We do not support keeping others from our country. If we help impoverished folks to become better off, we can solve the immigration crisis. Instead, we put economic sanctions on some countries and fund dictators. When we make it harder for people to live in their own countries, many will try to move to another one. U.S. policies have driven so many into deep poverty so of course they would want to leave and go to where they can have a better life . We are the main reason for the immigration crisis so we must fix it by becoming more just and less greedy. Peter Maurin said, "The world would be better off if people tried to become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better off."
We need to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ by doing what Christ did. He did not retaliate against those who unjustly caused him severe agony and death. Rather he did what he preached. He forgave them and refused to do bad to them. That is why Christ plays an extremely important part of our lives. ---Don Timmerman
"The secret to stopping war is 'Love your enemies AND do good to them'. Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation... and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.” ~ Howard Zinn
“The ultimate purpose for which a bomb exists is to kill people, to maim people, to cause people great suffering. Over the last twenty years the U.S. Catholic Bishops have unanimously taught as a canonical unit, National Conference, that it was morally in conformity with the Gospel of Jesus Christ for U.S. Catholics to be members of the chain of murder that was required to bomb, kill and maim millions of civilian men, women and children in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Ukraine.” ---Emmanuel Charales McCarthy
Don’s Jokes
An old drunk man stumbles along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. The minister suggests to the drunk man that he find Jesus and be baptized. The minister then dunks the fellow under the water and pulls him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asked. "No, I didn't." said the man. The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?" "No, I have not, Reverend." The preacher holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brings him out of the water and says in a harsh tone, "Have you found Jesus yet?" The old man wipes his eyes and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?” You have heard that it is easier to take candy from a baby, but have you actually ever tried to take candy from a baby? Never hire a plumber who wears rubber boots, and don’t hire an electrician who has scorched eyebrows. Patient: “Doctor, I can’t feel my legs.” Doctor: “That’s because we had to amputate your arms.” How did your doctor’s appointment go? Not so good. He told me that I must take my meds every day for the rest of my life, but he gave me only 4 pills. What is the difference between a chocolate chip cookie and a whale? Did you ever tried dunking a whale in your milk? I heard as you get old the memory is the first thing to go…or is it the second? Sometimes I think God had pets, and I am not one of them.
INTERESTING FACTS
U.N. officials continue to sound the alarm over the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which they’ve described as one of the worst in recent history. The U.N. Security Council met to discuss the conflict as it nears the one-year mark since fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and rival Rapid Support Forces. Edem Wosornu, the director of operations for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned Sudan is possibly on course to becoming the world’s worst hunger crisis. .----Democracy Now
U.N.: More children have been killed in Gaza in recent months than in all the wars over past 4 years.
The U.S. Military is getting $825 billion dollars for fiscal year 2024. A new report by the arms control group SIPRI found that 69% of all arms imported by Israel come from the United States. The group said U.S. weapons, particularly warplanes, have played a major role in Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.---Democracy Now
For the first time in the 12-year history of the World Happiness Report, the U.S. did not rank in the top 20 happiest countries. Of the more than 140 countries surveyed, the U.S. came in 23rd compared with 15th in 2023. ----Time
Biden quietly OKed more 2,000 pound bombs and warplanes for Israel. Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel, its longtime ally. ---Common Dreams
More than 1.07 million firearms were reported stolen between 2017 and 2021, with 96% from private individuals ---- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Events
Friday, April 5 --- The False White Gospel, a talk by Jim Wallis at the UMC church, 819 E. Silver Spring Drive starting at 6 p.m.
Sat., April 13 --- War Tax Resistance Stand for Peace, Noon to 1 p.m. at 51st and Silver Spring Drive in front of the Army Reserve Unit. No more money for war and weapons. Tax money for life and peace, not for destroying life. Half of U.S. tax dollars go for war and weapons of war.
Monday, April 15 --- "Child of War, Woman of Peace" talk and book signing by Le Ly Hayslip 4-5 p.m. at M.U. Raynor Library, Beaumier Suites BC
Thurs., April 18 --- Anti-ROTC Vigil in front of M.U. Library on Wisconsin Ave. from Noon to 1 p.m. No Christian institution should be teaching our young that it is okay to kill people called enemies by our government.
Thurs., April 25 --- Anti-Gun Vigil at Dunham’s Sports Shop, 2550 S. 108th St. from Noon to 1 p.m. Assault weapons are made to kill or maim, not to protect others.
“Yes to life! No to War! War is never inevitable and is always a defeat for humanity. That defeat is not inevitable and can be avoided.” --Pope John Paul II
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET Yesterday I spotted a Great Horned Owl perched high in a tree at Hawthorne Glen. I spotted two owls a couple of weeks ago, so I always look for them with my binoculars. Also while walking I spied a chipmunk scurry on the side of the trail. It ran into a dead log and poked its head up out through a hole in the log to look at me. Both events, the owl and the chipmunk, lightened my mood and filled me with wonder. The Creator has given us such a beautiful, magical world. May we all take time to look for the beauty that surrounds us every day. May we also work towards a world where all people may live peacefully and have time to enjoy the beautiful, magical world around them. Peace, Roberta
We need to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ by doing what Christ did. He did not retaliate against those who unjustly caused him severe agony and death. Rather he did what he preached. He forgave them and refused to do bad to them. That is why Christ plays an extremely important part of our lives. ---Don Timmerman
"The secret to stopping war is 'Love your enemies AND do good to them'. Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation... and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.” ~ Howard Zinn
“The ultimate purpose for which a bomb exists is to kill people, to maim people, to cause people great suffering. Over the last twenty years the U.S. Catholic Bishops have unanimously taught as a canonical unit, National Conference, that it was morally in conformity with the Gospel of Jesus Christ for U.S. Catholics to be members of the chain of murder that was required to bomb, kill and maim millions of civilian men, women and children in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Ukraine.” ---Emmanuel Charales McCarthy
Don’s Jokes
An old drunk man stumbles along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. The minister suggests to the drunk man that he find Jesus and be baptized. The minister then dunks the fellow under the water and pulls him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asked. "No, I didn't." said the man. The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?" "No, I have not, Reverend." The preacher holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brings him out of the water and says in a harsh tone, "Have you found Jesus yet?" The old man wipes his eyes and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?” You have heard that it is easier to take candy from a baby, but have you actually ever tried to take candy from a baby? Never hire a plumber who wears rubber boots, and don’t hire an electrician who has scorched eyebrows. Patient: “Doctor, I can’t feel my legs.” Doctor: “That’s because we had to amputate your arms.” How did your doctor’s appointment go? Not so good. He told me that I must take my meds every day for the rest of my life, but he gave me only 4 pills. What is the difference between a chocolate chip cookie and a whale? Did you ever tried dunking a whale in your milk? I heard as you get old the memory is the first thing to go…or is it the second? Sometimes I think God had pets, and I am not one of them.
INTERESTING FACTS
U.N. officials continue to sound the alarm over the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which they’ve described as one of the worst in recent history. The U.N. Security Council met to discuss the conflict as it nears the one-year mark since fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and rival Rapid Support Forces. Edem Wosornu, the director of operations for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned Sudan is possibly on course to becoming the world’s worst hunger crisis. .----Democracy Now
U.N.: More children have been killed in Gaza in recent months than in all the wars over past 4 years.
The U.S. Military is getting $825 billion dollars for fiscal year 2024. A new report by the arms control group SIPRI found that 69% of all arms imported by Israel come from the United States. The group said U.S. weapons, particularly warplanes, have played a major role in Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.---Democracy Now
For the first time in the 12-year history of the World Happiness Report, the U.S. did not rank in the top 20 happiest countries. Of the more than 140 countries surveyed, the U.S. came in 23rd compared with 15th in 2023. ----Time
Biden quietly OKed more 2,000 pound bombs and warplanes for Israel. Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel, its longtime ally. ---Common Dreams
More than 1.07 million firearms were reported stolen between 2017 and 2021, with 96% from private individuals ---- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Events
Friday, April 5 --- The False White Gospel, a talk by Jim Wallis at the UMC church, 819 E. Silver Spring Drive starting at 6 p.m.
Sat., April 13 --- War Tax Resistance Stand for Peace, Noon to 1 p.m. at 51st and Silver Spring Drive in front of the Army Reserve Unit. No more money for war and weapons. Tax money for life and peace, not for destroying life. Half of U.S. tax dollars go for war and weapons of war.
Monday, April 15 --- "Child of War, Woman of Peace" talk and book signing by Le Ly Hayslip 4-5 p.m. at M.U. Raynor Library, Beaumier Suites BC
Thurs., April 18 --- Anti-ROTC Vigil in front of M.U. Library on Wisconsin Ave. from Noon to 1 p.m. No Christian institution should be teaching our young that it is okay to kill people called enemies by our government.
Thurs., April 25 --- Anti-Gun Vigil at Dunham’s Sports Shop, 2550 S. 108th St. from Noon to 1 p.m. Assault weapons are made to kill or maim, not to protect others.
“Yes to life! No to War! War is never inevitable and is always a defeat for humanity. That defeat is not inevitable and can be avoided.” --Pope John Paul II
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET Yesterday I spotted a Great Horned Owl perched high in a tree at Hawthorne Glen. I spotted two owls a couple of weeks ago, so I always look for them with my binoculars. Also while walking I spied a chipmunk scurry on the side of the trail. It ran into a dead log and poked its head up out through a hole in the log to look at me. Both events, the owl and the chipmunk, lightened my mood and filled me with wonder. The Creator has given us such a beautiful, magical world. May we all take time to look for the beauty that surrounds us every day. May we also work towards a world where all people may live peacefully and have time to enjoy the beautiful, magical world around them. Peace, Roberta