During the day, do you read a story and you feel it is worth sharing? Where to place it? I don’t like to disrupt someone’s thread or thoughtful post and it is not worthy of posting a lengthy article, do you? Let’s try to leave this up in speakers corner and we can share some news!
From the Afghan Women’s Writing Project
“Colorful Days after Black Nights”
I remember the Taliban were searching houses ten times a day with different groups to find a book, cassette, picture, TV, or video game. If they found any of these, they shot the whole family. After we returned home, my mom burned books that my older sister and brother had collected over many years. She burned most of the books in our mud-brick oven, then threw the rest away in sacks very far from the house so the Taliban would not know they were ours. My heart was broken and I was at a loss……
I wove carpets for four years and forgot everything about studying or getting an education. We were stuck at home, and never allowed to go outside. When the Taliban were removed from power in Afghanistan after almost five years, most of the schools eventually reopened. My siblings returned to school, but I did not, because I was so afraid of everyone, still thinking that Taliban were close.
Related articles















Dear bito,
If you are reading this, please know you are and have been in my thoughts and prayers for weeks now. No need to try and answer; just I, boomer, want you to keep on fighting. All of us are here for you dear.
You can email, just check with AL, K, or KQ for my address.
Report comment
Hey B’ito!
A gazzillion bajillion times on what Boomer said!
We are all sending you positive thoughts, prayers and hoping to see you back on the Planet again!
We all miss you.
Report comment
For anyone in need of a laugh -
javaz,
Off topic or otherwise…this is inappropriate here.
Report comment
Now what??
‘Top kill’ BP operation to halt US oil leak fails”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10191622.stm
Report comment
I have no idea what theme tonight’s music thread will be. However, I would like to dedicate this to my very dear and best friend ever; left this week for a 2-5 year non-military stint overseas. Be safe my friend, this one’s for you:
And no, I’m not syndicated “Delilah” undercover.
Report comment
Coincidentally, tonight’s music theme encompasses traveling, an appropriate send off for your good friend!
Report comment
YAE! It’s FRIDAY!
Here’s a hilarious story that should brighten your day -
Most of you have probably heard about the abhorrent animal cruelty at the Conklin Dairy Farm in Plain City, Madison County, OH. Well folks, Plain City is just a stone’s throw from me, and I’m appalled by the goings on at this place. Here is the link to Change.org and the petition to shut the place down. Please DO NOT watch the video, it is beyond unpleasant and will literally make you sick.I believe the goal is 7,500 signatures, and I would like nothing more than to send every single one of these assholes, including the owner, to jail! Thanks — boomer
Report comment
I’m a member at this site but couldn’t sign it because I don’t live in the U.S. This is a first time where I couldn’t sign a petition, sorry, I tried.
Report comment
*
Report comment
bt-
“cowboybilly1984″ speaks volumes, not so much the 1984, but the cowboybilly. Go figure. My thanks if you signed the petition; this dairy farm is literally less than 30 minutes from me…30 minutes!
My guess is he inherited it from his hard working parents. They must be spinning, warp speed no less, in their graves.
*Update* We have such wimpy, limpy laws:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018833559
So, in the same vein as the cruelty discovered in New Mexico at Holloman AFB and Coulston Research Labs, reported here, nothing will be done until something is done.
Report comment
Done.
And no, I have not heard about it, nor do I want to hear about it, Boomer.
My husband and I cannot stomach any stories on animal cruelty.
We quickly change the channel when those commercials come on asking for donations to prevent animal cruelty, even though we do donate to animal shelters and animal rescue.
It’s just heartbreaking and that’s another reason that I cannot view pictures of the Gulf, because I cannot stand to see the birds, fish and other wildlife.
We’re big animal lovers in this house and when we go onto the next horizon in 100 years or so we’ll leave whatever we have left to help animals.
(Yes, we are planning to live well into our 150′s!)
Report comment
Thank you javaz. Every “signature” counts.
Report comment
OMG.
Did anyone else think today was Friday?
LMAO
Well, at least I got the laundry done and did the dusting!
It’s kind of neat gaining a day but also kind of scary.
Report comment
Actually, today was my Friday! Woo Hoo! I’m off until Tuesday. And, tomorrow is payday.
Report comment
Good times!
May I say that it’s so nice to see you again, Boomer.
Haven’t seen you around much and I’ve missed you.
Hope you have cracked open a bottle of Merlot and let the PARTY begin!
I think we really should do a youtube night tonight, but then again, I’ve always been one to go against the flow and buck authority in my small way.
LOL
Report comment
Pepe – here’s a story that might interest you -
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/05/27/smoking_toddler_outrage/
Report comment
I just saw this on the local teevee. If you were watching Keith today, you also saw my congresswoman (and Bito’s). Well, this is an early attack ad, and I’m more fired up than ever to volunteer:
http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/vmix_7420a5f6-645c-11df-8c2c-001cc4c002e0.html
They would love to have this district back. Palin even put it in her crosshairs.
Report comment
*
Report comment
I’ve been meaning to post this link for a while and never got around to it but Bluestatesman’s post on the loss of a friend has reminded me.
I will not presume to start a page for the Planet but, should anyone want to do so, this is a great place for private and group grieving, prayers, good thoughts
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng
Report comment
This is a great question….
Why is Rand Paul a Bigger Story then Financial Reform?
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/why-is-rand-paul-a-bigger-story-than-financial-reform/57240/
Georgia teacher suspended after pupils don Klan robes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10157270.stm
I’m sorta throwin’ this one out there. What say you guys?
Report comment
K, I wish the article had been more informative about how the Klan was represented in the film that this teacher and her class made. Did the parents see the film and react negatively? Or was this a reaction only to the costumes? What really happened?
Argh! Incomplete reporting is really annoying. There’s no way to make a judgment until we know these things.
A film that glorifies the Klan, needless to say, is simply not on. I think I’d have a problem, though, with getting the teacher suspended over something that was historically accurate and took a moral stand against racism.
I’ve never understood peoples’ objection to “Huckleberry Finn” because it contains the n-word, though, either. Twain was one of the least racist people of 19th to early 20th century America.
Report comment
Precisely, Kes. I can’t myself make a judgment for the same reasons. That’s why I floated it out there, hesitant if I was still being insensitive.
I would really have to know more details. It was certainly a lapse of judgment to trust kids to be conscientious and not take the hoods off – but that too – maybe they were in a hurry?
If it was these kids dressing up as Klansman and acting like the violent racist pricks they were to prove a point how wrong it was, I say fine. This santitizing history PC crap gets to me.
As long as it wasn’t a student vignette reproduction of “Birth of a Nation” I hope this is cleared up. Unfortunately, I don’t know more about the teacher or the students, but I kinda think it was one of the BBC’s top stories ’cause it happened in Georgia.
As with Arizona, Dixie still lives on in Georgia, but to paint with a broad brush on any state’s denizens and draw snap conclusions thereof, is foolhardy. I’m not quite sure if this is up there with the lynching episodes a few years back. Of course, it could be…
I just don’t know! Aargh!
I want to know how to feel about this!
Report comment
Can someone answer this?
What does it say about a country when the largest private employer is Walmart?
Report comment
We are moving closer and closer to lower expectations.
Report comment
Remember when Walmart first started under Sam?
The stores sold everything ‘made in America’ except for produce, and they flew flags in their stores proudly.
Then Sam died, and now his kids and grandkids forgot the pride of made in America and sell crap made in China and other countries.
You can’t find much made in the USA any longer.
I’m not sure what it says that our largest private employer is Walmart, but it does mean lower wages and a lower standard of living.
Tea Party people shout about attitudes being against business, but corporations such as Walmart put small businesses out of work and people who work for Walmart usually need government assistance to support their families.
I remember when General Motors was one of the biggest employers of Americans.
There is good news for Michigan in that GM is reopening 2 plants for their electric cars and one of them from where I lived before moving – Sterling Heights.
Regardless what the Tea Party people say, bailing out GM was the right thing to do as it is putting Americans back to work.
I’m still rooting for Chrysler to pull through.
As Americans we should never let our automotive companies fail, and yes, I know that they mismanaged and were out-of-date and behind, but they’ve got their groove back now and we must save them.
Then again, being from Detroit, I’m sort of biased about that!
Report comment
LOL
javaz,
It’s an oxymoron to go to Walmart, buy an American Flag for the 4th of July, and it’s been made in China.
I really try to avoid Walmart. Sometimes I can go for months, not setting foot a store; then for some reason I fall off the wagon. I need a 12 Step Program.
Report comment
I do kinda remember that Javez.
Report comment
I remember the Sams dog food and dog treats.
I wonder if we could create a big, I mean really big, label on stuff.
Made in the USA
or
Made in China
or where ever
One unified label right on the front of stuff that sticks out like a searchlight.
Of course have both items next to each other.
Make stores carry both.
Would they go for the USA stuff?
Will people be good patriots then?
Put their money where their mouth is?
Would that help?