Saddam Hussein Hanged.

I am not sure why I feel upset at reading the news this morning that Saddam Hussein was hanged. I mean after all, I live in Texas, a state that takes the death penalty fairly seriously. Killing someone in an electric chair as a punishment for their crime(s) is not a new concept for me. Hell, I am pretty sure that Texas has the most executions in the country.
(Actually, I just checked, California beat out Texas!!)

So why am I upset???

I suppose I am upset because I realized the very grim, dismal hope for humanity. Saddam Hussein is tried for the crimes he committed against people of his own nation. The trial is made a public spectacle/circus for over a year -- every portion is practically televised. And then his death, his hanging, is also broadcast & displayed. And why did the method of death have to be hanging? Why couldn't it have been something else? Hanging seems archaic, but meant to prove a point. I know that that his death being televised was also meant to prove a point.

So, what is the point???

Killing someone doesn't really purge the country of Iraq; killing Saddam Hussein doesn't really aid in the healing of the nation or to help reconcile the Sunnis and the Shittes. In my opinion (that's why this is my blog), his death only contributes and reiterates the hate that already exists in Iraq, and all over the world. Throughout the course of history, hate for hate, violence for violence, death for death haven't really worked to alleviate society's problems and the cycle of hate/hatred. And 'America' is supposed to be changing the course of history, or at the very least showing the world how it's supposed to be done? Doubtful.

Further, I find it interesting that Saddam Hussein refused to wear the head covering for his hanging -- much like the last act of defiance of Albert Camus' character, Meursault, in L'Etranger. Except this time, in the year 2006, 'citizens' didn't show up to the towne square as in the old days to witness the tragic end to a man's life, or to witness the suffering of another human being shunned and later killed in public just so they could go home and utter, "I'm glad that wasn't me.", but rather people over the world showed up to his hanging via the internet and television and tuned into see the suffering of yet another human.

I ask again, "So what is the point?"

Colombia Es Pasion!

This Little Girl is SMARTER than most Adults!!!

(Sorry D. you showed me this video and I loved it!!)

Peace Market at the Esperanza Center

(Ernesto hard at work!!)

Amy Goodman in San Antonio, Texas

Amy Goodman, a broadcast journalist at Democracy Now, http://www.democracynow.org/ , was brought to San Antonio through the many efforts of Texas MEP (http://texasmep.org/ ) and The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center (http://esperanzacenter.org/). She was featured as a speaker for one of the Lady Fest events held this year in San Antonio, Texas. Lady Fest is a festival showcasing women in music, art and films,( http://ladyfestsatx.org/ ).

I have had the privilige to hear many people speak, but Amy Goodman was pretty incredible. She is very intelligent and her summary of US foreign policy over the last 50 years made the audience sick, especially what happened in East Timor. What particularly struck me about her lecture was her commitment to articulating people's name over and over and over throughout her speech. She said that by naming people, by pronouncing their name, you dignify them. This is true, how many people were never named throughout history? How many soldiers will have died in Iraq with no name?

Lady Fest San Antonio, Texas October 19 - October 21, 2006

LadyFest is a community based, not-for-profit, festival established to highlight female artists, bands, musical groups, media producers, and visual artists organized by volunteers. This festival came about as a result of the DIY ethic and "Riot Grrrl" movements in Olympia, Washington as well as the many contributions by authors on inclusive feminist philosophy. The first ever LadyFest was conducted in Olympia, Washington in August 2000 with over 2000 people attending. Prime motivators in the event were Sleater-Kinney, Cat Power, and Neko Case. The primary organizers of LadyFest are women, but everyone is encouraged to attend and volunteer at every festival.

Since the first LadyFest, the event has branched out into other urban centers such as Amsterdam, Atlanta, Belgium, Berlin, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Brooklyn, Cardiff, Dublin, Lansing, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Orlando, Ottawa, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Toronto, Washington DC, and more. Primarily volunteers organize each festival locally and independently of other LadyFest events. Proceeds from LadyFest festivals are donated to non-profit organizations dedicated to eliminating the sexist oppressions of women.

NALAC Conference and Meeting Muses !!

The NALAC Conference in San Antonio was simply awesome!! A local writer gave me her ticket to attend. She said that my analytical mind would take away quite a bit from the conference and she just didn't have enough time in her schedule to attend. And why not, I was eager to be surrounded by people who have risked everything to love their work, their job, their contribution.

I was a little disappointed at how diluted the actual workshops were, but the people who attended rocked!!

The workshop on music was enlightening because it was in that moment that I felt that reoccuring theme in my life -- wishing to love something as much as they loved their work and their contribution. They were so fully engrossed and caught up in the moment and the audience felt truly transported. I admired and envied the musicians for having such a passion for their work that propelled them to get up every morning, as well as their ability to rouse the audience. I suppose the reason for going was that I wanted to be around passionate people, or people with passions! Being around so many muses and that kind of palpatable energy was really wonderful, re-energizing, and refreshing. I am not used to spending so many days socializing, or around that many people. I am not socially phobic, but it simply doesn't happen very often. Two particular muses made me smile much!! One particular muse gave great, long hugs. If I saw him today I'd hug him until he yelped -- which would not be difficult at all. :-)I feel privileged to have met them both. And the pianist kicks ass!!! You know who you are! You are playing at my wedding, don't you dare forget!! I will do the work on my end at finding the suitable mate. Arrrrghhhhh!

Celebrando El Grito

A wonderful of day climbing, sun, jumping in the river, and good company!! But most importantly, a day of mental clarity due to physical challenges!!! 'Viva Emiliano Zapata' ! No downtown celebration for me of Mexican Independence and all the alcohol that that necessarily entails.

C'est Officiel.

Today I began blogging, i.e. posting nonsequential, miscellaneous information and contributing to the junk already on the internet. But what the hell? Everyone else is doing it!!! My blog isn't nearly as interesting and entertaining as Alex's blog, but alas, he has always been more entertaining than I.

Les différents visages de CoQuille......