VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY WITH INTEGRITY

Maybe you haven't immersed yourself in the race for President yet like I have. Maybe you don't give much attention to politics. This is a good time to think about the kind of country that you want the United States of America to be. Barack Obama believes that "We the People" are a very important part of this thing called democracy. It is our country. However, if we don't get informed, stay informed and participate, then the government will be pretty much what we have today. A government that is spinning its wheels at best and at worst stripping us of our constitutional rights and selling our rights to lobbyists and leaving behind the needs of people who suffered from hurricane Katrina, as well as under-funding programs meant to help our children, such as "No Child Left Behind".

Our national debt due the Iraq war is out of this world:
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Cost of the War in Iraq

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To see more details, click here.

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Our debt is being financed by Japan and China. Is that what we want? Think about it. China is funding a democracy. And China's values do not include human rights. And yet the USA takes loans from China to pay for the Iraq war. And 8/8/08 at 8:00 p.m., the whole world will have the opening of the summer Olympics in Beijing, China. 8 is a lucky number in China. The Beijing Olympic theme is ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM.

CHINA : BRING THE OLYMPIC DREAM TO DARFUR

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAoIx18nGwA
BBC News: China Human Rights Report (10/06/2006)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgGCQ0nVcyU
Sky News ~ Beijing ~ Human Rights violations in China

Perhaps, you prefer another candidate over Barack Obama. That is okay. There is a great selection ~ I like a couple of the other ones, too. However, I stand with Barack Obama. I want integrity. I want straight answers. I want someone who thinks globally and acts compassionately, while taking no back seat to anyone's attempt to play games with our values and security. I think that person is Barack Obama. If you are thinking of supporting or voting for another candidate, I ask you to think why. If it is because of what you think you know about the candidates, ask yourself if you think something because of the media's interpretation or if you really know about the candidates. It is a valid question. How often have you gone into a voting station and known very little about the person that you vote to give your future decisions to?

Take a sneak peek below at the grassroots operation in Iowa. I invite you to join the campaign. "We the People" are the most important branch of a democracy. But that means we have the responsibility to step up and take part in the process. I am. I am helping gather signatures in my state of Rhode Island to put Barack on the ballot here. But first it is very important to get people to Iowa and New Hampshire to get out the vote for Barack. If you are near these states, get on board. Now.

Iowa
http://iowa.barackobama.com/page/content/iowahome

Learn How to Caucus
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/ia_caucus_center/

New Hampshire:
http://nh.barackobama.com/page/s/newegotv

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Darfur Woman, picture from Mia Farrow's website

Take Action Today

Are you fasting for Darfur?

On December 5th, join Danny Glover, Bradley Whitford, Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield, Samantha Power and thousands of students around the country for STAND's DarfurFast. The idea is simple: fast from one luxury item for one day and donate the money you would have spent on that item to protect civilians in Darfur. Just three dollars -- less than the cost of a latte -- can provide protection for one woman for a year. Find out more at www.STANDnow.org.

Sand and Sorrow ~ the HBO Movie

Join hundreds of activists and viewers across the country on December 6 at 8:00 pm EST to watch the HBO premiere of Sand and Sorrow, a powerful film about the tragic and ongoing genocide in Darfur. Share this experience with your family and friends by hosting a house party. Click here to find out more.

U.S. Torch Relay Finishes in DC

Dream for Darfur's Torch Relay has been traveling around the world since August, calling attention to the relationship between China and the genocidal government of Sudan. The U.S. leg of the Relay kicked off in New York City on September 9, with events taking place in more than 60 cities across the United States since then. On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the U.S. leg of the relay will finish up in Washington, D.C. The relay will travel to the White House and the Sudanese Embassy before ending at the Chinese Embassy.

If you are in the DC area, please join Olympic medalist Joey Cheek, Actress Mia Farrow, members of the Darfuian community and others, as we urge the Chinese government to help bring the Olympic motto "One World, One Dream" to Darfur. RSVP at dctorchrelay@savedarfur.org
Click here to find out more.

Give the Gift of Safety

This holiday season you have the opportunity to help protect some of the 2.5 million displaced Darfurians. To stop violence against women and girls in refugee camps, GI-Net runs an on-the-ground civilian protection program. Your tax-deductible contribution will answer the call of Darfurians for "protection now!" Can you think of a better holiday gift? Make a donation as a gift for your families, friends or colleagues. Donate today.

WHILE EXTERMINATION OF DARFURI PEOPLE CONTINUES ~ WE CONTINUE TO IGNORE IT

I love music. It can give my feelings a place to feel at one with the universe. It can let me feel okay to feel down, lift me up to feel thrilled to be alive, be a refuge for a wanting heart. It can be a spiritual experience. It can give me a reason to celebrate with dance, touch me in a way that ignites my compassion. What a gift!

I meant to post a video or two of music. I didn't intend to be heavy. And the music isn't heavy, but the pictures of Darfuri people are.

This mother's three children were burned alive the day before I met her. Mia Farrow

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http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=pfdhZExK7jw
The Moons A Harsh Mistress from "Metheny & Haden, Beyond the Missouri Sky"

More of the thousands of fleeing villagers. These children are starving, but even more than food, they desperately want protection.

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http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5NiGmXLTZx0
Imagine sung by Josh Groban
Album is "Make Some Noise: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur"
http://noise.amnesty.org/site/pp.aspx?c=adKIIVNsEkG&b=1199681

These people had just fled their burning village and taken shelter, under this tree.
When I found them they were stunned, terrified and hungry.

Some will find their way to one of the 200 displacement camp locations in Darfur and eastern Chad... as 2.5 million people have already. Pictures and captions taken directly from Mia Farrow's blog (see "Pictures" link on the right). http://www.miafarrow.org/ed_032807.html

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http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ftZAZWLrWKo
I Cried for You sung by Katie Melua

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As a human rights activist, I bring to your attention the four and a half year old genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Genocide flourishes when there is no accountability.

WE CAN’T SAY THAT WE CARE ABOUT JUSTICE
WHEN WE DO NOTHING TO STOP THE INJUSTICE
THAT SINCE THE HOLOCAUST
HAS BEEN called - GENOCIDE.

We each have a voice.
W each have a presence.
Let us not be silent.
We have been called to be human
in the most basic way
on this subject.
Where there is a will - there is always a way.
And where there is no will - there is no way.

Silence is necessary for genocide to go on.
Our collective silence is a weapon used by the genocidaires. Silence kills.
And we are responsible for our personal silence.
One World.
One humanity.
One Human Race.
One.
• www.Savedarfur.org
• www.dreamfordarfur.org

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Take Action Today

Are you fasting for Darfur?

On December 5th, join Danny Glover, Bradley Whitford, Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield, Samantha Power and thousands of students around the country for STAND's DarfurFast. The idea is simple: fast from one luxury item for one day and donate the money you would have spent on that item to protect civilians in Darfur. Just three dollars -- less than the cost of a latte -- can provide protection for one woman for a year. Find out more at www.STANDnow.org.

Sand and Sorrow ~ the HBO Movie

Join hundreds of activists and viewers across the country on December 6 at 8:00 pm EST to watch the HBO premiere of Sand and Sorrow, a powerful film about the tragic and ongoing genocide in Darfur. Share this experience with your family and friends by hosting a house party. Click here to find out more.

U.S. Torch Relay Finishes in DC

Dream for Darfur's Torch Relay has been traveling around the world since August, calling attention to the relationship between China and the genocidal government of Sudan. The U.S. leg of the Relay kicked off in New York City on September 9, with events taking place in more than 60 cities across the United States since then. On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the U.S. leg of the relay will finish up in Washington, D.C. The relay will travel to the White House and the Sudanese Embassy before ending at the Chinese Embassy.

If you are in the DC area, please join Olympic medalist Joey Cheek, Actress Mia Farrow, members of the Darfuian community and others, as we urge the Chinese government to help bring the Olympic motto "One World, One Dream" to Darfur. RSVP at dctorchrelay@savedarfur.org

Click here to find out more.

Give the Gift of Safety

This holiday season you have the opportunity to help protect some of the 2.5 million displaced Darfurians. To stop violence against women and girls in refugee camps, GI-Net runs an on-the-ground civilian protection program. Your tax-deductible contribution will answer the call of Darfurians for "protection now!" Can you think of a better holiday gift? Make a donation as a gift for your families, friends or colleagues. Donate today.

Do Something toward

PEACE ON EARTH

Link to help the Barack Obama campaign in New Hampshire:
http://nh.barackobama.com/page/s/newegotv

THANK YOU.
and
MERRY CHRISTMAS to those who celebrate it.

BARACK ROCKS ON JON STEWART

On February 3, 2007

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Barack Obama
Uploaded by stewartslams1

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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x14as6_barack-obama_fun

<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:

Call 1-800-GENOCIDE
TELL U.S. SENATORS TO SUPPORT The Bill "SADA"

CALL PRESIDENT BUSH
202-456-1111
and Tell Him to Do Something Useful about Darfur
We Are Tired of His Darfur Rhetoric

SO BARACK OBAMA IS MY KIND OF HONEST

I BELIEVE IN SEPARATION OF POWERS IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

and I believe in separation of church and state.

However, I found this video clip interesting. One thing I like about Barack Obama is his integrity. I like his honesty. And I like that he thinks that We The People are an important part of the government. I like that he doesn't cater to the "sound bite" trend of the "almighty media" branch of our society. Here, as in many of Barack's expressions, you have to listen to what he is saying and not for some quip to extract for headline purposes. He requires his listener to think for himself while expecting the listener to hear what he is really saying - and not what you want to hear - but an honest sharing of his thoughtful deliberation. This is a man I could trust with my future and my son's future.
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Jesus Christ would not vote for Barack Obama
Uploaded by Jesus_Christ4Barack_Obama

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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hq4q_jesus-christ-would-not-vote-for-bar_politics

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Are you fasting for Darfur?

On December 5th, join Danny Glover, Bradley Whitford, Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield, Samantha Power and thousands of students around the country for STAND's DarfurFast. The idea is simple: fast from one luxury item for one day and donate the money you would have spent on that item to protect civilians in Darfur. Just three dollars -- less than the cost of a latte -- can provide protection for one woman for a year. Find out more at www.STANDnow.org.

Discuss Darfur with John Prendergast, Samantha Power and Nicholas Kristof

Join hundreds of activists and viewers across the country on December 6 at 8:00 pm EST to watch the HBO premiere of Sand and Sorrow, a powerful film about the tragic and ongoing genocide in Darfur. Following the film, GI-Net, STAND, the Save Darfur Coalition and ENOUGH will host a conference call with John Prendergast, Nicholas Kristof and Samantha Power. The conference call will give you the opportunity to talk about the film with these leading Darfur activists and discover practical ways that you can make a difference to stop the genocide. RSVP for the call.

Share this experience with your family and friends by hosting a house party. Click here to find out more.

U.S. Torch Relay Finishes in DC

Dream for Darfur's Torch Relay has been traveling around the world since August, calling attention to the relationship between China and the genocidal government of Sudan. The U.S. leg of the Relay kicked off in New York City on September 9, with events taking place in more than 60 cities across the United States since then. On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the U.S. leg of the relay will finish up in Washington, D.C. The relay will travel to the White House and the Sudanese Embassy before ending at the Chinese Embassy.

If you are in the DC area, please join Olympic medalist Joey Cheek, Actress Mia Farrow, members of the Darfuian community and others, as we urge the Chinese government to help bring the Olympic motto "One World, One Dream" to Darfur. RSVP at dctorchrelay@savedarfur.org

STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR

Call 1-800-GENOCIDE

TELL U.S. SENATORS TO SUPPORT SADA

Call President Bush

202-456-1111

and Tell Him to Act for a Change

instead of the rhetoric

he has been spouting about Darfur for years

GENOCIDE

is

Our Defining Issue as the Human Race

THE UNITED STATES TAKES A STAND TO NOT BE AGAINST THE DARFUR GENOCIDE

In the tiny medical facility in Goz Beide, three men lay side by side, their eyes gouged out by Janjaweed knives.
Picture from http://www.miafarrow.org/photo_01.html

Darfur Legislation Blocked in the Senate

The post below is taken directly from an email I received from www.genocideintervention.net

This is a busy time of the year for Darfur activists, with the campaign season heating up and anti-genocide legislation moving in Congress. GI-Net has called on our members several times recently to take action by attending events and film screenings and contacting legislators about passing the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA). Your hard work and commitment has paid off -- read on for an update on this important legislation.

But there's still a lot of work to be done. As the primaries grow nearer, activists around the country are organizing to make an impact on the campaigns. One major resource at their disposal is the number of hard-hitting documentaries about Darfur that have been released in 2007. Contents below:

• Legislative Update
• What About the White House?
• The Value of a Film
• Take Action Today

Legislative Update

Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act

Recently, GI-Net sent an Action Alert to all our members, encouraging you to call your Senators and ask them to support the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (PDF). The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA) will protect state and local divestment and prohibit federal contracts with foreign companies helping to fuel the genocide. Senators from both parties tried to pass SADA on November 15th. Unfortunately, Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) prevented consideration of the bill before the Thanksgiving holiday. The Senator's action comes despite having voted in favor of the bill in the Senate Banking Committee. Now, the bill cannot move forward unless Senator Hagel removes his hold.

Appropriations

American leadership was critical in authorizing the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur. To ensure the success of the UNAMID force, it is imperative that the United States pay its share of the mission's costs (PDF). In the near future, Congress and the President will be finalizing the 2008 Budget. Funding for Darfur peacekeeping could be cut in this process. Any efforts to reduce funding pose a serious threat to the swift and effective deployment of the UNAMID mission. Urge the President and Congress to fully fund the Darfur peacekeeping mission. Call 1-800-GENOCIDE to be connected with your elected officials today.

What About the White House?

Passing our Darfur legislation does not solely rely on Congressional votes -- the President also plays a key role in the legislative agenda of our country. In order to make real progress for Darfur, the White House needs to be committed to ending the genocide as well as Congress. As American citizens, we have the opportunity through the 2008 Primaries, to ensure that our presidential candidates will make Darfur a priority for their White House.

The Value of a Film

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the numerous well-done documentaries this year about the genocide in Darfur are invaluable to activists. Whether it's spotlighting Darfur activists from around the globe, including GI-Net's own Adam Sterling in "Darfur Now," or turning the camera on the horrible atrocities being committed in Darfur as Brian Steidle does in "The Devil Came on Horseback," these films have the power to inspire ordinary citizens to take up the fight against genocide. Around the country, activists are realizing that these quality movies provide another tool in the fight to raise awareness about Darfur and effect lasting change.

One great example of this comes from Evan Korn, an 8th-grader in California. Evan developed an interest in Africa through school, but it was not until after his mom took him to see "The Devil Came on Horseback," that he really felt the need to act. Knowing how strongly the film had moved him to action, Evan organized a community screening of "The Devil Came on Horseback" that drew a large crowd. Now that he's inspired others to want act for Darfur, the only question is, what's next for this enterprising 13-year old?

On the other side of the country, students at the University of New Hampshire are using the same documentary to put pressure on presidential primary candidates. "The Devil Came on Horseback" played to a sold-out crowd, followed by a panel discussion with GI-Net representatives, in which numerous individuals expressed their wish that candidates would speak more concretely and more often about Darfur. Representatives from the five presidential campaigns were also on hand to answer questions and take comments. During a campaign season in which the dialogue can often seem vague and petty, films such as this one serve to remind voters and politicians alike that the genocide in Darfur deserves their serious time and attention.

Go to the link
http://www.genocideintervention.net/node/1312
Host a house party for the upcoming HBO premiere of "Sand and Sorrow". You can use films to inspire your own family or community to take action.

"Sand and Sorrow" website: http://www.sandandsorrow.org/

Thanks for all you do to help end genocide!

~ The GI-Net team

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WON'T YOU DO SOMETHING?

DARFUR AND OBAMA

Town Hall Meeting with Barack Obama in Marion, Iowa

Date of the Event:

Nov 19 2007

Darfur Q&A

Was the question on Darfur asked by you, or someone else?:

What was the question asked? :

I stated that I had just recently returned from Darfur and had met with many victims of the brutality, faced the rebels, and worked with the humanitarian aid workers who are being beaten and killed in unprecedented numbers. I further stated that Sen Edwards and others believe that establishing a no-fly zone was an answer in Darfur even though many NGO's state that a no-fly zone would make it more difficult to deliver services. Senator Obama was asked what he would do to stop the atrocities and force Sudan to be more accountable.

Barack Obama

Summary of the candidate's response:

The Senator responded that there are several things he would do as President.

First, as President he would ensure that more than 26,000 UN forces be deployed to Sudan to ensure the safety of the residents in the camp.

Secondly, he would ensure logistical support for the UN forces to ensure the delivery of food, medicine, and supplies. He stated that our ability to be more active in Darfur is impacted by out commitment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thirdly, he would use strong diplomatic measures to get the Sudanese government and rebels to agree to sit down and negotiate even though the rebels are fragmented and do not have a lot to loose.

Fourth, he would encourage China to put pressure on Sudan to cease hostilities.

Finally, he stated though many NGO's are against a no-fly zone others say a no-fly zone would not be a problem so as President he would evaluate the pro and cons of a no-fly zone and then make a determination.

FORTY DAYS UNTIL NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ~ GO OBAMA!

IOWA ~ THE FIRST STEP

NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY IMPORTANT FOR OBAMA

INTEGRITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE ~
IMAGINE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LED BY ONE WHO GENUINELY HAS INTEGRITY ~ I CAN

HIS NAME IS BARACK OBAMA

BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA

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Barack Obama Biographie Justice Liberté�
Uploaded by Evangelizta

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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x11a3r_barack-obama-biographie-justice-lib_politics

Organizing in Providence, Rhode Island for Barack

Tonight, I joined volunteers in a Providence home to plan the gathering of the state-required 1,000 signatures of registered Rhode Island voters so that Barack Obama can be on the ballot for our March primary. You can sign as many candidates’ petitions as you want. This is just a requirement as a part of the democratic process. I learned about the meeting by registering at http://www.barackobama.com/index.php On Saturday, December 8, we Rhode Islanders will be out asking for signatures to put Barack Obama’s name on RI’s ballot.

Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama’s brother and Barack's brother-in-law will turn in our Rhode Island petitions on Monday, December 10th, and make a bold statement that Obama support is so strong here in Rhode Island that we were able to gather 1,000 plus signatures in the first weekend of petitioning. The Rhode Island media, which assumes this is an all-Hillary state, will sit up and take notice. That is our goal. If we need, we can use the allowed three weeks to gather the required 1,000 signatures. Obama’s Online Organizer for New Hampshire, Damian Bednarz, came down to talk to us about the importance of organizing for New Hamphire’s primary in 40 days. http://nh.barackobama.com As well, Damian talked about the big canvas in New Hampshire for Dec. 1st.

Damian Bednarz and Joe Fernandez

Damian Bednarz

New England suppporters, no matter what state, are encouraged to sign up to come to New Hampshire a day or two between January 4 ~ 8 to help canvas and get out the vote for the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary to be held on Tuesday, January 8th. Momentum is important in the world of politics.

Link to sign up to help in New Hampshire for January 4~8: http://nh.barackobama.com/page/s/newegotv

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc

Senator Barack Obama's campaign announced that Oprah Winfrey will join him on the campaign trail in the early - voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. On Saturday, December 8, they'll be in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On Sunday, December 9, they'll be in Columbia, South Carolina and Manchester, New Hampshire. This will help build on the enthusiasm and momentum we have right now. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/7030.html

Michelle Obama: Campaigning her way http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-05-10-michelle-obama_N.htm

Michelle Obama is a Princeton graduate, Harvard-educated lawyer and, until recently, vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Books by Barack Obama:
* Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
* The Audacity of Hope: Reclaiming the American Dream

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PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND TORCH RELAY FOR DARFUR
Organized by Sandra Hammel, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, USA

The culminating national Torch Relay is in Washington, D.C.
on International Human Rights Day
December 10, 2007

The next international Torch Relay is
Berlin, Germany ~ November 29, 2007

Then:

• Sarajevo, Bosnia - December 6-7
  
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia - January 18-20, 2008
• People's Republic of China - January, date is to be announced
  

www.dreamfordarfur.org

9 WEEKS IN AND KEVIN FINALLY GETS A KISS

It took too long and now we have a writers’ strike ~ justifiably ~ but still, we waited too long to see Kevin get a kiss and now we may never see the rest of the season of Brothers and Sisters.

This episode was written by two females, Jennifer Cecil and Sherri Cooper-Landsman. And the writing between Scotty and Kevin was either good, the actors just were great at presenting it or both. I don’t write about an episode unless I like it enough to invest the effort. I liked this episode. It felt more real or less predictable than the episodes prior to “36 Hours” this season. “Something New” had some pleasant little surprise lines that gave me a laugh, smile or surge of excitement. Nothing offensive, other than the sleeze-Lena being the assigned character-of-the-moment to dislike.

Let me start with the part that I am drawn to the most ~ Kevin and his love life. Thank goodness, he has “a someone” in his life that we can enjoy again. This show suffers when he doesn’t.

Scotty Wandell (Luke MacFarlane) and Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys)

Scotty is ba-ack. Well, yes, he’s been living at Kevin’s apartment, but tonight they kissed. I hear that Eric Winter ~ who plays Jason McCallister ~ has signed on to be back on Brothers and Sisters, but that is all I know by choice. I don’t like to know ahead what is coming, so I purposely stay uninformed unless I unexpectedly read something.

Some memorable lines of Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) and Kevin (Matthew Rhys)

Scotty: (Carrying in lobsters and champagne, walking into Kevin's apartment.) I come with decadence.

Kevin: Light some candles, I’ll be right back.

Eric Winter as Jason McCallister

Jason finally calls Kevin from Malaysia. A very excited Kevin to Jason: Jason, Oh my God. Oh, I’ve missed you. Yeah, yeah, I need to talk to you, too.

Then we find that Kevin has broken up with Jason on the very phone call that he was so thrilled to get from Jason. Hmmm….love to know what happened on that phone call. …and how Kevin turned from being loyal and in love with Jason to. . .

Kevin to Scotty: I finally spoke to Jason. I broke up with him (this is a puzzle, it seemed like Jason must have been the one to break up with Kevin . . . hmmm . . .) Scotty, when I first met you, what we had was messy. We were hot and cold, back and forth, all over the place. But I want to be back there with you because I want to be honest about who I am.

Scotty: Did you tell Jason we slept together.
Kevin: Yes, I did.

Wow, the story really moved ahead tonight. We open with everyone sharing their “first times”.

The second thing that I love about this show is Sally Field. I like it when the story has her going for some “love life”. She can be real special when the script gives her some stuff to put her best into. She really cleared out the room when she talked about “Pretty Woman” in the opening scene. She just forges ahead into “intimate territory”, but the adult children don’t really want to hear.

Nora (Sally Field) meets up with her "sexual encounter of the first kind", Stan Harris, who is played by Chevy Chase.

Julia (Sarah Jane Morris) returned to her marriage with Tommy (Balthazar Getty), reuniting Tommy with baby Elizabeth, at least I think that’s the baby’s name.

Lyle Lovett is a plant by Senator Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) to impress Kitty (Calista Flockhart) with a romantic moment.

Saul (Ron Rifkin) gets his back up with Nora, when he thinks she is meddling into his newly acknowledged homosexuality.

Sarah Whedon (Rachel Griffiths) looks to be getting a new love interest.

Justin Walker (Dave Annable) is coming off the pain killers and is sweet again. He is so good at owning up to his “flaws” with Rebecca.

Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig)…well, her character is less brassy.

And the unlikable Lena continues to be unlikable.

Rebecca (Emily Van Camp) finally has some pleasant exchanges with her mother ~ the “other woman” of William Walker and Nora’s deceased husband.

And Kitty finally welcomes Rebecca as her sister and illustrates it by asking the half sister ~ via their mutual father’s extramarital affair ~ to be one of her bride’s maids. I liked the line where Kitty says after Rebecca is thrilled to be asked to be a part of the bridal party: Should we hug?

The wedding is next Sunday night.
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A Walk Down Memory Lane in the Caterers' Kitchen (Season 1):
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…………………………………………
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JQPsSiSC3eo

Scotty won’t take Kevin back (Season 1):
…………………………………………

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=ErljOzjR_-k

Jason and Kevin’s kiss in Nora’s kitchen pantry (Season 1):
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=7mCXl4sltI4

Brothers and Sisters Season 2, episodes:
9/23/2007: Brothers & Sisters: Family Album
9/30/2007: Home Front
10/7/2007: An American Family
10/14/2007: History Repeating
10/21/2007: States of the Union
10/28/2007: Domestic Issues
11/4/2007: Two Places
11/11/2007: 36 Hours
11/25/2007: Something New
12/2/2007: Holy Matrimony

The Bonus Show from Season 1 recap
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/brothersandsisters/bonusrecap

Recap of 36 Hours
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/brothersandsisters/207

Recap of Two Places (Scotty moves in with Kevin)
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/brothersandsisters/206

About the writers’s strike
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/adamlubitow/baitz-on-wga-strike

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Call 1-800-GENOCIDE
Tell U.S. Senators to support SADA to help end the Darfur Genocide

www.dreamfordarfur.org
www.savedarfur.org

Call President Bush
and tell him to actually act on his words
regarding the Darfur genocide: "NOT ON MY WATCH."
Talk is useless, President Bush.
His number: 202-456-1111

Thank You

BOYFRIENDS AND LIFE

"...Our loves are only symbols of an unknown immortality...and what is supposed to be gone and past is often more real than ever..." Cedric Wright

For the most part I find it pleasant thinking about my life. I have taken the road less traveled in terms of the family I came from. Even though my most impressionable years were in the 60's and 70's, I never inhaled. Meaning I never did any drugs of any sort. I never have been the daughter my mother wanted me to be. But it's not clear to me what it is she wants.

One of my unlived dreams is to sing in public. I have been practicing to try to overcome this. And I know my biggest obstacle is the fear that I have. Tonight just before sitting down to feed my need to write, I was playing the piano and singing and thinking about my dad. My father passed away May 10. 2007. But he always came in and sat down to listen to me sing and play the piano. Then when my mother put him in an institution the last couple years of his life, I would sing and sing for him in his room. The last thing I did was sing to him on the phone and he took his last breath at the end of that phone call. He lived in Indiana and I, in Rhode Island. So it felt like dad was there tonight enjoying the music.

In my early twenties, I moved from northern Indiana to Sturbridge, Massachusetts for my first year of teaching. My next two moves were chosen by taking out the map and finding towns along the New England coast. Leaving that one year of teaching behind and going through one personal time of transition, I connected with an old boyfriend.

Old boyfriends are fun to think about. Having kept a lot of the memorabilia, once in awhile I immerse myself in reading through old journals and letters. Nothing wrong with retouching the lessons and feelings of the past.

My second college boyfriend was a political science major and was reading Eldridge Cleaver’s book Soul on Ice back then. All people who have touched my life have left their mark. There is a part in the book where Mr. Cleaver, who is in Folsom Prison, and attorney, Beverly Axelrod, exchange letters. Deep letters. But I love deep. The letters began September 5, 1965.

E.C. writes: “I feel impelled to express myself to you extravagantly, and words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs leap in my mind. But I beat them down, refuse to write them, because it all seems so predictable and trite...What right have you to summon my soul from its slumber?......You have tossed me a lifeline. If you only knew how I’d been drowning, how I’d considered that I’d gone down for the third time long ago, how I kept thrashing around in the water simply because I still felt the impulse to fight back and the tug of a distant shore...”

B.A writes back: “...Believe this: I accept you. I know you little and I know you much, but whichever way it goes, I accept you. Your manhood comes through in a thousand ways, rare and wonderful...I have no measuring stick. I accept you...What an awesome thing it is to feel oneself on the verge of the possibility of really knowing another person. Can it ever happen? I’m not sure. I don’t know that any two people can really strip themselves that naked in front of each other. We’re so filled with fears of rejection and pretenses that we scarcely know whether we’re being fraudulent or real ourselves...”

E.C. answers back: “Your letters to me are living pieces – chunks! – of you, and are the most important things in my life...It only happens in books – or...Do you know what shameless thought just bullied its way into my consciousness? That, I deserve you, that I deserve to know you and to communicate with you...I seek a lasting relationship, something permanent in a world of change, in which all is transitory, ephemeral, and full of pain. We humans, we are too frail creatures to handle such titanic emotions and deep magnetic yearnings, strivings and impulses…

…The reason two people are reluctant to really strip themselves naked in front of each other is because in doing so they make themselves vulnerable and give enormous power over themselves one to the other. How awful, how deadly, how catastrophically they can hurt each other, wreck and ruin each other forever!...Better to maintain shallow, superficial affairs; that way the scars are not too deep, no blood is hacked from the soul. You beautifully – O, how beautifully!! – spoke...of ‘What an awesome thing it is to feel oneself on the verge of the possibility of really knowing another person...’ and...I do not believe that a beautiful relationship has to always end in carnage. I do not believe that we have to be fraudulent and pretentious,...I know that sometimes people fake on each other out of genuine motives to hold onto the object of their tenderest feelings. They see themselves as so inadequate that they feel forced to wear a mask in order to continuously impress the other. I do not want to ‘hold you’, I want you to ‘stay’ out of your own need for me. ...It takes time and deeds, and this involves trust, it involves making ourselves vulnerable to each other, to strip ourselves naked, to become sitting ducks for each other...I am vulnerable and defenseless and I make myself a duck for you. ...And it is not a fraud, forced out of desperation...”

Isn’t this beautiful?

Excerpts from love letters taken from the book SOUL ON ICE, by Eldridge Cleaver, 1965.

"What an awesome thing it is to feel oneself on the verge of the possibility of really knowing another person... and...I do not believe that a beautiful relationship has to always end in carnage. I do not believe that we have to be fraudulent and pretentious" ~ I so love this because I, too, believe pretense shortchanges us out of the life we were born to have.

Above picture of me from my first trip to Europe by myself ~ taken on the encouragement of a boyfriend! Six weeks including Luxemburg, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Spain.

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I organized the
Providence, Rhode Island
October 27, 2007 Torch Relay
as a part of the
Dream for Darfur Campaign
to pressure China to act and end the Darfur geonocide.

The culminating Torch Relay is taking place in Washington, D.C.
on International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2007.

Edwin Mutanguha has passed the torch to his brother Edward Mutanguha who is carrying the torch in the picture.

The t-shirts say I CARRY THE TORCH FOR DARFUR on the front
and STOP GENOCIDE on the back.



Left to right: Samantha Brilhante, Frankie Daponte, Sandra Hammel, Edwin Mutanguha

Call 1-800-GENOCIDE
Tell U.S. Senators to support SADA to help end the Darfur Genocide

www.dreamfordarfur.org
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.org

Call President Bush and tell him to actually act on his words
regarding the Darfur genocide: NOT ON MY WATCH.
Talk is useless, President Bush.
His number: 202-456-1111

KNOWING YOU ARE LOVED

Imagine a world where we are unblocked enough to give and receive love without the pretense that so often is present. A world that has enough people around each of us that we could thoroughly trust with our vulnerabilities. I want to live in that world. And I would settle for just one somebody that I could be all that I am without boundaries. All I ever wanted has been to be understood.

I love life. I love music. I love dancing. Music is a spiritual experience for me. Dancing frees me. And life has its moments of fire and passion that just lights me up.

The best song presentations are when a singer has a moment with the song that is undeniably real and raw. This is one of those times. I saw Winonna sing this on Oprah after talking about feeling left out in her own family, all while her mother and sister sat there. And although the sound quality in this Youtube isn't the best, it is still worth listening.
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=3CpWkYc1ZsA
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS sung by Wynonna Judd

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Call 1-800-GENOCIDE
Ask your U.S. Senators to support SADA for Darfur

Call President Bush and Tell Him to Stop Saying Futile Statements
about the genocide on the Darfuri people.
Tell him to go to Darfur and Chad to see the Refugee Camps
and report back
along with doing some action that makes a difference.

His number is 202-456-1111

There is no excuse for being lame regarding GENOCIDE.

Go to
www.savedarfur.org
and become proactive.
That is the only way the genocide is going to stop.
GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US - YOU AND ME!

Your "Leaders" certainly haven't stopped genocide,
so let's stop relying on them to lead on this issue
NOT STOPPING GENOCIDE defines us as human beings that don't care.

NOTE: The picture above was taken at the Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. when I was there for the national STAND conference at the end of September. STAND is the organization of college and high school students who are standing up to end genocide.
www.standnow.org