Displaying 0 To 0 Of 0 Comments This is interesting Cher and covers the conversation you and I have had here several times in the last few weeks, a thing that has had me puzzled and I admit frustrated since the Teabaggers demonstration in Washington last September but also in as far back as 08 on HP. After that bedraggled show of “force” of a group of people shouting anti-government, anti-HCR, anti-Obama rants, I expected the counter-attack from a combined group of Dems, Liberals and Progressives, it seemed like the right time to show up this group of social misfits by gathering peacefully to show support for the long awaited changes in health care affecting millions, killing over a 100 people each day, a bill that wouldn’t be perfect but could be amended in the future. It seemed the perfect time to show your support for your President, a man you had elected, a man you all knew was fighting an unending wall of opposition to keep his campaign promises for change in Washington. I waited and waited but heard only silence. You suggested that it wouldn’t have been covered by your media, I said so what, someone could have brought video cameras and posted them on youtube or other outlets on the net, sooner or later people would have known that you opposed the stone walling of a minority trying to take away the right of every American to have access to health care, it would have shown unity, it would have shown that someone cared. I was and am very disillusioned that an issue so important, an issue meaning life and death to millions could be left solely in the hands of politicians, some of who only had their own agendas to fulfill and consequently voted against what was good for their country, good for it’s citizens. No one took to the streets, I know that many people care and cared but for the rest of the people you hoped to reach, the sound wasn’t loud enough, the opposition to the opposition was weak and people as people tend to do, lost interest. The advantage of protests in the streets is that politicians do hear about it and it scares them. The fact that a group of people can actually organize themselves into a fairly large group and protest without violence for a cause is much more powerful and lasting in the long run than a bunch or rowdy, racist, ignorant Teabaggers with their misspelt signs, their disgusting depiction of photos of your President and their lack of ability to show why they are there or even answer the simplest questions from reporters covering the event. It’s not easy I know, but most demonstrations in Europe are just groups of like thinking people, concerned about events or policy in their own country or injustices in other countries, the exception being for pay disputes which will be organized by the unions. My heart is heavy because of the missed opportunities to show as much force as a disorganized Becky group, even if not covered by major networks because of lack of fairness or lack of conscience, it would have reached the ears of the people who vote on issues and would have shown that you will fight to the end for what you believe is right and not fall like a stack of cards every time the Republicans say boo. I understand that 8 years of the Bush/Cheney “regime” numbed and dulled the spirit and maybe the minds of the majority of the American people but you voted for change and as most people learn, making this happen requires effort, every journey begins with a first step and if that means protesting in public, fighting the opposition every step of the way by fighting every lie they have ever uttered or by taking to the streets, then I think that the time has come to do just that, a keyboard “revolution” just hasn’t proven to be enough to reach the people who could through sheer numbers, make a difference. Threatening to not vote for a certain Dem Senator or Rep in your own district is all well and good if there is a viable candidate you could vote for instead, but if it’s just out of anger at someone’s incompetence, then it would just be like biting your own hand or cutting off you nose to spite your face. I think that breakdown in social communication often starts in the breakdown of families being able to or having the time to talk enough as a group to understand the feelings or pov of each member. If no one listens to what you have to say at home, then often as children reach adulthood, they carry this stigma with them once they leave home. The inability to listen to other people is a contributing factor to many social ills, which in turn produces disinterest in other people. This has been a huge problem over the years here in Japan, with children not feeling secure enough to confide in their parents and husbands and wives no longer discussing important issues about family issues causing a sometimes irreparable disconnect in the most important threads which hold families together during a crisis. A good example would be the “latch-key” kids left to their own devices because both parents have to work to make ends meet. I think that every country needs to think again about the effects of almost non-communication with their children because they have become too busy or too tired for that all important talk with their kids or their spouses, I know for a fact that it really helps. » Posted By Kalima On February 22, 2010 @ 4:12 pm Real Time Real Good … for Now: A Review of Season 8 Episode 1 of Real Time with Bill Maher If Maher can go on Larry King and still openly make fun of your President by criticizing his Q&A time in Baltimore with the Republicans, then he hasn’t grasped what Obama was trying and succeeded to do with this very clever maneuver and should pause before opening his mouth. A link to the Larry King episode, I think it starts at about 4mins 30sec in.
» Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 4:23 pm Abuse of Power – Tale of a Red State You are welcome. On the right there on youtube is also his “In the Ghetto” song, his music was very much a part of our lives in London and our early years here. A great loss to music and to his many fans. Sing it Donny!! » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 8:05 pm Thank you for your kind words, I’m limited to what I can do these days but I continue to try to do what I can. If I’m no longer on a return ticket when I leave, then there will be active, kind and concerned people like you to carry on the good work and get people involved. Yesterday I was looking up “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for some reason about the HCR bill and realize that this is indeed a right of every human being and felt such sadness for the millions who will never have this in their lives because of corrupt governments making bad decisions which lead to poverty, hunger, despair and eventual death to so many. *sigh* For all of those who are feeling oppressed around the world including the good people in javaz’s post who fight against this corruption, here is my favourite song, from my favourite singer, singing a favourite message.
» Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 7:23 pm I will have to admit that unfortunately, I feel the same, it’s hard, oh so very hard to try to be perfect and forgiving, I fall short on so many levels. I’m hoping to improve myself in the next life but have a nagging feeling that I’m an old soul who has lived out all the lives that were intended. I hope not, I still have so much to learn. 🙂 » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 6:57 pm Cher, this was in my profile over at the “dark side” since June 07. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment Dalai Lama I’ve found it very hard to apply this thought to your Repubs and now the teabaggers. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 6:19 pm Bito, “Kh, Sheriff Joe in a Mexican prison!! Oh, that would be too much to ask.” That would be “true” justice, » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 6:08 pm When that’s full there is always Alcatraz and a room with a view of the bay. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 6:06 pm Ok Khirad, I’m thinking about it. Without my years of written notes, I’m a little like a fish out of water. I’ll see what I can remember and put something together soonish. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 6:01 pm We are taught good manners from a very early age. When I was a kid and even now, the boys bowed when they shook hands with strangers or older people and the girls (me) would curtsey as we shook hands. My grandfather tipped his hat for every woman who passed us on our Sunday walks after Mass and greeted friend and stranger alike. Boys and men offered their bus or tram seats to women, it was the normal thing to do. Living here in Japan was a real eye opener for me the first time some guy let a door slam in my face or stole my seat on the train, I never got used to it and spent the rest of my train journey giving dirty looks to men who would steal the seat of an elderly person, sometimes even telling them off in public about parking in a “Silver” seat intended for the infirm and elderly. I still complain at bad manners rather loudly when I get out, this time in perfect Japanese. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 5:38 pm It makes me feel “fuzzy” too. Tokyo is a very crowded city and the street in front of our house like many other streets all over Tokyo are very narrow. I’ve made it a habit to greet every person that passes my house when I’m outside in the early morning, whether I know them or not. Why not, almost everyone is on their way to another dreary day at work or the elderly out for a little exercise and most of them greet me back and smile, which in turn puts me in a pleasant mood for most of the day, so I benefit too. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 5:19 pm Good evening bito and I’m wrapped in my bright red Snuggie with my behind waving to the elements, silly idea. 🙁 If they have that much control, all the more reason to smoke them out and expose them to the rest of the country. I’m sure that most Americans have no idea what is going on and they need to know all of it. Since when, in this day and age can a State revert to religious “communism” without the rest of the country or the government knowing about and trying to improve the everyday life of the citizens, I don’t get it, they are going backwards. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 5:02 pm Mental asylum, perfect, they can build a few more for the sick Republican “Faux” Christians and Bachmann can have her notion of “internment” camps become a reality. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 4:52 pm That’s such a wonderful story javaz and just goes to prove how a little kindness goes a long way and can change both parties concerned forever. Sometimes just doing something unexpectedly can produce a smile from another human that is more rewarding than anything we experience in a very long time. I’ve said it here before, kindness to others costs us nothing. everyone should try it, the whole world might benefit from it. Every country should have a “National Kindness Day” it will bring more smiles than frowns for sure. 🙂 » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 4:49 pm That is an awful state of affairs javaz. I know it’s not an option for you but I think that if I thought that change could not be fought for by using legal means, I would consider moving instead of banging my head against a wall, I couldn’t live this way. I’ve had problems with neighbour here in the last 20 years and the only things which stopped me from moving were the cats I take care of outside, I maybe couldn’t find a place with a garden to keep them and would never leave them behind or stop caring for them. The other reason is that our business is just 5 minutes by bike and since I can’t get out under my own steam anymore, our staff do my shopping. I feel sorry for all those who live in the area who disagree with what is going on, I so hope that this investigation is thorough, that people will lose their fear and come forward with more information against him and that he is found guilty if brought to trial for corruption. That place needs a new Sheriff and pronto. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 4:11 pm Well done javaz, which leads me to the obvious question of how 2 racists lunatics have gained the power to misuse that power to terrorize a whole county, especially since the Sheriff has been told that what he is doing is illegal and he should cease rounding up and incarcerating illegal immigrants. If he has been warned on several occasions then someone who does have the power to make him stop, is not doing their job. If it reaches all the way to the Senate, something stinks to high heaven and needs to be exposed. I saw this pos on CNN last year arguing with a Hispanic civil rights lawyer, his demeanor towards her accusations was unpleasant to witness and I remember thinking that this arrogant guy needed to be taught a lesson. I find it hard to believe that this sick bully can’t be removed from his position. This is 2010 after all, the town is not Tombstone and the Sheriff is certainly no Wyatt Earp, » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 3:33 pm I thought that there were provisions in the bill that allowed and encouraged individual States to start much earlier if they wanted to. If that is the case, I should imagine that there would be enough pressure in the highest uninsured States to do just that, although why a State gets to play Russian roulette with the lives of it’s population is beyond me. » Posted By Kalima On February 21, 2010 @ 2:53 pm As I said above, I really, really hope so with all my heart, you know that my love for my friends, especially for the chronically sick and uninsured friends, plays an important part in my life and therefore even though not a citizen, it is of the utmost importance to me to see this chance of insuring at least 30 million Americans, to be followed by amendments to cover the remainder as soon as possible after the bill is passed, signed and hopefully implemented before too much time has passed. A few years will be too long for many people to wait if they are not getting the treatment they need to keep them alive. » Posted By Kalima On February 20, 2010 @ 11:33 pm I sincerely hope so AdLib because up until now from before the summer of last year, all I’ve ever heard is a long list of excuses from the Dems and the biggest, stinking pile of BS and lies ever uttered from the party of NO and their henchmen, with little or no reaction from your side. » Posted By Kalima On February 20, 2010 @ 11:23 pm Another 60 days of arguing like little schoolgirls and wanting “pork” for their own districts while the “ugly” Rebubs continue to demean the President of the United States in the media “without balls” and the side who voted for him whines without giving solutions on their daily blogs. 1 million virtual march on Washington, good Lord. Isn’t that just too little and too late, sort of like closing the stable door after the horse has already bolted. Thanks K, I can’t get “Father Ted” over here and it wouldn’t play on my little IPod toy, I hope the IPad works better, early birthday present from the mister when it comes out in Japan. 🙂 » Posted By Kalima On February 20, 2010 @ 10:57 pm Oh for goodness sake, pass the final bill already and fix it along the way once it is implemented sooner I hope rather than having to wait another few years. There must be good things hidden in there somewhere or your President wouldn’t sign the darned thing. It is bound to be much better than what you have had for decades, congress needs to pull their bloody socks up, stop thinking about rewards and just get it done. I have friends in your country who’s next hospital stay could be their last, they are all in their 40’s, their families love them and don’t want them to die, I don’t want to lose them either. This whole process reminds me of a person who has never eaten a certain food and therefore say they don’t like. How can you complain about something that you have never tried or even make the effort to at least try once? The dilly-dallying is costing lives, making families live in fear, afraid to seek medical attention, is this what everyone wants on their conscience for the rest of their lives, that is assuming that they have a conscience that is. I was catching up on my Rachel and KO podcasts the other day, one guy said that if congress wanted to, they could pass this bill in 24 hours. Food for thought. The time for talk in over, now you should be screaming for action. I’ll bet all I own that the loud protest from all sides, especially in the media and on the blogs about this bill, comes from people who can afford to be negative because, hey, they are covered and those who are not are on their own. This thoroughly disgusts me because they are no better than the Republicans. Here is a link I posted on the 8th on MB. It is 35 minutes of photos and audio about President Obama’s road to the WH and well worth watching/listening to. iI might also explain his insistence so far in reaching across the “aisle.” If you have time please watch it, it may make you understand Obama the man and Obama the politician better. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2008/nov/05/obama-road-to-white-house1 Oh and f@ck the Repubs!!! » Posted By Kalima On February 20, 2010 @ 4:51 pm I miss all the fun, I’d like someone to rant about in my mornings too, not fair. 🙁 » Posted By Kalima On February 19, 2010 @ 5:12 am LOL maybe, I’ve heard nothing but rants about him in the past. » Posted By Kalima On February 19, 2010 @ 4:38 am Two people dead and 13 people injured. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/02/18/texas.plane.crash.rescue/index.html He wasn’t exactly living in poverty. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/02/18/texas.plane.crash.profile/index.html » Posted By Kalima On February 19, 2010 @ 4:12 am By the same token those of you who have already decided that the government is to blame just because he left a rambling letter on the internet, would seem decided about the possibility that he was just another victim of the system. You see, most people go with their gut instinct until something becomes more detailed and we have the opportunity to change our minds. Human nature rather than emotion. » Posted By Kalima On February 19, 2010 @ 1:00 am That’s why we should wait then before making a judgment that it indeed had anything at all to do with the government and could just as well turn out to be a case of sour grapes because like everyone else, rich or poor, you are required to pay your taxes. Even the new PM in Japan is being raked over the coals here daily for not paying back taxes, no one is exempt. » Posted By Kalima On February 18, 2010 @ 11:59 pm cl, I just wrote a reply to you that was gobbled up by an ERROR message. Keeping it short I will say that the majority of people would not be able to answer that question because their beliefs have become entrenched in the “Message of the day” by their leaders. The only thing I glean from their rants is that they don’t know the facts, repeat proven lies and want their country back, back from where or back from whom has never really been explained by any of them. So much for their movement. » Posted By Kalima On February 18, 2010 @ 11:48 pm Well posting letters on the internet sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t it? » Posted By Kalima On February 18, 2010 @ 11:04 pm How can anyone even be sure that he really believed what he wrote and it wasn’t just words on paper to justify what he was planning to do which could have been for any number of other reasons? » Posted By Kalima On February 18, 2010 @ 10:55 pm And such a nice, quiet man who payed his bills on time. We are perceived as to how we present ourselves to the people in our daily social circle outside the privacy of our homes, this is why it would be so hard to identify and stop the next Stark. One man blowing his mind over certain issues will not help to change the minds of others who will one day try to do the same. These are basically angry people, I’ve met angry people in my lifetime and no matter how much you talk to them, nothing will change their minds. They remain angry about most things and a few will no doubt take things into their own hands. We all have concerns about our daily lives, most of us learn how to deal with it. It seems rather reaching to blame the government about everything that goes wrong with our lives, especially when you haven’t been paying your taxes while others are struggling to survive from day to day. » Posted By Kalima On February 18, 2010 @ 10:23 pmComments Posted By Kalima
and happiness.
Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t
mean they’ve gotten lost.”
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