Permanent War?

I just finished listening to Andrew Bacevich's latest book, "Washington Rules--America's Path to Permanent War."    He traces US foreign and military policy from the end of WWII to present.  His thesis is that our military strategy does not change with Democrat or Republican presidents, and has led us to a state of permanent war.  He suggests that the US lead by example, not by force.   Excellent.

Women's Bodies

"Growing up female, it becomes clear at an early age that to have value one must achieve a certain 'look'  Striving for an ideal that few can attain becomes a way of life.  We weigh, we measure, and we compare in order to live up to the design standards of unknown architects.
The question becomes, How did we get here?  How did it get so out of hand?  Will it end?  and When will it be okay to come as we are?"

Eleanor Allen, artist
from Speaking for Themselves:  The Artists of Southeastern Pennsylvania

$ Spent on Current Wars

$1 Trillion or $1,000,000,000,000
2001-2010 (fiscal years)
Iraq and Afghanistan
Does not include war related spending by State Department, USAID, nor Veterans Affairs.

GOOD WITHOUT GOD

About 2 months ago I put a new bumper sticker on my car (which already sports other bumper stickers) that reads:  "GOOD WITHOUT GOD."  Today I got my first comment on it.

The furnace service man came in through the garage, and the first thing he said to me was:
Furnace Man:  "Good without God.  What does that mean?"
Anita:  "That a person can be good without believing in god."
FM:  "You don't believe in God?"
A:  "No."
FM: "Too bad."

He went to the basement and serviced the furnace.  Later, after explaining to us that we ought to buy a new, efficient furnace to replace our reliable ancient one, he said:
FM:  "I figured it out.  One can be good without God."
A:  "Oh?"
FM:  "Everybody has good in them."
A:  "Yes."
He left mumbling something about "the Lord."

Book: Wife of the Gods

If you like mysteries and learning about foreign countries, Wife of the Gods, by Kwei Quartey might be of interest. Set in Ghana, it explores the clash of modern and traditional customs as Detective Inspector Darko solves two mysterious deaths.

Book--Art and a Mystery

Historical fiction combined with a mystery makes for a good read.  The setting is southern France in 1885.  The characters include Cezanne, Zola and a young judge.  Good writing, good plot, good character developemnt makes Cezanne's Quarry by Barbara Corrado Pope worth reading. 

Children in Poverty

19% of children in the U.S. live in families that are below the poverty level.  That amounts to 14,000,000 children living in poverty in a rich country.  How can that be?

Procrastination

I've been wanting to share with you my recent reflections on procrastination. Although I'm much better than I used to be (as a college freshman I'd stay up all night writing my English essays the night before, and seldom completing them), I still put things off, things I WANT to do!

It seems I put off doing things that are a bit new to me or which I think will be difficult. I recently put off selecting images for the Oxford Art Association photo show. Why? Because I don't like making decisions and find the task challenging. But, putting it off didn't make it easier. It just prolonged the niggling thought in the back of my head that I had to do it. Once done, over a period of several days, I felt a great relief! And, it wasn't as difficult as I imagined. What if I'd done the selecting sooner? Would I have avoided those weeks on minor anxiety? Probably.

Don't know why this is such a difficult lesson to learn.

Proverbs or Maxims

I'm reading a book that has an Amish proverb at the beginning of each chapter.  I wnat to share some of them.  Here is the first:
Many things have been opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth.  

New Year's Resolution Quote

"Do what you want to do and don't tell other people how to behave."

by Ruth Stout, hay-bale gardener