I have, for as long as I can recall being conscious of it, been unhappy with the state of Israel. While I have no problem with the concept of a Jewish state, I have a serious problem with a historically repressed people oppressing another group. Luckily, yesterday the Israeli judicial system took an important step in the right direction by ruling that Palestinian citizens can sue the Israeli government for damages, and apparently there are hundreds of such cases pending. I'm glad to hear that at least one religious fundamentalist government is headed the right way toward equality and acceptance.
*ZING*
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
The Essence Of Irony
Augusto Pinochet was a dictator in Chile in the 1970's, before I was born.
General Pinochet defined human rights abuse for a modern American audience.
The US Government helped stage a coup to remove Pinochet from office.
Pinochet died yesterday.
Yesterday was Human Rights Day.
General Pinochet defined human rights abuse for a modern American audience.
The US Government helped stage a coup to remove Pinochet from office.
Pinochet died yesterday.
Yesterday was Human Rights Day.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Unexplained Hiatus
It's happening all over - to a lot of people that I know. The signs are simple - an outspoken person suddenly falling silent. When the topic turns to politics someone of great knowledge suddenly leaves the room...quietly...without comment or reason. The papers go unread, the news unwatched.
Activism Burnout.
Yes, I admit it; though it is embarassing to do so. I burned out. I fought harder than I probably should have...read one too many reports on dead solders in Iraq...had one too many of my friendly aquaintances come home in body bags and heard too many mothers crying to be able to seek it out anymore.
I must also admit that I feel guilty...would the war end faster if I had kept going? What if I was the critical mass? What about all of the protesting I missed? Am I the leader waiting to pop up?
I have realized that needing a break does not mean you've let your cause down in the same way that parents need to take a vacation without the kids sometimes (& sometimes without the spouce too!). So I'm trying to ease myself back into it. There's too much going on - & while there's a piece of me that can't help but feel like there are already 8 million bloggers out there and they dont need another one, I also can't just sit and do nothing.
I can't.
Activism Burnout.
Yes, I admit it; though it is embarassing to do so. I burned out. I fought harder than I probably should have...read one too many reports on dead solders in Iraq...had one too many of my friendly aquaintances come home in body bags and heard too many mothers crying to be able to seek it out anymore.
I must also admit that I feel guilty...would the war end faster if I had kept going? What if I was the critical mass? What about all of the protesting I missed? Am I the leader waiting to pop up?
I have realized that needing a break does not mean you've let your cause down in the same way that parents need to take a vacation without the kids sometimes (& sometimes without the spouce too!). So I'm trying to ease myself back into it. There's too much going on - & while there's a piece of me that can't help but feel like there are already 8 million bloggers out there and they dont need another one, I also can't just sit and do nothing.
I can't.
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