this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war and other disasters
we honor courage in all its forms
we love and support our troops, just as we love and support the Iraqi people – without exception, or precondition, or judgement.
cross-posted at DailyKos, Booman Tribune, European Tribune, My Left Wing, and TexasKos.
image and poem below the fold
An Iraqi nurse checks the wounds of a two-year-old Iraqi girl at a hospital in Baghdad. The Iraqi capital was struck by another devastating car bomb that killed at least 66 people at a crowded Baghdad market in a Shiite district despite a massive security crackdown in the city.
(AFP/Sabah Arar)
Of Politics, & Art
by Norman Dubie
–for Allen
Here, on the farthest point of the peninsula
The winter storm
Off the Atlantic shook the schoolhouse.
Mrs. Whitimore, dying
Of tuberculosis, said it would be after dark
Before the snowplow and bus would reach us.
She read to us from Melville.
How in an almost calamitous moment
Of sea hunting
Some men in an open boat suddenly found themselves
At the still and protected center
Of a great herd of whales
Where all the females floated on their sides
While their young nursed there. The cold frightened whalers
Just stared into what they allowed
Was the ecstatic lapidary pond of a nursing cow’s
One visible eyeball.
And they were at peace with themselves.
Today I listened to a woman say
That Melville might
Be taught in the next decade. Another woman asked, “And why not?”
The first responded, “Because there are
No women in his one novel.”
And Mrs. Whitimore was now reading from the Psalms.
Coughing into her handkerchief. Snow above the windows.
There was a blue light on her face, breasts and arms.
Sometimes a whole civilization can be dying
Peacefully in one young woman, in a small heated room
With thirty children
Rapt, confident and listening to the pure
God rendering voice of a storm.
– – –
a personal note: I apologize for the sporadic nature of these diaries over the past few weeks. I made a commitment to post one every day, but have lately fallen short. I hope that will not remain the case in the coming weeks. Thanks
– – –
read This is what John Kerry did today, the dKos diary by lawnorder that inspired this series
love and support the Iraqi people
join CIVIC’s “I Care” photo campaign
raed in the middle’s blog
support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)
support CARE
support the victims of torture
read Riverbend’s Bagdhad Burning
read Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches
read Today in Iraq
love and support our troops
read Ilona’s important blog – PTSD Combat
support Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
view the pbs newshour silent honor roll
(with thanks to jimstaro at booman.)take a private moment to light one candle among many
(with thanks to TXSharon)support Veterans for Peace
remember the fallen
support Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors – TAPS
support Gold Star Families for Peace
support the fallen
support the troops
support Iraq Veterans Against the War
support Military families Speak Out
support a young heart with an old soul peace takes courage (multimedia)
poetry matters poets against war
support the troops and the Iraqi people
witness every day
While speaking at the YearlyKos 2006 Convention in Los Vegas, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner said (and I paraphrase from memory): “George Bush, incompetent idiot, blah blah blah, went to war in Iraq when the real threat is in Iran.” (my emphasis)
There was a brief pause after his statement, and I regret that I wasn’t brave or quick-witted enough to yell “Bullshit!” into the silence. But the moment passed, Warner picked up his next thread in perfect cadence, and I bit into my box lunch apple.
So now what?
I’m gonna let him know that I think his statement is bullshit, and why. I’m starting here. If anyone knows of other ways, please put them in this thread.
Thanks.
For peace
The candle that DianeL first lit many months ago, and which has become such an important part of these diaries since, is still available here.
You can copy that image into your own comment (you can leave it on my server), craft your own image, and/or rate this one – not for mojo, but to leave a small mark after taking this moment – as a sign that you know, but do not approve, and are not resigned.
“It is like trying to ignite – to pass on the responsibilities as much as possible to everyone else.” – Ravi Shankar
Rub,
Why don’t you jump the New London Ferry to Orient and join a few of us for the Blues Festival here on Long Island this weekend?
Long Island Blues Festival Meetup
Thanks for the invite. We’re headed to Tanglewood for Friday’s opener.
Now that could be a great place to meet up sometime this summer – a picnic on the lawn and some fine fine fiddle music…
One person’s Blues is another person’s symphony.
Have fun.
peace
(I appreciate the time and work you put into the diaries Rub, and can understand that you have other commitments that may make it difficult to keep up w/ the daily posting. Thank you for doing this …)
Light A Candle For
Peace, Tolerance, Understanding
and For The Children – Innocence Lost,
And Future We May Have Given Them!
VFP Phoenix on Air America
GI SPECIAL 4G3: Zombie Soldiers.pdf
G.I. Special is once again being posted at, and archived, at Toms Original Site: MilitaryProject.org
Go over to KOS and Recommend Dave’s diary
Troops Home Fast Photos and Report
by David Swanson
It ain’t long but it’s got this within:
Dear RubDMC, it’s embarrassing to receive an apology from a man who has already done so much great work. You certainly have not let me down. I always feel guilty to find that I may have missed one of your diaries.
Thanks for all the great links, and especially for the poetry.
Al-Zarqawi’s death fails to stop bloodshed
God bless the children. Blessed are the peacemakers. Thou shalt not kill. Love your enemy as yourself.
What is this you ask? Well, if we are to beginning to start the peace movement and adhere to sincere peace, we must remember those things. We must not begin feeling as if we should give in to everything that is evil. dubya is evil and must be done away with. Once and for all, he has to be displaced from the power he thinks he has in this administration, along with his cohorts.
Like others here, Rub, please know that we all appreciate all that you are doing and have done for ever so long. hugs…..
I would have to be honest, I do not think I could practice my chosen profession in that garb that nurse is wearing….just a thought.
It’s very hard to strive for peace or an end to this insanity without the ANGER.
Someone near and dear told me I’d be inhuman if I didn’t feel anger for all the attrocities, the regime… but I can have anger to spur me on to act… as long as I don’t let the HATE take hold.
It’s a very fine line… but so many walk away from activism because of this. They feel they can’t get involved because of their incredible anger… and really – it’s the best thing to do to ease the anger.
It’s very hard to strive for peace or an end to this insanity without the ANGER.
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Yes, DJ we all are angry over this and it is sincerely not a good thing. I also feel other emotions along with this anger…like betrayal, like I had been stabbed in my heart with unlawful acts, etc.
Someone near and dear told me I’d be inhuman if I didn’t feel anger for all the atrocities, the regime… but I can have anger to spur me on to act… as long as I don’t let the HATE take hold.
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Yes anger is a human emotion. It is how we use that emotion that makes the difference. Yes there are ways to combat anger than killing or hurting someone/yourself. Yes it is, that hate, that is the spurring word here. As long as we demonstrate that anger within a lawful manner, we will certainly win the battle!
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It’s a very fine line… but so many walk away from activism because of this. They feel they can’t get involved because of their incredible anger… and really – it’s the best thing to do to ease the anger.
Yes, Darling, to be come active is one way to get that anger out into the open and deal with it, just as long as one doesn’t become like the one, one is angry at. That surely is a very thin line, for sure.
Surely you have to know how angry I am as well. I can not go to demonstrations or such as that for there aren’t any here, and I do work all the time, but even if I could, I would loose my job, and when I do retire, and loosing my job is the most important thing to keep me alive now, so I can get involved, I do intend to get very involved. That is just fact. Since I have learned to turn around the words and actions of others on the opposite end of this yardstick and leave them flustered as to their actions and words, they do tend to think and come around to the ways of what and how I think. This does not always work, of course, but I do still try. I hear a lot of stuttering nowadays from their mouths..trying to make their point. It just is not coming out the way they intended…which is funny, in a way. I commend you for your activism. I really do. I admire what you’re doing. and many many hugs to you and your group in code pink. YOu all are doing a job for us who can’t do that.
My statement above is just what it was meant to be. Just a statement. doesn’t mean I am wrong, or does it? You tell me. For you all are the peacemakers…you all are the blessed ones, imho.
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Ahh turning their words back on them. Verbal ju jitsu 🙂
I’m not as learned to do that… yet.
Please know I was not at all debating or anything.. just adding on to your post. Peace… is hard. Letting the Anger incite action rather than hate is just as hard.
I know, Sweetie, I know. I just felt I needed to explain myself to you and others as to where I was in my thinking. I love you and all the rest here. Sincerely, I do! If I let myself go with my anger as I almost did a few weeks ago, I would stroke out…really I almost did. I can not afford to do that. It is not worth the anger I felt that day. I sometimes need to step back and reassess my actions and words and motives. I must be very calculated in my actions and words. I really am a peaceful personality. I love ppl but then there is a time when they take me to the line I simply can not cross for fear of loosing it within my own self. Been there done that one…not worth it….:o)..Again, DJ, I do love you, my sister, my comrade, my fellow worker for peace. hugs
When the line gets too fuzzy…that’s when I know it’s time to take some time out for myself.
…
or watch a James Bond flick with two great kids of mine.
I’ll call it “getting centered” or “centering myself” but really it’s just playing with the kidlets 🙂
Don’t work yourself up into a stroke, Brenda. We need ya! Love backatcha! OXOXOX
Thank you Janet. I really mean that. It just gets so hard to keep from getting all worked up over the feces that goes on in this world. I know it is silly, for what can I really do!!?? Not enough it seems…I hope that someday, and soon, I can become of benefit to our nation once again. BTW, I have been working hard to keep my record clean so that I can honestly run for even dog catcher someday…:o) That does not take much money I hear..:o)
I do step back and regroup..I just sometimes let things get to me that shouldn’t. I have had many talks with myself and lately, I have to really go easy on me for I can ask way to much of me. I guess, as someone told me once, I am from the old school in nursing. I care tooooooo much…not!!! hugs..
Oh…I beg to differ Brenda.
As a veteran of the last war that we were lied into, where our young people were left to fight without a clear objective, while few Americans took the time to understand the war’s effects on them, I need to hear your voice. All Americans need to hear your voice and need to know your experiences and what that war did to you, and what it did to the boys you tried to save and comfort. When I think of you Brenda, I remember something that Infidelpig called you….an Angel of mercy. I think you’re an angel, but I also know that you harbor some very deep and complex feelings about this war. About soldiers and their honor. How they need to be treated by those of us who’ve never had to walk where they’ve walked. I hear all of that. And I respect it. Probably more than my words ever convey.
In other words, your presence here is essential.
Thanks Super…I so respect you among all the rest for your courage and actions. I get so frustrated with my military when they do shitin stupid things. I want to take them and shake some sense into them, for gods sake. Do they not see what they are doing? We, from the old school, have told them so as parents, aunts uncles, friends, teachers, just buddies of those kids now on the field to kill. I talked for a very long time in a session of school here a few years back before dubya even thought about running for prez. I remember distinctly telling them, that the time will come for them to really think clearly about what they would do when they joined up and was sent off to fight a war, legal or not. Killing is something that affects everyone, no matter what they think..it does. I just feels so helpless for those of my community that were kids in jr high then and now are marines and in the army, navy or air force. Yes it is something to be proud to serve your country. but there is more to that than that..you will be asked to do things that do go against what you have always been told in growing up. you will have to leave that boy/girlhood behind and become what they want you to become. Nothing wrong with that, unless it is used against the betterment of a whole society and a world that strives for peace.
Some can deal with it and some cant..It is just that simple. It is something that one just has to think hard upon before acting. A co-worker of mine at the clinic I am attached to has a son who just graduated from high school an has joined the marine corps. I just hope he understands, clearly, what he is getting into and how he should respond on a daily basis for his own good, not the corps. for after he goes back at night to sleep on that hard old rack, is when he will think..he will think long and hard about things..I just hold my breath that he will be one of the good ones. My nephews son joined the marine corps and got out just right before the war was going good. He was one of the lucky ones and he will tell you so. My son wanted to re-up for the Navy..I threatened him…I said I lost one child and I could not stand to loose another one…I glad decided not to rejoin…I am so pleased. He does not like bush, but is a conservative in so many ways…I suppose he is like his mom..so am I an many ways..but for the good of conservatism..This is what upsets me the most…Things like this. then I hear of the guy that raped and killed the ppl in Iraq back in March…I just want to kill him myself. What the hell was he thinking of???!!! Has the army gone and lost all the morale of their cause??!! They take shit like this in the army and for what! because they did not make their quota!!?? OH hell, give me a break..this military of ours is falling apart. We do have to have a strong and qualified military..but nothing like what I have been seeing during this shit. Hell yes it is illegal..and more should be like the young Lt in Seattle area. He could not stand by and watch as another young life gets shattered by his army..Lying on the bed for a nurse to take care of him..I suppose his parents were dead or they would be at his bedside. I do not know, but to hurt little kids no matter who is doing it the insurgency or our ppl, it is wrong!!!no if ands or buts, about it..it’s just wrong. This is where I am torn. I so desperately want to support my troops, for they belong to us..we the ppl, not rummy personally or that commander in country..they are ours….remember that always. We have a say in what goes on with them…I think it is time for us to let rummy, cheney and bush know just that!!! don’t you…
Yes, I want our ppl to know what to do to save their own lives in time of combat..but things are getting out of had..just like VN it got out of hand in many ways…many times…
I promise not to carry on like this ever again..Thanks for giving me a chance to explain how I feel. Hell yes I am angry..angry to the point that I just want to spit in rummy’s eye and castrate the rest, but then again, they couldn’t get it up if they had to, the chicken shits that they are. That is how angry I am…:o(
Geez, where is IP and GDW when I need them…I miss them so much…
PS: I used to be a peds nurse and I can not stand the hurting of children that has been done not only in war but in common ordinary days of life. I had to leave it for fear of that anger I felt towards the ones who hurt the kids. This nearly broke me into half so I could not be functional at all…I have too much to give in my profession to have it break…not now..not after over 40 years..The poor little one…I hurt for them…
Just when I think I’ve seen the most heart-wrenching of the photographs… To think, so many people go about their days pretending like we’re not at war.
I’m so ashamed of this unending horror.