He started with a solo
unexpected, unplanned
It was more than a quartet when others joined in.
A sad event in American history
a funeral
an amazing song by Joan Baez
incredible drawing and animation
and a wonderful memory and reminder of the compassion of
President Barack Obama.
via Quartet
No, Sam-I-Am. I do not like this daily word prompt. I do not like the word Apprentice, Sam-I-Am. I will not participate in this daily word. You can’t make me. It reminds me of that TV show where, you know, that man say’s “you’re fired.” That man, so full of himself. Why would anyone want to apprentice for him anyway? Besides, isn’t he an apprentice now anyway? Oh wait. Who is teaching him? No one, you say? Well, there you have it.
I do not like this word, Sam-I-Am. And don’t ask me to try it. I already have — for a very long 100 days.
Today in 1865, our 16th President of the United States died after being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a confederate spy.
Quotes from Abraham Lincoln:
“I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to improve not only his own condition, but to assist in ameliorating mankind.”
“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
“I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think and feel.”
And finally,
“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.”
Obviously, Trump’s paper is jammed.
photo credit
No, but …
We The People had been far too complacent. Most Republicans and Democrats thought he would never win. He did. Snuck right under our noses like a not-so-quiet thief in the night. Then, when we rose, said, “what happened to all our shit?”
Trump has unknowingly forced us to take a hard look at ourselves and, in doing so, we have awoken to reconfirm our beliefs and our rights (or lack there-of).
Now, dialogues are reopened. Millions of people are speaking up, and out, to the masses. We are no longer complacently thinking that things are okay. They are not. And, for the most part, they were. Ten days ago we did not have executive orders that divided us with the rest of the world, executive orders that remain questionable in their constitutional authority.
Yesterday, the DNC tweeted: We want to know what YOU want the future of our party to look like and what you want from our next Chair. Tell us:
Well, they got an ear-full! Here’s one:
Read more here.
Yes, Trump has inadvertently brought us together. Did you see the marchers on January 21st? The women, men and children of all backgrounds including the Black Lives Matter and LBGT community who came together as ONE? Did you see the protesters at JFK airport and learned how it led to a stay in Trump’s order to keep immigrants away? I am SO proud of you!!
“We The People, of the United States, in Order to form a perfect Union,” have returned to our moral code and now remember how to march, how to protest, how to voice our frustrations and concerns.
Am I happy he is president? Hell, no. But I’m glad he has, in no accord of his own, made us remember what is important.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”-Gandhi.
“Ask yourself this question: ‘Will this matter a year from now?’ –Richard Carlson, American psychotherapist and author of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
On a scale from one to Ten on the happiness meter, I’d say that I’m a fairly consistent eight. But, unfortunately, the needle of my frustration o-meter’s is perilously close to the danger zone. Why?
My core belief system, my moral code has not only been challenged, but also marginalized by the flip of a narcissistic man’s hand.
Anyone who has read some of my past blogs know who I am and what I stand for. And, what I acknowledge as my truth, isn’t about to change now. In fact, now, that select politicians have dipped their poisonous swab into my ideology canal, the results will come back as they always have, and this time, with a vengeance. I will continue to fight for the oppressed, for the rights of humanity and stand up against tyranny.
It has come to my attention that many folks did not understand the reason for the “Women’s March.” That’s okay. Hopefully, after so much has been written, they now understand. It wasn’t a protest against, but a march for. A march toward a better place for all humans.
How is that a bad thing?
Yes, I heard that somewhere in the world, there were acts of violence at the women’s march. The one I read about was of a pro-life supporter who was spit upon for her beliefs. Outrageous, in my opinion. I am not pro abortion in any way. I would have done (and tried) anything to have given birth to my two wonderful children who have made me a grandmother.
I am for the right to choose. I know, some of you might not understand this, and it’s too hard to explain in this post.
I also believe that some of the signs carried at various marches were “inappropriate.” Yet the ones who carried them had as much right to do so as the pro-life marchers.
Because, in that march, there was room for everyone, Republicans and Democrats alike who believed in the rights of humanity.
Now, here is my frustration. Four million plus people across the world marched to show their support for equality and since then, my mind has returned to vague memories of the sixties and the more prominent ones in the seventy and eighties. So why didn’t the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) pass? The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women .
“Gender equality, also known as sex equality, gender egalitarianism, sexual equality, or equality of the genders, is the view that everyone should receive equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their gender.[This is one of the objectives of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which seeks to create equality in law and in social situations, such as in democratic activities and securing equal pay for equal work.” (see wikipedia for more info on the 9th amendment to the constitution and also the 14th which finally gave rights to same-sex couples.)
The National Organization for Women, N.O.W., founded in 1966, worked toward equal pay for women. How has that worked out so far?
I recently turned, gulp, sixty. Do I really have to do this all over again?
I have your number in more ways than one. The tour company gave us this card before entry into your country in case of an emergency. I kept it, taped it to my Mac, the one you will probably hack.
Although my husband and I had to be caged during our tour of Moscow a year ago last summer (not allowed to roam around on our own without the Russian guide, who by the way, was more informative about you than you would have liked), we tasted some nice vodka.
But Russia and President Putin? Don’t puff up just yet.
Many buildings, except for some like this one —
were beautiful.
President Putin, below on the far left, was that you? Trying to mix in and identify with your peeps? Doubtful.
I said, was that you?
I think it was very kind of you, Russia and Mr. Putin, to post these signs of caution.
WATCH YOUR BELONGINGS, your sign said.
Oh, if you don’t hear from me again, I’m under Federal protection. I’ve heard the accommodations aren’t that bad, considering.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 