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Rolla Peace News September 22, 2015 |
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================================= Dear Friends:In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THIS WEEK, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 2. IT'S NOT ALL BAD 3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Ahmed and the Magic Clock b) Half My Wealth c) Opening Up the Prison to Them that are Bound ================================ 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, (and all subsequent Thursdays until peace is established) from Noon to 1:00 PM. Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be in the 80s. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign. 2. IT'S NOT ALL BAD With all the publicity given to the terrible things that are happening in our world these days, one might think that Armageddon is upon us, and we are all going down big-time. That could happen, but if you look for it, there is also lots of evidence that things are starting to turn around. More and more people are waking up to the fact that they have been taken for a ride, and they are starting to stand up and say “enough!” Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, calls it Our Moment of Political Upheaval. I think it's more than a moment, and it is growing. Vanden Heuvel cites the anti-austerity movements in Greece and Spain, the amazing popularity of Bernie Sanders, a Pope who speaks out against the capitalist raping of the planet and her people, the nuclear deal with Iran, and the resumption of relations with Cuba, among others. True, wars are raging in Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, and refugees are pouring out of those countries looking for a safe haven. But there is a growing feeling of compassion among the people whose lives are not at risk, for those who are just trying to survive. People all over the world are standing up in defense of the planet, for safe and wholesome foods, for humane treatment of animals, for renewable energy sources and an end to dependence on fossil fuels. You won't hear so much about any of this in the mainstream media; when they can't ignore the good news, they do their best to put a negative spin on it. The media is controlled by the capitalist raptors, who want us to be afraid and hopeless and passive. And you won't hear anything at all about the subtle activism that is helping to drive the movements for peace, unity and sustainability. The people standing in the streets demonstrating for peace and justice are not the only activists. Helping to support them are millions of people worldwide coming together in meditation and prayer, both physically and virtually, in the name of peace, harmony and love. We humans are all connected in a common field of consciousness; we are one. And that one that we are is connected to all other life forms — also one. Being connected in this way, everything anyone does or thinks or feels is shared within that field, and affects everyone and everything else. Our job is to do, think and feel as much positivity and as little negativity as possible. That's our best hope to turn things around in our world. 3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Ahmed and the Magic Clock b) Half My Wealth c) Opening Up the Prison to Them that are Bound AHMED AND THE MAGIC CLOCK This is the most spectacular story I've seen in years — how a 14 year old boy with a homemade clock exposes the racism and paranoia inherent in our society, where punishment of the powerless is paramount. Who would ever have thought that a young teen with a magic clock could do so much! This story is so amazing, I had to write about it. Here's my article. HALF MY WEALTH Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani yogurt, is donating $700,000,000 ($700 million), half his wealth, to help refugees. Imagine if all the billionaires in the world would follow suit and donate half their wealth to making this a better world. Chobani means shepherd in Turkish. If you've never tasted Chobani yogurt, you are in for a treat. Rich and creamy — not at all like most of the yogurt you see in supermarkets today. OPENING UP THE PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND I thought it was only a handful of religious nutcakes like myself who took the prophet Isaiah seriously when he “proclaim[ed] liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Now a bipartisan federal commission on our own refugee crisis proclaims that “the violations — which include denial of food and medical care, lack of due process, and allegations of sexual assault — are so egregious that all families should be released, detentions reduced, and alternatives to incarceration fostered.” ================== Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Grassroots Rolla: top of rightmost column).If you don't wish to get notices of peace events in the Rolla area, let me know and I'll take you off this list. If you want to be added to this list, let me know. Wage peace, Helen helenm (at) fidnet.com ### |