tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80324341577245721102024-03-13T11:23:01.208-07:0050 plus and countingtoni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-753168776674572572022-07-18T07:54:00.001-07:002022-07-20T06:44:39.498-07:00<p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>I got shot</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en">I
know it's still early but today, I got shot. Yesterday, I got shot.
My history and experience tells me that tomorrow and tomorrow and
tomorrow I'll get shot. I stopped, I got shot. I reached for
requested documentation, I got shot. I had my cell phone in my hand,
I got shot. I had a legal weapon and said so, I got shot. I ran in
fear, I got shot. I was 12 years old playing alone in a park, I got
shot. I was driving an old car that backfired, I got shot. I was
asleep in my bed, I got shot. I was relaxing, alone in my home, I got
shot. A neighbor was concerned about me, called for help, I got shot.
I committed a non-violent low level felony with no indication of a
weapon, I didn't get shot. I got suffocated. I carried a sign saying
stop shooting me. I got shot.</span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en">White
men kill police officers or parade participants or church goers or
protesters and get their day in court and maybe even lunch, or a
glass of water and a thank you, for good measure. I get handcuffed
while dying in the street. The rivers are becoming salty from my
tears.</span> But it's okay, because it's my fault. I got shot.</p>
<p> </p>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-72296387584644862662022-06-21T11:47:00.028-07:002022-06-22T06:21:44.602-07:00<p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="break-before: page; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fathers and Freedom </b></span>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If
you attend June 19<sup>th</sup> services at Trinity Episcopal
Cathedral in Cleveland, OH you might have heard this message. To you
I say, But wait there's more! Please continue reading to get more of
my thoughts on Juneteenth and Fathers' Day.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Matthew
7:9-10</i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER"><a name="en-NIV-23326"></a><a name="en-NIV-23327"></a>
<i>9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?</i></p><p align="CENTER">
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">In 2021, I suppose as an acknowledgement of the
reality of slavery and its long-term effects on American Descendants
of Slaves (ADOS), the U.S. Congress in a very rare show of
solidarity, enacted a law making Juneteenth a Federal holiday.
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">A little background here. Schools in this country
typically teach that Abraham Lincoln, The Great Emancipator, “freed
the slaves” with Proclamation 95 (the Emancipation Proclamation) on
January 1, 1863. Proclamation 95 however only freed slaves in states
that were currently part of the Confederate States of America (CSA)
and in rebellion against the government of the USA. Proclamation 95
was a political and military tactic whose goal was to destabilize the
Confederacy by encouraging slave populations to flee to northern and
western non slave holding states.
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, Union Army
General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 which was a
statement about the Union Army's military rule of the defeated
Confederacy and said among other things that “The people of Texas
are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the
Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” Black
dockworkers quickly spread the news to the black population of
Galveston touching off a week's worth of prayer and celebration.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">General Order No. 3, like it's more well known
predecessor Proclamation 95, was one of 20 “Emancipation
Proclamations” issued in the United States from 1780 to 1865 that
attempted to put a band-aid on the gaping wound of slavery. In fact
many of these proclamations were concerned less with how to actually
deal with the issue of freed slaves and more with enumerating exactly
how slave <i>owners</i> were to be compensated for their loss of a
significant financial resource.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">In 2022 Juneteenth falls on the day we also
celebrate Fathers and Fatherhood. Does anyone appreciate the irony of
celebrating freedom and fatherhood on the same day, when for so long
black men have been circumscribed by the dominant society from truly celebrating either.</p><p align="JUSTIFY">Prior to the end of the Civil War black families
lived in constant fear that they would be separated from each other
by a system that refused to acknowledge their human need to create
and care for families. Fathers and mothers were sold away from each
other and from their children, many never to be heard from again.
After the Civil War it was common to see ads in newspapers and
publications from formerly enslaved people trying to find family
members.
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Libra Hilde, in her 2020 book, <i><a href="https://uncpress.org/book/9781469660677/slavery-fatherhood-and-paternal-duty-in-african-american-communities-over-the-long-nineteenth-century/" target="_top">Slavery,
Fatherhood, and Paternal Duty in African American Communities over
the Long Nineteenth Century</a>,</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
maintained that despite the challenges of living under a system of
cruelty and complete disregard for their humanity, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Black</span>
and enslaved men were loving, involved, and emotionally invested in
their children, despite the barriers erected by white society. She
demonstrates that Black fathers consistently provided for their
children during and after slavery. Enslaved men regularly supported
their families and communities in covert ways, as “their influence
over their children was often subtle, indirect, and hidden from
‘dominant society’,” subverting and resisting the expectations
of white society on a daily basis “within the intimate spaces of
the father/child relationship” Hilde contends that caretaking was a
form of resistance for enslaved men, as they attempted to covertly
reappropriate the paternal role back from their enslavers.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">There were instances where enslaved men, if they had
a marketable skill, could make extra money if their master allowed
them to sell their services. (The original side hustle). They might
then be allowed to purchase their freedom. If successful, they would
often then face a cruel choice. In many slave holding states the
status of an unborn child was determined by the status of the mother.
Thus a free black woman's child would be born free and an enslaved
black woman's child would be born a slave. Black men who found a way
out of enslavement, through either escape or earning extra money,
very often had to decide whether to take the opportunity to gain
their own freedom and hope they could come for their family later or
ensure freedom for their wife and/or children while they themselves
remained under the lash.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">As a member of the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) I have
to give a shout out here to Absalom Jones. At the age of 16 Absalom was
sold away from his mother and several siblings. In 1770 he was
allowed to marry an enslaved woman named Mary. By 1778 Absalom had
earned and saved enough money to purchase his freedom. With the
memory of his lost family in mind he bought his wife's freedom
instead. In this way, he insured his children would be born free, and
not as slaves. He was not freed himself until six years later in
1784.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Many people are under the mistaken impression that
the attack on black men as fathers ended when slavery ended. Oh that
I could say that was so!</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">For a brief period of history which we call
Reconstruction it seemed as if the country might be able to begin
healing from the long bleak period of human cruelty and the attendant
pain. Then came the end of reconstruction and the beginning of almost
another century of enshrining the secondary status of black people in both
law and custom.
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Black men were portrayed in news and entertainment
media as “bad” fathers, neglectful and uninterested in their
children, leaving black women to be seen as “superwomen” raising
children without the support of black fathers. (That's a <i><b>looong</b></i>
discussion for another day).
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Just as during enslavement the role of black men as
fathers was constricted and restricted by the dominant society.
During the period we call Jim Crow black men were targeted for both
judicial and extrajudicial execution. If a black man tried to stand
up as a protector for his family against white aggression, he ran the
risk of being killed. Many black men in the south were
forced to choose leaving their families to find economic
opportunities in the north or west, thereby separating them from
their partners and children. Those who chose to stay were forced to
suffer cruelty and economic deprivation and restraints on their
ability to care for their families.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">After the Great Depression and World War II the U.S.
began looking at ways to help returning veterans and build the middle
class. Here again black fathers were discouraged or even legally
banned from taking advantage of programs designed to uplift families.
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Then came the creation of social welfare programs in
the 1960s and 1970s. “Welfare” was originally called Aid to
Families with Dependent Children or AFDC. It was a
program to give families a hand when things got rough. Keeping them
and their children out of poverty. There was no requirement that
recipients had to be families with single parents (usually women) as
heads of households. As with many such programs when black people
began to use these programs as a means to try and improve their
lives, changes were implemented which brought direct harm to the
institution of the black family. Suddenly families with mothers <i>and </i>fathers present were not eligible for assistance. Black fathers were
very often targeted for enforcement, with families under constant
scrutiny to make sure they were not “scamming the system”. If
fathers were present in the home and the family was receiving welfare
assistance the father or mother could be arrested and sent to jail.
Thus black fathers were once again faced with the choice of leaving
their families to help make sure they were fed or working covertly to
circumvent a system which was being constantly redesigned and adapted
to criminalize them as they exercised their role as fathers.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">In 1965 Daniel Moynihan co-authored what became
known as the Moynihan Report. In this treatise Moynihan maintained
that there was a crisis in the black community because of instability
of black families. Nowhere did he consider the ways in which the then
current welfare system penalized black fathers who <i>didn't</i>
“abandon” their families. Imagine being a black child bombarded with the message that your father, indeed your entire family, was bad. If your family needed public assistance and your father was around he was a criminal and you had to be always on the
lookout for the social worker who might come and take him away. If he wasn't around he was a "deadbeat dad", a lowlife, who abandoned his responsibilities. Despite these assaults black fathers continued to endure. In
many ways falling back on lessons learned from slave ancestors. I
refer you again to Libra Hilde. Just as had been the case during the
long period of enslavement <i>“Black men were loving, involved, and
emotionally invested in their children, despite the barriers erected
by white society. ….Black fathers consistently provided for their
children …. and regularly supported their families and communities
in covert ways, as “their influence over their children was often
subtle, indirect, and hidden from ‘dominant society’,”
subverting and resisting the expectations of white society on a daily
basis “within the intimate spaces of the father/child relationship”</i></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-style: normal;">Then came the “War
on Drugs” further increasing the criminalization of black men and
the assault on their role as fathers. In 1970 black people
represented 11.1% of the general population in the U.S. But 46.4% of
the prison population in December 1973. From 1973 to 1979, the black
rate of incarceration rose by 47.9 percent, compared to a rise of
only 40.6 percent among whites. So now there was a significant
percentage of black fathers once again forced away from their
families. A two-year <a href="http://www.vtlex.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/18613.pdf">study</a>
by the National Research Council concluded that the increase in
incarceration rates was historically unprecedented, that the U.S. far
outpaced the incarceration rates elsewhere in the world, and that
high incarceration rates disproportionately affected Hispanic
and black communities. </span>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-style: normal;">With further
infringement on individual liberty, such as the 1994 crime bill, came
more assaults on black men's ability to function as fathers. If you
were convicted of a felony your ability to work and support yourself
as well as your family became even more severely limited. Felons
could not vote in most states. If you were a felon you could not
apply for most types of federal and/or state assistance, including
housing, food and education. Perhaps one of the most egregious
infringements of rights, which harkens back to the early days of the
“welfare reform” movement, when the mere presence of black fathers
became a crime, was the prohibition of felons in public
housing. Those living in public housing were not allowed to have
convicted felons living with or even visiting with them. If you were
a black man released from prison as a convicted felon and your family
lived in public housing you were prohibited by law from living with
them. If you attempted to do so you risked further incarceration and
your family risked eviction. Once again black men had to draw upon
their ingenuity and the wisdom of the ancestors to function as
fathers in a society still hostile to them.</span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-style: normal;">Many times men and
their current or former partners had private arrangements among
themselves to manage their family situation and finances. They would
visit their children or even in some cases share custody. They would
buy clothes, food, diapers etc when needed. Then came efforts to
corral “dead beat dads”. Social workers would force “single”
mothers to turn in fathers of their children or else be denied needed
benefits. These men were then put into a system which took away their
ability to function as fathers based on their own and their partners
circumstances. They were now given set amounts that they had to pay,
not directly to their partners or children but to a court system
which already considered them criminals. This then became a barrier
to finding a job which led to inability to keep up with court
mandated payments resulting in incarceration – a vicious circle.</span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">So while you're celebrating Juneteenth on this
Fathers' Day, think about what we need to do in order to free
thousands of black men to be the best fathers they can be.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-41397751301906510782020-06-07T11:43:00.002-07:002020-06-16T11:51:32.132-07:00I Can't Breathe redux<div>
I published the following in 2017. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ARE YOU A GOOD ONE? </div>
<div>
<div>
It's been a very long time since I posted anything here. For the past
two and a half years or more I have felt like Eric Garner - I can't
breathe.</div>
<br />
In 2016 enough Americans voted for him to
elect Donald Trump as 45th president of the United States. Words I hoped
and prayed I would never say. This was a man who during his campaign
said that Mexicans in the U.S. were all rapists and criminals, praised
dictators and murders like Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong-Un, Joseph Stalin and
Rodrigo Duterte, a man who said outright that he wanted to ban
Muslims from entering the United States and who in referring to women
spoke of "grabbing 'em by their pussy". I find it difficult to preface
this person's name with the title "President" so will henceforth refer
to him as "45"<br />
<br />
When I was a child the wisdom of the dominant culture was that police officers were
our friends. We could go to them if we were in trouble and they would
try to help us. The police motto after all was "To protect and serve." I
never was quite able to believe that. To me the police were an
occupying force, marching down the streets bristling with arms. Their
job was to protect other people from me, and people like me, and to serve
the status quo. I heard stories of
people beaten by police. As a 12 year old I watched a police officer
harass and intimidate a school mate. Whispers of people in police
custody mysteriously dying.<br />
<br />
You would think that over the decades things would have changed but
guess what, they haven't. They have in fact gotten worse. Or maybe it's
just that we now have full (er) disclosure. As black bodies continue to
pile up the stench is finally getting to be impossible to ignore. Inner
city residents are for the most part a marginalized people with
the inherent distrust of authority that goes with that. Police are the
symbol of that authority. And they all to frequently abuse it. There is
now exhaustive video proof of what we have known and experienced for decades. (We
weren't the ones who needed proof, but in case you did.) The Justice
Department has been to Cleveland. In a fairly comprehensive report they
have documented decades of abuses of power by police.<br />
<br />
In recent weeks 45 made a speech to a
police organization in which he ignored a key concept of our legal
system - innocent until proven guilty- and gave "law enforcement" agents
carte blanche to abuse suspects with impunity. I believe <i><b>one</b></i>
of the more frightening statements he made was something to the effect
of "don't bother being nice to them" There was no mistaking what he was
saying or the response of the officers, who cheered and applauded.<br />
<br />
The
organization representing Police Chiefs was quick to distance
themselves from 45's statements and say that they believe in treating
every civilian with respect and dignity. I guess the officers who
laughed and applauded didn't get that particular memo. Several of the
unions representing police officers, including Cleveland's own Steve
Loomis, agreed with 45 and praised him. All well and good for the
Association of Chiefs of Police to say they don't condone mistreating
suspects but I have to wonder, if the Chiefs are disavowing this
behavior and officers are cheering it where is the disconnect and what
are the Chiefs doing to address it? I have seen very little evidence to
back up the Police Chiefs' claim of fair treatment.<br />
<br />
When we complain and protest the response is "Blue Lives Matter" and
talk about how we are attacking police. Listen to the wisdom of Kareem
Abdul Jabaar - "Police are not under attack, institutionalized racism
is. Trying to
remove sexually abusive priests is not an attack on Catholicism, nor is
removing ineffective teachers an attack on education. Bad apples, bad
training, and bad officials who blindly protect them, are the enemy. And
any institution worth saving should want to eliminate them, too."<br />
<br />
Right
before 45 made this speech I was in the grocery store
waiting for someone to pick me up. This store has a uniformed Cleveland
Police Officer as a security guard. The officer that day happened to be
black. Standing in line was a young black woman with two very young
children, both probably under 5 years old. As I smiled at their antics
the younger child, a boy, looked up at the police officer and asked him
in all seriousness "are you a good one?" As I sat there with my heart
shattered, blood rushing in my ears, I'm sure the officer must have
responded in the affirmative but I couldn't even hear his response. What
must he have felt, to have this child, so young he could barely get the
words out ask him this question? What about this smiling child,
interrupting his play with his sister to make sure he was safe? Or his
young mother who surely knows that, not so many years from now, when her
child leaves her presence she will have to worry that she might not see
him alive or whole again.<br />
<br />
After negative feedback 45
said that he was just joking. Is that why the audience laughed and
applauded? I watched the video of the speech and did not get a hint of
sarcasm or
humor. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a book about the Birmingham campaign
called "Why We Can't Wait" in which he addressed the call of people to
let things take their natural course, or not to upset the apple cart.
It's worth reading and as timely now as it was when he originally wrote
it.<br />
<br />
The leader of our country encourages police brutality and later says
it's a joke. Police officers sworn to protect and serve
cheer and applaud him. Everyday a new name is added to the list of our
ancestors gone too soon through state sponsored violence. Children not
even in school yet
know that they can't trust the person in uniform. My heart lies on the
floor of the grocery store broken into pieces.
We can't wait.<br />
I can't... breathe.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FAST FORWARD 3 YEARS</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I REALLY hate repeating myself but I can't ...breathe</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Ahmaud Arbery</div>
George Floyd</div>
<div>
Jamel Floyd</div>
<div>
Botham Jean</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Atatiana Jefferson</div>
<div>
Justin Howell</div>
<div>
Sean Monterossa</div>
<div>
Breonna Taylor</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm going to assume that if you are reading my blog you know who these
people are. If you don't know you've got work to do. (Hint they're all
DEAD). These names and scores more stretching back for over a hundred
years are etched in the psyche of black people in this country. Do your
friends and family know who these people are? Your non-black co-workers?
Have you talked to them about these murders?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have a question for those of you born before 1970. Do you remember
being 10 years old? What was your greatest fear? Did you stand in a
crowd watching armed men and tanks rolling through your neighborhood?
Were you terrified when the police came to the door hassling your mother
and asking where your father was? (Thinking back he probably was in
violation of curfew). Did you walk to school through a war zone and hear
how this was your folks' fault? At 12 did you watch in fear as a grown
man, who, from your child's perspective, looked almost like a giant,
used the power of his uniform and authority to manhandle and terrorize a
fellow schoolgirl. For almost a week I was that frightened little girl
again. She never really goes away. Do you know why? Fifty years later
she still lives in occupied territory. She lives in a country that tells
her that her life is negligible; where the struggle of just living day
to day is summed up in trendy hashtags like driving while black or
jogging while black. I wasn't surprised by the murder of George Floyd
and if you were you haven't been paying attention. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Like so much else in the U.S., policing has it's roots in slavery. The
genesis of organized policing was slave patrols. Their job was the
control of black bodies and making sure that black people stayed in
their place. These vigilante groups were allowed to use intimidation,
terror and whatever force they deemed necessary up to and including
death. People didn't care how they did it. They just wanted results.
https://theconversation.com/the-racist-roots-of-american-policing-from-slave-patrols-to-traffic-stops-112816 This sounds all to familiar.<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"It's just a few bad apples" "Most cops are good people" Good people who
are an occupying force in our communities. How much longer and how many
more deaths before it becomes clear that policing in our country is a
bad system? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's look at that apple analogy for a minute. You've got a barrel of
apples that has worms in it. Would you throw some good ones in hoping to
get rid of the worms or would you know that those good apples are gonna
be worm food. You gotta stop ignoring those worms, throw out the apples
and scrub that barrel clean. Better yet Get A New Barrel! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A diseased tree cannot produce good fruit. Ask a guy named Matthew "<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335">A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." Matt 7:18: </span><span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33">“Either
make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its
fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." Matt 12:33. I could bore
you with facts and figures but I won't. (Google is your friend). This
tree we call policing has long been producing a very big crop of very
strange fruit and it's past time to cut it down.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33">There's
been quite a bit of feel good news coverage recently over some cops who
knelt in front of protestors as a show of some kind of solidarity. Yay?
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33">That
makes a great photo op and ....what? I'm back to that little boy in the
grocery store - "Are you a good one?" Do we hear from you when it
takes months or even years to even get an indictment when a police
officer kills someone? Are you there when a police officer clearly
violates your own rules, someone dies and the officer gets paid
administrative leave while a family struggles to find money for a
funeral? Where were you when Timothy Loehman murdered Tamir Rice, or
when Michael Brelo jumped on the hood of Timothy Russell and Malissa
William's car and fired 15 rounds through the windshield. I could go on
but you get the picture. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33"></span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33"><span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33">Call
me a cynic but my momma didn't raise no fool. If a bunch of police
officers drop to their knees in front of me I'm heading for the hills
cause it was probably preceded by the word ready and followed by aim and
fire. They are just going to have to shoot me in the back. Like Walter
Scott.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Matt-7-18" id="en-NASB-23335"><span class="Matt-12-33"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-41329066880469847362020-03-13T14:26:00.001-07:002020-03-13T14:26:53.676-07:002020 PRIMARY BLUES<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>Pamela Southland</o:Author>
<o:Version>16.00</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="376">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Link"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
2020 PRIMARY BLUES</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(SUNG TO THE TUNE OF “HEAVEN ON THEIR MINDS” WITH APOLOGIES
TO SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBER)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
My mind is clearer now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
At last all too well</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
I can see, CNN’s got to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
If you listen to, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the news in the main</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
You might see what they want you
to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Bernie! We started to believe </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
The things they say of you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
We really did believe, our leader
could be you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
But all the good you’ve done</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Will soon get swept away</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Socialism is the word now holding
sway</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Listen Bernie, I don’t like what
I see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
All I ask is that you listen to
me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
And remember, I’ve been on your
side all along.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
You have set us all on fire</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
The working class’s new Messiah</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Main Stream Media hasn’t joined
the throng</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
I remember when this whole thing
began</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
No talk of President, for Senate
you ran</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
And believe me, my admiration for
you hasn’t died.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
But every word you say today</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Gets twisted round some other
way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
They’ll misquote you and they’ll
say you’ve lied.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Listen Bernie, just get out of
this race.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Don’t you see we must keep in our
place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Remember Occupy! Have you
forgotten how put down we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
They are frightened by the crowd.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
For we are getting much too loud</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
And they’ll crush is if we go too
far.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Listen Bernie, to the warning I
give.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Please believe I want this
movement to live.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
But it’s sad to see our chances
weakening with every hour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
They are saying we are blind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Economic Justice on our minds</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Either choice will make my mood
turn sour</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Yes my mood turn sour.</div>
toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-71930154079202683152015-08-26T10:43:00.000-07:002015-08-26T10:46:33.404-07:00Politics As Usual?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I recently participated in a trivia game involving questions about
presidential politics in the U.S. At the end of the game it occurred to me that
except for President Obama there were very few questions about the
participation of African Americans or women in the presidential election
process over the past 300 years.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At first I was discouraged. I thought, like so many who rely on main
stream media, that this was because of the dearth of such participation but
then I pictured a couple of women standing in front of me, reminding me that
just because we don’t get talked about doesn’t mean we aren’t there. We’ve been
told over and over that Presidential Politics in the U.S. has always been “all
old white men all the time.” We’ve been told it so often that we have started
to believe it. That’s not quite the entire story.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been "advised" that I should support
Hilary Clinton even if I have reservations because she’s our first, best shot
at getting real female participation in the presidential election process and
getting a woman in the White House. While she might be our best shot to date
she is by no means the first.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It’s way past time that we as African Americans and/or women reclaim our
place and our history as participating citizens in this democracy of ours. It’s
time for us to deny and deconstruct the myth that we’ve been kept down by our
circumstances. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always have been and
continue to be vital members of the election process not only by our votes but
by actually running for and winning offices. We need to reclaim our herstory for
our sisters and daughters so that they know it can be done because it has been
done and so that they don’t think they are going it alone.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My challenge to anyone reading this during this seemingly endless presidential
election cycle is this – name one woman or African American in the 300 year
history of presidential politics who made a significant impact and or was on
the ballot somewhere in these 50 United States. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll even let you cheat a little if you name
one person who fits both categories. Come on, you know they’re out there. We’ve
been there all along. Let’s make it known.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-27032343269923949982013-10-02T05:26:00.001-07:002013-10-02T05:28:34.727-07:00INTERLUDE - WOUNDED BIRD: STRONG WORDS FROM SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME)<a href="http://thewoundedbird.blogspot.com/2013/09/strong-words-from-sen-angus-king-i-me.html">WOUNDED BIRD: STRONG WORDS FROM SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME)</a>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-9173085145632644862013-02-17T00:22:00.000-08:002013-02-17T00:22:25.913-08:00More than a dream<h4 style="margin-top: 3em;">
To my friends and/or readers :)</h4>
<h4 style="margin-top: 3em;">
I thought I had posted this but guess I forgot to hit the publish button. However, it is Black History month and there is some good stuff here, so even though it's not MLK day anymore somehow I don't think he'll mind. </h4>
<h4 style="margin-top: 3em;">
My friend Kurt has a pretty good blog called "One step closer - Religion and popular culture." I like him and he usually has some interesting things to say. The following post for Martin Luther King Jr. Day is no exception. Read, ponder and then do something.</h4>
<h3 style="margin-top: 3em;">
Remembering all MLK dreamed for...</h3>
The collective national memory concerning Martin Luther King Jr. is often summed up by choice passages from his 1963 “dream” speech, like this one:<br />
<br />
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”<br />
<br />
It is with good intentions that we remember these moments of “dream”, but in doing so we often end up with the false idea that King’s goals have been accomplished. We point to proof of this by certain observations of our present, perhaps most notably in the fact that an African American president will be inaugurated to his second term on the same day we celebrate King.<br />
<br />
Professor and author Fredrick C. Harris reminds us of the fight King was waging by the last year of his life: a war against the triple evils of racism, poverty and militarism, reflected in a battle for the rights of low-wage garbage workers in Memphis, a movement against the Vietnam War and, nationally, the hope for a second march on Washington, one that would dramatize the plight of America’s poor.<br />
<br />
On the Sunday before his death, King gave a sermon at the Washington National Cathedral called “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.”<br />
<br />
In it, King left the nation with a vision of what it would take for real change to come to America:<br />
<br />
<i>On March 31st, 1968, using The Book of Revelation's quote "Behold, I make all things new; former things are passed away", King began with a challenge to develop a world perspective:</i><br />
<br />
No individual can live alone, no nation can live alone, and anyone who feels that he can live alone is sleeping through a revolution. The world in which we live is geographically one. The challenge that we face today is to make it one in terms of brotherhood.<br />
<br />
Now it is true that the geographical oneness of this age has come into being to a large extent through modern man’s scientific ingenuity. Modern man through his scientific genius has been able to dwarf distance and place time in chains. And our jet planes have compressed into minutes distances that once took weeks and even months. All of this tells us that our world is a neighborhood.<br />
<br />
Through our scientific and technological genius, we have made of this world a neighborhood and yet we have not had the ethical commitment to make of it a brotherhood. But somehow, and in some way, we have got to do this. We must all learn to live together as brothers or we will all perish together as fools. We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
King then moves to racism. The vision offered in The Dream speech is far from reached. He said:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“The disease of racism permeates and poisons a whole body politic. And I can see nothing more urgent than for America to work passionately and unrelentingly—to get rid of the disease of racism.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fredrick Harris observes that we are still not yet there, suggesting that, despite steps forward, “We are not a post-racial society, in which race no longer matters. At best, we are a post-racist society — in which formal legal barriers against African Americans and other minorities have been eliminated, but the legacy of those barriers endures.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next King spoke about poverty, outlining a planned day of action that never happened due to his assassination:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is America’s opportunity to help bridge the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. The question is whether America will do it. There is nothing new about poverty. What is new is that we now have the techniques and the resources to get rid of poverty. The real question is whether we have the will.<br />
<br />
In a few weeks some of us are coming to Washington to see if the will is still alive or if it is alive in this nation. We are coming to Washington in a Poor People’s Campaign. Yes, we are going to bring the tired, the poor, the huddled masses. We are going to bring those who have known long years of hurt and neglect. We are going to bring those who have come to feel that life is a long and desolate corridor with no exit signs. We are going to bring children and adults and old people, people who have never seen a doctor or a dentist in their lives.<br />
<br />
We are not coming to engage in any histrionic gesture. We are not coming to tear up Washington. We are coming to demand that the government address itself to the problem of poverty....<br />
<br />
We are coming to ask America to be true to the huge promissory note that it signed years ago. And we are coming to engage in dramatic nonviolent action, to call attention to the gulf between promise and fulfillment; to make the invisible visible.<br />
<br />
Why do we do it this way? We do it this way because it is our experience that the nation doesn’t move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for black people until it is confronted massively, dramatically in terms of direct action.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, King addressed the problem of using violence to solve problems, especially concerning the Vietnam War:<br />
<br />
I want to say one other challenge that we face is simply that we must find an alternative to war and bloodshed. Anyone who feels, and there are still a lot of people who feel that way, that war can solve the social problems facing mankind is sleeping through a great revolution....<br />
<br />
This is where we are. "Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind,"....<br />
<br />
It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence....<br />
<br />
There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right. I believe today that there is a need for all people of goodwill to come with a massive act of conscience and say in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "We ain’t goin’ study war no more." This is the challenge facing modern man.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, on the day we remember The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., you will surely hear quoted some of the most cherished passages from the “I have a dream” speech. Know that this does indeed, in the words of Harris, “Convey the spirit of America’s promise and the hope that one day the nation will live up to its creed”. If we are to get there, we need to remember all that King dreamed for, and the hope he still had on the Sunday before he was shot and killed.<br />
<br />
“Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” concluded with these words:<br />
<br />
We’re going to win our freedom because both the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of the almighty God are embodied in our echoing demands. And so, however dark it is, however deep the angry feelings are, and however violent explosions are, I can still sing "We Shall Overcome."<br />
<br />
We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.<br />
<br />
We shall overcome because Carlyle is right—"No lie can live forever."<br />
<br />
We shall overcome because William Cullen Bryant is right—"Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again."<br />
<br />
We shall overcome because James Russell Lowell is right—as we were singing earlier today,<br />
<br />
Truth forever on the scaffold,<br />
<br />
Wrong forever on the throne.<br />
<br />
Yet that scaffold sways the future.<br />
<br />
And behind the dim unknown stands God,<br />
<br />
Within the shadow keeping watch above his own.<br />
<br />
With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair the stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.<br />
<br />
Thank God for John, who centuries ago out on a lonely, obscure island called Patmos caught vision of a new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, who heard a voice saying, "Behold, I make all things new; former things are passed away."<br />
<br />
God grant that we will be participants in this newness and this magnificent development. If we will but do it, we will bring about a new day of justice and brotherhood and peace. And that day the morning stars will sing together and the sons of God will shout for joy.<br />
<br />
God bless you.<br />
<style csstext=".recaptcha_is_building_widget {display: none;}" type="text/css"></style><script type="text/javascript">
BLOG_initContacts('toEmail', 'picker');
</script><iframe closure_uid_8a8e0="2" src="/blogger/c/ui/EmailAc2?service=blogger" style="height: 10px; left: -9999px; position: absolute; top: -9999px; visibility: hidden; width: 10px;"></iframe><br />
<div id="footer">
<span dir="ltr" id="copyright"></span></div>
toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-90242360551216103822013-02-14T10:43:00.001-08:002013-02-14T11:51:14.041-08:00PRUNING FOR LENT<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I didn’t know
much about the season of Lent growing up, not having been raised in a liturgical
church. Didn’t even know it was a “season”. All I knew was that people got
ashes on their head on Ash Wednesday and gave up something they liked for Lent. When I first
became an Episcopalian, every year I asked myself what I should give up for Lent
and every year I failed to follow through. (Same goes with New Year’s
Resolutions, but that’s another post.) As I have grown in my understanding I
began to see that Lent is not just about what you give up but about what you
learn, and what you take on.</span><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<div class="highlight">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div class="highlight">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8032434157724572110" name="16"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matt 6:16-18 </span></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">16 ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I
tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I don’t even
like to talk in terms of what I’m giving up for Lent because when you focus on
what you are giving up you spend the entire 40 days feeling deprived, thinking
about what you gave up and waiting until you can get it back again. If I am
just giving something up for 40 days what do I gain from that except 40 days of
misery and self-denial (and maybe a few pounds of weight lost, which I’m
probably gonna gain back after Easter anyway)? I spend the entire time being
the person who trumpets how good I am because I “sacrificed” so much for Lent.</span></span><br />
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So now I try to approach
the season of Lent in a different way. Whatever I do (or don’t do) I try to do
in an intentional and prayerful way. What is going to be the end result of my
Lenten discipline? What is my spiritual goal? If I do “give up” something I
think of it more as pruning. On the corner where I catch the bus from work
every day there is a rose bush. It produces beautiful roses for most of the
year. Right now it is dormant but it will be blooming again, probably right
around Easter or shortly thereafter. I have seen the people who manage the
building cutting back dead wood, or buds that haven’t opened. This rose bush
thrives long past the time when most flowers in Cleveland’s climate have
stopped. When you have a plant that is overgrown and starting to get leggy or
not producing good fruit, or leaves or flowers, you prune back the overgrown
leaves and branches. In this way the roots can concentrate on growing deep and
strong and nourishing healthy new growth. Likewise if I do take up a discipline
of denial for Lent I am doing spiritual pruning. I am cutting back the mass of “stuff”
that is choking my roots. I am not giving up something. Rather I am getting rid
of something that keeps my roots from reaching deeper and growing stronger,
something that distracts me from the need to be always striving to be closer to
God and the need to <span style="font-size: small;">a</span>lways be aware of my responsibility to God’s creation. At
the end of the process hopefully my roots will be stronger and I will be better
able to produce strong and healthy spiritual fruit.</span></span>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-74769111823039880392013-01-21T08:08:00.001-08:002013-01-21T08:09:06.115-08:00WOUNDED BIRD: "TENSE" - A POEM<a href="http://thewoundedbird.blogspot.com/2013/01/tense-poem.html?showComment=1358784434002#c6280150878473022226">WOUNDED BIRD: "TENSE" - A POEM</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Lovely poem. Thought it was worth sharing.<br />
Tonitoni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-43161498934996730072013-01-05T15:11:00.000-08:002013-01-05T15:11:29.613-08:00WOUNDED BIRD: BISHOP GENE ROBINSON RETIRES TODAYWonderful post by Gramdmère Mimi. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewoundedbird.blogspot.com/2013/01/bishop-gene-robinson-retires-today.html">WOUNDED BIRD: BISHOP GENE ROBINSON RETIRES TODAY</a>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-71796090401960508662013-01-03T05:26:00.000-08:002013-01-03T05:32:24.902-08:00Happy New Year!So here it is 2013. Wondering what to do with the leftover rice from the Chinese food you had on New Year's Eve.? Tired of your black eyed peas tasting the same year after year? Try this tasty cold salad to start the new year off right.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><div align="center">
<span style="font-size: small;">BLACK EYE PEAS AND RICE SALAD </span><br />
<div align="center">
</div>
</div>
</span><strong><u>Ingredients:</u></strong> One pound black eyed peas – cook until just done but not to soft and drain well. Refrigerate peas after cooking until thoroughly chilled (about 1 – 2 hours)
<br />
2 cups of cold cooked rice. (I used white rice but brown would work just as well.)<br />
½ cup of chopped celery<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Dressing:</u></strong> Make while peas are cooking and refrigerate until ready to use<br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b>½ small onion – chopped<br />
2 mini orange bell peppers – chopped<br />
2 Tbsp chopped garlic<br />
1 tsp ground ginger<br />
2 Tbsp soy sauce <br />
1 Tbsp crushed red pepper flakes<br />
6 Tbsp chopped parsley<br />
½ cup white wine vinegar<br />
1 cup extra virgin olive oil<br />
Juice of one medium lemon <br />
Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until well blended. After peas are cold, mix peas, rice and celery. Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Serves 8<br />
<br />
You can eat immediately but it tastes better the next day. This is a perfect make ahead dish for a holiday pot luck.toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-87616683102122791532012-12-22T13:10:00.000-08:002012-12-22T13:10:52.915-08:00WOUNDED BIRD: THE LONGEST NIGHT OR BLUE CHRISTMASI found this very comforting. Hope others will too,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewoundedbird.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-longest-night-or-blue-christmas.html?showComment=1356210417299#c7665968769773406104">WOUNDED BIRD: THE LONGEST NIGHT OR BLUE CHRISTMAS</a>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-64415137113842761152012-12-20T05:40:00.000-08:002012-12-20T05:40:53.023-08:00STILL WAITING?<b><span style="font-family: Times Bold Italic; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times Bold Italic; font-size: medium;">I wrote this last year for our church's book of advent meditations. I offer it here, slightly revised, to anyone who hasn't read it or thinks it's worth reading again.<br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br /><em>Psalm 67</em><br /><em>Isaiah 56:1-8</em><br /><em>John 5:33-36</em></span></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting to bear joyful witness to the incarnation of God into the realm of humanity. Waiting for, in the words’ of Isaiah, God’s House to be a House of Prayer for All. We are waiting for God but God is also waiting for us. God is waiting for us to recognize the foreigner or stranger or the eunuch (read by some to include homosexuals). God is waiting for us to recognize that anyone who preserves justice and does what is right has a place in the House of the Lord. God is waiting for us not just to recognize but to rejoice and to join with them. For as Isaiah says "I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered." Our time of waiting is almost over. We must now stop waiting and begin doing. God is waiting for YOU. What are you waiting for? </span>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-6224104233121081892012-12-06T11:19:00.002-08:002012-12-06T11:19:55.096-08:00Fiscal Policy for the 47% Oh wait, we won, that means there's more than 47% right? LOL!!<br />
<br />
Finally a democrat not afraid to be a democrat. Great video on the "Fiscal Cliff" (don't you hate that phrase?) from former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gMuA8I2M5l0" width="450"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
Spread the word.toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-67907310069134379522012-12-05T12:07:00.000-08:002012-12-05T23:36:54.932-08:00More to the Story?<span style="font-size: medium;">I’ve been haunted this week. Haunted by the faces and voices of Emmett Till, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo, Rosa Richardson, Marie Scott, Mary Turner, Travon Martin, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. They’ve been repeating what I, and so many, know only to well. The United States is not safe for black people.<br /><br />Last week 13 Cleveland police officers, after a high speed chase lasting almost 25 minutes and going through at least 2 other municipalities, opened fire on an automobile occupied by Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. At the end Timothy and Malissa were both dead. Malissa’s body was so damaged by bullet holes that at first glance it was unclear whether she was a man or a woman. <br /><br />The story is still unfolding. No one will ever know exactly what precipitated these events. Depending on who you listen to the occupants of the car: fired a single shot in the air in the vicinity of the Justice Center downtown; or they fired at a police officer; or the police inside of the building heard what they thought was a shot and came out. At any rate at 10:21 p.m. the vehicle took off at high speed from the Justice Center followed by police. The only facts known for sure are: high speed chase for over 20 minutes; 13 officers firing a total of 137 bullets and two people with over 20 bullets each in their dead bodies. <br />I am saddened and angry but not surprised. When I went online to research police killings of black people in America I came across the following blog post: </span><a href="http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/29-black-people-have-been-killed-by-policesecurity-since-jan-2012-16-since-trayvon/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/29-black-people-have-been-killed-by-policesecurity-since-jan-2012-16-since-trayvon/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Keep in mind this was written in April. How many more have been cut down in the seven months since? How many have we not heard about? How many have been beaten or brutalized but not killed? How many?<br /><br />The other day at work I heard a couple of people discussing the incident. Their consensus was "there must be more to the story." How comforting it must be to be able to say that and dismiss the so very obvious. I <i>know</i> the story. It’s a very old one and the end is always the same. Another nigger<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>dead </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(or in this case two - they got<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>lucky). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></span><br />Everyone wants to tiptoe around the dread "r" word – racism. No one wants to be the first to say it. No one wants to call a lynching a lynching. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Popular mythology tells us that lynching was done by mobs of "civilians". The truth of the matter is that<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> -</span> at least in the case of most killings of black </span>people<span style="font-size: medium;"> -</span> this was and is systematic killing<span style="font-size: medium;">, sanctioned by<span style="font-size: medium;">, if not actually carried out by<span style="font-size: medium;"> duly appointed representatives of the "law". Of <span style="font-size: medium;">course i</span></span></span></span></span></span>f you say it you’re just being paranoid because of course "there must be more to the story." Just another way to say that if the police killed them they must have done something to deserve it. They must have deserved to have 13 police officers empty their guns into them, maybe more than once. People don’t get killed anymore just because they are black and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just wish I could wear those blinders. <br /><br />The <span style="font-size: medium;">reality</span> is this – If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck and lays duck eggs, it’s a duck and there is no more to the story. Until "nice" people stop ignoring it or trying to rewrite it, the story is not going to change. It will have the same ending. And we will continue to die.</span>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-38606826706083686992012-10-25T15:08:00.000-07:002012-10-25T15:08:32.769-07:00Rape and it's aftermathWith apologies to Kurt for stealing his title.<br />
<br />
I've been remiss and several people have reminded me. Mea culpa! ;(<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have several things I have been thinking about lately as you all probably can imagine. I mean it's election season in the U.S. And what about that flawless uppercut lol! All kidding aside though. My friend Kurt posted on his blog about Senator Murdoch's comments regarding God and rape. </span><a href="http://osc-religionandpopculture.blogspot.com/2012/10/rape-and-aftermath-where-is-god.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://osc-religionandpopculture.blogspot.com/2012/10/rape-and-aftermath-where-is-god.html</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> He's a good guy. It's worth reading what he has to say. Anyway, I posted my thoughts in the comments and would like to share them with you. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Senator Murdock, when asked whether abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest responded as follows</span>:<br />
<blockquote>
"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen," </blockquote>
<br />
Ugh~! what an idiot, she says with a shudder.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to think that Senator Murdock did not mean what he said exactly the way he said it. [But that's probably just my eternal optimism :)] I don't believe that God causes bad things to happen. I do believe that when bad things happen God can be there to help us through them and that good can come from it because of God's help and guidance. I also think that we don't always see what that is or will be. Pregnancy resulting from rape can be a particularly difficult issue. Any pregnancy takes a physical and emotional toll on a woman already. For nine months a rape victim would be reminded daily of the crime perpetrated against her and the person who did it. Not only was she raped but it didn't end when the actual act ended. For almost another year, her body is still not her own. Then there is the decision of whether to keep the child or put it up for adoption. Another emotional quagmire forced on the woman by the rapist. How do you separate your feelings about a child from your feelings about it's conception? There are women who can and do find the strength and faith to have and even keep children conceived from rape. I absolutely celebrate and applaud the resilience and faith of those women. Their decision does not come easy. The state cannot and does not give those women the resilience and faith they need. No legislation can tell a woman how to feel, or <i>make </i>her see the potential for God's grace in her situation, and because it can't, it also can't take away her choice.</span>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-1994125304286919792012-02-17T10:26:00.000-08:002012-02-20T07:58:19.765-08:00Jumping on the Whitney Bandwagon<b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">I know it's been a while. I've been a bad girl, hopefully you won't be bored.<br />
<br />
In case you have been under a rock for the past six days Whitney Houston is dead. I’ve listened to people talk about her and her life, her death, her talent etc. and decided I might as well put my two cents in.<br />
<br />
First of all, I have to say my deepest sympathies go to Whitney’s family, particularly her children, who should not have to go through this on top of the chaos their life has already been. Okay, any Whitney worshipers might as well leave the room now.<br />
<br />
I heard today sombody is going to fly the flag at half mast in her honor tomorrow. Well not to put to fine a point on it – why? Flying the flag at half mast is meant to honor political and civic leaders, military heroes or people who have made significant contributions to the advancement of civil society. Not to say that Whitney Houston was not talented (how talented is a matter of opinion) but political or civic leadership?, heroism? significant contributions? Let’s be truthful she was a singer. That’s what she did and it’s what she was known for. There are lots of ways in which any city can honor Whitney. Let’s find a way to honor and celebrate her that is appropriate to who and what she really was.<br />
<br />
I cried a little when I heard the news, but my tears were for the loss her children and parents must feel, and the waste of potential. Whitney did not really do anything that hundreds of others have not and do not do. She sang songs to entertain us. I’m sure she worked hard but I don’t think she even contributed anything particularly new and innovative to her chosen field of endeavor. Not to say she might not have, but so far as I can see - not so much. I don’t think she did anything more than walk through doors which several also talented women had already pried opened through blood, sweat and tears (shout out to Aretha, Billie, Ella, Etta, Tina etc.).<br />
<br />
Ok here comes the inevitable comparison to Michael Jackson. I don’t think flying the flag at half mast would have been any more appropriate then than it is now but I do think, in the grand scheme of things, Michael was probably more deserving. Michael was an innovator. He pioneered things in entertainment that people are still doing or trying to do 20 years later. He also was an incredible humanitarian giving and doing much to improve the lives of children all over the world – a lot of it not in the public eye.<br />
<br />
Whitney was a talented but flawed human being. She was not someone who I would want my niece to emulate. She made bad choices in her life and wasted or destroyed a good deal of her potential. This is why I have a problem with the culture of celebrity. Just because someone is famous, or has a particular talent, we want to elevate them to hero status. Folks, we need to start looking at real heroes. Men and women who go to work every day to support their families, who try their hardest to raise productive, humane citizens of the world, all without being in the spotlight or getting any recognition. People who know, that while art can sustain us, there’s more to life than hitting a ball around or having a particular talent for music. <br />
<br />
So yes, let’s mourn Whitney Houston. Mourn the woman who even though she did not come from the ghetto let the ghetto rule her life; who after several people tried to get her help would not or could not accept it; the woman who if she had been Whitney Houston from Garden Valley Estates would probably have seen her children in foster care; mourn the loss of a talent that gave millions of people great pleasure. Yes, let’s mourn her but let’s not, in mourning her, try to turn her into someone she was not or make her more than she was. Let's pray for her departed soul and for her fractured family. Let’s try to learn, from the lessons of her life and death, how to maybe keep someone else from going down the same sad and futile road and let that be our memorial to Whitney Houston.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />
<br />
<br />
</span></b> <br />
<div align="center"></div>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-17027175392553921582011-11-24T07:54:00.001-08:002011-11-24T08:28:39.459-08:00BLOGUS INTERUPTUS<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>"I used to complain because I had no shoes, then one day I met a man who had no feet</em></strong>." </div><br />
<br />
I'm actually in the middle of a new post but had to stop for a moment to give thanks. Let us not forget in the frenzy of cooking and eating and then shopping and wrapping that this day is really to remind us to be grateful. I try to be thankful for everything even things which seem bad at the time but sometimes I forget. I'm thankful that our country sets aside this day to remind me.<br />
<br />
Today the sun is shining, Thank you God. <br />
I have family and some very good friends. Thank you God.<br />
I am currently about to start work. Thank you God. <br />
I am eating and will be able to eat later when I am hungry. Thank you God. <br />
I am relatively healthy and so are those closest to me. Thank you God.<br />
<br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward</span></strong></em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For those 86,400 seconds. Thank you God.</span><br />
<br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you have lived, take thankfully the past. ~John Dryden</span></strong></em><br />
<br />
For all of the things in my past, good and bad, which have brought me to this moment.. Thank you God.<br />
<br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world. ~Terri Guillemets</span></strong></em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I </span>could go on but you all get the picture. I hope that tomorrow, when the turkey and dressing is digested and the credit cards are maxed out, we don't forget to give thanks yet again and again the day after that. <br />
<br />
This is me, with a grateful heart, signing off for now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong></strong></span><em><br />
</em>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-63469601959268195002011-11-01T07:20:00.000-07:002011-11-04T05:39:55.076-07:00In Memoriam (For All the Saints)<span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;">I must apologize to readers for the long time between posts. Oct. 18 marked the 53rd anniversary of the day of my birth. It also marked the 12th anniversary of the day of my mother’s death. I don’t always handle that well. This began as one thing and morphed into something completely different.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;"><br />
A couple of weeks ago I saw that someone was publishing an in memoriam notice to mark the passing of a loved one. I tend to pay attention to those things around this time of year. The poem they included in the notice ended with the line "God broke our hearts to prove, he only takes the best." My immediate reaction was, whoa, wait a minute! Do you actually venerate a god who deliberately hurts you in order to prove himself to you? Think about that for a minute. If this was a relationship between human beings the kindest word we could use to describe that would be dysfunctional. Gotta say, I don’t know that god and don’t think I want to. <br />
<br />
I started thinking about two particular bible verses which point me to a quite different God. They tell of a God who wants good things for us and is not in the business of hurting us so that we will see how "good" he is. <span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;"><em>Listen to Jesus in Matthew 7:9-11 - "Which of you, if your child asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he or she asks for a fish, will give them a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask." or Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."</em> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times Roman; font-size: medium;">When my mother died 12 years ago, it was from a broken heart. She had a heart attack. Her heart was literally, physically broken. Broken from a to short lifetime of less than healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices. Some times those behaviors and choices were dictated by circumstances and sometimes they were made through ignorance but the end result was a heart unable to continue working properly. She also in her 63 years had more than her share of metaphorical broken heartedness, some of which I know about and much more of which I can only guess.</span></span><br />
<br />
Did God break her heart? Of course not. Life broke her heart. Other people broke her heart. Sometimes she broke her own heart. Was God there? Absolutely. The one constant when things were difficult or unsure. The one unassailable source of comfort and strength and even healing. Is my mother with God now? Yes, she is. I know. I have seen it. Did God <em>need</em> to "bring her home" in order to be near her. No, God was near her always anyway. Was my heart broken 12 years ago by that phone call? Yes it was. Did God break my heart in order to prove something? Of course not. Was God there? Absolutely. Just like for my mother, God was the one constant. The one unassailable source of comfort and strength. Was God near? Yes, God was and is near always, in ways for which I can only be profoundly thankful. <br />
<br />
So God does not need to "prove" anything to me. God's greatness is proven to me everyday when I open my eyes on God's creation. [Yes, even when it's gloomy and raining :)]. God's compassion was proven to me when I saw my mother beaming with happiness because she had seen Jesus. That's the God I worship. </span></span>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-73339692363553371372011-09-29T23:04:00.000-07:002011-09-29T23:14:50.500-07:00I Believe in Love<title></title><style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 0.79in }
P { margin-bottom: 0in; color: #000080 }
-->
</style> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><b>I believe in love, it's all we got<br />
Love has no boundaries, no borders to cross<br />
Love is simple, hate breeds<br />
Those who think difference is the child of disease</b></i></span></span><br />
-Elton John/Bernie Taupin<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wrote this several months ago but feel like it’s still pertinent today. Maybe more than ever with the 10</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 just passed. </span></span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Sunday, April 24, 2011 those of us in the U.S. who are Christians celebrated, with joy, the promise of redemption and the victory of love over a violent bloody death. Exactly one week later many of us were celebrating again. Osama bin Ladin, the most wanted and hated man in America, was dead. I watched, along with millions around the world, as the news unfolded. I was proud of the military personnel, who did their job swiftly and expeditiously with minimal loss of life. I was proud of our president, Barack Obama, who knew what had to be done and ordered it done with no apologies. There is no doubt it was a night to feel good about being an American.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I watched, people began to gather - at ground zero, at the White House, the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania. They were jubilant, celebrating, chanting and joyous. What were they celebrating? They were celebrating the death of a man. My patriotic pride quickly began to give way to a sinking feeling - something was grossly wrong with that picture.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember what I was doing on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. I was at home contemplating how I was going to enjoy the unusually beautiful day. My sister called me and said turn on the TV a plane just crashed into one of the Twin Towers. As I watched, stunned, horror piled upon horror and the news got more grim and bleak by the minute.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember the fear when I realized the next day that one of the planes came perilously close to Cleveland. I remember the anger and the anguish. But I also remember watching video coverage of crowds of people in the Arab world celebrating. I remember thinking, how can they celebrate when hundreds of people are dead or missing? Do they not know the terrible cost of that momentary victory?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">9 1/2 years later I found myself asking similar questions. How can we celebrate when a human being is dead?. How can we be celebrating a victory for death and revenge? Are there people in the Arab world resenting Americans for celebrating this man’s death? Do we not know the terrible cost of this momentary victory?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, Osama bin Ladin did terrible things. Yes, no question that he deserved to be brought to justice. 91/2 years was a long time to wait for justice to be served, and as long as he was alive the threat of another disaster hung over our heads. (Or so we were told). But could we have captured him in all of those 91/2 years without killing him? Could we have done so without putting the lives of women and children with him at risk? Did we really try?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also found myself thinking about the military personnel involved in the raid on that April day. Killing a person, up close and personal, is different than killing “targets” from a distance. How do you reconcile yourself to that? </span></span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what's to be done? Pondering the terribly ironic bookends of that April week I realize that the only way to go forward is to keep going back. Back to Easter Sunday. Remembering that Love did, and still does, triumph over violence and death. Believing in Love and living it. Praying for and loving all of the victims </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> the perpetrators of death and hate. At the end of this September, 2011 I really have no choice but to say that, in spite of it all, I (still) believe in Love.</span></span></span>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-82129076000390048122011-09-21T16:08:00.000-07:002011-09-26T00:49:56.493-07:00There oughta be a law<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">There’s been talk lately about labor unions. In the last election cycle many of the newly elected were people who were and are solidly anti-union and who see it as their job to try to do away with collective bargaining, beginning at the state level. Ohio and our Governor Kasich not being an exception, we are now fighting a lovely little piece of legislation called SB 5.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">Let me start by saying right up front, I used to be a labor organizer. I worked for a non union working women’s group and also for an actual labor union. My job was to try to shift the power balance between workers (especially women) and their employers. When I worked for the union I was also a member of a collective bargaining unit of employees of the union.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">I am amazed by how many people naively think that there is somehow a vast umbrella of government protection for workers in this country. Sorry to tell you folks but it just ain't so. The fact of the matter is that in the U.S., there is very little in the way of legislation, regarding working conditions which can be imposed by an employer. There are some but not as many as most people think. Of course different jobs, industries and companies have different needs. What might work in the way of working conditions for teachers might not work for someone working in manufacturing or banking. On the other hand without some kind of intervening authority (a law or a labor union) there is really almost no limit to what an employer can do or not do. The few protections we do have – workplace safety, non discrimination, minimum wage - we only have because they were fought for by labor unions.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">So, if you work in the state of Ohio, you can be hired and classified as a part time employee, in order for your employer to save on benefits, but yet work 40 hours (or more) a week, every week. Part time employment is what your employer says it is. Of course you'll receive part time benefits and your hours can be cut with little or no warning. You can be let go with little or no notice for little or no reason. Paid holidays – there’s no law. Time and a half – only if you work more than 40 hours in a one week period. You do not have to be paid time and a half, double time, shift premiums etc. for working non traditional shifts or holidays. The only thing you have to be paid is minimum wage. Anything else is at your employers discretion. Regular pay increases – </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><b>no law</b></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">. Paid sick days – </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><b>no law</b></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">. Short term disability with pay – </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><b>no law</b></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><i>Only four countries have </i></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><i>no</i></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><i> national law mandating paid time off for new parents: Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, and the United States.</i></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"> (The law which applies in the U.S. – FMLA - guarantees your job for up to 12 weeks but not that you will be paid). Forced overtime – </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><b>no law</b></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">. You get a new job and give two weeks notice. You think you’re being professional and don’t want to leave your boss in the lurch. The next day they tell you you’re fired. Can they do that?! Yep – </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><b>no law</b></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">. (And guess what, they can put it on your record as you being fired rather than that you quit).</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">All of the above examples, and more, are things which have recently happened to me or to someone I know, and the usual response when someone hears about it is "isn't that against the law? or don't they have to do - whatever - ?" No it's not and no they don't. The only way you have any protection as a worker is if you belong to a collective bargaining unit. The purpose of a labor union is to give workers some say in their working conditions, pay and benefits. Without a union even if you work for a wonderful employer and have great pay and benefits things can change - overnight. Will you have any thing to say about it or any input in what changes may need to be made – probably not – </span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;"><b>no law</b></span><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">Are there bad labor unions? Sure there are. Unions are just like any other institution involving people. They are as good or as bad as the people who belong to and participate in them. Quite frankly lazy union members sometimes make for bad unions. But here's the huge difference, if union members want, they have the ability to change their union, but without a union they don’t have any real ability to change their working conditions. I have worked with a union and without one and with is definitely better. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Antique Olive,sans-serif;">Yes there really should be more laws in our country, on the state and national level, protecting workers from unfair working conditions. Most of the industrialized nations in the world have legislation regarding pay, benefits and working conditions along with strong enforcement. Most of those countries also have strong labor unions. There really oughta be a law (or two or three), but until the U.S. catches up to the majority of the industrialized world, there oughta be a union. </span> </div>toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8032434157724572110.post-28747744289461983982011-09-12T19:36:00.000-07:002011-09-12T19:36:12.702-07:00hello, it's meA few years ago, when I turned 50, I thought it might be intriguing to commit some of my thoughts to paper (well actually the internet, this is after all the 21st century). Unfortunately, the "P" in my name stands not only for Ponzo but also for procrastination. So here it is one month shy of being four years later. I promise to do better now that I've begun.<br />
<br />
So what's it like for a black woman, born in the U.S. pre-P.C. (personal computer that is), to be a citizen of the world in the digital age? What's changed in the last half century for good or ill? What hasn't changed that should have? What (or who) moves me to anger or tears, sends me into gales of laughter or towering rages, or somewhere in between?<br />
<br />
I've been told that I can string a sentence together pretty well. I'm counting on you thinking so too. (Lord, I hope those folks weren't just being kind!) So get ready for rants, ruminations, reviews and more. If I <i>can</i> have an opinion I probably do. To paraphrase Bette Davis, fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride!toni p1http://www.blogger.com/profile/14888002688919296589noreply@blogger.com0