Archive for October, 2008

My son was fired today from his civilian contracting job on Ft. Lewis, Washington.  The contracting outfit has its headquarters back in Virginia.  Three weeks ago, he applied for a day off, without pay, of course…to celebrate a religious holiday.  The day before the event, his boss came and told him “No.” He took the day off after quoting them chapter and verse on rights to religious observances.

Mind you, there are four other contractors in the office and three GS employees and they are nigh onto bored shitless with that many folks tripping over each other.  My son is, of the contractor crew the most knowledgeable since it is doing what he did for the military.   Nobody in the office suffered from his absence, the job got done.

But today, he is jobless and the word was “We can’t allow you to keep doing this.”  “This” was apparently insisting on one day off for a six day religious event for Asatruars in the area.  Oh, and knowing his rights, because his supervisor told him “I don’t know the law, but you were told ‘no’ and took it anyway.”  It cost them no money, it didn’t impact the job.  But my goodness we couldn’t have the example of an employee knowing rights laid out in FEDERAL law, could we.  Oh, and I forgot the part where a supervisor had ordered him to lie about his absence and bring a doctor’s note saying he was sick, didn’t I?  Cause, oh, then, they could have fired him for LYING.

Bad serf, no paycheck for you! Everyone (in Virginia) knows any ‘real’ religion only takes place on Sundays, right?

And no.  This is not done.  This means less money, no trip to see his grandmother over the winter holidays and being broke on unemployment.  But it does not mean we are lying down to take it.  Wonder if the bozos in Virginia know what the Equal Opportunity Council is for?

We were not in the mood for the usual decorations this year.  I am tired.  Tired of the rage, real and phony; tired of the lies and distortions; tired of racism both open and veiled with silly-assed rationalizations.  I’m taking a bit of a break to prepare for a family holy day.

I wonder who gives the cops their orders at political gatherings around the country.  The police in Denver were none too tender with various groups in the street, and the police at the GOP convention staged preemptive strikes on people expected to protest.

Recently, at a debate site for Obama and McCain, the police again were very “pro-active” about protesters—this time against uniformed veterans who wanted to present a list of questions to the candidates.  So, today’s post is from a letter of the IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against War).  They are asking for contributions for the legal fund, as they were arrested, and some had injuries from being ridden down by horse-mounted police.

Why does it make me think of Cossacks and pogroms in old Russia?  Maybe the idea of armed men on horses riding against unarmed men on the ground?

From the IVAW:

One hour before the final presidential debate of the 2008 campaign, fourteen members of IVAW marched in formation to Hofstra University to present questions for the candidates concerning the occupation of Iraq and the treatment of returning veterans. IVAW had requested permission from debate moderator Bob Schieffer to ask their questions during the debate but got no response.

The contingent of veterans in dress uniforms and combat uniforms attempted to enter the building where the debate was to be held in order to ask their questions but were turned back by police. The ten IVAW members at the front of the formation were immediately arrested, and others were pushed back into the crowd by police on horseback. Several members were injured, including former Army Sergeant Nick Morgan who suffered a broken cheekbone when he was trampled by police horses before being arrested.

(And the questions)    1.  The invasion and occupation of Iraq is illegal based on criteria in our own Constitution, as well as international law and the Geneva Conventions.  Sen. Obama, is it not the right of service members to refuse deployment and participation in the occupation of Iraq?  As President, will you support the rights of service men and women who refuse participation in this criminal war?

2. Sen. McCain, we currently have thousands of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of them with severe injuries.  The rate of suicide attempts among veterans is at the shocking rate of up to 1,000 per month.  Sen. McCain, you have consistently voted against an increase in VA funding and other legislation that would take care of veterans.  As President, will you be prepared to fully fund and staff the VA system and how will you address your poor voting record on veteran’s issues?

I like asking McCain why he has sold out the veterans of every war.  I think the first question defies military custom.  Illegal war or not, soldiers do not get to pick and choose.  Voters, alas, SHOULD have more to do with that…to guard the precious lives OF the military members.  Wake up, voters!

Sorry, couldn’t hang in there.  I am not masochistic enough to listen to the condescending voice of John-just-like-George-Bush saying the same old shit.

Re-runs of damn near anything else and a cold beer was ever so much more appealing.  BTW, McCain?  I’m still not your friend.

::::goes off singing “This is waaaaaar and I’mmmmmm gonna wipe that smile off your face”:::::::::::::::::::

As usual, the names released since the last moon phase.  I found no non-US Coalition deaths this week; tho’ if they are released late, they will be on the next list.

(If you are hunting photos of the dead perhaps going to the following link will help:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/)

Cpl. Jason A. Karella, 20, of Anchorage, Alaska, – Marine – Afghanistan – combat ops

Cpl. Reuben M. Fernandez III, 22, of Abilene, Texas, – Army – Iraq – IED

Spc. Geoffrey G. Johnson, 28, of Lubbock, Texas, Army – iraq -non-combat incident

Sgt. Michael K. Clark, 24, of Sacramento, Calif. – Army- Iraq – small arms fire

Pfc. Scott G. Dimond, 39, of Franklin, N.H.- Army – Afghanistan -IED

We have had our first frost.  I put the feather comforter on the bed.  Winter is coming, and I don’t think on tippy-toes this year.  The weather may be average, but nothing else about this winter will be ordinary.

We have a Presidential election in a few weeks and partizans for the Republicans openly post images of their opponent, Obama, with a noose alongside the photo.  They lie and call him a Muslim.  They say he hangs out with terrorists.  Gee, you know if anyone who knew a college radical in the 60’s “hangs out with terrorists”, it sure could go a long way to explaining the ever-longer no-fly list, couldn’t it?   I knew that if I looked hard enough, long enough and without my brain or glasses, that it would all make a twisty sort of sense!

We have two wars that are ruinously ongoing.  And in Afghanistan, people will be starving this winter while we get NATO troops to further make war on the opium farmers who are merely trying to stay alive and feed their families with the only cash crop they can find.  We are distrusted and hated around the world.

The financial markets of the world are tottering and bringing up mental images of the old train wreck posters produced in sepia tones with cheesy captions back when I was fresh out of high school.  Britain is so pissed that little Iceland went broke before Brit investors could get their payoff that they have invoked anti-terrorist legislation to seize assets!  So, now bigger nations will go strip whatever has worth in smaller debtor nations to make their “ends” look at each other?   Apparently, it really is impossible for nations to sit down and say “Well, we are ALL in the shit; how do we make the best of it and climb out of the crapper?”

And what are the average Americans doing?  The news around here finds it encouraging that they are going shopping for Halloween.  Are you kidding?  Yes, I went shopping for Halloween, too.  I spent $8 on colored hairspray.  I am paying off my bills as fast as I can, keeping even with repairs and maintenance and hoping we somehow make it through the shit that is coming down the pike.

Clue to America: You can’t SHOP your way out of this.  Pay off your damned debts, look up the word “stringent” in the dictionary and make it your watch word for financial matters  and general living for a while.  Keep your cabinets stocked, do your job, don’t act like a panicked racist prick, and pay some fucking ATTENTION to the world beyond your own petty damned needs for a change.

I love the fall, usually.  In spite of my apprehensions and fears of stupid people in large numbers, I WILL enjoy the season.  With simple pleasures…..a good home-cooked meal, a backyard bonfire, a glass of cheer from the long-ago stocked liquor cabinet.  It is time to keep on keeping on, but at a real level rather than on the fantastical level.  And yes, for all you whippersnappers, that is a reference to a black and white movie “The Night of the Iguana” ….because the American Stupid party is over.  It has needed to be over for good while.  Park your greed and ‘me me me” at the dumpster and join the rest of the planet.

Let’s try to get back to normal schedule of writing events, shall we?

This is Taz meeting the estimable Sparta kitty.  There should have been goslings in this photo; however, although the goslings are not afraid of Sparta, they ran in abject terror at the first scent of Taz.   Noe the bushed up tail of an excited ferret.

I am tired of certain emails.  And certain snail mails, and phone calls.  You all know the ones, the ones beginning with “Thank you for your long and generous support, but now…”

Please.  I gave your organization $20 five years ago.  Go away,now. Buh-bye.

I really AM a big proponent of putting one’s money where one’s mouth is; we DO budget a painful amount each month to the causes that matter to us.  But there are limits to a single income family with a lot of debt and responsibility and no savings, no investments (not a bad thing just now), and no way of increasing the intake of cash.

So, I am tired of emails asking for political contributions to candidates in states across the nation from me, people I have never even heard of, or heard speak.  I am so going with the “act locally” command here.  I contribute to Obama when I can, but this month, I have to pay for brake jobs on our two vehicles…and before winter hits.  But a host of female candidates in places on the (to my Western sensibilities) wrong side of the Mississippi River?  Don’t you think it is sexist of you fund-raisers to consider I should give just because they are women?  Palin is female, too, and I wouldn’t piss down her throat if her heart was on fire.  Fuck off.  Motivate voters closer to home.

And NARAL called, even though they fill my roadside rural mailbox weekly.  When I told them I don’t like phone calls, they apologetically said they weren’t in charge of removing names from the list.  Really?  Way to piss off someone who sends what she can when she can, folks.  Are all fund-raisers this stupid?  You been taking lessons from Wall Street or something?

I am not only hitting cash prostration and cause exhaustion, but a getting-angry level of “just who do you think I am, Bill Gates’ second cousin or someone?”   E-fucking-nough.

My personal year ‘ends’ at the end of this month.  It is a bit like the fiscal year of the federal government; I will now select the charities that WILL be on my monthly ’send a check’ list.  NARAL and a dozen political action committees are not on that list.  And being stupid, badgering, annoying fools is one reason why.  Other folks, like the Environmental Defense Fund are on the list on my pledge….but only for one year.  They pissed me off with “bill tactics” that are scrungy.  They send the contribution form, dated “due” the month BEFORE I even made my pledge.  Big mistake.

Guilt tripping the well-intentioned is a bad move.  So, Fisher House, IAVA, IVAW, RAM, Habitat, and Heifer Project will continue as our mainstays of financial action to change our world.  You other ghoul-acting pains in my ass can take a hike.   And yes, kiss my duteous, charitable ass!

A good idea from the post of the RangerAgainstWar….passing it on here!

Please visit: http://www.combatpaper.org/index.html

Catharsis for combat vets, destroying the witness of their destruction (their uniforms) and making something new and artful of the remains!  I am inspired to silence.

I think he could march, too, if required.  Please, really, read this:

http://blog.badtux.net/2008/10/mccain-strategy.html