From Sinapalo to the Northern Islands...from Mañagaha to da, da, da, da, da...

Now isn't that better? Sorry for stealing the pic from you Jeff. I thought it needed a little work.
Didn't your mama teach you to share? The sad thing about this picture is that there is a little baby in it who will most likely be indoctrinated into a culture of intolerance and ethno-centricity. Sadder than that thought is the fact that it doesn't need to happen to our children who already are born into a diverse community with great opportunities to learn from those around them. I dare them, triple dog dare them to try and tell any of my kids, husband or the Filipino family I grew up with that this is not their land. Bring it on baby!
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Some stealers took our picnic tables from the beach at Aquarius while my family rushed to the hospital to attend to a cousin who was going into surgery. How sick is that? They were heavy tables, they were wooden, they were OURS. I think I saw them today on the side of Beach Road. Tomorrow I'm gonna look for those stealers and take my tables back!

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Way to go acclaimed poet Sharon Olds, for refusing to attend the National Book Festival in D.C. Here is an excerpt of her letter to Mrs. Laura Bush:

I tried to see my way clear to attend the festival in

order to bear witness--as an American who loves her
country and its principles and its writing--against
this undeclared and devastating war.

But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with
you, Mrs. Bush. I knew that if I sat down to eat with
you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I
see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush
Administration.

What kept coming to the fore of my mind was that I
would be taking food from the hand of the First Lady
who represents the Administration that unleashed this
war and that wills its continuation, even to the
extent of permitting "extraordinary rendition": flying
people to other countries where they will be tortured
for us. So many Americans who had felt pride in our
country now feel anguish and shame, for the current
regime of blood, wounds and fire.


I thought of the clean linens at your table, the
shining knives and the flames of the candles, and I
simply could not stomach it.

Sincerely,

SHARON OLDS