I ask for special prayers for President Obama tonight as he

[Lindsey]

delivers his address regarding Afghanastan.

[Nancy Waterman]

1. Tonight and every night

The more we can surround him in light and protection, the better.

[Desertrose]

2. Amen...I totally agree.

He can use it all!!

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. Yes, both to you and to the OP!

:hi:

My current favorite prayer is:

"I am praying that mankind embraces Obama's initiatives."

Or, at least America.

Obama made a statement a month or so ago in an email newsletter that he believes his initiative will not be embraced during his lifetime. That would be a shame! Honest Abe...

[MorningGlow]

4. Absolutely, Lindsey

From Desertrose's David Wilcock thread:

"I am completely done with arguing over whether Obama is a good guy or a bad guy, or taking any of these attack letters seriously. I have had dreams about him recently where he is literally throwing up over how overwhelmed he feels by what's happening. He needs our support, not our hate. He is an honest, kindhearted and highly intelligent man who stepped into something much bigger and darker than he ever could have imagined."

I have seen this as well (not the throwing up part exactly, but I have picked up on how stressed he's been)--he has inherited a monster that he has to tame, and if he can't, it's "his fault", but nobody's pointing out how he's being stonewalled at every turn by both Repubs and Dems alike. He truly has the hardest job in the world. My heart breaks for him.

Sending light for tonight and always, that the dark forces get out of his way and let him lead.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Well said. I second this sentiment and intention! :)

:hug:

[FirstLight]

6. while I agree, I am still sick over some of these decisions...

I want us OUT.OF.ALL.WARS.NOW. I want the industrial war machine to come to a screeching halt. I want the backs to be forced to cough up the money they have stolen from us. I want REAL healthcare reform with a SOLID public option to pass before the end of the year.

while I know that not all of this is Pres. Obama's fault or job to make happen...I just want to see more LIGHT happening in the govt and I am disapointed that it hasn;t happened faster...yes I am impatient after 8 years of fascism and tyrrany. I understand tat he is unraveling the darkthreads that are holding so many hostage in our counry, and that he is trying to weed out who is real and who has only their own best interests at heart... but I am getting ill just watching much of the 'same-ol' antics in washington.

I still don't have acces to a job, I am still on foodstamps and even after re-training in school I am unemployable in my area...and that is looking within a 100 mile radius of my house! (totally unrealistic commute, but who cares) I don't want to go into next year and see the other shoe drop, but I fear there are many more forclosures and jobs yet to be lost.

...and we cannot CHANGE anything by funnelling more money and death into foreign countries.

Peace is never won at the end of a rifle or bayonet - it can only be created by assisting oportunities for people who have nothing...and if we don't change our domestic situation, I fear we are headed in thew same direction.

[Desertrose]

7. I want to see more light too. I'm just so done with wars.

I've had it. We as a species, should be way past this.

No wonder "no one" wants us to escape this planet until we learn to play nice with ALL our brothers & sisters.

The best I can do right now is send as much light as possible to those who are running the show.....

*sigh*

[liberalmuse]

44. I want all war stopped now, too.

But it isn't that simple. Bush made one heckuva mess in both Iraq and Afghanistan. There are more dangerous factions there now than there ever were, and now Obama is left to clean up the mess and make very unpopular decisions. Somehow I trust the man to weigh the facts and make the right decision. I just wish the last 8 years never happened. We didn't need this.

[Cleita]

28. Last night while listening to him and not liking what he was saying,

I was still feeling the goodness radiating from him. We need to pull out all the stops in helping him spiritually. I personally try to get the angels to surround him and inspire and protect him (protection is very important as he is in dire danger) and I don't mean the common guardians but the archangels and cherubim and seraphim, the really powerful ones.

[mother earth]

8. I am fed up with these wars while good people go hungry and

jobless and suffering for lack of real health care in this country. We can no longer afford to bleed our youth sent to fight in these illegal wars, nor can we afford the money bleed. It's time to say ENOUGH! That's my intention, I'm done with it. It's ENOUGH! My heart bleeds for those here who are struggling to feed their families and all who wonder when the next shoe drops.

NO, I'm not going to say it's fine and OK that we send another surge of troops home, or that we accept that one of the wars goes on for another 3 years, not while they don't address the real Pakistani/Indian issue that feeds the insurgency and will for decades to come. We are feeding a monster that will only ask for more and more until there is nothing to give.

I think we'd be better served to send all the incumbents and in gov't the message that we will not fund this insanity any more...while we say no to real health care reform, and 1 in 8 in this country need food stamps just to suvive.

My hope for change has dried up, take a look around you, our country needs the light, the jobs, medical care, and we are pushing it all away for the sake of a war we will never, ever win.
Stop the war machine, end that stranglehold. How????:grr: :shrug:

I just don't buy it any more...where's the hope, where's the change. We are still in Bush world and sinking, even with the change in admin...it's ENOUGH.

[Why Syzygy]

9. +1!

[Lindsey]

10. I saw the speech and I think he's doing what needs to be done..

I also detest war. I marched in protest against the senseless war in Iraq (for oil). Unfortunately, I feel that sometimes on Planet Earth we need to rise up against true dark forces (not the catch phrase "evil doers" that was used to manipulate the masses that Bush/Cheney used- because Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11). The Taliban are dark forces. I don't think anyone here would disagree that some sort of action needs to be taken in response to the events of 9/11 and to prevent more 9/11's. I think that action should be directed towards Afghanastan because that's where everything originated. These people consider us infidels and feel it an honor to kill us similar to Hitler's views towards the Jews. Even though I'm anti-war, I also believe we did the right thing regarding World War II. If we hadn't brought Hitler down, where would we be now? It's very hard for me, a women of peace, to support violence. However, do we want to be obliterated by Al Queda? I believe with all of my heart that President Obama is a good man. He's said all along that we should get out of Iraq (which he is in the process of withdrawing troops now) but that Afghanastan is another matter. That's why I'm somewhat surprised that people are so surprised he's following through with his beliefs. He inherited a country that was in the worst shape than possibly any other President in the history of our country thanks to Bush/Cheney. And remember, he's been in office less than one year. All of the folks that are on food stamps, out of jobs, etc., are the result of the previous administration. He can't fix everything immediately. All I'm saying is that I think we need to ask for Divine Intervention for the President to help us all.

[Why Syzygy]

11. Agree to disagree.

alohaspirit (1 posts) Sat Jan-31-09 10:20 PM
Original message
Afghanistan is not a country
What everyone is calling "tribes" are nations in the eyes of most of the people who live there-- Afghanistan is an arbitrary collective of ethnic groups pulled together unwillingly under a nation-state. Taliban is simply a word that refers to they who study the Koran devotedly and literally, but it has become an empowered force to reckon with, thanks to our sloppy and deliberate covert activities based on greed, imperial desire, and meddling in others' business. The idea that bombardment from the air somehow extinguishes a people's passion is not only absurd but proven wrong. And the idea that one could ever fight a war on something as vague as "terror" is even more twisted than trying to fight a war on "drugs." Both are poorly-defined concepts, when, in the case of the former GWB was referring actually to resistance fighters who resorted to criminal means like attacking the WTC; or, in the case of Ronald Reagan, when he was actually not referring to drugs themselves but to their channels of distribution and those who abused them.

I am hopeful that Obama has taken a hard line in this regard throughout his campaign in order to convince his critics that he was willing to take a tough Bushlike stance on certain foreign policy initiatives and create a sense of contiguity in the Middle East. But now it's time for him to tack and change course. If the US really does care about the future security of our world, and about the welfare of all human beings--be they "women and girls" or anyone who deserves to live life with dignity and human rights--then what we should be doing instead of dropping bombs is listening to ALL sides, and that means taking a better inventory of who all these sides really are and what they are wanting. I'm sure each side is wanting something very legitimate, very reasonable. Before "death to all Americans" was mouthed, I am sure a US bomb fell somewhere and someone was hurt or killed-- and before that there was probably something much more understandable-- much deeper pain and suffering that was decades, centuries, even millennia old. We are blind to this-- completely ignorant of it in fact. I am disappointed that Obama, with all his education and wisdom, is not more appreciative of this complexity.

We could begin our listening process and our facilitation of peace by helping to convene (but not dominating, or even presiding over!!) a major international peace conference in Central Asia, aimed at letting the different peoples of different nations (and by this I mean the actual ethnic groups throughout and across the false boundaries imposed by various regimes, including our own) voice their own desires and their own hopes for the future. It would only be through this kind of constructive process that we can actually remediate the incredible damage that the Bush administration has done and provide a solid foundation by which we attract less terrorism and anti-US sentiment. What is the point of seeking out bin Laden anyway? He is indeed a criminal mastermind, but what will capturing him do when terrorism is a phenomenon unto itself? To do that would be like trying to capture and quarantine the first person who spawned the HIV virus, as if that would stop the disease from spreading further than it already has. The only way to reverse this process is by fighting fire with water, not fire... disempower this anti-American movement by changing what "America" IS abroad-- show that America is growing up, willing to listen, willing to facilitate dialogue, willing to support human dignity and the lives of civilians who are committed to peace-- not some contrived idea of "liberty" for the few and "democracy" only for those who play by our rules.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4954319

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I was wondering how you feel about DW's opinion of Obama...

I thought of you when I read that part in the article about Obama essentially being a kindhearted soul but is battling against forces larger than he expected.

Just wondering. :)

I'm blurring threads now but my brain and eyes are blurred, so.....

Hope you're well. Sending big :hug: to you!

[Why Syzygy]

14. I do not understand

why David is so sure of his feelings on the matter. That is the one part of his message that gives me greatest pause. Evidently he faces a lot of opposition to his opinion. His last message (that you mention) indicates he is done listening. I don't think he has ever listened. It doesn't really matter. I follow no one. David also thinks Drudge is a fine news source.

I do not believe Obama is naive. I think he knows exactly what the score is.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7133709

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Drudge...really?

Yikes. That's good to know. :)

Thanks for the reply. I really did think of you so much as I read and wondered what you thought about different points made since you are so well-read about these matters.

Have a good one! :hug:

[Why Syzygy]

17. I think he likes Drudge for the 'right' reason .

that is, as an independent news source. I guess it was one of the earliest.

I have read most of David's older entries. He is extremely intelligent. I have appreciated especially his insights into shadow work.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. I've certainly heard of David through the years but never read much...

until recently. I think it was something you posted that prompted me to watch a few videos and read his stuff. Thanks. :)

[BanzaiBonnie]

13. A part of me wants to throw up. I am sick of war.

But what I'm getting when I look at the big picture is that there's a lot more meaning in this than was said. There were undercurrents of change moving, so yes, change is coming. It may not come in a tsunami, but in the small waves that change the shape of the world. We must remain vigilent and true to our quest for peace. Becoming peaceful people is OUR job. It's the best we can do in the light of the fact that some things are not under our control. Only our own selves.

Let's go to work on getting Dennis Kucinich's Department of Peace. I see planning for peace as the only REAL way out of the mess we're in.


Bush and his doctrine dug us in deep and there is no easy way out. I am still glad that the man who is making the decisions is Obama. While I don't always agree with his decisions, I know he does not make them without a huge amount of consideration.

Two things that are bothering me. I don't trust McChrystal. I don't know if Obama fully does either. McChrystal helped to cover up Pat Tillman's friendly fire death. That one incident is enough for me to see him as a liar and deceiver.

The second thing is, I have no trust in Obama's economic advisors. I sure would feel better if he'd kick them to the curb.

[OneGrassRoot]

16. I agree. It's the people he's surrounded himself with who....

cause me the most concern, especially the economic team.

:hug:

[get the red out]

25. +1

I agree with you, I will trust the President, he's not a war monger, he's trying to do the best he sees fit. I don't want to personally go to war on the General Discussion board anymore either, LOL, prefer to pray right now. No harm in writing to the President or people's representatives if they disagree with him either, so far that's still America.

If the Republicans get back into power we will have our own Christian Taliban to worry about right here among us. The difference between the Muslim Taliban and the Christian Taliban is about 8,000 miles. I fear those people like I fear NOTHING else on this planet. I will support the President with everything in me. If we give up fighting for the starting point of having a Democrat back in the White House we might as well tell Sarah Palin or whatever other monster the Reps choose to just do what they have to do to teach us a lesson by finishing off this nation and it's people, and the ensuing war in Iran they would make up an excuse to start would be beyond what we can imagine. Even if I am told that "the lesser of two evils is still evil" I know beyond doubt that it is NOT nuclear war and Theocracy.

That's just why I support the President, I trust him, I know the evil of the right, and I will pray for my President and don't intend for anyone to think I am starting a fight by saying this. I'm not, just agreeing that now is the time for prayer. I am sorry if I am offensive by supporting the President, I realize that on DU now that's just about as bad as being a Teabagger.

[midnight]

19. Enough is right. I'm praying for a miracle that we wake up and see this

move as not correct, and change it.

[mysticalchick]

20. Such a horrific set of choices he has ...

... I cannot imagine what it's like to be in his shoes. I was guided last night to hold him and all his advisors in the Light to make decisions that are in the highest good of all. We cannot know what information he has and sometimes I feel like that Britney Spears clip in "Fahrenheit 9/11" where she says something to the effect of "we should all just trust our president" but I'm going to trust him on *this*.

Regardless of your feelings on this (and to be clear - my choice would have been to get them all out of both Iraq and Afghanistan ASAP), one of the things that we, as Lightworkers, can do is hold that vibration of light for him (and all those making these kinds of decisions) for clarity and highest good.

[MorningGlow]

21. What I see

is Obama moving vewwy slowly because he's hunting wabbits.

Not making fun of him. I'm serious! He's a smart individual, but he's hampered by all the deep-seated, long-standing Washington idiocy. So, like a person who works around wild animals, he can't make any sudden movements, or he'll startle them, and they'll stampede.

Now, I WISH he would stand up and say, "You know what? Fuck y'all--this is the right thing to do, so I'm doing it, and if you don't like it, there's the door." But *sigh* this is not a dictatorship (and we got down on Bush when he said he wished it were). If he made radical decisions and told the rest of the gov't where to get off, the congresscritters would be down his throat on Faux, demonizing him even more than they do already. Plus let's not forget all the back-room deals and arrangements he's inherited--apparently he has to "honor" those, but I get the sense that he's trying to extricate us from them, also very slowly, so the rest of 'em don't spook.

There's a theory that JFK was assassinated because he refused to invade Cuba. I try to keep that in mind. Presidents aren't above being threatened; in fact, they're the most likely to be.

[rosesaylavee]

22. Are we on the same page or what...

I am praying for him every day. I think the choice was between 'this many killed' and 'this fewer number killed'. Horrible for any person to have to take that on. I found a website that has helped me focus on this prayer. Or refound it actually as I bet I saved it from a post here. Have been listening to it during the day when I am at 'mindless' tasks. Helps me in sending him light and energy to do what's right. I still trust him to thoughtfully consider the options and choose wisely. And I hope to heck we are not at all like Britney other than being carbon based. :hug:

Will post the link on here later today as I think even if its a rerun for some here, it's a good one.

[OneGrassRoot]

23. I'm with you ladies....

I really get sad during times like this when GD and GDP are PURE CESSPOOLS of anger and frustration, and people bash one another -- after a while -- simply for the sake of bashing. That energy is infectious. Ughhhh.....

Normally, by checking there throughout each day, I feel I quickly stay abreast of current events. I really need another reliable go-to place just to get the main news stories that haven't made MSM as yet. DU gets so darn toxic.

As for the Obama situation, I resonate with what all three of you shared. Thanks.

:grouphug:

[Cleita]

30. What Britney missed was that the real President, Al Gore, had been

cheated from his office by a person who shouldn't even have the responsibility of a crossing guard let alone President.

[get the red out]

24. Yes, I pray for him daily

He's all we have, I pray for him every day. There is so much darkness that would just love to take over and completely destroy any freedom left in this country. The President isn't perfect, but a walk through the path of our people isn't made for perfection, we wouldn't accept that, we are way into darkness and need to come back out. Time takes time.

[FirstLight]

26. Here is a reply to one of the front page posts on the speech:

I wrote this as a reply and tried to bring the vibration up a notch or two "out there" in GD
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7132542&mesg_id=7135087
~~~

I pray that we can foster more compassion and vision in that arena (GD/GDP, etc), as well as the rest of our individual lives.

Hold that LIGHT, people! :grouphug:

[mysticalchick]

27. Excellent post, FirstLight

(You live up to your screen name!) Beautifully done.

Let's continue to try and do this as often as we can. We may not know if we were able to raise the vibration one iota but we can surely give it our best shot.

Is this what they meant by "Charge of the LIGHT Brigade"? heh

[FirstLight]

31. I had heard the saying, but never knew what it meant!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade

thanks! I learn something new each day!

interesting quote from that wikipedia page, referring to the poem but still profound:
"...whose lines have made the charge a symbol of warfare at both its most courageous and its most tragic..."

Isn't that what we are doing by shifting this planet? By bringing in the LIGHT?

We are humans revealing & healing ourselves and others - at our most courageous & tragic...

hmmm. nice thoughts for today

[Cleita]

29. That's why I suggested a virtual smudging. The density of the darkness

invading those forums can almost be felt and touched.

[mysticalchick]

32. Here's my thought ...

There are those, like FirstLight, who CAN go into the forums and do that work. Others can join on with the virtual smudging. Whatever your skills allow you to do, DO IT!

How apropos about the story of the Light Brigade. (I don't even know how or why that term popped into my head earlier but I bow to the wisdom that inspired it. (It wasn't me, that's for sure!))

If you're interested in doing this work, speak up. It's big work - we can do it, though.

[FirstLight]

34. :) Hear! Hear!

the diving into the muck isn't my idea of the best way to pend a morning, but it is where i get my news and i have learned to avoid certain people or those who try to only attack. i shut them up right away by calling their energetic power game - and then ignore them (without using the ignore button, lol)

I have seen the shift...not just here but on other news sites, even on my Facebook. The darkness is insidious and it is really doing its best to get it's foothold again....think about it we are seeing it EVERYWHERE - on the tv, in the grocery stores, in business dealings... I am amazed that people aren't stabbing eachother for those damn ZHUZHU pets!

...and yes, thanks MC for noticing that it is my work to be that silly hippy-chick and ray of light in the midst of the absurdity of the meanness. I guess it is just a gift...like being the class clown or the one who says the emperor has no clothes.
My mouth has gotten me into trouble most of my life - but lately I find myself joking with other parents in the toy dept about how we won't buy any more non-educational plastic crap from china, but the EDUCATIONAL plastic crap is okay... :rofl:
I find myself commenting on how fun it is to cook for the holidays in the grocery store to a family with a down's daughter, and we all end up joking and laughing as we run into eachother throughout the store and my daughter asking their what her name is, etc...
sharing smiles is the best way to raise vibration.
...and of course, if my sarcasm can benefit the planet, i am all for it ;)

But yes, we get to be the force of change every moment, and we can do is by virtually smudging or by cracking jokes or by offering a dollar (or five) to the homeless guy with the dog and the cardboard sign. Every day we get to do this work of bringing as MUCH light on the planet as we can bear to bring. Some days i am better at it than others, and i am glad on those 'off' days i have friends like my ASAH family and others IRL who help hold the light FOR me.

[get the red out]

35. Good points

I waded through the muck earlier with what had been written on ASAH in this thread in mind and tried to thank people who were participating in sane discussion rather than raging. Keeping this forum in mind I didn't get emotionally pulled in.

The raging is everywhere, like a loose cannon hoping for an enemy, or just hoping to make one. But coming out of my meditation class last night I kind of had an awakening when my rightie husband looked at me and said "those people are so nice, it just makes me feel good to be around people like that" (speaking of the wellness center staff). I agreed with him and started wondering if I couldn't spread a little more of that myself. Worth a shot!

[OneGrassRoot]

36. I'm in :)

I'm still into the blessing approach. If nothing else, it makes ME feel better. ;)

Granted, I must remind myself to bless others, especially Dick Cheney...:rofl:...but with every keystroke, every interaction, I'm trying to remember to embody that blessing vibe.

As with your Light Brigade, the phrase Blessing Way has been in my mind all day...very familiar, as though I at some time in my life knew what it was. I assumed it was a book I had read long away, but upon searching just now, I have no idea where that phrase came from. I didn't find any books or anything else that was familiar.

I did find these two things which are lovely, so I thought I'd share. The first is a lovely website dedicated to blessings, the second talks about a Navajo tradition called The Blessingway:


http://www.theblessingway.com/category/blessingtheplanet/

http://www.hanksville.org/voyage/navajo/BlessingWay.php3

:grouphug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

33. Well said!

[Why Syzygy]

37. Light Brigade

I would like to see the Light Brigade hurry on down to your enlistment offices. My son is serving his third tour. He left his six month old son behind, of course. He and we will have to live with the tragic consequences of combat for the rest of our lives. I don't want you to miss out on that treat.

You all are too young to have lived through the tragedy of Viet Nam. You didn't date young men who had flashbacks and threw themselves to the ground at the slightest startle, and never slept through the night. You didn't see the war scars left on a society by a generation of dazed and confused warriors that could not find a place in a world that didn't understand their nightmares.

You will see this and more when the young men and women come back from Afghanistan and Iraq. Those that do, that is. Everyone of them will have known someone personally who lost their life. They will ask themselves, "Why not me. Why do I live".

Unfortunately, you are beyond the age when it could have made an impression on your soul.

Sorry to shit on your light.

[OneGrassRoot]

38. Respectfully, Why Syzygy....

what do you suggest we do? Even if we hate what is happening, what is the most effective thing you think we can DO?

I have a hard time being angry at ONE person, such as the anger being vented toward Obama. I can focus anger better at TPTB, as the evils of the world seem to be the result of a handful of the powerful elite over the eons.

Being eaten up with anger and hatred without a positive outlet to change something seems to serve no purpose and just perpetuates all that is wrong.

I'm not being facetious at all, I'm being sincere when I ask what you feel we can or should do. My dad is/was a Viet Nam vet, as were his friends...we lived through the effects of his time there, but it was still a rather removed thing generationally, without a doubt. You're right.

You are a wise woman. I'm sincerely asking where you feel all the anger and fear should be funneled to prevent more horrors and suffering? Is not expressing rage toward Obama or expressing rage in general in those discussions offensive? Is that part of what is driving this tension and anger between the two camps, do you think? One group is livid and the other is....more confused (I speak for myself with that).

I know I've gone through times when I was mad at the world and wanted to tell those who spoke and wrote of "love and light" to shove it up their collective asses. Misery loves company and the love and light crowd try to avoid misery, so I felt like the odd man out.

Is that part of what is at play here?

I said I give up trying to understand things, as there's so much I just won't ever understand. But the dynamics of what is going on at DU in the last 24 hours has me stunned, and I do indeed want to TRY to understand.

On Edit: In reading your post again, the enlistment thing hit me...lol...I didn't absorb that before.

Okay, so that's part of the dynamic at DU that has me perplexed.

It's as though anyone not calling for Obama's impeachment is therefore advocating war and are thus warmongers.

I personally hoped he would have called for a draft, because then all this war crap would likely end. I have no desire to go to war, nor send my child, nor send anyone else's child, husband, mother, etc.

I simply don't understand the dynamics of what is going on in Afghanistan enough to be livid, but more importantly I don't know what to DO to stop it.

That's where I'm asking for your help. What do you suggest? When we don't know what else to do, we pray...we get into that "energy" thing.

I prefer to do practical things as well as energetic things. But I'm lost with all this.

[OneGrassRoot]

39. ...

and I am so sorry for those directly affected. I can't begin to imagine the fear and agony of sending a loved one across the other side of the world, in harm's way.

I can't begin to comprehend the fear and anger of living that reality, as a mom.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

Is there anything we can DO for you, or your son, or your daughter-in-law or grandchild?

Seriously...can we ease this pain in any way or lighten the load for even a moment in some way?


edit because I can't type worth a shit

[mysticalchick]

40. This is the reason for the light, WS

This very reason. I can only imagine how it feels to send a loved one off to this debacle not once or twice but three times. How your heart must ache for all those who are involved. I think if we all had our druthers, we'd pull everyone out now. I know I would. I can't do that. What I *can* do, right where I am, is to hold that loving vibration in my heart and send it forth, knowing - TRUSTING - that it will make a difference. On some level perhaps where it cannot be seen, it will make a difference.

Will I still work in the physical to change things? Yes, of course. Will we all? Yes. That work doesn't stop because we choose to hold that Light in the ways we know how. One of my missions for 2010 is to go to Walter Reed Army Hospital to work with the wounded soldiers using whatever skills I have - be it Reiki or some other form of energetic healing.

To a heart in pain, I know the whole idea of the "Light Brigade" sounds silly and inconsequential. But if Spirit gives me a task, I accept it. Even if it makes no sense to anyone else. Even if someone wants to shit on it. I will still do it because this work matters.

Thank you for your honesty. Truly.

[FirstLight]

41. I was 7 when my cousin cam back from Vietnam

within a year he was such an alcoholic that he lost his wife & baby daughter after almost killing them in drunken flashbacks. Granted, i was not there - but even before the age of 10 I knew war was wrong and had ripple efects that could damage more than just the people in the line of fire...

Anyway, I know I sound like a freaking pollyanna today - preaching Light when others are suffering so greatly.
If i allowed myself to really sink into the reality of the wars and full scope of loss of life & money, I would probably not get out of bed! :scared:

I am sorry that you are seeing your family directly affected vy this and at the same time i am grateful that your son has chopsen to be a part of the military in such a trying time. My son is a senior, and an officer in NJROTC, on rifle team, color guard and drill team...his 2 best friends are joining after graduation and we are already talking through his feelings about it.
He is scared for them, feels abandoned, and wonders if they will even survive long enough to reap the rewards of the education promised to them. so while it may not be MY son, i am feeling the impact and loss of these boys myself.

But i HAVE to believe that we can create something better. and that the best intentions can win in the and and if i can hold he light and prayers for us to bring humane-ness to people who have been opressed, maybe there's more of a chance the world can evolve in the right direction. The wars were started by someone who lived in darkness - and they will be ended by a President who chooses to believe in our higher angels & those returning will be healed by those of us who choose to shine the LIGHT

There are days when i shit on my own light - and days when i feel that my prayers are being heard by the galactic forces and angels who are healing the planet.
That's all I can do in my 'humanness'...I can't go to the recruitment center, but I can shine my own light in places I frequent...as can each of us.

:grouphug:
Hang in there - and please start a thread about your family and let us know what prayers, or even donations, clothes, etc they may need... even sending care packages to your son and his mates - We would LOVE to Help! :loveya:

[BlueIris]

50. Third tour? Awful. I think lots of good thoughts about you and your family,

but I guess I will have to think even more now.

[Why Syzygy]

51. That means the world to me, BI.

:hug:

[mother earth]

42. Respectfully, to all here, it's not enough any more to say

kind words and trust and exhibit blind faith.

Send the light, I'm all for that. Send it to all in power, to all citizens, that this country wakes the hell up and DEMANDS an end to both of these wars. Let the anger and disappointment energize all of us to action and voicing our dedication to ending these wars.

This is unacceptable, plain and simple. We voted for Obama because we wanted out of George Bush's illegal wars. Obama does not look like he's living in fear or is vomitting over the issues at hand.
If he is he sure hides it well.

I feel ashamed to be a democrat these days. What the hell happened to our resolve? I'm not surprised there's fighting at DU...I've never been so conflicted about my party, the party I've loved all of my life.

Pray, send light, write, email, stand up for peace. No more wars, not in our name and not in the name of security.

[liberalmuse]

43. I'm sending what good thoughts I can.

I'm really sad to see how people on the right and left are demonizing this man. It's very frustrating to watch. We don't deserve someone decent like him. Maybe we did earn Bush. Collectively, that is. :(

[winyanstaz]

45. I will pray for Obama to see the Light and to stop these wars now.

Bring the troops home now and stop the insanity.
NO more war.

[rumpel]

46. Yes, always.

Even though I was hoping he would just pull everyone home, I have a slightly different take on this.
My feeling is that his primary concern is Pakistan, and that Pakistan is on a far more shakier ground than is generally known, and they may need assistance soon. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, because after all he is supposed to have information not many others are privy to.
I may be dead wrong, only time will tell.

But in general, the word "war" should have never been used, and I think labeling it that way back then, manifested the perpetual situation. I have in fact written to my Senator to please resist calling it war when the debate was ongoing after 9/11. A war is waged on an entire people, lump sum. Direct and indirectly, everyone on both sides are affected. Ultimately feeding hatred to people, where there was none. If we had just termed these terrorists as international criminals, they would be isolated - and that would have been the end of it.

I wish the administration will stop using the word "war". Term it humanitarian effort to rebuild Afghanistan, whatever. Anything but "war" - we can manifest something much brighter.

:(

[mother earth]

48. I agree in part, Rumpel. But if his concern is Pakistan, than

an all out effort should be made to secure the borders with Pakistan and India and also their nuclear capabilities. Not to mention the fact that an international presence would be more appropriate and let us pull out of both illegal wars and stop the bleed. I think everyone who loves Obama is scrambling to make sense of it all. My heart is in such turmoil over this issue, like nothing else, this was a given with our win, at least most of us believed that to be so. We thought there was light at the end of the tunnel.

And I just want to add it pains me to be delivering this opinion here. This has been an incredible group, and I feel I'm going against the principles, yet again, that I truly believe. I hope no insult is taken, I know many feel the disruption of GD negatively, but I can't blame the negative outpouring on this decision. It was a no brainer there'd be a strong negative reaction. I feel like it's health care defeat all over again to gain some kind of middle ground that just gets us more of the same. We aren't going to change this country staying in the middle, GW at least knew that.

[SeattleGirl]

47. I was listening to Bill Elliott today, filling in for Randi Rhodes.

He had a guest on (and I'm sorry, I don't recall the man's name) who had spoken to Sy Hersh. Sy said that there are still many, many Cheney peeps in government who are reporting back to Cheney on what Obama is doing, and who are purposely getting in the way of what Obama wants to do. He said it would be about another 3 years before Obama can get rid of them.

Like many of you, I don't like the idea of escalating in Afghanistan (I hate war!), but I also know that Obama is dealing with issues and people that we don't know about. I'm definitely for sending light, prayers, whatever, to Obama. If there is something we can do to help usher the "bad" people out sooner, I'm all for it.

[mother earth]

49. This has been known for some time, going along with a surge

certainly tells Cheney his power is still strong. THis will be happening, and either Cheney will be the candidate or his daughter will be in 2012, don't you think? Even more reason to cut it at the core, oust the bums and make sure the last admin is held accountable. I don't get it.:banghead: