4000 U.S. Dead -- Search FOR Peace

More demos -- Monday evening, I joined with the Grandmothers at Rockefeller Plaza to mourn the 4000 U.S. dead as well as all the Iraqi dead (and 5 million Iraqi children made orphans). I stood by Lillian who ended up holding my sign, the front page of The NY Daily News [with the Spitzer stuff cut off] when I went for my candle. Fine. I didn't need to hold both. And next to her was Arlene to whom I gave my extra large plastic cup to shield her candle from the wind. I didn't get the name of the woman on my right but her positive energy warmed me, too. I only got a demo photo as I was leaving -- but others noted we were there. And that is fine and the photo I got was poignant. This little one didn't get to be an orphan for long, if at all.



Tuesday night then I made it down late (after sending out a report) to Union Square for the UFPJ demo. My friend the Button Buddha a/k/a Ruth Klein reported that there were a couple of hundred people there. I got there just as they were winding down but stayed to speak to a few folks, one a 70 year old woman, another a 43 year old woman and all three of us saying, it isn't the country we knew as we were growing up. God forgive us, but America has lost our balance. America is Number One in war, in prisons, and in per capita energy usage. While we were standing there, Kathy Lawrence arrived even later than I -- she had been teaching. We connected and we reassured her that people had been there and some press had been there. Of course, it should have been more people and more press, but this is corporate America and it is hard to get our message out quickly as this demo demanded. But of course, demos are only one part of peace work. I spoke to one person on Saturday that peace isn't just for demos it is an everyday thing. We must become the peace we seek and go about our personal lives peacefully -- it has to be part of our every day routine, not just something for occasional demonstrations. Be kind and loving every day to those whose lives we touch, contributing therefore to peace.

I wear peace on my sleeve, or perhaps more graphically on my chest, thanks to Ruth's buttons. We decided to leave together and catch up. She had some great stories to tell about reuniting with some old Girl Scout buddies. (They are planning a summer reunion in the Bear Mountain New York area where their old Girl Scout camp had been. Some thirty women hope to attend!!) We ended up at Tasty Thai in Sunnyside and shared more stories and positive energy, contributing to peace, too, no doubt. She drove me home and I gifted her with some Girl Scout cookies. Ruth in turn gave me a belated birthday gift of some great buttons. I didn't tell her this, but just the other day I was wondering if I could find an old Girl Scout badge sash somewhere to make button-wearing easier for demo days. Still, I will have to take turns wearing them and some of her other truly awesome buttons. To get these or arrange to buy other terrific ones, write Ruth as buttonbuddha (at) gmail.com. [Double click it to enlarge the picture.]

Ruth's Gift

In the meantime, please contact the White House comment line (202-456-1111) and your Congressmembers (202-224-3121) to demand "No war on Iran!". I called today (politely) after hearing Thom Hartmann speaking that it had been reported in Germany and in Saudia Arabia that the Saudis were preparing for protecting people from nuclear radiation, this immediately after Dick Cheney left there. Darth Cheney is up to no good. No wonder that my two demo friends this evening voiced what I was feeling about our country. We want our country back! (I am sure they noted that Kathy Lawrence had aptly been wearing a Bush is a War Criminal pin -- she told me that someone had called HER a traitor for wearing it. This, when BUSH is the war criminal AND traitor!)

It was a day of work, a day of activism, a day of fellowship, a day of balance. I seek to be the change I wish to see in the world. I seek balance and love and justice for one and all. With God's help (or whatever YOU want to call God), I will succeed. Join me in doing what you can. Please call, act, be -- let's live peacefully and give peace to each other. We can and must create a better world.

Thank you for whatever you do for peace and justice. (And I will be posting more pix soon at my Flickr.com page.)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Five Years Too Many

Sarah and Sam
New York City saw a number of events this past week around the five years of Iraq occupation and NON-peace. It is not really a war -- Saddam Hussein is long gone, just U.S. occupation and empire and the resulting insurgency at the cost of about 4000 official (coming up) U.S. lives and at least a hundred thousand Iraqis (more, no doubt). Wednesday found me working at my paid job and then faced with a deluge when I could leave, so I saved my overt activism for Saturday's River to River - Hands Across 14th Street event, sponsored by United for Peace and Justice. The weather cooperated, indeed we were blessed. Amidst the crowd I found a number of my NYFOR friends. Howard Pflanzer joined the theatre contingent but Sam Oast stood with me and a number of great folks by University Place, including Sarah Growell from Peace Action New York's Staten Island group. Especially considering it was Easter Saturday, it was a good turnout. (Of course the pillow fight in Union Square afterwards -- a much better way to fight, rather than with bullets -- also had a good turnout.) The message of the day was bring 'em home from Iraq and keep them out of Iran -- spend money for life-giving projects, NOT life-taking war and occupation.

Rallying: US OUT!

The short concluding rally featured singer Holly Near -- still amazing after all these years. The playing of Taps was especially poignant as we approach 4000 confirmed U.S. deaths. I will be posting some pictures from the day on Flickr as time to upload is found. In the meantime, here are a several.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

More Celebrating

Kate Anne, Joan, Jane
One has to take time out to celebrate life, and I did more celebrating on a second night, thanks to my friends Joan Pagan and Jane Levy. This time I went to one of New York City's best Italian restaurants located at 21-76 31st Street in Astoria, Queens: Trattoria L'Incontro. I've posted birthday photos on Flickr.com. And yes, we talked politics, too.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne


Birthday flowers

Happy Birthday!

Krista and Mom Kat
I just had a grand evening with my adopted daughter Krista Zarakis, my daughter Kat's best friend. After Krista gave me this beautiful bouquet of flowers and took me to Blossom, this great vegan restaurant at 187 Ninth Avenue, New York City, we stopped at my work place to pick up some flowers from MDB. Franklin took a picture of us which I posted to Quick TAKES and Tasty Tidbits and sent to my kids in Cleveland. Kat and her brother Michael Dylan then sent me THEIR photo, which I also posted to Quick TAKES. I will be posting some more to my Flickr.com site, along with some others from the recent St. Patrick's parade. Check it out soon.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

P.S. Waiting on our table at Blossom was the terrific and attentative Kinga, who was moonlighting from her personal trainer day job. I've posted a picture of her and Krista as well other birthday photos.


Krista took this of ME

Spitzer's Ousting Adds Fuel to Impeachment

How refreshing to hear Republicans talking impeachment! How like them, however, to want to impeach someone guilty of illicit sex rather than those guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors! Matthew 7:3 comes to mind: "Why seest thou a mote in thy brother's eye, and perceivest not the beam that is in thine?" [Modern: "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"] I am SO furious, thus causing me to join more fervently in the efforts to impeach the son of a Bush -- and Cheney too, as per Democrats.com's email requesting impeachment petition signatures, which had me typing THIS add-on message to my Senators and Congressmember:

The Republicans wanted to impeach Gov. Spitzer because of sexual peccadillos, thus forcing his resignation, even as they ignore the many sins of Bush and Cheney who are sooooo guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors. Why do we allow this corrupt administration to do more and more harm to our country, even as they attack strong Democratic leaders and destroy the rule of law? I do not care whether or not you succeed in getting a conviction, go for the impeachment, just like they did for Eliot Spitzer. And if you haven't already read their game plan, read Naomi Wolf's book, The END of AMERICA -- Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot.

The time has come, ENOUGH, impeach them!!!

Join me in signing the petition, which elaborates the crimes list that Democrats.com posted in their email:

"16 months ago, we posted a petition listing 10 High Crimes which justified their impeachment:
(1) Starting a "war of aggression" (2) torture (3) arbitrary detention (4) war crimes (5) warrantless wiretapping (6) signing statements (7) election fraud (8) outing a covert CIA operative (9) the "unitary executive" (10) gross negligence for Katrina and global warming."

In his show last night, Richard Greene of Air America Radio's CLOUT, added more to the Bush crime list, paraphrased here, including: 11) war profiteering; 12) Fraud -- 950-something lies to get us into an illegal war where thousands died; 13) Conspiracy to commit a felony; 14) Violation of the Felony Murder rule -- numerous felonies to get us into Iraq and over 4000 of our soldiers have died there plus hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; 14) Criminal negligence about 9-11 (at the very least); 15) Treason; 16) Destruction of the reputation of the United States of America and the gutting of our economy via their policies and huge deficits; 17) Violation of their oath to defend the Constitution of the United States -- They are wrecking separation of powers via signing statements and federal attorney scandal; 18) Lying -- they won't go under oath so they can't commit perjury; 19) Theft of God knows how many elections; 20) Violations of environmental laws all over the country....

Oh my God, help us and forgive us for not doing more sooner. They believe in the Bible? Please, let us give back to the Republicans in kind: "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." They wanted impeachment, let's give them impeachment.


FOLLOW-UP -- Let's call our congressional representatives and Rep. John Conyers and his committee, too: 202 224 3121.

There is so much to do for peace and justice, but surely impeachment should be one of those things. No justice, no peace. Know justice, know peace.....

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Healthcare NOT Warfare

PDA -- Progressive Democrats of America -- gave me a good reason to remove my mourned John Edwards for President blog button:

Healthcare NOT Warfare -- Sign the petition! And I'm going to dig out my similar healthcare pin from Button Buddha Ruth Klein and start pushing this issue. This country can't afford both endless war and good affordable healthcare for all. Which is more humane and life-preserving? Well, dah! We know what the war machine wants, but we know what We the People want and NEED. SO......We have to push the Dems to get off their duffs and move on ending the occupation and the war on a noun (and any future illegal invasions) and choose LIFE. This petition will be presented to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, DNC Chair Howard Dean and our Congresscritters before the Denver convention.

Healthcare NOT Warfare, Sign the Petition

As Martin Luther King Jr. observed forty years ago, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." While the insurance and pharmaceutical industries post huge profits, the U.S. health care crisis grows steadily worse.

Today, nearly one in six Americans has no health insurance. Tens of millions of others are woefully under-insured. Meanwhile the war in Iraq drains our resources and overburdens our budget. Our government’s duty is to protect us—security begins with our health and well-being at home. In 2008, we have an historic opportunity to turn from warfare to health care for all.

We call on the Democratic Party at all levels—in party platforms and resolutions—to commit to redirecting wasteful and unnecessary military spending to meet human needs. This commitment must start with comprehensive, guaranteed health care—driven by the needs of patients and the judgment of doctors. We call on Democrats to support a plan that eliminates any financial barriers between the patient and healthcare providers, resulting in a patient not receiving medically necessary care.

We call on members of Congress to bring the troops home from Iraq and to pass H.R. 676, Rep. John Conyers' bill which guarantees comprehensive publicly-funded, privately-delivered health care for everyone in the U.S. Go to Signing Site

If you believe like I do that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, please join me in signing the petition. Thanks for whatever you can do for real peace and true justice.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Today - The Black or the White Twin?

Little Super Tuesday and I still haven't removed my John Edwards campaign button from this blog -- I so miss his more populist message. Meanwhile, DLC leader Hillary Clinton and "I'm not a member of the DLC -- why did they list me?" Barack Obama spout words of populism even as they accept corporate dollars via lobbyists and/or big spenders. Yeah, I voted for Obama, in the hope that he will rise to the level of his recent message. (After all, I allowed John Edwards growth and reconciliation.) But then I listened to the Black Agenda Report's Glen Ford being interviewed by WILL Radio's Media Matters' host Bob McChesney and I have real concerns. Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum. The Black or the White Twin. Listen to the February 24, 2008 show and see what YOU think. (Let me know below or via yahoo email to kateanne7.)

One thing for sure, either is better than any Republican who would most certainly finish wrecking the Supreme Court -- let alone allow Bush in essence a third term of lies, illegal wars, torture, spying, signing statements, political corruption, and other miscellaneous evil. Which reminds me, yesterday Thom Hartmann gave me the idea for a political button for Button Buddha Ruth Klein to create: National Exorcism Day Nov. 4, 2008. Vote Democratic. That said, we gotta get on Obama for talking nuclear power (too expensive, too unsecure, too unsafe) and there is no such thing as clean coal. Hope. Ah, Johnny -- the corporate media did you in and now all I can say is may the better twin win.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne