Life

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T15:06:00.000-08:00

Dreaming Big | Changing Lives

2011-12-26T21:40:00.000-08:00

The Value of Confidence

I’ve been asked why I chose to partner with Rodan + Fields when:

Sales are not my thing;
My passions are in the arts and advocacy; and
Sales are REALLY not my thing.

The fast and easy answer is this: My own life has changed since I began using the products.

My skin has changed and as a direct result, so has my life!

My whole life I've battled skin issues. For the first time, I am experiencing something tremendously positive with my skin. At 49, this is a blessing I never thought I'd see. Friends I have introduced the products to have contacted me with the same heartfelt thanks I shared with my friend who introduced me to the products!

I talk about what is passionate to me. That's who I am as a person -- whether it is my faith, my passion for animals, for the arts, politics, or Little League kids who bring the world together -- I share what is deeply passionate in my life and I keep sharing it!

The truth is we all talk about what is meaningful to us. Whether it be the latest movie we saw and loved, a book we read, a restaurant we ate at, fishing on the river, a political viewpoint, shopping local, sporting events involving our kids, a charity fundraiser, our feelings at a certain moment in time, etc,…whatever it may be, we all talk about the things important to us.

In essence, we are ALL selling SOMETHING.

We are all selling something to someone at any given time we communicate. The transactions we are seeking may have an emotional value, a financial value, a spiritual value, an educational value, a persuasive value, etc…but it definitely has a value of some kind attached to it.

For me, I desire for the second half of my life to be focused on changing lives. And Rodan + Fields offers me the greatest opportunity to do that

Through their business model that empowers individuals to become financially independent AND
Through their products that create the results so very many people are longing for – beautiful skin!

Now that’s value!

And that I love to sell!

~ Penny

PS…The skin care industry is a $2.5 BILLION business. Currently, R+F products are only available in the USA. When R+F was first sold through major department stores like Nordstrom it was the TOP SELLING skin care line. R+F is now sold exclusively through independent consultants like myself.

AND

It is going international in less than 2 years. Canada – you’re first!

If you would like to learn more about the business and/or the products, visit my websites:

To learn how to get the best skin of your life!

And

To learn how you can make your dreams come true!

You can also meet Dr. Katie Rodan + Dr. Kathy Fields and learn why they started this new Anti-Aging company:

Troy Davis

2011-09-21T10:20:00.001-07:00

What you can do to resist Troy Davis execution in final hours

by Amnesty International USA on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 9:54am

We are going into a difficult day. The state of Georgia is about to do something horrific. It is prepared to kill a person who may well be innocent. However, we have not been sitting quietly by here in Atlanta and everywhere worldwide.

The state of Georgia has proven our point: the death penalty is too great a power to give to the government. Human institutions are too prone to bias and error. The death penalty is a human rights violation and it must be abolished.

Here’s what you can do in the final hours:
Appeal to anyone who has any direct power or influence to act to prevent this execution! If those you appeal to try to claim, “I don’t have the power to intervene,” Remind them that they do have power, even if it is through their influence and not their legal authority. Contact:

1. Fax or call the Parole Board and ask them to reconsider their decision and grant Troy clemency. Fax: 404-651-8502 and 404-651-6670 (try both as they will be busy), Phone: 404-656-0693 and 404-656-5651

2. Fax or call the Savannah District Attorney, Larry Chisolm, and ask him to urge the local judge to vacate the execution warrant. Fax: 912-652-7328, Phone: 912-652-7308.

3. Call the local judge, Penny Haas Freesman, and ask her to vacate the warrant. Phone: (912) 652-7252

4. Call the Governor, Nathan Deal, and ask him to use his influence to encourage the board to grant clemency. Phone: 404-656-1776.

5. In Georgia, stand with us, saying “NOT IN MY NAME!”
a) Capitol vigil – 6pm
b) Prison vigil – 5:30pm across the street from the prison at Towaliga County Line Baptist Church (153 Short Road, Jackson). Take I-75 to Exit 201 and head toward the Hess gas station (turn left (east) off the interstate if heading south on I-75) on Barnesville-Jackson Rd. (Ga 36) and turn right past the gas station.

6. Join vigils tonight in locations across the US!

This is a time to be heard, not a time to submit. And please remain respectful to those who answer the phones. There is no need to be rude or to yell – the strength of our message will come through the volume of calls we generate, not in the decibels of our individual voices.

The thought of what may happen at 7pm tonight is outrageous, but it is all the more reason to continue to have hope, to continue to take action, and to continue to fight against the unjust death penalty.

For more on Troy visit: http://www.amnestyusa.org/troy

Voices of Love and Joy

2011-07-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

A brief overview of a long story:

Kapsa Shady Lane Kennels in Ballantine, MT was raided December 30, 2008 by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office. The seized animals (approximately 200 English shepherds, Pugs, and mixed breed dogs, a number of which were about to give birth, along with 3 cats and several birds) were taken into custody by Yellowstone County and sent to Metra Park arena (local fairgrounds) and Moore Lane Animal Hospital where they were cared for by volunteers while the case of animal cruelty against Linda Kapsa was played out (approximately 9 months).

On July 9, 2009, Kapsa pleaded no contest, and after a spay/neuter clinic the majority of dogs would soon be released for foster and adoption. ONLY on condition that the volunteers caring for the seized dogs receive first choice for adoption of the dogs for which they had been caring did Kapsa enter the plea deal. Judge Watters, the presiding judge, acknowledged and agreed with the condition.

National English Shepherd Rescue (NESR), a nonprofit organization based out of Ollala, WA, was selected by Yellowstone County to oversee the adoption/fostering of the dogs. NESR has had a long standing feud with Kapsa and worked with Yellowstone County for months prior to the raid.

During the 8 - 9 months in which the seized dogs were housed at the fairgrounds in horse barns, Penny Ronning volunteered more than 1,500 hours, spent more than $2,000 for the daily care needs of the dogs and was highly praised as one of the top dog handlers during her many months working with the dogs.

Each volunteer dog handler was assigned a stall of dogs to help socialize. Ronning began working with Love, Joy, and Happy the first week of January. Love, an English shepherd, was 10 years old at the time; Joy, an English shepherd, was 1- 2 years old at the time; and Happy, a black Labrador mix, is of undetermined age.

: Night of July 4, 2009 Penny in stall with Happy, Joy, and Love.

Documentation shows the tremendous progress demonstrated by the dogs which were in Penny's care. Love, Joy, and Happy were among the very first dogs to be leash trained. Joy was the first dog to master the agility course and the only dog that could run the course fully in one direction and immediately turn and run it in the opposite direction. Joy was even highlighted on the local news with Penny running her through the agility course.

However, not all at the fairgrounds was as it was presented in the press to the public. During the months the animals were in Yellowstone County's custody close to 70 of the animals died horrific, brutal deaths. Abuse of the animals by volunteers closely associated with Yellowstone County officials and abuse of the animals by Yellowstone County employees occurred all too often.

Money being spent by the County as reported to the public was in serious question. Volunteers were paying into the thousands and thousands of dollars on the daily care needs of the dogs. Volunteers were supplying ALL labor for the daily care needs of the dogs and ALL labor in the construction of the facilities housing the dogs.

Volunteers that questioned any of these practices or that spoke up were fired and denied all access to the dogs and the County facility known as Metra Park.

: Penny with Love

During the months in which the dogs were housed at the fairgrounds, Penny was noted as one of the most dedicated and hard working volunteers. Documentation proves the many, many hours she sacrificed and devoted to the well-being of the dogs. Photo, written, and video documentation as well as other volunteers' affidavits reveal and prove the tremendous bond established between Penny and the dogs with which she lovingly cared for and worked with on a daily basis.

In May 2009, after witnessing a dedicated volunteer wrongfully and disgracefully "discharged" because she dared to question and to speak up, Penny began to question how both the dogs and volunteers were being treated by Yellowstone County.

In June 2009, Penny wrote a letter to the three Yellowstone County Commissioners requesting badly and desperately needed supplies.

In July 2009, Penny was asked by the defense to be a neutral party during Kapsa's court ordered walk around in which Kapsa was to select 20 dogs that would potentially be ordered by the court to be returned to her. Penny was asked to be present to verify that, as best she knew, each stall of dogs at Metra Park contained the dogs that were supposed to be there. She was also asked to verify, as best she knew, which dogs volunteers wanted to adopt. Penny was asked to perform this task because she had been described by other volunteers as being honest, fair, and the one volunteer that had dogs in all four barns at Metra Park. She was described as being the volunteer with the most knowledge of all 4 barns.

: Penny with Eddie

When the time came to "apply" with NESR to adopt the dogs Penny applied to adopt Love, Joy, Eddie, and Happy -- 4 of the 8 dogs for which she had been the handler.

In June of 2009, Penny had emailed the president of NESR asking what the adoption process was going to be for the volunteers. In July, the president wrote Penny back stating that NESR had not yet determined a process and that NESR would not be discussing it with the volunteers.

Also in June 2009, the president of The English Shepherd Club and active member of NESR told Penny during a phone conversation that one of the dogs Penny had been working with and wanting to adopt had a long list of NESR members waiting to adopt and that Penny would have to "fight" for the adoption.

Toward the end of July 2009, the president of NESR and the adoption coordinator for NESR finally came to Montana to actually see the dogs for the VERY FIRST TIME and begin the adoption process. A dog trainer out of Pennsylvania with experience in search and rescue was deemed NESR's professional animal behaviorist/expert and the person leading the evaluations on the dogs.

Unknown to Penny and performed when she was not present; Joy was the first of all seized dogs to be "evaluated" by NESR. According to volunteers witnessing the "evaluation" Joy performed beautifully. Also at this time, volunteers witnessed highly abusive treatment by the NESR professional animal "expert" and "evaluator" of Love, the 10 year old English shepherd.

Volunteers later witnessed Eddie being manhandled by one of NESR's "expert evaluators".

: Penny walking Joy

The NESR "evaluation committee" deemed Penny's group as "having made no progress since January" and denied her the adoption of all English shepherd dogs for which she applied. She was also not offered ANY English shepherd out of the entire 200+ English shepherds now needing homes. While Penny was brutally and cruelly being denied the adoption of Joy, the president of NESR told Penny that they were going to "give" her Happy, the black Labrador.

It should be noted that documentation reveals NESR's disdain for Happy and Happy's presence among the English shepherds. It was documented that this "animal expert" for NESR had stated that Happy should be in a stall by herself since as a Lab she will teach the young English shepherds bad behavior and she would drive Love, the older and highly intelligent English shepherd crazy.

: Happy laying outside the stall she shared with Love and Joy

In the end, NESR denied Penny the adoption of Happy also. They chose an 81-year-old former volunteer to award Happy and then stated that Penny rejected Happy.

NESR also claimed that Penny's adoption applications were appalling and that absolutely no animal rescue organization would give her an animal based upon her applications.

Penny has many years in rescuing and fostering dogs.

One of Penny's co-handlers who also spoke out was also denied the adoption of a dog as was Penny's mother who was also a volunteer.

Penny's mother's application was acknowledged by NESR and then completely ignored. Penny's co-handler, Kelly Dennehy's application was deemed by NESR as being turned in late even though at the time Kelly turned in her application the dogs had not yet been released by the court for adoption placement by NESR.

After repeated attempts and requests by Penny and Kelly and vast numbers of concerned citizens throughout Yellowstone County and the nation, NESR refused all discussion on the matter.

The truth is that both Penny and Kelly were denied as acts of retaliation on the part of Yellowstone County and NESR.

In 2009, because of NESR's adamant refusal of discussion Penny and Kelly began legal action to adopt Love and Joy.

In 2009, volunteers filed suit against Yellowstone County also.

***********************
For the first time on my blog, I am sharing my own personal story.

For more information and to follow, please click here.

Mongo

2011-06-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Jack Bauer Seen In Pakistan...could be

2011-05-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it...when I heard President Obama say that we don't know the names of those that killed Osama bin Laden I immediately thought Jack Bauer.

Why I Love Washing Dishes!

2011-03-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Rooting for Hailee Steinfeld...

2011-02-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

ACADEMY AWARDS 2010

I'm rooting for Hailee Steinfeld for several reasons. 1. She is the daughter of one of my best friends from my years as a Flight Attendant. 2. She is absolutely outstanding in her portrayal of Mattie Ross -- just try saying the lines she was given as confidently and as naturally as she does. AND 3. While each and every actor/actress nominated is worthy of the honor, I'm flat out tired of Oscars given toward roles that portray women as dysfunctional or victims. Blaaach.

The character of Mattie Ross is like many women I know – courageous, intelligent, independent, strong and full of grit.

Forgiveness

2011-02-23T18:56:00.001-08:00

Forgiveness is not excusing, denying, defending, changing, rewriting, or forgetting a hurtful action or behavior, but rather a choice to release my heart from anger directed at an individual or group. The most wonderful and freeing thing about forgiveness is that it is not dependent upon the repentance of another – only upon the repentance of me. Forgiveness is never about “you, him, her, or them” – it’s only about “us or me”.

~ Penny

Fido & Wino

2011-01-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Thrilled and honored to be featured on Fido & Wino !

Please visit this wonderful blog to learn more about many of the amazing people around the United States rescuing animals !

Go R.O.A.R. !!

Minnie, the little dog with a BIG story

2010-07-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

: Minnie and the freshly cut lawn!

Minnie, an English shepherd, was born into the environment of a breeder/hoarder. At the time Minnie was born, approximately 200 dogs, numerous cats, birds, horses, goats, and chickens also lived on 10 acres of land in a rural country setting in Montana with their owner.

: Joy, seized by catch pole on day of raid; hauled into containment truck by her neck

On December 30, 2008, in freezing temperatures, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted a 10 hour raid on the breeder. During this time approximately 189 dogs were seized by means of catch poles, rakes, shovels, whips, and/or whatever means were deemed fit by the authorities to catch and crate as many of the dogs as possible.

In the breeder’s ill attempt to hide puppies, Minnie and her litter mates were placed in a hole in the ground under the breeder’s trailer in which she lives. Hearing whining, one of the deputies discovered the puppies…well, all but Minnie.

Minnie was so small she was not seen when her litter mates were removed from the hole.
Along with 20 plus other intact dogs not caught during the warrant’s 10 hour time period, Minnie was left behind. Late into the night, the breeder heard 8 week-old Minnie whimpering and Minnie was finally removed from the bitter, bitter cold, damp, dark hole in the ground.

For the next 9 months, while the breeder’s animal cruelty case journeyed through the court system, Minnie, the other

: Minnie with other puppies left behind and those born after the raid

dogs left behind, and the puppies born after the raid would travel between the breeder’s home and the home of one of the dog breeder’s six children.

In July 2009, a plea agreement was reached between the breeder and Yellowstone County and the fate of all the dogs – those seized and those left behind – eventually rested with a district court judge.

The judge turned over the seized dogs to a specialty breed “rescue” group to place the dogs for adoption and gave the breeder 60 days from sentencing in which to find homes for the dogs left behind or a rescue group to take on the placement of the dogs.

As of 12:01 AM October 10, 2009, all animals not in compliance with the judge’s order remaining on the breeder’s property were going to be seized by the State of Montana and presumably killed.

*************

As a lifelong dog lover when I heard the news of the raid on the breeder’s property I was horrified by the images I pictured in my mind of the dogs’ living conditions. When a call for volunteers to help socialize and clean/feed the seized dogs was announced I signed up immediately.

For the first 5 ½ months of volunteering every day, 7 days a week, 4 – 8 hours a day, I participated in the name calling of the breeder. I showed her no mercy with my words. No one did.

BUT THEN…

My heart began to trouble me.

: Love, not yet crated on the day of the raid

The truth is that at the time of the raid the dogs were not in the condition most often seen in the news. The truth is that, physically, the majority of the dogs were in fairly good condition in relation to how many there were. Mentally/emotionally, the majority of the dogs were not socialized and fit the description of a “fearful” dog, but physically, the majority were not what is most often pictured in the news when it comes to animal cruelty cases.

The county removed approximately 13 dead dogs from the breeder/hoarder’s property on the day of the raid. Four of the dogs (puppies) had died from parvo and were in a plastic bag that had been set apart from the live dogs so the parvo would not spread. The other dogs had died from wounds related to farm life and injuries from other dogs.

During the 8 months the seized dogs, chickens, and cats were in the county’s custody 69 animals died horribly violent

: This dog's horrific death, which included two broken legs, remains unanswered for by Yellowstone County

deaths and some of the dogs seized during the raid were never accounted for.

Yes, my heart began to trouble me.

Something was terribly wrong with what was occurring.

I began to feel bitterness toward my own words of condemnation I had spoken. The understanding that God had not called me to judge the breeder/hoarder, but instead to show her grace and mercy began to grow within me.

The understanding that the breeder was not “simply” an irresponsible, cruel breeder, but a woman who suffers with the mental illness of hoarding began to take root in my mind and in my heart. I began to educate myself on this specific mental

: The scars on this dog's face are from his time while in the custody of Yellowstone County. He eventually died after having to have one of his legs amputated because of wounds received while in the county's custody

illness and realized just how clearly the breeder fit the most common description of a hoarder.

According to an article published in 2000 by the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC), a study of 54 animal hoarders concluded that “most cases were female (76%), a large proportion (46%) were 60 years of age or older; most were single, divorced or widowed; and almost half lived alone. The most common animals involved were cats (65%) and dogs (60%).”

The study also estimated that based on the data collected, there are 700 to 2,000 new cases of animal hoarding every year in the United States.

That was 10 years ago.

In my research, I learned that in 10 years while the number of hoarders has increased, awareness of the illness and its treatment has not kept up with the pace.

************

In America, we seem to need a cowboy wearing a white hat and a cowboy wearing a black hat. But what happens when everyone involved is wearing a gray hat?

What happens when there is not a bad cowboy, just a bad situation?

*************

: Me meeting Minnie for the first time

Late September in 2009, I contacted the breeder to ask if she had dogs remaining on her property and if so how many. She had 34 dogs and 4 horses that needed to removed from her property by October 10^th or they stood to be killed by the State of Montana.

With less than 2 weeks, myself, two other volunteers who had also been working with the seized dogs, and a small handful of big hearted, animal loving people placed 34 dogs, 4 horses and 1 goat in adoptive and foster homes. (It was at this time Minnie came to live with me in her forever home.)

The breeder was compliant with the judge’s order by October 10, 2009 and continues to be. She is on 20 years probation and is required to attend mental health counseling through a county run program.

: As opposed to the raid, in our rescue, the breeder crated every dog herself

To know an English shepherd is to know one of the most unique relationships between humans and dogs. English shepherds are one of the rarest and most intelligent breeds of dogs on the planet. When seen, most people mistake them for Border Collies. While Border Collies were originally bred to herd first, guard second, English shepherds were bred to guard the farm family first, herd the animals second. Purebred English shepherds develop a strong bond typically to one person and become intensely loyal to their human.

As it has been said with so many rescue dogs, “they pick you” – Minnie picked me.

And she continues to each and every day.

Minnie has a unique personality for an English shepherd in that she seems to understand that she has a story to tell and that her job is not to herd, but to be heard.

: Minnie

In her truly charming ways and with her oh-so-wise eyes, Minnie draws people to her; and because of this gift Minnie now serves as an ambassador in bringing awareness to the public of the mental illness of hoarding.

To learn more about hoarding, please visit the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium.

Minnie...a Rescued English Shepherd with a BIG Story!

2010-07-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

As one of more than 200+ dogs, 3 cats, 4 horses, numerous chickens, cockatiels, and 1 goat rescued from a breeder/hoarder in Montana, little Minnie has a BIG story to tell!

Minnie's picture has been entered into a "Dog of the Week" contest on the A DOG'S PURPOSE website.

Please vote 5 stars for MINNIE here!

No registration is required and if Minnie wins, the opportunity to share her story to a large audience will be available to me.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE and know that you can VOTE for MINNIE everyday!

More to come on this Minnie story...

A Long Day's Journey Up the Mountain of Courage

2009-08-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

I've been gone from the blogging world for what feels like a very long time.

And

Now, it's time to return...

With a mission.

For the past 8 months I have been working -- 28 to 35 volunteer hours 7 days a week -- to care for and socialize dogs seized from an out of control and badly neglected breeding situation.

On December 11 and 30, 2008, approximately 200+ dogs, 3 cats, 10 cockatiels, a bunch of chickens and a very loud rooster were seized by Yellowstone County (Billings, MT) and taken to the fairgrounds where the majority of them would be housed in horse barns for the next 8 - 9 months.

I began volunteering with the dogs the first week of January 2009.

I invite you to follow my journey with Joy, Love, Eddie, Happy, Trooper, Sadie, Suri, and Tippy -- the 8 dogs I have worked with directly these past 8 months.

Our journey is one of great, great learning filled with emotional highs and lows.

AND

Is now in a place that will shock you.

Please join our journey as we travel up the mountain of courage...

First, meet the Dogs:

Eddie, Suri, Sadie, Joy, Trooper, Love, Happy, and Tippy

President Obama's Inaugural Address

2009-01-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them maybe new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

“Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].“

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

6 ($40 or less) Last Minute Gift Ideas for Last Minute Shoppers!

2008-12-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what all of these gift ideas have in common?!

1. Three Cups of Tea. American Greg Mortenson sets out to climb Pakistan's mighty K2, but learns that it's not how high you climb that brings satisfaction and accomplishment to one's life, but how high you enable others to climb. This absolutely fantastic true story read tells the journey of one man's mission to promote peace in the world...one school at a time. Available wherever books are sold.

2. December by Jeni Fleming. One thing I love about a snowy, cold winter is the feeling that occurs when you begin to warm up from the inside out after a day of skiing, sledding, or just shoveling the walkway. There's just something magical that happens when you sit by a fire or drink hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold, snowy day. This CD sets that feeling to music and sets it beautifully. Available through the link posted or check your local Boarders, Barnes & Noble, or music store.

3. New West Cuisine by Chase Reynolds Ewald and Amy Jo Sheppard with photography by Audrey Hall. Who cares if your family member or friend is not really a cook? Just having this masterpiece of art sitting on their coffee table will be impressive. A truly stunning book in both visual image and content. Thank God someone is telling the world we in the wild west eat more than pork and beans -- we just happen to like our delicacies in a rustic, but spectacular setting. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Boarders, and various book sellers.

4. Vital Ground collector or specialty car license plates by Monte Dolack Visually captivating, these license plates stand out from all the other specialty plates. And the good thing is that you don't have to have a car registered in Montana to purchase them! Benefiting the important and productive nonprofit organization, Vital Ground, proceeds from the sale of each license plate work to reconnect fragmented landscapes in the U.S. and Canada critical to wildlife movement and biodiversity. Specialty plates for cars registered in Montana are available through all local Montana treasurer's offices. Collector plates are available through Vital Ground (click on the link posted).

5. The Abundance of Summer by Tom Murphy. The final stamp on all four seasons in Yellowstone National Park, this spectacular book documents famed nature photographer, Tom Murphy's reflection on the beauty which is Yellowstone in summer. Each of Tom’s seasonal books takes the reader on a journey through America’s oldest national park and each captures the intimacies of life in Yellowstone that comes only from the knowledge and experience gained through 30 plus years of traveling by foot or ski through the park. Tom’s love for all that is Yellowstone passionately reaches out to each reader through image and word. One need not have experienced Yellowstone personally to fall in love with its unique beauty; one only needs to see it through the lens of Tom’s camera. Available through the link posted.

6. Christmas in Yellowstone directed by Shane Moore and narrated by Linda Hunt. Perhaps as a companion piece with The Abundance of Summer or as a stand alone gift, this DVD is one of the most stunning films of winter life in Yellowstone National Park I've ever seen. Beautifully narrated by Academy Award winning actress Linda Hunt, director Shane Moore delivers what feels to be our own personal journey through Yellowstone. Could there ever be a place more romantic at Christmas? The magic of this film is that while the temperature in the park is clearly frigidly cold, the imagery is anything but. Life continues through the frozen land and it's as if the wildlife, geysers, terraces, and hot pots have opened the front door of their home and welcomed us in. Available at Amazon and various online shopping sites where DVDs and books are sold.

Danny DiVito, GOOD Magazine and the Big Idea

2008-12-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it just has to be about the laughter.

And

This morning, it was!

Auto Maker Bailout Solution

2008-12-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

From guest author, retired editor of MAD Magazine, Al Feldstein:

I've got a simple solution to the Auto-Maker-Big-Three's request for bailout:

Since they are asking for 34 billion dollars...which, under current management would be quickly flushed down the toilet...

...and their three companies' combined stocks are only worth a total of 18 billion dollars...

Buy the companies by buying their stock...saving 16 billion dollars...

...and put Lee Iacocca (who resurrected bankrupt Chrysler) in charge of the new Government owned "United States Automobiles Corporation"...

...let him fire the incompetent idiot CEO's...who got the industry where it is today...

...let him hire his own, inventive, imaginative CEO's for each of its three divisions...

...and put our American Auto Industry back on its feet with well-made, well-designed Green Products that put foreign producers to shame.

Pass this on.

MAD-ly yours,
Al

Brenden Foster Dies

2008-11-28T07:45:00.001-08:00

I have no doubt Brenden was greeted by God with the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Well done."

What an amazing child.

May we all follow his lead...

Giving Thanks for the Men and Women Serving in the US Armed Forces

2008-11-25T07:57:00.001-08:00

For ten years, I flew throughout the world working as a Flight Attendant. For five of those years, much of my life was spent flying MACs and CAMs in and out of "hot spots" in the world. Panama, Africa, the Middle East, South America, Central America, Turkey, Athens, Europe...if American troops needed to be somewhere or return from somewhere, the airline I worked for most often carried them to and fro.

I express my thanks to God every day for the brave men and women who serve in the military, but today, as we approach Thanksgiving, I dedicate this space and this time to them. Please take the time to watch this wonderful video and say an extra prayer of Thanksgiving for the men and women who have served in the past, are serving today, and will be serving in the future. God bless and protect them all.

The Voice / Imagine sung by Sam Harris

Photography by Corporal Jayel Aheram

Please join Sam Harris on http://SamTube.com as he welcomes Corporal Aheram as his guest this Friday, November 28th.

For more information, please visit http://tiny.cc/2lFK8

more about "Giving Thanks for the Men and Women S...", posted with vodpod

Voters Approve to Protect Open Space

2008-11-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

The following appeared in The New York Times. Looks like protecting open space with public money is important to the voters!

Editorial

A Resounding Vote for Open Space

Published: November 18, 2008

Almost unnoticed in the election results was some very good news for the environment — and for land preservation in particular. Despite the financial crisis, voters made it clear that they want to increase spending on preserving open land, even at the cost of higher taxes.

Across the nation, voters approved $7.3 billion in new spending for parks and open-space preservation. Sixty-two of the 87 referendums to acquire or otherwise protect open space were approved. And the support came in rural, Republican areas, as well as in those that lean toward the Democrats.

California and Florida said yes to more than $700 million in new spending on open space. In Minnesota, voters increased the sales tax by three-eights of a cent to generate $5.5 billion over the next 25 years for land preservation and environmental protection. It was the largest open-space state referendum in the nation’s history.

Despite especially tough economic times, New Jersey voters showed that they feel strongly about acquiring open space before it is all eaten up by strip malls and McMansions. The state is reeling from high property taxes, unemployment and a budget deficit. But voters still approved 14 of 22 county and municipal referendums to increase or extend property taxes dedicated to acquiring or preserving open space.

These votes are an explicit rebuke to President Bush, who failed miserably to honor his 2000 campaign promise to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the government’s main vehicle for buying open space. They should give Congress a strong push to approve a public lands measure that, among other things, would grant permanent wilderness protection to two million acres of public land.

We had hoped that Congress would approve the legislation in the current lame-duck session. On Monday, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, withdrew it from the calendar after Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, threatened to filibuster the bill. Mr. Coburn called it a waste of money and an unnecessary expansion of federal control over public lands.

Mr. Reid said the Senate needed to focus on the economic crisis, but he promised to bring the measure up for immediate action early next year.

Old business tends to get lost in the early days of a new Congress, especially when there is a new administration. Come January, we will remind Mr. Reid of his promise and of the voters’ clear commitment to preserving open spaces.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19wed2.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

A Veterans Day Tribute: The Comfort of a Gifted Generation

2008-11-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

A Veterans Day Tribute

by Penny Ronning

(Written November 10, 2007)

Today as I think of tomorrow’s significance I realize I was born into a “gifted” generation. History tends to define generations by their response to war. For those of us born during the Vietnam War, we’ve never experienced a military draft. The human rights, the freedoms we’ve experienced our entire lives were gifted to us. I wonder…what have we done with these gifts? Are we prepared to “pay it forward” as previous generations did for us? How will my generation be defined?

Tom Brokaw writes of the “Greatest Generation” and if I were to have met no one else from that generation other than a man by the name of Ben Steele, I would still agree with Mr. Brokaw’s assessment. Surely, a man such as Ben Steele would have to come from the “Greatest Generation.”

Benjamin Charles Steele was born November 17, 1917 to ranchers in Roundup, Montana. At the age of 24 and in the middle of the Second World War, Ben was living one of the things his generation would become known for – victory. But, you see, you have to know Ben to know that he tells the story somewhat differently. But that’s where the story takes another twist because to know Ben IS to know victory.

Ben was a member of the Army Air Corp’s 19th Bomb Group and in late 1941, they found themselves stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines. While many of the soldiers at Clark Field may have been dreaming of their loved ones back home on Christmas Day in 1941, orders were coming down that would change their lives forever. It was that day they were ordered to Bataan.

As the Japanese were zeroing in on General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in Corregidor, the United States government was deciding that America could not fight two fronts at the same time. Hitler would come first and then the Japanese. In March of 1942, General MacArthur was ordered out of the Philippines and to Australia. With this decision, came consequences unimaginable to the thousands of American soldiers left stranded in the Philippines. Already in a dire situation, for the next three and a half years, no supplies, no ammunition, no fuel, no food, no clothing, no help was sent to these American soldiers from the U.S. government. As one person said, “No Momma, No Papa, No Uncle Sam.”

With no changes of clothing or boots, food rations almost nonexistent, no ammunition coming to replace what had been used, no additional military help, and virtually no medicine to aid the sick and injured, these brave soldiers held the battle front at Bataan for nearly 4 months.

April 9, 1942, Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese.

At that time in Japanese culture, to be a prisoner of war was to be one of the lowest creatures on earth deserving of no respect. To be a guard of these POW’s was considered to be the lowest level of rank within the Japanese military. Quentin Tarantino could not come up with anything as bloody and as horrifying as to how these Japanese soldiers were desensitized to the humanity of a prisoner of war. During World War II the mortality rate in German POW camps was 1.1%, but in Japanese POW camps the death rate was a shocking 38%.

For 9 days, in 100-degree heat with almost equal humidity, no hat, less than 2 cups of rice each day, and no water, Ben walked 60 miles shoulder to shoulder, body to body, among the 11,796 American, 66,000 Filipino, and 1,000 Chinese Filipino prisoners of war on what would become known later as the Bataan Death March. This nightmare of a march would leave a death trail of an estimated 3,000 Americans and 12,000 Filipinos. Those that survived, including Ben, were crammed sick body upon sick body in waiting railroad cars to be taken to Camp O’Donnell and then later to Cabanatuan, Japan, or other POW Camps. (Cabanatuan was the largest POW camp on foreign soil; 9,000 people lived there; 3,000 Americans died there.)

In June of 1942, Ben was selected as one of 325 men from Camp O’Donnell to be assigned to a Japanese work project known as the Tayabas Road Detail. With no shelter, virtually no food and no water, these men worked in the jungle day and night. Ben was only one of 50 to survive.

Survive…that he did. However, the worst and the worst yet were yet to come.

The harshness of the Tayabas Road Detail met its match in Ben Steele. Beri beri, malaria, blood poisoning, pneumonia, and dysentery all raged within Ben’s body. For the next eighteen months he continued to define this “Greatest Generation” while he interned in Bilibid Prison. In the midst of circumstances more horrible than I want to close my eyes to try to imagine, Ben began to draw the realities of what his mind had recorded.

Sometimes we discover gifts God has given us only when the hottest of heat is applied to our lives -- kind of like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

In Bilibid, something more powerful than the combination of beri beri, malaria, blood poisoning, pneumonia, and dysentery was at work within Ben. Something more powerful than the fear of death was growing inside of him. What was this all-powerful thing? It was the desire to honor. After all, Ben is from the “Greatest Generation” and that is what they taught the world – honor.

With no formal art training, Ben began to draw on whatever scraps of paper he could find images of what his eyes had seen and his mind worked overtime to process. These drawings were Ben’s way to honor his fallen comrades and record his experiences. At risk of death if discovered, Ben continued to pay tribute by secretly drawing the bravery of each soldier facing the most horrific of human cruelty. Sadly, all but two of Ben’s drawings were lost on a transport ship.

But Ben’s story of victory continues. And if you remember, the worst yet was yet to come.

Most Americans may not remember being taught about the hell ships of World War II. I certainly didn’t. The appropriately named hell ships transported prisoners of war from the islands in the Pacific to Japan or other destinations to work as forced labor. These prisoners were crammed, once again, sick body on top of sick body into cargo compartments located at the very bottoms of these ships. One bucket of rice and one bucket of dirty, salty, fish water would be lowered to the prisoners once a day. Because each bucket contained only enough for one ration per man in the compartments, when a prisoner would die the others would keep his body amongst them for as long as they could stand so the rations would not be cut back. As in the Death March, the railroad cars, the POW camps, the Tayabas Road Detail, and Bilibid Prison, the dead bodies began to pile up. Only now in the lowest compartments of these hell ships, there was no access to fresh air. This truly was Hell. But this is a story about victory and Hell has no place there.

Ben survived what he describes as the worst experience of all and went on to serve three months in a hard labor coal mining camp in Japan before the Japanese surrendered and the war was over. Upon Ben’s return to the United States, he made his way through the lines with all of the other prisoners of war reporting back in with the military. When he reached one of the desks, he was asked how many days he was a prisoner of war. Ben replied with the exact number. Not long after that Ben received a check in the mail from the United States government -- $1.00 for each day he was a prisoner of war. Skills Ben learned while growing up on a ranch were put to use during his time in action in the Philippines. These skills saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and earned Ben the Silver Star. Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, this heroic medal has still never been presented to him.

Ben and his beautiful wife, Shirley settled in Billings, Montana and raised a family. Ben became and retired as a professor of art from Eastern Montana College, now known as Montana State University – Billings. He also recreated his drawings that were lost on the transport ship. His drawings and original oil paintings can be seen at Montana State University – Billings and online at www.artmontana.com/article/steele.

I once heard Ben say that the Americans fighting in the Philippines during that time didn’t win a victory over the Japanese because they were forced to surrender. Funny thing that word victory…I guess we often think of a military victory as one country winning a battle against another. Perhaps that’s where we lose sight of what makes up a collective generation. It’s individual human lives, each with meaning and each with purpose. Merriam-Webster defines victory as 1: the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist and 2: success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties. By both definitions, I believe, the collective individuals that survived those three and a half years in the Philippines achieved the victory for all of those left behind. Each survivor and each life lost has meaning and purpose. After all, this was the “Greatest Generation” and they taught the world the meaning of honor.

So, today as I think of tomorrow’s significance I wonder as collective individuals how are we defining our generation? Do we stand at attention with our hands over our hearts when we see our flag being raised? Do we teach our children that freedom is never free? When we drive by a cemetery filled with white tombstones do we acknowledge the lives given so that we may live out our human rights?

I ask these questions of myself because like many of you, I am entering into the second half of my life and I believe that our lives are defined by our actions not our intentions; and that our generation will be defined by our collective individual actions. Will the world be a better place because my generation lived?

To those that have served in the military, fought in a war, healing from injuries received in a war, or are now fighting in a war – THANK YOU. I am humbled in my mind to think of how different your life is from mine. With all of my heart – THANK YOU. To those that I know personally, my grandfather Sigurd Ronning and his brother Paul, both citizens of Norway drafted into the American Army in 1918; my own uncles that fought in World War II (Edwin and Leon, the Pacific fleet; Mike and Maurice, Europe; Glen, wounded in Iwo Jima; Andy, Army Air Corp; and George, bomber pilot both in WWII and the Korean War); to my friends Leonard Dahl, who fought in the Pacific in World War II and Eddie Boehm, Africa, WWII; to my friend Al Feldstein, Special Services artist, WWII; to my Dad’s cousin Orville Graslie, the Pacific WWII; to my Dad, who served in the Army; to Ken Fisher, who served with my Dad; to Lawrence Brotzel, Marines; to Jesse Hammer, Marines; to my uncle Harold, Army; to Captain Dale Dye, 3 tours in Vietnam; Dale Shack, Vietnam War hero; Robin Chadderdon, retired Air Force; Tom Fortner, Army; Casey J. Porter, currently serving in his 2nd tour in Iraq through Stop-Loss; to my younger friends that fought in Desert Storm; to all of the pilots who were veterans I flew with while I was a Flight Attendant; to all of the soldiers, SEALS, and military personnel that were passengers on the MACs and CAMs I worked; to all of your relatives and friends that have served in the military; and to Ben Steele:

THANK YOU.

My soul is heavy with the knowledge that my generation has been given a gift. It is my hope that we will be defined as a generation that used the gifts of education, science, communication, finances, travel, the media, journalism, freedom of speech, the right to vote, and the power of prayer among many others to further the cause of human rights and to leave this world a better place because we lived. It is my hope that the generations that come after us will feel the desire to say thank you.

Suggested viewing:

The Great Raid, a film by John Dahl. The director's cut is the version to watch. Included with the director's cut DVD is additional material that is life impacting; at least it was for me.

Change Has Come

2008-11-09T14:31:00.000-08:00

From my friend, author Lutishia Lovely:

It all started at a dinner party. That's where I met Valarie Kaur, a fiery, Sikh American whose passion for positive change matches my own. She'd produced a film, Divided We Fall (www.dwf-film.com) about life for diverse America in general and Sikh Americans in particular in the aftermath of 9/11. We began talking about our country, its problems and possibilities. That rambling and lively conversation during the course of a wonderful evening sparked a lifelong friendship, and my beginnings in politicking for Barack Hussein Obama.

Valarie had been a precinct captain for Obama during the primary and after receiving an email from her requesting volunteers, I found myself, along with thousands perhaps millions of others, phone canvassing for Obama from the privacy and comfort of my home. The campaign's astute use of the internet made it as easy as the click of a mouse to log on, get a caller list, and join the process. I called citizens across the country, and was encouraged and inspired as I talked to, at that time, Clinton, Obama and McCain supporters. What struck me was not how different we were, depending on our political preference, but what we shared in common: a desire for change, a right to our ideals, and the American flag.

From that first phone call in late 2007 until election night, I engaged in the political process: phone calls, knocking on doors, talking to friends and fellow citizens about why I felt Barack offered positive change that transcended politics. I believed then and know now that what was happening was not a campaign, but a movement: a response to the collective consciousness's desire to see the glass half full instead of half empty, to believe that we can turn poverty to prosperity, hate to love, enemies to allies, "no we can't" to "yes we can". Words can't express my gratitude in participating in the TX elections, winning a small, suburban, heavily Republican community called Pflugerville for Obama and helping him to win the very important caucus vote in that state. Words can't describe being at the Democratic Convention, and at Invesco Field, as a microcosm of America: every race, age, religious affiliation, military branch, and socio-economic background imaginable came together with a shared sense of purpose. Not a campaign but a movement...to change the world. Eighty-five thousand strong, with millions watching, we shared the historic moment when our next president accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States of America.

Millions of us across America continued to campaign for change until the last possible moment. My final push was at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Los Angeles, at a mega phone bank where hundreds of us dialed frantically to secure swing state voters. I made my last call at 6:00 pm PST, which was 7:00 in Colorado, the time their polls closed. Afterwards I followed the sound of cheering and screaming, which led me to the hotel lobby where the state-by-state results were coming in. Vermont was first, then Maine, New Hampshire, etc. Pennsylvania: a big one. Ohio...oh my. Can this be real? Yes, it's really happening. At 7:59 Obama had 207 electoral votes. We knew he'd win, but I wanted to see a Virginia/Florida security blanket before I celebrated.

The last poll closed at 8:00 PST and we counted down a momentous election day: 10, 9, 8...3, 2, 1! And then something happened that I didn't expect: the announcement that leapt onto the MSNBC screen: Barack Obama Elected President. That's when life became a high from which I've yet to come down. Change has come to America, and to the world.

I am an American who has African, Native American and European blood flowing through my veins, with friends of almost every ethnicity spread across almost every continent. Under the cover of darkness, my great-great-grandparents used cloth to muffle their horse's hooves and fled slavery in South Carolina. They settled in Arkansas and continued to struggle against racism and economic disadvantage. One day a White man called my great-grandfather the n-word. It was the wrong day to do so. After enduring this and other indignities his entire life, he'd had enough. A fight broke out between the two men and when it was over, the White man died as a result of his injuries. A posse came looking for my great-grandfather and he ran to save his family from harm. They never saw him again.

My grandparents were sharecroppers, and while my grandmother didn't have a college education, she had common sense. So when the landowner kept promising to upon his death, give them the land that they farmed for a pittance, my grandmother insisted the promise be put in writing. As a result, more than one hundred acres of rich Arkansas soil is now our inheritance. (We got more than forty acres, but we're still waiting for the mule. :) My mother pulled us from working to middle-class America by getting first an associates, then two bachelors and finally a masters degree in the areas of nursing and social work. My father, who never finished high school because he had to help work the farm, told me that I could go anywhere, and could be anything. And I have. I am the person Barack speaks of when he talks about the parent that didn't achieve their dream, but believed if they worked hard, their kid could.

In short, I am an embodiment of the American dream; one who is standing on the shoulders of the people who've come before me. I've seen much of the world, its warts and its wonders, and continue to do so now in the blessed position of full-time, published author. All because millions of people before me of every religion, age and race believed the words President-Elect Obama has once again made our positive mantra: a new message for a new day...yes we can. And today, November 5^th, a day after the earth has shifted into a positive paradigm, I am grateful to have witnessed this firsthand, to have been a part of creating a world as it should be, and to participate in a democracy that is unparalleled. Last night, when a woman began singing the national anthem and the television station went to commercial, thousands of us at the Hyatt Regency continued singing. With hands over hearts and tears in eyes, we embraced America as it should be: ...the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Yes.

If you are on my mailing list, that means you are my friend. So whether you voted for McCain or Obama, I love you. And I ask that you consider this woo-woo vibe to usher in a brighter tomorrow, for all of us. I ask you to believe in yourself and this country's ability to make the dream of peace and prosperity for all a reality. I ask that you embrace this one simple word...YES. I ask you to believe in the world as it should be, divinely ordered and permanently perfect as Spirit ordains.

PS: A photo album of my journey with Barack can be viewed at: www.myspace.com/lutishialovely.

It's a New Day!

2008-11-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

It is a new day and the world is singing and dancing with us!

FINALLY, once again!

My heart continues to be overwhelmed with emotion.

The past 4 days I have found myself in such a state of euphoria that I can't seem to stop dancing and smiling and dancing some more and smiling even harder! This must be how the Suffragettes felt in 1920 and how the Civil Rights Activists felt in 1964. For the moment, just for the moment, I want to continue to bask in this amazing sense of possibility, of hope, of all that can be because now we know -- we KNOW all that can be CAN BE!

My desire is for the United States of America to continue to move forward rather than just move on. Once my basking is manageable (hopefully it will never be done), I look forward to working with each of you, whether it is side by side in person or side by side by State or country by country, to continue that move forward. The election was only the beginning to all that we can achieve together. Let's work to keep all the doors open that we opened, let's back our new President like the world has never seen our country back one before, let's continue to make history.

It's a NEW day!

Fox News: Palin didn't know Africa was a continent

2008-11-06T10:37:00.001-08:00

Where to begin?

Stay tuned...I have much to say!

more about "Fox News: Palin didn't know Africa wa...", posted with vodpod

President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago

2008-11-05T10:59:00.001-08:00

History is made!

more about "President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago", posted with vodpod

No matter what...

2008-11-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

No matter what...

Today is the first day of a brand new world.

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved The Declaration of Independence, severing ties with the British Crown and establishing the United States of America.

In doing so, this new nation declared that all Men are created equal.

TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO (232) years later, the grandest acknowledgment of that equality is manifesting. Today, a person of color or a woman will be elected to one of the two highest and most influential offices in the world. What a moment in history and we are not just witnesses, but we are participants.

The news is reporting that this election will record the highest American voter turn out in more than 100 years!!

History is being made.

Tonight, as I close my eyes to sleep, I shall say, "Sleep well, New World, for tomorrow is a Brand New Day!"

Signs of Hope & Change

2008-11-04T13:08:00.001-08:00

It's about the people...the possibility of an administration once again remembering that it's about the people...what HOPE and what a wonderful, welcome CHANGE.

more about "Signs of Hope & Change", posted with vodpod

One Day to Change the World

2008-11-03T10:45:00.001-08:00

VOTE on November 4th!!

Go Viral with Your Voice

2008-11-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

For more than five and a half years the people of Darfur have lived under a brutal reign of terror. The government-sponsored genocide has taken hundreds of thousands of civilian lives and driven more than 2.5 million from their homes. In 2008 alone, violence forced more than 230,000 civilians to flee—sometimes as many as 1,000 per day!

Strong action from the next president can bring peace and protection to the people of Darfur. That's why the Save Darfur Coalition is bringing together people from all faiths and political beliefs to raise their voices and call for Darfur to be a Day One priority for the next president.

Be a Voice for Darfur. Go to www.AddYourVoice.org to send your postcard to the new president, demanding that this humanitarian crisis be a Day One priority in the White House.

Add your voice today!

Ponder the Following Facts

2008-10-28T15:07:00.001-07:00

Once again, I don't know who wrote this since I received it in an email, but I think it is excellent.

PONDER THE FOLLOWING FACTS

What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain had only married once and Obama was a divorcee?

What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car accident?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?

What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Educational Background

Barack Obama: Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joseph Biden: University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science. Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

John McCain: United States Naval Academy - B.S. Class rank: 894 of 899

Sarah Palin: Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester; North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study; University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism; Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester; University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Education isn't everything, but .............

Quick thoughts on "The Shack"

2008-10-26T15:23:00.001-07:00

I LOVE books!

Love book stores, libraries, book clubs, etc...

I was always the geeky kid that ordered the most books from Scholastic Books during my grade school years.

Love books. Love to read really good books. When I'm in the middle of a really good book, I can't wait for the time in each day where I get to pick up my book and read.

So when I read a book that has been highly recommended and I find it less than wonderful, I feel a great sense of disappointment.

And that's how I feel about The Shack.

As a Christian, I agree with almost all of William Paul Young's descriptions of relationship versus religion and the importance of the first and the detriment of the second. As best I can remember, at only one point in the book did I think, "Nope, don't agree with that." (In reference to relationship versus religion.)

But

It could be that I have misinterpreted his point.

For those that have not read the book and are planning on doing so, I'll not go into detail. If anyone would like to know the point I am referring to, please ask me in a comment and I'll discuss it there.

While I'm glad to see a fiction book that takes on the difference between relationship with God and religion on the New York Times bestseller list, I just wish it would have been a book with smartly written dialogue.

The dialogue in The Shack is actually painful it's so poorly written.

The basics to a good story is there, but the dialogue is just plain bad.

Sadly, this is what I find in most "Christian" books and movies -- really, really, really bad dialogue.

It's as if these writers are so afraid of being real, they use some sort of "writing for the Christian market" formula and the dialogue turns out to be nothing but a bunch of cliches and "usable" words and phrases from popular TV shows.

And The Shack is full of this type of dialogue between the characters.

Knowing that Mr. Young did not write this story with the intent to publish it, but rather as one for his children makes me feel a little hesitant to comment on the writing...

But

Since he is looking to turn his book into a movie, I am sincerely hoping any producer that options this book will include the right to hire a [dialogue] writer in his/her contract.

And

Then will hire a good one.

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Andy Griffith: A Call to Action!

2008-10-24T08:13:00.001-07:00

Being a long time fan of all three gentlemen and their careers aside, this is one of the best "election" videos I've seen so far.

Smart, creative, straight-to-the-point message and enjoyable!

more about "Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Andy Gr...", posted with vodpod

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama for President

2008-10-20T08:54:00.001-07:00

Powerful words!

Finding Hope

2008-10-16T13:39:00.001-07:00

Politics...

Whether we like it or not, politicians are the lawmakers of our country.

For me, the more I watch and observe politicians the more this becomes an increasingly disturbing thought.

But

Hope continues to reign supreme.

Where do I find this hope?

My faith, of course...

But

Also through the amazing phenomena called social networking.

A small number of my real life friends poo-poo social networking because of this or that, but for me, every time one of my social networking "friends" posts a link or a humorous status update or an amazing blog about the current political atmosphere, I am encouraged by their strong voice and hope prevails.

Today's posts on Political Voices of Women serve as a fine example -- no, the posts serve as one of THE BEST examples.

Intelligent women writing with integrity about important issues and making solid points in positive, constructive, and often times humorous ways -- good job, ladies! You are the voices that bring hope. You are the voices that make a difference. You are the voices that bring about change.

How nice to go to a website focused on political issues and not feel like I need to take a shower after reading only a small handful of posts and/or commentary.

To the remarkable, intelligent women of integrity posting on Political Voices of Women, you are the Alice Paul's and the Lucy Burns's of today.

Keep talking. Keep writing. Keep posting.

Call + Repsonse

2008-10-12T14:43:00.001-07:00

Do your part to END human slavery NOW!

Finally less than 100 days left in office for Bush and buddies

2008-10-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Finally...the long awaited day when the Credo counter would register Bush and his administration with less than 100 days left in office.

What an unbelievable path of destruction this administration continues to leave in its wake.

And, to me, from everything Sarah Palin has presented, she is more of the same if not worse.

She reminds me of the type of person that one would initially trust and then later get burned for doing so.

John McCain...after the last debate, what more is there to say?

Except to remember the two words that will probably haunt John McCain for the rest of his life and on November 4th vote for:

Don't vote...unless...

2008-10-04T12:07:00.001-07:00

Don't vote...unless...

more about "Don't vote...unless...", posted with vodpod

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

2008-10-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Spot on accurate and funny. You betcha!

The Debate a LONG Time Coming

2008-09-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

U.S. Marshall escorting James Meredith to class at Ole Miss in 1962

I will be watching tonight's debate knowing just how historical this event truly is.

Oh and gee, glad to know John McCain has decided to show.

Yes, the economy is in the toilet. It has been for sometime, Senator McCain.

But

Tonight's debate and the INCREDIBLE significance of where the debate is taking place has been YEARS in the making and has come at a very high price for many Americans.

The acknowledgment of their sacrifices and their challenges should not be postponed one minute longer.

Segregation was and is horrendous. Why should any American have to fight, be humiliated or denied their right to receive an education based upon race [gender, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation]?

This is a terrible, terrible, unbelievably horrendous mark in American history.

I applaud those that stood up to an unfair system and created a path for either themselves and/or others to change the status quo.

Tonight is significant and I shall be watching.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/14/new-era-takes-root-at-ole-miss/

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TODAY

2008-09-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

Today a potentially innocent man is scheduled to be executed in the state of Georgia.

URGENT ACTION is needed!

Please read more about Troy Davis, his case, and then help justice truly be served -- take action!

Help justice to truly be served. This case needs to be reopened and new evidence needs to be heard.

Please click here for more information.

My Peaceful Protest

2008-09-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I joined a small group of women in a small town in Montana stand in protest of the war in Iraq every 1^st Monday of the month. Our peaceful protest includes signs and little white Christmas tree lights - one light for each American military death in Iraq. (I don't think this little town has enough lights to represent ALL of the deaths from this war in Iraq even if each of the 6,000 + residents donated their lights.)

Most of the women in this group are 50 years of age and above. I am in my 40's and I was one of the younger women! I remember at one of the protests one of the really younger women (in her 20's!) asked all of us if we were truly making a difference. I understood what she was asking...here we were in this little, tiny town in a state that has more sheep and cattle than it does people, and we were a little, tiny group of women standing on the sidewalk in front of the post office holding signs protesting a war that had more American military personnel fighting in it than we had people in not only our state, but in the two or three states next to us combined. Were we making a difference?

My dear friend Margot Kidder, one of the fearless leaders of our group and the original Lois Lane of the Superman movies, walked by with her sign just as this young woman asked that question. Margie (pronounced Margee) turned so quickly and responded emphatically, "Yes, yes, yes, we are making a difference and we will continue to protest because that's what we have to do. It's our right and it's our voice that is going to make a difference. This country has changed before because of peaceful protesting and it will change again."

Our peaceful protesting along with many other similar protests happening throughout our VERY politically conservative state helped to defeat long standing, senior Republican Senator Conrad Burns and elect Jon Tester (D). Senator Burns had been deeply entrenched in the Bush administration politics. Over the past couple of years, Senator Tester has been instrumental in the passing of the recent GI Bill, has worked tirelessly for American military veterans, and continues to speak out against the "war on terrorism" in Iraq.

Did our little group protest make a difference? Yes and it continues to do so.

More people are registered to vote in Montana now than at any other time in history. More people came out for the primaries than at any other time in history. And it's not because of the political ads on TV or in print - those have been around during every election. It's because of the small groups of people peacefully protesting, peacefully marching in the little, tiny 4^th of July parades that take place each year, peacefully holding screenings of films like Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath, and American Made, peacefully talking with their neighbors they see outside or in the coffee shops or at the grocery store, peacefully sitting at a table passing out bumper stickers and yard signs at their local college, peacefully writing emails, blogs, letters to the editor, etc.

How funny...just as I was typing that last paragraph a film director friend of mine in Los Angeles sent me an email letting me know that the presidential race in Montana is tight - McCain is polling at 49% and Obama at 45%. He was asking in his email what I was going to do about it! (Right on, Lance!) For those that know me, that's a funny question! I'm not much of a wallflower when it comes to something I believe in. (Lance, who does know me, was asking if as a Hillary supporter I was going to actively support Barack in MT. Lance very actively campaigns for Barack in California.) Yes, Lance...I am actively campaigning for Barack!

It is emails like my director friend Lance Mungia's today that inspire me to keep standing strong, to keep using my voice and to keep peacefully protesting and it's stories like the one I'm about to share that continue to reinforce the words Margie stated a few years ago to that young 20-something-year-old girl.

In 1983, I traveled as a cast member in Up with People. A few days ago another alumni from Up with People sent me two links to a story I found incredibly inspiring. The friend who sent me the links traveled in Up with People in the 1970's. For those of you not familiar with Up with People, the organization started in 1965 during a turbulent time in the United States and became fully recognized as a nonprofit organization in 1968. It started because a small group of people believed peacefully "protesting" violence in the world by means of music and song could make a difference. And they believed that the greatest impact would be made if the music and song came through young people brought together from all over the world to travel as a cast and get this...stay in people's home as they traveled all over the world with their musical show!

You may be wondering what Up with People, Margie Kidder, Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath, peaceful protesting, and elections all have in common. The incredible story contained in these links brings it all together. With the upcoming presidential debate at the University of Mississippi, please take the time to learn about its history and why THIS debate at THIS place is so significant.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/14/new-era-takes-root-at-ole-miss/

http://www.djournal.com/pages/archive.asp?ID=187521

The presidential debate at the University of Mississippi is going to be truly historical. So much history has been made so far in this election...

But

In regard to peaceful protest and how it works to change the world, I believe the story contained in the two links speaks volumes.

I encourage each of you to read the stories and then as you watch the presidential debate on TV, give thanks to those that protested before us. And then keep running with the baton that has been passed to you. As my friend Lance wrote, his 4-year-old daughter needs me. She needs you. She needs each one of us to keep peacefully protesting because as Margie so powerfully stated, protests have changed this country in the past and they will change it again.

While I no longer live in the earlier mentioned small town in Montana, I continue my peaceful protest.

My peaceful protest is in each call I make on behalf of the Obama campaign, each email, blog, and letter to the editor I write, each sign I post and carry, each time I talk with a friend about Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath, each 4^th of July parade I march in, each time I pray for peace, each time I encourage people like Valarie Kaur to keep staying strong in her life, each time I see something special in film directors like Sharat Raju and Lance Mungia and I take action to get to know them as people and friends, and each time I write a blog people I don't even know may read.

I shall continue to protest and I shall vote because a shockingly small group of incredible women won that victory for me 80 years ago.

And

I know I have victories to win for others.

Harold Koh, Dean of Yale Law School, recently told this year's incoming students:

"When I was graduating from college, heading off to England on a scholarship, a family friend came to me at graduation and congratulated me on my accomplishments. My older sister, who was standing next to me, waited politely until the friend left, and then she asked, "What accomplishments? You have no accomplishments. All you have done is go to school!" She said, "There are many people who have no schooling but have made genuine accomplishments; and there are many people with world-class schooling but no accomplishments. And the difference between them is that those who have really accomplished something know what they stand for."

Smart sister.

Standing for human rights, a change in America's foreign policy, the end to genocide, peace in the world, and much, much more,

~ Penny

Montana, Google, and Android

2008-09-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Jeffrey Sharkey!

You put your brain to work and it paid off!

With a 2008 master's degree in computer science from Montana State University in your hand what are you going to do next?

Right...win a $275,000 cash prize from Googleland!

When Google announced a design contest for their new cell phone operating system, Android, Jeffrey Sharkey heard the call.

Creating a system that uses a cell phone to read a product's bar code and then using the phone's Internet connection to read reviews, prices, product availability, and other information on the Web, Sharkey developed his entry, Compare Everywhere.

Compare Everywhere earned Sharkey a place in the top 50 out of approximately 1,800 applicants. With the top 50 placement, Sharkey was given $25,000 and the summer of 2008 to refine his entry. In August, Compare Everywhere was one of the final 10 entries to earn the top prizes in the Google contest.

Way to go, Jeffrey!

And people think Montana is just about mountains and cowboys.

The Real Sarah Palin

2008-09-19T07:52:00.001-07:00

Before Sarah Palin came into the national spotlight, I campaigned against not just her stand, but also her actions promoting big oil and aerial killing of wolves in Alaska. Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund recently produced a commercial that speaks volumes.

Warning: images in this video are gut wrenching and gruesome, but this is the reality of aerial killing of wolves and this is what Sarah Palin promotes.

more about "The Real Sarah Palin", posted with vodpod

OK, much clearer now!

2008-09-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have no idea who wrote this, but I LIKE it! I received it as a FWD in an email.

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive t hat registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs,
Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people,2020 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

STOP the execution of Troy Anthony Davis

2008-09-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

Please help stop the execution of Troy Anthony Davis.

Take action here.

From Amnesty International USA:

Amnesty International
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 3, 2008

GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S DECISION TO ISSUE DAVIS DEATH WARRANT ‘AN APPALLING DISPLAY OF INJUSTICE,’ SAYS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
----
Human Rights Organization Demands Stay of Execution

Contact: Wende Gozan, 212-633-4247, wgozan@aiusa.org
or Jared Feuer, 404-876-5661 x14, jfeuer@aiusa.org

(Atlanta, GA) – Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is shocked that the State Attorney General’s office today has issued a death warrant for Troy Anthony Davis. Given that Mr. Davis has not been able to see justice served, the human rights organization maintains that the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles must prevent the execution.

“The Attorney General's decision to issue the death warrant is an appalling display of injustice,” said Larry Cox, executive director for AIUSA. “Given the Georgia Supreme Court’s failure to order an evidentiary hearing for Mr. Davis, it is all the more essential that the Georgia Board step in. We are disappointed by the Attorney General’s decision to short-circuit justice.”

The death warrant is dated for September 23, signifying that his execution could occur anywhere from the 23rd to the 30th of this month.

“Last year the Georgia Board stated that they will not carry out this execution unless there is no doubt as to Mr. Davis’ guilt,” said Jared Feuer, Southern regional director for AIUSA. “Throughout his legal appeals, the courts have relied on technicalities to ignore essential evidence as to Mr. Davis’ guilt. Not only do doubts remain, but they are pervasive. Letting this execution go forward simply should not be an option.”

Mr. Davis was convicted in 1991 of killing off-duty police officer Mark Allen MacPhail. His conviction came despite police failing to produce a murder weapon or any physical evidence linking Mr. Davis to the crime. Since his conviction, seven of nine state witnesses have recanted or changed their testimony in sworn affidavits, during a time in which convictions relying solely on eyewitness testimony have come under scrutiny. One of the remaining two state witnesses is alleged to be the actual killer, but this lead was not investigated by police.

Support for Mr. Davis has been far-reaching. To date Amnesty International has collected more than 100,000 letters and petition signatures for Mr. Davis from Georgians as well as concerned citizens across the United States and around the world. Groups ranging from the NAACP and European Parliament have passed resolutions calling for Mr. Davis’ sentence to be commuted.

Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech

2008-08-30T12:09:00.001-07:00

This Hillary supporter supports Barack Obama!

more about "Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech", posted with vodpod

Shocking Choice by John McCain

2008-08-29T14:29:00.001-07:00

The following is from The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2008

Shocking Choice by John McCain

WASHINGTON-- Senator John McCain just announced his choice for running mate: Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. To follow is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

“Senator McCain’s choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.

“Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska’s coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.

“This is Senator McCain’s first significant choice in building his executive team and it’s a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain’s commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.”

###

The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.

A Body at War with Itself

2008-08-19T12:02:00.001-07:00

Michael Phelps is probably the most famous 23-year-old on the planet today.

With a body that did not fail him, Michael Phelps achieved a personal goal that has now surpassed all athletes in the history of the Olympic games -- 8 gold medals won at one Olympic competition.

This is more than achieving a personal goal -- this is creating history! Amazing!

While every athlete's achievements are the result of years of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work, the pay off of when their bodies perform at their very best is a reward of tremendous glory and well-deserved recognition.

But

For me personally, those that live in bodies that are at war within themselves every single second of every single day, are also true athletes of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work, if not even more accomplished than those that win medals or large advertising contracts.

Let me introduce to you Tyler Boshae.

Like Michael Phelps, Tyler is 23-years-old.

From the age of 9, Tyler has been dedicated to a physical, mental, and spiritual regime that may astound even the most accomplished of athletes.

From the age of 9, Tyler has climbed a mountain called Tourette's Syndrome every single second of every single day of his life.

The type of Tourette's Syndrome experienced by Tyler not only creates great physical pain within Tyler's body, but the mental and emotional fatigue are beyond any I've ever seen experienced by medaled athlete.

Tyler Boshae is a true fighter, a true athlete, a true winner.

And

He is in need of your help.

Tyler has been approved to be evaluated to receive a special brain surgery to implant electrodes to help reduce the tics. The surgery is called DBS -- Deep Brain Stimulation. Approximately $200,000 will be needed for this surgery to take place -- and that's with the reduced fees from his medical team.

Please meet Tyler through the video and visit his website at www.clubtwitch.com.

Any and all help you can give is greatly appreciated. Even if you can only afford to pass this message along , please do!

Thank you!

more about "A Body in War with Itself", posted with vodpod

Net neutrality: Why you should give a damn

2008-08-18T13:48:00.001-07:00

Guest author and friend, Michael Janover, contributes an interesting and thought provoking blog today on Net Neutrality. You may also find Mike's article published in the Rocky Mountain News.

Net neutrality: Why you should give a damn

By Michael Janover

OK, I'm old. I was around when Channel 2 went on the air in Denver in the early 50's and brought us Blinky the Clown. It was exciting. Television. In Colorado!

In the mid-60s, cable TV and the dish staked their claims, and folks in the mountains could finally see Star Trek and Mary Tyler Moore. A whole new world was opening, no longer limited by four or five basic channels. Cable and satellite promised real choice. Hundreds of channels! Wow! You could see anything!

So what happened to all the choices?

Why is it that TV and the movies are always the same old, same old?

For one thing, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made it possible to merge control of the television and film industries into fewer and fewer networks. What started out as infinite possibilities gradually became three super networks. These entities gobbled up the studio system and the cable channels. Creative decisions were gradually assumed by corporate boards that prefer safe, tested and bland to innovative, daring and dramatic. It's one of the reasons hard news became infotainment, and rich, life-changing drama is now "reality" programming.

Too much creative control is in the hands of too few people who aren't creative.

The beginning of the 80s was the start of the Computer Age. I went out and bought a Kaypro, a clunky box, with black screen and glowing green text. It was great. Totally cutting edge.

Computers became more wonderful with color graphics and the mouse thingy, but the most amazing and subversive change was INTERNET. In a few short years, it turned the planet into one big neighborhood; and with broadband access, it also offered interactivity.

We are no longer simple couch potatoes in front of the living room TV. Today, we're interactive potatoes and use computers to communicate, shop, or read and comment about everything from elections to Dancing With the Stars. We converse with people around the country and world as if they lived across the street. How quaint and microscopic those "hundreds of channels" seem now.

Blogs and YouTube are the new political language. They were vital in the Writer's Guild's recent successful struggle with management - the very people who own the mainstream media. Truth is, the Internet does more to democratize the world than any of the wars currently being waged. It truly offers an infinity of choices that TV can't deliver, and freedom of interactivity that telephones only dream of.

Something this massive and good just begs for someone to control it, don't you think?

Well, that group has surfaced. It's not the Chinese government, not even your government. No, it's the telecommunications companies. The same folks who offer you three-tiered packages of programming instead of just charging you for the shows you want to see; the same people who offer expensive long distance packages when you can do better for next to nothing over the Internet; and the same people who want immunity from prosecution for accidentally illegally wiretapping millions of our phone conversations.

Since the telecoms deliver the Internet to you, they think the government should grant them the power to control how you use it. They want to make more money and put limits on what you see and how you see it. In their world, websites should be charged for the privilege of being seen by their customers. And sites should pay extra for making it possible for consumers to download their material faster (-- by removing the telecom's artificial restraints). Failure to pay these tolls results in your site not being seen, or in ultra-lengthy download times that drive impatient users elsewhere.

Imagine going online to CNN or to download music or watch an old TV show, but the feed is so slow that it no longer works properly. The grass on your lawn is growing faster. Why? Because someone didn't pay tacked-on fees to the local cable or phone company, and the feed was restricted.

The Telecoms are spending millions to convince Congressional candidates that giving them control makes for a less expensive, better Internet. As you read this, they’re donating money like there's no tomorrow, because after this election, the new Congress will be forced to decide if Telecoms should be given this power.

"Net Neutrality" basically means "Leave the Internet alone," and it's the battle cry for those who think handing over management and control of information to a few mega-corporations is the worst possible idea.

Net Neutrality isn't another "nutty left wing crusade." Internet giants like Google and Microsoft, consumer advocates such as Consumer Reports, small businesses who might be relegated to the slow lane, and iPod users who might find it harder to download tunes -- all want to maintain Net Neutrality.

"Maintain" is the magic word. Net Neutrality doesn't ask for new regulations; it only wants to be sure that the freedom we already have is preserved. If you believe in a true open market and don't want to give your freedom of choice to some corporate Big Brother, if you don't want your Internet experience censored or restricted, if you enjoy watching YouTube or visiting Facebook without limitations - you probably support Net Neutrality without even realizing it.

It's time for you to speak up and ask a few questions. Now is when you have the clout. Does your Senate candidate support maintaining freedom of the Internet - or increasing profits for the Telecoms? If you don't know, find out.

For more detailed information on the fight to save the Internet, please check out www.freepress.net/files/nn_fact_v_fiction_final.pdf, a fact sheet put together by Free Press, the Consumers Union, and Consumer Federation of America.

Michael Janover grew up in Denver and went to school and graduated from CU in Boulder in 1967. He’s been a WGA writer since 1978, worked for HAWAII 5-O, Wide World of Disney and wrote THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT while in Hollywood. He also helped start the Colorado Film School in Aurora.

I am Martin Luther King, Jr.

2008-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

From Amnesty International USA (click on Defending Rights tab):

Celebrate Human Rights Defenders

Celebrate the work of human rights defenders around the world by taking our quiz to find out what kind of activism you embody.

Are you focused on domestic issues like Cesar Chavez? Do you value peace above all things like Gandhi? Maybe, like Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr., your faith inspires your dedication to human rights.

Whatever your style, remember that everything you do makes a difference.

» Find out which human rights defender you are

Tommy Spaulding: Up with People Vision for the 21st Century

2008-08-06T12:25:00.001-07:00

Up with People is alive and well! Enjoy this video of Tommy Spaulding, CEO/President, sharing his vision for Up with People in the 21st Century.

more about "Tommy Spaulding: Up with People Visio...", posted with vodpod

Vital Ground: A Partner in History-Making Conservation Deal in Canada

2008-08-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

As a member of the Board of Advisors for The Vital Ground Foundation, I am happy to promote the following news item out of Missoula, Montana:

Vital Ground is proud to announce that it is a fundraising partner in the largest single private land conservation acquisition in Canadian history.

The effort is being lead by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), which has made the bold commitment to protect 212 square miles of remote valleys, mountains and lakes in an area known as Darkwoods in south-central British Columbia.

Vital Ground has entered into a memorandum of understanding with NCC, and will be providing a grant and other fundraising assistance over the next two years.

“This is a unique and immediate opportunity to conserve a landscape roughly the size of the entire Island of Montreal,” says John Lounds, President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “Darkwoods is a conservation initiative of global significance. It’s part of a greater vision that will set new standards for conservation success.”

Darkwoods is situated between the towns of Nelson, Salmo and Creston in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. The previous owners, the Pluto Darkwoods Forestr y Corporation, had owned and operated the land since 1967. The property connects a network of protected lands and wilderness management areas to create a vast tract covering more than 250,000 acres—enough for wide-ranging animals such as grizzly bear and caribou to roam freely.

The project cost is more than $125-million, which includes not only the purchase of the land but the endowment funds needed to ensure Darkwoods will be cared for in generations to come.

Darkwoods supports a tremendous range of biologically rich habitats: rare old-growth forests, sub-alpine meadows, serene valley bottoms, productive creeks and lakefront lands. These habitats are home to 29 provincially-listed species at risk, such as bull trout, red-tailed chipmunk, western screech owl and a streamside orchid called giant helleborine.

“Conserving Darkwoods is essential to the recovery of the South Selkirk caribou population,” says biologist Trevor Kinley. “It could also significantly affect the viability of the local grizzly population, and it will definitely influence the retention of natural biodiversity.”

Because of its great scale and topographical diversity, Darkwoods offers sensitive plants and animals a chance to adapt in the face of global climate change. Species will be able to migrate to different latitudes or elevations as temperatures fluctuate.

The Darkwoods announcement comes on the heels of an announcement by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) of a landmark agreement to purchase approximately 320,000 acres (500 square miles) of western Montana forestland from Plum Creek Timber Company for $510 million.

Dubbed the Montana Legacy Project, the effort will keep forests in productive timber management and protect the area’s clean water and abundant fish and wildlife habitat, while promoting continued public access to these lands for fishing, hiking, hunting and other recreational pursuits.

The lands to be purchased also offer habitat for wide-ranging big game animals, grizzly bears, lynx, wolverine, bull trout and numerous other wildlife. These lands are also some of the most popular recreation areas in the western United States.

The plan is for the purchased lands to be transferred into a mixture of private, state and federal ownership. The lands sold into private ownership will be subject to conservation easements that will restrict subdivision and home development.

Vital Ground is working closely with TNC and TPL and other stakeholders as the project unfolds.

“This has been an incredible month for conservation,” says Vital Ground’s executive director, Gary Wolfe. “Darkwoods is the largest private land conservation transaction in Canada’s history, and the Plum Creek deal is the largest private land conservation project in U.S. history. It’s exciting that Vital Ground is aligned with both of these efforts.”

The Dark Knight

2008-07-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

So...

I stood in line first for tickets, then to enter the theater.

Showtime for the movie was scheduled for 5:00 PM. At 5:30 PM the ads and trailers were just ending.

And so began the epic journey of The Dark Knight.

Had an interesting story been written into this movie, the 152 minute running time may not have felt so epic.

Considering I got to the theater at 3:45 PM to get in line for a 5:00 PM showing and walked outside the doors of the theater at the end of the movie (didn't even stay for all of the credits) at 7:45 PM, I wanted so badly to be feeling like I had just seen one of the best movies ever.

But

(Heavy sigh) That was not the case.

The GOOD news is that Heath Ledger is beyond outstanding in this film. His portrayal of the Joker is worth every ounce of praise he is getting. He simply was the genius of talent and if you missed his incredible performance in Brokeback Mountain or any of his other films, DO NOT MISS his performance in The Dark Knight.

Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight is worth the price of admission and the time spent sitting through a movie lacking a good story.

I know that is an odd thing to say, but in this case it fits.

Christian Bale, again, plays a wonderful Batman. The best casting of Batman since Michael Keaton. However, the story is so unengaging that all of the other characters pale in comparison to Heath Ledger's Joker.

So as to not give away details before the majority of the world has had the opportunity to see the movie, I will leave my commentary at that until the film has been in theaters longer. Although, I don't think NOT knowing anything about the movie will help the story get any better or feel like it could be moving along much faster.

That said, if you go with high expectations regarding Heath Ledger's performance and low expectations regarding a good story line to follow, you will probably leave the theater feeling satisfied (butt sore, but satisfied).

Mad Men

2008-07-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

How could I forget Mad Men??

My apologies to the fans of Mad Men

And

To all of you who emailed me to ask why I didn't include Mad Men on my list of this summer's television shows to watch.

Mad Men most definitely should have been on the list!

For those of us with childhood memories of the 1960's, this show is truly like stepping back in time. While Jon Hamm's portrayal of Don Draper is absolutely deserving of his Golden Globe win, all of the other actors in Mad Men are equally engaging and deserving of a sweep at both the Emmy's and the Golden Globe's. Mad Men premieres Sunday, July 27 on AMC at 10PM.

A Resolution to Impeach President George W. Bush

2008-07-08T13:15:00.001-07:00

An interesting and provocative contribution today from guest author Al Feldstein:

Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio
In the United States House of Representatives
Monday, June 9th, 2008
A Resolution

Resolved, that President George W. Bush be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate:

Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of America, in maintenance and support of its impeachment against President George W. Bush for high crimes and misdemeanors.

In his conduct while President of the United States, George W. Bush, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has committed the following abuses of power.

Article I
Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.

Article II
Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.

Article III
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.

Article IV
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.

Article V
Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.

Article VI
Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes114.

Article VII
Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.

Article VIII
Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.

Article IX
Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor.

Article X
Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes.

Article XI
Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq.

Article XII
Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources.

Article XIIII
Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries.

Article XIV
Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Article XV
Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq.

Article XVI
Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors.

Article XVII
Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives.

Article XVIII
Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy.

Article XIX
Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture.

Article XX
Imprisoning Children.

Article XXI
Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government.

Article XXII
Creating Secret Laws.

Article XXIII
Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Article XXIV
Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment.

Article XXV
Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens.

Article XXVI
Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements.

Article XXVII
Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply.

Article XXVIII
Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice.

Article XXIX
Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Article XXX
Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare.

Article XXXI
Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency.

Article XXXII
Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change.

Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.

Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001.

Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.

Vital Ground Protects Wetland Acreage

2008-07-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

As a member of the Board of Advisors and the Development Committee for The Vital Ground Foundation, I am happy to share the following news:

Missoula, MT - The Vital Ground Foundation announced today that it has acquired 90 acres of crucial grizzly bear habitat at northern Idaho's Bismark Meadows. Located just west of Priest Lake, Bismark Meadows is an 1,100-acre complex of meadows and wetlands that features a dramatic array of rare flora and fauna. It supports several endangered plant species and provides habitat for moose, elk, deer, black bear, wolves, lynx, westslope cutthroat trout, and eagles, as well as grizzlies.

The project complements a 19-acre parcel bordering State Highway 57 ─ a location especially vulnerable to commercial development ─ that the organization purchased in 2005. Both projects fall under Vital Ground's Selkirk Grizzly Bear Habitat Conservation Initiative, which is designed to help bolster the "Threatened" grizzly sub-population. It is estimated that the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone hosts only 40-50 animals.

"The greatest threat to wildlife today is human intrusion into their habitat," states Gary Wolfe, Vital Ground's executive director. "Our conservation efforts in Bismark Meadows provide an increasingly rare wild refuge for imperiled animals and plants in a growing sea of development."

As the surrounding Selkirk Mountains are often snowbound until early June, grizzlies must seek food in lower elevations when they emerge from hibernation. "This makes the meadowlands vitally important for the bears," continued Wolfe. "Without continued access to these and other low elevation food sources in spring and again in autumn, the Selkirk population may fail."

During 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Idaho Fish and Game Department biologists received reports indicating that up to three grizzly females with cubs were utilizing the meadows during the spring season. One female had two cubs and the other two females reportedly had three cubs each.

Vital Ground's work in the Selkirks is supported in part through a grant from the Canmore, Alberta-based Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y). Through this partnership, Vital Ground is contributing to Y2Y's Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy, which is designed help strengthen ecosystem connectivity so that grizzlies in the Idaho Panhandle and northwestern Montana can move about safely and intermingle with the more robust populations in Canada.

Vital Ground is also negotiating an option to purchase a third parcel within Bismark Meadows in 2010 and has already completed a 1,647-acre conservation easement near Bonners Ferry, Idaho and additional acquisitions near the U.S./Canada border.

With the grizzly bear as its compass, Vital Ground works to reconnect fragmented landscapes in the U.S. and Canada critical to wildlife movement and biodiversity. Since its founding in 1990, Vital Ground has helped to protect and enhance more than 467,000 acres of habitat crucial to grizzly and other wildlife in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, and British Columbia.

For more information, visit www.vitalground.org or phone 406-549-8650.

Jericho and America's Deployed Troops

2008-07-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've written it before and I'll write it again...I LOVE these people!

Here's the latest from the Jericho fandom:

SECOND ROUND OF DVDS HEADED TO DEPLOYED TROOPS

Thank-you messages from Jericho execs to accompany DVD shipment

There’s more to fans of the serial post-apocalyptic show Jericho than shipments of nuts. They’re also good for hundreds of DVDs being shipped to deployed service men and women who need a little entertainment and relief while serving their tours of duty in harm’s way. It is just the latest in Jericho fans’ continuous drive for humanitarian efforts via the Internet, while they also forge ahead in the quest for a new home for their canceled show and a more accurate ratings system to measure TV viewership.

On the heels of a successful DVD campaign that garnered more than 100 Jericho Season 1 DVDs for members of the military over the last Christmas holiday season, Jericho fans -- intent on reminding our brave soldiers that they are never far from their hearts or minds -- have come together in the second leg of their efforts to double their first-time total. With $5,380 in donations gathered through an Amazon.com gift wish program, Jericho fans, or Rangers, as they are often called, wrapped up the DVDs for the Troops 2 campaign last week with 219 Jericho Season 2 DVDs. They will be shipped directly to the troops from the Staten Island Project Homefront (SIPH), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting U.S. troops with frequently requested items such as snacks, CDs, books, and personal items.

As with the first effort, the DVDs will be accompanied by messages of support from Jericho fans all over the country. As a special additional treat, each DVD also will include words of encouragement and gratitude from writers and producers of Jericho. They’ll hear messages, such as Co-Executive Producer Dan Shotz’s: “Jericho, at its core, is a show about hope. You guys define hope. Thank you for all you do,”or from Executive Producer Jon Turteltaub (“National Treasure,” National Treasure: Book of Secrets”): “You’re an inspiration to all of us.”

Of the 219 total Season 2 DVDs, 21 of them came from a middle school classroom in Boca Raton, Florida, where teacher Susan Oyer challenged her students to help make a difference. Through money earned by doing chores and hunting for spare change on schoolroom floors, they raised nearly $450 for the cause. The Jericho4Kids site (www.Jericho4Kids.com), created for and by young Jericho fans, raised $267 for the effort, and an auction of show memorabilia obtained and donated by Jericho on-set dresser Mike Loomer produced an additional $975 for the campaign.

Beyond the DVDs for the Troops effort, Jericho fans have made an impact with other humanitarian fundraising efforts as well, including:

A $20,667 donation in 2007, with the assistance of www.Nutsonline.com, to Greensburg, KS to aid in a massive rebuilding effort following a catastrophic F5 tornado;

A charity auction at Jerichon, the annual convention hosted by www.guardiansofjericho.com that produced nearly $4,000 for Greensburg and VFW efforts;

Ongoing care package shipments of toiletries, games, books, DVDs, etc. to a designated military contact and Jericho fan on behalf of other troops serving in Iraq;

The current Spreading the Nutty Love campaign, in which nearly $1,080 worth of peanut butter (378 jars) and other food essentials are being donated to the Kansas Food Bank (in a state especially hard-hit by tornadoes); and,

Various smaller efforts on behalf of individual Jericho fans who suffered various medical and/or financial difficulties.

It is estimated that Jericho Rangers have raised at least $32,000 total in the past year for philanthropic endeavors, though the figure is probably much higher.

If you would like more information about DVDs for the Troops and plans for further expansion of those efforts, please visit www.jerichorangers4ourtroops.com.

With Record High Gas Prices, What's a Family to do this Summer?

2008-06-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone National Park

With record high gas prices, what's a family to do for a summer vacation?

How about planning your family fun time around any one of America's 391 National Park Sites?

Covering more than 83 million acres, national parks can be found in every state.

To learn more about America's national parks, view slide shows and pictures, or to find that right destination for you and your family, visit the National Parks Conservation Association website.

Top Three Summer Television Shows to Watch

2008-06-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Some things are just better when they are over and done with.

Like the pulling of a wisdom tooth.

The first speech you have to give in front of your class.

Every time your mom made you eat liver and onions.

Some things are going to happen no matter what and it's just best to get them over with.

This past television season was one of those things. Phewy...it was awful. I've never been so happy to see reruns of reruns on my television screen.

And

By the looks of what the major networks are planning for next season, I could not be more happy for the emergence of TNT and USA as serious competition for original scripted programming.

Who knew summer television would ever be THE thing to be paying attention to?!

But

Here it comes and it appears to be coming with a BANG!

My choice for the top three summer scripters to be watching are:

MONK

This show continues to shine and just keeps getting better with each year. However, I think every treadmill should come with a warning: Watching MONK while operating this equipment could be dangerous. I've fallen off my treadmill twice while watching this show. I get to laughing so hard I lose my balance and off I go! Season premiere is Friday, July 18 at 9/8 central on the USA network.

Burn Notice

If you are like me, you didn't notice this show during its first season. But, if you've caught any of the reruns leading up to the premiere of it's second season, then you know this show is fantastic! Great writing, excellent cast, creative editing, and humorous. I LIKE IT! Season premiere is Thursday, July 10 at 10/9 central on the USA network.

The Closer

Kyra Sedgwick is absolutely wonderful as Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson. Everything about this show is excellent. For a scripted drama, this show holds its own against any of the major network dramas. Storyline, character development, and the "real" factor of human behavior within the main characters is engaging. Brenda Lee Johnson is a character that many people can relate to and that's refreshing. Season premiere is Monday, July 14 at 9/8 central on TNT.

So...

Get ready to leave the mosquitoes behind and bring your lemonade on in for some fun summer television!

Thank you for the laughter, George Carlin

2008-06-23T07:24:00.001-07:00

In honor of comedian George Carlin, who died yesterday from heart failure, here is one of my favorite comedy pieces of all time -- not just of George Carlin's, but of all time!

He was one of the best.

Thank you for the laughter, George.

more about "Thank you for the laughter, George Ca...", posted with vodpod

NO to Loaded Guns in America's National Parks

2008-06-20T09:18:00.001-07:00

As a young girl growing up in Montana, regular visits to Yellowstone National Park were part of our family routine.

If relatives came for a visit, we took them to Yellowstone.

If friends came for a visit, we took them to Yellowstone.

If it was long weekend, we went to Yellowstone.

If friends were going to Yellowstone, we were going to Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park continues to be one of America's treasures.

And

I couldn't feel more blessed to have grown up in such a spectacular place of peace and beauty.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I learned that the Bush Administration is, once again, cow-towing to the National Rifle Association by seeking to relax a law that has been in place for 100+ years.

A law that bans loaded guns in America's national parks.

For more than 100 years, our national parks have been places of sanctuary for humans and animals alike.

When did they become listed as war zones where loaded guns are necessary?

The time in NOW to say NO to the NRA and the Bush Administration once and for all when it comes to the safety of American citizens.

For more than 100 years, loaded guns have NOT been a part of America's national parks.

Let's keep it that way.

Please join the U.S. Park Rangers Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Association of National Park Rangers, the National Park Service Retirees, The Wilderness Society, and the National Parks Conservation Association in saying NO TO LOADED GUNS in America's national Parks.

Take action by learning more on each of the above websites AND by sending a letter to the Department of Interior expressing your opposition to the NRA's push for loaded guns in our national parks.

SAVE JERICHO AGAIN

2008-06-13T10:56:00.001-07:00

Jericho fans are as sturdy as they come.

Like the survivors of the television town, the fans of Jericho have survived 2 nuclear blasts themselves in the form of network cancellations.

But

Fight on they do.

The difference between Trekkies and Jericho Rangers (fans of the show) is their focus, their mission, their purpose.

Trekkies are fans of the genre and dedicated lovers of science fiction. They love the characters and the futuristic elements explored within the context of Star Trek and other science fiction productions.

Jericho Rangers are about the here and now. They live active lives and come from various backgrounds, professions, cultures and even countries. Entertainment is not their life, but rather something that brings a balance into their hard-working lives.

Simply put, they love the quality of programming provided by the Jericho producing team.

To the Rangers, the television show Jericho is not an obsession, but rather something that brings a true sense of value of enjoyment into their lives.

And

They are standing up AGAIN to declare just how valuable of a show Jericho is.

Currently, the Rangers' campaign is directed at media executives in positions to purchase Jericho and bring it back to the airwaves as original programming.

With encouragement from Jericho producers Jon Turteltaub and Carol Barbee, the Rangers continue their move forward in pursuit of a new home for Jericho.

And

Good for them!

To learn how you can be a part of this history making campaign, please visit Save Jericho Again and watch the following Rangers' produced commercial featuring the voice of Brad Beyer.

more about "SAVE JERICHO AGAIN TV CAMPAIGN VIDEO", posted with vodpod

Jericho: Season 2 Alternate Ending

2008-06-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

I don't know who posted the alternate ending to Jericho season 2 on YouTube, but THANK YOU!!!

Now, this is the ending for the season -- NOT THE SERIES -- that is worthy of the writing and producing team.

more about "Jericho: Season 2 Alternate Ending", posted with vodpod

The Girl Effect

2008-06-10T09:41:00.001-07:00

Did you know that when women and girls earn income, they invest 90% of it back into their families, as compared to only 30 - 40% for a man?

That out of the world's 130 million out-of-school youth, 70% are girls?

That only one-half of one cent of every aid dollar spent in the developing world is earmarked for girls?

To learn more about how investing in girls can end poverty and help the developing world, watch the video and visit The Girl Effect.

more about "The Girl Effect", posted with vodpod

An Open Letter to President Bill Clinton by Lynette Long

2008-06-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Guest author Lynette Long provides a thought provoking, from-her-heart blog today.

An Open Letter to President Bill Clinton

People say you have a temper, but from where I stand you have been incredibly patient. You have said little compared to the indignities you, as a former President, a citizen, a husband and a father have suffered over the course of this momentous campaign.

You have watched your legacy tarnished. You watched an America you left at peace, be at war. You have watched an America you left with a budget surplus, become the greatest debtor in history. You have watched an economy that was strong, plunge into a recession. You have had the blame for all these ills and others placed at your feet. But you stayed silent.

You have watched your political allies, desert you. Bill Richardson, your Secretary of Energy, the current Governor of New Mexico, came out in support of Obama. When questioned how he could defy his own edit, that superdelegates should vote with their constituency Richardson responded, “She only won by a small margin.” Janet Napolitano, the Governor of Arizona, whose career you propelled forward by helping her become Attorney General of Arizona, is another Obama supporter. David Wilhelm, your campaign chair in 1992, and who became head of the DNC with your support also showed no loyalty. There are the countless others, who you have advised, campaigned for, promoted, and raised money for, who have turned their back on you. But you stayed silent.

You have been deserted by the African Community you stood loyally beside. You were called the first black president by Toni Morrison, and have arguably done more for the African American community than any President since Abraham Lincoln. You’ve been publicly labeled a racist even though your most staunch critics say there is not a more racially blind person in America. And you have watched the African American community, vote as a bloc for Obama even though you and your wife have spent your entire lives fighting for racial justice. But you stayed silent.

You have watched your wife called a bitch, Hitlery, Billary, and treated as the devil incarnate. You watched people wear t-shirts that read, “Iron My Shirt” or “Bro’s before Ho’s.” You’ve watched pundits and self-proscribed journalists, spin data to intentionally undermine your wife’s campaign. You have watched your wife vilified, mocked, dissected and eviscerated on national television. And although you are not without your sins, no man wants to stand silently by as others abuse his wife and the mother of his children. But until now, you’ve stayed silent.

You have been accused of pimping out your daughter, because you allowed her to campaign on her mother’s behalf, a mother she is justifiably proud of. In addition, you have watched your daughter, your only progeny, asked questions about your indiscretions, questions no young woman should be asked about her father, under any circumstance let alone on national television. And you’ve heard pundits say, since she’s a surrogate, she’s fair game.

I, for one, would have told them all to go to hell. I would have told them look at their own cynicism rather than my mistakes. I would have told them to stay away from my daughter, or step outside and go toe-to-toe with me. I would have told them only cowards throw stones from afar. Not one was man or woman enough to call your wife names to her face or challenge her to a debate. I would have told the white men of the Democratic Party, that were so quick to push her out of the race, to meet me out back behind the woodshed, where one cowardly pundit wanted to take your wife. But you have more patience than I. I lack the patience of a saint.

I hope through all of this you have learned these painful lessons- that sexism is real and something every woman in America confronts daily, that loyalty is hard to find except in a dog, that power corrupts the incorruptible, that gratitude has no memory, and that envy will tempt a student to defeat his/her mentor. Also remember that the woman you married is brilliant, gracious and strong. She can take a punch and shed a tear. She is “woman” at her best. Hillary is the best candidate for President this nation has ever known. Her supporters will stand behind her in whatever journey she chooses to take. She has launched a new wave of feminism and given all women new hope for equality. And finally, whatever your shortcomings, feel proud that you have raised a beautiful daughter who has conducted herself even in the most difficult of circumstances with poise and grace. And she and her children, and her children’s children, will carry you and your wife’s legacy, into the future. What more could any president want? What more could any parent want?

Lynette Long

Bethesda, MD

Dr. Lynette Long is a licensed psychologist practicing in Bethesda, Maryland. She is the author of twenty books including fourteen math books. Dr. Long has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs and was the host of One on One with Dr. Lynette Long. She recently published Op-Ed’s in both USA Today and the Baltimore Sun about the current election cycle.

My Reflection on the Kennedy's

2008-06-06T12:06:00.001-07:00

The day the world received the news that Senator Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a fellow blogger I respect a great deal, Pamela Lyn, wrote an excellent piece that's been in my mind ever since.

With yesterday marking the 40th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's assassination, I have been reading a number of blog posts on the Kennedy family and their legacy.

Like Pamela Lyn, a Kennedy family member has served in a leadership role in the United States government for my entire life to date. One of my favorite and most memorable books as a child was one on President John F. Kennedy. It was a book focusing on the last 3 days of his life. I attribute that book and my parent's respect for President Kennedy to my early childhood desire to serve my community and my desire as a teenager to serve in the Peace Corp.

At 14-years-old, I traveled with the All American Gymnastics Camp. While in the Salt Lake City airport, I was in a phone booth (remember those) talking on the phone with my mom. At one point, a large framed gentleman leaned back on my door and it began to open up on me while I was sitting on the little seat in the booth. The gentleman quickly turned around to excuse himself and apologize.

You can imagine my surprise when I found myself looking up into the face of Senator Ted Kennedy!

He was as kind and as gracious and as concerned as he could be. I'm sure he thought I didn't have a clue as to who he was, but I did! It didn't matter to him if I knew who he was or not. His only concern was that I was not hurt or scared. He was so incredibly kind.

I have never forgotten that moment.

In 1983, I traveled with the international, nonprofit group Up with People. Part of our tour that year included performances at the International Special Olympics held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

For those not aware of the wonderful, nonprofit organization started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, I encourage you to take the time to visit the Special Olympics website.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world were attending the International Special Olympics that year and the crowds were enormous. (They almost equaled the heat and humidity!) News cameras from more nations than I could count were at every venue following athletes and celebrities alike. What an incredible week in my life.

During that week, I was blessed to have been chosen to participate in a television sports special taping with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Jenner, and some of the athletes competing in the weight training events. To me, Mr. Schwarzenegger and Mr. Jenner were not the most impressive people in the room.

The athletes lit up the gym. They were the stars.

However, there was another group of people that spent the day with us. And they were more than impressive in their nature and their interaction with the athletes.

They were the Kennedy's.

Maria Shriver, a brother or two and some of her male cousins were our companions the entire day. I remember sitting on a bench with a not-yet-famous Maria Shriver talking about her love for the organization and the athletes. Like her uncle before, she was as sincere and as genuine as could be. There wasn't one false or pretentious bone in her body as she spoke to me. She didn't know me and during that moment, it was just us on that bench. No cameras, no microphones, no one else within ear shot.

She was as genuine as they come.

And so were her brothers and cousins.

This is a family that has had its ups and downs.

REALLY big ups and REALLY big downs.

While this is not a family of perfect people by any means -- none of us come from one of those -- they are a family that has dedicated their legacy, generation after generation, to public service. In the face of some our countries most tragic and sad events involving their own loved ones, members of this family continue to pursue the common good for all.

This is a family with strong roots and I feel blessed to be of a generation that has benefited from so very many of their efforts to make this world a better place.

more about "My Reflection of the Kennedy's", posted with vodpod

Job Openings Here!

2008-06-05T10:42:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for a job or a nonprofit organization looking to post a job opening?

Try idealist.org!

For the month of June, idealist.org will offer nonprofit organizations the opportunity to post job openings for FREE!

With the possibility of more nonprofits taking advantage of this opportunity, the possibility exists of more job openings being listed.

So, head on over to idealist. org and start applying!

more about "Job Openings Here!", posted with vodpod

Heath Ledger: The Genius of Talent

2008-06-03T11:18:00.001-07:00

I believe within all of us talent exists.

Whether we exercise our talent or not is our choice.

Talent comes in different forms. Sometimes it is artistic. Sometimes it is scientific. Sometimes it is mathematical. Sometimes it is humanitarian. Sometimes it is what it is.

And sometimes a person comes along and they can't help but follow their talent. It's as if their talent came before them and they can do nothing but follow its lead.

I believe Heath Ledger was one of those people.

His talent was so great I often wonder how he contained it within himself.

My contribution to the Movie Madness Blogging Carnival presented by the Daily Mish Mash is a nod to Heath Ledger.

From the tightly restricted Ennis Del Mar in Broke Back Mountain to the extroverted psychotic Joker in this summer's The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger played everything in between with brilliance and maturity beyond his years.

Heath Ledger simply was the genius of talent.

more about "Heath Ledger: The Genius of Talent", posted with vodpod

Movie Madness at the Daily Mish Mash

2008-06-02T10:06:00.001-07:00

If you are a movie lover, then grab your popcorn and head on over to the Daily Mish Mash June 3 for the Movie Madness Blogging Carnival!

If you are a movie lover and enjoy writing about them, don your film critic's hat, let your fingers fly and join in.

For more information on how you can participate, click here.

The Crumbling of Democracy

2008-06-01T18:50:00.001-07:00

What an interesting time this is in the United States of America.

Yesterday, the majority of the Democratic Party leadership clung to THEIR rules rather than American Democracy.

I guess they have learned NOTHING from history. When the rules are wrong, change the rules.

The majority of the Democratic Party leadership weakened not just the Democratic Party yesterday, but they weakened what America stands for -- freedom, human rights, and democracy.

Many Clinton and Obama loyalists probably see this issue as one about "their" candidate.

Perhaps in some ways it is.

But

More importantly this issue is squarely about American Democracy.

I don't know about any of you, but when I turned 18 and registered as a voter for the first time, I didn't receive a party handbook detailing for me the rules and regulations of my party of choice.

In the many years and changes of residency since that time, I've never received a party handbook of any kind.

I've never even received a call from anyone in a leadership position within the Democratic party in any state I've ever lived in and those states include:

Montana, South Dakota, Arizona, Tennessee, Oklahoma, California, Minnesota, and Virginia.

Not once, not one single phone call, not one flier, not one knock on my door, not anything. Except, of course during an election year and then I get kadoodles of mailings from my party's candidates and some from the other parties.

Thankfully, for the most part, in America if we have the talent and skills we can enter into any profession we so choose. And within our chosen profession, people trust us to do our jobs to the best of our ability.

In theory, no matter what profession one chooses, it's a service job. Every single job provides a service of some kind or another. Spirituality aside, our jobs are part of what connects us in this world. Even the least trusting person in the world trusts people in their chosen professions to be doing their jobs.

I'm guessing you are like me.

I trust the people at my chosen Internet and phone company to be doing their jobs. I trust the flight crew of my chosen air carrier to be doing their jobs. I trust the people at my car's manufacturer to be doing their jobs. I trust the medical personnel at my local hospital to be doing their jobs. I trust the City workers in charge of traffic lights to be doing their jobs. When I take my dogs to the vet, I trust my vet and the techs to be doing their jobs.

The list goes on.

I don't know the ins and outs of all of these professions, nor do I know the rules and regulations within many of these professions.

What I do know is my part within the interaction between myself and these other parties.

I'm a well educated person and for that I'm grateful. I know that I must participate in the well being of my own life and that it is my responsibility to do so.

I also know that it is my responsibility to be a good citizen of my country and of this world.

And to the very best of my ability, I exercise this responsibility daily.

As an American citizen, I trust my political leaders to do their jobs. And I believe their job FIRST AND FOREMOST is to protect our human rights, our constitution, and our democracy.

What I learned yesterday is that the majority of the Democratic Party leadership stands first and foremost for their own agenda.

I know the political world is filled and often fueled by personal agendas. Every campaign has them. Every politician has them.

History reveals personal political agendas very clearly. They always come out. The truth in every situation always finds the person or people it is meant to find. And I can only imagine how many truths are yet to be revealed of personal political agendas from the past 7 1/2 years of the Bush/Cheney administration. (As if what we know already isn't shocking enough to cause us to rise up and say enough!)

When the 2.5 million voters of Michigan and Florida went to the polls to vote in their primary elections I bet the majority of them didn't know about the intricacies of the rules and regulations of the Democratic Party. I bet the majority of them headed to the polls trusting that the political leadership of our country learned valuable lessons from 2000 and that each American citizen's vote was now valid once again. I bet the majority of the 2.5 million people that voted in Michigan and Florida trusted that the leadership within the Democratic Party was doing their job in protecting American Democracy.

From day one of hearing the DNC's decision to strip Michigan and Florida of their delegates, I was adamantly opposed to such an action. That action makes as much sense as a Kindergarten teacher sending the entire class to time out because two kids locked the classroom door preventing the entire class from reentering the classroom after recess.

Why punish an entire group of people for the lack of good judgment by a few?

Isn't that related to the workings of communism?

I believe all candidates that agreed not to campaign in Michigan and Florida displayed a terrible lack of judgment.

However, to remove your name from a ballot actually denying the right of American citizens to mark your specific name takes the displaying of terrible judgment to a whole new level.

The boys club of Obama, Edwards, and Biden did just that.

Here were men campaigning for the highest office in the world in a country known for democracy and our right to vote for our candidate of choice removing their name from the ballot of an entire state of American citizens???

What message does that send out?

It sends out the clearly stated message of the "rules" of our party are more important than the rights of American citizens; the "rules" of our party are more important than American Democracy.

To VOLUNTARILY, AT YOUR REQUEST not give American citizens the right to mark your name on their ballot and then demand, protest, fight for delegates to be awarded to you from their state is mindboggling to me.

To VOLUNTARILY, AT YOUR REQUEST not give American citizens the right to mark your name on their ballot and then cry foul when the possibility of delegates are going to be awarded from their state is mindboggling to me.

To VOLUNTARILY, AT YOUR REQUEST not give American citizens the right to mark your name on their ballot and then accept delegates from their state is mindboggling to me.

I've asked this question before, but I must ask it again:

How is an election ever truly won when liberties are lost?

The Seating of Delegates from Michigan and Florida

2008-05-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

As the Rules and Regulations Committee of the DNC convenes today, I can't help but wonder...

When Americans in political positions of leadership subvert the freedoms of American citizens and American Democracy how are their actions any different from dictators that deny their citizens the right to a valid vote?

Impressive Difference Between Hillary and Barack

2008-05-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Montana...

Not exactly the state anyone thinks of as being important in a presidential election.

At least not most politicians running for the office.

My state rarely sees a presidential candidate. Considering we are one of the last states to vote in a Democratic primary election and we have one of the lowest populations of all 50 states, I guess our votes are not "important" to most politicians.

But

This year...

We have been visited twice by Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and President Bill Clinton.

While I was unable to attend any of President Clinton's visits, I was able to see speeches by both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Hands down...Hillary's speech was by far above and beyond more impressive of the two.

While both speeches were good, Hillary's was detailed with action items on how she plans to address an enormous number of issues. And she addressed every line item of detail without notes. Her knowledge of every single issue that was raised -- the economy, Iraq, health care, energy, oil, Saudi Arabia, jobs, global warming, taxes, etc. -- was astounding. And not once did she falter, have to stop and think, or try to "find the right word."

She was so spot on knowledgeable about issues relating to coal, tribal relations, the automobile industry, student loans, education, and so much more. She was absolutely engaging with her intelligence on every issue and even more so in her delivery of details on how she plans to address every issue and turn our country around for the better.

Hillary Clinton delivered detailed action items.

Barack Obama delivered a speech.

Sexism in the Media

2008-05-27T17:09:00.001-07:00

Growing up in the 60's and 70's I was blessed to have strong women for role models.

My mom at the top of the list.

At 17-years-old, she was recruited by the FBI to work for J. Edgar Hoover. My mom worked throughout her entire career in a male dominated promotional system. Without a college education and female, my mom had to work harder and smarter than anyone else to qualify for a promotion. And that she did. Upon her retirement from the government she had risen as high as she could in her field.

If any young girl or young woman today wants to know what it was like to be a woman in the 60's, she only needs to watch AMC's excellent television program, Mad Men.

When I was growing up, the slogan for Virginia Slims (cigarettes) was "You've come a long way baby."

It is now 2008 and I wonder just how far the young women of today think women have come. Do they even know from what depths the women before them have risen so that they (the young women) may enjoy as many of the benefits as they (the young women) do today?

The world still has a LONG way to go before women are truly recognized as equal by the majority of their male counterparts and oddly enough by some women (what's up with that?).

The one thing that always bugged me about the Virginia Slims slogan is that it implied women had a come a long way. Women have always been capable of achieving the greatest of goals. History shows that. Women have been serving in ruling positions for centuries. What I always thought the slogan should say was "They've come a long way baby" and show men not thinking twice about having a female for a boss.

One thing that this 2008 presidential election has most clearly shown is that men in the media have most definitely NOT COME A LONG WAY. Can you imagine being the wife or daughter to one of the media guys in this video? Yikes. They've clearly shown how little respect they have for the abilities of their own wives and daughters.

For more information on this video and how you can take action to improve the profile of women in the media, visit the Women's Media Center.

more about "Sexism in the Media", posted with vodpod

The Comfort of a "Gifted" Generation Weighs Heavy on My Soul

2008-05-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of Memorial Day and veterans, I am posting a tribute I wrote in 2007. With the recent news that Congress has finally granted LONG OVERDUE promised benefits to the Filipino soldiers who fought along side and aided the American military during World War II, for me, this tribute takes on even greater meaning. To all of the veterans and those currently serving in the U.S. military -- THANK YOU. And to American war hero, Ben Steele, who inspired this tribute -- THANK YOU.

A Veterans Day Tribute

by Penny Ronning

(Written November 10, 2007)

Today as I think of tomorrow’s significance I realize I was born into a “gifted” generation. History tends to define generations by their response to war. For those of us born during the Vietnam War, we’ve never experienced a military draft. The human rights, the freedoms we’ve experienced our entire lives were gifted to us. I wonder…what have we done with these gifts? Are we prepared to “pay it forward” as previous generations did for us? How will my generation be defined?

Tom Brokaw writes of the “Greatest Generation” and if I were to have met no one else from that generation other than a man by the name of Ben Steele, I would still agree with Mr. Brokaw’s assessment. Surely, a man such as Ben Steele would have to come from the “Greatest Generation.”

Benjamin Charles Steele was born November 17, 1917 to ranchers in Roundup, Montana. At the age of 24 and in the middle of the Second World War, Ben was living one of the things his generation would become known for – victory. But, you see, you have to know Ben to know that he tells the story somewhat differently. But that’s where the story takes another twist because to know Ben IS to know victory.

Ben was a member of the Army Air Corp’s 19th Bomb Group and in late 1941, they found themselves stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines. While many of the soldiers at Clark Field may have been dreaming of their loved ones back home on Christmas Day in 1941, orders were coming down that would change their lives forever. It was that day they were ordered to Bataan.

As the Japanese were zeroing in on General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in Corregidor, the United States government was deciding that America could not fight two fronts at the same time. Hitler would come first and then the Japanese. In March of 1942, General MacArthur was ordered out of the Philippines and to Australia. With this decision, came consequences unimaginable to the thousands of American soldiers left stranded in the Philippines. Already in a dire situation, for the next three and a half years, no supplies, no ammunition, no fuel, no food, no clothing, no help was sent to these American soldiers from the U.S. government. As one person said, “No Momma, No Papa, No Uncle Sam.”

With no changes of clothing or boots, food rations almost nonexistent, no ammunition coming to replace what had been used, no additional military help, and virtually no medicine to aid the sick and injured, these brave soldiers held the battle front at Bataan for nearly 4 months.

April 9, 1942, Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese.

At that time in Japanese culture, to be a prisoner of war was to be one of the lowest creatures on earth deserving of no respect. To be a guard of these POW’s was considered to be the lowest level of rank within the Japanese military. Quentin Tarantino could not come up with anything as bloody and as horrifying as to how these Japanese soldiers were desensitized to the humanity of a prisoner of war. During World War II the mortality rate in German POW camps was 1.1%, but in Japanese POW camps the death rate was a shocking 38%.

For 9 days, in 100-degree heat with almost equal humidity, no hat, less than 2 cups of rice each day, and no water, Ben walked 60 miles shoulder to shoulder, body to body, among the 11,796 American, 66,000 Filipino, and 1,000 Chinese Filipino prisoners of war on what would become known later as the Bataan Death March. This nightmare of a march would leave a death trail of an estimated 3,000 Americans and 12,000 Filipinos. Those that survived, including Ben, were crammed sick body upon sick body in waiting railroad cars to be taken to Camp O’Donnell and then later to Cabanatuan, Japan, or other POW Camps. (Cabanatuan was the largest POW camp on foreign soil; 9,000 people lived there; 3,000 Americans died there.)

In June of 1942, Ben was selected as one of 325 men from Camp O’Donnell to be assigned to a Japanese work project known as the Tayabas Road Detail. With no shelter, virtually no food and no water, these men worked in the jungle day and night. Ben was only one of 50 to survive.

Survive…that he did. However, the worst and the worst yet were yet to come.

The harshness of the Tayabas Road Detail met its match in Ben Steele. Beri beri, malaria, blood poisoning, pneumonia, and dysentery all raged within Ben’s body. For the next eighteen months he continued to define this “Greatest Generation” while he interned in Bilibid Prison. In the midst of circumstances more horrible than I want to close my eyes to try to imagine, Ben began to draw the realities of what his mind had recorded.

Sometimes we discover gifts God has given us only when the hottest of heat is applied to our lives -- kind of like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

In Bilibid, something more powerful than the combination of beri beri, malaria, blood poisoning, pneumonia, and dysentery was at work within Ben. Something more powerful than the fear of death was growing inside of him. What was this all-powerful thing? It was the desire to honor. After all, Ben is from the “Greatest Generation” and that is what they taught the world – honor.

With no formal art training, Ben began to draw on whatever scraps of paper he could find images of what his eyes had seen and his mind worked overtime to process. These drawings were Ben’s way to honor his fallen comrades and record his experiences. At risk of death if discovered, Ben continued to pay tribute by secretly drawing the bravery of each soldier facing the most horrific of human cruelty. Sadly, all but two of Ben’s drawings were lost on a transport ship.

But Ben’s story of victory continues. And if you remember, the worst yet was yet to come.

Most Americans may not remember being taught about the hell ships of World War II. I certainly didn’t. The appropriately named hell ships transported prisoners of war from the islands in the Pacific to Japan or other destinations to work as forced labor. These prisoners were crammed, once again, sick body on top of sick body into cargo compartments located at the very bottoms of these ships. One bucket of rice and one bucket of dirty, salty, fish water would be lowered to the prisoners once a day. Because each bucket contained only enough for one ration per man in the compartments, when a prisoner would die the others would keep his body amongst them for as long as they could stand so the rations would not be cut back. As in the Death March, the railroad cars, the POW camps, the Tayabas Road Detail, and Bilibid Prison, the dead bodies began to pile up. Only now in the lowest compartments of these hell ships, there was no access to fresh air. This truly was Hell. But this is a story about victory and Hell has no place there.

Ben survived what he describes as the worst experience of all and went on to serve three months in a hard labor coal mining camp in Japan before the Japanese surrendered and the war was over. Upon Ben’s return to the United States, he made his way through the lines with all of the other prisoners of war reporting back in with the military. When he reached one of the desks, he was asked how many days he was a prisoner of war. Ben replied with the exact number. Not long after that Ben received a check in the mail from the United States government -- $1.00 for each day he was a prisoner of war. Skills Ben learned while growing up on a ranch were put to use during his time in action in the Philippines. These skills saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and earned Ben the Silver Star. Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, this heroic medal has still never been presented to him.

Ben and his beautiful wife, Shirley settled in Billings, Montana and raised a family. Ben became and retired as a professor of art from Eastern Montana College, now known as Montana State University – Billings. He also recreated his drawings that were lost on the transport ship. His drawings and original oil paintings can be seen at Montana State University – Billings and online at www.artmontana.com/article/steele.

I once heard Ben say that the Americans fighting in the Philippines during that time didn’t win a victory over the Japanese because they were forced to surrender. Funny thing that word victory…I guess we often think of a military victory as one country winning a battle against another. Perhaps that’s where we lose sight of what makes up a collective generation. It’s individual human lives, each with meaning and each with purpose. Merriam-Webster defines victory as 1: the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist and 2: success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties. By both definitions, I believe, the collective individuals that survived those three and a half years in the Philippines achieved the victory for all of those left behind. Each survivor and each life lost has meaning and purpose. After all, this was the “Greatest Generation” and they taught the world the meaning of honor.

So, today as I think of tomorrow’s significance I wonder as collective individuals how are we defining our generation? Do we stand at attention with our hands over our hearts when we see our flag being raised? Do we teach our children that freedom is never free? When we drive by a cemetery filled with white tombstones do we acknowledge the lives given so that we may live out our human rights?

I ask these questions of myself because like many of you, I am entering into the second half of my life and I believe that our lives are defined by our actions not our intentions; and that our generation will be defined by our collective individual actions. Will the world be a better place because my generation lived?

To those that have served in the military, fought in a war, healing from injuries received in a war, or are now fighting in a war – THANK YOU. I am humbled in my mind to think of how different your life is from mine. With all of my heart – THANK YOU. To those that I know personally, my grandfather Sigurd Ronning and his brother Paul, both citizens of Norway drafted into the American Army in 1918; my own uncles that fought in World War II (Edwin and Leon, the Pacific fleet; Mike and Maurice, Europe; Glen, wounded in Iwo Jima; Andy, Army Air Corp; and George, bomber pilot both in WWII and the Korean War); to my friends Leonard Dahl, who fought in the Pacific in World War II and Eddie Boehm, Africa, WWII; to my friend Al Feldstein, Special Services artist, WWII; to my Dad’s cousin Orville Graslie, the Pacific WWII; to my Dad, who served in the Army; to Ken Fisher, who served with my Dad; to Lawrence Brotzel, Marines; to Jesse Hammer, Marines; to my uncle Harold, Army; to Captain Dale Dye, 3 tours in Vietnam; to Dale Shack, Vietnam Veteran; to Sam McKechnie, Korean Conflict and Vietnam War; to Ron Bonham, Marines; to Robin Chadderdon, Air Force; to Tom Fortner, Army; to Creed Spencer, Desert Storm; to all of the pilots who are veterans I flew with while I was a Flight Attendant; to all of the soldiers, SEALS, and military personnel that were passengers on the MACs and CAMs I worked; to all of your relatives and friends that have served in the military; and to Ben Steele:

THANK YOU.

Suggested viewing:
The Great Raid, a film by John Dahl. The director's cut is the version to watch. Included with the director's cut DVD is additional material that is life impacting; at least it was for me.

And

Exclusive Full Interview: Captain Joshua Mantz Speaks to Lisa Ling About PTSD

In Which Direction are You Moving?

2008-05-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

As America enters into the Memorial Day weekend, I am thinking about various events that have taken place this past week.

The GI Bill passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Thank God.

But no thanks to Representative Denny Rehberg (R) of Montana. Representative Rehberg was one of only a few that voted against America's veterans receiving benefits including a college education. Typical of Rehberg. Hip, Hip, Hooray for America's veterans. Boo hiss for Denny Rehberg.

Steven Curtis Chapman's family experienced a horrible tragedy.

Having been involved in the Christian music industry years ago, I met Steven on several occasions and can honestly say that he is truly one of the real deals. He is not one that uses his talent to simply make money off of the name of Jesus (those people are most definitely out there), but his faith is sincere. I'm at a loss for words to write, but one scripture keeps coming to my mind: Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. Times like this one calls for a peace that comes not from our human understanding, but from God who has the power to bring a peace that surpasses our mind as it moves into our heart.

Kentucky declared Hillary Clinton their democratic candidate for president and Oregon declared Barack Obama theirs.

The race continues and I think it is a good, good thing. Shame, shame, shame on those calling for Hillary Clinton to quit this race. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Millions of Americans throughout the history of our country have served and fought to protect our rights including our right to democracy. Every voter has the right to cast their OWN vote and for their vote to count.

The tragedy in Myanmar is devastating, but their own government's response is even more so.

However, I don't believe the American government can point any fingers. When Katrina hit, her unbelievably incompetent and irresponsible sister KaFEMAtina was not far behind.

The Bible tells us that trials and tribulations are sure to come our way.

And they do come.

And sometimes we rise to the occasion.

And sometimes we do not.

But, it's not in the rising and the falling that we should find our worth or lack thereof.

But rather in the moving forward or moving backward.

Life is not a vertical action, but a horizontal one. We move forward or we move backward. Life goes on no matter what. Life goes on no matter if we are on the mountain top or in the valley.

Tragedy may come. Trials and tribulations are sure to come, but neither tragedy nor trials and tribulations are meant to define us. Only to cause us to move forward or move backward.

The direction in which we move is our choice.

Balance

2008-05-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

Balance.

Growing up in the world of gymnastics, I learned the necessity of achieving balance at a very young age. Gymnastics is a sport where balance is everything -- balance and strength.

Conquering fear is always, always, always the first step any gymnast must take to improve their skill and performance level.

The second is finding [and maintaining] balance and the third is developing strength.

Yesterday was a day of examining balance. And perhaps today is also. And tomorrow may very well prove to be as well.

At least, I hope so.

A long-time friend of mine had non-elective surgery this past week. Like millions of other Americans, he doesn't have insurance. As we were talking on the phone yesterday, my friend was telling me about a conversation he had with one of the hospital employees. It was a conversation about illegal aliens and how my friend's medical expenses are going to be very high, but if he were an illegal alien all of his medical expenses would be paid for by the U.S. government.

Hmmm.

Being that my friend and I sit on opposite sides of the political fence, I knew this conversation had just taken a sharp turn in a different direction from my calling to check up on his recovery.

Thankfully, we have been friends for 25 years and have a relationship built upon years of caring about each other's lives. And thankfully, we have always been able to talk about difficult subjects with honesty and openness.

My friend went on to talk about how many illegal aliens cross the border, find jobs in America, get paid "under the table" (in cash), don't pay taxes, and send much of the money they earn back to their families in the countries from which they fled, and then get their hospitalization expenses covered if they become ill or are injured and he (my friend), as an American citizen paying taxes doesn't get any medical benefit from the U.S. government.

This is an argument I've heard over and over and over again.

But debating that argument is not what this blog is about.

This blog is about balance and how we perceive that in our own lives.

What I was really hearing from my friend is that he felt the balance of benefits for him compared to illegal aliens in America weighed more in favor of the illegal aliens and that angered him.

When I asked my friend if he would like to change places with anyone of the illegal aliens in America, he said no.

Hmmm.

Why not? According to my friend, their health care benefits are soooo much better.

I don't think my friend was really, truly angry over the perceived "benefit" he saw being awarded to an illegal alien.

I think my friend was angry over his perception of someone else getting something of value he wasn't.

How often do we go through life perceiving others as having or getting things of value we want or we feel we deserve and we get angry?

How often do we adjust the balance scale of value when we perceive something someone else has or is getting as being soooo much more valuable than what we already have or what is coming to us?

How often do we choose not to look closely at the receiver's life, but only focus on our own?

One of the greatest lessons in life I've ever learned came through my years of training on the balance beam in gymnastics.

The biggest mistake a gymnast can make on the beam is taking her eyes off the end of the beam while doing her routine.

Focusing your eyes on the end of the beam helps maintain chin placement and gives your shoulders a sense of alignment.

The moment a gymnast tucks her chin to look down at her own feet is when she is most vulnerable to losing her balance.

What a life lesson.

Keep your chin up, keep raising your eyes toward what is out ahead of you, and keep your shoulders aligned with that focus out in front of you.

When life is challenging it is very easy to drop our chin and focus only on ourselves. It is so easy to see other people as having more than us or getting more breaks or being less deserving than us or, or, or...

But

This is not the time to lessen the value of what we have in our own lives.

My friend has a beautiful family. Both he and his wife have good jobs and are closing on a new home. Their children are healthy and active.

Many illegal aliens that cross the boarder into America come from extreme poverty, a country with a corrupt government, a failing economy with no opportunity for paying jobs, a country torn apart by war, and/or a host of other unimaginable circumstances.

I don't believe my friend was really, truly angry over the hospitalization payment issue.

I think he took his eyes off of the end of the beam. I think he let fear creep in and he lost his balance.

Facing a big medical bill can do that to a person.

But

I think that if given the choice my friend would choose to keep his life and work to pay off that medical bill every day of the week and twice on Sundays rather than exchange the payment of his medical bill for the life of an illegal alien.

As I stated before, THIS blog is not about the debate over immigration and/or illegal aliens.

THIS blog is about how we perceive things when we don't balance the value of what we have in our own lives properly with what we perceive as a benefit in someone else's life.

How different would our lives be if our judgments of others were weighed upon a scale balanced by the value we place upon all that we have in our own life?

Would our judgments of others be balanced with compassion rather than envy?

Would our judgments of others be balanced with understanding rather than fear?

I wonder how different our lives would be if we always remembered to keep our eyes on the end of the beam rather than our own feet.

Lynette Long's Email Response to Painful Lessons

2008-05-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

The following is an email response from Lynette Long I received along with many others that responded to her Painful Lessons article that appeared in Monday's Baltimore Sun. Her response is as thought provoking as her article!

First I want to thank each and every one of you for writing to me. I want to apologize for sending a group email, but I got hundreds of letters. I want you to know you are not alone. There are millions of women who feel as you do, that the Democratic National Primary Campaign uncovered the pervasive and insidious sexism that runs rampant through our country. That Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate, and that she is being cheated out of the nomination by the good old boys network, the DNC and the Mainstream Media. You are angry. You are in a rage. I am too.

Underneath that rage is sadness, sadness that we are second class citizens in a country where we are the majority. What’s especially disquieting to me is that many young women are blind to the sexist nature of the world in which we live. It’s our job, each and every one of us, to educate them. Economically, women earn seventy-seven cents on the dollar for the same work compared to men. Women are in significantly fewer managerial positions, are less likely to own a business and more likely to live in poverty. Politically, women comprise fifty-two percent of the population and an even larger share of the voting public yet only sixteen of the current one hundred Untied States Senators are women. Similarly, only sixteen percent of the current members of the House of Representatives are women. There is only one female Supreme Court Justice on a nine member court and most remarkably America has never had a female president or presidential nominee. Women did not get the right to vote in the United States until 1920. The glass ceiling is real on both economical and political fronts. Men want parity for their daughters and granddaughters but not for the women sitting beside them. They are not going to give us the power that should be ours, we have to take it. Are we ready?

Women have no sense of their own power. White women are the largest race/gender voting block in the country. White men compose the second largest voting block, black women the third largest block, and black men are the smallest race/gender block. White and black women together women comprise more than fifty percent of the electorate and if were fully committed to a single candidate, we could determine the outcome of any office in the country. It is our turn. Are we ready?

I am sad that black women do not support Hillary in greater numbers. Many members of the black community wrote to me and said they were afraid to stand up for Hillary. They explained how black radio is pressuring it’s listeners to vote for Barack Obama. White men and women alike wrote me and told me that they were called racist for supporting Hillary Clinton. I want to remind each and everyone of you that, in 1969, Shirley Chisholm the first black woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives said, “Of my two handicaps, being female put more obstacles in my path than being black.” The impact of the “handicaps” of race and gender has not changed in the last 40 years. As women we need to come together, and take the power that could be ours. Racism and sexism are both terrible barriers, but one is not worse than the other. On average, a black man with a college degree earns more than a white woman with the same degree, and a black woman earns less than both. Black male physicians earn more than white women physicians, and black male professors earn more than white female professors. Yet ninety percent of black women voted for Barack Obama indifferent to the impact of gender on their struggle or how electing a female president might help them.

I want to change the world. I think we can. I think by electing female leaders we can create a gentler America. We need to be counted. We need to stand up and let the DNC know we will not get in line. As one woman who wrote me so eloquently put it, the DNC thinks we will vote for Obama because like abused women we have no where else to go.

I, Lynette Long, am a registered Democrat, but I will not vote for Barack Obama. I will not stay home. I will go to the polls and proudly write on my ballot, HILLARY CLINTON. I want the DNC to count my vote as a protest vote. I want them to know I am tired of being a second class citizen in my own country.

This isn’t about Barack Obama or John McCain. This isn’t about Iraq or Iran. This is about a war, a war for our voice, our dignity, and our selves. I am doing this for my daughter, her unborn children and her children’s children. I am doing this for each and every one of you. I am doing this because I love my country. I hope you will join me.

Lynette Long

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO HEAR OUR RAGE AND JOIN US IN OUR STRUGGLE. THANK YOU.

President Jimmy Carter and Hillary Swank: Reaching Heights All Their Own

2008-05-20T11:00:00.001-07:00

Have you ever watched something and have been so moved that you can't stop thinking about it?

In the past month or so that's happened to me twice.

The second time was just this past weekend. I watched Clint Eastwood's movie Million Dollar Baby. Not being a fan of Mystic River, I never felt drawn to Million Dollar Baby. Mystic River felt so dark and depressing to me that I had no desire to experience that again in a movie.

If anyone else has avoided watching Million Dollar Baby for the same reasons I did, let me put your mind at ease -- this movie does NOT carry the same darkness found in Mystic River. It's still a heavy movie, but the writing and the approach to telling this story is very different.

The movie is powerful and I recommend it to everyone. The screenwriter, Paul Haggis, is brilliant -- as always. And Hillary Swank...she is so talented an acting award category with a standard set at "ain't nobody else ever gonna come close to the job you done" should be named after her.

The first time I watched something this past month that has stayed with me was Charlie Rose's interview with President Jimmy Carter.

President Carter has long been on my most admired list and this interview, like Hillary Swank, catapulted him into a category all his own. His knowledge of international relations is unmatched. But more importantly, in my opinion, is his heart toward world peace, human rights, and the Middle East.

While the Bush administration has taken a big stick approach to all things Middle East, President Carter continues to take an open minded and "peace can be found through finding a common ground" approach. As an American citizen, I am honored beyond words to have President Carter represent me and my country. However, by demand of the Bush administration, President Carter may only represent The Carter Center as he works to bring peace to the Middle East.

If you are unfamiliar with the outstanding work being done by The Carter Center please visit their website by clicking here.

I encourage you to watch the entire 30+ minute interview with President Jimmy Carter [4/28/08] as he talks about the Middle East, his mother Lillian, and how the next president of the United States of America can change the world's view of our country within the first 10 minutes of her/his term on the Charlie Rose website. The entirety of this interview is captivating and inspiring.

Here is an excerpt from the entire interview I found on YouTube:

from www.youtube.composted with vodpod

Painful Lessons by Lynette Long in today's Baltimore Sun

2008-05-19T08:26:00.001-07:00

In honor of the women I wrote about for the Bloggers Unite for Human Rights event, I wanted their post to remain front and center on my blog throughout the weekend.

My planned subject for today's blog was completely unrelated to politics, gender, human rights, etc., but then I read an article in today's Baltimore Sun and thought it so very well written and thought provoking, I wanted to share it.

Here it is in full with a link to the actual article:

www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.women18may18,0,3121832.story

Painful lessons

Primary reveals obstacles facing women in politics

By Lynette Long

May 18, 2008

This primary campaign has been quite a learning experience, but the lessons have mainly been bitter ones for women. Here are some things I learned on the way to the Democratic National Convention:

•People are more sensitive to racism than sexism. My twenty-something daughter returned home extremely agitated after casting her ballot in the Democratic primary. "This white guy was wearing a T-shirt that read, 'Hillary, cook my food, but don't run my country,' and no one said a thing. If I wore a T-shirt that said, 'Obama, shine my shoes but don't run my country,' I'd be called a racist." Doing or saying anything perceived as racist is not tolerated in today's America, but that's simply not true of sexist behavior.

•Most people aren't aware of the insidious sexism in this campaign. I've heard commentators say "Mrs. Clinton and Senator Obama," subtly implying she was a wife and he was a senator. I've heard Sen. Hillary Clinton called a bitch, a witch, and a she-devil on national television. I've watched group after group of predominantly male panelists on talk show after talk show discuss the election without a thought for female input.

•Women voters are not factored into the decision making of the Democratic National Committee. The DNC is concerned that black voters will protest and stay home if Senator Clinton gets the nomination, even though she is the stronger and more electable candidate. But the DNC doesn't worry that white women, three times larger than the combined black vote, will stay away from the polls if Mrs. Clinton does not get the nomination. They expect the white women of the party to fall in step and vote for Mr. Obama in the general election.

•The rules for women candidates are not the same as the rules for male candidates. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy adamantly supports Mr. Obama, even though Mrs. Clinton won his home state, Massachusetts, by 14 points. Mr. Kennedy has repeatedly called for Mrs. Clinton to pull out of the race, yet when he was running for president in 1980 he took his bid for the Democratic nomination to the convention floor, trying to change the rules to unseat Jimmy Carter, who already had enough delegates to clinch the nomination. And let's not forget that this year Mike Huckabee stayed in the contest for the Republican nomination when he had no chance of winning. He was committed to stay in the race until Sen. John McCain reached the number of delegates needed to win. At the end of the contest he had a total of 267 delegates, more than 900 behind Mr. McCain. No media barrage pushed Mr. Huckabee to withdraw. Barack Obama has not reached the needed number of delegates to win the nomination, yet Mrs. Clinton - who is fewer than 200 delegates behind Obama - is being pressured by commentators and the DNC to withdraw.

•In the world of presidential politics, race trumps gender. It appears that young, white voters are more willing to vote for a black candidate than young, black voters are willing to vote for a white candidate. My analysis of the statistics found that young white voters seemed to perceive race as less of a factor in their voting preferences, since more than half of them selected Mr. Obama. More than 90 percent of blacks have voted for Mr. Obama, creating a large racial bloc. Female black voters prefer Mr. Obama by essentially the same margin as male black voters.

•Politics is a mathematical business. Popular votes, electoral votes, delegates, superdelegates, precincts, districts and states are all numbers to be crunched. Voters are categorized by factors including age, gender, race, religion and income. Statistical tools such as trends, clusters, margin of error, polls, projections and polling preferences are all used to track candidates and predict winners. Pundits use their knowledge of statistics to select and organize data points so they can spin data to present their candidate in the most favorable light.

•Political commentary and election coverage is biased. MSNBC is called the "Obama News Network" by various blogs. CNN claims neutrality, but bias seeps through: In my view, its commentators Amy Holmes and Roland Martin are blatant Obama supporters; David Gergen and Donna Brazile are also Obama supporters; and Carl Bernstein and Campbell Brown don't like Mrs. Clinton.

What else have I learned? That most Americans vote with their hearts rather than their heads. That voters make decisions out of fear and personal interest rather than out of principle. That all politics is local politics. That when voters like a candidate they will excuse almost anything, and when they don't like a candidate they will parse every word and excuse no sins. I've also learned that the most powerful constituency is the media. And I've learned that true courage is especially hard to find - especially in a politician.

Lynette Long is a psychologist in Bethesda and the author of 20 books. Her e-mail is drlynettelong@aol.com.

Bloggers Unite for Human Rights: 10 Female Human Rights Heroes

2008-05-15T00:54:00.000-07:00

In the midst of some of the world's most darkest of times, a few seek to bring light.

Women have LONG played a significant role in human rights activism, yet historically receive much less attention than their male counter parts.

So, today...

As bloggers all over the world unite for human rights...

I direct your eyes

And your attention

And your heart

to 10 women you may or may not have heard of

And to the causes for which each woman either fought with her life

Or fights with her life now.

1. Harriet Tubman

Abolitionist :: Humanitarian :: Union Spy

Having escaped from slavery herself, Harriet Tubman made 13 dangerous missions to free 70 slaves through the "Underground Railroad" - safe houses set up by antislavery activists; aided John Brown in recruiting men for his raid on Harper's Ferry; was the first woman to lead an armed exhibition in the war; guided the raid on the Combahee River liberating more than 700 slaves; and in the post-war era she fought for women's suffrage. Harriet Tubman was a woman of great courage, faith, and determination to help change the world for the betterment of all man and woman kind and she was a great humanitarian hero. To learn more about Harriet Tubman, visit www.harriettubmanbiography.com.

2. Margaret Utinsky

War Hero :: Nurse :: Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient

Married to a civil engineer working for the U.S. Government in the Philippines, Margaret Utinsky enjoyed her life in Manila. It was the 1930's and her husband had a good job. However, as the world began to change in the 1940's, so did life in the Philippines. When it became clear that the Japanese were going to attack the islands of the Pacific, the U.S. Government ordered all American wives back to the States. Only Margaret refused to leave her husband. When her husband was relocated to work on Bataan, Margaret stayed behind. In December of 1941, as the Japanese invaded the Philippines and occupied Manila, Margaret hid in her apartment for more than 10 weeks. Eventually obtaining false identity documents, Margaret began to work for the Red Cross and began to search for her husband. Seeing the conditions of the captured soldiers who survived the Bataan Death March and learning of the death of her husband, Margaret set about to save as many of the POWs as she could. Recruiting and organizing a team of helpers, Margaret and her network began smuggling food, medicine, shoes, and money for the captured men being held by the Japanese in Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan . Through Margaret's and her team's work, hundreds of lives were saved. This life-saving work was not without danger. A number of Margaret's team members were captured and killed. Margaret, too, was captured, beaten and tortured, but she would not reveal any of those within her network and she was eventually released. Escaping to the mountains near Bataan, Margaret continued her work as a nurse with the Filipino forces moving from camp to camp to help everyone in need. Upon the American liberation of the Philippines, Margaret returned to the United States where she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and would write a book, Miss U, detailing her life story. To learn more about Margaret Utinsky, visit World War II Remembered.

3. Irena Sendler

Champion of children :: Rescuer :: Order of the Smile Recipient

Appalled by Hitler's holocaust, Irena Sendler set out to save as many Jews as she could in her native Warsaw, Poland. As a social worker, Irena first began documenting Jewish families as having highly contagious diseases so the Nazis would not visit the families. However, when the Warsaw Ghetto was built and all Jews were walled off from the rest of society and systematically killed, Irena came up with a new plan. Organizing a team of 20 rescuers, Irena worked out ways to not only enter the Ghetto herself, but for her team as well. During her many working visits inside the Ghetto, Irena convinced as many Jewish families with babies and young children as she could to give up their young ones to Irena and her team. All counted, Irena and her fellow rescuers smuggled 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and out of certain death at the hands of the Nazis. Finding homes with non-Jewish families, convents, and orphanages, Irena also documented each child as being Catholic. Careful to never reveal their true identities and names to anyone, Irena vowed to herself that she would one day work to reunite the children with their families. To keep the records of each child's true name safe, Irena wrote the names on slips of paper, placed the papers in jars, and buried the jars in one of her team member's yard. Irena was eventually caught and beaten by the Gestapo. Even with both feet and legs broken, injuries that would leave her crippled for life, and sentenced to die, Irena never revealed any information. Successfully escaping from prison, Irena was hunted by the Gestapo until the end of the war. True to her word, Irena dug up the jars and set about finding children and families. Sadly, many of the families were killed by the Nazis, but those that survived were found by Irena and reunited with either their children or their relatives children. Irena Sendler died this week at the age of 98. She is a hero of not just 2,500 Jewish children, but of all the generations of their children. To learn more about Irena Sendler, visit Life in a Jar.

4. Alice Paul 5. Lucy Burns

Suffragists :: Leaders :: Committed to Equality

Knowing how government affects our daily lives, real life suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns fought with all of their might to win women the right to vote in the United States of America. Taking on not only Washington D. C. politicians and President Woodrow Wilson, but the National American Woman Suffrage Association founded in 1890 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns successfully led the campaign that brought the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 giving women the right to vote. However, in doing so Alice and Lucy discovered just how determined many men -- and women -- were to prevent this from happening. At times fighting with their very lives, these courageous women and their team of fellow suffragists soldiered on. Lobbying, picketing, organizing demonstrations and parades, the suffragists including Alice and Lucy were eventually convicted and incarcerated for obstructing traffic. As an act of protest of their conditions and treatment while incarcerated, Alice Paul began a hunger strike and a number of her fellow inmate suffragists followed suit. Having used the press for the demonstrations and parades, Alice Paul was a known figure. When news of her hunger strike and an order for her to be force fed leaked to the press, pressure on President Wilson and Congress mounted. Committed to see women have an equal vote in how America's government runs, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns fought with their lives to make this world a better place for all women who would come after them -- a place where your daughter(s) have an equal voice to your son(s). To learn more about Alice Paul and her legacy, visit the Alice Paul Institute. To learn more about Lucy Burns, visit the National Women's History Museum.

6. Zainab Salbi

Survivor :: Humanitarian :: Builder of Lives

Having survived bombs in Iraq and living under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, Zainab Salbi escaped from Iraq knowing something better must be ahead of her. Discovering other women whose lives had been torn apart by war, Zainab began reaching out to these women in all ways she could. Seeing a great need for women who survive war, Zainab founded Women for Women International in 1993. Along with co-founder Amjad Atallah, Zainab worked to build the organization into a place where women would help women become stronger. Since its opening, more than 93,000 women have been served through Women for Women International's various programs. To learn more about Zainab Salbi and her work, visit Women for Women International.

7. Esther Chavez Cano

Care Giver :: Advocate :: Champion for Women's Rights

1993 brought a wave of violence against women and young girls to Juarez, Mexico -- a town bordering El Paso, Texas. With more than 400 + women and young girls having been brutally raped, murdered and some disappearing, surely one would think that law enforcement would be working all that much harder to stop the violence and bring the killers to justice -- if justice on earth is possible for the horrendous nature of these crimes. But, to this day, the law has turned a relatively blind eye to stopping the violence. Seeking a way to help the victims and gain stronger rights for women, Esther Chavez Cano started the Casa Amiga Rape Crisis Center in Juarez. Amazingly, in this community of 1.5 million, Casa Amiga is the ONLY facility of its kind created to female victims of rape and violent crimes. Last year alone, Casa Amiga provided help for 1, 172 new cases and served 5,803 clients. With a small, mainly volunteer staff, Casa Amiga is a light in a very dark place for women. To learn more about the work of Esther Chavez Cano, visit the Casa Amiga Rape Crisis Center.

8. Mutabar Tadzhibaeva

Activist :: Prisoner of Conscience :: Noble Peace Prize Nominee

Founder of the national Uzbekistan movement, Civil Society, Mutabar Tadzhibaeva is currently in prison in her native Uzbekistan serving an eight year sentence for 13 counts of economic and political counts against the Uzbekistan government. Detained in October of 2005 on her way to an international conference on human rights defenders,Mutabar's trial began on January 30, 2006. Being forced to sit in a cage throughout her trial, Mutabar was also denied access to private meetings with her attorney, files associated with her case, and sufficient time to review material pertaining to her case. In 2005, when the Uzbekistan government forces fired into crowds of unarmed protesters, killing hundreds, Mutabar Tadzhibaeva's human rights work increased and she became more vocal. After giving a radio interview in which she condemned the government for their harrassment of human rights activists, Mutabar's own well being began to be threatened. To learn how you can speak up for Mutabar and demand her release, visit Amnesty International.

8. Angelica Gonzalez 9. Jennifer Echeverria

Lawyers :: Seekers of Justice :: Human Rights Advocates

As part of a team of lawyers at the Center for Legal Action of Human Rights in Guatemala, Angelica Gonzalez and Jennifer Echeverria provide legal support for families seeking justice for their relatives killed during Guatemala's internal armed conflict. With many massacres and mass killings -- one proven to be carried out by the government in 1982, families of relatives killed in this massacre won a court battle and have been awarded compensation to be paid by the Guatemalan government. With more trials coming against military officers and the former Head of State of Guatemala, threats are now being made against the legal teams. Recently, both Angelica and Jennifer have been threatened to the point of fearing for their lives -- simply because they are defending the rights of their fellow man/womankind. To learn how you can speak on behalf of Angelica Gonzalez and Jennifer Echeverria in an appeal for their safety, visit Amnesty International.

10. Betty Makoni

Schoolteacher :: Champion of Young Girls :: Ginetta Sagan Award Recipient

As a victim of sexual abuse at the age of six and having her mother die three years later from domestic violence, Betty Makoni knew at an early age that her native country of Zimbabwe would not change for women unless violence against women was talked about openly. As a former schoolteacher, Betty knew the importance of education for women in stopping the cycle of domestic violence. In 1998, Betty started Girl Child Network by helping to educate six girls on how to fight back against sexual exploitation, poverty and violence. Since then, more than 500,000 girls in Zimbabwe have been served through the Girl Child Network with 3,000 of them having become doctors, lawyers, teachers and professionals in other areas. Empowering girls to stay in school, covering educational fees and school supplies, and providing safe houses for counseling and rehabilitation for girls who are victims of sexual violence and abuse are only a few of the many ways Girl Child Network has helped and continues to help young girls break free from cycles of poverty, abuse, violence and disease. Demonstrating such a success, the Girl Child Network program is now being replicated in Sweden, Swaziland, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, and the United States. To learn more about Betty Makoni's work, visit the Girl Child Network.

Each of these women had/have the same number of hours in the day that each one of us has and none of these women achieved/are achieving their goals because they've been gifted with some special talent.

Each of these women simply looked beyond themselves to their fellow man/womankind and determined to make a difference for the better.

Each of these women first had a thought and refusing to let fear prevail, each of these women took action for the betterment of others.

In the midst of some of the world's most darkest of times, a few seek to bring light.

What about you?

Are you of the many?

Are you of the few?

Irena Sendler: Life in a Jar

2008-05-14T12:51:00.001-07:00

In the darkest of times, strength of character still rises...in some.

Irena Sendler's strength ran as deep as her courage ran high.

Irena passed away this week at the age of 98.

Who was Irena Sendler?

She was strength beyond measure.

She was courage defined.

She was humanity at its best.

She was willingness to help.

She was fear defied.

She was refusal to give in.

She was the woman who planned and organized the rescue of 2,500 Jewish children from certain death at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.

As a social worker in Warsaw, Poland, Irena was appalled by the treatment, murders, and annihilation of the Jewish people she had known all her life. To protect as many families as she could, Irena would document these families as being infected with terribly contagious diseases so they would not be visited by the Nazis. When the Nazis forced all Jews into one section of town and walled them off from the rest of society, Irena came up with a new way to protect as many of these hurting people as she could.

Organizing a team of 20 rescuers, Irena developed a plan for her and her team to enter the Warsaw Ghetto. Once inside, Irena convinced Jewish families with babies and small children to turn over their young ones to her and her team. Smuggling the babies and children out by any means possible (sometimes making them look like sacks of grain), Irena found non-Jewish families to adopt the children, placed them in convents or orphanages, and documented the children with Catholic identities.

Determined to not let the children's true identities remain unknown, Irena wrote every name of every child on pieces of paper she kept hidden in jars in her home. As the Nazis started to move in on her, Irena hid the jars in one of her team member's yard. Upon capture, Irena was beaten severely breaking both her feet and legs, crippling her for life, but Irena refused to give any information. Sentenced to death, Irena's team bribed one of the Gestapo and at the last minute, Irena's execution was halted. Although Irena eventually escaped from prison, she was hunted by the Gestapo throughout the remaining years of the war.

True to her character, after the war Irena faithfully sought out to reunite each rescued child with any surviving relatives throughout Europe. While most families perished during the horrors of the holocaust, a small number were able to be located.

Here's where this story takes a twist.

A dark twist.

With the invasion of communism and eventual reign in Poland, Irena's story remained silent for more than 40 years.

Irena's heroism and acts of true greatness were virtually unknown to all in her home country.

But the truth ALWAYS finds exactly who it is meant to find.

Enter 1999 and Norman Conrad, rural Kansas high school history teacher.

Encouraging and challenging his students to extend the boundaries of the classroom; contribute to the teaching of history, tolerance, and respect; and do all of this with the goal of submitting a project to that year's National History Day event.

Megan Stewart, Elizabeth Chambers and Jessica Shelton, all in ninth grade, and Sabrina Coons, eleventh grade, joined forces and set about finding a project to submit.

Having read a 1994 article on an historically unknown Irena Sendler, which he thought may have been in error, Mr. Conrad suggested the girls research the validity of the story and determine if a project could be developed from it.

Like I wrote before...

The truth ALWAYS finds who it is meant to find.

With great tenacity, these four young girls went to work.

And what a job they did.

Discovering not only the truth of Irena Sendler's heroism, but Irena Sendler herself!

What grew to become a tremendous friendship of respect and admiration between the four girls and Irena also grew into a live presentation, Life in a Jar, that continues to be performed this day throughout the United States.

Through Life in a Jar, the national and international media learned the story of Irena Sendler and now, so has the world.

To learn more about Life in a Jar and Irena Sendler, honorary citizen of Israel; recipient of the internationally prestigious Order of the Smile; recipient of Poland's highest honor, Order of the White Eagle; title bearer of Righteous Among Nations; and Noble Peace Prize nominee, visit Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.

Top 10 Movies About Real Life Heroes

2008-05-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

This coming Thursday, May 15, is the big Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Internet event where thousands of bloggers worldwide will be blogging on human rights issues.

So, I thought I'd start the week off with my top 10 list (in no particular order) of movies with storylines centering on real life human rights heroes. All but one of the movies may be found on DVD and are worthy of watching again...and again!

1. Hotel Rwanda

Director Terry George's 2004 film of how one man, Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, dared what seemed to be impossible odds by protecting more than a thousand Tutsi refugees during one of the world's worst acts of genocide. While the majority of the world turned their back on the Tutsi in Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina bravely opened up the hotel to as many Tutsi refugees as he could and at the risk of his own life and the life of his family, he stood strong against the Hutu militia and all other forces. Don Cheadle's performance of real life hero, Paul Rusesabagina is one of the finest screen performances of all time. This is a movie not to be missed. In the midst of the most horrible of times, hope and courage prevail. To learn more about Paul Rusesabagina and his continuing work to help the women and children affected by the genocides in Rwanda and other African nations, visit the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation

2. Rabbit-Proof Fence

For more than 60 years, 1910 - 1970, children born of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander decent were forcibly taken from their parents by the Australian and State government agencies for the purposes of training them to become domestic workers and thus, integrating them into a white society. Director Philip Noyce's 2002 film tells the true life story of three young mixed-race girls who were a part of this "Stolen Generation" in Australia. In 1931, Molly Craig, her younger sister and a young cousin were stolen from their mothers and taken to the Moore River Native Settlement 1500 miles from their home. Escaping not long after their arrival, Molly leads her sister and cousin on a nine week journey back home -- all the while being tracked by both a white man of the law and a black tracker. Staying one step ahead, Molly leads the girls home by following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the continent. This story is beautifully told in both dialogue and imagery. To learn more about Australia's Stolen Generation, visit the European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights.

3. A Woman Called Moses

Cicely Tyson is an actress that can cause tears to well up in my eyes just at the mention of her name. To me, her ability to bring the power, vulnerability, and beauty of a character to the big screen is rarely matched. She is simply outstanding. In 1978, Cicely Tyson brought a performance to the small screen that I have never forgotten. Director Paul Wendkos's television movie brought the real life story of humanitarian, abolitionist, and Union spy, Harriet Tubman to the public. Having escaped from slavery herself, Harriet Tubman made 13 dangerous missions to free 70 slaves through the "Underground Railroad" - safe houses set up by antislavery activists; aided John Brown in recruiting men for his raid on Harper's Ferry; was the first woman to lead an armed exhibition in the war; guided the raid on the Combahee River liberating more than 700 slaves; and in the post-war era she fought for women's suffrage. Harriet Tubman was a woman of great courage, faith, and determination to help change the world for the betterment of all man and woman kind and Cicely Tyson could not have been a better choice to play such a noble human being. To learn more about Harriet Tubman, visit www.harriettubmanbiography.com.

4. Anne Frank Remembered

Jon Blair's 1995 Academy Award-winning Best Documentary on the life of Anne Frank and her family should be a must see on everyone's list. With previously unseen archival footage, this film brings a picture of Anne Frank, who some call "the holocaust's most famous victim" to life like never before. With narration by Glenn Close, Kenneth Branaugh and Joely Richardson, this story of the Frank family's time in hiding during World War II in Amsterdam, Holland and Anne's wise-beyond-her-years outlook on life is the first time an audience fully sees Anne for the person she was -- a young girl who would change the world by teaching us that even in the darkest of hours, believing in the goodness of humanity is not only possible, but right. To learn more about Anne Frank, visit the online Anne Frank Museum.

5. The Killing Fields

Anyone who saw director Roland Joffe's 1984 film when it was first released will probably remember leaving the theater in silence. The power of this movie earned it 7 Academy Award nominations in all of the major fields including Best Picture, and Oscar wins for Best Supporting Actor Haing S. Ngor, Best Film Editing and Best Cinematography. Based upon the true story of New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg's coverage of the civil war in Cambodia in which 2 million "undesirables" were "ethnically cleansed" under the direction of tyrant Pol Pot. During one of the most horrific acts of genocide, Sydney Schanberg and local representative, Dith Pran record and report the most tragic of events shedding light on the truth and the madness -- reporting which would lead Sydney to receive the Pulitzer Prize. When the American forces leave Cambodia, Dith manages to get his wife and children on the transports, but stays behind to continue helping his friend cover the horrific events. Being an American, Sydney is able to freely leave Cambodia, but the same is not for Dith. True life hero, Dith Pran was captured by the Khmer Rouge and spent nearly 4 years in labor camps throughout Cambodia suffering extreme hardships. This film shares the amazing story of strength in friendship and the strength in the human spirit during the reign of one of history's most brutal dictators. To learn more about Dith Pran and Cambodia's Killing Fields, visit The Dith Pran Holocaust Awareness Project.

6. Gandhi

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, director Richard Attenborough's 1982 film received an outstanding 9 Oscars in 1983: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Writing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Ben Kingsley. Serving as a biography of Mahatma Gandhi, Attenborough tells the tale of the lawyer turned leader who led the people of India -- advocating non-violence and truth -- in campaigns to organize poor farmers and laborers against discrimination and oppressive taxation; the liberation of women; the alleviation of rampant poverty; economic self-sufficiency for the nation; a commonality among the various religious and ethnic groups; an end to the "untouchability" and caste discrimination; and most of all, independence for India from foreign domination. Ben Kingsley's moving performance of Gandhi is something to watch again if you have not seen this film since its release in 1982. To learn more about the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, visit www.mkgandhi.org.

7. Schindler's List

As history teaches when a brutal dictator arises, whether it be out of fear, greed, ignorance or whatever, many people, weak in character, succumb to the ways of such brutality. However, as history also teaches, greatness of character also arises within the few unwilling to give into fear, but rather bravely hold fast to their belief in humanity and the rights of their fellow mankind. Nominated for an incredible 12 Academy Awards and receiving 7 including Best Picture and Best Director, director Steven Spielberg's 1992 film brings the heroism of real life Oscar Schindler to the big screen and to the world. Set during the autraucities of Hitler's holocaust, Spielberg brilliantly recounts Schindler's courageous work to save more than 1,200 Jews from death at the hands of the Nazis. An unlikely hero, Schindler discovers the truth within him -- humanity is more valuable than money -- and proceeds to defy all odds in saving as many Jews as he can. Once a war profiteer, Schindler eventually died penniless having spent all his money to save and protect his list of Jews. To learn more about Oscar Schindler and his wife, Emilie, who served along side him, visit The Oscar Schindler Story.

8. Iron Jawed Angels

Some may claim this to be more of a civil liberties film, but I see it as both a civil liberties film AND a human rights film. When an entire population of human beings is shut out of having a voice in how their government is to be run because of their gender, race, or religion, then I see it as a human rights issue. Knowing how government affects our daily lives, real life suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns fought with all of their might to win women the right to vote in the United States of America. Director Katja von Garnier's incredible 2004 HBO film sets a new standard for period pieces. Incorporating contemporary music, camera and editing techniques, Katja tells the story of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, played by Hillary Swank and Francis O'Connor respectively, as they take on not only Washington D. C. politicians and President Woodrow Wilson, but the National American Woman Suffrage Association founded in 1890 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Successfully leading the campaign that brought the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 giving women the right to vote, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns discovered just how determined many men -- and women -- were to prevent this from happening. At times fighting with their very lives, these courageous women and their team soldiered on. Two women that should be in every American history school book, OH GOSH, surprisingly are not. If you have a daughter, BUY this dynamic DVD! Have it on hand. Teach your daughter(s) about the women who fought with their lives to make this world a better place for all women who would come after them -- a place where your daughter(s) have an equal voice to your son(s). To learn more about Alice Paul and her legacy, visit the Alice Paul Institute. To learn more about Lucy Burns, visit the National Women's History Museum.

9. The Great Raid

What's a war movie doing in a top 10 human rights hero movie list? Exactly what it should be...telling the real life story of a small group of Army Rangers and Filipino soldiers who risked their lives to liberate more than 500 American Prisoners of War in the Philippines during World War II AND telling the story the real life woman, Margaret Utinsky, a Medal of Freedom recipient, who risked her own life to smuggle life saving medication, food, shoes, and money into the Japanese POW Camps during this same war. Director John Dahl's 2005 film relives the Army Ranger raid on Cabanatuan, a real life Japanese POW Camp in the Philippines, with amazing historical accuracy. Understanding that this is a major motion picture and not a documentary and certain film license is needed, the director's cut of this movie is truly a credit to John Dahl's dedication to honoring the heroes of this war in the Pacific. The culture of the Japanese military at the time of World War II viewed prisoners of war as almost non-human. Their treatment of POW's was barbaric to say the least. Under the command of real life heroes Captain Bob Prince and Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci, a small band of 120 Army Rangers and a group of Filipino soldiers travel 30 miles behind enemy lines and up against thousands of Japanese to successfully achieve the greatest military rescue in the history of war. The director's cut of this film is the version to see and the additional material included in this set is powerful beyond description. To learn more about Margaret Utinsky, visit WW II Remembered. To learn more about the raid on Cabanatuan, visit Army Public Affairs.

10. Norma Rae

Based upon real life hero Crystal Lee Jordan, director Martin Ritt's 1979 film, which won Sally Field her first Oscar, focuses the world's attention on the rights of workers. Fighting for the rights of decent pay for decent wages and decent working conditions - the right to unionize, Norma Rae stands up to not only corporate pressure and threats, but to those in her own circle of relations who want her to just shut up. With dialogue like this, it's a no wonder that this film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing:

Agreeing to organize a campaign, Norma asks her minister to use the church for a union meeting. "That's black and whites sitting together," Norma tells him. Horrified, the minister responds, "We're going to miss your voice in the choir, Norma. To which she says, "You're going to hear it raised up somewhere else."

What Crystal Lee Jordan was able to accomplish for workers in America, through great threat, pressure and the loss of her job, was no small miracle. And Sally Field's performance stand today as one of the great performances in the history of the cinema. To learn more about how labor unions fought to honor the American workforce, visit infoplease.com.

When you think of movies that tell the story of real life human rights heroes, which ones come to your mind?

Doug Seus, Alive and Well

2008-05-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Every day for the past couple of weeks a number of people have arrived at this blog after searching for information on Doug Seus, trainer of grizzly bears Bart the Bear, Little Bart, Honey Bump, and Tank. Evidently many people have been concerned that Doug was the trainer accidentally killed while working with one of the grizzlies.

Doug is alive and well and so are Little Bart, Honey Bump, and Tank.

Sadly, animal trainer Stephen Miller of Big Bear Lake, California died from an accidental bite on his neck by Rocky, a trained grizzly bear who has appeared in numerous movies. For more information, click here.

I often post on Doug and Lynne Seus and The Vital Ground Foundation, a nonprofit organization for which I am very, very proud and honored to serve on the Board of Advisors and the Development Committee.

For those not familiar with how Vital Ground came to be, I invite you to learn about Bart the Bear and his incredible legacy.

From BartTheBear.com:

As professional animal trainers for the last 25 years, Doug and Lynne Seus have dedicated their lives to developing new and innovative programs for the raising, training and treatment of animals. Inspired by Bart the Bear, who died in 2000 at the age of 23, Doug and Lynne wanted to do something in return for wild grizzlies, at the same time ensuring the preservation of native forests, grass prairies and all of the plants and animals that share the land with the Great Bear. Founded in 1990, Vital Ground is dedicated to that task.

The work Bart started ten years ago continues with Tank, an 850-pound nine-year-old grizzly and Bart and Honey-Bump (a brother and sister) who will carry on in his giant footsteps as Ambassadors of Vital Ground.

Big Bart the Bear

Bart the Bear died peacefully surrounded by his family and friends at his home in Utah on May 10, 2000. Bart was born in a U.S. zoo on January 19, 1977. His destiny was not to live out his 23-1/2 years in the unchanging confinement of a zoo, but to see the world and become a beloved member of a human family. He came to Doug and Lynne Seus as a five-pound bundle and grew to 1,500 pounds, standing 9-1/2 feet tall. His long film career took him and his family from the Austrian/Italian Alps to the wilderness of Alaska, all over the U.S. and Canada, and finally to the stage of the 1998 Academy Awards. He loved to be in the spotlight and relished the applause and cheers of the film crew much more than he did his salmon and blueberries.

Bart the Bear's legacy went far beyond his film career. He is the "spokesbear" for the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, but his greatest role was as Ambassador of Vital Ground. Vital Ground has procured threatened wildlife habitat in Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Because of Bart's life in captivity, many of his wild brothers and sisters are able to roam free.

Bart is survived by his human family: Doug, Lynne, Clint, Jed and Sausha, and his bear brother "Tank." His old swimming hole was filled with love and joy when the circle of life brought the Seuses two orphaned grizzly cubs. The cub's mother was shot 200 miles north of Anchorage. These babies miraculously survived alone for over two days when the Alaska Fish and Game rescued them. The little boy cub carries on Bart's legacy and is his namesake. The girl cub is called Honey-Bump Bear. These cubs will follow in Bart's giant footsteps to bring the wondrous spirit of the bear into many lives and hearts.

For more information on the work of Doug and Lynne Seus, please visit www.BartTheBear.com.

For more information on The Vital Ground Foundation, please visit www.vitalground.org.