Dreamers Wanted: Looking For The Next Uniter.

Let me see, it's been almost 40 years since Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated and the U.S.A. is still running as a divided country. For those of you who do not know who I speak of, I'm referring to a man who had a really good chance of being the next president in the late 60's. Yes, he was also the brother of the late President John F. Kennedy, but he was so much more than that. He was a person who had great aspirations to unite a fighting country. A country at war with another country, and a country at war with itself. I'm not trying to glorify R.F.K., but rather ask ourselves will we ever find someone like him again? He offered so much hope to the American public. He was what was left after the murders of his brother and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. I have been looking at many speeches by Bobby Kennedy but I decided that I would discuss those at another time. Instead, I have here a video clip of the R.F.K. funeral train. It's amazing because as a dreamer myself, it is hard to believe that so many people would ever line up in respect like that again for our present-day presidents, let alone a senator!



"Many of us in America believed that that President John F. Kennedy was nurturing a renewed belief in the concept of government as an enabler for all its citizens instead of an acquiescent handmaiden to the privileged and the powerful. Before he was able to instill that as a working principle in our society he was gunned down by an assassin. Five years later when Bobby rose to try to reestablish a government of hope, the hearts of Americans quickened and excitement flared. Then tragedy struck again.

The blow was monumental. Hope-on-the-rise had again been shattered and those in most need of hope crowded the tracks of Bobby's last train, stunned into disbelief, and watched that hope trapped in a coffin pass and disappear from their lives." - Paul Fusco

(Quote from R.F.K. Funeral Train site)

Roll With It, Baby - Anti-War Songs

The song, "Roll With It" by Ani Difranco, is one of my favorite anti-war songs of all time. As the war in Iraq is continuing into it's fifth year, it occurred to me that I don't hear too many anti-war songs. I'm sure people who really lived the 1960's and 70's can say that there was a lot of protesting going on. Protest music seemed to be in the air everywhere! Where is that now?! I thought I would share to the public the lyrics to Ms. Difranco's song even though it was created in the 90's I think this song just like many others in the past can apply to what's presently going on today. Feel free to drop me a song or a comment that you think applies to this post!

She says my ass hurts
when I sit down
she says my feet hurt
from just standing around
I think my body
is as restless as my mind
and I don't know if I can roll with it
this time

packed his uniforms
and drove him to the base
she was crying all the way
the world looked her in the face
and said
roll with it, baby
make it your career
keep the home fires burning
till america is in the clear

the mainstream is so polluted with lies
once you get wet, it's so hard to get dry
we're all taught how to justify
history
as it passes by
and it's your world
that comes crashing down
when the big boys decide
to throw their weight around
but just roll with it baby
make it your career
keep the home fires burning
till america is in the clear

what if the enemy
isn't in a distant land
what if the enemy lies behind
the voice of command
the sound of war
is a child's cry
behind tinted windows,
they just drive by
all I know is that those
who are going to be killed
aren't those who preside
on capitol hill
I told him,
don't fill the front lines
of their war
those assholes aren't worth dying for!
but he said
roll with it, baby
make it your career
keep the home fires burning
till america is in the clear

she says my ass hurts
when I sit down
she says my feet hurt
from just standing around
I think my body is as restless as my mind
and I'm not gonna roll with it this time
no, I'm not gonna roll with it this time

Feel free to drop me a song or a comment that you think applies to this post!

Art provided by: www.defenestrator.org/anti-war.htm

Lies, Lies, And More Lies...

So my partner told me to post this video of a compilation of the Bush administration's lies. I linked it to a post called, "Who's Watching the Watchers" but she told me the probability of people taking the time to click on the link and watch it was pretty slim. So here is the video right in front of your faces. Absorb it. I did, and I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired with my country. Surely the election for 2008 will bring us better fortune. My fingers are crossed.

Who's Watching the Watchers?

I think as Americans, we need to get our "checks and balances" in order. Initially I made this illustration on the left before the September 11th 2001 attacks. I really completed the piece this past summer of 2007. At the time, while I was first working out the art and political concepts, I didn't know what exact direction to go in. All I knew at that point was to select a U.S. amendment and pick it apart. In the back of my mind, I secretly thought my rights would never be imposed on, and how silly some of the amendments sounded. Well I was wrong to think that; maybe I was more naive and brainwashed to think I was safe and cozy in my country. After the 9/11 attacks, I was more afraid for my country of what it was becoming than I was of the terrorists. Who would have thought that the new president of the 21st century could throw us, as a nation, back 50 years? My "Superpower" country is turning itself against its citizens... and is helping citizens turn against each other.

Is there any reason that a country that labels itself as the "land of the free" should be treating its citizens as though they are terrorists? How could Patriot Acts and crazy interrogation tactics (oh wait we don't have proof of that now do we?) get by us? What did we do to deserve this treatment. Nothing? Nothing! Nothing... Maybe it is the fact that we did nothing to stop our new president from spinning our nation out of control... were we even given the chance though? Everything he and his cronies have done "for" our country so far has either been behind closed doors in "hush hush" law making or linked with publicly misleading statements (you know like going to war because Iraq supposedly has weapons of mass destruction - but really how many countries don't have weapons?)... and yet, why is he still in office? There are more than enough reasons why this guy should be impeached (watch the video), yet only one man by the name of Dennis Kucinich is willing to stand up against him. ONE?! Are you kidding me? We've seen how much damage this president can do in a limited amount of time, but this time we can do something about that. We as citizens, need to start voting and exercising our power of speech. What do you think? What are you going to do? What do you have to say? Let "Them" know, and fight for change!

Art by JMV Illustrations

Steps To Take Care of Yourself When You're Overwhelmed With Life.

Ever feel like you just DON'T WANT TO CARE ANYMORE?! You feel completely drained and helpless and you feel guilty about wanting to forget people who suck the life out of you. Does this sound like something you can relate to? I thought making a post about taking care of oneself was important to address. My partner and I have been facing some personal issues that have just been tiring us out. I won't discuss what some of those issues are about, because that's not the point of this post, but rather I will provide steps that I take to soothe the sore soul. Remember these are my antidotes that help me that I think could help you, but if you have your own suggestions please feel free to comment and share your thoughts. Here's the list:

• Indulge yourself in leisure activities. Personally I like to draw, carve, play mindless computer games, and watch my favorite movies.

• Comfort foods. Bend your healthy food rules for a day and eat some M&M's, kettle popcorn, and ice cream.

• Drink a hot beverage. Hot chocolate, tea, etc can help calm and soothe your adrenaline.

• Reconnect with friends you haven't spoken to for a while. Sometimes speaking with old friends can help you escape OR talk about your drama. Good friends can always help lighten your mood.

• Read for fun. I'm not much of a reader, but every now and then I like to read some of my favorite quotes, books, magazines, or online articles to boost my morale. I also 80% of the time fall asleep when reading. Turns out I probably needed to take a NAP to rest my conscience mind.

Get the idea? It's about pampering yourself. Take care of you and you will be able to attend to those matters that will always be waiting for you. Breath in, breath out... I guess there is always meditation and yoga...