Someone asked me, “Why do you for almost 50 years still hold up signs in public and risk arrest in demonstrations? Don’t you know that people do not want you advocating for justice and peace? You are wasting your time.” I must admit that I often feel that we are wasting our time, but we believe there is no better way to use our time than doing what we can to convince people that violence and war are not the answer for achieving peace and happiness. As we get older, we find that people tend to ignore what we say and do. Even the media does not cover our peace events. Of course, the media is composed of young, not older, people. We have to remind ourselves that others in the past had the same problem with the public. Dr. Martin Luther King jr., Gandhi, and Jesus Christ come to mind. They were denounced by most people, and sometimes had to suffer much torture and even death for trying to teach the Truth. Things have not changed much over the centuries. We find that we cannot be happy by ignoring the violence in our society. Our happiness comes from striving to overcome hatred with love, suffering hardship to stop the suffering of others, doing good to all, even those who choose to do wrong to us. We are never too old to do that.-----Don Timmerman
We are thankful to all those who have suffered much for the sake of justice and peace. We remember the Milwaukee 14 who in 1968 destroyed some draft cards in an attempt to stop the Vietnam war 50 yrs, ago. They suffered much for not standing by but doing something to stop the war. They are true heroes of peace.
“We also know that like the ROTC college student who is in ROTC for the money to pay his or her college cost, the scientist who is part of the war machine of the state would never enter such work if it only paid janitor's wages. Patriotism in both cases is just the veneer for covering over being a venal mercenary. And of course, the Christian university that has ROTC and/or permits its School of Science or other Schools within its structure to take money from the military to develop more efficient means of killing people would not want either activity on campus unless it was having it hands greased with military lucre.”----Emmanuel Charles McCarthy
DON’S JOKES
We all grieve in different ways, but the crematorium staff did not appreciate the fireworks hidden in your late husband’s pockets.
Did you ever wake up to kiss the one sleeping beside you and feel that you are very happy to be alive? I just did and apparently will not be permitted on the airline again.
What do you get if you cross a dog and a cheetah? A dog that chases cars---and actually catches them!
I don’t mind running into debt. It’s running into creditors that is embarrassing. Golfer: “You must be the worst caddy in the world.” Caddy: “No! hat would be too much of a coincidence!”
My friend is a tailor. When I asked her how she liked her job, she said; “I don’t like it. It’s such a so-so job. I ordered a leopard skin coat on the internet. It was spotless so I had to send it back. What’s black and white and goes round and round? A penguin in a revolving door. What’s white and cold and goes upward? A snowflake with no sense of direction.
INTERESTING FACTS
The US has once again slashed the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U,S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the new cap on refugees would be a historic low of just 30,000 next year, down from the current level 45,000. On the other hand, Pakistan’s new prime minister, Imran Khan, has announced plans to grant citizenship to anyone born in the country. The announcement is a departure from the current policy and could drastically change the lives of Pakistan’s massive refugee populations. -----Democracy Now, 9/18/18
A newly released document shows that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) transferred almost $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) --- MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show
Undocumented immigrants paid $7 billion in taxes last year. Amazon and G.E. paid nothing. Now who are the welfare queens? Federal officials say 711 immigrant children remain separated and in U.S. custody, after the Trump administration missed a court-imposed deadline to reunite all 2,500 families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. Government lawyers claim the 711 children are “not eligible for reunification.” More than 430 of them have parents who have already been deported from the U.S. In response –--Democracy Now, 7/17/18
We are experiencing the largest displacement crisis in recorded history with over 68 million displaced persons and 25 million refugees globally. The U.S. military is largely responsible for this crisis.---Win Without War 9/18/18
Estimated percentage of US adults exonerated of crimes who are found to have falsely confessed : 10 Of juveniles : 38
Minimum portion of ATF inspections of licensed firearm dealers last year that found violations : 1/3 Portion that led to the revocation or denial of a license : 1/250
Average number of months by which Republican-appointed judges sentence blacks to longer jail terms than whites : 7.8 ---Harper’s Index
US threatened to arrest ICC judges if they pursue Americans for Afghan war crimes: The United States threatened to arrest and sanction judges and other officials of the International Criminal Court if it moves to charge any American who served in Afghanistan with war crimes----CLG, 9/11/18I The U.N. has stated that both the U.S. and Israel have violated human rights but were given no punitive consequences.
For poverty-income families, being gentrified out of an affordable space can mean more than a long commute. It often forces them to move into bad and dangerous housing, pay up to 70 percent of their monthly income for a place to live or face eviction. There were 2.3 million evicted in 2016, not counting the unofficial cases where landlords often simply lock tenants out. They fall into deeper debt and poverty, and frequently end up homeless -- living in their cars or on the street. The toll lands heavily on children since, according to Open Door Mission, they make up a third of Americans without homes -- astonishingly, the average age of a homeless person is 9.------Tom Dispatch, 9/13/18
The mineral wealth in Afghanistan has been estimated at about $1 trillion. It was suggested that it could be tapped by companies in the United States and elsewhere.------Common Dreams, 8/8/18
The U.S. military cannot account for $21 trillion it received from taxpayers. Linda Woodford, while working at DFAS, “spent the last 15 years of her career inserting phony numbers in the U.S. military account.” (Reuters) It also is the biggest polluter in the world. It is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It consumes 1 million gallons of oil per day and contributes 5% of the current global warming. An Abrahams Tank consumes 250 gallons of fuel per hour. A F-15 fighter jet uses 1,580 gallons an hour. The military is exempt from any environmental laws. The military’s response to climate change is to control, eliminate or stop mass migration across borders and wage war over dwindling resources like water, arable lands, minerals and fossil fuels. Militaries and paramilitaries around the world oppress and murder those who organize against deforestation, mining, river damning and fossil fuel extraction. The Honduran military is one of the worst offenders. ------Peace Action Wisconsin
Many U.S. workers cannot afford air conditioning in their homes, but every year $20 billion is allocated for air conditioning in military installations in Iraq and Afghanistan.----NukeWatch
The world's first hydrogen fuel cell train officially entered commercial service in the German state of Lower Saxony. The Coradia iLint, developed by French railway manufacturer Alstom, features fuel cells that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, emitting nothing but steam and water. The low-noise train can reach up to 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour and accommodate up to 300 passengers.---EcoWatch
The State Department announced cuts of over $200 million for projects in the West Bank and Gaza and days later announced the U.S. would end its contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which serves Palestinian refugees. ---Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: Trees humble me, especially the very ancient trees. I like to place my hand on their bark and ponder and give thanks for their presence. I like to picture the huge tree I’m touching as a small thin sapling. I think of the bitter cold winters, the harsh springs and the hot, dry summers it had to go through to become so large. I think of the carbon dioxide it removes from the air, which benefits all life. I think of the oxygen it puts back into the air that sustains all life. I think of it being in one spot for perhaps 100 years or more. I think of the beauty it imparts to us. The green blush which forecasts the coming of spring, the lush green of summer, the glorious colors of the fall, the stately stark silhouette in winter. I think of the home it provides for birds and various animals within its body. I think of when it dies it will fall to the earth and feed the insects, birds and animals and finally enrich the ground from which it sprung. Thus, I’m humbled and pray to have the traits of trees, which enrich our world in so many ways. Peace, Roberta
Tues., Oct 2 ---- 17 years of U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq and the birthday of M.Gandhi who showed us how to nonviolently resist the violence done to his people.
Thurs., Oct. 4 --- Vigil Opposing Separation of Families outside of ICE, Broadway and Knapp Sts. starting at Noon. A Jericho Walk is done each Thursday at 9 a.m. at ICE.
Thursday, Oct. 18 -----No More Guns Vigil at Gun shop on 43rd & Lincoln starting at Noon. The purpose of a gun is to do violence to another. Those who sell guns are accomplices of this violence.
Tuesday, Oct. 23 3:30-4:30 pm Vigil Against The Drones outside the gates of Volk Field in Mauston WI.
Trump’s military drops a bomb every 12 minutes. They are not all from drones, but most of them are. The problem is that hardly anyone is talking about it, and even worse, most people don’t even know it because we are not officially at war in any country. And only 2% of those killed are “targeted” as the enemy. That means a lot of innocent people are dying.
Thurs., Oct 25 --- Remember the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983. No ROTC on Christian Campus at 15th & Wisconsin Ave. starting at Noon. Marquette is a Christian institution that must not teach the military cause which is to kill, not love, one’s enemies.
We are thankful to all those who have suffered much for the sake of justice and peace. We remember the Milwaukee 14 who in 1968 destroyed some draft cards in an attempt to stop the Vietnam war 50 yrs, ago. They suffered much for not standing by but doing something to stop the war. They are true heroes of peace.
“We also know that like the ROTC college student who is in ROTC for the money to pay his or her college cost, the scientist who is part of the war machine of the state would never enter such work if it only paid janitor's wages. Patriotism in both cases is just the veneer for covering over being a venal mercenary. And of course, the Christian university that has ROTC and/or permits its School of Science or other Schools within its structure to take money from the military to develop more efficient means of killing people would not want either activity on campus unless it was having it hands greased with military lucre.”----Emmanuel Charles McCarthy
DON’S JOKES
We all grieve in different ways, but the crematorium staff did not appreciate the fireworks hidden in your late husband’s pockets.
Did you ever wake up to kiss the one sleeping beside you and feel that you are very happy to be alive? I just did and apparently will not be permitted on the airline again.
What do you get if you cross a dog and a cheetah? A dog that chases cars---and actually catches them!
I don’t mind running into debt. It’s running into creditors that is embarrassing. Golfer: “You must be the worst caddy in the world.” Caddy: “No! hat would be too much of a coincidence!”
My friend is a tailor. When I asked her how she liked her job, she said; “I don’t like it. It’s such a so-so job. I ordered a leopard skin coat on the internet. It was spotless so I had to send it back. What’s black and white and goes round and round? A penguin in a revolving door. What’s white and cold and goes upward? A snowflake with no sense of direction.
INTERESTING FACTS
The US has once again slashed the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U,S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the new cap on refugees would be a historic low of just 30,000 next year, down from the current level 45,000. On the other hand, Pakistan’s new prime minister, Imran Khan, has announced plans to grant citizenship to anyone born in the country. The announcement is a departure from the current policy and could drastically change the lives of Pakistan’s massive refugee populations. -----Democracy Now, 9/18/18
A newly released document shows that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) transferred almost $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) --- MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show
Undocumented immigrants paid $7 billion in taxes last year. Amazon and G.E. paid nothing. Now who are the welfare queens? Federal officials say 711 immigrant children remain separated and in U.S. custody, after the Trump administration missed a court-imposed deadline to reunite all 2,500 families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. Government lawyers claim the 711 children are “not eligible for reunification.” More than 430 of them have parents who have already been deported from the U.S. In response –--Democracy Now, 7/17/18
We are experiencing the largest displacement crisis in recorded history with over 68 million displaced persons and 25 million refugees globally. The U.S. military is largely responsible for this crisis.---Win Without War 9/18/18
Estimated percentage of US adults exonerated of crimes who are found to have falsely confessed : 10 Of juveniles : 38
Minimum portion of ATF inspections of licensed firearm dealers last year that found violations : 1/3 Portion that led to the revocation or denial of a license : 1/250
Average number of months by which Republican-appointed judges sentence blacks to longer jail terms than whites : 7.8 ---Harper’s Index
US threatened to arrest ICC judges if they pursue Americans for Afghan war crimes: The United States threatened to arrest and sanction judges and other officials of the International Criminal Court if it moves to charge any American who served in Afghanistan with war crimes----CLG, 9/11/18I The U.N. has stated that both the U.S. and Israel have violated human rights but were given no punitive consequences.
For poverty-income families, being gentrified out of an affordable space can mean more than a long commute. It often forces them to move into bad and dangerous housing, pay up to 70 percent of their monthly income for a place to live or face eviction. There were 2.3 million evicted in 2016, not counting the unofficial cases where landlords often simply lock tenants out. They fall into deeper debt and poverty, and frequently end up homeless -- living in their cars or on the street. The toll lands heavily on children since, according to Open Door Mission, they make up a third of Americans without homes -- astonishingly, the average age of a homeless person is 9.------Tom Dispatch, 9/13/18
The mineral wealth in Afghanistan has been estimated at about $1 trillion. It was suggested that it could be tapped by companies in the United States and elsewhere.------Common Dreams, 8/8/18
The U.S. military cannot account for $21 trillion it received from taxpayers. Linda Woodford, while working at DFAS, “spent the last 15 years of her career inserting phony numbers in the U.S. military account.” (Reuters) It also is the biggest polluter in the world. It is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It consumes 1 million gallons of oil per day and contributes 5% of the current global warming. An Abrahams Tank consumes 250 gallons of fuel per hour. A F-15 fighter jet uses 1,580 gallons an hour. The military is exempt from any environmental laws. The military’s response to climate change is to control, eliminate or stop mass migration across borders and wage war over dwindling resources like water, arable lands, minerals and fossil fuels. Militaries and paramilitaries around the world oppress and murder those who organize against deforestation, mining, river damning and fossil fuel extraction. The Honduran military is one of the worst offenders. ------Peace Action Wisconsin
Many U.S. workers cannot afford air conditioning in their homes, but every year $20 billion is allocated for air conditioning in military installations in Iraq and Afghanistan.----NukeWatch
The world's first hydrogen fuel cell train officially entered commercial service in the German state of Lower Saxony. The Coradia iLint, developed by French railway manufacturer Alstom, features fuel cells that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, emitting nothing but steam and water. The low-noise train can reach up to 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour and accommodate up to 300 passengers.---EcoWatch
The State Department announced cuts of over $200 million for projects in the West Bank and Gaza and days later announced the U.S. would end its contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which serves Palestinian refugees. ---Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: Trees humble me, especially the very ancient trees. I like to place my hand on their bark and ponder and give thanks for their presence. I like to picture the huge tree I’m touching as a small thin sapling. I think of the bitter cold winters, the harsh springs and the hot, dry summers it had to go through to become so large. I think of the carbon dioxide it removes from the air, which benefits all life. I think of the oxygen it puts back into the air that sustains all life. I think of it being in one spot for perhaps 100 years or more. I think of the beauty it imparts to us. The green blush which forecasts the coming of spring, the lush green of summer, the glorious colors of the fall, the stately stark silhouette in winter. I think of the home it provides for birds and various animals within its body. I think of when it dies it will fall to the earth and feed the insects, birds and animals and finally enrich the ground from which it sprung. Thus, I’m humbled and pray to have the traits of trees, which enrich our world in so many ways. Peace, Roberta
Tues., Oct 2 ---- 17 years of U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq and the birthday of M.Gandhi who showed us how to nonviolently resist the violence done to his people.
Thurs., Oct. 4 --- Vigil Opposing Separation of Families outside of ICE, Broadway and Knapp Sts. starting at Noon. A Jericho Walk is done each Thursday at 9 a.m. at ICE.
Thursday, Oct. 18 -----No More Guns Vigil at Gun shop on 43rd & Lincoln starting at Noon. The purpose of a gun is to do violence to another. Those who sell guns are accomplices of this violence.
Tuesday, Oct. 23 3:30-4:30 pm Vigil Against The Drones outside the gates of Volk Field in Mauston WI.
Trump’s military drops a bomb every 12 minutes. They are not all from drones, but most of them are. The problem is that hardly anyone is talking about it, and even worse, most people don’t even know it because we are not officially at war in any country. And only 2% of those killed are “targeted” as the enemy. That means a lot of innocent people are dying.
Thurs., Oct 25 --- Remember the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983. No ROTC on Christian Campus at 15th & Wisconsin Ave. starting at Noon. Marquette is a Christian institution that must not teach the military cause which is to kill, not love, one’s enemies.