So today Pete and I went down to The Wadsworth Theater to attend the Presidential Forum on Global Warming and America’s Future. All the presidential Candidates of both major parties were invited, but only three accepted.
Though the Forum started late, it was well worth the wait. The three candidates who came were, Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards.
The moderator, Steve Curwood, did a pretty good job. He joined the panelists, Mary Nichols (CA Air Resources Board) and David Roberts (Grist) in asking the candidates substantial questions pertaining to the environmental challenges we need to address.
Dennis Kucinich was warmly greeted by the friendly crowd.
I wonder how he might do if he came in a different package?
Anti-Hillary plants were seeded in the audience. When she was introduced, booing started in the balcony. That was quieted, but later while she was speaking, a wild looking man seated in the center of the auditorium jumped up from his seat. He whipped off his jacket and starting spouting something no one could understand. Security had to remove him. He was still ranting as he passed by our row, but try as I might, I couldn't get what he was saying. It appeared as though Clinton was affected.
John Edwards was introduced last. I finally saw why so many people like John Edwards. He is more impressive in person than on camera. I came away uplifted.
You can watch it here.
I was watching some of the Free Hugs videos from around the world, when a scene from the one from Portugal brought back a vivid memory.
I was six-teen. On that particular Saturday, I had gone with a group of other girls down to Los Angeles County Hospital to volunteer our time as candy-stripers. This hospital was the one that cared for mostly low income and poverty residents of downtown LA.
With no preparation, we were taken to the pediatrics ward where we were told to help the patients wash up, comb their hair, read to them and help with any other small services that seemed appropriate.
The first patient I encountered was a pretty little black girl who looked as though she could use some loving care. Her face was smudged, her hair tangled, and her hospital smock was dirty. I went up to her and said “Hello”. I told her my name and said I had come to spend some time with her that day. When I asked her name, she did not answer.
I had with me a bowl of warm water, a washcloth and a towel. I asked if she would like me to wash her face and hands. She nodded but said nothing. I began to wash as gently as I could, while speaking to her softly.
All of a sudden, this tiny little child threw her arms around me and began to cling to me with a grip that belied her small size and seeming fragility.
She began to cry loudly “Mommy. Mommy. Mommy!” I was startled by her unexpected behavior and was ill equipped by knowledge or awareness to know what to do. I tried to calm the child as best I could as I tried to slightly loosen her tight hold. A moment later, a very large white nurse came up and while speaking very harshly, wrenched the child from my arms with great force. The nurse instructed me to go to another ward.
When I hesitated, this seemingly heartless woman pointed to the door. As I moved out of the way and started to move toward the door, the child continued to scream; “Mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.” I turned back. The little girl was holding her arms out to me, plaintively crying; Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.” as the nurse held her down.
I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. The nursed yelled for me to leave. And, with much regret, I did.
I never saw that child again on any of the future Saturdays I spent volunteering at the hospital, but the memory of the incident never left me. And to this day, I wished I had done something differently. The only thing I have been able to do over the years since was to send silent wishes of love and happiness to this little girl who left such a big impression on my heart.
Could I be hearing right?
1400 detainees released for Ramadan
25,000 detainees still in held by US forces
50,000 Americans on Terrorist Watch List
750,000 Names on Terrorist Watch List
The National Debt of the United States is 9 TRILLION DOLLARS
(Yes, that is $9,000,000,000,000)
Almost 3 Trillion dollars spent on Iraq War so far
My prayer.
Please help me transform my consciousness into one of peace. There must be a way that all of this energy can be used to uplift the spirit and encourage love.
THE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM HAVE WON. THE ENEMIES WHO HAVE DESTROYED OUR CONSTITUTION AND SCRAPPED THE BILL OF RIGHTS WERE NOT THE TERRORISTS. THEY WERE AMERICANS WHO WRAPPED THEMSELVES IN OUR FLAG, PRETENDED TO BE FOLLOWERS OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE, AND CLOTHED THEMSELVES IN LIES AND DECEIT.
In this country, we have freely given up our basic rights and therefore have allowed them to be stripped from us. All to give us nothing more than a feeling that "the war" will be "over there" instead of here. Well, I have news for you. The battle has really been "here" all the time. And the terrorists have won.
We have let our fear overwhelm our good judgment. We have allowed those in charge to subvert the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. No longer do we have the right of Habeas Corpus. And our governmental leaders have not disavowed even torture.
At this time any American Citizen can be arrested and detained right here in the United States without notification and without the right to legal council and can be held indefinitely without right to a trial.
LISTEN TO ME NOW!
TORTURE IS EVIL.
EVIL BEGETS MORE EVIL.
TORTURING "DETAINEES WILL NOT GET INFORMATION TO KEEP US SAVE FROM TERRORISM. ALL THIS BEHAVIOR WILL DO IS CREATE MORE TERRORISTS!
I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THAT I WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO JOINED THE CHORUS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAYING WE ARE NOT EVEN SAFE FROM OUR OWN GOVERNMENT.
Every American should be concerned about how our government conducts itself around the world. If we do not honor the basic human rights of others, how can we expect that our own human rights will be protected?
When will we learn from history? We must stop hiding our heads in the sand now!
FOR GOD'S SAKE, LET US STAND UP AGAINST THE EVIL PRACTICE OF TORTURE NOW.
Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and Charles Schumer of New York have announced that they will vote to forward the name of a judge who will not disavow torture to the entire Senate for confirmation as Attorney General. The reason they have given is that Michael Mukasey is the best nominee we can expect to get from the Bush Administration. Shame on them.
When will they take a stand for freedom? When will we take a stand? "If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it." God help us now.