In place of the my usual invective, I will talk about some of the things I have done to try to make peace in a country that seems bent on war. Those who wish to share the visceral reactions that I am trying to overcome, could start at a 55-minute BBC radiocast, available over the web in RealAudio(tm) , called, "The Real George W. Bush." The most frightening thing about these people is the pride they take in not thinking, and in their belligerence and non-cooperation with other parties or nations.. For the strong of stomach: The Real George W. Bush Belong to a country where 2/3 admire that mendacious idiot son of privilege, bellicose asshole, whose violence is surpassed only by his greed?! Not my country, surely. Benito Mussolini had a word for " the union of corporate and military power" as expressed in the odious Bush-Cheney "National Security Plan" of 9/20. It starts with an "f." Americans fought against it in World War II.
Dear God, help me to keep believe I can be a force for peace, and th e Bush Administration can be stopped in its drive to war and world domina tion by violence!
Anyway, my focus tries to be on action. First, a grounding in daily meditation on lovingkindness (see the book of that title by Sharon Salzberg) is a tonic for the spirit, and perhaps helps keep spirits up when times are down. Though originally Buddhist, it is a universal sentiment that go es well with all sincere religions. I enclose a copy of my wording; it can perhaps warm the heart in a cold world.
Second, joining with others of like mind, at peace demonstrations (ignored by the corporate media greysuits) and electioneering for an antiwar Congressman (Rick Larsen of Everett, who won, opposing the Iraq war. True he was the well-funded incumbent, but we can win the peace without war). Giving 2% of my income to candidates and causes I believe in: a good one is National Committee for an Effective Congress , founded by Eleanor Roosevelt and others, who use modern statistical methods to help liberal candidates target their resources wisely. I observed this used in the last election. These sorts of activisms keep me from stewing in my own juices, and help me to get to sleep feeling that, whatever else may transpire, I did the right thing. I also have increased my contribution to the American Civil Liberties union, who will need it more than ever, with Klansman Ashcroft and Iran-Contra felon Poindexter trying to kill off and bury the Bill of Rights.
Supporting the usual suspects: Amnesty International, American Friends Service Committee, www.moveon.org, who raised $400K for Paul Wellstone before he was cut down, and are sponsoring ads in this weeks NY Times. "Conversation cafe's" for peace, rather like the circles of radical faeries! Listening to speeches by Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland, my choice for 2004! Workers rights at www.unionvoice.org ! Read George McGovern in the latest Harpers on this phony "war" the Republicans are foisting on us (as opposed to the real one he fought in).
By this letter I support my friends in their ways of peace, as they support mine.
Frida Kahlo, morbid modernist, in Vancouver, in Seattle, and at the movies! Four centuries of French interior design at the Portland Art Museum.
A cultural fiesta in the midst of troubling times, so it was.