“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” — Dr. Martin Luther King jr, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, April 1963 

I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land…Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who’s Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live — men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization — because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake. Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech (Dec 1964)

We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.“Conscience and the Vietnam War” in The Trumpet of Conscience (196

I was checking out the latest news online this morning and the first two faces I saw were those of Karl Rove and Larry Craig.  Is it Halloween already?  Talk about rushing the season! Pretty scary stuff.

We need a president who will bring this nation together.  Bill Richardson may be that president.  After watching the video, check out the Richardson campaign website. 

“We return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.” (Iroquois Prayer)

This Saturday Evening Post cover by Norman Rockwell is from 1945.  The soldier, home from the war and celebrating Thanksgiving, tugs at my heartstrings.  What is more amazing to me is the headline in the box, “What will Bradley do for the Veterans?”  This refers to Gen. Omar Bradley, chosen by President Truman at the end of World War II to direct the Veterans Administration.  The following excerpt is from Bradley’s biography found at the Arlington National Cemetary website.

“Somewhat unwillingly, Bradley accepted the job and began to modernize and restructure that antiquated organization to meet the challenges that it would soon face. Before the end of the war the VA was responsible for some 5 million veterans, with a few pensions still going to cases arising from the War of 1812. By 1946 almost 17 million veterans were on its rolls. Bradley completely rebuilt the organization on a regional basis and insisted on basing his decisions on he needs of the veteran, rather than on the political considerations that had so often governed in the past in such matters as the location of VA hospitals. With the help of Maj. Gen. Paul R. Hawley, Eisenhower’s theater surgeon, he completely overhauled a medical care system that Hawley had described as medieval. He also revised and extended the educational benefits of the G.I. Bill, arranged for jobs and job training programs for men whose only experience had been as members of the armed forces, established a program of loans for veterans, and administered a staggering growth in veterans insurance and disability pensions. Bradley was unable to accomplish everything he had hoped to do in his two-year tenure, but in the assessment of the press, he transformed “the medical service of the Veterans Administration from a national scandal to a model establishment.”

My father was one of those World War II veterans who was lovingly cared for by the VA.  I have cousins who served in the Korean, Vietnam, and First Gulf wars.  I am thankful for their service to our nation.  So many of our military will not be home this Thanksgiving or will be spending all of their future Thanksgivings as disabled, needing the VA’s services. 

A little known news story last week was the naming of Dr. James B. Peake as President Bush’s latest director of Veterans Affairs.  Just as in 1945, we must ask the question, “What will Peake do for the Veterans?”  Bradley’s transformation of the VA from “a national scandal to a model establishment” seems to have be reversed.  Veterans’ inadequate health care, homelessness, suicide and trauma seem to be daily news stories.  I urge you to follow the confirmation process of Dr. Peake.  It is not without controversy.  We owe it to our veterans.

 It was announced today that Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will share the Nobel Peace Prize.  The Nobel Peace Prize according to Alfred Nobel is to be awarded to the person who “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding of peace congresses.”  Gore today reacted to the award:  “It is the most dangerous problem we have ever faced, but it is also the greatest opportunity we have ever had to make changes. This is a chance to elevate global consciousness about the challenges we now face.” 

“We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.”

  First appearing in an Oscar winning film, then an Emmy, and now the Nobel Prize.  Not a bad year.   Could the presidency be next?  The draft Gore movement is a really interesting example of grass roots politics.  

 Too bad my President doesn’t understand. Here are two of his statements about the environment.

“In terms of the CO2 issue… we will not do anything that harms our economy. Because, first things first, are the people who live in America.”  Explaining who owns the rights to the Earth’s environment, Presidential press conference, Washington, D.C., Mar. 29, 2001

“We want to reduce greenhouse gases. Ours is a large economy. We used to generate more wealth than we are today. And as a result, we do contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.” Huh?  Press conference with Tony Blair, London, England,, Jul. 19, 2001

 (dubyaspeak.com)                                                         

$700 billion for the war in Iraq, but children’s health care? 

 2004

2007

Call Your Representative:

1-800-828-0498

These are the Congress members who voted against the bill.  If your representative is listed and you want an override vote to succeed, please contact him/her and let them know what you think.  The general consensus is that the Senate has enough bipartisan support for the override.  Let’s let the people be heard on this!

Holy Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, Batman, the Decider is at it again!   We now have the answer to the question, “Is our children learning?”  The good news is that there are only 480 days to go on the countdown.