War is a Racket - Veterans Day, EVERY Day

War is a racket, possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. ~ Major General Smedley Butler 1935

John Fugelsang posted the above today, the expanded "War is a racket" quotation -- for Veterans Day and true EVERY DAY. Remember it: War is a racket.

I posted this over at QuickTakes.org, too: Worth reminding people again and again.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

The Human Costs of War: A tribute to the Winter Soldier

Produced by Chapter 39 Veterans for Peace [Cleveland & NE Ohio], this is powerful, graphic and eye-opening. Think of it before voting for anyone talking about a war on Iran. It closes with some potent thoughts:

"If there is a sin superior to every other, it is that of willful and offensive war."
~ Thomas Paine, American Patriot

"War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong: and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses."
~ Thomas Jefferson

"He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of Hell, and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death."
~ Thomas Paine

May the innocent find peace...
May the dead find grace...
May the wounded find healing & comfort....
May the homeless find shelter...
May justice find the guilty...
May America find salvation and forgiveness

Open Letter to Zynga

Internet Game company Zynga is dropping the classic Word Twist game from Facebook and my friends and I are very unhappy. As you know I don't take certain things quietly. Must speak up. I sent them this letter via the Word Twist application but now I am posting it here.

Dear Zynga

I am sorry to hear that you are killing Word Twist -- it has been simple in its interface, educational (you provided the definitions!!!), competitive (my certain circle love playing each other), mind-sharpening and FUN! It has been a quick and better version of the comic strip jumble game and we hate to see it go. Thanks for a lot of fun -- and I wish you would reconsider your decision. I don't see myself playing the other games -- they aren't Word Twist. (And my one circle member didn't enjoy your Scrabble variant [Words with Friend] which doesn't move me to trying it, even tho Alec Baldwin likes it. He's not in my Circle.)

Again, thanks. Sorry you are killing such a good game, but it has been a joy and I am grateful for that. Guess I will have less time for fun and more time for saving the world with my peace and justice activities.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

No US Military Deaths in Iraq in August

For the first time since the Iraq invasion (March 2003), there were no reported US Military deaths in Iraq. This is good news indeed but the Yin to this Yang is what the Daily Beast noted: August was the deadliest month for US deaths in Afghanistan.

There is much to do to bring peace to our planet. Have had several contacts from people interested in New York Fellowship of Reconciliation. Time to regather. Hope your summer was reviving and that you can join us in doing more peace and justice work. If you are in the NYC area, please be in touch.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Happy Birthday, Sam

Longtime peace and justice activist Sam Oast celebrated his birthday with a return trip to Union Square and dinner at Heartland Brewery. Sam recounted memories of summers past and dear friend Betty Lou Hornick was remembered. (Sam and Betty Lou were mainstays at a Saturday peace vigil at Union Square for years!) Sam still volunteers time at a homeless shelter, gets to the Catholic Worker for various events, attends various NYC demos, is a member of a book club,

and maintains a lovely rooftop garden. Happy birthday, Sam. Glad I could join you for the day!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Kudos, Rep. Crowley - Speechless

Hats off, to our Queens Representative Joe Crowley for his extremely short but impactful speechless statement on the House floor

The video begins with a distance shot:

Last Fall the American People
Gave us our Marching Orders
Jobs Jobs Jobs ....

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

DFNYC Spring Celebration with Howard Dean

Gov. Dean and Kate Anne
(and Lewis H. Cohen)

Democracy for New York City had a fun spring celebration at SideBar, East 15th and Irving Place, with special guests Governor Howard Dean and Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean. I actually had a brief and pleasant chat with Gov. Dean and was pleased to see that he is both charming and genuine. I took some photos and a short video which will be posted on line but such spirit encourages one to continue to stand up and speak out and I am flying high.

My friend Joan DeCamp had a few minutes with Jim Dean and we compared stories as we took the #7 train home to Queens. It is great when our political work pays such dividends.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Joan DeCamp and Jim Dean