Just One More Political Commentary

I have friends and family who will be voting for Mitt Romney on November 6th and I will not  alienate them by discussing our political differences, but I have to question if they understand what is at stake in this election. There are issues common to almost every election; the federal deficit, unemployment, health care, and social security, but in this election there is an issue that, for me, stands above all the others and that is women's rights. I do not want a president whose policies will catapult women back in time. I remember the 60s and 70s when women fought for equal pay, when the Supreme Court made the decision to legalize abortion in Roe vs Wade, and legislators passed laws making it a criminal offense for a husband to abuse his wife. I have advocated for and counseled women who have been raped and abused and I fear that if the Romney Ryan Republican ticket wins, a chauvinistic backward view of women and women's issues will resurface.

Romney has said he will overturn Roe vs Wade and has endorsed a "personhood" initiative treating a fertilized egg as a legal person. That could lead to murder charges for an abortion, even to save the life of a mother. He has promised to withdraw all federal funding of Planned Parenthood, which, contrary to popular belief, provides numerous health services to women, including HIV/AIDS testing and cancer screening. The unfortunate result of defunding could be that more women may die of cervical and breast cancer and AIDS.

I have followed the Republican's war on women since the start of this election year, beginning with Rick Santorum's extreme stance on birth control. Santorum said, "One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country....It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be."  The fact is that 99 percent of sexually active women in the United States have used some form of birth control and Santorum wanted to ban all contraception.

Romney recently endorsed Republican Richard Mourdock in the Indiana Senate race with a widely publicized web video declaring, "With so much at stake, I hope you'll join me in supporting Richard Mourdock for U.S. Senate." On October 23, 2012,  Mourdock  said, "And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." Four out of five Americans believe that a woman should be able to get an abortion if her health is endangered, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape.

And then there is Todd Aiken's outrageous comment, "If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," he said. "But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child." His entire statement is preposterous, but the most insulting word here is "legitimate".

Given these views by Republicans running for office this year, I believe it is fair to say that there is a Republican war on women and I urge everyone to think about these issues when they enter the voting booth on Tuesday. These issues affect men and women alike. I know not all men subscribe to these radical Republican views and they do care about the reproductive health of their wives, daughters, girlfriends, friends, and family members.

Women, when you vote, think about how you feel about your rights. Men, think about all the women you love.

A Brave Fight for Women's Rights

"Any female that, by any means, plays a role in the war against the mujahedeen," Ehsan declared, "should be killed." 

Five days ago, a fourteen-year-old girl was shot in the head and neck while riding in a school bus. She is currently fighting for her life in a military hospital in Pakistan.The shooters? The mujahedeen. Her offense? Blogging about her right, and the right of all girls, to attend school. Malala Yousafzai has been blogging since the age of eleven when she began to journal her personal struggle to get an education. Her diary was published by the BBC after the Taliban announced that girls will not be allowed to attend school and declared the education of girls to be "un-Islamic." The ban affected Malala's schooling in Swat Valley, Pakistan.

Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban after advocating education for girls, is treated by army doctors. Photograph: Ispr Handout/EPA

The mujahedeen are Islamic guerilla warriors belonging to a radical movement that dates back to the mid-1800s, originating in the remote mountains of Afghanistan. They believe they are engaged in a battle of faith, or jihad, a holy war. Although the Taliban was forced out of Swat in 2009, they have publicly admitted responsibility for the shooting, in what most believe is an attempt to announce their continued presence and commitment to violence in their barbaric war against women.

In the United States, a geographical location that ends or begins in 'valley' typically conjures up images of skiing, wealth, and social status. The Swat Valley, where Malala lives, used to boast about being Pakistan's only ski resort, but it is now one of the most violent regions in Pakistan due to the irrepressible influence of the Taliban. Mujahedeen militants continue to spill over from the Afghanistan border and, as evidenced by Tuesday's cold-blooded shooting, are intent upon enforcing their Islamic fundamentalism upon the women of Pakistan.

Malala, a remarkably brave girl, now joins the rank of women who, in their heroic attempt to bring about change for womankind, have fallen victim to cowards.

It's Been a Long Long Time

This video was recorded in 1976, the year I first saw Willie Nelson in concert in New Braunfels, Texas.The lyrics to "Funny How Time Slips Away" adequately expressed my thoughts as I watched Willie perform last night at the Deadwood Mountain Grand.  

In 1976, I was a very young, outlaw-loving, free-spirited woman who knew the words to every song from the album "Red Headed Stranger." Last night, inundated with these memories, I recalled how Willie's presence was always palpable in the Lone Star state during the 70s. His songs were played in every bar for the couples who clung to one another on the dance floor and every woman believed she was the good hearted woman he sang about. His outlaw country music had taken root and is firmly planted to this day. To live in Texas at that time and say that you didn't like Willie would have been akin to blasphemy.

Although Willie's voice struggled slightly at times, his familiar soulful tone carried every song with ease and his love for music and his fans was as evident last night as it was over thirty years ago. I wanted to tell him that I saw him in New Braunfels so many years ago and had thrown him my brand new red Stetson cowboy hat (which he never returned to me), but I was content with shaking the iconic musician's hand and receiving a warm smile when the music ended.

My, it's been a long long time.

A Typical Day in White Clay

Sleeping in roadside camp at 7am

Passed out at 5pm

I wish I could title this post something else, but unfortunately, these photos depict a typical day in White Clay, Nebraska. White Clay is two miles from Pine Ridge, the tribal headquarters of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, and only yards from the border of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I am working on the construction project for a new justice center for the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. The dirt road that leads to the project site straddles the Nebraska-South Dakota border. This is what I see each and every day as I leave the construction site - Oglala Lakota Indians passed out in front, and behind, abandoned buildings, in the ditches, and along the short stretch of highway that runs through the one-square mile town. This is where they will sleep off their daily alcohol binge. The lucky ones are the few that have a sleeping bag or a blanket to cover them during the cool summer nights, but blankets will not be enough when winter sets in and the death rate from exposure may escalate.

Throughout the day, Indians stagger drunkenly toward any car that may stop in the tiny town with a population that varies in reports from five to fourteen. The main reason anyone stops in White Clay is to purchase alcohol, for that is the only true commodity this unincorporated town has to offer. Four off-sale liquor stores with metal bars on their windows and doors, sell over four million cans of beer a year, a staggering 12,000 cans of beer per day. Their customers? Residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation or the bootleggers who prey on the addicted, loading their cars with cases of beer to sell on the dry reservation.

Drinking away the day

The possession and sale of alcohol has been prohibited under Oglala Sioux tribal law since the early 1890s. This law was reversed in 1970, but the legalization of alcohol sales was short-lived. An outcry from Oglala traditionalists resulted in the new law being immediately repealed. Liquor is not part of the Lakota culture. It is a poison that was introduced by white men to weaken, disorientate, and make the Lakota warriors vulnerable - only one of the techniques Europeans used to attempt to destroy the Lakota people and their way of life. The liquor store owners in White Clay, Nebraska care nothing about tradition and the human lives they are ruining; turning a deaf ear to the protests from the Oglala people and listening only to the ring of their busy cash registers.

Today, the Lakota women of the Oglala Sioux tribe are protesting the sale of alcohol in White Clay. Members and allies of the Women's Day of Peace march will walk from Pine Ridge to White Clay, and I hope it will be just that—a peaceful demonstration against the town that profits from the misery of many.

Max Yasgur's Farm

Nothing will make you feel older than having a twenty-something co-worker ask you if you were at Woodstock. My reply, "No, I was too young," was given a look of skepticism.

 

Forty-three years ago this week, hundreds of thousands of young people belonging to the hippie generation descended upon Yasgur's farm. And, although I was too young to go to the festival, I remember it like it was yesterday. Watching the movie that was released the following year was as thrilling for me as the live performance. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - all the biggest names in rock-n-roll history.

The movie altered my already liberal outlook on life and influenced my decision to become a budding flower child. I developed a school girl crush on Arlo Guthrie, Country Joe McDonald, and Alvin Lee, their posters were plastered on the walls in my bedroom.

Young Hippies, Tracy and Brother Steve 1971
Arlo Guther strumming guitar behind us

 The festival was a pivotal moment in the turbulent sixties, not only for the music, but because of the incredible demonstration of sharing and caring that was prevalent throughout the three-day peace and love fest. We may have Lollapalooza today, but we will never have another Woodstock.

White House Humor

I have always appreciated President Obama's sense of humor, but his remarks last night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner were laugh out loud funny. Self-deprecating remarks about his aging, jabs at Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, and his dicey "Pit Bull" joke that was lost on many; referring to the outcry some had about him eating dog when he lived as a child in Indonesia, and incorporating that with Sarah Palin's Pit Bull with lipstick remark. My favorite was his ending where he said he has the greatest respect for the free press - "Blogger or broadcaster, those who take on powerful interests at home or place themselves in harms way...our country depends on you."

Jimmy Kimmel spoke up about the legalization of marijuana and it was noted that very few hands were raised by the 2,000 plus attendees in response to his request: "I would like everyone in this room to raise your hand if you've never smoked pot." Of course, this will be used against Obama by the right wing conservatives during the campaign.

With politicians, journalists, and celebrities all in one room, I can't imagine a more interesting or entertaining gala to attend.

An Insincere Apology

A watered-down apology from Rush Limbaugh to Sandra Fluke only solidifies my belief that he is a despicable misogynist. He started off by saying, “I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.” And you know what? I believe that. I don’t think it was meant as a personal attack on Sandra Fluke, either. I know that it was an attack on all women.  Limbaugh then proceeded with his disingenuous apology by saying, “My choice of words was not the best, and in an attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.” Limbaugh’s dark side is now fully exposed, his cavernous mouth continues to spew venom.

Humorous? Calling a woman a “slut”, a “prostitute”, and a “feminazi” is his idea of humor? Suggesting that she should have to make sex tapes and post them online so we can all watch is something that he thinks will amuse his listeners? By admitting that he meant to be humorous, he is verbalizing, once again, his sexist contempt toward women and by minimizing the impact of his choice of words; he is not apologizing at all.  His three-day rant goes beyond name-calling; it is an extension of his personal view on women.

Rick Santorum, on the other hand, refuses to apologize for his stance on birth control, particularly his support of the now defeated Blunt amendment, which would have allowed employers the right to deny contraception and other health coverage based on moral reasons. Santorum acknowledged that he believes birth control is morally wrong and that employers should be able to opt out of covering it. “I’m reflecting the views of the church that I believe in,” he said. His religious belief that birth control is morally wrong pushes women’s health and contraception issues back fifty years—an unthinkable setback for Women’s Rights and a horrifying glimpse at what could become reality if Santorum, who also does not believe in the separation of church and state, were to be elected as the President of the United States.

Right-wing Republicans are becoming increasingly bolder in their war against women. The 2012 election is becoming about women, and regardless of whether they are a democrat or a republican, women must stay informed about the political issues and the candidates stances. We gained the right to vote in 1920 and we should honor that right.

Sopapipa

 I love a sugary, crispy, deep-fried sopapipa with cinnamon and honey.  Oh... wait a minute, that would be a sopapilla. Something sweet and palatable. Something  that SOPA and PIPA are not.

We live in a world of acronyms that effortlessly  slip off our tongues and sometimes disguise or minimize the intent of an organization or group. Stop Online Piracy Act catches my attention while SOPA did not. Protest Intellectual Property Act (PIPA)  makes me wonder...what is this about? I'm sure there were a lot of people today who were unaware of these two House bills until they sought information from Google or Wikipedia and saw a blacked out Google logo and a shut down Wikipedia site. Google and Wikipedia are protesting the expansion of U.S. law enforcement to include online copyright infringement. The provisions of these bills would include requesting court orders to ban web search engines from linking to certain websites, and would require that internet service providers block access to the websites. The proposed law would have expanded existing criminal laws to include unauthorized streaming of copyrighted content, imposing a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Who requested that SOPA and PIPA bills be drawn up to put the squeeze on the sale of pirated United States products via the internet? The film and music industry,of course. SONY to be exact. Like these guys don't make enough money? Let's pick on the Kardashians for example. They can't sing, dance, or act, but are worth hundreds of  millions collectively, and we can only imagine what financial horrors might happen to their nine-digit incomes, or to BravoTV network, or NBC,  if a bored late-night viewer in Italy illegally downloaded one of their episodes. This is my own generalization, but this is what SOPA and PIPA are really about.  More money, more money, more money. The film and music industries make untold billions from lucrative royalties and they want more. Sony is not satisfied.

If the legislation were passed, a provision would be to enable federal authorities to block sites accused of piracy or copyright infringement. Not convicted, but accused. Sounds a bit Big Brotherish, doesn't it? The vagueness of the bill would definitely have an impact on online freedoms. Though not a supporter of piracy,  I am definitely a proponent of freedom of speech and expression and believe the government should not have the right to regulate the internet. Everyone should have the right to free internet material without having to pay for it. I am aware that there are some websites you have to pay for and rightly so. They are not for the general public, and are separate from the issues I am addressing.

The bold protest by Wikipedia in shutting down for twenty-four hours with the message -  "Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge." I can't. Contact your local Congressperson and let them know you do not support SOPA or PIPA. The First Amendment is worth fighting for.