"The greatest freedom is the freedom of the human spirit: Without it, we are never free from being prisoners of our own minds." ~ Patty Ann Smith
The Sea
"The pull is so strong we will not believe
the drawing tide is meant for us,
I mean the gift, the sea,
the place where all the rivers meet.
Easy to forget,
how the great receiving depth
untamed by what we need
needs only what will flow its way..."
~ some lines from a poem by David Whyte
A New Year
Speak your Truth
Be good to each other
Celebrate everything that is sacred
Take nothing personally
Struggle exists only in your attitude
~ Hopi
May the New Year Bring Beauty, Peace, and Truth
To All of Our Lives
A Prayer For The Victims of The Earthquake and Tsunami In Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,Thailand and The Entire Region
Final Vision
Life is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of the buffalo in the winter.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.
~ Crowfoot (Native American)
Transformation
In a blade of grass,
a twig, a leaf,
so many changes are going on.
Some parts are spiraling
into birth and growth
and others, the process of decay.
But, the pulse of life
does not stop.
Each form dies only
to be born again.
~ a poem by Patty Ann Smith
Love, Peace and Simplicity
The latest shock and awe of the Iraq War are the killings in Mosul. Every time I can't endure another story like that...another one occurs. For those of us who are used to participating in "Christmas", maybe our trees should be covered with yellow ribbons instead of candy canes. My own little "environmentally friendly" tree will simply have lights...Lights mean "hope" to me, and one of my hopes is that the rest of our troops come home soon and safe! It is not safe for them anywhere else but home. For the sake of our humanity, we must pray and keep on hoping.
The deaths of so many soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere this year are changing the meaning of Christmas in the 21st century. The commercial "crap" just isn't going to cut it when it comes to any ONE soldier's life. And, the fact is that none of us will ever be the same again...because every violent death, every starving child, every mistreated and abused human being, every tortured soul is part of "us". Many of us feel it and know it, and others don't...but, nonetheless, it's true!
In order for our species to survive, we need to graduate from the "commercial" emphasis in our lives and become more loving and caring of "all creatures great and small" so that our children and grandchildren will not have their lives cut short.
We cause our own suffering by the choices we make. And, the transformational shift that we need so desperately to make right now is one from "excess" to a current day version of Christ-like "simplicity". I'd like to encourage you to cut-back on any "excessive" thinking (and the operative word here is "excessive") about material things and replace it with some thoughts about our troops and their families being reunited soon and safely. What better way is there to honor the birth of Jesus who symbolizes Love, Peace and Simplicity than by making our own lives more like that. And...if we can... sacrifice some of our time, energy or resources to do something for our soldiers or their families, or others who are suffering in another way perhaps without food, shelter, or enough clothing. Why not make this Christmas a more meaningful and spiritual one that will bring more peace to this world.
Introducing A BRAND NEW Website: Spiritual Earth Coalition.Com
...Set up to enhance and confirm the vision of a Spiritual Earth.
Spiritual Earth Coalition is affiliated with Hope 4 America.blogspot.com, Patty Ann Smith.com, Spiritual Earth.blogspot.com, and soon to be developed "Spiritual Earth.org". (It is NOT AFFILIATED with any other website with the words "spiritual earth" in their name or web address.)
Please click here to visit my new addition:
The Missing Link For Peace Is The Spiritual Earth
I have seen enough of the "World" to be able to make a conscientious choice to observe it and depict it from my own perspective. I choose to depict it as a Spiritual Earth and, therefore, seek messages that enhance and confirm this vision.
I have seen alcoholism, I have seen drug addiction, I have seen how diabetes can destroy a body until there is nothing left but death, I have seen a father and a brother come back from wars and how they handled the rest of their lives carrying with them what they had to do, I've been a child whose father was away for almost a year at a time...knowing he might never return, and with a faith that only a child could have...give him a little religious medal to carry in his pocket to keep him safe. Believing without seeing is so much easier for children...it is truly part of the grace of God. I have felt the confusion and pain of children of divorced parents, of children of alcoholic parents, I understand the feeling of abandonment whether a parent is present or not.
And, what are we most likely to hold onto in our worst moments..."something spiritual". Something spiritual to rid us of our addictions, something spiritual to rid us of the pain of our losses...something spiritual to simply make life better...
Please read more at my NEW! website:
www.spiritualearthcoalition.com
and my NEW! Blog:
www.spiritualearth.blogspot.com
My Hope 4 America Blog will continue as usual as well!
Memories of My Father
It's hard to let go of childhood
and embrace adulthood completely.
Memories become more and more important
with each passing year that a parent is still alive.
I know my father is elderly
but the essence of our familiar bond
is magically so much the same.
I'll miss him when he's no longer here.
I can't hold onto earlier years
of our beginnings together,
because they have long since been gone.
But, what remains in my heart's memory
has and will continue
to shape and form
my art, my music,
my self expression,
my life...for as long as I live.
~ Patty Ann Smith
The Red-Tailed Hawks of New York City
Pale Male and Lola, a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks, will be allowed to build their nest again high atop a NYC apartment building. You can see some great pictures and read the story of these magnificent creatures by clicking here: www.palemale.com
"BEFORE HE WENT TO WAR"
This is a song I wrote about my brother, Bob, a Vietnam Vet who died in 2003.
I dedicate this song to all of our troops both past and present.
Click here to download free at Scrub Records: http://scrubrecords.com//artists/918/
This Sacred Earth
Nothing can be more sacred than the Earth that gives us all the resources we need to survive, and, therefore, it's hard to believe that anyone, unless they were mentally disturbed, would want to destroy their physical and spiritual sustenance. Yet, when we abuse the Earth, that's exactly what we do, which is comparable to abusing our own mother. There would have to be some terrible misunderstanding in order for that to happen.
Often, abuse of anything is simply about not having enough information to assess a situation correctly. And, without the right information, we can become confused and afraid and then angry. Our minds begin to create one wrong impression after another, soon to become uncontrollable misunderstanding which lights the flames for abuse. And, the unfortunate end result is that abuse becomes the norm.
When we understand the truth, most of us automatically do the right thing. Our hearts open up, the confusion of our mind is abandoned and the loving caring part of us takes over. Some of us need to think about that when it comes to our own mothers, but a lot of us need to think about it when it comes to our own Earth.
The greatest success mankind can have is to have a healthy environment in which to live, fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, and safe food to eat. We need to work much harder to make this happen.
"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man." ~ Stewart Udall, former Secretary of the Interior
~ Patty Ann Smith
Planetary Consciousness
"Saying the planet is at risk from human activity, Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai urged democratic reforms and an end to corporate greed when she collected the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday." ~ Reuters News
"Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system."
"We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own."
Wangari Maathai
Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize
A Father's Love
The Foundation named in the memory of Daniel Pearl, the journalist who was slain in Pakistan almost three years ago, was created by his father. Judea Pearl tells others that"Through words and music, Danny communicated humor, joy and understanding in many corners of the world." And, he speaks of how the foundation promotes cross-cultural understanding through journalism and music.
Inspiring peace and understanding, the Daniel Pearl Foundation includes fellowships in American newsrooms to reporters from the Muslim world. J. Pearl believes that we cannot fight terrorism without the help of moderate Muslim's minimizing and marginalizing their own extreme elements. He says that when he sits down across the table from Muslims, they respect what he's trying to do and they see his son as a symbol of their fight against their own extremists.
Judea Pearl admired his son whose life was filled with passion, music and conversation..."Danny really loved people and strongly believed in loving your fellow human being."
On October 8, 2004, The Third Annual Daniel Pearl Music Day, a global celebration of Harmony for Humanity, took place with nearly 300 concerts in more than 30 countries! ~ Patty Ann Smith
Inspired by: Paula Zahn (CNN) interview and Stuart A. Hirsch article (INDYSTAR)
The Hope That Life Continues
Since Hope 4 America is about reconnecting through art, nature, and cultures...it is fitting for me to continue on the topic of the new CD, POWWOWIRAQSI, by anonyMoses. It's a powerful piece of musical art, and I can't seem to say enough about it. Because, although it depicts the harshest reality of war...after listening to the last track entitled "Final Strains", I was left with a peace-filled spiritual feeling.
I was left thinking that one way or another, our physical and spiritual bodies journey through life together to the very end, and that the unbroken circle of birth, life, death, and rebirth is the hope that life continues.
Listening to this CD is a rich emotional experience that noone should miss! ~ Patty Ann Smith
For further information about this CD, go to the artist's blog: www.anonyMoses.blogspot.com
Can You Taste The Tears?
This is not the heartbeat of the Earth.
Can you hear the fear, can you taste the tears?
Can you smell the blood, can you touch the wounds?
This is the adrenalin rush of mankind at war with itself...
The death throws of a failed experiment.
Hope and despair living in the same body at the same time...
an impossible task
that must be altered.
Otherwise, there will be merciful silence for the Earth in the end
and...no more children to build a future for.
~ Patty Ann Smith
Inspired by POWWOWIRAQSI, a new original musical composition by David K. Beckwith. Please go to David's site, www.anonyMoses.blogspot.com, or www.iddybud.blogspot.com to download the MP3.
Our Common Humanity
"We all do better when we work together.
Our differences "do" matter,
but...our common humanity matters more."
~ William Jefferson Clinton
at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library
November 18, 2004
Stand For What You Believe In
"Our deeds still travel
with us from afar,
and what we have been
makes us what we are."
~ George Eliot
"If you ever want to win again, then stand for something,
stand for what you believe in."
~ Howard Dean
Love Can Build A Bridge
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
song by Cher
War Is The Biggest Sin
...because it includes all the sins that exist. And, I think it pretty much cleans house when it comes to breaking ALL of the Ten Commandments, too.
Save The U.N....Save The World
The U.N. represents multicultural and ethnic diversity, and the neocons have clearly demonstrated that they have no respect for and, in fact, are hell-bent on destroying ethnic diversity. They either want to make every nation Judeo-Christian or every nation a "so-called" democracy...or both. Why would they NOT want to destroy the integrity of the U.N. when the United Nations actually means a vast diversity of people coming together to work things out...in mutual respect of each others cultures, customs, and needs. This makes the U.N. the exact opposite of the worst characteristics of mankind: intolerance, segregation, and prejudice...which certain groups and individuals are dedicated to proselityzing and using to promote war.
Intentions are everything. And despite human flaws, the intentions of the United Nations have always been World Peace.
A Month After The Elections
The Kerry-Edwards web site is still up and "active".
The Federal Election Commission has just granted their request to raise funds immediately to cover recount expenses.
"The attorneys representing the Kerry-Edwards campaign will be joining legal proceedings in defense of Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb, Libertarian Michael Badnarik and their legal counsel, The National Voting Rights Institute who are seeking a recount of all votes cast for president in the Ohio 2004 general election." ~ from: www.whyareweback.blogspot.com
Contributing to the Kerry-Edwards 2004 General Election Legal and Accounting Compliance Fund (GELAC) provides important support for a successful recount.
If you'd like to make a contribution, go to: www.johnkerry.com
A Simple Life Of Simple Gifts
"We fill the hands and nurseries of our children with all manner of dolls, drums and horses, withdrawing their eyes from...nature, the sun and moon, the animals, the water and stones which should be their toys." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
And, often in these modern times:
"...we are robbed of that rare and wonderful satisfaction that comes with personal accomplishment. In early times, nearly every single thing a person touched was the result of his own efforts. The cloth of his clothing, the meal on the table, the chair he sat in, and the floor he walked upon, all were made by the user. This is why those people had an extraordinary awareness of life...so full of inner satisfaction, so grateful for life and all that went with it." ~ Eric Sloane
"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts, of life are not only dispensable, but hindrances to the elevation of mankind." ~ Henry David Thoreau
"The greatest wealth is to live content with little." ~ Plato
"Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can ~ no need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man." ~ John Lennon
A Poem For All Seasons
In these hard times, when we all can use a little more "hope", I have appreciated Jude Nagurney Camwell's poem, "A Miracle Complete". It has helped me to stay in contact with my "spirit within". To read her beautiful poem, click here: www.iddybud.blogspot.com/2004_11_22_iddybud_archive.html
One Thing That Is Constant In Life Is Change
We are all travelers
on the vast and shifting sands of time.
We are all inconsequential and important,
very small and very large.
Our transitions are like octaves
building brilliantly upon each other.
~ Julia Cameron
"The Artists Way"
Would You Like To Know Something About Feng-Shui?
A post at TAS, by anonyMoses, entitled "Feng Shui & Falluja" gives some thought provoking ideas on how to create Heaven on Earth.
Our Art
All of life is a work of art that each of us create everyday. All of life is a struggle to achieve awareness; and that struggle to be fully awake and alive to all things around us...is our art. ~ Christopher Childs
Whenever You HelpTo Relieve Some Of The Suffering
Always remember that when you help to improve things in the world ~ to make things better ~ to help the Earth or help relieve some of the suffering of humanity, you carry with you...hope for the entire world. ~ Patty Ann Smith
The Deterioration Of A Nation Is In The Hands Of A Man
"...A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.
Having realized it, he admits it.
Having admitted it, he corrects it.
He considers those who point out his faults
as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he himself casts.
If a nation is centered in the Tao,
if it nourishes its own people
and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others,
it will be a light to all nations in the world.
~ Tao Te Ching
A Health Care Plan For Every Child
"Every parent knows the fear of waking up to the cries of a sick baby or a child with an ear infection that will not go away.
...But, far too many parents have another fear, on top of their child's health. They worry that a sick child means financial ruin. There are more that eight million uninsured children in our nation.
...Children deserve a good start ~ with both high quality education and health care. Under our plan, every child in America will have health insurance, and every parent will have a little more peace of mind." ~ John Kerry
To read more and sign a petition supporting John Kerry's Health Care Plan for Every Child, click-on: www.johnkerry.com/petition/everychild.php
Inca Legend
Inca Legend tells of a time when the world is turned upside down, and a new consciousness emerges from it because we go within to know ourselves and heal the wounds of the past.
What Will Our Story Be?
It is the experiences we share with each other and the stories that we tell about those experiences that, after being told over and over again from one generation to another, becomes part of a larger eternal story about mankind.
From Dr. Albert Schweitzer
"I am certain and have always stressed
that the destination of mankind is to become more and more humane.
The ideal of humanity has to be revived."
~ Albert Schweitzer
The Ongoing Good Work of Dennis Kucinich
One of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich's speeches entitled:
"America: A New Spirit...A New Generation of Peace"
The Value of Peace
"To see the earth as it truly is, small and blue in that eternal silence where it floats, is to see riders on the earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold...brothers who know now they are truly brothers." ~ Archibald McLeish
"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." ~ Carl Sandburg
"When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind." ~ J. Krishnamurti
In Pursuit Of A Cure
We must stay vigilant about the politicians.
We must stay vigilant about the media.
We must stay vigilant about any religion that exhibits destructive behavior in regard to the Earth's survival and Mankind.
We must stay vigilant about counting the votes.
And, we musn't forget to also stay vigilant in finding a cure for the "Dis-Ease" that has fallen upon America.
Today Is Veterans Day...Remember All Of Them
What can anyone say when we had hoped that war would be a thing of the past by the time we reached the 21st century. Sadly, this did not come to pass. So, may all those who are serving now...remain out of harms way until we can bring you safely home.
God Bless All
Patty Ann Smith
From "Where The Heart Is"
"...Our lives can change with every breath we take...Let go of what's gone. Hold on like hell to what you've got. Each other. We've all got meanness in us, but we've got goodness, too. And, the only thing worth living for is the goodness..."
Wrapped In Swaddling Clothes
A little boy, wounded and lying in a hospital in Iraq:
"...never did a godforsaken thing to deserve what he got...
...In his forlorn and pained face is the face of God..your God and mine and his God, too.
'Whatsoever ye do to the least of my brethren, that ye do unto Me.'
That little boy suffers at OUR hands, sure as you're born."
~ Jude Nagurney Camwell www.iddybud.com
"...never did a godforsaken thing to deserve what he got...
...In his forlorn and pained face is the face of God..your God and mine and his God, too.
'Whatsoever ye do to the least of my brethren, that ye do unto Me.'
That little boy suffers at OUR hands, sure as you're born."
~ Jude Nagurney Camwell www.iddybud.com
From Ralph Waldo Emerson
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
For Those Of Us Who Are Still Grieving...We Are Not Alone
A friend of mine who lives in Massachusetts just told me that Wednesday, November 3, turned into a day of mourning in her state. People were so grief-stricken that classes and other activities had to be cancelled all around the state. Their State Senator, John Kerry, who had so much to offer in a New Direction...including hope for the poor, the jobless, and uninsured who also live in Massachusetts...Was NOT elected President of the United States of America.
And there are places all around the country that grieved like that, too,...even some who had to do it "silently".
And there are places all around the country that grieved like that, too,...even some who had to do it "silently".
Today Is A New Beginning
The Election results were devastatingly disappointing....but today, is a new beginning here. And, I thank God that John Kerry will, at least, still be in the Senate FOR US!
I'd like to direct you to my actual Web Site: www.pattyannsmith.com ...which might be comforting and relaxing for you in some way, today.
From John Kerry
"This IS the most important election of our lives!"
a few excerpts from his message on November 1 in the Boston Globe and his Democratic National Convention Speech:
"...Whatever our faith, one belief should bind us all: the measure of our character is our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country."
"...Christopher Reeve...imagined living in a world where politics would never get in the way of hope."
"On Tuesday, Americans face a fundamental choice: We can choose to continue the failed policies of the past four years -- or we can vote for a fresh start for America."
"John Edwards and I will take this country in a new direction."
"If you join with me on Tuesday...together, we will lift up this nation with the confidence that our best days are still ahead."
"...Whatever our faith, one belief should bind us all: the measure of our character is our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country."
"...Christopher Reeve...imagined living in a world where politics would never get in the way of hope."
"On Tuesday, Americans face a fundamental choice: We can choose to continue the failed policies of the past four years -- or we can vote for a fresh start for America."
"John Edwards and I will take this country in a new direction."
"If you join with me on Tuesday...together, we will lift up this nation with the confidence that our best days are still ahead."
We Have Guardian Angels Watching Over Us In America As We Vote For A New Direction For Our Country
It's time to play some music and celebrate our people as they vote.
Victory and Peace,
Patty Ann Smith
Two Quotes For Today
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones." ~ John Cage
"The world will not be inherited by the strongest, it will be inherited by those most able to change." ~ Charles Darwin
Remember This...
LARGE Government = DEMOCRACY (three equal branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial). When this is an intricately balanced system, Large Government provides opportunities and benefits for masses of people who are in need of help one way or another that enrich their lives and the life of the country.
SMALL Government = DICTATORSHIP (one branch: Executive!). When there are No "Other" Branches of Government (or are only ones that are there as figureheads), then there is no ability to have balance...and no need either. Because, when a middle class ceases to exist and there is only a "Ruling Class" and "the poor", the masses have no choice but to accept being Controlled by a Financially Powerful Hierarchy. Nothing is contestable anymore after that, because, technically, they even control the food, the water, and the air you breathe. Those who think they are with the hierarchy ...are fools. Because to those who seek that kind of power...you who are just an ordinary person (even if you like to think of yourself "heading to the top") are only one of two things to them: "useable" or "expendable". Be careful of the game you get involved with and who you think you are, because you may be sorry that you weren't more careful about what you believed.
We are at a crossroad...make your choices wisely.
And, Remember This...
"Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it." ~ Charles Dickens
Pusher/Addict...Predator/Prey
I'm beginning to see this whole "fundamental extremism" thing as a pusher/addict scenario. And, although both are equally dangerous "under the influence", I don't like to blame the addict as much as I do the pusher. If all the "segregationist" preachers had to face justice for what they've done to their flock..."some" of those they've crippled might be able to recover.
Ironically, the very place these type of "pushers" go to acquire converts...is prisons, and many who are there are already addicted to something else.
I have no respect for predators who gain "money and power" off of the vulnerable.
Culturicide
The disregard for and attempt to destroy other cultures in order to have only one culture based on fundamental extremism and incorrect history.
The Destruction Of Cities, Lives, and Culture
No man has the right to destroy "whole cities", "thousands of innocent lives", and "the entire culture of a country"!
These are the actions of a man who has LOST HIS SOUL.
A TERRIBLE ILLUSION
It's a terrible illusion for Americans to think that the U.S. is somehow selectively separated from the rest of the world when it comes to the "huge" increase of terror since the U.S.'s occupation of Iraq. Whatever happens "anywhere" on this earth affects "everywhere". And, just because we don't see it or feel it, doesn't mean it isn't true.
If "any" place is less safe in the world today since the U.S. invasion of Iraq..."every" place is less safe. Because, contrary to what some would like us to believe, the U.S. is "not" separate from the rest of the world when it comes to the emotional and environmental impact of terror "anywhere" on this planet.
The poverty in America, the aids in Africa, the starvation in the Sudan, the violence in Haiti...affects us all. It doesn't matter whose land it's on ~ the increased suffering of humanity around the world, increases the suffering of all humanity. We must not fall prey to a "dangerous illusion" that this is not true...for it will only increase "our own" suffering.
If "any" place is less safe in the world today since the U.S. invasion of Iraq..."every" place is less safe. Because, contrary to what some would like us to believe, the U.S. is "not" separate from the rest of the world when it comes to the emotional and environmental impact of terror "anywhere" on this planet.
The poverty in America, the aids in Africa, the starvation in the Sudan, the violence in Haiti...affects us all. It doesn't matter whose land it's on ~ the increased suffering of humanity around the world, increases the suffering of all humanity. We must not fall prey to a "dangerous illusion" that this is not true...for it will only increase "our own" suffering.
Protect America
"To make America safer, we can no longer go it alone in the world. We need to move in a new direction. When it comes to protecting our nation, I will stop at nothing to find and kill the terrorists. If I'm president, America will always have the strongest military. But I will return our foreign policy to the values that have always earned us the respect of the world...to be safer at home, America must be respected in the world." ~ John Kerry
"to work on the vision that we all seek"
Vote For John Kerry and John Edwards on Nov. 2
Liberals are "Pro ALL Life"
Fundamentalists are "pro-life" and "against life" at the same time.
You can't have it both ways.
One of the innate characteristics of "Liberalism" is the "ability to embrace change". Liberals are people who operate according to the dynamic laws of a universe that is constantly moving in the cycles and changes which create life.
Liberalism is "not" the opposite of Conservatism. It is the opposite of Fundamentalism.
You are the decider of your own values. Do you consider yourself a segregationist and a prejudice person...or...are you a person who has a big enough heart and/or mind to encompass ALL of humanity. "You" decide...and then vote accordingly. We will soon know what kind of a nation we have.
The Most Negative Force On Earth
Greed and lust for power...is the most negative force on earth ~ or what some would call the "Devil" or the "Anti-Christ".
World Cultures Versus Christian Fundamentalism
One of the innate characteristics of Fundamentalism is the"inability" to change...which is an unnatural thing. It goes against the natural flow of life that's filled with cycles and change. Natural movement and honest progress are necessary for life to continue. Civilization, cultures, science, history, art, music, literature...depends on that.
At this present time in history, world cultures, including the history of our own cultures in America, are being destroyed by wars (real or otherwise) that are caused by addictions to power and money and fundamentalist beliefs.
Who Will Tell The People
The Title and Chorus of a song written by David Rovics:
Who will tell the people that free speech is a ruse
The corporations run the country and then they make the news
Is it media or mind control, heroic victories or crimes
Who will tell the people that we're living in these times
The Direction We Need To Go In...In Order To Be Whole
Aside from, but not separate from, ones own personal religion...there is the spirituality of everyday life. We all share similar feelings when we walk out in nature, or listen to the birds, or watch a sunset. We are all part of this intricate web of life...not just the life of our own small little groups but all life on earth.
America is our piece of Mother Earth to be good stewards of. The earth's natural resources sustain our lives, and it's important for us to become more reverent of her and what she gives us. We need to make a necessary transformation to be more in harmony with nature and each other. Having a more meaningful relationship with nature, heightens our awareness of the spiritual in everyday life. And, that leads to an improvement in how we treat each other. From that comes more reverence for ALL life on earth...which in turn diminishes the need for suffering.
~ Patty Ann Smith
Discrimination, Segregation, Bigotry, and Prejudice
ALL of these are separators and dividers of mankind!
~ Patty Ann Smith
The Inability For People To Make Logical Choices
This is what happens to the brain when FEAR is instilled in it!
Think About THESE Words
Think about these words: Discrimination, Segregation, Bigotry, and Prejudice
Think about these words: Christian Fundamentalism
Think about these words: Military Corporate Complex
Think about these words: Empire Building
Now, answer this question: Are any of these words what you would call "Pro" American!
From Truthout
"Shame on this administration for exploiting our fears after September 11 in order to get this war. Shame on them for lying to us all, day after day, for all this time...Shame on any American who continues to support this administration and its policies. Shame on us all if these policies are allowed to continue after November." ~ from an article entitled "Bearing Bloody Witness" by William Rivers Pitt
Please read the entire article at: www.truthout.org
The War On Science
"Politicians who reject the findings of science imperil us all." ~ Kevin Knoblock, Orion Magazine
What Is Life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.
~ Crowfoot (Blackfoot warrior and orater - 1890)
6 More U.S. Soldiers Killed In Iraq,Today...A Heartbreaking Echo Of An Unnecessary War
An honest headline.
Mainstream media is welcome to use it!
Who Will Be Accountable For Ignoring The Majority!
It's obvious that the network media cannot go against the President. John Kerry has to go it alone when it comes to the mainstream media. It appears that he gets equal coverage regarding the campaigns, but for the tremendous groundswell of support Kerry is getting everywhere every day all over the country with young and middle class people...which is the "majority" of America...if you watch television news, you would think nothing's going on at all. But, the truth is...a lot is going on, and it is not being reported like it should be.
In the past several days, there have been sell out crowds with thousands of people attending Vote For Change Concerts with performances by some of our country's finest musical artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Keb Mo, and James Taylor...to name just a few. And, all across America, there's Michael Moore's sell out "college tour" crowds filled with thousands...and the grassroots Rock The Vote campaign for months now has been inspiring thousands of young people to vote for the first time. And, "Yes" these people are for "John Kerry". Isn't that "worthy" news! Isn't that what it's all about! The truth of what's really happening!
The presence of "The Majority" is being ignored by the media. When it comes to the majority of people in America...the media makes only a "whisper". Instead, they place an almost maniacal emphasis on the extreme right wing of this country which is, in truth, a "minority". The media allows the extreme right wing position to appear as if it's the majority, when the word "extreme" instantly identifies something as being outside the status quo. Who will be held accountable for promoting this "delusion"...Before It's Too Late? The most important election of our lives is JUST three weeks away.
additional information on this topic:
"Bloggers: Documenting The Media Coup of 2004" at: www.anonymoses.com
"Is There Still A Place For Truth" at: www.iddybud.com
Mental Illness
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is dedicated to eliminating mental illness and to improve the quality of life for everyone whose life has been affected by it.
NAMI works to achieve services and treatment for more than 15 million Americans living with mental illnesses.
NAMI works to achieve services and treatment for more than 15 million Americans living with mental illnesses.
The Difference Between Delusions and Myths
definitions of delusion:
(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
a false belief, seen most often in psychosis (for example --- schizophrenia)
a groundless, irrational belief or thought, usually of grandeur or persecution; generally a characteristic of paranoia
definition of myth:
traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
a common story or legend. Although the word "myth" means untrue to some people, to others it embodies a different kind of "truth" which expresses their deepest and truest values, fears, hopes, and beliefs.
Like allegory, myth usually is symbolic and extensive, including an entire work of
study.
any "story that teaches". The story need not be "true" or historically accurate, but is designed to teach moral lessons.
a story that expresses a spiritual truth or basic conviction of a culture through narrative.
(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
a false belief, seen most often in psychosis (for example --- schizophrenia)
a groundless, irrational belief or thought, usually of grandeur or persecution; generally a characteristic of paranoia
definition of myth:
traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
a common story or legend. Although the word "myth" means untrue to some people, to others it embodies a different kind of "truth" which expresses their deepest and truest values, fears, hopes, and beliefs.
Like allegory, myth usually is symbolic and extensive, including an entire work of
study.
any "story that teaches". The story need not be "true" or historically accurate, but is designed to teach moral lessons.
a story that expresses a spiritual truth or basic conviction of a culture through narrative.
The Importance of Preserving Cultures
Quote from Jamie Sams book entitled "Earth Medicine":
"Human life on our planet is a shared dream. When the legends, myths, and stories are allowed to die, the basic values of life deteriorate. The dreams of any culture are based upon the role models of legend. Not having any larger-than-life role models when the tales vanish, the following generations of any culture lose their drive to excel. When there is nothing to aspire to, dreams die hard, leaving the shared planetary dream resembling a night mare.
The tales of harmony and honesty, sharing and valor, loving and forgiving, come alive when the Medicine Stories are told. When the basic values of harmonious living are told and retold, heroes and heroines come to life, becoming treasured teachers and friends. When the Wise Ones go silent, the dreams of the young wither, being replaced by the unhealthy values on the street. Without the storytellers, entire cultures can pass into oblivion."
"Human life on our planet is a shared dream. When the legends, myths, and stories are allowed to die, the basic values of life deteriorate. The dreams of any culture are based upon the role models of legend. Not having any larger-than-life role models when the tales vanish, the following generations of any culture lose their drive to excel. When there is nothing to aspire to, dreams die hard, leaving the shared planetary dream resembling a night mare.
The tales of harmony and honesty, sharing and valor, loving and forgiving, come alive when the Medicine Stories are told. When the basic values of harmonious living are told and retold, heroes and heroines come to life, becoming treasured teachers and friends. When the Wise Ones go silent, the dreams of the young wither, being replaced by the unhealthy values on the street. Without the storytellers, entire cultures can pass into oblivion."
How About A Rendezvous With Redemption
"I believe America has a rendezvous with redemption
and that the spiritual question is the principle one.
We are intended to establish respect for our differences and
then, on the basis of that respect,
transcend our differences to embrace the highest common
denominator of the human spirit."
~ former Vice President Al Gore
Memphis Prayer Breakfast - Nov. 4, 2000
Today's Offering Is For The Media...
"Such as it is, the press has become the greatest power within the Western World, more powerful than the legislature, the executive and judiciary. One would like to ask: by whom has it been elected and to whom is it responsible?" ~ Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." ~ George Orwell
"More! More! is the cry of a mistaken soul." ~ William Blake
"How important it is to own that we've been wrong." ~ Patty Ann Smith
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." ~ Abraham Lincoln
EVERY Day, I hear" A U.S. Soldier Was Killed", "A U.S. Soldier Was Killed", "A U.S. Soldier Was Killed"...and now I hear, There Were NO WMD'S!
A mother is being buried with her son, this week.
The son was a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.
The mother...died of a broken heart.
Here's An Offer You Shouldn't Refuse: John Edwards For Vice President
I love the "hominess" of John Edwards. During the Debate, he told this heartwarming story:
You know, when I was young and growing up, I remember coming down the steps into the kitchen, early in the morning, and I would see the glow of the television. And, I'd see my father sitting at a table. He wasn't paying bills, and he wasn't doing paperwork from work. What he was doing was learning math on television.
Now, he didn't have a college education, but he was doing what he could do to get a better job in the mill where he worked. I was proud of him. I'm still proud of him. And I was also hopeful, because I knew that I lived in a country where I could get a college education.
Here's the truth: I have grown up in the bright light of America. But that light is flickering today. Now, I know that the vice president and the president don't see it, but you do. What they're going to give you is four more years of the same.
John Kerry and I believe that we can do better. We believe in a strong middle-class in this country. That's why we have a plan to create jobs, getting rid of tax cuts for companies outsourcing your jobs; give tax cuts to companies that'll keep jobs here in America. That's why we have a health care plan. That's why we have a plan to keep you safe and to fix this mess in Iraq.
The truth is that every four years you get to decide. You have the ability to decide where America's going to go. John Kerry and I are asking you to give us the power to fight for you, to fight to keep that dream in America, that I saw as a young man, alive for every parent sitting at that kitchen table.
We Are Supposed To Be A "Humanitarian" Superpower
Vote Wisely.
Indeed, vote worldly.
Vote Kerry/Edwards in November.
The future is our friend.
And Peace is better than War.
~ AnonyMoses
We Are Supposed To Be An Advanced Civilization
This was a headline at the Kerry-Edwards Blog:
" Stop Sacrificing Science For Ideology".
Michael J. Fox was campaigning with John Kerry in New Hampshire, and both spoke on the topic of stem cell research. Michael has Parkinsons Disease, and stem cell research has the potential to cure Parkinsons as well as Alzheimers, Diabetes and many other diseases. Kerry believes that some of the most pioneering treatments could be right at our fingertips, but remain beyond our reach until the stem cell ban is lifted. When John Kerry is President, he will lift that ban!
We Are "An Advanced Civilization" and it is absolutely illogical, unethical, and rediculous to sacrifice science for ideology when we have already learned from numerous examples in history and know better. How could we possibly even think of going back to the Dark and Middle Ages of ignorance.. after so many advancements and discoveries.
We are supposed to be an advanced civilization. And my definition of an advanced civilization is: mankind understanding that we live in a meaningful, continuously evolving universe, dedicated to inclusiveness, interdependence, appreciation, sensitivity, adaptability, and responsibility.
True Vision
"You asked me if I thought your visions were true,
I would say that they were if they make you become
More human,
More kind to every creature and plant
That you know."
~ Hafiz
There's A Little More Hope Today
If fairy tales could come true, the one I'd want most to come true would be for people to live in peace all over this world.
During the Presidential Debate last night, millions of people finally got a chance to hear some of John Kerry's wisdom; and as a result, there are more people today experiencing a little more hope.
It's All In A Day's Death Toll
The Associated Press reports from Iraq that bombings killed at least 35 children there today. "Early" information has "at least" one U.S. soldier dead, at least 141 people wounded which includes....10 U.S. soldiers. (expect more)
In another location entirely, the day of violence left an additional 46 people dead and an additional 208 wounded.
Reports are that this is the largest death toll of children in any insurgent attack since the conflict began 17 months ago.
We must think about this as we listen to the Debate tonight and remember one man wants to keep us in war and the other wants to lead us to peace. Whichever man you choose for President, your vote votes for the Direction he is going in as well. And, once the elections are over, the direction the majority of us vote for will be irreversible.
I, for one, am broken hearted every time I hear the death toll that is being caused by violence in Iraq (or anywhere in the world). So, how ever the Debate turns out tonight and no matter what the "polls" say... I am voting for John Kerry for President to break the cycles of war and begin the 21st century, with what it "should've" begun with...and would be fitting at this advanced time in the history of our cultures and civilizations...the cycles of Peace.
Patty Ann Smith
Today, As The Crisis In Haiti Continues...
Please take a few minutes to look at what has been the beauty of Haiti through the eyes of Photographer Leah Gordon: www.haitiforever.com/leah/
The people of Haiti are in dire need of many things, and even if some of us are not able to send them anything else...we can still send them our prayers.
The Times They Are A Changing
I just read about something called "peak oil". Peak oil is basically when extraction of oil from the earth reaches its highest point and then begins to decline. It signals the end of cheap energy and the beginning of mankind making right choices in advancing civilization with a renewable resourcefulness and ability to adapt to changes.
Many experts are saying we have already reached the peak. In Newsweeks February 17, 2004 update on Technology and Science, a report entitled "Crude Awakening" is about peak oil. So, we really need to start thinking about what kind of world each of us really would want to live in. One way will make it more and more impossible to be civilized and humane. The other way (if we could possibly change our thinking to what should be really important to us as human beings...namely, preventing the extinction of our species and all the good mankind has created in order to preserve it) would make it possible for the middle class, the rich and the poor to work together in harmony with each other for the universal good of all life that inhabits this planet.
Patty Ann Smith
Please check out a recent post entitled "Oil Schmoil: End of Suburbia" at: www.scrutinyhooligans.blogspot.com
My Thoughts About John Kerry
First of all, I thought John Kerry's speech at Temple University was outstanding and powerful, and he shined as an example of a true leader. Coupled with his speech at New York University...both within a few days of each other...places him in a firm position as a man of peace with a common sense strategy on how to eventually make world peace a reality.
After the painful candidate elimination of some very good men and a very fine woman, the Democratic party asked John Kerry to be our emissary for changing the direction of this country. Already this past year, great sacrifices have been made by many good people so our beloved America could have one last chance to change our direction away from catastrophe.
One part of that catastrophe would be to privatize what are now many government services and means of assistance. Right now (at least I think it is still true...unless some edict was signed late on a "Friday" afternoon we were never told about!), MOST of our population would not have retirement benefits (ie. social security) without federal assistance...would not have public schools to go to without federal assistance...and could not go to college without federal assistance. In other words, Federal Government Assistance are "not dirty words". It's a way (often not perfect...but a way) to attempt to secure "a safety net" for millions of Americans...protection of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. How else could millions of people, with no two people thinking "exactly" alike, feel anything less than a sense of insecurity and chaos...which would turn into anarchy and a two class system of only the rich and the poor and that would no longer be a democracy. We would become nothing more than other countries we see right now whose people fight against oppression by dictators only to find bloodshed in return.
I ask all voters to seriously consider what you're voting for. You're not voting for a man. You are voting for a "cause"...to Keep American Democracy Alive! John Kerry, and the good people who surround him, embody the cause of "Keeping Democracy Alive".
There are many who predict that this chance will never come again in our lifetime. It is not a statement to create fear but one to wake us up and get us off our butts to ..."Vote and Take Our Country Back".
"John Kerry is Our Man" no matter what you think of Vietnam, or his personality, or his financial privileges...or "whatever". Just remember he's a Democrat and what makes Democrats so "cool" is that ALL Democrats, rich or poor, care about "the rights of the people"...it's in our blood!
By the way, don't hold it against him for actually going through a "thinking process" and changing his mind sometimes. That's the mark of a "better man", not a worse one. The type of person I'd want in the White House would be someone who would, if new facts came in, have the "guts" to stop and change course...in order to protect us better.
"Winning and Losing" is a dangerous fantasy played out anywhere else but in sports (and lately, we've noticed that it may even be a dangerous fantasy in sports, too). The alternative to winning and losing is "Cooperation", and cooperation is a "reality" that has a very good record of bearing fruit. My thoughts about John Kerry are about him being a "good" fruit bearer for millions of Americans..and the whole world.
~ Patty Ann Smith
The National Museum of the American Indian...The First Americans
On September 21, 2004, The National Museum of the American Indian opened its doors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
For those of us who care, we are now being given an opportunity to learn from our first American's own stories what they've gone through for the past 500 years ~ in both their triumphs and their tragedies. In the Museum's own words, I give you a slice of the richness of these significant voices:
The building itself has a language of its own...a living museum, located close to nature, designed to make specific celestial references such as an east-facing main entrance and a dome that opens to the sky.
The community galleries feature eight cultural philosophies...the design of these galleries reflects each community's interpretaton of the order of the world.
Traditional knowledge shapes our world...our philosophies of life come from our ancestors.
"We want to preserve our identity, history, land, language, and values for our children. Our children ~ our future ~ must understand our history so no one can say our culture is gone. If we do not preserve this, our lives won't belong to us anymore." ~ Tapirapi curators (Mato Grasso, Brazil), 2002
The National Museum of the American Indian
This is a monumental testament to the first Americans steadfastness to keep their culture alive, and I can only think that the reason it has happened is because it has been based on Universal Truth.
Kofi Annan Rings The Peace Bell This Morning
To cultivate and foster a Culture of Peace, the General Assembly of the UN, in 1981, initiated the annual observance of an International Day of Peace. This year is highlighted today by a 24-hour "worldwide spiritual vigil for peace and non-violence" by everyone who seeks peace in this world.
"Peace begins with ourselves, living in harmony with one another and with the earth. Let us all do our share in making war obsolete and peace a reality. This will help create a better future for our children - the people of tomorrow." ~ Manila Bulletin Online
Kofi Annan said, "...Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity."
We desperately need to realize how important our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is when it comes to preserving the history of the world and building world peace. There is so much we have to share with each other...in our arts, our music, our traditions...that can enrich all on this planet. May this day be a day of thoughtfulness and reverence for you.
Patty Ann Smith
Compassion is Essential
Compassion is not religious business, it is human business. It is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability. It is essential for human survival...Nowadays the world is becoming increasingly materialistic, and mankind is reaching toward the very zenith of external progress, driven by an insatiable desire for power and vast possessions. Yet by this vain striving for perfection in a world where everything is relative, they wander even further away from inward peace and happiness of the mind. ~ Dalai Lama
A Man Should Never...
A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying...that he is wiser today than yesterday. ~ Jonathan Swift
The Problem With Cheating
If we think that the more we get away with something, the more we win...we are sadly mistaken, because cheating is really the worst form of failure. Cheating can appear to be "winning" for a while, but in the end..."nobody" wins. Instead, we all lose.
The Same Moon
The moon I see is the same one that my mother and father
looked up at when they were children,
the same one my grandfather kissed my grandmother under,
the same moon that shone in the days that
Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, the same one that
shined on Michel Angelo and Leonardo da Vinci,
the same moon of the Mayans and the Incas,
the same moon, thousands of years ago, of the Pharaohs
of ancient Egypt and the early dynasties of China,
the same moon that the great mastodons and dinosaurs
roamed under, the same one that a distant relative of mine
is looking at right now in Ireland and I, here,
an ocean away. We are all so intricately and
forever connected to each other.
~ Patty Ann Smith
Kerry/Edwards Ad by AnonyMoses
...John Kerry knows that a fear-free society
is a healthy society.
And the health of the citizens
come before the wealth of the few
who would exploit fear
for financial gain.
And John Kerry knows that,
just like under Clinton,
America can live in a green world,
and not a code red, yellow or orange.
There is simply no reason why a farmer in Iowa
should have to live in fear,
when the likelihood for terror
happening in his fields
is actually zero.
Choose hope, not fear.
Choose John Kerry and John Edwards.
They will make America safer
and healthier,
and will get America's financial house in order.
You can help.
Learn how to at www.johnkerry.com
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