill that moved, our element

But hers also, safe
In the oval of each other's arms

This once she would be weightless
As guiltless, utterly free

Of all but what she loved
Smoothly, with no hard edges,

My long beautiful mother
In her white bathing cap, crowned

Like an enormous lily

Over the brown arrow of her body,
The limber poles of her legs,
The strong cheekbones and the shadows
Like fluid lavender, everywhere

In a rainbow of breaking foam

Looping and sliding through the waves
We would swim together as one

Mother and sea calves gliding,
Floating as if all three of us were flying.

**********

I found the haunting image above here

"Martin Luther King Saved My Life" By Ernie Mills

2012-01-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

Middle East Peace Quilt**

(quote in heading and those below are from a sermon entitled: "Dreams and Possibilities" given Sunday am 15 January 2012)

"A life of fear is no life at all."

"A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right...for justice..."

"Without a vision there's no future...only repitition of the past."

"We can evolve only if we know what we're evolving to..."

"It takes no effort to despair."

MLK...had a great imagination.

Quotes from this sermon included Goethe, Kant, and an expert on Aphasia -- people who are limited in communicating and imagination.

I highly recommend the following link to Ernie Mills' sermon/reflection as one of the most powerful and uplifting on Martin Luther King (or anyone else) ever spoken in my home town. Not only does this personal talk include MLK's vision for a world minus racism, hate and hopelessness - other poignant quotes from other visionaries are offered as well.

Each of the points made by Mills can be so easily applied TODAY to our nation and world and related to racism of ALL kinds whether to a person's skin, citizenship, religion, nation of origin, gender, struggle, age and so much more. (For example, Mills brings up-to-date a text King used to condemn the careless bombing in Vietnam -- by simply adding the name of our various current wars).

After a needed yet sobering couple of weeks many of us spent exposing our nation's treatment of people detained in Guantanamo -- this visionary speech offers possibilities of change and the needed energy to carry out a better future.

Ernie Mills heard a famous MLK speech in 1973 -- five years after it was first delivered...

To hear how MLK's speech "I Have a Dream" helped transform the life of one young American -- formerly a self-admitted racist -- GO here

Ernie is a longtime friend of mine and as I told him - he's spent years doing the homework which led to this superlative talk.

The opposite of a doomsday talk, at the end Ernie said with conviction, "The possibilities" for change "are infinite."

Civil Rights Memorial Museum Montgomery, Alabama

**quilt above chosen because it's a serene symbol for finding peace among groups of all kinds. I found the photo here

Let us bend our work toward peace...

Report #4 on Gitmo: (VIDEO) Boumediene tells Chris Hayes of Gitmo captivity

2012-01-15T08:50:00.001-08:00

cageprisoners.org

Lakhdar Boumediene was arrested and detained by the US when he was working for the Red Crescent (equivalent of the International Red Cross). According to commentary included with the video below, he asked a question like this: What would YOUR understanding be if YOU were in my shoes or that of another prisoner detained in like manner?

“I’m asking, he was quoted, "if one of you is imprisoned in America for seven and a half years, he was deprived of his wife, his children, and his life was destroyed, is he compensated?”

He asked. “I leave the American people to answer this question.”“The American government is an arrogant government and ’til this very moment, they don’t want to admit that they made a mistake to Boumediene, Lakhdar."

This is the least they could have done, to admit they’ve made a mistake.”WATCH: Video from MSNBC, which was broadcast on January 14, 2012. GO here

For a fairly recent piece Boumediene wrote before the recent National Day (of protest) SEE My Guantanamo Nightmare GO here

Find more Background and References:

Saving Habeas - Supreme Court Briefing here

Fact Sheet here

al Odah v. US here

Report #3 ( Inmates speak -- Reprieve Reports)

2012-01-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

Binyam Mohamed

Guantanamo detainees speak in rare interviews for 10-year anniversary (Also find information in the following item from Amnesty I/USA) GO here

Now for one of the most startling reports here

Last, be sure to follow items on Andy Worthington's site which is likely to be among the most thorough on this topic. GO here and here

Report #2 on the National Day of Action (to close Guantanamo)

2012-01-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

This report is from North Carolina Stop Torture Now:

We had 50 people, ranging widely in age, on the bio-diesel bus from North Carolina to the Close Gitmo protest in DC yesterday. A handful of other North Carolinians drove up.

While rainy, the protest was spirited, colorful, and very moving. A lot of local, national and international media attended.

FIND more here

The “NC Stop Torture Now” banner and the “Who Would Jesus Torture?” banner were widely filmed & photographed.

Here's a youtube video: Just under three minutes, and North Carolina folks are in it: CLICK here

Report on the "National Day of Action..."

2012-01-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

This report comes from the Center for Constitutional Rights, USA. You can find the original and much more simply at CCRJustice.org/newsroom

On the Tenth Anniversary of Guantánamo, the Center for Constitutional Rights Demands that President Obama Close Guantánamo

CCR Holds Press Briefing; Large Coalition Stages Rally in Front of White House Leading to Supreme Court; Men at Guantánamo Plan Peaceful Protests
press@ccrjustice.org

January 11, 2012, Washington, DC – Today, on the tenth anniversary of the arrival of the first detained men at the U.S. prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) issued the following statement:

Today marks the tenth anniversary of indefinite detention without charge or fair trials at the prison at Guantánamo, and it is an anniversary that should not have come.

The men indefinitely detained at Guantánamo have been abandoned by all three branches of government, but the primary responsibility for the prison remaining open lies with President Obama.

On his second day in office, President Obama signed an Executive Order mandating the closure of Guantánamo within a year. Since then, his administration has in fact perpetuated and sanctioned the system at Guantánamo by continuing indefinite detentions without charge or trial, resuming illegitimate military commissions, and most recently, signing into law the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which substantially hinders the closure of Guantánamo by restricting the transfer of the remaining 171 detained men, over half of whom have been approved for transfer by every branch of government with a stake in the matter.

Despite its promise of a new era of accountability and respect for the rule of law, the Obama administration has also repeatedly acted to block virtually any accountability for those who have planned, authorized, and committed torture at Guantánamo and beyond.

On this day marking ten years of injustice at Guantánamo, we call on people of conscience everywhere to demand that the prison finally be closed and to intensify opposition to all unjust U.S. detentions and prosecutions conducted in the name of national security. We must also build opposition to the government’s covert and overt wars in a re-branded “War on Terror” which is being used to justify both military detentions and military strikes to the detriment of the safety and dignity of peoples in the United States and abroad.

In the morning, CCR hosted a briefing at the National Press Club entitled “Obama’s Prison: Guantánamo Turns 10.” The briefing featured CCR’s Executive Director Vincent Warren; CCR’s Legal Director Baher Azmy; Stephen Oleskey, co-counsel in the landmark Boumediene v. Bush Supreme Court case, who argued that the men’s right to challenge the legality of their detentions has since been effectively eviscerated; Rear Admiral John Hutson, a former military officer who supported President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order promising to close Guantánamo within one year and stood behing him as he signed it; and Colonel Morris Davis, a former chief prosecutor for the Guantánamo military commissions who ultimately resigned because of the injustices he witnessed. (Short statements by participants in the press briefing can be seen on CCR’s website...)

The press briefing was followed by a large rally in front of the White House demanding the closure of Guantánamo led by a broad coalition of human rights organizations and activists including the Center for Constitutional Rights, Witness Against Torture, Amnesty International-USA, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. At this rally, Martha Rayner, an attorney who represents men detained at Guantánamo, read a statement signed by over a hundred habeas counsel denouncing the unjust detention of their clients and President Obama’s failure to close the prison. Ramzi Kassem, an attorney who represents men detained at Guantánamo and Bagram and a professor who directs the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) project at CUNY School of law, spoke of the injustices within terrorism detentions and prosecutions that occur domestically in the U.S. and abroad.

Talat Hamdani, mother of Salman Hamdani, an emergency medical technician who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks while helping people at the Twin Towers in New York City, also called for the closure of Guantánamo.

According to habeas counsel who had spoken with their clients, the men at Guantánamo were heartened by the planned protests marking the anniversary in cities across the U.S. and planned their own peaceful protests to coincide with the rally in DC and to demand the end to their continued indefinite detention without charge or a fair trial. They planned to protest by staging sit-ins and participating in a three-day hunger strike.

Following the rally, the demonstrators marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, led by 171 people dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods representing the number of men still detained at Guantánamo. They continued all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, holding brief rallies at four locations to demonstrate the chain of responsibility that connects the White House, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Capitol, and the Supreme Court.

Speakers at these locations included Naeem Baig of the Islamic Circle of North America, Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster of Rabbis for Human Rights, Bishop Michael Seneco of North America Old Catholic Church, Shahid Buttar of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Andy Worthington, a journalist and filmmaker covering Guantanamo, Terry Rockefeller of September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, and Tamer Mehanna, whose brother Tarek Mehanna was held under prolonged pre-trial solitary confinement in the U.S. and was convicted last month under charges that included broad material support allegations based on protected First Amendment activity. Stephen Oleskey, co-counsel in the landmark Supreme Court case Boumediene v. Bush), Daniel Lakemacher, a marine who became a conscientious objector after serving at Guantánamo, along with Vincent Warren and Leili Kashani from CCR, spoke on the steps of the Supreme Court.

The Center for Constitutional Rights has led the legal battle over Guantanamo for the last 10 years – representing clients in two Supreme Court cases and organizing and coordinating hundreds of pro bono lawyers across the country to represent the men at Guantanamo, ensuring that nearly all have the option of legal representation. Among other Guantánamo cases, the Center represents the families of men who died at Guantánamo, and men who have been released and are seeking justice in international courts. In addition, CCR has been working through diplomatic channels to resettle men who remain at Guantánamo because they cannot return to their country of origin for fear of persecution and torture.

SEE CCRJustice.org for GITMO 10 National Press Club Speaker Quotes.pdf
January 11 Habeas Counsel Statement and Signatures.pdf and more.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.

Related report from VOA News here

10 Years Too Many: National Day of Action Against Guantanamo:

2012-01-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

(This notice is from Amnesty I - USA -- I got the phone call this morning from the leaders and want to be sure to get this out. I'm with several groups at once at heart and in spirit.)

Join us in Washington, DC on January 11, 2012 to close Guantanamo! To mark the 10th anniversary of unlawful counter-terrorism detentions* at Guantanamo and to call for an end to indefinite detention and unfair trials, we will be creating a human chain between the White House and the Capitol. We need 2,700 people – the number of detainees still unlawfully held by the US government at Guantanamo and Bagram. Meet us January 11, 2012 at Lafayette Square (across from the White House) at Noon. Sign up below to pledge to join us!

here

Here's a basic schedule for ALL groups involved in this action:

After meet-ups with various groups --
1PM: Public Witness and Human Chain connection the White House to the Capital.

3PM: Interfaith Service and Reception, sponsored by NRCAT, at the New York Ave Presbyterian Church. Here's more info and a place to lay your cot --

GO here

IF YOU QUESTION the reasons for such a Day of Action, you may want to read the post just below this one on oneheartforpeace (for Sunday, January 8th).

Besides unlawful detentions, be aware of the despair-induced suicides, illnesses untreated, force-feedings, deaths listed as unknown causes. Some of these deaths under US detention have been considered "extra-judicial executions". Deaths and extreme physical and mental injury due to rights abuses can't be ruled out at Guantanamo and the same goes for US prisons or US "oversight" at various cells hidden and open world-wide.

HOWEVER, this Amnesty Action is one of many others by dozens of national and international human rights groups along with well-known speakers, and writers. What a positive unified action this is for peace, justice and the rights by which we as Americans once were said to have lived. Actions such as this one will help to restore us to the sanity of a true humanity.

Thanx for tuning in.

Connie

Ongoing Military Detention USA

2012-01-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

found at Andy Worthington's state of the art site

"Due process of law, all the things that we stand for as a country, and being a country of laws, it doesn’t sit well with me that we are going to continue to keep people in Guantánamo,” So said recently the first warden at Gitmo (See article below the first)

A Tired Obsession with Military Detention Plagues American Politics
7.1.12

Before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, there were only two ways of holding prisoners — either they were prisoners of war, protected by the Geneva Conventions, or they were criminal suspects, to be charged and subjected to federal court trials.

That all changed when the Bush administration threw out the Geneva Conventions, equated the Taliban with al-Qaeda, and decided to hold both soldiers and terror suspects as “illegal enemy combatants,” who could be imprisoned indefinitely without charge or trial, and with no rights whatsoever.

The Bush administration’s legal black hole lasted for two and a half years at Guantánamo, until, in Rasul v. Bush in June 2004, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step of granting habeas corpus rights to prisoners seized in wartime, recognizing — and being appalled by — the fact that the administration had created a system of arbitrary, indefinite detention, and that there was no way out for anyone who, like many of the prisoners, said that they had been seized by mistake.

This was not the end of the story, as the Bush administration fought back, Congress attempted to strip the prisoners of their habeas rights in the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (PDF), and the Supreme Court had to revisit the prisoners’ cases in June 2008, in Boumediene v. Bush, reiterating that they had habeas corpus rights, and that those rights were constitutionally guaranteed.

Unfortunately...

READ rest at andyworthington dot co dot uk -- Andy Worthington's Website (author and probably the sole expert of nearly all the Gitmo detainee cases for years) or CLICK here

==============
SEE also this article published 6 January 2011:

Terry Carrico, Ex-Guantánamo Prison Commander, Says Facility Should Close
A decade after the prison camp opened, its first warden speaks out against U.S. detention policies in the war on terror and tells Aram Roston the facility should be closed.

by Aram Roston of The Daily Beast and Newsweek | January 6, 2012 4:45 AM EST

Ten years ago, Army Colonel Terry Carrico watched a C-141 land at Guantánamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba. He had planned for the moment carefully, and he knew very well what the cargo was: 20 detainees sent from Afghanistan. Carrico was the first camp commander of what would become the world’s most famous terrorism prison, and this was its opening day.

...he had choreographed, with machinelike precision, how his soldiers would take custody of the shackled, blindfolded detainees as they were led onto the tarmac from the cavernous plane. With 23 years of service as a military police officer, he didn’t let any emotion register in his face that day as he watched, but he was surprised at the appearance of the prisoners.

They were scrawny and malnourished to an alarming degree, hardly appearing like the crazed fanatics that Gen. Richard Myers, then the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, described that day back at a Pentagon press conference. “These are people,” the general said, invoking an alarming image, “that would gnaw through hydraulic lines in the back of a C-17 to bring it down, I mean.”

Carrico recalls that the detainees were actually compliant and docile that first day.
He now considers the debate that is still raging over U.S. detention policy from a unique perspective, and he has reached conclusions that run counter to the prevailing political trends in Washington. The retired colonel says Guantánamo “should be closed," though he believes it never will be. He says “very few” of the men held there had valuable intelligence, at least while he ran the camp.

Carrico also says plainly that he believes it is wrong to keep people indefinitely without trial based on secret evidence. He argues that people captured in the war on terror should be arrested and tried in courts of law, not locked up at places like Guantánamo... Find REST of original article for 6 January at The Daily Beast

Find COMMENTS and other related items at Common Dreams here

Carrico article and comments is also posted at Reader-Supported News.

blogger at One Heart for Peace comment:

Consider damage control or republican interests possibly involved since Carrico is currently a corporate executive in Georgia.

Note that The Daily Beast author also writes for the corporate Newsweek (long allied with GE - therefore US military interests).

Most of all we have to ask: Did Carrico wait this long to speak out this loudly and if so, why?

However, it's hard to imagine anyone knowledgeable about the legal facts arguing with the article's major concerns and statements.

Let's hope Carrico will join the to surround the White House soon when thousands will ask clearly for US torture to end and GITMO to be finally closed.

I'm sure the speakers and protestors will also ask for the closure of all such US prisons and cells including in Afghanistan, Morrocco, Jordan, Iraq? Poland? Pakistan? Yemin? US hidden ships?

How archaic that God Forbid there should continue to be this creating and transferring of prisoners hidden from public and legal view to ANY other similar sites, ships or black holes -- oft under CIA or now Academi (former Blackwater/Xe) torture/intimidation trainings -- around the world.

Heart Food for 2012

2012-01-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear. (Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well) (this image and this following quote is from World Without Hate fb) Your car is German. Your pizza is Italian. Your falafel is Lebanese. Your democracy is Greek. Your coffee is Brazilian. Your movies are American. Your tea is Tamil. Your shirt is Indian. Your oil is Saudi Arabian. Your electronics are Chinese. Your number's Arabic, your letters Latin. And you complain that your neighbour is an immigrant?

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering...I am determined to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I will not spread news that I do not know to be certain and will not criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure...I am determined to make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small. (From Fourth Mindfulness Training - a huge resolve yet perhaps this will help me and readers to guide our choice of words.)

If we want what we haven't got -- we've got to do what we haven't done. (words of common wisdom from a young friend.)

Be helpless and dumbfounded, unable to say yes or no.
Then a stretcher will come from grace to gather us up.
We ae too dull-eyed to see the beauty.
If we say Yes we can, we will be lying..
So let us be not sure of anything
...in a zero circle, mute, we will be saying finally,
with tremendous eloquence, LEAD US...
(and) become a mighty kindness. (Rumi's Zero Circle)

Everything is arbitrary except metaphor, which detects the essential kindship of all things. (Charles Simic)

We know all too well the cruelties, hurts, and hatreds that poison life on our planet. But my daughter and I have come together to write this book because we know that the catalogue of injuries that we can and do inflict on one another is not the whole story of humanity, not by a long measure — as I hope you will see and as you no doubt know in your heart. We are indeed made for something more. We are made for goodness.

We are fundamentally good. When you come to think of it, that's who we are at our core. Why else do we get so outraged by wrong? When we hear of any egregious act, we are appalled. Isn't that an incredible assertion about us? Evil and wrong are aberrations. If wrong was the norm, it wouldn't be news. Our newscasts wouldn't lead with the latest acts of murder or mayhem, because they would be ordinary. But murder and mayhem are not the norm. The norm is goodness.

From the book Made For Goodness By Archbishop Desmond Tutu written with his daughter Mpho Tutu. Copyright 2010

Higher Ground and Stand By Me

here

here

UPDATE: Contrast Indigenous Youth with US "elders" -- Ten Years of Shame

2012-01-01T07:54:00.001-08:00

(see article from Common Dreams below)

Ten Years of Guantánamo: Andy Worthington Visits the US to Campaign for the Closure of the Prison, January 5-15, 2012

READ article on Andy Worthington's site here

What about US learning from Youth who seek peace around the world?

Published on Saturday, December 31, 2011 by CommonDreams.org Living Peacefully With One's Neighbors by Phil Tajitsu Nash

Imagine that your community and a neighboring community had been at war a half century ago. Many men had been killed, and women and children had been kidnapped.

Then, imagine what it would take for those two communities to sit down together to look at archival films of life in their region, share memories of common ancestors, and allow their children to interact peacefully with one another...See link below for rest of this article...

For more on this historic meeting of the Wauja and Ikpeng peoples, see http://returnofthecapturedspirits.com/ or GO here

The author, Phil Tajitsu Nash (pnash@umd.edu) teaches at the University of Maryland.

For a full read GO here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/12/31-1 or click here

(Since a New Year resolution of mine is to seek out the true positive despite all that we must face that is not...I wanted to include the above article as an antidote to current concerns about US abuses of Rights and Peace. Connie)

Obama Signs NDAA (Homeland Battlefield Bill) Into Law

2012-01-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

Obama Crowned Himself on New Year's Eve

--------------------

By David Swanson - Posted on 31 December 2011 (with others following on 1 January 2011 -- Swanson's blogsite War is a Crime )

These were among the complaints registered the last time this nation had a king:

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
"He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
"He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
"He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
"He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
"For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
"For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
"For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
"For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

==========
By Sara Sorcher, National Journal

31 December 11

President Obama today signed the highly controversial Defense Spending Bill. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with its so-called Homeland Battlefield provisions, allows, according to many legal scholars, the indefinite detention of US citizens by the US military. What is most striking is a lengthy signing statement by Obama, in which he maintains his reservations about the Homeland Battlefield provisions, saying, 'I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists.' His defense of civil liberties in the signing statement was passionate. Nonetheless, at the same moment, he signed the bill into law. -- ma/RSN (Readers Supported News)

READ full article here

UPDATE: Muslim Men to March in Texas

2011-12-31T06:24:00.001-08:00

Update THE PEACE THRU JUSTICE FOUNDATION
11006 Veirs Mill Rd, STE L-15, PMB 298
Silver Spring, MD. 20902

SAFAR 1433 A.H.
(December 31, 2011)

Assalaamu Alaikum (Greetings of Peace):

I begin with a note of heartfelt thanks for all those who took time out of a day of relaxation (and for many, heightened expectation), to dramatize their concern for a most deserving political prisoner, and prisoner of war, by the name of Aafia Siddiqui. ALLAH blessed us with a beautiful day, and the collection of concerned citizens who came together was even more beautiful (alhamdullilah)!

As I noted earlier to Aafia's sister (Dr. Fowzia), one of the most important elements that came out of today's mobilization was the broadening of the base of support for Aafia in America. There were Muslims and non-Muslims, Sunni and Shi'a, people of varying racial and cultural orientations, the young and the not so young:).

Yesterday, through the introduction of a local activist, by the name of Thomas Muhammad, I also had an opportunity to brief an outspoken African-American councilwoman (for the city of Dallas) on Aafia's case over lunch; and she has pledged her support to do whatever she can in the days ahead, insha'Allah. With these connections being made, and with ALLAH's help, we expect the base of support to broaden even more, insha'Allah.

With that said, may ALLAH bless you, and fortify you, in this new year (of the Islamic and Gregorian calendars).

Your brother in Islam,

MS

From the family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui ..

Dear Mauri

We want to thank you and all the people who have made the courageous effort to stand with you peacefully today at Carswell on this New Year's eve.

In some ways it is sad that such a mobilization is even needed to ask for something so basic as humane treatment of a prisoner and a right to visit in confidence with family and lawyer without dehumanizing conditions.

We hope that relevant authorities will take note and find it in their hearts to do the humane thing. Such gatherings do seem to have an impact. In April of this year, a group similar to this made a point and the result was that Aafia did finally get some phone calls to family and a visit after almost 2-1/2 years. Of course, what the system can give, it can also take away, and so Aafia has been banished again into isolation.

We are thankful for the effort made by each and every one for standing for humane treatment of all the prisoners at Carswell.

May you all have a peaceful and prosperous New Year and May you all see your loved ones in safety, freedom and good health.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's family

=======

Full assembly at 11 am MUSLIM MEN MARCH ON FMC CARSWELL (Fort Worth) on behalf of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and other Female Prisoners experiencing the agony of long-term isolation, refusal of visits from family members, a history of severe mistreatment and many reports of extreme human rights violations.

For more information please go to Justice for Aafia here and here

Also view the four items just below this posting and the comments under several.

March for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and other Female Prisoners

2011-12-30T18:01:00.002-08:00

@08:00 - 05:00PM

An emergency mobilization for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, and all other female prisoners suffering abuse in a federal institution that has a long, shameful record of violating the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee against “cruel and unusual punishment.”

While ALL ARE INVITED to join this urgently needed mobilization, we feel it is a special obligation on Muslim Men!

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS URGENTLY NEEDED MOBILIZATION

BY

1. HELPING US SPREAD THE WORD

2. PLANNING TO ATTEND

3. DONATE

You can mail a donation to:

The Peace Thru Justice Foundation

11006 Viers Mill Road

STE L-15, PMB 298

Silver Spring, MD. 20902

========

If you plan to report or disseminate the news about this group for peace thru justice and Dr. Aafia Siddiqui be sure to check out the two posts just below, the family site here and find Don't Blame the Victim at aboutaafia.blogspot.com -- here -- and here Also find plenty on Dr. Aafia and her court hearings/trial/indictment on this site and at andyworthington.co.uk

Update on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and A Christmas Gift

2011-12-30T18:01:00.001-08:00

Update on Aafia this Year End Season (2011) See this and much more pertaining to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui at freeaafia.org

In September, 2011 Aafia was finally allowed a family visit after almost 2-1/2 years. Then another one in early November. She was also finally allowed to meet with a lawyer of her choice. But almost immediately following her interaction with a non-government appointed lawyer, Aafia has now had her "privileges" suspended indefinitely.

What this means is that she is effectively not allowed any visitation from anyone except US or Pakistani government officials. No contact with family and a confiscation of all her meager "possessions" including all religious books and materials. She is also subjected to solitary confinement. Her health is deteriorating with serious concerns about her physical treatment based on last accounts. She is not allowed visits from independent physicians.

Yet, despite all of this, Aafia remains an inspiration and lives on in the hearts of those who have faith. We believe that even when everything looks bleak and one could be excused for feeling helpless, the help of God is nearer than we realize. We also believe that success will be the ultimate destiny for those who who have maintained the trust. The efforts of our supporters who believe in justice will not be in vain.

This holiday season we are thankful for Ahmad and Maryam. We pray for those at Carswell to be guided and have mercy. We wish for the happiness and safety of all our supporters. We pray for peace, justice and freedom to prevail throughout the world.

From the Family of Dr. Aafia

==========

A Christmas Gift
by Andrew Purcell

Dec 21, 2011

Okay. I got my Christmas gift seven weeks early. A complete surprise considering it came directly from Aafia.

How did this happen?

She is too dangerous for me to be allowed to visit. Certainly doesn't have a lot of opportunity to go to the mall and shop.

During the first weekend of November I drove to Fort Worth with Aafia's brother. The prison officials would not confirm the visit. Come up and maybe, we'll see. He made the five hundred plus mile round trip expecting to be turned away. He was surprised that after some discussion they were allowed a four hour visit.

A good visit has a much different definition at Carswell Prison than it does in the real world, and this was not a good visit. When he got back to the hotel he proceeded to tell me about it.

In the middle of this he paused and said that Aafia had a question for me. She asked me to read books about Islam because she wanted to make sure that I go to Heaven.

This is the woman we are fighting for. Living through nearly nine years of hell and she is concerned about my soul.

As Christmas greetings go, this is not the traditional carols and a light snowfall on Christmas Eve, but I can't imagine many gifts that I will cherish more.

(See an earlier piece by Andrew Purcell in post below this one on oneheartforpeace)

Why the Dr. Aafia Campaign Makes a Lasting Difference

2011-12-30T17:46:00.000-08:00

Here is Andrew Purcell's beautiful message Ramadan EID year before last

A SPECIAL EID MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND
Why Dr. Aafia's Campaign is Cause for Celebration

"I know very well how everything I do for Aafia keeps backfiring. It is just so frustrating. I am just hurt and overwhelmed, shocked at the situation here."

- Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui
the sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

From her place in the center of the eye of the hurricane I know how Dr. Fowzia could write those words. She is standing in the midst of a situation that nothing could have prepared her for.

She wonders if anything she has done for Aafia makes any difference at all. After all Aafia is still in an American jail, waiting to be sentenced to life in prison later this month. She is no closer to coming home than she was when she was found dazed and disoriented on the streets of Ghazni. So Dr. Fowzia sees herself as a failure...

...but not so fast. Take a few steps back and catch your breath. In 2003 Dr. Aafia and her three children vanished from the face of the Earth as agents of the military dictator kidnapped and sold them to representatives of the United States. Now step forward seven years. As a direct result of Dr. Fowzia's work, her sister Aafia is no longer being held and tortured in an unacknowledged prison facility and two of her three children have been recovered and are living with their grandmother.

Traditionally the families and friends of those who have disappeared by secret government orders have been lucky if they can find a general location where the bodies might have been dumped. Dr. Fowzia and her supporters have achieved something unprecedented in the field of human rights; they have forced the reappearance of Aafia, her son Ahmad, and her daughter Maryam. Three living human beings.

It is true that Aafia is still being held in an American jail and there is still no sign of her youngest son Suliman. Is this the victory? Not yet. In this line of work few victories come easily. There are no rules. Progress is measured as a few steps here and a couple of inches there.

When Aafia is sentenced later this month it will not mean her case is over and lost. It will instead be the confirmation of a victory that freed her from torture in a secret prison and returned two of her children home.

The sentencing will also mark the beginning of the next steps in the campaign. Suliman, the child who may never have had a chance to live, must be accounted for. If he is still alive, return him to his family, if he is not, an explanation must be provided. Aafia must be cleared of the slanders and libels that have been thrown at her. And of course, return Aafia home.

This may seem to be a lot of effort for one woman and a child who may not even be alive. If it were just the two of them you might be inclined to count your blessings and quit. Aafia and Suliman were just born with bad luck.

But it isn't just about them. Or Ahmad and Maryam. Or Aafia's mother, sister, and brother. Or even her ex-husband or her crazy uncle. Hundreds of Pakistanis disappeared in very much the same fashion during the rule of the military dictator. Bring Aafia home and account for Suliman and it will be proof that others can also be returned. It just takes the will to shine a little bit of light on evil, and evil gets very frightened.

In the Bible story, Moses brought God's message to the Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" Pharaohs come and go using different names, but the message remains.

Look at how Dr. Fowzia responded to her sister's plight armed with only faith in God, a pure soul, and courage. Despite death threats, she and a small group of supporters stood up to a dictator and within a few days Aafia reappeared. A few weeks later the dictator was gone.

This can be repeated to help others. Human rights groups will be studying this case for years as proof that the evil can be overcome.

As a final note, when Aafia came to America she often spoke to me about Islam. She said that while many people focused on fasting and feasting during Ramadan, there was more to it. Ramadan is also a time of reflection. Reflection on the things you have done for others. Like Dr. Fowzia and the campaign for her sister. This has acomplished something extraordinary and it will accomplish even more. This campaign has rewritten the book on saving people from injustice.

Andrew Purcell

Find posting here

From UK: PRESS RELEASE: tenth anniversary of Gitmo

2011-12-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

Notification of events surrounding the tenth anniversary of the first detainees arriving at Guantanamo Bay

----------------------------------------------
CagePrisoners
----------------------------------------------

28 December 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Notification of events for the tenth anniversary of Guantanamo

Notification of events surrounding the tenth anniversary of the first detainees arriving at Guantanamo Bay:

1. Press launch of ‘Laa Tansa: Never Forget’ project

Laa Tansa is a major online project that has been undertaken by CagePrisoners in order to provide the most complete picture of Guantanamo to date. The press conference will provide media the opportunity to interview a large host of former Guantanamo detainees, their lawyers and families who will all be present at the event.

Date: 10 January 2012

Time: 10:30 am

Venue: Frontline Club
13 Norfolk Place
London
W2 1QJ

Speakers: Former Guantanamo detainees, their families and their lawyers. Please see the notes at the end for a full list of those who will be present.

2. Guantanamo Remembered: 10 Years event

On the tenth anniversary of Guantanamo Bay’s opening, CagePrisoners, Reprieve and the Islamic Human Rights Commission will co-host an event in order to reflect on the impact of a decade on the lives of those in Guantanamo and their families.

Date: 11 January 2012

Time: 6:00 pm

Venue: Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square
London
WC1R 4RL

Speakers: Former Guantanamo detainees, their families and their lawyers. Please see the notes at the end for a full list of those who will be present.

3. UK Film Premiere: Death in Camp Delta

CagePrisoners host the UK film premiere of the Erlin Borgen film, Death in Camp Delta. The film tells the story of Yasser al-Zahrani who died in Guantanamo. The film features former Guantanamo prisoners Omar Deghayes, Moazzam Begg, Al Jazeera's Sami al-Hajj, survivor of the brutal massacre at Qala-i-Jangi, Walid al-Hajj, and Colonel Talal al-Zahrani, father of Yasser.

Date: 12 January 2012

Time: 6:30 pm

Venue: Curzon Cinema (Soho)
99 Shaftsbury Avenue
London
W1D 5DY

Speakers: Erling Borgen (Filmmaker and Director of Death in Guantanamo)
Moazzam Begg (former Guantanamo detainee and Director of CagePrisoners)
Talal al-Zahrani (father of deceased Guantanamo detainee,
Yasser al-Zahrani)
Cori Cryder (Legal Director of Reprieve)

[ENDS]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

1. Guest speakers at the press launch and event includes:

Moazzam Begg (former Guantanamo detainee and Director of CagePrisoners)
Sami El-Hajj (former Guantanamo detainee)
Mousa Zemmouri (former Guantanamo detainee)
Murat Kurnaz (former Guantanamo detainee)
Waleed Haj (former Guantanamo detainee)
Saad al-Azemi (former Guantanamo detainee)
Colonel Talal al-Zahrani (father of deceased Guantanamo detainee)
Victoria Brittain (Patron of Cageprisoners)
Clive Stafford Smith (Director of Reprieve)
Massoud Shadjareh (Director of Islamic Human Rights Commission)
Gareth Peirce (Human Rights Lawyer)
Michael Ratner (President of the Center for Constitutional Rights)
Asim Qureshi (Executive Director of Cageprisoners)

Media enquiries for interviews with the above guests can be directed to CagePrisoners at the contact details below.

2. CagePrisoners is a human rights NGO that exists to raise awareness of the plight of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and other detainees held as part of the War on Terror. We aim to give a voice to the voiceless.

Give a voice to the voiceless.

CagePrisoners Ltd.
27 Old Gloucester Street
London
WC1N 3XX

Press contact: (44) 203 167 4416
Email: asim@cageprisoners.com
Web: www.cageprisoners.com

Peace According to the Peace-Makers

2011-12-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

World Peace

Peace is an Inside Job

Christmas is a time to recognize the birth of a great teacher, who taught us to practice peace and forgiveness. At WWH, we embrace lessons from all faiths to help us navigate religious, political, and personal conflicts.

There are many paths toward peace and fulfillment and they all begin inside. We must commit to kindness and compassion as our life’s top priority. Stop the angry and unkind thoughts, and replace them with goodness or neutral ideas. It’s not easy when our hearts are full of pain and fear, but by building a calm inner space we can control our words and actions, and change our world.

Join us in our goal to live peacefully in the world.

Think compassion. Live healing and forgiveness.

See "World Without Hate" movement and site

Even After All this Time
**
By Hafez (See "The Gift") - the poet from Iran - who said “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.”*

*photo above is of an Iranian Sunrise
flickr.com

**the photo of Hafez poem at end of this post is of part of an american school project for peace among diverse children.

Why should we allow War to be the "god" of our planet?

2011-12-28T13:14:00.000-08:00

Will we continue to allow War to be the "god" of our planet or will we would-be peacemakers together make the difference?

WHAT IF? WHAT NOW? here

Remembering and refusing to repeat ANYWHERE - December 27 three years ago in GAZA -- one of history's greatest crimes -- FIND here Gaza and go back in November/December three years ago to find archives on this site: oneheartforpeace

US CITIZENS: PLEASE CALL your legislators, leaders and the White House to demand respectful negotiation - no more instigation of war with bully back tactics.

Here is a startling piece about North Carolina USA legislators to US Congress:
"Three days ago by a margin of 410 to 11, Congress has just passed one of the most potentially dangerous pieces of legislation in world history, The Iran Threat Reduction Act.

Every member of the North Carolina delegation voted in favor except for two who were absent – both rock-ribbed Republicans (Myrick and Coble). While other nations and international organizations are attempting to criminalize war, the US congress is attempting to criminalize diplomatic contact and potential peace negotiations. This astonishing piece of legislation symbolizes the dangers Americans face from their elected representatives in government and those from the Military Industrial Complex who are actually in control of our government." This is according to the speech I found from Information Clearing House ICH here

North Carolinians and US citizens: WAKE UP! There's a light we can and MUST be doing to alert our leaders to REFLECT before they vote on the legacy they leave behind representing our voters. CALL and speak your mind -- yet I have found when I do research carefully, isolate a few main points and speak with respect I have the ears of my representatives longer and get respect back.

Just in today: US warns Iran...here

An End of Year Catch-Up on Torture-Related Rights

2011-12-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

Please spread the word:

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION in Washington DC USA January 11, 2012 (Hear Andy Worthington and many many others) GO here

Year's End:

Year of 2011 Torture News here

Torture Flight Profits from Autumn & recent history here

ACTIONS we can do from HOME: speak up for Omar Khadr -- READ Andy Worthington's latest: Christmas Thoughts for Child Prisoner Omar Khadr (PLZ send letters of outrage) GO here

We can do more internationally to help stop or prevent carelessness and use nuclear energy worldwide. Plz, GO to this NEW US - Japan Medical Study Estimates 14,000 Dead US Infants from Fukushima Fallout. here For one instance of neglect worldwide now often becomes EVERYONE's problem worldwide.

And remember the USA needs help worldwide to force our leaders to seek peace, negotiations & alternatives to the bully pulpit, drones galore, use of groups like Blackwater turned Xe now become after many other face-changes Academi.

MORE We Can Do together -- Support Professional Efforts to Heal Torture and Scars of War - GO here -- here -- here -- also --psychiatrists and torture here

Last but not least: Help END and PREVENT more abuses! Support all the groups giving us the facts such as No More Gitmos and Bill of Rights Defense Committee and the ACLU(along with their suggested actions)-- wherever you have time and can agree with these.

Support all the journalists and others calling for an end to DRONES such as the Nonviolent Christian Peacemakers, War is a Crime, World Without Hate dot org, World Cant Wait and longtime efforts such as Amnesty, Reprieve, Human Rights Watch and Center for Constitutional Rights CCRJUSTICE dot org -- all the lawyers, staff and activists who seek to end or prevent torture and other abuses to human respect, dignity and the right to a just trial.

Help existing democracies return to a day when innocence until proven guilty is the norm not the exception.

Right now, the CCR (Center for Constitutional Rights) is asking: Do Private Military Contractors Have Impunity to Torture? GO here There are many other such groups I've hightlighted on this site - just take a quick skim or cruise...

Here's to a torture and rights-abuse FREE 2012. Here's to a fulfilling year with healing for us all. Let's all do our part....

Serenity

2011-12-25T12:30:00.001-08:00

A Karachi Sunset

The original full version of the Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference;

Living one day at a time.
Enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as he (the one we follow) did, this (imperfect) world as it is --
not as I would have it.

Trusting that He, Allah, the God of my understanding, will make all things right
as I surrender to His Will --
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Ameen, Amin, Amen, So Be It.

Where the Mind is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore

2011-12-24T03:04:00.000-08:00

*
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Tagore, Rabindranath (1861-1941), poet, philosopher, teacher, founder of schools and Nobel laureate, was born in Calcutta. He began to write poetry very young; his first book appeared when he was 17 years old. After a brief stay in England (1878) to study law, he returned to India, where he composed hundreds of songs. In 1929 he began painting.

Tagore wrote primarily in Bengali, but translated many of his works into English himself. In 1915 he was knighted by the British king George V. yet he renounced his
knighthood in 1919 following the Amritsar massacre of 400 Indian demonstrators
by British troops.

He believed in a world based on transnational values. He willingly allowed his composition of songs to be used by three nations for their national anthem: India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

In 1901 Rabindranath Tagore founded a school at Santiniketan, West Bengal, India, which later developed into an international institution called Visva Bharati, where he tried to revive the famed "Gurukula" system: in which students spent much time at their teacher's house and studied there. Later, he utilized nature as a place for students to study.

* The copy of the painting above is "The Boy" found in Gitanjali - find this and other paintings with poems here

Aafia Siddiqui: Notice of Events and Newsletter

2011-12-24T00:57:00.000-08:00

First, from a coalition of various political and social groups:

An emergency mobilization for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, and all other female prisoners suffering abuse in a federal institution that has a long, shameful record of violating the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee against “cruel and unusual punishment.”

While ALL ARE INVITED to join this urgently needed mobilization, we feel it is a special obligation on Muslim Men!

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS URGENTLY NEEDED MOBILIZATION

BY

1. HELPING US SPREAD THE WORD

2. PLANNING TO ATTEND

3. DONATE

You can mail a donation to:

The Peace Thru Justice Foundation
11006 Viers Mill Road
STE L-15, PMB 298
Silver Spring, MD. 20902

The event notices are provided as information and do not necessarily imply sponsorship or endorsement by the family or the FreeAafia campaign.

SEASON'S GREETINGS
From the Family of Dr. Aafia
December, 2011

Update on Aafia this Year End Season (2011)

In September, 2011 Aafia was finally allowed a family visit after almost 2-1/2 years. Then another one in early November. She was also finally allowed to meet with a lawyer of her choice. But almost immediately following her interaction with a non-government appointed lawyer, Aafia has now had her "privileges" suspended indefinitely.

What this means is that she is effectively not allowed any visitation from anyone except US or Pakistani government officials. No contact with family and a confiscation of all her meager "possessions" including all religious books and materials. She is also subjected to solitary confinement. Her health is deteriorating with serious concerns about her physical treatment based on last accounts. She is not allowed visits from independent physicians.

Yet, despite all of this, Aafia remains an inspiration and lives on in the hearts of those who have faith. We believe that even when everything looks bleak and one could be excused for feeling helpless, the help of God is nearer than we realize. We also believe that success will be the ultimate destiny for those who who have maintained the trust. The efforts of our supporters who believe in justice will not be in vain.

This holiday season we are thankful for Ahmad and Maryam. We pray for those at Carswell to be guided and have mercy. We wish for the happiness and safety of all our supporters. We pray for peace, justice and freedom to prevail throughout the world.

Family of Aafia Siddiqui

A Christmas Gift
by Andrew Purcell

Dec 21, 2011

Okay. I got my Christmas gift seven weeks early. A complete surprise considering it came directly from Aafia.

How did this happen?

She is too dangerous for me to be allowed to visit. Certainly doesn't have a lot of opportunity to go to the mall and shop.

During the first weekend of November I drove to Fort Worth with Aafia's brother. The prison officials would not confirm the visit. Come up and maybe, we'll see. He made the five hundred plus mile round trip expecting to be turned away. He was surprised that after some discussion they were allowed a four hour visit.

A good visit has a much different definition at Carswell Prison than it does in the real world, and this was not a good visit. When he got back to the hotel he proceeded to tell me about it.

In the middle of this he paused and said that Aafia had a question for me. She asked me to read books about Islam because she wanted to make sure that I go to Heaven.

This is the woman we are fighting for. Living through nearly nine years of hell and she is concerned about my soul.

As Christmas greetings go, this is not the traditional carols and a light snowfall on Christmas Eve, but I can't imagine many gifts that I will cherish more.

For more news and other items GO here

==============

Quiet Immensity

2011-12-22T22:17:00.001-08:00

A BLESSING

May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.
May the flame of anger free you from falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

~ John O'Donohue ~

(Anam Cara)

UPDATES on the NDAA

2011-12-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

Be sure to read or skim the comments under each article as well and skim pertinent posts on oneheartforpeace:

Examiner.com Human Rights:
here

Verdict.justia.com NDAA Explained:
here

Daily Kos (difference taken with some of Greenwald's work - yet here the comments may be helpful as well -- I'm leaving this as URL for easy cut and past to your contacts):
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/20/1047407/-Greenwalds-3-NDAA-myths-is-moony-and-wrong

If any of you follow Marjorie Cohn, Prof. at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, in San Diego, Calif and former president of the National Lawyer's Guild and author or many books -- her most recent, "Torture and the US", will soon be out in paperback and full of pertinent info. If you happen upon a new article or radio show on the NDAA, plz let me know!

Glenn Greenwald's NDAA Summary on Democracy Now! December 19, 2011

2011-12-19T17:56:00.000-08:00

(Here's) what this bill will do, and it will be signed into law now by President Obama...it will be the first time that the United States Congress has codified the power of indefinite detention into the law since the McCarthy era of the 1950s. The 1950 Congress passed a bill saying that communists and subversives could be imprisoned without a trial, without full due process, based on the allegation that they presented a national threat, an emergency, a threat to the national security of the United States.

President Truman, knowing that the bill would—the veto would be overridden, nonetheless vetoed it and said that it made a mockery of the Bill of Rights. That law was repealed in 1971 with the Non-Detention Act, that said you cannot hold people in prison without charging them with a crime.

The war on terror has eroded that principle, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, but Congress is now, with the Democrats in control of the Senate and a Democratic president, is about to enact into law the first bill that will say that the military and the United States government do have this power. It’s muddled whether it applies to U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, but it’s clearly indefinite detention, and there’s a very strong case to make that it includes U.S. citizens, as well, which, as we know, the Obama administration already claims anyway, and that’s what makes it so dangerous.
===
Read more on Democracy Now! for 19 December, 2011:

Including this condensation by Democracy Now!

Obama Prepares to Authorize Indefinite Detention of U.S. Citizens for First Time Since McCarthy Era–Glenn Greenwald on NDAA

The $662 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress last week includes controversial provisions that could usher in a radical expansion of indefinite detention under the U.S. government by authorizing the military to jail anyone it considers a terrorism suspect anywhere in the world without charge or trial.

Glenn Greenwald, constitutional law attorney and political and legal blogger for Salon.com.

Rais Bhuiyan symbolizes theme of AMV Peace Convention

2011-12-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

2011 AMV Convention glimpse-1C

AMV American Muslim Voice Peace Convention 2011 draws large crowd

By Abdus Sattar Ghazali

American Muslim Voice held its Annual Peace Convention on Sunday (Dec 11, 2011) at the Chandni Restaurant in Fremont/Newark. The 5-hour long Convention attracted a crowd of around 400 people from near and far. The master of ceremony was Anser Hasan, a reporter from the CBS5 morning show.

AMV brought together Muslim scholars, featured speakers, panelists, award recipients and a diverse crowd of people in order to highlight the importance of community and peace building in America. 2011 AMV Convention Multifaith prayers-C

The program began with multi-faith prayers by Rabbi Elisheva Salamo (Jewish), Sister Margaret Hoffman (Christian) and Omar Raza (recitation of the Holy Quran).

The theme of the convention was “Awakening the American Spirit: Turning the Tide of Hate into Love.” The convention was divided into two sessions. The first session comprised of two parallel events: Conversation with Muslim Scholars and Civil Rights Panel Discussion.

Khalid Saeed, the AMV National President, presented an overview about the AMV achievements since its establishment eight years.2011 AMV Convention KS-9C

He said: “We take pride and comfort in being recognized regionally and nationally as a Muslim peace building and community building organization. We have been active in support of human and immigrant rights; we are unique as a grassroots facilitator of interfaith/intercultural dialogue. The secret of our success is practicing Islam with our actions- not just words- in the main stream among our fellow Americans- responding first to each community’s needs, serving the whole community and nation from the part of us that is rooted in the universal values of love, peace, and justice given to us through Islam.”

He went on to say: AMV campaigns like, “Share the joy of Ramadan and Eid with your fellow Americans,” “Light the night for peace and friendship,” an Iftar dinner held in 2009 across from White House have been very successful in changing the negative image of Islam and Muslims, promoting mutual respect, acceptance and harmony. [Text of Khalid Saeed’s Speech]

Rais Bhuiyan

Rais Bhuiyan, a featured speaker perhaps symbolized the theme of the convention. A victim of post-9/11 shooting spree, Bhuiyan forgave and tried to spare the life of the man who shot him and left him for dead. Rais Bhuiyan shared his courageous story of compassion, love and forgiveness. A white supremacist shot Rais and two other South Asians. The other two innocent victims of hate died while Rais survived. He was blinded in one eye and still carries 35 shotgun pellets embedded in his face. Rais Buiyan-F

Just 10 days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Rais Bhuiyan was working at a gas station in Dallas when he was shot in the face by a man named Mark Stroman, an avowed white supremacist, who was on a shooting spree, targeting people who appeared to be Muslim or of Middle Eastern descent.

Stroman also shot and killed Waqar Hasan, a Pakistani immigrant in Dallas. Vasudev Patel, an Indian immigrant and gas station owner in Mesquite, TX, was Stroman’s third and final victim. Stroman admitted to the shootings.

The press labeled the murders Texas's first post 9/11 hate crime. Stroman himself claimed that “blinded by rage,” he killed to avenge the United States. The prosecution convinced the jury that robbery was his true motive, (even though he hadn’t taken money from his victims) and he was sentenced to death.

Bhuiyan had mounted an aggressive campaign to convince Texas authorities to commute Stroman's sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He has asked the state board of pardons and paroles to make a positive recommendation for clemency to Gov. Rick Perry, and has asked Texas prison administrators for permission to meet face-to-face with Stroman for a victim-offender reconciliation process. After those efforts were met with no response from Texas officials, Bhuiyan filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that his rights as a crime victim to meet with his attacker had been unjustly denied.

Bhuiyan’s efforts on behalf of Stroman were motivated by his Muslim faith. He says: The Koran teaches that those who forsake retribution and forgive those who have wronged them become closer to God.

Bhuiyan has created a website called World Without Hate to educate others about hate crimes as a means of preventing them. He's also working with Amnesty International and Stroman's defense attorney, who has filed several appeals on Stroman's death sentence.

Read more about this inspiring event at American Muslim Voice home page -- Click here

Everything is an opportunity for awareness

2011-12-18T05:23:00.001-08:00

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
by Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down the dulcimer.

Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways...

— from Open Secret: Versions of Rumi Interpreted by Coleman Barks with Translator John Moyne
====
SONG here

US "efforts" in Iraq according to Craig Murray (and Christopher Hitchens)

2011-12-18T04:22:00.000-08:00

While I admire the writer Christopher Hitchens prolific way with words and willingness to share his struggles, we can't take lightly that he was pro-Iraq war ...

See the article by Craig Murray which follows and the comments under that one at his site:

here

Hitchens/Iraq

here (Could there have been any "best" reasons for war with Iraq?)

UPDATES Dec 19 2011: US County Responds to the 2012 NDAA

2011-12-18T04:13:00.000-08:00

See this one especially at Democracy Now for a short up-to-date summary by Glenn Greenwald who may have been studying the NDAA most intensely since the national debate has begun -- GO here

You may want to see a bold US early effort in response to the unweildy and deeply worrisome passing of the US National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2012

County Commission in COLORADO passes NDAA resolution
El Paso County resolution on due process passes

Posted on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 11:59 AM:

Last night, the El Paso County Board of Commissioners became the first such body in the state, and likely the nation, to pass a resolution in response to the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.

here

Quote of the evening came from County Commissioner Sallie Clark: "I don't usually agree with the ACLU, but today I do."

Also, keep watching the bordc.org and nogitmos.org

======

poems on loving anyway

2011-12-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

*
Thanks
by W.S Merwin

Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow for the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water looking out
in different directions.

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you
looking up from tables we are saying thank you
in a culture up to its chin in shame
living in the stench it has chosen we are saying thank you
over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the back door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks that use us we are saying thank you
with the crooks in office with the rich and fashionable
unchanged we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us like the earth
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is

let it go – the
by e.e. cummings

let it go – the
smashed word broken
open vow or
the oath cracked length
wise – let it go it
was sworn to
go

let them go – the
truthful liars and
the false fair friends
and the boths and
neithers – you must let them go they
were born
to go

let all go – the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things – let all go
dear
so comes love

The Invisible Cloak
by John O'Donohue

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

The Arc That Bends Towards Mercy
loves justice too
don't think that will ever change
in case you want off the hook
yet
in the case of a butterfly
or a sparrow with a broken wing
or person
or child
in any kind of body
or what if
you've been attacked
or you're the slinger
or maybe everybody
needs forgiving...

when you consider your options
maybe right away
or
even after a long time
you get your choice
you get to choose
when and how to heal
when to go back
and ahead
to find
that...

what you don't have to take
or be
anymore
is not only
the wounding
but the wounding back

what you feel then
is that you are riding
once more
on the golden elephant
over the arc of tears
into the arms of home
and even before getting to heaven...
even you might want to stop again
and get the elephant to let you off
for another sunrise when
once more orange and pink swirls
with caws and fish and birds
over the sea reaching as if to Asia
or to America
either
or both
are swaddled in visions
and truehopes once more
and compassion and beauty is
here
once more
as real as the morning mist
over the waters
rising
yet still connecting
communities of us all
as never before
in fact as a nation of one
in the here
in the becoming
world
wide--
and our real lives
become authentic
a lived reality stage
once more.

Once again
there is still
room for love...

(By connie l. nash on the morning after the US may have killed the Bill of Rights 220 years after it was written - 16 December, 2011)

* scene found at Yes! Magazine for Fall 2011 at site for Thanks by W. S. Merwin

Update: Why a Constitutional Law Professor Cannot Sign NDAA

2011-12-15T20:33:00.001-08:00

Update midnight just before 16 December: You may want to view C-Span for today's recorded Congressional activity. And you may be so moved as to sign this petition:
GO here

Excerpt: "...you don't need to be a constitutional scholar to know that permanent wartime powers amounts to the overthrow of the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution. Common sense alone says you might have unlimited powers in a war of limited duration, or you might have limited powers in a war of unlimited duration, but the plain language of the Constitution tells us you cannot have both: unlimited powers in a war of unlimited duration."

Detention of Americans

Why a Constitutional Law Professor Cannot Sign NDAA, Allowing Military Detention of Americans

By Ralph Lopez - Posted on 15 December 2011 on warisacrime.org

There has never been a better time to take a close look at how we got here, with Obama, a former Constitutional law professor, about to sign a law which overnight turns the U.S. into a Third World country, where anyone can be swept off the streets by the military to rot forever, or even be killed. Some people say wearily that the new powers for the indefinite military detention of Americans are not new at all. That this is nothing the government cannot, and has not, already done.

What this misses is that the new government powers seek to codify, "hard-wire" if you will, an area of law which is in flux, and far from settled in the courts. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) proclaimed in his momentous speech on the Senate floor that:

“1031, the statement of authority to detain, does apply to American citizens and it designates the world as the battlefield, including the homeland.”

Graham goes on to say that the proposed law is simply based on the "law of the land" in the Fourth Circuit Court decision in the case of Jose Padilla, the first American arrested in the US and declared "enemy combatant" in the war on terror. Padilla was held for 3 1/2 years in isolation, tortured, and given, according to his lawyer, some kind of hallucinogenic drug such as LSD. His attorney Andrew Patel said that after a time, according to brig staff, “Mr. Padilla's temperament was so docile and inactive that his behavior was like that of a piece of furniture. ”

An examining psychiatrist before his eventual trial said that after the 3 1/2 years, Padilla exhibited "facial tics, unusual eye movements and contortions of his body.”

Mr. Graham, University of South Carolina School of Law, the man who at the moment occupies one of the US Senate seats for the Great State of South Carolina, got wrong what any eighth-grader would know from civics class were he no more than a "C" student. A higher authority than Graham, the Founding Fathers, declared in Article VI that not the Fourth Circuit, but the Constitution, was the "supreme law of the land":

"This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby..."

The Fourth Circuit decision to which Graham was referring, upholding the Bush administration's authority to hold Padilla indefinitely, without trial if it wished, was handed down by Judge Micheal Luttig. Luttig, University of Virginia School of Law, gave Bush the benefit of the doubt believing that the question would go before the US Supreme Court to be properly deliberated. Luttig in essence relied on the World War II precedent Ex parte Quirin, in which a number of German-Americans were held as enemy combatants after being accused of spying for Germany during World War II.

Luttig must have known that, were the Padilla case to be properly deliberated, one of first questions to arise would be the applicability of a WWII precedent.

One of the most fundamental understandings of American-English jurisprudence is that precedents can only apply when a case has a similar set of operative facts. Black's Law Dictionary defines "precedent" as a "rule of law established for the first time by a court for a particular type of case and thereafter referred to in deciding similar cases." This is not to say precedents cannot apply to cases with very different circumstances: different times, different places. But the "operative" pieces, i.e. the major assumptions, must be substantially the same.

Since a war which lasts forever is substantially different from than one that does not, Luttig must have suspected that previous precedents on enemy combatants, cannot apply. The war on terror is the first war which by definition has no end, in which the "enemy" is an amorphous network rather than the kind of military hierarchy we have opposed in every previous war. This is the first war in which there is no one from whom to accept surrender.

George Bush clearly defined the war on terror as lasting forever when he said to a joint session of Congress on September 20, 2001, that ... the war on terror was "a task that does not end."

Perhaps, then, this is why Luttig was livid when Bush released Jose Padilla to civilian trial before his case could come before the Supreme Court:

Judge Luttig Slams Bush Administration in Padilla Case

The appeals court opinion reflected a tone of anger that is rare for a federal court addressing the United States government, particularly in a matter of presidential authority.

Luttig said the government's actions created the appearance "that the government may be attempting to avoid" Supreme Court review in a matter of "especial national importance."

Why would Luttig be so angry? No one but Luttig knows. What we do know is that the Bush razzle-dazzle prevented his administration's declaration of permanent wartime powers from being struck down, and it made Luttig the man on whose written opinion Graham relied to abolish the Bill of Rights. This would be Luttig's place in American history.

The adjudicated wartime powers now being codified have never been put to the test in the Supreme Court. Yasar Hamdi in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld carried the crucial difference that Yasar Hamdi was captured in Afghanistan, arguably behind true "enemy lines."

You don't need to be a meteorologist to know if it's raining outside, and you don't need to be a constitutional scholar to know that permanent wartime powers amounts to the overthrow of the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution. Common sense alone says you might have unlimited powers in a war of limited duration, or you might have limited powers in a war of unlimited duration, but the plain language of the Constitution tells us you cannot have both: unlimited powers in a war of unlimited duration.

This is the question which has been ignored since 9/11. Instead of addressing it, the Congress, and the Executive, are jumping on a flawed Appeals Court decision and rushing to codify it. But Appeals courts make bad rulings all the time, and there is no rush to codify the error. Judge Luttig may not be a bad man. But his place in history may be assured, and it is not an enviable one. Could it be that his anger was not misplaced?

UPDATE: The NDAA:The "Rule of Law" and Cakes

2011-12-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

Feinstein's "Fix" did not Fix the NDAA - GO here to see why. Plz see "Did Dianne Feinstein's "Fix" on AUMF Language Actually Authorize Killing American Citizens (Be sure to see the pertinent conversation in the Comments on the emptywheel.net site and also below on oneheartforpeace)

SO, PLEASE Call your elected officials -- including the President -- NOW to say NO loud and clear to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (And even after it is declared cut in stone - complain loud and clear!) CALL EMAIL FAX the White House. Maybe President Obama will flip-flop again with enough pressure? Plz, no excuses - don't delay! Find Contact Info for our US folk here Capitol Switchboard 202 224-3121

File: A mosaic LAW by Frederick Dielman, 1847-1935.JPG*

CBS reported Wednesday evening that Laura Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office said, "If President Obama signs this bill (The National Defense Authorization Act - NDAA), it will damage both his legacy and American's reputation for upholding the rule of law."

Our best experts are saying things like "The last time Congress passed indefinite detention legislation was during the McCarthy era, and President Truman had the courage to veto that bill."

My daughter and son both had birthdays recently. So once again, I had the dillemma of wanting to make homemade cakes - but knowing they always flopped. My daughter pointed out with tact and truth: Mom, you're a great cook just not at cakes. It's because with cakes "you don't follow rules". I finally got it.

The Rule of Law is a requirement, not a mere matter of whim or belief in an individual's or a certain group's morality.

Without a way to challenge an executive or legislative action in court, the executive and legislative branch is not truly bound by the rule of law.

So what are we allowing TODAY as the NDAA measure to end some of our most basic laws proceeds? What is happening with a detainee' ability to argue - successfully or not -that she deserves the US Bill of Rights as well as whatever process the Constitution says he or she is due? What is happening as we give unconscionable power into the hands of our President?

Over our relatively small number of years we've fought to be a democracy, we've also seen the grave need for new rulings for which we've worked and battled long and hard - nationally and stateside. We've needed and got laws which don't give as much wiggle room for hate crimes and for bias on issues of life and death. In North Carolina, for example, The Racial Justice Act has set the stage for better safeguards, not less and has been saved (for now) by NC Gov. Beverly Perdue's rejection of the repeal voted on in the state's congress.

We and our representatives in the courtroom and on the police beat need help to do what we say we will do about fairness. We need the thoroughness and care required by a law about fairness -- even if we are inconvenienced in the process. That the court is going to be just on racial justice without such a safeguard -- as some of the legal "experts" and representatives in NC have claimed -- has simply not been true in history -- neither long past nor more recent.

Like rules for making a decent cake, we need such guidelines. To repeal the same after such a disgusting history without it, and such hard, long, careful work to get it, would be to scoff the "rule of law" for the rights of all.

Sometimes even the best lawyers spout their intentions of deciding on justice fairly by themselves on many issues. They often complain about certain laws that seem to cramp their style or hold things up. Often such self-aggrandizing folk claim they would follow the principles just as well without the law. But is this always or even often true --given the history of human kind without such just law?

While the term "the rule of law" in modern times gives credit to A. V. Dicey, the legal concept can be traced through history to many ancient civilizations.

Aristotle opposed letting the highest officials wield power beyond guarding and serving the laws. In other words, Aristotle advocated the rule of law when he said: It is more proper that law should govern than any one of the citizens. The Roman statesman Cicero has been quoted as saying, "We are all servants of the laws in order that we may be free."

In Islamic jurisprudence rule of law was formulated before the twelfth century, so that no official could claim to be above the law, not even the caliph.

In 1215, the English King John placed himself and England's future sovereigns and magistrates at least partially within the rule of law, by signing Magna Carta. In the US, the phrase "rule of law" is found in a petition to James I of England in 1610from the House of Commons:

"Amongst many other points of happiness and freedom which your majesty's subjects of this kingdom have enjoyed under your royal progenitors, kings and queens of this realm, there is none which they have accounted more dear and precious than this, to be guided and governed by the certain rule of the law which giveth both to the head and members that which of right belongeth to them, and not by any uncertain or arbitrary form of government...."

In 1776, the notion that no one is above the law was popular during the founding of the United States, for example Thomas Paine wrote in his pamphlet Common Sense that "in America, the law is king."

The following, from wikipedia on the Rule of Law may help us (capitalization is mine):

"Formalists hold that the law must be prospective, well-known, and have characteristics of generality, equality, and certainty. The substantive interpretation holds that the rule of law intrinsically protects some or all individual rights...

'All government officers of the United States, including the President, the Justices of the Supreme Court, and all members of Congress, pledge first and foremost to uphold the Constitution. These oaths affirm that the rule of law is superior to the rule of any human leader. At the same time, the federal government has considerable discretion: the legislative branch is free to decide what statutes it will write, as long as it stays WITHIN ITS ENUMERATED POWERS and respects the constitutionally protected RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS... "

Law Professor Frederick Mark Gedicks among many others have written that "Cicero, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and the framers of the U.S. Constitution believed that an unjust law was not really a law at all."

The Council of the International Bar Association passed a resolution in 2009 endorsing a substantive or "thick" definition of the rule of law:

"... An independent, impartial judiciary; the presumption of innocence; the right to a fair and public trial without undue delay; a rational and proportionate approach to punishment; a strong and independent legal profession; strict protection of confidential communications between lawyer and client; equality of all before the law; these are all fundamental principles of the Rule of Law. Accordingly, arbitrary arrests; secret trials; indefinite detention without trial; cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; intimidation or corruption in the electoral process, are ALL UNACCEPTABLE. The Rule of Law is the foundation of a civilised society. It establishes a transparent process accessible and equal to all. It ensures adherence to principles that both liberate and protect. The International Bar Association calls upon ALL countries to respect these fundamental principles. It also calls upon its members to speak out in support of the Rule of Law within their respective communities. "(World Justice Project)

British jurist A. V. Dicey who popularized the phrase "rule of law" in 1885 emphasized three aspects of the rule of law:

1. No one can be punished or made to suffer except for a breach of law proved in an ordinary court.
2. No one is above the law and everyone is equal before the law regardless of social, economic, or political status.
3. The rule of law includes the results of judicial decisions determining the rights of private persons.

Some would argue that if there's a fear of being killed - it's OK to assasinate or in the case of the NDAA lock up (with or without charge or advocacy) whoever is deemed to be the "villain". This, of course, creates wide differences in standards from place to place and among WHO decides. What if who decides wants to hide the facts from public eyes? Isn't that a little like saying I can simply "wing-it" -- disregarding the necessary rules -- and end up with a beautiful cake?
* At last, I learned my lesson this year and for the first time I remember I DID make -- not only one lovely cake -- I made TWO (even if I did make them from mixes). Just maybe, next year, I'll go for "from scratch - but you better bet, I'll follow the rules with cakes if I'm going to have happy eaters.

My daughter -- just yesterday -- also spoke wisely for the value of rules in other aspects of our social lives. She reminded me calmly -- and with absolutely perfect reasoning -- that I needed to have an eye to LONG-RANGE results when it came to certain kinds of conversations within the family. Isn't this the same for our Rule of Law?

What are we doing NOW for our nation's future? What about our children's and grandchildren' futures?

What do we gain in our communities and societies by seeking to calm temporary fears with bandaid measures and protections of officials over the people indicted or arrested? What about our proven overload of security measures like drones and waterboarding? What about our random disappearances - killings - imprisonments - tortures and the humiliation of unecessary threats and other intimidations? )

How are we making our societies and nations safer when we merely tantalize "other extremists" to "do unto others as done to them" rather than the more sound version of the golden rule?

What will we tell our children someday when they (and their compatriots and fellow democracy-lovers around the world) wonder what we did so that they are unable to receive justice and fair advocay in a court of law? Are we going to have to tell them - - if we are telling the truth -- that we messed up our's and their constitution and bill of rights out of fear, ignorance, because we were merely "following orders" and unwilling to stand alone?

What if we 'egg on' more and more trouble with our injustices than we assume we've been dealt? Haven't we already done enough damage along this line?

What if we are setting continual patterns that will continue to multiply? What if our supposed and real "enemies" deal the same to our own sons and daughters? What about the "recruitment tools" we simply plase securely in the palms of those we call extremists? What about the absolute fact that our nation sells -- barters -- and distributes more small handguns around the world than any other nation? Who among us has seriously considered and acted upon the fact that many of those end up in the hands of various manner of extremists/terrorists?

What and how many international agreements -- to which we are party -- do we continue to despise?

What kind of nation does the rest of the world watch us become as we call many of our laws and repeals of older, longer-standing rulings and principles null and void?

Look what has happened with the misuse and over-use of our emergency methods -- occupations before agreed upon -- use of torture such as as Abu Ghraib and Gitmo and many other places still under US auspices? Are we as a nation really happy with our Patriot Acts and growing surveillance state and the drones now using our skies without our permission? What of our willingness to become a police state step by step?

What about our US leaders choice to in cahoots with corporations such as Verizon in sharing private information?

What about the actual origins and choice of this particular time in our history - right before holy and holly days to quickly process such a ruling before we can all sit down and take a breath and learn what in the world is going on now?

I'm writing this little Op Ed on The US Bill of Rights Day. Today, The Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC.org) states:

"The Bill of Rights was meant to ensure basic rights during times of war and times of peace, regardless of who is in power. IN ORDER TO ENSURE ITS FUTURE, we must keep using the First Amendment and speaking out when our rights and the rights of non-citizens are threatened."

In 1941, 150 years after the first 10 amendments were ratified, President Franklin Roosevelt declared December 15 "Bill of Rights Day."

How will we be proud of ourselves next year -- if today -- by such rulings as the National Defense Authorization Act -- we end up declaring away our most basic, famed and protective American rights?

If you are even just a little bit concerned - why not call NOW? Why don't we seek to stop such an unruly "law" or at least to say WHOA Nellie -- slow down! ...let's have some more national conversations first. Then we can all take a deep breathe before we sign our birthrights away.

(Some of the history notes above - especially where quoted with or without quotations were found at free Wikipedia on Rule of Law. Capitalizing freedom for emphasis on this unusual day is mine.)

* cake image above found at photobucket.com - credit goes to BARB43_bucket

After you've made your calls --

Source for breather image: myrevelment.com via Kelly on Pinterest

UPDATE: US: [Activists] Bill of Rights (1791-2011) R.I.P.?

2011-12-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

Keep Watching: David Swanson on warisacrime.org If you've only a minute or two Plz Call your Senators -- including the President -- Capitol Switchboard 202 224-3121
NOW to say NO loud and clear to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (And even if this passes the Senate today -- CALL EMAIL FAX the White House. Plz, no excuses - don't delay! Find Contact Info for our US folk here See more in post below and here See also the House Vote on Conference Report: H.R. 1540 on Swanson's War is a Crime site where you can find more on on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Capitol Switchboard 202 224-3121

UPDATE December 15, 2011:

Senate Votes on "Defense" Bill Today

TODAY (Thurday) is the Senate's turn to vote on FY2012 "Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the House passed yesterday evening by a vote of 283-138. This bill contains $554 billion for the Pentagon base budget and another $115.5 billion for the wars, and includes dangerous provisions for the "indefinite detention" of terrorism suspects. (Roll Call Here)We need to flood the Capitol switchboard with calls to our Senators calling upon them to Vote "No" on this dangerous and wasteful bill. Please add your voice TODAY: Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121.

FROM:David Swanson

WarIsACrime.org

Bill of Rights (1791-2011) R.I.P.?
Well, 220 years is a pretty good run, eh? Just in time for Thursday's Bill of Rights Day, Congress has included in a massive war and weapons funding bill an authorization of presidents and the military to imprison you or anyone else forever without a trial.

Step One: Call your representative and your two senators and demand that they vote No on final passage of the "Defense Authorization Act." 202-224-3121

Get the staffer you speak with to tell you why their boss would even consider voting yes on imprisonment with no trial. Post what they tell you at
http://warisacrime.org/nomohabeas or GO here

Step Two: Tell the president to veto. GOhere or here EMAIL AND CALL 202 456-1111 -- 202 456-1414 (Go to previous click for other numbers. Do them ALL.)

The conference committee made changes to the bill to answer President Obama's concerns, not ours. The bill now leaves the president free to imprison or kill individuals without handing them over even to a military tribunal. The White House calls this "flexibility." The authors of the Bill of Rights called it tyranny.

Read: House And Senate Negotiators Agree On Bill Hoping To Avoid Obama Veto

Watch: Daily Show: Arrested Development

Step Three: Take part in an event on Thursday or gather together your own GO here for Ideas: http://bordc.org/ndaa of GO here

*****
Get Some Sweatshirts, Stay Warm Out There

Stay warm this winter in a black hooded sweatshirt.

Order them by the dozen and donate them to occupations!

*****
Upcoming Events

Until We Win OccupyWashingtonDC.org and OccupyTogether.org

Dec. 14, 2011, Washington, D.C., Teach in on the Defense Authorization Act

Dec. 15, 2011, Protests of Imprisonment Without Trial

Dec. 16-17 Maryland, Vigil and Rally for Bradley Manning

Dec. 26, 2011 - Jan 3, 2012, Occupy Iowa Caucuses

Jan. 7, 2012, 5:00-7:00 p.m. ET David Swanson chat at FireDogLake book salon.

Jan. 11, 2012, Washington, D.C., Witness Against Torture

Jan. 14, 2012, Richmond, Va., Virginia People's Assembly

Jan. 17, 2012, Washington, D.C., Occupy Congress

Jan. 20, 2012, Occupy the Courts

Jan. 23, 2012, Day of Rest and Reflection

Jan. 25, 2012, Washington, D.C., Stand With the Egyptian People.

Feb. 25-26, David Swanson speaking in Hilton Head, SC.

March 23-25, 2012, Stamford, Ct., United National Antiwar Coalition Conference

March 30, 2012 National Occupation of Washington DC (NOW DC) and on FaceBook

April 3, 2012, David Swanson at McNally Jackson Books in New York, NY.

May 18 - 20, 2012, Chicago, Challenge the NATO War Makers

July 4, 2012, Philadelphia, 99% Convention

July 14, 2012, David Swanson at Peacestock 2012 in Wisconsin.

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Tuesday Task Day: NO to Monsanto/YES to REAL Democracy

2011-12-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

image found on Visions Green - Pakistan

Ever get perplexed if not frantic about the reams of actions you are asked to do every single day? So do I. And no longer can I as a "returning writer" afford to spend the time needed to sort and prioritize, let alone follow through on most if any of these. So, I've decided once a week is all I can usually afford. Let me do some of your research and homework for you, if you'd like...

Weekly now, I'm pulling together a few easy, select ACTION items to do for family, friends (and others far and wide) interesting in bettering the US and the World to consider. These will be Actions I am also doing -- which concern me deeply. They are Actions which -- after careful consideration -- weigh as both do-able and essential for the well-being of our human/natural society at large.

Say NO to the would-be worldwide corporate empire: MONSANTO

Let's Require Monsanto to Pay the Consequences for their many crimes worldwide (you don't need to go far to find out about their very shady, dishonest history; to see how many natural systems they've wrecked, how many decent and family farmers they've stolen heirloom seed legacies from and how ALL of our health world-wide is in grave dangers. Let's urge our leaders, presidents, whole food stores, local farmers, grocers, aid and food workers and others to say NO to Monsanto! Just sign the simple petition here

I learned from our adoped son born in Uganda that they've been fightin Monsanto for some time as have other African nations. Check out the sneaky way Monsanto has approached poor women and micro-credit in Bangladesh. See what has been going on in Pakistan with Monsanto and how pressure to bear has had an effect on officials. Look at the ONGOING work Haiti is doing to literally and metaphorically burn Monsanto seeds: PAKISTAN here HAITI here In many ways, other nations considered "less developed" or "poorer" could teach the yawning US a lesson or two here as in many other areas.

=================
Re-Establish a REAL Democracy (find more items soon either here or in Comments for today)

The following concerns most directly the US right now - so if you are a US citizen/and or know one anywhere - plz let them know about the following crucial issues. If not, you may look for similar concerns about which to gather petitions or letters where you are.

SOPA
See American Censorship dot org or GO here as there is an URGENT campaign to stop censorship - Act Quickly by call or email oppose the SOPA Stop Online Piracy Act because:

This legislation will kill jobs and stifle innovation.
It will make the Internet less secure.
It will risk censoring the Internet in America
It will give comfort to regimes that censor the Internet to undermine political freedom -- in direct contrast to America's stead foreign policy goals

One More Today: URGE President Obama to VETO the National Defense Authoriaztion Act (NDAA) NOW:(and be suspicious of our national leaders plans even if he does the VETO we wish -- no letting up on the way our gov't has turned back the clock decades if not centuries in terms of the Rule of Law! PETITION here

For a little more information, go to Andy Worthington's site -- here see the the top three posts or sowhere he "Laments the Death of Habeas Corpus for the Guantánamo Prisoners" on 12.12.11 and the others on our Judges: "Judges Kill Off Habeas Corpus for the Guantánamo Prisoners, Will the Supreme Court Act?” (some time back" in which he covered the latest grim news from the US courts regarding the Guantánamo prisoners’ habeas corpus petitions. He reminds us that "Last week, when the Senate voted, by 93 votes to 7, to pass the latest National Defense Authorization Act (PDF), they passed legislation that not only approved a budget of $662 billion in military spending for the next fiscal year, but also demanded mandatory military custody for all terror suspects seized in future." So, WELL worth your time to sign the CCR petition above, to call the WH if you have the chance, and to let at least ONE other person know to do the same.

I like that Andy also reminds us to "WRITE to the Forgotten Prisoners in Guantánamo – -- especially now as we come to the 10th Anniversary of the Prison’s Opening on January 11, 2012" Keep watching as a number of us will be surrounding the White House around that date to say ENOUGH already.
Coming to a neighborhood near you? (found image on TruthDig) For article related to the above, go if you have time to Truth Dig's article: "America the Militarized" here

10 Dec/Human Rights Day: Who Wrote the UDHR?

2011-12-10T10:15:00.001-08:00

BEGUM SHAISTA IKRAMULLAH

BY Gita Sahgal on Open Democracy (Author's Note: Sahgal is a founder of the Centre for Secular Space which opposes fundamentalism, amplifies secular voices and promotes universality in human rights. She was formerly Head of the Gender Unit at Amnesty International.)

Dec. 10, the day commemorating U.N. ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is intended to remind us of the critical work that warrants our attention for the (coming) 364.

Many of the assumptions about who wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are wrong. Gita Sahgal tells the less known story of the men and women who wrote this foundational, emancipatory and anti-colonial document

On the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we might consider whether the idea of human rights with their firm assertions, their belief in the ‘rule of law,’ and their globalised vision remain relevant in the world. The idea that there are absolute standards has come under attack from both the left and the right. The philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre , author of 'After Virtue', said, Natural rights and self evident truths proclaimed in the American declaration of independence are tantamount to belief in witches and unicorns. While from the left, in ‘Human Rights and Empire’, Costas Douzinas has called human rights the political philosophy of cosmopolitanism and argued that human rights now codify and ‘constitutionalise ‘ the normative sources of Empire.

Those fighting the attempts by the Bush administration to tear up human rights prohibitions on torture, would be surprised to see themselves as empire builders. The only weapons they had were the Constitutions of their countries and the human rights system, with its unequivocal rejection of torture...

...But are these freedoms ones that are derived from ‘the West’ and therefore limited in their application? States affiliated to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) certainly seem to think so. In the 1980s and 90s Islamic states drafted the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam, as an alternative declaration.

The idea that different peoples were endowed with separate rights would have seemed absurd in the middle of the twentieth century to those struggling against colonial oppression or trying to build new nations. The barbarity unleashed on the world by a global war, was certainly in the minds of delegates. But so too was the yearning to build a better world within the nation-state, as well as limiting foreign aggression and war.

BEGUM SHAISTA IKRAMULLAH, a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan and a delegate of the UN in 1948 said: ‘It was imperative that the peoples of the world should recognize the existence of a code of civilized behavior which would apply not only in international relations but also in domestic affairs'...

Susan Waltz, is one of the scholars who has done much to recover stories such as the role of Begum Ikramullah and others in the forgotten history of the drafting of the UDHR. Her work shows how mistaken many assumptions are about this foundational document.

Eleanor Roosevelt is often seen as the single author of the Declaration, since she chaired the drafting Committee. Civil and political rights are seen as classical ‘Western' concerns, whilst social and economic rights are thought to have been advocated for by the Soviet bloc.

In fact, as Waltz shows, Roosevelt supplied (NOTE) neither the text nor the substantive ideas that shaped the UDHR.

Ricardo Alfaro, former President of Panama, proposed the idea and first draft of such a Declaration, which was taken up by many others including public intellectuals such as HG Wells. While early drafts were worked on by Rene Cassin of France, along with many US lawyers, each clause was voted on by member states, and many suggestions came from drafters from small and newly de-colonised states. The Latin American states promoted social and economic rights, while the Soviet Union concentrated on racial discrimination – a convenient way of bashing the US, as well as colonial states...

...Two of the most important drafters were Hansa Mehta of India, and Charles Malik of Lebanon, who was Committee Rapporteur. Hansa Mehta, an extraordinary activist and brave member of the Constituent Assembly in India, was responsible for the wording of the Article I ‘All human beings are equal in dignity and rights,’ arguing that if the word men was used, it would not be regarded as inclusive but rather taken to exclude women. She was the key figure who ensured gender equality in the document.

Yugoslavia proposed that human rights should apply to the peoples of non-self governing and trust territories. Carlos Romulo of the Philippines argued that full rights should be given to the colonies. Article 2, thereby ensures non-discrimination ( a standard clause that came to be adopted in all treaties) on the grounds of race, class property, social origin and so on; but it also ensures that subject peoples were also endowed with rights...

...The clause on marriage, in short, was fought for by a range of opinion to form an egalitarian and adult basis for marriage which was absent then from most countries whether eastern or western...

...Saudi Arabia objected to Article 16 on the right to choice in marriage.

BEGUM SHAISTA IKRAMULLAH opposed the Saudi view making a speech against child marriage. She accepted equal rights in marriage...

The clause on being able to exercise freedom of religion was supported by a number of Muslim delegates. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Zafrallah Khan, quoted the Qur'an ‘Let him who chooses believe, believe and him who chooses to disbelieve, disbelieve.’ He believed that the right to change religion was consistent with Islam. Moahammed Habib from India, supported the statement as consistent with the Constitution of India. However, Saudi Arabia objected to it, and eventually abstained from voting on the Declaration itself. No-one voted against the Declaration, although Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the Soviet bloc abstained, with 50 countries voting for it.

Hernán Santa Cruz of Chile, member of the drafting sub-Committee, wrote: “I perceived clearly that I was participating in a truly significant historic event in which a consensus had been reached as to the supreme value of the human person, a value that did not originate in the decision of a worldly power, but rather in the fact of existing—which gave rise to the inalienable right to live free from want and oppression and to fully develop one’s personality. In the Great Hall…there was an atmosphere of genuine solidarity and brotherhood among men and women from all latitudes, the like of which I have not seen again in any international setting.”

See especially Open Democracy here

Also Story of Pakistan especially on BEGUM SHAISTA IKRAMULLAH
and GO here

To Live Means to Create...Iqbal's Injunction to Us Today

2011-12-08T16:02:00.001-08:00

The following is taken from an eye-opening text by preeminent Iqbal biographer-scholar Khurram Ali Shafique for an online class. The text is based on Javid Nama (or book of Eternity) a book styled as a children's book and written by the famous poet/philosopher Allama Iqbal especially for his son (yet for all who might be open to this vision.)

In this small yet rich/dense book of wisdom and beauty for all ages (both meanings) when Iqbal "arrives at the doorstep of God...." (in his dreamlike vision of taking a journey with his mentor, Rumi)..."there, he looks at God in His Infinite Beauty present in ever changing glories. Iqbal is lost in the secrets of creation: all creatures belong to the same family of light and fire; a mirror is placed in front of his soul, and his sense of wonder is mingled with his faith. The past and the future stand together before a present morning. God is there with all His mysteries and looking at Himself through Iqbal’s eyes.

'Iqbal asks why there is so much misery in the world. God answers, “The pen of destiny wrote whatever We chose from the good and the bad. Do you know the meaning of life? To live means to create through Our power. Make your own world if you are alive, for whoever lacks the power to create is indeed an infidel in Our eyes.” "

William James in his article "Great Men And Their Environment" uses the word "energetic" for leaders who use their inner impetus to create good for our world and selves:

Hegel speaks of revolutions or transformations in human societies as dependent upon extra-ordinary persons who serve the World-Spirit yet who often are fighters or rulers and who's lives often don't end well.

As other scholars say it better and more thoroughly, William James' view in contrast with Hegel's is more inclusive and more positive. According to James, a dynamic Hero (or Heroine) might emerge at any time from anywhere. These are individuals who - by transforming societies - along with themselves - become corner stones or turning points in the journey on history's highway.

Some philosophers have asked if such dynamos were just going along with their fate or World-Spirit (as Hegel believed) or did they serve the Divine purpose?

My favorite interpreters of the Quran demonstrate that we are all born with unlimited creative potentials. In order to achieve good creative or co-creative acts in this world we need guidance from our Creator. Yet, the Creator wants us to be a full part of such a partnership in creating within history itself. We are not expected nor required to be just like other examples in history but free to be who we are and free to choose good within the designs of our own personality and culture.

We are not made to be mechanical objects. We are not mass-production..

The Muslim Ummah, as a number of emerging scholars insist, was neither a racial, territorial or even an entity depending on a certain language. This Ummah stood for spiritual brotherhood of mankind.

So IF Allama Iqbal's message was, like this above mentioned Ummah, beyond nationality and non-racial, than, how might we ALL worldwide, learn to incorporate his surprisingly universal and historically far-reaching message today?

Perhaps only a poet well-versed in history, philosophy,theology and law could come up with such a vision for his time and ours.

Iqbal - in my limited grasp of his content and intent - did not want to wage war on other nations or religions. Yet he did want to declare war on despondency, self-destruction and hopelessness.

If, as I understand, every kind of person from students to well-known leaders were invited to talk with him, what kind of conversations might we be holding with him in our day - around the world?

=======

Special credit goes also to Muhammad Munawwar Mirza, a world-noted scholar on Allama Iqbal, for some of his ideas which I tried to capture and re-phrase from my own understanding.

I am grateful beyond speech for the wonderful course I just finished under the direction of Khuram Ali Shafique Sahib and with some of the most creative fellow students you'd ever meet anywhere.

Dancing with my Daughter

2011-12-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

My daughter just had her birthday. I remember when we used to dance around the living room together. She was a natural and was a ballerina for a long time. She still takes dancing lessons from time to time.

Now, I still feel that I sometimes am dancing with her "in the spirit" because she teaches me so many things.

For example, she points out that some kinds of dance are beautiful yet perhaps too rigid and formal for her Dad (my husband) and I to learn together. So she suggests another type which may be more free-flowing for us.

The same with what I learn from her about cooking. She knows when to use "rules" and when to break them. When one after another, my cakes flop, she says, Mom, it's because you don't follow the recipe. That works, she says, when you cook most everything else. But not with cakes. So, finally, yesterday I make my first cake by the recipe and it turns out well!

In other words, she's teaching me when I need "rules" and when nurture or nature will do.

She seems to know how to decide which way works best when she makes batiks as well. These days she's having fun learning the tjanting tool and the precision required. She also is learning how to frame. Yet often, she batiks free-form and the result of both the structure and freedom she applies result in glorious colors and designs - each one unique and each one make you pause for a long time.

As far as nature goes, she once had the only porch in town with tomatoes, sunflowers and many other flowers and veggies growing randomly and freely on her porch and front lawn! And yet when you looked closer you see that there was special training, potting going on with upside down planting and just the right amount of water the right time of day.

Same thing with languages - she learns them easily. She couldn't if she didn't know when to apply the disciplines and to continue to practice and when to enjoy reading her favorite authors in French. She works at a French restaurant where customers think she's French!

Someday maybe I'll finally learn from her how to coordinate rules and freeplay...

I'm so happy to have a daughter who still is teaching her mother how to dance!

Happy Birthday Week, Little One.

With more love than I can possibly ever contain,

Your Glad Mom

THIS Morning

2011-12-02T02:46:00.002-08:00

Each new moment contains a new shape for light

A medley of lines from very diverse poets fell together almost in this order for me last night and into this morning. I take this composition as a gift and a yes in the deepest attempt yet to become the writer I've always meant to be. I plan to read this often - especially mornings...

Light splashed this morning
on the shell-pink anemones
swaying on their tall stems;
down blue-spiked veronica --
Light flowed into rivulets
over the humps of the honeybees;
this morning I see light kiss
the silk of the roses
in their second flowering -
my late bloomers...
So I have shut the doors of my house,
so I have trudged downstairs to my cell...
I pick my notebook up...
"Light splashed..."
as it does each day,
as it does each day...*

Jars of springwater are not enough anymore.
Take us down to the river.

The face of peace, the sun itself.
No more the slippery, cloudlike moon.

Give us one clear morning after another,
and the one whose work remains unfinished,

who is our work as we diminish,
idle, though occupied, empty, and open.**

Work is its own cure. You have to like it
better than being loved...to sharpen one's vision
into the heart and nature of man.***

The past isn't dead, it isn't even past.****

I thank you God for most this amazing day:
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees/
and a bluetrue dream of sky.*****

Each moment solid and actual, yet numinous,
shot through with divine light and guidance. ******

End

* from Stanley Kunitz' poem "The Round
** Rumi "Jars of Spring Water" interpreted by Coleman Barks
*** this is two phrases made into one using Marge Piercy from "for the young who want to.." and Keats famed line
**** a somewhat well-known line from the poet Keats
*****the beginning of a famous poem by ee cummings
******Coleman Barks definition of ecstasy for Bill Moyers interview

I don't know where I found the image on top but it was in a free area on internet. If anyone knows, I'd be glad to give credit.

Indigenous Peoples' Plight

2011-12-02T02:46:00.001-08:00

Dec 2, 2011 (IPS) - In polished versions of U.S. history, the near-extermination of Native Americans in the United States is an unsightly blemish that continues to be glossed over to this day. Yet the struggles of indigenous peoples are not exclusive to the United States and have grown increasingly complex in modern times.Overlooked and marginalised in the vast majority of the 70-plus countries which have indigenous peoples living within their borders, the 370 million indigenous peoples across the globe are considered disproportionately disadvantaged compared to their non-indigenous counterparts.The United Nations has developed various platforms and mechanisms, namely the advisory body the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNFPII) and the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues (IASG), to address these noticeable gaps in rights, health, education and more between indigenous and general populations."Many countries do not acknowledge the existence of indigenous peoples," Sonia Heckadon, pro tempore chair of the Inter-agency Support Group (IASG) on Indigenous Issues, told IPS. Nor do many governments take their needs into consideration, she added.

Read the Rest here

Monsanto according to Source Watch

2011-11-29T21:26:00.001-08:00

Image found at SourceWatch.org
(A highly-respected analysis group)
go here

I wonder if the White House and the White House gardeners read this report - even the small excerpt below before allowing (inviting?)such a cozy relationship with this increasingly octopus-like corporation with tentacles around the world?

According to Source Watch:

"...Monsanto has become symbolic of the greed, arrogance, scandal and hardball business practices of many multinational corporations.

'Less well known is that Monsanto was heavily involved in the creation of the first nuclear bomb for the Manhattan Project during WWII via its facilities in Dayton, Ohio.

'The Dayton Project was headed by Charlie Thomas, Director of Monsanto's Central Research Department. He later became the company's president.

'Monsanto also operated a nuclear facility for the federal government in Miamisburg, Ohio, called the Mound Project, until the 1980s."...

"In 1967, Monsanto entered into a joint venture with IG Farben. (The) German chemical firm that was the financial core of the Hitler regime, and was the main supplier of Zyklon-B to the German government during the extermination phase of the Holocaust."

"...IG Farben was not dissolved until 2003." (quotes indicate direct wording from Source Watch) End excerpt

PRESS RELEASE: The Pakistan Peace Coalition

2011-11-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

(PPC) condemns NATO attack inside Pakistan borders; demands withdrawal of NATO forces from the region KARACHI,

Nov 27, 2011: The Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) has condemned the NATO forces’ deadly attack on the two military checkpoints inside Pakistan’s territory along the Pak-Afghan border, killing 25 Pakistani soldiers and injuring 13 others. The latest NATO attack is a part of a series of offensives by the NATO forces in Pakistan which has been going on since 2010. These attacks have targeted civilians as well as military personnel.

In a statement on Sunday, the PPC termed the latest aggression by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as uncalled for and a clear violation of international laws and treaties. The Coalition demanded immediate withdrawal of the NATO forces from the region while calling for an investigation into the incident by the United Nations Security Council.

“Pakistan does not fall under the ambit of the operational territory of the North
Atlantic forces and the NATO does not have the right to operate here. NATO forces’ presence in the area is a threat to the security and sovereignty of the countries of the South Asian and the Middle Eastern regions,” the statement said adding that the NATO forces have illegally occupied areas in Afghanistan and have also been interfering in the affairs of independent countries like Libya.

“Whether the NATO attack in Pakistan’s territory was intentional or accidental,
on both the conditions it is condemnable. We see it as no different from the drone attacks that have been illegally targeting our citizens for around seven years now while the perpetrators remain unaccountable and unpunished. Both these types of attacks need to be stopped and the terms of reference between various participants in the so called war on terror need to be made transparent and brought under the ambit of public accountability,” the PPC statement said. The Coalition also demanded
the US and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to pay
compensation to the deceased families.

The Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) is a civil society initiative comprising
numerous pro-peace organizations, groups and individuals from across Pakistan to promote the common goal for de-nuclearisation and peace in South Asia.
Ends

Released by:
Shujauddin Qureshi

Senior Research Associate

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)

Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi-75340

Ph: +(92-21) 36351145-7

Fax: +(92-21) 36350345

Cell: +(92)300-3929788

URL: www.piler.org.pk

Two US practices which MUST end: Killer Drones and GMO/Monsanto "Mischief"

2011-11-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

This photo by AFP end of January, 2011 is indicative of growing anger toward US activities in Pakistan. The following was found under this photo in Pakistan Today January 24, 2011:

PESHAWAR - Over 10,000 people held an anti-US protest in Peshawar on Sunday, calling for an immediate stop to American drone attacks in the Tribal Areas. Activists from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) blocked a main road and staged a six-hour sit-in outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly.
The demonstrators chanted anti-US slogans and carried banners and placards reading "Death for America", "Stop drone attacks in Pakistan" and "No to American interference in Pakistan". One banner read: "Listen Obama, do not kill innocent Muslims". Addressing the gathering, JI chief Munawar Hassan said, "Why is the government silent on US drone attacks? These attacks are against Pakistan's interests."

===========
Just a quick comment for now by which to preface the following post:
Sadly, all too many in the US and elsewhere will hear, read or care about these two abhorrent involvements. Both significantly affect US lives - our relationships with nations abroad and many many innocent people in other places. There is absoultely NO reasonable humane excuse for either of these acts from hell.

So I'm posting a few key notices. ALL of us who can need to take heed and to do our small or large part to end these games of death with practices of LIFE before they end much of the good left in the world if not us, our families and our progeny (as we know existence in our shared world today.)

This is NOT at all the kind of post I like to make these days but I can't ignore recent warnings coming to me from folk I highly trust.

I predict some kind of parallel "occupation" whether virtual or nonviolently in person with groups that have caved in if not Monsanto operations themselves. After all, it is a kind of EMPIRE in cooperation with all who still want to think like an empire - whether a receiving nation being "bought out" or semi-decent companies and farmers working semi-naively merely for the sake of profit and sustainability of their own "turf".

Let's reflect on the kind of legacy we truly want to leave behind.

DRONES across the world

Congratulations to ALL nations who say to US (and other drones: NO MORE!)

Pakistan Demands US vacate Suspected Drones here

Also see the work of Kathy Kelly and other longtime peacemakers here

MONSANTO manipulates leaders around the world
internet cache

(US along with other suspected corporations and now formerly-respected groups are in bed with MONSANTO)

Research to come yet sounds like even Whole Foods (and possibly other less profitable organic-oriented groups)may be in bed with this monstrous organization!

Monsanto given absolute power over all farms and food in the US according to some SEE here

See Greg Palest on Truthout here Why is Obama deregulating GMO Crops Despite Supreme Court Injunction? see Wednesday, 23 November 2011 / TRUTH-OUT.ORG

Also find "The Unholy Alliance: Monsanto, Dupont & Obama?" /see November 2011 Huff Post and CounterPunch (also "Obama’s Big Mistake")

Instead of writing letters to Obama, maybe we should write them to his gardening wife, Michelle? Perhaps we should OCCUPY WHOLE FOODS and any other groups who succomb to such tentacles of abuse?

Anyway, problems of such magnatuve require plenty of "thinking out of the box"...

A Weaver - A Weaving (a student poem)

2011-11-17T06:45:00.000-08:00

*
This is a poem written by a Brevard College Student - published in "Chiaroscuro"*
a collection of small pieces of art, poetry, short story, photography - just out. I found the booklet and poem in the Brevard College Library where I sometimes work.

Here it is:

I am the Weaver, I am the Woven One

By Harmony Blue Whitt

I am not white.
I am not a woman.
I am not a North Carolinian.
I am not an American.
I am not "better."

I am no one.
I am everyone.

I am human.
I am flesh.
I am bone and blood.

And I cry like you,
laugh like you,
breathe, and bleed like you.

There are no lines that physically
keep us where we are.

This is my world.
This is our world.

Our fellow humans, brothers and sisters,
are hurting.
Crying out for our hand, for our voice,
to lift up,
to heal.

I have just destroyed,
torn down,
the invisible wall
that has kept us separated
keeping us in our blissful ignorance.

There are no lines now.
No borders.

We are a Circle of holding hands.
We see all.
We feel all.
We are beautiful, dynamic, and strong.

We are One.

(photo of oriental weaving found on hubpages.com)

* CHIAROSCURO - The name of the art booklet this poem is in - is pronounced KE-AR-UH-SKYOOR-O and means: The treatment of light and shade in art to produce the illusion of depth.

Flowing Rumi Connections from South Asia

2011-11-12T12:14:00.001-08:00

"come with me ...on a moonlit night or in a soaked Asarh monsoon...hundreds and thousands of souls...searching their lost abode from where they have been displaced...the disciples dance whole night and only sound heard is HU HUHU meaning Allahu..." (this quote is from the speech condensed below)

Blogger's Note: Most the poets mentioned here so briefly are new to me. Yet, seeing links between these great painters - with their brushes of words and soul - and other beloved poet-guides is familiar water.

My deepest understanding says, 'Yes', here again - the same journey through a sea voyage...

I am still a happy newcomer to Rumi as well. Thus, I certainly invite and hope for comments with more references and poems.

******************************

Jibananda's "Today"

Always another path you seek: today I seek no more.

I found in that void on the far shore something to hold at last --

In my own heart, own mind...

Following Jibanananda's tragic death, Kolkata's leading Bengali daily newspapers carried this above poem, a fitting epitaph for one who spent a lifetime largely in service to the arts - while searching for truth and beauty. He has been mentioned as a major Bengladeshi poet inspired by Rumi. (translation credited to poet, professor A.K. Ramanujan)

===================
RUMI VIEWED IN BENGALI SUFISTIC TRADITION
A paper/speech -- by MUSTAFA ZAMAN ABBASI begins:

"I thank Allah...,the hosts of this symposium, the UNESCO ,for this lifetime opportunity to visit beautiful Turkey for the first time and pay my respects to Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi in Konya, where he is resting for more than seven hundred years...a pilgrimage for me. (on behalf of 140 million people of Bangladesh, who regard Rumi with high esteem, as his Masnawi is read in 200000 mosques of Bangladesh.)" *

The following is a condensation of the core of this paper - which I find to be a clarifying understanding of the universal yet particular. (As well as of the other poets influenced by him. Reading this, I got a glimpse into how a lover of Rumi can be - via Rumi - a lover of birthplace yet also so wide open to others around the world.

RUMI:

He is more than a great poet, one of our pathfinders.

Mowlana can be studied from various angles by scholars assembled from far and near. As folklorist and translator of Rumi to Bengali, spoken by 230 million I may let the audience know how his message is “spread over from California to Bangladesh,” to quote a line from Anna Maria Schimmel. I chose eight poets out of hundreds to prove my point.

RUMI CLAIMED BY ALL: Rumi runs in the blood of my people. Majority who live in villages having little or no access to literacy may not have read Masnawi or diwans , but stories and teachings imparted in mosques and khanqas become so deep routed in their psyche that they easily stream down to folk traditions in such a way as Afghans would like to own Jalaluddin as Balkhi and people in and west of Turkey as Rumi...

Nazrul Islam, the rebel poet of Bengal brought Ghazal style of poetry into our literature. He eulogized Rumi, Sadi and Hafiz and brought the breeze of Tabrez in to the lush green soil of Bengal, which was already abode of a thousand rural sufi poets...

(The scholars, writers, poets and those who paraphrase are then mentioned in this paper. Some of these are: R A Nicholson, A J Arberry, Anna Marie Schimmel, William Chittick, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Coleman Barks ,Ibrahim Ganard, John Moyne, Michael Green, Philip and Manuella Dunn,Camille and Kabir Helminski and many more...)

...To me, Rumi is remembrance. To me, Rumi is living every moment, a living of joy unto giving others the joy of breath...Take any of his couplets from Dewan or Discourses or Masnawi and one could ponder on or write a volume on each one...

...Any couplet of Rumi is sweet and has the capacity to enkindle a soul willing to give it a try. MACHER TELE MACH BHAJA, a Bengali idiom meaning frying fish with oil of the fish is true of any research on Rumi. It is a sure way to a simple man to see the way of Allah. Rumi was not a prophet, he had a book though...

...If you want to know what I mean, you will come with me to a mosque in rural haor area of Sunamganj where you cannot see anything but water and the small mosque or on bank of the river Padma in Sureswar mela or in mangrove forest of the Sunderbans or in the remote maiz bhandar darbar, on a moonlit night or in a soaked Asarh monsoon . The hundreds and thousands of souls assembled here on urs melas are frantically searching their lost abode from where they have been displaced. These dances are different. With long bamboos in hand, the disciples dance whole night and only sound heard is HU HUHU meaning Allahu...

...No where in the world I have seen such exotic movements by thousand participants .

The beauty of this scenario lies further in the acceptability of all faiths in same platform, the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims all in one forum. I do not recall any other place in the world where this sufi view of life has gained so much momentum .

Being neither an Emre, (Yunus Emre), spending forty years in devoted seclusion, nor a darbesh in a chilla for forty days,(like some present here today incognito),I did not have the opportunity to have meditation in a cave for forty years in Himalayan mountains with the sadhus, though born in that area.

But only a week of Sohbat(company) with Rumi one can be awakened.. Tawajjuh’ or gaze by the Shaikh scene changes dramatically . It is happening even today...

Hundreds of folk poets whom I met in seven decades of living in the folk festivals Melas, as they are called, recited profoundly meaningful songs with accompaniment of DOTARA and sometimes SARINDA ( an instrument of West Asian descent) and violin...

...Rumi says,I am not the author, I am the pen. Whatever he realized, mused upon, penned through, were from the Source. We sometimes run after picture presentations, sugarcoated short cut presentations, poeticity, real thing is breeze coming from Him...

One who witnessed the whirling darbesh dance, has seen only the incredible whirling, the dresses, the beautiful cap, the music, but could he enter the dance? Often not, that’s my guess. The ‘tourist’ thing has the outward Rumi. The inside thing is the Suhbat e Rumi...

Eight out of eight hundred

Fascination with Sufi spirituality of professional scholars as well as public has heightened to such an extent to produce breathtaking studies in the west. Eight out of around 800 sufi poets has been chosen to trace linkage with Rumi.

1. Shitalong Shah Fakir [1800-1889]

2. Fakir Lalon Shah [1774-1890]

3. Hasan Raja [1855-1922]

4. Jalaluddin Khan [1894-1972]

5. Abdul Halim Bayati [1930-2007]

6. Qazi Nazrul Islam [1898-1976]

7. Mansur ali [1855-1985]

8. Panju shah[1851-1914]

In translating and presenting these songs, mostly folk, I attempt to convey my deep admiration and involvement. These are poetries resembling the colored landscape with paddy fields oven like embroidered quilt, like the clouds of various shades in the monsoon sky, the bamboo flute of lost love under a kadam tree, suddenly flashes with the inner meaning of lost flutes inner cry as heard in Rumi. The folksongs of great rivers like The Padma, the Meghna, and the Jamuna merging with age long tears, sorrow and the melancholia of the Bengali people are the finest expressions of their spirituality hitherto unknown to any in the West...

Tagore’s Gitanjali’ (also connected) was a translation of 23 poems sent by W B Yeats and his friends to the Nobel Committee to fetch a Nobel Prize for literature for Tagore in 1941...(blogger, I am not sure of the connection quite yet.)...

Rumi's messages are for the ordinary. It is,simple, from beginning to the end, never complicated as someone would like to relate it now. In Masnawi we found him to be a great story teller. In the same traditions there are hundreds of Bayati (from the Russian word ‘bayat ‘meaning storyteller) in Bangladesh who have been addressing millions of rural population with simple stories. I have come across performers of ‘bichar’songs.The Bichar is evaualation or judging between two extremes like Marefat and Shariat, like War and Peace and so on...

Main theme of Rumis philosophical doctrine is Union with God. Rumi often refers to the following hadith qudsi: Neither My earth nor my heavens contain Me, but I an contained in the heart of My faithful servant. In the following passages he comments on this theme:

I gazed into my own heart

There I saw Him; He was nowhere else(diwan,p73)

O heart! we have searched from end to end: I saw in thee naught

Save the beloved..." (Diwan,p250)

========
The painting above is by one of my favorite painters Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910). A Light on the Sea, 1897. Oil on canvas. © Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

For more on the above condensed notes and poetry, dip into the following:

* Find more as I did in an intro to Bangal Poetry & Arts (as for decades celebrated both in Bangali and in the US) It's a somewhat "older paper" still popular - perhaps in need of some correction? Yet it touches upon the connection between these four poets see these notations here

JALAL UDDIN KHAN: exponent of Bhatiali from Brahmaputra

Jalaluddin Khan a famous Bhatiali singer and mystic from Brahmaputra river basin in Mymensingh, composed 2500 folksongs, some of which survived in published form namely,” Jalal geetika samagra” with 1200 Bhatiali and Murshidi songs, one is more beautiful than the other. Rumis reference is : SEARCH. As we open a computer it asks us to SEARCH. The same earning and search for Him is to be seen in this beautiful song.

TALASH KORGA AGE TARE

What are you meditating on?

Search first when you are still here .

When you are deeply in meditation (namaz),

Your body is purity

When bird inside call you to come in

...You are a pilgrim

Know hearts kaaba first

...on your heart riverbed

Six madina already exist, why do you go far?

Open your eyes and watch angels already prostrating

Jalal gives good news, water of abehayat

Is inside...go to your eternal home

======
Last yet NOT at all least, get acquainted with Allama Iqbal. What a poet - what a human being! (and so much more.)

For just a bit of introduction and links to much more, go to my other blogsite, No More Crusades for a small post in honor of Allama Iqbal here

Here's just an excerpt from some Wikipedia history notes:

The Pas Cheh Bayed Kard ai Aqwam-e-Sharq (What are we to do, O Nations of the East?) includes the poem Musafir (Traveler). Again, Iqbal depicts Rumi as a character and an exposition of the mysteries of Islamic laws and Sufi perceptions is given.

Musafir is an account of one of Iqbal's journeys to Afghanistan, in which the Pashtun people are counseled to learn the "secret of Islam" and to "build up the self" within themselves.

Iqbal's final work was the Armughan-e-Hijaz (The Gift of Hijaz), published posthumously in 1938. The first part contains quatrains in Persian, and the second part contains some poems and epigrams in Urdu. The Persian quatrains convey the impression as though the poet is travelling through the Hijaz in his imagination. Profundity of ideas and intensity of passion are the salient features of these short poems. The Urdu portion of the book contains some categorical criticism of some of the intellectual and other movements...of the modern age. (At that time.)

Talking Through the Door

2011-11-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

Paraphrase from Rumi (largely via Coleman Barks)

You say, Who is at the door?

I say, Your servant.

You say, What do you want?

I say, To see You and bow.

You say, How long will you wait?

I say, Until you call.

We talk through the door. I claim a great love...

You say, Such claims require a witness.

I say, This longing, these tears...

You say, Who did you come with?

I say, This majestic imagination that you gave me...

What is your intention?

Friendship.

What do you want from me?

Grace...

Where can you live safely...?

In Surrender.

What will this bring you?

A peace that saves us...

Celebrate: Hundreds Escape Ferry Fire

2011-11-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

Eid Mubarak (Arabic: عيد مبارك‎),

Persian/Urdu: عید مُبارک, Malayalam: ഈദ്‌ മുബാറക്‌, Bengali: ঈদ মোবারক)"Bayramınız mübarek olsun" Turky "Bayramınız kutlu olsun", Pashto: Akhtar de nekmregha sha, "may your festival be blessed", "kul 'am wantum bikhair", "[May] you be well every year". Taqabbalallâhu minnâ wa minkum ("[May] God accept from us and you [our fasts and deeds]"

Thursday 3rd November, 2011

Since we often hear such terrible news, we surely need to celebrate the good. In this case, it's fantastic news to hear of so many people and their families with the opportunity to serve humanity a little while longer on this beautiful planet.

Just think of ALL the people who were on that ship and their loved ones/neighbors/communities who will be able to observe with cheer this sacred time of the year! * See more below...

"Pella's passengers were mostly Egyptian expatriate workers returning home for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which starts on Sunday.:

Posted from Al Jazeera English 12:30 pm EST (New York Time)

One passenger dies while more than 1,200 reach Egyptian port unharmed on lifeboats after being rescued, officials say.

(So far) almost all of the passengers who were onboard a ferry that caught fire while sailing from the Jordanian port of Aqaba have reached the Egyptian port of Nuweiba unharmed on lifeboats, Egyptian officials say.

One unidentified Jordanian passenger died after jumping into the water in an attempt to escape the fire, while the other more than 1,200 onboard were rescued by authorities, Farid al-Sharaa, Jordanian Civil Defense spokesman, said.

Al-Sharaa said 12 passengers suffered from smoke inhalation and were taken to a Jordanian hospital. The remaining passengers were placed aboard life rafts that subsequently sailed off to Egypt, he said.

Al-Sharaa told the Associated Press news agency that the captain and his three crew members were also rescued and were on their way back to Egypt.

An Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said Pella's passengers were mostly Egyptian expatriate workers returning home for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which starts on Sunday.

Hassan Falah, deputy of director of Red Sea ports authority, told Egyptian state TV that military aircraft and ships were involved in the rescue effort and hadcontinued to try to extinguish the ferry's fire.

The vessel was about 15 nautical miles off Aqaba when the blaze erupted on Thursday, the sources said.Owned by AB maritime, Pella was also carrying five trucks.Passengers were ordered to take to life rafts, and a tug and a second ferry were dispatched from Nuweiba to join the rescue, they added.

Falah said there was extensive damage to the ferry.

Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/MiddleEast or click here

* Id ul-Adha (‘Īd al-’Aḍḥá - various spellings)(Festivity after the Hajj) Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎ ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥá Also called Festival of Sacrifice, Sacrifice Feast = Observed by Muslims around the world. Islamic Commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his eldest son Ishmael in obedience to a command from Allah - and Ishmael's acceptance of this command. Marks the end of the Pilgrimage to sundown, and ask God for forgiveness. 2011 date November 6 to November 9 A special time for celebration, cleansing and offering gifts to the poor.

A 19 yr old winner: Democracy Essay Contest

2011-10-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

Note from blogger: my husband and I once lived in Nigeria where we first observed Muslims and Christians living side by side in a small, beautiful, rural village and experienced warm acceptance from all. Peace, goodwill and healthy progress to Nigeria and to the youths everywhere working and praying for a better world.

Connie

================

From Ugreen Foundation Nigeria in honour of the United Nations International Year of Youths

Topic:
‘As Nigeria is faced with the challenges of terrorism and post-electoral violence; what can young people do to help consolidate our democracy?’

Bio Data of Winner:

Name: Onyinyechi Mbam
Sex: Female
Nationality: Nigeria

Onyinyechi Mbam is a 19 year old female medical student, studying at the Ebonyi State University Medical College. She is a young author of a book, ‘Angel in Darkness.’

Essay:

The quest to build a society where peace, unity and justice are its pillars, devoid of acrimony and rancor, as well as hospitable environment that has learnt to care for its citizenry has posed challenges to Nations across the globe.

Nigeria is a democratic country in West Africa, with a population of over 140 million people (2006 census). Since Nigeria was officially declared an independent state and gained freedom from their British colonial masters on 1st October 1960, three major ethnic and religious groups has remained unified despite the challenges of civil war that lasted for three years (1967 – 1970), ethnic and religious crisis, that has ravaged the nation since independence till date and recently; terrorism and post electoral violence – the later having gained ground since 1999 when Nigerian transited to democratic governance.

It is a truism that no nation on earth can achieve the dreams of her founding fathers if characterized by electoral violence, crisis and terrorism. Terrorism is a devastating trend that our contemporary world has had to grapple with in recent times. In this contest, it is defined as the premeditated use of violence by an individual or group to cause fear, destruction or death, especially against unarmed targets, properties or infrastructure within a state, with the intentions to compel those in authority to respond to the demands and expectations of individuals or group behind such violent act. The devastating effects of terrorism have been witnessed in the United States of America, especially in September 11, 2001. In Kenya, the United States Embassy was targeted in August, 7 1998, and most recently Nigeria has suffered the effects severally and repeatedly.

From all the attacks recorded all around the world, the expectations can be deduced to be for a change of status quo in terms of the political, economic, ideological, religious and social order within the affected state or for a change in the actions or policies of the affected state in relation to its interaction with other groups.

Post electoral violence is the expression of hostility and rage through physical force after the elections have been conducted especially when groups are dissatisfied with the outcomes of the elections. The acts of terrorism and post electoral violence have given Nigerians deadly blows. So many factors interplay in different ways to display Nigeria as subject to terrorism and post electoral violence. This include among others, the failure of governance to meet up with the demands and needs of the people, high unemployment rate, poor security system, ethnic and religious crisis, widespread poverty and porosity of Nigeria’s land and maritime borders.

In Nigeria, governance failure is one of the main factors implicated in the rising incidence of violence and terrorism. It is indexed by the manifest incapacity of public institutions to deliver critical access to the basic services important to a healthy, satisfying and productive life in a society. This contributes to the emergence of large number of frustrated population, especially young people. The key challenge here is not the lack of sufficient public resources; rather it is the problem of widespread corruption especially in the public sector which compounds other governance and development deficits bedeviling Nigeria. The idea held by most politicians that whoever holds the allocation of wealth holds all creates an environment for intense corruption and rigging of electoral process as parties go extremes to squeeze their candidates into the corridors of power.

Furthermore, large number of youths without any means of livelihood compounds the environment of insecurity in Nigeria, which feeds into the overall vulnerability question. Nigerian youthful population is estimated to be close to 70 or 80 million – about 55 to 60 percent of the entire population (2006 census), yet a significant segment of the youth population remains unemployed, underemployed or unemployable. Official statistics show that more than 80 percent of the youth are unemployed while about 10 percent are underemployed. The estimated 10 percent in employment are inundated with demands from immediate and extended family members as they too might not be employed or not in a position to earn as much to carter for their family’s need. Consequently, the growing frustration and disillusion that accompany long term unemployment and poverty underline their gravitation to crimes, making them more vulnerable to recruitment by criminal cartels, extremists, political thugs and terrorist groups.

Moreover, the level of insecurity, characterized by the rapid eruption and frequency of violence especially during and after elections, is further heightened by the lack of swift and early response by the state and its security actors. In many part of Nigeria, response of public authorities is habitually too late and unfruitful; hence their inability to respond at all becomes more significant with the introduction of bombs and explosives to spread terror, destroying lives and properties as is the case in majority of the Northern states of Nigeria. In many countries, agencies are set up to detect terror plans and prevent them, but in Nigeria no agency exists at all. After all the attacks, none has been established.

Moreso, Ethnic and religious conflicts are not left out among the factors that ginger terrorism and post electoral violence in Nigeria. There are three major Ethnic groups recognized in the federation; Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba with Christianity, Islam and Traditional religions. The Christians and the Islams have been at the forefront of religious conflicts for uncountable years. Presently, the Boko Haram sect with anti-west ideologies that holds western civilization to sinful while propagating the Islamic culture has launched several attacks on the police stations and other public facilities accounting to thousands of deaths. In addition, the method of Pentecostal Christians’ preaching involves extensive rebuff of the Quran and condemnation of specific Muslim practices which has exacerbated the religious conflicts. For instance, in 1991 rioting Muslims killed more than 200 Southern Christians and burnt over twenty churches in Kano state when Reinhard Bonnke, a German revivalist was invited by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to hold a crusade in Kano state.

It is not to be forgotten that a hungry man is an angry man, the environment of widespread poverty in turn contributes to the escalating crime rate in Nigeria. Nigerian streets are full of children begging for arms. They follow anybody that might just feed them even for once, end up being trained to become suicide bombers and assassins, etc, and grow up with wrong unpatriotic mentality against the country.

In addition, the porosity of Nigeria’s land borders, especially in the Northern parts has security implications given the activities of transnational Jihadists such as the al Qaeda in the land of Islamic Maghreb operating in the Sahel region of West Africa. Nigeria and Senegal are situated in this region and are known to have porous land and maritime borders. It is estimated that Nigeria hosts over 70 percent of about 8 million illegal weapons. In a situation where illegal weapons circulate in an environment of worsening poverty and porous borders, it may not be a surprise at the intensity of terrorism and violence.

Despite all these, young people are making efforts to consolidate Nigeria’s democracy. Several youth organizations have been conducting and are still holding seminar programs in democracy and good governance to restructure the minds and attitudes of youths. However, more is yet to be done, as we young people are susceptible to shackles of terrorism and post electoral violence.

To engage more efforts in consolidating democracy in Nigeria, dialogue must be embraced. Young people should come together to discuss other peaceful means of solving problems other than violence. For instance when through dialogs every young person in Nigeria gets to know that serving as a political thug or participating in acts that endanger Nigeria does not count and that his or her vote can change Nigeria, then there would be no need to achieve the right political situation with violence.

Nevertheless, the problem of unemployment can be solved without dependence on the government. If young people embrace education, shun idleness and imbibe creativity, there are thousands of opportunities they can explore to earn a living from Nigeria’s vast natural resources.

Security is one of the basic pre-occupations of any individual community, organizations and government. The idea of security presupposes a concern with what is the source of danger, ‘who’ or ‘what’ is to be protected from the danger and what ‘means’ are available for addressing the danger. Thus security is too important a value to be left alone to a nation’s security agencies to guarantee. Security providers cannot work alone they need the linking of civil societies, security providers and community leaders for early warning and response to conflict. Young people all across Nigerian should maintain a habit of security awareness, form strong lines of communications and information sharing on possible tension areas, conflict triggers in communities and opportunities for conflict resolution, especially with the use of the new social media that have brought about democracy transitions in the Arab World. These will contribute a lot to reducing the prevalence of violence and terrorism in the country.

Section 10 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the Federation shall not adopt any religion as state religion. In other words, right to practice one’s religion must not amount to violation of the right of others to practice theirs and their right to life. Religious and ethnic tolerance, co-operation and peace will put a stop to ethnic and religious conflict and it must begin with young people.

In Conclusion, as outlined ab initio, terrorism and post-electoral violence are caused largely by wide spread poverty, ignorance, ethnic and religious intolerance and unemployment but can be reduced by capacity building. Young people in Nigeria should not fold hands but should all engage in capacity building activities such as seminars, skill acquisition, and value re-orientation programs and attach much importance to educational trainings. In the long term, Nigeria must address the historical and structural causes of these conflicts. Unless this assessment is done, violence, loss of human lives and properties will be a constant re-occurrence. All hands should come on desk, especially the young people to consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.

NEEDED: A Stretcher from Grace (Rumi)

2011-10-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

*

Zero Circle

Be helpless and dumbfounded,
unable to say yes or no.

Then a stretcher will come
from grace to gather us up.

We are too dulleyed to see the beauty.
If we say "Yes we can," we'll be lying.

If we say "No, we don't see it,"
that "No" will behead us
and shut tight our window into spirit.

So let us not be sure of anything,
beside ourselves, and only that, so
miraculous beings come running to help.

Crazed, lying in a zero-circle, mute,
we will be saying finally,
with tremendous eloquence, "Lead us."

When we've totally surrendered to that beauty,
we'll become a mighty kindness.

version by Coleman Barks

====

See some helpful responses includes mention of a small rich volume of poetry with commentary by Housden: "Ten Poems to Change Your Life" here

* Image is "Starry Night over the Brooklyn Bridge"
by Nathan Mellot

Robi Damelin on the 1,000 Palestinian Prisoners...

2011-10-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

“The first words that came out of my mouth were 'do not take revenge in the name of my son'” To read her story of forgiveness GO here

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Abstract/Excerpt:

"...There is no revenge for a lost loved one. I too would have released the whole world in order to get David back.

I belong to a group of Palestinians and Israelis called the Parents Circle - Families Forum. We are more than 600 families who have lost an immediate family member to the conflict. Our long-term vision is to create a framework for reconciliation process that would be an integral part of future political agreements.

When it was first disclosed that David’s killer may be walking free I received phone calls from my Palestinian friends, also members of the Parents Circle - Families Forum. They had listened carefully to the names of the prisoners released and when they had heard that David’s killer might be amongst them, they were in great turmoil. They wanted to come to my house, some from the West Bank, to be with me. They said they were proud of my reaction and that they also understood how painful it is.

I think of the pain of the Palestinian mothers in our group. Their pain is the same as mine and the tears are the same colour. Some of the men in our group had served jail sentences and today they are tireless campaigners for reconciliation..."

Read the entire story here:

Former Palestinian prisoners, future peacemakers? By Robi Damelin

Tel Aviv - The whole country is talking about it: over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were involved in suicide attacks in which lives were lost, will be freed in exchange for the kidnapped Israeli solider Gilad Shalit who had been held in captivity in Gaza for over five years. Today the prisoner's swap dominated world news when Gilad was freed at the same time as 477 of the 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. While it’s clear that everyone in Israel is happy to see Gilad reunited with his family, among bereaved parents there are some who feel that those responsible for the death of their loved ones should never walk free.

I lost my son David in a shooting incident in the West Bank in 2002. Initially, I was told that my son’s killer would be released this week. Now it is not clear whether or not has or will be freed as part of the deal. But when it seemed likely that he would, I took some time out to search deep inside myself to see what I honestly feel. Do I really mean the things that I have been saying all these years about the need for reconciliation between our two peoples? About the need to understand both the pain of the Jewish mother and the pain of a Palestinian mother? How do I really feel about the fact that David’s killer could be freed?

The answer I came up with is that the life of Gilad, and peace for his family is worth everything. Besides, what petty satisfaction and revenge would I feel if the man who killed David stayed in jail for the rest of his life? That wouldn’t fill the void which is always in my heart. There is no revenge for a lost loved one. I too would have released the whole world in order to get David back.

I belong to a group of Palestinians and Israelis called the Parents Circle - Families Forum. We are more than 600 families who have lost an immediate family member to the conflict. Our long-term vision is to create a framework for reconciliation process that would be an integral part of future political agreements.

When it was first disclosed that David’s killer may be walking free I received phone calls from my Palestinian friends, also members of the Parents Circle - Families Forum. They had listened carefully to the names of the prisoners released and when they had heard that David’s killer might be amongst them, they were in great turmoil. They wanted to come to my house, some from the West Bank, to be with me. They said they were proud of my reaction and that they also understood how painful it is.

I think of the pain of the Palestinian mothers in our group. Their pain is the same as mine and the tears are the same colour. Some of the men in our group had served jail sentences and today they are tireless campaigners for reconciliation.

I have been influenced by my meetings with ex-prisoners in South Africa and Ireland who have at least as much blood on their hands as some of the prisoners here. But they have turned around and have become central to the reconciliation process in their countries. Perhaps we too should be exploring the path of restorative justice?

In South Africa I met a bereaved white mother who set up an organisation to help ex-combatants together with the man who had been responsible for the death of her daughter. This is part of understanding how to overcome the state of being a victim.

I don’t want to be anyone’s victim. I won’t be the victim of the young man who killed my son. I will try to understand why he did what he did. It was very painful for me but at one point I went to see his lawyer to find out who this young man is. The road to reconciliation passes through understanding.

I think of my beloved son David. If he had not been killed by a sniper, he probably would have been at the tent supporting the Shalit family. He would have understood the value of human life. He would have understood that in the conflict in Ireland and in South Africa, prisoners with blood on their hands were freed so that an impetus for negotiations could be created. Some of the greatest peacemakers in those two countries came out of dark cells.

Reconciliation is all-inclusive. Prisoners and all sectors of Israeli and Palestinian society should come to the peacemaking table and take part in forging a peaceful future. We must find a way to reconciliation. Let us allow the Shalit family some dignity, grace and solace. Let us hope that the Palestinian prisoners, who after so many years are now being embraced into their families, will have a non-violent and peaceful future.

* Robi Damelin is a member of the Parents Circle - Families Forum, Bereaved Palestinian and Israeli Families for Reconciliation. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).

Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 18 October 2011, www.commongroundnews.org or GO here

See the Post just below for more on The Parents Circle and a special exhibit to be shown in Chicago early November 2011.

The Parents Circle in Chicago Nov 4-6, 2011 (Art Exhibit)

2011-10-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

Plz take just a few minutes to WATCH this most moving video of the new effort for peace which has just been launced by The Parents Circle

GO hereThe Israeli Palestinian blood donations Project After sixty years of blood loss, it's time to give blood.Please Visit http://bloodrelations.org/ or CLICK here for more info. All are now invited to donate your blood and send our message across asking everyone: Could you hurt someone who had your blood running through their veins?

Also plz read these stories and opinions here and here and here

On November 4-6, 2011 The Parents Circle's internationally renowned exhibit Cartooning in Conflict will be shown at the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA) in Chicago.

On Friday, November 4 at 3:30pm at SOFA, two members of the organization, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who have both lost loved ones to the conflict will give a special lecture at SOFA. They will discuss their personal stories, as well as the work they are doing on the ground with the Parents Circle. The lecture will also include a discussion of the role of art in gaining perspective on the futility of war. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

We have a very limited number of special VIP tickets to the fair, donated in-kind by SOFA. They provide a unique opportunity to get to know our organization. As our friend and supporter we would like to offer you or someone from your network in Chicago a VIP ticket for two.

To receive a VIP admission, please RSVP to americanfriends@parentscircle.org by Tuesday, November 1. For additional inquiries, please call 212.715.2579. You can also visit us at www.theparentscircle.org.

Where: Navy Pier Chicago

When: November 4-6, 2011 and special VIP opening night preview, November 3 from 5 to 9pm. For exhibit hours please go to www.sofaexpo.com or CLICK here

Killing People Is Not Good Policy

2011-10-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Friends Committee For National Legislation
(FCNL)
By Bridget Moix on 10/20/2011 @ 01:30 PM

Tags: Peaceful Prevention, Libya, , Foreign Policy, War Is Not the Answer

Many in Libya - and here in Washington - are celebrating today's news that Qaddafi was fatally wounded in battle. The demise of the dictator is being hailed as a "success" for the NATO military intervention and a demonstration of how the "responsibility to protect" doctrine should work. We at FCNL disagree.

Any time a human conflict spirals into violence and war, with state-sanctioned extra-judicial killing as its policy end, it should be considered a human tragedy and a policy failure, not a success. Libya may be free of a brutal dictator today, but the civil war and international military intervention that killed him also took many other lives - civilians as well as those who took up arms on one side or the other. As Quakers, we believe each of these lives - no matter how ill-used - is still sacred in some way. Non-military methods for protecting civilians are available but are too rarely tried.

Moreover, as despicable as the actions of Qaddafi or others of these individuals were, killing them off does little to ensure peace and stability for Libya going forward. The long hard road to peace, justice, and development for the people of Libya will be much more difficult work and will not gain the headlines - or the billions of dollars in international support - that the war has.

Yesterday, before the news of Qaddafi's death broke, I participated in a roundtable discussion on the "responsibility to protect" with Madeleine Albright, Wes Clark, Sen. John McCain, and other leading foreign policy thinkers who all hailed the Libya intervention as a success as well. When I cautioned against using the word "success" when thousands of people have perished and the future remains still very unclear, I didn't win over many around the table. But if we don't say it, who will?

The Libya intervention has in fact set progress on implementing the responsibility to protect effectively backward. Many countries already suspicious of the intentions of powerful countries like the US believe the intervention went beyond its mandate to protect civilians. They are now opposed more than ever to supporting international action to prevent or respond to mass atrocities, as evidenced by China and Russia's vetos on a UN resolution simply condemning the Syrian government for its abuse of civilians. Ultimately, R2P can only gain global support and be effectively implemented if it focuses on preventing abuses and finding less intrusive and harmful ways of intervening to protect civilians when they are in danger.

These days, I'm downright appalled at how often US policy has deteriorated to assassination. In Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Central Africa, Somalia, Yemen, and who knows where else, our policymakers have failed so woefully to come up with more effective - and legal - alternatives, that they can do nothing but send in the drones or the special forces or arm other assassins to kill off the bad guys. And this is celebrated as success?

Earlier this week, Secretary of State Clinton stated forthrightly that the US wanted to see Qaddafi dead. Apparently the US got its wish. But we should be ashamed of our government, not proud. And we should be insisting our policymakers find better solutions than war and invest in more tools than just military hammers to address global problems.

..Comments
10/20/2011
2:10 pm As always, I am grateful for the presence of FCNL. Although I do not agree with all that you say above (I think Russia and China are more complex than you have implied, for example), I am profoundly grateful for this oasis of sanity when so many are rejoicing after looking at and reading about the killing of Gadaffi. Thank you.

10/20/2011
2:43 pm Siletz Tribal member
Thank you for this article. The impulse for immediate or short term results it is hoped will be relaced with more thoughtful solutions that respect the sacrdeness of life. I too am profoundly grateful for this organization and site.

10/20/2011
5:49 pm Thanks Bridget. This is just what I started thinking after my initial much less positive reaction. I just felt how does it improve things if we become as bad as the people we don't like.

10/20/2011
6:07 pm I'm thankful for your voice. I felt a similar sadness when Bin Laden was killed. No matter how despicable their actions, we have failed to respect and honor human life when we resort to killing these men. In WW2 Germany was despised for using V2 rockets; now we are using drones and there is very little public reaction. All very sad. I think using drones is immoral.

10/20/2011
9:27 pm Thanks. Hearing about his killing produced sadness. Placing evil on one and virtue on the other will only continue to produce more violence and war.

Laurna Strikwerda (Common Grounds) on Rais Bhuiyan - Written July 10, 2011

2011-10-17T16:02:00.003-07:00

Rais Bhuiyan on left **
(see photo-related link below)
Photographer - Thomas Allison AP

One man fights for his shooter’s life

here

How would you respond if someone tried to kill you because of who you are? I know what my own responses would be: anger, fear, rage. For Rais Bhuiyan, the answer was different: forgiveness.

When I first heard Rais' story, I could hardly believe it. A Muslim victim of a post-9/11 hate crime was fighting to save the life of his attacker. And one of the reasons that Bhuiyan was targeted – his faith tradition – is also the motivation for trying to save his attacker's life.

When I first heard Rais Bhuiyan's story, I could hardly believe it. A Muslim victim of a post-9/11 hate crime was fighting to save the life of his attacker. And one of the reasons that Bhuiyan was targeted – his faith tradition – is also the motivation for trying to save his attacker's life.

Ten days after the September 11 attacks in 2001, Bhuiyan, an immigrant from Bangladesh, was working at a gas station in Dallas when a man walked in with a gun. Thinking the store was being robbed, Bhuiyan opened the cash register. Instead, the man asked him where he was from. "Excuse me?" Bhuiyan responded. Mark Stroman, a white supremacist who was targeting men who appeared to him to be Middle Eastern, then shot Bhuiyan in the face.

Stroman is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas on 20 July for the murder of Vasudev Patel, an Indian immigrant killed on 4 October 2001; evidence was also presented at trial that Stroman shot and killed Waqar Hasan, a Pakistani immigrant. And Rais Bhuiyan is fighting to save Stroman's life.

I had the chance to speak with Bhuiyan briefly after learning about his campaign through Amnesty International.

Talking about his current campaign to convince the parole board to overturn the death penalty in Stroman's case, it was clear that his faith was the primary motivating factor. In 2009, Bhuiyan completed the haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, where he saw an amazingly diverse group come together to pray and worship. He recalled growing up as a young man in Bangladesh in a religious family, where his family prayed five times a day and his grandfather would visit every Thursday to read the Qur'an and tell his family stories from Muslim tradition, especially about the Prophet Muhammad.

One of the stories that impacted Bhuiyan the most was that of Muhammad's visit to Ta'if, a valley near Mecca, to spread the message of Islam. The people of Ta'if reacted cruelly, forcing him to leave. In the version of the story that Bhuiyan learned growing up, the angel Gabriel appeared with the angel of the mountains, who said to Muhammad, "If you like, I shall cause mountains surrounding Al-Ta'if, to fall on them, and crush them into pieces." But Muhammad declined, saying that the children of those who had been responsible for casting him out might someday embrace the message he had come to spread.

The message of forgiveness and redemption at the heart of this story rings powerfully true today in the lives of Mark Stroman and Rais Bhuiyan. When Stroman learned about Bhuiyan's work for his case, he broke down in tears. If Stroman is not executed, Bhuiyan says, "I believe he will be able to reach out to others. If he can touch one life, that would be a success. If he is gone, we lose the opportunity to educate others."

This faith in the future, and in the belief that we can positively impact the lives of others by sharing our stories, is a powerful anecdote to the fear that has gripped our country in the years since 9/11 – fear that has sometimes sparked violence. What is at the root of Stroman's crime, Bhuiyan believes, is hate. And he believes that the antidote to this hatred is education and compassion, not further violence. Despite what has happened to him, Bhuiyan believes that the United States is "still a beautiful country."

After hearing Bhuiyan's story, I realised I had gained a deeper understanding of forgiveness and compassion, some of the highest principles of my own faith tradition as well as his. His story should compel us to look at our country and its future.

Will we choose fear? Or will we choose to reach out to those who are different from us, to hear their stories, to begin to dismantle our fears and choose instead to have faith in our future?

Laurna Strikwerda is a programme coordinator with the Muslim-Western dialogue programme at the international conflict transformation organisation Search for Common Ground. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).

=========
** Photo above was found with another compelling article July 21, 2011 here

A Yemeni Woman Receives the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

2011-10-10T15:21:00.001-07:00

along with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee. All three, together, received this award "for their non-violent stuggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work"

Tawakul Karman

See the Nobel Peace Prize site here

Sahar Taman, of Islamophobia Today, writes...

In 2009 I had the privilege to spend two weeks with Tawakul Karman, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient along with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee. We traveled the United States visiting grassroots communities in a study tour on ‘religion and society’ for a program I directed for the National Peace Foundation. Tawakul, and her husband Mohamed Al-Nehmi, her supporter and co-activist, joined a delegation of Arab international activists and scholars as observers of the religious landscape of America. I had invited Tawakul and Mohamed to the U.S. when I visited Women Journalists Without Chains in Sana’a, the Yemeni non-governmental organization (NGO) advocating for freedom of the press which Tawakul had founded.I found Tawakul to be an open book. She is a Yemeni Muslim woman who actually is not at all unconventional as she may have been depicted recently. Rather she is quite socially conservative. However she is extraordinary in her leadership.

READ More here

10 October is the 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty

2011-10-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

This year's World Day
focuses on the inhumanity of the death penalty as a cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment. The dreadful conditions on death row inflict extreme psychological suffering and execution is a physical and mental assault.

Death row inmates around the world are held in appalling conditions: the cells are not suitable for a human being; the dietary regime is inadequate; and access to medical care is difficult.

Not only are inmates placed in physical cruel and unusual circumstances, but their mind is also greatly affected by their situation, with many death row inmates suffering from mental illness and mental disabilities as a result of their death sentence.

Executions, regardless of the method used, are cruel and inhumane. They can and do go wrong in many cases.

To stop this, sign the petition! GO here

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty here

Activists Commemorate 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty here

Help the Pacific Rise Above the Death Penalty here

US and International articles daily with Alarming US Stats and World Day items. (Yes to Pakistan for their long moratorium and for resisting a pre-meditated execution for so long!) GO to Death Penalty News and Updates here

Assurance

2011-10-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

T. Egon Schiele: "Four Trees," 1918

You will never be alone, you hear so deep
a sound when autumn comes. Yellow
pulls across the hills and thrums,
or in the silence after lightning before it says
its names — and then the clouds’ wide-mouthed
apologies. You were aimed from birth:
you will never be alone. Rain
will come, a gutter filled, an Amazon,
long aisles — you never heard so deep a sound,
moss on rock, and years. You turn your head —
that’s what the silence meant: you’re not alone.
The whole wide world pours down.

—William Stafford

Find more of this poet's poems here...Note especially "A Ritual to Read to Each Other" and "Simple Talk" here

Stafford was an American pacifist/conscientious objector. Read more about him. He's new to me as well...

As an enormously admired writer, he traveled thousands of miles each year to give readings and to encourage aspiring poets throughout the United States, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, Austria, Poland and many other countries.

This itself says a lot about the man and artist!

Puzzled by Gitmo & related? If you're in New York, you may want to attend...

2011-10-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

GO here I've been with and spoken to a number of these folk and been to a number of related events - there are lots of missing facts except to say we in the US have a lot to explain. Try to go to this if at all possible.!

Abdul Sattar Edhi and The Edhi Foundation

2011-10-06T09:32:00.001-07:00

The head of the Edhi Foundation, collects donations for the poorest of the poor and the most crucially in need.

Abstract: Edhi says that his true religion is human rights. Ambulance dispatchers field 6,000 calls a day in Karachi and route patrolling vehicles by radio, boasting a 10-minute response time in Pakistan's biggest city. It was an Edhi ambulance that picked up the body of American journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed by Al Qaeda here in 2002

The following is an article by Mark Magnier

In troubled Pakistan, a humanitarian light shines through

COLUMN ONE Los Angeles Times October 4, 2011:

The Edhi Foundation funds hundreds of centers nationwide for orphans, senior citizens, the disabled, even injured animals...it is beloved by the public.

Read the new article from October 04, 2011|By Mark Magnier, Los Angeles Times
Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan —

He owns a single set of clothing and often sleeps in a storage room — even though millions of dollars pass through his hands annually. At 83, creature comforts don't matter much to Abdul Sattar Edhi. He is far too busy caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, burying the dead.

Known to some as Pakistan's Mother Teresa, Edhi is a humanitarian light in a violent and troubled land. The vast majority here struggle daily in a moribund economy. Natural disasters are common. Poverty, political instability, corruption, and attacks by Islamic militants, criminals and political enforcers are facts of life. *

In this environment, a shrinking violet won't make much headway, he says. You've got to be tough.

Gruff and confident, Edhi refers to himself as a bhikhari, or beggar, and he wears his worn black tunic as a badge of honor. He has a picture of Karl Marx, as well as Mother Teresa, on his office wall. He has been condemned by some Pakistanis as a communist, a madman, an Israeli agent or a bad Muslim for his work with "infidels" — his charity does not discriminate by religion, race or gender.

He counters that his true religion is human rights. That the government is hopelessly inefficient, and most social workers corrupt. That politicians and religious leaders know they can exploit the poor. That foreign contributions usually come with unacceptable conditions.

And then there are Pakistan's rich, who seek him out in hope of absorbing some of his reflected glory. Even as he welcomes their donations, he chides them for their priorities and their motives.

A few months ago, he says, a Pakistani industrialist asked him at a reception what he could do for humanity.

"I told him, 'Pay your taxes and stop wasting money on luxuries and sipping tea,'" he says. "That was it. He ran right away."

Donations to the Edhi Foundation fund hundreds of centers nationwide for orphans, senior citizens, drug abusers, the mentally disabled, abused women, even injured animals. It operates hospitals, mobile dispensaries, free kitchens, helicopters, airplanes and hundreds of "little white" ambulances resembling oversize bread boxes.

His foundation has been chided for its less-than-exact approach to accounting **, but the public keeps contributing, a reflection, supporters say, of how much Pakistanis trust him. But that also creates something of a Catch-22. As he fills the vacuum, the state has even less incentive to step up.

"If the government did anything, we wouldn't need to rely on people like Edhi," said Mohammad Arif, who sells lace and buttons in Karachi.

In the words of Hussein Manzoor, 47, who sold fruit until his cart was stolen recently, Edhi is a "godsend." Manzoor visited a free dispensary operated by Edhi in Karachi for treatment of an allergy that developed after an earthquake in Kashmir in 2005. Twelve relatives died, but he survived and moved to Karachi. Without his cart, Manzoor is struggling to support three children, but he is grateful to be alive.

"He's chosen to work among the poorest of the poor," said Mazhar Zaidi, a documentary filmmaker. "Others put a water tap in villages and go home. They don't live there."

In fact, the octogenarian often sleeps in a cluttered storeroom of his office, relegated there by his wife, Bilquis, a nurse who is also a key figure in the charity. "My wife kicked me out, so I stay here," he says with a laugh.

For decades, Edhi's popularity in this country of 170 million people has allowed his ambulances to brave riots, gun fights and ethnic battles. Thieves, political goons and even the Taliban have offered contributions and free passage. But in a worrisome sign underscoring Pakistan's deterioration, his ambulances were shot at and a rescue worker wounded in July during rioting in Karachi.

Ambulance dispatchers field 6,000 calls a day in Karachi and route patrolling vehicles by radio, boasting a 10-minute response time in Pakistan's biggest city. It was an Edhi ambulance that picked up the body of American journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed by Al Qaeda here in 2002.

Reflecting the breadth of services Edhi provides, ambulance drivers wait outside a downtown Karachi control center beside a steel cage filled with goats, four-legged donations-in-waiting that benefactors can buy for the poor.

There also is a steel basinet where mothers can leave unwanted babies, night or day.

"Recently we're not seeing so many left," dispatch supervisor Aftab Husain said. "More babies are showing up in garbage cans again. We're not sure why, since everyone knows Edhi."

Edhi's trademark service has been washing unclaimed bodies to prepare them for burial in keeping with Islamic tradition, something until recently he often did himself. Some question the logic of diverting resources to the dead, but he says it's important for religious reasons and to emphasize dignity for all.
END

Find the original of this article here

=======
Notes from Blogger, Connie:

* not to mention often unfair, skewed and "mirror" sort of attacks from US military leaders and the US press

** by the way, my family has donated to Pakistan flood victims twice through The Edhi Foundation office in New York and received back kind, prompt receipt. I find that the foundations system allows for more DIRECT money and resources to go WHERE most needed without a lot of bureaucracy. Isn't this how the best groups such as Mother Teresa's work have been operating?

Plz consider helping through the most appropriate Edhi office toward relief for the ONGOING displacement agony of those STILL suffering from the most RECENT floods. Thank You for your attention.

I believe the information in this post is still up-to-date (plz let me know if you find otherwise or have any trouble reaching the office closest to you and I will do my best to help: oneheartforpeace@gmail.com - send with a CLEAR subject heading plz):

Here's the one charity recommended over and over again because of the long history with emergency relief in and out of Pakistan. (Our family plans to continue donating here) GO here

Check Out: dancing in broken urdu Kazmi-sahib manages the entire Edhi Foundation’s social services GO for an earlier post here

SEE earlier posts elsewhere - quite easy to find with a quick search

Quick Note from blogger, Connie

2011-10-04T15:16:00.001-07:00

Readers, I'm going to take a short break to update my technique here...you may want to visit the other two blogs with which I work to check out the archives, add comments, leave your own impressions, connections, etc.:

No more Crusades dot blogspot.com Go here

The Journey of Hope dot blogspot.com Go here

Both of these will also soon be resting while I work on other writing - update and hopefully improve my technique and content. However, I will try to check the comments - add my own comments - and publish those appropriate several times per week.

Updated: Imagine a World Without Hate

2011-10-03T15:53:00.001-07:00

Photo found on Reprieve UK site

Just found this one on the death of one of Mark Stroman's pen pals: Goodbye Marge check out the Reprieve site often at reprieve.org.uk - GO here

Recently on World Peace Day, Rais Bhuiyan (one of Mark Stroman's victims) said "This is the anniversary of my shooting...The lessons I’ve learned during the last decade, and the journey I’ve taken moved me from a place of pain on the deepest level to a place of hope for a kinder world."

Read Rais Bhuiyan's words for yourself.

"...Yes! We can build a better world by paying attention and noticing where we blame and build walls with our family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Then we can choose to change and diminish anger...It’s not easy, but the future of humanity depends on us. Our actions CAN heal. I know this because 10 years ago I was the survivor of a hate crime."

Here is a man who, along with the widows of Mark Stroman's two murdered victims, would choose to try to stop their perpetrator's execution. This rare witness of genuine forgiveness led to a dramatic change in the life of their perpetrator. A few weeks ago, countless people from all backgrounds joined in the plea for Stroman's life.

Read entire post and more here

Let's choose life and healing today by accepting this transformative invitation from this new movement:

"We invite you to join us in taking this image beyond imagination to reality. Learn about hate crimes through our website and work to prevent them. See our Get Involved section here

We’ve got to stop the hate and give peace a chance! Let’s work together to end the cycle of hate and violence, and make this world a better place for us and our next generations!"

Read an article about this story as well from Huffington Post here

See an earlier press conference on Reprieve's UK site - Rais Buiyan press conference in Germany from 05 July 2011 - here

Some of the places/events where "World Without Hate" plans to go...
We are taking the message into the world by speaking at:

- Churches
- Schools
- Prisons
- Universities
- Governments, and anywhere we can.

Events & Activities

October:

- Search for Common Ground, Washington, D.C.
- American University, D.C.
- Meeting with the co-founder of “Journey of Hope”
- CAIR (Council on American –Islamic Relations), Washington, DC.

November:

- Amnesty Regional West Conference, CA
- Amnesty Regional South Conference, NC
- Rome, Italy

December:

- Rome, Italy

One Prayer by Karl Anthony

2011-09-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

“Roses and Thorns” (acrylic)
Setsuko Yoshida

If I had one prayer, I'd pray for people who hate
Maybe I'm out of my mind ...or deep in my faith
A man grows old ...when his souls in pain
Only love can loosen that chain

But if I offer you grace, will it cause any change
And do I appear weak, if I calm my rage
I think of revenge, but will I become
The thing I despise, when a heart goes numb

I'll say a prayer, hoping it finds ...people who hate
I send it now, to heal the hearts ...of people who hate

If only one song ...could silence hate
And end all the war ...before its too late
If a cold mind ...could begin to feel

Then the fear in our world ...has a chance to heal

I'll say a prayer, knowing it finds ...people who hate
I send it now, to heal the hearts ...of people who hate
......pray for people who hate

All of our thoughts ...can set the stage
For the power of love ...is larger than rage
When we take revenge ...we will become
The hate we despise ...as our soul goes numb

I have One Prayer ...for the world to hear
It's a cry for mercy ...the last of our tears
Let hate dissolve ... let the past reveal
That love has shown us what is real

Angels above, quiet the pain ...in people who hate
I'm sending One Prayer, to heal the hearts ...in people who hate

One prayer.....Pray!

(May all be loved, may all be blessed, may all feel peace....pray for people who hate)

I'm sending love to people who hate

I must be out of my mind ...or deep in my faith

To Listen go here

This video is sung by Karl and Jeanne Anthony, Jeanne is singing in ASL.

====================
In the realm of the Unseen there exists a sandal wood, burning...love is the smoke of that incense.

CHOOSE LIFE

2011-09-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

GO here for a Jewish High Holiday Reflection on Peace.

Bereaved Palestinians and Israelis for Peace (Parents Circle)

2011-09-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

To read more GO here See the newest effort - "Blood Relations"

Wangari Muta Maathai (1940-2011) "When I celebrate, I plant a tree!"

2011-09-26T14:28:00.000-07:00

Find this photo and portrait of same various places--

The irrepressible woman who once signed a police report in her own blood left the world a much greener, kindlier place.

Wangari Muta Maathai (1940-2011)

Her story is that of A Person of Firsts in many areas...GO here

The day she heard that her movement won the Nobel Laureate here

The Cracked Mirror: Cultural liberation will only come when the minds of the people are set free and they can protect themselves from colonialism of the mind. Only that type of freedom will allow them to reclaim their identity, self-respect and destiny. Only when communities recapture the positive aspects of their culture will people relearn how to love themselves and what is theirs. Only then will they really appreciate their country and the need to protect its natural beauty and wealth. And only then will they have an understanding of the future and of generations to come...
Read the Rest here

NPR.org audio with the picturesque stories mentioned above - and NOTE HOW MANY trees Maathai planted! here

Watch and listen to "I Will Be A Hummingbird" from Dirt, the Movie - here Here "The Tree Lady" narrates a tale of always trying to do the best you can, no matter how small you are.

Tributes to Maathai are filling the pages of Greenbelt.org.

NPR.org's colleague Ofeibea Quist-Arcton will have more about Maathai on their site soon.

Words and Wisdom from History for Week of 26 September

2011-09-26T05:00:00.001-07:00

Arundhati-Roy
"If you are religious, then remember that this bomb is Man's challenge to God. It's worded quite simply: We have the power to destroy everything that You have created.
If you're not religious, then look at it this way. This world of ours is
4,600,000,000 years old. It could end in an afternoon." - Arundhati Roy, 1998

Find a FULL Week of Peace History here

Chief Deganawidah
“In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” - Deganawida - Peacemaker and a founder of the Iroquois League

September 27, 1990

The last U.S. Pershing II tactical nuclear missiles were removed from Germany, fewer than ten years after their installation provoked a massive anti-nuclear movement across Europe.

The range and accuracy of the Pershing II pushed the Soviet Union to negotiate the Treaty on Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) which completely eliminated all nuclear-armed ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (about 300 to 3400 miles) and their infrastructure. The INF Treaty is the first nuclear arms control agreement to actually reduce nuclear arms, and the signatories destroyed almost 2700 nuclear weapons (including 234 Pershing II) by May of 1991.

German Anti Pershing missile demonstration poster, 1983.

There are many ways to seek peace. Even for those of us who seek to find peaceful manners and to BE PEACE we can find plenty of verifications for Peace-Making even among the most conventional of wisdom-sayers:

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically—to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside.” — Stephen Covey

Aafia Gets Family Visit; Aafia Day Commemorated

2011-09-24T04:57:00.002-07:00

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010
The Date Judge Richard Berman Sentenced Aafia to 86 Years

September 23, 2011
Vol 4, Issue 4

Aafia Allowed Visit From Family Member After 2-1/2 Years!

A message from Aafia's family after Aafia is allowed to visit with her brother for the first time in almost 2-1/2 years:

Last April we were both honored and stunned when a hundred Americans gave up part of their Saturday to stand outside Carswell Prison for several hours in the hot Texas sun to support our family's effort to contact Aafia. The actions of those courageous people responding to a call by The Peace Thru Justice Foundation paid off almost immediately. Five days later Aafia was allowed to call her family and she got to hear her children's voices for the first time in eight years.

This demonstration also set off an unexpected chain of events. Within days the Pakistani Consulate responsible for the affairs of its citizens in Texas visited Carswell and began communication with prison officials.

On the weekend of September 10, 2011, Aafia's brother was finally allowed to visit her.

This was their first visit in almost two and a half years.

The last time they saw each other was at her sentencing hearing almost a year ago. Throughout the trial and sentencing proceedings they were not allowed to speak to each other and one of the court officers made a point of sitting directly between them so they couldn't see each other.

We believe this visit is the direct result of the willingness of American citizens to exercise their First Amendment right "of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Our family would also like to thank the International Justice Network for their advice and support.

Credit must also be given to Pakistan's Consulate in Houston for their assistance and contributions in this effort.

Requests have been made for future visits in October and November.

We are troubled because this visit required so much effort and persistence by so many. The system says that as long as Aafia obeys prison rules she is entitled to have visitors. We have not been told that Aafia has violated the rules. We have been told that "our normal rules don't seem to apply to your sister."

We are not asking for special conditions or priveleges for Aafia. We are asking that the rules that apply to all the other prisoners be applied to her too.

Thank you for your support and God bless all of you.

Aafia's Family

TV Report on Aafia Day (English) and other reports in URDU at freeaafia.org or CLICK here

Aafia Day was commemorated across Pakistan on Sep 16, 2011

Tens of Thousands Come out On Aafia Day Across Pakistan on Sep 16

NATION, Sep 17, 2011

LAHORE - Jamaat-e-Islami observed Dr Aafia Siddiqui Day across the country including the City on Friday. Rallis were held in the federal and the provincial capitals besides major cities denouncing the US court verdict of 86 years jail term for Dr Aafia Siddiqui ...and demanding her immediate release.

In the Punjab capital, women and children held a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club to draw the world attention to the injustice done to Pakistan's daughter by the US court and demanding her release. JI deputy Secretary General Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, while addressing the gathering, said that Dr Aafia was a daughter of Islam but the military dictator Pervez Musharraf, in a show of utter shamelessness, handed her over to the US for dollars. He deplored that the present rulers too were devoid of any sense of shame and honour and had taken no solid steps for Dr Aafia's release. However, he said, the Pakistani nation was fully awake and would continue its struggle for Dr Aafia's release.

In Islamabad, a seminar was held at Al-Flah Hall. Addressing the seminar, JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said that the JI would continue its struggle till Dr Aafia's release. He said that the US, India and Israel were trying to destabilize Pakistan. In Multan, a rally was held from Chowk Ghanta Ghar to Husain Agahi. The JI Punjab chief, Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, led the rally. Rallies were also held in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Quetta.

In Karachi, a big rally was held from Empress Road to Regal Chowk. The JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, and JI Karachi chief, Muhammad Husain Mehnati, led the rally. Addressing the rally, Syed Munawar Hasan said that the Pakistani rulers had sold out Dr Aafia Siddiqui to the US for dollars. He said according to reports, the US court kept waiting for a contact from Islamabad for Dr Aafia's release but it was in vain.

Syed Munawar Hasan ... (asked) why the Pakistani rulers and army had released Raymond Davis, the killer of three innocent citizens. He said the Pakistani nation could have secured Dr Aafia's release long ago but for the shameless rulers who had shown total lack of courage...

DAWN

Sep 17, 2011

PESHAWAR, Sept 16: Activists of Shabab-i-Milli on Friday held a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road against the imprisonment of Dr Aafia and asked the Muslim Ummah to raise voice against the US.

The people were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the arrest of the Pakistani woman and termed the verdict against her as based on mala fide intentions. Murder and Torture, the Lasting Legacy of America

Salem-News, Sep 21, 2011

by Gordon Duff

... Every person "missing" has to be accounted for. When were they taken, where did they go, where are they now. If they are alive, their testimony must be taken. If they cannot be found, we can assume they were murdered at one of our "rendition centers" around the world, their bodies disposed of....

We have to recognize everyone involved in this process, not just the Americans, the thousands of Pakistanis, Egyptians, Libyans, people from so many countries that sold their neighbors for a few pieces of silver.

Aafia Siddiqui was one of those, a victim sold by a Pakistani gang to a group of American torturers and rapists. To cover the crime, an American court has jailed her for 87 [86] years.

That process, everyone involved, judges and prosecutors too, should face an international trubunal.

Tribunals must enter every nation, investigate every crime, even if the cost is billions and we fill prisons around the world. Failing to do this, none of us will ever be safe, not being ruled by war criminals, not having our military commanded by psychotics, our intelligence services run by the delusional, the fabricators and fictionalizers.

=============================

Report: Aafia Siddiqui Just the Facts

International Justice Network (IJN) released its initial report on an investigation into Dr.Aafia's case. March 2003 kidnap confirmed. Many more shocking details about the return of Mariam, Dr. Aafia's daughter and routine fabrication of evidence.

IJN's preliminary investigation has revealed shocking new evidence that contradicts the repeated claims of the U.S. and Pakistani government that Dr. Siddiqui was not detained in their custody prior to July 2008. IJN has obtained witness testimony and a secret audio recording of statements made by the Superintendant of Police of Sindh Province about his own personal involvement with the apprehension of Dr. Siddiqui and her three children from Karachi, Pakistan in March 2003.

To View the Report, see freeaafia.org

DC USA Event: The Palestinian UN Vote

2011-09-19T04:11:00.000-07:00

From: Foundation for Middle East Peace
REMINDER: FMEP Event 9/21 with Jessica Montell: Palestinian UN Vote: Human Rights Implications

Foundation for Middle East Peace, B’tselem U.S.A,
Americans for Peace Now, and Churches for Middle East Peace

-- invite you to a discussion with

Jessica Montell
Executive Director, B’Tselem, Israel

The UN Palestinian Statehood Vote: Human Rights Implications

Wednesday, September 21, 12:00-1:30
Choate Room, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts Avenue

The expected vote in the United Nations on Palestinian statehood and membership status potentially holds serious consequences for the situation on the ground in the Occupied Territories. B’Tselem’s Executive Director, Jessica Montell, who is visiting from Jerusalem, will speak about the human rights implications of the various scenarios and the projected Israeli response, according to recent B’Tselem studies.

Sandwiches will be served

To RSVP email info@fmep.org or call 202 835 3650

1761 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Attend the Trial of Ziyad Yaghi Monday, September 19 - New Bern, NC

2011-09-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ziyad Yaghi

From Project Salam dot org or GO here

Trial: Monday, September 19 - New Bern, North Carolina

Innocent Muslims are being targeted and convicted for crimes they have not committed. On September 19, 2011, a trial is scheduled to take place in New Bern, North Carolina––that accuses a number of individuals of terrorism, including twenty-one-year-old Ziyad Yaghi.

We believe that only by observing these trials can fair-minded people decide whether the trials are just and the defendants guilty or innocent.

Please send this letter from Project SALAM to anyone you think would be interested in attending the trial.

Read the Letter:

Dear Concerned Community Member,

We write to you as representatives of Project SALAM, a nationwide group of people who have witnessed various “terrorism” trials in different parts of the country and who have concluded that innocent Muslims are being targeted and convicted for crimes they have not committed. Project SALAM is devoted to researching and documenting the likelihood that the United States Justice Department’s post-9/11 prosecutions of “terrorists” have included a significant number of Muslims who are, in fact, innocent of any crime. We believe other cases have been severely overcharged and/or over-sentenced. On our website, www.projectsalam.org, we present summaries of many of these cases and explain why we think these trials are unfair. Several independent journalists agree with us, as shown in these recent articles in major magazines:

- “Little Gitmo” by Christopher Stewart in New York Magazine, http://nymag.com/news/features/yassin-aref-2011-7/
- “To Catch a Terrorist” by Petra Bartosiewicz in Harper’s Magazine, http://www.projectsalam.org/downloads/HarpersMagazine-terrorism-Bartosiewicz.pdf
- “The Informants” by Trevor Aaronson in Mother Jones, http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/fbi-terrorist-informants

On September 19, 2011, a trial is scheduled to take place in your area––in New Bern, North Carolina––that accuses a number of individuals of terrorism, including twenty-one-year-old Ziyad Yaghi. The trial is expected to last about seven weeks. Project SALAM has been following this case because we believe it may be another example of an unfair prosecution. For this reason, we are writing to urge you or a representative to attend the trial. You can read about Yaghi’s situation at http://www.helptheprisoners.org/index.php?alertid=70&cat=alerts

We believe that only by observing these trials can fair-minded people decide whether the trials are just and the defendants guilty or innocent. The prosecution typically has had many months to leak one-sided information and present its case in the media, which in turn has cooperated and painted a biased picture of what the evidence will show. But courtroom observers are frequently surprised at the insufficiency of the government’s evidence and the unfair tricks the government uses to win convictions. We have found that when the public shows interest in a trial, the media reporting is more accurate, the government is less likely to play on prejudice, and all communities are better served.

Defendants in “terrorism” trials face daunting obstacles that other defendants do not usually encounter. The government may deploy wholly unwarranted security precautions as a way to prejudice the jury. The accused are often held without bail in solitary confinement for years before coming to trial. The media labels them “supporters of terrorism” and thus they are vilified and pronounced guilty long before they come anywhere near a court of law. At trial, they may be confronted with secret or classified evidence. They are not given a jury of their peers, rather a jury that may well start with a bias against Muslims. Some defendants, knowing they have no chance of a fair trial in the current climate, accept plea deals for a guaranteed sentence of perhaps fifteen years, rather than gambling with their lives in an unjust trial and receiving a sentence of perhaps seventy years. “Terrorism” trials often lead to condemnation of the Muslim community as a whole and to the impoverishment of the families and children of the accused. Thus it is important for the non-Muslim community to become involved in these trials to ensure that the Muslim community, as well as the defendants and their families, receives support and compassion in this difficult time.

We hope that you will attend the trial of Ziyad Yaghi and his co-defendants in New Bern, North Carolina on September 19. Please write to either of us (our e-mail addresses are listed on this letterhead) to confirm the trial’s start date, since court calendars are often changed at the last minute. You can also contact Laila Yaghi, Ziyad’s mother, who can answer any questions you might have; her e-mail address is laila_lois@yahoo.com. If you are unable to attend the trial but would still like to help, please consider giving hospitality to people who are coming from out of town to attend the trial, or helping the families of the defendants. In many communities, both Muslims and non-Muslims have formed groups to support the families of Muslim defendants, and have found in their common work ways to build bridges between both religious and secular communities.

At this time of growing Islamophobia, it is especially important to ensure that Muslim defendants receive a fair trial. If the government can bring false charges against Muslims, it can bring false charges against any of us. An attack on one religion can lead to attacks on others. The words of Pastor Martin Niemöller in 1946 are as true today as they were for the 1930s Germany that he spoke of––except here in the United States it is Muslims who are now being persecuted:

“First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Sincerely,

Steve Downs, Esq.
Kathy Manley, Esq. Attorneys for Project SALAM

From Project Salam:
http://projectsalam.org/events/09-19-11.html

Or Click here

Project Salam Index:
http://projectsalam.org/index.html
Or Click here

To read more about Preemptive Prosecution GO here

Afghanistan News & Worldwide CALL: the Center for Creative Non-Violence

2011-09-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Arab Spring, European Summer, United States Autumn? September 21st seems a good day to ring in a season of change. It's the International Day of Peace, and the date not only of the UN's planned vote on Palestinian statehood (see below), but the latest "Global Day of Listening."

We're hosting this international call along with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, Afghans For Peace, and the Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project. Find out below how to join in the discussion! Looking ahead to the start of the Washington D.C. Freedom Square occupation, and the tenth anniversary of the start of our Afghan war, the time is right for bringing in our harvest of peace and doing what we can now to get ourselves and our neighbors through the winters to come. Read the rest of this article and other items in original posting here

Here's a sampler

Our First Week in Kabul
by Jody Mackey
September 13, 2011 Clean Water Project Diary blog entry

Do I begin with stories of hope or hardship? Let's talk of the harder realities first and save the sweetness for last... we walk down the hill overlooking the infamous Olympic stadium known for public executions that is now a field of green before the dusty expanse of Kabul.

Read the rest of the blog on link above

Stop the Machine: Create a New World!

October 2011 will mark the start of the 11th year of the invasion of Afghanistan and the onset of the 2012 US federal budget, which provides unlimited funds for war and corporate welfare, yet withholds essential funds for services that meet human needs.

Starting on October 6, 2011, thousands of concerned Americans will assemble in Freedom Plaza, in Washington DC to take control of our country and our lives. We will occupy the plaza and hold a People's Assembly where we come up with just and sustainable solutions to the crises we face and demand that these solutions be presented and that the people's needs be addressed. We will plan and engage in creative acts of civil resistance and demand that our inherent rights and freedoms be protected, and that our children have a chance to live in peace,to breathe clean air, and to grow edible natural food.

Will you stand with us and denounce the systems and institutions that support endless war and unrestrained corporate greed ?

Connect with a U.S. "Tahrir Square" demonstration at October2011.org

=========
Be sure to Read the posts below and Act to help the suffering victims of two terrific years of flooding in the Sindh area of Pakistan!

Updated: Pakistan Devasted Flood Victims: CONTACT EDHI FOUNDAITON (To help support flood victims)

2011-09-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

PAKISTAN: Children worst hit by new flooding disaster - AlertNet
Published 16 Sep 2011 16:14. Source: Muhammad Khalid, a volunteer with the charitable Edhi Foundation GO here

Edhi Foundation | The Flood Relief Blog
A platform to support the Flood affected people of Pakistan ... PESHAWAR: Fears grew Monday about outbreaks of disease among 1.5 million people affected by Pakistan’s worst - CLICK here

Another UPDATES (a few days ago) on PAKISTAN residents/displaced due to the flooding in Sindh area:

Dear Friends,

Obviously, the rain has stopped. The flood water flowing from breaches
has panicked the residents of Sanghar, Shahdadpur, Tando Allahyar,
Kunri in Umerkot districts and adjoining areas. The flood water
entered the Sanghar city, where people were feeling unsafe, because
there is no safe way to shift their families out. Similar is the
situation of people in Tando Allahyar,Badin, Thatta and worst affected
Kunri, where hundreds of families are still marooned, calling for the
help. There are fears all around that besides Sanghar, the two
district headquarters, Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas might be
inundated by the flood water.

Sanghar

Water has entered the Sanghar city, flowing to low-lying areas.
Residents cannot move to safer places. There is no water for drinking,
hence crowds can be seen at hand pumps and such water facilities in
the city neighborhoods. Uncertainty is everywhere. There is acute food
shortage and prices of all items have increased.

The affected people were critic against the district government
Sanghar, saying it has received trucks loaded with relief goods for
the flood victims. But irony is that instead of distributing these
goods, the same are being dumped in warehouses, benefitting the well
wishers of political influential people and legislators. The
government is depriving real victims, they said. Hundreds of families
are living along road sides everywhere, demanding food, shelter and
potable water. it was observed that there is lack of coordination
within the government departments, whose officials are reluctant to
share updates of losses.

Badin

People displaced form different areas of Badin district are traveling
to Thatta mountainous areas, specially pouring in to Makli graveyard.
More than 2000 affected people have come to Makli graveyard, living in
relief camps established there. During evacuation and Rescue, . Mostly
they are demanding potable water and food at urgent level.

Thatta

A tent city has been established into the under construction building
of district jail by district government Thatta for flood-affected
families travelling from Badin. Presently, More than 2000 affected
people have come to Makli graveyard,40 families are staying there.
Government has extended support to accommodate them, providing food
and water to them there.

Use of latrines

The flood water has created problems for women. The latrines should be
constructed . Women used the latrines. It solved their protection
issue in good way.

Livestock

. Due to lack of fodder and drinking contaminated drain water,
livestock, got sick.

Regards
Shoaib Habib Memon
Thatta-Sindh
Cell.0314 2090252

==================

Please feel free to contact us at edhikarachi@hotmail.com

Note to Donors: We highly recommend that you call the number given in the respective international country and confirm mailing addresses for any checks/money orders that are going to be sent out to Bilquis Edhi Foundation. You should also ask for an official reciept for your donation from the volunteer who answers your phone call and confirm how you will get the reciept.

We also recommend that once you are given a reciept, please confirm with Edhi's head office in Karachi that your donation has been received at their respective international office. These precautions are recommended for the most critical international donors who want ensure a 110% that their donations are used only for the welfare services that Edhi foundation provides to the people of the world.

Here are the HQ and zonal office addresses and Phone numbers in Pakistan and Overseas.

USA - Edhi Center USA Edhi international Foundation.
42-07 National street
Corona, New York, 11368 USA
Tel: (718) 639-5120
Fax: (718) 335-1978
Toll Free# 1-888-899-EDHI (3344)

United Kingdom - Edhi International Foundation,
316 Edgware Road,
London W2 1DY,
United Kingdom
Tel: 02077232050 and Fax: 02072249774

Canada Canada
Bilquis Edhi Charitable Shop
1801-1805 Danforth Ave
Toronto-M4C-1J2 Canada
Phone/Fax: +1 (416) 699-1388
Also include the following - international addresses:

Japan Japan Edhi International Foundation,
RM 101 COPO Nikkei, 1-25 4-Chome,
Minami-ohi Shinagawa -KU-Tokyo 140 Japan.

Australia Australia Abdul Sattar Edhi International Foundation,
Level 20, Picadly tower,
133, Castle Reagh Street, Sydney 2000

Austrailia.
Tel: 02-2646499, 03-3767-7282
Fax: 03-3764-4395, 02-264-7337

Bangladesh Bangladesh Edhi International Foundation Inc,
2/2 Purana palton, 3 rd Floor,
Dhaka - 1000, Bangladesh

Please feel free to contact us at edhikarachi@hotmail.com

Your suggestions, proposals and queries are welcomed.

EDHI HEAD OFFICE
Sarafa Bazar, Boulton Market, Mithadar, Karachi.
Ph: +92 (21) 2413232
Fax: +92 (21) 2413232

ZONAL OFFICE KARACHI
Near Merewether Tower, Kharadar, Karachi.
Phone: +92 (21) 2201261-62
Fax: +92 (21) 2313434
Email: edhikarachi@hotmail.com

ZONAL OFFICE LAHORE
17-A Muslim Block, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore.
Ph: +92 (42) 5414211

ZONAL OFFICE ISLAMABAD
Near Masjide-e-Shohada, Aabpara, Islamabad.
Ph: +92 (51) 2827844

Updating: Rain Compounding Misery for Pakistan Flood Victims - By Mohammad Farooq, AP

2011-09-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

No Let Up - GO here and here

See The Edhi Foundation for one option to offer contributions for relief. Find a number of sites online. US donors plz send your's to the New York Office. The founder is a practical saint with much respect and support all over the world - including among Pakistanis.

AFP
as found on San Francisco Gate news
Tuesday, September 13, 2011

(09-13) 06:48 PDT BADIN, Pakistan (AP) --

Stranded by floodwaters, army soldier Mohammed Hameed was unable to get to the graveyard to bury his 5-year-old daughter when she succumbed to diarrhea. He laid her to rest in his courtyard — one of the latest victims of floods that have returned to Pakistan this year, leaving some 200,000 homeless and triggering another international aid effort.

The scale of the disaster and the aid response is much less than last year, but the misery for those effected is just as real. The floods began early last month, but heavy rains have compounded them recently and hampered relief efforts.

On Tuesday, thousands of men, women and children lined the main road in Badin, the worst hit district around 200 kilometers from Karachi, the country's largest city. Some were sitting under plastic sheets held up by the branches of trees.

"There was heavy rain overnight and when we came out of our home we found ourselves stranded in high waters," said Sham Lal. He was with his seven children and a few household possessions by the side of the road, the highest ground around.

"There is nobody to rescue us and I am worried where to go," he said.

The affected area is southern Sindh province, which was also badly hit in the 2010 floods.

The United Nations is rushing food and tents there after Islamabad formally asked for foreign assistance this weekend. Japan and China have also pledged relief goods or money, according to the Pakistan government. The United States said it had paid for food packages for 23,000 families, and that its local partners would soon begin handing out tents, clean water and other supplies.

The return of the floods is testament to the heaviness of the monsoon rains that lash much of South Asia from June to September...

"The situation is extremely bad," said Provincial Minister Muzaffar Shajra Tuesday. "We cannot carry out relief operations because of continuos rains."

More than 200 people have been killed, 200,000 made homeless and 4.2 million acres of agricultural land have been inundated, authorities say. Most of the displaced are staying in camps, under whatever shelter they can find or in the open.

The town of Tando Bago, where Hameed lives, has been flooded with several feet of water in places, making it impossible for residents to bury their loved ones at a local graveyard, which is also flooded.

"We are stranded and we need to get out immediately to somewhere safer so we can survive," Hameed said by telephone. He buried his daughter in the courtyard of his house on Friday.

In 2010, the floods followed the course of the River Indus and its tributaries from the foothills of the Himalayas to the flatlands of Sindh, where the river empties out into the Arabian Sea.

As much as one-fifth of the country's landmass and 20 million people were affected at the peak, making it one of the largest natural disasters in recent history. The U.S. army deployed helicopters to ferry victims and aid around the country, and the U.N. and other international aid groups also helped.

Across the border in India, monsoon raids have also been causing havoc, killing at least 16 people and leaving nearly 100,000 others homeless in Orrissa state. The region has seen incessant rains for 10 days, a government minister there said.

___

Associated Press writer Ashraf Khan contributed to this report from Karachi, Pakistan.

Also see UNICEF article here and these articles here and here and here ...See UK article here

Emptiness and Illumination

2011-09-11T16:36:00.001-07:00

Soul Receives From Soul

Soul receives from soul that knowledge,
therefore not by book nor from tongue.

If knowledge of mysteries come after
emptiness of mind -- that is illumination of heart.

Attributed to Rumi

Poet Seers

STOP US ARMY from misuse of MONKEYS (non-violent action)

2011-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Less than One Week to Stop the Army's Cruel Use of Monkeys

The U.S. Army is gearing up to poison monkeys in a chemical warfare training course in Maryland next week, and we need your help to stop this cruel exercise before it is too late. Last week, we asked you to contact Congress, but now we are taking our efforts directly to the U.S. Army and telling its leaders to stop this cruel and unnecessary training today.

In the chemical casualty training session, vervet monkeys are injected with a toxic overdose of physostigmine that produces symptoms of a nerve agent attack. Monkeys stop breathing, vomit, defecate, and seize violently while trainees watch.

Under anesthesia that can worsen the effects of the attack, monkeys are unable to make alarm calls or otherwise indicate that they are in pain. But medical records and a video obtained by PCRM through the Freedom of Information Act show that these monkeys suffer both during and after the exercise.

The use of monkeys for this training is cruel and clinically irrelevant, but the Army refuses to replace animals with available, effective human-based training methods. Even worse, the Army has ordered more monkeys for this course—20 monkeys will be delivered to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland by the end of the month. This is an ideal time to urge the Army to re-evaluate the utility of this protocol.

Please call Army medical leaders today and tell them to halt the use of monkeys in this exercise before next week:

URGENT: Ask the Army to Stop Poisoning Monkeys...take a minute to let Maj. Gen. Nick Justice, Commanding General of Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, Army Surgeon General, know that you want the U.S. Army to immediately halt the use of vervet monkeys in chemical casualty management training.

...Here are some talking points:

The use of monkeys in chemical casualty management training is cruel and should be stopped before the training course the week of Sept. 12. Monkeys’ anatomical differences from humans make it hard for trainees to recognize the signs of nerve agent attack. Modern, superior human-based training methods are already available and are being used in civilian medical training courses. A transition to only human-based methods would provide a better educational experience for military medical trainees.

Please halt the upcoming shipment of monkeys to be used for this training.
CONTACT INFORMATION

Maj. Gen. Nick Justice, Commanding General of Aberdeen Proving Ground
Phone: 410-278-0833

Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, Army Surgeon General
Phone: 703-681-3008

============

Thank you for your support on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Kucinich
Director of Government Affairs

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016 Phone: 202-686-2210
E-mail: info@pcrm.org

'A Public Faith' for the Common Good (Miroslav Volf's work)

2011-09-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

Go to Amazon.com among many other places to see inside cover and get details

Also go to nomorecrusades dot blogspot dot com or click here to find three reviews on the book "ALLAH: a Christian Response by Miroslav Volf

Review of the book: 'A Public Faith' by Miroslav Volf from 18 August 2011

|In his latest volume, Yale Divinity School theologian Miroslav Volf puts his finger on one of the most relevant and hotly contested subjects in our world today—the role of faith in public life. In particular, he seeks to chart a course between what he sees as two equally unhelpful extremes—"totalitarian saturation of public life with a single religion" and "secular exclusion of all religion from public life" (xiv).

What guides Volf's approach is the conviction that the main contribution Christianity brings to the public arena is a vision of the common good, or human flourishing, as he puts it. The primary way that Christians are called to work toward this objective is not by imposing its vision on the world but by bearing witness to Christ who first shapes our lives.

One of the most compelling and original contributions of this book is found in the opening chapter, where Volf details the two primary malfunctions of faith as it seeks to engage with the world: idleness and coercion. While coercive faith is a bit easier to identify as a malfunction, idleness seems like virtue in today's world. Having reduced faith to the private realm, modernity has no room for the public embrace of religion at all. A publicly idle faith seems ideal according to our spirit of the age.

The problem with an idle faith, or a merely private faith that has no bearing on how people live in the world, says Volf, is that it serves to energize a way of life untouched by the values of the faith itself. It is all power and no direction. Instead, he argues that "prophetic faiths should be a way of life, not just a 'religious' resource for a way of life whose content is shaped by factors outside of that faith itself (such as national security, economic prosperity, or our thirst for pleasure, power and glory)" (29). Evidence of this kind of "thin" faith is evident all around us, on the right and the left. In this way, religion can be an extremely destructive force. Even so, it is still jarring to read the author's suggestion that what we need in a world torn by religious violence is not less faith, but more faith.

Volf writes,

A central challenge for all religions in a pluralistic world is to help people grow out of their petty hopes so as to live meaningful lives, and to help them resolve their grand conflicts and life in communion with others [emphasis in original] (100).

This is easier said than done. When people start taking their faith commitments and living them publicly in a pluralistic world they are bound to encounter others who, equally convicted, are living out their faith. This is at the root of so much violence in our world. For Christians however, Volf is adamant that our role is not accommodation to the culture (idle faith) or the total transformation of the culture (coercive faith), but creative engagement with the world.

For the author's vision to be a reality, faith must, of course, be understood thoughtfully and practiced with integrity, in community. That is the purpose of his book—to commend this particular public faith. This will be difficult work. There is no shortage of religious hucksters and opportunistic pundits and politicians wanting to exploit religious fervor for objectives completely outside the Christian vision. This book will be an invaluable resource to Christian communities who are working out for themselves what this creative engagement with the world looks like in their context.

—Ryan Bell is the pastor of the Hollywood Adventist Church. This review originally appeared in the Huffington Post.

A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good, by Miroslav Volf (BrazosPress; $14), 192 pages.

An Eid Message from the family of Aafia Siddiqui

2011-09-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

"She (Aafia) has repeatedly said she does not want people committing violence in her name."

This (was) Aafia's 18th Eid away from her family and children

Eid al-Fitr, 2011/1432

Today we are waiting. We have had a lot of days like this since Aafia and her children disappeared in 2003. There might be some good news. There might be some bad news. There might be no news at all. That is just the way it is some days.

We have to take the time this Eid al-Fitr to acknowledge some special groups of people.

Aafia's supporters in Pakistan and around the world who marched in peaceful demonstrations in the brutal heat and humidity of August, while fasting, to remind everyone that neither Aafia nor her missing son Suleman have been forgotten. Faith, resolve, and courage will always make powerful people nervous. Especially this year.

Aafia probably does not know about your efforts yet, but you have made her proud. She has repeatedly said she does not want people committing violence in her name. By marching peacefully you have helped her maintain her dignity, the one thing her captors cannot take from her.

And those of you from all over the world who responded to our request to send Aafia a Ramadan postcard. Many of you went beyond that simple action and Tweeted, posted, and blogged our request: A postcard, a stamp, and a couple of computer clicks that didn't take you more than a few seconds. An act so simple that it was something you could have easily done while breaking your fast.

We do not know if Aafia was allowed to receive any of these postcards. Her mail is restricted in an unpredictable manner. If she was allowed to receive your cards you gave her great joy. If not, you reminded those holding her that they are being judged for their actions.

The prophet Issa (Jesus) is quoted in the Holy Bible:

"I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me."*
*(Matthew, 25:45 New Living Translation, 2007)

For your acts of kindness and support we cannot begin to express our gratitude.

Eid Mubarak from Aafia's family.

Mentors for Us All

2011-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

August 16, 2011
Good Will to All, With a Side of Soft-Serve

By DAN BARRY
KENHORST, Pa.

This American summer, the heat is the least of it. A pummeled economy. A credit-rating embarrassment. More tarmac ceremonies for dead war heroes. Tornadoes, floods and other disasters, including Congress. Presidential aspirants stalking Iowa like Barbie and Ken zombies.

Clearly, the country needs to pull off the road and take a break. It needs to treat itself to a soft-serve cone, chocolate-dipped and melting so quickly as to demand a tongue’s sculpting attention, while tiny tree creatures sing their carpe diem serenade, and reassurance comes with a stray evening breeze.

A tasty-twirly-twisty place has to be around here somewhere. There always is.

There’s one. In the Kenhorst Plaza, just outside the small city of Reading, a Dairy Queen shares asphalt space with a Dollar Tree, a Sears hardware store, a Fashion Bug, a food market, a pawn shop and a few vacant storefronts. It is the neon beacon of comfort in a tired commercial tableau.

Inside, though, this Dairy Queen seems different from the 5,000 others lighting up the country’s summer nights. It has the standard freezer filled with Dilly Bars, and the black-and-white photographs evoking a past that includes the first Dairy Queen, in prison-centric Joliet, Ill., in 1940. But plaques and letters and children’s handwritten notes cover nearly every inch of available wall, all praising someone clearly without Pennsylvania Dutch roots; someone named Hamid.

The Cumru Elementary School thanks Hamid. The Mifflin Park Elementary School thanks Hamid. The Brecknock Elementary School thanks Hamid. The Governor Mifflin intermediate, middle and high schools thank Hamid. The Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, the soccer leagues and the baseball leagues, the Crime Alert program, the home for adults with mental retardation — they all thank Hamid.

And here comes the owner, Hamid Chaudhry, in the midst of another 80-hour workweek, fresh from curling another soft-serve. As he makes his way to a corner table, customers hunched over chicken-strip baskets and sundaes call out his name, and he calls back theirs.

“Hi, Tracey; I have that check for you.” “Bye, Mrs. Brady. All good for the homecoming?” “Bye, Mr. Rush. How was the Blizzard? Want another one?”

With such familiarity, you might think that Mr. Chaudhry, 40, grew up rooting for the Reading Phillies and taking late-night rides up to the iconic Pagoda on Mount Penn. But in words inflected by his Pakistani roots and slight speech impediment, he explains that he has lived in southeastern Pennsylvania only since the uncertain year of 2002, not long after Sept. 11.

Then, as a couple of local officials he knows catch up by the window, and a former state police officer he knows picks up a frozen cake, and a Mennonite family, regular customers, eat his soft-serve out on the patio, Hamid from the Dairy Queen tells his American story.

He was the youngest of six in a Muslim family in Karachi. His father, an accountant, was physically and mentally damaged after being hit by a car; his mother, a schoolteacher, took care of her husband and insisted that her baby go to America for a better life. That meant Chicago, where a brother was driving a cab while studying to become a college professor.

Mr. Chaudhry took several years to earn a college degree in finance, partly because of language difficulties, and partly because he was always working — mostly at the celebrated Drake Hotel. He was the unseen busboy, working his way up to assistant manager for room service and minibars, serving Caesar salad to President-elect Bill Clinton, delivering unsatisfactory apple pancakes to Jack Nicholson, tending to the dietary needs of a guest named Lassie. The Drake became an immersion course in Western pop culture.

He became an American citizen and started a career in financial-accounting software, eventually moving to New York, where he got fired. (“Wall Street wasn’t for me,” he says.) But he did meet a medical student named Sana Syed. Their first meeting was with her parents; the second was for a coffee at Starbucks; the third a brunch at a diner; and, finally, a dinner date at an Outback Steakhouse.

After they married in 2001, she landed a residency at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center. While his wife worked 90 hours a week, Mr. Chaudhry mustered the nerve to ask the owner of the local Dairy Queen, at Kenhorst Plaza, whether he wanted to sell. When he heard yes, Mr. Chaudhry scraped, mortgaged and borrowed to meet the asking price of $413,000.

He completed his classroom training at Dairy Queen’s headquarters in Minnesota, where he studied everything from labor management to the proper way to hand a customer a Blizzard. On June 27, 2003, he finally opened the doors to his Dairy Queen, but he was so jittery, intent on making every customer feel extra, extra special, that one employee quit on the spot. Oh, and the soft-serve machine malfunctioned.

Once he found his footing, Mr. Chaudhry decided to give back to the community, and held an elementary-school fund-raiser in which he provided the parent-teacher organization with 25 percent of the sales. Though the $450 seemed a generous amount, the publicity he received did not seem right to him.

“It felt like I got more in return than what I was giving,” he says.

Just like that, the Dairy Queen began to become the center of communal good, notwithstanding its contribution to the high obesity rate recorded among adults in Berks County. Mr. Chaudhry immersed himself in fund-raising, splitting everything 50-50 so that he only covered his costs. Good for promoting the business, yes, but also good for Hamid.

Fund-raisers for a father of four with cancer; for the Children’s Miracle Network; for soccer teams and Little League teams and the widow of a deputy sheriff recently killed in a shootout — he was a regular customer who liked Blizzards. Sponsorship of car washes and high school homecomings and blood drives four times a year. (Donate a pint of blood and get a $20 frozen cake.) Free parties held at every local elementary school, as well as at a Bible school run by the Mennonite church.

“My customers have made me well-to-do,” Mr. Chaudhry explains. “They patronize me, so why wouldn’t I give back?”

He gets up to hand a check to Tracey Naugle, the president of one of the local parent-teacher organizations who sits at a nearby table, enjoying a chocolate cone. Typical Hamid, she later says. She recently helped to organize a modest fund-raising event at Dairy Queen for a children’s swim team. “Hamid gave me a check for $1,000,” she says. “And I know we didn’t make $1,000 that night.”

Every community has its magnetizing place: a post office, a diner, a coffee shop. Here it is the Dairy Queen, Ms. Naugle says, mostly because of Mr. Chaudhry. He randomly shows up at schools with frozen treats for teachers. He once set up a petting zoo outside his store. He even bought his own dunk tank to use on the patio. He tries.

“He knows everybody and everybody knows Hamid,” Ms. Naugle says. “We’re so lucky to have him.”

The soft-serve has been a welcome balm, but it is time to toss those balled-up napkins and get back on the nerve-rattling road. Time to say goodbye to Mr. Chaudhry, who can tell you that younger people prefer Oreo Blizzards and older people prefer dipped cones, but he cannot say more about his motives than that he is lucky, thank God.

Just living in Pennsylvania, he says, with a wife, two children, a thriving business, and many friends. Hamid at the Dairy Queen is home.
For original postings GO here

==========

Also read Rais Bhuiyan's Website and get involved with his campaign for a World Without Hate

Rais Bhuiyan is in the middle

Also see World Without Hate website GO worldwithouthate.org or CLICK here

And see the article here

BIG concerns about US misuse of Authority

2011-08-17T08:48:00.001-07:00

How easy to see why so many worldwide interpret US policies and actions as a kind of Crusade against certain peoples...

GO here

Amnesty International USA's Security with Human Rights campaign aims to gather, and then deliver to President Obama, 100,000 signatures either in on line response or upon paper airplane petitions by May 1, 2012, with the goal of prompting him to apologize to Maher Arar during whatever remarks he delivers to commemorate the United Nations' International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed annually on June 26.When the struggle to promote, protect and defend human rights seems overwhelming, try to remember the courage of Mr. Arar and the other victims and survivors of torture and their families.

There are links to the action via the North Carolina Stop Torture Now - NCSTN Web site: GO here

or, more directly: GO here

CUT PASTE for your friends:
http://www.ncstoptorturenow.org/action.html#apologize
or, more directly: http://tinyurl.com/Apologize2Arar

ALSO VISIT Bill of Rights Defense Committee bordc@mail.democracyinaction.org

Find all these below at bordc.org or GO here

Despite Crises: The People Still Have a Voice

2011-08-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

Congress extends FBI director’s term, but Obama heeds BORDC’s call for a new inspector general

Last month, thousands of you joined us in opposing the proposed extension to FBI Director Robert Mueller’s term. Sadly, despite our calls for long-overdue transparency and accountability, Congress submitted to the president’s demands and within days voted to keep Mueller in office for another two years—the first time Congress has extended an FBI director’s term since J. Edgar Hoover.

The Bill of Rights Defense Committee is sorely disappointed that Congress has again abandoned its constitutional responsibility to monitor the FBI’s activities and protect the rights and liberties guaranteed to all Americans by the Bill of Rights. Whatever our “leaders” in Washington may do, however, We the People still have a voice. And together, our voices were heard. Although Congress kept in place the leadership that has overseen the FBI’s extensive rights abuses over the last decade, the White House did follow our coalition’s recommendation to nominate an inspector general for the Department of Justice.

Read the rest here

Rais Bhuiyan's Tranformative Love

2011-08-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

I missed this article earlier - although I've followed the story somewhat when things were heating up in Texas...

Yet, reading this one today in the public library, couldn't stop the tears - it's one of the most moving stories of my life:

Rais Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi immigrant, was shot by Mark Stroman, a white supremacist, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. First Posted at Huff Post: 7/18/11 07:54 PM ET Updated: 7/18/11 09:11 PM ET

Just weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, a masked man stormed into the Dallas convenience store where Rais Bhuiyan, a Muslim immigrant from Bangladesh, worked as a cashier. He asked where Bhuiyan was from -- then shot him in the face at point-blank range before he could reply.

His attacker was Mark Stroman, an avowed white supremacist and methamphetamine addict, who was caught and confessed to the shooting as well as two other attacks on South Asian convenience store workers. Those men died, while Bhuiyan survived, although he was blinded in one eye and still carries 35 shotgun pellets embedded in his face.

READ the rest at another blogsite where I contribute called The Journey of Hope GO here

Also see the work of Texas abolitionists here and I hope to unfold more of this story soon...

US Mayors Call for End to War!

2011-08-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

GO here

Children of Somalia: One Way to Help

2011-08-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Seven-month-old Minhaj (initially reported as Mihag) was one of thousands of children at risk of dying in the wake of the drought and famine in East Africa.

After their cattle and sheep died, Minhaj's family, like many others, was on the move in search of water, food and medical help. Weak from the journey and alarmingly underweight, Minhaj needed emergency nourishment and care. He got it at an International Rescue Committee field hospital. And within a week, the medical staff said he was in stable condition, had gained a pound and was recovering. His mother is jubilant.

At this moment, the IRC is helping many more children and their families at risk as famine and severe drought ravage Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and the surrounding region in Africa. At the IRC-run field hospital and clinics our expert staff is treating over 500 refugees every day.

Your contribution now can help support our emergency response efforts in the regions as well as other programs worldwide that are helping refugees and their families.

Right now, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries including the U.S. providing vital emergency services, health care, protection and education to displaced families in desperate need. Your generosity will help us continue to lead them on the journey from harm to home.

Sincerely,

All of us at the International Rescue Committee

P.S. To learn more about Minhaj, click here

A better way to practice a sport during Ramadan

2011-08-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Coach Fouad Zaban directed his Fordson High School team through drills in the middle of the night. See full article for photo info

DEARBORN, Mich. USA

At Fordson High School, in the predominantly Muslim community of Dearborn, Mich., football practice is held at night during Ramadan.

They were boys like other boys in countless towns, taught that football was important, but not as important as family and faith. Fordson High School’s enrollment is more than 90 percent Muslim, and this week of two-a-day practices coincides with Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, when adherents refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

For a second consecutive season, Coach Fouad Zaban has moved these grueling double practices to late night, from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. This allows players to break their fast at sunset, drink liquids and eat a light meal, practice in the relative cool of what has been a baking summer, then eat again before sunrise.

READ REST... GO here

Posted on Thursday 11 August 2011 by Connie L. Nash, USA Blogger/ Peace & Justice News

Living on the Side of Hope (The Testimony of Tim Christopher)

2011-08-06T22:10:00.002-07:00

Find photo at Common Dreams dot org

Find this article at Information Clearing House for 7-8 August, 2011
What Gives Me Hope

By Robert Meeropol

August 06, 2011 "FDL" -- Tim DeChristopher grew up in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. As a child he watched his mother unsuccessfully fight corporate outlaw Massey Energy’s destruction of his magnificent surroundings, and as a young man became an environmental activist. At age 27, during the closing days of the Bush Administration, DeChristopher submitted bids at a Bureau of Land Management auction of public lands to fossil fuel companies, even though he had no intention of purchasing the properties, in order to stymie what amounted to a gift to the oil and gas industry. The uproar that followed DeChristopher’s sabotage derailed this collusive theft of public property and saved 130,000 acres of wilderness from destruction.

Last week a Federal Judge sentenced Tim DeChristopher to two years in prison for his heroic action.

DeChristopher’s lengthy pre-sentencing statement to the Judge in his case, which includes a cogent analysis of corporate dominance in America and the enormity of the approaching environmental calamity, is worth reading in its entirety, but I only have the space to quote his closing paragraph here. ( See it in full here )

“I’m not saying any of this to ask you for mercy, but to ask you to join me. If you side with Mr. Huber [the prosecutor] and believe that your role is to discourage citizens from holding their government accountable, then you should follow his recommendations and lock me away. I certainly don’t want that. I have no desire to go to prison, and any assertion that I want to be even a temporary martyr is false. I want you to join me in standing up for the right and responsibility of citizens to challenge their government.

I want you to join me in valuing this country’s rich history of nonviolent civil disobedience. If you share those values but think my tactics are mistaken, you have the power to redirect them. You can sentence me to a wide range of community service efforts that would point my commitment to a healthy and just world down a different path. You can have me work with troubled teens, as I spent most of my career doing. You can have me help disadvantaged communities or even just pull weeds for the BLM. You can steer that commitment if you agree with it, but you can’t kill it. This is not going away. At this point of unimaginable threats on the horizon, this is what hope looks like. In these times of a morally bankrupt government that has sold out its principles, this is what patriotism looks like. With countless lives on the line, this is what love looks like, and it will only grow. The choice you are making today is what side are you on.”

“Which side are you on?” It is a refrain many in the RFC community grew up with. It was always a potent command, a call to action that was hard to ignore. The difference I see between the struggles of the 1930s and the 1960s, and the environmentally-related ones of today, is that those earlier struggles did not contain a looming planetary deadline. I don’t say this to belittle their importance. Those struggles impacted millions and involved efforts to improve the quality of human life across the globe. But if you believe, as I do, that the world’s militaries, corporations and the governments that serve them are engaged in a course of conduct that threatens to decimate the productive capacity of our world in the coming decades, then we have a limited amount of time in which to alter that conduct.

Tim DeChristopher hit the nail on the head when he said “this is what hope looks like.” The odds seem long and the road looks steep, but Tim DeChristopher, and others like him, give me hope. And I know whose side I’m on.

[Tim DeChristopher is a climate activist and board member for the climate justice organization Peaceful Uprising. For more information about his case and his related activism, or to contribute to his legal defense go to either here or here

MANCHESTER: Ramadhan Event (one week to go)

2011-08-06T22:10:00.001-07:00

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE NOW - GO here And Annual Dinner Themed:

A decade of Ramadhan in Guantanamo fundraising event - MANCHESTER

This August, the detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay without charge or trial will be spending their tenth Ramadan away from their families. Despite the promises that Guantanamo will be closed by Barack Obama, the prison camps remain open and the cost to human life increases on a daily basis. Join Cageprisoners for an evening where we seek to understand the impact of a decade on the lives of these men.

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Please note - that non-segregated group tickets will only be accepted as a group of 10.