A victorious day indeed with the House shifting it's power to the Dems and having the first female Secretary of State--wow. That is way cool. Now we have to earn it, sustain it and make it stronger.
I encourage Ms. Pelosi to stand tall and strong for the very values and ideas that got her elected and not go soft on us now that she is in 'the game.'
Another victory according to Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, we beat America’s #1 Wildlife Villain and made history!
Jerry McNerney -- an independent businessman and avowed conservationist -- over Representative Richard Pombo, Chairman of the powerful House Resources Committee. This is the most important political victory for conservationists in memory… and it wouldn’t have happened without grassroots support.
And the animal platform got stronger with reports from Wayne Pacelle at HSUS, historic news to convey! In what is a landmark day for animals, voters in Arizona and Michigan cast their ballots in favor of animals on Election Day. The following is from the Humane Society cyber news:
"Your HSUS has been a leader in passing ballot initiatives in past years to ban cockfighting, steel-jawed leghold traps and other body-gripping traps, bear baiting, hound hunting, and gestation crates. Now, we have achieved two remarkable wins for animals that will affect the lives of millions of animals, and we are so grateful to the people of Arizona and Michigan for leading the way and to our supporters who make our work possible.
Michigan voters stepped up for mourning doves, crushing Proposal 3 on the ballot and restoring the 100-year tradition of protecting the state's official bird of peace from target shooting. The vote was 68 percent to 32 percent. The Humane Society of the United States spearheaded the effort to protect mourning doves, from garnering more than 1,000 endorsements to relentlessly canvassing the state in support of the issue. Michigan voters listened, and the gentle backyard songbird will remain safe from target shooters.
In Arizona, humane treatment of farm animals won the day when voters cast their ballot in favor of Proposition 204, which bans gestation crates for breeding pigs and veal crates for young calves. Agribusiness and other special interests spent $2.5 million to defeat Proposition 204. It is the second state in the nation to ban gestation crates and the first state to ban veal crates. The vote was 61 percent in favor and only 39 percent opposed."
Wahoo.
Or if in Michigan, coooo cooooo
With this shift in focus and a more humane and rational intention towards kindness all the way around, it is time that we step up to the plate even more actively and take a stand for these issues and values we believe in. I have had the pleasure in the past two weeks to become acquainted and involved with the Network for Spiritual Progressives. This is an amazing organization that was created last year to present an alternative platform to how our country and the world is run. Founded by Rabbi Michael Lerner,Cornel West and Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB (you might remember that I quoted her extensively when I returned from my trip to the Benedictine Abbey last year) there is an another way to approaching governance and civilization. And funnily enough, it is very coherent with the principles of Science of Mind and in particular, The Global Heart. Rabbi Lerner has "The Left Hand of God--Taking Back Our Country From the Religious Right" that really gives people a clearer understanding of what is really going on in politics and our country.
I encourage you to visit NSP and read the Sacred Covenant and become a supporting member. There is also a wonderful and active NSP chapter here in San Diego and their next quarterly meeting is on Dec. 3, 206 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Here are website links for your edification:
www.spiritualprogressives.org
www.nspsandiego.org
From time to time, I will be addressing further points and highlights about the NSP so that those who choose can actively support insitutions and social practices that maximize love, caring, ethical and ecological sensitivity and behavior, kindness and generosity, non-violence and peace, rather than just power and greed.
Bottom line, don't rest on these political laurels--get involved where and how you can. You do make a difference.
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Tonight, we rented the new film, "The Fabelmans" and loved it. Incredible performances, screenwriting and story-telling. I espec...
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Rabbi Lerner was in San Diego this week. Did you manage to hear him speak?
Yes, indeed I did hear Rabbi Lerner both Wed. night and thursday morning at the NSP chapter breakfast.
Were you there? And I have his book and the covenant.
Quite the Global Heart activist.
RevDD
Actually, Pelosi is the new Speaker of the House, not Secretary of State, which actually makes it even more significant (she is 2nd in line for the presidency).
As far as my fellow Michiganians are concerned, I applaud them. This new-found concern for animals is not what I would have expected from a "Outdoor Sportsman" state where hunting and fishing is a way of life. I don't think this will encourage me to move back, but it is a step in the right direction (besides, its almost ICE FISHING season!).
Aggle argh! Thank you, Don for that correction. I wrote that hastily and both are "s" titles. My cyber apologies to Ms. Pelosi as our new Speaker of the House.
My her words be those of truth and glory in the works she may now do for this country.
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