nomads

The sun takes its time setting behind the mountains, taking the heat of the day with it. Just minutes ago, camp was set up. The donkeys drink from a watering hole. Finally, the nomads can pause and rest. They deserve it.

They are eager to take their shoes off, stretching their feet and wiggling their toes. The cool earth soothes the tired feet of these men. They gather, each sitting on his own towel. They have been waiting for this moment all day. While others prepare food at the campsite, they exchanges stories. Muhammad, everyones senior, stands before them, speaking.

Tonight, he reminisces to his youth, sharing a story. The younger men, listen intently. The older men, having heard the story, absorb the scenery.

"Today reminds me of a day in my childhood, when I was on a journey like this with my father. The sunset was beautiful, as it is tonight, but that day was not as relaxed as today. In the midday heat, as we trekked through the desert, the sun was baking our bodies. The donkeys were stubborn and quickly growing weak. We should have listened to the earth, and sought shelter for the day, but that is not what we did. Pushing on, the heat grew worse, and the winds picked up. A sandstorm was brewing."

All the young men are staring at Muhammad, forgetting to blink.

"We were caught in the middle of the storm, and helpless to escape it. We could not see where we were going. My instant reaction was to cover my face from the sand. The men were frantically searching for cover, eventually finding a lone tree. Digging into the barren earth, they created enough room to protect the group. The storm seemed to rage on for hours, but in reality, it was minutes. Afterwards, we gathered ourselves, only to realize that we had lost our donkeys. A search found the donkeys, but unfortunately, it was too late. They did not survive the storm. Each able bodied man grabbed supplies, and we had to complete that days journey carrying everything. Now I tell you this story for two reason, and I suggest you learn from our misfortune. Listen to the earth, my brothers. She will tell you all that you need to know during your journey. The earth is a mystery, but she leaves you hints. Find them, and read these hints. Lastly, recognize that you may only bring what is essential to your life, and nothing more. We seldom realize the excess that we bring, until we must carry our possessions ourselves."

by...andrew koltsoon

....dissent...is it patriotic?

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism..

Howard Zinn

A few weeks ago I got this invitation from Peace Fresno..

DON’T MISS THIS DEMONSTRATION ON SATURDAY, APRIL 16!  We will never end the wars and create justice at home as long as we allow big corporations to set America’s political agenda.  Join the nationwide movement to stand against corporate power by demanding that corporations pay their share of the tax burden.  Come for as long as you can – even a half hour of your time will make a statement.

Saturday, April 16

10 a.m. - Noon
“WE PAID OUR TAXES,WHAT ABOUT YOU?” demonstration in front of Bank of America at 590 E Shaw (across from Fashion Fair).  America is not broke – the problem is not scarcity.  The problem is unregulated greed.  For more information http://www.usuncut.org/actions/190

Since my daughter and I were going to be in Fresno to see Wicked we decided to make some signs and join in the demonstration....

When we arrived at the appointed corner she said, "I only want to stay for a 1/2 to 45 minutes Mom." 

 An hour and 1/2 later we were still there.

We felt good standing on that corner with like minded people demonstrating against corporate greed.

It is obscene that 83 of America’s 100 richest corporations, including Bank of America, pay 

NO income tax...zero

But they benefit from the taxes we pay...

they use roads, railways, and airports to distribute their goods...

they count on police and firemen to protect their facilities...

they count on public schools to educate their workforce..

. 

Their greed has caused the great recession.  Their greed and the cost of fighting 3 wars.

We got a lot of thumbs up from passerbys...we got flipped off too...

and told to, "Go home!"...I thought that one was particularly strange....

Why would anyone think America isn't our home?

1) Exxon Mobil made $19 billion in profits in 2009. Exxon not only paid no federal income taxes, it actually received a $156 million rebate from the IRS.

2) Bank of America received a $1.9 billion tax refund from the IRS last year, although it made $4.4 billion in profits and received a bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department of nearly $1 trillion. 

3) General Electric made $26 billion in profits in the United States over the past five years and, thanks to clever use of loopholes, paid no taxes.

4) Chevron received a $19 million refund from the IRS last year after it made $10 billion in profits in 2009. 

5) Boeing, which received a $30 billion contract from the Pentagon to build 179 airborne tankers, got a $124 million refund from the IRS last year

6) Valero Energy, the 25th largest company in America with $68 billion in sales last year, received a $157 million tax refund check from the IRS and, over the past three years, received a $134 million tax break from the oil and gas manufacturing tax deduction.

7) Goldman Sachs in 2008 only paid 1.1 percent of its income in taxes even though it earned a profit of $2.3 billion and received an almost $800 billion from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury Department.

8) Citigroup last year made more than $4 billion in profits but paid no federal income taxes. It received a $2.5 trillion bailout from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury.

9) ConocoPhillips, the fifth largest oil company in the United States, made $16 billion in profits from 2006 through 2009, but received $451 million in tax breaks through the oil and gas manufacturing deduction. 

10) Carnival Cruise Lines made more than $11 billion in profits over the past five years, but its federal income tax rate during those years was just 1.1 percent.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/03/ten_giant_us_companies_avoidin.html

The Bear and I traveled to Klamath Falls, OR over Easter weekend.  

There was very little traffic and we were approached by a woman at a rest area asking for gas money....

Everywhere we went people were talking about the economy...how hard it has become to make ends meet, even working full time...

the cost of everything is rising.

People are getting frightened by the talk of food prices rising 30%.

I know there is the theory that if we give corporations tax breaks there will be more growth, more jobs, more abundance for all.

But I'm not seeing it....are you?

"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem." 

— Howard Zinn