12:51 pm | 0 recommendations | 1 comment

We The People...

"We are confident that the Games coming to China not only promotes our economy but also enhances all social conditions, including education, health, and human rights. "

~ Wang Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee

"[The Olympic Games] will help promote all economic and social projects and will also benefit the further development of our human rights cause"

~ Lui Que, Mayor of Beijing, statement made in 2001

According to Amnesty International USA, "with the recent crackdown on peaceful dissent in Tibet, the rounding up and jailing of prominent human rights activists, and increased censorship of the media, China's human rights violations have only increased in the months leading up to the games."

Yesterday, the Olympic Torch arrived in San Francisco, California -- American soil.

The America I believe in not only stands for human rights, but has gone to war to protect them.

The America I believe in helped to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948; a declaration written by a United Nations General Assembly committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt.

The America I believe in has a government that remains firm and strong on its support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being observed and enforced -- universally.

With President Bush's announcement that he will be attending the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, it is critical that he not attend solely for his own privilege and enjoyment, but as a representative of a country that believes in, stands for, and fights for the rights of ALL humans to enjoy the freedoms stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the past few months, China's horrific actions in Tibet have been the worst force of power since the Cultural Revolution.

As Americans, the time to act is NOW.

As Americans, the time is NOW to tell our president that he MUST act as a representative of the people of the United States of America when he attends the Summer Olympics in Beijing .

Join your voice along with thousands of others as Amnesty International USA urges President Bush to pressure China for human rights improvements BEFORE the Olympic Games.

I encourage you to sign your name to Amnesty International USA's letter to President Bush.

The spirit of the Olympic Games is at stake.

The lives of innocent people are at stake.

The America I believe in is you, me, your neighbor, my neighbor, and so on.

The America I believe in is its strongest when we are standing together as one defending freedom.

WE THE PEOPLE...

02:20 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Kevin Connelly's The Rolling Exhibition

I met Kevin when he came to volunteer for a film festival I created in Bozeman, Montana.

The fact that Kevin's body ends at his torso is NOT what sets Kevin apart in a crowd. Visually, yes, I have no doubt that many eyes are drawn to Kevin's outward differences.

But, what sets Kevin apart in a crowd is his self-confidence.

When talking with Kevin I was drawn to his ability to focus and with confidence, openly state why he was wanting to volunteer and what he wanted to take away. I liked that. He was honest and straightforward.

So, I was not surprised to learn that he took his talent, his confidence, and his focus on the road to very honestly capture the looks of those looking at him.

Kevin's story is a story that in a way, involves each and every one of us.

Do yourself a favor...visit his website at www.kevinmichaelconnelly.com and then travel on over to his deeply insightful gallery at www.therollingexhibition.com.

Could you be one of those pictured?

04:30 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Where the Grizzly Can Walk Featuring Brad Pitt

As a member of the Board of Advisors for The Vital Ground
Foundation, I invite you to watch this video featuring Brad Pitt. And
then take action by visiting www.vitalground.org to learn how you can join Brad, me, and many others in working to protect the habitat of the grizzly bear.

"Where the grizzly can walk the earth is healthy and whole." ~ Lynne Seus, co-founder of The Vital Ground Foundation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELDdClkvS6M

12:21 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Sunrise Over the Palm Trees (Part 2)

The 5th mile.

The testing of the spirit, soul, and body.

As I worked my way around the track, my mind, my body, and the devil would tell me all sorts of things. My mind would be telling me, "It's dark out here. Everyone else is still in bed. What you are doing doesn't make any sense. Go home." My body would be telling me, "I hurt. I don't like this and I'm going to shut down. Lungs are shutting down. Legs are shutting down." And the devil would be planting those little seeds of doubt continuously through the 5th mile. "The breakthrough isn't going to come this time. You don't have the endurance for long distance; you were born with heart disease. If you quit now, the pain will end and you will feel better."

It would have been so easy for me to give in to that thinking or those feelings of painful endurance. It would have been so easy to stop running, get on my bike and ride back to the dorm.

I knew how easy it was because there were mornings I did just that. There were mornings I quit at the 5th mile.

On those days, the days I quit, disappointment always seemed to hang around me the rest of the day. I was disappointed in myself, but more than that I was disappointed in what I had missed.

You see, the sky was still dark during the 5th mile, but toward the end of the 6th mile the sun would begin to rise over the horizon. For the next 4 - 5 miles I would see the most glorious picture being painted right before my eyes.

The sun's rays reflecting off the desert would produce pinks, oranges, and reds only God could create. The sunrise would literally light up the palm trees circling the track. There is not a
piece of artwork in the world that can compare with the beauty God painted for me every morning. For most people, it would be just another day of school or just another day at work, but for me...it would be a day God painted into my life.

Psalms 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

I believe we are three part beings: we are a spirit; we have a soul(mind, will, and emotions); and we live in a body. When our spirit is the strongest of the three is when I believe we are in our most advantageous, powerful, and most fully functioning state.

Faith is found in our spirit. Faith is not in our flesh -- our bodies cannot produce faith. And faith is not in our minds -- our minds work by our senses. Our mind develops logic and reason through the knowledge we take in through our senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch).

As I wrote in Part 1, I could not "feel" patience and perseverance working as I ran around the track. Every day my mind and my body teamed up to work against me. Every day they both worked to get me to quit.

By faith, every morning at that 5th mile I had to believe my breakthrough would come. By faith, every morning I had to overcome the pain in my body and the negative thoughts in my mind.

The mornings I persevered through the 5th mile, my breakthrough always came. And I was always rewarded with a glorious picture of the power of God in the rising of the sun.

The testing and trials of our faith will come.

As Easter approaches I am reminded how there are always two sides to the process of endurance. The first is always the testing and the trial. The second is always the breakthrough and the reward. But just because there are two sides doesn't mean you automatically experience both. The first you are guaranteed to experience. The second you experience only if you choose to.

I look to the Bible for words of strength during my times of testing and trials. Whatever your belief system may be, I encourage you to find words that will build your faith during your times of testing and trials.

In the Bible, James 1:2-4 tells us "Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

One of the qualities I have found many people lack is the twin combination of patience and
perseverance. Our dominant thoughts will be the ones we focus on the most. Our dominant responses will be the ones we've trained the most. Our dominant actions will be the ones in which we are the strongest. Good or bad. Positive or negative. Love or hate. Quit or breakthrough.

Patience and perseverance are powerful forces. I encourage you to allow perseverance and patience to do its perfect work in you and in your life. Build your faith through the 5th mile. Do not give in to negative thoughts. Do not give in to negative emotions. Do not give in to a body that may want to quit.

By faith, know that your breakthrough will come.

The 6th mile is just ahead.

For me, I've learned my breakthrough will always come and as Easter approaches I know that I will forever be rewarded with the glorious picture of the power of God in the rising of the Son.

05:58 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Sunrise Over the Palm Trees (Part 1)

During my sophomore year of college at Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) I would get up almost every morning between 5:00 and 5:30 and ride my bike over to the track where I would join the other morning joggers. I am very much a morning person, but this is not the reason I would run so early in the day.

It was just too freakin' hot once the sun came up!

For those of you who run or jog long distance, you are going to understand the feeling I am about to describe. In runner's terms, it's called "hitting the wall."

And that's exactly what it feels like!

I would hit that wall at about the 5th mile every time. Everything in my body wanted to shut down. My lungs didn't want to breathe; my legs didn't want to move; and my mind kept screaming, "Quit! Quit! Quit!"

This painful testing of my body continued through the entire next mile. With every step, I would think, "Why am I doing this? This can't be good for me? Oh, man this hurts. I need to spit."

It always felt as though that mile would never end.

But, suddenly, without fail, that feeling would change.

The breaking through of that wall always came and with it also came a sense of release. What before felt torturous now felt rhythmic. What before felt choppy now felt fluid. What before felt held back now felt free. My stride and pace picked up. My posture was straighter and my mind was
clear.

Life is much like jogging long distances. Walls are inevitable.

In the Bible, the apostle Paul refers to running a race frequently through his letters. 2 Timothy4:7 "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." 1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." Galatians 5:7 "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" Many believe Paul also wrote the book of Hebrews, but whether he did or not we are given another example of long distance running when the writers tells us in 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

I use Paul's words today because they are from my belief system and they speak to me. Whatever your belief system may be, I encourage you to find the words that speak to you.

Every one of us, no matter what our circumstances or situation in life, hit walls that we need to break through. Whether it be a wall called weight, a wall called finances, a wall called personality conflicts with a co-worker, a wall called I need a job, a wall called my child doesn't want to pee in the toilet, a wall called I have talent and need a good agent, a wall called my body hurts from sickness, or a wall called fill in the blank I'm your new wall, we all hit walls in our life.

What I love so much about Apostle Paul's words are his emphasis on the 6th mile instead of the 5th.

Paul understood the power of the breakthrough. Paul understood the power of endurance, patience, and perseverance. He understood the power of these unseen forces to break through walls.

Perseverance is not needed for a 100 yard dash, but it is needed for cross country or a marathon.

The breaking through a wall does not come by giving it all you've got for 100 yards and then stopping. It does not come by quitting at the 5th mile when things get tough.

Breakthrough comes by the power of consistency. Consistently moving forward. Consistently using patience and perseverance. Consistently enduring under pressure to quit. Consistently silencing the negative thoughts. Consistently feeding that which is inside of you that you want to be stronger.

Endurance, patience, and perseverance are forces that can break walls, move mountains, and change paradigms.

Perseverance means to persist in spite of difficulties. At the track, I persevered through the 5th mile even though both my mind and my body were yelling at me to quit. I could not see or hear perseverance or patience working and I most certainly could not "feel" them working, but they were.

As any long distance runner will tell you, testing of the mind and the body WILL come.

I encourage you to run with perseverance the race marked out for you. Your life has a purpose. Don't quit. Don't give up. Be consistent in moving forward.

If you have a dream and it feels like you've been running the 5th mile for a long time, don't quit. Don't give up. Be consistent in moving forward no matter how small or insignificant the steps you are taking may feel. Patience and perseverance are working for you. Don't stop their power because you feel tired or weary or rejected or alone.

Circumstances won't change the power of patience and perseverance, but power patience and perseverance will change the circumstances.

Keep running your race!

02:05 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Prince Harry: Courageous Matt Drudge: Inexcusable

As I've written before...people shock the hell out of me!

It happened again.

Irresponsible journalism set a new standard yesterday when Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report published the news of Prince Harry's location on the front lines in Afghanistan. This shocking, appalling, and reprehensible leak of information placed not only Prince Harry's life at even greater risk, but also placed the risk of all of the soldiers serving along side him -- ALL of the soldiers serving
alongside him.

Matt Drudge's lack of professional and personal judgment is inexcusable. Reporting highly dangerous information that puts the lives of many people at serious risk during a time of war --
or any time -- for the purposes of a "scoop" drops lower than tabloid journalism.

I am ashamed that an American "journalist" sunk to such horrendously low levels.

What an amazing young man, Prince Harry. He deserved, as did all of the soldiers serving alongside him, respect for their individual lives. The courage displayed by Prince Harry as well as all of the troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq is commendable and humbling. These men and
women deserve every ounce of protection that can be provided to them.

Kudos to the media and news outlets that kept the location of Prince Harry secret. You did your job and you did the right thing.

 

11:49 am | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

What Does Your Moniker Reveal About You?

The Internet is an interesting place. It allows us to travel throughout the world without ever leaving our home town. It provides ways of building bridges without ever pounding a nail. It opens doors of opportunity to meet people who speak a different language or live under a different set of stars.

Yes, the Internet is an interesting place. Given all of these incredible possibilities to create unlimited growth in life what do most people do? Hide behind a fake moniker.

I understand that predators, identity thieves, and hackers exist, but my guess is that most people choose a fake moniker so they may not be held accountable for their actions or their words. I wonder how many people who leave nasty comments would actually say those words to the face of the individual writer. My guess is not many.

Not long ago I started reading The Huffington Post each morning. I do enjoy Alec Baldwin's blogs and Erica Jong's, but for the most part, I find THP to be no different from a number of the media channels on television -- heavily biased. That said, what amazes me more than anything on THP is the level of nastiness contained in some of the responses to the blogs. Each blog on THP is written by a guest author whose true name and picture are included.

Granted, the level of celebrity and expertise of a number of the bloggers is what brings advertising dollars and readers to THP, but that aside, KUDOS to the celebrity writers who are courageous enough to write a blog, express an opinion, propose a thought, and take the heat. I wonder how many of the responders who enjoy no celebrity whatsoever -- the majority of the world and most likely those in their own community have no clue as to who they are -- would have guts enough to respond if their own name and picture were attached to their response. I wonder
what words they would choose then, if they would even have the guts to write anything at all.

Sometimes when I venture around the web and read what people write in their comments, I get the feeling that for some people, the Internet has become their own personal dumping ground.

I have always believed that one of the measures of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. Most of us have heard it said that the true character of a
man comes out when he's under pressure, but I don't agree with that statement. I believe that a person will act under pressure just how they were trained or better yet, trained themselves to act. No, I believe that another test of a man's true character is how he treats his enemy when his enemy is down. It's easy to be full of integrity and character when our friends are down, but what about an enemy?

As we listen and watch and watch and listen to the candidates running for president, I hear them calling for change, speaking of hope, talking about a new politics and I see vast numbers of people cheering louder and louder each time one of these declarations is spoken into a microphone, and yet when I read blog responses written by large numbers of these cheering crowd members [of each candidate], I wonder about the character of the followers as they hide behind their fake monikers typing vicious attacks against the blog writers or their fellow responders.

And this type of behavior is not limited to political blogs only.

Constructive criticism, agreement to disagree, thoughtful discussion, intelligent proposal of a different viewpoint are all exceptional means to the building of ideas and relationships. And each creates progression toward positive change.

If the Internet or life, in general, is a big dumping ground, then I guess we each have three choices: 1. Do we walk around the trash acting like it doesn't exist so our own personal world isn't affected? And in doing so leave the world exactly as it is. OR 2. Do we walk on top of the trash trudging upon what is in our own path and dealing only with what sticks to our own shoes? And as a result making some piles smaller but still leaving all the trash and smell behind. OR 3. Do we walk through the trash cleaning up all that we can? And as a result creating a more user friendly path for those that follow.

My hats off to bloggers, celebrity bloggers, and responders who courageously write constructive, intelligent thoughts on the Internet. Agreement with someone's opinion is not necessary to the building of an idea or a relationship bridge, nor is it necessary to the creation of change, the emergence of hope or the beginning of an era of new politics, but being open to those differences and the possibilities of growth while walking through those differences is.

If a glitch in the system occurred right now and all of the fake monikers revealed true names, I wonder how many people would find themselves scrambling to delete all of their postings.

Post as if you were to be found out.

 

09:06 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

I DO CARE.

Two days ago I received a FWD to my inbox that I'd received once
before, but deleted it after reading only the first two lines. This
time I read it in full.

YIKES!

A feeling of disgust that I'd deleted the FWD the first time washed
over me. Why didn't I read it and respond to the sender then? If I were
at a party and heard someone actually saying the words written in the
FWD, I would constructively and in love respond to the storyteller. So,
why did I not do that with an email?

Having been a Flight Attendant for United Airlines and having worked
United flight 93 for more than two years, I felt even more disgusted in
my heart that I did not respond sooner.

Correcting my own lack of action, I responded to the second sender
and now respond to the writer of the FWD and all those that forward the
email: "WRITTEN BY ONE ANGRY WOMAN."

For those that may not have received this FWD or may have deleted it like I did, here it is with my response following:

Letter from one "Angry Woman"

I don't know who wrote it but they should
have signed it. Some powerful words. This woman should run for
president. Written by a housewife from New Jersey and sounds like it! This is one ticked off lady. (or Ann Coulter, my addition)

"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't
we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to
our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the
Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or
got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia

I'll care when these thugs tell the world
they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed
through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who
blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent
children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops
pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived
from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about
a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information,
know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked
Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a
college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in
the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped,
you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued
a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my
tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled,"
you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that
sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy
Crack Corn and-you guessed it-I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this
on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people
responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you
choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities
committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country!

And may I add: "Some people spend an entire
lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the
Marines don't have that problem" -- Ronald Reagan.

I have another quote that I would like to add AND......I hope you forward all this.

"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Also by Ronald Reagan.

One last thought for the day: In case we
find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and
negativity, we should remember England's Prime Minister
Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his
Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said: "A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out."

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ

2. The American G.I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!

My response:

I'm sure that to many this email "sounds" good and righteous; full of American pride and supportive of our troops; Christian.

But to me...

The content of this email "written by one angry woman" is NOT the America I believe in and it most certainly does NOT describe the Jesus Christ I believe in.

I DO CARE that Jesus came for and died for ALL humans, not just Americans.

I DO CARE when people misrepresent Jesus as an American soldier fighting only for Christians.

I DO CARE that Jesus was a Jewish carpenter who came for ALL humans and went to the cross for ALL our sins.

I DO CARE that Jesus tells us to love our neighbors -- not just those people that believe in the bible, but ALL of our neighbors.

I DO CARE that Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies --
meaning we will have them -- but no where in the bible are we ever told
to hate them or believe that Jesus didn't come for them too.

I DO CARE that the fact that Jesus came for ALL humans, died
on the cross for ALL our sins, was resurrected and now sits at the
right hand of the Father interceding for ALL of us is among the things
that separates Christianity from all other religions.

I DO CARE that until Christians stop brandishing the bible as
a weapon of hate, the world will continue to NOT see Christ, but only
imperfect Christians and the world will continue to reject the Christ
of Christianity.

I DO CARE for the families that lost loved ones on 9/11 or to other terrorists' actions and more importantly, I DO CARE that Jesus loves and cares for them more than any of us ever could.

I DO CARE that Jesus not be made into a political figure for any reason, EVER.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in...

Is the world leader in defending human rights.

I DO CARE that in 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt chaired of a United
Nations General Assembly committee that wrote and adopted the language
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In brief:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Abbreviated)
1. Right to Equality
2. Freedom from Discrimination
3. Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security
4. Freedom from Slavery
5. Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
6. Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law
7. Right to Equality before the Law
8. Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
9. Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
10. Right to Fair Public Hearing
11. Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
12. Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and
Correspondence
13. Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
14. Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
15. Right to a nationality and Freedom to Change Nationality
16. Right to Marriage and Family
17. Right to Own Property
18. Freedom of Belief and Religion
19. Freedom of Opinion and Information
20. Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
21. Right to Participate in Government and Free Elections
22. Right to Social Security
23. Right to Desirable Work and Join Trade Unions
24. Right to Rest and Leisure
25. Right to Adequate Living Standard
26. Right to Education
27. Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of the Community
28. Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document
29. Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development
30. Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights

I DO CARE that the America I believe in fights for and stands for these human rights.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in has a constitution
that provides the right for all religions to be respected equally under
the law.

I DO CARE that America was attacked on September 11, 2001 by radical extremists, NOT
all people who are Muslim, are Sikh, wear a turban, live in the Middle
East, are from Iraq or Iran or another Middle Eastern country, or are
of Arab, Sikh, or Muslim heritage.

I DO CARE that on September 15, 2001, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a
Sikh man wearing a turban, was shot and killed at his gas station in
Mesa, AZ by a man calling himself a patriot.

I DO CARE that Mr. Balbir Singh Sodhi's murder was the first of nineteen "retribution" murders in the aftermath of 9/11.

I DO CARE that emails like the one "written by one angry
woman" [and others like the one falsely telling of a beverage
distributor driver witnessing an Arab and/or turbaned bar owner
cheering the attacks of 9/11] continue to spread hatred, mistrust, and
fear regarding my fellow Americans simply because they are of Arab,
Sikh, or Muslim heritage and/or faith.

I DO CARE that my Muslim, Sikh, and Arab friends in America
(and around the world) now live in a state of personal alert and emails
like the one "written by one angry woman" and others only perpetuate
the hardships on my friends and fellow Americans.

I DO CARE that thousands of Americans AND Iraqis have died in a war that was started based upon a foundation of lies and misinformation.

I DO CARE that emails like the one "written by one angry woman" and others falsely state what the America I believe in stands for.

I DO CARE that emails like the one "written by one angry
woman" and others falsely state what kind of freedom the America I
believe in stands for.

I DO CARE that emails like the one "written by one angry
woman" and others falsely state what kind of freedom American troops
have fought and died for.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't torture or use cruel, inhumane treatment.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't hold people without charge, without hope, and without end.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't kidnap people off the street and ship them to countries known for their brutality.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't condone
prisoner abuse and excuse high-ranking government officials from the
responsibility for that abuse.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't justify the use of secret prisons.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't rob people of their basic dignity.

I DO CARE that the America I believe in doesn't spy on its citizen illegally.

I DO CARE that emails like the one "written by one angry
woman" support the kind of hatred, fear, and false Christianity written
about in that very email, as a directive for the presidency of the
United States of America.

I DO CARE that God gave me a voice not to use just for my own benefit, but for the benefit of others including
those I don't know, have never met, look differently from me, live in
another country, and/or have a different spiritual belief system than I
do.

I DO CARE.

 

01:21 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Starbucks: Doing it Right!

Kudos to Starbucks.

For three hours today, all 7, 100 Starbucks stores will be closed for barista training.

Granted, I do not like the taste of Starbucks coffee, but in a time when customer service seems to be at an all time low, I'm pleased to see a company take action to improve their customer experience. Plus, I believe this type of corporate action builds employee spirit. When employers understand that an employee who cares is one of the businesses greatest assets, customer service always improves.

Now, if Howard Schultz will, once again, have a Starbucks store on Main Street in Park City, Utah and, once again, become a significant sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival, I will really be pleased! No two ways about it...coffee and independent film go hand in hand. And kudos to Starbucks...they always did it right at Sundance.