Diary

Just doing my little part in getting the word out in favor of social justice.  My "favorite" part is how someone somewhere thought that hospitals would be the best place to sort out who was documented and who was not.  Next time you're bleeding out, make sure to bring your passport!

Which reminds me of how Immigration Agents would hang out in the emergency rooms during epidemics and snatch fathers away from their families while they waited to have their American Born children checked out by a doctor.  The law says you can't leave an unaccompanied child behind. So usually, breadwinning dads are taken away while Mom and little Johnny are sick and now, totally devestatingly upset.

No, wait, I have another "favorite" part. The part where undocumented workers would not be able to buy their own private insurance with their own hard earned money.  Republicans really hate brown people more than making money. Thankfully, this part was defeated.

( Immigrants and Health Reform Update - Now in easy to read form!Collapse )

Diary

I finished one lampshade! I ended up finding the perfect sized lampshades for my irregularly sized bedside table lamps. The tricksy part on top of that was finding the right size shade that was made out of paper or really, really thin linen, so that when I covered the lampshade, I would still get some light. My bedroom walls are already a dark teal, so I need some light in there.

I've never had the opportunity to be a DIY kinda girl. But I'm pleased. My project didn't come out perfect, but I think I did really well for a first attempt.
( Shoot, didn't take a before picture! Picture a plain white lampshade!Collapse )

It also occurs to me that I never did a follow up to January's Painting Post. My kitchen is finished now- all walls painted, pictures framed, curtains purchased, huge stand up bass constantly in the way since someone keeps taking it out of the office. I moved it and now have photos of the finished kitchen! ( I live in a typical Brooklyn apartment, basically the second floor of a houseCollapse )

And now, off to wash those dirty dishes and to put out the trash! Woo! Saturday night at chez dreago! I haven't finished the bedroom. Honestly, I'm stuck. I've changed the duvet, the rug, the curtains and even added an arm chair. The paisley and peacock theme looks surprisingly not crazy but I'm stumped as to what kind of art to put on the walls. Pictures to follow when I finally figure it out. There might be some kind of poll involved.

Diary

Watching the election results from California was painful. So much suspense. So much agony. And then? Ecstasy. Watching the crowds at Grant Park, I decided that I am going to try to be in Washington DC for inauguration day. Anyone got good hotel recommendations?

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The best part of the night, for me, was when Obama started telling us what to do. He was calm, inspiring, and a little bit firm. We are to be congratulated. We are to stay positive. We are to be humble. We are to start working together. Implicit in that admonishment was "No Gloating." I sighed with relief. If America has been looking for a new Daddy, I think we got one who will give us some respect, some structure and some responsibilities. It was a nightmare being "parented" by a man we did not respect, an administration that ruled through fear and ridicule, alternating with a hefty dose of neglect, stuffing us with bread and circuses, so that we would ignore our own feelings of impotence and helplessness, and finally giving the silent treatment to those who did speak out.
( Running the family metaphor into the groundCollapse )

My wish for this administration is that it have the ability to bring about Restorative Justice- whether the world or the new administration erred, whether we as a country become distracted by the next shiny thing or hate finds another way to manifest itself. In America, all things are possible. I believe that. The world believes that. My hope lies in what is next for America. In America, we can achieve Reconciliation. Yes We Can.

And now I think I've worn this metaphor out.

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“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?'
Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?'
Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?'
But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?'
And there comes a time when one must take a position
that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular
but because conscience tells one it is right.”
---Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thanks Tavis Smiley for reminding your viewers of this speech!

Diary

I can't tell you how angry I was, watching the RNC and seeing everyone sneer at Community Organizing. I'm a social worker, so as Jon Stewart said, I saw this as a "fuck you, you dumb motherfuckers for thinking you could make a difference in your community." Community Organizing requires leadership, much like executive leadership, but it empowers everyone so that they too can become leaders. That's tough. That's social work. And that can be you. Most people lead by demonstrating authority. Community Organizers lead by exercising leadership.

( What's the difference?Collapse )

What Community Organizing won't support is power in the hands of the few. That is something that some Republicans AND some Democrats can't stand. So the current people in power must mock, belittle and scare us away from Community Organizing. Mass Responsibility demands Mass Accountability.

So, if you want your vote to count, if you really want your voice to be heard, that means you have to be prepared to pitch in and take responsibility and demand accountability from ourselves and for each other. Is McCain/Palin the ticket that is going to encourage the "little guy" to be an active part of the process- even after the elections? The Obama/Biden ticket, which has already used the communal grassroots approach to include the "little guy" in the campaign process, is this the ticket that will give you more options, more choices, more opportunities to lead?

No ticket is perfect. But which ticket is more likely to empower you? Both styles will tell us how to solve our own problems, but which ticket will support and encourage your efforts, unafraid to offer the government's help/resources when needed and which one will say "Your are on your own. Good Luck with that!"

I'm dreago, I approve this message, I'm trying to find a social workers for change window sign.

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