Good morning.

I have always been a fan of Michael Moore’s movies. They are known to be controversial and conspiracy based, but when you watch his films, is real life much different than what he portrays? Not really, and most of the time he is right on….most of the time we learn the real truth.

People just don’t want to think that people, big business, or our government can be that corrupt. But the more I read and learn, the more I know people, big business, and our government have been and can be that corrupt. (Thankfully, we have a new president and a new administration) As Al pointed out yesterday in regards to his posting of ’little snippets of wisdom painting an ugly picture of how things really are’, Michael Moore creates entire films showing us just how ugly things really are, and the perpetrators behind the ugliness.

And when Arianna Huffington from the Huff says, ‘Barack Obama must see Michael Moore’s new movie (and so must you!), she catches just a little bit of my attention. :)

Here’s what Arianna had to say:

Michael Moore has proven again and again that he has a remarkable feel for where the zeitgeist is heading. He’s like a zeitgeist divining rod.

Roger and Me was way ahead of the curve on the collapse of the auto-industry. Fahrenheit 9/11 was way ahead of the curve on the collapse of the house of cards the Bush administration used to lead us to war in Iraq. Sicko was way ahead of the curve on the collapse of the US health care system. And now, with his new movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, he is riding the wave of the collapse of trust in our country’s financial system.

The film, which opens in New York and Los Angeles on Wednesday, and all across the country on October 2nd, is a withering indictment of the current economic order, covering everything from Wall Street’s casino mentality to for-profit prisons, from Goldman Sachs’ sway in Washington to the poverty-level pay of many airline pilots, from the tidal wave of foreclosures to the tragic consequences of runaway greed.

Watching the film, I felt like Michael had climbed inside my head, made a list of all the things that have been obsessing me for the last 12 months, and brought them horrifyingly to life. It’s one thing to know these things are happening; it’s another to see them happening in front of your eyes.

Right from the beginning — after a funny set-up juxtaposing End of Empire Rome and Modern America — Michael goes directly to the beating heart of the economic crisis, showing a hard-working, middle class family being evicted from their home. The knot in your stomach starts to tighten — and the outrage starts to build. Watch for yourself in this exclusive clip:

And so it goes throughout the film, with Moore successfully walking a cinematic tightrope, alternating between a punch-to-the-solar-plexus critique of the status quo, heart-wrenching portraits of the suffering caused by the economic crisis, and laugh-out-loud social satire.

The film also turns the spotlight on some underreported gems: an internal Citibank report happily declaring America a “plutonomy,” with the top 1 percent of the population controlling more financial wealth than the bottom 95 percent; an expose of “dead peasant” insurance policies that have companies cashing in on the untimely deaths of their employees; and amazing footage of FDR, found buried in a film archive and not seen in decades, calling for a Second Bill of Rights that would guarantee all Americans a useful job, a decent home, adequate health care, and a good education.

And Moore underlines the irony of Larry Summers being put in charge of fixing the crisis he helped create. A little like asking Kanye West to plan a Taylor Swift tribute.

While taking no prisoners, and directing equal doses of ire at Republicans and Democrats alike, the film also features a number of heroes, including bailout watchdog Elizabeth Warren; Wayne County, Michigan Sheriff Warren Evans, who announced in February: “I cannot in clear conscience allow one more family to be put out of their home until I am satisfied they have been afforded every option they are entitled to under the law to avoid foreclosure”; and Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who took to the House floor and offered a radical solution to the foreclosure crisis: “So I say to the American people, you be squatters in your own homes. Don’t you leave.”

In the film, Michael describes capitalism as evil. I disagree. I don’t think capitalism is evil. I think what we have right now is not capitalism.

In capitalism as envisioned by its leading lights, including Adam Smith and Alfred Marshall, you need a moral foundation in order for free markets to work. And when a company fails, it fails. It doesn’t get bailed out using trillions of dollars of taxpayer money. What we have right now is Corporatism. It’s welfare for the rich. It’s the government picking winners and losers. It’s Wall Street having their taxpayer-funded cake and eating it too. It’s socialized losses and privatized gains.

Which is why — although you can bet many will try – Capitalism: A Love Story can’t be dismissed as a left-wing tirade. Its condemnation of the status quo is too grounded in real stories and real suffering, its targets too evenly spread across the political spectrum. Indeed, Jay Leno, America’s designated Everyman, was so moved by the film he insisted that Moore appear on the second night of his new show, and told his audience that the film was “completely nonpartisan… I was stunned by it, and I think it is the most fair film” Moore has done.

After a preview screening last week (at which I did a Q&A session with Michael), he came over to my home for a late night bite. Over lasagna, he told me about an incident that occurred while he was filming that exemplifies how the economic crisis cannot be looked at through a left vs right prism.

It happened while he and his crew were shooting the climax of the movie, where Michael decides to mark Wall Street as a crime scene, putting up yellow police tape around some of the financial district’s towers of power.

While unfurling the tape in front of a “too big to fail” bank, he became aware of a group of New York’s finest approaching him. Moore has a long history of dealing with policemen and security guards trying to shut him down, but in this case he knew he was, however temporarily, defacing private property. And his shooting schedule didn’t leave room for a detour to the local jail. So, as the lead officer came closer, Moore tried to deflect him, saying: “Just doing a little comedy here, officer. I’ll be gone in a minute, and will clean up before I go.”

The officer looked at him for a moment, then leaned in: “Take all the time you need.” He nodded to the bank and said, “These guys wiped out a lot of our Police Pension Funds.” The officer turned and slowly headed back to his squad car. Moore wanted to put the moment in his film, but realized it could cost the cop his job, and decided to leave it out. “When they’ve lost the police,” he told me, “you know they’re in trouble.”

There is a real sense of urgency to Capitalism: A Love Story. I asked Michael what impact he hoped the film would have. He chuckled and said that, in some way, he had made the movie for “an audience of one. President Obama. I hope he sees it and remembers who put him in the White House… and it wasn’t Goldman Sachs.”

At the Q&A I did with Michael — and, indeed, wherever he goes — people who see the film are asking: What should I do to make a difference?

There are obviously many things people can do. At HuffPost, we are asking everyone to bear witness by putting flesh and blood on the tragic human cost of the greed and corruption that have brought us to where we are.

Tell us your story — or the stories about people you know whose home has been foreclosed, whose job has disappeared, whose kids can’t afford to go to college, whose credit card interest rate has been jacked up to 30 percent, etc, etc, etc. And tell us the positive stories too: the heroes — judges, lawyers, volunteers — who are helping people stay in their homes, the neighbors who are coming together to alleviate the pain and make their community a better place to live in. You can tell these stories in words, pictures, or videos. We’ll collect them on a special Bearing Witness 2.0 section.

When people are given the facts and shown the reality of what is happening, they will almost always do the right thing. Help us keep showing that reality.

Readers:  So…is ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’, the next on your list for must see movies? I would say so. I am grateful to Michael Moore for putting in so much time and energy to exposing the truth. Thoughts? Blog me.

Hey Ruth: Thanks for posting your article. I was just hearing bits of it yesterday on my way to work. I have always taken supplements and rarely take meds unless absolutely necessary. The cost and side effects are not worth it to me. However, I do believe that meds can be helpful but full disclosure is most important. People have died or have gotten serious side effects from drugs but can you say that about supplements?Big Pharma doesn’t want people to be healed naturally, they want you to rely on their drugs, pay a pretty penny for them too, and be left in the dark. I agree, ‘enough’s enough’….and that goes for other areas in our lives too.

Grace: I always like to go au natural. No Botox for this girl. I thought your article was real interesting. Thanks for posting. I am tempted to try a few. :)

Hi Zen Lill: I’m getting a kick out of your stuff too. Maybe you have found your calling :)

Hello Helena!

Got to run.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the ‘Donate’ button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my ‘Donate’ page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129 Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

During the presidential election last November, I was so excited to be a participant in hope….a participant in the energy of bringing Obama to the white house. But it didn’t end there. I know as well as you know, that that was just the beginning of our work. I look back, and getting Obama into the white house was a piece of cake compared to all of the challenges we face daily in getting something done for this country.

Because of the economic climate, expectation is high. Because of those that don’t want our president to succeed, the party of no continues to hit low.

But as Obama says, “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington…I’m asking you to believe in yours.”

Well, to believe in your ability is one thing, but in order to believe in it, one has to back it with action. And for me personally, sometimes I feel like I am not doing enough. And when I feel that way, I take action. How about you? Want to have a little fun with people who believe in their abilities like you do?

I read the below letter from ‘Organizing for America’ and I thought, “Yeah, this could be fun”, so I signed up.

Last week the President laid out his health reform plan and challenged Congress to act. OFA volunteers leapt into action, generating hundreds of thousands of signatures and calls to show grassroots support. Now we need to reach out in our communities, spread the facts about the President’s plan, and bring new voices of support into Washington.

If you can spare your lunch hour (or a couple of hours whenever you’re free), you can help make it happen. Here’s how: Organize or attend a “Health Reform Phone Booth.”

It’s simple: Just join up with other supporters in a public area where people will pass by, distribute fact sheetsabout the President’s plan, and help folks call their members of Congress on the spot to voice their support.

You can search online to see if there’s a booth already set up near you. But if not, just host your own! We’ll give you all the materials, phone numbers, and step-by-step instructions you need to make it a success — and when you register your Phone Booth online, other OFA volunteers can join you to lend a hand:

http://my.barackobama.com/SeptPhoneBooth

Passing health reform won’t be easy — they’ve been talking about it in Washington for almost a century. But we know that when ordinary people who believe in change reach out, spread the facts, and help folks from all walks of life make their voices heard, we can make history.

Thanks for making it happen,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

Let me interject here….If you’re one of those that has a hard time asking for what you want…asking others to join you in what you believe in…then break out of your shell and take a risk. You’ll be surprised that it isn’t that hard and you’ll actually have some fun, and more importantly you’ll discover that you do believe in your ability to bring about real change in Washington.  I know I believe, and if you read below, you’ll see that others believe too.

P.S. — In August we asked a few OFA volunteers to test out running a Health Reform Phone Booth in their area, and we got great reports — even from folks who were pretty nervous before they began. Here are just a couple:

I will confess that I questioned my decision to host an event the instant I hit the send button. I imagined myself on a street corner, handing out fliers like the guys hand out restaurant flyers. Relief struck when the first volunteer signed up with me. Imagine how thrilled I was when 15 had signed up!… We distributed 300 phone booth sheets and 600 info sheets… The best part, one of our volunteers was 79 1/2 years old. She was remarkable. Thank you for this opportunity. I am very glad I did it, no matter how nervous I was.
– Mark P. from New York, New York

We had two veterans tell us that they were very happy with the VA system, and one vowed to write a letter to the editor to dispel the myths that that system doesn’t work. Many people thanked us for having a booth and for trying to dispel the lies being spread by opponents of reform.
– Mike O. from Bozeman, Montana

*************

Readers: Well…how about breaking out of your shell? How about believing in your ability by taking action? All you need to do is give an hour or so of your time. Easy. Do it. Thanks for all you do. And for you Bay Area locals, I look forward to seeing you out there this week!

Peacin’ out…..

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the ‘Donate’ button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my ‘Donate’ page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129 Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good Morning! I hope everyone is enjoying the 3-day holiday!

More than a few days ago I wrote about the documentary ‘The Cove’.  Well…just a few days ago the dophin slaughter was suspended. This is good news. Not to say they won’t start up again, but at least this is a start. See…we canhave an affect onthe world. All it takes is a little dedication from a few people. Think what we can do in collective numbers. Inspiring yes?

Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji’s ‘Cove’ Suspended

Written by Bryan Nelson

Published on September 1st, 2009

Source: EcoWorldly

Ric O’Barry reports that the horrific annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji has been suspended due to publicity from the film, The Cove.

September 1st usually marks the first day of the year for the brutal killings, but for the first time the Japanese media has arrived in Taiji en masse, causing the local fishermen to pause while the world takes notice.

O’Barry has been trying to raise awareness in Japan about the secretive dolphin slaughter that takes place in the small fishing town of Taiji for years, but the Japanese media has refused to cover it. Until now.

“Today is September 1st, the first day of the dolphin slaughter season in Japan. But when I arrived today by bus from Kansai Airport with media representatives from all over the world, the notorious Cove from the movie was empty. There were no dolphin killers in sight. So today is a good day for dolphins!”, wrote O’Barry today in a report for the activist social network, TakePart.

He also said that when the Japanese police arrived, they merely shook his hand and told him they there were not there to support the “dolphin killing fishermen”, then left.

Despite all of his trials in the town, O’Barry believes strongly that Taiji can change its shameful image. He hopes to show the media around the town tomorrow, to encourage a more positive view of its people and potential. O’Barry sees an opportunity to turn the disgraced town into a place where dolphins are cherished rather than slaughtered. In time, he thinks Taiji could become a model for dolphin activism and education, raising awareness about dolphins much in the same way that Nantucket, once the center of the whaling industry in the U.S., has changed its image by stopping the killing and marketing to whale-watchers instead.

Even though the media is finally taking notice, keeping the movement alive over time will still take a great commitment from those who care about dolphins.. You can help by donating to the Save the Dolphins Coalition, which you can do at savejapandolphins.org.

Comments on anything? Blog me.  Even If I am not checking in….love knowing that you are!

Peace out….

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

While getting my mani-pedi on Saturday, the brief comment that the TAO left a few days before about our seas being polluted down to 3600 feet, was something that kept entering my thoughts. What have the mammals done to deserve this?

Then while perusing People Magazine, (the only time I get to read these kinds of mags is when I am being pampered :), I came across a tiny blurb about dolphins, and the 60′s TV series “Flipper”. As a kid, I loved watching Flipper, and even went to a few shows where dolphins ‘performed’.

As I became more of an animal/mammal lover, and more aware, I no longer supported those type of environments that held animals captive. Whenever I read that the circus is coming to town (Barnum and Bailey especially) I send letters to them, telling them exactly how I feel about their ‘treatment’ to the animals. I have read many horror stories of the inhumane ways animals and mammals are treated while in captivity, and it is unacceptable. To me, animals are best left free in their natural environment and habitat.

In fact, I even volunteered for 6 months at the Marine Mammal Center and helped care for sick sea lions that were affected by humans and our carelessness, so that they could return to their natural habitat. It is amazing what a little plastic from a 6-pack can do to our sea life. It was hard work, but knowing that my care helped the mammals to heal and enabled them to be released back out into the sea was worth the cold mornings. And if you have been reading my blog, you know I hate the cold :)

So…this tiny blurb in People Magazine, spoke of a man, activist Richard O’Barry, who has spent his last 40 years of life, advocating for dolphins, recently released his documentary about the plight of dolphins, by the predatory hands of the Japanese. I was not aware of the plight of dolphins in Japan until I read about O’Barry, the dolphin ‘abolitionist’,  and his lifelong commitment to these beautiful, smiling creatures.

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, here’s a clip of The Cove:

Marine Mammal Specialist, Earth Island Institute

Richard O’Barry has worked both sides of the dolphin street, the first 10 years with the dolphin captivity industry, the past 38 against it.

Working back in the 1960s for Miami Seaquarium, O’Barry captured and trained dolphins, including the five dolphins who played the role of Flipper in the popular American TV-series of the same name. When Kathy, the dolphin who played Flipper most of the time, died in his arms, O?Barry realized that capturing dolphins and training them to perform silly tricks is simply wrong.

From that moment on, O’Barry knew what he must do with his life. On the first Earth Day, 1970, he founded the Dolphin Project, dedicated to freeing captive dolphins who were viable candidates and educating people throughout the world to the plight of dolphins in captivity. He launched a searing campaign against the multi-billion dollar dolphin captivity industry, telling the public what was really going on at dolphin shows and urging people not to buy tickets to see dolphins play the fool.

O’Barry has rescued and released more than 25 captive dolphins in Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Brazil, the Bahamas Islands and the United States. His more than 45 years of experience with dolphins and his firsthand knowledge about the methods used to capture and train them has taken him all over the world to participate in lectures and conferences about the controversial dolphin captivity issue. As he knew it would, this created a lot of hostility toward him by those who stood to profit from the continued exploitation of dolphins.

“They’re in this for money. Take it away, and they’ll quit doing this,” O’Barry says and adds: “Dolphins are free-ranging, intelligent, and complex wild animals, and they belong in the oceans, not playing the clown in our human schemes.”

To recognize his contribution, in 1991 O’Barry received the ‘Environmental Achievement Award’ presented by the United States Committee for the United Nations Environmental Program (US/UNEP).

His book ‘Behind the Dolphin Smile’ was published in 1989, a second book, ‘To Free A Dolphin’ was published in September 2000. Both of them are about his work and dedication.

O’Barry is a Fellow National in The Explorers Club, a multidisciplinary society that links together scientists and explorers from all over the world. Each member is an accomplished individual with at least one fascinating story to tell.

In January, 2007, O’Barry became the Marine Mammal Specialist for Earth Island Institute and Director of Save Japan Dolphins coalition: www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

*************

Readers:  Have any of you seen this movie? The clip has certainly aroused my curiosity,  and I intend to see the documentary. Perhaps, you too are a lover of mammals and your support of them is the answer to the question that you asked yourself yesterday, and hopefully today…and tomorrow….and… :) “What can I do to make the world a better place?”

I know I ask a lot from my readers and I don’t expect for everyone to advocate everything that needs support on this planet. But what I do expect, is that you find one thing and dedicate time in your life to helping that one thing, or one area, that makes your heart sing. I know that when I give my time and effort, it makes me feel like I am contributing to the planet and our environment in a good way,  instead of just taking and adding to the many environmental problems…..giving, gives my life more meaning and purpose.

Al:  I am a bit confused, as maybe you were about my post yesterday. Not sure if you were referring to my age and your pair of drawers :) I was not the writer of the article that I posted under the heading, “The Dream Lives On: Keeping The Kennedy Fire Alive”. It was just something that I found on the Huff.  I liked it and it inspired me, so I posted it.

Enjoy the beginning of your week…

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Hello…

I didn’t get the chance yesterday morning to watch the funeral of Sen. Ted Kennedy, nor the eulogy that president Obama gave.  But this morning I have been heavily perusing the net watching videos and reading about it, and feeling the sadness and loss, that I am sure everyone in this country is feeling.

There are a few articles that I read but I came across one that I wanted to post. We can talk about what Sen. Ted Kennedy has done in his long career as a senator, as the list is long and impressive and absolutely worthy of the praise and recognition. Kennedy became the ‘greatest legislator of our time’.

But to me, honoring him best would be to carry on his legacy of care and compassion, and the never-give-up attitude.  How can we keep what he was so passionate about alive and kicking? What can we do?

I like this article because it addresses his many accomplishments, but asks of us, how we can take a little bit of what Ted Kennedy did on a daily basis, and make it a part of our daily lives.

The Dream Lives On: Keeping The Kennedy Fire Alive

As Senator Kennedy was finally laid to rest yesterday, the weight of his passing hit me much harder than I thought. I can feel the collective heartbreak of losing the last of our royal line. It is as if the round table has finally been broken, and all the knight’s swords laid to rest. I am 42 years old, and Ted Kennedy was a state Senator longer than I have been alive. My generation has never known anything else but to live under the legacy of the Kennedy’s ‘American Camelot’ influence. How do we pass this flame of public service to our children, and spark the next generation of leaders?

I think Andy Ostroy said it best in his piece, featured on HuffPo earlier this week:

“Ted Kennedy’s contribution to American culture and society can be seen in virtually every historic issue fought in modern American politics, including health care, social security and Medicare, minimum wages, education, immigration, aid for senior citizens, civil rights, voter’s rights, women’s rights, gay rights and human rights. And he accomplished all this as a gentleman and a respected bi-partisan leader, with civility, grace and humor. A larger-than-life Washington character. Sadly, there’s no one to step in and fill his shoes….on either side of the aisle.”

I was sobbing listening to Vice President Joe Biden give the best speech of his life remembering his old friend at the memorial service, held at the Kennedy library. He spoke of the countless times Teddy had been there for him, and for so many. Beyond his historic accomplishments, it was in the ‘little things’ that Senator Kennedy shined his humanity onto all who were in his giant wake and, “makes you want to be better than you are,” as Biden said.

The grief floating around America this week has been palpable. We have spent a lifetime grieving again and again with the Kennedy family through the years of unending tragedies. Losing Eunice Kennedy Shriver earlier this month reminded us what a fiery feminist can do; and her gift of the Special Olympics is as a legacy beyond measure. When Maria Shriver spoke at her funeral a few weeks ago, she said her mother would have pounded her fist at the podium – asking what we did today to make the world a better place.

The tenacity, compassion and drive to champion the under privileged moves me to want to be a better citizen, and a better parent. All of the Kennedy siblings, and so many of their children, are working in public service. We may never see such a family again. They had their faults, their mistakes and their issues, just like the rest of us. But there is one thing they did not do: stop or give up.

Senator Joseph Kennedy, Teddy’s nephew, reflected on this determination at the memorial.

“He was telling me, never, ever, ever, ever give up. You stay in the race. And if people don’t have health care, you stay in the race. If people don’t have adequate housing, you stay in the race. If people aren’t being treated properly you stay in the race,” he said.

In contemplating the death of Eunice and Teddy, I asked my four kids this week, while driving to get school supplies, what we were doing as a family to make the world a better place. The six year old twins slurped their organic juice boxes and gave me a blank stare, while the older ones tossed it around. My 14 year-old son offered up, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country?” This seemed to be his attempt to show me the full scale of his Kennedy knowledge.

We finally decided the best way they can “give” to their country, is to develop their character. To try their best, to help someone out that needs it, and to be grateful for what we have. The new generation of children will never know the Kennedy influence. Who is their champion now? Who is going to dare us to be the first to fly to the moon? Who is going to stand up and pound their fist, roar like a lion, and make us want to be better? Where is our fire, our sense of competition, our collective conscience that serving the lesser among us is a right and a responsibility?

The answer for leadership is not just in Barack Obama, although he has the potential – it is in all of us. Everyone must do their part. The current first family is laying the foundations to inspire a new generation in big ways, as well as small ones. From planting an organic garden outside the White House, daring to touch the Queen of England, or encouraging American’s to volunteer – the legacy or making a difference does not have to die.

On Memorial Day, the White House offered a call to service, and at the HuffPo, on the right hand side of this page, you can find links for the “All for Good” campaign. Check it out for opportunities to be in service within your zip code as a great way to get your kid’s engaged.

Arianna Huffington wrote a fantastic piece earlier this week, reminding us that the national conversation about helping the least among us needs to remain the center of bipartisan attention.

Right now, Kennedy’s Health Care Bill is on the precipice, just like the Civil Rights Bill, when JFK was shot. Ted Kennedy introduced the first legislation for health care in 1969, when I was two years old. Let’s get it done as a tribute to our favorite family, and revitalize our momentum as a country. Teddy said,

“the dream lives on.”

Let’s all work together to make sure it does.

-Kari Henley, President of the Board of Directors at the Women & Family Life Center Posted: August 30, 2009 09:09 AM. Huffington Post

***********

Readers:  What if we all made a commitment to ask ourselves every day, “What can I do to make the world a better place today?”, and actually do something that does? How grand life would be….

Do it.

Love, and Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"