The St Augustine Progressive

SOWING THE SEEDS OF PEACE

2009-03-29T06:17:00.001-04:00

St Augustine People for Peace and Justice was formed six months before the illegal invasion of Iraq in October, 2002. Back in the day, we had hundreds at rallies and demonstrations. When I came to St Augustine 3 years ago, at the candlelight vigil in 2006, on the 3^rd anniversary of this immoral and illegal invasion, we had 50 people. This year, March 19, 2009, we got 25 people to show up and about half were not even our members. We’re still around; we still demonstrate monthly. We still have death, destruction and despair. So what has happened? What has changed?

I started a garden this spring, determined to learn how to grow my own food. I needed a lot of help, did a lot of reading and talking to gardeners and it struck me how much a seed depends on so many factors to grow and thrive. Then I started thinking about the peace movement and wondering why IT isn’t growing and thriving.

HOW CAN THIS BE, when the steady drenching rain of tears forces our seed to germinate and break through the surface to grow towards the sun of truth and justice?

HOW CAN THIS BE, when the slow dripping irrigation of the blood of our kids and innocent Iraqis and Afghanis draws our roots down deeper and stronger into the soil of anger?

HOW CAN THIS BE, when the ravaged compost of dead children’s bodies enriches the ground of our rage?

HOW CAN THIS BE, when the winds of economic hurricane batter us and force us to strengthen both our roots and our resolve?

HOW CAN THIS BE, when the sunlight of the true human cost of these “wars” energizes us to grow new branches and produce ripe fruit full of new seeds?

HOW CAN THIS BE?

We are those seeds. We are and always have been the seeds of peace. We have everything we need to grow strong and propagate our message. This is our time; the ground is fertile with rage, death and despair. When spiny thorns and insidious roots of weeds of derision and dissent try to crowd out our vitality, we fight back and grow stronger. This is the ground where peacemakers grow. This is where we will prevail, propagate and bear the fruit of peace. This day, this hour, this minute is our season to plant and grow. We must not wilt, we must not wither, we must not succumb to the weeds of despair. This is a harvest we cannot afford to lose. Plant your roots deep in the soil of anger, spread your branches wide to the truth, throw your seeds onto the winds of the apathetic and the ignorant and multiply the message of peace a thousand times. We must spread the peace, one seed at a time. Only this harvest will save our world.

ST JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA INCUBATES VIOLENCE AGAINST HOMELESS

2008-08-29T08:44:00.001-04:00

The true measure of a community is not the median income. It’s not the crime rate or the value of its real estate. The true measure of a community is how it treats its most vulnerable members.

Monday night’s attack on three defenseless homeless men under a bridge in St Augustine by three teenagers outrages me as it should all of us.

The boys are solely responsible for their actions. However, these attacks were incubated in a countywide culture of disinterest and yes, cruelty. The mayor’s reluctant efforts and the truly absurd dream of a timely 10 million dollar homeless facility are calculated political window dressing. Worse, our county board of commissioners doesn’t even bother talking about it at all.

In the three years I have lived here, I have witnessed a young homeless veteran commit suicide on a railroad track, vigilante raids on homeless camps to terrorize and destroy property, and multiple sad, lonely deaths alongside roadways and in retaining ponds.

So, much hand wringing will take place over these three kids and their violent behavior. But where will the hand wringing be over the dismissive and arrogant officials who represent the culture that allows this senseless cruelty to thrive?

St Augustine exercises First Amendment rights since 2003

2008-07-09T08:23:00.005-04:00

OK, so we take some verbal abuse from time to time, especially now that it's obvious to all but the truly stupid that we were lied into "war", it really was about OIL (see: Alan Greenspan and others), and Iraq had NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11.
We still show up, First Friday of the month from 4-6PM, third Saturday of the month from 10AM-Noon.
It's not a huge crowd but it's always a peaceful constant reminder that there are people in this community who know the importance of keeping this in the public's eye. We can do other things and we will but we will NEVER stop the demonstrations until these illegal occupations end and the war criminals who are responsible are brought to justice.
IMPEACH INDICT CONVICT AND IMPRISON. Those who did this to our country are not patriots, they are TRAITORS.

There would be nothing to frighten you if you refused to be afraid.

Gandhi

St Johns County Sheriff displays integrity and humility

2008-07-09T06:29:00.004-04:00

Under fire for passing out controversial t shirts at a veterans group meeting in May, Sheriff Shoar took the direct and honest approach and came alone to address a core group of peace activist leaders Tuesday night at the Universalist Unitarian Church in St Augustine Florida. The shirts have been interpreted by many as advocating military sniping of civilians who do not agree with the "war" in Iraq.

The sheriff apologized, agreed to publish his apology, agreed to stop distribution of any more shirts and will request that all indecent, vulgar, sexist hate mail to peace group members surrounding the t-shirt issue stop immediately.

While speaking out against the message on the shirt was intimidating to members who were subjected to a barrage of hate emails, it was important that this issue got wide exposure. More and more of our civil rights are being curtailed daily, from "free speech zones" cages to enclose protesters to warrantless wiretaps and searches. More communities and groups need to speak out and call attention to any attempts to silence their right to free speech, no matter what side they are on.

As for Sheriff Shoar, if you follow through with your promises from last night,this quote is for you:

The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Been watching GodTV for weeks now

2008-07-08T06:52:00.003-04:00

Todd Bentley, Canadian pentacostal phenom, confirms Obama's observation that desperate people cling to guns and God. I've been watching a couple hours of this outpouring revival in Lakeland Florida for the last 6 weeks. I've watched the slick camera work, the mood music and the incitement of crowds in the thousands by bizarre head twitches, goofy HAHAHAHA laughter noises and "Sheekaba baba" talking in tongues. I've watched people you would pass on the street and say Hi to, just regular people, transformed into hand waving, eye rolling, falling down crying slaves to this strange looking manipulator. The psychoanalyst who talks about her patient going off his meds because he was "healed", the hundreds of others both in the hangar in Lakeland and online from all over the world, who stop needed medications because Todd told them they were healed, will all comprise a sub group of people we will never hear about in one email or newsreport. They will die, get sicker, or commit atrocities on themselves or others, singly, one at a time and there will be no way to gauge the damage this revival is doing. The revival keeps adding days, keeps taking people's money and keeps alienating reasonable ministers and pastors who are now uncomfortable with these claims of raising the dead. I heard him say this myself two weeks ago: he had 25 people come back from the dead.
I believe in the power of the mind to heal. I do not believe anyone needs Todd Bentley to smack them in the head or chest, make them fall down and cover them with a red blanket. You have Direct TV, check it out most nights on GodTV CH 365.

Beating a dead horse, over and over again

2008-07-07T20:00:00.002-04:00

Let’s take a look at the leadership on homeless issues in our county:

PUSH attends a sheriff’s presentation advertised as a discussion of homeless veterans. Aside from estimating 30% or more inmates are veterans of our armed services, Sheriff Shoar had absolutely nothing concrete to offer them upon release but got a real kick out of passing out t shirts advocating military sniping of civilians. Some leader. Ever hear of the Patriot Act?

PUSH requests a copy of the SJC 10 year plan for almost three weeks until a document, written in May 2007, surfaces as THE PLAN. After comparing to other counties’ plans across the nation it is clear that SJC’s document is not a plan. Despite discussions with county officials, state representative, state senators in Tallahassee and numerous other civic groups, no one seems concerned about this although hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars are funneled through the lead agency, apparently with little or no oversight until recently. Jerry Cameron could not name the oversight person for ESHC funding. State representative Bill Proctor has cancelled and not rescheduled a follow up meeting despite several calls to his local office. Some leaders. Ever hear of representative democracy?

PUSH attempted to meet with Dr Colavito for almost 2 weeks until a complaint to Jerry Cameron prompted a meeting to obtain billing records for county funding of agencies on the continuum of care. Some administration. Ever hear of open government?

PUSH attended The Marketplace luncheon to connect with the leader, Ken Asplund, to leave contact information. expecting a response since their website claims as part of their mission:
We exist as a group of Intercessors who have committed to being available to God for the salvation of the lost and the immediate needs of others. We have heard nothing. Some Christians. Ever hear of the Beatitudes?

PUSH has called EPIC, local substance abuse provider, numerous times to offer mentoring assistance and has never been called back. Some provider. Ever hear of community involvement?

PUSH volunteer gets “fired” from volunteering at the transitional housing component at the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition for seeking answers to concerns of waste and fraud from the state contract manager. Other former workers at ESHC are unwilling to tell what they know and have simply left to do good work elsewhere. Some management. Ever hear of accountability?

PUSH attempts for 6 months to discover plans for moving St Francis House, the only temporary shelter in the county with a grand total of 28 beds, only to be shut out of any planning or discussion. Some open government. Ever hear of stakeholders?

PUSH attempts to find out where and when ESHC board meetings are conducted and is told the meetings are private but PUSH can request time for a presentation to the board. Some sunshine state. Ever hear of inclusiveness?

PUSH attempts to find out where an advertised meeting of local leaders with a nationally known homeless “czar” is speaking only to learn it was limited to a small group at an undisclosed location and was ending in fifteen minutes. Some posturing. Ever hear of honesty?

PUSH attempts to reach out to area churches with a viable and proven solution to helping homeless people get back on their feet and link up with services that would be cost free to taxpayers yet allow church members to personally work with homeless families and share that responsibility for a limited time with other faith based organizations. No churches have committed despite numerous presentations and calls. Some outreach. Ever hear of compassion?

PUSH presented two well researched and effective programs to help veterans who are struggling with mental health issues and who may also be homeless and desperate to the Veterans Council. At the end of the ten minute presentation, two members attack the presenter for his connection to an anti war group and accuse him of bringing politics to the discussion. In fact, the opposite was true and the members were allowing their politics to impede any real discussion of solutions for our veterans. The irony was lost on them. There was no support offered for the programs proposed but plenty of discussion on fundraising to put flags in county classrooms. Some patriotism. Ever hear about priorities?

PUSH sends out a draft copy of the status of homeless advocacy demanding accountability and inclusiveness to all city, county commissioners, numerous media outlets and providers on the county “continuum of care” and gets slammed for trying to have an open discussion about the new shelter with “the public”, since it “will cause problems.”. Some democracy. Ever hear about power of the people?

So let’s recap:

No help from any level of government on accountability and oversight.

No help from any provider, agency, church on proven solutions to homelessness.

No help from established group of Christian business and community leaders on collaborative solutions.

No help from veterans council for veterans in trouble.

No help from law enforcement on incarcerated veterans.

We’re on our own. After 18 months of working the system, we are on our own. We’re only sorry it’s taken this long to get it.

All talk, no action: Must be an election year

2008-07-07T19:56:00.002-04:00

Ten months ago, I wrote a guest column for the Record on the status of the homeless in St Johns County. In it I noted a number of programs and plans that were proving successful in communities like ours all over the nation. I also noted the complete lack of leadership of city and county officials despite the huge costs to taxpayers for services this population uses, like emergency rooms and detention. Last year Mayor Boles convened a workshop on the homeless. Aside from endless discussion on law enforcement issues and an unfortunate cruel remark from the Mayor, what changed? The mayor hosted a pricey fundraiser on the Night of Lights and the city provided $45,000 for 30 donated mattresses to get the homeless off the streets for the holiday tourists.

Earlier this year PUSH (People United to Stop Homelessness) met with the city manager and discussed a roundtable of all the players, including the homeless, and nothing happened.

On May 14, 2008, Sheriff Shoar addressed a veterans group in Coquina Crossing publicized as a presentation on homeless veterans. He had absolutely nothing to report.

On May 15, 2008, the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition (ESHC) celebrated their ten year anniversary. It took me three weeks last year to obtain a copy of St Johns County’s 10 year plan to end homelessness. Don’t believe me? Try to find a copy on the SJC website. PUSH has posted it on their website: www.pushsjc.org

Even a cursory reading will indicate it is not a PLAN.

On Friday, June 20, 2008, the location of the perennially secret homeless shelter was revealed to the public, a group advertised as officials, agencies and concerned advocates. PUSH was not invited nor was the ESHC.

On June 25, 2008, Mayor Boles invited Philip Mangano, Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, to speak to officials and members of our community on successful homeless prevention programs. Although advertised on the front page of this paper, no time or location was given. The meeting was short noticed, closed and only involved a select few including the director of St Francis House, Flagler Hospital, the editor of this paper, the sheriff and the mayor. PUSH and most amazingly, the ESHC, lead homeless agency in this county, were not invited.

There are pros and cons to the new shelter. The Salvation Army Food Bank manager told me St Francis House will now be able to accept and store food adequately. Renee Morris, St Francis House director, cites office spaces for services like medical, dental and veterans. There is climate control and room for more beds and it is close to the numerous SR 207 camps, including the one where yet another homeless person’s remains were discovered on June 24, 2008. It will allow the police to warehouse downtown “undesirables” far from tourists’ eyes and pocketbooks and timely enough for the big 450^th celebrations. To be sure, this is an election year and pretty much everybody running will be on board for all kinds of reasons; leadership and compassion not necessarily among them.

Speaking of the big 450th, if we are so astoundingly proud of this historic and beautiful city, why can’t we remember the words of its namesake, quoted here by me ten months ago:

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”

What does St Augustine look like?

PUSH meets monthly at the Galimore Center in St Augustine. We are an advocacy group for the homeless and work for collaboration of dignified and humane solutions from all stakeholders: government, religious, civic, business and private individuals. Notices of meetings are published in the St Augustine Record and all are welcome to attend. Visit www.pushsjc.org
and contact us.

St Johns County Sheriff and the Patriot Act

2008-07-02T08:04:00.002-04:00

You know you’re in big trouble when the top law enforcement officer in the county passes out t shirts advocating military sniping of dissenting civilians.

When the St Augustine Record reported that Sheriff David Shoar would be addressing homeless veterans’ issues to a veteran’s group in Coquina Crossing at their meeting on May 14, as co-founder of PUSH: People United to Stop Homelessness, I was excited and encouraged to attend. I went to take notes on his plans to help homeless veterans in St Johns County in order to disseminate them to the PUSH community.

Over 130 people attended that night. We were all given an orange ticket upon entering for a raffle the sheriff would hold later. After a short business meeting, the Sheriff was introduced to resounding applause. I seated myself in the back with a pad to take notes. Mr Shoar made a few remarks, drawing some more laughter and applause. He held up a black T Shirt with type on it that I was unable to read from the back to more laughter and applause. Mr Shoar stated he was proud of St Johns County support for its veterans. He introduced 4 officers who were veterans currently serving on his force. He estimated 25-30% of 600 current inmates in his jail are veterans and feels we are missing the boat serving returning vets due to psychological impacts not recognized in the past. He noted at least we talk about this now although in his view, homelessness is an enigma. This, from a man with a purported Masters in Public Administration. His office is taking steps by training volunteers from his force in crisis intervention to help with homelessness and mental health issues. After completion of the 30 day class ,one officer from each team will have more experience dealing with these issues. He touted the Four Star Foundation, a non profit that provides linkage to services for veterans. He applauded the construction of the new veterans’ home in the county. When the floor was opened for questions, I had felt the issue of homeless veterans had not been fully addressed and raised my hand. I stated that the following Friday, May 16, would mark the one year anniversary of the death of Billy Healey, a 34 year old homeless Air Force veteran who took his life by lying on the railroad tracks in St Augustine. I asked whether the sheriff’s department had any programs to address the huge numbers of young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who would be returning to our community. Bottom line, the answer was no.
Time to cue the raffle. The sheriff had about 10 bags on the stage and our tickets were for those. Shortly after asking my question, I won one of the bags and had to walk all the way to the front of the room to collect my prize. I badly wanted to leave as there was evidently not going to be any real discussion of homeless veterans’ issues but stayed out of respect. Subsequent questions involved lack of respect of today’s youth, recidivism rates, arrest of “illegals” and percentages of violent offenders. One member requested SJC post a weblog of inmates similar to Putnam County’s. At first opportunity as the meeting ended, I escaped to my car, skipping the coffee and dessert affair also funded by the sheriff.
I got home around 930 and decided to open that gift bag. I found a nice green sheriff’s ball cap, a gold and green medallion with sheriff insignia, a green glass coffee mug with gold detailing and the hilarious black t shirt I couldn’t read before.
I opened this shirt and on the front over the left breast is a white silhouette of an Army sniper holding a rifle. On the back, in bold white block letters is the statement:
“IF YOU CAN’T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, DO US ALL A FAVOR AND STAND IN FRONT OF THEM”.
I stood for minutes trying to grasp the meaning of this all the while denying to myself the possibility that the highest law enforcement officer in the county was advocating military sniping of civilians but then I remembered the laughter and applause when the shirt had been held up and realized there could be no other meaning and that this was a most serious breach of the public trust by our highest elected law officer. It is chilling.

Which I think is the point. On Saturday May 17, during a peace demonstration that has been ongoing for over 5 years, a city police officer made a huge show of violation of a sign ordinance. During the Memorial Day celebration in the Plaza, city officers circled the park in SUVs and on bicycles. The county has been showing off its brand new Command Task Force unit by driving it around town. In fact, its appearance prompted my call to the sheriff’s department weeks ago, wondering what it was and what it was for. It was confirmed that the vehicle was being driven around the county to display to the citizens. The department is ecstatic to have this piece of equipment and others like it. Combined they give local law enforcement the ability to transmit live video feeds in real time to connected law enforcement agencies all over the place.

There’s more. Local law enforcement agencies have been receiving military equipment courtesy of Department of Homeland Security for years. We’re talking semi automatic weapons, helicopters, tanks, combat gear. Local “task force fusion centers” have been set up all over the nation to provide the coordination between federal (FBI,ICE and DHS) state and local law enforcement in the event of an “attack”, a natural disaster and “civil unrest”. These centers have armed security guards authorized to shoot to kill in the event of an emergency. Ours is conveniently located in Jacksonville although there is no known location for our nearest detention center, hundreds of which have been built or renovated from military bases by KBR and other favored military contractors.

We’re in trouble. Whether it is a small group of peaceful anti war activists, Food Not Bombs serving food to all, animal rights activists or labor organizers, it makes no difference. I repeat: it makes NO DIFFERENCE. The House passed HR1955 last year: The Violent Homegrown Radicalization Terrorist Act which includes groups like these. It passed 404-8. The bill may come before the Senate soon as S1959. Currently over 40,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are diagnosed with PTSD. With t shirts like this being applauded and distributed, what would it take for a traumatized young vet to obtain a weapon and start firing into a crowd of war dissenters? We have got to start paying attention and stop this erosion of our freedom, an erosion that starts with a local sheriff getting away with passing out t shirts advocating military violence against civilians and could well end in an unspeakably insane act of killing in our own county.

PUSH hears vet speak truth

2008-02-24T19:26:00.002-05:00

At the monthly PUSH (People United to Stop Homelessness) meeting on Tuesday, he sat before us, quietly telling a story about war, dedicated young men and women, and what it was really like upon their return from combat. I stared at his delicate features, soft curling brown hair and graceful musician-like hands, trying to imagine a shaved head, a voice loud with orders and those hands holding a rifle.

He told us he was one of the oldest in his unit at age 19 and how the rigors of military service contribute to addiction and mental health issues. He told us that statistically, he was at greater risk for homelessness and failure.

He said the VA tries not to hand out Post Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnoses and that soldiers are reluctant to admit to problems. Soldiers diagnosed with PTSD get referred to a chaplain, then undergo six months of separation from family and friends to receive drugs and counseling. Upon discharge, these vets see a 20 -minute presentation on applying for benefits. There are many requirements to be met to receive benefits and many young vets don't even bother, trying to make it on their own.

If a vet finally qualifies for medical benefits after a six to twelve month processing wait, visits to psychiatrists are then scheduled on a monthly basis. Soldiers are not permitted to discuss killing of civilians during sessions. He was issued four different psychotropic drugs including Paxil and Neurontin with instructions to mix as needed for relief. Most of these drugs are proven to be contraindicated for suicidal feelings. News reports documented over 6,000 veteran suicides in 2005 alone across all services and conflicts. He estimates 90% of our young veterans are suffering from PTSD. The mission- "to break the will of the enemy to resist" is unclear in a theatre where the "enemy" is not wearing a uniform.

He told us of a program in Duval County that tries to give work to vets, picking up trash. Our veterans, picking up trash. His organization, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), is currently working with 20 homeless veterans in Jacksonville. They do not want charity. Upon discharge, with the VA under funded and understaffed, these vets say they feel disposable and unwanted. His friend, a sergeant in the US Army, has had her child removed from her custody due to her deployment. The daughter now lives with her grandmother in a hotel with no running water and is technically homeless.

But most amazing of all, he told us he is better off than so many other returning vets. He wisely sees a broader problem of basic inhumanity. He is convinced that solutions will only come from us, the people, and not the government. He challenged us to ask ourselves why we avoid homeless people and why we are silent instead of loudly and vocally outraged.

Eyes brimming with held back tears, he returned to his seat while we examined our lives.

The IVAW Winter Soldier Project takes place in Washington DC March 13 through March 16. Returning soldiers testify to their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. This action will require these young veterans once again to summon their amazing courage and integrity to revisit their nightmares in the interest of truth for their country. Look for articles and reports on these hearings. Go to: http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier

Examine your life.

PUSH: 2007 in review

2008-01-02T19:52:00.000-05:00

P U S H looks back over 2007 and forward to 2008

P U S H: People United to Stop Homelessness began with a large grassroots movement in January 2007 as a response to the city’s panhandling ordinance. New residents, elected officials, clergy, social services and mental health professionals, and social justice activists came together to assess, understand and work towards a compassionate solution to homelessness in St Johns County. They met monthly for a year, accomplishing the following:

Established a living mission statement with four clear goals:

PUSH was formed to improve coordination and utilization of all the many resources available in St Johns County to address the homeless population in the area.

We are resolved to advocate for the homeless at the city, county and state levels.
We will provide awareness and action through education and outreach activities.
We will assist in providing liaison between various agencies, churches and non profit organizations.
We will work to ensure that any solution to homelessness comprises full services: human basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and additional assistance including but not limited to medical, mental health, job training, substance abuse counseling and child care.

Established a website with calendar, resource links and archived articles: www.push.solidarityandpeace.org

Wrote many published articles and letters to editors and elected officials advocating for collaborative solutions to homelessness.

Conducted a Candlelight Vigil for Billy Healey, a homeless veteran who killed himself in May 2007.

Appeared on the Norma Sherry show on Channel 22, spoke at various local churches and participated in Coastal Law School presentation along with the Sulzbacher Center.

Held vigil with informational signs outside Night of Lights Gala to support fundraising for St Francis House, thanking all the mayor’s guests for their contributions.

Participated in ESHC’s point in time January 2007 homeless count.

Participated in ongoing ESHC Task Force efforts.

Conducted continuing outreach to homeless, churches, county officials and mental health agencies, Veterans Affairs.

Researched communities all over the US and in Florida to ascertain successful programs and educated members on possibilities for St Johns County.

Conducted citizen surveys at public libraries in November and December of 2007 as well as on the website and in the St Augustine Record to gauge citizen opinions on homelessness and solutions.

We have accomplished a lot in a year. It now appears logical to try and organize a roundtable of key players to discover and construct a working vision of what will work best in St Johns County. It is unclear whether P U S H has the clout to pull this off. Members will need to step up and volunteer time and expertise in coordinating this effort. We hope to talk about this at our next meeting, tentatively 1/15/08 but more and final information and agenda will be forthcoming.

Sumner and I want to thank each and every one of you who have made all this possible. I keep thinking how cold it will be tonight, 1/2/08, and how helpless I feel. We have got to do more.

LOOKING FOR AMERICA ON THE YELLOW BELLIED BRICK ROAD

2007-12-05T07:38:00.000-05:00

LOOKING FOR AMERICA ON THE YELLOW BELLIED BRICK ROAD

Once upon a time, terrible things happened in the country. Airplanes slammed into buildings killing innocent people and destroying a lot of evidence of malfeasance in high places. All these little Congressional munchkins were so scared they ran around passing laws to make sure no more evil witches would ever bother us again. It wasn’t enough and they didn’t stop being scared. They kept talking about a wizard of Oz and all the powers and the magic in a place called the Emerald City. So I went to go find this wonderful wizard who could tell me the truth about the terrible thing that happened to my country. The munchkins showed me the way, although they were too afraid to find out the truth for themselves. So I went by myself, following this road paved with yellow bellied bricks.

Before long I met a scarecrow with a fake Texas accent named George. He was stuck in a floundering and pathetic situation but when I told him about the buildings and the airplanes, he stared at me for about seven minutes, then asked me to help him down. I told him about this wizard guy in Oz and he begged me to go along. He was pretty stupid and he knew it. Since I was going to ask this wizard for the truth, he wanted to come along and ask the wizard for a brain. Against my better judgment, I let him come with me.

Before long we heard this creaking and moaning sound coming from the dark woods. Scarecrow George wanted to run away but I wanted the truth no matter how scared I was, so I went into the woods. There I found this tinman all rusted and frozen in place with a really mean look on his face. His mouth could still move and he asked me to free him by putting some oil on his joints. Once I did that he could talk freely and, amazingly, his name was George too! He also had been stuck in a floundering and pathetic situation and when I told him about my journey for the truth to the wizard of Oz, he begged me to come along too. He figured since he was a cold hearted guy who would never commute a death sentence or allow legislation to cover health care for poor children, that he could probably use a heart. I figured it had something to do with how he was raised by a mom who thought refugees from a terrible flood were happy to be shoved into crowded smelly stadiums away from their families or who didn’t want to bother her beautiful mind with images of dead soldiers and innocent civilians. I could be wrong. I introduced him to Scarecrow George and they immediately became the best of friends. Again, against my better judgment, I let him come with us and we continued on through the dark and scary forest.

Next thing you know I hear this terrible sobbing and sniffling. Scarecrow George and Tinman George wanted to run away but I had to know the truth so deep into the woods I went. There I found this huge lion crying his eyes out. Even though he was big and scary, I thought he needed some help so I went to him and asked him why he was crying. He tried to pretend he was really tough, almost like a war pilot strutting around on the deck of an aircraft carrier, but I could see he was really a chicken. I asked him what his name was and guess what, his name was George too! I told him about my quest for the truth about the terrible things happening to my country and how everybody said the wizard could help me. Lion George got all excited and thought maybe the wizard could give him some courage so he wouldn’t have to pretend to have actually completed his Air National Guard duty during Vietnam and he wouldn’t have to keep saying “dead or alive” and “bring ‘em on.” I brought him back to Scarecrow George and Tinman George and you would have thought it was a family reunion.

We started off again down the yellow bellied brick road and could see the Emerald City in the distance. We got all excited and started to run. A mysterious white snow fell all around us. All of a sudden Lion George and I began to feel sleepy and just wanted to lie down and pass out. Fortunately for us, both Scarecrow George and Tinman George were both familiar with this mysterious white stuff and were able to magically sniff it all up so we could wake up and get out of there.

When we finally got to the Emerald City we could not get in because all these beefy guys in wraparound sunglasses and black SUVs were guarding the place. They sure didn’t look like they belonged there but the weapons they were holding looked really serious. The three Georges put their heads together and came up with a plan. They promised the beefy guards lots of money and power if they would let us in. That wasn’t good enough so they had to promise more money for a long time to come and all the freedom in the world to shoot anybody they wanted. The three Georges didn’t really think that one through as they had no idea where they would get this money and what would happen if the beefy guys got out of control but they were in a hurry and thought they could figure all that out later.

After our journey we were tired and dirty so everybody in the Emerald City went out of their way to make sure we were presentable to meet the Wizard. We got new clothes, a bath and all these talking points about “freedom”, “weapons of mass destruction” and “fighting them over there”. Then, finally, we got to meet the wizard. We were all nervous about asking for anything and very confused after all those talking points. Then we heard this weird voice telling us to come closer to this big curtain. It kept saying things like “if you will” and “last throes”. After a long time of this mumbling I got mad and pulled the big curtain back. What do I see but some old bald guy with a pacemaker and an evil sneer. Not feeling too happy about this, I pulled Scarecrow George over and made him ask for his brain. Creepy guy, whom I’m now calling “gizzard” in my mind, cackles at poor Scarecrow George and tells him he can’t give him a brain, that you “go to war with the brain you got”. Scarecrow George didn’t get it and neither did I but it shut him up. Then old Tinman George creaks his way over and asks the gizzard for a heart. There goes that cackle again as the “giz” tells him he needs a pacemaker like he has but too bad he doesn’t have health insurance because he’ll never be able to afford it. Tinman George starts crying so hard he rusts up immediately and gets shipped off to China before anyone can investigate thermate residue on him. Lion George is just about ready to bolt but lucky for him, I had some of that magical white stuff stashed in my pocket so I let him sniff just a little and boy he got brave. Lion George ran right up to that gizzard despite the fact he was holding a shotgun and seemed a little drunk. Lion George demanded some courage and the giz shot him in the face. For some weird reason though, Lion George kept apologizing for being in the line of fire.

Now it’s my turn and I’m more than a little annoyed. This old guy, who hides behind a curtain, who makes big bucks starting wars and who likes to out undercover agents for revenge is getting on my nerves. I already know what he’s going to tell me when I ask for the truth but I ask for it anyway and what do I get?

“Go fuck yourself”.

CONNECTIONS IN ABU DABAI BAILOUT OF CITICORP

2007-11-27T19:40:00.000-05:00

It's all about connections. The Bushes'relationship with the heads of state of Abu Dabai has never been a secret. What I didn't get until I looked it up was the board of directors of Abu Dabai Investment Authority is packed with Bush buddies. They have hosted and been hosted by GHW and GW in recent months. You think they were talking about the subprime crash and the subsequent floundering of Citicorp? You think maybe they came up with some ideas about a bailout? I'm convinced, more than ever, that our lives are totally controlled by a very few individuals in this world. What can we do about this?

PICKING FIGHTS WITH PEACEMAKERS

2007-11-25T06:38:00.000-05:00

He said, "Let me ask you something. Did he enlist? Then he got what he deserved.”
This question, posed during PPJ’s recent peace demonstration, was cruel and inappropriate to the widow of an American veteran. It was posed as if enlistment then justifies the death of a husband and father in an illegal war of aggression. Yet this is what our nation and our discourse has been reduced to: spit out soundbites and angry rejoinders.

It’s not just the 3,875 officially acknowledged dead Americans, although that is sad enough. USA Today reports the Pentagon has not classified as wounded some 20,000 soldiers with brain injuries. A November 13, 2007 report from CBS News tells us that in 2005 alone, in just 45 states reporting, there were at least 6,256 suicides among those who had served in the armed forces. That’s 120 each and every week, in just one year. Just adding that one year, 2005, to the current death toll puts the cost of this aggression at over 10,000 American soldiers. Add in the 30,327 officially wounded and tell us the cost of “freedom” in Iraq is worth it. We get 60,458 young American lives ruined forever, either through untimely death, brain injury, suicide or physical disability.

St Augustine People for Peace and Justice apologizes to any who have been offended by our presence, our signs and our infrequent responses to the obscene insults and baiting that we endure every first and third Saturday at the Plaza de Constitucion. We do not look for apologies from the countless individuals who once supported or still support this immoral illegal occupation. They are hurt, defensive and confused and strike out at us for relief. However, we will never apologize for our belief that all war is wrong and this “war” in particular is a grievous mistake, based on lies and twisted intelligence, which is killing our young people and innocent civilians while enriching the cronies of the Bush administration.

But we will always welcome reasoned dissent and try to find common ground. We believe it is the only way to hold this nation together.

Why, Mommy?

2007-11-12T21:42:00.000-05:00

Why, Mommy?

Why indeed. I died on Veterans Day 11/11/07 at 11 a.m in St Augustine as one of 3860 US soldiers, 141 journalists and 1,100,000 Iraqis. Lying on the hard ground, seeing nothing and hearing footsteps and muffled conversations, throughout it all, one child’s plaintive voice broke through: “Why, Mommy?”

“Because they’re tired, honey.”

Twenty people, dressed in black, solemnly and silently marched the entire length of St George Street to the dirge-like beat of a drum. Signs around their necks noted numbers of dead US soldiers, dead Iraqis, dead children and dead journalists. At predetermined places, the twenty laid down dead on the ground for ten minutes while peacekeepers passed out flyers, outlined bodies with chalk and protected them from any potential injury, intentional or otherwise. The police dutifully showed up to tell the group to move on after their second die-in attempt. They were “blocking the flow of foot traffic”.

Tired, hell yes. While this small group protested the Iraq “war”, others were celebrating sacrifices made there and in other wars. Care was taken to make sure the demonstration was respectful and peaceful but incredibly, there are still those who equate Iraq with the 9/11 attacks, still those who say “You people disgust me” and even worse, still those who will not meet your eyes, take your flyers or rouse themselves from their apathy and despair to take a stand.

Tired, hell yes. While this small group protested the war, draft dodger Dick Cheney was at Arlington Cemetery giving a ten minute speech honoring Iraq veterans while co-draft dodger George Bush was addressing troops at a minor Veterans event in Waco Texas. Clearly wars are fought by the little people, bravely and selflessly, while the power elite sit home safely, making speeches and suppressing dissenters. These two criminal draft dodgers have no business and no right to say anything about those who have sacrificed and died in war yet there is no outrage about this?

Tired, hell yes. While twenty people in the streets is a decent turnout in St Augustine, while countless people thanked us for what we were doing, while many others sadly honored their war dead, why aren’t there more of us in the streets? Demonstrators today included members from Veterans for Peace, St Augustine People for Peace and Justice, Grandparents for Peace and Citizens in Action. Where is the general population? Are you dead too? Thank yous are great but actions speak louder than words.

We’re all tired but the outrage is building. Many anti-war activists are becoming more radicalized. Orlando’s protest on 10/27 was a first in unity with nationwide demonstrations that day. Activists from the sixties are showing young activists how it’s done and young activists are adding their own creativity. Status quo government is worried and suppression of dissent and First Amendment rights is growing. Something’s got to give.

St Augustine’s first “Die In” ended at noon, auspiciously with the church bells pealing loud and long on a beautiful sunny day. Could it be the beginning of the revolution? Could it be the beginning of the truthful answer to the question “Why, Mommy?”

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.” Gandhi

NanceGreggs's Journal: Nance Rants - We Are Connected - We Are Not Alone

2007-09-23T10:16:00.000-04:00

This is just what I needed today.

Daily Kos: Help Me End Homelessness

2007-09-14T19:08:00.000-04:00

Common sense, Housing First, works in Philadelphia.

A Constitutional approach to homelessness by Karl Meyer

2007-09-14T18:57:00.000-04:00

HOMELESSNESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AMERICA

notes prepared for the Nashville Homeless Power Project
by Karl Meyer 8-27-2007

In the historic traditions of our country, from its beginnings, the human and civil rights listed in the United States Constitution are not regarded as created or granted by the Constitution. According to the founders of our country, these are inherent rights that are merely recognized and guaranteed to all American residents in the Bill of Rights. This tradition is eloquently stated in the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men [people], deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Some of the unalienable rights of people are routinely violated in Tennessee, and elsewhere in our country, simply because people are homeless and have no secure place to take shelter and to safeguard their belongings. One of these is the right to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures:

The Tennessee Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Article I, Section 7, says:
“That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from unreasonable searches and seizures…”

The U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendment IV, says:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

The ordinary person who owns or rents a house or apartment has a place to store belongings. Their home is their “castle”. Their property is protected by law against burglary or private trespass, and law enforcement officers can not enter the property or search it without a warrant from a judge, based on probable cause, describing what is to be searched for or seized.

People who are homeless have no such protected places to shelter their persons or their belongings. They often carry all their belongings in a knapsack, shopping bags, or in their pockets. Their knapsacks, shopping bags, the pockets of their pants, should enjoy the same protection from unjustified searches as my house or your apartment. They must not be searched without a warrant from a judge specifically describing anything illegal that the police have sound evidence for expecting to find. Whenever police officers search the belongings of homeless people without warrants and probable cause, the homeless people are denied equal protection of the laws.

The U.S. Constitution, Amendment XIV, Section 1, says that no State shall, “…deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

The Tennessee Constitution, Article XI, Section 16, says that the declaration of rights of the Tennessee Constitution “…shall never be violated under any pretense whatever…” and that everything in the bill of rights “…shall forever remain inviolate.”

Homeless people are denied these rights whenever they are hassled on the streets, or their persons, clothing, or meager belongings are searched without a warrant and probable cause.

RIGHT TO SHELTER

Neither the Tennessee Constitution nor the U.S. Constitution specifically lists or guarantees an inherent right to a home, or a secure place of shelter. However, the Tennessee Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Article 8, does provide that no person shall be “disseized of his free-hold, liberties or privileges, or outlawed or exiled, or in any manner destroyed or deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land”.

More pointedly, the U. S. Bill of Rights, Amendment IX, says that:
“ The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people”.

The right to sleep is an unalienable right inherent to every person. The right to relieve oneself is an essential right. These are simple rights, so essential to us that it is practically impossible to take them away completely, even by the most intense coercion or torture. These rights are so inherent that we can not even survive without them.

Earth and most of the wealth of her resources was created billions of years ago, without any help from human hands. Yet we live in a society in which almost every square inch of ground and every tool and means of livelihood is owned as private property, or claimed by governments as public property. Ironically, any people with money to own automobiles automatically gain the use of two hundred square feet or more of public street, whenever it can be found, to park a car, or as many cars as they may own. Even a bicycle owner can lock a bike to a post and claim six square feet of public space. But people who do not even have the price of a room for one night, aren’t granted the right to lie down on the concrete pavement and claim even the six square feet needed to lie down and sleep. If they can not find a public washroom (and few are to be found, especially at night), they aren’t allowed the legal right to relieve themselves anywhere at all. To do any of these things subjects them to arrest for the crimes of disorderly conduct, loitering, vagrancy or public indecency.

To paraphrase the Gospels: the foxes have their holes, the birds have their nests, the autos have their parking spaces, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head. (see Luke 9:58)

SOLUTIONS

Every person must be guaranteed a minimum right to a readily accessible place to rest and to store personal belongings in safety and security. A “free market” system, such as ours, makes some level of unemployment chronic and inevitable. In such a system every person must be granted access to some reliable and stable means of livelihood to secure a reasonable standard of nutrition, health care and shelter sufficient to support life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

When these basic rights are not socially recognized, unemployed and homeless people are “disseized of [their] free-hold” and “outlawed or exiled” in violation of the Tennessee Constitution. They are denied the unlisted but unalienable rights to shelter and other basic necessities for survival that are implicitly guaranteed in the Ninth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The United Nations Universal Declaration of human rights, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on December 10, 1948, recognizes the same principle of equal and unalienable rights for all people as is recognized by the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Article 7 endorses equal protection of the laws for all.
Article 22 provides that: “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.”
Article 23 (1) says that: “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”
Article 25 (1) provides that: “Everyone has a right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”

Although U.S. delegates played a large role in defining these standards, and the U.S. is one of the countries best able to afford to support such standards, they are still far from being met in the U.S. Because this document is not a treaty ratified by the U.S. Congress, it does not have the force of law in the United States, unlike the provisions of the U.S. Constitution cited above, which are part of the “supreme law of the land”, as defined in Article VI (2) of the Constitution. It is the Tennessee and U.S. Constitutions that implicitly guarantee a right to shelter and a means of livelihood for all, and very explicitly promise the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

What's in a name?

2007-08-28T21:57:00.000-04:00

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Happy Birthday to beautiful St Augustine, an historic city of about 13,000 and temporary home to hundreds of semi hidden, hungry, dirty and tired homeless people.

St Augustine lays claim to being “America’s Oldest City” and to be sure, countless signs and yellow pages listings attest to: “Ancient City”, “Old City”, “First Coast”, and variations thereof. St Augustine is also home to over ninety churches, many charitable organizations and several government agencies devoted to social welfare. Hundreds of private citizens also volunteer time, treasure and talent to helping the homeless

.St Johns County recorded 1,238 homeless people in January 2007, 251 of them children under the age of 18. About 80% of the counted homeless work but will never amass the amount of money needed for security deposit and first month’s rent to call a place home. Some panhandle, most do not. To our shame, many are veterans. Some, but not all, have addiction and mental health issues. Some have been released from prison. Many have medical and dental needs.

So, the question needs to be asked:

Why aren’t we coming together to help and care for our homeless?

Don’t rely on local government. Mayor Boles stated in a city commission meeting two months ago that he would hold a workshop on the homeless issue. There has not been another mention of it. None of the county commissioners and only one city commissioner even deigned to respond to an invitation to memorialize Billy Healey, the homeless young veteran who took his life in May by lying on a railroad track. With the exception of George Gardner, who is working on viable solutions on his own, no city or county commissioner has responded to requests from PUSH, People United to Stop Homelessness, for information on their positions on the homeless. They have preferred instead to defer responsibility to the Salvation Army, who was supposed to conduct a survey in May and who finally met with local agencies in August. In a total surprise to everyone, the survey takers informed the homeless coalition that the Salvation Army has no intention of building a shelter in St Johns County. Meanwhile, negotiations with St Francis House, the only emergency shelter in the county with a grand total of 28 beds, proceed in secret without any known citizen input whatsoever.

Research from HUD’s Report on Chronic Homelessness and the National Alliance for the Homeless indicates that other cities are making tremendous progress on a front that, here in St Augustine and St Johns County has been totally ignored and shoved off on non profits, churches and compassionate individuals. There are clear cut examples of collaborations among business, government, churches, non profits and citizens that work. Columbus, Seattle, Birmingham, San Diego and others have workable models that in some cases have decreased homelessness by 40%. Their situations were far more critical than here.

In almost all of the models a familiar dynamic takes place. Something happens, like the panhandling ordinance. People are moved to act. In successful models, a number of things occur. Usually a citizen’s group is formed, combining business, religious, government, non profits. Ideas blossom, connections are made, projects are initiated and then a wide range of individuals are committed to solutions. Older buildings are identified, purchased, renovated and funded for low income housing. Businesses collaborate on materials and labor similar to Habitat for Humanity. Florida has numerous grant opportunities for these renovation projects. In fact renovation of existing structures is preferred. Individual churches and civic organizations often volunteer to adopt residents in these buildings, making sure appointments are kept, food is in the house, bills are being paid, work training/job search activities are ongoing, children are cared for and linkages to government services are followed up. In such a scenario here, St Johns County’s Emergency Services Homeless Coalition is the logical choice as the coordinating agent since they are our state appointed funding agency.

In other words, compassionate people could do much more than commiserate and donate clothes, canned goods and money. There would be structured opportunity to impact another’s life directly. Imagine the understanding and acceptance that would happen as opposed to fear and ignorance as people worked with people. Instead of pushing legislation to run the homeless out of town, businesses would act proactively drawing on extensive connections through the Chamber of Commerce and maybe even St Augustine for Jesus/The Marketplace, whose website proclaims: “We exist as a group of Intercessors who have committed to being available to God for the salvation of the lost and the immediate needs of others.” (www.Upray2.com). With the notable exception of Mr. Patel, a local hotel owner, there has been no noticeable activity on the part of business except for complaining and passing of ordinances.

While we organize and plan to celebrate the city of St Augustine’s birthday, take time to consider the words of our city’s namesake:

Mary Lawrence

Co Founder, PUSH: People United to Stop Homelessness

824 Oak Arbor Circle

St Augustine FL 32084

904.823.9585

mlawrenc@comcast.net

If you tolerate this, your children will be next

2007-08-18T21:14:00.000-04:00

Why can't we get the attention? Where are the draft eligible? We need a paradigm shift in this country to be the change we want.

Good 911 truth site by architects and engineers

2007-08-17T21:41:00.000-04:00

Action Items

Dying to Go on Vacation - The Smirking Chimp

2007-04-29T07:55:00.000-04:00

OK, if this doesn't get Americans' blood boiling, we have truly become a country of zombies. Wonder what Bush's summer plans are?

The Raw Story | Protesters demand impeachment as President Bush speaks at Miami-Dade College

2007-04-29T07:48:00.000-04:00

St Augustine held a supporting protest in conjunction with hundreds across the nation. We were on the A28 website listing. Terry, Peg and others deserve our thanks for showing up and pulling this off. It's great to see St Augustine on the map, taking a stand against this joke of an administration. Well done. I'll be happy to post pictures.

NanceGreggs's Journal: Nance Rants - Tell Laura I Love Her

2007-04-26T20:30:00.000-04:00

Absolutely one of Nancy's best. When I saw stepford wife Bush say those things I could've puked. What absolute arrogance. How detached and cruel. Just like her mother in law's statement about the Katrina refugees and "how well things are working for them", homeless, separated, poor, scared. These elitists are clueless, and their lack of compassion and empathy is disgusting.

Elizabeth de la Vega | The Problem With Alberto

2007-04-23T19:57:00.000-04:00

Here's how you really have to look at the Gone-zales fiasco.

De la Vega is so good.

NanceGreggs's Journal: Nance Rants - He's YOUR President (and you're welcome to him)

2007-04-22T21:16:00.000-04:00

The girl is back!