White phosphorus... depleted uranium? Nobody has really known what would happen after white phosphorus and loads of depleted uranium built up in war zones. Perhaps there is an elephant in the room that nobody wants to mention...
Radiation and toxicity might have a large influence on birth defects in war zones. Right now 25 percent, that's one in four, babies are born with spinal cord abnormalities and tumors.
The very sad thing is... the most powerless and innocent are bearing the brunt of damage in war. It is women and infants.
We have a noble and committed fighting force and the men and women serving in the streets of Falluja are not the same ones arming weapons with depleted uranium. This is a systemic moral issue. Do we as Americans have a right to imbed radioactive, damaging substances into the land, air and water of other countries?
Does anyone? JL
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Depleted Uranium and Cancer
This is horrible news for my friends in Green. YOU MUST READ this. This is old news, but new news , because it was suppressed news.
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2004/08/31_bollyn_pentagon-brass-suppresses.htm
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2004/08/31_bollyn_pentagon-brass-suppresses.htm
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Traumatic Brain Injury
This was forwarded to me from the Patriotic Pillow Project:
Supporters of our Military Community,
Please I implore you to watch this informative series of segments dealing with and teaching us about TBI *Traumatic Brain Injury!! This is a signature injury sustained by possibly 25% of our young Service Men & Women that are in the field overseas. We must improve the knowledge base of the general public to be more patient, understanding and protective of these Healing Heroes. There may be someone in your own community that is grappling with the devastating multiple complexities of TBI. There has been and always will be a special place in my heart for these Brave Survivors. Many are Angels returned to us from the other side whom in any other war wound have perished. They are gifts from God and them selves and their Families deserve our unfaltering commitment and Support.
Forward these You Tube videos for others to view, and share. From a daughter of a Dad that was on the neuro unit in a coma, that he did not survive from; find out how you too can “Make a Difference!” Encourage your elected officials to provide extensive therapy treatment and mostly funding to afford the best that medicine has to offer these American Warriors. Early intervention to advanced therapies, from the best professional institutions is most appropriate. They also too require rehabbing of their homes to accommodate the restructuring of the environment to make their living spaces Safe and Practical. Help a Hero!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5eWersQdRw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwsGzRLTRqY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADC93aoVkP8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QBnACJ7eAQ&feature=related
For awareness and to serve as a Respectful head cover to provide warmth, we have designed “Kenny’s Kaps!” These unique skull caps are adorned with the Military Merit Badge patch. These head covers should be recognized telling a person of the community that the wearer has challenges. Please treat our recipients with respect and recognition. They deserve your Thanks and MORE…………………….
Supporters of our Military Community,
Please I implore you to watch this informative series of segments dealing with and teaching us about TBI *Traumatic Brain Injury!! This is a signature injury sustained by possibly 25% of our young Service Men & Women that are in the field overseas. We must improve the knowledge base of the general public to be more patient, understanding and protective of these Healing Heroes. There may be someone in your own community that is grappling with the devastating multiple complexities of TBI. There has been and always will be a special place in my heart for these Brave Survivors. Many are Angels returned to us from the other side whom in any other war wound have perished. They are gifts from God and them selves and their Families deserve our unfaltering commitment and Support.
Forward these You Tube videos for others to view, and share. From a daughter of a Dad that was on the neuro unit in a coma, that he did not survive from; find out how you too can “Make a Difference!” Encourage your elected officials to provide extensive therapy treatment and mostly funding to afford the best that medicine has to offer these American Warriors. Early intervention to advanced therapies, from the best professional institutions is most appropriate. They also too require rehabbing of their homes to accommodate the restructuring of the environment to make their living spaces Safe and Practical. Help a Hero!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5eWersQdRw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwsGzRLTRqY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADC93aoVkP8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QBnACJ7eAQ&feature=related
For awareness and to serve as a Respectful head cover to provide warmth, we have designed “Kenny’s Kaps!” These unique skull caps are adorned with the Military Merit Badge patch. These head covers should be recognized telling a person of the community that the wearer has challenges. Please treat our recipients with respect and recognition. They deserve your Thanks and MORE…………………….
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Ownership, Labels and Love
This is the season to reflect, and in reflection, let’s talk of love, gratitude, and some basic pronouns.
Who are you? Well, you are the sum of all your experiences and in relation to your family, a daughter, son, wife, mother, father, brother, or something. (Joe’s friend, the youngest daughter, mother of three, her this, his that, your, my, our...) When you apply the pronouns, you start to view your identity through a scope that limits the view. (His, hers, theirs, ours) Apply the same pronouns to your family and you might get “real brother” versus “step” and adopted family too.
When you apply the pronouns, your ownership filter starts to view others through a lens of who is more valid, who is more “real” which can be divisive. If he is your half brother, not full, what does that mean?
If all your family members aren’t real family members, how tolerant are you, really? If your brother and his second wife adopted two children, are they still his children? Aren’t they real? Don’t we all have room for a little more inclusion and tolerance?
If we are labeling people “real” and not real, valid and not valid, what does it say about our humanity?
What is a real family anyway? My family was his, mine and ours, but we were a family. Who has the authority to tell anyone that they aren’t real, or that they aren’t a real family? Especially on Christmas!
My greatest wish for Christmas is that we drop the “us” versus “them” and speak to our families without so much baggage and learn to accept people for who they are. For example, aunt Martha might have been stupid that one time, but it doesn’t mean she is always stupid. Let her past go.
Mom might have done some strange parenting, or lacked enough maternal skill to keep a goldfish alive, but let it go; that was then, this is now. You lived; give her a call. Because Aunt Josefina is gay or voted for issue X, is not enough of a reason to punish her humanity. It is time for a visit, but I’d call first!
Don’t let bad news, or loss of life become the sole reason you reach out to your family or your neighbor. These are hard economic times; we need to be kind to each other. These are hard emotional times too.
The older we each get, the more likely we are to have lost a loved one that we mourn on Christmas. I for one learned my dad had cancer on Christmas day and he lived for a year and died the following Christmas day. In a blink of an eye I can be at that moment holding his warm, still hand. Even after twenty years, I have bittersweet memories of the holidays.
I want to remind people to say, “I love you” a little more often. I want to remind people to be more inclusive and less judgmental. Life is short, so short that you really won’t have all your lovely people around you always. Take stock of these great folks and friends and feel truly full of friendship and love. This is a time to be softer, gentler, and more understanding with others, and we don’t really have to stop being that way on December 26th!
An ancient Greek philosopher wrote, “One cannot step twice into the same river.” Meaning, the water is flowing and the river in this moment is not the same water that moved through moments ago. It is a great reminder of how swiftly life changes before our eyes.
This holiday season, take stock of the love and friendship around you and let your love be known. May your days be blessed with love and equality, peace and acceptance.
Jesse
Who are you? Well, you are the sum of all your experiences and in relation to your family, a daughter, son, wife, mother, father, brother, or something. (Joe’s friend, the youngest daughter, mother of three, her this, his that, your, my, our...) When you apply the pronouns, you start to view your identity through a scope that limits the view. (His, hers, theirs, ours) Apply the same pronouns to your family and you might get “real brother” versus “step” and adopted family too.
When you apply the pronouns, your ownership filter starts to view others through a lens of who is more valid, who is more “real” which can be divisive. If he is your half brother, not full, what does that mean?
If all your family members aren’t real family members, how tolerant are you, really? If your brother and his second wife adopted two children, are they still his children? Aren’t they real? Don’t we all have room for a little more inclusion and tolerance?
If we are labeling people “real” and not real, valid and not valid, what does it say about our humanity?
What is a real family anyway? My family was his, mine and ours, but we were a family. Who has the authority to tell anyone that they aren’t real, or that they aren’t a real family? Especially on Christmas!
My greatest wish for Christmas is that we drop the “us” versus “them” and speak to our families without so much baggage and learn to accept people for who they are. For example, aunt Martha might have been stupid that one time, but it doesn’t mean she is always stupid. Let her past go.
Mom might have done some strange parenting, or lacked enough maternal skill to keep a goldfish alive, but let it go; that was then, this is now. You lived; give her a call. Because Aunt Josefina is gay or voted for issue X, is not enough of a reason to punish her humanity. It is time for a visit, but I’d call first!
Don’t let bad news, or loss of life become the sole reason you reach out to your family or your neighbor. These are hard economic times; we need to be kind to each other. These are hard emotional times too.
The older we each get, the more likely we are to have lost a loved one that we mourn on Christmas. I for one learned my dad had cancer on Christmas day and he lived for a year and died the following Christmas day. In a blink of an eye I can be at that moment holding his warm, still hand. Even after twenty years, I have bittersweet memories of the holidays.
I want to remind people to say, “I love you” a little more often. I want to remind people to be more inclusive and less judgmental. Life is short, so short that you really won’t have all your lovely people around you always. Take stock of these great folks and friends and feel truly full of friendship and love. This is a time to be softer, gentler, and more understanding with others, and we don’t really have to stop being that way on December 26th!
An ancient Greek philosopher wrote, “One cannot step twice into the same river.” Meaning, the water is flowing and the river in this moment is not the same water that moved through moments ago. It is a great reminder of how swiftly life changes before our eyes.
This holiday season, take stock of the love and friendship around you and let your love be known. May your days be blessed with love and equality, peace and acceptance.
Jesse
Saturday, December 06, 2008
New Hope for Veterans
From the Huffington Post
PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: Tomorrow, you had mentioned earlier, is when we commemorate Pearl Harbor, and so I'm going to be making announcement tomorrow about the head of our Veterans Administration, General Eric Shinseki, who was a commander and has fought in Vietnam, Bosnia, is somebody who has achieved the highest level of military service. He has agreed that he is willing to be part of this administration because both he and I share a reverence for those who serve. I grew up in Hawaii, as he did. My grandfather is in the Punch Bowl National Cemetery. When I reflect on the sacrifices that have been made by our veterans and, I think about how so many veterans around the country are struggling even more than those who have not served -- higher unemployment rates, higher homeless rates, higher substance abuse rates, medical care that is inadequate -- it breaks my heart, and I think that General Shinseki is exactly the right person who is going to be able to make sure that we honor our troops when they come home.
BROKAW: He's the man who lost his job in the Bush Administration because he said we will need more troops in Iraq than Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld thought we would need at that time.
Click Title to see video link
PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: Tomorrow, you had mentioned earlier, is when we commemorate Pearl Harbor, and so I'm going to be making announcement tomorrow about the head of our Veterans Administration, General Eric Shinseki, who was a commander and has fought in Vietnam, Bosnia, is somebody who has achieved the highest level of military service. He has agreed that he is willing to be part of this administration because both he and I share a reverence for those who serve. I grew up in Hawaii, as he did. My grandfather is in the Punch Bowl National Cemetery. When I reflect on the sacrifices that have been made by our veterans and, I think about how so many veterans around the country are struggling even more than those who have not served -- higher unemployment rates, higher homeless rates, higher substance abuse rates, medical care that is inadequate -- it breaks my heart, and I think that General Shinseki is exactly the right person who is going to be able to make sure that we honor our troops when they come home.
BROKAW: He's the man who lost his job in the Bush Administration because he said we will need more troops in Iraq than Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld thought we would need at that time.
Click Title to see video link
Friday, November 07, 2008
History on the Homefront
Well, I might not have been kind to Sarah Palin, but it seems I made the right call. I hope that John McCain is a part of the new direction of America and I salute his service. Also, I respect Obama as the new Commander in Chief.
Soon, more veterans will be home from war and we will be there for them on the homefront. I hope we can help.
I feel a little badly for being so mad at McCain's pick of VP, in the end, it seemed to be very accurate that she was too polarizing of a pick. I apologize for being so mad, but being passionate drives me to serve, work, edit, teach, love, and I can't be passionate without also stepping on toes once in awhile. Thanks for your generous understanding.
I hope and pray that our military strengthens under Obama, that our methods of warfare can more effectively fight this 14 century war with 21st century idealism, and that our economy can stabilize to support the massive amount of humans on the planet. I hope and pray that he can put together a cabinet to address the issues and help heal us as a nation.
There is a lot to do, and it is time to start the work.
Sincerely,
Jesse Loren
Soon, more veterans will be home from war and we will be there for them on the homefront. I hope we can help.
I feel a little badly for being so mad at McCain's pick of VP, in the end, it seemed to be very accurate that she was too polarizing of a pick. I apologize for being so mad, but being passionate drives me to serve, work, edit, teach, love, and I can't be passionate without also stepping on toes once in awhile. Thanks for your generous understanding.
I hope and pray that our military strengthens under Obama, that our methods of warfare can more effectively fight this 14 century war with 21st century idealism, and that our economy can stabilize to support the massive amount of humans on the planet. I hope and pray that he can put together a cabinet to address the issues and help heal us as a nation.
There is a lot to do, and it is time to start the work.
Sincerely,
Jesse Loren
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Beware the Ides of November
Beware the Ides of November
In act II of Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar,Brutus considers the preemptive strike of killing Caesar before he is crowned and compares the strike to smashing an egg:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatch'd,would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.
Brutus has never seen Caesar swayed, but still, if he is crowned, he could become a fearful thing, just as the egg of an adder would one day become an adder. This fear compels him, against his better logic and reason, to stab his best friend to death.
Shakespeare wrote of it when Elizabeth I was on the throne, and today, it still resonates with the Bush doctrine that initially described the United States right to justify attacking a country unprovoked because it could harbor terrorists or weapons of mass destruction. Smash the egg, an adder could come out of it later.
Governor Palin describes the doctrine as Bush’s attempt to irradiate Islamic extremists; and she said during her response to ABC’s Charlie Gibson, that the U.S. “should do whatever it takes…” to fight terrorism. Doing whatever it takes goes far beyond the reach of civilized governments. It is invasive, overreaching, and subversive to democracy. It reminds me of an Internet story I received in a mass emailing and then deleted. It goes something like this:
A woman decides to take her husband’s boat out to experience what he enjoys on the lake. She does everything right, but a Fish and Game boat comes up beside her and boards her boat. She is accused of fishing without a license. She says, “I do not intend to fish, why would I want a license?” The Game Warden explains, “You have a fishing rod; this is clear evidence that you intend to fish, and I am giving you a citation.”
She claims, “Look, I don’t even like fish. I am just out here on my husband’s boat enjoying the water.” The game warden explains that clearly, if the boat has a rod, she must be intent on fishing. The lady begins to scream. The screaming gets louder and she starts yelling “RAPE! RAPE…” The warden tries to shush her saying, “I have no intention of raping you. Why are you saying that?” The lady responds, “Well, I was on the boat alone, you boarded my boat uninvited, and you have the equipment to rape me. Clearly, if you have in your pants the equipment, your intention was to rape me and you must be prosecuted.” Needless to say, the man did not write the ticket.
Under this logic, all men are suspect and should wear ankle bracelets so their whereabouts can be monitored. They are equipped and stealth. We must do whatever it takes…. Perhaps castrate most, or drown them like puppies. Maybe we water board them and hold them indefinitely on foreign soil. Better yet, we can monitor all of their conversations or hunt them down like Polar Bears….. I jest.
Whatever it takes is the most dangerous doctrine of the new century. It defends extremism coming from our soil. It speaks to a gross misunderstanding of everything the Constitution stands for, and it allows any and all fanatics to run the entire country unchecked by logic, reason, humanity or respect for civilization itself.
If you wonder what happens to Brutus, he goes unchecked, stabs Caesar to death and kills himself later because of his deep moral understanding of what he has done wrong. Falling on a sword does not undo wrong. To avoid wrong, we must take up responsibility as a nation.
In act II of Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar,Brutus considers the preemptive strike of killing Caesar before he is crowned and compares the strike to smashing an egg:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatch'd,would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.
Brutus has never seen Caesar swayed, but still, if he is crowned, he could become a fearful thing, just as the egg of an adder would one day become an adder. This fear compels him, against his better logic and reason, to stab his best friend to death.
Shakespeare wrote of it when Elizabeth I was on the throne, and today, it still resonates with the Bush doctrine that initially described the United States right to justify attacking a country unprovoked because it could harbor terrorists or weapons of mass destruction. Smash the egg, an adder could come out of it later.
Governor Palin describes the doctrine as Bush’s attempt to irradiate Islamic extremists; and she said during her response to ABC’s Charlie Gibson, that the U.S. “should do whatever it takes…” to fight terrorism. Doing whatever it takes goes far beyond the reach of civilized governments. It is invasive, overreaching, and subversive to democracy. It reminds me of an Internet story I received in a mass emailing and then deleted. It goes something like this:
A woman decides to take her husband’s boat out to experience what he enjoys on the lake. She does everything right, but a Fish and Game boat comes up beside her and boards her boat. She is accused of fishing without a license. She says, “I do not intend to fish, why would I want a license?” The Game Warden explains, “You have a fishing rod; this is clear evidence that you intend to fish, and I am giving you a citation.”
She claims, “Look, I don’t even like fish. I am just out here on my husband’s boat enjoying the water.” The game warden explains that clearly, if the boat has a rod, she must be intent on fishing. The lady begins to scream. The screaming gets louder and she starts yelling “RAPE! RAPE…” The warden tries to shush her saying, “I have no intention of raping you. Why are you saying that?” The lady responds, “Well, I was on the boat alone, you boarded my boat uninvited, and you have the equipment to rape me. Clearly, if you have in your pants the equipment, your intention was to rape me and you must be prosecuted.” Needless to say, the man did not write the ticket.
Under this logic, all men are suspect and should wear ankle bracelets so their whereabouts can be monitored. They are equipped and stealth. We must do whatever it takes…. Perhaps castrate most, or drown them like puppies. Maybe we water board them and hold them indefinitely on foreign soil. Better yet, we can monitor all of their conversations or hunt them down like Polar Bears….. I jest.
Whatever it takes is the most dangerous doctrine of the new century. It defends extremism coming from our soil. It speaks to a gross misunderstanding of everything the Constitution stands for, and it allows any and all fanatics to run the entire country unchecked by logic, reason, humanity or respect for civilization itself.
If you wonder what happens to Brutus, he goes unchecked, stabs Caesar to death and kills himself later because of his deep moral understanding of what he has done wrong. Falling on a sword does not undo wrong. To avoid wrong, we must take up responsibility as a nation.
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