Old Tree

In my back yard there stands a pile of rotted tree bark and wood chips that once was a tall and majestic maple tree.  I wonder what it looked like when it once stood.  Based on what I can see of the trunk, it was likely the largest, healthiest trees in the tree line that separates my land from the neighboring farm.  Once, many years ago, some seemingly harmless event - perhaps a cat scratching its claws on the tree, or lovers carving their initials, maybe a woodpecker - created an opening in the tree's natural defenses and allowed a parasite to attach itself to the tree.  Seemingly no bother at the time, the tallest, broadest tree in the line still stood for many years as then a colony of termites discovered this opening, and seized on the weakness.  In each individual instance of the daily feeding of a termite the tree was virtually unaffected.  This tree had stood for hundreds of years, and some small parasite could feed on the tree, but certainly couldn't cause any real harm.  The people who owned this place when the infestation became noticeable knew when they saw it that it was probably too late to take action to save the tree.  And after the slow and continuous destruction that the infestation caused, all that stands today is a rotted pile of wood chips, bark, and the semblance of a tree stump.  I'm not sure when the seemingly harmless event occurred - or quite frankly if it ever did, if this thing was busted from the beginning. But I believe that the infestation has become noticeable now, and I fear that it may be too late for us;  Net-neutrality - Citizens United - Federal Reserve - IRS - endless war - NSA - TSA- Patriot Act - the list goes on.  This mighty majestic tree is infested.  I hope we can eradicate the infestation and begin the healing process before it is too late. And our great American experiment of freedom and liberty, justice and equality is not left to be a rotted pile of wood chips and tree bark for some dreamer to wonder what it was like when it once stood.

Okay so it's been a while.. and while it's been a while there's been a lot going on in the world.  Today is a huge day in the march toward freedom and equality for all.  The Supreme Court overturned the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a 5-4 decision today.  At the same time, I understand that the great civil rights leader and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela is within minutes of his final breath. 

While I am ecstatic to see that the federal government will finally recognize equality in marriage if the state those individuals live in will treat them equally under the law, most states still will not treat same sex couples with equality.  Long and short, so the Supreme Court overturned DOMA - big flippin deal.  A couple that chooses to dedicate their lives to each other and tie the proverbial knot in Grand Rapids, Michigan will be treated (under the law) no differently tomorrow than they were yesterday, and this decision has no affect on the lives or liberties of same sex couples in two-thirds of the country.

 I'm not saying that this is not a huge victory, it is - if you live in Iowa, New York, or Washington. But what about if you live somewhere on the I-75 corridor between Michigan and Florida, or in any state between Texas and North Dakota, or from Montana to Arizona.  Fact is, when you look at a map that shows where same sex marriages are legally recognized only a tiny portion of the country is in favor of freedom and equality.  We have not won yet.  Let me repeat this; WE HAVE NOT WON. There is still a long way to go, there are still major battles to be fought, and until every state in this great nation sees every individual equally in the eyes of the law, we have not won.  We may take steps forward together - and this is a step forward, and it should fuel the fire that should burn in every American to stand for liberty and equality - we are not done yet.  And until this nation actually acts upon the principles we say we stand - we have not won yet, and we are not done fighting.

Election Season - Is there anybody out there?

Well I suppose it's time I weighed in on election politics.  Many of my Facebook friends are all a buzz with their support or lack thereof for the two major candidates.

Now this may not come as a huge surprise to most of you who know me, and it may out and out shock some of you, but I will not be supporting Barack Obama for a second term.  Mr. Obama has failed to deliver on some of the most important issues of our day.  We are still fighting an endless war in the Middle East.  Our President has not only continued the failed policy of the Bush administration of an endless and pointless war against an ideology, but he has escalated the government's efforts to a level so foul that even twenty years ago such thoughts were inconceivable.  Tell any 1990's politico that the so called "liberal" president in 2012 would have the power (without any resistance) to order the assassination of American citizens, they'd call you crazy.  Absolutely sickening is the overreach of this administration in the name of 'national security'.
Instead of real reform to reel in the excesses of the banking industry that led to the worst economic crisis in American history since the Great Depression, we got a new law that deemed certain banks and corporations as 'too big to fail'.  Basically guaranteeing that no matter what these greedy bastards did to our economy we would ensure even at the cost of our own economic future and prosperity that these people would not go under.  By the way, the REAL unemployment rate isn't as rosy as the official statistic released by the federal government - look it up.
And can I please take a second to point out to the team politics Democrats that the health care reform we got is a total sham, and you all should be ashamed of yourselves for supporting it.  Don't you find it interesting that through the entire two year debate this country had about this farce of a law the insurance companies remained eerily silent?  I wonder why?  Oh wait, this new federal law, sealed in place by the Supreme Court, just guaranteed them 47 brand new accounts.  That's not being socially conscious or responsible, that law is fascism.  Really, take a look at Italian fascism under Mussolini.  If you really wanted to change the healthcare system in a way that guaranteed everyone could have health insurance that wanted it, you could have supported a single payer option that, while allowing for private insurance companies to continue to operate, would offer options to the 47 million Americans without insurance.  Instead we have a law that forces 47 million people to buy something that regardless of our own best interest or desire to do business with these bastards, have to buy insurance now.

Well, it's clear that I will not be supporting Mr. Obama again, lets turn to the other option, oh wait, he's a Republican, aren't they the people that tried everything they could to ruin our economy and country through the first decade of the 21st century?  Yeah, those guys that started the damn war, that pulled back reasonable regulations that kept the banks and corporations from ruining the whole economy for the rest of us, that cut education funding in favor of huge subsidies to big oil companies that nearly destroyed the economy and ecosystem of 5 states and Mexico, let alone the Gulf of Mexico.  The party that demands whether I'm an atheist, Buddhist, Jew, Muslim or Christian acknowledge that this country is a Christian country (we're not), and think all of our social problems would be solved if we just allowed the schools to lead all the kids in prayer every morning.  The party that still wont get over a damn court case that was settled 40 years ago, and the only way to change it would be a constitutional amendment - btw, good fucking luck on that one. The party that believes the best way to address international relations is to either bomb or covertly bomb every population that doesn't agree with you. Yeah, I wont be supporting those guys this year either.

So where do I go?  Who does someone like myself vote for this year? Worse yet, am I alone with this?  I believe in progressive values, I think it's a crime that anyone in the richest country in the world should be out on the streets, hungry or homeless.  It's shameful the amount of money we spend on killing machines instead of implements of bettering humanity and furthering science and prosperity and peace.  I will work something out, maybe I'll just vote for and against what proposals I will, and just abstain from the Presidential election this year.  Really I guess I'm writing this to ask if anyone else sees what I see?  I have a good many liberal and forward thinking friends that I consider to be smart, intellectual, good people, and I'm just astonished that they're supporting Obama in 2012.  The only wasted vote is one you can't get behind.  Please help me understand if you believe in what you say; why you would support someone who has failed so miserably as the flag bearer of liberalism in the 21st century.

Maybe it's me?

Maybe there's something wrong with me. But everyday, I see the world through the lens that the mainstream media wants us to see, and wonder what in the world is the matter with these people? Just to get an idea of what I'm talking about, let me offer you some perspective.

This week, I have learned about a major airline pilot who started shouting nonsensical things about saying prayers, countries in the Middle East, and after being tackled by passengers, the flight was cut short.

The highest court in the land heard arguments on a law that has good intentions, some decent provisions, and one horrible mandate. Meanwhile the top Senator in Washington said that if the law (that he pushed through congress) were struck down as unconstitutional, it was a victory for him. That's like saying when my beloved Lions blow a 10 - nothing lead in the fourth quarter to lose by 20 points in the end, Coach Swartz calls it a victory because they're going to play harder in the next game. Let me tell you something Harry Reid, if the Supreme Court strikes down the individual mandate, it IS a victory for America, but not for you pal. You had a chance to consider a constitutional single payer option that could then be coupled with a sort of mandate, but you turned it down for reasons beyond me. If the bastards on right wing TV and radio are going to call you a socialist, you could at least play along a little - might do good for the country.

Some poor kid in Florida was gunned down by an overzealous asshole who went way too far, and everyone has an opinion. Here's how it is: it was a a tragic ordeal, there's not much in the world worse than when a young person loses their life. Racism is a real thing in our society still, and the only way to fix it is to not overreact (this goes for everyone speaking out on the issue) when something tragic happens. My heart goes out to the people that are directly affected by this loss. I hope that justice is served.

In the mean time, in case you forgot, we are actively engaged in a war in Afghanistan. We are actively bombing Pakistan and Yemen. Israel is threatening to bomb Iran, while they still mistreat and disenfranchise millions of people living in their country. We are still suffering from the worst recession since the Depression era - and no matter what any politician or overpaid economist tries to tell us about our economic recovery, I'll believe it when people actually get to work for decent wages.

Maybe there's something wrong with me, but I don't think that this is normal. I don't think that this should be the status quo for a given week in America. Sadly it is. People all across the country have nervous breakdowns, yet one made it on TV. People all across the country have to deal with real health and health care issues, but it only matters this week because the Supreme Court is talking about it. Poor kids all across the country are killed in cold blood, but only one made it on national television this week. And yes, we are still fighting wars, and involving ourselves in places of the world where we have no business. My hope is that we can take this broken crazy system we've inherited and make substantial changes so that our children do not inherit the same madness that is being left to our generation.

Here's a piece of my part
Where's yours?

Occupy America

Today on Facebook, I was notified that the Occupy Wall Street movement was coming to my town. At the same time that I welcome local organizers to make my city a part of this growing movement, I am also apprehensive, and skeptical of their motives and loyalties.

We live in a country where two bogus parties present themselves as the only two political options to a public too busy and distracted to step back and take a closer look. At a glance, Republicans represent family values, low taxes, and less regulation. Democrats, then represent a strong social safety net, a vibrant working class, and a progressive world outlook. Great, every point of view of a population of over 300 million people is represented by these two parties right? Not exactly. What's worse, these parties only pay lip service to the things they're supposed to represent. If Republicans actually cared about family values, they would surely support legislation that supported the family - like a push for health care for working families unable to afford it, or better public schools which play a huge part in raising our children, or guaranteeing that retirees receive benefits they've worked their entire lives for. You know, things that would actually support families. If Democrats cared about a social safety net or a vibrant working class, they'd buck up and stand up against the banks and corporations that push for policies and laws that keep the social safety net from being strong, and robs the working class of its livelihood. Sadly, all of the elected Republicans and Democrats are funded by the same banks and corporations that we elect them to stand up to and regulate.

This being said, Occupy Wall Street is not about your false choices of Republicans and Democrats. This is about those of us who are not part of the ultra-wealthy elite who pull the strings of the Republicans and Democrats, smashing our way out of the illusion of political diversity, and taking our country into our own hands.

This leads me to my apprehension and skepticism. I welcome workers unions, tea-partiers, so called Republicans, so-called Democrats, Libertarians, Socialists, and anyone else who believes that our system is broken and it's time we stood up for ourselves. I reject any one of these groups that tries to make this movement their own, to put us in a partisan box, and reinforce the chains wielded by our corporate masters. This movement is NOT a call to re-elect Barack Obama - He is part of the problem. This movement is NOT a call to give congress to either Republicans or Democrats - They are part of the problem. This movement is NOT a call to elect or re-elect any official who is part of this corrupt system we are speaking out against. THAT IS THE PROBLEM!

This is a call to stand up to the major banks that crashed our economy. This is a call to stand up to the major corporations who not only played a part in crashing our economy, but are robbing our people of their retirement funds, health benefits, and wages. This is a call to investigate and audit the Federal Reserve. This is a call to peacefully bring about a revolution in this country. If this is what our local organizers have in mind, count me in. If this is going to end up as a cheap ploy to rally troops for the tea party or the Obama campaign, you can count me out.

Thank you, and have a nice day
Sean M Henry

Glimmer of hope

Today I saw a glimmer of hope. Yes, there really may be hope. Beyond the utter ineptitude of our current political leaders. Past the broken system of greed and human degradation. Even in the shadow of our despicable wars and war machine. I saw a glimmer of hope today. People are beginning to wake up and realize that this is not all that America has to offer. We as a people have a chance to make real change, and reshape this country into what we want it to be. Not what a select wealthy few decide it is. Masses of people marched on Wall Street this weekend, while many of us were still hard at work to keep food on the plate and roofs over our heads. The masses have begun to speak out in America. The masses have begun to come together and raise their voice.

This generation is sick of the bullshit left to us by the last generation. A nation of people full of promise. From the Greatest Generation who overcame the Great Depression and defeated fascism and genocide in Europe to a generation that guaranteed the dream of equality and civil rights, our parents generation have taken this great promise of freedom, liberty, and equality and turned it into a system committed to greed, hatred and destruction. Well not anymore. We are coming of age finally, and we are inheriting a country, a world in worse shape than when the last generation found it. Enough is enough. We must stand up against the global banking cartels. We must stand up to those who value humanity based upon which income bracket they were born into. We must stand up to the looming police state we've inherited.

I saw a glimmer of hope today. This hope was in the symbol of people coming together even though they were harassed, beaten, and arrested by bastards with badges. This hope is something in the undying spirit of Liberty that great thinkers and leaders believed in long before us, but knew it needed to be defended long after we pass. A glimmer of hope, however is not all that it takes. Will we come together and stand up against these tyrants? Will we stand up and become the embodiment of that dream and make a better world for our children? Or leave them this nightmare of banks, police, and greed that we're being given?

Sean M Henry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLEIVMki0D8&feature=player_embedded

Shame on President Obama

Today, at the UN, world leaders are discussing the bid of the Palestinians to be considered sovereign over their own land. Sadly, my country, the supposed beacon of freedom and democracy in the world is standing in opposition of freedom and democracy in the Middle East. The official cop-out line is that they support a Palestinian state, but only if it's negotiated with the Israeli's first. He said that "Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN". My question then, Mr. Obama, why do we have the UN? Why has your administration put so much emphasis on UN resolutions in the past, if in the end it's inconsequential?

Here's how I see it, as an informed and concerned citizen of the world: The Palestinian people have a right, the same right as the Israeli's or even Americans, or any other population on the planet to have a say in their own state and affairs. Just because one group or point of view feels threatened by this sovereignty it does not make the Palestinians or any other group less than human or less deserving of rights.

If the current standard put forth by the Obama administration, and the Israeli government were in place in the 18th century, the United States would never have come to exist. The Palestinians, in fact, are going about their own statehood in a more peaceful manner than our nation's founding fathers did. Compared to the standards of today, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and others would be on a terrorist watchlist and would be actively pursued by the military and covert organizations. Is this what we want to be? Is this to be the standard moving forward into the rest of the 21st century? Or will we as Americans stand up to this nonsense and demand that people across the globe have the rights and sovereignty that they're willing to fight for?

I know that my opinion on this little blog will not change the tragedy of what's happening in the Middle East, but my hope is that at least my words and opinions will be seen and help to influence more dialogue among us. I'm doing my part, will you do yours?

Sean M Henry