A Day with Seattle University Students

Seattle U students discussing the book...

Today I had the honor to visit with students at Seattle University to discuss “View from the Tent.”
This particular book is being used, along with other books, in a World Poverty class taught by Dr. Ed Reed PhD.
The students were well versed on the challenges of homelessness, poverty and the reasons that cast people into the cauldron of poverty. Their questions were specific to the characters in the book and how I got on the road of dedicating my life to people on the margins.

We are planning two visits to a Tent City camp so the students can get a first hand look at life on the edge-
Great school, students and faculty-

Is this the answer?

Homelessness in Seattle is partially dealt with by allowing a Tent City to camp on church properties for 60-90 days visitations.

Roughly 105 people are encamped at Saint Mark's Cathedral until something else comes up for them. No one knows what something else actually means-

Six years into the 10 year plan to end homelessness in Seattle and we still have tent cities as one of the better options to sleeping on the streets. What a shame!!

In the book "View from the Tent" the first chapter tells of the camps visit to this location and how it is the premier stop on their endless tour of various communities. Is this the best we can do for the Homeless?? (See video below)

The New Scrooge

Scrooge

The new Ryan budget has arrived to the cheers of those who want to privatize the most important social nets that keep so many from drowning in the pit of poverty.

How have we gotten to this point in our country?
How is cutting cutting cutting going to make it better for those on the margins?
Why is being an obstructionist as honorable as one who compromises and dedicates to making life better for everyone in society?
Why is wealth the marker, by which people are judged?
Why are we acquiescing to the uber rich on discussions which they have no experience?
They have not been poor, marginalized, lonely, criticized and abandoned because of their inability to accumulate bricks of money.
They have not slogged through the swamps of Viet Nam or belly crawled in the sands of Iraq or Afghanistan.
They dare to pound their chests taunting for war in Iran!

Crowds check their brains to hoot and holler for the very person who would insure that they were sent first to fight. Fight to protect the further accumulation of whatever it is that drives these men to shout for fiscal control, as they dump boatloads of cash into senseless foreign adventures.

We seem punch drunk by the constant assaults on our sensibilities.

I hope enough of us know what the right thing to do is, as we get pushed this way and that way by the daily cycle of news.

We need to go back to asking each and every time, “Is this in the best interests of the majority of our citizens?”

If it is-let them know!

If it isn’t – let them know!

Chill Out!

Photo by M Barrett Miller

Chill out!!

Recently I pulled away from the helter skelter noise of traffic-burdened streets to get a little peace and quiet.
The closest place to get out of the maelstrom was a massive cemetery that spans blocks of prime Seattle real estate.

As I sat listening to the rain pounding down I couldn’t help but notice a site preparation awaiting a long-term resident.
The longer I looked out the window the more the scene began to unfold.

I was wandering the past through the eyes of that noble fir standing quiet guard over the souls of thousands.
The present was under the sagging rain filled tarp waiting for guests to say their final goodbyes.
The future was in process under the watchful eye of the crane operator perched high above all the craziness below.

The longer I sat there the more ridiculous all the negative arguments raining down on us from strutting politicians seems so be in light of the obvious, just outside my window.
We are here as unseen flashes on the cosmic clock. Hardly long enough to make much of a dent in the workings of the universe.
The present candidates for the presidency continue to go on about the horrors of gay marriage, contraception, immigration, religious inferiors, tax equity and health care for all, as they saber rattle towards more conflict in the name of liberty.

Seems so simple.

Try your best to get out of your own way as you search for answers and someone to tell you are really okay and deserving of being loved.
Leave the rest of the searchers alone as they try to find some balance with all that is pulling at them, in one way or another, confusing them, as they desperately look for an answer somewhere-anywhere.
Let them live by what they have found workable for themselves.
Let them love whomever they love.
Leave them alone.
Don’t worry – be happy!

“…I shall be telling this with a sigh 

Somewhere ages and ages hence: 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference”
Robert Frost

What are they Thinking?

Whats going on here?
What are the Republicans thinking?
Is this a sound platform for the Republican party?
Have I gone nuts or have they left the rails?
Are women really who they want to target??

The following is from U.S. Senator Cantwell pleading for people to stand up and scream at those who seem determined to curtail the rights of women. 

"...Between Rush Limbaugh’s disgusting smears and Mitt Romney’s plan to “get rid of” Planned Parenthood, it's clear that the right wing will stop at nothing to advance their anti-women agenda. But now, the New York Times is reporting that Republicans plan to OPPOSE a critical extension of the Violence Against Women Act.  The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) -- which helps survivors of domestic violence -- will come to the floor for extension in the next few days. When VAWA first made its way through Congress in 1994, it enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Yet last week, not one Republican voted in favor of the extension in committee. Not one. And reports now say that Republicans are planning to oppose passage..."  

Stop KONY 2012

WHO IS JOSEPH KONY?

JOSEPH KONY IS THE WORLD’S WORST WAR CRIMINAL. IN 1987 HE TOOK OVER LEADERSHIP OF AN EXISTING REBEL GROUP AND RENAMED IT THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY (LRA).

THE LRA HAS EARNED A REPUTATION FOR ITS CRUEL AND BRUTAL TACTICS. WHEN JOSEPH KONY FOUND HIMSELF RUNNING OUT OF FIGHTERS, HE STARTED ABDUCTING CHILDREN TO BE SOLDIERS IN HIS ARMY OR “WIVES” FOR HIS OFFICERS. THE LRA IS ENCOURAGED TO RAPE, MUTILATE, AND KILL CIVILIANS–OFTEN WITH BLUNT WEAPONS.

THE LRA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE IN NORTHERN UGANDA (WHERE IT ORIGINATED) BUT IT CONTINUES ITS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, AND SOUTH SUDAN. IN ITS 26-YEAR HISTORY, THE LRA HAS ABDUCTED MORE THAN 30,000 CHILDREN AND DISPLACED AT LEAST 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF KONY 2012?

INVISIBLE CHILDREN HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 9 YEARS TO END AFRICA’S LONGEST-RUNNING ARMED CONFLICT. U.S. MILITARY ADVISERS ARE CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN CENTRAL AFRICA ON A “TIME-LIMITED” MISSION TO STOP KONY AND DISARM THE LRA. IF KONY ISN’T CAPTURED THIS YEAR, THE WINDOW WILL BE GONE.

WE ARE TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THESE TWO THINGS:

1) THAT JOSEPH KONY IS KNOWN AS THE WORLD’S WORST WAR CRIMINAL.

2) THAT THE U.S. MILITARY ADVISERS SUPPORT THE UGANDAN ARMY UNTIL KONY HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND THE LRA HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISARMED. THEY NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ALL THE WAY AND FINISH WHAT THEY HAVE STARTED.

WHY ARE WE MAKING JOSEPH KONY "FAMOUS"?

INVISIBLE CHILDREN’S KONY 2012 CAMPAIGN AIMS TO MAKE JOSEPH KONY FAMOUS, NOT TO CELEBRATE HIM, BUT TO RAISE SUPPORT FOR HIS ARREST AND SET A PRECEDENT FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE. IN THIS CASE, NOTORIETY TRANSLATES TO PUBLIC SUPPORT. IF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE CRIMES THAT KONY HAS BEEN COMMITTING FOR 26 YEARS, THEY WILL UNITE TO STOP HIM.

SECONDLY, WE WANT KONY TO BE FAMOUS SO THAT WHEN HE IS STOPPED, HE WILL BE A VISIBLE, CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE. THEN OTHER WAR CRIMINALS WILL KNOW THAT THEIR MASS ATROCITIES WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED OR UNPUNISHED.

See What we at Let Kids Be Kids is doing about it.

  For more information email us  letkidsbekids@mac.com