On Cindy Sheehan and a Cold-hearted Cop

Cindy Sheehan was arrested this past weekend at the ANSWER march in Washington, DC. [Not well attended but ANSWER is more anti-war than pro-peace and their events do not feed my spirit -- but that is something to blog about at PeaceHugs.com one of these days.] She wrote eloquently of her experience of Civil Disobedience by the White House but her UPDATE, particularly affected me:

UPDATE: Three of us went to pick up our property this morning at the Park Police station and as we were being jacked around, an officer named Thomas (Badge number 628) told me that if I “stopped getting arrested” I wouldn’t have to go through all of this.

I said: “when the wars stop, I will stop.” He actually then told me: “The wars will stop when we nuke them and take their oil.”

I wonder why they are called “pigs.”

An upset Cindy put it differently than I would, but certainly Thomas of Badge number 628 is a disgrace and should be dismissed from the force. He dishonors the Men and Women in Blue, most of whom I want/need to believe are NOT pigs. And actually, come to think of it, PIGS are sweet and intelligent critters -- not like the disgraceful Thomas of Badge number 628.

(Read more about Cindy here.)

Wilbur Cat

Wilbur Cat
Originally uploaded by Kate Anne

Wilbur Cat is one of my furry guardian angels who brightens this gray day. Handsome, yes?

In scarf with knitter aunt

In scarf with knitter aunt
Originally uploaded by Kate Anne

Kate Anne and Aunt Betty brave Erie weather, off to meet with family in Fairview.

Nice niece and aunt

Nice niece and aunt
Originally uploaded by Kate Anne

In Erie for family birthday celebrations, Kate Anne and Aunt Betty Murphy.

Bridget and Fergus watch the 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade

A blast from the past! While selecting some photos for printing I found this brief snippet of the 2009 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade as viewed with my friend Bridget and her brother Fergus from Dublin. (Bridget is in the green and white woolen scarf and Fergus in his cap, seen right after the East 77th Street sign.) We had a lot of fun, as did many a folk that day. [See earlier 03-17-09 blog post for a photo.]

Countdown - Rep. Dennis Kucinich an adamant no-vote on current Senate health care bill

Rep. Dennis Kucinich makes so much sense in this video (under five minutes) -- we need a better health care bill. That said, with Senator Bernie Sanders supporting it, I hope SOMETHING is passed. But Dennis is right, we really do need a robust public option which is the compromise for not getting Single Payer (Improved expanded Medicare for ALL). We need to join the rest of the industrial world in getting healthcare as a RIGHT. A profit motive in healthcare is OBSCENE.

A little personal note

Usually Friday is movie night but an overdue un-renewable book took me to the New York Public Library where there was great energy to feed my spirit after a hectic work week Yes, I found a good book to add to my pile at home, but I had a meaningful encounter at the checkout desk when Alex gave me friendly personal assistance you just don't get from the auto-check out. He noted that there were two more books to be picked up -- I had forgotten to check the reserve room AND when I couldn't find one of 'em, he found it amidst the new arrivals. But he was just was so darn pleasant.

Then I ran across the street to HSBC and while withdrawing some money from the ATM related to another human being there fixing one of the machines: Willie from Diebold. Those machines cost $45,000! No wonder there are bank transaction fees. But they don't have to pay them benefits and at least repairing them gives Willie a job and reason to smile.

Alex and Willie, two special New Yorkers -- thanks for touching my life.