Li: ritual, propriety, etiquette. Hsiao: love within the family (parents for children and children for parents. Yi: righteousness--the noblest way to act in a situation. Xin: honesty and trustworthiness. Jen: benevolence, humaneness towards others. Chung: loyalty to the state and authority. --Confucius (Kong Fuzi)

All articles appear in reverse chronological order [newest first].

Post from FaceBook may not be viewable if not signed into FaceBook.
I believe the past is relevant, sometimes more than others of course. In most cases we are seeing history being repeated, so it is most relevant.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Humor:

from: 1-5-2013
Humor is something that thrives between man's aspirations and his limitations.
There is more logic in humor than in anything else.
Because, you see, humor is truth.
.. Victor Borge

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Our Unalienable Rights…

by Glenn Littrell

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—“image

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…” a self-evident proposition is one that is known to be true by understanding its meaning without proof or need of proof.

“by their Creator…” it is not “a creator” or “the creator”, it is “their creator”, possessive. The creator is not defined in the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights (the Constitution).

“unalienable Rights…” What's unalienable cannot be taken away or denied.

“among these are…”  meaning there are more than just the three mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.

Neither the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights (the Constitution) attempts to define self-evident truths or the Creator, nor does it attempt to specify what are those unalienable rights beyond giving only three, very general and broad examples, which in themselves open the door to many rights that can not be denied, or enumerated, or limited to a narrow list to be accepted as complete at one point in time, for all time.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

I promise to never buy a Carrier or UTEC product again!

by Glenn Littrell

Obviously "Buy American" is a slogan that sounds good but is seldom carried out. Maybe its too positive and should be more negative. Negative politics seems to draw more notice and inflame more people into response so lets go negative in advocating for saving American Jobs.

Instead of encouraging people to voluntarily buy American Products we should established "Do Not Buy" boycott list for the public like limage13abor unions do for their members.

 

MORE IMPORTANTLY we need municipalities and state governments to stop kissing the ass of companies when they close shop and run.

 

Instead of just offering sympathy when this happens, the first words off the lips of community and government leaders should be to encourage citizens to promise to never buy another Carrier product again, and then to provide a list of their so called suppliers for the purpose of a boycott of them too.

Before some internet troll starts whining about overpaid Americans, particularly overpaid Union Workers look at the wages paid in Mexico. No American could survive on those wages. So don’t try and blame overpaid workers or Unionist. Blame Trade Agreements that make it easier, not harder, for foreign countries to undercut American Workers, blame Tax loopholes and shelters that encourages outsourcing. Unionist and some progressive Democrats are the only people in this country fighting outsourcing and unfair trade agreements.

This isn’t the first time this has happened in Indiana, yet those companies that moved their manufacturing out of country still sell products in Indiana. If our governors and mayors can offer tax incentives (our money) to companies that locate here they can at least publicly advocate against companies who leave.

It doesn’t have to be done thru legislation (probably couldn’t anyway), it could be done the same way as ‘no new tax pledges’ are done. Public statements and campaign promises. Wouldn’t be perfect, but going negative might work better than the passive “Buy American” slogan.


UPDATES:

Carrier in Indianapolis and UTEC in Huntington, are owned by United Technologies and received incentives from the state of Indiana in the past. Last year the company posted a $7.2 billion profit.

Carrier recieved up to $200,000 in job training grants from the state of Indiana (Indiana Economic Developement Council.

The Department of Energy awarded Carrier $5.1 million in clean energy tax credits in December 2013.

Carrier, received more than $5 million in stimulas money.

The Mayor, the Governor, a U.S. Senator and even presidential candidates are talking about punishing Carrier for putting 2,100 Hoosiers - including 1,400 in Indianapolis - out of work. The phase-out will occur over the course of three years with layoffs beginning in May 2017, according to Carrier.

The plan by Carrier to move to Mexico is drawing outrage well beyond the Indianapolis workers losing their jobs. Companies in Madison County who manufacture heating and air conditioning equipment are now boycotting Carrier.

Do you live in an apartment? Look at your Air Conditioner and Furnace. Can you tell if they are Carrier or UTEC made? If they are go to your apartment manager and see if they are willing to take a stance on the outsourcing of Indiana jobs. If not start a petition in your apartments for them to make a statement (press release, letter to your petition drive or directly to the workers union).

Tuesday, Carrier told the union that the closure is basically a done deal, explaining that the average worker in Indianapolis makes more than $20 an hour, and that Mexican workers can be paid $6 an hour.

image

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Having a bad day?

kellyalm (3)
Having a bad day? Remember, it could always get worse.
!cid_1_1562795199@web50005_mail_re2_yahoo
courtesy of Kelly Ann

Thursday, February 4, 2016

The Third Reconstruction: Pushing a Moral Agenda for America

Tonight I attended a lecture by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II at the Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis) sponsored by Indiana’s Moral Mondays.

Rev.  Barber gave an inspirational and provocative lecture on the current political climate in American dealing with the political divisiveness we face now. He explains how that divisiveness is used against the struggle for moral and social justice. He places that divisiveness in a historical context that demonstrates how we are repeating the same conflict for the third time in our history.  From post-Civil War Reconstruction, to the Civil Rights Movement of the mid 20th century, to today's struggle for equality and justice, the Third Reconstruction.
The same Jim Crow-era tactics of pitting poor whites against blacks against the Irish against Catholics, etc., were repeated during the Civil Rights movement and again today. The oppressors may change their names, clothing, and rhetoric, and their targets include many of the same targets from before, but their tactics are the same. Deny rights, resources and opportunity to the ‘have nots’ by suppressing access to the ballot box, justice, and education.

I wish I had access to a recording of his lecture. I took notes but there is so much to research and wrap my head around that I will never be able to do justice to his words or rhetorical style, so I have included a video from his website, some related information and links, and a music video from about 7 years ago that relate to the spirit of his message.                      GlennDL

Each time there has been a demographic shift in America that threatens the existing balance of power, new election laws have appeared to try to insulate the electorate from the emerging population.

Rev. Dr. William Barber provides a seven minute reframing of American history that is surprisingly, even shockingly timely in the context of America's present-day battle over voting rights.
In his view, we are currently going through the third reconstruction.

The first Reconstruction took place after the Civil War. Fusion politics — a governing coalition including Lincoln Republicans, freedmen and former slaves, and populists — made it possible for former slaves to become business, community, and political leaders. But fusion politics was snuffed out by a violent backlash, and replaced by Jim Crow laws that blocked African Americans from voting through poll taxes, impossible "tests," and terrorism.
The second Reconstruction: In the 1960s, there was another attempt at reconstruction, better known as the Civil Rights Movement. The progress we made was met with another violent backlash, culminating in the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.
The Third Reconstruction: Dr. Barber identifies the possibility of a third reconstruction, one that could actually succeed, with the launch of Barack Obama's campaign for president in 2008. Once again, this attempt at fusion politics has been met with a hateful backlash.

The backlash against integration, equality, and trans-racial governing coalitions has, in all three instances, included attacks on voting rights of African Americans and other minorities. Rev. Barber believes that change is inevitable because of demographic shifts in America and the effectiveness of fusion politics.
President John F. Kennedy led our nation during the tumultuous period of violence backlash against the Civil Rights movement, and historian Carl M. Brauer argued that this era was the Second Reconstruction, a second attempt to make good on the promise of America, for all Americans, in the South as well as the North.
We traveled to Durham, NC and met with Rev. Dr. William Barber — President of the North Carolina NAACP — in early January, 2013 to ask him why he thinks America is so divided today. He offered this historical framework, in which the America that twice elected President Obama is embroiled in a Third Reconstruction, with a similar, but less violent, political backlash.

Reverend Doctor William Barber II (born August 30, 1963) is a Protestant minister and political leader in North Carolina (NC). He is a member of the national Board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), for whom he is also Chair of the NAACP's Legislative Political Action Committee.
Barber has served as pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, in Goldsboro, NC since 1993. He has led "Moral Mondays" civil-rights protests in NC, beginning in April 2013
Rev. William Barber, President of NAACP NC has been building a "fusion" movement of people from diverse backgrounds for many years. The strength of his movement and message go up against a North Carolina General Assembly that is dominated by conservative Republicans. For the first time since Reconstruction, the Republican Party has super majority in both state houses and the governor's House.
They are proposing and advancing laws that are aligned with the Tea Party-brand of conservatism. Small government, tax cuts for the wealthy, extreme cuts on social programs, limiting access to voting, etc.

source: http://www.storyofamerica.org/


source: http://www.glennlittrell.org/2015/07/born-again-american.html

see also:

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Moral Mondays upcoming events and actions:

Moral Mondays founder Rev. William Barber is traveling to Indiana to speak at Christian Theological Seminary on February 3rd at 7pm. The event is free and open to the public.

imageMoral Mondays began as protests in North Carolina, United States of America. Led by religious progressives, the protests are in response to several actions by the government of North Carolina which was elected into office in 2013 and are characterized by civil disobedience - specifically entering the state legislature building to be peacefully arrested. The movement protests many wide ranging issues under the blanket claim of unfair treatment, discrimination, and adverse effects of government legislation on the citizens of North Carolina. The protests in North Carolina launched a grassroots social justice movement that, in 2014, spread to Georgia and South Carolina, and then to other U.S. states such as Illinois and New Mexico.


The second Indiana Moral Mondays legislative action is on February 8th. As usual, we'll wear yellow and meet in the South Atrium on the Third Floor of the Statehouse. Then, join us for the next IMM general meeting on February 13th 10am - noon. We'll be discussing upcoming legislative actions and prepare for the Spring. We're sending out a follow-up email with necessary details for the action and meeting this week!

http://www.indianamoralmondays.org/?utm_campaign=feb2016&utm_medium=email&utm_source=indianamoralmondays


Search This Blog