GAZA

I need to express my horror and absolute condemnation of those that believe that there can be any justification for resorting to industrial strength violence, war or genocide as may be the case here. People using deadly weapons on people is WRONG. The civilized, humane means of resolving conflicts are negotiations.

 Peace Is Possible

The human race got this far, not by waging war, but by cooperation.

My photos here were taken from a July 23. 2014 rally held in Santa Fe, New Mexico in protest of the unanimous support of Israel (to the detriment of the Gazan civilians) and resolution 498 co-sponsored by Senator Martin Heinrich and not objected to by Senator Tom Udall. The letter below was delivered to both Senators amidst the usual singing and chanting, even while it slightly rained.

"Each year, the United States gives Israel about $3.1 billion in military assistance, a commitment that stems from the 1978 Camp David accord that led to peace between Israel and Egypt. Those billions are roughly divided into two funding streams. About $800 million underwrites Israeli manufacturing of weaponry and military products. The rest finances what is essentially a gift card that the Israeli military uses to procure arms and military equipment from US military contractors. It can be safely assumed, says a US expert on aid to Israel, that all units of the Israel Defense Forces benefit from US assistance—and this obviously includes those units fighting in Gaza. So to a certain degree, the destruction in Gaza does have a made-in-the-USA stamp." - Mother Jones

My Mom, a WW II veteran used to iterate in unbecoming cynicism I thought, but have come, not to accept, but slowly understand: 

 War Is Profitable!

US taxpayers are in the absurd place of partly paying for the Israeli military action in Gaza and funding the cleanup. No doubt the US profits from war, New Mexico's National and Sandia labs are our major players, invested still too much in defense and too little in green technology. Place people and their lives above profit and greed. Sign the Amnesty International Petition for the US to stop arming Israel: "All states (particularly key suppliers, for example USA for Israel) must suspend all transfers of weapons, munitions and other military equipment and technology to all sides until there is no longer a substantial risk that such items will be used for serious violations of international humanitarian law or serious human rights abuses. The suspension should include all indirect exports via other countries, the transfer of military components and technologies and any brokering, financial or logistical activities that would facilitate such transfers."

Inflammatory rethoric, signs and chants I personally do not deem very helpful,

but standing up and speaking out for what we believe is of the essence. 

If we don't, we simply are complicit.

"All of us,who consider ourselves friends of Israel, must call on the Israeli government to use its wisdom to change course and to stop this escalation, to demonstrate a level of compassion born of moral clarity, not only for the benefit of innocent Palestinians, but to protect Israel from the destruction of its own reputation which would deprive it of world solidarity necessary for its own survival." - Dennis Kucinich

Some pointers:

Hamas dropped call for the destruction of Israel in 2006! It is imperative for Hamas to update their outrageous preamble of their founding document: "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it." The state of Israel needs absolute acceptance. Once clearly stated Israel will no longer have the excuse of self defense in their attacks, which currently looks a lot more like genocide (most certainly expressed in comments in the Jerusalem Post: "Barak Tom Salakoff - Wipe Hamas off the map.)

The right to defend ought to be a last resort only. Israel has by far not exhausted it's options to respond to the Gazan rebellion, understandable when we hear of their horrific conditions they have to endure.

Surprise, Gaza seems to have great oil potential of which some corporations seem well aware of!

I was shocked to learn only the other day that the denial of the holocaust was not just a hair raising notion coming from the prior Iranian president, but a position still held by many, including factions that make up Hamas. With todays technologies such absurd notions ought to be able to be corrected with relative ease. Hold town hall meetings where such nonsense is challenged by real people with real feelings and experiences, rather then through more propaganda. Candid, civilized conversations can be part of the solution.

Follow Denny Cormier's live report from Gaza and find him on facebook, twitter and flickr. Denny is a Santa Fean I seen last this spring, right before he left for Gaza where now he found his home and where he chose to stay even as the war started.

Proportionality applies with numbers like 1000 Gazan fatalities - 40 Israeli soldiers. 

1 Gazan child by the hour! The average age of Gazans is 17!

We mourn for every life lost regardless of nationality, race, color or faith. 

War is a barbaric, outdated mode of inflicting suffering through generations yet to come.

Finally, an oppressed people will rebel, they will undermine, literally, unfair boundaries and no doubt will seek to liberate themselves. End Israel's control over Gaza, it's borders, waters, space and goods,

End The Occupation!

New Gallup Poll: 42% of Americans say Israel's actions in Gaza are justified; 39% say unjustified.

Broom

Indian Market 2013

Indian Market Vendor
Navajo Weaver
TahiNiban Naataanii

Indian Market Performers
In Full Regalia
Buffalo Society

Artists and Art

Indian Market Art - Paintings

Indian Market Visitor

Early Birds

Indian Market Visitors

Only certified service dogs are allowed at special events as this Indian Market.

This 30 months old girl took to wearing her Doggles the very first time,

not like mine who kept wanting to get rid of them. 

They just got back from a trip around the country, he said.

A hustle & bustle

Unless we all take a break for a Frito pie.

Goddam

Nina Simone

There is such greatness in American culture along side the sordid, shameful aspects. It is important to embrace all aspects of reality, to never close our eyes to one or the other, not to what is good and not to what is bad. Wear rose colored glasses if you must, but never ever forget when you wear them.

There is no justice for one that got killed, nothing can restore the dead one, not in our life on this earth.
For the killer of Trayvon Martin to walk away a free man only confirms an asinine Wild West attitude shared by enough US citizens to worm it's way in to law. Zimmerman's not guilty verdict makes me ashamed once again to have become an American, of my own free will I might ad.

Americans overreact to violence and really need to educate themselves on non-violent conflict resolution with attempts at more sophisticated psychological understanding, appropriate for our times.

Trayvon Martin

Was a honor student with a 3.7 GPA.
Was accepted into college on a full-ride.
Was a volunteer of over 600 service hours.

R.I.P.

Card Reader

Readings on a pay as you like basis offered on the Santa Fe plaza.

March Against Monsanto - Santa Fe

Mission Statement

Boycott!
Comprehensive Boycott Guide

Banner

In progress during rally at the Railyard.

Corporate Greed

Outrageous that a former Monsanto board member has been elected to the FDA!

We have to hold our Representatives accountable,

or we are complicit.

Voting Record on S Amdt 2310

Michael, a retired state employee stands in protest 

outside our Roundhouse, our seat of government.

Broadcasting the stories across country.

Occupy Monsanto

Sign the Repeal the Monsanto Act Petition

Link

Space Oddity

SEE SAW

SEE SAW

World Premiere
Wise Fool New Mexico
Santa Fe Railyard Park
May 3rd, 4th 2013

Why?

Here I am in the United States, in the City Different, where I discover a bug helplessly afloat in my pet's water bowl. While I try not to hurt a fly, people go about harming other people, strangers, with unimaginable cruelty. While I empty the bowl carefully so as to help that bug get back on it's feet, others seem to want to tear others down and apart, living/feeling people just like themselves. I just don't get it. What happened to empathy?

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a 19 year old immigrant was well liked and seemingly well integrated and old enough to make and stand by his own decisions, not just follow and obey an admired older brother. He reminds me of an Easter European introvert, sensitive 17 year old buddy I had in school. In fact Dzhokhar reminds me of being a teen, feeling rebellious, protesting the system, feeling alienated and searching for a way of being in a world not of my choosing.

Of course I tried dope, some drugs, it was the seventies, which were for us the American sixties. I happened to not like drugs and happened to have a horror of the idea of getting hooked on drugs, knowing myself all too well, my inability to leave a piece of chocolate alone when in reach, I avoided altered states induced by external means and instead sought out creative means for experiencing heightened states of consciousness and aliveness. Creative self expression did that for me. Crying over paint, moving to the rhythm of my heart, giving a voice to my feelings in extemporaneous expressions did that for me. Once I found ground to stand and rely on, I was home free, I found myself and my power and was finally able to own my experiences, something no one would ever be able to take from me.

What allows one man to take away the life of another man? Life is so wondrous and mysterious and multi-faceted, what, but arrogance and utter disrespect allow one human to deprive another human of a chance at setting things right, a chance at fulfillment, or at the very least redemption? No doubt Dzhokhar, not old enough to enter a bar legally in the US, will face the death penalty and no doubt many will scream bloody murder with their thirst for revenge.

Radicalization must have become easier yet through the internet. Do some of us mistake extremism with passion? Do some choose terrorism in an attempt to make their lives meaningful when they feel alienated, unloved and uncertain about their place in their world, when they have no ground to stand on? What personal tragedies may prompt those insane acts against humanities from apparently sane individuals? Are we all just living on a continuum of relative sanity to total, out craziness?

There is a line that should not be crossed, the taking of human lives, be it by individuals or institutions, that is, has been, and will be my position. Life and death are sacred and ought to be revered, given great care and consideration. What prompts a seemingly sane individual to cross those lines? I just don't get it.

Moon On The Rise

Santa Fe Mural

Home Sweet Home

 It took all of yesterday morning to prepare for company.

Today's Best Shot

Our pear blossom tree is in bloom.

I was up and out with the sun

in an attempt to capture some of the glory,

this is what I got.

Not easy those red tones,

I had to fiddle a bit in post-processing,

this from my first batch of macros from my new Nikon.

My colorful 'hood

Where To Draw The Line?

“You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.” Chuck Palahniuk

I got my new camera, a Nikon D5100 refurbished, only yesterday late afternoon, by the evening I was looking at lenses, almost bought two by midnight, but had the good sense to put a halt to my madness. In consideration are a 55-200 mm lens and a 55 mm, small portable, supposedly very sharp one. Voila, my first decent test shot with what I got for now:

Meanwhile I have been visiting repeatedly that gorgeous, ornate Indian trunk featured below. It did go to someone's home for two days, then got returned. It has nine compartments, something I can deeply appreciate and something that appeals to my need for organization and order, so I might almost make it's purchase a practical necessity for me. Ah, the mind is a marvel!

What I really need is footwear. Six pairs of shoes have holes in their soles and come apart at the seams, for real. Last year I learned how to make do because I could not afford a new pair, or be bothered searching for an alternative. By the way I love my boots the ones I bought on sale at an artisan market in Zurich to discover that a friend of mine had made them. They were the most comfortable ever and they will be made in to planters within days, as soon as this present cold spell is over. They were funky in 2007 when I took this photo, but they managed to outlast those new boots. 

I do need to replace the washer that has served me very well since 1988. It was then an energy efficient front load that fit perfectly in to my closet. Try to find something like it now, something that will last as long and does not cost and arm and a leg and a life's savings. I don't want a dinky  apartment size top loader meant for those renters that will still have to make runs to the laundromat with their bedding and the like. I am overdue on a run to the laundromat on bike again for now. Amazing how much can fit on two wheels. The right machine will show up in time, I like to trust.

The fridge is probably the biggest energy drain in my home and I would save the environment and myself the time and the trouble from regular de-frostings. In a quarter century it had never occurred to me to change my appliances, why would I want to, they were working just fine. But there is the stove with plates that stay hot as the warning light has long gone out. I am afraid I might burn down my home and those of others forgetting one time too a often. I am also tired of cleaning the darn thing and wish for one of those smooth top electric ones. But why pay for a huge oven when all I need is two hot plates and one toaster oven?

Maybe eventually I will have it all together, all done with, but wait, there is the bathroom sink in glass that would make for a much better fit then my outdated current version. And the silk curtains that the Pretty Kitty ripped, I will need to figure what to do with them, to mend or replace will mean to take the whole darn thing apart as my neighbor had been kind enough to prevent the curtain rod from crashing down one more time. To restring the upstairs wooden blinds as they too did their service for over a quarter century, might give a local guy a job, new ones will be out of the question, that is for sure. I dare not even approach the subject of those four wheels, my VW vanagon. Will it be fixable after having been parked for more then two years with an engine that has barely 3,000 miles on it? I love my van, but not it's costs.

Is there ever an end to wanting, wishing and needing? Where is one to draw the line?