The Devil is in the Details and Fine Print of the Secret Trade Deal

Keep on the alert for the White House/Rangel Trade deals that are anything but balanced and fair!


by Karita M. Hummer

Reposted from John Edwards blog

http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/9/12/34346/3542

The Devil is in the Details and Fine Print of the Secret Trade Deal

user icon Karita Hummer in Action Feed of
9/12/2007 at 10:59 AM EST

Keep on the alert for the White House/Rangel Trade deals that are anything but balanced and fair!

David Sirota is back with his alerts on the Secret Trade Deal just in time to keep us on our toes with the combination of the Greed and Crony-driven Unitary Executives, Bush and Cheney, weak-kneed, waffling Congress-persons, and even worse, some strong-arming tactics by some members of the Democratic Party, all at the behest of K-Street Lobbyists.

This is John Edwards issue for sure and why so many Unions are seeing him as the candidate for change that America needs. Finally, a candidate on our side, who will help balance the equation for fair trade!

Here is breaking news as reported by David Sirota on Sept. 4th.

http://www.workingassetsblog.com/2007/09 /secret_trade_deal_new_report_s.html

"BREAKING - PANAMA DEAL'S FINE PRINT DESIGNED TO HELP BIG BUSINESS EVADE U.S. TAXES: In a stunning report found here and/or here, Peter Riggs of the Forum on Democracy & Trade finds that the language of the proposed Panama Free Trade Agreement "includes provisions that would allow subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, incorporated in a tax haven destination with minimal disclosure requirements, to use an ad-hoc international legal process to challenge laws passed by elected officials in the United States."" David Sirota, Real-world wisdom from outside the beltway, Tuesday, September 4, 2007
"SECRET TRADE DEAL: Report Shows Bush/Dem Pact Designed to Let Big Business Evade U.S. Taxes"

It is just this kind of unfair trade that we can count on John Edwards to fight when he is in the White House and why it is so important to work tirelessly and ceaselessly to get him elected.

Call your Congressional representatives to let them know that you expect trade that levels the playing field and returns workers concerns and the environment to a proper balance in the trade equation. Then, if you haven't already, join One Corps, donate to the Edwards Campaign, work in your precincts, go to Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, phone bank in your own state or one of these early sates, wear your buttons, blog, write your Editor and talk, talk, talk to anyone who will listen. Let fellow workers know that John Edwards is on our side.

We have our work cut out for us!

Karita Hummer
San Jose, CA

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award for grannyhelen's "Kumbaya and the Politics of Race"

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award



Reposted from John Edwards blog


http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/9/12/91827/6904

Kumbaya and the Politics of Race

user icon grannyhelen in Diaries Feed of grannyhelen's Diary
9/12/2007 at 9:18 AM EST

There comes a time when regardless of how much that inner voice tells you restraint is the higher form of virtue, you just have to trudge forward and get your hands in the dirt.

This is one of those times.

My personal breaking point came yesterday when reading that somehow certain folks think that John Edwards was using a racial slur when referring to Barack Obama as a "kumbaya" candidate.

I read these comments in yesterday's Huffington Post, under an article with the title "Edwards Smacks Obama As "Kumbaya" Candidate" (link is here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/c omments/2007/09/11/63942). This is actually an excerpting of a larger article in the New Yorker (link here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/ 09/17/070917fa_fact_lizza?printable=true ).

Just for the record, here is the exact quote from the article:

"...Edwards dismisses Obama's argument that more consensus is needed in Washington. The difference between them, Edwards told me, is the difference between "Kumbaya" and "saying, `This is a battle. It's a fight.'..."

Nowhere in this article does the author mention that Edwards' intention was a racial slur. Nowhere does the author even think to ask whether a racial slur was intended.

Nowhere does the thought that this could be a racial slur ever even appear to pop into the author's head.

Why is that? Well...because "kumbaya" is not a racial slur.

First, some background on the song. The song appears to have originated among the Gullah people of the South Carolina coast:

"...According to ethnomusicologist Thomas Miller, the song we know began as a Gullah (an African-American people living on the Sea Islands and adjacent coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia, see also here) spiritual. Some recordings of it were made in the 1920s, but no doubt it goes back earlier. Published versions began appearing in the 1930s..." (http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_col umnists_ezorn/2006/08/someones_dissin.ht ml)

The first claim of ownership of the song comes from a Rev. Marvin Frey in the 1930's. The most reknowned use of the song is Joan Baez's recording of it in 1962, where it became associated with the civil rights movement.

As far as the derisive references to the song, in pop culture it is meant to personify someone who is helplessly encased in rose colored glasses, who naively assumes that just by sitting down and talking all of the world's problems can be immediately solved.

For instance, Arianna Huffington uses it in this September 2006 article, "Bill Clinton and Laura Bush: Homogenizing the '06 Election":

"...By making nice with Laura and promoting a kumbaya, "we're all in this together" atmosphere Clinton is blurring the very real distinctions between Democrats and Republicans and homogenizing the '06 race. And homogeneity is death in elections..." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-hu ffington/bill-clinton-and-laura-bu_b_298 68.html)

Or this reference by then-President Clinton's spokesperson:

"...Smooth sailing," Mr. Clinton said as he led the leaders single-file off the passenger ferry Tyee and into the lodge. "I don't now if they are going to be holding hands and singing 'Kumbaya,' but this is just what the President had in mind," said Lorraine Voles, a White House spokeswoman. "This all about getting to know each other..." (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Etymology-Mea ning-Words-1474/Idiomatic-use-kumbaya.ht m)

Or this recent use by David Sirota (thanks to blogger mkj for the research on this one):

"...I've written a lot about Obama, including a major piece for The Nation magazine last year. In my time studying his career, it became obvious that this is a person who wants to do the right thing and has genuinely strong convictions. But he also seems to believe that the reason our country has such challenges is because all sides of every issue have not come together in unity (I've gone back and forth wondering whether this is a sincere belief or merely a justification for overly cautious behavior, but I'm not a psychoanalyst, so I have no idea).

The problem with this outlook is that it fundamentally misunderstands why we are at this moment in history. Forty-five million Americans are uninsured, and millions more underinsured not because low-income health advocates and the insurance industry haven't sat down together and sung Kumbaya..." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-siro ta/i-want-to-believe_b_40901.html)

But I think one of my favorite uses of this word to illustrate this point comes in this over-the-top video game:

Nowhere have I ever heard "Kumbaya" used as a racial slur. Not even the notorious white-power group Stormfront uses this as a racial slur (and trust me - they use all of them).

So why do some Obama supporters suddenly think Edwards is using this as a racial slur when he refers to him at the "kumbaya candidate"? I wish I knew.

Racism is an ugly thing, and the charge of racism is one that as a society we do not take seriously enough. It is not a blunt instrument to be used on people simply because you don't agree with them. Tossing it around lightly and without merit removes power from the word itself, equating it to just so much political correctness.

Let's talk about the issues, let's debate the positions. But please, let's not invent racism where none exists.

"Challenge And Implementation Of CITO: John Edwards Gave The Gettysburg Address Of The 21ST Century" by Ashiqul Saiyed awarded KH Silver Pen Award

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award


Reposted from John Edwards Blog

http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/9/10/20353/0435#19


Challenge And Implementation Of CITO: John Edwards Gave The Gettysburg Address Of The 21ST Century
asaiyed777 in Arguments & Analyses
9/11/2007 at 9:32 AM EST


From a close distance, it was nice to watch John Edwards delivering a speech at Pace University Auditorium in NYC. It was even nicer to listen to a very important speech in which he launched a New Deal and that should have hit the headlines. Anyway, it is very important that John Edwards message hit every household in the nation. Let us all propagate his message.

The centerpiece of his new deal is a new multilateral organization called the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Treaty Organization or CITO, the acronym.

John Edwards talked about the need of a Counterterrorism Policy that would actually counter terrorism - a new deal that would thwart 21st Century threats with 21st Century tactics. He is right in every sense. 21st Century is the century of the World Wide Web. Life in the Era of WWW is like a chain-link fence, each human like a link is interconnected yet independent. Life is worth living and it should be that way for very human being. In reality, at each instance, when that does not happen a link is broken and a menace comes out of that. The root cause of terrorism is inequity and social injustice multiplying in unstable social and political environments.

John Edwards approach was, therefore, marvelous as he talked about eliminating poverty from a global perspective, increasing the funding for global primary education, expanding micro-finance programs and providing support for sanitation and preventive healthcare in developing nations. He also talked about dramatically increasing our promotion of constitutional democracies and the rule of law across the developing world to create political stability that would deter conditions of extremism.

Let me explain from personal experience what a pragmatic and practicable idea John Edwards put forth: I am forty-five years old and was born, raised and educated in Bangladesh. I am not institutionally highly educated, just a Bachelor Degree and not fortunate enough to go to college here in the United States. Even then I grew up with a tremendously positive attitude toward the United States. One might wonder why or how! When I was a kid, Franklin Publications had a nation-building program in Bangladesh under patronage from USIS (United States Information Service) later changed name to USICA (United States International Cultural Agency). In this program Franklin published over four hundred quality books on different topics authored by famous American writers. Those books were published in Bengali, the language of Noble Laureates Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel Prize in Literature), Amartya Sen (Nobel Prize in Economics) and Mohammed Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize as the proponent of micro-lending and founder of Grameen Bank).

Those nation-building books for the children were the richest in content yet unbelievably the cheapest in the market as they were subsidized. I was fortunate enough to go through some of the books; learned about America and its people, world history, scientific discoveries, etcetera. Therefore, as I was growing up, I was growing up with a positive attitude toward America and its people and a sort of indebtedness was developing in my mind as I could buy three or even four of those wonderful nation-building books for the price of one regularly priced book selling on the market. So, there were perfectly wise/effective public relations back then. Unfortunately, the program stopped, USIS or USICA now history and deprived our next generation from the opportunity to know America by the heart. I presume that USIS sponsored Nation-Building Program was running in other countries as well and ended at the same time when it came to an end in the country where I was born and raised. I think it was during the early 1970's. Therefore, during the last 36 years or so, all over the world, young generation was growing up knowing very little about America; rather, the generation was growing up nurturing a negative attitude toward America as the culture in third world countries was for good or bad reasons to blame America for their economic encumbrances, political instability, inequity, social injustice and other internal problem. In extreme cases children were growing up with animus toward the United States and could easily be motivated to carry out subversive activities against the United States. Within certain groups the hatred was so intense among certain individuals that they would not hesitate a bit before destroying America at the expense of themselves - they are the suicide bombers. Surprisingly, most of them are very young and below 36. How many suicide bombers over 40 carried out their mission? If the reward of suicide bombing is placement in heaven then why did not we see suicide bombers over 40, 50 and even 60, who have lived their lives considerably past the lives of the young suicide bombers who carried the mission, instead and spared those young people who had lives to live? Motivation and brainwash are required to bring about a suicide bomber out of a human being. My point is, therefore, for the last 36 years or so detachment and disengagement from the Nation-building Program by the United States left a breeding ground for terrorism and gave rise to the worldwide terrorism against the United States.

Therefore, John Edwards as he says in his speech, " Several months ago, I proposed a sweeping effort to eliminate the poverty and instability that create the condition for extremism, including increasing our funding for global primary education to $ 3 billion a year, expanded micro finance programs, ramping up our support for sanitation and preventive healthcare in developing nations, and dramatically increasing our promotion of constitutional democracies and the rule of laws across the developing world" is an effective and 21st Century tactics against 21st Century threat.

John Edwards envisioned CITO, Counterrorism Intelligence and Treaty Organization. CITO will bring all nations together to fight terrorism by voluntarily sharing financial, police, customs and immigration intelligence. CITO will create a historic new coalition by connecting a wide range of nations including countries on all the continents in their fight against terrorism as most of them share a common interest in shutting down terrorism. Countries that are presently alienated or hostile to the United States shall also be embraced. Very importantly and quite wittingly John Edwards called for working hard at home to ensure that extremist ideologies do not take hold in our own Muslim communities and that must be done within the realms of Civil Liberty and respect for diversity and without racial profiling. He further said that when he would become the President he would encourage American Muslim participation in public life as he would put new resources to engage American Muslims, empower mosques to counter extremist ideas and work hand-in-hand with Muslim communities to identify and isolate threats.

John Edwards talked about establishing a "Marshal Corps" patterned after the military reserves that would include at least 10,000 civilian experts. Its members will be deployed abroad to serve on reconstruction, stabilization and humanitarian mission. CITO, therefore, shall have Goodwill Ambassadors who would restore our damaged image and rebuild the broken trust.

John Edwards has the prescience to understand what would make CITO a strong organization, as he pointed out the need for improving the quality of human intelligence of the people who would be running CITO through a thorough understanding of local languages, cultures and the people. He, therefore, mentioned giving out 1000 new annual scholarships for students who would be pursuing careers in intelligence and diplomacy. Definitely, we need a multitude of Lawrence of Arabia to counter terrorism.

Echoed through John Edwards' speech what a precarious world we live in today. The mutual trust is lacking, everyone is holding one's fire and racing to acquire as much weapon as one could possibly get. Now, a man named John Edwards stands up to say that we will be better off when the world is free of nuclear weapons. Wouldn't you like to see such a man as the President of the United States?

Whoever is reading this I entreat him to read John Edwards' speech in its entirety. What a magnificent speech! Please read not only to understand the purport of the speech but also to absorb it. John Edwards' speech was not for America only, but for the entire world. So eloquently John Edwards put, " Do we have the vision to imagine a better world? Of course we do. Do we have the strength to protect our people? Of course we do. And do we have the guts to say, we know that this struggle is not just about our future, it is about your future, wherever you live, whoever you are? Of course we do".

The ending of John Edwards' speech was magical, " This is America, after all. We are more than a place. We are an idea. An idea that has changed the world and will change it again and again. We are freedom, equality and respect. A beacon once lit that can never be put out". I simply call John Edwards' speech at Pace University as the Gettysburg Address of the 21st century.

The Challenge of CITO:

As John said quite truly, " It's important to note that CITO is not a Panacea, nor will it be perfect. But it would represent the first step in a new direction", I foresee three great challenges that need to be overcome in order to make CITO a success:

1. Rebuilding The Trust: The most important challenge is to regain the trust of the world community. To regain the trust we simply cannot sidetrack the immigration issue. We cannot be beacon of hope to the world community while they watch us deporting the undocumented aliens en masse. We should bring out immigration as on of the key issues. If not amnesty, a chance to legally work is a must (http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/8 /29/23059/3299).

2. Religious Harmony and Tolerance In Homeland: We do not have a statistics how many American Muslims dropped Mohammed from their names. But we know that is happening in America. We do not have a statistics how many American Muslim did not get even a call to appear for a job interview despite applying and being qualified for the job. If we do not change our attitude toward Muslims, will people in Muslim countries work with us to eliminate terrorism?

3. Working With Terrorists To Eliminate Terrorism: Many governments in third world countries are terrorists themselves and have their own muscleman to suppress the people. Political killing, vendetta, corruptions and vice are rampant in those countries. How will they work with us as a partner of CITO?

The Implementation of CITO:

1. A Lesson To Learn From India: On August 14 of 1947, the Indian subcontinent was partitioned into two Countries: (1) The Present Secular India and (2) Pakistan, meaning Holy Land, a country formed for the people of Muslim Faith. But this partition came at a huge cost to human lives. Violence swept all across India and millions of people were killed in communal riots to justify a Two-Nation Theory that said the Hindus and the Muslims are incompatible and need separate countries for themselves. It was such a bad riot that even infants were not spared. As, the countries were formed and as the way the partition was created, majority of the Muslim community found to their dismay that they remained in India. The radical Hindus then demanded that the Muslim should leave India as they got their Pakistan and they were targeting the Muslim. In Delhi, killing of Muslims went on and that heinous action was endorsed by a Radical Hindu Organization run by some highly educated people including a Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University. Mahatma Gandhi urged everyone to calm down and asked protection for the Muslims. As his call did not work, he went for hunger strike. Days went by and he emaciated to the point of death when the doctor said that no more saline and glucose injection feed would keep that old man alive. When this news was heard, the radical Hindu leaders came back to their senses and realized that by their action they were sending the Father of the Nation to death. So they went to see Bapu (meaning father), as he was affectionately called, vowed not to kill the Muslims anymore and requested him to break the fast. So, this Bapu saved the life of people belonging to faith different than his. From his name we have the word Gandhism (a specific method of civil disobedience that successfully used non-violent techniques to free India of British Rule). 25 Days ago India celebrated its 60TH Anniversary. India is the largest democracy in the world and has the highest population of Muslims than in any other country individually in the world. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad was the president before the current one. Dr. Azad is a Muslim and before he became the President, he was India's Chief Scientist. Constitutionally, India is a secular country with Hinduism (possibly 800 million followers) being the predominant religion. Since its inception, India was the successful target of terrorist attacks numerous times, communal riots ensued from dispute over mosques or temples in places happened too. Major cities and towns were bombed, terrorists hurled bombs at its Parliament building while the session was on, fired and killed its lawmakers. Radical Muslim Organizations claimed most of these terror attacks. Yet after 60 years, India has a robust standing with head held high in pride and is a Superpower. India's foundation is Communal Harmony. Muslims in India were not blamed for the attacks that were carried by people supposedly having the same faith. Media did not participate in any kind of mass media activities that purported wrong messages about Muslims. We should take our lesson from India and also should have a Continental/Regional Headquarter of CITO in there.

2. Choosing The Partners At The Onset: CITO is not expected to accomplish its mission in one day. As I mentioned before that working with terrorists to eliminate terrorism would be a serious challenge as many governments in third world countries are terrorists themselves and have their own muscleman to suppress the people. Political killing, vendetta, corruptions and vice are rampant in those countries. Therefore instead of setting SITO everywhere in the beginning we would be better of setting regional centers in New Delhi, Islamabad, Jakarta, London, Paris, Sydney, Kabul, Cairo, that is some major cities on each continent and propagate from less hostile to most hostile regions gradually. With this approach as CITO keeps on attaining its goal and its benefit becomes obvious, more hostile nations will be inclined to us and gradually CITO will attain its objective as John Edwards said, " Millions of people around the world are sitting on the fence. On the one side are Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, and on the other side is America. The question is which way they will go. If they perceive America as a bully, it will drive them in the other direction. If, on the other hand, they see us as the light, the country they want to be like, the country that's creating hope and opportunity, it will pull them to us like a magnet".

ASHIQUL SAIYED

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award for Don Austin's, "The Comfort of knowing: President John Edwards"

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award



Reposted from Jon Edwards Blog

http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/9/9/7488/06811#commenttop

user icon don austin in Arguments & Analyses Feed of
9/10/2007 at 10:26 PM EST

As a family man and husband who has been married for thirty years to the same woman, it's a comfort to know that John Edwards hasn't had multiple marriages, children who have had or still have alcohol or drug problems, or run-ins with the law.

Even Jimmy Carter, a self-proclaimed born-again Christian, couldn't claim to be free of closet skeletons created by brother Billy, and daughter Amy.

This not only speaks to the moral upbringing by John Edwards' parents and Elizabeth's parents but to their own strength of character. Edwards hasn't made much of daughter Cate being in law school or alot about family members in general. They fly below the radar because that's the way John and Elizabeth want it. And it's a credit to them that we don't hear about any unseemly activities or disrespect toward John and Elizabeth from Cate. And it's obvious that the respect that John and Elizabeth have for each other is real and not a put-on for political gain.

Does this make them perfect? No! But it does give the American people a sense that if a couple's children honor them with respect, it says alot about who they are as human beings.

The Edwards' believe in the poor and middle class. Unlike many politicians who believe the poor deserve their plight and should pull themselves out of their muck by their own volition, the Edwards' knows that the primary reason people are poor is a cycle of environmental conditions, lack of family support, no education...and those caught in this cycle are not to be blamed but to be educated and helped.

This is why we need John Edwards as president: not that he's perfect or will accomplish everything on his agenda but that he will be the president FOR the people and will shine a light on the major issues confronting America.

America needs to understand this about the Edwards' and how they would again bring a sense of pride back to the Whitehouse and restore America's moral standing in the world community.

Sr. Joan Chittister urges: Measure Candidates by Action, not words!

Reposted from John Edwards blog

By Karita Miraglia Hummer

http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/9/8/2245/25269



user icon Karita Hummer in Quick Posts Feed of
9/08/2007 at 2:50 PM EST

In the last presidential election, religion was said to have played a big part in how people voted.

But, Sister Joan Chittister, in today's National Catholic Reporter warns us all to be wary of those who tout Religion, but are not really following the tenets of being merciful, as in the corporal works of mercy, such as:

feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, visiting the imprisoned, visiting the sick, and burying the dead.

Sister Joan Chittister rightly decries the actual erosion in practice of each of these works of mercy in our Country today, as reflected in current or proposed public policy or in the state of our human services. She ends her commentary with this warning:

"From where I stand, it may well be our own unawareness of the loss of these services that's making it so difficult for us to make a distinction between what is really "religious" about our candidates and what is only religion being used as another kind of slippery election strategy. God save us all from that kind of religion again." Sr. Joan Chittister, "We Need Candidates Who Are Really Religious", Published on Friday, September 7, 2007 by National Catholic Reporter

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007 09/07/3687

Amen!!!!!!

Karita Hummer
San Jose, CA

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen award for "Why are you here? Let John and Elizabeth know...and everyone else!" by Ellinorianne

Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award


Reposted from John Edwards Blog site:

Why are you here? Let John and Elizabeth know...and everyone else!
in Action
9/02/2007 at 1:49 PM EST
I sincerely want to know why people are here and how the current Administration and policies have affected you directly or indirectly.
Has something happened to you that has made you seek out more about this campaign?
What is your greatest wish or your ideas that mean a lot to you? What do you want to see happen?
Here is my story and just some of the things I hope for...
I am a lifelong Democrat and PROUD liberal. I joined my first campaign with a fairly unknown Governor from Ak who was going to shake things up!
I still don't regret voting for Bill Clinton twice and I don't regret voting for Democratic candidates for the last four Presidential Elections.
Right now, I have the things that I think many take for granted. I have a home; we work, have health insurance and do relatively well.
But, I have friends who do not have health insurance (a friend of ours is a teacher and it was so stressful it started to affect her health, she quit because they would not allow her a leave of absence. Her husband is a music teacher and he doesn't have health insurance and of course Cobra is too expensive.)
My husband is a musician and this is the case for a lot of his friends, their wives hold down jobs so they can have health insurance.
I want the things that John Edwards wants for us because I know that there are many who don't have what I have. And there are even more who take these things for granted, so why change?
But it's not good enough, everyone should have healthcare. Everyone who works a job should earn enough to support a family above the poverty level. Corporations should pay their fair share of taxes, stop shipping jobs out of this country, hiding their money in foreign banks to avoid taxes (when can I do that?) and sharing their profits with their employees in the form of safe pensions and secure 401(k)'s and decent wages.
The Government should be giving tax breaks for the right reasons, such as helping companies shifting their non sustainable products (trees for paper, etc), to sustainable goods (HEMP for paper). Bringing factories back to the US with livable wages for their workers and safety guidelines that are fair. People make more; they can afford the goods made in this country!
Higher education should be available to all so we can keep up with the rest of the world and if people have no desire to go to a four year college, have the means for them to intern with professionals etc.
I hope our national parks and forests are protected to the point that I don't have to worry that my grandchildren may never stand at the foot of a Giant Sequoia and see what wonders the earth has for us.
And when I start to think of all the children and women who die every day because of starvation and disease, I wish I could do something for each of them. Poverty affects women the most in the world and that means children. How can we let this happen?
Yes, I can go on and on and I feel very passionately about these things. I sometimes worry about it too much.
I asked some people on a message board if it was silly that I prayed every night that John Edwards wins this nomination and they all quite firmly said NO! (I even feel a bit naive for even admitting this, but I want to believe with my whole being that this is someone who will change things as President).
What do you pray for and why?

Why I am here.

I am here and can't pull myself away, really, because I am saddened beyond compare at what has happened to our country over the last seven years, and I believe that John Edwards gives us the most hope for returning our country to a better course, actually reviving it, and, indeed, for transforming it.
First off, I know that John Edwards will be stalwart in defending our Constitution and seeing our freedoms and rights fairly applied to all. He understands our proper role in the world and will restore our moral leadership. He knows first hand (from his Vice Presidential candidacy) how elections have been taken from us through the most horrible of election anomalies, disenfranchisements, vote discrepancies, caging and suppression and he will fight for electoral justice - and I think he really wanted to in 2004.
But from that foundation of understanding justice in all dimensions, I see a man who truly comprehends the human condition, wants and needs and potential - and he cares. He is extraordinarily empathic. He is impelled by a strong internal moral core that guides him and he is resonant with the needs of us all.
I believe in John Edwaards' vision and his program: Turning the Lobbyists out (like the old money changers), Economic justice for all (North, South, East, West, Rural, Urban), strengthening unions as a bulwark for growing the middle class, eliminating poverty in America and the world, environmental stewardship, demanding corporate responsibility, reforming the Democratic Party, treating veterans and their families with decency and proper benefits, adequate health care for all and parity for many conditions, moral leadership in the world, and foreign policy based on dignity, justice, diplomacy, and compassion.
He is one of the most thoughtful and thorough going candidates I have ever had the privilege to support, and I give my support to him wholeheartedly. Everyday, I just feel grateful to him that he is running and gives us so much hope for a better day for America.
Karita Hummer
San Jose, CA
by Karita Hummer (KaritaHummer@therapyplus.us, Therapy Plus)
on 9/02/2007 at 1:17 AM EST [Flag this Post]
[ Reply to This ]


p.s. Would you accept my nomination (none / 0)

for my Karita Hummer's Silver Pen Award, which means if you do, I will repost your piece above and perhaps my response to my own blogspot site,
http://passionateprogressivepatriot.blog spot.com/
Thank you,
Karita Hummer
San Jose, CA


Yes (none / 0)

I would be very glad to accpet :) Thank you.
by Ellinorianne (ellinorianne@hotmail.com)

Thank you so much. (none / 0)
I will announce my silver pen award and repost your article on my blogspot site:
http://passionateprogressivepatriot.blog spot.com/
This is much appreciated. I thought your post was very creative and will be a wonderful resource for us all.
Karita Hummer
by Karita Hummer (KaritaHummer@therapyplus.us, Therapy Plus)
on 9/02/2007 at 2:08 PM EST [Flag this Post]


Let me count the reasons (none / 1)

I first have to say I looked at all of the candidates and I was disappointed. I remember asking myself why would anyone want to run for president and have nothing to say? I could only think they must be satisfied with the way things are - I am not. It wasn't long before I saw John Edwards on shows like Meet the Press and Face the Nation answering the hard questions not just smiling for cameras.
I would have to say that it was his health care plan that brought me to this site for the first time. After hearing him speak about it, I came here to find out more. I was impressed with the depth of his plan. I know so many people without health care - people who are risking their life because they can't afford care. I was asking myself why is my coverage so much better than others in my family when we earn comparable wages. Also, my children were at the age when they were no longer covered on my policy and yet a lot of first jobs don't offer health care benefits. What will they do?
I think our own country has been neglected these past years due to the amount of time and money poured into Iraq. I want someone who cares about what is happening here. John Edwards' support of unions and the working class are what is needed to get our own country back on track. I like his dedication to end poverty. We need to help our young people get to college and get an education.
I also like John Edwards' attitude that it will take all of us working together to bring about the changes that are needed. I think it is a message of unity - something else that has been lacking in this country for some time. He doesn't pretend to have all of the answers or that he can solve all of our concerns on his own. I do believe there are two Americans and I'm not naive enough to think that John Edwards lives the same life I do but I think he spends a majority of his time with people just like me. He seems to have a foot in each America - who better to understand how to bring us all together somewhere in the middle and to one America?

by betterN08
on 9/02/2007 at 9:45 AM EST [Flag this Post]


Would you agree to a repost of your reply? (none / 0)

I am reposting Ellinorianne's post and would appreciate the opportunity to share some of the responses.
Would you agree to have yours included?
Repost to be in my blogspot: http://passionateprogressivepatriot.blog spot.com/
Thank you for your consideration.
Karita Hummer
by Karita Hummer (KaritaHummer@therapyplus.us, Therapy Plus)
on 9/02/2007 at 5:11 PM EST [Flag this Post]


Sure Karita - Feel free to repost (none / 0)

by betterN08
on 9/02/2007 at 9:39 PM EST [Flag this Post]


Why am I here? (none / 0)

Where is Here? What exsctly is "HERE"? On planet Earth? In America? Working on the campaign? (Good question, and I'll try and answer it briefly) Well, I am here because I know life is good. There are some people who do not know how to lead a country in the right direction. SO, I am here to help direct a new day for a better world to live in. There are vast reasons for my presence in this campaign. My commitment to my country. My love for mankind. My love for dreams coming true. That is why I am here. I know what it is to work and see your dreams come true. It doesn't happen because someone else does this dreaming and work for me. My dreams come true because I make them come true. I believe in other people for their own potential as well. It may be a message JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This is very powerful and important statement. It always will be. Inspiration is what John Edwards has given me, and I am not disappointed at all. I've seen some of the people now who are supporting him first hand, and I am overwhelmed with the real obligation I hear in not only their voices, but I feel it in their purpose. It is a feeling from my heart that I can make things better by helping a man follow his dream. This is what life is about for me.
by 1Belle101
on 9/02/2007 at 4:25 PM EST [Flag this Post]
[ Reply to This | ]


Would you agree to a repost of your reply? (none / 0)

I am reposting Ellinorianne's post and would appreciate the opportunity to share some of the responses.
Would you agree to have yours included?
Thank you,
Karita Hummer
by Karita Hummer (KaritaHummer@therapyplus.us, Therapy Plus)
on 9/02/2007 at 5:04 PM EST [Flag this Post]
[ Reply to This ]


Repost to be in my blogspot. (none / 0)

Sorry, I didn't say where I would be reposting the original piece and the responses: it will be at http://passionateprogressivepatriot.blog spot.com/
Thank you for your consideration.
Karita Hummer
by Karita Hummer (KaritaHummer@therapyplus.us, Therapy Plus)
on 9/02/2007 at 5:06 PM EST [Flag this Post]
[ Parent | Reply to This ]


It's OK with me. (none / 0)

Belle
by 1Belle101
on 9/02/2007 at 5:09 PM EST [Flag this Post]

No, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, thou shalt not torture!!

"In our Name?" They torture?


user icon Karita Hummer in Quick Posts Feed of
8/31/2007 at 2:55 PM EST

Reposted from blog site at www.JohnEdwards.com

http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/8/31/61235/7771

No, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, thou shalt not torture! by Karita Hummer

Which is actually soul murder, as in Thou shalt not kill! and really, part of the Ten Commandments.

This simply must stop, and, no, you can not do it in our name!

Now, two very reputable organizations, Physicians for Human Rights and Human Rights First have prepared and released a new report, August, 2007, that lays the ugly truths bare. The Report is entitled:

"Leave No Marks: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques and the Risk of Criminality"

The PHR (Physicians for Human Rights) Library summarizes the report this way:

"A report by PHR and Human Rights First demonstrates that "enhanced" interrogation techniques are likely to cause "severe" or "serious" physical and mental harm to detainees. The report closely examines the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA) and other US laws, informed by medical and psychological literature. It shows that the authorization of these enhanced interrogation techniques, whether practiced alone or in combination, may constitute torture and/or cruel and inhuman treatment and consequently place interrogators at serious legal risk of prosecution for war crimes and other violations."

http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/libr ary/report-2007-08-02.html

In the Executive Summary of their combined report, PHR and Human Rights First, they

"On July 20, 2007, President George W. Bush issued an executive
order interpreting the application of Common Article
3 of the Geneva Conventions to a program of detention
and interrogation by the CIA. The order does not clarify
what techniques the CIA can and cannot lawfully engage
in. Press accounts, citing anonymous Administration officials, suggest that at least one of the "enhanced" techniques,
waterboarding, may no longer be used. The fact
that the Administration officials may have ruled out some
"enhanced" techniques, though, raises serious questions
about whether the CIA guidelines implementing the
Executive Order will permit Agency interrogators to resume
the other techniques previously authorized." Executive Summary, Leave No Marks: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques and the Risk of Criminality, PHR and Human Rights First, August, 2007

http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/libr ary/documents/reports/2007-phr-hrf-summa ry.pdf

And here are the Doctors's Orders, (and let's not say that they have not been warned, and that includes all of us, as American Citizens - we can not say we did not know.) (KH Author's own comment.)

"Recommendations to the Executive Branch
1. Prohibit the "enhanced" interrogation techniques,
in order to protect U.S. officials and personnel from
potential criminal liability and to ensure that all U.S.
personnel adhere to U.S. law.
2. Prohibit the use of any other method that, alone or in
combination with other interrogation methods, presents
a significant risk of causing serious or severe
physical and/or mental pain or suffering.
3. Instruct all U.S. interrogators in effective, legal, nonharmful
methods of interrogation.
4. Declassify and release all documents, from all relevant
U.S. agencies, which contain information on U.S.
interrogation policy and practice, including but not
limited to the "enhanced" interrogation methods.
Recommendations to the U.S. Congress
1. Clarify existing language in the MCA, which under a
reasonable interpretation currently prohibits the use
of the "enhanced" techniques, by explicitly listing the
techniques, forbidding them, and making clear that
they remain criminal.
2. Establish a single standard for detainee treatment
and interrogation practices to be followed by all U.S.
personnel, including CIA personnel."

http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/libr ary/documents/reports/2007-phr-hrf-summa ry.pdf

In Nat Hentoff's hard-hitting piece, on the subject of torture and the PHR and Human Rights First report, "Bush to CIA: 'Leave No Marks'
With no sign of torture on a prisoner, then it didn't happen, right?", he asks the most troubling of questions.

"However, underlying the question of whether these horrific crimes (made in the USA) will ever be prosecuted in our courts is a basic problem: How many Americans will give a damn about demanding such justice?" Nat Hentoff, "Bush to CIA: 'Leave No Marks'
With no sign of torture on a prisoner, then it didn't happen, right?", August 21, 2007, Village Voice

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0734,he ntoff,77589,2.html

Indeed!!

When I am out campaigning for John Edwards, as I do a fair amount these days, especially at busy shopping centers, I always ask myself such questions. Do they know what the Administration has been doing in our name? The immorality of torture, the executive orders, the decimation of our Constitution, the ignoring of poverty here and in the world, global warming and an election system that can not be said to be working fairly. And sadly, I think to myself, and answer, not too much, do they seem to care, or even know, or any way have time to ponder? Is this the end product of our materialism or is it the overwhelmed state of a country, up against hard times or a country that is shell shocked, or soul shocked or helpless?

Karita Hummer
San Jose, CA
Co-Captain, SCV 4 Edwards (formerly Willow Glen One Corps Chapter)