I was raised in a very humble, Christian faith which emphasized helping the poor. Up until August, I used to blame God for the bad things that just keep resurfacing no matter what I do. After 38 years of being born into, learning & practicing all the wisdom, knowledge & understanding from my amazing spiritual & religious upbringing, I realize this world belongs to a very evil force. God is not responsible for the pain & suffering. It is the dark force of greed and all the egocentric habits of the people in control that is to blame. For many years I have been a volunteer advocate for those with mental health issues. And now there is no public mental health hospital in Milwaukee and all the private hospitals are picking & choosing which patients they want to accept. The doctors and nurses have confessed to me that they send people who need a hospital stay onto the streets because the privatized hospitals can pick & choose who they want to admit. This is what privatization does to the community. So when crime, suicide, and homicide go up and more people end up under the viaducts, you have the County and State politicians to blame. They’re making the second class citizens into third class citizens. People who can’t represent themselves because they are mentally incapable go without getting proper medical attention. The closest public mental hospital is in Oshkosh about 1.5 hours away. They intentionally banish the sick people to the end of the earth like they did lepers. I just want Jesus to come back and reset everything as soon as possible. But the only thing I can do in the meantime is follow the Golden Rule like I was raised to do in every Spiritual House that took me in to prepare me for the most daunting obstacle in my life. So from now on, I don’t ask God, "Why?" I have the understanding I need now to overcome the evil presence that rules this world. -Amada Morales
DON’S JOKES
“My ancestry goes back all the way to Alexander the Great,” said Christine. She then turned to Miriam and asked, “How far back does your family go?” “I don’t know,” replied Miriam, “all of our records were lost in the flood.” A new business was opening and one of the owner’s friends wanted to send him flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site, and the owner read the card, which said: ‘Rest in Peace.’ The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. The florist apologized. Afterwards. The florist said, “Imagine those who went to a funeral, and they have flowers with a note saying: ‘Congratulations on your new location,” A vacationer called a seaside hotel to ask its location. “It’s only a stone’s throw from the beach,” he was told. “But how will I recognize it?” asked the man. Came the reply: “It’s the one with all the broken windows.” Dear Algebra, Please stop pushing us to find your X. She’s over you, and don’t ask Y.
Interesting Facts
"I’m 64 years old. On March 7, I and another international were attacked by Israeli settlers while standing on the outskirts of the Palestinian village of Tuba in Masafer Yatta. I was hit from behind, hard, with a large stick and my companion was chased and threatened by a settler with an iron bar. The settler who hit me fractured my skull and caused a bleed in my brain.” --Cassandra Dixon of Mary House (a Catholic Worker House near Oxford Prison)
The Palestinians cannot access the land they planted a month ago. Women face settler attacks while trying to reach a hospital in labor. Children watched as their classrooms were demolished by Israeli forces with their desks and papers still inside. Families waked to the sight of entire olive groves burned or uprooted in the night by settlers. A young man about to be married was shot and paralyzed by Israeli soldiers while attempting to save his village’s only generator from confiscation. A beloved elderly man was run over and dragged by a heavy equipment trailer during a police raid to confiscate cars. US taxpayers give more than $4.8 million a day to the state of Israel. --Cassandra Dixon of Mary House
The U.S. Air Force is hoping to use Truax Field in Madison, WI as a base for the F-35 fighter planes. The Pentagon admits that global warming is a national security threat, yet the U.S. military is the single largest user of fossil fuels on the planet and the single largest producer of greenhouse gases. Jet fuel, such as used by the F-35, is by far the largest single energy consumer. F-35A training flights from the airport in South Burlington, Vermont burn between 3.7 & 9.4 million gallons of jet fuel and emit between 100 & 200 million pounds of CO2 annually. That is the equivalent of the annual emissions for 10,000 to 20,000 passenger cars. ---Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition
In December, Congress passed a record $848 billion defense budget. This was $45 billion more than what President Biden had requested. Defense contractors spent $101 million on lobbying in just the first three quarters of 2022.
We demand the four biggest banks– Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo & Bank of America– stop financing the expansion of fossil fuel projects. —Peace Action Wisconsin and stopthemoneypipeline.com
Watch the new documentary film, Ithaka, about Julian Assange. U.S. Congress member, Radhid Tlaib is calling Attorney General Merrick Garland to drop the charges against Assange. Also, call for the release of water protectors, Jessica Resnicek and Ruby Montoya.
Uganda is now criminalizing LGBTQ+ people, allowing death sentences in some cases. ---Democracy Now
Events:
APRIL 4---REMEMBER THE KILLING OF Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis TN.
APRIL 7 –REMEMBER G00D FRIDAY WHEN CHRIST SHOWED US WHAT HE MEANT WHEN HE SAID, Love your enemies, do good to them and forgive others seventy seven times seven times, meaning always. He gave us the best example of how to live in peace and happiness. We thank God for this Good News.
SUNDAY, APRIL 9 ---CHRIST HAS RISEN! Yeah! Alleluya!!
Sat. April 15th--- Milwaukee War Tax Resistance/Peace Action Stand for Peace outside the US Army Reserve on 51st and Silver Spring, noon to 1pm
THURSDAY, APRIL 20------ANTI-ROTC VIGIL noon to 1 p.m. in front of the Marquette Library on Wisconsin Ave. No Christian school should teach violence and war!
THURSDAY, APRIL 27 ----ANTI GUN VIGIL noon to 1 p.m. at Dunham Sports, 2550 S 108tth St. Guns are made to do violence to others. We are called to be nonviolent.
SAT., MAY 6 ---CASA MARIA BENEFIT JAM at THE COFFEE HOUSE, 2717 E. Hampshire, Milwaukee from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bring your voices and instruments for a good time! Or just bring yourself!
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET
The Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Gathering took place this past month. We were there to oppose the F-35 fighter jets that are scheduled to be placed at Truax Field. Monday non-violent direct actions were planned for Governor Evers office and at Truax Field. When we entered the meeting place on Friday night my heart filled with delight to see the many faces that have been working for peace, justice and the environment over the years. The world is in such a state of turmoil that despair seems to grip our hearts and minds, yet these beautiful, stalwart, loving people steadfastly say “No”. They say “Yes” to the peace and justice they envision for the world. Mahatma Gandhi said, “If someone with courage and vision can rise to lead in nonviolent action, the winter of despair can in the twinkling of an eye be turned into the summer of hope.” May we always speak truth to power.
Peace, Roberta
DON’S JOKES
“My ancestry goes back all the way to Alexander the Great,” said Christine. She then turned to Miriam and asked, “How far back does your family go?” “I don’t know,” replied Miriam, “all of our records were lost in the flood.” A new business was opening and one of the owner’s friends wanted to send him flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site, and the owner read the card, which said: ‘Rest in Peace.’ The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. The florist apologized. Afterwards. The florist said, “Imagine those who went to a funeral, and they have flowers with a note saying: ‘Congratulations on your new location,” A vacationer called a seaside hotel to ask its location. “It’s only a stone’s throw from the beach,” he was told. “But how will I recognize it?” asked the man. Came the reply: “It’s the one with all the broken windows.” Dear Algebra, Please stop pushing us to find your X. She’s over you, and don’t ask Y.
Interesting Facts
"I’m 64 years old. On March 7, I and another international were attacked by Israeli settlers while standing on the outskirts of the Palestinian village of Tuba in Masafer Yatta. I was hit from behind, hard, with a large stick and my companion was chased and threatened by a settler with an iron bar. The settler who hit me fractured my skull and caused a bleed in my brain.” --Cassandra Dixon of Mary House (a Catholic Worker House near Oxford Prison)
The Palestinians cannot access the land they planted a month ago. Women face settler attacks while trying to reach a hospital in labor. Children watched as their classrooms were demolished by Israeli forces with their desks and papers still inside. Families waked to the sight of entire olive groves burned or uprooted in the night by settlers. A young man about to be married was shot and paralyzed by Israeli soldiers while attempting to save his village’s only generator from confiscation. A beloved elderly man was run over and dragged by a heavy equipment trailer during a police raid to confiscate cars. US taxpayers give more than $4.8 million a day to the state of Israel. --Cassandra Dixon of Mary House
The U.S. Air Force is hoping to use Truax Field in Madison, WI as a base for the F-35 fighter planes. The Pentagon admits that global warming is a national security threat, yet the U.S. military is the single largest user of fossil fuels on the planet and the single largest producer of greenhouse gases. Jet fuel, such as used by the F-35, is by far the largest single energy consumer. F-35A training flights from the airport in South Burlington, Vermont burn between 3.7 & 9.4 million gallons of jet fuel and emit between 100 & 200 million pounds of CO2 annually. That is the equivalent of the annual emissions for 10,000 to 20,000 passenger cars. ---Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition
In December, Congress passed a record $848 billion defense budget. This was $45 billion more than what President Biden had requested. Defense contractors spent $101 million on lobbying in just the first three quarters of 2022.
We demand the four biggest banks– Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo & Bank of America– stop financing the expansion of fossil fuel projects. —Peace Action Wisconsin and stopthemoneypipeline.com
Watch the new documentary film, Ithaka, about Julian Assange. U.S. Congress member, Radhid Tlaib is calling Attorney General Merrick Garland to drop the charges against Assange. Also, call for the release of water protectors, Jessica Resnicek and Ruby Montoya.
Uganda is now criminalizing LGBTQ+ people, allowing death sentences in some cases. ---Democracy Now
Events:
APRIL 4---REMEMBER THE KILLING OF Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis TN.
APRIL 7 –REMEMBER G00D FRIDAY WHEN CHRIST SHOWED US WHAT HE MEANT WHEN HE SAID, Love your enemies, do good to them and forgive others seventy seven times seven times, meaning always. He gave us the best example of how to live in peace and happiness. We thank God for this Good News.
SUNDAY, APRIL 9 ---CHRIST HAS RISEN! Yeah! Alleluya!!
Sat. April 15th--- Milwaukee War Tax Resistance/Peace Action Stand for Peace outside the US Army Reserve on 51st and Silver Spring, noon to 1pm
THURSDAY, APRIL 20------ANTI-ROTC VIGIL noon to 1 p.m. in front of the Marquette Library on Wisconsin Ave. No Christian school should teach violence and war!
THURSDAY, APRIL 27 ----ANTI GUN VIGIL noon to 1 p.m. at Dunham Sports, 2550 S 108tth St. Guns are made to do violence to others. We are called to be nonviolent.
SAT., MAY 6 ---CASA MARIA BENEFIT JAM at THE COFFEE HOUSE, 2717 E. Hampshire, Milwaukee from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bring your voices and instruments for a good time! Or just bring yourself!
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET
The Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Gathering took place this past month. We were there to oppose the F-35 fighter jets that are scheduled to be placed at Truax Field. Monday non-violent direct actions were planned for Governor Evers office and at Truax Field. When we entered the meeting place on Friday night my heart filled with delight to see the many faces that have been working for peace, justice and the environment over the years. The world is in such a state of turmoil that despair seems to grip our hearts and minds, yet these beautiful, stalwart, loving people steadfastly say “No”. They say “Yes” to the peace and justice they envision for the world. Mahatma Gandhi said, “If someone with courage and vision can rise to lead in nonviolent action, the winter of despair can in the twinkling of an eye be turned into the summer of hope.” May we always speak truth to power.
Peace, Roberta