Occupy Eugene! Largest March in Eugene History

Occupy Eugene is HAPPENING! Saturday, October 15, was the biggest march in Eugene history. Over 2,000 people participated! 150-200 people camped out in the Park Blocks downtown Eugene. The energy was amazing. We met at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza where there were many speakers, some songs, and a lot of people getting together, making signs, and talking about the movement.

There were so many people, we were on both sides of the bridge waving at each other. Once we were off the bridge we could look back and see an endless stream of people continuing on! In solidarity!

Samba Ja took the lead on the march and then stopped at the courthouse for more drums and dancing before heading to the occupation site!

It was beautiful to see how many children are involved and participating!

And of course, there were several bike cops around and some cop cars, but it stayed calm and mostly friendly between the people in uniforms and the people marching. There was a Homeland Security vehicle hanging around, too, of course...

Positive vibes and Solidarity!

The lovely little tent village.

Malik Rahim, former Black Panther and founder of the Common Ground Collective in New Orleans joined us. He and many other speakers were so inspiring! In fact, EVERYONE THERE was inspiring! Malik Rahim reminds us, "The number one issue is saving our environment, and then ending these unjust wars! We can find peace! It starts like this!" and he reminds us they may evict us from a certain site, "but they cannot evict a movement!" Malik told us that when he comes back from the 45th anniversary of the Black Panthers, he will be camping with us in Eugene. :)

 

Occupy Eugene is very well organized, and getting more organized as we learn how to live and work together as a community striving for change! We have several committees, including Sanitation, Medical, Communications, Community Outreach, People of Color, Sobriety Support, Children and Families, Research, Peace Keepers, Collective Visioning, Food, Facilitation, Morale, and Engineering. Many of these committees have several sub-committees, too. If you would like to be involved, please check out the website, and PLEASE, come down to 8th and Oak and show your support in person! Join the occupiers! You can also donate money or needed items to the occupation.

7am General Assembly 10/16.

The General Assemblies have been going very well. Eugene has been using 100% Consensus and it has been working amazingly well! You can watch the General Assemblies, and many other goings-on on livestream. We have adopted St. Paul's Principles. General Assembly meetings will happen every day at 7am and 7pm.

The media is finally starting to pay attention to these movements. The Register Guard wrote a pretty good article about Occupy Eugene.

I want to reiterate, because some have expressed concern about this, that Occupy Eugene committees are discussing ways we can work with, and not interfere with, the Saturday Market.

In Solidarity!

Occupy Oregon! Several Oregon Cities Participating in the Occupy Movement.

Occupy Portland began on October 6. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 people participated in the march Thursday. Occupations in solidarity with Occupy Wall St are happening all over the country, all over the world, even! "Occupy Together Meetups" planned or happening in 1,168 cities. Occupy Together has confirmed 68 occupations currently happening in the United States and 22 occupations currently happening in international cities. 

I've been involved with Occupy Portland and Occupy Eugene. I've been hearing about several other occupations planned in Oregon, and so I did some research. Here is what I found out!

Portland : The occupation began on October 6, 2011. 7-10,000 marched and hundreds occupied. The occupation site is located at the Plaza Blocks Park between 3rd and 4th Avenues. The Plaza Blocks are separated by SW Main Street, with Lownsdale Square on the north side and Chapman Square to the south. General Assemblies are every day 7am and 7pm. The website is updated daily, they are having infoshare classes, marches, and group meditations. A list of needs is regularly updated on the website. 

Seaside:  The occupation began Friday, October 7th at City Hall. There are 437 people who "liked" the facebook page, but they are in need of support! There is a City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, they are hoping for a big turnout that night.

Manzanita: The occupation began Saturday, October 8. They met in front of Manzanita Library at 571 Laneda Ave. Not sure if this is still going on, or if it was simply a rally in support of Wall St and other occupations...?

Salem: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, at 12:30pm, at Willson Park (on the West side of the Oregon State Capitol Building). That same day, the ACLU of Oregon will be representing Michele Darr et.al vs. the State of Oregon in a case which will be heard by the Oregon State Court of Appeals (on the East side of the Capitol Building in Salem) after 2 years of struggle to reassert the Peoples Constitutional Right to peaceably assemble 24 hours a day at the seat of government to request Redress of Grievances. The Liberation Commons Collective has been involved in organizing for this.

Eugene : Occupy Eugene is having its 4th General Assembly meeting  on Thursday, October 13, at the West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue, 1274 W. 7th Ave. For those who do not have regular access to the internet, there is a phone line: 541-525-0130. You can call this number if you would like to be updated about meetings by phone. The occupation begins Saturday, October 15.

Ashland: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, 2011, 12:00 PM at Chase Bank.

Corvallis:  The occupation begins Monday, October 10, at 12noon, at the Bank of America on 3rd St. and SW Adams. 324 SW 3rd St.

Cottage Grove: There are currently 23 people discussing this on facebook. This will take place Wednesday, October 12, 5pm, and 1500 Main St. It seems details may still be being worked out, please visit their page for more.
Coos Bay: The proposed beginning time and place for this is Friday, October 14, 9am, at 125 Central Ave.
Roseburg: There are 57 people currently on the facebook page. They are planning on beginning on Saturday, October 15.
Medford: Also beginning Saturday, October 15, at12:00pm. Medford Oregon Alba Park.
Bend: The occupation will begin Saturday, October 15, at 12noon. It is proposed to begin at Drake Park and march to Pioneer Park.
Astoria:  1st Planning Meeting is on Wednesday, October 12, at 4:30pm-6:30pm, at the Astoria Labor Hall. 926 Duane St. 3rd floor.
McMinnville: The date is not yet set. The place is 3rd St, possibly US Bank Plaza.
Rogue Valley: No real information on this one. Is it happening? There is a facebook page, and 93 people "like" it.
Vale: No real information on this one. There is a Meet Up page.
Cave Junction: There is a facebook page, and a proud grandmother, and 20 people "like" it. No real information yet.
Brookings: There is a Meet Up page. No information yet.
Hillsboro:  There is a Meet Up page. No other information.
John Day: There is a Meet Up page. No other information.

If you don't know what the Occupations are all about, please check out Occupy Wall St.'s Official Declaration. These Occupations, though many may release their own declaration or grievances, are in solidarity with Occupy Wall St.

Occupy Portland! Get Involved Now!

From OccupyPortland.org:

On Oct. 6th, 12:00 pm, thousands will gather at the Waterfront near SW Ankeny and Naito Parkway (http://tinyurl.com/44rl474) to march to Pioneer Courthouse Square. This is in support of Occupy Wall Street, where thousands have been staying near the Wall Street stock exchange to protest the corruption of Washington politicians, misdeeds of big banks, and the cancerous rein of corporate lobbyists. Bring friends, family, passion, and supplies for the night because we will be in this for the long haul. Once we are done for the day we will then march back to the Waterfront and set up for the night.

Get involved in planning for this occupation!
Discussions and logistics on the community page- http://www.facebook.com/OccupyPortland
A group page for sharing ideas and documents- http://www.facebook.com/groups/284344344909229/
And the event page, which seems to be mainly for inviting people to join in: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=232437856804769

If you don't have facebook, the website is now up and running, and very useful! http:/OccupyPortland.org
On the website, you can find flyers, the march route, the livestream, and a list of the needs of the occupiers. See how you can be useful!

The March Route:

We are the 99%!

"We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent."

 

"I was deployed to Iraq 4x

5 of my friends are dead
1 of my friends is missing his arm
1 of my friends killed himself
I've been blown up 2x by roadside bombs
hearing fireworks makes me nervous
I can't sleep at night

All so bankers and war profiteers could get richer
I am the 99%"

We are the 99%. OccupyPortland.org!

Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed!

For those of you in other states, go to OccupyTogether.org and see what is being planned near you!

In Solidarity with Occupy Wall St and October2011, WE OCCUPY TOGETHER!

So much is happening in NYC on Wall St right now, it is appalling that the media is barely covering it. It is appalling that so many people I have spoken to have not heard anything about it.  Here is a great article on Occupy Wall St. If you don't know much about it, please take the time to read this. On September 17, the occupation on Wall St began. Please also look at occupywallst.org where they post regularly every day about what is happening in Liberty Plaza in NYC.  Recently, police have been reacting violently toward peaceful protestors. Much of this can be found on youtube videos and live streaming. 80-100 protesters have been arrested today. Police have been asking people to move to certain areas, and as this is a peaceful protest, they complied. When they comply a net is thrown over them, they are arrested, and sometimes maced. This is all over the internet, but the mainstream media will not cover it. Five Tea Party members  protesting the protest make the news, but the thousands that have been on Wall St for seven days do not.

Here is the latest news from Occupy Wall Street:
This report came in half an hour ago from the chair of the NYC IWW chapter.
Protesters arrested today (including the NYC IWW chair) are being locked inside a police van outside the:
1st Precinct Police Station
16 Ericsson Pl.
New York, NY 10013
+1 (212) 334-0611
They've been there for over an hour. One has a very bad concussion, possibly life threatening.
Right now the NYC IWW chair he is calling on us to send people NOW for help out and to demand medical care for our comrades.
If you can't make it in person then please call these numbers:
1st Precinct - (212) 334-0611 - 16 Ericsson Place
6th Precinct - (212) 741-4811 - 233 West 10 Street
NYPD Switchboard: 1-646-610-5000

Follow 24 hour live stream to see what is really going on at http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution.

On October 6, 2011, an occupation has been planned in Washington D.C. Here is the website for organizing this, we have been working toward this for months: october2011.org. In Solidarity with the October 2011 "Stop the Machine! Create a New World!" movement and in Solidarity with the occupation on Wall St, cities all over the country are planning to join in and occupy together.

Occupy Wall Street has released a statement explaining what we are protesting: Ending Capital Punishment. Ending Wealth Inequality. Ending Police Intimidation. Ending Corporate Censorship. Ending the modern gilded age. Ending Political Corruption. Ending Joblessness. Ending Poverty. Ending Health-Profiteering. Ending American Imperialism. Ending War.

October2011.org has also released a statement: http://october2011.org/statement. "It is about courageously resisting and stopping the corporate state from destroying not only our inherent rights and freedoms, but also our children’s chance to live, breathe clean air, drink pure water, grow edible natural food and live in peace."

The occupation in Chicago, IL has begun. Follow their livestream here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupy-chicago. 

Here is a list SO FAR of cities we will occupy:
Washington D.C.
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
Atlanta, GA
Portland, OR
Tulsa, OK
Minnesota (city to be determined)
Sacramento, CA
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Salt Lake City, UT
Salem, OR
Seattle, WA
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
Cleveland, OH
Tampa, FL and their facebook page
Phoenix, AZ
Boston, MA
Houston, TX
Philadelphia, PA
Omaha, NE
Lansing, MI
Columbus, OH
Denver, CO
Toronto Market Exchange
San Francisco, CA
Orlando FL
New Orleans, LA
Mississippi (city to be determined)
Kansas City, KS
Madison, WI
Las Vegas, NV
St Louis, MO
New Jersey (city to be determined)
Lexington, KY
Nashville, TN
Georgia (cities to be determined)
Indiana (cities to be determined)
Indianappolis, IN
Nebraska (city to be determined)

More occupations are being planned by the minute! Check out facebook and google+ to find out what is being organized near you! Also, check out http://occupytogether.org/.

Uprising on the West Coast

As October 6, 2011 comes closer, I am realizing how hard it would be for me to get to DC. I am unable to get there without causing harm to my family. I would have to miss work, I would not be able to afford a plane ticket, and I would not be able to take enough time off to travel in other ways without losing my job and being away from my wife and children too long. Before I had children, I would certainly have been willing to quit my job and hitchhike to Washington DC. However, my conundrum is the case for many, and so, there is now discussion about organizing a rally coinciding with the DC rally, on the West Coast. It is likely this would take place in California. The discussion is happening. Please be a part of this! Pledge to be there, and then you will get an account on the October2011 website, and you can join the discussions and help us organize a West Coast uprising.

We the People! A People's Congress. If You Are Indeed A Patriot...

Independence Day. This red, white and blue flag-waving holiday always makes me cringe. Blind Patriotism is not something to be proud of. Personally, I will never wave a nationalistic flag of any sort. I am a citizen of Earth. The Earth is my mother, people are my siblings, and animals are my guides.

My personal idealistic vision is for governments to be abolished altogether and for people to live together in harmony in a social-anarchistic society. However, whether you are an anarchist or believe in democracy, we all have to recognize that we are not living in a true democracy. Corporations run this country. It is a machine. Obama promised change that we have not seen. In order to see this change, we must take back the government and give power to the people,  just like it is written into the Constitution. That is why people are currently organizing a People's Congress.

The Declaration of Independence states, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." The definition of despotism is: The exercise of absolute power, esp. in a cruel and oppressive way. Thereby not only is a revolution necessary, it is our constitutional right and duty.


The "founding fathers" so many celebrate today were aware of this threat. James Madison said, "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurptions." Thomas Jefferson said, "I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." So, are you Patriotic? Will you try to save this country, maintain our ideals of Freedom? We are not Free. Ralph Nader points out, "Presently, about 1,500 large corporations control or block the votes of most members of Congress on very important matters. It is not beyond the realm of realization to look forward to a time when a few millin modestly organized Americans, representing the values of much greater numbers of their fellow Americans, turn the national legislature into a Congress of the people, by the people, and for the people." The time is now. The People's Congress will take place the week(s) preceding the Congressional Summer Recess, 2012.

Please go to http://peoplescongress.org/ to learn more about this. There are many ways to be involved, many committees forming to organize this, and the more people take part in the People's Congress, the better.

From PeoplesCongress.org:
Peoplescongress.org is calling for a week long action in which We the People pass specific legislation which, when enacted by Congress, will put an immediate end to the corporate take-over of our government, revitalize and re-democratize elections,  allow for a more responsible and open media, and end the secrecy in policy making. Until we reform these institutions and the laws governing them, our goals for a just and sustainable world will remain elusive at best. An earnest national dialog about our future cannot happen until we re-balance the wheels of democracy. It is the intention of the People’s Congress to secure that change directly in accordance with the will of the People and the principles established by our Constitution...

...all legislation will be developed and posted in our Forums for review several months before the People’s Congress meets on the Mall.  Please read this legislation before coming to the Congress. 

The People's Congress Mission Statement:
It is the intention of the People’s Congress to secure change directly in accordance with the will of the People and the principles established by our Constitution. We seek an end to the systemic dysfunction within our government by demanding and securing the Common Sense remedies required to re-balance the wheels of Democracy.

We seek a just and sustainable Society through specific reforms.
We demand an end to the Corporate takeover of our Government.
We demand a truly representational and transparent Electoral System.
We demand a more democratic media accountable to the People.
We demand open and transparent Policy making.

To this end The People’s Congress will write the fundamental legislative remedies and with the full force and vigor of the People’s Congress present them to our Representatives for ratification.

The People’s Congress will remain in place, united voices, to express our collective will and determination, with continued vigilance, until true Democracy has been restored to our Nation. 

This could be a huge part of the change we need, a giant step towards freedom and justice. The discussions are just beginning and we need everyone involved in the discussions, so that the people are truly represented! Already I have found flaws on their website (no organizations representing people with disabilities and mental health issues were included) and already they have taken steps to correct this. If you are not involved, your voice will not be heard. But your voice CAN be heard.

I have recently written about and truly believe in a People's Revolution, and I think that an uprising preceding a progressive event like the People's Congress could create the change we are all looking for. The October 6 revolution has stated its demands and is planning a massive protest, the People's Congress is beginning its discussions. The way I see it, the more action the better. We are talking about the same revolution!

Don't Give in to the Machine!

I've been talking a lot about the upcoming Revolution here in amerika. I have to tell you, I'm stoked about it! Some people I've spoken to jump right on board, are ready to go, but most...well, not so much. So many people point out that we are such a large and spread out country compared to Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, Greece, etcetera. I agree that has made large protests harder to organize, but look at the numbers we've racked up at the kapitol for other causes (go on, look! I posted a bunch here!). Many good people I have spoken to sigh and admit that they have little faith that enough people will show up. To them I say, if you don't show up, then maybe you're right! But why surrender and be a part of the problem? I understand how one gets to be burnt out and pessimistic. It can be exhausting going to anti-war protest after anti-war protest (for example) and seeing nothing change. You know they want us to give up, and if we do, than they win. The Machine wins. Don't let the Machine win! The Machine has so many tools they use to keep us down! Even the "liberal" media constantly reminds us that we should not have faith in our fellow americans, that americans are stupid and lazy and don't care about anything but themselves. Look around at the people you actually know--this is not true! The Machine thrives on this pessimism, this hopelessness. It thrives on drug addiction, poverty crime, and so many of the problems they pretend to be fighting. It thrives on fear, filling up the jails with all our revolutionaries. The mainstream media is a tool used against us--filling us with fear, self-doubt, self-hate, despair, misinformation, and distracting us with bullshit capitalist desires...most everybody gets stuck in this trap sometimes. But to sit at home and go about your daily routine because you don't have faith our fellow humans, well, that is giving in to the Machine. This is why YOU need to show up on October 6, 2011 and protest with the rest of us at Freedom Plaza in D.C.! This is why we need to spread the word and be very persuasive, enthusiastic, Optimistic. Give those burnt out and pessimistic potential activists the push they need to join in the Revolution! All of us can be leaders. All of us can be Revolutionaries.
In Solidarity,
Coco Pan.

As Mario Savio said in 1964:
 

  ...Those words have an even greater urgency today. We face ongoing wars and massive socio-economic and environmental destruction perpetrated by a corporate empire which is oppressing, occupying and exploiting the world. We are on a fast track to making the planet unlivable while the middle class and poor people of our country are undergoing the most wrenching and profound economic crisis in 80 years.

"Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. We will encourage a culture of resistance—using music, art, theater and direct nonviolent action—to take control of our country and our lives. It is about courageously resisting and stopping the corporate state from destroying not only our inherent rights and freedoms, but also our children’s chance to live, breathe clean air, drink pure water, grow edible natural food and live in peace. --from October2011.org's call to action.

Protesters will gather the morning of October 6 on Freedom Plaza, located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The plaza is named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his "I Have a Dream" speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. Demands of the protesters will include ending the illegal war in Afghanistan, ending corporate control over people and government, human rights, health care for all, economic justice, and the environment. Many believe that this will be the most massive protest in U.S. history to date.

Call to Action! OCTOBER 2011 America's Tahrir Square

I have been following the news of the uprisings in the Middle East very closely. I have also followed some of the news on Greece, and now especially Spain. All this has me feeling excited and engaged, but also wondering...where is America's "Tahrir Square"? I often have wondered whether americans will ever rise up...and I have often felt helpless, attending small rallies in small towns, wondering if we will ever be heard, or if anything would come of being heard. We are such an enormous country, and so spread out. Large protests can go by largely unnoticed. But they haven't always gone unnoticed, have they? I'd like to think that (although the racial oppression in this country is far from resolved) the March on Washington in 1963 meant something, even accomplished something. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech has inspired so many. I am hoping for more radical change than what came about after the 1963 march. So are many others. Which brings me to America's "Tahrir Square." An event is being planned. A concert, rally and protest will kick off a powerful and sustained nonviolent resistance to the corporate criminals that dominate our government.

Here is an excerpt of the call to action from October2011.org:
October 2011 is the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan and the beginning of the 2012 federal austerity budget. It is time to light the spark that sets off a true democratic, nonviolent transition to a world in which people are freed to create just and sustainable solutions.
We call on people of conscience and courage—all who seek peace, economic justice, human rights and a healthy environment—to join together in Washington, D.C., beginning on Oct. 6, 2011, in nonviolent resistance similar to the Arab Spring and the Midwest awakening...
..."Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. We will encourage a culture of resistance—using music, art, theater and direct nonviolent action—to take control of our country and our lives. It is about courageously resisting and stopping the corporate state from destroying not only our inherent rights and freedoms, but also our children’s chance to live, breathe clean air, drink pure water, grow edible natural food and live in peace.

So rise up!  Be a part of the movement! Gandhi said it, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Worried nobody will show up? Take in these numbers.
The first March on Washington was in 1894 by a group called Coxey's Army. A group of unemployed workers. They hopped trains and rode in wagons to D.C. to protest unemployment which was a result of the Panic of 1893. There were 6,000 people in Coxey's Army. There's a bit of fun history for you. More famously, 250,000 marched for on Washington for civil rights in 1963. 600,000 demonstrated against the war in Vietnam on Nov. 15, 1969. 260,000 protested the Reagan administration with a Solidarity March in 1981. In 1987, 500,000 people joined the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.1989: March for Women's Lives drew 500,000. An estimated 1,000,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation in 1993. In 2003, 200,000 protested the war in Iraq. 200,000 in the Equality March in 2009. 2010: Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, held by talk show hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert had 215,000 participants rallying for political change. So many more protests and marches I did not mention, or did not have numbers for. The point is, if a million people joined together to rally for LGBT Equal Rights, I think we can find AT LEAST that many people willing to rally for Peace and political change. The terrible economy, the political corruption, massive pollution, loved ones lost to wars we don't support, unemployment, lack of health care, homelessness, and our general slavery to a machine that is built to benefit only the extremely rich and powerful, well, that affects us all. I believe an uprising can work for the united states. Especially if people are willing to camp out, and stay in Freedom Square until we see a change happening. Just like in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, etcetera.

I know many supporters of Barak Obama. My question to them is this: If Obama stands for what you seem to think he stands for, if he can indeed be compared to Lincoln and MLK, then don't you think he would want us to have a People's Revolution?

Bin Laden-Dead? And the Wars Rage On.

I watched the news tonight.  I never watch the news but my coworker turned the TV on to hear about the supposed death of Osama bin Laden.  What is everyone celebrating?  A friend of mine commented, "It looks like a kegger outside of the White House."  First of all, I don't know that I believe this news.  Second of all, I still believe 9-11 was an inside job.  It's hard to dispute when you look at all the facts.  I'm not saying I think Osama bin Laden was a decent fellow, but was he trained by the U.S., put in power by the U.S.?  Of course this has been denied, but there is evidence that it was so!  Set aside conspiracy theories about bin Laden and the U.S. having a deal (you take the blame for 9-11 and we'll have a reason for war, which will gain us oil and ultimately power), or of Bin Laden being a CIA agent or a character created by the U.S. government (the latter which Fidel Castro and many others around the world have suggested--Fidel points out "Any time Bush would stir up fear and make a big speech, bin Laden would appear threatening people with a story about what he was going to do.").  Just take a look at this timeline composed of facts taken from reliable sources, mainly government sources and mainstream media (which are linked to the timeline for you to view).  Put it all together, and the story does not add up to what the U.S. government would like us to believe.  Regardless of what the truth is about Osama bin Laden, as U.S. military analyst Mark Kimmit said, "Capturing or killing bin Laden has more iconic value. It will have symbolic value, because it has been a number of years since bin Laden has exercised day to day control over operations. We still have an al-Qaeda threat out there and that will be there for a number of years."

Now let's talk about Timing!  What stories are we not hearing about now? That is what I ask every time there is a big story taking over the media.  It's hard to find.  Have you heard about all the people who have died in Libya while the U.S., British, and French governments are "trying to remove Gadhafi" ("An Unfortunate Accident"-NATO, of the casualties).  Here are some articles highlighting civilian deaths--Libyan Civilians Killed by U.S. Missile Strikes, U.S. Chopper Shoots 6 Libyan Civilians, Civilian Casualties Over 100, Drones Kill Civilians in Libya and Pakistan. And perhaps you heard that Gadhafi's youngest son and 3 grandsons were killed in an assassination attempt just yesterday?  What a convenient time to kill off Osama bin Laden!  Now they have Americans thinking "Success!" "Justice!"  And the Wars can rage on!  I appreciate that Obama stated and reiterated that the U.S. is not at war with Islam (here is the text of Obama's speech tonight)  However, I was sickened to hear Obama say that "Americans understand the costs of war".  Do we?  We aren't the ones being invaded and bombed.  Many of us understand what it is like to have friends and family members return from war a changed person, and some of us know what it is like to have lost a loved one to a war on foreign land.  But compared to what War looks like on that foreign land, we do NOT understand the costs of war!  Have you seen the wikileaks video of war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan?  You can see it on www.collateralmurder.com.  Try living in that world and then say you understand the costs of war.  I know I don't fully understand it because I have not lived it.
The people in Afghanistan do not want us there (and no wonder: 2010 Deadliest Year for Afghan Civilians, not to mention the Kill Team--warning:disturbing photos!). 
The people in Iraq do not want us there (and no wonder: www.iraqbodycount.org)
The people in Libya do not want us there.  (The Libyan People against al-Qaeda, US, France and England)

The people of Africa do not want the U.S. there!   As the International Action Center wrote, "Britain, France, and the U.S. possess the most destructive military machines on earth. Despite their internecine rivalries for plunder, despite the rejection of their plans by most African countries, despite the misgivings of their key NATO ally, Germany, they are at war."  African Redemption through Resistance (click this link!).  People, not drones and armies and bombs, can overcome Gadhafi.  If the U.S. had honest intentions to remove Gadhafi and help liberate the Libyan people, that would be another story.  But the U.S. has an obvious track record with these situations--and always has ulterior motives.  POWER.

On an even more controversial note, there are those who say that this is an information war against Libya, that reports of violence by Gadhafi against the Libyan people were "greatly exaggerated" www.newsfrommiddleeast.com
And some sources are saying that the people of Libya largely support Gadhafi.
Youtube: What You Don't Know About the Libyan Crisis
Facebook: The Truth About Libya
This is troubling!  What media can be trusted?!  There are people in Libya condemning al-Jazeera for their reports on Gadhafi's "genocide".  It seems to me that Gadhafi is a tyrant, a dictator, and has committed horrible acts against his people. However, I have read in several reports that the rebels the U.S. governement is supporting has links to al-Queda!  Shall we bring this back around to al-Queda/Osama, then?  Here are a couple articles about this: Libyan Rebel Commander Admits his Fighters have al-Qaeda Links, al-Qaeda May Already Be Among Libya's Rebels, Connections Between al-Qaeda and Libyan Rebels Run Deep, U.S. to use al-Queda as Allies in Libya.

There is another anti-government uprising that we have not been hearing very much about: Iraq!  It is the Least Reported Unarmed Revolution in the Middle East. And from this article, a great point is made:  There is real possibility that this change can come about without an armed people's revolution. It would behoove the international community to pay attention and to think now about how to join with them hand in hand in their struggle for justice and an end to oppression which is carried out in the ruling parties current domestic policies and backed by the western country's foreign policies. If we pay attention now, maybe our children and our grandchildren will not have to be faced with the decision to use military force to drive out yet another entrenched dictator where more killing will be one of the few tools left to stop killing.  

http://www.libyanpeopleneedhelp.com

Rant.

The Tunisians are uprising.
The Yemenis are uprising.
Now everybody is uprising.

Not the Americans, we’re all too busy.
Tear gas doesn't always make a success story, anyway.
"It take 7 people to flip a cop car!" How many people does it take to flip a government?

How do Americans live with themselves?
Denial. "Ignorance is bliss" is our country’s motto
Like it or not.

The movement we all look back to, up to, is the Civil Rights Movement.
How many people marched on Washington that day?
And elsewhere, how many people took to the streets? Boycotted the bus system?

It used to be called the Freedom Movement.
They killed it when they dubbed it the Civil Rights Movement.
That was all they were willing to give, and still it has not been given.

A penguin stands up and says "Where are all the fish?"
Is there a god who gives an answer?
Is it explained to the penguin that due to the careless and selfish nature of humankind, the world is getting too hot and the fish have had to move on to other waters...and still they wash up on foreign shores? Where is the Lorax?!

Well, there's this anarchist collective called the Lorax full of young drunk commies here in town...
"I ride bikes" says So-And-So defensively.
The penguin stares blankly and repeats, "Where are all the fish?"

"You know what I think," says I,
"Any of us who have ever driven a car or paid for rides in cars or buses should put our mouths around an exhaust pipe
And inhale deeply what the rest of the world should never have had to experience.”

I make excuses for driving because I feel guilty daily.
My main excuse being:
I have chosen to live this part of my life within society, against so many of my beliefs, because I need this stability to stay off the drugs!

Or do I?
I don't know but my family relies on me to get them places--to school, to stores, and I have to get to my 12 step meetings and well
Sometimes my knees just hurt!

A homeless man helped me fix my car today.
I thanked him, he didn't mind.
Perhaps he walked away feeling good about himself (such feelings are fleeting) but I rather doubt it stuck in his mind.

Of course it was significant.
Everything is significant.
Still, are most things not forgotten?

All good samaritans are homeless.
They are good samaritans because they are homeless.
Is that what it's gonna take for the average American to become good samaritans? for the average American to be homeless?

Blackbirds are falling from the sky.
Turtle Doves are flying too high to breath.
Who says this is not a sign? Don't be stupid!

How soon can we forget...
The government wants us to forget--
There are WARS to fund!

I don't have time for any of this,
It just goes through my mind while I am walking
To pick my daughter up from school.

If I limit my thoughts to three lines each
It still doesn't seem to control
The voracity of my anxious mind.

Back to MY present moment! Walking in the sunshine in Eugene, Oregon and it is so beautiful.
I want so badly to share this experience and I want so desperately to hold on to this moment
So I reach for my Android pocket phone...

And I...check facebook.
And I...look at pictures.
And I...check for texts.

And I have lost this moment.
I look up from my phone, recognizing the outrageousness of my reaction to serenity.
I say a quick little prayer, try to hang on to it.

I walk past a crossing guard who says hello to me.
I reply with an earnestness for sincerity
And for a fleeting moment I experience a feeling I felt as a child in the summertime but only during the "ah" part of "hi."

Still, I sense the eternity of that feeling
And feelings are eternal,
Good or bad.

Is my present moment any different from the crossing guard’s?
From the Tunisians, the Yemenis, the Egyptians?
The penguin?