The Confluence and Comments On Sarah Palin and Politics of Fear

My response:

I have no idea how to help our United States recover from the past eight years, but some idea of what our guiding principles [refer to "Barack Obama Are You Listening..."] must be.  I deeply believe that both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama embody these principles.  It is my sincere hope that whomever we choose to take the helm and guide our beloved nation for the next four years, will be up to the task and will have as their crew, every single citizen of these United States. 
Regardless, the days ahead will not be easy for us as Americans, nor for the rest of our globe.  We must form an authentic alliance with this planet and every life form on it, fully committed to our joint survival, prosperity, and posterity.
We must embrace our differences as essential to our survival, setting aside our pettiness and our ego trips that give us cause to see ourselves as puffed up blowfish or throat-swollen toads.  Let us roll up our collective sleeves and begin the labors of repaving, rebuilding, renewing, and restoring not only hope and faith, but relationships with nature, ourselves and each other. 
The words, “…in order to form a more perfect Union…,” from the Preamble to our Constitution come to mind.  “We the people” can begin by forging a more perfect alliance, one in which justice, equity, tranquillity (non-war), and protection for all form its foundation.

Professor Jensen Speaks Out: Arrogance, Ignorance, and Cowardice: What We Should Learn From 9/11 or War Made Easy

If you’re going to be in Austin, Texas, this coming Thursday, September 11, 2008 (09/11/08), 7:00 pm, you’re in luck.  It’s perfect timing for a Jensen Encounter:

Never slowing down nor deviating from his chosen path of exposing truth, the diligent, authentic, humble role model Robert Jensen, UT journalism professor and author of Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity, will deliver a lecture on “Arrogance, Ignorance, and Cowardice: What we should learn from 9/11.” The talk will be followed by a screening of the film War Made Easy. Jensen was widely criticized for his anti-war writings after 9/11, which led many to call for his dismissal from his teaching job. Jensen’s talk is the opening event of a four day series, “Struggle for Global Justice: Screenings in Solidarity with Dr. Binayak Sen,” details can be found by visiting http://www.thirdcoastactivist.org.

Location: UT – Austin, Welch Hall, Room 2.246, map at http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/wel.html

To All Who Have Ever Failed, Remember, Nothing Great…

This moment is dedicated to Senator John Edwards, whose words in the face of disappointment have provided great inspiration for me in times past; though since, has experienced his own personal disillusionment.  May you and all of us who have ever “failed,” find comfort, encouragement, and renewed determination in the moment it takes to read these words.  Ash

Think only for a moment, how you felt in the presence of the your “failures” and those of the ones we look to for leadership.  When we failed our own moral imperatives; when we didn’t set the example we hoped to; when we didn’t accomplish exactly what we set out to; when those we trusted to show us that what we couldn’t do could be done, disappointed; take a moment for compassion and remember these words from Dr. Jim Rigby, visionary, story teller and activist from Austin, Texas:

Nothing great was ever accomplished in a single lifetime. We must emblazon those words in our hearts. The struggle is always worth it. For, if we do not improve our own time we have made possible some future happiness. If all around us is hopeless it is the perfect time to begin loosening the soil for future planters. The more hopeless the political situation, the more important are those who live and teach the principles of human decency.~~Dr. Jim Rigby

To all who struggle, all who fail, all who triumph, all who despair, all who repair…even when it doesn’t feel like it, it’s always worth it.  Every heartache, every tear, every triumph and every joy prepares us and our posterity for the greatness to come.  Now, is your perfect time.~~Ashtora

If you’d like to write Dr. Jim Rigby, his email is jrigby0000@aol.com

If you’d like to write me, my email is izee4mee@hotmail.com

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

THAT’S NOT LOVE, “Pastor Rick Warren”–GO DEEPER

While Joan Walsh concerned herself with the merits of our nation’s current Presidential Candidates, I was more stunned by Rick Warren’s–who, by the way, is not MY pastor–obvious participation in a Republican setup, and his apparent lack of credentials, character, integrity, and authenticity, in stark comparison to the Reverend Dr. Jim Rigby, who stands out in any convention of religious leaders, regardless of how “mega” their churches are–including Joel Olsteen, the pastor of what I believe to be the nation’s largest “mega” church–The Woodlands, in Houston, Texas. 

For a nation searching for answers, who might be turning towards religion and religious leaders for guidance in finding their answers, I just hope we don’t give up, dismayed by the belief that “Pastor Rick” is the best there is because he’s written a best seller and has built a “mega church;” and I would challenge “Pastor Rick Warren” to GO DEEPER.  Love doesn’t give or impose upon others your own answers, but rather equips them with the tools they’ll require for digging and discovering their own revelations–and challenges them to do so.

Before you give up, feeling there is no authenticity, integrity, genuine love and leadership left in this world, try listening to the mentor I found over twenty years ago.  His genuine humility, compassion for all of humanity, instinctive rudder for navigating through the darkest, most troubling waters, and integrity, even when facing the most daunting of circumstances, stand out and loom large over the televangalists of this world.  I speak of the Reverend Dr. Jim Rigby, pastor for more than 25 years, of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas.  He’s no televangelist.  He never gives answers.  He teaches map making and navigational skills; he helps equip you with the shovel and pick you need to ferret it out for yourself.

Reverend Rigby has devoted his entire life to answering the question, “What is truth?”  Beacause one cannot discover truth without first knowing the right questions, his pursuit of truth led him to a life of studying everything that purported to be truth.  He’s shared his studies with those who attend this small neighborhood church of St. Andrew’s, also in search of truth.  Dr. Rigby knows more about what he’s talking about, than anyone I’ve ever met or heard.  His words and opinions are based on thorough research, not ignorance or vain opinion.  Though small, this church’s membership has continuously been comprised of genuine, authentic people with open hearts, open minds and open arms; for me, it is the most MEGA of all churches.

The Reverend Dr. Jim Rigby has left his indelible footprint on my life and I believe his messages and teachings leave their mark on all who are privileged enough to hear them.  Listen to this one, and see if you agree.  http://www.staopen.com/podcast/Rigby_0810.mp3

If you would like to hear more, visit the podcast index of his recent messages.  http://www.staopen.com/podcast/index.php

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church’s website is located here:  www.staopen.com

Warning:  If you want to be told WHAT TO THINK, don’t go here.  If you can’t hold up to having your ideas challenged; if you’re not willing to go deep into your questions and issues, don’t go here.  You will not be placated here.  These teachings will challenge you and your beliefs beyond what anything else has ever accomplished.  Proceed with caution.

[Note:  This blog, by far, represents the boldest, most opinionated I've written.  The recent televised religious interviews prompted this.  I suspect that as a result, there will be more.  I welcome your comments and conversations.]