The "One Year" Rule

I've made a decision I call the One Year Rule. It goes like this... If you write something for someone, and they haven't used it for one year, you may post it on your blog. In August 2011, I was asked to write the advise I would give to an autistic young adult who was moving from an urban (city) setting to a rural (country) setting. I did what I was asked, and to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't been used to date. So I'm posting it here. The title of my writing is...

*****

Beyond The Obvious

For all your own good reasons, you've chosen to live in rural America, where getting your needs met may be more difficult than in the city. There's no reason to panic if you or someone who knows you is able to see "beyond the obvious." Always remember it's not you or your disability that makes life tricky, it's a world that has long neglected the idea of including EVERYONE as an equal opportunity participant in the community. Throughout history people with disabilities have been looked upon as second class citizens. Though things have slowly improved, I believe we still have a long way to go.

Of course, you'll want to be tied into some real advocacy in your new environment. There are agencies and individuals who are well paid to be there for you, but this can be very challenging. Many people who claim to be disability advocates, really are not. They may simply see you as part of their job. Look for passion! Look for people who understand the disability racket, and have experience in taking on the status quo. Just because someone holds some sort of title, doesn't mean they have YOUR best interests at heart. You don't want to learn this lesson the hard way, so always make sure you know the person(s), and their intentions going in. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS. If you do this thoroughly, and take this task seriously, you'll be much better off in the long run.

What's really important is fully understanding how important it is to educate people on how your disability can be their reward. Many people have an inner need to feel like they're making a positive effect in the world. These are the same people who find reward in doing things that help their neighbors. This is not about pity, it's about ALLOWING people to be as great as they can be. Refusing people the opportunity to be helpful, is no different than people refusing you the opportunity to participate. Live and let live.

 

It's equally important that you realize many people are fearful of stepping away from the comfort of familiarity, especially familiar individuals. When they have someone they can talk to who experienced the same situation that they did, it makes them that much more comfortable. Not being able to do so causes folks to wonder if they did or said the right thing. If they lose enough of their self-confidence, they will likely retreat, and you will lose whatever support you were getting from them. If they have someone to talk to they are more likely to feel reassured, and less likely to retreat. This is a good reason to believe there's "strength in numbers." There's nothing like a "team" effort.

 

I'd like to tell you about a short documentary I watched recently. The title is "Picking up Butch." It deals with a man in his 60s who has cerebral palsy. He lives in the relatively small town of Middlebury Vermont, population, 8000. Because he is physically compromised, he uses a wheel chair. His arms and hands also contribute to his personal challenges. He grew up in Middlebury, where he became a big fan of the University's football and basketball programs, as well as the college and students themselves. Getting to the games was a major difficulty for him as a child. Now, at 63 and living in a nursing home it would be even more difficult for him, except for one thing. Butch has earned the love and respect of the entire student body!

 

Where he lives is what he calls a "boring" place. Most of the other residents are in their 70s and 80s. What's most important to Butch is getting to the games, and hanging out with the younger students. As the title of the film suggests, each home game day, students come to the nursing home, pick him up, and take him to the games themselves. It's a tradition that has held for 50 years. Somehow the information about Butch, his physical needs, his mild fear of being in a van, and his love for what happens at the school have been passed down from class to class over the years. He is totally a crowd favorite, almost like he's on the team himself. Everybody knows Butch! It's all about the relationships he's established in the past 50 years with people who want to do good things. It's not only about sports either. He's gotten his equivalency diploma with the assistance and tutoring of a non-athlete. Butch is not any kind of mascot, he is accepted as having a seat with everyone else.

 

I guess the story of Butch and how he and his disability have enriched the lives of so many others is not only inspiring, but shows me that with some "beyond the obvious" thinking you can thrive, living in a rural area. Some strategies that come to mind involve getting out in the community where people begin to recognize you. Smaller communities make it easier for people to become familiar with you, and as I said earlier, familiarity brings about comfort.

 

Look for a college! There's usually some kind of formal adult education happening in every part of the country. Check out the fire department! It's always a good idea to let them know when you move into a new community, especially if you have physical challenges. Who knows? Maybe you'll find a new friend there. If you're comfortable, visit a church! A cafe! Wherever you can feel relaxed and be yourself. If you can, introduce yourself to people. If that's something you're unable to do, have someone with you who can, and is comfortable in doing so. My thinking is that if you are out in the sticks, you're going to need to rattle some branches in order to be noticed. Share (with those who seem interested) what sort of support you need. You don't need to ask them to provide the support, but it's fine to discuss your needs with others, if you're comfortable doing it.

 

Generally speaking, people who live in the country (as opposed to city) are a more open and friendly people. Once they feel comfortable with you, they'd likely give you the shirt off their back. You're also likely to be near something not usually found in the city. Farms where they have horses. Not all people like horses, but many do. Developing a personal relationship with a horse and their owner could give you many hours of satisfaction, while being therapeutic at the same time. Rural areas also are less stressful. The sounds and smells, are much more relaxing than the sounds and smells of the city. If you are a bit of a high strung individual, just being in nature can often help you feel relaxed. Your biggest issue will be in figuring out how to get around. There's often lots of miles in between places you may want to go.

 

Transportation in rural places can often be sparse. Developing relationships can be very helpful in this area. At the risk of sounding redundant, I'll say it again. It's all about the relationships when you live in a rural area. You really do need to depend on community! So does everyone else who lives near you. It's a different lifestyle and you, along with the people who support you, need to keep that in the forefront of your mind. Reaching out to another human is good for you AND them. It's a win/win situation.

 

If you can tell people your story, they'll likely take an interest in you and probably want to spend more time getting to know you on a deeper level. That is why I feel so strongly about making YOURSELF a valued part of the community. Overcoming injustice and/or intolerance can be a full time job. If you don't do it, who will?

 

Another option is starting something up yourself, and inviting others to participate. If you need help in accomplishing this, ask for it! Look for peers with and without disabilities, and become friends with them. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised to discover they have similar needs or wants as you. It's about being "out there", participating in your own life. You may also discover that there is grant money available to get something going. You'll never know unless you ask.

 

At this point I feel it's important to let you know a very important fact... You Are Not Alone!! If you're choosing to live alone, it's critical that you don't isolate at home. Many people choose to live in rural areas for several reasons. Whatever yours may be, always remember that isolating yourself leads to loneliness, self-doubt, and ultimately depression. It may be difficult doing some of the strategies I'm suggesting here, but in the long run, you'll find success if you just keep on trying. I'm aware that all I'm writing may be a bit overwhelming to you, but it's going to take some work to make things come together.

 

Here's another key thought for you... Disability Rights are, in fact, Civil Rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act is something you'll want to hang on to, living rurally. In fact, if you're someone who likes to read, you may want to study the ADA and the Olmstead Decision. These documents can be both useful and important in your life. There may come a time where you'll need to have some legal assistance as you work to create the life you want. I say this because you need to protect your rights. Before you resort to the ADA for solutions, it's a good idea to see if you can work things out through a civil conversation with whoever may be holding you back. They may be unaware that they're stepping on your right(s), and sometimes a chat can take care of things. If that doesn't work, you may want to seek legal advice. You might want to avoid being characterized as a malcontent or lawsuit happy by trying to deal with problems outside the courtroom if possible.

 

Speaking of reading, the library can be a good free resource for you. You'll find a wealth of information while making yourself visible to other folks in your community. Libraries can serve for both serious studying and recreation. They are generally quiet places, so you'll find a peaceful environment when you go there. In addition to the traditional books, libraries often lend out DVD's, have internet access, computer games, and magazines. You'll also probably come into contact with a community bulletin board, which will give you ideas of other things you can do where you live. A good library can be like a good friend!

 

If you're able to work, you just might make some friends while bringing some cash into your life. Find out what sort of job assistance you are eligible for. Often times you can find a "job developer" to help you find a job, and the state might pay for this service. If you have trouble doing the work at first a "job coach" may be just what you need. They teach you the job and help you work on becoming independent in the workplace. Living in the country, job opportunities will probably be somewhat limited, so be sure to set your sights realistically. You can often grow into liking a job that you dislike initially.

 

So now you have my ideas about what you can do to thrive in a rural area. There may even be more, but this should be a good starting point. Just remember to always use your imagination and to try to think (and see) "beyond the obvious." Become acquainted with the people around you. You'll do just fine!

Never Take "NO" for an answer!

When my autistic nephew came to live with us he was sixteen. Admittedly, we placed some serious expectations on him, and he responded well. When he reached twenty one, he decided enough was enough, and let us know he wanted to move. At first I was worried for him, having heard and /or experienced what challenges he would face, but decided he was now capable of taking care of himself with some support. I spoke with his case manager, who suggested we begin visiting some group homes she would refer us to.

These places were bad! In one setting they wanted to have him share a room with a guy who was in his 60's, blind, non-verbal, and developmentally disabled. They were serious! I couldn't believe it! Talk about the odd couple. They actually proposed a 21 year old guy, with speaking issues, who does jigsaw puzzles on the floor, would be compatible with someone who can't see, and never speaks, and is three times his age. Needless to say, we declined.

We checked out a few others before trying out a foster home. Bingo! We found a place where there were 4 other guys in their 20's, some working in the community, in a nice big home! Joseph loved the place, and within a month he decided he wanted to live there. There was one problem. His case manager said the house was set up to receive people in crisis, who would stay there until their crisis was over. I spoke with the managers who said she was right, but they would change the policy so that he could move in. Because they get a large payment from the county, the case manager had a lot of control over the house, and said she wouldn't allow them to do that. Guess her thinking was if you do this sort of thing for one person, you've set a precedent to have to do it again in the future.

Now I was angry! To keep her life/job simple, she was going to deny someone the right to live where they choose... WITH the blessing of the people who run the home! On the phone I told her Joseph would in fact, end up living there, and she hung up on me. What I did next caused my statement to come true. I collected 35 letters from people who knew my nephew, saying he should get to live where he wants. These people were from many walks of life, including family, teachers, skill trainers, past case managers, and familiar community members. I was pretty overwhelmed with some of THEIR passion to see this happen. I faxed the letters to her one at a time, with 5 minutes between each. I figured that would get her attention. After the last one was sent I called her again. This time I told her if she didn't agree, I would take the story to the media. She hung up on me again!

A few days later I got a call from the managers of the foster home, telling me Joseph could stay there! The county was changing the home to a non crisis home. And... Joseph had a new case manager!

On the "R" Word

 

As I've mentioned many times before, that although my life is not without struggle and challenges, I still consider myself to be wealthy! One of the main reasons behind that belief is my fabulous wife Suzanne. One of her greatest gifts is as a thinker who can write extremely well. The following is something she wrote recently, that I just HAVE TO post...

That word, the "R word" -- "retarded" -- is loaded. It's personally experienced as hurtful, demeaning and oppressive. It is tossed around carelessly everywhere, on social media, the train, in our schools, on television and in movies. And every time it happens it pushes a button that restarts those feelings of inferiority, mockery, exclusion and fear.

A whole class of people with developmental and learning disabilities and their parents (including me) and friends have explicitly asked that the rest of the community stop using this slur. The request to stop using it has been made -- politely, politically, through campaigns such as Spread the Word to End the Word http://www.r-word.org/. Yet, its use is increasing in popular culture rather than declining, which sounds an alarm. Its constant, careless use sustains dominance and the resulting privilege at the expense of others who live a different experience, deemed by the culture as forever undesirable and invisible.

It's important for those of us working on ending injustice to be thoughtful about the power of language in shaping the cultural norms that ultimately drive social policy and behavior of individuals. We're all part of shaping of culture, and for demanding and creating a society that honors and protects all of us from oppression and exploitation -- even from eugenic targeting. During a time when we clearly see a rise in fascism happening, it's good to remember that fascists rely on each of us to signal for them which among us are most commonly excluded and held in low esteem by the general population -- and therefore, the most vulnerable to eugenic programs. Exactly what happened in Germany.

Yes, I'm all for free speech and have no desire to dictate, or have anyone else dictate what we shall be allowed to express. That would be just like the racists and fascists I oppose. But, this is much more important than being "politically correct." In fact, I believe that those of us who place a strong focus on language as one tool in shaping the course of events are commonly derided and dismissed as "politically correct" in order to keep fascism and its adherents on their historical course of oppression and elimination of the weakest among us.

My pledge: I am aware that the socialization of my white, heterosexual, educated and temporarily-abled mind and body has covered my eyes and ears with a veil that presents the world to me in a way that sustains oppression. I will read and listen intentionally to understand biases that I may not hold myself, in order to see more clearly. I seek the voice raised that is different from mine. I will strive to use my intellect and abilities with communication to promote peace and to uplift all of humanity. My purpose is to help people develop critical consciousness about themselves and the culture in which they live, a consciousness that also serves to actively confront all forms of oppression.

http://www.lovethatmax.com/2011/03/if-you-ask-people-to-not-use-word.html

The Real Enemy of the State

I've come to the conclusion that the biggest "enemy of the state" today is the American Legislative Exchange Council, otherwise known as ALEC. These people are truly BAD NEWS to the people of America, and ultimately the world. They are behind almost every scheme and shady deal going on in 2012. I hope that shedding some light on them will be helpful to my readers.

Since 1975, ALEC has been working overtime to create the corruption we see in state government. They claim that they are the largest “membership association of state legislators,” when the truth is that over 98% of their revenue comes from sources other than legislative dues, mainly from corporations and corporate foundations. Lying is not beyond the scope of what these people believe to be important. And do you wonder who it was that pushed through the idea that "corporations are people"? That idea is now, LAW!

They have members in the legislatures of all 50 states. In fact, in my state there are at least 19 Representatives and 3 Senators who contribute to, or benefit from ALEC's secretive ways.
The Reps. are:

Rep. Katerina Brewer (R-29), Rep. Jason Conger (R-54), Rep. Sal Esquivel (R-6), Rep. Tim Freeman (R-2), Rep. Bruce Hanna, Rep. Wally Hicks (R-3), Rep. John Huffman (R-59), Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Rep. Bill Kennemer (R-39), Rep. Shawn Lindsay (R-30), Rep. Michael R. McLane (R-55), Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point), Rep. Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio), Rep. Kim Thatcher (R-25), Rep. Jim Thompson (R-Dallas), Rep. Matthew Wand (R-49), Rep. Matt Wingard (R-26),

and Rep.Gene Whisnet (R53). Representative Whisnet has the (dubious) distinction of being ALEC's "Legislator of the Year" in 2011!

The Senators who cozy up to ALEC are:

Sen. Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day), Sen. Larry George (R-Sherwood), and Sen. Fred Girod (R-Stayton). Although I'm a little bit out of touch with the Oregon State Legislature these days, several of the names listed here are all too familiar to me.

Nothing wrong with that, right? AL claims to be a membership club for legislators! But....some of the CORPORATIONS who have ties with AL include Anheuser-Busch, AOL, Amazon.com, Bank of America, American Express, Bayer Corporation, and Best Buy. The list goes on ad-nauseum! Sound like a  “membership association of state legislators” to you? Me either.

Some of AL's activities include promoting the use of Atrazine (a weed killer that has caused serious health problems for the people who have come in contact with it), promoting the break up of the Wisconsin Protests last fall, protecting corporations who produce sewage sludge, which is "the growing and continuous mountain of hazardous waste produced daily by wastewater treatment plants.", and spending MILLIONS on the upcoming elections to keep Republicans in office. A-L-L  D-O-N-E  I-N  S-E-C-R-E-T!!

I could (and will) go on more about ALEC in the future, but I just wanted to show you what The People are up against right now!

 

Jury Duty

I understand that it's my duty

To sit in hard chairs on my tender booty

Waiting until my name is called

To enter a court room down the hall

Where I would listen to testimony

Guilt or innocent, real or phoney

To hear the story and see the gun

That murdered the unlucky one.

But I always feel like it's me in jail

Sentenced to the Jury Room without bail

Sitting around there, doing my time

Although I never committed a crime

Well, four strikes I'm done, they wore me out

No longer to sit in this room of doubt

Lock my ass up or better yet, shoot me

I've served my time in Jury Duty!!

It's Not an Anniversary! It's a Birthday!

Happy Birthday OWS! It took off one year ago today. All the grumblings and disgust came to a head in New York City! We (though I wasn't there, I consider myself part of the movement) took to the streets, and went from grumbling to roaring. It was beautiful!

No longer will we be satisfied to watch the raping of America by the elites! This is the country of the common man, not the few who call the shots. Change IS coming. Not the kind of wishy-washy change we've seen in the past 4 years, but REAL change, where even the least of us can be leaders, and we All have a voice!

There is little room for the optimist in this movement. By that I mean those who sit idly by, telling themselves "It will all turn out alright. Me and mine have ours." Nor is there much of a place for the pessimist who says "You'll never get anywhere. It's too late." What we have instead are people who are realists. Those willing to stand up and ask "If not now, then when?" And at the same time answer "With each of us, we can!"

We make no apologies for caring for our fellow man. We make no excuses for the words we use in this struggle. You can't evict an idea whose time has come! We will never stop until justice is served, and ALL people are treated with dignity!

So Happy Birthday Occupy Wall Street! WE ARE THE 99%!!

What the Census Says About Disability

I created and began writing on this blog over 5 years ago. I saw the need to shine more light on the challenges and discrimination faced by people with disabilities, primarily in America, but in other countries as well. It's given me a lot of purpose, and I LOVE using it when I have other ideas too.

Well, here it is, Labor Day 2012. I think today is an appropriate time for me to share some important information on disability that I found in the US Census of 2010 this morning. Perhaps you'll be able to see (as I have) how much danger lies around the corner for this underserved segment of our population, and at least begin to talk about it! Of course it has direct ties to disability, and I hope the reader (you) will gain some insight into "The Numbers".

Population Distribution...
57 million people with a disability were living in the United States in 2010. They represent 19% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

By age...
•8 percent of children under 15 have disabilities.
•21 percent of people 15 and older have disabilities.
•17 percent of people 21 to 64 have disabilities.
•50 percent of adults 65 and older have disabilities.

By gender... 
•Females with a disability, 20%, compared with 17% of males. (When adjusted for the aging of the population, the disability rate was 18 percent for both males and females).

Specific Disabilities...
•8 million... Number of people 15 and older who have a hearing difficulty.
•Among people 65 and older, 4 million have difficulty hearing.
•8 million... Number of people 15 and older with a vision difficulty.
•31 million... Number of people 15 and older who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
•4 million... Number of people who used a wheelchair to assist with mobility. This compares with 12 million people who used a cane, crutches or walker.

On the Job...
•41%... Percentage of people 21 to 64 with a disability who were employed.
•28%... Percentage of people 21 to 64 with severe disabilities who were employed. This compares with 71% of individuals with nonsevere disabilities who were employed.

Income and Poverty...
•$1,961... Median monthly earnings for people 21 to 64 with a disability, compared with $2,724 for those with no disability.
•$1,577... Median monthly earnings for people 21 to 64 with severe disabilities, while those with nonsevere disabilities had median monthly earnings of $2,402.
•$2,838... Median monthly earnings for people 21 to 64 with disabilities associated only with communication, including blindness or difficulty seeing, deafness or difficulty hearing, and difficulty having speech understood.
•29%... Percentage of people 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who were in poverty, while 18% with nonsevere disabilities were in poverty.

Program Participation...
•59%... Percentage of people 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who receive public assistance.
•33% receive social security benefits. This compares with 9% of adults 15 to 64 with nonsevere disabilities that receive Social Security benefits.
•28%... Percentage of adults with severe disabilities who receive food stamp benefits, compared with 8 percent for those with no disability.
•11%... Percentage of people 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who receive public housing assistance. This compares with 9 percent of people 65 and older with severe disabilities.

Health Insurance...
•48%... Percentage of adults 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who receive government health coverage.
•40%... Percentage of adults 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who have private health insurance coverage.
•23%... Percentage of people with severe disabilities who receive Medicare coverage.
•35%... Percentage of people 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who receive Medicaid, while 9 percent have dual coverage, receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
•21%... Percentage of people 15 to 64 with severe disabilities who were uninsured, not statistically different from the 21% of those with nonsevere disabilities.

Six Feet of Water in the Streets of Evangeline

I wrote about the fate of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina on this blog 5 years ago. At the time I was thinking that the people of New Orleans (and the rest of the Gulf Coast) were all but abandoned by the U.S. Government in their greatest time of need. Is it any different today? 7 years down the road?? At least 1,836 people died in the storm.

I’ve been bouncing back and forth between sadness and anger this morning; the upcoming 7 year anniversary of Katrina devouring the Gulf Coast. New Orleans was my favorite city in the world. I’m sad and angry because that great city and her people (mostly low income black folks) continue to go largely unattended to by the US Government in the 7 years since. Was Kanye West inaccurate when he proclaimed; “President Bush doesn’t care about black people”? I’d have to say he hit the nail on the head when looking at what the Bush administration has done to put that city back together again. The Obama administration continues the unspoken policy.

Did you ever have a chance to visit New Orleans prior to its’ destruction? I went there twice when I was in my roaring twenties. Mardi gras remains as the greatest memory I have of partying in my entire life. But it isn’t just the revelry that has stayed with me since my visits way back when, it’s all that the Big Easy was!

Po Boy sandwiches, Dixie Land Jazz, Mark Twain, the Muddy Mississip, the street cars, the Doobie Brothers, Buster Holmes’ (red beans and rice), Louis Armstrong, voodoo, coffee with chicory, the Times Picayune, the old Southern homes with their tall ceilings, the Neville Brothers, grits, the list goes on and on. Who’d have thought it could all be wiped out by a storm?

When Randy Newman penned the lyrics to “Louisiana 1927” in 1974, I don’t think he was envisioning what would happen some 30 years down the road. What really gets me is that as far back as 1926 (the Mississippi overflowed its’ banks the year before the Big Flood) it was known that the city would eventually flood beyond repair... it was just a question of when. I’ve pasted those lyrics below, in honor of this sad date in US history. I'm also including a link to Randy Newman's touching song here.


“What has happened down here is the wind has changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has
done
To this poor crackers land."

Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away"

I AM a Rich Man!

I'm well aware of how often I criticize the wealthy in this world and my country. I believe they are (for the most part) selfish, cruel, and uncaring. But very recently it's been brought into my consciousness just how wealthy I AM. Not just in relationship to poor people here and abroad, but in my own world as it is...

When I think of my life
I see the riches that have come to me,
No reward for what I've done,
Just fortune.

I see the love of my family
And the love of my extended community.
I don't deserve it I think, for I've not done enough
to warrent it.

The friendships I've been able to afford,
The goodness I've been allowed to absorb,
The sweetness of nature, the pleasure of comanionship,
I'm overwhelmed with it!

I may, in fact, be the richest man
On the Earth.

They Just Keep Dying!

According to the Washington Post there were more military suicides in the month of July than any month since they began scrutinizing the numbers in 2009. What is making these Veterans choose to kill themselves rather than face what they experienced in war?? And more importantly, why do we (as a nation) continue to send people off to war??
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/july-marked-worst-month-for-army-suicides/2012/08/16/a310c6ec-e7e6-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_story.html?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost

How NBC Flubbed the Olympics

The way the televised version of this year's Olympics played out on TV, left me with a few strong feelings I want to share. In my country there is very little interest in what NBC showed us for the past 2 weeks. In order to see the sports WE'RE interested in, you would need to share personal info. on line (which I didn't) or pay per viewing (which I also didn't).

I, along with many other Americans were subjected to hours of watching wealthy snobs ride horses, the worst boxing in existence,  and extensive coverage of people doing "rhythmic" things in heavily applied makeup. To the best of my knowledge there were 3 basketball games, and 0 soccer matches shown on regular TV. Instead we watched somewhere around 60 water polo and volleyball games, if we watched at all.

I realize that NBC has the right to show what they want, as they paid to televise these Olympics, but if I never see a person made of leaves (Dow Chemical), or another commercial telling me how smoothe things are going in the Gulf Coast (BP) it won't be too soon. So let me just say; "Goodbye Olympics, we hardly knew ya!"

Why I Hate Texas

What is wrong with the Texas Supreme Court? What is wrong with Govenor Rick Perry? What is wrong with the citizens of Texas? What is wrong with the  Supreme Court OF The United States ? There are several individuals and bodies responsible for the killing of Marvin Wilson, so I'm asking WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM?

Marvin Wilson was executed last night in spite of having an IQ of just 61. The story surrounding his execution is beyond belief! In case you're unaware, an IQ of 70 or lower is the SCIENTIFIC benchmark regarding developmental disability. Science, obviously, had nothing to do with the decision to kill Marvin.

In Texas they use the imagination of John Steinbeck in deciding wether or not to execute someone who may or not be guilty. Remember Steinbecks book "Of Mice and Men"? Remember Lenny Smalls? He was the character with a developmental disability, who loved petting rabbits, and eventually mudered his boss's wife. THAT is what they use as a measuring stick in deciding if someone has a developmental disability. A fictional character!

In the year 2002 The SCOTUS decided that executing people with developmental disabilities was a violation of the law. They knew about this case (unless the don't pay attention to the national news), yet did NOTHING to stop the state of Texas from carrying out this "violation of the law". You see, they decided to leave it up to the individual states to decide how to interpret their ruling.

The prosecution had no forensic evidence that Marvin committed ANY CRIME. NONE! What they had instead was the word of the wife of another guy who was accused of committing the crime along with Marvin. In Texas the word of a suspect's wife is enough to find someone guilty. Her husband got a life sentance.

I spite of all this foolishness, Texas remained steadfast in their belief that Marvin should die. At 6:27 PM (Texas time) Marvin was injected with one shot of an experimental drug that killed him. Did I mention that Marvin was also black? Rest in peace Marvin Wilson.

The End of Poverty

It's taken me a while, but I've finally come up with the way to end world poverty. That's right... bring an end to all the poverty that exists on the Earth today! And all that's needed is a few billion gardening trowels and whisk brushes.

First, you gather all the poor people in the world, and get them to the Sphinx in Egypt. Next, you give each one a mini shovel and a whisk broom (the kind umpires use to brush off home plate). Then they can carefully dig around the Sphinx, moving toward the center under the ground. Following each shovel, they delicately brush out the contents, and check to see if they dug up anything of consequence. Right now there's a handful of people doing this job, and having all the extra help would speed up the process.

When they finally get to the secret chambers that lie within, they will come across more treasure than you can shake a stick at. The treasure is divided equally among all the impoverished people who did their part in unearthing it. Bingo!! No more poverty in the world!

Taking Aim at NBC

I'm having a hard time with the NBC "Family" these days. There's a new show on NBC's affiliate called "Ripping Off The Rich". The reason I know that, is I was watching the Olympics yesterday and ran into it by accident. When I saw a promo about the show I decided it was something I wanted to write about.

For the past...... years Rich Americans have been ripping off the rest of the American people. Who are the criminals? Rich people have made out quite handsomely for a long time from what they've done to us. How dare NBC express sorrow for these CROOKS? Especially on an hour long weekly show.

NBC has demonstrated their love for the 1% OVER AND OVER again. Their showing of the Olympic Games, and understanding of what the American public is capable of understanding and/or care about bare me out. While the US got an interview with Michael Phelps, other countries were viewing the opening sequence that honored people who have died due to terrorism, including those who lost their lives in the bombing in the London Underground in 2005. http://pilgrimpathways.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/london-olympics-opening-ceremony-vision-of-a-post-imperial-u-k/

They also plan to air another show, hosted by Wesley Clarke, about the art of war, using real weapons and celebrities to demonstrate how war is FUN. As far as I'm concerned war is NOT fun, or sexy, or cute. People LOSE THEIR LIVES in war! NBC has gone over the edge, into a land where few (1%?) people would want to live.

Run Oscar, Run!

Back in 2007 I wrote a heart felt piece on a guy named Oscar Pistorious on this blog, and his quest to be a runner in the Olympics in 2008. The story had to do with his physical disability, and whether or not he had an "unfair advantage" by running on prosthetic legs...
http://dawgoregon.blogspot.com/search?q=Oscar
Well guess what? Though they determined at the time that he did have an "unfair advantage", apparently the Olympic committee have changed their mind!

I don't want to make a big deal of what was the obvious flaw in their thinking back then, but at least they finally came to their senses. I, for one, am THRILLED that Oscar will finally get his chance in London this summer! My biggest hope (as I wrote at the end of my post back then) is that he kick some ass!!

"Life Is Not Fair..."

I don't know how many times I've heard it throughout my life. Someone who's relatively comfortable in their circumstances telling someone who isn't, that life is not fair. Sort of like telling them to "get over yourself" in a condescending manner. "Pull youself up by the bootstraps". To me, that's VERY cold and thoughtless.

My take on it is that most often people are not fair to each other. That's the only reason poverty exists. That's the only reason discrimination exists. It's the only reason people are left to wander the streets without a place to lay their head. A lack of compassion and empathy.

As a small child I can remember feeling this way, and it's stuck with me all my life. In fact, just thinking about needless suffering can bring me to tears. There's a helplessness attached to it. What can one person do to make those around them see that people hurt people in a much larger way than circumstance does.

"Life is not fair". Think of those words. What's REALLY not fair is that most people just don't give a fuck about anyone but themselves.

I've decided to put a video on here that Suzanne and I created today. Hope you enjoy it!

Yeah... Right

Jim Baranosky · 5 mutual friends

"There are conscientious objectors joining the military everyday where they've bold face lied that they will take orders from their superiors. This is a video of such 'veteran' objectors whose full intention was to bring discourse amongst the ranks and to propagandize their supposed new found disapproval of the war after 'serving their country'. War is war ... people are terrorized in the act of war"

 

I don't know if it's a sin to take comments written on my Facebook page, and reprint them on my blog, but I found the statement above to be included in a larger thought. This is where I write my larger thoughts. In fact; I often wonder how many people from Facebook also follow this blog, and stay quiet as to not shake up their own apple cart.

 

This quote came from a guy I knew from back in my high school days. I remember him as a quiet fellow, who worked hard on his academics, and was an average athlete. He asked me to be his Facebook friend about a year ago, and I figured "What the hell...". I had posted a video of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans who were talking about their experiences in  the Middle East. Real life soldiers who were upset and scarred by those experiences. It got me thinking...

 

It's not really about the 1% who control the majority of  wealth in our country. It's also about the other top 24% who make a lot of money, and hope to make a lot more that is at the crux of the problem. I'm not about to say Republican or Democrat... they are both to blame equally. These people have never seen a day of REAL struggle, but think they understand it. If they have seen struggle, it's so far behind them they don't remember it correctly.

 

Jim is not that far off from some other Americans. They also believe that conscientious objectors would willingly join the military. Wouldn't that make them something other than conscientious oblectors?? Maybe, agent provocateurs? You know, the kind of scum that infiltrate groups to sabotage them (uhm...uhm...). I also believe (contrary to this group of Americans) that "discourse" about what the hell you're doing is a good idea, rather than bad. Especially if you're in a war. The 24% probably see it as the oposite. Follow orders blindly with the hope it will get you somewhere. And yes, people are terrorized by the act of war, which seems to me to be the biggest reason for having them in the first place. "Shock and Awe" a people into submission. Then you can steal their resources, scott free.They seem to also believe that even though they never put on a military uniform, they have a right to poo poo soldiers who may be putting their own personal agendas at risk.

 

I'm done trying to educate the willingly ignorant 24+1 %. Go ahead; put your desire to be rich above all that is sacred and good. We'll see how that works down the road further.

Help Wanted!!

Help Wanted!!

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Thank You Billie D. Harris...

I realize that this story's been told already, but I want to share some thoughts about the content. I first saw it this morning on the Sunday morning CBS News Magazine, and once I stopped crying, decided it was important enough for me to do so.

There's a lot of heated debate going on in this country about the value of the military. Whenever it's discussed, inevitably soldiers are drawn into the conversation. Recently I asked a question regarding soldiers being paid for making films while still on "Active" status on my Facebook page. This turned into quite the argument, both for and against such a notion. I hope I can settle it here.

I believe that War Profiteers are behind the struggles we're involved in in the Mid East. I also believe that the US Government is complicit with these BILLIONAIRES in "feeding the machine" with US soldiers. For a large part, young men and women hoping to have their secondary education paid for by volunteering their necks and the necks of others. THERE IS A REASON WHY THERE ARE SO MANY SUICIDES among returning vets!

So... I refuse to be a part of lining the pockets of these billionaires by giving my approval of what the military's currently doing. It's wrong! Viet Nam was wrong! Our involvement in Cuba, El Savador, Panama, Somalia, Yemen, etc. was wrong! I believe the last time we were on the right side (slightly) of war was WWII. That was just before the Military Industrial Complex was fully established. There was some nobility in taking on the Nazis with our allies.

Now you have modern day politicians dealing with what remains of WWII. People so involved in keeping the current wars alive that the past wars mean nothing. The story below demonstrates my point succinctly...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57448571/they-dont-forget-normandy-still-honors-american-wwii-pilots-sacrifice/?tag=exclsv