Monday, February 13, 2012

PILLOW TALK WITH MITT AND ANNE

SCENE: Hotel bedroom, on the campaign trail. MITT and his wife, ANNE, are talking.

MITT: How in hell am I going to stop this infernal yapping about our dog riding on top of the car?

ANNE: Mitt, you mustn't swear -- you know the Church forbids it.

MITT: What the hell do I care? They're nothing but a pain in my butt -- lots of people don't want a Mormon in the White House. I wish I could dump the Church -- but then people'd start screaming "Flip Flop." Worse than that, the Tea Party would denounce me for turning against my faith. Jesus, you just can't win with those crazies.

ANNE: Well, still you've got to do something to squelch this dog thing.

MITT: Goddamnit, I would have been able to talk my way out of it like I do everything else if he hadn't shit all over the car.

ANNE: Your language!

MITT: Screw it, I need to fully express myself. If King George VI could curse, so can I.

ANNE: But that was only a movie, The King's Speech.

MITT: So what? Americans don't care anything about history. They take movies as gospel truth. I've got bigger problems. That frigging book that's come out -- "The Real Romney." There's stuff in there that makes me look really bad....like when I forbade that woman to have an abortion even though she had a life-threatening blood clot in her pelvis.

ANNE: Well, of course you were right. The Church insists that from the moment of conception it's a human being and its rights must come first even if the mother might die.

MITT: Naturally, Anne. But, you've got to be quiet about that time you sneaked off to do you know what.

ANNE: That was different.

MITT: Oh, yeah?

ANNE: Well, sure. It was before we were married, and we would have been excommunicated. I HAD to!

MITT: Shhhhh! Let's not go there.
There's really bad stuff in the book, too, about all the deals I pulled when I was head of Bain Capital. And, would you believe -- Newt is bashing me for the way I did business -- Newt, of all people.

ANNE: I bet it's that trashy wife of his -- they say she leads him around by her nose.

MITT: Thank Heaven you're a proper submissive wife who lives to serve me.

ANNE: Well, now that you mention it, sometimes I get sick of playing the dutiful little wife. Times have changed. Women have opinions, husbands help with the chores, this is 2012.

MITT: No, Anne, don' t dare to think like that. You have to be subservient....the Mormons demand it, and it's part of my image -- the perfect old-fashioned family.

ANNE: Perfect, my ass! Half our sons smoke pot, another's a drunk, and then there's the gay one. How long can we keep these things under wraps?

MITT: We HAVE to, for God's sake! I've already bragged about helping gays get equal rights, then switched to saying I'll kill the same-sex marriage act. I can't flip again on this thing -- it'll finish me with the Party. They already think I'm a hypocrite.

No, my biggest problem right now is to try and convince people that I created jobs when I headed Bain. That's a real hard one, because actually I got rid of far more people than I employed.

ANNE: Can't you fudge the numbers a little?

MITT: Nah, it's all on the record. And they've got interviews in TV ads with people who I fired and lost their pensions and stuff. They say I have no heart, no empathy with real people and their real problems.

ANNE: Well, you just go out there and tell them how worried you were once when you thought you might not get a promotion. That'll show them you relate to the people's concerns.

MITT: Well, I did that and they mocked me when I said I once worried about getting a pink slip. I don't understand why they don't understand that I understand.

ANNE: Try harder, dear. Tell them how much you care.

MITT: I DID, and everybody jumped all over me when I said I didn't care about the poor, only about the middle class.

ANNE: You've got to be careful not to let them know things like that. SOME people care about the poor.

MITT: Well, why should they? The poor don't vote, for God's sake.

About the dog thing, I'll tell them how much our dog enjoyed riding on top of the car for those12 hours. That ought to stop the talk.

ANNE: Oh, dear, I'm not so sure. I've seen pictures of T shirts with the words "Crate Gate" on them.

MITT: Oh, crap, I'll have to start lying then and saying that Obama's dog, Bo, pisses all over the Oval Office, and that Obama keeps him locked up all night in the Situation Room. That should take care of it.

ANNE: But that's an outright lie!

MITT: So what? Nobody cares any more about the truth. And the media hardly ever calls me up on my lies. Yeah, I'll go ahead and trash Obama for the way he treats Bo. That'll level the playing field.

ANNE: Don't you think people also want to know your position on issues?

MITT: Don't be naive, Anne. I don't have any positions about issues and I don't have to. Voters don't give a crap about them -- they just want scandal and attacks!

ANNE: Well, all right, dear. I suppose you're right.

MITT: Yes, I'm right. I'm right. I'm far right. I'm far, far right. Ignore the health care in Massachusetts. I'm really right, far right, far, far right. (starts to babble)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

DOWN BUT FAR FROM OUT: ZUCOTTI PARK AFTER THE POLICE RAID

Zucotti Park is greatly changed from the bustling, overflowing, colorful encampment it was only a week ago when I was there. All the tarps, tents, flags, banners, food tables, various outreach tents with busy computers and phones, are gone. There are fewer people there.

But, it IS still there, and still embodies the spirit that catapulted it overnight into the nation's consciousness just two months ago.

It is still there despite the iron fences that surround every inch of space making it look like an open-air prison compound.

It is still there despite the plethora of police and security guards that now occupy Occupy. One can't help noting the irony of so many of "New York's Finest" deployed on one square block of Manhattan real estate while there are whole neighborhoods, even vast sections of New York City rampant with crime, poor sanitation, and safety threats with no police presence at all. These conditions are the avowed reason why Mayor Bloomberg sent the troops in to demolish Zucotti in the first place. Something is wrong with this picture.

Today, Monday, Nov. 21, I had the great privilege of going to Zucotti Park with a delegation of senior citizens, union retirees, people with disabilities, health and social justice advocates and just plain people concerned about the threat of cuts to the safety net, particularly those affecting seniors. We went there after a meeting held at the United Federation of Teachers premises a couple of blocks from Zucotti. Approximately 7 or 8 young Occupy people had joined our meeting and expressed solidarity with our concerns. We, of course, thanked them for all that they are doing. As one of the elders said, "You have awakened the sleeping giant!"

At the iconic site, we held a rally, Zucotti style, following their "Mic Check" method of human amplification wherein a speaker says a few words and then the audience loudly repeats them. As we spoke, beginning around 1 p.m., the crowds began to thicken in the park. A couple of us authors found that there is still a library, vastly depleted by the cops' vicious confiscation of all the occupiers' property, and we donated copies of our books. We were told by Jonathan, who was manning the meager little collection, that it was probable that the books would be grabbed again at the end of the day.

After we finished our program, a delightful bit of street theatre was presented by a batch of college and university students affiliated with studentloanjustice.org. Wearing caps and gowns, they were presented with Debt Diplomas inscribed with various amounts of money
-- one was $57,000, another $35,000, and so on. Each recipient was identified by name -- Penny Less was one. Bill O'debt another. You get the idea. I thought it was cute (are we allowed to apply that adjective to such serious people as Occupiers?).

A professor from New York University told us that the Federal Government would need $70 billion to cover all 2- and 4-year public college and university students today. He told us that 70 billion dollars was equivalent to that lost by the Pentagon for unaccounted-for spending.

I must add to this my own concern as founder of Grandmothers Against the War that the money wasted on our wars/occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan total far more than that amount, and we should all be pressing for an end to those unconscionable conflicts.

So, Zucotti Park goes on. Given the dedication and creativity of the wonderful young people there, physically and symbolically, I have full confidence that the movement they have sparked will continue to grow and flourish until the urgent changes we 99 percent seek are implemented.

Monday, November 7, 2011

DISCOURAGED ABOUT TODAY'S YOUTH? FUGGEDDABOUDIT!

If you, like me, have concluded that today's kids are practically a throwback to the Neanderthals, with their faces buried in video games instead of books or their fingers texting i-phone messages instead of tapping piano keys, conclude again.

I recently had occasion to attend one of Occupy Wall Street's near-daily Direct Action meetings, and I've never been so impressed. There were approximately 30 or 40 people seated in a circle in a building near Zucotti Park. Almost all of them were very young, except for two or three middle-aged persons and this one old broad, me.

The meeting was conducted -- no, that's the wrong word, they don't have leaders -- facilitated by a young, probably college-age, girl. In a most efficient manner, she adhered to a beautifully conceived structure that provided for anyone to speak, in a carefully allotted and monitored amount of time, and then allowed for the group to respond quickly to their requests. It was all incredibly civil and, by golly, MATURE. Actions were speedily arranged and points of contention were briskly resolved, courteously. Not a minute was wasted on irrelevant chatter. One couldn't help wondering what it would be like to have these intelligent and purposeful young men and women dominating the Congress. Hopefuly, someday they will.

But, most of all, one was struck with the completely democratic way the youngsters managed their complicated agenda. A number of events were planned, fundamental decisions were made, and all without an iota of rancor or ego conflict. And, make no mistake. These kids are ideologically committed to building a better, more economically just society, but with political savvy befitting much older, more experienced elders. They mean business!

Heretofore, I had observed through my grandchildren that the new generation has made great strides in terms of prejudice. They have gay friends, and friends with different racial and ethnic origins. I have noted several of my grandkids railing against bias of all kinds. That, of course, is very heartening, but I was not aware of their generation's stance on other social and economic inequalities....until I visited Occupy.

Don't pay any heed to the Murdoch-controlled New York Post and other media entities that try to paint the Occupy movement as presided over by a bunch of hippie hoodlums. No, Occupy is composed of serious, dedicated and truly democratic people.

Don't pay any attention to Mayor Bloomberg's rants about how badly Occupy is affecting the local businesses. I went into the atrium at 60 Wall Street across from the Stock Exchange last week, and its shops were humming with business. Murdoch and Bloomberg are at the top of the one percent and have a vested interest in discrediting this grass roots movement sweeping the nation and the world. They know their days are numbered in terms of manipulating the system to increase their massive wealth to the detriment of the rest of us.

I left the meeting with a singing heart. I absolutely believe these marvelous young justice-seekers will change the world for the better. So, stop bemoaning the deficiencies of the younger generation, my aging peers. The future is in very capable and caring hands.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

POLICE BACK OFF AFTER THE GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE OCCUPIES LINCOLN CENTER

Culture seekers streaming through Lincoln Center Tuesday evening, Oct. 18, were undoubtedly surprised to see a tableau not usually seen at the arts complex. Approximately 60 members of the Granny Peace Brigade and their followers formed a semi-circle around the fountain located in the midst of the plaza surrounded by the Koch Theatre (home of the New York City Ballet); the Metropolitan Opera House, and Avery Fisher Hall.

The mostly elderly women, interspersed with a few men, stood silently from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. wearing placards with messages such as "AGAINST WARS, INVASIONS, OCCUPATIONS" and "AGAINST U.S. MILITARFY BASES ABROAD." The main purpose of the action was to challenge the rules forbidding private public spaces being used to advance political agendas, in essence preventing freedom of speech. And, as always, the grannies meant to convey their anti-war, anti-militarization message. They chose the date to celebrate the six years since 18 of them were arrested and jailed on Oct. 18, 2005, when they tried to enlist to replace America's grandchildren in harm's way in an illegal and immoral war in Iraq.

The grannies believe that because of the national and international crises currently prevailing, which sorely demand resolution, it is essential that there be opportunities to rally, to vigil, to demonstrate on behalf of peace and social justice wherever people congregate.

After about 20 minutes, an official from Lincoln Center came over to the group and said that they would have to disperse, and, if not, the police would be called. The peace people stood their ground. No police came, though they were at a nearby location ready to pounce. More time passed, and again the woman from Lincoln Center warned the grannies to leave the premises or the police would be called. The grannies continued standing silently, and again there was a notable absence of the men in blue to carry out the threat.

Promptly at 8 p.m., the grannies broke ranks and, as cameras flashed and the watching crowd burst into applause, spoke happily about their feelings of having accomplished their mission. They had, after all, held their vigil without interference.

One wondered why the police backed off from removing and presumably arresting the vigilers. Was it because they retain vestiges of their childhood respect and fear of their elders -- they were psychologically unable to clamp handcuffs on old women like their grannies?

Or was it because they've been getting a bad rap lately as stories have circulated about young women being pepper sprayed while peacefully marching with the Occupy Wall Street people, and for randomly brutally mistreating OWS persons on Brooklyn Bridge, in Citibank? If so, it was a wise decision. YouTube videos circulating throughout the world showing cops dragging white-haired old ladies into paddy wagons would not exactly enhance the reputation of New York's Finest!

So, have the grandmothers created a new precedent paving the way for future vigils and rallies to take place in public private spaces (or is it private public spaces)? Was this a unique event resulting from intimidated police confronted with their elders? Or if it's a younger assemblage next time, will the police revert to their old aggressive tactics?

Time will tell. One hopes, however, that a new chapter is beginning, allowing for more freedom to peaceably assemble in order to alert the public to the perilous circumstances confronting us all.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

AFGHAN PEACE YOUTHS FEEL HOPELESS: SAY CONDITIONS WORSENING


On Sunday, Aug. 21, I had the privilege of speaking via conference call with several young people from the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. It was the occasion of what they have termed the "Global Day of Listening," during which the kids spoke with supporters and sympathizers all over the world for approximately 5 and a half hours.

I was immensely saddened to hear that they are discouraged about the prospects of peace in their beleaguered country. The kids stated more than once that things are worse than they were the last time they held the conference call a few months ago, and that their hopes for peace have dwindled down to almost zero. This was in marked contrast to earlier conversations in which I participated, when they projected a sense of ebullience and hope. I had the impression in those past talks that they felt confident that they could make a difference through their admirable efforts to end the conflicts within their nation.

Yesterday, they expressed their belief that the Afghan people desire that our troops leave their country in a responsible manner as soon as possible, that our military presence there essentially contributes to the decreasing potential for peace. Yet, they see little chance of our withdrawal in the foreseeable future.

The publication recently of a report in numerous Online publications that an agreement is about to be signed which would allow thousands of U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan until at least 2024 certainly reinforces the young peoples' despair. US Troops May Stay in Afghanistan Until 2024 | Common Dreams

The group (AYPV) of mostly teen-agers is located 100 miles to the north of Kabul in a mountainous province called Bamiyan. Their lives are extremely difficult. By contrast, an average middle-class American youngster's life seems like a rhapsodic fantasy. One of the younger ones, for instance, walks miles daily to obtain fresh water for his family. School is a luxury oftentimes, given that some must work the farms or market potatoes full-time to help support their families. The landscape is desolate, and there is a lack of warm clothing to protect against the extreme cold. Despite their hardships, though, this group of juveniles manages to devote themselves to the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. Among their many activities, they cleared through substantial debris to create a Peace Park, in which they planted trees and shrubs.

They have made a number of beautiful short videos very effectively urging peace. (See below.) They've traveled 100 miles through difficult and even perilous terrain to Kabul for their periodic Global Days of Listening.

Their mentor and interpreter is Hakim, a doctor from Singapore, who has spent several years organizing the AYPV, writing eloquent articles promoting their cause, creating and producing their videos, and interpreting in several languages, including excellent and fluent English, for their global conference calls. Influenced by Gandhi and Noam Chomsky's writings, Hakim gave up his private medical practice to focus on leading the young Afghans to pursue peace.

I tried to help them feel more positive as best I could, telling them I had lived many, many years and learned that things often change, even when you don't expect them to. I urged them to keep up their wonderful and inspiring actions, and that we peace grannies (the Granny Peace Brigade, Grandmothers Against the War, Grandmothers for Peace International, and the Raging Grannies, among many) would do the same.

But, they need so much more solace and stimulation than I or any one person could provide. I hope readers of these words will be moved as I was by the plight of these kids we threaten with our instruments of war. Please contact them by writing journeytosmile@gmail.com. They are very heartened by words of encouragement from people from other locales, particularly the United States, a principal cause of the chaos they must endure. Ask to be notified of the various ways you can help them

Finally, please watch this very brief video made by the youngsters. They will steal your heart.
- Afghan Children Smile for Love Forgiveness Peace Humanity -- CLICK ON
http://youtu.be/0XUiFp-kTzk

Saturday, August 6, 2011

WAKE UP, AMERICA! YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE!

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT DOOMSDAY IS GETTING PERILOUSLY NEAR
OUR SAFETY NET IS TORN TO SHREDS
TAX BREAKS ARE GIVEN TO CORPORATE HEADS
WHILE WE ON THE BOTTOM AND IN THE MIDDLE
LOSE MORE EACH DAY WHILE THE LEADERS FIDDLE

WE'RE MAKING WAR ALL OVER THE PLANET
THOUGH OUR CITIZENS DAILY URGE, "PLEASE BAN IT"
SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS ARE DYING FOR NAUGHT
SO BOMBS AND GUNS CAN BE PROFITABLY BOUGHT
VETS COMING HOME ARE UNEMPLOYED
BODIES AND MINDS TOO OFTEN DESTROYED

WHAT MORE WILL IT TAKE TO AWAKEN US ALL
TO SCARE US OUT OF OUR LISTLESS PALL
SO WE'LL TAKE TO THE STREETS AND TOSS THEM OUT
A THOROUGH, CONCLUSIVE AND ALL-AROUND ROUT
AMERICA, THIS IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE
OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES ARE AT STAKE

WAKE UP, AMERICA, ORGANIZE
THE TIME HAS COME TO MOBILIZE
WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN MOANS AND GROANS
WE'VE GOT TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONES
AND FINALLY TAKE ACTION, NOW, TODAY
LET'S HIT THE STREETS, WITHOUT DELAY!

Friday, June 24, 2011

JOAN'S DAILY DOGGEREL TWEETS

I'm continuing my Daily Doggerel TWeets, commenting on the headlines of each day. Here's my latest batch through June 13.

WEINER RESIGN?/NOT BOEHNER/CANTER & RYAN/& EACH TAX CUT CONDONER/& THOSE WHO PROFIT/FROM ARMS & OIL/AT MEDICARE SCOFF,IT/MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL
8 Jun

NEWT'S DESERTED/ANTHONY'S PERVERTED/THIS HOCUS POCUS/IS MEDIA'S FOCUS/MEANTIME, NO JOBS/ WALL STREET ROBS/BANKS FORECLOSE/DEPRESSION GROWS
9Jun

PALIN'S EMAIL/OUT IN THE OPEN/DEVIOUS FEMALE/WE'RE BUSY HOPIN'/ASK 4 SUPPRESSION/DESPITE WHAT'S REVEALED/END PALIN OBSESSION/KEEP IT SEALED
11 Jun

CONGRESS DEBATES/CUTS IN BUDGET/THE REPROBATES/WRECK & MISJUDGE IT/THEY CHOOSE/WE LOSE/INSTEAD, BRING THE TROOPS BACK/FROM AFGHANISTAN& IRAQ
12 Jun

SAGA OF WEINER/GROWS EVER OBSCENER/AS MORE SHOTS EXPOSE/THIS JERK WITHOUT CLOTHES/MEDIA DUCKS/THAT ECONOMY SUCKS/JOBS R GONE/& WARS GO ON
13 Jun

REPUGS DEBATE/HOT AIR SPEWED/EMPTY PRATE/WE'RE REALLY SCREWED/MITT'S THE PITS,NEWT A BRUTE/MICHELLE DUMBBELL/TIM DIM/END'S NEAR/NEED A BEER
14 Jun

WISCONSIN COURT/ CRUELLY SMITES/LEGAL SUPPORT/OF BARGAINING RIGHTS/PLEASE RECALL/THE G.O.P LUGS/WHO CAUSED LABOR'S FALL/OUST THE THUGS
15 Jun

WEINER'S GOING/WHO IS NEXT/FOR PACKAGE SHOWING/AND TAWDRY TEXT/ONE THINGS IS SURE/MORE SCANDAL WILL RISE/THERE'S NO CURE/FOR WANDERING EYES
16 Jun

Joan's Daily Doggerel: LET'S BOYCOTT THE AARP/CAVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY/THE TRUTH IS OUT/THEY'RE ONLY ABOUT/SELLING STUFF TO THE ELDERLY
18 Jun

BARRY AND JOHN/OUT ON THE LINKS/HOSTILITIES GONE/NO PARTISAN STINKS/BUT TOMORROW AGAIN/STALEMATE BACK /EACH CITI-ZEN/DROPPED THRU THE CRACK
19 Jun

Daily Doggerel: TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT/MCELROY HAS GRABBED YOUR LIGHT/YOU THOUGHT YOUR REIGN UNENDABLE/NOW LEARN NOONE'S EXPENDABLE
20 Jun

IT'S TIME TO END/EACH FUTILE WAR/WE'VE GOT TO MEND/THE ROT AT OUR CORE/RETURN EACH SOLDIER/DO NOT WAIT/OBAMA, BE BOLDER/BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
21Jun

OBAMA,NOT ENUF/WE NEED MORE/U SHOULDA GOT TOUGH/ STOPPED THE WAR/WE DON'T GAIN/BY KEEPING TROOPS THERE/ONLY MORE PAIN/MORE DEATH & DESPAIR
22Jun


IF WE CUT/TROOPS BY 10 THOU/TELL US WHAT/CASH WE'LL GET NOW/TO BE REDEPLOYED/TO DOMESTIC NEEDS?/OR STAY IN A VOID/& SUPPORT WAR MISDEEDS?
23Jun

NEWT SPENDS BIG BUCKS/4 TIFFANY WARE/THEN FEEBLY CLUCKS/WE'RE A THRIFTY PAIR/WHY SHOULDN'T U TRUST/ME 2 CUT DEBT/THO I LUST/4 ALL I CAN GET
24Jun