Monday, September 21, 2015

Peace, Love, And Bernie, The Poem...

Peace, Love, And Bernie...

9e316a1e35c56b6e00bc39785d7343648b951458

There was a time when tye dye was psychedelic,
A Neptunian drug-dream wrapped in trappings,
A paper vision of peace and love and rocking roll,
One that fluttered from our fingers,
The moment Viet Nam was surrendered.

The vision was worthy,
But the Capitalists owned the sand it was built upon.

Still the wish percolated,
Bubbling at the bottom of millions of souls for decades,
A wispy current floating in the cosmic undermind,
A spice steeping throughout the waters of life.

Finally this el niƱo has surfaced,
Boiled to its essence,
Stirred in with Occupying sauce,
Baked in the years of capitalistic cynics,
Boiled down to a brick-hard resolve,
Thrown through the paper walls painted by corporate media.

The facade of Oz is ripped,
Tattered gilding in plain sight,
No longer regarded as anything but a weary trick.

A man came forth,
Poked his finger through the last vestiges of staged paper,
Said "let us use these bricks to rebuild.
Come warm yourselves by the fire of peaceful resolve.
Walk in love and kindness and the world will too.
Feel The Bern of a kinder and saner world."

The fire glows now,
A Djinn finally exploded free of the bottle.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 09/20/2015

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Peace, Love, And Bernie


Peace-Love-Bernie_2016

It's become quite obvious to me that the Bernie Sanders movement - and yes, it clearly is - has become the inheritor of the 1960's Flower Children and the early 2000's Occupy movement converged.

The elements of civil rights, environmentalism, anti-establishment, and anti-war are all present. So is the notion of loving respect for fellow Berners. I've even seen very hippie-fied Bernie hair pics done up in tye-dye and green-Earth themes. It wouldn't shock me to see a fleet of Beetle busses driving around with Bernie hair on the paint job. All that's missing are the drugs, sex, and rock...well, actually there is a lot of music.

Yet that's the crucial difference here. This is a movement that has no time for a drug-induced dreamland, and sex will take care of itself after the world is saved. This movement has the loving heart of the Hippie movement combined with the grown-up pragmatism and technical prowess of Millennials and Boomers who created the technology that has all but rendered old-guard print and television media obsolete.

There are thousands of coders working online to help spread the word, and many tens of thousands of tireless social media users sharing Bernie news, with a feeling of hope for the future that is far deeper and more credible than centrist Barak Obama's vague and tepid "hope and change" ever were.
On top of the that, African American, Latino, Native American, and Asian segments of the US population are starting to catch fire and #FeelTheBern as well. By the time the actual primaries roll around, the corporate media should be in for quite a shock.

People in the majority in this country are not stupid, nor are they gullible. They simply haven't seen a good reason to believe that anyone on prior ballots for gives a rat's ass about them. The closest thing was the Obama elections of 2008. Obama's 2008 election drew young folk in to vote in numbers never before seen. However, older voters who were more jaded still hadn't seen a reason to engage. Obama's 2005 vote in favor of the bankruptcy bill as a Senator, among other actions by the soon-to-be POTUS, were clear signals of a moderate, corporatist Democratic candidate who didn't herald an era of Progressive change that would swing the world in a positive direction. Therefore the older population of eligible but unlikely voters stayed home.

I do not discredit the accomplishments of the Obama administration. Barak Obama did stop the global economy from going off a cliff. He did achieve some step forward on healthcare. He has taken steps on climate change and infrastructure investment. He gave us a modified version of the status-quo prior to the debacle brought on by the Bush-Chaney war machine. Wage stagnation wasn't addressed, but we still have an automotive industry. Health insurance coverage has improved, but the insurance companies are still for-profit, and the US still spends double the amount on healthcare that other "First-World" nations do, without achieving full-coverage of all US Citizens. The Republicans in Congress have stifled any deeper change in the structure of US society in economic and technical senses. Defense contractors, fossil fuel companies, insurance providers, big pharma, and not-least banksters are still doing phenomenally well. Joe and Jane Average are not.

Still, Bernie Sanders's clearly-Progressive agenda would go much farther and deeper towards bedrock changes in US civil society, the US economy, and US infrastructure. Voters are far more aware now of the need for a Congress that will work with such a President. It is known to many of his followers that Bernie Sanders would be a committed front man for the cause, and who would show Congress no mercy in speeches or statements. The greater majority of citizens of all races agree with the policy positions Bernie is putting forth. Most importantly, Bernie Sanders has a clear and consistent track record on every issue going back for decades. Voters no longer believe "they're all liars and cheats." Bernie Sanders clearly is not.

So when the voting lines are long for the Primary elections, don't be surprised by that. Certainly do not be surprised if you see flowers settled in hair both young and gray, and possibly a flowery microbus with Bernie hair and glasses on it's face or sides. Put some flowers in your own hair, and post, vote, and #FeelTheBern in good conscience. Take a spin around www.BernieSanders.com and be happy to share the love of $10, $20, or even $30 like many tens of thousands of other Berners. Swell the crowds at local Bernie rallies. The vibe is great, and the future smells better, with more than a hint of reality.

Revel in the marvel of Peace, Love, and Bernie.



Sanders-2016

Friday, February 27, 2015

Bunny Brunch and More at the York Center Park District!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "York Center Park District" <info@yorkcenterparks.org>
Date: Feb 25, 2015 11:00 AM
Subject: Bunny Brunch and More at the York Center Park District!
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
York Center Park District
Bunny Brunch
Bunny Brunch

Eggs-traordinary is how folks describe York Center Park District's annual Bunny Brunch. Come for the delicious buffet style breakfast of pancakes, sausages, fruit, and pastries. The Easter Bunny will visit all the boys and girls and officiate the Egg Hunt. Seating is assigned, so please take note of the "Register By" date for this event. When registering, please note all names in your party. A special registration form will be available at the front desk. Fee includes brunch, games, contests, picture with the bunny, and an egg hunt for ages 0-13 years. So don't forget your basket.
Ages: All Welcome 
Date: Saturday, Mar. 21
Time:10:30am-12:30pm

 
Silly Shamrocks

Silly Shamrocks
Join the York Center Park District as we get ready for St. Patrick's Day! We will talk about what shamrocks are and what they mean for this holiday. We will also make four leaf clovers to decorate your home with, and have corned beef sandwiches for lunch.
Ages: 3-5 years
Date: Friday, Mar. 13
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
 
 
Spring Party

Spring Party
Does spring fever have your children a-buzz? Come to York Center and celebrate the first day of Spring! We will use their endless energy to help them learn about bees, flowers and seeds. We will make a craft, play games, and eat turkey sandwiches and chips for lunch.
Ages: 3-5 years
Date: Friday, Mar. 20
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm


Facebook

  

 

Check Out Our

Daddy/Daughter Dance

Pictures on Facebook

  

 

 
Mother and Son Baseball Game

Mother and Son Baseball Game
Don't strike out on spending quality time with your little slugger. Treat him to innings of fun while both of you root for the the Kane County Cougars. During the trip, moms and sons get to make home run memories by competing in additional contests for prizes. This is sure to be a grand slam trip as every mom and son will have their picture taken as a reminder of their special night out. Price includes 1 ticket, $10 in food vouchers, a fireworks show after the game, and transportation. 
Ages: 5 years & up
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 5:30-9:30pm


The York Center Park District  

takes Online registration at www.ycpdfun.com

 

  

The York Center Park District also takes phone registration at (630) 629-0886 

 Phone Registration Hours are Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

(No voice mail registration accepted)


STAY CONNECTED
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
Forward this email



This email was sent to aquarianm@gmail.com by info@yorkcenterparks.org |  


York Center Park District | 1609 S. Luther Avenue | Lombard | IL | 60148

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Black Lives Matter Movement Hits Counterreaction

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "t r u t h o u t" <messenger@truthout.org>
Date: Jan 2, 2015 1:52 PM
Subject: Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Black Lives Matter Movement Hits Counterreaction
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

t
 

Friday, 2 January 2015

t r u t h o u t

View Recent Newsletters

Tell a friend about Truthout!

Donate Today!

 

Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.

 

BuzzFlash

The Buzzflash commentary for Truthout will return soon.

 

Mario Cuomo, New York Former Governor, Dead at 82

Read the Article at the New York Daily News

 

Matt Taibbi: The NYPD's "Work Stoppage" Is Surreal

Read the Article at the Rolling Stone

 

Same-Sex Marriages to Begin in Florida After Court Ruling

Read the Article at The Guardian

 

Afghan People Suffer Because of US Investment in Nation-Wrecking

Read the Article at BuzzFlash

 

2014 Was Deadliest Year for Iraq in Years: UN

Read the Article at Newsweek

 

Scalise Defender Served as Treasurer of David Duke Organization

Read the Article at Crooks and Liars

 

Bill Moyers Airs Final Program

Read the Article at The Washington Post

   

Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Black Lives Matter Movement Hits Counterreaction

Nicholas Powers, Truthout: The human loss of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, like the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, has left families broken. But their murders were quickly transformed into a political spectacle by interlocking sectors of the ruling class aiming to delegitimize the Black Lives Matters movement.

Read the Article 

Reflections on Torture: The Real Reason Why

Emanuel E. Garcia, Truthout: Torture is illegal and immoral, known to be ineffective in extracting "intelligence" and an inferior way of creating desired intelligence. Why then has the state condoned its use?

Read the Article 

Let's Not Punish the Palestinians for Joining the International Court

Robert Naiman, Truthout: Sadly, still too many liberals claim to oppose Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, but object strenuously to anyone actually trying to do anything concrete to stop it.

Read the Article 

Rise of IS Brings Turkey's Rabid Rejection of Kurdish Rights to Fore

Bruno JƤntti, Truthout: The emergence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party - branded a terrorist organization by the EU, the United States and NATO - as a deterrent to the Sunni jihadists and the Islamic State has led to somewhat uncomfortable reactions in Turkey and the West.

Read the Article 

How an Indigenous Wood Carver Is Finding Peace After a Seattle Officer Killed His Brother

Kayla Schultz, YES! Magazine: Rick Williams asked for calm when protesters demanded justice for his brother, who was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer. "The only way you can help change the system is show them you are a human being," he concluded.

Read the Article 

Washington's Slow-Motion Thaw

Emily Schwartz Greco, OtherWords: Will Uncle Sam become Cuba's best friend again? Experts say no one should bank on an immediate boom in US-Cuban business transactions. They've got a good point. As recent history makes clear, there's no reason to expect our leaders to rush this.

Read the Article 

Amid Climate Change Talks, What's More Important?

James Boyce, Triple Crisis: At the latest round of international climate talks, negotiators recognized that it is too late to prevent climate change. They now confront an issue that many had hoped to avoid: adaptation. Because adaptation won't come cheap, we must decide which investments are worth the cost.

Read the Article 

The Movie Exodus Banned in Morocco, UAE and Egypt for "Historical Inaccuracies"

Lizabeth Paulat, Care2: The Ridley Scott film, Exodus, is being banned in countries across the Middle East. Criticized widely for its whitewashing, the film has been pulled in Morocco, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, but for different reasons in each country.

Read the Article 

Top 10 Acts of Test Resistance in 2014: The Greatest Year of Revolt Against High-Stakes Testing in US History

Jesse Hagopian, I AM AN EDUCATOR: The year 2014 marked the greatest year of revolt against high-stakes testing in US history. Across the country, students are walking out, parents are opting their children out and teachers are refusing to administer these detrimental exams.

Read the Article 

Paul Krugman | Economists as Entertainers

Paul Krugman, Krugman & Co.: If talk show host Dr. Oz were the kind of guy who pored over medical evidence to be sure he knew what he was talking about, he probably couldn't project the persona that wins him such a large audience. A similar situation may be true for some economists.

Read the Article 

US Bishops Take Aim at Sterilization

Nina Martin, ProPublica: The Vatican has an absolute prohibition on sterilization for the purposes of birth control. The US Catholic bishops consider the procedure "intrinsically immoral," on par with abortion, and a toughening of Catholic medical directives could include enforcing a ban on tubal ligations.

Read the Article 

Support Truthout with a tax-deductible donation 

Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages
Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047
Subscribe | Unsubscribe
Privacy Policy
 

The Newspaper Guild

Flipping the Script: Pedagogy, Theater and Radical Organizing in Schools of Poverty

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "t r u t h o u t" <messenger@truthout.org>
Date: Jan 3, 2015 4:01 PM
Subject: Flipping the Script: Pedagogy, Theater and Radical Organizing in Schools of Poverty
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

t
 

Saturday, 3 January 2015

t r u t h o u t

View Recent Newsletters

Tell a friend about Truthout!

Donate Today!

 

Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.

 

BuzzFlash

The Buzzflash commentary for Truthout will return soon.

 

Search Teams Find "Large Objects" in Hunt for Missing AirAsia Jet

Read the Article at Al Jazeera America

 

NYPD Chief Asks Officers Not to Turn Funeral Into Protest Against de Blasio

Read the Article at The Guardian

 

Fracking Industry Still "Failing" on Transparency

Read the Article at MintPress News

 

As Refugee Tide Swells, Lebanon Plans a Visa Requirement for Syrians

Read the Article at The New York Times

 

How Low-Income New Yorkers Are Benefiting From the NYPD's Work Stoppage

Read the Article at ThinkProgress

 

How Fox News Covered Pope Francis' Action on Climate Change

Read the Article at Media Matters

 

Republicans in State Governments Plan Juggernaut of Conservative Legislation

Read the Article at The Washington Post

   

Flipping the Script: Pedagogy, Theater and Radical Organizing in Schools of Poverty

John Duda, Truthout: If change comes to US schools, it will come, as the end of slavery did, as the result of a thousand and one acts of resistance and rebellion, says Jay Gillen in his new book, Educating for Insurgency: The Roles of Young People in Schools of Poverty.

Read the Review 

High-Level Fed Committee Overruled Carmen Segarra's Finding on Goldman

Jake Bernstein, ProPublica: The New York Fed president, Bill Dudley, says senior Fed officials did not accept a conclusion that had been endorsed by frontline Fed examiners stationed at some of the nation's largest banks.

Read the Article 

Doubling Down on Dictatorship in the Middle East

Amanda Ufheil-Somers, OtherWords: Four years ago, it looked like the United States would have to make good on its declared support for democracy, as millions of Tunisians, Egyptians, Bahrainis, Yemenis and others rose up to reject their repressive leaders. Yet even the collapse of multiple governments failed to upend the decades-long US policy of backing friendly dictators.

Read the Article 

Terrorism "Insurance" Expires

Buddy Bell, Voices for Creative Nonviolence: Now that the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act has expired, the horrors inflicted by the United States on human beings abroad have more potential to cut into the bottom lines of insurance brokers and developers.

Read the Article 

Climate Change Threatens Quechua and Their Crops in Peru's Andes

Fabiola Ortiz, Inter Press Service: Indigenous peoples living in a protected area in Peru are preserving the largest variety of potatoes in the world, along with their spiritual rites and traditional farming techniques. Still, alterations in rainfall patterns and temperatures have the Quechua Indians worried about the future of their potato crops.

Read the Article 

Comcast Wants Customers to Pay More for Using the Internet Too Much

Crystal Shepeard, Care2: The net neutrality debate has long centered on the ability of ISPs to limit content providers' access to internet users. While the debate continues, ISPs are taking advantage of the delay to find alternative ways to control the gateway and make a profit.

Read the Article 

Behind New Jersey's Tobacco Bond Bailout, a Hedge Fund's $100 Million Payday

Cezary Podkul, ProPublica: When New Jersey decided to bail out some of its tobacco bonds, the state gave up $400 million in future revenues to pocket $92 million immediately, an arrangement that also helped one savvy investor cash in on a big bet.

Read the Article 

A Flat-Footed Backflip for Wall Street

Jim Hightower, OtherWords: Congress, which had been so tied up in a partisan knot by right-wing extremists that it became unable to move, suddenly sprang loose at the end of the year. It put on a phenomenal show of acrobatic lawmaking to give its bankster buddies an overly generous holiday gift.

Read the Article 

Carrots for Cuba, Sticks for North Korea

John Feffer, Foreign Policy in Focus: As one cold war thaws, another refreezes. Cuba just normalized its diplomatic relations with the United States after months of secret negotiations and a surprise announcement by the Obama administration. North Korea, on the other hand, remains very much at odds amid a conflict over a controversial film.

Read the Article 

The Torture Debate Is Missing This: The Fact That We Did This Before

Paul Kramer, History News Network: Past and present seem to come together in official declarations that US military actions are dictated by the mandates of an "exceptional" kind of war against a uniquely treacherous and broadly defined "enemy."

Read the Article 

Support Truthout with a tax-deductible donation 

Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages
Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047
Subscribe | Unsubscribe
Privacy Policy
 

The Newspaper Guild

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Henry A. Giroux | Authoritarianism and the Assault on Public Education

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "t r u t h o u t" <messenger@truthout.org>
Date: Dec 30, 2014 4:08 PM
Subject: Henry A. Giroux | Authoritarianism and the Assault on Public Education
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

t
 

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

t r u t h o u t

View Recent Newsletters

Tell a friend about Truthout!

Donate Today!

 

Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.

 

BuzzFlash

Health Care Professionals Were "Legal Heat Shield" for Bush Administration's Torture Project

Bill Berkowitz, BuzzFlash at Truthout: The role of health care workers in facilitating torture is one of the sickening details uncovered by the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's 500-page executive summary of its investigation of George W. Bush's administration's torture program.

Read the BuzzFlash Commentary

 

Activists Permanently Shut Down Vermont Yankee Nuke Plant

Read the Article at BuzzFlash

 

Delaware-Size Gas Plume Over New Mexico Illustrates the Cost of Methane Leaking From Drilling Rigs

Read the Article at The Washington Post

 

Blackwater Lobbyist Will Manage the House Intelligence Committee

Read the Article at Republic Report

 

2014 Was the Year We Finally Started to Do Something About Climate Change

Read the Article at Mother Jones

 

What Does It Mean to Be Anti-Police?

Read the Article at The Nation

 

A 17-Year-Old Rape Victim's Demand for Justice Gains Momentum in Nepal

Read the Article at Global Voices

 

Kyle Orton and the Search for the NFL's Liberals

Read the Article at The Guardian

   

With less than a day and a half left in 2014, now is the time to make that end-of-year donation! Will you join the thousands of readers who've funded Truthout's work this year? Every dollar helps and goes toward our modest budget. Donate now so we can keep publishing independent news and analysis in 2015!

Click here                          to donate.
Click here to donate.
(Truthout is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 20-0031641)

You can also donate by check, made payable to:
Truthout, P.O. Box 276414, Sacramento, CA 95827
(Please include your email address on your check.)

Or call in your donation:
213.489.1971

Henry A. Giroux | Authoritarianism and the Assault on Public Education

Henry A. Giroux, Truthout: As public schools are privatized, succumbing to corporate interests, critical thought and agency are erased, and education emphasizes market values rather than democratic ideals. The emergence of larger radical social movements depends on public education maintaining its role as a democratic sphere.

Read the Article 

Liberals, Trojan Horses and the Myth of Police-Community Relations

Josmar Trujillo, Truthout: Instead of having a conversation about how we've codified racism through law enforcement, we're given a thick layer of public relations in the name of community policing. At its core, "community policing" serves as a Trojan horse for more policing and more funding of it.

Read the Article 

Robert W. McChesney: "Capitalism as We Know It Has Got to Go"

Robert W. McChesney, Monthly Review Press: In Blowing the Roof Off the Twenty-First Century, McChesney makes an urgent and compelling argument for ending communication monopolies and building a post-capitalist democracy that serves people over corporations.

Read the Excerpt 

The Five Best Labor Stories of 2014

John Logan, Truthout: These stories demonstrate that despite extremely serious challenges, there's life in the US labor movement - the last, best hope for reversing skyrocketing levels of economic inequality and restoring some measure of justice and decency to the US workplace.

Read the Article 

It's Time to Bring Domestic Violence Survivors Like Barbara Sheehan Home From Prison

Victoria Law, The Nation: Christmas is traditionally the time when state governors grant clemency to people in prison whose cases they find compelling - and many of the battered women behind bars have compelling cases.

Read the Article 

The True Costs of Corporate Welfare

The Daily Take Team, The Thom Hartmann Program: It's unconscionable and morally reprehensible that an employee working for the largest retailer in the United States, or for a fast food giant, isn't making enough money to survive and provide for their family. We need to stop rewarding businesses for screwing over their employees.

Read the Article 

Amy Goodman | The Afghan War Is Not Over: More Than 10,000 Troops Continue the Fight

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!: The US-led NATO occupation has formally ended its 13-year combat mission in Afghanistan. The move leaves Afghan forces in charge of security, though more than 17,000 foreign troops will remain, including more than 10,000 US troops.

Watch the Video and Read the Transcript 

Saudis Tell Shale Industry It Will Break Them, Plans to Keep Pumping Even at $20 a Barrel

Yves Smith, Naked Capitalism: Saudi Arabia made it even more clear that it is not pulling out of its game of chicken with other energy-producing nations. The Saudis will keep pumping and, by implication, will force production cuts on others.

Read the Article 

Guatemalan Genocide Trial Set to Resume Amid Amnesty Battles

Jo-Marie Burt, North American Congress on Latin America: Under pressure from entrenched economic and military interests, Guatemala's Constitutional Court undid its historic genocide ruling in 2013. The trial is set to resume on January 5, but faces last-ditch efforts to derail it.

Read the Article 

Okinawa: The Small Island Trying to Block the US Military's "Pivot to Asia"

Christine Ahn, Foreign Policy in Focus: In November, the citizens of Okinawa delivered a landslide victory to Takeshi Onaga, who ran on a gubernatorial platform opposing the construction of a new US Marine Corps base in northern Okinawa. Onaga pledged "to stop construction using every means at my disposal."

Read the Article 

Zombie Apocalypse and the Politics of Artificial Scarcity

Colin Jenkins, The Hampton Institute: If we are truly inclined to cooperate with one another, why is there so much division and turmoil in the world? The answer to this question may be found by assessing the creation of artificial scarcity as a means to maintain hierarchies.

Read the Article 

Life in the Crosshairs - How Some Public Feminists, Atheists and Other Activists Cope With Death Threats

Valerie Tarico, Valerie Tarico's Blog: Fear has the power to paralyze and silence even strong, determined people, which is why threats of violence are such a potent, common and toxic presence in political discourse. Consequently, it is a wonder, and a gift to us all, when engaged citizens refuse to be silenced.

Read the Article 

Support Truthout with a tax-deductible donation 

Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages
Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047
Subscribe | Unsubscribe
Privacy Policy
 

The Newspaper Guild