Welcome back to MLW. I took a small hiatus while I wondered if I should keep the blog going. I'm still fired up about the state of American politics but the reality is setting in and it ain't pretty. But I like writing and I love hearing everyone's comments and stories. If you'd like to be taken off the list, just click "Comments" to send me an email and I'll remove your name.
You'll notice I removed the "Thought for the Day" archives. They take up too much space and many of you already receive them through my email. If you are interested in having them sent to your email address, let me know and I'll add you to that list.
Between Frances and Ivan, this week blew in a star-studded doubleheader of female power. On September 13, I had the pleasure of listening to an afternoon speech by former Texas governor Ann Richards followed by an evening with playwright/activist Eve Ensler and friends at the "world-famous" Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Born with a Silver Foot in his Mouth
She was talking about Bush le pere but it's even more appropriate for Bush le fils. The Honorable Ann Richards who lost her re-election bid to Bush fils in 1994, appeared at my job to talk about work/life balance. Early in her remarks, in a dry Texas drawl that hinted at her "smoking like a stove and drinking like a fish" days, she mentioned that you could tell a lot about a person by the people around them. She followed that line with, "But I'm not going to talk about politics today."
She talked at length about what it takes to be a good leader. What struck me was her comment that being a good leader meant not only taking risks but being able to accept the ramifications of those risks. She is the definitive no bs, straight-shooter who has lived one life like it was ten. That concept captured me because it's rarely seen - especially in politics and it comes down to one thing - personal accountability. Isn't that what it means to be an adult? Why don't we elect adults to political office?
Vaginas Vote , Chicks Rock, Chicks Vote, and one Twisted Sister
Eve Ensler hosted an evening designed to encourage women to get out the vote. Opening the show with a serious call to the polls , "Do we have any registered vaginas in the house?" the mostly female crowd responsed loudly. She then introduced a beautifully diverse female performance group called We Got Issues. Addressing women's issues with utter frankness and in-your-face Betty-style chatter, the girls warmed up the crowd for an amazing night of female political and artistic icons wooing women to show up at the polls and get their female friends to do the same. Women danced, sang, and read excerpts from Eve's powerhouse play, "The Vagina Monologues." Among them were Rosaria Dawson, Vanessa Carlton, Isabella Rosellini, Marisa Tomei, Charlotte Martin, and Toni Childs. Eve also acknowledged serious financial support from Jane Fonda and George Soros. Some frightening statistics that were presented during the evening:
- Over 23 million eligible female voters did not vote in 2000
- The U.S. ranks 57 in a list of 180 nations measuring female governmental representation
- Congress is only 14% female
It was a sobering moment when these women spoke. Their words and their un-celebrity presence were the most compelling of the evening. Some part of me felt that they put us to shame when comparing their lives to the vast liberties western women enjoy. But we are born where we are born for a reason. The best we can do is show support for those who don't have our good fortune by listening to their story, raising our voices in their name, and treating the human beings in our own lives with respect and care. To me that's being a good citizen of the world and that's the energy that will extend beyond our borders to change the world.
When Gloria Steinem took the stage, it was an amazing moment. So much of what women have today is due to her and her contemporaries tireless efforts to bring women to the table. As much as the crowd was starstruck, so was a very elegant, 70-year-old Gloria, as she revealed her dream to have tapdanced one day at the Apollo. She emphasized this relevation with "if a crazy white girl from Toledo, Ohio, can make it to the stage of the Apollo, then we can win this fucking election." Her best line was simple and succint. "I don't want to vote for someone I wouldn't hire."
And one more going out to Ms. Maggie Cannon of Denver, Colorado. When Gloria read the Top 10 Reasons she was not voting for W, she noted that W had yet to meet with the Blauck Caucus because "he didn't have time." Yet, she pointed out, he had found time to meet with the Pope, as in "...the Holy Father, not always a women's best friend," on three occasions.
* I'm tired of the word, spin - my new word is twist as in not just spinning but all out LYING; twisters describe the ones who do it; and twisted is the emotional and mental state after hearing/reading the junta lies. Let me use it in a sentence to see how it sounds: "I was one twisted sister after hearing Dick "I- have-other-priorities" Cheney tell everyone that if John Kerry wins the election, there would be another terrorist attack. Yes, that works for me.
But since I bring it up - let's talk about this one - The biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil took place on Bush fils watch. (Note to entire junta: "Bin Laden determined to strike in the U.S.") The second biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil took place less than one month after Bush pere left office. What's the common denominator here? Add that one up, Dick "I-had-other-priorities" Cheney.
Tshirts/Buttons of the Week
Better Karma...Vote Kerry
Daddy's Little War Criminal (under a smiling photograph of W)
Go Vote Go Run Go Lead Go Girl!
Fuel for the Fire - Help for winning debates with Republican co-workers and family members
www.misleader.org
www.americanprogress.org
http://afamilyinbaghdad.blogspot.com/ (***best of the bunch)
Today's Shout-Out
Illumination from the land of Jefferson
Jefferson City, Missouri resident Kelli Stiles gets this week's shout-out for sticking it to the man with enlightened humor.
How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to replace a light bulb? Seven.
1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be replaced
2. One to question the patriotism of anyone who has questions about the light bulb
3. One to blame the previous administration for the need of a new light bulb
4. One to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of light bulbs
5. One to get together with VP Dick "I-have -other-priorities" Cheney and figure out how to pay Halliburton one million dollars for a light bulb
6. One to arrange a photo-op session showing Bush changing the light bulb while dressed in a flight suit and wrapped in an American flag
7. And finally, one to explain to Bush the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country
London Calling
Our man on the street in that city on the Thames, Ranjit Chagar, sent MLW a warning about the ramifications of risktaking vis-a-vis sporting anti-W clothing. Apparently and unknown to virtually all American citizens, it has become a criminal offense to wear anti-Bush tshirts.
A husband and wife were arrested, yes arrested, for wearing anti-W tshirts (they read, "Love America, Hate Bush") at a presidential "appearance" ("not a campaign event" according to a junta spokesperson) in Charleston, West Virginia on July 4, 2004. How completely and appropriately ironic? Or maybe Orwellian is more appropos considering the date. Did I mention they were arrested? No news on whether they've been transferred to Guantanamo on the Hudson. Click here for more really disturbing details http://64.4.46.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=82ec7821761252b57ee46c8adda2bb09&lat=1095393785&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eveteransforpeace%2eorg%2fCouple_in_antiibush_tee_071504%2ehtm
Sweat Arbusto's Lying Ass out of the White House
A new Bikram Yoga studio on the Lower East Side offered a benefit class for the Democratic National Committee and MoveOn.org, "Sweat Bush Out of the White House." The sweat factor dominates because with Bikram Yoga the room is heated to 105 degrees. The less-serious class featured lots of prizes, trivia, and political quizzes. In the final savasana, a meditative pose as one lies on the floor with eyes closed, the instructor slipped in a tape of Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention. After 90 minutes of yoga in a sweltering room on a sultry New York summer night, the "audacity of hope" inspired me once again. I'm audacious enough to imagine a Clinton-Obama 2008 bumper sticker. The other Clinton would be the mayor of New York.
Eyes Wide Open
I attended an extremely moving event sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, otherwise known as Quakers. Called "Eyes Wide Open," the exhibit graphically illustrates the human cost of war with photographs, posted facts and figures about the U.S.'s relationship with Iraq, and shoes. Yes, shoes. When I attended on Sunday, September 10, 983 Army boots were placed in several rows (alphabetically by state) representing the soldiers killed in Iraq. As we all know, that figure has exceeded 1,000. The exhibit also provides information about the number of Iraqi citizens killed. I've read figures stating 10,000 to 25,000 civilians have died.
It was a beautiful late summer Sunday when I walked to a little church across from Washington Square Park. I expected to be humbled by the exhibit. But as I walked into the room, the shock of all of those boots - in their stark simplicity - moved me to tears immediately. I can only compare it to seeing the piles of shoes at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Because the junta has prevented publication of photographs of the war dead, it seems as if the war has had no impact on Americans. But here in this old church on a sunny afternoon, the cost of war cannot be ignored. How many soldiers' funerals have junta officials attended in support of our troops? Zero.
It is a travelling exhibit, so click here http://www.afsc.org/eyes/upcoming-dates.htm to view the schedule.
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