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Active Art



Changing the world through positive activism and art















The Art of Self Expression



Self expression is an art. Feelings and intentions often fall prey to misinterpretation.  The trite expression, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is cause for great consternation for me.  There are images and concepts that are universally held as beautiful -- sunsets, babies, roses, the ocean. While other concepts are universally held as ugly -- child abuse, war, hunger, disease.  Self expression is sometimes beautiful -- but it can be ugly as well.  In a world where face to face communication has been replaced with cell phones, email, and text messaging and the important news about our world is summed up in 30 second sound bites and billboards, it is more important than ever to find an outlet for all the clutter and concerns in our minds. We are reduced to snippets of information relayed in the most efficient manner with little or no concern for underlying emotion on the part of the sender or the receiver of the message.  The act of expression itself is a beautiful thing.  Whether we express ourselves through art, words, dance, or any other way, the ability to express openly and unashamedly how we feel is indeed an art form.  I prefer to think that "beauty is in the act of self expression" and hope that the beholder sees something worthwhile my work.  I do not expect to change the world. I just want communicate some of the things that weigh on my heart through my form of self expression -- feelings expressed with images  and a few words thrown in for good measure.




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Neocon Communion



I think it is a disgrace that religion became such an important talking point for the neo-conservatives and the Republican Party in general during the 2008 race for the White House. I was disgusted by the conservative attack on President Elect Obama.  He was accused of befriending terrorists and of being a Muslim. I kept asking people "And just what is wrong with being a Muslim? So what if he is a Muslim? How is that a bad thing?"  Dear reader,  you may find this hard to believe, but one person confessing to be a Christian actually told me that only a Christian is fit to be President.  When questioned further, this man went on to claim that since the Founding Fathers were all Christian, and since the United States was founded only on Christian principals, then the only right religion for a leader is Christian. His assertions are certainly factually flawed, but even if he were correct, which brand of Christianity should a prospective presidential candidate suscribe to?   Colin Powell addressed this very issue and spoke the words I had been saying all along.  In the United States the doctrine of Separation of Church and State is supposed to keep religion out of politics and prevent the Government from regulating religious institutions. When I read how certain clergy considered a vote for Obama to be a sin, I became pretty angry.  I’m thinking if the Church wants to stick its big nose into politics, then they should pay taxes and be subject to government regulations just like every other big business in the country.  Considering the current economic crisis we are experiencing, a few extra billion in tax dollars from the Churches in the United States would be a good thing.I discuss the issue of religion and the founding of the United States of America in my essay The USA and Religion.




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The New Face Of America



Congratulations Mr. President. We did it.




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Imagine Hope



Can you imagine a world where there is no war? no hunger? no disease? no poverty? no racism? no discrimination of any kind? Can you imagine a world where people respect all living things and the Earth that sustains us?  Can you imagine that people still have hope for such a world? It seems that peace, justice, equality, health and prosperity have been the hope of humankind since the dawn of civilization.  I've been on this earth less than one half century, and I am exhausted by the struggle. Still I hold onto the hope for a better life, for a better world, for myself and for my children.  I can imagine a world with hope. What I can not imagine is a world without hope.




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equality,
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We Are The Ones



My only political campaign piece. It is a message of hope for the future of America—hope for a better future for my children.    Because we know what we have seen and what we believe – that what began as a whisper has now swelled to a chorus that cannot be ignored; that will not be deterred; that will ring out across this land as a hymn that will heal this nation, repair this world, and make this time different than all the rest – Yes. We. Can.FULL TEXT OF THIS SPEECH BY BARACK OBAMA CLICK HEREPLEASE VOTE FOR MY AMERICA, YOUR AMERICA, OUR AMERICA




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A Light in the Darkness



UPDATE 24 OCTOBER 2008 Troy was granted a reprieve from execution! Thanks to everyone who spoke up on his behalf!CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS STORYTroy Davis is scheduled to be executed on October 27 at 7pm for the murder of a Police Officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia, USA. Seven of the nine witnesses against Troy have recanted their testimony. They admit now that they lied on the witness stand. No murder weapon was found and there was no physical evidence to connect Troy to the crime. Read about Troy and please, urge the Georgia Board of Parole to reconsider and grant Troy clemency. What if Troy really is innocent? Seven of the witnesses admit they did not tell the truth when they testified against him. Should we allow Troy to be executed if there is any question about his innocence?  Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty are working hard to save Troy's life.  Please visit their web page for more information about what  you can do to help.Please click the Amnesty International USA link to send an email to the Georgia Board of Parole and urge them to grant Troy clemency.




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Pick a Card



There is just one card in this deck— the wrong card. If any person plays that card, it is wrong. If any person accuses another person of playing it when there is a legitimate case for discrimination, that is wrong too.  I am sick unto death of people accusing the Obama campaign of playing the race card. It is not playing a card if it is the truth.  Addressing the undercurrent of racism in this election is not playing a card.  Some people in America are ignorant and racist.  Some people will in fact cast their vote for one candidate or the other based on his skin.  Some people in America are so filled with and fueled by hate they can not see this Country falling down around them.    The race card should never be played and no one should ever have to face being accused of playing it.  But this is America and no matter how vile, ignorant, or racist your views, you may express them.




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You Are Here



When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being an astronomer.  I wanted to discover galaxies and black holes and gamma ray bursts. On warm summer nights, I would drag a blanket out into our back yard. I would lie there on my back looking at the points of light and try to comprehend the meaning of the infinity.  I still don't know how to explain the concept of infinity.  But I think I have an inarticulable understanding of infinite.  I think most human beings feel so small when they ponder the Universe.  On the scale of the Universe we may be small, but our minds are capable of infinity -- our imaginations are without boundaries, and we dream without limitation.  I was a teen when the Voyager space crafts were launched in 1977.  We didn't have computers, or internet, or even cable television.  I had to get my information from news papers and magazines at the public library.  Every day after school I would go to the library and pour over the national news papers looking for updates, information, anything about the progress of those odd looking little crafts.  When those first images of Jupiter and then Saturn were returned to us I was so excited and mesmerized by them.  Ah but life intervened, and I lost track of those lonely Voyagers for a while. During all those years I spent living my life, they quietly continued on their paths toward infinity. As the Voyagers approach the barrier between the heliosphere and interstellar space marking the  end of one journey and the beginning of another, I  would like to see humanity begin on a new journey toward peace.   If only we could stop hurting and hating each other long enough to lie down on the earth on a clear night, look up and out into infinity  -- what wonders we could imagine!The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers    of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and    triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think    of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this    pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how    frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another,    how fervent their hatreds.  Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994You Are Here image created using NASA Hubble Space Telescope Public Domain Image




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Ordinary People



Ordinary people do extraordinary things. They rise at 3 am to work 12 hours every day. Still there is not enough money. Ordinary people ride the bus, and drive old cars, and walk to work.  They sit by the river and talk to each other. They talk about the economy, the election, the insensitive boss at work. Sometimes they say nothing at all.  Ordinary people love their children. They like cats or dogs. They cut the lawn on Saturday afternoon. Sometimes ordinary people stay home on Sunday to do the laundry instead of going to Church because they work Monday through Saturday. Ordinary people work in strip clubs and factories. Ordinary people complain about the President, and politics, and the rising cost of gas, but they love their country. They are European, African, Asian, Hispanic, male, female, young and old. They empty bed pans in nursing homes, and they empty their wallets when a neighbor is in need.  They build bridges over rivers and between generations. Ordinary people have little, but the greater the need, the more they give -- their time, their money, their love.   They work all day and go to school at night, because ordinary people want a better life. They wait tables and wait for pay day. They pay the taxes and pay the consequences when the government wastes their money. Ordinary people do extraordinary things.  




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government,
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We, the People



We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.Belief in a great future, lofty ideals and the hope of a nation: all embodied in the preamble to the United States Constitution.  Something has happened in our country; to its people. Fear and finger pointing rule the land. The people see enemies all around; far away -- but preparing to murder us all on planes and trains and  with dirty bombs.  When did we give over our free minds to the lies of delusional politicians whose only interests are their own? When did we start measuring our words -- careful not to offend lest our conversations are recorded, our reading habits tracked, and our intentions questioned?Have we forgotten our liberty? our free spirits and free speech? Am I a fool to still believe it still exists somewhere deep in the heart of America?CHARTERS OF FREEDOM




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I will take care of you



I think we can tell a lot about a person’s heart by observing how they treat animals.  Are we born with kind hearts or is that something we learn?  Nature or nurture? My son saw this little kitten sitting all alone while its siblings played nearby.  He picked it up and said, "You look lonely. I will take care of you."  This touched me as a tremendous act of kindness by a 2 year old child.When I was a little girl, the boys  who lived nearby all carried sling shots and BB rifles.  They would kill birds with these weapons. Occasionally they would abuse a cat or small dog by shooting it and pelting it with rocks.  This cruel torment was their fun. I would cry and beg them to stop, but they would  just laugh. And  then turning their weapons on me, they would chant "Sissy girl! Go home cry baby!"  When I told my parents what happened, I was told, "That's just the way boys play."  I thought it was a horrible way to play.I did not understand then, and I do not understand now some 40 years later, what joy can be had in such cruelty. We can teach our children to be kind to others if we ourselves are kind. It does not make you weak if you pet a dog or hold a kitten.  I often wonder what became of the boys with the BB guns and sling shots. 




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animals,
caring,
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Keep Talking



Your voice is required now more than any other timein the history of the United StatesCLICK HERE




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The Smallest of Creatures



I believe in respecting all living things. There is an energy that surrounds all life, even the smallest of creatures.  We should never destroy just for the sake of destroying.  I am pained when I see small children crushing insects under foot just because they can kill them.  There is no reason to ever kill any creature just because we can.  Have our great leaps forward in learning and technology separated us so far from the natural world that we have forgotten that we too are part of the life force of this Universe?  Life is a marvelous mystery; how it came to be; why it exists in the first place.  All life seems connected. Let's teach our children to respect all life, from the greatest to the smallest of creatures.




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life,
living,
love,
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The Color of a Whisper



If a whisper was a color, what color do you think it would be? Would it be the palest pink, or misty green? Perhaps whispers are gray or baby blue? I think it depends on the nature of the whisper.  A sweet "I love you" might be pink. A passionate whisper could be red. Then there are those hissing whispers that bite like snakes. A soft spoken word can cut like a knife. Black are the secrets whispered about a friend despite the heart crossed promise never to tell.  Whispers have a way of  being lifted off by the breeze and brought back to you again. Keep your whispers pastel shades of kindness.




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caring,
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kindness,
secrets,
whispers








Summer Fades



There is a time between summer and fall when the color of everything fades. The grass is dry and pale, even the sky seems to be nearly white on a clear day.  Soon Autumn will burst onto the scene with crisp clear air, deep azure skies, and brilliantly colored leaves. Pumpkins and hay bales and the smell of winter will be in the air soon. This time of year is a transition from hot days and sprinklers to sweaters and frosty breath in the air. FLowers and memories seem to fade together, slowly but always leaving a remnant as a reminder.




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Things you can't talk about in America anymore . . .



. . .unless you agree with the current administration and the conservatives, that is.If you do talk about these topics in a critical way, be prepared to be called unpatriotic and anti- American, dangerous, and much worse.You have the right to free speech, just be careful what you say.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   War in IraqYou may discuss the war in Iraq only if believe that the war is justified.  If you aren't with us, you are against us. And don't you forget it!     The War on TerrorYou may discuss the War on Terror only if you accept torture and detention of persons without the benefit of counsel or formal charges.  If you agree that enemy combatants are not human beings and should be tortured, then this topic is okay.09-11-2001You may discuss this event only in terms of the dirty bastards that attacked us.     Government PropagandaYou have to believe the hype to talk about this issue. If you question the validity of the information, you may get your name on a list somewhere.     Gay RightsYou can not talk about this one unless you believe that gay people are going to be the destruction of civilization and they are going to hell.     Women’s RightsWomen have rights don't they? They got the vote, what more do women want?     Minority RightsEveryone is the same in America, right? If you talk about this issue be prepared for the "America is the land of opportunity" speech, followed by the "there is no discrimination in America" speech.     Police AbuseThis issue does not exist. The police do not abuse their powers and do not beat the shit out of people.  They are all true American heroes, especially since 09-11-2001. We all know that if someone gets arrested, they are probably guilty anyway.     Hunger & PovertyThis discussion is limited to how people are poor because it is their own fault in some way. You have to include the fact that there are social welfare programs such as subsidized housing and food stamps so what are they complaining about? If you criticize the government for not adopting policies to stimulate the economy to create jobs, you will be told that poor people probably wouldn't work anyway.     HomelessnessNo one is to blame for homelessness. If you attempt to discuss this issue, you will be told in no uncertain terms that homeless people are crazy or lazy or both. Oh yes, you will be reminded that they like living in the streets.Erosion of Civil RightsYou have the right to free expression, verbally and symbolically, just make sure that your speech is patriotic, pro-American, pro-war, and it does not question a single act by the government.If you follow these rules, you will enjoy the bountiful fruits of freedom embodied in the Constitution of the United States of America.I held up the mirror. They looked but did not recognize themselves. To view the reflection, CLICK HERE.Is logical argument against the law?Track H.R. 1955 by clicking HERE




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The State of the Police



Protesting used to be a constitutionally protected right in the United States. That is until the party conventions in recent weeks. I have been very disturbed by the conduct of police officers attacking peaceful protesters at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions.  Police raided the homes of protesters and some were arrested. Why these raids? It seems to me that if you are engaged in a protest you will be the target of an investigation. Source St. Paul city council member, Dave Thune, whose district includes the theater building that the protesters were using as a central location denounced the police raids. He  affirmed that the  people had a legal right to assemble at the theater. Are we a police state now? Even members of the media were detailed for inquiring after the condition of some of the protesters. "Covering news is a constitutionally protected activity, and covering a riot is part of that coverage," Ake said. "Photographers should not be detained for covering breaking news."Democracy Now! Streaming VideoA Bizarre Reaction to this PhotographThe Constitution is History




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What is an Activist?



I've been involved in a discussion about the effectiveness of activists and activist artists until I am exhausted. Members of my activist groups have been called "pigs and thugs." We have been called "vile and  hateful." I can endure such insults. But what I can not abide is being told that my work is of no value. That it serves no valid purpose.  Some people believe that today's activist is living the glory days of the past and should take a lesson from the successful advertising campaigns of big corporations. Some believe that activism is ineffective. In support of this bit of advice, the author of this idea makes this assertion:Many programs have been instigated [sic]all across the globe to try and eliviate  [sic] the problem, very few of them work. The question is why?    Here is my answer:You are asking the wrong question.    You assume that the wrongs of the world continue because activism and activist art is ineffective or is a failure. Activism and activist art continues because many of the societies of this world are the failures. The reason these issues continue to plague every human society are the close minded, self serving, self important attitudes of the people who are not hungry, not homeless, not jobless, and not without the means to help themselves.    The naysayers are a large part of the problem.    The naysayer questions the conduct and the effectiveness of anyone who would see change, and yet they do nothing themselves.    This is what the activist does for change:We act by crying out for change and serving as the voice of those who are not heard;We live our lives with the needs of others and the larger global community at the heart of everything we do;We act with our voices and with our hands;The activist volunteers at food pantries and homeless shelters, and donates talent, time, money and labor;We make calls to beg for donations when a neighbor’s house burns down destroying everything they owned;The activist does not sit around and pray or hope for change - the activist gets off his/her ass and works for change by motivating, agitating, and demanding until those with the power and the money finally begin to listen.We do this through art, writing, protesting, volunteering, raising money and raising awareness. Each of us contributes in our own way according to our talents and our passions. No amount of naysaying will sway the activist who truly believes in the importance of the human voice to not be silenced.    We are not going anywhere. We will continue to fight our causes and raise our voices. We will bear the criticism and return to the trenches as better fighters for our causes. I have the freedom to be, to do, and to dream. Those freedoms were not given to me, they were earned by those who came before me. The activists of 50, 100, 200 years ago, in whose steps I am trying to follow. The activist  marches steadily forward carrying the banner of hope often at risk of life and of limb to address the wrongs of this world despite the raucous clatter of the naysayer.    To those who would say that we waste our time by creating our work, raising our voices, and demanding change because they don’t like the way we do it or the words we speak, or the art we create; I will borrow from the friend of a friend and say “get over it.”    The activist is neither the cause nor the cure.The activist is the catalyst for change.Freedom is more than a word. It is a way of life. Think free. Live free.HOME




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Military Photographers and the Propaganda Machine



   No doubt many of you have seen the gripping photographs from military conflicts since there have been battle field photographers. They risk their own life and limb to bring the truth of war and the suffering that results to the world with their images.  These are not the people that this essay covers.  I want to explore the official photographers of the military and their role in the pro-war propaganda machine funded by you, the tax paying American citizen. Is the United States government waging a Winning of Hearts and Minds propaganda campaign at its own people  permitting only sanitary images of the War in Iraq?         The first time the United States Government employed wide scale propaganda techniques to sway public opinion came during World War I.  At public expense, the government produced posters which encouraged people to make personal sacrifice to free up more funds to support the war effort by such things as raising their own food in Victory Gardens. Since World War I, the U.S. government has increased its propaganda efforts to sell its agendas to the American people with campaigns such as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The government’s World War II propaganda efforts included the Why We Fight series of films to justify involvement in the conflict.  The Cold War was another opportunity for the government to hone it skills and expand domestic propaganda efforts.  The Vietnam Conflict saw both pro-conflict and media censorship efforts.    Each year, the Military Authorization Bill, which is basically the funding document for United States military operations, has contained a prohibition against the use of domestic propaganda. The Smith-Mundt Act prohibits the Executive Branch from distributing propaganda domestically. After a long history of utilizing propaganda to influence public opinion, it should come as no surprise that the United States government has engaged in pro-war propaganda to support the quagmire that is the Iraq War. In a New York Times online article, an investigation into domestic propaganda has been launched:The inspector general’s office at the Defense Department announced on Friday that it would investigate a Pentagon public affairs program that sought to transform retired military officers who work as television and radio analysts into “message force multipliers” who could be counted on to echo Bush administration talking points about Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantánamo and terrorism in general. The announcement came a day after the House passed an amendment to the annual military authorization bill that would mandate investigations of the program by both the inspector general’s office and Congress’s investigative arm, the Government Accountability Office. The G.A.O. said it had already begun looking into the program and would give a legal opinion on whether it violated longstanding prohibitions against spending government money to spread propaganda to audiences in the United States (Source).An unapologetic Representative Paul C. Broun (R-Georgia) admitted, “Of course Americans engage in propaganda. It’s a vital part of the mission of the United States to promote democracy and protect our country from harm.”While I take note that the propaganda campaign to win hearts and minds was initially directed at gaining and maintaining the confidence of the Iraqi people in the months following the invasion of Iraq by the United States, I suggest that the campaign has been directed at the American people as well.  The United States Army in particular has utilized its soldier photographers to produce images of a kinder, gentler Iraq war. Consider the image of a U.S. soldier apparently reading an English language book to Iraqi children.  This image could not be more staged. First, I am curious about how many Iraqi children speak and read English; secondly, does this soldier really have the time out from fighting the ever present threat of insurgents to sit down and  enjoy a  book with Iraqi children? On a site called Royalty Free Department of Defense Military Stock Photography, anyone can buy Department of Defense photographs for $99.95 each. If you dare to venture into the government's web, you can go to the Department of Defense web site,  and download the same photographs at no cost.The internet has made dissemination of information incredibly easy and swift. I am concerned about the effect of the  proliferation of web pages which contain sanitized Department of Defense photographs which paint a winning picture of the Iraq War.  Zoriah Miller, a freelance photographer and blogger  was expelled from a U.S. military unit  where he was embedded after he published photos of dead marines. While respect for those killed in combat, as well as sparing their families undue trauma should be taken into account, the censorship of the reality of war should not be sanitized or censored.  Individuals can not be identified in  Mr. Miller's photographs. According to the story in the New York Times Online, June 26, 2008:But opponents of the war, civil liberties advocates and journalists argue that the public portrayal of the war is being sanitized and that Americans who choose to do so have the right to see — in whatever medium — the human cost of a war that polls consistently show is unpopular with Americans.How does Mr. Miller feel about his expulsion from the military unitt following publication of his photographs? “It is absolutely censorship,” Mr. Miller said. “I took pictures of something they didn’t like, and they removed me. Deciding what I can and cannot document, I don’t see a clearer definition of censorship.”  New York Times Online, June 26, 2008.Well Mr. Miller, I can not see a clearer definition of censorship either. Department of Defense PhotographsSoldier Distributing Food, U.S. Army photographer Sgt. Daniel T. West, posted for public viewing and purchase on Acclaim Image Stock PhotographyLaughing Soldiers, Combat photojournalist Stacy Pearsall, posted for public viewing with interview on Popular PhotographySoldier Reading to Iraqi Children, Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika, posted for public viewing on Personal Website Further Reading & PhotographsIs the domestic propaganda ban obsolete?The Reporters Free CommitteeWar PhotographerHOME




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Learning to Live



So few people in this world are a living, breathing inspiration.  My friend Shayne Chester is such a man.  He is an artist, a writer, and a beautiful, passionate person.  His irrepressible spirit comes through his art and his words.  I like to think that I am in a constant state of becoming the person I am going to be someday.  But Shayne is already there -- a man of character and strength, who possesses unyielding integrity.In a recent interview on RedBubble, Shayne was asked what inspired him during his illness. Here is what he said:Inspired? I’d like to say I was inspired, but it was a far more earthy experience than that, basically it’s been a constant slog, claw over fist, the struggle for survival traveling with the bloody nightmare of intensive chemo. I don’t know how I got through it, but I do remember some things – the smell of fresh cut grass, the thought of laying on the beach getting sunburned, the colours of moss and pidgeons, six litres of Stolichnaya, Rembrandt, Elgar and Shakespeare, smelly Brie and laughing with friends. p.s. I lied about the vodka, I don’t drink.I count myself as very fortunate to know him and to be his friend. His work, his words, and his refusal to be beaten are an inspiration. I know there were times when he felt too ill to deal with anyone, but he was there to send a supportive and uplifting email to me. He is an amazing human being, and the world is a far better place with him in it.Shayne Chester ArtMature ContentHOME




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NO BRAVERY BANNED BY REDBUBBLE.COM



No BraveryJames BluntThere are children standing here,Arms outstretched into the sky,Tears drying on their face.He has been here.Brothers lie in shallow graves.Fathers lost without a trace.A nation blind to their disgrace,Since he's been here.And I see no bravery,No bravery in your eyes anymore.Only sadness.Houses burnt beyond repair.The smell of death is in the air.A woman weeping in despair says,He has been here.Tracer lighting up the sky.It's another families' turn to die.A child afraid to even cry out says,He has been here.And I see no bravery,No bravery in your eyes anymore.Only sadness.There are children standing here,Arms outstretched into the sky,But no one asks the question why,He has been here.Old men kneel to accept their fate.Wives and daughters cut and raped.A generation drenched in hate.Yes, he has been here.And I see no bravery,No bravery in your eyes anymore.Only sadness.Censorship is alive and well all around the globe.  People do not want to see the truth because to do so would require that they admit the truth.The above Pulitzer Prize winning photo by Nick Ut would be banned by those guidelines.A painting based on the photo by Nick Ut was been removed from the site.END GENOCIDEHOME




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Miracle of the Blood and the Oil



It is amazing how the blood of so many soldiers and innocents can be miraculously transfigured into the oil that is again transformed into the  life blood of the big oil companies and their investors.  It is miraculous that so many people have, for so many years, given no thought to how that blood becomes oil that becomes the fuel we consume.  The sheep have been sold a lie at the price of $4.29 per gallon.We drink their blood daily as we drive our SUVs around this Country, taking the kids to soccer, running to the market, driving down the block instead of walking.  People of the United States of America must find alternative fuel sources.  The cost of oil is too high--not in dollars but in lives. How long will the rest of the world abide our greedy need for oil?Put your lips to the rim and hear the proclamation of your responsibility: the blood of the innocent, the cup of damnation.HOME




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Lost for Words



Dear John,This will come as a shock but . . .HOME




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separation








War Toys



It is only a game that children play, under the shade tree or in the sand box.  Gritty little hands clutching gritty little green men with guns.  War toys and war games is what they like to play. "You're dead! You're dead! I win!" they chant.  It's only a game, after all.  No one one gets hurt. It's only pretend.  On the playground, they reenact the movie they watched last night when they were supposed to be doing homework in their rooms.  For their birthdays they want cap guns, and BB rifles.  Water guns are just fine when the weather is warm.  "I got you! You're dead!" they chant. It's only a game. No one gets hurt.  It's only pretend.The recruiter comes to the high school and they assemble in the gymnasium.  Graduation day is just a few weeks away. College is not an option. Mom and Dad have worked their whole lives, and never managed to save a penny for their future. Bills and debt, food and mortgage consumed their life's work.  Glory and honor, respect and prestige is what the recruiter promises.  "You'll earn money for college," he promises hopeful young faces.  They line up to sign the papers and pledge to defend their Country.  "It's just four years," they are told. "Then you can go to college."  They hesitate only a moment before signing on the line. It's go in the service or work at the service station.It is only a game that their children play, under the shade tree or in the sand box. Gritty little hands clutching gritty little green men with guns. War toys and war games is what their children like to play. "You're dead! You're dead! I win!" they chant.  Their mommy or daddy is in Iraq, playing soldier in the sand, but it isn't a game and people get hurt.  It isn't pretend.  On the battlefield they remember their homes, their loves, and their lives.  This isn't like the movies they watched when they were supposed to be doing homework in their rooms.  This weapon in their hands is not a cap gun or BB rifle.  For their birthdays, they just want to come  home alive.HOME




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Rembering The SOL 56



This is a special guest essay written by a brilliant artist, excellent writer, and war veteran,  Thomas Broadfoot.  His beautiful art site and the original essay can be found on RedBubble.com.Original Essay, Remembering the SOL 56I read an essay by Pete Evans.  What caught my eye was this section of his essay:“I should add that I am NOT a rascist, a bigot, a Nazi, or anything similar that I may get called after I post this. In fact I don’t think I have hated anyone in my life and doubt whether I ever will, certainly not my country. I just vehmenently dislike terrorists and those who support them; in any way.    I also have a total disregard for anyone who hurts their country by attacking an elected government because it is fashionable to do so at this point in their lives, ignores the fact that any action has a reaction and denies all responsibilities.”    Mr. Evans’ point is very interesting though it did bring up a group that in today’s political and social climate would be called terrorists and traitors. Below is a brief overview of the group with some quotes by key members of the group. I also have placed sections of their Manifesto for people to read. I think their radical and total dedication to their agenda is admirable and should be emulated by all of us. But then again it is an American tradition to question authority and to resist the government when the government is wrong.    Remembering the SOL 56    For 2 years their whereabouts were shielded from the legal government as they first attempted to address grievances the government did to the people. When the process failed they then planned to overthrow the legal government. They established a system that did do damage to public property, maim and kill government officials as well as conspire with an outside government to overthrow the existing government. These co-conspirators fomented decent among the population, they held a minority view which was not held by 66% of the people. They pushed on with their demands for recognition to the government while they met in secret places to map out their political and social agenda.    The SOL 56 did create such an untenable position to reconcile with the legal government it was not difficult to see why troops were sent to squelch the vocal minority’s increased radical political and social agenda. The SOL 56 supported and condoned the destruction of government property, stockpiled weapons and munitions, ambushed government troops while doing their duty, hijacked convoys of supplies, solicited arms, money and troops from a foreign super power and spread misinformation about the legal government and their activities.    Some quotes of the SOL 56 that live forever in the hearts of those that support their vision, their resolve and their integrity:    1. “In short, the flames kindled … have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of depotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.”    2.    “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God.”    3. “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; ‘tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated.”    4. “For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states;For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;For imposing taxes on us without our consent;For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury;For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried for pretended offenses; “    5. “The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government . . .”    6.    “God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty . . . And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.“    7. “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.    We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government …”    For those that are unfamiliar with American History the SOL 56 are better known as our Founding Fathers. Yes they did overthrow a legal government and they did believe in “Questioning the Government” and to change the government if it did not listen to the people. Therefore, for those that believe we, as American’s should not actively question our government’s actions should go back and read about the history of our country other than a superficial treatment that we got in High School. For questioning the government is an American Tradition and when our rights are silenced, suppressed or oppressed we lose what the Founding Fathers fought and died.    In addition, before you get crazy and accuse me of being Anti-American, I am a veteran, I support the troops but I do not support the policies of our government that has our troops’ blood to be spilled in a far off place. I do exercise my God given right to ask questions of my government. If more of our citizens had asked more questions we may not have our civil rights being abridged or our troops placed in harm’s way because of a policy based on the self-interest of Big Oil and their paid “elected” minions.    Quote 1 and 6 are from Thomas Jefferson.Quote 2 is from Benjamin Franklin.Quote 3 is from Thomas Paine.Quote 5 is from George Washington.Quote 4 and 7 are from the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.~END~Thank you Thomas for your contribution to a better understanding of early American history and the Sons of Liberty.HOME




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Division Bell



It is a symbol of independence and an icon of liberty and justice.  This object now called the Liberty Bell was known as the Independence Bell or the Old Yankee's Bell until 1837.  It became known as the Liberty Bell after it was adopted as the symbol for the abolitionist organization, the American Anti-Slavery Society. The Liberty Bell carries many different meanings and there are quite a few myths about how and why the crack in the Bell occurred.  For me the crack in the Bell symbolizes the division of our society and the bigotry that persists despite all the glorious rhetoric to the contrary.  The inscription on the Bell is taken from the biblical book of Leviticus 25.10 and reads "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof."  The very symbol of liberty for all inhabitants of the United States of America was cast, hung, and then cracked during a time of Slavery in America.  It is a curious, yet telling hypocrisy that this Bell represents.  Great progress has been made toward the liberty proclaimed on this icon of American freedom, but at the enormous price of the blood of true patriots  who died by the assassin's bullet.  There was no liberty for those human beings hanged until dead because of the color of their skin. There was no liberty for the women who lived and died never being able to fully participate in this great country because they were denied the vote on the basis of their gender.  There is still no liberty for people of the same sex who love each other and want only to live their lives with dignity and respect.  It is only the liberty promised by this symbol that I am seeking for myself as a woman, for my husband as a Black man, my children and all people.  For me the Bell is cracked because this society is flawed. Liberty should not be granted by laws, but recognized as the inherent and  natural state of all persons.Freedom is more than a word, it is a way of life. Think free. Live free.HOME




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Wine & Roses



Can anyone ever really forget past hurts? I'm not talking about forgiving, I mean forgetting.  The old saying, forgive and forget surely does not really mean forget. I think it means, forgive and then don't bring it up in conversation again.  It seems the harder I try to forget, the better my memory becomes. Consciously trying to forget seems to cement the memory.  Forgetting is counter-intuitive for me. We survive and thrive, at least in part, because of our ability to remember the past and plan for the future.  So how is it that some people have the pleasure of suppressing memories too painful to face? There are times when I think a bottle of wine would do me a world of good.  I hear that memories can be lost in wine. What would be left of me once the memories are washed away? Years of my life would vanish with those memories. No, better to remember and be whole--happiness, sadness, pain, and joy. All of these, for the days of wine and roses are not long."You remember how it really was? You and me and booze--a threesome." Joe Clay, Days of Wine and Roses, 1962.Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Nos Vetat Incobare LongamThey are not long, the weeping and the laughter,Love and desire and hate;I think they have no portion in us afterWe pass the gate. They are not long, the days of wine and roses:Out of a misty dreamOur path emerges for a while, then closesWithin a dream.Ernest Dawson, 1867-1900Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Nos Vetat Incobare Longam,Latin for "The brief sum of life forbids us the hope of enduring long."HOME




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Old Roses & Memories



He is caught again; lying about the internet message chat, trading virtual kisses and "sexy body" compliments.  He keeps his cell phone close to him, guarding it from your prying eyes.  You know what he is doing, but you don't want to know.  When his female friends tell you what he is up to, he calls them lying bitches. "They are just jealous of you," he says.  "You know I love you baby."  You don't know what to believe anymore. You know in your heart he is a liar, and a cheater, and he does not care about you, but you stay in the marriage.  You are older now, not so pretty anymore. You stay because all that is left of your life are old roses and memories.Cheating HusbandsAbusive PartnersHOME




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Between Earth & Sky



Here we are. . . . between earth and sky. What will we do? Why are you here? Does any of this life matter?  Have you ever had a moment when everything just seemed to make sense -- for one fleeting moment you understood your place in this life? Then, just as it came fluttering into your understanding, it flew away again like that slow but elusive butterfly you can never catch.  A moment of clarity, then you hear the car  horn down the street; the rude woman who lives next door is yelling at her kids again; the construction workers across the street drop a pipe that clatters and shatters your concentration.  This is why I love photography so much. I carry my camera every where  because these moments come and go so quickly that unless you have something tangible to stir the memory, the connection is lost forever.  It is strange, but in these precious moments when I experience that inarticulable understanding, I feel a most profound sadness.  The world could be such a paradise if we could only embrace each other as part of a marvelous whole.HOME




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Sundown & Shadows



Outside my door the world is a wasteland of grit, and grime, and poverty, and misery. The businesses are closing, and the air is thick with the kind of dust that blows only in places where people have lost hope. The sidewalk is in a state of disrepair. There is an ancient oak tree on this street that I call the Drinking Tree because wanderers stop there to finish off their pints of liquor and toss the bottles underneath the tree like offerings at an altar. Cigarette butts and paper cups tossed from the cars of passersby litter the way. The weeds are in charge of this street. But somehow I have managed to create a little island of happiness for myself. Every evening, when the sun goes down and the shadows come out, my little boy and I hold hands and walk down this street. We talk about things that are important to two year old boys -- bugs, and trees and ABCs. "You're my best friend in the whole world, Momma," he tells me as he looks up into my eyes smiling broadly. I give his tiny hand a little squeeze. "You're my best friend in the whole world too, Malcolm."HOME




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The Wind & Me



A gritty wind blows across this field while I wait and watch. I can not bring myself to take a photograph of that tree, so I keep it all on my heart. I have to step over the empty bottles under the Drinking Tree on my way home. I've never been there after the sun sets. I've never seen the drinkers.  I can only imagine their secret meetings here after the shadows turn to night.  I know their poison of choice by the labels on the discarded bottles: Jack Daniels Black Label, Dark Eyes Vodka, brown beer bottles of every brand. Bird shit is splattered across some of the bottles.  Somehow I think it is wrong to take a photograph of this place. It seems like a sacred place to the mysterious drinkers who come here every night.  Even in the bright sun, this is a dark place. If I close my eyes I can see the people sitting, slumped shoulders underneath the canopy of the Drinking Tree consuming their hopes and dreams in the dark away from judgmental eyes and unforgiving stares.HOME




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The Thoughts of Children



I wonder what he thinks about when he gets quiet. Eyes cast downward, his focus on that dandelion in his hand.  Everything in the world is new to him because he is a child.  His spirit has not yet been stained by the trials of life.  Although he is inexperienced in the art of living, there is a knowing, an understanding, that he alone possesses.  He can find beauty in everything. He has no fears. He enjoys every moment just as it comes. He is never disappointed by a rainy day because rain means muddy puddles and raindrops on his nose.  Bright sunshine makes the shade tree more enjoyable. Bees and bugs and kicking balls are his favorite things.  He never worries about tomorrow because today is full enough. When he sleeps, he smiles.HOME




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Bringer of Liberty



So many have died for Liberty; or so we've been told that is why they died.  I wonder how the families of the men, women and even children who were murdered by lynch mobs felt when they looked at images of Her.  As  they hanged from trees, strung up and dying, their punishment for the sin of being born Black in White America, were their last thoughts of freedom and liberty? Liberty has offered no apology to the survivors of Her dirty little secret of murder in America.  And I wonder about the thousands of people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki whose last sight was a bright flash of light.  What were their thoughts  on those two infamous days in history? What were their plans before disappearing in a firestorm set upon them by this Bringer of Liberty. And in the deserts of Iraq, have the children ever seen Her image? Are the mothers and fathers inconsolable  with grief for their dead babies glad for the freedom Her warriors have given them?  Her brand of freedom comes from bombs and guns and dead children.  Korea; Vietnam; Afghanistan; Greneda; Cambodia; Somalia. You tell me that their blood was shed for my freedom.  Oh Liberty, have you always been such a liar?HOME




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Doomsday Clock



I grew up in an era of fear; a time of nuclear blast drills, bomb shelters and civil defense. As a child in school, we practiced bomb preparedness. At the teacher's cue we would all drop to the floor on our knees with our heads down, away from the windows, and put our hands over our heads. Later in high school we sarcastically referred to these drills as ass to the blast.  I had nightmares about mushroom clouds and firestorms. The Doomsday Clock appeared in the first issue of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1947 at 7 minutes before midnight. The closest we have been to complete devastation is 2 minutes in 1953. We are currently 5 minutes from midnight -- Doomsday.HOME




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Quality Corn & Firewood



When I was growing up in rural Kentucky, the local grocery store closed at 6:00 PM EST every day and was never open on Sundays.  If you wanted anything from the store, you had to get there before closing.  I lived on a farm, so the only food items we ever bought from the store were the things we could not grow: coffee, sugar and flour.  As a child, a candy bar was a once in a while treat. Easter and Halloween were chocolate feast days. Christmas was a citrus fruit and chocolate cake bonanza.  The convenience  store means you can get anything you want, anytime you want it, at your convenience.  The old home town grocery store shelves were lined with the staples, but the convenience store offers a fun atmosphere, colorful displays on bright shiny shelves, and tasty treats. You may have only stopped for fuel, but you leave with a bag full of empty calories and a cup of poison on ice.  The junk here is taking your life, one sweet tasty bite at a time.HOME




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They Have All Gone



I don't like these mirrors that distort the light and confuse the eyes. This park was full of children when I shot this, but strangely they are not visible here. In this mirror, they have all gone but one.  In this reflection of the world my son stands alone. Does this freakish fun house mirror show me the future? Will my baby grow up to be a man who stands alone in the world? Perhaps he will, and it will be my doing. I believe in honesty, integrity, strength of character. I believe in standing up for my beliefs even if it means standing alone. When I look around and I am the only one standing, I am not surprised and I am not afraid. When I stand up and speak out, I know that I will be attacked, targeted,  and called names.  This knowledge is comforting yet it makes me sad as well.  When people respond so predictably, it reaffirms my experience that people are essentially the same. If my son follows in my footsteps, he may very well be the only one standing in the crowd of cowering sheep; shouting for justice in an unjust world.HOME




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Any Shelter in a Storm



While Malcolm played by running through the lawn sprinkler today, I spotted this tiny spider seeking shelter from the mist from the garden hose.  The hose emitted a gentle mist, but to the spider, it must have been a torrent.  This minute creature, little more than a speck, and even smaller than the tiny water droplets raining down, sought shelter from the downpour under a blade of grass.  Her predicament got me to thinking about the relative nature of life. A fine mist of refreshing water is a disastrous flood for this little spider.  But there is balance, I think. For this little spider, the next insect, even smaller than her, to wander into her web becomes her dinner.HOME




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Target Acquired: Freedom of Expression



The Patriot Act is a dangerous government tool to undermine your civil rights and make you a target for criminal investigation for engaging in constitutionally protected conduct. The Uniting                            and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools                            Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act was enacted in                             2001  following the attacks on the World Trade Center.  This legislation was supposedly designed to protect you from a terrorist attack.  But, did you know that the Act contains provisions                             that permit the Department of Justice to secretly require that booksellers and librarians  disclose their customers'                            and patrons' reading, Internet surfing and book-buying habits,                            merely by making the  allegation that the records are relevant to                            an anti-terrorism investigation? The  Act protects the government's secret surveillance of your reading and internet activity by prohibiting librarians                            and booksellers from telling you about subpoenas for your information.  This means you may be the object of an investigation and you would never know about it.  The Department of Justice has attempted to quell  complaints that  The Patriot Act interferes with your constitutional rights by conducting a balancing act between your right to privacy and freedom with the allegation that terrorists use the public libraries in our Country to plan their evil deeds.Historically, terrorists and spies have used libraries to plan and carry   out activities that threaten our national security. If terrorists or spies use libraries, we should not allow them to become   safe havens for their terrorist or clandestine activities. The Patriot Act ensures that business records - whether from   a library or any other business - can be obtained in national security investigations with the permission of a federal judge. DOJ Website, Dispelling the Myths.                       The                            Constitution of the United States of America  protects your right to read any book you want to read.  You have the right to hold any idea and to  express your ideas no matter how unpopular those ideas may be.  You have the right to read and discuss even books, art, and ideas that are deemed to be unpatriotic. The freedom                            of  your thought and ideas  as well as the expression of your thoughts and ideas  is fundamental to democracy.  Your government may not prohibit unpopular or unpatriotic speech  solely on the basis that your speech increases the chance                            a criminal  act may be committed  by someone, somewhere or at some time in the future. Under The Patriot Act, reading controversial books                            or doing research about certain topics can provide grounds to begin a criminal investigation. The Department of Justice recently repealed the domestic terrorism surveillance guidelines which were adopted in 1976 to protect the civil rights of anti-war activists who became targets of government investigations because they exercised their constitutional right to criticize the government and its policies.  The 1976 guidelines prohibited                            surveillance of political, religious and any other group unless there was actual evidence of criminal activity.   Because librarians and book sellers are prohibited from informing you that they have been served with a subpoena for your internet activity or reading list, criminal investigation of your protected conduct can be conducted in secret.   It will be impossible for you to protect yourself from allegations of criminal activity.   The secrecy of investigations also prevents the people of the United States from making a determination whether their government is actually investigating terrorism activities instead of wasting your tax dollars on investigations of protected activity.For more information about your right to free expression, visit these sites: National Coalition Against CensorshipAnti-Terrorism InvestigationsCenter for Democracy and TechnologyACLUFirst Amendment CenterFreedom ForumFreedom is more than a word, it is a way of life. Think free. Live free.HOME




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I Don't Care



Today I read a blog/journal post on another site that is an excellent example of what is wrong with the world.  The writer posted an email that he received which repeats over and over, "I don't care."   The original Ask Me if I Care About 'Mishandling of Koran was written by Doug Patton and published on the internet on 06 June 2005People should care about what happens to a few Taliban, because like it or not they are human beings too. Should we not treat them with the same dignity and respect that we demand?"I don't care" is a dangerous and hateful attitude. It is the same "stick it to 'em" cowboy politics that George W. Bush is infamous for.  He doesn't care and apparently neither does Doug Patton.  "I don't care" is bigoted and hateful because it reduces human beings and their feelings to nothing but ideas. It is easier to bomb an idea than a human being.There is no help for improvement of the human race as long as "I don't care" is the prevailing attitude. The same has been said time and again about the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the prisoners, the families of prisoners, the drug addict, the alcoholic, the hopeless, those suffering from HIV/AIDS, those who have lost limbs and lost their lives to enrich the diamond traders, and the helpless from all corners of our Big Blue Marble.  We had better start caring or our society is in grave peril of complete collapse. And when this society does collapse, the fall of the Trade Center buildings will seem like a mere puff of smoke in comparison. God (or whatever power you pray to) help the human race.The Earth's a Big Blue Marble when you see it from out there.The sun and moon declare our beauty's very rare.Folks are folks and kids are kids we share a common name.We speak a different name but work and play the same.We sing pretty much alike, enjoy Spring pretty much alike;Peace and love we all understand and laughter, we use the very same brand.Our differences, our problems from out there there's not much trace.Our friendships they can place while looking at the face of the Big Blue Marble in space.Big Blue Marble, award winning children's program, 1974-1983Freedom is more than a word, it is a way of life. Think free. Live free.HOME




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Give Me Water



This past week was the terrible anniversary of the two most horrific days in the history of the world. On 06 August 1945 the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on the civilian population of Hiroshima. Then on 09 August 1945 the United States of America dropped a second atomic bomb on the civilian population of Nagasaki.  I was touched deep in my soul one day in 1972 when I found a little book in the public library. It is called Give Me Water: Testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  It was  compiled by a Citizen’s Group to Convey Testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  The images in that book are forever in my mind--a little girl, about my age at the time (10 years) burned, screaming, her clothes ripped from her body by the blast; charcoal figures in the shape of human bodies with their arms twisted grotesquely from the burning; empty holes where eyes melted away from the heat; shadows of lives blasted out of existence imprinted on walls.  I remember holding that book in my hands and crying. I cried because I hurt so deeply for the children.  They did no crime against my Country.  The committed no offense.  They did not declare war on me or my Countrymen, yet they bore the violence of Little Boy and Fat Man dropped from the sky by soldiers who were just following orders.  The people involved in this most horrible of human acts have justified in their own minds the reasons for their decision to obliterate hundreds of thousands of lives in an instant.  President Harry Truman claimed in a radio address "The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base."  How the hell can an entire city filled with women, children, old men, hospitals, schools, churches, parks, pets, and flowers be a military base? I did not fall for this bullshit as a child, and I don't believe it as an adult.  What that government did to the Japanese people is nothing short of a war crime. In my opinion the United States Government and the creators of those two monstrosities wanted to see what would happen to human beings. Blowing up deserts and unoccupied houses was not satisfying to them.  The debate about the military justification versus the cost in human lives continues to this day.  The dehumanization of the Japanese people led to widespread acceptance the use of cruel weapons of mass destruction on innocent civilians. Following the bombings, President Truman said, "The only language they seem to understand is the one we have been using to bombard them. When you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him like a beast. It is most regrettable but nevertheless true." Trophies of War: U.S. Troops and the Mutilation of Japanese War Dead, 1941-1945, by James J. Weingartner, The Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 61, No. 1  (Feb., 1992), pp. 53-67 .The Japanese Government filed an official protest following the detonation of two weapons of mass destruction:Combatant and noncombatant men and women, old and young, are massacred without discrimination by the atmospheric pressure of the explosion, as well as by the radiating heat which result therefrom. Consequently there is involved a bomb having the most cruel effects humanity has ever known. . . . The bombs in question, used by the Americans, by their cruelty and by their terrorizing effects, surpass by far gas or any other arm, the use of which is prohibited. Japanese protests against U.S. desecration of international principles of war paired the use of the atomic bomb with the earlier firebombing, which massacred old people, women and children, destroying and burning down Shinto and Buddhist temples, schools, hospitals, living quarters, etc. . . . They now use this new bomb, having an uncontrollable and cruel effect much greater than any other arms or projectiles ever used to date. This constitutes a new crime against humanity and civilization. The Atomic Bomb: Voices from Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Mark Selden, Kyoko Selden; M. E. Sharpe, 1989.The genocidal attacks on Japan were not a military necessity.  Japan was defeated. This proposition is supported by the American military leaders at the time:The Japanese had, in fact, already sued for peace. The atomic bomb played no decisive part, from a purely military point of view, in the defeat of Japan. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.[source]The use of [the atomic bombs] at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender. Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to President Truman.[source]So why did the United States commit this atrocity? Men with great power, no sense of humanity or morality had a new toy who wanted to try it out.  They wanted to impress and awe their rivals for super power status.  They had no regard for human life. I wonder if they ever bothered to look at that little book, Give Me Water? And if they did see the images and read the stories of suffering, were their souls touched as mine was when I was 10 years old?  I imagine they never lost one minute of sleep.Freedom is more than a word, it is a way of life. Think free. Live free.This article is also posted at Bascom Digital Art.HOME




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No Art No Truth No Voice



Open your eyes. Don't be a sheep blindly following the political flavor of the day spoon fed to you by your government, your social group, your Church.  See the world with your eyes and you mind wide open.  You see images with your small minds that have been indoctrinated since birth to believe that anyone who disagrees with your government is the enemy.  You have been taught to think that those who are not with us are therefore against us. A typical tactic of the weak minded, weak willed, blind followers of the neo-conservative ideology -- accuse your opponent of all manner of vile acts to draw attention away from the real issue at hand.  When the weak minded person attacks the artist rather than the art, she is attacking every single person who bought it, displays it, supports it, or otherwise enjoys the art.  She is attacking not the art but the person because she feels powerless to change her world. That is how weak minded, fearful people respond to strong messages for social change -- they attack the person because they do not know how to address the issue.  Some artists and writers won't create or release work which demonstrates society’s undesirable or negative qualities because of people like her who can not separate the message from the messenger.  Often, a number of members within the creative community attack the artist because her ideas go against the dominant theory of politics and art.   Spreading rumors and personal attacks are evidence of weak minded people.The following was originally written regarding the suppression of dissenting voices in Academia. I have adapted this definition to fit the situation of artists (Source of Original).    From various experiences, disagreement with the dominant view comes with danger or risk (personally and professionally). Some artists and writers refrain from creating or releasing work which demonstrates society’s undesirable or negative qualities. Often, a portion of members within the prevailing creative community attack the critic’s ideas that go against the dominant ruling theory. Members may also attack the artist personally by various methods, including (but not limited to):       1. deleting parts of writing2. obstructing publications3. forced withdrawal of art or writing4. denying work in a particular field5. ostracization from social circles and6. dissemination of rumors    Artistic freedom is the freedom of all creative persons and artistic institutions to pursue knowledge wherever it may lead, without undue or unreasonable interference.The people who condemn my work as the dreaded political art which should be banned see no problem with photos of Bald Eagles layered over the American Flag. One is good (bald eagles, flags unfurled, kittens and puppies and rainbows) the other is bad (the truth).I must step down to a more gut level now and say what is really on my mind.  I am not at all surprised that many of my images are received with vehement opposition. The weak minded person never wants to face the truth, and does not know how to think for themselves. It is easier to beach themselves on the easy chair, watch the evening news, and let the politicians work it all out for them. Well that is not for me; not now, not ever. I  want the America I was promised. I want what I was told I was entitled to by virtue of being born an American. I want my fucking freedom to say the word fuck and to criticize my government. I demand equality. I expect dignity. I deserve some respect. I will be damned if I will sit by and watch this country continue to go to hell in a hand basket because of reactionary fear mongering by corporations whose next quarter profits depend on America buying their war goods.  Many of us have experienced suppression of our dissenting voices at least once in our careers. We will experience personal attacks and oppression in the future. Let us stand together in peace against those who would silence our voices. Fight back with your art and with your writing.    Freedom is more than a word, it is a way of life. Think free. Live free.HOMEThe following is from RedBbubble.com:In an essay by the same title as this writing, I call for people to open their eyes; to stop being blind sheep; to recognize that criticism of the United States government is not an attack on the people suffering under that government. Criticism of Iraq War is not an attack on the individuals who are serving as soldiers. Art that addresses a political issue or calls for awareness and change is art even if you don’t like it.    Many people who condemn political art as a divisive evil which should be banned are in love with images of bald eagles layered over the American Flag and the words “God Bless America” boldly emblazoned in the manner of a recruitment poster. Is it because images of unfurled flags and glorious eagles warms the cockles of their hearts, that they do not recognize their own political statement?    I have asked myself the following questions on many occasions:    How long should I suffer the blind who will not see? How long should I endure insult and attack? I have seen work on this site that is far more critical of the United States than I have been, yet those works and artists are not subjected to the violence of language that I endure. Is my work targeted because I am female and women should not hold strong opinions? Is my work attacked because I am an American, and it must be attacked because my criticism is more credible given my citizenship? Perhaps the question I should as myself is why do I endure insult and attack on RedBubble because of my art and for my art?    Hardly a day has passed since I joined RedBubble when someone has not made a personal insult, an attack on my character, or invited me to get out of the country if I don’t like it. Despite the clarification by Peter Styles in his journal Controversial Homepage that ”. . . politics, religion and other such ‘hot’ topics are often very important components of our world and our lives. As such I think they deserve to be the subject of artistic reflection – and subject to debate and discussion”   some members of RedBubble continue to insist that this site is for art only and no place for politics. Some members frequently insist that I should do art and quit bitching.    My friends and supporters in the real world have advised me to delete my account on RedBubble. I must admit, removal of my work seems like an attractive proposal. The benefit is that I would be insulated from insult and attack by people who I would expect would behave more civilized if they had to face me in person.    People who view my work in the real world manage to control themselves and behave in a manner consistent with intellectual discussion and critical examination of my work. And while they do not necessarily agree with my views, I have never been insulted or attacked.    I have tried various methods of dealing with those members who respond to my work with argumentum ad hominem. First I tried defending my views, but that was a dismal failure. Then I attempted to defend my right to express my views, that met with some moderate success, but the attacks continued. I have tried reporting offensive personal attacks to RedBubble under the umbrella of the Please Play Nice Policy, and that has been a failure as well. I think perhaps the best course of action for me, if I am to continue as a member of RedBubble is to completely ignore the argumentum ad hominem since it is invalid from its inception. I can not delete comments, even invalid personal insults, since to do so is contradictory to my concept of free expression. The ignorant and wise receive equal opportunity to display their character and minds on my work.    So how will I answer the question why do I endure insult and attack on RedBubble? I think that I do not have to endure anything. I made the choice to allow people to come to my work and openly express themselves without the threat of my censoring them. In the future I will not endure insult, I will ignore it, but I will NEVER delete it. The insults will continue to be displayed in all their glorious ignorance, but I do not have to respond to you. Henceforth, you who have engaged in such practice may continue to insult and attack, just do not expect to receive my attention.COMMENTS       aRae,       2 days ago              wish i knew how to send a link…just wanted to add my support and admiration lolhttp://www.redbubble.com/people/arae/art/1770116-2-tick-tock-tick-tock       Roy barry,       2 days ago          Helen- you forgot to mention those people who wrote anonymous hatemail to your blog- you know, the ones’ whose ip addresses match some of the members here-now that is a seriously lowlife, scumbag way of going about things…......       Michael Brennan,       2 days ago          grow up       Tom Broderick IPA,       2 days ago          love ya helen fuck what others think. tom       Henk Stolk,       2 days ago          You endure insults because you love your country, love the people..       Bill Gamblin,       2 days ago          Helen…the people who are attacking you are some of those Kool-Aid drinkers who have messed up this country to begin with. It is a shame that only 20 to 25 percent of those who are elligible to vote exercise one of our biggest rights. And at the same time we have political parties who sell out not only their party, but the citizens of the United States every single chance they get. I am all for freedom, but I do not agree with the ACLU, who was founded by a professed Communist, taking the freedom of using our constitution and their interpretation of it to further their cause. But worse yet most of us idlly stand by and watch this go on without saying a word. Keep the faith and tell them how you feel…if you don’t then these idiots who condem you without listening to what you are saying will continue to jiggle the handle until they flush our entire society.    Keep going Helen…give them Hell       Gregory John O...,       2 days ago          Well said Helen. I thought the United Staes of America prided itself on free speach and openess in debate, particularly about politics, human rights, and freedom. It is a pity that it sometimes appears that it is only incouraged and tolerated when it agrees with the administration. The USA would still be a colony of England if people did nothing and just accepted the rule.I think the community on Redbubble would be greatly deminished if you ever deleted your account. I know I would be disappointed if you ever did.  Fight the Good Fight. Uphold the Right.     I am sure you heard that Prsident Bush, Rumpsfeld, Cheney, and Cilin Powell new they were to lieing to the USA and the world when they presented their arguements for the war in Iraq. They report that quite often here in Australia. It hasn’t put me off Americans, just those liers.    I forget which president said ” I may not agree with you but I will defend your right to say it.”       Gregory John O...,       2 days ago          Sorry, just noticed a few spelling mistakes in my reply. Such is life       Tom Broderick IPA,       2 days ago          love ya greg thats why there is spell check. lol as i fuck up all the time on my spelling. sorry to see helen have such a hard time but freedom of speach can be a bitch. tom       debteraI,       2 days ago          You yourself have notice the key points to the situation itself. The internet is deeply loved by those who can simply masked their identities with a simple picture or none, and therefore feel secure enough to express their true opinion without a face to face confrontation.    You yourself must also be prepared to handle the good, the bad, and the ugly of the internet world when voicing yourself before the very open yet very hidden world of the internet.    With the passion you show in what you betrue( don’t like believe that much) , it is also wise to develop a certain amount of detachment, for those who are just as passionate about their ownviews.    Don’t take it personal.Agree to disagree.Focus on the positive and not the negative. You get allot of support as well, I’m one of them.Peace       Jessie M,       2 days ago          Do what YOU have to do Helen (don’t let anyone else influence your decisions, even the RBr’s)... But I understand where you’re coming from… you can only take so much of something until our heads explode and then you snap… and then everyone else is like “what’s wrong with that bitch?” What’s wrong is the insults, the demeaning, the condescending, the ‘holier-than-thou’ attitudes… Its like people now-a-days don’t know how to discuss things anymore, especially via internet… whatever happened to netiquette (etiquette on the net)? What ever happened to the saying ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say it at all’...    OMG… another flashback to Public Enemy: Fight the Power  Don’t Believe the Hype! wow… i’m all about them right now… that’s when rap had a message back in the day…       Jamie Luning,       2 days ago          I’m not a supporter of your views, but I’m not going to insult you for it.    The person above me, debteral, is very wise. That of course is my personal opinion. I would take to heart everything that they said. I was sad to see the comments made on the Egg picture posted from both sides. It’s a wonderful thing to have passion about what you believe in, but insults and sarcasm will never be taken seriously. Live life with a sound mind.               Add your comment as a reply to Jamie Luning                      Show text formatting help:          *your text* can be bold       →       your text can be bold            _your text_ can be italic       →        your text can be italic            "text can be linked":http://www.redbubble.com/       →        text can be linked                     (Please play nice)                                    HOOK  STUDIO,       2 days ago          The Link for aRAE HERE    Heres my take on it.STEVE HOOKS GW    I lived in the US for 14 years. there are so so so many great souls in the US. The vast tundra wastlelands of the Mid West and Deep South and Texas have some funny individuals I found.    GW Got in with his Brother Jebs Help in Florida.    the US was fun under Clinton and the World did prosper from a Make Love not War President. The Hawks of Power plant Bushes they spread war and make Gun manufacturers and Airplane makers lottsa cash.Hey its like Star Wars, Just the Bad Guys are still in Power. Though there energy is waning now thank goodness. Use The force I say. Keep the Hope alive… that in the next stage the real will of the people will be heard and The Government will do as is the best for all in the US and The World.    Steve Jobs for President is my Vote Maybe in 10 years if not sooner. ( ’ – ))    Dont go.. Your input is valuable. Ciao Steve An avid US watcher.       Paul Alleyne,       2 days ago          Helen, thanks you for your effort. It is always difficult to take a stand and he the one waving the banner. Turth is never popular to those who are like thieves in night try to steal your soul. Politicians are never revolutionary and they always disappoint. A big example of this is the last Presidential debate. Neitrher candidate, the so-called agent of change, or the country first candidate. those who sacrifice for the good of all man are the true revolutionaries, because they undersatnd and act as they believe and are not swayed by polls and outside influence, but by their own deep committment to real ideas which move us all forward.       MillicentMorrow,       2 days ago          From an outsider looking in… I personally have always had problems with the USA’s constitution…All men are born free and equal. Some of the gentlemen who wrote this were some of the largest land owners of the day and of slaves! mmmm. Then, all men have the right to bare arms…when this was written all men did not have the right to bare arms it was only white men that had the right so it excluded a lot of people including woman. I know it’s history and we here in Australia have a terrible history too. If only we learnt more from the wrongs committed in the past.       Anne van Alkemade,       2 days ago          So eloquently put and so true. Helen, you are a woman of principles. Those who attack you instead of responding to your art – especially those who do it anonymously, clearly do not have integrity or principles. I hope and wish that the support you receive far outweighs the crap (whether it be quality, content or quantity).xx       G. Merrick Jus...,       2 days ago          Helen, as Anne says above, this opinion based analysis and personal diagnosis of the epidemic which RB had long faced – blind, empty, or rude/cruel, responses to works of writing – is of eloquence to prove your merit. Remember this though, sadly, those who seek to condescend are of a mind capable of shallower access than the rest, and will likely be unable to compute or manage through this post (which they should achieve the understanding of more than anyone). Those of us who have a passion for the art of prose are all nodding ruefully and wishing we had better compliments to give and a/any point missed by you that we can add to pad our eh;e’;g;os,/he at the expense of your thread. I jest, partially about the ego part), but I am stone cold sober in my feelings about this issue. Thank you for having the gut, shamelessness, will, and Muse-At-Hand to record it autobiographically. It makes the message just that much more earnest.       mmargot,       1 day ago          The initial question posed by you, Helen, has been asked and answered by you.In my humble opinion, you have reached the only possible answer, i.e., Ignore; because when one feels strongly one cannot be inactive and to be active one sets oneself up for opposing opinions and, unfortunately, ad hominem attacks and gut responses based on a mindset which will not be changed by any argument.Many of us came to know you through your art which also makes statements on current affairs and beliefs. Some sublte, some in-your-face. For many, you are preaching to the choir and aresaying nothing frightening.If those who insult your writing would peruse your art, they would get a more complete and complex insight into your world view and let go of the “-isms” that are so easily thrown in a psychological panic fueled by anonymity.Leaving RedBubble because of a few would deprive the many who will ponder their own opinions because of what you have written or shown visually.




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My Art & My Passions



41 Shots is one of those moments that burns the soul.  My husband was listening to Bruce Springsteen’s song American Skin when I snapped this shot.  Jay is a British citizen, but he has been in the United States long enough to learn that if you are Black, you will be stopped for driving in the wrong  neighborhood, when you are stopped by the police the first thing they ask you is “Is this your car?” (implying it may be stolen) and you will get shot if you make the wrong move (like reaching for your identification). The look on his face sums up the pain he feels as a result of discrimination.  The prisons in the United States are filled to capacity, mostly with minorities, and mostly for drug offenses.   Human Rights Watch reports the single greatest factor for the overall increase in the United States prison population is our War on Drugs.  The number of drug offenders imprisoned has increased more than twelve time since 1980. In 2000, 22% of people in federal and state prisons were convicted of drug offences.  The effect of a felony conviction is far reaching, legally, socially, and politically. Disenfranchisement is but one demoralizing factor of a felony conviction.Thirteen percent of all adult black men -14 million- are disenfranchised, representing one-third of the total disenfranchised population and reflecting a rate of disenfranchisement that is seven times the national average. Election voting statistics offer an approximation of the political importance of black disenfranchisement: 1.4 million black men are disenfranchised compared to 4.6 million black men who voted in 1996 (Source).But what impact does disenfranchisement of convicted felons have on the political system in the United States? Consider the following information:An estimated 5.3 million Americans, or one in forty-one adults, have currently or permanently lost their voting rights as a result of a felony conviction.1.4 million African American men, or 13% of all Black men, are disenfranchised, a rate seven times the national average.An estimated 676,730 women are currently ineligible to vote as a result of a felony conviction.More than 2 million white Americans (Hispanic and non-Hispanic) are disenfranchised.In five states that deny the vote to ex-offenders, one in four black men is permanently disenfranchised (Source).Is there really racial disparity in the United States prison system? Human Rights Watch reports that the disparity in the number of Black men versus White men in prisons in the United States is "astonishing."Since most inmates are adult men, an even more significant measure of the extent of racial disparities in state prison populations and of the sheer magnitude of black incarceration is obtained from comparing the racially disaggregated incarceration rates of men over the age of eighteen.27  In no state are black men incarcerated at rates even close to those of white men (Figure 4). Nationwide, black men are incarcerated at 9.6 times the rate of white men. In eleven states, black  men are incarcerated at rates that are twelve to twenty-six times greater than those of white men (Table 5). Thus, in Minnesota, the state with the greatest racial disparity in incarceration, a black man is 26.8 times more likely to be in prison than a white man. In Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, a black man is more than fifteen times more likely to be in prison than a white man. In the District of Columbia, black men are incarcerated at 49 times the rate of white men.    The rate at which black men are incarcerated is astonishing. There are 4,630 black men in prison nationwide per 100,000 black men in the population, whereas the rate for white men is 482. In ten states and the District of Columbia, black men are incarcerated at staggeringly high rates that range from 5,740 to 7,859 per 100,000. In contrast, the range among the ten states with the highest rates of white male incarceration is 620 to 1,151. The highest rate of white male incarceration (1,151) is lower than the lowest rate of black male incarceration (1,195). According to Department of Justice calculations, if current rates of incarceration remain unchanged, 28.5 percent of black men will be confined in prison at least once during their lifetime, a figure six times greater than that for white men.2Yes the reflection in the eyes of the man in Pride and Prejudice is a Ku Klux Klan cross burning. Racial discrimination is a pervasive and continuing evil in the United States. Racial profiling by law enforcement, stereotyping by society at large, and unequal treatment by the courts during trial and at sentencing continue to affect minority races, and especially Black Americans.  The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (hereinafter, CERD) has criticized the conduct of the United States justice system on its treatment of racial minorities. After reviewing oral and written testimony submitted by the United States Government, the committee urged the United States to address the “stark racial disparities” in criminal justice systems in States throughout the Country.The Bush Administration was criticized for its failure to address racism in several areas of society, including:The Bush administration’s view that its human rights treaty obligations do not apply to laws or practices that are race-neutral on their face but discriminatory in effect;Racial segregation in housing and in public schools;Systemic inadequacies in indigent criminal defense, which have a disproportionate impact on racial minorities;The disenfranchisement of millions of US citizens because they have been convicted of a felony, even though they have fully served their sentences or have been released on parole (Source).The United States' reports to the CERD, and blamed the disparity in the number of Blacks in prison compared to Whites is because Blacks are more involved in criminal activity (Source).The United States has responded to the overrepresentation of African Americans in US prisons by suggesting that such racial disparities “are related primarily to differential involvement in crime by the various groups, rather than to differential handling of persons in the criminal justice system.”2 (Source).Pride and Prejdice represents the weariness in the hearts of many minority people who struggle against the    stereotypes and racial discrimination every single day. I know I am weary. It is a battle that I fear I will not live to see won. Perhaps my children will take up when  I am gone. Can I Play Too is a  photo I shot of my little baby in a park. He wanted to play a game with the other children, but he was rejected.   I try to give my child a balanced view of his identity. The long history of social exclusion can not be overcome by a word or even an image. I do not fear that my child will be forced to choose his race because I will encourage him to acknowledge, to accept, and to celebrate his heritage. By acknowledging and accepting himself, he will have a positive influence on society as a whole, and move us all one step closer to acceptance of each other in all our differences.  Inside, we are all the same. I'm not going to delude myself however. Racism is alive and doing very well all around the world.  My child will face many challenges in this world. I intend to give him the tools to succeed.In the series, Strength Within, I sought to give visuals to the internal pain and anguish that results from domestic violence. The woman is reaching out to herself to find the strength within herself to escape.  When she does leave, she and her children sleep in her car for a couple of nights. The little money she had is gone and the children are hungry. The baby is sick. She has no friends because he isolated her from the community.  She has little or no education. She has no where to go, and just enough gas in the car to make it back to the horror she fled. Society simply does not understand that domestic violence is a cycle. Once you see the victim as a real human being suffering fear, pain, and desperation, the reasons she returns to her abuser make sense. She ran out of her home with her children in the middle of the night. She went to a women’s shelter, but they can only house her and the kids for two or three days. She goes to all the homeless shelters, but they are all full. Looking at her hungry and homeless babies, she sees no other option but to return to the home she fled.The mother in an abusive home thinks that she can hide the abuse from her children. She can't hide it. Even where they do not directly witness the beating, they see the bruises, the scrapes, and the screams of their mother.  Between 80% and 90% of children know when their mother has been beaten (Source).   Most men who abuse their partners will also commit violence against the children as well.  Babies are often injured when the woman is holding her baby and is attacked by her partner.  Older children are hurt when they attempt to intervene to protect their mother, and the father turns his violence on them.  Children who are of school age may suffer from depression and anxiety, and they may act violently toward other children.  Teens who have grown up in a violent home are at greater risk for continuing the violence they have endured. Strength Within II is the child who has been scarred, emotionally and physically by violence.Thirty-four percent of the women homicide victims over age 15 are killed by their husbands, ex-husbands or boyfriends. When in an abusive situation, especially where there are children, the woman feels trapped.   She will stay where there is food and shelter and suffer the abuse. My work Nine One One, What's Your Emergency? demonstrates just how much violence the abused woman will endure because she can see no other option. Often she blames herself for the abuse.  One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States (Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1991). The National Organization for Women, (NOW) reports that approximately 132,000 women report that they have been victims of rape or attempted rape every year.  More than half of them knew their attackers. More likely two to six times that many women are raped, but do not report it. "Every year 1.2 million women are forcibly raped by their current or former male partners, some more than once" (Source).Of all suicides and homeless persons, abused women are disproportionately represented.  Economic pressures result in the crimes of violence and abuse perpetrated against those who in most cases are least equipped to defend themselves - women with children.Strength Within IV is the woman's decision to leave. She has found enough strength to make this decision because she must protect her child. But unfortunately her strength wanes as she finds it difficult to find support from her family and from the community.  Most women return to their abusers.According to the National Organization for Women:Every day four women die in this country as a result of domestic violence, the euphemism for murders and assaults by husbands and boyfriends. That's approximately 1,400 women a year, according to the FBI. The number of women who have been murdered by their intimate partners is greater than the number of soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. My work Forgive is the too often result of the cycle - her partner has murdered her. Because most domestic violence goes unreported, estimates range from 960,000 to more than one million incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend occur every year.  As many as 3 million women abused by their husband or boyfriend per year (Source). Partner violence is five times higher in families living below the poverty level, and abuse is twice as likely to be committed by men who are unemployed. Abused women suffer twice the health care problems and expenses than women who are not abused. Violence against pregnant women results in miscarriages, still birth, and have low birth weight babies.  Approximately 17% of pregnant women are abused by their partners. Domestic violence is a crime that includes emotional abuse, economic deprivation, and sexual assault. Abusers use threats, intimidation, and isolation from the community control their partners and to exert power over their partners. Although domestic violence impacts women in lower economic households, it can occur in any family regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion.By the time you finish reading this sentence one woman will have been violently beaten. Women who return to their abusers often end up dead.Help end the cycle of violence.  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse and violence, please see the resources below for help and support.RESOURCESNational Organization of WomenFeminist Majority FoundationEnd AbuseResource CenterSafe HorizonHOME




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Life, etcetera.



From the moment we are born we are indoctrinated to be male or female; pink or blue; black or white; get married; work work work, pay taxes, have children, get divorced, get remarried, have more children, work work work; pay taxes; support your country; work work work; pay taxes; be a good grandparent; work work work; pay taxes; get a little back in retirement benefits; die and then your estate pays taxes. It is a sad, deplorable state of existence.  There must be more to living. I refuse to accept that this is all there will be for my life.  I fight against that pitiful existence.  I don't have much, but what I do have I try to use for the happiness and the benefit to the lives of others.  It is a hard life here in these United States. People are driven by the dollar: get it, spend it, get some more.  Too often they seek to get the dollar without regard to how they get it or who they have to harm along the way.  Oil prices set new record high prices daily. Food products are increasing at record rates.  More and more families in the United States are receiving assistance through Food Stamps because they can't afford to feed their children.Two jobs and two incomes are not enough for the working families in this Country to have a decent life. It seems the harder we work, the harder it is to make ends meet.  Hunger, homelessness, and joblessness are all on the rise.  It would be easy to just give up. The hard part about life is staying in the fight, and fighting to win. I believe that my art should mean something. I hope it stirs people to think, if not to action.  When a photograph would be inadequate, I turn to writing.  Someone once described my work as illustrated messages.  I embrace that idea. My work starts with an idea, then I seek to illustrate the idea.My photography has been a journey for me. The prison without bars is the hardest to escape. The chains, and wires, and fences around our hearts and minds are created by a lifetime of goals not met; dreams unrealized; and great expectations which led only to disappointment. Be brave enough to climb over the barriers to your peace of mind. I try to raise awareness through my art and through my writing. Granted I am sometimes a bit in your face and harsh in my treatment. I make no apologies for my style. Love me or hate me, you can not deny the truth of the message that our society needs to change. I've heard it said that no good deed goes unpunished. Punish me you naysayers, you who are filled with hate! Cast the first stone you self righteous bigots. And in the end, you will be remembered as an example of what is wrong with this world. CHANGE THE WORLD ONE PERSON AT A TIME. START WITH YOURSELFHOME




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