gopiscrap
gopiscrap's JournalAsking for prayers and good wishes from DU community
I am in Atlanta and getting ready to pick up my wife from the airport. We are heading to Columbus, Georgia to the School of America's vigil, teach in and protest advocating closing the school down. This is the school that brought people in from El Salvador and trained them to murder their own people including six Jesuit priests 25 years ago this week. I ran against our US Congressman in the Democratic primary of 1990 and got a really good vote total which helped make him reconsider his voting for funding of this school. Fighting for closure of this place has been in my DNA for the majority of adult life. I have wanted to join the thousands who are going to be there also. I will be getting arrested on Sunday, please keep me (us) in your prayers and thoughts this weekend as myself, my wife and thousands of others speak and witness against undue US Military aggression and destabilization of other nations around the globe. Thanks-Mike C
November 16, 1989 and the School of America's
On November 16, 1989 in San Salvador, El Salvador six Jesuit priests. their housekeeper and the housekeepers daughter were assassinated. This was the most prolific in the thousands of murders of activists, peasants requesting land reform, academics and clerics. It turned out that the people responsible for the killings were trained at the School of America's in Fort Benning, Georgia. For decades the United States has funded and brought folks in from other nations to train them to foment violence and unrest and to murder their own people. Many of these citizens are doing the bidding of right wing dictatorships and repressive regimes that perform the dirty work of the US abroad. Year after year the US Congress has funded this operation.
As a result of this happening and the actions being brought to light, each year near the anniversary of this atrocity, there is a huge vigil, demonstration and teach in at the Fort. Thousands come together to witness, march, demand and pray for a change in US Policy and attitude.
When this happened 25 years ago, I had just successfully run a city initiative for an advisory vote requesting a reduction of 10% of military spending to be re-directed into deficit reduction and social services. Since this was a very heavy military town nobody thought we would get on the ballot. Not only did we, but we won with 64% of the vote. 9 days later, the Jesuits we killed.
Four days after they were killed, our US Rep. (Who had been voting consistently for the SOA) Came to the Jesuit seat here in Tacoma at a Mass of mourning and said to the congregation that the priests shouldn't have been there. About half the congregation walked out and sought a person to run against him. They decided on me and I ran. While not winning, I got the highest percentage of votes ever against him in a primary and shortly after the election, he changed his vote in regards to the SOA.
In the years since, I have always wanted to be present at this action in Ft. Benning every November and finally this year I am so moved, honored and excited to be there. If there are any DU members on here who will be attending also, please let me know. My wife and I will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Phenix City on Friday and the Comfort Inn in Columbus on Saturday and Sunday.
Ok then it's time to start vehemntly protesting churches
and anti abortion leaders places of residence. No buffer zone, well then game on. Revile, shame, scream at folks from churches that do the same to Planned Parenthood clients. Make them walk the gauntlet with their children as they go to Mass or their fundy or Mormon services.
I had emergency surgery on Saturday....
I had severe bladder and uretha infections and passed out in the shower and woke up in a pool of blood. I passed out from the pain. I got emergency surgery at the best hospital in Tacoma and was told when I checked out this morning that the bill will probably about 25K thank God I have insurance. It will cost me 450.00 but what if I didn't? I was born in Germany and grew up with universal health care. Never a problem and I had a very serious illness as an infant. Superb treatment and care. It floors me, that we in the US don't push harder for single payer. Just think we wouldn't be beholden to our work for health care. I personally feel that this is human rights violation on the part of the US Government. EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DID ON SATURDAY AND NOT HAVE TO BE INDEBTED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!!!
To all public schools!
Please allow me a personal entry. Today is graduation day for our daughter Julia. Our two children were born 11 years apart from each other, so this will be the first time in 24 years that we do not have a child in the public school system.
I wanted to take a moment as I reflect and thank all the public schools of the United States for the excellent work that they do and apologize for the all the nastiness that has been thrown their way these past 30 or so years. In an effort to privatize the school systems for a few to make major profit, public schools and teachers have been demonized, demeaned and denigrated so that the right can make a profit of what has always been and should stay a staple of our society (the right to a free education) You have done amazing work through the ages and have lots to be proud of.
I want to particularly thank the Tacoma School District #10. With your hands increasingly tied, funding cut and a concerted effort by big business to see you fail, you have done just the opposite with our children.
We were the victims of a house fire when our son was 7 and you responded with practical and counseling help so quickly and efficiently. When our daughter had seizures, you accommodated her needs and did it seamlessly.
Most of all you have been an extension of us, encouraged them to learn, reveled in their success, aided them in their struggles and helped them learn what community is all about.
On this graduation day, the success is not only Julia's but your as well. Thank you to all teachers, staff and administration of ALL public schools.
And to the graduates: take what you have leaned and give back!
Thank you Army Major Robert Daniel Collier (deceased)
Robert Collier was born in NYC ( he was fluent in 7 languages) and at 17 years old was inducted into the Army during World War II where he fought in the European war and then worked for the US government posing as a hotel clerk in East Germany passing information to the Allies. Soon after he was sent to Korea, fought there and then was assigned to West Germany where he met my mother. In 1963 when Vietnam was just heating up, he was sent as a military advisor and was shot by the Viet Cong, came back stateside and was retired from the military. On December 18, 1964 at the age of 38 he suffered a massive heart attack directly related to his wounds and died. I still remember hearing the rifle volley and listening to the playing of taps as he was laid to rest. On this Memorial Day: Thank Robert Daniel Collier and all others who have given their life in service to our nation. May we make peace and justice a priority in honor of these fallen men and women!
Wow I am in shock
don't know what forum to put this in so kick it out if it's not in the right one.
WE JUST BECAME GRANDPARENTS
our daughter in law gave an emergency birth about 2 hours ago. Baby had a good birth weight
6lbs 7oz
Does anyone know where to find a cheap bassinett? I thought we had about 3 more weeks to do this!
2014 Election Resolution
who here is willing to join me in promising at least 12 hours of either door belling, envelope stuffing, letter writing, phone calling from Sept 1-Election Day and also 2 hours on election day of GOTV work. If you press like, I will remind you on Sept 1 and also on the eve of election day! THIS IS VITAL, we need the work, we need the excitement and the engagement of the committed!
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Frankfurt am Main
Home country: Germany
Current location: Tacoma, Washington
Member since: Sat Jul 18, 2009, 11:55 AM
Number of posts: 23,733
