CASA CRY APRIL, 2016
The U.S. has been at war 222 years of its 239 years of its existence since 1776. Now America ranks 46th in civil liberties and 12th in economic freedom. I cannot understand how someone can call himself/herself a Christian and then willingly give money to the military. Christ was very clear about his instruction to love one’s enemies and do good to them. The military is funded by taxpayers to do the exact opposite of what Christ taught, and still today most Christians are taught to glorify and support the military rather than Christ as their savior. They will send their children overseas to kill and maim the children of others, and still call themselves Christians. Tax money is being wasted on invading other countries; building nuclear weapons that, if ever used, could lead to the annihilation of millions; putting our young in harm’s way, many of whom are crippled for life and have to depend on taxpayer money for their livelihood. Meanwhile, the Pentagon wants to spend another $1 trillion on new nuclear weapons (PBS) This is irresponsible, immoral and dangerous, but few Christians speak out against such wasteful spending. Christ died for nothing, I suppose. We must be bold and refuse to pay for such waste and harm done to others. Would Christ ever use a weapon to protect himself and his family? Of course not, for that would be contradicting his message of love for the enemy. He refused to protect Himself and even told Peter to “ put away the sword because those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Real Christians are not afraid of death because they know that there is eternal life following this earthly life. What good is it to live a long life doing violence in violation of Christ’s command and losing one’s soul. This year again we ask that people join us in refusing to pay war taxes, and give their money instead to the most needy. Over 44% or $1,357 Billion of federal taxes go to the military industrial complex while billions of people live on $2 a day. The government claims the military gets only 27% of the budget pie, but falsely combines trust funds with federal funds. Also, it leaves out spending for past wars -- veterans' benefits and most of the interest on the national debt -- and it may leave off the military function in non-DoD departments, such as nuclear weapons spending, which is part of the Dept. of Energy What would Christ say about this? ------Don Timmerman
JOKES
We had a duck named Donald. Now we have a Donald that makes us want to duck. No matter how kind you are, German children are still kinder! A company in Dublin has a new line of sports undergarments for women. Their first product is: the Erin Go Bra. What did the Michelin Man do when he decided to set aside his career? Heretired. Donald Trump wants to outlaw pre-shredded cheese. He wants to make America Grate again.
“ A husband and wife are in bed at 3 a.m. The phone rings, and the groggy husband picks it up and listens a moment, and says 'How the hell should I know, it's 300 miles away!' then slams the phone down. The wife asks, "What was that all about, honey?' The husband says, 'I don't know. Some jerk wanted to know if the coast was clear
An old man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the movie theatre When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat. If you don’t get up I’ll call the manager.” The old man just muttered and did nothing. The manager was called, but the old guy would not move. Finally they summoned the police. The officer asked, "All right buddy what's your name?" "Fred," the old man moaned. "Where you from, Fred?" asked the police officer. With a strained voice and without moving, Fred replied; "The balcony".......
INTERESTING FACTS
At least 78 per cent of humanitarian aid intended for Palestinians ends up in Israel’s coffers. In 2013 the World Bank very conservatively estimated that the Palestinians lose at least $3.4bn a year in resources plundered by Israel. Further, Israel’s refuses to make peace with the Palestinians, and yet the U.S. still gives $3bn in military aid to Israel. Each year the Israeli military arrests about 700 Palestinian children.---C2NN, 3/9/16
The total cost of U.S. wars since 2001 -- $1.6 trillion -- would have gotten us 19.5 million Head Start slots for 10 years or paid for 2.2 million elementary school teachers for a decade. A mere 1% of the defense budget for one year -- just over $5 billion -- would pay for 152,000 four-year university scholarships or 6,342 police officers for 10 years. The United States remains by far the world’s leading proliferator of conventional arms, accounting for some 50% of all global sales and 48% of all sales to the developing world. The military maintains up to 800 bases in more than 70 countries and stations more than 200,000 active-duty personnel in some 150 countries. The U.S. military has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, 4,700 nuclear warheads on some 800 delivery systems, as well as another 2,340 “retired” but still intact, usable warheads. A $1 trillion upgrade of these has begun. No, the military does not prevent wars At any given time over the past quarter century an average of 40 violent conflicts took place. The U.S. military has not lessened these wars No one may question the integrity of the military. The military cannot account for $4 trillion given it by taxpayers, and audits are said to be impossible. The Pentagon said it would take 15 million labor hours and cost $600 million to do an audit. The U.S. has lost its credibility as a moral force in the world when it committed atrocities, corruption and bribery, fraud and waste, sexual misconduct, cover-ups, racial and religious persecution, and acts of cultural intolerance. Moral arrogance is in abundant supply among those in uniform, genuine moral superiority in short supply. ----- Gregory D. Foster is a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., a West Point graduate, and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War in Tom Dispatch.com 3/18/16
The U.S. has compensated 52,000 nuclear workers for illnesses linked to radiation exposure. ---NukeWatch
The U.S. Air Force is investigating illicit, off-duty drug use by troops who protect its nuclear weapons. ----Washington Post
Mexico City is sinking. Home to 21 million people, who consume nearly 287 billion gallons of water each year, the city has sunk more than 32 ft. in the last 60yrs. Because 70% of the water people rely on is extracted from the aquifer below the city. ----EcoWatch, 3/12/16
More often than not, when a woman is fatally shot in this country, the person with the firearm is someone she dated or married. Most women who die in gun homicides in the U.S. are killed by intimate partners or other family members. A U.S. woman is fatally shot by a romantic partner or ex every 16 hours. Read “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, & the NRA” in Huffington Post, 3/11/16
Some 67 million acres of U.S. public land have been leased to dirty fossil fuel industries, an area 55 times large than Grand Canyon National Park, and containing up to 43 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. ---350.org
There is a boycott of Wendy’s initiated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers The company is controlled by hedge-fund billionaire Nelso Peltz Trian Partners. They refuse to pay their workers a penny a pound more for the tomatoes they pick nor did it agree to buy only from program-affiliated growers. -----Harper’s, 3/18/16
The U.S. Marine Corps wants to move more than 1,100 endangered desert tortoises from their homes to make room for a Marine training ground. These tortoises are basically homebodies, staying within a few square feet their entire 90-year lifespan. -----Animal Petitions
Portion of calls to the IRS help line that were never answered last year during the tax-filing season: 3/5 Percentage of middle-aged, college-educated white Americans who are millionaires: 22% Of middle-aged, college educated black Americans: 6%
Amount New York City plans to pay McKinsey & Company to consult on reforming Rikers Island: $7,530,000 Percentage of registered Democrats that have a favorable view of socialism: 56% The estimated American households that do not have bank accounts: 9.600,000.
Estimated amount the U.S. Mint could save yearly by changing the metallic composition of its coins: $39,000,00 Percentage change in U.S. household debt in the six years leading up to the financial crisis : +96 In the six years after : –3 Rank of the restaurant industry among the largest U.S. employers : 1 Number of states in which the average restaurant worker’s wage is below the federal minimum wage : 21 Estimated number of slaves held by the Islamic State : 3,500 Estimated value of cash destroyed by U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State since last October: $20,000,000 Year in which the plastic in the oceans will outweigh the fish: 2050 Minimum number of Mexican mayors who have been killed by hit men in the past decade: 44 Number of firearms found by U.S. airport-security screeners last year: 2,653 Percentage of those what were loaded: 83%
NOTE
Thurs. ,April 14: Vigil at Gun Shop from Noon to 1 p.m. at Brew City Shooters Supply, 43rd & Lincoln. Guns are made to do violence to others. This means gun owners are willing to do violence to their neighbors.
Sat., April 16: War Tax Protest from Noon to 1 p.m. at Military Reserve, 51st & Silver Spring Dr. If you want peace, don’t pay for war. Divest from the Pentagon and invest in human needs.
Tues. April 19th Looking at the Human Root of the Ecological Crisis from a spiritual perspective 7-8:30pm, at the Urban Ecology Center on 1500 E. Park Place
Thurs., April 21: Marquette, Be Faithful to the Gospel. Close the ROTC on your campus! Vigil will be held on 15th & Wisconsin Ave. from Noon to 1 p.m. Christian schools should be teaching students to love their enemies, not kill them.
Sat., April 23: Help the Poor Where They Live, A demonstration at the St. Vincent de Paul Store, 4476 S. 108 Street, starting at 10 a.m. Call Bob at 414-379-4162 for details.
Tues. May 3rd A Catholic Response to Climate Change, 6:30-8pm, put on by the School Sisters of Notre Dame 13105 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: This Lenten season I have been reflecting on forgiveness. I have been reading The Forgiveness Project by Marina Cantacugino. Today reports on the tragedy in Brussels have been on the air, thirty-four dead and a hundreds of people injured by another terrorist attack. I am shocked and saddened on so many levels; sad for the injured and their families and also for the people of Brussels. I am shocked by anyone who wishes to kill others for any reason. The rhetoric of some political candidates following the tragedy has been appalling as well. To support torture on suspected terrorists or police surveillance on all Muslim neighborhoods is using terrorist tactics. We must not allow fear to permeate the people of the world so that any culture different from the prevailing culture is suspect. I returned to reading the stories of those people suffering great tragedies in their lives. I want to share the thoughts of Bjorn Ihler, who survived the July, 2011 attack in Norway by a right wing extremist. Breivik, the extremist, shot and killed 69 people and injured 110 others. Most of the dead were students at a summer camp. Bjorn Ihler wrote, “I believe that we have to recognize Breivik’s humanity. I find peoples efforts to dehumanize him scary because that’s what he tried to do to us….This type of forgiveness is about finding some wisdom we can take out of what happened to ensure violence doesn’t repeat itself.” Since this is the Lenten season I will close with a quote from Jesus. “You have heard it said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” May we follow the message of love that has the power to heal the brokenness in our world and in our own hearts. Peace, Roberta
CASA MARIA CATHOLIC WORKER
1131 n 21ST ST.
MILWAUKEE WI 53233
{414}344-5745
CASA CRY APRIL, 2016
The U.S. has been at war 222 years of its 239 years of its existence since 1776. Now America ranks 46th in civil liberties and 12th in economic freedom. I cannot understand how someone can call himself/herself a Christian and then willingly give money to the military. Christ was very clear about his instruction to love one’s enemies and do good to them. The military is funded by taxpayers to do the exact opposite of what Christ taught, and still today most Christians are taught to glorify and support the military rather than Christ as their savior. They will send their children overseas to kill and maim the children of others, and still call themselves Christians. Tax money is being wasted on invading other countries; building nuclear weapons that, if ever used, could lead to the annihilation of millions; putting our young in harm’s way, many of whom are crippled for life and have to depend on taxpayer money for their livelihood. Meanwhile, the Pentagon wants to spend another $1 trillion on new nuclear weapons (PBS) This is irresponsible, immoral and dangerous, but few Christians speak out against such wasteful spending. Christ died for nothing, I suppose. We must be bold and refuse to pay for such waste and harm done to others. Would Christ ever use a weapon to protect himself and his family? Of course not, for that would be contradicting his message of love for the enemy. He refused to protect Himself and even told Peter to “ put away the sword because those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Real Christians are not afraid of death because they know that there is eternal life following this earthly life. What good is it to live a long life doing violence in violation of Christ’s command and losing one’s soul. This year again we ask that people join us in refusing to pay war taxes, and give their money instead to the most needy. Over 44% or $1,357 Billion of federal taxes go to the military industrial complex while billions of people live on $2 a day. The government claims the military gets only 27% of the budget pie, but falsely combines trust funds with federal funds. Also, it leaves out spending for past wars -- veterans' benefits and most of the interest on the national debt -- and it may leave off the military function in non-DoD departments, such as nuclear weapons spending, which is part of the Dept. of Energy What would Christ say about this? ------Don Timmerman
JOKES
We had a duck named Donald. Now we have a Donald that makes us want to duck. No matter how kind you are, German children are still kinder! A company in Dublin has a new line of sports undergarments for women. Their first product is: the Erin Go Bra. What did the Michelin Man do when he decided to set aside his career? Heretired. Donald Trump wants to outlaw pre-shredded cheese. He wants to make America Grate again.
“ A husband and wife are in bed at 3 a.m. The phone rings, and the groggy husband picks it up and listens a moment, and says 'How the hell should I know, it's 300 miles away!' then slams the phone down. The wife asks, "What was that all about, honey?' The husband says, 'I don't know. Some jerk wanted to know if the coast was clear
An old man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the movie theatre When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat. If you don’t get up I’ll call the manager.” The old man just muttered and did nothing. The manager was called, but the old guy would not move. Finally they summoned the police. The officer asked, "All right buddy what's your name?" "Fred," the old man moaned. "Where you from, Fred?" asked the police officer. With a strained voice and without moving, Fred replied; "The balcony".......
INTERESTING FACTS
At least 78 per cent of humanitarian aid intended for Palestinians ends up in Israel’s coffers. In 2013 the World Bank very conservatively estimated that the Palestinians lose at least $3.4bn a year in resources plundered by Israel. Further, Israel’s refuses to make peace with the Palestinians, and yet the U.S. still gives $3bn in military aid to Israel. Each year the Israeli military arrests about 700 Palestinian children.---C2NN, 3/9/16
The total cost of U.S. wars since 2001 -- $1.6 trillion -- would have gotten us 19.5 million Head Start slots for 10 years or paid for 2.2 million elementary school teachers for a decade. A mere 1% of the defense budget for one year -- just over $5 billion -- would pay for 152,000 four-year university scholarships or 6,342 police officers for 10 years. The United States remains by far the world’s leading proliferator of conventional arms, accounting for some 50% of all global sales and 48% of all sales to the developing world. The military maintains up to 800 bases in more than 70 countries and stations more than 200,000 active-duty personnel in some 150 countries. The U.S. military has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, 4,700 nuclear warheads on some 800 delivery systems, as well as another 2,340 “retired” but still intact, usable warheads. A $1 trillion upgrade of these has begun. No, the military does not prevent wars At any given time over the past quarter century an average of 40 violent conflicts took place. The U.S. military has not lessened these wars No one may question the integrity of the military. The military cannot account for $4 trillion given it by taxpayers, and audits are said to be impossible. The Pentagon said it would take 15 million labor hours and cost $600 million to do an audit. The U.S. has lost its credibility as a moral force in the world when it committed atrocities, corruption and bribery, fraud and waste, sexual misconduct, cover-ups, racial and religious persecution, and acts of cultural intolerance. Moral arrogance is in abundant supply among those in uniform, genuine moral superiority in short supply. ----- Gregory D. Foster is a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., a West Point graduate, and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War in Tom Dispatch.com 3/18/16
The U.S. has compensated 52,000 nuclear workers for illnesses linked to radiation exposure. ---NukeWatch
The U.S. Air Force is investigating illicit, off-duty drug use by troops who protect its nuclear weapons. ----Washington Post
Mexico City is sinking. Home to 21 million people, who consume nearly 287 billion gallons of water each year, the city has sunk more than 32 ft. in the last 60yrs. Because 70% of the water people rely on is extracted from the aquifer below the city. ----EcoWatch, 3/12/16
More often than not, when a woman is fatally shot in this country, the person with the firearm is someone she dated or married. Most women who die in gun homicides in the U.S. are killed by intimate partners or other family members. A U.S. woman is fatally shot by a romantic partner or ex every 16 hours. Read “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, & the NRA” in Huffington Post, 3/11/16
Some 67 million acres of U.S. public land have been leased to dirty fossil fuel industries, an area 55 times large than Grand Canyon National Park, and containing up to 43 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. ---350.org
There is a boycott of Wendy’s initiated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers The company is controlled by hedge-fund billionaire Nelso Peltz Trian Partners. They refuse to pay their workers a penny a pound more for the tomatoes they pick nor did it agree to buy only from program-affiliated growers. -----Harper’s, 3/18/16
The U.S. Marine Corps wants to move more than 1,100 endangered desert tortoises from their homes to make room for a Marine training ground. These tortoises are basically homebodies, staying within a few square feet their entire 90-year lifespan. -----Animal Petitions
Portion of calls to the IRS help line that were never answered last year during the tax-filing season: 3/5 Percentage of middle-aged, college-educated white Americans who are millionaires: 22% Of middle-aged, college educated black Americans: 6%
Amount New York City plans to pay McKinsey & Company to consult on reforming Rikers Island: $7,530,000 Percentage of registered Democrats that have a favorable view of socialism: 56% The estimated American households that do not have bank accounts: 9.600,000.
Estimated amount the U.S. Mint could save yearly by changing the metallic composition of its coins: $39,000,00 Percentage change in U.S. household debt in the six years leading up to the financial crisis : +96 In the six years after : –3 Rank of the restaurant industry among the largest U.S. employers : 1 Number of states in which the average restaurant worker’s wage is below the federal minimum wage : 21 Estimated number of slaves held by the Islamic State : 3,500 Estimated value of cash destroyed by U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State since last October: $20,000,000 Year in which the plastic in the oceans will outweigh the fish: 2050 Minimum number of Mexican mayors who have been killed by hit men in the past decade: 44 Number of firearms found by U.S. airport-security screeners last year: 2,653 Percentage of those what were loaded: 83%
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: This Lenten season I have been reflecting on forgiveness. I have been reading The Forgiveness Project by Marina Cantacugino. Today reports on the tragedy in Brussels have been on the air, thirty-four dead and a hundreds of people injured by another terrorist attack. I am shocked and saddened on so many levels; sad for the injured and their families and also for the people of Brussels. I am shocked by anyone who wishes to kill others for any reason. The rhetoric of some political candidates following the tragedy has been appalling as well. To support torture on suspected terrorists or police surveillance on all Muslim neighborhoods is using terrorist tactics. We must not allow fear to permeate the people of the world so that any culture different from the prevailing culture is suspect. I returned to reading the stories of those people suffering great tragedies in their lives. I want to share the thoughts of Bjorn Ihler, who survived the July, 2011 attack in Norway by a right wing extremist. Breivik, the extremist, shot and killed 69 people and injured 110 others. Most of the dead were students at a summer camp. Bjorn Ihler wrote, “I believe that we have to recognize Breivik’s humanity. I find peoples efforts to dehumanize him scary because that’s what he tried to do to us….This type of forgiveness is about finding some wisdom we can take out of what happened to ensure violence doesn’t repeat itself.” Since this is the Lenten season I will close with a quote from Jesus. “You have heard it said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” May we follow the message of love that has the power to heal the brokenness in our world and in our own hearts. Peace, Roberta
CASA MARIA CATHOLIC WORKER
1131 n 21ST ST.
MILWAUKEE WI 53233
{414}344-5745
The U.S. has been at war 222 years of its 239 years of its existence since 1776. Now America ranks 46th in civil liberties and 12th in economic freedom. I cannot understand how someone can call himself/herself a Christian and then willingly give money to the military. Christ was very clear about his instruction to love one’s enemies and do good to them. The military is funded by taxpayers to do the exact opposite of what Christ taught, and still today most Christians are taught to glorify and support the military rather than Christ as their savior. They will send their children overseas to kill and maim the children of others, and still call themselves Christians. Tax money is being wasted on invading other countries; building nuclear weapons that, if ever used, could lead to the annihilation of millions; putting our young in harm’s way, many of whom are crippled for life and have to depend on taxpayer money for their livelihood. Meanwhile, the Pentagon wants to spend another $1 trillion on new nuclear weapons (PBS) This is irresponsible, immoral and dangerous, but few Christians speak out against such wasteful spending. Christ died for nothing, I suppose. We must be bold and refuse to pay for such waste and harm done to others. Would Christ ever use a weapon to protect himself and his family? Of course not, for that would be contradicting his message of love for the enemy. He refused to protect Himself and even told Peter to “ put away the sword because those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Real Christians are not afraid of death because they know that there is eternal life following this earthly life. What good is it to live a long life doing violence in violation of Christ’s command and losing one’s soul. This year again we ask that people join us in refusing to pay war taxes, and give their money instead to the most needy. Over 44% or $1,357 Billion of federal taxes go to the military industrial complex while billions of people live on $2 a day. The government claims the military gets only 27% of the budget pie, but falsely combines trust funds with federal funds. Also, it leaves out spending for past wars -- veterans' benefits and most of the interest on the national debt -- and it may leave off the military function in non-DoD departments, such as nuclear weapons spending, which is part of the Dept. of Energy What would Christ say about this? ------Don Timmerman
JOKES
We had a duck named Donald. Now we have a Donald that makes us want to duck. No matter how kind you are, German children are still kinder! A company in Dublin has a new line of sports undergarments for women. Their first product is: the Erin Go Bra. What did the Michelin Man do when he decided to set aside his career? Heretired. Donald Trump wants to outlaw pre-shredded cheese. He wants to make America Grate again.
“ A husband and wife are in bed at 3 a.m. The phone rings, and the groggy husband picks it up and listens a moment, and says 'How the hell should I know, it's 300 miles away!' then slams the phone down. The wife asks, "What was that all about, honey?' The husband says, 'I don't know. Some jerk wanted to know if the coast was clear
An old man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the movie theatre When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat. If you don’t get up I’ll call the manager.” The old man just muttered and did nothing. The manager was called, but the old guy would not move. Finally they summoned the police. The officer asked, "All right buddy what's your name?" "Fred," the old man moaned. "Where you from, Fred?" asked the police officer. With a strained voice and without moving, Fred replied; "The balcony".......
INTERESTING FACTS
At least 78 per cent of humanitarian aid intended for Palestinians ends up in Israel’s coffers. In 2013 the World Bank very conservatively estimated that the Palestinians lose at least $3.4bn a year in resources plundered by Israel. Further, Israel’s refuses to make peace with the Palestinians, and yet the U.S. still gives $3bn in military aid to Israel. Each year the Israeli military arrests about 700 Palestinian children.---C2NN, 3/9/16
The total cost of U.S. wars since 2001 -- $1.6 trillion -- would have gotten us 19.5 million Head Start slots for 10 years or paid for 2.2 million elementary school teachers for a decade. A mere 1% of the defense budget for one year -- just over $5 billion -- would pay for 152,000 four-year university scholarships or 6,342 police officers for 10 years. The United States remains by far the world’s leading proliferator of conventional arms, accounting for some 50% of all global sales and 48% of all sales to the developing world. The military maintains up to 800 bases in more than 70 countries and stations more than 200,000 active-duty personnel in some 150 countries. The U.S. military has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, 4,700 nuclear warheads on some 800 delivery systems, as well as another 2,340 “retired” but still intact, usable warheads. A $1 trillion upgrade of these has begun. No, the military does not prevent wars At any given time over the past quarter century an average of 40 violent conflicts took place. The U.S. military has not lessened these wars No one may question the integrity of the military. The military cannot account for $4 trillion given it by taxpayers, and audits are said to be impossible. The Pentagon said it would take 15 million labor hours and cost $600 million to do an audit. The U.S. has lost its credibility as a moral force in the world when it committed atrocities, corruption and bribery, fraud and waste, sexual misconduct, cover-ups, racial and religious persecution, and acts of cultural intolerance. Moral arrogance is in abundant supply among those in uniform, genuine moral superiority in short supply. ----- Gregory D. Foster is a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., a West Point graduate, and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War in Tom Dispatch.com 3/18/16
The U.S. has compensated 52,000 nuclear workers for illnesses linked to radiation exposure. ---NukeWatch
The U.S. Air Force is investigating illicit, off-duty drug use by troops who protect its nuclear weapons. ----Washington Post
Mexico City is sinking. Home to 21 million people, who consume nearly 287 billion gallons of water each year, the city has sunk more than 32 ft. in the last 60yrs. Because 70% of the water people rely on is extracted from the aquifer below the city. ----EcoWatch, 3/12/16
More often than not, when a woman is fatally shot in this country, the person with the firearm is someone she dated or married. Most women who die in gun homicides in the U.S. are killed by intimate partners or other family members. A U.S. woman is fatally shot by a romantic partner or ex every 16 hours. Read “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, & the NRA” in Huffington Post, 3/11/16
Some 67 million acres of U.S. public land have been leased to dirty fossil fuel industries, an area 55 times large than Grand Canyon National Park, and containing up to 43 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. ---350.org
There is a boycott of Wendy’s initiated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers The company is controlled by hedge-fund billionaire Nelso Peltz Trian Partners. They refuse to pay their workers a penny a pound more for the tomatoes they pick nor did it agree to buy only from program-affiliated growers. -----Harper’s, 3/18/16
The U.S. Marine Corps wants to move more than 1,100 endangered desert tortoises from their homes to make room for a Marine training ground. These tortoises are basically homebodies, staying within a few square feet their entire 90-year lifespan. -----Animal Petitions
Portion of calls to the IRS help line that were never answered last year during the tax-filing season: 3/5 Percentage of middle-aged, college-educated white Americans who are millionaires: 22% Of middle-aged, college educated black Americans: 6%
Amount New York City plans to pay McKinsey & Company to consult on reforming Rikers Island: $7,530,000 Percentage of registered Democrats that have a favorable view of socialism: 56% The estimated American households that do not have bank accounts: 9.600,000.
Estimated amount the U.S. Mint could save yearly by changing the metallic composition of its coins: $39,000,00 Percentage change in U.S. household debt in the six years leading up to the financial crisis : +96 In the six years after : –3 Rank of the restaurant industry among the largest U.S. employers : 1 Number of states in which the average restaurant worker’s wage is below the federal minimum wage : 21 Estimated number of slaves held by the Islamic State : 3,500 Estimated value of cash destroyed by U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State since last October: $20,000,000 Year in which the plastic in the oceans will outweigh the fish: 2050 Minimum number of Mexican mayors who have been killed by hit men in the past decade: 44 Number of firearms found by U.S. airport-security screeners last year: 2,653 Percentage of those what were loaded: 83%
NOTE
Thurs. ,April 14: Vigil at Gun Shop from Noon to 1 p.m. at Brew City Shooters Supply, 43rd & Lincoln. Guns are made to do violence to others. This means gun owners are willing to do violence to their neighbors.
Sat., April 16: War Tax Protest from Noon to 1 p.m. at Military Reserve, 51st & Silver Spring Dr. If you want peace, don’t pay for war. Divest from the Pentagon and invest in human needs.
Tues. April 19th Looking at the Human Root of the Ecological Crisis from a spiritual perspective 7-8:30pm, at the Urban Ecology Center on 1500 E. Park Place
Thurs., April 21: Marquette, Be Faithful to the Gospel. Close the ROTC on your campus! Vigil will be held on 15th & Wisconsin Ave. from Noon to 1 p.m. Christian schools should be teaching students to love their enemies, not kill them.
Sat., April 23: Help the Poor Where They Live, A demonstration at the St. Vincent de Paul Store, 4476 S. 108 Street, starting at 10 a.m. Call Bob at 414-379-4162 for details.
Tues. May 3rd A Catholic Response to Climate Change, 6:30-8pm, put on by the School Sisters of Notre Dame 13105 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: This Lenten season I have been reflecting on forgiveness. I have been reading The Forgiveness Project by Marina Cantacugino. Today reports on the tragedy in Brussels have been on the air, thirty-four dead and a hundreds of people injured by another terrorist attack. I am shocked and saddened on so many levels; sad for the injured and their families and also for the people of Brussels. I am shocked by anyone who wishes to kill others for any reason. The rhetoric of some political candidates following the tragedy has been appalling as well. To support torture on suspected terrorists or police surveillance on all Muslim neighborhoods is using terrorist tactics. We must not allow fear to permeate the people of the world so that any culture different from the prevailing culture is suspect. I returned to reading the stories of those people suffering great tragedies in their lives. I want to share the thoughts of Bjorn Ihler, who survived the July, 2011 attack in Norway by a right wing extremist. Breivik, the extremist, shot and killed 69 people and injured 110 others. Most of the dead were students at a summer camp. Bjorn Ihler wrote, “I believe that we have to recognize Breivik’s humanity. I find peoples efforts to dehumanize him scary because that’s what he tried to do to us….This type of forgiveness is about finding some wisdom we can take out of what happened to ensure violence doesn’t repeat itself.” Since this is the Lenten season I will close with a quote from Jesus. “You have heard it said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” May we follow the message of love that has the power to heal the brokenness in our world and in our own hearts. Peace, Roberta
CASA MARIA CATHOLIC WORKER
1131 n 21ST ST.
MILWAUKEE WI 53233
{414}344-5745
CASA CRY APRIL, 2016
The U.S. has been at war 222 years of its 239 years of its existence since 1776. Now America ranks 46th in civil liberties and 12th in economic freedom. I cannot understand how someone can call himself/herself a Christian and then willingly give money to the military. Christ was very clear about his instruction to love one’s enemies and do good to them. The military is funded by taxpayers to do the exact opposite of what Christ taught, and still today most Christians are taught to glorify and support the military rather than Christ as their savior. They will send their children overseas to kill and maim the children of others, and still call themselves Christians. Tax money is being wasted on invading other countries; building nuclear weapons that, if ever used, could lead to the annihilation of millions; putting our young in harm’s way, many of whom are crippled for life and have to depend on taxpayer money for their livelihood. Meanwhile, the Pentagon wants to spend another $1 trillion on new nuclear weapons (PBS) This is irresponsible, immoral and dangerous, but few Christians speak out against such wasteful spending. Christ died for nothing, I suppose. We must be bold and refuse to pay for such waste and harm done to others. Would Christ ever use a weapon to protect himself and his family? Of course not, for that would be contradicting his message of love for the enemy. He refused to protect Himself and even told Peter to “ put away the sword because those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Real Christians are not afraid of death because they know that there is eternal life following this earthly life. What good is it to live a long life doing violence in violation of Christ’s command and losing one’s soul. This year again we ask that people join us in refusing to pay war taxes, and give their money instead to the most needy. Over 44% or $1,357 Billion of federal taxes go to the military industrial complex while billions of people live on $2 a day. The government claims the military gets only 27% of the budget pie, but falsely combines trust funds with federal funds. Also, it leaves out spending for past wars -- veterans' benefits and most of the interest on the national debt -- and it may leave off the military function in non-DoD departments, such as nuclear weapons spending, which is part of the Dept. of Energy What would Christ say about this? ------Don Timmerman
JOKES
We had a duck named Donald. Now we have a Donald that makes us want to duck. No matter how kind you are, German children are still kinder! A company in Dublin has a new line of sports undergarments for women. Their first product is: the Erin Go Bra. What did the Michelin Man do when he decided to set aside his career? Heretired. Donald Trump wants to outlaw pre-shredded cheese. He wants to make America Grate again.
“ A husband and wife are in bed at 3 a.m. The phone rings, and the groggy husband picks it up and listens a moment, and says 'How the hell should I know, it's 300 miles away!' then slams the phone down. The wife asks, "What was that all about, honey?' The husband says, 'I don't know. Some jerk wanted to know if the coast was clear
An old man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the movie theatre When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat. If you don’t get up I’ll call the manager.” The old man just muttered and did nothing. The manager was called, but the old guy would not move. Finally they summoned the police. The officer asked, "All right buddy what's your name?" "Fred," the old man moaned. "Where you from, Fred?" asked the police officer. With a strained voice and without moving, Fred replied; "The balcony".......
INTERESTING FACTS
At least 78 per cent of humanitarian aid intended for Palestinians ends up in Israel’s coffers. In 2013 the World Bank very conservatively estimated that the Palestinians lose at least $3.4bn a year in resources plundered by Israel. Further, Israel’s refuses to make peace with the Palestinians, and yet the U.S. still gives $3bn in military aid to Israel. Each year the Israeli military arrests about 700 Palestinian children.---C2NN, 3/9/16
The total cost of U.S. wars since 2001 -- $1.6 trillion -- would have gotten us 19.5 million Head Start slots for 10 years or paid for 2.2 million elementary school teachers for a decade. A mere 1% of the defense budget for one year -- just over $5 billion -- would pay for 152,000 four-year university scholarships or 6,342 police officers for 10 years. The United States remains by far the world’s leading proliferator of conventional arms, accounting for some 50% of all global sales and 48% of all sales to the developing world. The military maintains up to 800 bases in more than 70 countries and stations more than 200,000 active-duty personnel in some 150 countries. The U.S. military has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, 4,700 nuclear warheads on some 800 delivery systems, as well as another 2,340 “retired” but still intact, usable warheads. A $1 trillion upgrade of these has begun. No, the military does not prevent wars At any given time over the past quarter century an average of 40 violent conflicts took place. The U.S. military has not lessened these wars No one may question the integrity of the military. The military cannot account for $4 trillion given it by taxpayers, and audits are said to be impossible. The Pentagon said it would take 15 million labor hours and cost $600 million to do an audit. The U.S. has lost its credibility as a moral force in the world when it committed atrocities, corruption and bribery, fraud and waste, sexual misconduct, cover-ups, racial and religious persecution, and acts of cultural intolerance. Moral arrogance is in abundant supply among those in uniform, genuine moral superiority in short supply. ----- Gregory D. Foster is a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., a West Point graduate, and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War in Tom Dispatch.com 3/18/16
The U.S. has compensated 52,000 nuclear workers for illnesses linked to radiation exposure. ---NukeWatch
The U.S. Air Force is investigating illicit, off-duty drug use by troops who protect its nuclear weapons. ----Washington Post
Mexico City is sinking. Home to 21 million people, who consume nearly 287 billion gallons of water each year, the city has sunk more than 32 ft. in the last 60yrs. Because 70% of the water people rely on is extracted from the aquifer below the city. ----EcoWatch, 3/12/16
More often than not, when a woman is fatally shot in this country, the person with the firearm is someone she dated or married. Most women who die in gun homicides in the U.S. are killed by intimate partners or other family members. A U.S. woman is fatally shot by a romantic partner or ex every 16 hours. Read “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, & the NRA” in Huffington Post, 3/11/16
Some 67 million acres of U.S. public land have been leased to dirty fossil fuel industries, an area 55 times large than Grand Canyon National Park, and containing up to 43 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. ---350.org
There is a boycott of Wendy’s initiated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers The company is controlled by hedge-fund billionaire Nelso Peltz Trian Partners. They refuse to pay their workers a penny a pound more for the tomatoes they pick nor did it agree to buy only from program-affiliated growers. -----Harper’s, 3/18/16
The U.S. Marine Corps wants to move more than 1,100 endangered desert tortoises from their homes to make room for a Marine training ground. These tortoises are basically homebodies, staying within a few square feet their entire 90-year lifespan. -----Animal Petitions
Portion of calls to the IRS help line that were never answered last year during the tax-filing season: 3/5 Percentage of middle-aged, college-educated white Americans who are millionaires: 22% Of middle-aged, college educated black Americans: 6%
Amount New York City plans to pay McKinsey & Company to consult on reforming Rikers Island: $7,530,000 Percentage of registered Democrats that have a favorable view of socialism: 56% The estimated American households that do not have bank accounts: 9.600,000.
Estimated amount the U.S. Mint could save yearly by changing the metallic composition of its coins: $39,000,00 Percentage change in U.S. household debt in the six years leading up to the financial crisis : +96 In the six years after : –3 Rank of the restaurant industry among the largest U.S. employers : 1 Number of states in which the average restaurant worker’s wage is below the federal minimum wage : 21 Estimated number of slaves held by the Islamic State : 3,500 Estimated value of cash destroyed by U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State since last October: $20,000,000 Year in which the plastic in the oceans will outweigh the fish: 2050 Minimum number of Mexican mayors who have been killed by hit men in the past decade: 44 Number of firearms found by U.S. airport-security screeners last year: 2,653 Percentage of those what were loaded: 83%
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: This Lenten season I have been reflecting on forgiveness. I have been reading The Forgiveness Project by Marina Cantacugino. Today reports on the tragedy in Brussels have been on the air, thirty-four dead and a hundreds of people injured by another terrorist attack. I am shocked and saddened on so many levels; sad for the injured and their families and also for the people of Brussels. I am shocked by anyone who wishes to kill others for any reason. The rhetoric of some political candidates following the tragedy has been appalling as well. To support torture on suspected terrorists or police surveillance on all Muslim neighborhoods is using terrorist tactics. We must not allow fear to permeate the people of the world so that any culture different from the prevailing culture is suspect. I returned to reading the stories of those people suffering great tragedies in their lives. I want to share the thoughts of Bjorn Ihler, who survived the July, 2011 attack in Norway by a right wing extremist. Breivik, the extremist, shot and killed 69 people and injured 110 others. Most of the dead were students at a summer camp. Bjorn Ihler wrote, “I believe that we have to recognize Breivik’s humanity. I find peoples efforts to dehumanize him scary because that’s what he tried to do to us….This type of forgiveness is about finding some wisdom we can take out of what happened to ensure violence doesn’t repeat itself.” Since this is the Lenten season I will close with a quote from Jesus. “You have heard it said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” May we follow the message of love that has the power to heal the brokenness in our world and in our own hearts. Peace, Roberta
CASA MARIA CATHOLIC WORKER
1131 n 21ST ST.
MILWAUKEE WI 53233
{414}344-5745