Allegory of the Cave

Believing people when they say they care is dangerous... if not foolish.

2008-06-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

I wonder when I will stop being surprised when people hurt and deceive? It hurts more every time...

"I am so dumb
Just beam me up
I've had it all forever
I've had enough

And now I understand
You leave with everything
You leave with everything I am

And now I know that love is dead
You've come to bury me
There's nothing left here to pretend

Remember, you promised me"

-------------------------------------------------

If you can't get enough angst. The Afghan Whigs always deliver. I forgot how great they are to listen to when you are hurt and angry.

Debonair (live)

Hear me now and don't forget
I'm not the man my actions would suggest
A little boy, i'm tied to you
I fell apart
That's what i always do

This ain't about regret
My conscience can't be found
This time i won't repent
Somebody's going down

Feel it now and don't resist
This time the anger's better than the kiss
I must admit when so inclined
I tend to lose it than confront my mind

'cause it don't bleed and it don't breathe

It's locked its jaws and now it's swallowing
It's in our heart
It's in our head
It's in our love
Baby it's in our bed

Tonight i go to hell
For what i've done to you
This ain't about regret
It's when i tell the truth

And once again the monster speaks
Reveals his face and searches for release
A little boy is tied to you
Attracted only 'til it comes unglued

Be Sweet

Ladies, let me tell you about myself
I got a dick for a brain
And my brain is gonna sell my ass to you
Now i'm ok, but in time i'll find i'm stuck
'cause she wants love, and i still want to fuck
Now that i'm ashamed, it burns
But the weight is off
Now that you're out of the way
I turn and i can walk
You showed no sympathy, my love

And this was no place for you and me to walk alone

On my grave, am i ok?
I'm sure i'm not
Ladies let me tell you about my love
She kept giving me more
But it wasn't enough
So understand
Now that i come to you
To understand my little self
To understand my little self

And baby you be sweet

The Survivor Manual: Detective speaks about Report It.

2008-04-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

Check out this video of an officer speaking about reporting sexual assault.
The Survivor Manual: Detective speaks about Report It.

This is a good idea to get a perspective from a police officer. I think some of what he says is good, but there are several areas of concern for me.

1. It is underreported. It should be reported more. While victims would like to report more and should report more. It is not the victims fault for fearing reporting. He is right they have nothing to be ashamed of, but our culture still asks for silence. Not only should victims not be ashamed of being raped… they should not be ashamed if they didn’t report it. It is not their fault that they live in a climate that does want them to tell. As a survivor myself I can tell you that it takes a lot of courage to report. This feels a little like victim blaming to me when we say the problem is with the victim. Let’s encourage reporting but acknowledge the courage it takes.

2. In response to the question about his concern for victims fearing/suffering re-traumatization in the justice system... I think the concern is misplaced. He seems to be concerned about how it affects him (or the reputation of the "system", not the victim. Shouldn't the largest concern be the fact that the justice system can and often DOES re-traumatize the victim?

3. The suggestion that the victim needs to pursue it to the fullest extent of the law by and saying “they need to FORCE the officers who come out to file reports” bothers me so much. How often does someone feel comfortable forcing those in positions of authority to do something right after someone has raped and disempowered them? Again this is victim blaming. Why do they have to FORCE an officer to do their job?

4. The next suggestion that they need to pursue these cases all the way through trial is also upsetting. I was raped and while I personally had great interactions with the police… the prosecution was another story. I was ignored and they tried to dump the case. My detective even told me that prosecutors often ignore victims in rape cases hoping they will just give up and go away. I didn’t give up. I got the prosecution I sought. BUT it wasn’t easy. It had a disappointing result too. A couple of days before the trial the prosecutor accepted a guilty plea to a lesser charge. She did not ask if I wanted to accept that plea because she knew I would not want to accept it. I had fought so hard to go to trial… only to be let down. As I understand it he didn’t really want to plead guilty either.

So after I discovered that RAPE IS A CRIME AGAINST THE STATE and I begged for a chance at justice (considering he basically confessed) and the prosecution first said no… then yes… then let a plea I didn’t want happen…NOW he is free. He only has a year probation and sex offender counseling. NO JAIL TIME and he is NOT being listed as a sex offender. I was told that even if my case went to trial and I won… he probably would have just got probation. I understand that is a typical result of rape cases too.

I still think that victims should report… even given the troubles I have had and the truths I have learned, but I suggest that the system fix its issues and stop blaming reporting issues on victims.
After all RAPE IS A CRIME AGAINST THE STATE not the person who suffers the rape… so wouldn’t it follow that they need to make it easier for people to seek justice? So… in the effort to increase reporting of the crime and incarceration of these sexual offenders… I suggest it is the justice system that has the most work to do. They victims have already faced their nightmare… don’t make them face the bureaucratic nightmare of the legal system too. All the victim should have to do is have the courage to speak their truth of violation and humiliation. I cannot believe he says that “their job is not to continue to be victimized and traumatized by the perpetrator” Isn’t that the “Justice System’s” job?

5. Comments like police officers don’t like handling domestic violence are not good. Guess what? Women don’t like being the victims of domestic violence. Who is supposed to help them if the police don’t want to?

6. Lastly when it comes to his suggestions for other officers in regards to how not to re-traumatize victims of sexual assault. Why does it have to be them putting themselves in the shoes of the husband, father, or brother? HOW ABOUT PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THE VICTIM? I know this is an attempt to get through to other male officers but… These victims (generally women) are human beings who have been violated, terrorized, de-humanized… they are not simply a belonging or property of a man, father, brother, or husband. This really demonstrates how many men think that they could never be a victim themselves… and they don’t feel the fear of being raped every day of their life… or even one day of their life. It also seems to say that the real damage would be the damage to the men in her life… not to her. Just like the real damage in the eyes of the law is done to the STATE… not to her. This is a big part of the problem.

--------------

EVEN considering all this… I still think victims should report it… even though in the criminal justice system… I had no voice and no choice… and I did not have enough money to pursue a civil suit. I was shut out of the justice system. BUT I still want victims to report. Because they need to be heard. They need a chance… any chance at justice… hopefully soon the system will step up and start taking the victims of sexual assault seriously… THEN you will see more reporting.

The system doesn’t seem to even have the capacity to process all the victims that currently do report. If you want everyone to report… they need more prosecutors, more money in the budget, more money for crime victim’s compensation (rather than cuts in the budget), and sensitivity training for the system…. THEN we will see justice and rapists will not be walking the streets free.

I do have to say that he is right about changing the culture in the community perception of victims. He is also right that some police officers have background and personal issues… and that they need to be trained.

I know there are no perfect answers and he is really trying to help. I don’t want people to stop trying to help… I just want people to really THINK about how what they are saying is perceived.

My new favorite! Shirley Chisholm!

2008-04-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

Shirley Chisholm is amazing! You can get Chisholm '72 - Unbought and Unbossed on netflix.

"In 1968, Shirley Chisholm becomes the first black woman elected to Congress. In 1972, she becomes the first black woman to run for president. Shunned by the political establishment, she's supported by a motley crew of blacks, feminists, and young voters. Their campaign-trail adventures are frenzied, fierce, and fundamentally right on!"

It makes me crazy that we had a shot at having someone like this in power and we missed it!

"To believe in this living is just a hard way to go"

2008-03-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

The trial that was to be. Was not.
The rape that should have met justice. Did not.

He pleads guilty holding me down on a couch...
and it will all go away after a year...
and no one will know what he did.

I am home now.
I think I am supposed to be relieved that it is "all over".
But it's not.

The sadness at the injustice.
The sheer truth of the dead end.
Weighs on my heart and crushes me.

The reality that this is how our system responded to my rape...
makes me want to kick and scream.

Overcome with the feeling that my hands and feet are perpetually tied...
I struggle to be free of it.

I am tired. Tired of fighting.
I see my life's work ahead now. I know it is needed.

I feel I am changing... so much inside.
I need to go away and be quiet... and let the pain settle.

I keep saying I want to go live on another planet.
It hurts too much here.

No choice. No voice. No justice.

The law - this world - has told me...
go ahead... scream.
No one will hear you.

My compassion goes out to anyone and everyone
who has lived long and ever wanted to fly away
to someplace better...

ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY

I am an old woman named after my mother
My old man is another child that’s grown old
If dreams were thunder and lightning was desire
This old house would have burnt down a long time ago

Chorus:
Make me an angel that flies from Montgom’ry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

When I was a young girl well, I had me a cowboy
He weren’t much to look at, just free rambling man
But that was a long time and no matter how I try
The years just flow by like a broken down dam.

Chorus

There’s flies in the kitchen I can hear ‘em there buzzing
And I ain’t done nothing since I woke up today.
How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evening and have nothing to say.

Make me an angel that flies from Montgom’ry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

Thanks for NOTHING... and the Repeat Sex Offender Punch Card

2008-03-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

As I recently suffered through the "injustice system" I was retraumatized and felt very devalued and discarded. Rape is still a crime against the state. The concept of rape being a crime against the state is left on the law books as a carry over from at time when women were still considered property.

My rapist plead guilty to a lesser charge of Felonious Restraint. I was never advised of please negotiations and I did not want it. They are basically saying he held me down on that couch and wouldn't let me get up... which put me at risk of suffocation. He gets no jail time. No Sex Offender status. His Felony will only be discoverable by the public for a year. Then it disappears. It will only be looked at if he ever does something again (and gets caught).

So it will take him raping me, and maybe one or two others, before they take it seriously. One woman's life destroyed by his rape is not enough... they need 2 or 3 more women... in order to constitute a whole human over which to be enraged.

The message to rapists is that it is open season.
The message to victims is that they are sub human and won't get justice.

I made this card for the State of Missouri (and other states) who turn their head from this crime to demonstrate how ridiculous this is.

This system is messed up. When these rapists are set free they are allowed to continue to perpetrate these crimes. Then when they finally rape and murder someone... everyone acts all surprised and shocked... and they wonder what on earth creates these monsters....

News Flash: OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM DOES.

It is not just the judges, attorneys, and outdated laws that are responsible, but the people who sit on juries and let rapists go because of sexist conditioning which encourages rape myths. We must stop blaming the victims and take the crime of rape seriously.

The criminal system gives rape victims no choice in prosecution. I had to beg for prosecution. Many say I was "Lucky" that I got so far. That is no comfort to me. Filing a civil suit is just as impossible.

Criminal Justice System: Rape victims have no choice and no voice. I am shut out.

Civil Justice System: Rape Victims are shut out if they are not privileged. I don't have enough money. I am not protected by rape shield laws.... and even if you win you many NEVER see a dime.

What is a rape victim to do?

"The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

Film Documentaries on Rape - BRAVO!

2008-03-17T23:02:00.001-07:00

I came across these video clips on No!TheRapeDocumentary.org

NO! The Rape Documentary: Ending Sexual Assault and Violence Against Women

Ending Sexual Assault And Violence Against Women: Breaking Silences Video

Women Deserve Better

2008-03-02T13:28:00.001-08:00

Sonya "The Drama" Boom Renee says it all in her 2006 poetry slam What We Deserve:

What We Deserve

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I got a story to tell... I am in love with Def Poetry!!

2008-02-25T00:35:00.000-08:00

How did I miss this?
I remember it a few years ago... but I never sat and REALLY listened.

Take the time to listen now. It is worth it.
These amazing people will blow you away!

Mark Gonzales "As With Most Men"

Daniel Bady - "Knock Knock"
Rives - "Kite"
Nafessa Monroe - "White"

Oh and I gotta share this too :-)

A Place To Go

2008-02-20T17:23:00.000-08:00

A Place To Go

I can’t count
The days any more
Just tell me when
It is time to go

My head held high
Will expose his shame
Their questions bring
From my used lips… the truth
In my eyes, the blue skies

I will be there
He will be there
They will be there
They will see me
My face and my body
But no one can see

How inside I am full
of melting sun
and warm French music
and deep desert spaces
where I walk alone
with the wind at my back
as my heart explodes.

~ Sicily Sue

Music: Jardin d'hiver by the talented Keren Ann

Be Careful of My Heart - Tracy Chapman

2008-02-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

I have always loved this song... I was thinking of it at the rally yesterday.
I have pulled out the parts of the song I relate to most right now...

...One day you just up
and walked away
You left me hurting...
You taught me something...
Something took me half
my life to learn
When you give all yourself away
Just tell them to be careful of your heart
Be careful of my heart
Be careful of this heart of mine
Be careful of my heart
I just might break and
send some splitters flying

Be careful of my heart
You took my love....
and now you're gone

But I'm not breaking down
And I'm not falling apart
I just lost a little faith
When you broke my heart

Given a chance
I might try it again
But I wouldn't risk it all this time
I'd save a little love for myself
Enough for my heart to mend
A little love for myself
One day I just might love again...
One day I just might give all myself away...
One day...

Victim Rights Rally! February 19th!

2008-02-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT DEFENDING JUSTICE!
WHAT: Victim's Rights Rally

WHEN: Tuesday, February 19, Noon (Gather at 11:50am)

WHERE: King County Courthouse, 516 - 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA

WHY: Sexual assault is the most under-reported crime. Yet when survivors do report, often times they are re-victimized by the criminal justice system. This includes victim blaming, language restrictions, barring victim's testimony and prejudicial authorities.
WE DEMAND JUSTICE!

Come with posters that display such sayings as:
• Give Victims a Voice!
• Victims have the right to a fair and speedy trial.
• Victims have a right to be respected.
• Don’t blame the victim!
• Place the blame where it belongs!
• STOP JUDGES WHO SILENCE VICTIMS
• VICTIMS WILL NEVER OBEY UNJUST COURTS
• JUSTICE MEANS TRUTH AND FAIRNESS
• SILENCED IN COURT CAUSES RAGE IN PUBLIC
• RAPE IS NEVER "SEX" - EROTIC WORDS ARE LIES
• EROTICIZING RAPE TRIALS IS UNAMERICAN
• TRUTH MATTERS - STOP JUDGES WHO MAKE VICTIMS LIE
• RAPED BY THE CRIMINAL AND THEN GAGGED BY THE COURT
• SEEKING JUSTICE IS NOT A CRIME
• "RAPE" NOT "SEX" IS THE CRIME
• MY TRUTH MATTERS
• CENSORSHIP OF VICTIMS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
• JUDICIAL CENSORSHIP IS A CRIME

• COURTS ARE PLACES TO BE HEARD NOT SILENCED

HISTORY: A shocking decision was made by prosecutors in Nebraska who were unable to prosecute Pamir Safi after the Judge ruled out too much evidence to continue the case. The third trial was slated to begin February 19 againstSafi who had been arrested for raping three women. One of these women was Tory Bowen whose case drew national attention after Judge Cheuvront barred her from using terms including rape, sexual assault, date rape drugs, and sexual assault nurse examiner in her testimony.

It is time for an even BIGGER and BOLDER presence to remind the courts that victims have rights too! Tory's case is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to injustice in the courtrooms that victims face every day. We will NOT TOLERATE THIS KIND OF TREATMENT ANY LONGER!

A note from Tory Bowen:
It is time to take my case as a galvanizing moment - for victims should not be victims of the courts! The courts can not protect their states and citizens by executing 'justice' the way they did in my case. These things happen every day. It is up to us to let the courts know, that we won't take it anymore.

Thank you for your participation! Together we WILL make a difference. THANKS!!
www.PavingTheWay.net

Shatter the Silence of Sexual Violence!

Hip Hop and Abortion rights... I love Digable Planets!

2008-02-17T21:40:00.000-08:00

This song is a beautiful philosophical narrative exploring a young woman's decision to abort:

It was 8:49 on a beautiful 9th day of july.
There was not a cloud to speak of
so the orange sun hung lonely in the sky.
I lay prone in my cabbie home,
listening to fine nappy Jackie and his jazzcat's horn,
sliding in a tape of Bird on Verve when suddenly rang my phone.
"Hello Butterfly," a voice said. "Slip on some duds, comb out your fro,
and slide on down to my pad. The vibe here is very pleasant
and I truly request your presence.
A problem of great magnitude has arose and as we speak it grows."

"Damn, what could it be?" I thought.
A juice I bought and rolled on down to her pad.
Seeing bros i know slapping fives I arrived and pressed G-5
and there was Nikki lookin some kind of sad with tears fallin from her eyes.
She sat me down and dug my frown and began to run it down:
"You remember my boyfriend sid that fly kid who I love...
well our love was often a verb, and spontaneity has brought a third.
But do to our youth an economic state we wish to terminate.
About this we don't feel great , but baby that's how it is.
but the feds have dissed me they ignore and dismiss me.
The pro-lifers harrass me outside the clinic and call me a murderer.
Now that's hate. So needless to say we're in a mental state of debate."

"Hey beautiful bird," i said digging her somber mood.
"The fascists are some heavy dudes.
They don't really give a damn about life,
they just don't want a woman to control her body
or have the right to choose.
But baby that ain't nothin'.
They just want a male finger on the button
because if you say war they will send them to die by the score.
Aborting mission should be your volition,
but if Souter and Thomas have their way
you'll be standing in line unable to get welfare
while they'll be out hunting and fishing. "

It has always been around.
It will always have a niche.
But they'll make it a privilege, not a right,
accessible only to the rich.
Pro-lifers need to dig themselves
because life doesn't stop after birth.
And to a child born to the unprepared
it might even just get worse.
The situation would surely change
if they were to find themselves in it,
supporters of the h-bomb and fire bombing clinics.
What type of shit is that? Orwellian in fact!

If Roe v Wade was overturned
would not the desire remain intact,
leaving young girls to risk their health
and doctors to botch and watch as they kill themselves?
Now, I hate to sound macabre
but hey, isn't it my job to lay it on the masses
and get them off their asses
to fight against these fascists?

So whatever you decide make that move with pride.
Sid will be there and so will I... an insect til I die.
...rhythms and sounds spinning around...
confrontations across the nation...
your block, my block
dreadlocks what a shock
land of the free - but not me...
not me
not me
not me

Let's extend LOVE through awareness and action

2008-02-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Supergirlest promotes Brett Dennen with good reason. This guys is amazing.

This is what love should be about... taking our privileged blinders off and caring about others... This Valentine's Day... let's embrace truths and show our love to others in the world by opening our eyes and letting the awareness of inequities seep in. With love for others we can be moved to action and work together... and to do our small part to create a better world.

I much prefer this perspective on Valentine's Day to candy and obligatory gifting. Every year around Valentine's day I cringe every time I see a diamond commercial. Not only do we all need to be aware of the truth about diamonds...

But I personally am sick of Valentine's Day commercials like this JC Penney commercial (you have to go to their site to see it.... look on the right hand side where it says watch our valentine's day ad) I am sick of the stereotype that women are mindless idiots that drool over sparkly things that their big spending and overpaid MEN buy for them so they stop complaining. Plus it drives home an attitude that women are commodities that can be bought and controlled by men with money. Jeezzz.. I have to go barf!

How to support your friend who has been raped...

2008-02-13T20:40:00.001-08:00

I want to talk about ways to support rape victims (for example, me) as they fight for justice. I have been asking folks for support a lot recently as a result of the upcoming events... which set me back in my healing... and lately it feels like it just happened again. In response to my requests for support I often get the question, "What can I do to help?" I know that my family and friends want to help... but I realized they may not know how to... and I want to offer ideas on how to support victims.

So I decided to post some ideas for friends and family.
These ideas may be true for other victims as well.

First I want to share that being a survivor of rape isn't a one time event. It is something victim-survivors live with through time. When speaking with one of my professors today she introduced the concept of "survivance" and she shared the following quote from some Anthropology research...
"For Indigenoous peoples, survival is more than staying together as a group; it is more closely aligned with Vizenor's concept of survivance. Vizenor says: "I wanted a term that would have a broader meaning than survival--that is, as a conditional experience rather than a mere response to domination and victimization". He argues that "survivance" is not just carrying this burden and surviving--showing that I'm a survivor of victimization, for example--but also inventing a world view" FROM: Brian McKinley Jones Brayboy"Transformational resistance and social justice: American Indians in Ivy League Universities"*Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 36* (3), 193-211.

ALSO... I was reading on the Women's Justice Center about how friends feel...
"Friends who are helping you are also probably feeling very upset and frightened by what you're going through. They probably feel at a loss for exactly what they should be doing, and helpless that they can't solve it all for you. So here's some things you can do that will help your support person be better able to help you. Always be very clear with your friend exactly what it is you would like them to do. Tell them you know they can't solve it all. Stay in good communication with the people who are helping you. Thank them repeatedly for standing by you.

...and how friends can give help...
Remember, one person can't do it all. If you see that your friend is getting overwhelmed, ask your friend to help you find someone else to help, too. You don't always have to say the "Right Things." Seeing the intensity of trauma in violence against women can be very upsetting. Don't feel you always have to be saying "right things.". Calmness, your presence, and a few kind words work wonders! "

So here is a list of ideas that might help support rape survivors...
(The wording is gendered female because I am also talking about how to help me)

Let her know you are thinking of her. Send flowers, a card or a note. Knowing that you care will lift her spirits during the tough times.
Call and check in... or to just say hello - even if it is just for a quick 5 minute conversation. Your friend may be feeling to overwhelmed to pick up the phone and make plans with you, but she will probably appreciate it if you do.
Suggest getting together for low stress events like a movie, coffee, or ice cream
Send frequent emails to say hello. Keep regular contact and share about your life too... that helps keep a feeling of normalcy in her life.
Understand that your friend may be very self-involved for a little while... try to offer and share stories about your life too as that can help her stay grounded. Even though she needs a lot from her supportive friends and family.. she still wants to know how you are. I know I often feel stuck in the spotlight sometimes... and I feel uncomfortable but feel compelled to keep talking. Feel free to bring the conversation back to other things... it is helpful and distracting and good... otherwise I can ramble on about all the twist and turns of my tortured thoughts and concerns.
Know that she wants to be able to support you with your own life concerns and needs too but try to understand that she might not be able to do that during times of high crisis.
Inform yourself - Search online for tips on how to help
Exercise is good. Suggest a walk. Even if it is just around the block. Sometime she may want to see you for a little while... and if she cannot handle an event that lasts a couple of hours... a little time together is better than none.
Express your compassion - you can say that you don't know what to say, but it is very important to recognize and validate the survivor's feelings: their anger, pain, and fear. These are natural, healthy responses. They need to feel them, express them, and be heard.
Accept that there will very likely be major changes in your relationship with the survivor as they heal.They are changing, and as they do, you may need to change in response.
Respect the time and space it takes to heal.Healing is a slow process that can't be hurried.
Show your friend that you care about them. Go visit them in their home for a visit... they often feel more comfortable in their own space.
Understand that as a victim heals and when she is in times of crisis, she may say and do things that hurt you or are confusing to you. Understand that your friend is stressed and filled with confusing and painful emotions... and she may not always behave in her right mind.
Offer practical support. Your friend may find that organizing her life is difficult while she is in crisis. You can help by offering to help. For instance, offer to make dinner - the victim is often overwhelmed and depressed and feeling too weary to take care of themselves. Just by offering your help, she will know that you care and if she needs you, she'll be able take you up on it.
Know that she is trying to maintain normalcy and be fun... and doesn't want to feel like a constant bummer... but somedays are good and some are bad.
Work together with her other friends - Friends of the victim can look to each other for support and sharing the role of a support system.
Suggest fun group activities or outings. If your friend feels up to going out and doing something she will accept. I have also found it is easier to escape the worry and pain in large groups... as one on one events tend to be more intimate and conducive to sharing painful feelings. Sometimes the survivor needs to try to have fun... but they may not always be good at knowing how to do so.
Be easy on yourself. Supporting a friend who has suffered sexual assault is hard. Treat your self well too!

Here is also a list of What Not to Say from Surviving to Thriving.

...Oh and a support site for Partners of Survivors.

So thank you all again... my dear friends and family and my partner... for being my support system.... For standing by me. I need you all now more than ever. Please hear my call for support... and take heart that the worst of the storm will pass soon... and the Spring will come... and the healing sun will come out and shine on us again.

PAVE - Promoting Awareness - Victim Empowerment

2008-02-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

See information from PAVE below.
Go to the site for more information.

Victim's Rights Rally - Nationwide - February 19 - Noon

We need your help defending justice!

Join us for a national rally on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at noon. This is going to happen in dozens of cities across the country! We know that sexual assault is the most under-reported crime in the US. However, when victims do report, we find that they are constantly re-traumatized! We demand justice! To be involved, email: info@pavingtheway.net and we will send all of the tools needed to hold a rally in your community!

Legal Standards Target Protective-Order Breakdowns

2008-02-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

Check out this article on Women's ENews that discusses Protective Orders. They discuss the recent sad murder of a woman by her accused rapist. They discuss flaws in the Protective System as well as information to help understand this kind of violence. I think this is a step in the right direction but I still feel women need more protection in these cases. Our society needs to show that we feel these women's lives have VALUE and treat threats and stalking should be taken much more seriously. I think if someone is threatening and stalking.... the stalker themselves should be contained.... unless someone is going to be assigned as a body guard for the victim.

"Maria Frances Lauterbach, who was a lance corporal with the U.S. Marines, should be cradling a newborn around now. Instead, Lauterbach's burnt body was found Jan. 11, weeks after her death on Dec. 14. She was eight months pregnant when she died from a blunt trauma to the head. Her body was discovered in the Jacksonville, N.C., backyard of Cpl. Cesar A. Laurean, also a Marine. Lauterbach's military court-ordered protection order against Laurean expired 10 days after her death.

Authorities believe Laurean fled to Mexico on Jan. 11 after giving his wife a note saying that Lauterbach slit her own throat. He was indicted on Jan. 24 by a Jacksonville grand jury on first-degree murder charges. Mexican officials issued a warrant for Lauren's arrest and will extradite him to the United States if he is apprehended.

Military officials said he was not held as a suspect because Lauterbach and Laurean appeared to have a "friendly relationship" despite a rape allegation that occurred in May. Following that allegation, Lauterbach was given an order of protection by the military. The county sheriff told reporters that he was unaware of the protection order until Jan. 7.

Lauterbach reported that she was raped to military officials and investigators, who issued a protection order that was automatically renewed three times while the investigation was pending. Laurean denied the rape and refused to speak with detectives investigating her disappearance in December."

Also...

"Garcia, whose group assisted the American Bar Association with the stalking portion of the guidelines, said that among stalking victims, 28 percent of those who are female and 10 percent of those who are male obtained protective orders. Of these, violations occurred for 69 percent of females, 81 percent of males. Women are 73 percent of stalking victims overall.

In addition, the Department of Justice's most recent data reports that nearly a third of women murdered in 2005--33 percent--were killed by an intimate partner, a proportion that has been increasing. About 1,200 U.S. women are killed by intimate partners every year, according to the most recent national health statistics.

Garcia advises stalking victims to understand the pros and cons of protective orders. She said they work when they are enforced and bolster evidence for a potential court battle, but can be dangerous and escalate violence if not effectively enforced.

In her trainings for law enforcers and advocates about helping victims' safety planning she recommended that victims cut off contact with offenders, log any encounters and hand out fliers with an offender's photo to family and friends.

The American Bar Association has published dozens of national standards, available on its Web site. Previous standards--included in lawyers' trainings and often cited in case law and briefs--have covered the representation of children in custody cases and people facing the death penalty.

Garcia said lawyers had to be particularly alert to stalking, which is often a precursor to violence against property or the person seeking the order.

Threats, she said, often aren't obvious. For example, if a man sends roses to a woman despite a no-contact order, an untrained judge or lawyer might think it's a touching display of an abuser's wish to reunite. The abused woman, Schafran said, feels vulnerable after the violation and "knows it's a threat."

Support Zine - Get your hands on a copy.

2008-02-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

Introducing the Support Zine from Microcosism Publishing.

"In a time when sexual assault and abuse are an increasing problem; even in so-called radical and punk communities, and when most women have been sexually abused in one way or another, Cindy Crabb (Doris Zine) brings us a document showing ways to prevent sexual violence and support survivors of sexual abuse. The zine helps to define consent, some letters that Cindy has received, listening, talking about sex, power dynamics, comics by Fly, and much more! A crucial resource that reads much like a regular issue of Doris. "

Social Justice - Race, Class, Gender... and Conscious Hip Hop

2008-02-08T23:14:00.000-08:00

After my rape... I decided to go back to college to pursue a degree in Women Studies. I had no idea how my mind would be opened to social justice issues. My awareness of oppression of women... has opened other doors to awareness of all forms of oppression. It has been hard to learn of the TRUTH... but I want to face it and hopefully do something about it.

One of my professors emailed today and said "This is one of the points in this class that you can feel overwhelmed and disheartened (or angry, hopeless, depressed). Hang in there. I have been there and I can assure you, that there are really productive ways to work through the intellectual and emotional complexity of learning about the deep and far-reaching arm of injustice. " I believe her... I respect what she does so much. She is brilliant.

She was recently on a radio program called Against the Grain (February 4th to be exact) She researches and asks "How can white people bring up white children committed to racial justice? Rebecca Aanerud addresses the challenge of white antiracist mothering and suggests activities crucial to that practice." Take a listen if you can.

Now... my new vibrant love of Conscious Hip Hop! My boyfriend has been feeding me hip-hop and I am crazy for it. Today I felt overjoyed to listen to the music I will share with you next... It makes me feel less alone... and as I walk from place to place... I almost feel as if this music is carrying me. So with out further ado... Let me introduce the Blue Scholars, a local Seattle group. "The name "Blue Scholars" is a play on the term "blue collar," which is an idiom for workers who often earn meager hourly wages for manual labor. Their music and lyrics often focus on struggles between socioeconomic classes, challenging authority and youth empowerment"

I love this song...BACK HOME.. about bringing the troops home and how the government trys to sell a bullshit solution to certain races and classes...

I also love the following song... I can only find the lyrics on line. They address oppression, racism (external and internal), patriarchy, the reduction of women and men to commodities, the false lure of the military, the desire for opportunity, white privilege, activism, awareness, social justice and responsibility, history, and the constant struggle for change... and they do it with art, style, and rhythm... I LOVE THEM!!

Self Portrait - Blue Scholars
Shorty feels the pressure on his shoulders as he's liftin it
Wonders why the elders always tell him not to question it
Options at the bottom of the ladder got him desperate
But all he ever wanted was a weapon to protect him with
Riding a 36 through the veins of the beacon
The water is the heart, its rainin when its beatin
In the city that I sleep in I'm dreamin while I'm awake
The miserable escape but theyre too high to ponder faith
But who am I, to use their plight to illustrate a rhyme
With everything around me that I've never had to live
But I observe the inner qualities to serve the people properly
Tell them that their freedom isn't found in private property
Prostitutes are more than just the folks who sell their bodies
See this shit applies to those whos souls are a commodity
I can hear the colony callin me back to be
The bullet in the belly while they lock, load, and squeeze

Rebel with a pen lettin off buckshots in threes
Rewriting what it is into what it ought to be
They made a mockery out of the possibility
But under constant revision is the poem that I be

Shorty feels oppression on his shoulders as he's liftin it
Wonders why the elders always tell him not to question it
Conjuring the courage just to conquer whats been killin him
He says its fucked up cause he knows no other synonym
Hidden from the truth, seen youths turned to troops
Whos goal at 21 is to turn 22, true tuition's too high
and those with the privelage to pay don't listen, it's a shame, go figurin
The name of the father, the son and holy lyrics
I suppose those who know what I'm sayin when they hear it
Might rage against the system, or hate me for dissin
The house in which they live in as a slave to the rhythm
But I walk the broken sidewalk paved with the magic
Of those who walk past it, just to survive traffic
If paybacks a bitch, then gravity's a bastard
Avenues I used to call familiar turned backward
Rebel with a pen lettin off buckshots in threes
Rewriting what it is into what it ought to be
They made a mockery out of the possibility
But under constant revision is the poem that I be

Rebel with a pen lettin off buckshots in threes
Rewriting what it is into what it ought to be
I be the emcee in the place not to be
But under constant revision is the poem that I be

Yo.. shorty's getting grown old enough to read the messages
Understands the elders as he then begins to question them
One generation handed down what they've inherited
Another generation rewriting the master narrative
Older folks overdose on broken hopes often
Children then begin to grow comatose and lost up
In the clutches of the wickedest fingers
Indicative of the systems inhibited
Ability to listen to the voice of the dyin who've been tired of cryin
Nightsticks fall where projectiles are flyin
Through a straight path narrow like the gap between heaven and hell
They skip class cause they goin to jail, true
Students prevail when the knowledge is passed
But others seem to fail sittin flat on their ass
And now I be the emcee in the place not be
Under constant revision in the poem that I be

Rebel with a pen lettin off buckshots in threes
Rewriting what it is into what it ought to be
I be the emcee in the place not to be
But under constant revision is the poem that I be

Students investigate worker rights violations... and the movie Maquilopolis

2008-02-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

I am so proud of my friend April, who is the UW’s delegate in the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) labor rights organization and a member of the UW’s Student Labor Action Project (SLAP). They are investigating the New Era Cap Co. facility in Mobile, Alabama.
...and there is an article in the UW Daily

"New Era, which has been accused of discrimination and providing unsafe and unsanitary conditions for their workers, produces baseball caps with collegiate logos for the UW and several other universities."

UW student April Nishimura shows a hat made by New Era Cap Co. New Era is under investigation for violating worker rights.

I have been learning about the issues with Globalization and the Feminization of labor. This is very new to me so I will try to explain...

There are terrible effects tied to Globalization. Free Trade Zones (Offshore production areas) are places out of US where US and other countries can set up manufacturing without extra taxing. Not only does this take jobs out of america it sets the stage for the most awful injustices.

Greedy Corporations set up sweatshop labor areas where there are few labor regulations (or if there are regulations they are not enforced), the safety and health of the workers is compromised every day, and the workers are paid next to nothing. Not to mention the reckless endangerment of the enviroment. The ideal global worker for these jobs are young women... 90% of the workers are women age 16 – 26. This is the FEMINIZATION OF LABOR.

In this world women of globalization and exploitation women are treated like commodities and objects to be bought and sold. (like slaves) Women are considered the ideal "surplus" work force as they are percieved as agile, cheap, and powerless. Most women who work in these off shore hell holes are single mothers whose land and lives are being explioted.

We watched a film called Maquilopolis. YOU MUST WATCH THIS FILM.
YOU CAN SEE PARTS OF IT ON LINE HERE.

"This unique documentary tells the story of globalization from the personal perspectives of Carmen and a dynamic group of Mexican maquiladora workers who together are working towards creating liveable solutions to the complexities of life in a globalized city. "The film meets women who are each dealing with the hardships of environmental toxins, labor rights abuse, infrastructure and housing issues, and women's rights . MAQUILAPOLIS approaches the workers as experts who can provide us with keys to our common future, inviting them to co-author their own story on videotape."

"Maquiladoras are the multinationally-owned assembly plants which dominate the economy of the U.S.-Mexico border region, employing over a million people. Carmen is one of these people. She works the graveyard shift, six nights a week, in Tijuana's Panasonic factory. After making television components all night, Carmen comes home to a shack she built out of recycled garage doors, in a neighborhood with no paved streets, no sewage lines and no electricity. A single mother, Carmen takes care of her three children all day, and if she's lucky she sleeps for an hour or two before heading off to work again. At 29, she suffers from kidney failure and anemia resulting from her years of factory work. Carmen earns six dollars a day. "

Ending Violence Against... Myself

2008-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling since the winter quarter started with my choice to work with the Committee Organizing Rape Education. I want very much to be a part of the solution... but I was quickly coming to the realization that I was not ready to work for CORE.

I went to my first counseling appointment for at the Student Counseling Center last week... and as part of the intake appointment... I was referred to the organization I work for... for help. This a light bulb moment.

I have also been struggling with some PTSD symptoms lately... including low self-esteem, shattered self-confidence, and self-doubt. As a result making a decision about quitting CORE was a difficult one. I wavered. I worried that it might mean that I don't really care enough about ending violence against women (even though I know that isn't true). I was beating myself up... I was thinking that if I really cared I would brave that difficult path, even though I wasn't ready. I felt bad about not being able to do it.

I talked to a friend, a fire-starting radical feminist, that I am lucky to have met... and she listened while I shared my concerns. She basically said
"you have to stop doing violence to yourself"

She said that everyday... she looks in the mirror and tells herself that she is a beautiful, worthy, and loved person... and that that is a revolutionary act in itself.

She said... if you want to end violence against women. Start with yourself. Love yourself!

What she said to me had a profound affect. I had often heard the saying, "Don't beat yourself up" but it had lost it power. But when she said "stop doing violence to yourself" it finally took. It is easy to forget that violence comes in many forms: physical, mental, emotional...

When telling another friend about this concept. She told me I maybe battling with internalized sexism and abuse. I guess that is what happens when you suffer oppression from others... you don't even realize how conditioned you are to that behavior... and don't recognize you are doing it to yourself.

So... when my friend says that looking in the mirror and telling yourself you are beautiful, worthy, and loved... is a REVOLUTIONARY act... she was so right. It is HARD WORK to undo the bad habits in our culture and in our own minds.

When she speaks to herself in this kind way... it is revolutionary on two accounts. First that the she is changing how she treats herself... and second it changes the way she exists in the world.

rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y
a. Revolutionary Relating to or being a revolution
b. Bringing about or supporting a political or social revolution
C. Marked by or resulting in radical change: a revolutionary discovery

--------------

I let CORE know yesterday... that I just wasn't ready... and that I need to take care of myself right now. I will still volunteer with them. I had to be kind to myself and give myself more time to heal. Once I have healed myself... I will be strong and ready to help others in that way.

It is liberating for me to recognize that I can help end violence just by taking care of me... and that there are so many paths to awareness, activism, understanding, and change.

Thank you Shae.

------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the following quote... I don't know who said this but I love it.

"It is not by accident that we come by our 'common sense'.
People who think freely and independently are quick to realise
how they have been taught to imprison and enslave themselves.
In breaking free they become the champions of un-common
sense. May their thoughts be clear, fruitful, and infectious."

Play Violence begets REAL Violence

2008-01-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

This weekend I watched a documentary called Wrestling with Manhood- Boys, Bullying, and Battering

I think it is crucial film. After being raped... I asked myself why... why did this happen to me? I think looking at the power issues around the concepts of Masculinity is a start...
Just further proof that gender is a trap... and a dangerous one at that... for men and women.

"Wrestling with Manhood is the first educational program to pay attention to the enormous popularity of professional wrestling among male youth, addressing its relationship to real-life violence and probing the social values that sustain it as a powerful cultural force. Richly illustrating their analysis with numerous examples, Sut Jhally and Jackson Katz - the award-winning creators of the videos Dreamworlds and Tough Guise, respectively - offer a new way to think about the enduring problems of men's violence against women and bullying in our schools.

Drawing the connection between professional wrestling and the construction of contemporary masculinity, they show how so-called "entertainment" is related to homophobia, sexual assault and relationship violence. They further argue that to not engage with wrestling in a serious manner allows cynical promoters of violence and sexism an uncontested role in the process by which boys become "men." Designed to engage the wrestling fan as well as the cultural analyst, Wrestling with Manhood will provoke spirited debate about some of our most serious social problems"

Here is the trailer for Wrestling with Manhood

And I found this clip too from "Tough Guise"

"While the social construction of femininity has been widely examined, the dominant role of masculinity has until recently remained largely invisible. Tough Guise is the first educational video geared toward college and high school students to systematically examine the relationship between pop-cultural imagery and the social construction of masculine identities in the U.S. at the dawn of the 21st century. In this innovative and wide-ranging analysis, Jackson Katz argues that widespread violence in American society, including the tragic school shootings in Littleton, Colorado, Jonesboro, Arkansas, and elsewhere, needs to be understood as part of an ongoing crisis in masculinity."

I applaud both of these documentaries and encourage everyone to rethink their gender role and what it asks of them... Who is running your life? You? Or a string of propagated lies?
I want this culture to revisit the concept of masculinity... and redefine it to allow for respect, freedom, and peace.

And please stop letting your children watch WWE!!!

How do we learn to be our gender? And Why?

2008-01-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

Gender Every Day

An attempt to take a closer look at how deeply ingrained gender is... just by analyzing a morning and it's gendered activities.

(for some reason I feel compelled to mention I do brush my teeth... but I did not see it as a gendered activity plus the assignment was not to be longer than two pages)

Description:
I woke up and surveyed my apartment. I made sure the door was still locked and alarm set. I washed my hands with Tropical Passion Fruit soap. For breakfast, I had Oatmeal and Yoplait yogurt. I fed my kitten. I washed my face with Dove “Pro-Age” facial cleanser. In the shower, I used Herbal Essences “Body Envy” nectarine and floral shampoo and conditioner. I used SoftSoap’s Pomegranate and Mango Body Wash. I shaved my legs with a Lady Bic shaver and Skintimate shaving lotion. After my shower I used Mineral Therapy body lotion and Ponds face cream. I applied my Lady Speed Stick “Floral Splash” deodorant. I used my hair dryer to blow dry my hair. Then I put on my make-up, which includes drugstore brands, such as CoverGirl and L’Oreal. I applied the following: Aqua Smooth foundation, creamy natural powder, tinted raspberry chap-stick, rosewood blush, shimmer eye shadow, brightening eyeliner, and mascara. I put on socks, white underwear, a bra, jeans, a white lace under shirt, a black top, and red rain boots with white polka-dots. Then I grabbed my phone, wallet, and chap-stick from my purse and put them in my backpack and went to class.

Analysis:
Every morning I wake up and survey my apartment because I want to be sure no one has broken in. I see this as a gendered action. I think most females have learned to fear for their safety. Next I want to focus on my products with floral and fruity scents which seem linked to concepts of purity, beauty, fragility, and fertility. These concepts meet society’s expectations for an attractive female, but they also make me feel pretty and feminine. My partner says it is fun for him to shower at my place because he would never buy those products for himself. He says the shampoo smells so good but the bottles are too curvy and feminine. I see my breakfast as gender neutral with the exception of the Yoplait yogurt which is marketed towards women for what appears to be health reasons that don’t resonate with the male gender. Feeding a cat is gender neutral, but I think having a cat tends to be more acceptable for females because cats have feminine attributes, as they are affectionate and soft. I have witnessed men being teased for having a cat. In the shower I washed my face with “Pro-Age” facial cleanser because I want to stay young looking. Aging in females is reinforced as appalling. A woman’s worth is so heavily judged by her appearance and youth. My “Body Envy” shampoo and conditioner bottles are slender, as well as curvy. The bottles are also opposite shapes which match up with one another to make it clear they are a pair. The name and shape of the bottles insinuate the ideal female body image. As a single woman, I feel the fact that the bottles interlock drives home the pressure and/or desire to be “coupled up”. I find it silly, but females seem to attain a more worthy status when they are in a relationship with a man. Next I shaved my legs, something only women do, to fulfill the smooth and sexy female ideal. I recall now, that I started shaving my legs at 12 years old because a boy made fun of me. My razor is pink, of course, and curvy too. My shaving lotion, “Skintimate”, sexualizes my legs and reinforces that I will be sexy if I shave with that product. I use lotions to keep my skin soft and healthy which may also make me more attractive. My deodorant, Lady Speed Stick, is marketed to women and it is what my mom uses. I don’t enjoy blow drying my hair because it takes a lot of time, but I have always thought long hair was pretty. My dad always told me women should have long hair. I think I have kept it long because it does make me feel feminine and it is a clear indication to the world that I am a female. Make-up is a strange phenomenon to me. I quit wearing make-up for while. I felt it was an everyday reminder that I am not good enough as I am. Men don’t need to wear make-up. Why is it the woman’s role to work so hard to be attractive? Does it demonstrate the expectation of females to please and serve males? Does the name “Make-up” imply I am making myself into something? These actions have become so normalized it is hard for me to tell. Eventually I began to wear makeup again, when I felt it was a choice, rather than expected. I am still not sure why I wear it. My clothes are fairly gender neutral minus the bra and lace top, which qualify as feminine and sexy. Where is this constant need to be attractive and/or sexy coming from? I don’t think it is always my desire to be sexy. I think I do it to fulfill my gender role. My polka dot rain boots might be accepted as girly, but they are a fun rebellious treat, after escaping the business attire of the corporate world. Finally, I condense all my necessities from my gendered purse into my gender neutral backpack. I head out to get an education and participate in society, which is something that, as a female, I won’t ever take for granted.

***Side note I have recently noticed that toilet paper is marketed in odd ways, Quilted Northern shows 3 women, 2 white and one black, as seamstresses quilting the toilet paper on the package. Sewing has long been viewed as "women's work"... so who are they targeting? Who buys the toilet paper off the shelves in this world. I am going to guess it is women since other toilet paper products show babies and puppies on them. Anyway.. I just found that odd.

Slow Down Week - January 13th - 19th

2008-01-16T23:48:00.000-08:00

A friend sent this to me... I wish I would have seen this earlier this week ;-) Although, I did just steal a nap on the couch with my cat!

See the Slow Down Week Video at Adbusters

This is so true. We all move too fast!
I know at the beginning of the Winter Quarter I have been feeling overwhelmed. I have been working on an assignment called "Gender Everyday" for my Intro to Women's Studies course.... and in writing the first part of the paper I realized how much I do in a morning just to get out the door. And that is just the morning and I have no children!!

I thought I'd share the assignment with you and post my paper at the end of this week.

The Gender Every Day assignment is designed to increase your awareness of the construction of gender—how it is performed and maintained and how it is articulated along with race, class, sexuality, and national identity. The goal of the assignment is for you to begin to become more aware of the ways in which your daily life is shaped by gendered activities, habits, and beliefs.

The assignment has two parts:

First:
Write a paragraph that describes your practices of grooming, eating, and preparing to leave you home/apartment/dorm this morning. Pay close attention to the different kinds of consumer products you used, the food you ate, the clothing you wore, etc.

Second:
Critical Analysis - Rewrite your paragraph by organizing it in such a way as to pinpoint the activities that most demonstrate the way you actively create a gendered identity. In other words, instead of simply describing the activities you engaged in, you should evaluate and analyze the activities previously described. You should ask yourself things like, "why do I choose to use this type of shampoo?", Think about... what does the shampoo bottle look like? Who is a floral and citrus smell designed for and why is it that way?

Again, I will post my Gender Everyday Assignment... but after slow down week!
I love this slow down week idea!

Peace.

New Years, Anniversaries, and Unbirthdays

2008-01-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone :-) I am hoping for a great year. I have so many ideas and things I want to accomplish. I am very excited to be focusing on school this year!

I heard a woman say once that when she looks back on her life she'd rather say she shouldn't have done something... rather than she should have... I liked that.

I have walked in a lot of shoes and had many experiences in my life so far... and there are very few things I feel I would say I should have done... other than going back to college and getting a degree. So I am very happy that I am pursuing that dream now! I quit my full time job just before Christmas so I can focus on school. It was hard to walk away from that secure income... but I know I am doing the right thing and I am so happy to have this chance. I have worked very hard to make this happen and I going to love every minute of it! Fall quarter went well :-) I got a 3.8!! I was hoping for a 4.0 but I am pretty happy with a 3.8 which equates to a 95%!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Allegory of a Cave!
Last year I started this blog on January 1st! I wanted to talk about so many things but mostly I wanted to talk about my rape and address issues with sexual violence and oppression of women. I hoped to connect with other bloggers too... and I have... and I cherish that! Thank you to all of you! I enjoy reading your blogs and sharing mine with you :-)

Now that I am back in school full time and easing up on the workload.. I plan to blog more!
I look forward to our discussions in 2008 :-)

UN-BIRTHDAY #2 (2007)
In 2006 I decided I should have an un-birthday every year... when I need one :-) This year has been so busy I almost forgot to celebrate my un-birthday! In case you are unfamiliar with an un-birthday... it is just a day that you pick each year and treat yourself spontaneously!

This year mine was on the 12/30. Normally I am not allowed to eat wheat. I have Celiac Sprue disease... and I miss my favorite foods that have wheat in them... So I took one day to break the rules and indulge in wheat!

My boyfriend and I went to breakfast and had pancakes and a cinnamon roll! Yummy rebellion!

Then we went to the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle. It was a cold day but the sun was out an it was great! Here are some of the photos from the visit...

Then we went for a cup of coffee and a cupcake at Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford. They have the best cupcakes ever! I made an un-birthday wish there :-)

Then we went to see Juno. I loved it!!! Some wonder if the movie is pro-life. I didn't see it as pro-life... but rather pro-choice. She had the option to choose. Which is a basic right that we must protect.

To top the day off... we went out for pizza! Ahhhhh.... what a joy a piece of pizza is! It has been years since I enjoyed a pizza out :-)

So much to celebrate!

Here is to a Happy and Adventurous New Year!

Peace!

Songs Ohia

2007-12-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

Studying rape cases in a coffee shop today.... I heard this song. I fell in love with it immediately.
It is by Songs Ohia a.k.a The Magnolia Electric Company

It is quite dark... but it IS december... and I am a sucker for a sad beautiful story.
Take a listen next door on my playlist >>>>

Hold On Magnolia
Hold on Magnolia to that great highway moon
No one has to be that strong
But if you’re stubborn like me
I know what you’re trying to be
Hold on Magnolia, I hear that station bell ring
You might be holding the last light I see
Before the dark finally gets a hold of me
Hold on Magnolia, I know what a true friend you’ve been
In my life I have had my doubts
But tonight I think I’ve worked it out with all of them
Hold on Magnolia to the thunder and the rain
To the lightning that has just signed my name to the bottom line
Hold on Magnolia, I hear that lonesome whistle whine
Hold on Magnolia
I think its almost time