I've felt battered lately and full of anger over events.

[mmonk]

So I think it is time for me to reflect.

I suppose I'm tired. After my real estate appointments today were rescheduled and I wrote in my blog about what I called the "Corporate Whore Health Care Summit" without a public option, single payer advocates, Anthony Weiner and other things, I thought I would finish a piece I've been working on concerning the Bush Lawyers and torture. But I looked across my desk at some unopened mail. I saw a piece sitting there that has been on my desk maybe two weeks addressed to me without a return address. I figured I may as well look at it thinking it was probably something someone was trying to sell me. I opened it and found various items from Ted Kennedy's Funeral Mass and a note from Vickie Kennedy. There was a program of his Mass of the Resurrection from the Mass, a booklet of the Remembrances by Ted Jr., Patrick, and the Eulogy by President Obama, a folded program of sorts of the order of the Mass with "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" on the back, and a card inside the note.

How would all of this been different if he still alive through the deliberations of the Senate Bill? I don't know, but I suspect there would have been a public option since I remember he said that was a critical component. Many have used his ability to compromise to get things done to suggest it was what should have been compromise away (because they didn't want it). But I'm not so sure that part would have been it. I also think the Senate without him lacks its own previous spirit. It seems to be a body as lockjawed and mean as the current politics of today. It doesn't have the overall welfare of this country's citizens in mind as he had.

The following was on the back of the card inside Vickie's note and is from "The Compass":

"It is enormously significant to me that the only description in the Bible about salvation is tied to one's willingness to act on behalf of one's fellow human beings. My center of belief is the great Gospel of Matthew, in which he calls us to care for the least of these among us, and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, visit the imprisoned."

"My faith has always been my foundation and my inspiration. It is the most positive force in my life and the cause of my eternal optimism. My faith has always brought me home."

I thought I would share this since mine has been mostly shattered. But since I happened to open that piece of mail I had been ignoring, maybe I'll sign off and reflect for a moment or two.

Thanks for indulging me.

[Atticus]

1. If one is not occasionally feeling overwhelmed and "battered" these days, they are not engaged

in the right battles.

Withdrawing temporarily to heal and reflect and recharge is not only OK, it is probably necessary for most of us to survive. And, withdrawing often gives us the perspective that enables us to recommit more enthusiastically than ever to what must be a never-ending struggle to beat back ignorance and greed and fear.

Good luck.

[mmonk]

5. I need to retool.

Being angry is draining. I need to be determined.

[Subdivisions]

2. Take care of yourself, mmonk. n/t

[mmonk]

6. I will.

I'll be here when my head is clear.

[Toucano]

3. Thank you for sharing that. n-t

[leftygolfer]

4. The fight never ends

I totally get it. I will keep rising up, no matter how many times I'm knocked down. I can't let the bastards win. No way.

[paulsby]

7. Paul Simon injection...

(and no, not Paul Simon the politician)

Words & music by Paul Simon


Many's the time I've been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I've often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I'm all right, I'm all right
I'm just weary to my bones
Still, you don't expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

And I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
or driven to its knees
but it's all right, it's all right
for we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was crying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hours
and sing an American tune
Oh, and it's alright, it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying to get some rest

[mmonk]

8. Thanks. That's the Paul Simon I'm most familar with, not the bow tie.

And I also want to apologize for adding e to Vicki in the post. I shouldn't type when I'm tired.

[glinda]

9. I am feeling tired and overwhelmed also. Downright depressed at times. You need

to take a break. A couple of days or a couple of weeks. Sometimes it seems like no matter what, you can't put the burden upon yourself nor the whole responsibility. This is a group effort if change can happen .We all need some good news in large amounts it seems but we will be here for you when you return.
:pals:

[mmonk]

11. Thanks

:pals:

[agent46]

13. Link to American Tune - Listen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=WkJLxngjPTo&v=l_sl4r0eGVY

[fan of the arts]

10. Many people are fed up, will continue to live our lives despite criminal politicos

War criminals go free, torture camps are still open, wars continue, the public option is a fascist joke, the courts will soon be stacked with corporate whores: you should be upset, outraged and ready to move on.

Healthy and productive people will keep contributing in any way they can while the overall U.S. economy and society slip into a Soviet-type black market culture. It's been foretold a million times but that doesn't matter to our corrupt culture and our millions of propaganda-trained citizen-bots. I'm sure you run into them all the time in real estate where delusions are mandatory and working with banks is too.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. Good post.