ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Glad to hear it went great, evan. I am looking forward to receiving my Ojai Peace Coalition baseball sleeve shirt that I purchased through the "wear peace" link above. Right on!

Thanks, Tyler! that's the one i have on right now!

for those who need the extra comfort of anonymity for submitting thoughts or ideas on the topics above, you have the option of using this web survey to share your self!

Hi Evan,
Sorry we missed the peacenic. I knew it'd be a good time. Hope you got some signatures.

Thanks, Evan and all. I was at the event. It was beautiful and enjoyable. I bought a Peace Coalition T-shirt and will wear peace proudly. Thanks too for raising fundamental questions about independence and interdependence relative to the 4th of July, our day of celebrating freedom.

I'd like to take this opportunity and site to do some self educating. I write about what I need to learn. I need to be honest with my feelings about what's going on today, Memorial Day in the US, which honors our soldiers. All across America there will be flag waving, parades, planes flying overhead, speeches, balloons, picnics and a lot of motoring by gas guzzlers with many resultant deaths. The same will happen in a month on the 4th of July. Let's face it. This patriotic back slapping is nonsense which does more harm than good. It covers up a multitude of sins and serves the purposes of those who would destroy our hard won freedoms. I considered bypassing the whole phony show but now believe I will show up on the fringes to gather a few signatures to limit chains.

Our ancestors fought for their freedom against government tyranny. The same is true today but it is our own US government which is tyrannizing us now. The enemy is within and it is US. 911, the signature event of the new American Empire, was an inside job, which most of US are in massive denial about. The US is killing a whole nation in Iraq so the rich can get richer. This is the kind of "independent" thought that we should be telling our children; this is what the schools should be teaching but guess what? The silence is thundering and speaks volumes about our complicity. The mainstream media won't touch truth with a ten foot pole. The only place you're going to catch a glimpse of truth is on sites like this that are still free to "independently" thinking posters.

We the People are "interdependent." That means that when our soldiers kill womem and children in Iraq, they are killing US. When we feel depressed, it is natural because a part of US is being tortured and killed, although we may be half way around the world in those "other" bodies. That's what interdependence means. Peace is a wonderful virtue and state which is "interdependent" with other virtues such as justice, love, truth and freedom. You can't have one without the other.

There is another "tough truth" which I must mention in this interwoven context of peace. Riding, or rather walking, my bicyle up those hills west of Ojai yesterday gave me a creepy feeling, despite the beautiful sunshiny day. It came from all the magnificent McMansions that surround our town, including the one at which the peacenic took place. I feel torn between gratitude for generous hosts whose hearts are in the right political place from my point of view and my need to tell the truth as I see it. I'll do it as sensitively as possible.

There is nothing wrong with wealth per se but in the "interdependent" context of the world today, it is problematic. I can't go into detail about money here but I need to raise the subject. The money structure today is corrupt and the taboos that surround it need to be deconstructed so that we can see the golden calf for what it is, an idol of deception. Where is the justice in a system of rich and poor classes? How can we ever have peace without addressing the injustice which the present money scheme is based on? WE've got to start unravelling this bundle of lies; and then and then only will we be free. Freedom takes "independent" thought and thinking requires freedom. "4th of July through a child's eye" is a good theme because a child has not yet (hopefully) been so brainwashed by the system that she can't see clearly. That's why the poor and children inherit the kingdom; and the rich fail to get through the eye of the needle.

A child will not learn about freedom from listening to the baloney being cut up and passed around as patriotic truth today. She might learn about it from listening to thoughtful adults discuss the subject, however. Most adults today, perceptively called sheeple and six pack joe's, are "memorializing" something they do not understand. Soldiers didn't die for their country as the politicians say; they died for the bankers and their money mansions. Soldiers gave their lives so the rich could get richer. When will we learn that bankers fund BOTH sides of war and start them in the first place? It's still going on. The cruel, awful truth. The bible writers had it right from their bitter experience with the Roman Empire: "you cannot serve Love (God) and Money (mammon); you will love the one and hate the other." The same can be said about the US Empire.

The truth will set you free. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The US is slipping into fascism right now because of US not speaking truth to power. We are conned by materialism, consumerism, bigism and all the other isms that end up consuming US. It's a complex problem all right but if we can see the root of evil, we can begin to dislodge it. Money is not evil in itself; it is just a neutral medium of exchange. It's the consciousness that surrounds and abuses money that is the problem. See "Money Masters" for an eye opener.

I'm all for peace but it won't happen until pursued in an interdependent family of virtues. Thanks for providing me this opportunity to do my bit for peace.

the Ojai, Ventura, California and World readers here will understand when I say that Evan and I have had an intermittent 2-year dialog going on -- as to why more and more people cannot support the institutions of 'Peace' activism (which only serve to promote the machine of War), and of 'Independence Day' (which only serves to promote the fraud of the US Constitution and universal serfdom of the US population/soldiery.)

for those who do NOT understand that the US government and constitution were formed solely for the purpose of enslaving the population to the court, bank and clerical institution of England and Europe -- well there are millions of documents to read on the internet.

here is one that was forwarded to one of my discussion groups today:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Seven-Seven/message/2798

thus Evan I hope understands why I cannot with any conscience attend gatherings billed as on the subject of Peace and Independence, when in fact the organizers and the attendees are NOT intending or discussing enlightenment, mindfulness, the calm and quiet of divine nature, and self-determination and self-fulfillment.

neither the Children, nor the Adults, of 'Awha'y (this Goddess Moon) are so shallow and insulated to not know the difference between promotion of the War Machine -- and support for healing, growing, connecting, awakening in harmony with all our world family and all our sacred relations.

only a dialog on spirit and culture, planet and people, is a dialog on peace and independence ...

love aka respect.

George Maxwell on soldier-slave-America ...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1866496783791986992&q=Jordan+Maxwell

..

breathing out my defensiveness, for that impulse does not serve me...

Millennium, thank you for writing clearly in common language...it reduces my frustration a great deal when i can understand what you're saying. if i am understanding at least one thing correctly, i would say that your short answer to the question "what does independence mean to you?" is: being free from the War Machine, being free from systems of control, and pursuing a path of connection and enlightenment, which for you is tied very deeply to nature. i thank you for that.

my experience is not the same as yours (thank goodness, eh?)...specifically in regard to the "intermittent 2-year dialog" you referred to. i do not consider us to be in dialog, although i think it's an important discussion to be had. i feel strongly about allowing this thread to continue to explore the questions i originally asked, so i can think of two options for you and i:

• you can begin a new thread with the "peace is war" scenario as the topic
• you and i can dialog via private email

the second option is not as tasteful to me (nor to you, i suspect), and is not suggested in the spirit of secrecy so much as to remove the distraction from this thread. perhaps that clearly illustrates the first option as the way to go. my participation ends when i feel unsafe.

Peace on.

PS: the engaging and intelligent gentleman in the video linked in your second post has a first name of Jordan, not George.

kia ora, Evan,

for demonstrating the difference between the raindrop and the river ... a voice and dialog ... an individual and community.

here is what is coming up for us this week, re: your question of independence, interdependence & peace ... to use your words.

Bilderberg 2007: Istanbul, Turkey May 31-June 3
http://www.danielestulin.com/?op=noticias¬icias=ver&id=318&idioma=en

realizing not all Valley residents need to be talked down to, that is dumbed-down, vocabularies diminished, in order to make the world more convenient for the consumer/war machine ...

Thanks, MT and evan, for the posts and the links. It seems a vital body of information which I want to explore further. Keep the info coming. It's helpful to me at least to keep the dialogue (or whatever you want to call it) public, insofar as that is feasible. I've come across bits and pieces of this "truth" before but I have many more dots to connect, I surmise.

It strikes me that the Bilderburg group is too big for anything to be really secret. How does Daniel Estulin get his information. What is the smaller group within it, or perhaps the handful of individuals, or even only one who is the force behind it? At any rate I'll be with them in spirit starting tomorrow.

I also find it interesting that this planetary/interplanetary info is coming to me in little ol' Ojai. Is O-High the "O" of the universe? Thanks to all.

aye 'Denny' --

the 'eye', the echo ..
whole valley, witnessing whole world.

inner fold of the outer fold,
WE infolding, unfolding ... . . . !

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Seven-Seven/message/2802

as the 'Peace' Coalition accelerates its disinfo campaign of promotion of US Enslavement (Bondage, Servitude, Incarceration) Day -- 4 July

Thanks, MT. Looks like I'll spend the day diving into this bottomless pit. The name Henry Kissinger jumped out at me; seems likely he'd be somewhere near that dark center. Wish I was more technically inclinded to surf this stuff but will depend on you to keep it coming trough the Ojai Post pipeline. Now I see why I didn't take the bus to Santa Maria today to try and make a difference regarding the gravel trucks. Investigating this stuff seems more important. Where is the bottom to this mess? Or is there no bottom? Is it all in our head? Ojai/Oeye/Ohigh/OI/OHi. The name is the game. I'll meditate on this echoing, folding O on my walk today on the Shelf overlooking O she is so high, so near the heart...love.

Someone wrote in the Ojai Valley news forum:

"The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river."

Very astute observation!I would submit that Evan exemplifies the latter and can afford to just ignore attacks by those who are the epitome of the former.

Anyone else out there feel the same way?

I agree with LTOR
Evans post was hijacked like so many others on this forum, and used as yet another opportunity to rant (speaking of bottomless pits) about the patriarchal society,government tyranny etc.
evan is truly someone that "walks his talk"

unfortunately, in the case of Evan and the 'Peace' Coalition, these children and the frauds encouraging them, are NOT seeking to either call attention to, or to clean up, the goonland river aka the US Constitution.

they are promoting the fraud, and the continental and global servitude and rapacity that it legalizes and legitimizes. certainly, I am sure, there are members of the Valley community who want to continue the fraud (of the US government, and of the '4th of July, Servitude Day' parade and celebration here in town) but not anyone with a fragment of heart or mind, or any respect for the planet or our children.

from what I have seen of Evan, he is a truthseeker who is hanging his youthful ignorance out for all to see -- that he may learn the truth faster and deeper -- as we have no more time left for the old boy ways of shoot first, and (maybe) ask questions later ...

for all our sacred relations!

MT: Why are you so mean to Evan? Evan is the real deal.

What have YOU done to help stop the war in Iraq, or the genocide in Darfur, or feeding the hungry of the world, etc., etc. etc.?

I wouldn’t expect you to fully comprehend this because I honestly don’t think you have full grasp of what the “rest of us face” out there or what’s really going on in the world, but suffice it to say, it’s a VERY complicated world out there: pragmatism and a realistic outlook is a key factor in bringing about change. If everyone throughout history waited for the “utopia” you describe in order to act, or wanted to save the world in one fell swoop, where in the hell would we all be today?!?! Do you really think that all those people who are dying and suffering RIGHT NOW give a damn about what you write and or your grand vision of the world?!?!

I know you feel it would be beneath you to sully your soul in order to work within the system in order to effect change, so why not let Evan and others do what they do best. Save your preaching for the things that you actually practice. Otherwise, your words are impotent.

Many typos in my post above - should have proofed. Sorry.

And I think it's obvious, but if not - my message was directed to MT.

it seems Millennium has uncovered what we have been trying our best to cover up. our own naivete and reluctance to part with what was once an image of goodness and morality. we have been doing the Devil's work while imagining we were angels. it has taken the light of Evan's return from college (and MT's return from rocket science) to help us see the truth.

I am rather amused at being dismissed as a fraud. I don't need anyone else's approval for me to be in alignment with my path in life, and I don't believe I am willfully ignorant in my knowledge or my efforts to make the world a better place.

I have confidence that evan is in the process of effecting positive change in the world. And I am happy to put my money where my mouth is - more on that coming soon.

the world needs dreamers,
the world needs doers,
but most of all the world needs dreamers that do...

we've been down this road before, and i again appreciate the support and community that i find in many of you.

basically the only thing that upsets me is that there doesn't seem to be room in Millennium's world for both he AND i.

“Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.”
-Oscar Wilde

brothers Evan, Tyler, all,

I never had a class on economics or banking -- my undergraduate major was Science, Engineering and Public Policy -- yet I do however vividly recall my first and only public policy class. it was Poli-Sci 105, I think, autumn of 1982, at UC Berkeley. the teacher was the chief of staff for California Senate Leader David Roberti, and he brought members from both parties, and both houses of the Legislature, as well as a large spectrum of lobbyists to teach us the how and the why of public policy making in California and Washington DC. Nancy Pelosi was one of our speakers, as was Senator John Garamendi -- who a week later invited me to intern in Sacramento.

what was most unforgettable about the class, in addition to the line up of teachers, was WHAT we were taught. concisely it boiled down to why all those laws were legislated or revised every year: because that is how the legislators, the democratic and republican politicians, raised the million of dollars every 2-4 years to get themselves and their dependents re-elected. the savvy, long-lived, and successful legislators were those who flooded the legislative queue each year with bills (strictly boiler-plate legislation on ALL issues of volatility and prominence). whether they were republican or democrat, it didn't matter whether they were for or against any issue or cause -- because either way they would receive thousands or tens of thousands of dollars of donations from BOTH sides of the lobbying community for any bill. lobbyists who were against a bill would provide donations against the bill, and those that were for it would provide donations supporting it -- no matter whether the legislation and legislator were for or against it.

the bill was shaped and re-shaped during the year in response to all the donations -- and at the end of the year whichever side donated the most determined the bill which passed.

pretty much any day and night of the week, we staffers as well as the legislators could attend any number of free lunches and dinners, alcohol overflowing and checks written (to the Campaign Funds) -- underwritten by every business, corporation, guild and activist group in the State of California and much further around the country and world.

no ethics, no morality, no one looking at the larger picture or how to save Mother Earth. someone like me who had no corporate sponsor and no political ambitions was referred to humorously as a 'true believer'. eventually the, sad and mistaken, legislation that I had written on my own -- proposing the US/International Space Station Program -- was 'put across the desk' by Senator Art Torres, the "Big A" as he was called. Art was 32 years old at the time, and I was 27, and he would laugh when I referred to myself and the network of Space Station supporters as "kids". he made it quite clear that from such 'kids' any baby was possible, including obviously white elephant Space Station programs benefitting a 'neo-Roman' global military aerospace machine decimating a planet.

so, Evan my colleague, it may indeed seem to be a small classroom we are in -- yet we ARE all here speaking/participating to the best of our abilities, and I do not see any claiming that they would rather be elsewhere, or that you or I or the others should be dismissed for our extraordinary scholarship.

for all our beloved sacred relations,

Millennium Twain

I'm not sure how to begin this comment. The only thing clear in my thoughts is that I want to convey to Evan, and those like him, those in Ojai and beyond, an appreciation for walking their talk. I don't buy the argument that he and others are naive participants in the promotion of the status quo. The art of self destruction, is what that argument conveys to me. It seems to me, in the grand scheme of things, that politics is inevitable. One must do what one must do to influence others. Whether you sell a product, a doctrine, a concept, you have to engage others. There is no getting around this imperative to transforming a collective conscious. I have to conclude that willing participants such as those in the peace movement are not promoting the status quo, are not interested in promoting the the status quo, nor are they remotely promoting the art of self destruction.

?What would happen if all those in the endeavor to promote peace, to expose all the lies and ills of todays government in power, were to stop? ?Would we be any closer to a society that is above all this ilk? So to say to our 'naive' participants 'thou knowest not what you do' is not a viable alternative to engaging in the flesh, to meeting people, building relationships, explaining your view for another way face to face.

The Peacenic on Sunday continues to this Friday; that's a pretty good attention span for this quick bite TV dinner age; such is the power of a symbolic peace event, and the confluence of evan's influence.

Peace is a noble cause. The nobles have always desired their kind of peace which requires the serfs to hold their peace and perform their piece of the action.

Peace is the seat of power, held up by the three legged triumvirate of truth, justice and love.

Truth hurts. Justice cleans house. Love is tough.

The Ojai Post is a pillar reaching down to the core of the earth insofar, and until it relinguishes it role as a press for truth. Truth is not necessarily pretty. Justice is not a petty respector of persons. Love is not a sexy pet.

At a peace picnic, we all have our parts to play; even the ants. I'm happy to see that more are joining the conversation on the Ojai picnic quilt. Peace is a warm fuzzy blanket but unless it rests on solid ground, our peacenic valley will sink in the quicksand of quick fixes and quickmoney.

If Ojai's post rests in the earth's core, Ojai will be an oasis of water by day and a pillar of fire by night. If she becomes ungrounded, she'll be trucked away with the gravel and picnic debris. Ojai, Ojai, if you only knew what was for your peace. Pick up the picnic pieces; leave the valley as you found it.

Millennium,

perhaps you are sharing that you've seen the dirty inner workings of politics, that you were disillusioned and burned by it at a young age. perhaps you see me beginning to tread a similar path, and your desire to protect me is heated and urgent.

that's one way to read your last post above, and it's a way i can appreciate. the intent is endearing, even if the language can sometimes be coarse. thank you...the wisdom of those who have gone before tempers the sometimes-unsafe speed at which i try to learn and grow.

anyone have ANY ideas for connecting Peace and Independence, through children's eyes? :)

I think you hit it squarely on the head. But only MT can vouch for that. I had an experience in business politics one time, that was not at all what I had envisioned for myself. I personally was devastated by the evil tactics employed by many around me. I stayed clear from anything remotely resembling that experience, until I was more adept at anticipating the worst in people. Sad. But that is a true part of life.

love and respect our children. all our family members who are children. use the words of truth, engage them in learning and speaking. do not enroll, coerce, politically-maneuver them in a war machine masquerading as peace.

we could get all the classrooms in the Valley of Goddess Moon involved in the response, and I am willing to work with you and the Peace Coalition on it -- when and if the Peace Coalition starts teaching about peace (love, cultivation, enlightenment, healing, life in harmony with nature, quiet, mindfulness, deliberation, cultural respect).

independence means an end to political coercion masquerading as education or a 'peace' movement. it is not peace when we promote the machine of slavery (Constitution, US Government, US Media, US School Systems, World Banking System, the Medical establishment ...)

how can their be any independent thought, when ALL the major media and institutions are owned by those who are support war and indenture as a means to profit. [and as a means to enroll the children in the fraud of politics and "the Fourth of July" -- exactly, precisely, as is the Ojai Peace Coalition.

all you have to do, Evan, to have my support, and the support of many others in your work -- is to to drop the coercion and expand the message, and words and actions, of the Coaltion to actually BE Peace. to speak truth, to speak for people and life. to speak to amending the War Machine forever.

to do so requires that you point out that the War Machine is speaking lies and doing evil. that all our media is owned by those speaking lies -- and ditto the government and corporations, BOTH sides of the political fence.

Bush is doing the same evil that was carried on by Clinton before, and will be carried on by Gore or Hillary afterwards. Stop being a force for further subjugation, and be a heart and mind of awakening and healing.

allow myself and others to support you.

speak a message of loving truth, if you would end the emotional or superficial nature of the campaign, and make it a joyous one in which children CAN be involved. in which we would WISH to bring children.

not as in the joke of the Ojai 4th of July Parade, where children are intentionally enrolled in historic, military, and corporate fraud.

let the message of the 4th of July in Goddess Moon be one of a message from the PEOPLE, not the politburo, a message for the children, for a change.

not another message of defrauding the children.

a greening of this Ojai, Valley of the Goddess Moon,
nurturing and growing, again.

Evan,
As usual, I'm checking in way late in the discussion, too late to comment on all of the above except to say that MT's position has been reiterated over and over on this blog. Frankly, too many long (dare I say) tirades are turning me off, but more on that another time.

In response to your original post (hey, remember that?) I wanted to share with you a "Declaration of Interdependence" that some of us wrote in honor of the bicentennial in 1976. We read it aloud at an alternative event we sponsored back then in Libbey Park. I scanned the original document and will email it to you as a jpeg because I don't know how to post it here. Maybe you know how. Anyway, thought you'd get a kick out of it.

thanks, Lanny!

it's one of the more beautifully simple ones i've seen...i'll go back and post the image up in the original post.

in case the image is difficult to read (keeping the file size small so as not to strain the Post's heart), here's the text:

Declaration of Interdependence
Now is the time in the course of human events for people to dissolve the illusions that separate them from one another and to affirm their Unity while declaring their Freedom. We hold these truths to be self-evident:
• That all living things are created equal. One life is equal to one life, be it plant or animal, large or small.
• That they are endowed by virtue of their creation with certain unalienable rights and that among these are Life, Love, Free Expression, and a Harmonious Environment.
• That these rights have meaning only within the principle that all living things are Interdependent. Life is a whole, no part of which can exist isolated from the rest.
• That no one is Free unless all are Free.

Thank you, Lanny, for sending Evan the 1976 Declaration of Interdependence! Nice to see the image of the original document.

And here's my opportunity to chime in and echo what you said, " too many long tirades are turning me off." I ask myself, "Don't these people have notebooks under their pillows where they can vent to their heart's content?" It's a good thing I do!

I can appreciate that notebooks are very useful for those who have not learned to read and write. Yet I assume that this OjaiPost forum is for those who wish to discuss the issues -- aka what is a true life of peace, not that which is promoted in the media and schools? How do we get out from the system of indenture, and be free of the decades-old and centuries-old secret debts and obligations which make up our chains? What is the non-secret way of a life of harmony -- cultural respect and celebration -- of our ten times greater economy of interdependence? Global family demonstrated, planetary healing (Green Coalitioning) practiced?

For the remaining months, years, hours, seconds of life left -- of all our sacred relations, bird and fish, lizard and leopard, tree and flower ...

Surely you don't mean that first sentence about notebooks! By notebook I meant a journal or diary where we can write stream of consciousness, our inner most thoughts, without editing or worrying if anyone understand us.

I've been trying to answer Evan's question for awhile now, and I admit I'm not able to. I've asked my daughter and her friend what peace and independence means to them. They both mentioned freedom to do things like walking to the store without a parent(me) tagging along. To bring home a boyfriend-aint happening yet. Freedom to choose what to buy for themselves at the store.

In other words, to them, it was the freedom to act in meeting or exploring their needs or wants. I realized, how could it be anything else in such young minds. They know our ancestors fought for freedom and that July 4th we commemorate/celebrate their success.

When asked about peace specifically, my daughter mentions peace and quiet. No yelling, no screaming, no fighting. Her context is within her home, among her friends, and at her school. It's not in Iraq, Afghanistan nor the Jungles of Columbia where the United State has been perpetrating crimes against humanity for years.

That is about as far as I can go in trying to meet such a question. But I would like say what it means to me.

First, I love the 4th of July celebrations. The only thing I don't like is when I see our current president at activities for the fourth where he doesn't belong. He is not a representative of what our forefathers fought for. I'm totally disgusted by him. And he is not a representative of me, of my family. I'm just as ashamed he is our president as the Dixie Chicks are. It is amazing how such a cocaine addled brain became president of our country. A little harsh, yeah, so is over 3,500 dead Americans, and at this rate, soon to be 3/4 to 1 million dead Iraqis in a relatively short time from now, already past the 600,000 thousand estimate.

I believe in our constitution. I don't see it as MT or D.L.. If we were in China, trying post something like I just did, I would be in jail, beaten and any number of things could happen to my family. That is not to say we don't have political reprisals here at home, Valery Plame Wilson. But here we have the press. For several years they haven't done their job. But now, some are and we are getting some exposure of the misdeeds with great detail. You won't hear anything bad in the china post(if there is one) about their misdeeds. All this is possible for nothing else other than our Constitution. No other bounded land of people has such protections afforded them.

I live in the world around me, not the world I would like. Though there is plenty to like in this world. I'm a pragmatist. I make do, I do without sometimes, I do for others when I can, and when and where I can, I do what is necessary to improve or change a situation. Our forefathers were quite the same way, as most of their time were. The difference, they hadn't the freedoms to act on their instincts. Once they won our independence, practical solutions to problems in all facets of life were a common occurrence. People of the new country were surpassing their counter parts around the world in commerce and agriculture, and infrastructure, the makings of a super economy, and it is still going on. With problems to be sure.

The constitution gave the congress authority over the economy in certain respects. Thus allowing for regulation to gain a specific effect. Still not a perfect solution. Abuses abound. But no other system devised is capable of handling 300,000,000 million people as efficiently, or fairly.

Many of the wars that our country fought were not honorable, such as most of the Indian Wars. The Korean and Vietnam Wars, Iraq. But some were, like WWI and WWII, and Afghanistan.

Imagine what the world would have been like if we hadn't fought in WWI and WWII. Again, it's not a perfect system.

The peace we want now from the Iraqi War is borne of the reasonable mind. It's an unreasonable person at the helm of our misguided country. There is so much more to say. But I close with this. To say those who march for peace are some how not in touch with what they are doing, not able to see how they are continuing this mythical, maniacal, oppressive construct that is the United States is pure bullshit. I can't think of a better word, I don't like using such in writing but somehow that fits.

Peace.

Evan,

You are a nonviolent communicator extraordinaire. Thank you for being such a good role model.

Dennis Leary,
I don't really know you, but since you say that you have a fondness for truth, and a desire to 'self educate', I thought I'd let you know that you made several radically erroneous assumptions in your post. More research, less posting - what do you think?

MT,
I wish for you a long rest.

Suza,
I love the practicality of your suggestions; would you consider running for major again? Oh, please?

With love,
in peace,
Peggy La Cerra

P.S. My informants tell me I misspelled 'mayor'. Will you run for either mayor or major, Suza?

thanks Dana, Suza, Peggy, all ...

definitely I am known for my impatience, as much as for my patience. yet when I write in verse, poetry, emphasis on the transcendent, beautiful, nurturing -- I get comments from the peanut gallery that nobody can understand verse.

or case in point, Dennis Leary who is always VERY clear with his writing -- we always hear a detailed portrait of his thoughts and views on 'econ-politics'. yet then HE gets silly remarks from the floor, complaining about his stream of consciousness writing.

well, that is what real writing is -- the ability to convey your thoughts and feelings. that is what I meant, warm-hearted Suza, when I suggested that we go ahead and dialog, go ahead and blog. that is what a blog is for, and what a chance for us to learn and grow, and grow this greening Ojai valley family.

yes, most certainly, I DO understand Evan's frustration -- waiting for a wider audience and a wider discussion here -- seeking for participation by children on the broader, deeper, truly meaningful questions. I experienced the same frustration last couple of days searching on the net, for some posts of children speaking on the issues of the day: why are our government and schools and television and newspapers and radio all beholden to big money, and all speaking the same lies? why are we ALWAYS enrolled in more wars and cultural violence and ecological destruction? why is no one asking the questions of WHO received the fifty Trillion dollars from the 911 Operation? who are the trillionaire (literally) guilds pulling the strings? was it the Bilderbergers who managed the Operation? were they the beneficiaries, orchestrators, or just another front for those who do call the shots, and reap the dividends?

am curious to know the plan for this years Peace Coalition float -- how about "Monarchy, Republic, or Direct Democracy?" "Which would be all inclusive, and entitle, protect, further ALL people?" The float could be our local artist/performer/activists all dressed up in the black/white regalia of the ruling families/castes of Britain, Europe, Japan, India, China ... perhaps a 'mile-long-limo' of all these celebrities parading their prestige and power before the public -- when surprise surprise, mid-way down Ojai Avenue hundreds of colorful real people climb aboard the limo -- proclaiming that we are ALL NOW ROYALTY -- and all are entitled to participate in the dialog and the works and the benefits of society, enterprise, government, world healing, etc. etc.

By definition, the end of the Global Security State -- because we are ALL now in on the research, science, discussion, decision-making, and planetary reforesting, oceanic purifying, atmospheric cleansing.

Peacnics become royalty, and royalty become peaceniks -- as we will no longer permit anything less that global loving and respect ... awakened, one, connected ... divine family.

(I'm back from an absolutely wonderful outdoor concert in Carpinteria, a benefit for The Rythmic Arts Project (TRAP), the extraordinary non-profit run by Eddie Tuduri who uses percussion and music to enrich the lives of the developmentally disabled. Among the excellent performers was Ojai's own Jimmy Calire. You may have missed this year's but check their website and get on the mailing list for next year.)

Real quick, I'm fascinated by this blogging thing and full of hope for its potential to democratize our world. We are the pioneers. We will continue to develop codes of behavior in this new medium. Perhaps we will create sidebars or someplace where people can expound at greater length on their points after they have entered a succint comment that allows the conversation to flow at a more natural pace, moere akin to the give-and-take of a face-to-face discussion in real time.

Good morning....What wonderful Posts to drink my morning organic soy coffee by.
Special to Peggy: If re-elected, I will be a major mayor. The majority will vote for a warm-hearted mayor. (That's how I finally learned the difference between "major" ad "mayor.")

Ojai Trivia: At my 40th Reunion held this past week-end (Nordhoff High School Class of 1967) Steve Olsen pointed out that ours is the only class to EVER produce 3 mayors: Richard Conrad, Steve and yours truly!

(More about my 40th Reunion in a future humor column! I still don't know if I dreamt it or if it really happened!)

Greetings Peaceniks,
If you would like to continue to foment peace & share info, Ojai House is starting a 2nd Sunday of each month 'Salon d' Artistes' on the patio, noon - 5:pm, this june 10th. We will have local artists creating & selling their wares, as well as music, sort of a 'pre-op' to the Farmer & Cook's 'Brand New Opry' with Jonathan McEuen. Wine and cheese! Whine and cheese..bring it on! If you have flyers or info on upcoming events it will be the place to disseminate info. All are welcome, if you aren't familiar with our patio, it is a great place to meet your friends. Peace & Love, Meg

I saw a poster for the Peace Coalition's 4th of July parade prep events at Libbey Park this week (for kids to bring/make posters etc....) I'd like to attend, and I'd like to forward the invite to friends on a large mom's listserve I'm in, but I'm having a hard time finding the information electronically. I didn't want to remove the poster and couldn't recall the details once at home, so hopedI could find the information on line, but nothing so far. Can someone forward me the dates, times, locations etc...? Thanks!
Annika