...a sacred day?

It is Memorial Day weekend....

..Among my family and friends I haven't heard anyone express why Memorial Day was enacted way back in 1868....It was meant as a day for us to take a moment  and reflect on the men and women 
who have given their lives for our country. 

And I think we should include all the military who are wounded in ways we see and in those we don't....

I think during these times when the USA has approximately 1000 bases in 57 countries around the world  and is engaged in 3 wars, it might be time to turn Memorial Day into the sacred and solemn day it was meant to be.

6013 US military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan and an estimated 320,000 with brain injuries..

Why?


is it really all for this?

 


....and if we can't come together to mourn the human cost of war....maybe the effects on our quality of life might get us up and protesting, 
demanding an end to war.
Infrastructures, education, medical care, food costs, homeownership, gas, are all taking hits as a direct result of our trillion dollar war bill.  The attempt to balance the budget will be done on the backs of those least able to endure it.
Our children and grandchildren will forever be paying for our folly and disconnect.  
Because of our apparent disregard for what is happening 'over there'.
Being the optimist that I tend to be I can't let go of my belief that there are many of us who don't believe these wars are to spread democracy or to help the countries we decide to bomb back to the stone age....or to even keep us safer....the USA is has become an Empire...all Empires fall...
 I believe many of us care and care deeply...
but we have to make our voices heard...

http://www.opefe.com/living.html

......a little journey with me

I took a little walk with my camera today....
This guardian angel overlooks my labyrinth.
She was here when I bought the property some 30 years ago....
oh my...
such a long time together.

Looking toward the heaven's, thankful for the rain that turned her world so very green.

The much maligned Dandelion....I don't know why?

It's a sunny little flower
...makes good medicine and good wine.

When I carry in my mind and heart things that are causing me anxiety (a realKiller), or I have a question or a prayer...I often write it down and take it to my labyrinth where I will walk with intent and then burn the bit of paper and drop it in this vessel...letting go. (or making a strong effort to let go)...sometimes more is required. l0l
Letting go...
it could be a very long post just about that and how we do it?

Starlight, star bright .....

This is CC...she chose to be my cat...she always walks with me...
and quite often expects to be carried.

Watching the sun rise....

In honor of Grandmother Oak

Young actor portraying Abbie Hoffman...
.a real blast from the past...
here he's speaking about the infamous Democratic Chicago convention in 1968....
I watched the insanity from Houston, Texas where I worked for Operation Breadbasket registering voters.
I thought my the world was coming to an end.
...it was a further loss of innocence.

I went to a peace rally on Sunday.
It was organized by The Fresno Center for Nonviolence....I went with Daughter#2 and our friend Brian...I felt a heavy moment of sadness when we walked in the door...
we are still at war the 21st century....
I went to hear Kathy Kelly, the 3 time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and author of Other Lands Have Dreams, speak.
She has dedicated her life to working for peace.....

Kathy stands witness.
She was in Iraq during Shock and Awe, and in the Gaza during the 22-day Operation Cast Lead. She stands up for her beliefs and has gone to prison because she does...at some point during the speech my daughter turned to me and said...
'mom, I'd be so proud of you if you did a year in federal prison for peace"...lol..
I think she sets the bar a little high!!...

After Kathy got of stage I was able to chat with her a bit...
she has a lot of stories, a lot of things to share.
I found that she has real hope for change...
She thinks people are starting to wake up to the fact that war takes it's toll on all our dreams....
I wonder.

"This is the way of peace: overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with love."
Peace Pilgrim


I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.

Dwight D. Eisenhower