“We would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledge of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song what God must single out America to be blessed. Is not nationalism ---that devotion to a flag, an anthem, a boundary so fierce it engenders mass murder ---one of the great evils of our time, along with racism, along with religious hatred?”…..”Our citizenry has been brought up to see our nation as different from others, an exception in the world, uniquely moral, expanding into other lands in ordered to bring civilization, liberty, democracy. That self-deception stared early.” (Howard Zinn) The U.S. has militarily invaded 42 countries since its inception. We have invaded as many countries in the past 50 years as we have for the other 188 years of existence. No other country has invaded more countries than as the U.S., and the only country that has used a weapon of mass destruction, once on Hiroshima and once on Nagasaki. The killing of 2,300 people at Pearl Harbor became justification for killing 240,000 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The killing of 3,000 people on 9/11 became justification for killing tens of thousands of people in Afghanistan and Iraq. Aside from this, the U.S. enslaved 20 million Africans, nearly exterminated all Native Americans, sanctioned bloody coups against democratically elected regimes in Chile, Iran and Congo; endorsed the coup in Honduras in 2014, among others, Somehow this is approved by a majority of Americans who waved their flags in approval of such a horrible past. If America wants to be great, it must start practicing human rights. Americans consider heroes as those who choose to go into other countries to kill or maim those considered enemies of the U.S., not those who choose nonviolence to attain justice. Many religious leaders join in glorifying and supporting the military forces all in the name of God. As John Prine sang, “Your flags won’t get you into heaven anymore. There’re already overcrowded from your dirty little wars…Jesus don’t like killing, no matter what the reason for.” ----Don Timmerman
We really can’t change the world. We really can’t change other people! The best we can do is to start a few thinking here and there. The best way to do this, if we are sincere, is to change ourselves! ---Ammon Hennacy
“From a Buddhist point of view, if you can change your mind, you can change your world.” ---Gabriel Cohen
DON’S JOKES
Signs in front of churches. “Ketchup with Jesus. Lettuce praise and relish him .Cuz he loves me from my head to-ma-toes.” Adam and Eve, the first people, did not read the Apple terms and agreement.” “ Too hot to keep changing the sign, so sin bad, Jesus, good. See details inside.” “ A warning to the one who stole our AC. You will need it where you are going.” “Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet him.”
Anesthesiologists have found a new way to numb you, They show you the headlines in the news. Jesus was meeting with some of his people and answering their questions. After a while, he said, “Does anyone have a question that is not about carpentry?” What did the tinman say when he got run over by a steamroller? “Curses! Foil again.”
What happens when the fog lifts in California? UCLA. What is the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy, and the other is a little lighter. One Friday evening Bob left work. It was payday so instead of going home he spent the weekend partying with his buddies spending the entire paycheck. When he finally got home, his wife was fuming., and for 2 hours she lambasted him for being so uncaring. She asked, “How would you like it if you didn’t see me for 2 or 3 days?” He replied, “That;s fine with me.” After that, on Monday he didn’t see his wife. On Tuesday, no wife. On Wednesday, no wife. But on Thursday, the swelling went down just enough where he could see her a little out of the corner of his left eye. If you think of women as the weaker sex, try pulling the blanket to your side.
INTERESING FACTS
The U.S. spends $53 million on military advertising at Sports events, recruiting more of our young people. ---Democracy Now
Nigeria has replaced India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty — surviving on less than $1.90 a day. ---World Data Lab
Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced that migrant detainees would be housed at two U.S. military bases: Goodfellow Air Force Base and Fort Bliss. What he didn’t mention was that toxic contaminants have been blamed for health problems at these locations. ---TYT Network
A recently leaked Federal study found that refugees to America brought in $63 billion more in government revenues than they cost in the last 10 years. Trump’s chief policy advisor, Stephen Miller, banned the release of the study because it contradicted the stated claim that immigrants cost us too much. ---Occupy Democrats
ACCORDING TO THE DEPT. OF DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY SERVICE, $21 TRILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDING IS UNACCOUNTED FOR. ----Changemaker Media
“No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.” ---Article 1, Section 9, clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution
If the U.S. military was a country, it would rank 34th in the world in average daily oil usage. Nigeria with a population of 140 million consumes as much energy as the U.S. military. ----Fiscal Times
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as ICE, says a Mexican immigrant named Efrain De La Rosa has died by suicide while being detained in Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. The for-profit detention center is owned and operated by CoreCivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America. De La Rosa is at least the eighth person to die in ICE custody so far this year Recently, 400 more refugees drowned at sea trying to seek asylum.
Two corporations, CoreCivic and Geo Group, own private prisons particularly for immigrants wo are to be detained. CoreCivic received $444,100,000 in 2017 from the federal government, and Geo Group got $540,950,000. With Trump in office there as been a 43% increase in the number of immigrants arrested and detained. Last year 39,322 immigrants were detained. These corporations gave $500,000 to the Trump campaign----In These Times, July 2018
There are 62 million people that make less than a living wage. But there are 400 people that make $97,000 an hour. ----AlterNet
Coltan is an essential mineral for the high tech industry. It is causing a civil war in the Congo, the main country from which the resource is obtained. Even though the Congo is one of the richest place on earth, there is severe poverty and oppression. Rebels control the mines. In the past 10 years militias have killed millions, raped over 4 million women and child labor is widely used. At least 95 companies profit from the coltan mining. Barclay’s Bank, DeBeers, Anglo American, Cabot Corporation, Trinitech International and Kemet Electronics are just a few. Much of the money made with Coltan is used for buying weapons. For more info, see RaiseHopeforCongo.org. Please recycle your items made with Coltan.
Last summer the U.N. gathered the nations of the world to support a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. There was little coverage of this. As the nuclear powers refused to participate the other nations voted 122 to 1 to join the treater to ban nuclear weapons. In Nov. Pope Francis addressed an international symposium on a world free of nuclear weapons . He said, “If we take into account the risk of an accidental detonation as a result of an error of any kind, the threat of their use, as well as their very possession, is to be firmly condemned.” NOW IS THE TIME for me to make the walk up the inclined drive at Offutt AFB and say that my spiritual leader has condemned the work of nuclear war planning. After decades of statements form the church about the evil of the use of nuclear weapons and the loopholes of working toward disarmament I can now be a local moral agent to communicate the condemnation of the existence of all nuclear weapons. I invite you to join me in Omaha NE at the entrance to Offutt AFB, Kinney Gate at 10 a.m. on August 6. Come and pray and reflect and announce that nuclear weapons are evil and need to be condemned. Bring or write me a letter to Col. Michael Manion of STRATCOM and commander Gen. John Hyden, and I will attempt to deliver these letters. Feel free to contact me, Fr. Jim Murphy, for further details at 608-929-7490.
+++++++++.
Thurs., Aug. 6 ----Jerecho Walk at 9 a.m. and Prayer Vigil at Noon hoping and praying that no more immigrants be separated from their families and detained for periods of time in U.S. prisons at I.C.E., Knapp & Broadway. All people are God’s people. There are no illegal human beings. No one should be punished for wanting safety and security for his/her family.
Fri. Aug. 10 ----Lanterns for Peace at the Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Pl. Milwaukee from 6 to 9 p.m. A traditional commemoration of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki sponsored by Peace Action Milwaukee.
Thurs. Aug. 16 ---No More Guns Vigil at Brew City Shooters Shop, 43rd & Lincoln at Noon. The purpose of a gun is to do violence to another. Those who sell guns are accomplices of those who use the gun against another in committing crimes.
Thurs. Aug. 23 --- Anti-ROTC Vigil at M.U. starting at Noon at 15th & Wisconsin Ave. No Christian institution may cooperate in the training and supporting of our young to fight and kill our enemies in violation of Christ’s command to love one’s enemies.
**** Sept. 21-24- ---We will celebrate the year 1968 in Milwaukee, the Ministry of Casa Maria, Open Housing Marches, studend movement against "intitutional racism" and ROTC at Marquette, Milwaukee 14, and more. The events will be Sept. 21-Sept. 24, 2018 We will update this spirit 50 years later to today. Speakers, Meals, Concert, Panel Discussion and Socials, Vigil and Call to Action. For more information see http://www.milwaukee14today.com/ or write Milwaukee14Today@nonviolentcow.Each Saturday from Noon to 1 p.m. we do the STAND FOR PEACE at an intersection in the city of Milwaukee. See the Shepherd Express each week for the location for the week. Thanks much.
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: I am sitting in my back yard as I write this. The sky is blue, the birds are singing and the sun is making its descent in the west. I take joy in these summertime events for they pass so quickly. We live in turbulent upsetting times. We all must speak out and act against the greed, racism and militarism that permeates our society. Yet I hope we will take time to enjoy the beauty of creation and this mid-summer loveliness. Peace, Roberta
We really can’t change the world. We really can’t change other people! The best we can do is to start a few thinking here and there. The best way to do this, if we are sincere, is to change ourselves! ---Ammon Hennacy
“From a Buddhist point of view, if you can change your mind, you can change your world.” ---Gabriel Cohen
DON’S JOKES
Signs in front of churches. “Ketchup with Jesus. Lettuce praise and relish him .Cuz he loves me from my head to-ma-toes.” Adam and Eve, the first people, did not read the Apple terms and agreement.” “ Too hot to keep changing the sign, so sin bad, Jesus, good. See details inside.” “ A warning to the one who stole our AC. You will need it where you are going.” “Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet him.”
Anesthesiologists have found a new way to numb you, They show you the headlines in the news. Jesus was meeting with some of his people and answering their questions. After a while, he said, “Does anyone have a question that is not about carpentry?” What did the tinman say when he got run over by a steamroller? “Curses! Foil again.”
What happens when the fog lifts in California? UCLA. What is the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy, and the other is a little lighter. One Friday evening Bob left work. It was payday so instead of going home he spent the weekend partying with his buddies spending the entire paycheck. When he finally got home, his wife was fuming., and for 2 hours she lambasted him for being so uncaring. She asked, “How would you like it if you didn’t see me for 2 or 3 days?” He replied, “That;s fine with me.” After that, on Monday he didn’t see his wife. On Tuesday, no wife. On Wednesday, no wife. But on Thursday, the swelling went down just enough where he could see her a little out of the corner of his left eye. If you think of women as the weaker sex, try pulling the blanket to your side.
INTERESING FACTS
The U.S. spends $53 million on military advertising at Sports events, recruiting more of our young people. ---Democracy Now
Nigeria has replaced India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty — surviving on less than $1.90 a day. ---World Data Lab
Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced that migrant detainees would be housed at two U.S. military bases: Goodfellow Air Force Base and Fort Bliss. What he didn’t mention was that toxic contaminants have been blamed for health problems at these locations. ---TYT Network
A recently leaked Federal study found that refugees to America brought in $63 billion more in government revenues than they cost in the last 10 years. Trump’s chief policy advisor, Stephen Miller, banned the release of the study because it contradicted the stated claim that immigrants cost us too much. ---Occupy Democrats
ACCORDING TO THE DEPT. OF DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY SERVICE, $21 TRILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDING IS UNACCOUNTED FOR. ----Changemaker Media
“No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.” ---Article 1, Section 9, clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution
If the U.S. military was a country, it would rank 34th in the world in average daily oil usage. Nigeria with a population of 140 million consumes as much energy as the U.S. military. ----Fiscal Times
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as ICE, says a Mexican immigrant named Efrain De La Rosa has died by suicide while being detained in Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. The for-profit detention center is owned and operated by CoreCivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America. De La Rosa is at least the eighth person to die in ICE custody so far this year Recently, 400 more refugees drowned at sea trying to seek asylum.
Two corporations, CoreCivic and Geo Group, own private prisons particularly for immigrants wo are to be detained. CoreCivic received $444,100,000 in 2017 from the federal government, and Geo Group got $540,950,000. With Trump in office there as been a 43% increase in the number of immigrants arrested and detained. Last year 39,322 immigrants were detained. These corporations gave $500,000 to the Trump campaign----In These Times, July 2018
There are 62 million people that make less than a living wage. But there are 400 people that make $97,000 an hour. ----AlterNet
Coltan is an essential mineral for the high tech industry. It is causing a civil war in the Congo, the main country from which the resource is obtained. Even though the Congo is one of the richest place on earth, there is severe poverty and oppression. Rebels control the mines. In the past 10 years militias have killed millions, raped over 4 million women and child labor is widely used. At least 95 companies profit from the coltan mining. Barclay’s Bank, DeBeers, Anglo American, Cabot Corporation, Trinitech International and Kemet Electronics are just a few. Much of the money made with Coltan is used for buying weapons. For more info, see RaiseHopeforCongo.org. Please recycle your items made with Coltan.
Last summer the U.N. gathered the nations of the world to support a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. There was little coverage of this. As the nuclear powers refused to participate the other nations voted 122 to 1 to join the treater to ban nuclear weapons. In Nov. Pope Francis addressed an international symposium on a world free of nuclear weapons . He said, “If we take into account the risk of an accidental detonation as a result of an error of any kind, the threat of their use, as well as their very possession, is to be firmly condemned.” NOW IS THE TIME for me to make the walk up the inclined drive at Offutt AFB and say that my spiritual leader has condemned the work of nuclear war planning. After decades of statements form the church about the evil of the use of nuclear weapons and the loopholes of working toward disarmament I can now be a local moral agent to communicate the condemnation of the existence of all nuclear weapons. I invite you to join me in Omaha NE at the entrance to Offutt AFB, Kinney Gate at 10 a.m. on August 6. Come and pray and reflect and announce that nuclear weapons are evil and need to be condemned. Bring or write me a letter to Col. Michael Manion of STRATCOM and commander Gen. John Hyden, and I will attempt to deliver these letters. Feel free to contact me, Fr. Jim Murphy, for further details at 608-929-7490.
+++++++++.
Thurs., Aug. 6 ----Jerecho Walk at 9 a.m. and Prayer Vigil at Noon hoping and praying that no more immigrants be separated from their families and detained for periods of time in U.S. prisons at I.C.E., Knapp & Broadway. All people are God’s people. There are no illegal human beings. No one should be punished for wanting safety and security for his/her family.
Fri. Aug. 10 ----Lanterns for Peace at the Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Pl. Milwaukee from 6 to 9 p.m. A traditional commemoration of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki sponsored by Peace Action Milwaukee.
Thurs. Aug. 16 ---No More Guns Vigil at Brew City Shooters Shop, 43rd & Lincoln at Noon. The purpose of a gun is to do violence to another. Those who sell guns are accomplices of those who use the gun against another in committing crimes.
Thurs. Aug. 23 --- Anti-ROTC Vigil at M.U. starting at Noon at 15th & Wisconsin Ave. No Christian institution may cooperate in the training and supporting of our young to fight and kill our enemies in violation of Christ’s command to love one’s enemies.
**** Sept. 21-24- ---We will celebrate the year 1968 in Milwaukee, the Ministry of Casa Maria, Open Housing Marches, studend movement against "intitutional racism" and ROTC at Marquette, Milwaukee 14, and more. The events will be Sept. 21-Sept. 24, 2018 We will update this spirit 50 years later to today. Speakers, Meals, Concert, Panel Discussion and Socials, Vigil and Call to Action. For more information see http://www.milwaukee14today.com/ or write Milwaukee14Today@nonviolentcow.Each Saturday from Noon to 1 p.m. we do the STAND FOR PEACE at an intersection in the city of Milwaukee. See the Shepherd Express each week for the location for the week. Thanks much.
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: I am sitting in my back yard as I write this. The sky is blue, the birds are singing and the sun is making its descent in the west. I take joy in these summertime events for they pass so quickly. We live in turbulent upsetting times. We all must speak out and act against the greed, racism and militarism that permeates our society. Yet I hope we will take time to enjoy the beauty of creation and this mid-summer loveliness. Peace, Roberta