1. THANKS and GREETINGS
Without your support, Grandparents for Peace could not exist. Forgive the collective thanks and greetings, but please know that each one of you is very dear to me. And I wish each of you a happy, healthy, adventure-filled New Year.
2. I think you know that for the last two years, I have been volunteering and taping oral histories at the Council on Aging. Yesterday I distributed 125 Hug Coupons. Now here is one for you!
"A hug has...
No moving parts, no batteries, no monthly payments and no fees.
It is inflation-proof and non-taxable. In fact, it is quite relaxing.
It can't be stolen, won' t pollute, One size fits all, will not dilute
It uses little energy, but yields results tremendously.
Your circulation corrects, without unpleasant side effects.
It's the best prescription drug. There's nothing like a simple hug.
AND OF COURSE IT IS FULLY RETURNABLE!
The above coupon entitles bearer to One Free Hug, redeemable from any participating human being.
3. CONTRATULATIONS
Irania Martinez Garcia of Guantanamo, Cuba, received a CNN Heroes award in the "Defending the Planet" category. She transformed a toxic dump in her hometown into an eco-friendly "Garden of Eden". Her name and project were submitted by the St. Augustine-Baracoa Friendship Association, with which my son and daughter-in-law, Jo and Sali, have been intimately involved.
4. KUDOS TO GRANNIES
Especially to those who participated in or supported the white-kerchiefed grannies at the SOA (School of the Americas/Assassins) Watch demonstration at Fort Benning, GA. We were a very visible group and I think impacted strongly on the attendees, particularly the youth.
5. ACTIONS and EVENTS
In November, GFP and PPJ (our local People for Peace & Justice) executed a dramatic die-in on St. Augustine's most traveled tourist street, St. George. In December, together with PPJ, we did effective street theatre with two members dressed as Bush and Cheney. Next month we will have a clothesline art exhibit entitled "Bush's Dirty Laundry" with a host of signs and boxer shorts.
New Year's weekend,, GFP will be celebrating together with activists from all over Florida and many from nearby Georgia, at Crooked River State Park, St. Mary's, GA. This is the site of the largest Trident Submarine Base. After a communal banquet, from 9-11 on New Year's Eve we hold a 3-mile candle-lit walk from the town's center to the naval base, then chant, pray and dance around a small fire to bring in the New Year. Our goal is to transform the military facility into a Peace University.
On January 3rd, GFP (together with the Social Concerns Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship) will present Bruce Gagnon, the founder and director of Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Andy Johnson, who hosts a progressive radio talk show in Jacksonville, will be MC and facilitator of the question and answer period, and Catherine Archer, guitarist and vocalist, will sing "The Sound of Silence" and "Imagine".
6. SCHOLARSHIP
GFP and PPJ are offering a $500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior. The suggested essay theme is taken from a song by Michael Franti..."You can bomb the world into pieces but you can't bomb it into peace." The award will be presented on the stage of the newly renovated Amphitheatre on Earth Day.
7. CHRISTMAS BY THE NUMBERS
Are we a religiously pluralistic society? According to a poll conducted by Newsweek and reported in Folio last week, 85% of Americans identify themselves as Christian (63% Protestant and 22% Catholic) , Jews and Muslims each make up 1% ( perhaps a little more with updated polling, 4% did not designate their religion and 6% profess to believe in nothing, So in order to be politically correct, we should all wish the majority of our fellow Americans a Merry Christmas -- and all the rest a Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Bid al Adha, Bodhi Day, Zarathishi Diso, Winter Solstice, Human Light and Epiphany.
To each of you, again, my thanks and very best wishes.
LET THERE BE PEACE.
Peg
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2 comments:
ANDY JOHNSON is not a progressive talk-show host. I've been listening to, calling in, and challenging him on RACE-ISSUES and others for 5 years or more.
He's anti-war (good) ... but a "Dixiecrat" on many race issues. He's against ANY affirmative action (what he calls, along with many other conservative whites calls "reverse-descrimination"), and he's also ANTI-IMMIGRANT in the vein of the nativist, phony-populist, hate-enabler LOU DOBBS -- who frequently hosts the racist, border-ruffians who call themselves the "Minutemen" on his CNN show without challenge.
Andy's show used to support/be supported by the NAAWP and the LEAGUE OF THE SOUTH, two organizations that the Southern Poverty Law Center calls “hate groups.
No progressive is Andy, unfortunately, but he will let (almost) anyone express their opinions.
Stan Swart "The Union Man" is the only thing usually progressive on the Andy Johnson show. I think he's still on Thursday afternoons.
Take Care and keep up the great work,
David Thundershield Queen
From: "Sue Williams"
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Thanks honeycakes for your xmas letter, and i wanted to respond that i wont respond moneywize, but hope to be among the supporters of grannies for peace, in all the ways i can manage.
I have had plantars fascism which keeps you off yr feet, and that messes up walking off my blood sugar.
What a bummer.
But i am happy, enjoying my riverview residence over here, with the greatest back yard in the world.
And always making my found object art, mostly godesses.
I am so thrilled when i see your name in the paper (drift) recently, and notice that you are indeed the reincarnation of the pink bunnyrabbit of battery fame.
Long wave peg!
I love you forever
Rainbow
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