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Comment by The Flying Atheist on December 21, 2012 at 6:06pm

Joan, thank you for the sublime and eloquently-worded Winter Solstice Greeting.  My best wishes to you and yours now and in the coming year.  --Your friend Carl

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 21, 2012 at 5:46pm

Winter Solstice Greetings

Friday, December 21, 2012; 3:12 A.M. PST

 

Winter began in the wee hours this morning, celebrating begins with a big hug from my son, Cary, and a delicious breakfast of Dave’s Killer Raisin Bread with hummus and lots of home-roasted nuts, grape juice from my Concord grape vines, and spirited coffee.

For me, winter provides a time for dormancy, decay, decomposition, reflection, and contemplation; just the right environment to remember the past year, with all the joys and sorrows. It also presents a perfect time to “remember” the coming year with hopes and dreams of a better world for future generations. Realizing we do not have our meaning and purpose designed for us, we have the responsibility to create our own meaning and purpose.

Our work requires the same efforts that salmon, monkeys and robins, creatures of the sea, land and air, have: to food, shelter, and work toward meeting our basic needs. As human beings we can look to the stars and imagine the kind of Earth we want to leave our descendants.

Our minds have the capacity to observe events happening all around us and to create processes that enhance our own lives and also to maintain and perpetuate those things that create healthy living for all occupants of the Earth. We learn from the past and experiment and explore better processes of living for the future.

Our communities, from families, neighbors, towns, nations, and Earth need people who can solve problems and resolve conflict in non-violent ways. Easy to learn skills exist to enhance cooperation, negotiation and compromise in order for all living things not only to survive but also to thrive and flourish.

In the spirit of being part of something far larger than we, and made of the dust of exploding stars, may we aspire to health, meaningful work, loving communities, an inquiring mind, and connectedness with all that exists.

Happy Winter Solstice

Joan Denoo

 

 

Comment by The Flying Atheist on December 21, 2012 at 2:55pm

Perhaps I was being naive, but I was really expecting more from the NRA. 

Comment by sk8eycat on December 21, 2012 at 2:53pm

One of many things that bothers me about gun fans is the number of accidental deaths...like the man recently who thought  there was a prowler in the house, and killed his own son.  Or the number of kids who get their hands on daddy's gun, don't know how to handle it, or don't know it's loaded, and shoot a friend, or themselves.

But NO civilian needs anything like an assault rifle, or any other weapon that sprays bullets all over the place.  This isn't the Wild West anymore (and what the US military did to the original occupants of this land is shameful, anyway.)

The NRA needs to get real and grow up, but I'm afraid they never will.  It's also about money...the gun manufacturers would fold up and die if their only customers were the military.

My father used to have a revolver that he was required to carry when the only job he could get during the Depression was driving a gasoline delivery truck. (The oil company armed and trained all their drivers.) The gas stations he delivered to had to pay in cash...no credit card receipts...by the time he finished his route, he had a ton of money on him, and some people were desperate then.  He got rid of the gun as soon as it was no longer necessary; he hated it.

When Pres. Obama said he was "heartbroken," I thought to  myself, "No, sir.  I'm disgusted."  And I still am.

Comment by The Flying Atheist on December 21, 2012 at 2:50pm

When heard a few days ago that the NRA was going to make a public statement today, I was really interested in hearing what they may have to say.  I expected that after a full weeks' reflection on what happened in Connecticut, the NRA might bring some thoughtful and productive dialog to the situation and to the issue of gun rights and gun control.  Instead, I'm stunned at how thoughtless, unprofessional, callous and insulting they are.  In the last week, pro-gun enthusiasts have been complaining of the 'knee-jerk' reactions of those folks who want to take away their guns.  I have to say, I have a huge problem with the knee-jerk reaction of the NRA.  Arm every teacher with a gun?  Does this include EVERY teacher?  Nursery school, elementary, junior high, high school, college, university, technical school?  How about the shootings that occur in other locations?  Shall we have armed guards at every movie theater?  Should the kids working the candy and popcorn counter be armed?  Should every member of a religious house of worship be armed?  Armed guards at every mall?  Every strip-mall?  Every place of business across the country?  Shootings occur EVERYWHERE.  And the solution, according to the NRA, is to have MORE guns available?  I'm disturbed and insulted by the useless and unproductive message from the NRA.           

Comment by booklover on December 21, 2012 at 2:24pm

Carl, I LOVE your cartoon! ha ha ha!

Tony, awesome picture of the cat sniffing the flowers! Awww!

Felaine, I KNOW!  It makes me just SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  REALLY? Guns in schools is the answer to the violence?  I heard on a liberal radio-show today someone said (sorry, I have a terrible memory!), that's like getting rid of rape by giving EVERYONE a penis!  BAD joke I know, but the answer to violence is not MORE GUNS???  I seriously believe our country has gone mad.  Religious nuts and Gun nuts!  I know we are already a laughingstock to the rest of the world, but now it's worse.  I am sickened. :(

Comment by Patricia on December 21, 2012 at 1:17pm

I have a school teacher aunt who lives in Reseda, California......she said years ago that she carried a gun in class.........absolutely floored us!!!!!!!

I can't understand all this madhouse in the stores, & yes we do solstice, but I avoid that nonsense as much as possible. I get my fruit & veg. as usual, but anything else has to be done before the end of November because I don't want to be part of the idiocy......& we live in a small city where crowds are really not the norm....ever! Stupid behavior but people keep doing it, & it's getting worse.

Comment by sk8eycat on December 21, 2012 at 12:54pm

Sorry to put a damper on things, but did anybody else read what the head(?) of the NRA said today?  That ALL schoolteachers should carry guns in the classroom?

I've been gritting my teeth for an hour.  How can anybody be so self-serving and STUPID?

Comment by Chris Breman on December 21, 2012 at 12:13pm

Thanks Ian! The container at the bottom of the flat will be overflowing after xmas - but husband and I are going to behave as usual.

Yes, Sinterklaas brought me a chocolate letter C: one of the people in my class of English told me that the old saint had it brought to the wrong house - that's the usual way with Sinterklaas presents.

Did he bring you anything?

Comment by Ian Mason on December 21, 2012 at 11:51am

It's the same here in Denmark, Chris. Every time there's any public holiday people buy enough food to last at least a week and a lot of it gets thrown away. I really doubt that it brings any pleasure to people. I'm all for enjoyment but that's not the same as consumption so no, I don't think you're grumpy.

Did you get anything from Sinte Klaas?

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