Trump's to-do list...

Hard to understand and harder to comment about without sounding rabid. It feels like we are living on two different planets. I don't understand how is okay to take away protections for the planet, health coverage, protection for animals, support for public schools, low income women's healthcare services, and to crack down on unions. How can this possibly make America great again?
Sent April29, 2017

Sam Walton's lies...

The April 24th postcard didn't get posted. It was sent, but I missed posting it. Here it is, it doesn't need any more commentary.
Sent April 24, 2017

PS: His name is Sam Walton. My Mistake.

In the end...

In the end, we will have our way. Doesn't that just give you chills? In the end, greed will lose. In the end, justice and compassion will be our legacy. Do not give up hope. In the end, we will have our way.
Sent April 29, 2017

The 100th Day...

Here it is, the 100th Postcard. Not much of a message really. Just a reflection on what I have done for 100 days.

I printed out all of the postcards and am going to take them with me to the UU Fellowship on Sunday to see if anyone wants to sign them. If I get them all signed by another person, I will drop the whole lot into the mail on Monday. I'm calling it "a storm on Washington".

Will I continue writing? It seems so, at least for a while longer. Can't help but see what needs to be said each day.
Sent April 28, 2017 - The 100th Day

Trickle UP Economics...

The myth of Reagan "Trickle Down Economics" was never proved to be true. The idea that giving the wealthy more wealth would benefit society is simply a scam to feed the addictions of greed and power. The best plan is "Trickle Up Economics". Bolster the middle class who will actually feed the economy with their spending. Our greatest years were those when we had a thriving middle class that generated enough money to help those in need.
Sent April 27, 2017

The new slavery...

Where is the justice when our prison system has become a for-profit system that needs inmates to enhance the bottom line? We should call it what it really is: the new slavery.
Sent April 26, 2017

My one square yard...

Many times I have said, "I am in charge of my one square yard. I cannot do much about the rest of the world, but I can rule over my one square yard. In my one square yard there is no litter, no abuse, no oppression, no lies, no stealing, no war, no exploitation, no racism.

How easy it would be to change the world if everyone of us took charge of our one square yard.
Sent April 25, 2017

REINS on our Governement...

What better way to make our government totally unproductive. Every new regulation will need to be presented, debated, voted on, and passed by both Houses of Congress before it can be enacted. Sounds like a great way to clog the system and make our government irrelevant. Oh yeah, that's the point, isn't it? It's called REINS!
Sent April 22, 2017

Happy Earth Day - 2017

Today I participated in the Earth Day March for Science. In our smallish (50K) community, it is estimated that 5,000 people marched today. I was totally blown away. But, more than the estimate of one tenth of our population showing up, it appeared that the majority of the marchers were young people. They came out to be counted as supporters of science,... the process, the rigor, the peer reviews, the benefit to our health and comfort and lives. These young people are the ones who will carry us forward and they want to know what science teaches us and how it benefits us. They want human life to be informed and the planet protected for their children.
Sent April 22, 2017 - Happy Earth Day!

Planned Parenthood - "rescue"...

I suspect the war against Planned Parenthood has nothing to do with religious prohibitions. By defunding this successful non-profit, the organization will struggle to meet the needs of all who depend on its services. Some "generous" corporation will offer "rescue" in return for becoming a for-profit entity.

I know...! My cynicism is showing through. I hope I am wrong.
Sent April 21, 2017

Inspiration to keep on...

I find Anne Lamott's words inspire me to keep on. I tell kids all the time, "The most miserable people in the world are the ones who think they always get what they want."

I am grateful for the family and friends in my life who, every day, put one foot in front of the other; who smile when they are sick and send thank you cards; who keep on laughing instead of crying; and who will stand up and be counted on election day and on every other day that needs them.

I write these postcards for you.
Sent April 20, 2017

It is not the end...

Postcard #91
There is a saying that I have installed on all my emails: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it is not okay, it is not the end." --John Lennon

Without this reminder, a dozen times a day, despair would be my constant companion.
Sent April 19, 2017

Spirit of my life....

Postcard #90
May the Spirit you call on and rely on, allow you to stay calm in these challenging times. There is work to be done that we cannot leave to others. We must keep our focus and not be distracted. Our children and our grandchildren will ask us, "What did you do?" Keep your answer in mind in the days to come.
Sent April 18, 2017

Our beautiful place...

These words by Maggie Smith apply to all of us. They are a plea to you, and me, and all of us, together, to make this place beautiful and protect it for our children's children.

What is the choice?

Sent April 17, 2017

Itchy trigger finger....

I agree, with an unpredictable entity like North Korea, we have to stand firm. However, we should be standing firm as a collection of nations that express a unified boundary. As President Trump stated, he is not the President of the world.

We are now standing in duel position with two nations on different sides of the world. What happens when someone flinches?
Sent April 15, 2017

Where does Trump's loyalty lie?

In my world, the only reason to dismantle a regulation that protects investors from predatory financial advisors is to allow those financial advisors to earn money hand over fist, even if I make not a penny. Where Trump's loyalty lies is becoming more and more clear by the day.
Sent April 15, 2017

Time to choose...

American citizens have been out of touch with what has been happening in Washington, D.C. for too long. We have awakened and are ready to stand for what is right. Trump is choosing money over justice, power over compassion. He is on a treacherous pathway. We owe it to each other to be active participants in choosing our future. We owe it to our children's children.
Sent April 14, 2017

Spirit of Life...

I love this song. It fills me with compassion and hope. It reminds me that justice is in my hand and calls me to be the spokesperson for that justice. It tells me I am not alone, that I will be held close and set free to be the best person I can be. Not perfect, but the best I can be, ...and not alone.
Sent April 13, 2017

Healthcare,... again!

This literally drops my jaw. We all live in community. We help each other when it's needed. We support each other in times of hardship. We celebrate each other's joy. It seems logical that we would all pay into the pot that we all will need to draw from in time of sickness or need.

If we penalize for age, disability, illness, or gender, we are not a nation who cares for all of its citizens equally. Consider yourself in any of those shoes and ask if there is justice in our healthcare.
Sent April 12, 2017

Dropping bombs.................

I have called myself a militant pacifist for years. There is no place in my brain that I can understand how human beings can drop bombs on each other. Just stepping into the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, I was brought to tears, sobs actually. Each name is a person, a family, a loss of a child or a parent, and there are so many. How can we not pause to consider the cost?
Sent April 11, 2017

All will be well....

I know that people throughout time and all across the land have lived through unimaginable times. I also know that the sun came up, the flowers bloomed, and the birds sang. I am no Pollyanna, but I do know that Hitler was stopped. I also know that stoppage came at a horrific cost. But, those who survived, rebuilt and remade their lives in their new reality with hope and compassion.

If we remember these words and pass them along, those who survive will carry them into the new world with love and trust in a beautiful tomorrow. So it has been throughout our tumultuous history.
Sent April 10, 2017

Healthcare in a modern world...

I guess I do not really understand why Universal Healthcare is not a viable option for the citizens of the United States. Oh, ...yeah, there would be no profiteering from our ailments. Got it! Having a less expensive, more accessible healthcare program like the rest of the modern world would not fit into the new privatized government that Trump's backers are hoping for. How unfortunate for us.
Sent April 8, 2017

President of the world?

It was disheartening that our President said on one day that he was not the President of the world. Then, a few days later we find that, without approval of our Congress, he orders our military to attack a Syrian airforce base. I am sad that "we" have set the example of unauthorized military force for the entire world.

I fear we will regret this.
Sent April 8, 2017

Words from our past...

I read this poster at a friend's house. I found it frightening and prophetic. We must keep our eyes and hearts open, while we keep focused on the future of our country and our world.
Sent April 7, 2017

4th Agreement - Do your best

I realize that what I think of as "my best", is different from what you might think is "your best". However, if you (the editorial "you") think your best is taking rights, privileges, and needs away from people in this country, I would argue that you are not doing your best. In fact, I would think your motivation was either power or profit. Greed will not lead to doing one's best.
Sent April 6, 20178

3rd Agreement - Don't make assumptions

I think this agreement focuses on what I believe is true based on what I have heard from others. I have to use my own intellect and experience to uncover what is actually true. It takes asking questions, doing some research, and reaching out to each other. Now, wouldn't that make for a wonderful world?
Sent April 5, 2017

2nd Agreement - Take nothing personally

This agreement changed my life. Learning to not take compliments personally made it possible for me to not take derogatory comments personally as well. Unless, of course, the shoe fits. Then I have something to learn.

No words can make me beautiful, smart, creative, or generous. I either am or I am not.

It is the same with negatives. I either am or I am not. It is not the words that make me so.
Sent April 4, 2017

1st Agreement - Be impeccable with your word

This is so important. Our words must be positive and supportive with ourselves and everyone else. We create the world we live in with what we say. Speak carefully and thoughtfully and you can change the world.

I will speak to the other three agreements with the next three postcards.
Sent April 3, 2017

Air, water, and food...

How can anyone live in this world and not work to protect our air, our water, and our food. To work for these for every one of us is the very least we must do as citizens of Earth.
Sent April 2, 2017

Could this be true?

It is not an April Fools Day joke. We need thoughtful voters who always ask themselves, "Could this be true?" or "Is this supported by evidence?" Raising children who begin asking those questions is one of the prime missions of our schools. "Explain your thinking," should be a part of every math, science, or social studies lesson. It is scary to think of our children growing up believing lies, distortions, and artificial facts.
Sent April 1, 2017