Across the Desert

by RW Spisak

I'd like to ask you to join me for a few minutes on a walk, across a desert to the citadel where humanity’s future lives. It is defended by our colleagues; The Electronic Freedom Foundation, the Bill of Right Coalition, People for the American Way, Move-On, UUs and a few others.

We few march across a perilous, dangerous and hostile desert. Beset on every side, by well-armed and well financed enemies. A Right Wing establishment of think tanks and opinion-meisters, financed by right-wing corporate and media interests with friends in very high places.

I don't need to remind you, of a major right-wing religious figure who blamed us, the ACLU for the disaster of Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. In a world where the leader of millions of Catholics reaches back to the fourteen century when the Holy Roman Catholic Empire confronted the Muslim Empire for a quote, to insult todays faithful Muslims.

Nor need I remind you of the out-going governor of this state, who when faced with a successful citizen initiative on class size, confided to his cronies, nearly off-mike, that he had a devious plan to circumvent the people's will. In the same state which contracted a right-wing computer company to purge legitimate voters from the state rolls, who might otherwise have the temerity to vote while black. In a state where a “would-be” senator, expresses her belief, that “the separation of church and state is a lie”. And the where the states, largest school district, continues it’s legal battle to ban a book for kindergarteners, for not being sufficiently politically correct.

In a nation whose protectors of the public airwaves the FCC, pounce on nudity and documentary language as reprehensible, while winking at violence and burying reports on the truly damaging effect of the consolidation of corporate media voices.

In a nation where the commander in chief only yesterday issued a challenge “that unless he can dispense with the Bill of Rights and rule outside and above the rule of law”, he will be unable to defend the country against it’s enemies. Not only denying habeus corpus, but access to attorneys, and for some the special secret prison, without charges, without and beyond the rule of any law but whim. A government that has turned so completely away from civilized values, taking this great experiment in democracy to a place where justice is sought from the dunking chair and amidst the tortuous screams of the dungeon. He proclaimed these changes indispensable. And our constitution too readily dispensable.

I ask you this faced with these dangers what is our course?

If Leonidas of Sparta on his way to Thermopylae was asked to stop his march and instead give a reckoning of expenditures on weapons and sandals over the last five years in triplicate... Where would Xerxes have been stopped.

If on his way to Gettysburg, Grant was ordered to give a complete inventory of his weapons, horses, and heart, and only then, could he continue on to his appointment with Lee, would they still meet at Appomattox?

While we could stop and do an inventory of the hearts and minds, and investigate the optimum trajectory of our desires, on our way to support the beleaguered defenders, where Liberty's future huddles nearly friendless.

I say... March on, our leaders are fallible men and women, yes, but the danger is stark, March on defend humanity against those who call for a return to the dark ages. March on, my friends, for Liberty's sake for humanity's sake. For the sake of civilization.

9/16/06

"Liberals use all their tools to attack God and the family"

A RESPONSE TO A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ENTITLED:
"Liberals use all their tools to attack God and the family"

Mr. Babuji

Let's think just for a second, about the "work" of the liberals
through history. If you are a student of "Judeo-Christian" thought,
you are doubtless aware that the Bible was thought to be strictly
for the elite, the rich and the nobles.

It was a "LIBERAL" opinion, that the Bible should be available
to everyone. You may also be aware that it was a "LIBERAL" idea
to translate the Bible into language other than the "original"
Latin. It was eventually even translated into the modern language
of English, several different times, with a "LIBERAL" range of
interpretations and metaphors.

It was a "LIBERAL" idea that suggested that mere human beings
could govern themselves. It was a "LIBERAL" idea that we could
live without KINGS and nobles. This "LIBERAL" idea allowed for
the founding of a country where people who had suffered under
"CONSERVATIVE" religious wars in Europe could live as an
alternative in this "LIBERAL" country where people would be
free to practice, or not, the religion of their choice.

I have been a progressive and "Liberal" my entire adult life -
I have never heard a "Liberal" denounce prayer, or suggest that
those who worship, and fear god, are destroying this country.

I have however read the teachings of Jesus, which urge those who
attempt to follow his teaching, "should not, judge others harshly,
lest their intolerance fall upon themselves."

Yours "LIBERALLY"
Richard W. Spisak Jr.

Discourse about the place of Political Cartoons on an Environmental Listerve

Political Cartoons on an Environmental Forum


(Pam to Rick)

Richard,
This is really inappropriate for the forum.

Pam


(Rick to Pam)

I thought that many in the environmental movement, would be
quite concerned with the "Environmental Stewardship" of the Bush Administration.

Afterall, it is true that concrete and chainsaws are part
of the natural process, heck even pesticides, and petroleum
executives are part of the great chain of life.

I just hoped to share some political insights with my collegues
on the greenside.

also see:
http://www.sierraclub.org/planet/200404/bushadmin.asp

I hope if you find these cartoonscapes, utterly offensive you
can find your delete button. If your keyboard has already been
clearcut, through the "Healthy Forests Initiative",
you might find it under a "Clean Air Act" smog bank.

solidarity & peace
rick


(Pam to Rick)

Rick,

I don't find them utterly offensive. I find some of it quite
funny. I just don't think that the forum is the right place
to forward this stuff. The club is supposed to be non-partisan.
The slant of your messages are not.

These messages are more appropriate between friends not for
general consumption. In other parts of the country on various
club listservs your privileges to use the forum would be removed.

Pam


(Rick to Pam)

If, god willing one of the other parties does finally get in power
and has the power to make the kind of hideous, murderous and
repulsive mistakes as the current junta...
I will, I have and do... lance them with my fascist piercing
purple pen (mouse)

deep meaningful bow to brother woody (guthrie) that is;

And I'm sure, if I rub enough republican sierra clubbers wrong -
I'm sure my posting rights will be terminated. I do not fear.
My heart is my censor.

I appreciate your comments and thank goodness I may still
yet wield my mouse in defense of the defenseless, and in
favor of true conservation...
like the teddy roosevelt kind.

Who was a steward of our natural world... albeit,
one not without some imperial dreams of his own.

You seem a thoughtful person, and I hope my modest rejoinder
was heard in the spirit (giggles) it was offered and -
since you do admit - at least one made you smile

That's what I take to the bank... the smog bank, because -
I write to catalyze people toward thinking and laughing,
about tremendously serious matters

long may the republic wave

solidarnosc
rick


(Pam to Rick)

Rich,

It might be your intent to catalyze people but I think
the danger is that you will more likely alienate people
before they get your underlying message.

We need all the help we can get to raise people's consciousness
and be able to make positive changes. If you turn them off
before you give them the message what have you accomplished?

Pam


(Rick to Pam)

Pam, thanks again for writing.

And while I long to please, and coax a gentle guffax, so as to
move my good colleagues into action. I think time is short and
action must be taken.

I have been a passionate crusader for the environment since the
early sixties, when my family was given a copy and we each read
Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring", blessings on her name.

"Silent Spring" alerted a few to the tragic consequences of
apathy and trust of big gov't & big coroporation and the casual
poisoning of the environment.

I have stood for women's rights, african american rights,
hispanic rights, a women's right to choose, and in opposition
to many STUPID wars, (albeit REAL MONEY MAKERS) and in opposition to the trashing of the only planet
we can afford to mess up... (can we???)

But while I would like to pen thoughtful dispassionate
paragraphs and pages to move the sleeping masses... (
and I do, I can send you some of my essays), I understand that
a cartoon's POKE in the FRONTAL LOBES & Werniche's Area,
does not require expensive minutes of time, it requires
mere seconds.

And since "my fellow americans" all too often choose distraction
over thoughtful discourse, I must draw pungent (hopefully humourous)
or at least thought provoking
cartoons. - They require virtually no TIME CONSUMING minutes,
only seconds to achieve communication - that some will find these
heavy handed or unbalanced; I ask them to SEEK OUT
- FOX NEWS... if they want "fair and balanced"

Will I lose some audiences, am I preaching to the choir?
Well if they get up off their collective
(and often delightful asses) and VOTE?

Well then I leave them to the equitable voting machinations
of ESS & DIEBOLD with the likes of "Katherine Harris" to
count their votes.

Thanks

solidarity & peace
rick