8 years..."Where Do We Go From Here"...

Today is a day for thought, remembrance, reverence and awareness. As we remember that horrible day, the many who left us, and those who lost loved ones...take a silent moment to yourself offering silent strength on this extremely hard day. And too re...member that we are still fighting two wars in it's name...right or wrong... many soldiers are far from home, far from their loved ones.


So while pausing to reflect, offer silence, or whatever you will be doing today to remember that terribly hard day...remember too that we still bleed from this wound. Many people, from many countries, will not see those they love again..at least not on this plane. So please take a moment out of our self-made distracting lives to think of those lost due to ignorance & hate, those we have lost & will lose on the battlefield
Both soldier & civilian, both just & unjust, both war wounded soldiers & the sick untreated heroes of 9/11 today we should give pause & prayer to the 8 year wound which still bleeds. It is the very least we can do on a day such as this...during times such as these. peace.



There is still much to do and so much to repair both politically & internationally, but today for quiet reflection, acknowledgment & thoughts of future actions to find true justice.
Today we think, Tomorrow we act!

That tragic day we found out who we were as a country and as a people. in an instant we learned who we truly were. Most rallied together as one to do all that they could, while others saw only self-serving opportunity from horror. Neither group should ever be forgotten. Those true heroes that put others welfare above their own deserve to not only be remembered but treated as the true heroes they were. Their actions should not be taken for granted. And it is a black mark on each and every one of us for allowing them to go on without the healthcare many of them so desperately need. By rushing in as they did, with no regard for personal consequences, and consequences˚ there were... with only thoughts of saving both friends and strangers alike they showed us what it really meant to be human. And it made me proud to not only be American on that day but more importantly it made me feel proud to be a part of the Human Race. Sadly, that pride was used against us by the greedy, selfish, and corrupt. This too should never be forgotten, and as we continue to struggle with the "War on Terror" that is currently being played out in two separate full blown wars (as well as dozens "covert" operations around the world.), one that made sense (if war can ever really make sense) or at least had something to do with the terrorism of 9/11, Afghanistan and one that made/makes no sense at all in connection with the "War on Terror" that being Iraq, which was a Secular country that gave no love & no haven to terrorist and love American & America for that matter... at least until we showed up and now the broken country is lousy with terrorists. No thanks is necessary Iraq it was our pleasure....or at least it was Cheney, Rummy, Condy, Bushy, Wolfy &Scooter's˚˚ pleasure (aren't they just a fun bunch? so fun and quirky? You would never know it by their cute nicknames that they were all actually War Criminals...but I digress). And no before you even try and say it let me be clear, NO I DO/DID NOT LIKE Saddam Hussein OR HIS VISCOUS CRIMINAL WAY OF RUNNING IRAQ! And yes, it is a wonderful thing that neither Saddam Hussein nor his son's can call themselves the leader of Iraq ever again˚˚˚ nor torture any Iraqis ever again. Unfortunately, the United States apparently picked up where he left off acting on orders from the White House, U.S. Military began a torture program of their own†. Though the preferred the nomenclature of the Bush Jr. Administration was "Enhanced Interrogations" ( but an illegal naked beating by any other name doth smell as sweet?). Although truth be told (no pun intended of course) I think the rebranding attempt would have worked if only they had made it's official euphemism...ahem... I mean nomenclature, just a little more cutesy and likable, ya know they needed to add a y or two at the end of the name or names, like the rest of the gang.

Then perhaps we might not have noticed perhaps, just how illegal things had gotten; Or just how far from U.S. norms and values they had strayed. If only they had remembered the power of the "y" we might not have ever really paid attention (I mean really, it's not the sort of thing we had normally liked to do right?), but alas they didn't and we did. The world as well as the country paid attention...stood up and NO! No more torture, this is wrong... this isn't us.... this is right.... this isn't working is it? ahem... And since we bothered to look away from our latest text message, turned off the music on our iPhone, put down our cafe mocha latte deluxe with half cafe & necturine extract light foam, logged off facebook and turned away from TMZ nightly update, notice the horrors the Bushy Administration inflicted on this country & the world and choose hope, change and a new direction with old improved values & Ideals, the least our new fearless leader can do is show us true justice does exist and what was once wrong can be put right again! In other words the past Administrations many illegal, not to mention highly immoral, actions have consequences too. And those that did harm in our name deserve to be brought to a real justice. This world of ours needs...craves real and lasting peace...we all do...and as one of the best example of a Human-Being, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. so wisely said: "Without justice, there can be no peace. He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it."





I know the Obama Administration is far far from evil, obviously. I believe they truly want to do good deeds in the name of mankind. I have a faith in this Administrations government that I haven't had my entire life. That said I hope and pray every day that I am not being one of those blind followers. Believing and seeing only the beautiful rhetoric than realities of action on the ground. And though often Obama has proved that my faith, hope in him is not without merit, that is not to say there have been times that I have found him lacking in overt strength of action in response and conviction. Only time will tell. I know practically no other president has had to face as many calamities all at once as this president & his administration has. But he/ they must know that the old ways haven't worked for us very well and definitely not lately. We need to strongly embrace a new way of affirming our convictions, a new way of settling problems, a new way of handling embarrassing choices by past administrations....no longer can we afford to wipe these damaging embarrassments under the proverbial table (especially the one in the oval office) we must learn to face our past and take accountability for our past misdeeds. I only hope President Obama sees this as clearly as I do. Real justice must finally come for us as a nation, as well as a people, to be able to move forward and thrive...to be able to grow and survive.
Dear Readers today is a very heavy day. The eleventh or September till the end of time should be as such. And the people and event must be remembered and cared for. That said we are not the only country, the only people who seek a life free from pain, fear and terror. The entire living planet seeks the refuge of a peaceful existence. The question is are we willing to do are part to make the desire a reality? Do we...does this Administration have the fortitude to fight for the peace we all so desperately want and need. I sure hope so. If not there will be a wake of hard times in Earth's future and our part in it will be in question. So I choose to believe in the possibility of now...and the strength of conviction of President Barak Obama and his Administration. Today of all days we should include them in our thoughts of peace and love. They have much on their plates...more I am sure then we could possibly conceive of or even fathom.
So with all these things in mind I leave you with this.... Two more wondrous quotes from one of the strongest, most powerful man the world has been blessed to know:


"Power at it's best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at it's best is love correcting everything that stands against love."
- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? 1967




"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963


Peace be with you fellow strangers and friends of RandomCrazy Creatives


˚ Most of the rescue workers now have lifelong serious health problems & what's worse many of not most do not have proper Health insurance coverage so go without medicine and without the health care they so deserve...though I believe we all deserve to have health coverage, but that is another topic for another day.

˚˚ What no y name for Scooter? No wonder they threw him to the wolves and is currently in jail for crimes of treason...oh wait he's not...they pardoned him....awwwww...isn't that cute.

˚˚˚ Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces on December 13, 2003. Later brought to trial by the interim Iraqi government (set up by U.S. led forces). November 5, 2006 Saddam was convicted of charges related to the 1982 killings of 148 Iraqi Shi'ites and was sentenced to death by hanging. December 30, 2006 Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti died by execution.

†In all, 98 detainees have died while in U.S. hands, with 34 identified as homicides, at least eight of which were tortured to death…

Army Men Project!

The Army Men Project


I don't know about you but I for one am sick of this surreal reality that everyone seems to willingly participate in.

We are still at war...not one but two wars in fact and yet you could never tell by our day to day existence.

Men women and children are being killed everyday but we seem to be more concerned with which celebrity is dating who then the latest death toll, US or otherwise.

There is nothing wrong with checking out once in awhile, nothing wrong with taking a breather from the horrors of war...but to completely check out....to completely ignore the fact that these Wars wage on is nothing short of criminal. We owe ourselves and our troops more than this. We owe the people of the world more than this part-time (at best) fleeting concern we tend to show.

I believe the "Army Men Project" is a great way to step up and remind people that these wars are still happening. Everyday men women and children and soldiers are dying in our name. The least we can do is remember and acknowledge what is happening. Let us not pretend things are business as usual...let us not ignore this needless suffering.

Please take part...remind people to pay attention. This is our civic duty...just one way to wave the American Flag and make people remember.

Happy 4th of July everyone. Make it a good one.

COVER THE GLOBE

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Army Men Project!

We’re spreading little green Army Men around the country and around the globe as small, everyday reminders of the ongoing horrors of the war in Iraq and to serve as tools to foster dialogue, action and resistance to the war. Here in the United States we’re encouraged to forget about the war, to go on with our lives, to “go shopping.” But what if everywhere people went there were these small, silent Army Men nudging them to remember that we’re waging war? You can place the Army Men anywhere – at Home Depot, on a gas pump, in the 7-11, at the post office, on the hood of a car, in public restrooms, at the movie theatre, in the produce section of the grocery store … In your neighborhood …?

Help these little messengers appear everywhere— as green plastic pin-pricks to the American conscience, helping to create an environment in which it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the war, the loss of life and the unending destruction. The war is not going away. We want people to realize that by doing nothing they contribute to a war that has cost the lives of almost 4,000 American soldiers and many, many thousands of Iraqi civilians. Conservative estimates put the Iraqi civilian death toll, as of October 7, 2007, between 74,691 – 81,404 (source: www.iraqbodycount.org).

Join the Army Men Project – Spread the Soldiers Everywhere!

Participate! Distribute Army Men Near You!

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A picture's worth...

just remembering a Great Day

On a personal side note...

I spoke with my mother this afternoon. I have always been very proud of my mother who taught me how to care about the world around me. She and my late grandmother are the reason why I not only have the values I have but why I feel morally obligated to share my views and do my part to make the world a better place.

My mother was a active activist hippie in the 60's...who am I kidding she is still a hippie. She was out there marching for civil rights, she fought against the Vietnam war, she fought for women's rights, the whole bit. I am clearly a product of her activist soul.

One of the saddest things in my life is the fact that though we have often debated this fact she has always felt that she and the rest of the soldiers of the 60's revolution failed. Failed themselves and failed the world. Since I was a little girl I have tried to explain and convince her just how wrong she was. To tell her if not for the 60's this world would be a very different place. And yes it's true the world was not miraculously fixed over night, it is also true they helped put an end to the war, fought to give women power over their own bodies, made civil rights something that should be a given, etc. I could continue but you already know and get the idea.

If not for the work done in the 60's we would be stuck in the stone ages of global thinking and this world would be a very different place. As we all know if not for the work done by the people of the 1960's from Martin Luther King on down we would not be graced with the new president elect we have today.

The work done was not done in vain.
They gave of themselves and received gunshots, batons and firehoses in return.

Today we get to reap what they have sown...in a very positive way.

Today, finally, she gets it. She understands what it was all for. My mother finally realizes the contribution she and others like her gave to us all. And for that I am so very grateful. She is one of the kindest caring human beings I have ever met and yet she has always felt unworthy, in every respect. She is not only an amazing person but also an excellent artist. Sadly, though you wouldn't know it unless you knew her well, she has always felt less than.

Of course, in a persons lifetime there are numerous reasons why you become the person you are. But I have always believed that her incorrect view of the outcome and impact of the Revolution is why she feels the way she does about herself.

So earlier today when on the phone she made a great day even better.

With tear in her voice she said a few humble yet powerful statements...

"I get it. I finally see it. I see, for the first time that we didn't fail. We had an impact. I feel like I can finally breath again."


And then I told her that Barak Obama's acceptance speech was given at Grant Park. (Remember the Chicago 8...er...7? Her response was simple:

"finally...a second chance...to wash the blood away."





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SEE:
Chicago Seven Trial: 1969 - Seale Bound And Gagged, Star-studded Witnesses Appear, Guilty Verdicts Multiply, Suggestions For Further Reading

My Friend Kevin Kline Shot this video - www.kevinkleinphotography.com