Monday, March 20, 2006
Only one today
and there is nothing behind the "Read more!" link, so don't bother.
First of all, yes Steve, I'll send all my regs an Earth Day card. *Grinz* I think that's a great idea.
In truth though, there may be more than 10 regular readers. I know I keep seeing the same cities regularly, and I want all those folks to know how grateful I am, even if they don't comment, and even if they don't agree with me.
I have folks from Blenheim, Darlington, Rock Hill, and Columbia who hit the site regularly (Thank you!) and that does make me especially happy because I hope we can grow a meaningful Green Party in South Carolina.
In addition there are some wonderful folks who visit the site often. From Berkley CA to Brooklyn NY to Minneapolis MN to Parkersburg WV to Capitol Heights MD to Kaysville Utah, this blog is reaching folks. This is just a short list, and I am grateful even for the visitor who stops by only once.
Now...what did you do to stop the War Grandad?
Not enough, I know that. 2300 US service personnel killed, tens of thousands of Iraqi killed, hundreds of billions spent, and all for nothing, as far as I can tell. Tyrants come and go. While we must do all we can within our principals to resist people like Hussein, but we must also remember that the next tyrant is just around the corner.
Instead of seeing Iraq as a war to end war, we are seeing this war being used to create the conditions for permanent war. This can't be good. But getting rid of Bush may have no more impact on the people of the year 2106 than getting rid of Teddy Roosevelt at the end of his second term has effected the people of today. Of course there are lingering effects, but in truth, history seems to wipe out the impact of individuals over the long haul.
So, what to do?
As Gandhi said, we must become the change we want to see in others.
Gene Roddenberry, creator of the Star Trek series, believed that the world of 2400 will be a world without war, money, greed, oppression, chronic disease or hatred. Looking at human progress over the last couple of centuries, I can see why he would be so optimistic. But we hairless apes do seem very slow on the uptake, and have not demanded peace and prosperity for all from our leaders.
But humanity is a young species, with much to learn. I just hope we learn it before we self-destruct.
At the anti-war demonstration in Charlotte yesterday there were about 80 people turned out to hear speakers and march. The Charlotte Area Green Party was well organized thanks to hard work from a number of local Greens. Our coordinators, Alan Burns and Nick Tripplett, did a great job as did all the rest of the crew. Susan Tripplett, Kathryn Kuppers, Harry Phillips, Judy Aulette, Albert Aulette, Kathryn's mom...all in all there were fifteen people at the demonstration because they are Greens or were brought to the event by Greens. Out of 80 folks, that ain't bad.
And our two speakers, Brian Stanton and Ken Davies delivered a passionate and correct presentation about the numerous crimes of the Bush administration and called on Charlotteans to join the Green Party in planning for demonstrations on September 30th intended to increase pressure on Bush & Co. Ken Davies ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in a city council race last time through, and has decided to put his efforts behind the Greens. Based on his speech yesterday, he's a great addition to the Greens.
Judy, an artist and educator, has agreed to donate some art to the York County Greens as a fundraiser, and we will be auctioning off her donation at the York County Greens County Convention. The convention will be held at the York County Library near the corner of Interstate 77 and Highway 160 in Fort Mill, SC. Running from 10 to noon, the keynote speaker will be Arnold Karr, seeking our nomination to run for Superintendent of Education, will be our keynote speaker, and I have invited a speaker to address the convention about Tenent Healthcare, owner and operator of our county's only hospital and leading candidate to build the next one. Tenent has a long and questionable history, as do many corporations. Hopefully Ravencroft (not a Green) will be willing to share info with the rest of us.
Two folks came to the Charlotte Area Green Party tent to sign up, and as it turns out, both of these folks live in York County, so we exchanged contact info and will be getting together soon. Things may finally be breaking our way. Kathryn says that part of our job is to simply hang in there until the rank-and-file American sees the light...Perhaps when they are choking on oxygen depleted air, but better late than never, eh?
The good folks at PostNet in Fort Mill are handing out copies of the forms needed to file to run for office in South Carolina, and will have them until the 30th at noon, when the deadline to file hits. So far no one has asked them for a copy, but who knows? At least the opportunity is there.
I'm sure there is more to report, and more to say, but time is slipping away, and I must get to work. Bills to pay and all that.
Be kind to one another, and thank whatever gods you may believe in that we have another day to try to get it right.
Love,
Gregg
PS...my daughters, granddaughters, daughter's boyfriend and son-in-law were all here on Sunday. What a gift! Plus, my younger daughter has been playing a bit of "catch-up" during her spring break, so my computer access has been limited this week. In other words, I hope to be able to do more news related blogging soon, perhaps even tonight.
First of all, yes Steve, I'll send all my regs an Earth Day card. *Grinz* I think that's a great idea.
In truth though, there may be more than 10 regular readers. I know I keep seeing the same cities regularly, and I want all those folks to know how grateful I am, even if they don't comment, and even if they don't agree with me.
I have folks from Blenheim, Darlington, Rock Hill, and Columbia who hit the site regularly (Thank you!) and that does make me especially happy because I hope we can grow a meaningful Green Party in South Carolina.
In addition there are some wonderful folks who visit the site often. From Berkley CA to Brooklyn NY to Minneapolis MN to Parkersburg WV to Capitol Heights MD to Kaysville Utah, this blog is reaching folks. This is just a short list, and I am grateful even for the visitor who stops by only once.
Now...what did you do to stop the War Grandad?
Not enough, I know that. 2300 US service personnel killed, tens of thousands of Iraqi killed, hundreds of billions spent, and all for nothing, as far as I can tell. Tyrants come and go. While we must do all we can within our principals to resist people like Hussein, but we must also remember that the next tyrant is just around the corner.
Instead of seeing Iraq as a war to end war, we are seeing this war being used to create the conditions for permanent war. This can't be good. But getting rid of Bush may have no more impact on the people of the year 2106 than getting rid of Teddy Roosevelt at the end of his second term has effected the people of today. Of course there are lingering effects, but in truth, history seems to wipe out the impact of individuals over the long haul.
So, what to do?
As Gandhi said, we must become the change we want to see in others.
Gene Roddenberry, creator of the Star Trek series, believed that the world of 2400 will be a world without war, money, greed, oppression, chronic disease or hatred. Looking at human progress over the last couple of centuries, I can see why he would be so optimistic. But we hairless apes do seem very slow on the uptake, and have not demanded peace and prosperity for all from our leaders.
But humanity is a young species, with much to learn. I just hope we learn it before we self-destruct.
At the anti-war demonstration in Charlotte yesterday there were about 80 people turned out to hear speakers and march. The Charlotte Area Green Party was well organized thanks to hard work from a number of local Greens. Our coordinators, Alan Burns and Nick Tripplett, did a great job as did all the rest of the crew. Susan Tripplett, Kathryn Kuppers, Harry Phillips, Judy Aulette, Albert Aulette, Kathryn's mom...all in all there were fifteen people at the demonstration because they are Greens or were brought to the event by Greens. Out of 80 folks, that ain't bad.
And our two speakers, Brian Stanton and Ken Davies delivered a passionate and correct presentation about the numerous crimes of the Bush administration and called on Charlotteans to join the Green Party in planning for demonstrations on September 30th intended to increase pressure on Bush & Co. Ken Davies ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in a city council race last time through, and has decided to put his efforts behind the Greens. Based on his speech yesterday, he's a great addition to the Greens.
Judy, an artist and educator, has agreed to donate some art to the York County Greens as a fundraiser, and we will be auctioning off her donation at the York County Greens County Convention. The convention will be held at the York County Library near the corner of Interstate 77 and Highway 160 in Fort Mill, SC. Running from 10 to noon, the keynote speaker will be Arnold Karr, seeking our nomination to run for Superintendent of Education, will be our keynote speaker, and I have invited a speaker to address the convention about Tenent Healthcare, owner and operator of our county's only hospital and leading candidate to build the next one. Tenent has a long and questionable history, as do many corporations. Hopefully Ravencroft (not a Green) will be willing to share info with the rest of us.
Two folks came to the Charlotte Area Green Party tent to sign up, and as it turns out, both of these folks live in York County, so we exchanged contact info and will be getting together soon. Things may finally be breaking our way. Kathryn says that part of our job is to simply hang in there until the rank-and-file American sees the light...Perhaps when they are choking on oxygen depleted air, but better late than never, eh?
The good folks at PostNet in Fort Mill are handing out copies of the forms needed to file to run for office in South Carolina, and will have them until the 30th at noon, when the deadline to file hits. So far no one has asked them for a copy, but who knows? At least the opportunity is there.
I'm sure there is more to report, and more to say, but time is slipping away, and I must get to work. Bills to pay and all that.
Be kind to one another, and thank whatever gods you may believe in that we have another day to try to get it right.
Love,
Gregg
PS...my daughters, granddaughters, daughter's boyfriend and son-in-law were all here on Sunday. What a gift! Plus, my younger daughter has been playing a bit of "catch-up" during her spring break, so my computer access has been limited this week. In other words, I hope to be able to do more news related blogging soon, perhaps even tonight.
// posted by Gregg Jocoy @ 7:54 AM 
