Peace on Earth: How now?

barbara — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:42:01 -0600

barbara writes

I woke this morning, fine-tuned to the reality of a new year birthed. Last night, glasses of wine in hand, my friend and I toasted David. We toasted Barack Obama, about whom I said that I hope he is even half as good as I’ve been hoping he will be. We toasted our deep personal and global need for financial recovery. I hoped out loud that my adult children will keep their jobs.

Later, I found this link at FireDogLake to a piece written by Starhawk. She invites readers to post it in its entirety, and so I shall. Given the horrendous events in Gaza (and Iraq and Afghanistan and Mumbai and Greece and multiple African nations and yes, in the U.S. of A.), her words speak not to choosing up sides, but rather to embracing our shared humanity. Totally transcends Kumbayah, IMO.

On Gaza
by Starhawk

December 30, 2008

All day I've been thinking about Gaza, listening to reports on NPR, following the news on the internet when I can spare a moment. I've been thinking about the friends I made there four years ago, and wondering how they are faring, and imagining their terror as the bombs fall on that giant, open-air prison.

The Israeli ambassador speaks movingly of the terror felt by Israeli children as Hamas rockets explode in the night. I agree with him-that no child should have her sleep menaced by rocket fire, or wake in the night fearing death.

But I can't help but remember one night on the Rafah border, sleeping in a house close to the line, watching the children dive for cover as bullets thudded into the walls. There was a shell-hole in the back room they liked to jump through into the garden, which at that time still held fruit trees and chickens. Their mother fed me eggs, and their grandmother stuffed oranges into my pockets with the shy pride every gardener shares.

That house is gone, now, along with all of its neighbors. Those children wake in the night, every night of their lives, in terror. I don't know if they have survived the hunger, the lack of medical supplies, the bombs. I only know that they are children, too.

I've ridden on busses in Israel. I understand that gnawing fear, the squirrely feeling in the pit or your stomach, how you eye your fellow passengers wondering if any of them are too thick around the middle. Could that portly fellow be wearing a suicide belt, or just too many late night snacks of hummus? That's no way to live. Please read on.

read more

!!!

barbara — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:55:45 -0600

Rumor has it that Susan and barbara are alive and, if not well, then at least borderline vertical and may, repeat may, actually resume writing at this site. Stand by!

Whassup?

barbara — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:33:08 -0600

barbara ponders

Political analysis? Here? Not so much lately.

My lizard brain (h/t Natalie Goldberg) seems unable to process all that’s swirling around us. I’m 45 rpm in a 78 rpm world. Or is that backwards? See what I mean?

I think George Carlin had it right. Snippets, followed by question marks. Sometimes it’s the most a body can manage.

Like, how about we buy Norm Coleman a nice house on Elba and be done with it?

Sara Palin?

Re Cheney’s bizarre fedora and snarl combo, do you suppose he wheeled up to a full-length mirror and said, “There! That’s it! The perfect look for this inauguration crap.”?

Where is Harriet Meiers? There's more, by golly.

Date

Peace on Earth: How now?

!!!

Whassup?