There is the way things are. And then there is writing about the way
things are. These 2 aren't always interchangeable. Just because I
write or say something is so, doesn't automatically make it so.
Otherwise, when we wanted to live life, we'd just read a book or
talk. We'd always be reading a book or talking or in prayer. And
there'd be no other action outside of talking or reading or praying.
Instead, I see many people putting down their books to go to work or
play etc.
When there is writing about the way things are; it can either be an
accurate representation of the way things are, or inaccurate and
just not true. The Romans wrote there were gods named Zeus, Apollo,
and many other gods. Others wrote that evil spirits caused illness.
Today we might consider the possibility that this view of how things
are, isn't completely accurate or true at all.
When we're aware of, or think we don't know how things are exactly,
we can express our state of ignorance (a state of mind) by being
open minded and allowing consideration of multiple possibilities.
Because if we're closed minded and only allow one possibility (of
how things are), this seems to indicate that we do know what's going
on and are thereby expressing that knowledge. Whether we decide we
know exactly how things are, is up to us to decide, (each for
ourselves).
One of the biblical writers considered some of these concepts of
what actually is vs. what we think actually is, as not always being
interchangeable: Romans 8: 24-25:
"for we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope;
for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for
what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance"

How things actually are vs. how we think things are, need not be
entirely separate. If enough of us believe a certain way, there is
the possibility of a self fulfilling prophesy, whereby we bring into
actuality what we have believed. This is just another possibility
that could happen.
However, the Romans were unable to bring Zeus and Apollo to actual
life for us today by believing in them. So here, a self fulfilling
prophesy did not occur. So, self fulfilling prophesies are just a
possibility to be considered.
Let me reiterate that one can actively express one's condition of
knowing that they don't know, by having an open mind to all the
possibilities.
(1 Corinthians 13: 7: "Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things")
This means giving credence and resources to each possibility even
though they may oppose or cannot in actuality be both correct.
Because we don't know which one is correct, we entertain both at
this time, until such time when we can move from not knowing; to
knowing for sure.
One may or may not choose to express their condition of 'not-
knowing', in the way I just described; but it's the way I choose.
And I put it out to you as one possible way to respond (to a state
of knowing that one does not know).
The concept that we don't know is biblically supported:
Romans 11: 33-34: "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways
past finding out!
For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His
counselor?"
Another Bible verse speaks to this situation:
1 Corinthians 1: 19: "For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom
of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the
prudent' "
Well, yes, I am trying to be prudent here, and I am doing so through
the expression of my condition that I know nothing. So, in a way, I
have been brought to nothing, in order to be prudent.

The 10 commandments have been put forth as inspired by God, without
much reasoning or explanation as to why God commanded these things
and the dynamics behind them. Without sound reasoning or
understanding as to what is going on in the world, this leaves me in
the position of not knowing, and hence of having an open mind.
The state of being of an open mind is that of a 2 edged sword, or
that of a door that swings both ways. Not only does it cause me to
entertain and believe that these words of God are true; it also
causes me to entertain and believe the possibilities that they are
not true, in part or in total; all at the same time.
Now, the Bible says we believers posses the knowledge and
understanding through the spirit of God:
1 Corinthians 2: 7&10: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God"
The Bible puts forth as inspired by God, much information about the
nature of God, through commandments and other writings, with little
explanation as to the wisdom behind why God is this particular way
out of all the possible ways God could be. The Bible also says we
believers have this wisdom through the Holy Spirit. So I exhort us
that we in church should flesh out and proclaim the wisdom (also as
inspired by God), behind the Bible version of what God is like.
Because without this inspired wisdom and explanation, we remain
eternally in the state of not knowing and hence being of an open
mind: of allowing for the attributes of God in the Bible to be true,
but also allowing for the possibility that they are not true (in
whole or in part).

The apostle Paul commands us not to be double minded. And I would
agree that the state of being open minded is not perfection because
it is based on our ignorance and our not knowing. -in other words,
we seek to become wiser and to know better what is going on so as to
be able to make an informed decision one way or the other. And of
course the state of being open minded can be seen as being double
minded because it allows opposing viewpoints simultaneously.
But I would warn about making an absolute decision one way or the
other concerning an attribute of God when one doesn't really know
well or understand; based on commands or writing that aren't backed
up by sound explanation or reasoning, with a just take it by faith
gesture. Because, what if one believed and proclaimed that God was
one way, but in actuality that was inaccurate and God was actually
another way. Then in this case, what one did in the name of God
would actually be a hindrance to God. And someone who hinders God,
mistreats God. And anyone who mistreats God, I don't have to go into
it but that it won't go well for such a person. And if a person has
an inaccurate belief about how God is, and he treats others badly
because he thinks they are sinners, based on that inaccurate belief,
then this person has mistreated not only God, but also man. And all
in the name of religion and God.
The Bible can be interpreted in many different ways. Some have
indicated that we should commit absolutely to their interpretation
of how God is like; without explanation or sound reasoning; just
take it by faith. Well, if God in his power has given us a blueprint
of what he is like: He can also give us sound explanation and
reasoning behind what He is like by the same vehicle -that of men
being inspired by God and writing it down. Otherwise it is a half
done job.
I'm just leery of committing absolutely to something without sound
explanation and reasoning
1) because that prevents me from expressing my state of being -that
I know that I don't know, -that I don't understand, -that I am
ignorant (in this area). Otherwise I'd be acting as if I understood,
when I really didn't understand or know.
2) because I consider the possibility that if I get it wrong -if I
proclaim, act, and believe that God is one way, but it turns out
that God is actually not that way, but is some other way; then I
will have been acting against God and mistreating God by my actions.
This is something I can't take lightly or act frivolously with. If I
am to commit absolutely to attributes of God, I have to be sure.
There must be sound reasoning. I can't just commit absolutely and
take it by faith without sound explanation, because the stakes are
so high and the consequences so dire if I get it wrong.
I can and do on the other hand, have an open mind towards attributes
of God, taken by faith with no explanation. So that parts of me
accept completely by faith someone's Biblical interpretation of what
God and Jesus is like. But also other parts of me accept other
possibilities of what God could be like; except for the
possibilities I have closed my mind to (based on what I DO
understand and know), such as that of God being cruel or unloving
(these I know are not true). So excuse me for expressing who I am*
and excuse me for not acting in total like I'm someone I'm not. (*A
person who knows that he doesn't know for sure)
(So here I have put forth sound understanding and reasoning on how
to handle my situation of when I don't know or understand. Thus I'll
be of a closed mind to any other possibility other than having an
open mind, when I don't know/understand.) (as opposed to closing my
mind before I understand)
Just to let you all know where I am concerning some of these matters
and attributes of God: I can come up with some pretty good arguments
why we should be kind to one another and love our neighbor as
ourselves. But I'm having trouble understanding why it is important
to God that women should wear hats in church and men should not; and
why its important to God that women should not be allowed to be
priests; and why God thinks women should not use birth control; and
why God thinks homosexuals are exceedingly excessively more sinful
than heterosexuals. In these areas, I remain in the state of being
of an open mind.




When one person kills another; that is often referred to as murder,
is considered wrong, and the person is considered a criminal. But
when a soldier kills for his country in war, he is considered a
hero, and that is considered OK and right.
Then, when a man has sex with a woman, that is either considered OK
and good (an holy estate ordained by God); or something terribly
wrong, depending on whether the pair share a marriage license
between them or not. Even so; whatever the case, a man and a woman
having consensual sex is common to all these (both right and wrong)
cases.
yes, with just the change of a little window dressing, reality can
change from being absolutely right, to being absolutely wrong.
(Well, if reality is so easily changed, why haven't we eliminated
suffering?)
With reality being able to be changed from right to wrong and vice
versa, with the change of a few details, is it any wonder that
reality does change often from right to wrong and vice versa?
With the world changing so often, is it any wonder that we might
crave something stable; something that is like a rock and
unchanging; something that is absolute; someone like God?
Perhaps, however, we might consider that reality doesn't actually
change that much with the change of a little window dressing. (This
is the position taken by eastern religions -that "good"
and "bad", "right" and "wrong" are human judgments, and have little
to no effect on actual reality, the cycle of life (and death).)
We might consider that there are aspects inherently within the
actions of sex and violence that are inherently good or bad, and
that do not change based on a change of some window dressing. -that
killing, whether done for one's country, or for personal passion,
has some things that are inherently bad. And that consensual sex
between a man and a woman has attributes of positiveness and/or
negativeness that persist irregardless of whether the pair is
married, not married, cheating, etc.
There is however, one example of reality changing 180 based on a
change in details concerning the act of killing. Killing is so
negative because it is so destructive of life. But when destruction
is turned back on itself, a 180, about face is achieved. When a
murder kills, we as society feel the pain from that destructiveness.
But when a policeman kills a murderer in preventing another murder,
that is a destruction of destructiveness, which results in stopping
destruction to society in actual reality. So that in this case,
killing is OK.
But unless one is killing an inherently evil and destructive
opponent in war (such as the third Reich), then killing in war for
one's country is about as destructive and bad as other types of
killing, due to the inherent destructiveness in killing itself.



In the interactions between people, marriage ties 2 people together
in such a way so that other people are much less important. When a
person is attracted to a member of the opposite sex, and then
marries them: then this act has the effect of stating that this one
member of the opposite sex is number 1, and that all others are of
much lesser importance. But as each person selects a unique member
of the opposite sex as number 1: -they can't all be number 1 in
reality. Or it is not reality that each person's sensibilities are
so different that they all pick different number 1's. But they all
do pick different number 1's. -really.
It conflicts with reality that any one person is better or more
valuable than others. The reality is that we are basically equal, or
that there is a lot of equality and similarity between us all.
But sexual desire causes us to prefer members of the opposite sex
over those of the same sex; and marriage makes us limit our
attentions to one person out of everyone. But the reality is that we
don't live on deserted islands with just one other person (our
mate), but that there are many other people, all of good and
basically equal worth. But marriage and sexual desire causes us to
be a group of isolated pairs instead of a community. Sexual desire
and marriage fool and deceive us and set us at odds with the reality
of our situation. So that we make little use of the community that
we could be.

Ever since the dinosaurs became extinct and mammals took over,
there's been a testimony that kindness is stronger than cruelty. -A
proof of evolution, that kindness is the stronger more fit force
over the force of cruelty. This is born out in the evolutionary fact
that human mammalian infants (humans being the dominant species on
earth) are very helpless and require much care. Hence only kind
societies who nurture each other (including their infants) are able
to survive.
But recently (evolutionarily speaking), as men have become more
intelligent and rich, they are spoiling this legacy. The human
individual has more intelligence than the animals. And human
groups/organizations have even more resources/intelligence than even
the human individual. But with all this intelligence, our groups and
organizations (in the form of right wing govt and religion) have
chosen to spoil our intelligence advantage, by coercing us, our
women, to place sexual desire in charge of reproduction (like the
furry animals do), instead of human intelligence.
When animals 'do it', offspring are invariably ALWAYS the result.
But when humans 'do it', offspring aren't necessarily the result.
Humans 'doing it' can be for recreation; or for reproduction. But if
religion has its way, sex will be for reproduction only, . . . -just
like it is with the animals.
Whenever the expression of sexual desire is separate from the task
of reproduction, this society and religion stamps it out.
Recreational, casual sex is acted against and shunned by this
society and religion. And since the sexual expression by
gays/lesbians is incapable of producing offspring, it is also
vehemently stamped out.
The establishment of one man-one woman, only, pretty effectively
stamps out sexual expression for the purposes of recreation, and
gears it instead to the task or reproduction. When a couple does tie
their sexual expression to the task of reproduction (in a one
man/one woman marriage); that is not stamped out, but is instead
encouraged and given an honorable estate accepted by God.
But within that honorable estate, if anything else tries to control
reproduction, such as human intelligence and thought apart from
sexual desire, (in the form of the human female's mind trying to
decide/act in her reproductive area by using birth control or
abortion); that is also stamped out by religion. With sexual desire
being corralled to the task of reproduction, and with the
competition to the control of reproduction (that is, human
intelligence and higher thought being acted against); by default
that leaves sexual desire in control of reproduction.
Imperfect sexual desire, presumably a relic of the animals, nature,
and evolution; I think we can agree and see that the target of
sexual desire, is reproduction. Among a group of furry animals who
lacked the intelligence to realize they needed to take time out of
their busy day to reproduce so their 'society' and species could
continue: sexual desire worked well on the individual animal to
provide this for their species/greater society. But how is perfect
God and religion any different from the animals when in their
compromise with sexual desire, they direct it to the same target -
that of reproduction (in the bonds of holy matrimony)?
The picture we are getting here is that our greater society and
religion are actively pursuing a policy to put sexual desire in
control of reproduction (because that is the only thing they don't
stamp out). And my question is, how does this interrelate with the
prime directive of Love: to encourage kindness over cruelty?
From the standpoint of kindness vs. cruelty; sexual desire allows
cruel societies and situations to continue. For instance: People who
are cruel to each other, most likely can't stand each other. And if
it were up to them (their thinking mind), they wouldn't spend time
with each other (or have any offspring), thus causing the
elimination of cruel situations/societies. But with sexual desire,
even people who can't stand each other can be enticed into getting
together for a moment to continue the species, or in our case, to
spend enough time together in marriage before they divorce each
other, to have kids and thus allow the cruel society and marital
situation to continue.
Whereas if we put thinking human intelligence in control of
reproduction; a group of women's minds might look around at a cruel
society (or situation with a cruel man) they are in, and say they
don't want it to continue, and then eliminate it by not having any
more babies; and thus thereby eliminate a cruel society in one
generation.
From the standpoint of kindness vs. cruelty, we are suffering badly
in recent times. We are no longer taking advantage of the
opportunities that in the past have been champions for kindness.
With our intelligence, we could eliminate cruel marriages, by the
pair who can't stand each other, to live separately. But with sexual
desire instead in charge of reproduction, cruel marriages exist long
enough to reproduce offspring and continue the cruelty. With
intelligence, women stuck in a cruel society could choose to put an
end to it by refusing to have offspring. But with our govt. and
organizations dethroning intelligence in favor of a tradition of
harnessing sexual desire to reproduction in marriage; cruel
societies and situations continue to survive and aren't eliminated.
The helplessness of human infants, which has worked so well in the
past to stamp out cruel societies, has now been circumvented and no
longer works. At our level of sophistication/intelligence/wealth
above the animals and simple tribal groups, we have circumvented
this avenue to ensure kindness, by insisting on a nuclear family
structure to be responsible for raising the infants. Now, with a
small nurturing environment (that of the family) reserved for
infants and children, the greater society, now free of any care for
the children, can go rot in cruelty without end, with cruelty able
to continue and not be eliminated.
When life had little or no intelligence, as in the little furry
animals: sexual desire/instinct was how this life was able to
reproduce. Without the intelligence/realization of their greater
community, that an individual needed to reproduce and raise
offspring (a burden for the individuals involved, but essential to
the long term survival of their species/society); these animals
would soon die off in a world with death. These animals had no
intelligence or realization of their finite life span, and so they
needed sexual desire/instinct to provide this for them so their
society could continue. Lets just say sexual desire was selected
for, in evolutionary terms.
We as humans, however, have the intelligence to realize we need to
reproduce to continue our society. But we still have the relic of
sexual desire, presumably left over from the animals. Now, it stands
to reason that in a better or perfect world, we would strive to be
free from sexual desire. But the fact remains that we at present are
stuck with it.
From the standpoint of kindness vs. cruelty: sexual desire by
itself, does only a little harm (like a gnat). Where sexual desire
does or allows the most harm, is when it is associated with our
reproduction/ and/or when it glues us together with
something/someone who is destructive. Because it is reproduction
that is the key to CONTINUANCE of whatever is being reproduced;
whatever situation/society exists there. Why then do our most
powerful organizations put sexual desire in charge of our
reproduction in the sanctity of holy matrimony; returning us to the
state of the animals, or even worse?
The drive to reproduce is a deep one, ingrained by eons of evolution
as a substitute for intelligence. We may not be able to eliminate
and be free of it completely. We may only be able to divert it. If
we are only going to partially stamp out sexual desire and sexual
expression; we should first stamp it out from control of our
reproduction; stamping it out of holy matrimony; while allowing
sexual expression when it is separate from our reproduction. Thus
gays, pornography, sex with condoms, birth control, etc, are to be
an holy estate ordained by God, whereas matrimony is to be free of
control by sexual desire and is not to be a place where (much)
sexual desire is expressed. Yes, at present, sexual desire is too
ingrained in us to be stamped out completely. But we should
partially stamp it out by stamping it out of holy matrimony leading
to childbearing, and instead allow human intelligence to control
reproduction. (Basically the opposite of what organized religion is
doing in the sexual area today.)
Fury little animals without the intelligence and realization that
they needed to devote resources and reproduce, used sexual desire
and instinct to allow their species to survive anyway, even without
this intelligence. But we humans posses the intelligence to realize
that if we fail to devote time/resources to reproduction, we make
the society to be eliminated: and that if we do devote resources to
reproduction, that we allow the species/society to continue. -that
people in a cruel society or situation can choose not to reproduce,
and thus force an eventual end to that situation/society.
If we as humans let our intelligence be in charge of our
reproduction, we can apply this towards kindness over cruelty, by
denying continuance to cruel societies/situations; while allowing
continuance of kind loving societies/situations. But if we put
sexual desire in charge of reproduction, we won't do so well in the
area of kindness over cruelty, as cruel societies/situations will be
allowed to continue (when sexual desire is at the helm of
reproduction).
Another avenue to raise kindness over cruelty -that using the
helplessness of human infants, has also been a missed opportunity
because of the traditions of marriage and one man/one woman. The
tradition of marriage being between one man/one woman: and the
following responsibility for offspring being laid on that pair who
bore them, has allowed society to become richer: -since it
discourages excessive childbearing (because under this tradition it
would be a greater economic burden for the couple); -This left more
resources available for the development of wealth and for otherwise
improving the lot of this society. However, it also allowed cruelty
to flourish, since it provided a separate area of nourishment for
helpless infants, that protected them from an ever crueler, greater
society. If a society made no special provision for the raising of
children/infants separate (outside) of what was their society as a
whole; then that society would stand or fall based how cruel or kind
it was in total, due to the helplessness of the human infant; thus
ensuring that only kind societies survived.
But our system and tradition of marriage, doesn't utilize the
helplessness of our infants for raising kindness over cruelty well,
but instead allows for cruelty to continue. So if we value kindness
over cruelty, we should abandon the tradition of marriage and the
assignment of responsibility for children solely to the bearing
couple; and find some other way to discourage excessive childbearing
(such as a government reward system that pays no more for excessive
children) so that we as a society can be both rich, and kind.
As we can now see: the traditions of family and religious
persecutions of sexuality outside of marriage and religious
persecutions of human intelligence being in control of reproduction
within marriage: all act directly against our and God's prime
directive of Love -to raise kindness over cruelty and to encourage
love for one another. You have a decision to make. which is it? Love
and kindness, or these traditions of men? I claim love and kindness
over cruelty is the only meaningful arena and that these other
things are meaningless before it.

From the standpoint of isolation, the marriage tradition provides
the maximum isolation possible in a world full of people. Think
about it: if there was no sexual desire, then there would be no
boundaries of jealousy to cross, but mostly there would be no unique
chosen one person out of all people who each person shares most of
their resources and time with. With no ONE person that one is tied
to, one is free to interact with everyone around them on a more
equal basis, in community, in terms of how they spend their time and
resources.
Then, consider sexual desire outside of marriage. With this, there
would be many interactions between members of the opposite sex, much
more so than just the isolated pairs of marriage. So that 2 is the
loneliest number. In a world where rich families rule over everyone
else, this divide and conquer technique of everyone being in
isolated pairs, works well at keeping everyone in line so that the
few rich may rule over the rest of us in total victory without
constantly being challenged (by groups larger than isolated pairs,
perhaps by harems formed from polygamy in Utah, or groups formed by
60's style free love communes like the Manson group; or groups
formed by religion such as the Koresh group, etc.
Actually, perhaps with marriage, at least we have peace. Since the
constant conflict that would come with larger groups contains more
destruction; we do well to avoid this by living in more peace as
isolated pairs. So I guess I have stumbled onto that a tradition of
marriage (a pair of individuals), DOES HAVE A PLACE -that it is to
be the place for production of babies, and time and resource
allocation, but not so much for sexual expression.
To build on this foundation of marriage (in the quest for kindness
over cruelty), I have also shown that sexual desire, since we can't
eliminate it completely at this time (because it is so ingrained in
us), should not be allowed to be in charge of reproduction, but
should instead be allowed expression mainly outside of and when
separate from human reproduction. And now we see that it should not
be associated with (a mandatory) exchange of economic
resources "asta lavista baby". That we should isolate sexual
desire/expression just for its own sake, and not associate its
expression much with either reproducing our species, or economic
associations; but just for its own sake, just because 2 people are
attracted to each other "let it be".
This `isolated pairs' via marriage, brings to mind some ideas of
separation; -on how it is a good plan to separate those involved,
where there is evil; at reduced capability, (such as in isolated
pairs), and then those who have goodness and kindness (and a little
luck), can grow together out of the isolation, using their goodness
and kindness to bridge the barriers of isolation; whereas where evil
is will be unable to bridge the barriers of isolation and will be
trapped there. And this is a good way to purify a group so that
evil/cruelty is overcome. So that the structure of isolated pairs of
family DOES HAVE A PLACE.
Concerning sexual desire, one might think that it is goodness and
kindness that should be allowed to bridge barriers, and not sexual
desire, because sexual desire can blindly link good with
evil/destruction. And this is just what I suggest: that sexual
desire not be in charge of other areas, such as the reproduction of
our species, or even economic resources. But considering the area of
the temple of the human body-and mind: -sexual desire has already
corrupted this area.
"if you look at a woman to lust after her, you have committed
adultery with her (in your heart) already."
The concept is that we are trying to save some good thing from being
joined to evil/destruction with the glue of imperfect sexual desire.
Because that is the trouble with sexual desire -it joins and binds
together; and if there is evil/destruction in what we are joining
to, then that is the problem. But the fallacy is thinking our mind-
bodies are the good that needs to be protected from being joined to
existing evils or even the evil in sexual desire itself.
Because of (presumably) a previous connection with the lower animals
through evolution; we carry the remnant 'imperfect sexual desire'.
This is imperfect and already has good and evil together in it. So
there is nothing to save or salvage here; it is already too late
here. If you feel attracted more to a member of the opposite sex (or
whatever sex you're attracted to) who is well endowed, and feel less
attracted to a member of the opposite sex who is not so well
endowed: these people are of value that is determined by their
kindness or lack thereof; not how well endowed they are in a sexual
way. This is the actual reality. So that if you are affected by how
well endowed someone else is; then your mind-body is already
imperfect and somewhat corrupted with the evil/destruction within
sexual desire. -So that it does no additional harm to allow this
already corrupted material (the human mind-body temple) to express
their sexual desire by joining each other in sexual expression.
Religion paints the human body as a holy pure temple to be kept
clean for God. But the reality is that the human body is not pure or
clean, but has remnants of imperfect sexual desire. If the human
temple was really pure, then human bodies would not experience
sexual desire; which they do. or most do. So that those who
experience sexual desire are already corrupted in this area, and
marriage won't change that. Since the thing to be joined here by
sexual desire (the human mind-body temples) are already corrupted
with sexual desire in them; there is nothing pure to be lost in
allowing the expression of sexual desire to join them further;
(provided of course that other areas are not drawn into this mix,
(such as reproducing the species, or economic resources)). Thus I
claim the commandment against adultery is invalid concerning our
prime directive to raise kindness over cruelty; (except to proclaim
the truth that all sexual desire is flawed and imperfect -however I
doubt in our lifetime that we will be able to undo what eons of
evolution has put into us -(therefore this commandment has little
application for us); and it is obvious that God hasn't done so yet
either, because we still experience sexual desire). However, for the
sake of maintaining that marriage should be the course of our young
people for the purposes of starting a family and for economic
resource distribution, (and for proclaiming the truth about all
sexuality); the commandment against adultery should perhaps be
allowed to remain, but just not prosecuted at all. Hence if the aids
virus has been developed in a lab for the persecution of those who
are promiscuous, then that should be reversed. As for now, condoms
and improvement in condoms will have to suffice. We may have to
sacrifice some of our control over reproduction to sexual desire in
order to maintain the system of isolated pairs (which is useful in
separating the forces of kindness from destruction and allowing
kindness to thrive over destructiveness). But we needn't sacrifice
it completely. The competing control over human reproduction (that
by higher thought and wisdom) can and should be allowed access to
compete against sexual desire for control of reproduction, and
should not be stamped out (by religion and right wing govts).
For kindness over cruelty, we institute isolated pairs of the family
structure. But in order to achieve the system of isolated pairs,
kindness over cruelty has suffered by the acts to put sexual desire
in charge of reproduction: and the family structure doesn't make use
of the helplessness of our infants well, because it allows a greater
society outside and separate from the family structure. Of course,
thanks to the system of isolated pairs, the greater society is not
festering with evil, but has been purified, and is mainly good,
right?.
Unfortunately this isn't today's reality. The system of isolated
pairs, isn't how we interact today. Maybe back in the past in the
rural frontier days of Little House on the Prairie, this was how it
was. But today, we go to large organizations to work. The work
environment represents more than family today. In how we spend our
free time outside of work, larger organizations like shopping malls
and entertainments (byproducts of the work world) consume our free
time, belittling and interfering with the agenda of the control by
the family structure. The system of family has its strength to
purify (good over evil) when it is in control of economic areas. But
today, there is little left of family control over economic areas.
(Instead we have corporate control, -which is not a system of
isolated pairs). There is little left of isolated-pairs control
except over the sexual area, and that's the invalid part of isolated
pairs control, concerning its purification properties. So actually
today we do live in a world of increasing cruelty and coldness.
Since it no longer functions to purify us, the system of isolated
pairs, of family, could be thrown off to make better use of the
helplessness of human infants and so that human wisdom can be in
charge of reproduction instead of sexual desire -so that these can
be the new sources of purification. But to the extent that we can
keep the tradition of isolated pairs alive, while pursuing these
other avenues to enhance kindness over cruelty, we should do so,
because all avenues that generate goodness and kindness over cruelty
should be allowed to be expressed. It's just that the tradition of
isolated pairs is not the only source for goodness, and it must make
room for these other avenues.

If the expression of sexual desire IS allowed outside of marriage
(we have shown that if we don't link it with other areas, that it is
no greater harm than originally), then the creation of offspring
will not be controlled by sexual desire (because sexual desire will
have other outlets).
Because we do not want sexual desire in charge of childbearing and
reproduction (this is part of the plan to raise kindness over
cruelty): there has to be a place where we do bear children and
reproduce. What I am saying is, let that place be in the tradition
of isolated pairs and marriage. Since we allow the main sexual
expression outside of marriage; then marriage, the place of
reproduction, is not ruled by sexual expression, hence bearing
offspring is not ruled by sexual expression, but by human wisdom
with priority on raising kindness over cruelty. Since we want to
divorce sexual expression from ruling offspring production: in the
sexual expressions outside of marriage, offspring production should
be avoided -by economic penalties being applied. Yes it is true that
a sexual encounter for creating children outside of marriage may be
between both sexy people and also kind people; but for the tradition
of family to have its place in growing kindness over cruelty, that
is one sacrifice we must make, and one imperfection to be worked out
as we advance and grow in kindness at a later date.
To take better advantage of the helplessness of our infants, for
kindness over cruelty: the offspring produced in marriage should
then be connected directly to our greater society. This is to be
done by the govt (representing the greater society) making hefty
(welfare) payments , per child, to the families having children. But
since we want to remain a rich nation and will do that by
discouraging excessive childbirth; we achieve that by only making
hefty (welfare) payments for the first and/or 2nd child; but no
extra payments for additional children, and perhaps even cutting an
additional reward for not bearing additional children, to those who
do bear additional children.
Note that this brings more economic control under the structure of
the family whereby the structure of isolated pairs can also be more
helpful in causing kindness over cruelty as it rules over more of
the economic world; so that there is really no conflict, and we can
express all the multiple avenues discussed, for encouraging kindness
over cruelty.


When you act as if you know, when you actually don't know; -by
closing your mind to all the alternative possibilities, while
choosing the one possibility that you absolutely commit to in a leap
of faith: well, doing this doesn't (absolutely) eliminate the other
alternative possibilities. -Just because you close your mind to
them. (Just because you say, think, or believe something is so,
doesn't always make it so in reality.) So that when someone else,
who expresses that they don't know, by activating all the
possibilities; then those alternative possibilities ARE given life,
and do exist in spite of your closing your mind to them. And if it
turns out that one of these alternative possibilities is in
actuality correct (and does have a basis in reality), then they will
know it, but you won't.
If by expressing all the different alternatives and possibilities, a
person was able to study and learn from them; then they'd be closer
to knowing which to choose: whereas a person who closed their mind
to the other possibilities, would never have the opportunity to
learn from them because they wouldn't have any of the other
possibilities to learn from. Hence they would remain eternally in
the state of not knowing and of having to make leaps of faith to
commit absolutely to one of the possibilities.
But the fact that they closed their mind to the other possibilities
(and thus had none of them) and also prevented others from
expressing the other possibilities; would not prevent/eliminate
these other possibilities from having a valid basis in reality if in
fact they turned out to actually have a valid basis in reality. And
it is entirely possible that they would have a valid basis in
reality because the other possibilities aren't rejected out of
actual reality based knowledge, but are instead rejected out of a
leap of faith; -out of a lack of reality based knowledge. So that if
you cling to the traditional way things are done (concerning
sexuality, God, or whatever) without question, in a leap of faith;
then you can perpetuate that tradition due to ignorance, and also
thereby ensure continuing ignorance. But don't think it will last
forever because someday reality might step in if someone leaves
their mind open and thus brings to existence, the other
possibilities, and makes a connection with reality and knowledge;
and thereby turns the now erroneous tradition upside down. Talk
about building on shifting sand.
Reality is eternal: your (and my) ignorance of reality; -your
innocence, is not (is not eternal). We cannot remain in a perpetual
state of not knowing.
But when we DO know, and when that knowledge is reality based,
however, we can close our mind to possibilities we know aren't
helpful, and suffer none of the above mentioned ill effects from
this.

We've been considering the ups and downs of opening one's mind and
actions to all the possibilities, vs. closing one's mind/actions and
only selecting one or a few possibilities while disallowing the
rest. So far, the reasons for exploring possibilities have been
a) to enable one to express a state that they don't know.
b) to get in touch with reality and tap reality based resources.

There are additional concepts to consider:
When we have perfected an area and are satisfied with it, we usually
keep it the way it is and don't change it. Here we shut off
alternative possibilities and stick with what we've got.
But if an area is a work in progress and contains imperfection, then
on the contrary, we don't want to preserve it and keep it the way it
is, but instead, are open to change. Here we are open to all the
possibilities and are not so quick to shut out possibilities in
order to select just one way.
In the sexual area, I think it is clear that this is not a finished
work, and that it contains imperfection and remnants from the lower
animals. So that I don't see the need to preserve this imperfect
state the way it is by not being open to alternative possibilities.
Another concept to consider:
-is that of production and growth. -the concept of making things
rich and capable as opposed to living in poverty and bareness. When
we shut off opportunities, we lower ourselves from wealth towards
poverty.
Destruction and poverty go hand in hand, as poverty begets continued
poverty through destructiveness, and it is a hard cycle to get out
of.

When there is destructiveness, we all suffer (from the poverty and
bareness it brings). But when a policeman or lawgiver uses
destructiveness against itself, (by doing destruction to criminals
(who are themselves destructive)), then society is relieved, as the
destruction from criminals is prevented. Hence a legitimate
organization of police and lawgivers can grow up around this concept
(of doing (measured) destruction to those who are destructive).
Hence a system of laws, crime and punishment can develop (and grow).
Police and law enforcers are destructive, yes, but when that is
applied to destructive criminals, it works out to lower destruction.
But when laws grow beyond punishing the destructive, to punishing
people for non destructive crimes, then the concept falls apart, and
the police and lawgivers themselves become the agents of
destruction, thus increasing the destruction in society (taking on
the role of `criminal' themselves).
Concerning the realm of possibilities; some possibilities contain
destruction while others do not. If we close our minds to and don't
allow those possibilities with destruction: then we do well. But if
we increase/grow additionally in the concept of closing our minds to
possibilities to include closing even possibilities that don't
contain destruction; this is another thing outside of the dynamics
of destructive situations. (As long as we are becoming more
exclusive, and increasingly are eliminating alternative
possibilities: we might take a step further and eliminate the
possibility of eliminating possibilities.)
To be open minded and allow all exiting non destructive
possibilities, causes us to be rich and growing and not pulled down
into bareness and poverty. Because if being open to one non
destructive possibility can deliver us a certain amount of good,
then being open to many non destructive possibilities can give us
that many times more good.
Conversely, closing ones mind to non destructive possibilities is in
itself destructive to the production of that good.
When we close our minds to destructive possibilities, that works out
because being destructive to that which is destructive, lowers
overall destruction. But when we expand closing our minds to other
possibilities irregardless of their destructiveness, then this act
of closing our mind to alternatives, itself shows it contains a
destructive like quality (that hinders our growth and keeps us in
poverty).

Many other areas here on earth are fraught with destruction and
destruction like qualities.
The sexual area is also this way.
One might think the choices are clear cut and that all we need to do
is avoid the destructive paths by doing what we are told. But it is
not so. In the sexual area, as well as many other areas of life here
on earth; all our options/alternatives contain some measure of
destruction (just in different forms/areas), and we are unable to be
destruction free no matter which way we go. A point of mine is that
in these gray areas of the reality of life here on earth; is no
place to establish absolutes. Areas where we have not freed
ourselves from destruction no matter which way we go, are not in my
mind, finished works. I do not want to freeze and preserve these
situations, but instead change them. Any absolutes established in
these areas that aren't free of destruction (no matter which way we
go or which possibility we do); since this area is permeated with
some form of destruction, then the establishment of absolute rules
here thus thereby joins this absolute with some destruction. (For
those of us seeking holiness and freedom from all destructiveness,
this is a stain that blotches and contaminates us.)
Since this absolute has connected itself with as a doer of some form
of destruction: then when I close my mind to and destroy absolutes
and rules that always must be obeyed that have been established in
these gray areas permeated by some form of destruction, then I in
part, am acting like a police officer who destroys that which is
destructive, so that we may have freedom from destruction. And so
long as I myself don't establish absolute rules in these areas
permeated by destruction, then the openness of allowing all
possibilities better facilitates change so that this area has better
chances for changing away from being permeated with destruction.
Rules and absolutes prescribing one alternative while eliminating
the other alternatives in the gray areas of life that are permeated
with some destruction, -rules that do not eliminate and thus still
contain some destruction of the gray area; do hinder the gray area
from changing, and preserve the gray area as is (because the
elimination of possibilities is the elimination of chances for
change). Whereas the allowing of multiple possibilities in these
gray areas, opens up possibilities for changing the gray area. And
an area permeated with destructiveness, isn't what I want to
preserve in that state, but instead want it to change. So if you
think you have exclusive claims to ownership over your
spouse/significant other in the sexual area: excuse me if I just
bust that up a little so that is no longer absolute; so that it is
in disarray and chaos. Because we are the new sex police, and this
is what the new sex police do (when not having sex with your
man/woman). So that the sexual area will not be eternally preserved
(so that it can change out of) a state of mediocrity of being
permeated always with some form of destructiveness, which was
brought from the imperfect instincts of lower animals, who used it
and still use it today to substitute for the intelligence and
realization that they need to reproduce in a world with death. So in
areas permeated with destructiveness: no absolute rules, that's just
right.
The concept of being separate and holy is worthless if it doesn't
include being separate and holy from that which is destructive. Why
would a holy and pure and separate God want to make rules in our
destructive permeated world? Certainly not to preserve such a state
but instead to change out of it.

But of course, what if the institution of rules into the destruction
permeated gray area, is used as a tonic, to help cure this area.
Then this seems to have a legitimate reason for being applied.
Because we just said that in the non gray area, in the destruction
free area, that the limiting of alternatives through rules, causes a
fall from wealth, to lesser, medium ability. And we also may realize
that it is at this lesser, medium capability, and not at wealth,
neither at desolation, that the forces of destruction can be
separated away from goodness. And since this is a gray area which
has destruction permeated in it that needs to be separated away;
then this is just what the doctor ordered right?


The action to eliminate alternatives in order to obey an absolute
rule (so that only the alternative of the absolute rule is done) is
itself destructive. And not only does it contain just some
destruction, it is completely, totally destructive to the
alternatives not included in obeying the absolute rule. Now when we
do this complete and total destruction to alternatives that are
themselves non destructive, then a loss of growth and production,
wealth, ability is the result.
But when the alternatives eliminated contain mainly destruction
themselves; then their elimination is actually an improvement.
When the alternatives eliminated as well as the alternative obeyed
contain about equal parts of goodness/growth as well as destruction,
then the elimination of the alternatives outside the absolute rule
causes little change in the mix of good vs. destruction.

The idea is that AT high ability and wealth,  both goodness and
destructiveness can get around and live. And at bareness,
nothingness, and desolation, neither force can do anything. But that
at medium or reduced ability, goodness can still get around and get
away from destructiveness, while destructiveness as an inferior
force, is left behind and is thus separated away. Hence we can use
medium ability to separate the forces of goodness from destruction
where there is destruction.

Just because the destructiveness from obeying an absolute rule
(through the elimination of non destructive alternatives) caused a
drop from high ability and wealth, to medium ability: does not mean
it is needed to cause a drop (a change) to medium ability in every
situation. In fact, this situation where the non destructive
alternatives at wealth and high ability were eliminated and things
were lowered to medium ability by obedience to the absolute rule:
did not need to have that happen. In fact, that was detrimental here
because there was no destruction to separate away. Medium ability
has its use to separate good from destruction. But with no
destruction present (in the non destructive alternatives) to
separate away, then bringing to medium ability doesn't serve this
purpose and has no use here.-because there is no destruction that
needs separating away.
And where people are trying to be free from destruction, and their
alternatives have only a little destruction: the elimination of
those alternatives (through obedience to an absolute rule), is also
not helpful. Here, the small destructiveness here is at low ability
(due to its small size) and is unable to take much advantage of the
large amount of good surrounding it. So that from this point, the
situation has a good chance of working completely out of
destructiveness without being lowered to medium ability. But the
elimination of these mostly good alternatives, sets this situation
back so it is further away from escaping destructiveness, as the
good is now less capable.
It is only when the alternatives eliminated contain more destruction
than good, that obedience to an absolute rule is a positive thing.
Here, the concept of destruction done to destruction takes effect.
The destruction from eliminating alternatives (in obeying an
absolute rule) does destroy the large destructiveness within the
alternatives eliminated; thus resulting in a destruction of
destruction with less/lowered overall destruction as the result.
Situations that contain too much destructiveness to survive on their
own can be allowed to survive with the use of obeying absolute rule,
which acts to lower overall destruction (in this situation (only)).
So now we HAVE found a valid place for obeying absolute rules and
commandments -that is to redeem nearly totally destructive and nasty
situations, to salvage the small amount of goodness within them.
This also includes the almost barren situation where the
destructiveness from eliminating so many good alternatives from
obeying many (an excessive number) of absolute rules (to gain one's
salvation), brings the obeyed to barren, desolate and low ability.
Here one can obey an absolute rule that eliminates many of these
other absolute rules.

But when the situation (including the alternatives to be eliminated)
consists of equal parts good vs. destruction; then obeying absolute
rule doesn't matter and doesn't change this situation(`s level of
overall destruction).
When the situation (including the alternatives to be eliminated)
consists of more goodness than destruction; then the obeying of
absolute rule is actually detrimental due to the
elimination/destruction of mostly good alternatives.

The sexual area is an area containing, permeated with some
destruction. And medium capability can be useful here in separating
destruction away.
So that when alternatives here contain excessive destructiveness, we
can eliminate them through obeying the absolute rule of only one
husband and one wife, and be better off for it.
But when alternatives here contain only an even measure of
destructiveness, then it makes no difference if we obey the absolute
rule here or not (in terms of the overall level of destructiveness).
And when the alternatives here contain only a small portion of
destructives, it then becomes detrimental and counterproductive to
obey the absolute rule here.

Also, with the institution of an absolute rule, as opposed to having
no rule and chaos, the destruction and also the goodness of a gray
area gets into a rut where the destruction tends to be done to one
area and the goodness congregates to another area. This results in a
patchwork of high and of low ability areas, with only the interface
being at medium ability. This isn't the ideal medium ability
environment for separating destruction away.
With no rule and with chaos, and with all the alternatives in play;
the destruction in this gray area gets spread around and all parts
feel its effect, being brought to medium ability as a result. It is
this situation of being at medium ability whereby the destruction
can be separated away. Whereas with the destruction rutting to one
area, that area is brought to low ability and desolation, while the
other surrounding areas are little affected and remain at high
ability and wealth -until on occasion when the destructiveness runs
out of things to destroy and it sparks out to these surrounding
wealthy areas to burn them down in a firestorm binge.
So that in cases where it is unclear whether or not to commit to
obeying an absolute rule, (where the alternatives all contain mostly
equal parts destruction as good), it is probably better not to. -
better not to obey. -better not to commit.

So now we see the place of absolute commandments which concern our
gray areas.  It would seem strange for God to act in these our gray
areas by putting forth commandments, while not doing anything
further to clean up the gray areas.  But who are we to argue?  In
any case, we can now see the place for these God given
commandments.  They are given as a tonic to help the mostly depraved
situations, and the almost desolate situations.  In situations other
than this, they don't apply.  We must interpret the commandments and
the Bible so, otherwise, applying them to other situations (other
than mostly depraved), makes God out to be a trouble maker and more
of a hindrance than a help.




When destruction is applied against itself (as when police are
destructive to destructive criminals), a net reduction and lowering
in the overall destruction done, results.  But when law enforcers
enforce laws against non violent, non destructive criminals; this
purpose isn't served. -There is no lowering of overall destruction
but instead an increase in destruction with the police being the
perpetrators of this increase in destruction; is the result.
This method of lowering overall destruction (by turning destruction
upon itself) is a precarious balance.  If one doesn't get it right
and know exactly where the destruction is (like where are the
WMD's) ; and only destroys what is destructive, then they
themselves -the police, the good guys, then become agents of
destruction and it no longer works that overall destruction is
lowered.
But when someone is mean and destructive to you, what else can you
do but do destruction back to them, so as to destroy
destructiveness?  It would seem your choices are to do nothing, or
to get back at them.  What else is there?  Well, there is another
response, and that is to be a `sorter'.  In the Bible there is talk
of how God at the end of the world will sort and separate the good
from the evil, the goats from the sheep, the weeds from the crop
plants.  And of course the bad will be burned in a fire while the
good will receive heaven. (but that here on earth the `tares' and
the `wheat' will not be separated and will live together).
What I say is, why wait till the end of time before this sorting
takes place?  Or, let us precipitate the end of time by doing
this `sorting' now.  And do this sorting in a non destructive way,
so that the sorting itself won't be sorted together with the
destructive.  Yes, each should be sorted and separated unto its own
kind.  The mean and destructive people should be separated from the
not-mean and not-destructive people.  The sex offenders should be
put together so that they may sexually offend each other; the
murderers should be put together so they can kill each other; the
thieves should live together so that they can steal from each
other.  Who are we to say that these things are wrong and make laws
against these things?  If that is what these people want to do, let
them prove the rightness or wrongness of these things themselves, by
actually doing these things (to each other).  Who are we to say what
is right or wrong outside of  the actions speaking for themselves? -
outside of actually proving it with the actions themselves?  How can
we know for sure? How can you be sure that your version of right and
wrong is correct?  If we are to come up with a version of right and
wrong outside of actions speaking for themselves; we need to come up
with a true version of what is right and wrong; and what if we are
in error and are inaccurate and come up with an inaccurate version
of what is right and wrong? -then our version of right and wrong
becomes an instrument of destruction, just like the wrongdoers we
are making these laws against.
      The action to sort and separate like people into groups
together (according to their actions), itself, makes no judgment as
to the rightness or wrongness of their actions.  -It sorts and
separates the good people together just as well; and these good
people must put up with the goodness that each does to each other.
Because of this, we need NOT otherwise come up with a second system
of accurate laws of right and wrong outside of and set apart from
the actions themselves (so that the actions will speak for
themselves).
So that yes, I am prejudice and I discriminate against mean people.
And I believe that people should be separated and made to live with
their own kind -not according to the color of their skin, but
according to the destructiveness and meanness that is within them
that they do. -so that the mean people are put together and that
they are separate from the not mean people that are also put
together. And the destructive containing versions of right and wrong
will also be sorted and separated to its own kind.-according to the
destructiveness or lack thereof that it contains and does.
So that instead of doing destruction back to mean people, I instead
act to non destructively sort them -each to their own kind -
according to the destructiveness or lack thereof that they do.  And
if I myself am not destructive, then I will be sorting myself away
from them.  This is a better way that what we have now.  Prisons are
a start but they must be made non destructive and not be places of
punishment (outside of what the prisoners do to each other), but
instead be places of separation and sorting, where the mean people
are kept together and away from the rest of us non mean people.

for additional reading, see
http://www.geocities.com/itchingpowder2000/againstfamily.html

Volume 2, Number 5, the new issue of Breath & Shadow, ROSC's Journal
of Literature and Disability Culture, is now online. This month's
theme is Support.

It surprised me to realize that, a year-and-a-half into publishing,
this is Breath & Shadow's first time tackling the theme of Support.
Everybody needs support, physical and emotional. However, people with
disabilities are often more aware of the supports we have, and those
we don't have, be they medical, financial, spiritual, psychological,
or technological.

This month four writers show us where they find their support (or
lack thereof). Poet Gary William Crawford and film reviewer Dorothy
Baker offer us glimpses into two close-knit support systems with "The
Schizophrenia Support Group" and We Are PHAMALy, respectively.
Beginning with "To Swish Singers," Louie Crew's set of three poems
both cut with sharp edges and reveal surprising sweetness. Finally,
my humor column tackles that most dreaded form of "support," leading
you through the 12 Stages of Tech Support Grief in Technical Support:
Healing, or, "How Can I Torture You Today?"

To read Breath & Shadow, go to http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath, or
use the link at the bottom of this post.

MEET THE WRITERS OF BREATH & SHADOW IN PERSON!

We're pleased to announce three upcoming Breath & Shadow
readings. . . .

Mark your calendars and spread the word to your friends in the New
York, Boston, and Western Massachusetts areas. Attend a reading and
meet the writers, be swept away by the performances, and nibble and
schmooze with the community. For more info on any of these readings,
please visit the Breath & Shadow website.

• New York City, Saturday, May 28 (tomorrow!), 2:00 PM, at the
illustrious Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, 212-614-0505, at the foot
of First Street, between Houston & Bleecker. Take in the talent of
your fellow New Yorkers in this lush and historic atmosphere.
Performers include Abigail Astor (poet), Diana Lee (essayist &
novelist), Elizabeth Marchitti (poet), and Natalia Zaretsky (poet).
Wheelchair and subway accessible.

• Somerville, Massachusetts, Sunday, June 26, 2:30 PM, Havurat
Shalom, 113 College St. Wheelchair accessible, MCS-safer space,
accessible by T and bus, HP and on-street parking. Prepare to be
knocked off your feet (or wheels)! Performers include Arden (slam
poet), Petra Breen (humorist), Paul Kahn (playwright, poet &
Disability Issues editor), Erin Lewy (short story writer), and Sharon
Wachsler (humorist & editor of Breath & Shadow).

• Northampton, Massachusetts, Sunday, July 17, 2:00 PM, Smith Field
House, West Street/Route 66, Northampton. Wheelchair accessible,
American Sign Language interpreted, MCS-safer space. Prepare to be
knocked off your feet (or wheels)! Performers galore! Scheduled to
read: Dorothy Baker (fiction and nonfiction writer), Cat Brenn-Bear
(playwright), Chaya Grossberg (poet & spoken word artist), Peggy
Munson (novelist & poet), Ingrid Nevar (ASL interpreter), Debora
Seidman (poet & performance artist), and Sharon Wachsler (humorist &
editor of Breath & Shadow).

Other News of Note

• Welcome aboard! We are thrilled to announce we have added some
very talented and energetic people to our editorial board. Our new
Theater Editor is Paul Kahn and will also be helping with nonfiction.
Kari Pope has joined our poetry staff. Dorothy Baker and Paula Brown
will be joining the crew as Contributing Writers in our nonfiction
department, as well as helping with other editorial duties. If you
would like to offer your time and expertise on writing, editing, or
helping us sort new submissions, we can use you on the Editorial
Board. If you are interested, please contact Sharon at
Breathandshadow@....

• Thank you to our donors and new sponsors! The following people
made contributions to Breath & Shadow this month: Ellen Wong, in
honor of Sharon Wachsler, and Doris Wachsler, who paid for the room
reservation for the July Breath & Shadow reading. Thank you so much
for your generosity! We also thank two sponsors who have renewed
their sponsorship: Arthur Soissons Segal of Healing Disability and
Ragged Edge Magazine Online. You can check out both CopingSkills.net
and Ragged Edge Magazine, the voice of the disability rights
movement, by visiting our sponsor page at
http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath/sponsor.html.

If you want to make a tax-deductible contribution -- as an individual
or as a sponsor -- but haven't yet gotten around to it, it's not too
late. A donation in any amount is deeply appreciated. Thank you! To
get a donation form, please email Breathandshadow@... and
put "donation form" in the subject line.

• Feel free to forward the contents of this email to friends,
family, and colleagues and to let them know that they can sign up for
a free, monthly subscription, by emailing breathandshadow@... and
putting "subscribe" in the subject line.

• Missed one of our wonderful past issues? Visit our Archive Page
and catch up! Go to www.abilitymaine.org/breath/archive.html or click
on "Past Issues of Breath & Shadow" at our homepage.

• More info on the readings . . .

Breath & Shadow presents "From Silly to Sublime"

Two Afternoons of Poetry and Prose:

Breath & Shadow's writers perform the disability experience

Munchies! Celebration! Conversation!

Both events are in wheelchair accessible, MCS-safer spaces. For the
safety of those with allergies or chemical sensitivities, please
don't wear perfume, aftershave, hairspray, or other scented products.
Thank you!
______

Somerville Reading Details:

Havurat Shalom, 113 College Ave., Somerville. Parking and T
accessible. Directions: thehav.org

Sunday, June 26 â€" 2:30 p.m.

Scheduled to perform:

Arden, slam poet
Petra Breen, humorist
Erin Lewy, fiction writer
Paul Kahn, playwright
Sharon Wachsler, humorist and editor of Breath & Shadow

-----

Northampton Reading Details:

Smith Field House, West Street/Route 66, Northampton*

Sunday, July 17 â€" 2 p.m.

ASL Interpreted

Scheduled to perform:

Dorothy Baker, fiction & memoir writer
Cat Brenn-Bear, playwright & poet
Chaya Grossberg, poet & spoken word artist
Peggy Munson, poet & novelist
Ingrid Nevar, American Sign Language interpreter
Debora Seidman, poet & performance artist
Sharon Wachsler, humorist & editor of Breath & Shadow

*Driving directions for Smith Field House: Smith Field House is
located on West Street/Route 66 about a mile and a half past Forbes
Library. When you pass Smith College Physical Plant and the Mill
River, turn right at the sign for the Athletic Fields. Field House is
to the right of the tennis courts. Big parking lot -- plenty of
parking.


For more information on *either* event: BreathandShadow@..., 413-
625-9820, or abilitymaine.org/breath

--------

About the performers . . .

Arden is a gender queer poet from the South. In August, Arden will
begin a Master of Fine Arts program at Hollins University. Arden has
a sampler platter of mental health diagnosis with a bipolar entrée.
Arden's first book of poems will be published in the fall through
Conviction Books.

Dorothy Baker, currently residing in Massachusetts, started writing
as a young girl growing up in a small town in North Carolina. Her
poetry has appeared in, and won awards from, Our Toxic Times, a
newsletter for people with chemical injuries.

Petra Breen, once disabled by Environmental Illness (EI), now works
as a personal chef, an intuitive counselor, and a freelance
writer/editor. She has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction,
including her six-year-old column, Travels with Aunt Sheila, which
addresses both the humorous and challenging sides of living with EI.

Cat Brennâ€"Bear has directed and had plays produced in New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Woodstock, Worcester, and Washington, DC. Cat
is a sign language interpreter and law school student. As a lawyer
she intends to continue her battle for the rights of Deaf and
disabled people on the front lines. She lives in Western
Massachusetts with her three cats.

Chaya Grossberg is a poet, fiction and nonfiction writer, visual
artist, dancer and singer songwriter. With a grant from the Western
Mass Training Consortium she recently self published a book of
poetry, Elusive Paths: Time and Turns of Events and a picture book,
Love and the Dolphin. Her purpose is to transmit and experience
spiritual harmony through these means, through speaking and
performing and to spread the message that she healed from emotional
and physical trauma only when she got off of the medicine that she
was told was necessary. She practices and believes in healing without
drugs. Her spoken word is now available on CD.
www.geocities.com/ngrossberg/chaya

Paul Kahn is a playwright, poet, editor, freelance writer and
psychological counselor. His poems have been published in Sahara,
Breath & Shadow and Ibbetson Street, and his plays have been produced
in Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island. He was a featured literary
artist in the 2004 VSA arts International Festival.

Erin Lewy is a fiction writer slogging through her first novel. She
is the creator of http://www.gimpsex.org, a web site on sexuality and
disability. She is a shameless geek. She recently relocated from New
York to Boston, where she is learning to be a little gimp in a medium
city.

Peggy Munson has published poetry in Best American Poetry 2003, Spoon
River Poetry Review, 13th Moon, Literature and Medicine, Sinister
Wisdom, and elsewhere. Her fiction has appeared in books by Faber &
Faber, Cleis Press, Alyson Books, and Black Books, and at web
journals such as Blithe House Quarterly, Lodestar Quarterly, and
Margin: Exploring Modern Magical Realism. She is the editor of
Stricken: Voices from the Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(Haworth Press). She has been awarded fellowships at the MacDowell
Colony, the Ragdale Foundation, and Cottages at Hedgebrook. Her
website is http://www.peggymunson.com.

Debora Seidman is a poet, playwright, performance artist and is
currently at work on her first novel. Her plays have been produced in
New York City and in Amherst and Northampton, Mass., and her poems
have been published in various journals. She teaches Writing the Body
Home, a writing workshop designed to take you deep into your body as
a source for your writing.

Sharon Wachsler is a poet, essayist, short-story writer, reformed
cartoonist, and the founder and editor of Breath & Shadow. Sharon's
fiction and essays have appeared in over a dozen anthologies,
including Best American Erotica 2004 and 2005, Yentl's Revenge,
Restricted Access, and Bottoms Up. Her poetry and prose have been
published in many periodicals, including Strange Horizons, Moxie,
Bitch, Ragged Edge, and Clamor. She is a Peregrine Prize winner and a
Pushcart nominee for poetry. As a humor columnist, she has a small,
cultishly devoted following.

Click Here: Check out "Breath & Shadow Homepage"

Sharon Wachsler
Editor, Breath & Shadow
www.abilitymaine.org/breath
breathandshadow@...

Greetings NHTF Endorsers!

This is a reminder that you are invited to join us on the monthly
conference
call for endorsers of the National Housing Trust Fund.

Please join us for the call Thursday, June 2nd, at 3PM Eastern, 2PM
Central,
1PM Mountain, and 12PM Pacific.

***To connect to the call, dial 1-800-853-3892 and enter passcode
87978326#.

Please be sure to join us on this call to discuss the recent House
action on
an affordable housing fund. For more information, visit www.nhtf.org.

The proposed agenda is as follows:

1. Introductions

2. Discussion of Recent Victories and Future Strategy

---Sheila Crowley, President, National Low Income Housing Coalition

Discussion will cover the recent bill approved by the House Committee
on
Financial Services which would create and affordable housing fund
with a
percentage of GSE profits. Read the press release and endorser notice
at
www.nhtf.org.


3. Campaign Updates


4. Questions, comments, suggestions, and additions.
5. Next Call

If you received this reminder from the National Low Income Housing
Coalition, it's because your organization is one of the more than
5,400
organizations that has endorsed the National Housing Trust Fund
Campaign.
The National Housing Trust Fund Campaign seeks to create,
rehabilitate or
preserve 1.5 million units of affordable housing over 10 years,
bringing
Federal money to local jurisdictions to help close the gap in
affordable
housing. For more: www.nhtf.org

Matt Achhammer, Campaign Organizer
National Housing Trust Fund - <www.nhtf.org>
National Low Income Housing Coalition - www.nlihc.org
(NEW OFFICE ADDRESS as of April 3)
727 15th Street, NW, Sixth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
P: 202-662-1530, x.229 - F:202-393-1973
matt@...

Subject: This Year's Most Important Progressive Gathering
Dear james m,

REGISTER today for the largest and most important gathering of
progressive activists, leaders and thinkers this year!

The Apollo Alliance, with Campaign for America's Future, is co-
sponsoring the year's most significant progressive gathering.  The
2005 Take Back America conference will bring together progressive
leaders, thinkers and activists to discuss the independent ideas and
infrastructure needed to forge the emerging progressive majority.
Expect a rich and inspiring discussion of good jobs, clean energy,
and stronger and healthier communities.

https://secure.ctsg.com/ourfuture/register2005/

Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America will
speak of reinvesting in America by creating good jobs in the
industries of the future that create stronger, cleaner, and healthier
communities.  Speakers from coast to coast will highlight Apollo's
successes in cities across the country and discuss how we can
replicate these models throughout the nation.  Elizabeth Yeampierre,
Executive Director of UPROSE will represent NYC Apollo while Carla
Din, Apollo's Western States Coordinator, will speak of Apollo's
successes in California and beyond.  Steve Sleigh, Director of
Strategic Resources for the International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers will join Rob Sargent, Senior Energy Policy
Analyst for the National Association of State PIRGs & affiliated
organizations in the New Energy: Apollo Moves at the State Level
plenary.

In addition to the slated Apollo Alliance speakers, Take Back America
2005 will feature prominent leaders from across our progressive
movement.  Confirmed speakers include Howard Dean and John Edwards,
new Los Angeles mayor elect Antonio Villaraigosa, Reverends Jesse
Jackson Sr. and Jim Wallis, political commentator Arianna Huffington,
EMILY's List president Ellen R. Malcolm, NOW president Kim Gandy,
progressive radio stars Ed Shultz and personalities from Air America,
Joshua Micah Marshall, Duncan Black and other leading bloggers,
journalist Bill Moyers and economist Jeffrey Sachs.

Take Back America has historically attracted the nation's most
prominent progressive leaders and activists from across the country.
This year promises to be even better.  Register today for Take Back
America 2005: The Conference for America's Future

https://secure.ctsg.com/ourfuture/register2005/

We look forward to seeing you in Washington DC where we will join
together to explore how we can more effectively shape America's
future.

Jeff Rickert
Interim Executive Director, Apollo Alliance

   Take Action

---------------
Register today to attend the most important progressive conference of
the year. GO »

JUNE 1st · 2nd · 3rd, 2005

Washington Hilton Hotel: Washington, DC
---------------
Take Back America: The Conference for America's Future and Gala
Awards Dinner

Sponsored by the Apollo Alliance and Campaign for America's Future.
---------------
Please continue to support our grassroots efforts by donating to the
Apollo Alliance.

Heartland Affiliate/Kansas
Physical Activity/Nutrition Guidelines Available for Review and
Comment
Dear James:

As an American Heart Association volunteer on our You're The Cure
advocacy network you are one of the first Kansans to have access to
this exciting information addressing the growing obesity problem in
our state.

The third draftof the Kansas State Department of Education's Model
Wellness Policy Guidelines has been posted on the Child Nutrition &
Wellness website. Go to www.kn-eat.org, click on the "What's New"
button, and then select the "Local Wellness Policy Update" link.

You are invited to review and comment on the draft guidelines either
on-line (via the above website) or at any of a series of six public
forums which will be held in June. Dates and locations will be
announced on the website and through our You're The Cure advocacy
network.

These guidelines are the result of legislation passed earlier this
session and supported by the American Heart Association. Feel free to
contact me if you want more information.

------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Walker, VP of Advocacy
(913) 652-1906
6800 W. 93rd Street
Overland Park, KS 66212
kevin.walker@...

Fw: "Money Follows the Person," June 3-19th
   ----- Original Message -----
From: <Mark_Johnson@...>
To: <Mark_Johnson@...>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 3:17 PM
Subject: "Money Follows the Person," June 3-19th

> Refer to paragraph 5, note June 22 is the 6th anniversary of the
Olmstead
> decision.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>
> http://www.rickdavidson.org/ctctrip.htm
>
> http://www.rickdavidson.org/
>
> Coast to Coast Motorcycle Trip

June 3-19, 2005

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR COAST TO COAST SHIRT NOW

For the longest time, I've tried to find a way to help other people in
situations like mine. So, this year I had an idea that I thought
might be
a
way to do it.

In order to promote awareness of Spinal Cord Injury and the need for
research and changes in Medicaid / Medicare, I have decided to do
something
that has never been done...at least to my knowledge.

Starting on June 3rd, I will leave my home in Olathe, Kansas,
accompanied
by
a few friends and head toward New York. After New York, I will be
heading
toward Burbank, California with few stops before I get there.In all,
the
trip will take about 2 weeks with it ending back in Olathe, arriving
back
home around June 19th.

My goal for this it to hopefully get the attention of the American
public
to
see that even if you have a disability, you don't have to live your
life
in
an institution or bored out of your mind. Life continues after the
injury.
Right now, in the United States, there are approximately 2 million
people
living with some type of paralysis, with 250,000 resulting from a
spinal
cord injury. To make matters worse, most don't have the resources to
be
able
to remain in their home so they are placed in nursing home, group
homes
and
assisted living communities. They lose the opportunity to remain
active in
their community, which is a huge loss!

Right now, across the United States, there is a bill called "Money
Follows
the Person" in most states. This bill would allow for the monies that
cover
a person living in an institutional setting to be able to move back
into
the
community with the same services. I know that personally, that is
where I
want to stay!

SO......if you get the chance to ride along....let me know! If you
would
like to make a donation, there are a few ways to do it. Email me and
I can
send you the donation packet that has been put together for this trip.

Thanks for taking time to read this and I'll work on

KEEPING THE WHEELS TURNING!!!!!

NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt MiCASA List http://www.adapt.org

House Committee Approves New Affordable Housing Fund, May 26, 2005
Dear National Housing Trust Fund Campaign partners,

We made an important step yesterday towards our goal of increasing
federal funds to build more rental housing that is affordable for the
lowest income people. The Financial Services Committee of the U.S.
House of Representatives approved the "Federal Housing Reform Act of
2005," a bill to strengthen federal regulation of Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac. The bill also expands these government sponsored
enterprises' missions to provide more affordable housing.

The mission component of the bill includes a provision that 5% of the
companies' after tax profits be dedicated to affordable housing
funds. The initial estimate is that 5% of their profits will be $400-
$600 million in the first years and will go as high as $1 billion
annually eventually.

The affordable housing funds are to be used to benefit extremely low
and very low income families, though the bill does not prescribe how
much should be used for each income group. The funds can be used for
capital grants for the production, preservation, and rehabilitation
of rental housing, as well as assistance for first time homebuyers.
One eighth of the funds is set aside for a leverage fund to support
housing and economic development. The funds may be used only for
direct housing purposes and cannot be used for administrative
expenses. At least 10% of the funds are to go for home ownership.
There is a preference for projects that will benefit extremely low
income families.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will administer their respective funds,
with strict oversight by an Affordable Housing Board based at the new
independent regulating agency. This board will be composed of the
director of the regulating agency, the Secretaries of HUD and
Agriculture, and equal numbers of representatives from the for-profit
and non-profit housing sectors.

The bill was voted out of committee by a vote of 65 to 5 and now
heads to the House floor, as early as the second week in June. The
White House wants more restrictions placed on Fannie and Freddie and
objects to the affordable housing fund, so considerable advocacy is
needed to assure smooth passage out of the House.

Similar legislation is in development in the Senate. You will recall
that the Senate Banking Committee took up a bill to regulate Fannie
Mae and Freddie last year in the 108th Congress. The overall bill was
voted out of committee on a partisan vote and was never taken up by
the full Senate. However, a provision to set up an affordable housing
fund with 5% of Fannie and Freddie profits had unanimous support.

The affordable housing fund is not everything we want, but this is a
HUGE victory for extremely low income families who need decent and
affordable housing. There will be opportunities in the Senate and in
the conference committee to improve the bill. Representative Barney
Frank (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee,
has publicly pledged to work to target the entire fund to extremely
low income families.

We owe a special thanks to Mr. Frank, Committee Chairman Mike Oxley
(R-OH), and Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Bob
Ney (R-OH) for joining in a bipartisan fashion to craft the
legislation to create this new affordable housing fund. The way was
paved for this victory by the hard work of you, the endorsers of the
National Housing Trust Fund Campaign, and the sponsors of legislation
to create a National Housing Trust Fund. However, we consider
enactment of this legislation to be just the first step in this
campaign to achieve our goal of 1.5 million new units of housing
affordable for extremely low income people in ten years.

Thank you for your commitment to solving the housing problems of low
income people in our country and for sticking with the National
Housing Trust Fund campaign through these turbulent political times.
Together, we will win!

Sincerely,

Sheila Crowley, President
National Low Income Housing Coalition

Memorial Day action-click to stop recruiting kids for war
Tell the Pentagon to Leave Our Children Alone
Dear James,

  "A gripping, emotional anti-war ballad of the experience of a GI in
Iraq"
                          - Amazon.com

Grammy-winning guitarist Robert Cray just released his new song about
a soldier in Iraq, and it's free for TrueMajorityACTION members.

hi speed:  real  windows
modem: real  windows

Memorial Day is here again and America still occupies Iraq.  U.S.
Army generals last week admitted that the occupation is going badly,
with no end in sight [1] .   Many of us are angry and frustrated at
our inability to end the quagmire.  And every week brings new reports
about Pentagon recruiters lying to our children to get them to join
[2] .

Here are three things you can do:

1. FORWARD THE SONG

Art opens a path to people's hearts.  Five-time Grammy Award–winner
Robert Cray has just released a powerful song called "Twenty," about
a young man who joins the Army after 9/11 to protect his country.
But he's sent to Iraq and discovers what the occupation is really
about before he's killed in action [3] .   Robert is giving the song
to TrueMajority for us to share with our members.  If the song moves
you, share it with friends who need to hear this message too.    Use
one of the links in the box to the right to play the song, or RIGHT-
click here to download it (and choose "save as").

2. PROTECT YOUR KIDS FROM PENTAGON RECRUITERS

The so-called No Child Left Behind Act has a little-known provision
that mandates schools to provide our children's personal information
to the Pentagon so they can be recruited into the armed forces.  The
law also allows parents and guardians to stop their kids' schools
from providing this information to the Pentagon, but few know what is
going on or how to stop it [4] .   Our friends at Working Assets have
built an online tool to make it easy.  Just click here to keep the
military's hands off your kids: http://www.leavemychildalone.org And
if you know other parents who could use this service, forward this e-
mail to them.

3. MAKE THE PENTAGON ASK PERMISSION

If you don't have children who are vulnerable to Pentagon recruiters,
you can still help those of us who do.  A bill in Congress would
change this law and reverse the process, so parents would need to
sign their kids up before their kids' information could be turned
over to the Pentagon.  It's an opt-in process, rather than the burden
of opting out [5] .   To urge your congressperson to support this
family protection bill, just click "reply" and "send" if you are a
TrueMajorityACTION member (text of the message below). If you'd like
to edit the message we'll send to your congressperson, or if you
aren't yet a TrueMajorityACTION member, go to
http://www.truemajorityaction.org/LeaveMyChildAlone.  And forward
this to others so they too can help protect all our kids.

The war in Iraq will last longer unless more people demand its end.
These tools provide easy ways for you to take action and to let
friends and family know what they can do.

A mother of two children, trying to end the madness,

Darcy Scott Martin

--------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the message we'll send to your Congressperson

Dear [we'll insert your representative's name here]:

Please  support H.R.551, the Student Privacy Protection Act of 2005,
which amends section 9528 of No Child Left Behind. H.R. 551 prohibits
military recruiters from contacting students unless these minors and
their parents specifically "Opt In" and consent to receive such
communications.

Sincerely,

[We'll put your name here]

----------------------------------------------------------------------
------------
1) "Generals Offer Sober Outlook on Iraqi War ," New York Times
(5/19/05)

2) "Amid Scandal, Recruitment Halts" CBS News

3) Here's a review  of Robert Cray's new song "Twenty",and the lyrics

4) Here's more on Leave My Child Alone!

5) Here's the bill  that will require parents to opt in to Pentagon
recruitment for their kids

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Contribute
If you like what you see, please click here to contribute to keep
these messages going to more people!

Subscribe
If this was forwarded to you and you'd like to join up, just click
this link: http://www.truemajorityaction.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
TrueMajorityACTION.org, 191 Bank Street, Third Floor, Burlington, VT
05401

Protect Checks and Balances: Take Action NOW!

www.afj.org

"Allies for Justice" Action Alert

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has taken the first step toward
triggering the nuclear option. The Senate is now debating judicial
nominations and a vote on the nuclear option will take place NEXT
WEEK!

If Senator Frist and his allies are successful in destroying 200
years of Senate tradition, radical nominees such as Priscilla Owen
and Janice Rogers Brown will gain lifetime appointments to our
nation's highest courts. It will also make it easier for President
Bush to appoint a Supreme Court nominee who will roll-back the rights
and protections that many of us have come to cherish.

Here are 5 things that YOU can do to help protect checks and
balances:

1. Join our letter to the editor campaign. Over the past week
Alliance for Justice has been working with activists to submit
hundreds of letters in support of the filibuster to newspapers across
the country. Contact Amy Likoff at amy@... or (202) 822-6070 to
find out how to join the campaign. We can provide you with talking
points, sample letters and contact information for your local paper.

2. Call your Senator. Let your Senators know that Americans will not
allow checks and balances to be destroyed. Urge them to save the
filibuster by voting against the "nuclear option." You can reach the
Senate switchboard by calling our toll-free access number at 1-877-
851-6437.

3. Take action online. You can also let your voice be heard in D.C.
by sending your Senators a personalized message urging them to save
the Senate and save checks and balances by visiting our online action
center.

http://capwiz.com/afj/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7106081

4. Plan a "filibuster" in your community. Gather with others in your
area to organize your own filibuster. Students at Princeton
University filibustered for over 380 hours, and groups in over 30
states have continued the trend. Contact Carrie Glenn at
carrie@... for suggestions or more information on bringing this
exciting event to your area.

5. Get your family and friends involved. Talk with your friends and
family about what is happening in the Senate. Encourage them to take
action.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
If you are getting this forwarded from a friend, subscribe to
the "Allies for Justice" alert list, and get them delivered directly.

The Alliance for Justice (www.afj.org) is a national association of
environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and
consumer advocacy organizations. Since its inception in 1979, the
Alliance has worked to advance the cause of justice for all
Americans, strengthen the public interest community's ability to
influence public policy, and foster the next generation of advocates.

Tsunami women's fund secured!
Dear james m,

We did it!!

Thanks to all of our wonderful active members, Congress has called
for $10 million for small grants to women's organizations in tsunami-
affected countries.

Using these funds, local women's organizations will help women re-
establish their livelihoods that were devastated by the tsunami. This
may mean providing women with grants for replacing the start-up
materials they need for their work -- as farmers, weavers of fishing
nets, driers and salters of fish, vendors in the local markets,
craftswomen, etc. Or it may mean training women in new employment
skills.

Either way, the fund will help women resume their accustomed roles as
breadwinners, entrepreneurs and active citizens in their communities
and their local economies. At the same time, because the funding will
be channeled through local women's nonprofit organizations, we are
confident it will be delivered with real sensitivity to the needs,
cultures and perspectives of the women it assists.

Finally, the fund will help strengthen the local women's
organizations that administer these grants, thus building their
capacity for future work.

It looks to us like a win-win-win situation.

To all of you who wrote, faxed or called your Members of Congress,
THANK YOU! You can take real pride in what you helped bring about.

And, everyone: Could you drop a brief email to the senators and
representatives who made this happen, letting them know that you
support and appreciate the creation of this fund? Our champions were
Senator Patrick Leahy (VT), Senator Richard Durbin (IL), Senator
Mitch McConnell (KY), Representative Nita Lowey (NY), and
Representative Jim Kolbe (AZ).

We did say please, so we should also say thank you. Besides, you want
them to know that you support this kind of forward-looking,
international assistance that supports women and families. Please
email them to express your appreciation - especially if you live in
their state or district. For contact information and talking points,
click here.

Enthusiastically yours,

Barb Gottlieb
Director of Outreach & Membership
P.S. Women's organizations from around the Indian Ocean guided the
Women's Edge Coalition in identifying women's post-tsunami needs. To
read their comments, click here. For more information on the small-
grants fund, click here.

http://www.womensedge.org/pages/newsandevents/news.jsp?id=366

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
» DonateNow
» About Us
» Contact Us

Women's Edge Coalition
1825 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20009
USA

Phone: (202) 884-8396
email: edge@...

The Nader Factor
Click here to receive "Crashing the Party"

http://www.votenader.org/contribute/index.php?contribute=Contribute

Dear Friend,

Six months have passed since the 2004 presidential elections. While
it is still early to fully analyze the meaning of Ralph Nader's
candidacy for president, it has occurred to me that certain
fundamental themes are now easier to see than at the time of the
campaign.

Fundamentally what separates Ralph Nader from the progressives who
opposed his running is Nader's deep belief in the people themselves
being able to change society. That is, Nader really believes
democracy is possible. Those who opposed Nader and capitulated by
calling for a vote for a candidate who opposed everything they claim
to support reflect a hopelessness that there is no way to overcome
the control of money over people. Deep down they do not really
believe the people could ever rise up and take control of their
lives, their country and institute democracy.

Never in the history of our nation has there been such a massive
campaign to try and prevent ballot access by an individual running
for Presidential office so that those who agreed with him could
actually vote for him.

The anti-Nader campaign was a totalitarian effort against free
elections aimed at the people's right to choose and specifically
aimed at those who will not surrender their commitment to democracy.
Not a single elected Democrat in the United States spoke out against
their party's campaign not to allow the voters to choose. Not one.
This alone shows the utter political and moral bankruptcy of that
Party.

The Nation, the Progressive, Mother Jones, MoveOn.org, all the
leaders of the Progressive Democrats of America not only did not
oppose the campaign against democracy but in most cases participated
and promoted it.

I can think of only one similar historical event. The early
abolitionist movement believed slavery could only be ended if the
slave owners could be convinced to free their slaves. Like today they
believed you had to accept the political system, you could not go
outside the framework and challenge the two pro-slavery parties. You
could only lobby, petition, beg but not challenge directly who should
rule.

Then in 1840 James G. Birney ran for president on behalf of a newly
formed party, the abolitionist Liberty Party. Many of the
abolitionists, like progressives today, opposed Birney's daring to
run. It was not realistic. But in fact Birney's campaign was the
opening shot of what was to change America forever and lead to the
collapse of the political framework that had allowed slavery to
remain unchallenged.

The Liberty Party supporters were called fanatics, self-isolating,
unrealistic, and even crazy, as Michael Moore called Nader for daring
to run for peace, democracy and pro labor.

But Birney and Nader are not alone in American history. General James
B. Weaver ran in 1880 for president for the Greenback Labor Party and
campaigned in the South after the crushing of the reconstruction
government defending the rights of African Americans. Weaver's
campaign helped set the background for the great rise of the Populist
movement and later the rise of another champion of the people -
Eugene V. Debs.

There has been a long history of efforts to break the control of
money over people and to establish a political movement to fight for
democracy in the United States. Nader's whole life has been rooted in
his belief that the people through their own actions can make a
difference. His appeals have always been to mobilize from the bottom
up.

Nader's efforts have resulted in so many important victories. While
many know of Nader having made their cars safer they do not realize
that his efforts have been instrumental in protecting our air, and
water, including the establishment of the EPA and OSHA in the early
Seventies.

He helped win rights for passengers on airlines, fought for national
health care, living wage, freedom of information, against nuclear
power, against all kinds of corporate abuses, manipulation, false
advertising, and fraudulent practices. He has fought to protect our
national resources and public assets. He has defended workers in the
mines, auto factories and throughout America and fought against WTO
and corporate globalization. He advocated for the use of industrial
hemp early, fought discrimination against women and minorities and
the rise of monopolies.

As an incorruptible symbol of the rights of the people Nader is a
threat to a world based on the corrupting power of money. In time
Nader's campaigns in 2000 and 2004 will be seen as the beginning of
what may become a new wave in the battle for democracy. There are now
so many signs world wide of the beginning of another radicalizing
wave, waves that appear about once every 30 years. We can see it in
the events in Latin America, the recent rise of the Maori people in
New Zealand, and the massive world opposition to the war in Iraq and
globalization. Unlike the radicalizations of the 1930s and 60s, the
need to break with the two parties of money is in the air. Twenty
five percent of our people are not registered in the two major
parties and 38% answer they are independent in polls.

Six months after the election we see Nader fighting at rally after
rally for peace as the Democrats declare their loyalty to Bush's war.
Even Howard Dean has dropped his anti-war rhetoric as the Democrats
gave George Bush thirty-nine standing ovations at his 2005 State of
the Union address.

Nader stands on the side of all the mass social movements. His call
for the need to break with the political duopoly will resound as the
next wave develops.

As I speak at meetings here in California since the elections I
notice how no one but absolutely no one gets up to defend John Kerry.
Even those who voted for him feel a bit embarrassed. The winds are
starting to shift.

It was a great honor for me to be part of Nader's historic challenge
as his vice presidential associate. As I traveled throughout our
nation speaking to audiences, primarily of young people, I knew I was
looking into the eyes of those in the future who will be the leaders
of our nation. We know not yet what our nation owes Nader for the
seeds he has planted among the minds of our people, especially our
youth.


Let us all respect, assist and support Ralph Nader's continuing
efforts, as he has assisted and defended all efforts for social
justice, democracy and peace.

You can generously contribute to this effort, and help pay off the
remaining campaign expenses through a $75 donation, for which you
will receive a personalized signed copy of "Crashing the Party", by
Ralph Nader, either for yourself or as a gift to a friend or a
relative.

This incredible story is Nader's account of his 50 state campaign in
the 2000 election. It emphasizes his dedication to reclaiming our
democracy by displacing the heavily concentrated commercial powers
and intolerant attitudes that keep America from building a just
society for all.

Your past generosity in support of our campaign, as we worked for a
world of peace, justice and the fulfillment of human possibilities
within a sustainable environment, is greatly appreciated.

Your contribution of $75 for a personalized signed copy of "Crashing
the Party", by Ralph Nader will help move our campaign into the
black, and for that we are most grateful.

Thank you for your generous support and bright horizons.

Sincerely,

Peter Miguel Camejo

Paid for by Nader for President 2004 General Election Committee
Contributions are not tax-deductible
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
This email sent by:Nader for President 2004
www.votenader.org
PO Box 18002
Washington, DC 20036
USA

7 Weeks to the G-8 – Act Now for Debt Cancellation!
Dear James M,

In seven weeks the Group of Eight (G-8) wealthy nations will begin
their summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, and international debt will be
on the table. We have seven weeks to take action that could make the
difference between achieving 100% cancellation of the debts of
impoverished nations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
World Bank or watching as these world leaders shirk their
responsibility to cancel the debt of African nations. Please take
three simple actions today that could make the difference between
life and debt for African nations.

Action #1: Sign a Jubilee Postcard!
Jubilee USA Network, of which Africa Action is a part, is circulating
postcards to President George Bush and Treasury Secretary John Snow
calling on the G-8 to "Wipe Out Debt in 2005".  The message on the
postcard asks for 100% cancellation of multilateral debts for all
impoverished nations without harmful conditions and suggests that
cancellation should be financed by selling IMF gold, using World Bank
profits and stopping the IMF's structural adjustment lending. These
postcards will be delivered one week before the G-8 meets in
Scotland. You can order postcards or sign on-line at
www.jubileeusa.org.

Action #2: Sign the American Friends Service Committee Petition!
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is circulating an on-line
petition to Treasury Secretary John Snow that also calls for 100%
debt cancellation without harmful conditions, emphasizes the need to
include debt to the IMF and empower civil society to be a part of the
solution. This petition also calls for financing to come from the
institutions' own resources. You can sign the AFSC petition on-line.
This petition will be delivered as part of a lobby day two weeks
prior to the G-8 meeting.

http://www.afsc.org/africa/new-africa/activism/Action-Snow-Letter.htm

Action #3: Send a Message to Bush and Snow Today!

Since both of these valuable initiatives will be presented to the
Bush Administration at the end of June, we thought it important to
keep a steady flow of messages over the next five weeks to keep the
pressure on the Administration to negotiate full debt cancellation.
You can send your message to Snow and Bush by visiting the Action
Center on Africa Action's website.

http://capwiz.com/africaaction/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7610941

Africa Action, with American Friends Service Committee, 50 Years is
Enough Network and the Jubilee USA Network will craft a public press
event a week prior to the G-8 summit to help facilitate the delivery
of the petition and postcards and publicize the call for debt
cancellation. We will continue to raise our voices for 100% debt
cancellation until the full need is met. Thank you for your support
as we struggle for freedom from debt.

In Solidarity,

The Staff @ Africa Action

Act Now: The Nuclear Option is on its way!
May 18, 2005

This is it:  This morning, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
activated the launch sequence on the nuclear option as he directed
the Senate to take up the nomination of Priscilla Owen.  A vote on
whether to change the rules governing filibusters of judicial
nominations will likely come late this week or early next week.

If Senator Frist succeeds, the Senate minority will no longer be able
to use the filibuster to block judicial nominees, and the path will
be cleared for the confirmation of all the Administration's
controversial nominees, including any future nominees to the Supreme
Court.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Take These Three Easy Steps to Protect the Courts TODAY!

• Step #1:  Call your Senators.  Please call your Senators to tell
them to vote "NO" on the Nuclear Option, and to stop the
confirmations of nominees like Owen and Janice Rogers Brown who are
hostile to women's rights. You can call 202-244-3121 or find their
D.C. office numbers.

• Step #2:  Email your Senators.  You can use our sample email, or
write your own.

http://capwiz.com/nwlc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7614331

• Step #3:  Ask five friends to contact their Senators.  Make a
personal commitment to make sure that five friends, family members,
or colleagues contact their Senators as well.


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

Senator Frist has made clear that he intends to use two female
nominees to trigger the "nuclear option," and some of his colleagues
have suggested that those who oppose these nominees are opposed to
progress for women.  But what would really threaten progress to women
is the confirmation of nominees like these, who are overtly hostile
to women's rights:

• Priscilla Owen has sought to restrict women's reproductive rights
at nearly every turn during her tenure on the Texas Supreme Court,
ignoring state law in doing so.  In one case, she interpreted a Texas
law so incorrectly that a fellow Justice on her court – Alberto
Gonzales, who is now U.S. Attorney General – called her position "an
unconscionable act of judicial activism."
• Janice Rogers Brown, now on the California Supreme Court, called
the New Deal a "socialist revolution," and the Washington Post
described her as "one of the most unapologetically ideological
nominees of either party in many years."

Your Senators need to hear from you and from your friends right
away.  They need to know that you support an independent judiciary
system that honors women's rights.  Act now to protect the courts
that will protect our future.


Is your Senator on the Fence?

If you live in the following states, it is particularly important
that you call and e-mail your Senators, since one or both of your
Senators' votes could make the difference:

Alaska (Senator Lisa Murkowski)
Indiana (Senator Richard Lugar)
Maine (Senator Susan Collins)
Nebraska (Senators Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson)
New Hampshire (Senator John Sununu)
Ohio (Senator Mike DeWine)
Oregon (Senator Gordon Smith)
Pennsylvania (Senator Arlen Specter)
Rhode Island (Senator Lincoln Chafee)

Background

For over 200 years, Senators have had the power to block legislation
and other action—such as votes on a judicial nominee—by engaging in
unlimited debate, or "filibuster."  Senators of both parties have
used filibusters to block judicial nominees in the past.

In the last several years, Democratic Senators have confirmed over
200 of President Bush's judicial nominees, and have filibustered 10—
individuals like Janice Rogers Brown, who called the New Deal, the
era that brought us Social Security and child-labor laws, "our
socialist revolution," and William Pryor, who called Roe v. Wade "the
worst abomination of constitutional law in our history."  By
contrast, Republicans blocked over 60 of President Clinton's
nominees, often because just one Senator objected.

Now Senate Majority Leader Frist has proposed to change the
longstanding Senate rules to eliminate the possibility of filibusters
of judicial nominees.  This is an illegitimate trick, because it
would allow Senator Frist to change the rules with the agreement of
just a bare majority of Senators, even though the rules themselves
say a rules change requires the agreement of 67 Senators.  It is also
an attack on one of the most important protections for the rights of
the minority party against the tyranny of the majority.

The short-term result of the "nuclear option" would be that all of
the Administrations current nominees, no matter how extreme would be
confirmed.  In as little as a few months, if Chief Justice Rehnquist
retires from the Supreme Court, it would mean that the President
could appoint anyone he wants to the Supreme Court.  Many rights that
American women hold dear, including the right to privacy and the
right to equal protection of the laws, will be threatened if just one
more Supreme Court justice hostile to those rights is confirmed.

For more information, see NWLC's website on judges and judicial
nominations.

Dear Members,

Good Day. I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be.
Excellent article, hopefully, the schools will resist better. Their
use of a twist on the remocrats "No child left behind", propagandist
slogan, "No child left unrecruited" being real, brings to mind one I
came up with years ago to describe the militaries' pedocide (under
southern military command) and Roman Catholic Empire's pedocide,
programs (where they sexually mutilate, assault, rape, abuse
children, predominantly white male ones), that is :)   the
remocrats: 'no child's behind left alone' program. What do you think?

"Stop Military Recruitment (Friday)
Dear James M,

Thanks to all of you who took the time to call your congress
people about the Iraq supplemental bill. The amendments
forbidding torture and funding for civilian victims made it into
the final version of the legislation. While none of us can be
pleased with the continued funding of this war, we did make our
representatives take notice!

Last Wednesday, we made our second delivery of the Iraq Peace
Petition in Washington, bringing the total to 50,000 who have
signed our call to bring the troops home.

Our hand delivery of petitions to key senators was disrupted by
the evacuation of the Capitol when a plane strayed into DC's
restricted airspace. I was particularly struck by the
conversations we overheard as a river of staffers and senators
flowed out of the Hart Senate Office Building. Rumors that a
plane was on the way towards Washington were interrupted by a
construction worker who said, "You just gave $80 billion
dollars to bomb Iraq, what do you expect?" We can only hope that
some of those who were evacuated will come to realize that
terror from the air and living in fear will never bring lasting
peace.

As you have probably heard, this Friday, May 20, the Army will
suspend recruitment for one day. Recent scandals have shown how
often military recruiters systematically mislead and lie to
young people in order to meet their goals.

AFSC has long been at the forefront of the counter-recruitment
movement and has helped hundreds of thousands of young men and
women get the information they need to make an informed decision
about enlistment. On Monday, Oskar Castro of our Youth and
Militarism Program was part of a national news conference at the
U.S. Capitol to call attention to this developing scandal.

On Friday, while army recruiters "stand down" for a day, AFSC
offices across the country will be holding events to "Stand Up
for Truth in Recruiting." Find events in your area at
http://ga3.org/ct/qp_FLd51pRsZ/may20.

It is important that we do all that we can to make the most of
this opening. Even with all of the money spent on recruiting
commercials that make war look like a Nintendo game and promise
endless opportunities, the truth about the military is getting
out. If you work with young people, if you are a student, if you
are involved in religious and civic groups, now is the time to
make your voice heard.

AFSC has a variety of resources available at
http://ga3.org/ct/q7_FLd51pRsK/youth/ that show how enlisting
in the military rarely results in usable job skills or a large
nest egg for college. Brochures such as "Do You Know Enough to
Enlist," "What Are My Options," and "Conscientious Objection"
can save a life or change a future.

Please speak out this Friday, next week, and in the weeks and
months that will follow. Preventing enlistment prevents war.

For peace,
Peter Lems

P.S. More good news about our Wage Peace Campaign. More than
50,000 people are wearing the Wage Peace bracelet and more than
120,000 have seen our two-minute on-line movie. Keep getting the
word out and stay in touch at
http://ga3.org/ct/qd_FLd51pRsD/iraq/. Your support, your
voices, and your efforts have been essential in the success of
this campaign. Thank you!

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

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about AFSC's
email newsletters and campaigns.

http://ga3.org/join-forward.html?domain=afsccenter&r=9p_FLd51AX3e

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for
American Friends Service Committee at:

http://ga3.org/afsccenter/join.html?r=9p_FLd51AX3eE

--------------------------------------------------"

From the heart in the heart of the heartland. My groups :)   Disabled
Greens News and discussion, Group :)
""""http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/"""" ,
Abuse in Therapy, Group :)
""""http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/""""
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and
professionals: Invite link:
""""http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880"""" Homepage:
""""http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action""""
"Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a
painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Enjoy a
vernal eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget,
if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese sister, freedom,
will wither, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized
before its exercised. Viva la evolution!

Matutinally Yours,      james m nordlund   reality (aja) :)

Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. I
look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye. For those
interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or
happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal),
(Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess
of the dawn.)".

I have a new computer.  Regretfully, I could not transfer my address
book from the old computer to this one. Anyone who thinks they should
be in my address book should e-mail me at sjball@...   Let
me know if you want to be on my Autumn Leaves mailing list.  If you do
not say "Don't put me on the Autumn Leaves mailing list," I will put
you on it, since most people are on it, so the Autumn Leaves mailing
list is also my primary mailing list.  I do, however, have an address
book marked, "Do not send Autumn Leaves announcements."

sondra
http://www.sondra.net/al/

Dear Members, United Nations Ambassadors, et al,

Hello. Good Day. Very cool responses, thanx! I hope you and yours are
well and will continue to be.  I have made numerous complaints to
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other human and civil
rights organizations here in the U.S. concerning my continually, and
constantly being harassed and attacked, in numerous forms, by
personnel employed by, or acting in coordination with the U.S. gov't.
Over decades my complaints of illegal eviction attempts,
police abuse and brutality against me, all complained about in the
appropriate bureaucratic, governmental agencies; to no avail. Almost
getting no response at all. Including the U.S. Attorney General's,
local District Attorney's, Congressmen, etc. The latest assaults on
me and my human rights include kidnapping, death threats, denial of
pain, other medications, detrimental treatment to further my physical
disabilities, police and prosecutor harassment and abuse, thefts of
mail and property, illegal eviction attempts, etc.  Now, I am
attempting to get some action again from agencies, and also from your
offices. An area I didn't put forth in my previous complaints I am
listing in this letter; which is the main reason why the U.S. gov't
has targeted me and numerous others; we`re witnesses and victims.

The U.S. gov't, mainly through the use of its military personnel, run
a national pedocide program. This includes sexual assaults, rapes,
sexual abuse, and sexualization of children to physically damage and
psychologically scar them; in a usually successful attempt to
debilitate them for life; until they're murdered. This, realizes
increased consumerism of, and participation in, all related or
exploitative industries; with increased regularity.  These
include :)  the military, medical, vocational training and placement,
many middle class to poor level jobs, social programs, all businesses
that are involved in, and related to, the prison industrial complex,
religious and spiritual, as well as all industries that increase
delusional profits and delusional pleasures; especially in the
shorter term.

Knowing that a child's psychological worldview is realized by the age
of six years, as related by Erickson, et al, they attack kids before
that age, at least once; to realize the psychological damage and
fixation; as related by Freud. This is done to "manufacture"
psychological victims, more consumerist and readily exploitable; who
are purposely not protected by the gov't; when they are required to.

This is a premeditated program, the children put on a list are so
abused; and all gov't personnel aware of the program are informed of
who is on the list to be exploited or attacked. This is done in
public buildings, schools, homes of the pedociding agents, etc., who
will surely gain from any contact, some form of delusional profit or
delusional pleasure; determined by the fact that they are backed up
by the gov't.

As the children grow to adulthood, they make easier targets for the
gov'ts' agents, for the attacks make them more accessible and
vulnerable to further attacks. This is due to the fact that every
time they're exploited or attacked it reinforces their fixations and
psychologically skewed worldview, until they become self defeating
and fulfilling prophesies of victimhood.  They attempt to sexually
exploit and abuse the children as much as possible, to insure the
children's psychological and emotional debilitation.

This premeditated mass criminal sociological programming aims to
devolve society, effectively arresting development of humanity and
civilization; which it considers necessary for the global populace's
acceptance of their emperial blitzkrieging.  This aids and abets in
the ushering in of technological progress as evolutions replacement,
etc..  I was victimized and have evidence of all; and can identify
hundreds of gov't agents who take part. The US gov't should be
tried in the ICC for the atrocities against humanity that its
pedocide programs have done.  Please contact me with any help,
referrals, how to initiate prosecution of the US gov't, etc..  I'm a
known advocate, mental health professional, writer and poet,
especially in the U.S..  What do you think?  From the heart in
the heart of the heartland. Some of my groups :) Disabled Greens News
and discussion, Group :)
""""http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/"""" ,
Abuse in Therapy, Group :)
""""http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/""""
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and
professionals: Invite link:
""""http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880"""" Homepage:
""""http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action""""
"Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a
painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci  Enjoy a
vernal eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget,
if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese sister, freedom,
will wither, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized
before its exercised. Viva la evolution!

Matutinally Yours,         james m nordlund   reality (aja) :)

Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. I
look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye. For those
interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or
happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal),
(Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess
of the dawn.)".

Dear Members,

Good Day. I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be.
Excellent article, hopefully, the schools will resist better. Their
use of a twist on the remocrats "No child left behind", propagandist
slogan, "No child left unrecruited" being real, brings to mind one I
came up with years ago to describe the militaries' pedocide (under
southern military command) and Roman Catholic Empire's pedocide,
programs (where they sexually mutilate, assault, rape, abuse
children, predominantly white male ones), that is :)   the
remocrats: 'no child's behind left alone' program. What do you think?

"Military Recruitment = No Child Left Behind? -No Opt Out option?
War critic questions lack of opt-out form
By Mark Abramson - Staff Writer

4/21/05 Despite the wars raging in Iraq and
Afghanistan, fewer than 10 students this year at
Cabrillo and Lompoc high schools have "opted out" of
granting military recruiters access to their phone
numbers and addresses.
Michael Cervantes, a vocal critic of military
recruitment in the schools and a member of the
anti-war group Veterans for Peace, attributed the low
number to the Lompoc Unified School District not
having an "opt out" form. He spoke out against
military recruitment activities in the schools during
a forum in Lompoc this past weekend.

Recruiters are entitled to request personal contact
information of high school juniors and seniors under
the 2001 federal No Child Left Behind legislation.
"The bottom line is it opens up more access," said
Greg Becker, a former recruiter and spokesman for the
Army's Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion, which
oversees recruitment on the Central Coast. "We don't
just recruit out of the schools, and that is not our
effort to make up the shortfall (in enlistments)."
Even though No Child Left Behind increases a
recruiter's ability to reach high school students, the
military is not using it as a way to harass teens who
do not want to join up, Becker said. A student saying
no to a recruiter does not necessarily mean the
recruiter will not contact the same teen again because
people can change their minds, he added.
But Cervantes, 56, of Oxnard, argues that military
recruiters have tapped their new-found No Child Left
Behind powers as a means to fill their quotas and make
up for dwindling enlistment numbers.
"The law allows military recruiters to get the same
access that colleges and universities have," Cervantes
said. "It's being abused in all parts of the country.
My primary concern is privacy rights. Students should
have their right to privacy, and it's being assaulted
by this legislation.
"This is a windfall for (recruiters) in the last three
years."
Cervantes said he saw the impact an opt out form can
have after he lobbied the Oxnard Union High School to
create one last year. His numbers indicated only 60
students in that district's six high schools opted out
before the form was available in the fall 2004, and
this year that number jumped to 121 alone at Oxnard
High School.
Oxnard Union High School District officials could not
be reached to confirm those figures.
The Lompoc Unified School District contends another
form is not needed because of the low number of
parents and students who opt out.
"The parents or students have 30 days after the start
of school to opt out in writing," said Don Ribble, the
district's director of information support services.
"This is a matter that just affects our high schools.
We haven't found the need for a form. If we had a need
for a form we would do it. There obviously would be a
need if we saw a greater number of students opting
out."
The school district's policy on the issue is spelled
out in its First Day Packet Information for Parents
and Students pamphlet. In actuality, students and
parents or guardians have until mid-November to opt
out, Ribble said.
"That is a very poor reason for not supplying the
form," Cervantes said. "The policy is inadequate."
Staff writer Mark Abramson can be reached at 736-2313,
Ext. 126, or by e-mail at "mailto:mabramson@...".

"http://www.lompocrecord.com" "

From the heart in the heart of the heartland. My groups :)   Disabled
Greens News and discussion, Group :)
""""http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/"""" ,
Abuse in Therapy, Group :)
""""http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/""""
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and
professionals: Invite link:
""""http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880"""" Homepage:
""""http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action""""
"Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a
painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Enjoy a
vernal eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget,
if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese sister, freedom,
will wither, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized
before its exercised. Viva la evolution!

Matutinally Yours,      james m nordlund   reality (aja) :)

Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. I
look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye. For those
interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or
happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal),
(Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess
of the dawn.)".

SAVE OUR COURTS: SAY NO TO THE NUCLEAR OPTION

http://capwiz.com/now/home/

"NOW activists across the country are leading an emergency campaign
to save our courts," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "We are sending a
message to the Senate that we will not allow the legacy of our courts
to be dictated by religious and political extremists." Read more |
Activist Toolkit

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
VAWA 2005 COULD CURB VIOLENCE IN GIRLS' LIVES

The landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 must be
reauthorized this year, and VAWA supporters expect the bill to
include language that addresses violence against young people. Our
nation cannot say it addresses violence unless we make sure there is
VAWA funding for youth violence prevention and treatment. Read more


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

COMBAT BAN WRONG MOVE, NOW PRESIDENT SAYS

NOW President Kim Gandy criticized action by a House military
subcommittee that would prohibit women from serving in support units
that assist in direct ground combat. This broad prohibition would
deny women access to thousands of positions currently open to them
and would constrain their promotion to higher ranks. Read more


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

THE TRUTH ABOUT GEORGE


Read the latest Bush outrages: his attacks on women's rights, civil
rights and domestic issues; what his cronies have been up to; plus,
fresh Bushisms! Read more


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

MORE RECOMMENDED READING

A Foolish Bargain for Women - Kim Gandy, Tom Paine
Virginity or Death! - Katha Pollitt, The Nation
Bad, Bad Janice Brown is Back - The Black Commentator
Limiting Options for Breast Implants - Jane Zones, San Francisco
Chronicle
Dr. Hager's Family Values - Ayelish McGarvey, The Nation
   NOW URGES SENATE TO REJECT LIFETIME APPOINTMENT FOR PRYOR

The Senate Judiciary Committee displayed its contempt for a wide
range of civil rights by giving a pass to judicial nominee William
Pryor," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "It is now up to the full
Senate to say 'no' to a lifetime appointment for this radical
ideologue." Read more


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

JOIN US AT THE NATIONAL NOW CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE!

  You don't want to miss the National NOW Conference in Nashville,
July 1-3. We're posting updated information on the web site every
day, including a preliminary agenda and a workshop preview, so check
it out! Read more | Register online!


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

SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS CALL FOR MORE WOMEN IN MATH, SCIENCE

More than 6,000 women scientists, engineers, educators and other
professionals urged Congress on Wednesday to remove barriers to women
and girls who want to enter the fields of math, engineering,
information technology, physics and other "hard sciences." Read more


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

HELP PROMOTE WOMEN'S RIGHTS — WORK AT THE NOW ACTION CENTER

Could you be NOW's next Internet Communications Coordinator?
Spreading our message via the web and email has never been more
important to the struggle for equality. Put your Internet, writing
and editing skills to use for NOW. Full description


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

UPCOMING APPEARANCES BY NOW OFFICERS

NOW President Kim Gandy is speaking at two exciting upcoming events,
the Media Reform Conference in St. Louis this weekend (you can watch
the live streaming video online) and the Take Back America Conference
in D.C. on June 3. More details


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

WANT TO DO MORE?

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Hi James,

It sounds most interesting and I wish I could attend; but I'm lucky
to be
able to attend and present at the PsySR-CSJ Conference next week in
Portland since I live on a fixed income and am located in Michigan.

I am currently working with several teens and younger children that
have
been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety attacks, panic attacks, bi-polar,
etc.
Most of them are on prescription meds.  The ones who are not on meds
and
are following specific diets, taking some supplements, etc. are doing
much
better than the ones on meds.  They do better in school and since I
am
working with both the kids and their parents in most cases, I can
teach them
how to better understand themselves and each other and how to resolve
conflicts which bring on the attacks with so many of them.  The ones
who are on
the meds have trouble concentrating and lack the motivation to learn.

More effort needs to be put into exploring alternative methods of
dealing
with such disorders, particularly with young children and teens.  I
wish
you and whomever the best with the conference.

Roberta Sprague


Dear Roberta Sprague, et al,

Hello. Good Day. Very cool responses, thanx! I hope you and yours are
well and will continue to be.  You say you can't go, neither can I,
due to diffabilities, health issues, fixed income, etc..  Yet, thanx
for sharing notes on your work and successes; it means a lot to those
struggling with the same, or similar issues!   Good luck with your
conference next week!  From the heart in the heart of the heartland.
Some of my groups :) Disabled Greens News and discussion, Group :)
""""http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/"""" ,
Abuse in Therapy, Group :)
""""http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/""""
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and
professionals: Invite link:
""""http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880"""" Homepage:
""""http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action""""
"Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a
painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Enjoy a
vernal eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget,
if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese sister, freedom,
will wither, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized
before its exercised. Viva la evolution!

Matutinally Yours,         james m nordlund   reality (aja) :)

Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. I
look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye. For those
interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or
happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal),
(Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess
of the dawn.)".

INDIANA: JUSTICE FOR THE LOVE OF "KATELYNN"
>    I am looking for an attorney, an advocate, or someone to advise
>me. My little one is being abused by a father and his new wife . The
>state has overlooked and downright ignores the abuse. THis is in
the
>face of overwhelming evidence that was never admitted in a court
>despite many to have it reviewed. THere were doctors reports,
>counselars, child advocates and even photographs of her being
>abused. THe CPS refused to even act on it even when her doctors and
>other professionals were calling on behalf of her safety. I am know
>threatened with jail for trying to protect her even in the face of
>the fact there are and have never been to my knowledge allegations
>of any kind of abuse against me .
>She was turned over to her abusive father and his wife . Her
brother
>and I have not been allowed to see her or even speak to her in many
>months. I have lost my savings, my house ,and  jobs trying to pay
>attorney and court costs trying to protect her and finally I face
>the real possibility of losing my freedom thus leaving her without
>anyone to fight this unfair system , she and her brother are
trapped
>in, on there behalf.
>So, I no we need help. I still believe there are people out there
>who stand up for what is right and I hope I will find you . If
there
>is anyone out there please let me know thank you for listening
>
>I do this for the love of "Katelynn"
>  alt: email addr:  rsvp_on@...
>
>Indiana
>
>TEARDROPS FOR KATELYNN
>"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear
>ourselves
>that if we as a people  last for a thousand years,
  people will still say,
>This was their finest hour!"
>
>""Still,
  if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win
>without bloodshed,
  if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and
>not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to
fight with
>all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.
>There may even be a worse case.
  You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory,
>because it is better to perish than live as slaves."
>~Winston Churchill
>

Non-Pharma Conference in LA, June 4-5
Announcing...

NON-PHARMA IV

"Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Mental Disorders"

15 hours of Continuing Medical Education for physicians

15 Continuing Educational Units for California nurses, LSCWs, and MFTs

Open to the general public as well.

Join Safe Harbor and the nation's leading voices on safe, non-drug
treatments for the mentally unwell.

When: Saturday, June 4, 2004, 8:30 AM to 6 PM; Sunday, June 5, 2004,
8:30
AM to 5:30 PM Glendale Hilton Hotel, Glendale, CA (just outside Los
Angeles).

The Hilton is next to downtown Glendale with an array of nearby
shopping,
restaurants, theaters, etc.

Fees: Before May 19: $140 for both days (lunch not included)

After May 19: $170 (lunch not included)

Day Rates Available

15 Hours of CMEs for physicians - $160 extra

15 Hours of CEUs for CA LCSW/MFTs and nurses - $60 extra

Register by phone - (323) 257-7338, email - SafeHarborProj@... or
online at:  https://nt7.corpsite.com/secure_alternative/donation.htm

Seating is limited!

With nearly a dozen speakers, presentations will include:

Vitamin D and Mental Health:  John Jacob Cannell, MD, Executive
Director,
Vitamin D Council, Psychiatrist, Atascadero State Hospital, with
little-known research on the pervasiveness of vitamin D deficiency.

The Crazy Makers:  How Food Additives and Processed Foods Contribute
to the
Rise in Mental Disorders:  Carol Simontacchi, MS, CCN, Nationally-
renowned
Author, Columnist, and Radio Host, speaking on the hazards of modern-
day
fast foods.

Neurotoxicity of Fluoride in our Water:  David Kennedy, DDS, past
president
of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and
world
lecturer on the safety of dental materials, examines the research on
how
fluoride and water fluoridation affect mental health

Mega-Trends in Psychiatric Diagnosis and Treatment:  What Your
Psychiatrist
Isn’t Telling You:  Stuart Shipko, MD, Pasadena psychiatrist and
author
of Surviving Panic Disorder, discusses how pharmaceutical marketing
affects
diagnosing practices amongst psychiatrists.

The Role of Infection and Xenobiotics (Toxins) in Behavior
Disorders:  Aristo Vojdani, PhD, immunology expert, author of over 90
scientific papers, holder of 10 patents and CEO of Immunoscience Lab.

The Integrative Medicine Approach to Depression and Anxiety – With
Case
Histories<:  Joseph Sciabbarrasi, MD, details his protocols in
treating
depression and anxiety from a holistic perspective.

Is It Mental or Is It Dental? – Part 2 - How Mercuryy Fillings, Root
Canals, Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome, and Other Dental
Issues
Affect Mental Health:  Raymond Silkman, DDS, practicing holistic
dentistry,
orthodontics, and treatment of TMJ and related disorders, returns to
our
conference by popular demand to further discuss the relationship of
dental
problems and mental health.

The Importance of Methylation in Psychiatric Disorders:  Nancy
Mullan, MD,
nutritional psychiatrist, Safe Harbor Medical Director, reviews one
of the
most critical nutritional biochemical cycles which, when faulty, can
contribute to autism, schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Natural Treatments for Postpartum Depression:  Nancy Lins, ND,
specialist
from Hawaii in postpartum health, on the common physical contributors
to
and nondrug solutions for the post-birth blues.

Can Visual Correction Improve Symptoms of ADHD, Anxiety, Depression,
Learning Disorders, and other Mental Symptomology?  Herbert Solomon,
OD,
presents his research spanning forty years on the remarkable
connection
between vision and mental health and how visual correction can
improve it.

Safe Harbor’s 2005 Recovery Panel:  6 people tell there personal
stories
of recovery without drugs.

And MUCH, MUCH more...

(ACAM-approved. Provider approved by the California Board of
Registered
Nursing, Provider Number 13857 for 15 contact hours – Course meets
the
qualifications for 15 hours oof continuing education credit for MFT
and/or
LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences – CA
BBS
Prov. No.: PC2516- No reffunds after May 27.)

swaneagle harijan wrote:
Solidarity and Sorrow of Sisters in Spirit
February 15, 2005
(Ottawa) - CAEFS joins the Native Women's Association of Canada

> February 15, 2005 (Ottawa) - CAEFS joins the Native Women's
> Association of Canada (NWAC) in expressing our outrage and dismay
at
> the cancellation yesterday of an anticipated announcement in
support
> of the thousands of family members who have lost daughters, nieces,
> sisters, aunties, mothers, or grandmothers. "It is a national
disgrace
> that there are so many hundreds of missing and murdered Aboriginal
> women in this country," stated the President of CAEFS, Dr. Ailsa M.
> Watkinson. "Now we have the added injustice of the Canadian
> government's apparent refusal to immediately ensure that those left
> behind have the resources to continue on. We stand in support of
> NWAC's initiatives aimed at ensuring that these women do not
continue
> to be forgotten and we especially support all efforts to prevent
more
> women from being disappeared. Canada must make this commitment now".
>
> "The colonial legacy of violence and abuse that is too often the
> experience of Aboriginal women must be stopped! NWAC's Sisters in
> Spirit Campaign is an important means of raising awareness about
the
> missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. We too call on the
> Canadian government to fulfill decades old commitments to address
and
> end violence against all women and to address the particularly
issues
> of violence against Aboriginal women," added Kim Pate, Executive
> Director of CAEFS. In Canada, Aboriginal women continue to suffer
the
> shameful and devastating impact of colonization. Approximately one
> third of the women serving two years or more in prison are
Aboriginal.
> In fact, Aboriginal women account for the overwhelming majority of
> women prisoners in some regions of the country despite making up
less
> than 2 per cent of the Canadian population.
>
> "There is no escaping the reality that many of them have direct
ties
> to the missing and murdered women. In fact, they are all too well
> aware that the criminalization of their attempts to survive in the
> increasingly inhospitable social and economic climate are direct
> contributors to the vulnerability that they and their sisters face
as
> Aboriginal women. On the street, their attempts to survive, to
> self-medicate and to cope with such realities result in their
further
> disenfranchisement and vulnerability, leading to increased risk of
> criminalization, imprisonment and/or death.
>
> The recommendations of Amnesty International's Stolen Sisters
report
> and the recommendations of Madam Justice Louise Arbour and the
> Canadian Human Rights Commission are far too indicative of the
amount
> of time and energy that has been spent on denying problems and
> defending inaction, rather than on going about the business of
> addressing and redressing historical discrimination and
devastation.
> We urge the Canadian government to take positive steps to redress
this
> situation by immediately supporting the Sisters in Spirit
Campaign,"
> continued Kim Pate.
>
> "CAEFS joins NWAC and others as we call on the Government of Canada
to
> end the devastating impact of this shameful legacy for Aboriginal
> women, whom we support in the continuing struggle for equality in
> Canada," concluded Dr. Watkinson.
>
> Contact:Kim Pate - Executive Director
> Dr. Ailsa Watkinson - President, Canadian Association of Elizabeth
Fry
> Societies
> Telephone: (613) 298-2422
> For more information, visit CAEFS' web site
<http://www.elizabethfry.ca/>
> Amnesty International's Stolen Sisters report
> <http://www.amnesty.ca/stolensisters/>
> Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) Sisters in Spirit
> <http://www.sistersinspirit.ca/>
> United Nations CEDAW Convention
<http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/>
> United Nations human rights instruments affecting women
> <http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/women/intstandards.htm>
>

The Women's Edge Coalition and the Academy for Educational
Development cordially invite you to  "Women, Development and the
Future"

Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, Winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

Friday, May 13, 2005, 9:00 - 10:30 AM

The Academy for Educational Development, Academy Hall
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 8th Floor

Tickets available at the door. $20 per person. This event is open to
the general public, please forward to all who may be interested.

This event is a fundraiser. All proceeds will go to support the Green
Belt Movement.

Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate of 2004, is
internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy,
human rights and environmental conservation. She is especially well
known as the founder of the Kenyan Green Belt Movement, which since
1977 has inspired ordinary Kenyan women to plant more than 30 million
trees on their farms and in school and church compounds across Kenya
to improve the quality of their life and environment. Their success
spawned a Pan-African Green Belt Network, which has empowered
communities in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia and
Zimbabwe. Professor Maathai is the first African woman to receive the
Nobel peace prize.

Women's Edge Coalition • 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW •Washington,
D.C., 20009
T: (202) 884-8396 • F: (202) 884-8366 • E: edge@... • W:
www.womensedge.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 800
Washington, District of Columbia 20009
United States

Act Now to Block Unjust Judges
Dear James M,

URGENT: Contact Your Senators Today

Use our toll-free number to contact your senators now:

1-888-355-3588

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and his allies could be just days
away from breaking Senate rules to railroad dangerous judicial
nominees into seats on federal courts. You must take action now.

Please call your senators now and urge them to reject Frist's move to
ram through these judges.

Use our toll-free number to contact your senators now:

1-888-355-3588

Frist wants to bar Senate Democrats—who are alarmed by the extreme,
out-of-the-mainstream records of some of President Bush's judicial
nominees—from using the filibuster to challenge and block the
extremist judges. The idea is so explosive it's called the "nuclear
option."  It reeks of a plain, ugly power grab—and the public's not
buying it. A recent poll shows two-thirds of Americans oppose
changing Senate rules just so Bush can get his way on these judges.

So Bush's supporters are pulling out all the stops now to win some
support—even claiming people like us who challenge extremist judicial
nominees are against "people of faith."

We need to stop this power grab before it's too late. Please call
your senators now.

Use our toll-free number to call your senators now:

1-888-355-3588

Federal judges are supposed to protect our rights. Do you trust these
people to do it?

Janice Rogers Brown, a California Supreme Court justice who calls
programs like Social Security "cannibalization" by senior citizens
and who argued the First Amendment protects the use of racial slurs
in the workplace.
Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, who said it's OK for
employers to make injured workers promise not to sue if they want to
collect certain medical benefits and who effectively tried to rewrite
Texas civil rights law to make it harder for workers to prove their
rights were violated.
William Myers, former solicitor of the Department of the Interior and
lobbyist for the mining, grazing and cattle industries, whose attacks
on environmental laws and sacred lands have earned unprecedented
opposition from environmentalists, Native Americans and others.
North Carolina District Court Judge Terrence Boyle, who has been
reversed more than 150 times—many times for "plain errors"— including
reversals in civil rights, voting rights, labor and disability
discrimination cases.
(Sources: www.civilrights.org; www.pfaw.org)

These are some of the people this fight is about. We must retain the
right to challenge dangerous judicial nominees the only way we can—
with the filibuster.

Judges are appointed for life and decide cases affecting the rights
of millions of workers. We need checks and balances on these
appointments to guard against extreme appointments.

Please act now: Call your senators and urge them to reject attempts
to take away the right to filibuster judicial nominees.

Use our toll-free number to call your senators now:

1-888-355-3588

Thanks for working hard for working families.

In solidarity,

Tracey Conaty
AFSCME e-Activist Network

P.S. Once you have called your senators, forward this message to
others who care about civil rights, workers' rights—all our rights—to
do the same.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
  Visit the Web address below to tell your friends how to take action
to stop the power grab.
  Tell-a-friend!

http://www.unionvoice.org/afscme/join.html?r=Bdaur6s1GqfIE

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for
AFSCME Action Center.

New Website w/Nader Campaign Photos
www.synthesisinstitute.net

This is my first-ever attempt at generating a web page.  It's a
rambling,
undifferentiated introduction to a very complex lifework which all
seems simple
to me.  I've been writing html script for years but this is a lot
different
than an ebay auction.  When I've learned how to make links and icons
I will sort
things out by categories, and of course there's lots of missing
information
and major unexplained programs.  I will also add links to other
useful sites
with common interests, published news articles & stuff like that.  It
will
probably be a couple of weeks before I have an opportunity to make
significant
changes, though.  Anybody know of good freeware to make web templates
that works in
Mac Classic environments?  I'm also planning to add a gallery of
photos from
the Nader campaign.  These are really fun---in retrospect, it seems
like no
matter how matter photos we took, it could not have been enough.  The
Nader
Campaign van shown is actually not the one I drove with Kelley
Smith.  It was a
special occasion when we had two vans parked together---Tom Unzicker
and Logan
Goolsby came across the Missouri from Council Bluffs to join us for
an event in
Omaha.  I'm not sure if that's Logan standing with his back to the
camera,
and there's another unnamed young man standing beside the
indefatigable Nebraska
team of Diana & Irma.  Best to everybody,

Michael Butler

The dogwood by the lake is in bloom today  and the grass beside the
lake is green and soft to my bare feet.  OK! OK!  The ground is still
too cold for bare feet, but how was I to know how soft the grass is
if I did not strip off sneakers and sox and try it?  It was bright
and sunny when I woke up this morning, but the weatherman  and the
current sky  portend rain.  I love spring rains that happen when I am
safe in my house, sipping a cup of hot chocolate and nibbling on a
piece of cheese.  I am not quite as happy with spring rains that fall
on my head, but today is a stay-at-home and sip hot chocolate day.
So let those rains come!

My grandkids are back with their parents, and the house is still and
silent.  I miss the little ones, and I am also happy they are gone.
It is amazing how our bodies and minds and souls can hold several
emotions all at once, even several contradictory ones.

The May issue of Autumn Leaves is in cyberspace as of right now.  It
is a small issue.  I decided it was more important to get it out in
time than it was to read all the poems that had been submitted to
me.  So you poets who submitted poems and have not heard from me, I
will be considering your poems for the July 2005 issue.

Autumn Leaves can be found at http://www.sondra.net/al/

Each of you take really good care of yourselves!  And have a great
spring!

sondra
http://www.sondra.net/al/

Dear James M,

This Mother's Day, let us reclaim the original sentiment of the
holiday by rising up to demand: "Stop the killing now!"

As we were preparing our Mother's Day call to action this weekend, we
received a phone call from Marla Ruzicka's mother. She told us that
Marla had just been killed by a car bomb in Iraq. Marla, a passionate
advocate for peace, was with us on our first CODEPINK visit to Iraq
in 2003 and chose to stay on to help the innocent victims of the war.

Yet again we are brought to our knees with grief. Marla was family to
us. On this Mother's Day, thoughts of Marla and her mother Nancy flow
together with the stories of American Mother's whose children have
been killed while serving in this war, and all the grieving mothers
in Iraq. All have suffered terribly from this war. Filled with
despair and determination, a voice inside us shouts: STOP THE
KILLING.

This call to Stop the Killing is, indeed, the message of abolitionist
Julia Ward Howe, who in 1870 issued the original Mother's Day
proclamation calling on women to rise up against war. "We women of
one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow
our sons to be trained to injure theirs," Julia said. (click here to
read the complete proclamation)

http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=217

This Mother's Day, let us transform Julia's words into action. Here
are several ideas:

1. Vigil or protest at your local recruiting station on Saturday, May
7th, the day before Mother's Day. We have created a guide for you
that includes background information on the counter-recruitment
movement and suggestions for actions, chants, banner ideas and
educational links. Invite your mom, sister, children and other
activists in your community to join. Please contact us with your
plans so we can announce your action in our national press release.
We hope to have 30 actions happening around the country on May 7th.

2. Sign the Mother's Day Pledge that you will honor the world's
mothers by devoting time during the year to actions against war. We
have 10 ideas to get you started.

3. Write an anti-war op-ed for your newspaper or letter to the editor
to educate people about the true origins of Mother's Day. If you
write and submit a piece early -- like now! -- you'll have a better
chance of getting it printed.

4. Get your mother a gift that fits your values and supports the work
of CODEPINK. Visit our on-line store for ideas or our special
Mother's Day gift packages. You may place orders up to May 2nd, 2005.

Whatever you do, please take some action on Mother's Day to
commemorate the true meaning of this day, to continue Marla's work on
behalf of innocent victims, and to end the insanity of sacrificing
our children to war.

With tender hearts....,
Farida, Gael, Grace, Jodie, Medea, Rae, Tiffany and Willow

MINDFREEDOM NEWS RELEASE - 18 April 2005
http://www.MindFreedom.org - IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       Advocates Protest the Drug Industry's
       "Take Over of the Mental Health System."

Representatives of mental health and
consumer advocacy groups from throughout the
USA will hold a peaceful protest and press
conference in front of the headquarters of
the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and
Researchers of America (PhRMA).

Protesters allege that, "The drug industry has
taken over the mental health system. And we
want it back."

MindFreedom International is sponsoring the
legal protest at 12 noon on Monday, May 2, 2005
at PhRMA; 1100 Fifteenth Street, NW;
Washington, DC, USA.

"Join us and tell PhRMA to stop supporting
forced psychiatric drugging! Tell PhRMA to be
truthful about the clinical trials and
side-effects of the medications that their
member companies are profiting from!" said
Krista Erickson, board member of MindFreedom
International.

Another protest speaker, attorney Jim
Gottstein of the Law Project for Psychiatric
Rights in Alaska, said, "PhRMA represents the
Big Lie of Big Pharma, which should be called
to account for its despicable sacrifice of
people on the altar of corporate profits."

~~~~~~~

     A COMPLETE INFO CENTER ON THE PhRMA PROTEST
     including downloadable news release, poster,
     background, and MindFreedom letter to PhRMA
     is now on web at http://www.MindFreedom.org

~~~~~~~

       WHY PROTEST PhRMA?

On March 3, 2005, MindFreedom International
wrote a letter to PhRMA with the following
five requests. PhRMA never responded.

1. Issue a public statement condemning the
involuntary administration of psychotropic
drugs to any person;

2. Issue a public statement that PhRMA and
its member companies will cease and desist
from misrepresenting the true nature of
research findings on psychotropic drugs and
covering up evidence of the harm they do and
the hazards they create;

3. Issue a public statement asking PhRMA's
member companies to cease and desist from
presenting advertisements that contain false
and misleading suggestions that psychotropic
drugs correct chemical imbalances in the
brain;

4. Issue a public statement asking PhRMA's
member companies to cease and desist from
providing financial support to organizations
that promote involuntary psychiatric
treatment, and;

5. Meet prior to March 31, 2005 with
representatives of our organization to
address these concerns.

       ADVOCATES FROM THROUGHOUT USA
       TO SPEAK AT PhRMA PROTEST

Following a news conference, protest
speakers at the MindFreedom 2 May 2005
protest of PhRMA include:

Leah Harris had what she calls, "A
psychiatrized childhood and adolescence," and
is the daughter of two parents diagnosed with
mental illness. She serves on the boards of
National Association for Rights Protection
and Advocacy and Mental Disability Rights
International, and has facilitated and
presented workshops at local and national
conferences. She lives in Washington, DC and
is currently writing a memoir entitled
_Generation Rx_.

Jim Gottstein has been practicing law in
Alaska for 25 years, including being an
attorney advocate for people labeled with
serious mental illness. Among many other
things, he served as plaintiffs' counsel in
the billion dollar litigation over Alaska's
theft of the one million acre Alaska Mental
Health Trust. Mr. Gottstein now devotes his
time pro bono to the Law Project for
Psychiatric Rights
(http://www.PsychRights.org) , whose mission
is to organize a serious, coordinated legal
effort around the country against forced
psychiatric drugging.

George Ebert writes, "I am a former
psychiatric system detainee, a survivor of
psychiatric atrocities, and am familiar with
the horrific effects of several psychiatric
drugs. I have worked as an advocate and
activist with the Mental Patients Liberation
Alliance (in New York State) for over 25
years. I have two children and four
grandchildren."

Krista Erickson of Illinois is a blind
cross-disability activist and psychiatric
survivor who serves on the board of
MindFreedom International, and is chair of
the Action Conference.

Larry Plumlee, MD is a graduate of Johns
Hopkins medical school, and served on the
faculty there in the Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences.

Al Galves, PhD, a licensed psychologist in
Colorado and on the board of MindFreedom
International.

Vince Boehm, psychiatric survivor advocate
from Delaware, is a veteran of the Fast for
Freedom hunger strike.

David Oaks is a psychiatric survivor and
director of MindFreedom International. This
is his 29th year working as an activist for
human rights in the mental health system. He
lives in Eugene, Oregon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more information and to join MindFreedom
go to http://www.MindFreedom.org or phone
541-345-9106 or e-mail office@....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MindFreedom International is a non-profit
coalition uniting 100 grassroots groups
campaigning for human rights and alternatives
in the mental health system, and is accredited
by the United Nations as a Non Governmental
Organization with Consultative Roster Status.

MindFreedom is 100 percent independent with
no funding from government, mental health
systems, drug companies or religions.

MindFreedom is holding an Action Conference
29 April to 1 May 2005 at the American
University Washington College of Law.

NOTE: The deadline for registration for the
Action Conference is *this* Thur., 21 April 2005.

- end -

       PLEASE FORWARD & POST to all appropriate
       places on and off the Internet TODAY!

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Call to Action, April 29, 2005

Stop Housing Bill Which Will Harm Lowest Income Families

Call all Senators and Representatives toll free (888)818-6641.
(Ask to speak to staffperson who covers housing.)

TELL THEM YOU STRONGLY OPPOSE the State and Local Housing Flexibility
Act
and YOU WANT CONGRESS TO REJECT IT!

Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) has introduced HUD's "State and Local
Housing
Flexibility Act of 2005" (SLHFA) in the Senate (S. 771) on April 13,
2005
and Representative Gary Miller (R-CA) introduced companion
legislation, H.R.
1999, in the House on April 28, 2005.

SLHFA will drastically change how affordable housing programs operate
and
reduce the number of extremely low income families and individuals -
those
with incomes below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) - who will benefit
from
public housing and the Section 8 voucher program.  WE MUST STOP THIS
BILL!

SLHFA will make the following changes in Public and Assisted Housing,
among
others:

Income Targeting:

SLHFA allows 90% of vouchers to go to households with incomes up to
60% of
area median.  Nationally, 84% of severely cost burdened households
have
incomes below 30% of area median income.  Today, at least 75% of
voucher
must go to households with incomes below 30% AMI.  The bill
represents a
mismatch between known housing needs and use of federal resources.

Rents:

In both the public housing and voucher programs, the bill would allow
rents
to no longer be tied to incomes, which currently keeps rents
affordable to
low income people.  The bill would allow housing authorities to
establish
their own rent policies, which may or may not be affordable to people
with
low income households.

Time Limits

The bill allows housing authorities to establish time limits for
participating in the voucher program.

Portability:

The bill greatly restricts portability and poses other serious fair
housing
and civil rights problems.  On portability, only certain housing
authorities
could port voucher to other authorities, and even then only with a
written
agreement.

Enhanced Vouchers:

Currently, residents are protected with enhanced vouchers if owners
of HUD
multifamily properties prepay on their mortgages or opt out of
renewing
project-based Section 8 contracts, Under SLHFA, enhanced vouchers
will only
be good for one year then they are converted to regular tenant-based
vouchers. Over 60,000 tenants with enhanced vouchers would be forced
to move
and find housing they can afford with a regular voucher.

Moving to Work

Any housing authority could apply to be a Moving to Work site.  As
such,
most housing requirements would no longer apply or could be waived
(except
for public housing demolition/disposition rules).  A housing
authority's
funds could be transferred and/or merged between the public housing
operating and subsidy funds and the voucher program.

See NLIHC website for more information on this legislation's impact
on low
income families. Please report back on your calls to Craig Stevens at
craig@....

National Low Income Housing Coalition

727 15th Street, N.W, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 2005 (202) 662-1530
www.nlihc.org
Call to Action
April 29, 2005

Stop Housing Bill Which Will Harm Lowest Income Families

Call all Senators and Representatives toll free (888)818-6641.
(Ask to speak to staffperson who covers housing.)

TELL THEM YOU STRONGLY OPPOSE the State and Local Housing Flexibility
Act
and YOU WANT CONGRESS TO REJECT IT!

Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) has introduced HUD's "State and Local
Housing
Flexibility Act of 2005" (SLHFA) in the Senate (S. 771) on April 13,
2005
and Representative Gary Miller (R-CA) introduced companion
legislation, H.R.
1999, in the House on April 28, 2005.

SLHFA will drastically change how affordable housing programs operate
and
reduce the number of extremely low income families and individuals -
those
with incomes below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) - who will benefit
from
public housing and the Section 8 voucher program.  WE MUST STOP THIS
BILL!

SLHFA will make the following changes in Public and Assisted Housing,
among
others:

Income Targeting:

SLHFA allows 90% of vouchers to go to households with incomes up to
60% of
area median.  Nationally, 84% of severely cost burdened households
have
incomes below 30% of area median income.  Today, at least 75% of
voucher
must go to households with incomes below 30% AMI.  The bill
represents a
mismatch between known housing needs and use of federal resources.

Rents:

In both the public housing and voucher programs, the bill would allow
rents
to no longer be tied to incomes, which currently keeps rents
affordable to
low income people.  The bill would allow housing authorities to
establish
their own rent policies, which may or may not be affordable to people
with
low income households.

Time Limits

The bill allows housing authorities to establish time limits for
participating in the voucher program.

Portability:

The bill greatly restricts portability and poses other serious fair
housing
and civil rights problems.  On portability, only certain housing
authorities
could port voucher to other authorities, and even then only with a
written
agreement.

Enhanced Vouchers:

Currently, residents are protected with enhanced vouchers if owners
of HUD
multifamily properties prepay on their mortgages or opt out of
renewing
project-based Section 8 contracts, Under SLHFA, enhanced vouchers
will only
be good for one year then they are converted to regular tenant-based
vouchers. Over 60,000 tenants with enhanced vouchers would be forced
to move
and find housing they can afford with a regular voucher.

Moving to Work

Any housing authority could apply to be a Moving to Work site.  As
such,
most housing requirements would no longer apply or could be waived
(except
for public housing demolition/disposition rules).  A housing
authority's
funds could be transferred and/or merged between the public housing
operating and subsidy funds and the voucher program.

See NLIHC website for more information on this legislation's impact
on low
income families. Please report back on your calls to Craig Stevens at
craig@....

National Low Income Housing Coalition

727 15th Street, N.W, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 2005 (202) 662-1530
www.nlihc.org

Mothers Acting Up News   1 week before the BIG DAY
Dear james m,

Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now, recently encouraged her audience
to "go where the silence is". MAU translates this as the need for
each of us to TALK TO EACH OTHER--in small towns and supermarkets,
health clubs & book clubs, on buses & airplanes. Given the
misinformation of our day--it is essential we educate each other on
issues central to our children's future. Issues like the environment,
health & education policies and the U.S. relationship with the rest
of the world. There is not a better way to inspire, invite and
educate our communities than to host a Mother's Day event on May 8th!
In the spirit of Julia Ward Howe, may we dedicate ourselves on
Mother's Day to calling all mothers to ARISE! We have the tools to
ensure the well-being of children, now let's awaken the mama power to
make it happen.

In this issue

  Heat up the glue guns
Put up the posters
How to Connect the Dots
Connecting with Condi

Put up the posters

There are 3 weeks left to create something wonderful for this
Mother's Day - PLENTY OF TIME. Decide what it is that inspires (no,
that word doesn't mean overwhelm) you, and then put up the attached
2005 Mother's Day poster, inviting hoards of shakin' & movin' mamas
to join you. Parade down main street, have a neighborhood potluck or
invite all mothers you know to a celebratory brunch and start
planning a year of action. Email MAU for ideas, concerns &
embarrassingly exuberant encouragement.

Download the Poster!

How to Connect the Dots

Once you have successfully invited your community to join you, AND
they've shown up in droves, (free cake is irresistible) what do you
do with all that passion? TAKE ACTION! The Connecting the Dots
Resource Pages offer 6 actions on: Health, Safety, Education, the
Environment, Voting with our Dollars and International Cooperation.
Use them however the spirit moves you--pick one, or use all 6. They
are applicable whether you've decided to have family and friends over
for lunch, set up a card table in front of your local grocery store,
have a public picnic in the town park, or host a full blown parade.

Download RESOURCE PAGES!

Connecting with Condi

This year MAU is Connecting the Dots with Secretary Condoleezza Rice,
sending her postcards that compare U.S. military spending with
funding for child survival programs (warning: it's an obscene
comparison). This collective action is not to be missed and we'd love
to send all event planners & every other MAU complimentary postcards!
While there may be no such thing as a free lunch, collective actions
are free AND life changing!

Order your Condi postcards!

  Heat up the glue guns

HISTORY IN THE MAKING! From St. Paul to the Bronx, from parades to
potlucks, from tumble weeds to skyscrapers, mothers are organizing to
blow the socks off this Mother's Day.

The 2005 MAU Mother's Day events will be mass celebrations of the
desire and ability of mothers to protect & nurture our children.
Because we live in a globalized economy & environment, this doesn't
simply mean making sure our children eat a healthy lunch and look
both ways before crossing the street, it means recognizing that our
children's lives are interconnected with children all over the world.
It means Connecting the Dots.

Start envisioning your event today. Remember that the first MAU
parade was hosted by 4 mothers with small children and only 2 working
glue guns. It can be a picnic in the park or a three-ring circus; the
only essential criteria are that you plan an event that inspires YOU.
Everything else is either in the Parade Packet or a phone call/email
away! We are waiting, with barely contained excitement, to be your
stalwart cheerleaders.

There won't be a brunch on the planet worth missing these Mother's
Day celebrations.

What are YOU doing?

Quick Links...
MAU & NOW YOU MOMbo!

CodePink's New Book: Stop the Next War Now

Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie

Here's How to Host Your Mother's Day Event!

Join our mailing list!

email: beheard@...
phone: (303)474-1286
web: http://www.mothersactingup.org
*mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care
over someone smaller

Forward email

This email was sent to jamesmnordlund@..., by
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Mothers Acting Up | PO Box 1244 | Boulder | CO | 80306-1244