MoxieLife

A day of peace

goodwolve — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:31:59 -0600

I have never really paid much attention to Veteran's Day. My family was very peace oriented and didn't want to "celebrate" war. Now before you all jump on me for being unloving of those that serve and die - my father was a veteran of the Korean conflict. He enlisted to get out of his small town and gain access to an education. If he wasn't a pacifist before he left for duty he was when he came back.

In fact, he never talked about serving. He would never say what he did, saw, or felt about it. To him it was an ends to a means - a poor kid trying to get a better start in life.

When he came back and the Vietnam war came into view - he was one of the early protesters in his suit and tie. He knew the horror of war and didn't want any other young man (at the time it was just men) to fight the battles of governments whose cause wasn't exactly clear.

So, needless to say, Veteran's Day and Memorial day were nothing more than days off from school.

I know that the shift has been made where we thank those who serve/served for what they sacrifice. And I do. I just think that there needs to be the realization that it is still poor kids who are fighting these unscrupulous battles. They come from Arkansas, New Mexico, Mississippi - and the countless neighborhoods where money is always tight. They want to make a difference in their lives and the military gives them that chance - but at what cost. Why are we sending our poor to fight wars that have no real end in sight.

I wonder if we would continue to do this if everyone was required to serve. If all of our sons and daughters had to go into conflicts that are less than exemplary would we be there?

An unexpected Good Living Prize

goodwolve — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:52:28 -0600

Last night, like the old people that we have become, we were watching 60 Minutes. A show that I don't particularly like, but it beats football! As you are all familiar Andy Rooney is the last segment and he did something I didn't think would ever happen - he said no to more war. He used his moments to talk about how Veterans day could be used to focus on peace rather then war. He chose to highlight the fact that 8 of his fellow high school classmates had died in World War II; a tragedy and a loss to every family.

So, the Goodman Wolven Prize for Good Living goes to Andy Rooney. Granted, he won't ever know he won, but giving it makes me proud to honor his frank request on national TV for peace.

The New Little Rock 9 - Health Care in Arkansas

goodwolve — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:15:49 -0600

I live in a state where the federal government had to force the people to integrate. The brave souls of the Little Rock 9 had to walk through a crowd of people who were jeering, yelling and displaying rage and hate. Their act is considered one of the most important features of the civil rights movement and it happened in a place where the majority of the people didn't want it to happen. They were forced to be fair.

Knowing that I look at the landscape of people shouting about health care and I wonder if this is a similar case. A case where the people will need to be forced to do the right thing. My senators are both reluctant to vote for health care, even though a large percentage of our states population are already on some form of federal health care system (AR Kids, Medicare). They are afraid that those that oppose the "right" to health care won't vote for them and that their jobs will be lost over this decision. I say that they need to stand up and do the right thing and that sometimes the people need to be forced - an unfortunate thing, but one that has been proven in our states history.

We all have the opportunity to be on the right side of this debate and go down in history as a people who cares for the whole - or we can stand on the sidelines and shout hatred. The choice is ours to make - or it will be made for us.

Quick Catch Up - Life after Halloween

goodwolve — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:01:52 -0600

Sometimes life seems to get in the way of things you want to do. Like write here. Last time I wrote here was before Halloween so here is a quick catch up of all my shenanigans.

Water, Water Everywhere: On the Thursday prior to Halloween I went to deliver a pie to book club. I knew I couldn't stay because they had predicted flash flooding and I live over a low water bridge that floods even if there is just a slight downpour. Instead of dashing back from the pie delivery I stayed to eat a quick bowl of soup. In that 45 minutes I drove home only to see a raging river swallowing up my driveway. As I cried on my cell phone to my husband on the other side that I just wanted to get home I knew my fate was sealed and I would have to find refuge at a friends and hike into our property from the back side in the morning.

Spooky: Then came Halloween, we finally were able to cross our bridge after my husband spent three hours digging out the gravel that had gotten wedged into the culvert pipe. I donned my Roller Derby costume and headed out to White Street to give out candy to over 600 children. Only the mom's and the creepy men knew what I was - so much for pop culture. As I stood there in my pink roller skates looking down from the porch I realized that I was over the idea of handing out candy to strangers. My daughter, who is 19 and off at college, is well past the point of trick or treating and I live in the country and come into town to do this. And for the last three years it has been OK, but now I realize that there is an ending to all things - a natural evolution. My time for trick-or-treater's has reached that end. Sorry to say it had to end in a costume resembling a sex worker on skates, but that is just the way it is.

All In My Head: I am irritated by the health care debate, stop talking about it and just do it. I am unhappy that the "new conservatives" have gained momentum and swallowed up a few elections. I am frustrated that I am rushing through things rather than taking the time to enjoy them. I am reading the Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (would be nice if Bible literalists would read it too). I found my Meyers-Brigg and I am an INFJ (the smallest percentage of the population) - Interesting.

Hate crimes abound.

goodwolve — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:33:10 -0500

Well, there is no question that both groups are hated, but it is interesting how both could be targeted with the same act. A billboard put up by the Freedom From Religion group was vandalized yesterday. They took an atheist billboard and made into a hate statement against homosexuality. What a mess we live in.

Just yesterday, I had a brief moment of tears when it was announced on NPR that Obama had signed into law the Matthew Shepherd bill. I remember when he was brutally tortured and left to die. An act that was a horrible mark on the human race - and it has taken 11 years to make a statement and to change the law.

Now one group is trying to raise awareness about religion in politics and they are targeted. It seems it is always something. Thank goodness they weren't hung up to die, then again it is hard to pick out the Atheist in the crowd.