Coming soon to a theater of war near you: The U.S. assault on Iran
Below is the InstaLetter I contributed to the Asheville Citizen-Times that ran in Saturday’s issue.
Coming soon to a theater of war near you: The U.S. Assault on Iran. Critics have noted that the publicity campaign for this long-anticipated sequel bears an uncanny resemblance to the original 2003 production—the American Tragedy in Iraq. Designed to once again frighten us into submission, the Bush Administration spin machine conjures up visions of mushroom clouds over our shores and other fear-inducing propaganda that deceptively portray Iran as a grave and imminent threat to our national security.
I would have said more, but InstaLetters are limited to 50 words, and this is 79 words as it is. If I’d had room, I would have ended with:
This blockbuster, featuring a cast of thousands of young Americans and millions of Iranians of all ages, is produced and directed by the White House in a ruthless, last-ditch attempt to salvage President George W. Bush’s legacy (i.e., the worst president in the history of this nation).
Recommended reading on the
impending disaster:
Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock: Countdown to Midnight in Persia
Pentagon “Three-Day Blitz” Plan for Iran
Will President Bush Bomb Iran?
Nuclear Watchdog Chief Warns of “Last Chance” for Iran
Do We Have the Courage to Stop War with Iran?
“The horrifying consequences of an unprovoked U.S. attack on Iran should be painfully obvious to everyone. . . . Possibly millions dead, chaos and war that spread across the globe, severe economic dislocation and possibly economic collapse, the complete isolation of the United States from the community of nations, and still more and still worse — possibly including the imposition of martial law in the U.S. itself.”
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007Molly and Jack’s annual summer visit
Grandkids Molly (11) and Jack (8) were with Shonnie and me for about a week for their annual summer visit while their mom (my daughter), Lilla, attended a conference in Florida.
One of the first things we did when they arrived in Asheville was talk about all the things we wanted to do together. The list was pretty long and included in no particular order:
- Hike to a waterfall
- Swim at Sliding Rock
- Go whitewater rafting
- Go camping
- Visit Ma (my Mom)
- See the new Harry Potter movie
- Have a tickle war
- Read more adventures of Captain Underpants
- Talk only in pig Latin (Ancay ouyay alktay inyay igpay atinlay?
Come on in, the water’s fine!
I’m happy to report that we accomplished everything on this list except camping. Our trip to Sliding Rock took place on a day when the temperature in Western North Carolina was an exceptionally high 90+ degrees. So even though the water in the pool at the bottom was frigid as usual, we all warmed up pretty quickly once we were back on shore.
As it turns out, Jack wasn’t up for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, so while Shonnie and Molly did that, Jack and I went to the bookstore. We sat on the floor in the kid’s section and shared books about pirates, Daniel Radcliffe and, of course, Captain Underpants.
At most schools, the teachers try to emphasize “the three Rs” (Reading, ’Riting, and ’Rithmetic). But George and Harold’s teacher Ms. Ribble was more concerned with enforcing what she called “the three Ss” (Sit down, Shut your pie holes, and Stop driving me crazy!).
–Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants & the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick
Each night after dinner we played Clue, and as fate would have it, Jack won the first game, Shonnie the second, I won the third and on the final night Molly came through. One
requirement of the winner was a victory dance, which we all performed with great enthusiasm.
Rafting on the Pigeon River
Our rafting trip took place on the upper Pigeon River (fun, fast, bouncy Class II-IV whitewater mixed with calm stretches) at the north end of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We all had a great time as the photo certainly attests (Molly in right front, me left middle, Jack behind me and Shonnie, the rafting pro, behind Jack).
My old hometown
Then on to my old hometown, Tullahoma, Tennessee, where we visited my mom, Sue, met back up with Lilla and went on a family picnic at Rutledge Falls organized by my sister Nancy. Nancy’s son, Mark, joined us as did Lilla, my niece, Annie, her husband, Chris, and two of their boys, Copeland and Grayson. A great finale to a fun-filled week.
Rest in peace, Brad Brown
Brad Brown, a long-time mentor and powerful force in my life died in his sleep last Thursday night. Brad was co-founder of the Kairos Foundation and the More To Life Program, a
program that I first encountered in 1986 in Houston.
I’m deeply grateful for all that I learned during the past two decades from Brad and the compelling and highly-effective courses he masterfully designed, especially Way of a Warrior a week-long intensive workshop that takes place each year in the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains (see me, Shonnie and Brad on the run at the 1999 WOW in photo below).
When I first met Brad in the late 1980s, I judged myself very harshly, leading to my seriously tight asshole. And he supported me to relax my body, to tame my mind, to stand in my own power. As a direct result of Brad’s intelligence, wisdom and intuition mixed with my willingness and perseverance, I reclaimed my authenticity, my integrity and my purpose in life. In fact, when I was stumbling with words to describe what I did for a living, Brad said, “You’re a writer.” And for the first time in my life, I claimed my calling: “Yes, I’m a writer.”
We didn’t always see eye to eye; I sometimes became judgmental when I saw that he too was human; but I knew I could count on him to be for me, to tell me his truth and to love me just as I was, just as I am.
I don’t pretend to know what happens when we leave our bodily form. I do know that Brad is with us in memory, in spirit, in the way thousands of us around the world live our lives. Here’s hoping our paths will cross again, my friend.
Sunday, August 12th, 2007The shift is underway
Just as I was sinking into hopelessness about the direction our nation seems to be moving and the state of the world, my friend Carlton sent a link to a trailer for a new movie called The Shift. Featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Marianne Williamson, Dennis Kucinich, Al Gore, Deepak Chopra and many others, this compelling new movie offers hope and inspiration.
A massive worldwide phenomenon is in progress, offering seeds of great hope for the future.
Millions of individuals, organizations and corporations around the world are waking up and embracing a new outlook with an emphasis on their responsibility to contribute positively to our collective future.
Click here to view the movie trailer.
Then check out The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming from the Institute of Noetic Sciences. This 80-page document chart the transition currently taking place “from a rigid,
mechanistic, and materialistic worldview to one that is built on a foundation of interconnectedness, cooperation, and the intersection of science and spirituality.” An excerpt:
We are living through one of the most fundamental shifts in history — a change in the actual belief structure of Western society. No economic, political, or military power can compare with the power of a change of mind. By deliberately changing their images of reality, people are changing the world.
* * *
SNL skit with Will Ferrell as Jeopardy host Alex Trebek
I’m not a huge Will Ferrell fan, but this Saturday Night Live takeoff on Jeopardy in which he appears as Alex Trebek is hilarious.
“I’ll take The Penis Mightier than the Sword for $400, Alex.”
Click on the link below to watch a clip of this skit.
Thursday, August 2nd, 2007
