We the People Rise!

We were lucky enough to have social activist, writer, songwriter, and kindred-spirit Marisa Handler to visit and speak with our community. She was here to speak and present about the intersection of buddhism and social activism but of course in our conversation we ended up discussing politics and our deep hope that President Obama would be our president, at that time it still felt like just a dream.

And now, just days into the Obama Administration (it is still fun to say) she sent me this video, and I was so blown away.  The power in her voice, the power in her words, so matched the power in the crowd at the inauguration.

Enjoy this beautiful piece Marisa wrote in opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and performed first at the March 20, 2003 protest of 20,000 people in San Francisco.

People do indeed have power, when we choose (in whatever way) to stand and rise!

 

Online Tools that Tug at the Heart Strings!

TEARS: Oh my goodness.  Checking in, did I get enough sleep?  Have I eaten regularly? Am I all around emotionally stable?

Surprisingly: yes, yes and YES!

So why you may be asking did I tear up just a bit at reading the latest of online tools.

Let me fill you in...

You've been watching the news coming out of Gaza right?  Have you been working to get the whole story?  Our news coverage of this crisis, has been in my opinion, well awful.

Watch this...

I believe it is time for Americans to really understand the impact American policy is having on this conflict.  You do know it was the U.S. that prevented the first U.N. attempt at a ceasefire agreement...

So back to what moved me today...

Thanks to the wonderful Progressive Exchange network, I have come across the best new online tool.  Let me introduce you to JStreet and the Gaza Ceasefire Network.  Check it out here. 

Here is the info from the website...

Join thousands in making calls to Members of Congress to demonstrate broad public support for strong U.S. leadership to bring about an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Call now — use the form on the right!

Fill out the form on the right to get started. After you've submitted your information, we'll provide you with a simple way to connect directly to your Senators and your Representative on the next page.

With resolutions on Gaza now surfacing on the Hill, we have to turn up the heat to ensure that - in addition to support for Israel - Congress calls for active American diplomacy to end the crisis and a ceasefire that promotes the interests of Israel, the Palestinian people, and the United States.

The more calls we make, the harder our message will be to ignore: An immediate ceasefire that ends the violence, stops the rockets, and eases the blockade of Gaza is in the interests of the United States, Israel, the Palestinians, and the whole Middle East.

You can learn more about our campaign at JStreet.org . Also, find out what else you can do besides calling your Members of Congress here.

Sitting here, holding the pain and destruction that is happening in the world. Sitting here knowing my country, my president, and my tax dollars play an indirect role in all of this. Sitting here with this pain, and realizing that I am not powerless. I am not alone in outrage over this situation.  Sitting here knowing that because of simply using technology as a agent of change, many will participate in sending a message that this is not acceptable.

Sitting here, I am moved to tears finding myself at the intersection of despair and hope. 

Won't you make a call...  Use your voice!