"Anonymous" Hides Behind Blanket Statements - What an Oxymoron!

There's a couple people hiding behind the name "anonymous" that like to comment on my blog, and they're both usually critical of what I write, one especially when it comes to Sun Metro.

That's all well and good, we're all allowed our own opinions, and I post all comments whether I agree with them or not. As long as they don't contain filthy language or threaten anyone I will continue to show their side.

One "anonymous" has chosen to disclose their identity to me. I don't know why. . Actually, they could be one and the same, they do write very similar. If they are, that would be very sad for many reasons. Mainly because they are a pretty public person and on one hand they praise what I say or do to certain people or on other blogs or forums under their true name, yet here they hide behind "anonymous", which I guess gives them a little more superficial guts, and they not only comment critically to what I write but go even further by making blanket statements about what they perceive me to be, usually in a negative light. That's being a little on the passive-aggressive side if you ask me.

I don't care if we have differing opinions, we're all different and think different. "Anonymous" can slam my opinion all day- it still won't change the facts. I just find it funny that "anonymous" doesn't have anything to say about the bumbling government red tape and mistakes I have encountered and have posted about. Where's your voice then, "anonymous"?

Even funnier is when "anonymous" resorts to using blanket statements.

Blanket statements are used by people to try to disassociate themselves from and to dehumanize others. That is one of the core tactics used to separate people, not to bring together, and to judge (or pre-judge).

"Anonymous' is fond of lumping me into their neat little prejudicial box. They have called me a "messican" and in the same breath that I come from the "country club" set. Ummm hello?!! Make up your mind.

Then they go on to say I have contributed less to society, in their all-knowing opinion, because I speak out and shed light on things that matter to me. I didn't know you knew me so well, "anonymous". Lol. You must be an ex lover or good friend to know me so well. I do like older men (and younger for that matter- my last bf happened to be 8 years younger than me and the one before that 9 years older than me)- but there is a line, and if you are the "anonymous" I know then you're about 20 or 25 years older than me, not quite my cup of tea.

So that only leaves a good friend. If you are a good friend and know me so well then you would have never written these untrue statements like you did.

So I guess you are neither. So what qualifies you to make outrageous statements?

Then "anonymous" goes on that people like me milk the government and use government assistance as much as I can. What is this based on? I have been in the workforce and paying taxes for 33 years, never been on welfare, never had children and expected my government to feed and clothe them, never been on food stamps, never been on unemployment. That shoots that theory down. And to imply that people who do use these services are bad or should be ashamed is just plain wrong. It's the abusers of the system that you should be worried about.

"Anonymous" talks about my negativity, but they are completely negative and false in their statements about me. Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black.

So keep commenting, "anonymous", and I'll keep posting what you have to say- the more you talk the more we all see how disjointed, out of touch, and hypocritical you are.

www.transittalent.com/ makes my point in their link to my blog under the Squeaky Wheels category quite simple and direct in that I feel other projects (some that Sun Metro are in the process of doing now and in the future) will increase ridership more than free WIFI.

Common Sense vs Scare Tactics for Real Healthcare Reform

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/08/21

Free WIFI not the Key to Increasing Sun Metro Ridership

Did something rather unorthodox this morning, Sunday morning. Actually visited the El Paso Times' website.

I do that once in awhile when I'm bored.

Was reading Gustavo Reveles' article on Sun Metro enticing "choice" riders (as they are called by the FTA) with free WIFI at the new transfer centers.

"Choice" riders are what the FTA terms people that have cars but choose public transportation. When I first heard about this term I was a little put off. I thought it meant that people who may not choose public transportation but must use it because they do not have cars were less than "choice"- more like chopped liver. Now I understand it better, but still wish there were another term being used.

Anyway, I don't think free WIFI will be the determining factor in a choice rider's decision.

User-friendliness will always be the first determining factor.

User-friendliness includes many concepts. Most importantly, speed and ease of use.

No- not the speed of the bus! More like how fast can a rider get from Point A to Point B and with as few transfers as possible. Does the bus run only once an hour or 3x an hour? Is there a reverse route on this same route? (why don't we have reverse routes here?) How late do the buses run or how early do they start? Are there machines or people in a booth at the transfer centers (and grocery stores, 7-11's, libraries) where one can buy a daily/weekly/monthly pass? Eliminating having to count coins and drop them into the fare box on the bus will save us all time- we should be using ticket machines right now.

User-friendliness also includes showing routes on bus stop signs, finally being able to use Google Transit in our area, and having FULL audio and streaming announcements at transfer centers. It also includes clean, accessible, and safe bus stops and shelters. No more overflowing trash bins, no more carts blocking pathways (hello Walmart) and lights- lots of lights! And we can go even further and be environmentally-friendly and use energy-saving bulbs or solar.

Another way to entice more riders would be the advertising on the bus. I don't really have a problem with what is being advertised but how it is displayed. The ads are falling down, torn and just generally displayed in a non-pleasing manner. I don't think anyone looks at the bus daily and makes sure the ads look nice and without having that strip that holds them run across the middle of the ad etc. The devil's in the details! I simply like to call it follow-through. This small but important detail can be part of the daily checklist before a bus pulls out for the first shift and checked in between shift changes. I think all us riders, choice or not, would like a more aesthetically-pleasing environment and experience on the bus.

More bus shelters are needed also, all part of user-friendliness. Yes, Sun Metro is in the process of erecting 200 new shelters at the moment, but until we are at about 1:4 or even 1:3 shelters per bus stops I won't be happy waiting at a stop in this desert heat. Only need about 700 more shelters to get there! Sun Metro is also working on more landing pads or boarding pads, whatever they're called- those thingees made of concrete that we step onto or from that is connected to a sidewalk and cut curb for true accessibility- instead of being left in a bunch of volcanic rock or desert scrub.

I think all these would be first on my wish list BEFORE WIFI.

But let's take this even further- if we had an "el" (elevated train) and commuter rail we would REALLY be in the 20th century, even though we're actually in the 21st already!

But let's not forget.... it is the "non-choice" riders that have been the loyal customers of mass transit, without them there wouldn't be mass transit.

Amen.

Disabled Being Taken Advantage of and Endangered by Walmart's Laziness and Greed

Two Sun Metro riders, both in wheelchairs, having to move carts to gain an accessible pathway to the bus that is stopped at the Walmart at Trans Mtn/Woodrow Bean bus stop.

Just what in the heck does Walmart not get when it comes to accessibility issues?

The disabled community, including advocates, have had numerous meetings with Walmart and Sun Metro about the blocking of the bus stop of carts being used by Walmart customers.

Seems to no avail.

Yes, I understand that it's the people that should not be placing the carts there.

But Walmart cannot have their cake and eat it, too. They benefit from Sun Metro having a bus stop in front of their store, but they don't want to maintain the pathway for their customers.

It makes absolutely no sense that there is not a cart caddy up by the bus stop.

And even more senseless is the fact that Walmart employees don't check the bus stop in a timely and consistent manner for carts.

So Sun Metro's riders are now assuming what is Walmart's job out of necessity.

The disabled are forced to move carts, risking possible injury or accident to themselves or others around them, just to board the bus. Let alone able bodied riders are forced to move these carts.

Why is Walmart so lazy? Didn't they make a profit last year? We should all be protesting them, they are as bad as the banks and car manufacturers with their greed.

They promised the disabled community an accessible pathway LAST YEAR- where is it? A lady in a scooter was just hit by a car in the parking lot there a couple weeks ago. Yes, the onus falls on the driver, but Walmart has created an unsafe condition for the disabled with their huge parking lots and lack of a safe pathway through that parking lot.

When I call for them to clear the carts they promise they'll be right on it- management tells me that. Why lie to me when it takes less effort just to take care of your customers?

Didn't Walmart just get done with a lawsuit by a disabled person in a wheelchair about these very issues? What lesson has not been learned?

I am still waiting to see if Sun Metro and Walmart can ever come to a clear conclusion about Sun Metro buses being allowed to come further into Walmart's property and have the bus stop at their door. Sun Metro has said they have been denied that option, Walmart says they never said no- but no one is willing to have a meeting of the minds. Ft. Bliss has buses that come onto their property and pick up civilian employees that play "insurgents" in mock simulations- why can't Sun Metro come on the property also?

When is enough enough? How many lawsuits does it have to take for a company the size of Walmart to start really giving a hoot about their customers? They already don't care about the American worker- most of their stuff is from China. And what's up with the re-labelling they have done, making the Great Value brand (theirs) look more generic so one thinks they are getting a cheaper brand, tho the prices have risen? Before they labelled to have their brand say "we are as good as name brands but are cheaper"- now they're doing the opposite for the same effect!

Greed. It all comes down to that ugly word. It's what makes the corporate world go 'round. Haven't we really had enough of all that world has done for us?

Back!!!!!!

I'm baaaack!

My sincere aplologies to people that posted comments that I couldn't post until now. I had a family emergency but things are looking ok for now. I won't bore you with the details now, I may decide to post a piece about it later though.

So anyway, gimme a few days to get back in the loop and catch up on over 200 emails and we'll get together for a chat.

Shout out to Richard Sheldon- today's his birthday! He's an advocate with ADAPT and chair of the City Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Mass Transit Board/Sun Metro. He also speaks out once in a while over at city council- a real go-getter for someone in a power wheelchair and with all his challenges with his disabilities. Like I've said before, I have never met stronger people than the ones I've met and befriended that have some sort of disability- they are some phenomenol folks!

Spankin'-hot Feuds in the Blogosphere

So it's been a few days since I've posted anything new. Sometimes one just needs to take a break from all the buzz of the world and take care of their own personal business.

Every once in awhile I need to take a break from all the bs. Yes, I like to be involved and I do what I can with community events/activities, but sometimes people forget that this is not all I have in my life.

I am not a full-time political blogger, but some things I write about are political in nature. I am not a full-time campaign volunteer, though I dabble in different ways learning about a candidate, and their volunteers. And wow!- have I learned alot in the last few weeks! I am not a public speaker, as some of you can attest to, so I use my voice in the ways that are most clear and beneficial to my causes. By writing. What I want, when I want. Guess I'm selfish.

I really hate politics and when I end up getting a little too involved in trying to figure out all the games I not only feel exhausted but need a sort of respite. I seek balance and fairness.

I haven't read fully the other blogs out there until today since my break of the last few days. I got so much accomplished in my days off I didn't miss them. But everytime I take a break I come back and the bs is flying faster and smellier than before!

Specifically, the DavidK-Lionstar feuds.

One has to wonder if these two are for real in their disputes or if they are both master-minds in keeping the blogosphere buzz going fast and furious?!

I could call Jaime and ask his side of all this, but that wouldn't be fair to DavidK, and I don't have David's phone number.

I like Jaime Abeytia's views on alot of things and I read DavidK's blog to read the "opposition", tho sometimes he does make perfect sense on some issues.

They both do, to me.

At times.

So I'm sitting here wondering if the whole Chicano vs White Guy theme is planned or their real views?

But what it really comes down to is............

When the two of you resort to using the race card for whatever reason I just want to spank you! (and not in a good way, okay?!)

Two grown intelligent men resorting to a place where no one wins. It kills both their credibility.

Some may argue that they are only speaking the truth and their viewpont is valid. Yes, that's true. But one also has to ask- what gets accomplished when all is said and done?

They are not engaging in open discussion to come together, but to separate.

If their viewpoints are real then that's sad. Neither will accomplish what they set out to get. Be that equality, wrongs righted, credibility, looked at as intelligent and fair- whatever. They will leave that small irritating stain.

If it's all just a spin and a way to manipulate us readers into a tizzy and involve us in a revolving door of no consequence- I say community theater may be a better outlet for your creativity. I don't like big issues being used in a casual manner for your own entertainment. Especially when you are trying to involve others, and that's what you are doing by writing your blogs.

But did you also notice that I didn't touch on the subjects you two bloggers/column writers were actually writing about? That's because you lost me the moment you started with the race thing. Actually, one of you was low-down in your insinuations, but maybe we can talk about that another day since that real issue got bogged down by other bs.

Robert Talhami, Childhood Friend, 9/11 Victim

In memory of Robert Talhami, victim in the WTC 9/11 attacks, my childhood friend.

You will not be forgotten.

The Talhamis moved to the U.S. from Jordan in 1967 to my little town of Northbrook, Il. Robert and his brother George were very kind boys, and I know they grew into incredible men. The family was beautiful and raised their children right.

The boys were sort of neighborhood protectors, not necessarily by force but by their presence and demeanor. If someone was being picked on, especially a girl, these guys would handle the situation so that no one lost face.

To me, they were pretty darn cute with their carmel skin and dark brown/black shiny hair- and nice guys to boot- wow, the girls they met later in life surely didn't stand a chance of not falling under their spell! And they were smart as a whip, too!

The family eventually moved on, to Venezuela, I believe, and then back to the U.S., though they still have family in Jordan.

Robert worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and had a young family. I pray they are celebrating his memory today and that it is not just filled with sorrow.

If anyone in Northbrook today is over by the Village Green, maybe having lunch at Little Louie's or Sunset Foods, take a moment and head over to the Village Green Park and sit on Robert's memorial bench and give a moment of silence. He is worth remembering and honoring.

And say a prayer for all the other victims and heroes of 9/11, they were all loved by someone and families are grieving today.

City Council Sets Wheels in Motion for Database of Accessible Apartments

Tuesday's City Council meeting was a long and arduous day. Waiting for agenda item #10, heard after 11 a.m. was just the beginning.

I arrived at 8:15 and gathered with my ADAPT friends down in the cafeteria after signing up to speak. One thing I learned being in health care is arrive early and expect everything to take longer than you think it should. That's the only way to be prepared.

I have to give kudos to Mayor Cook on his patience and flexibility when Desert ADAPT appears, meaning there were alot of speakers signed up and he really gave us all a fair shake and a chance to speak. I DO wish, tho, that when he anticipates a showing of ADAPT or other people with disabilities or the elderly on certain agenda items that the agenda item be heard earlier. It takes a tremendous toll on some to wait hours and hours for the item to come up. I had to leave with my patient around 2:30, after we both spoke, as we both needed to eat and take care of other business.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to stay and rebut a few items that Tom Bohannon brought up, but I did so later in the comment section on the article by Newspaper Tree about the action by Desert ADAPT last Thursday at Festival and Mesa streets.

My points in that comment were these:

- How come Tom Bohannon, for 16 years, accepted the 5% rule and did nothing about it, especially if it supposedly hurt his business so much? Now when there's a real need for apartments and the demand is there, economics are at an all-time low, Mr. Bohannon wants to put the squeeze on the city to build fewer accessible apartments- even though he already would be getting tax breaks? It's like the guy selling ice or water during Hurricane Katrina for over-inflated prices! And then he threatens to take his business elsewhere?!!!

- Tom Bohannon is a businessman, right? He's in the business to make money. I think he's doing okay living up there on Cherry Hill. But instead of training his staff to tap into their pool of complexes he owns and manages for an accessible apartment for myself and my client when I was looking at his property The Pointe, which had no accessible apartments at the time I looked 5 years ago, he would rather ask the city to lower their standard for accessible apartments and take tax breaks. Sounds kinda lazy and greedy to me. He hid behind the law that says he doesn't have to do squat for transition if the building was built before 1993. My rebut was- aren't you going to eventually remodel these apartments? Can't you convert or retrofit some to be more accessible? Or at the very least, show me properties that ARE accessible? I hate it when businesses hide behind the "I don't have to, I'm not bound by law to care" excuse. You're leaving out a large part of the community when you don't remodel your bathroom to be accessible and welcoming to the disabled/elderly community, when your aisles are too full of merchandise and a wheelchair can't get through etc- that all screams "you're not important enough to me and my business"!

- My last point was a business proposal I made to Tom Bohannon. I basically said let me take over your PR and do some damage control cause what he's been doing just ain't working. I have good contacts in the disabled community, let's sort out all this disorganization and work on getting disabled and elderly into your apartments. This isn't rocket science. I am good at organizing, as a matter of fact, in my past life when I was married my husband and I had our own business and that was to look at small businesses and streamline and condense almost every aspect of that business. We re-trained sales staff, hired staff, did data entry, picked apart every expense and looked for ways to save money etc. Some jobs took a year or more, and when they got computers that was a whole other way to streamline the business and they called us back to do that.
Anyway- I offered to work with Tom Bohannon in a field that I have a vested interest in and we all would have benefitted- Tom would change his image in the disabled community as a man that cares, he'd make money, I'd have more money coming in and the disabled community would have more choices in apartments as they'd be advertised specifically for them and not given away at a discount to non-disabled. All I asked for was an apartment and a small stipend for my work. But Tom Bohannon has not bothered to answer yet. At first my proposal was in jest, tongue-in-cheek, but then I was like heck- this could work!

Anyway- council DID bring up some good points about getting a database together by Volar and the Apartment Association- shoulda been done years ago!

Representative Acosta brought up a good point, too, that many people may be disabled and may not feel comfortable to speak up about their disability and that many disabilities are not seen on the outside, such as heart patients, people with arthritis etc. And there was alot of confusion about how to legally place the disabled and elderly in accessible apartments that are intended for their use without stepping on toes and outright asking if they are disabled or the nature of the disability.

To me, that's a no-brainer. You don't have to ask someone what their ailments are (or aren't)- you can find out their needs by offering the amenities you have. If you are talking to a prospective client looking for an apartment and they have a cane you can offer that you have apartments that have walk-in or roll-in showers- these are amenities that should be celebrated, not shyed away from, and then you can go on and say "or would you prefer having a tub to soak in? We all love baths blah blah blah". TALK to the people, find out about them, show an interest. Yes, there's always going to be someone that might be offended, no one likes the stigma that as we age our needs may change and we are looked at as frail etc, but the majority of us aren't in Ironman competitions in our 40s, 50s, 60s etc ok? Let's be real. This is just one example of ways to try and meet the needs of the disabled/elderly- every case will be different. And all you can do is your best. Maybe a heart patient that looks fit, no cane, doesn't let you know an accessible apartment would be easier on them, for example. You don't want to question every person to find out if they may need an accessible apartment, and actually what I've seen for the most part is that the disabled/elderly community that has started or is in touch with the reality of their needs will be more than forthcoming with their requirements.

The six month hold on this agenda item to get organized and compile the database of accessible apartments is a good start but I don't believe we will truly see the need vs # of units available until guidelines are set and implemented on the advertising end of this issue. And that may take another 6 months or more to gather and decipher information found from that. I also suggest that the apartments do a survey of their tenants in accessible units and ask if they are meeting their needs or if they are even using those amenities. I'm sure that won't go over too good with some tenants that are taking advantage of accessible units at a discount, but you know what? I'd rather piss off that kind of tenant than deny a disabled person an accessible unit because JoeBlow Idontcare wants to save a few bucks.

Just my opinion.

New or Old City Hall Leak?

While at city hall yesterday I was killing time talking with Lisa Turner while we waited for the "desk lady" to bring the signup sheet for the agenda.

I like alot of the common sense Ms. Turner has and admire that she can pretty much get her point across without pages of notes. Me, I'm a dork. I spoke on agenda item 10 yesterday, the one about the city possibly changing the building code so developers won't have to build 5 p/100 accessible apartments but just 2. I even lost my place at one time in my pages of notes, but that was my fault, I didn't want to keep repeating points that others made before me so I shortened my comments. More on that in another post.

Anyway, during a lull I wandered by the windows and looked down at the front of city hall. I noticed one of the concrete planters had an awful lot of water accumulated in it and there was a sprinkler head bubbling just over the water line.

Probably about 2 inches or more accumulated in there.

I went down and took a few pics of this and this morning I emailed building maintenance and informed them of this problem.

I know things break, but because the trees and vegetation were quite lush in that planter I wonder how long this has been going on unchecked?

I'm waiting to see how long this takes to be repaired, and will update you when I hear back from them.

Free Speech vs Lack of Respect for our President

What's all this baloney goin' on now about the President supposedly wanting to "indoctrinate" our schoolchildren?

People who don't agree with some things the President has done or is doing, even though the burden falls on many others besides the President for the implementation, are now spreading the infection that we don't have to show any kind of respect to our President?

What does that tell our children?

They're so afraid the President is going to try and slip in subliminal messages and propoganda and that one speech will magically turn their kids into raving rebels of the Left! Are people really that ignorant?

Doesn't indoctrination need a series of actions, studies, disciplines to meet it's end result?

Parents have always held the key to their children's successes. Unfortunately, over half our children do not live in a two-parent household. Many of those do not have the proper supervision, so the streets or tv or gangs are taking the place of those parents.

It takes a village to raise a child. Ever heard that saying? It's true. It takes mentors of every sort to help shape our children and parents need to tap into that resource, with a watchful eye of course. It takes good teachers, a trusted church, extended family and friends, and neighbors. But the parents are the ultimate sayers in how the kids are raised.

We all have the right of free speech and to question our government. But instilling a fear into your children of our own President is taking that right really far! And it's downright disrespectful.

Children do not have the capacity of reason an adult has (sometimes that's a good thing!). They will not fully understand the nuances and depth of why they have to sit out of class while the rest of their classmates gets to participate in hearing and talking about the President's speech. All alot will know is that Mommy and Daddy said they don't have to listen to the President. WOW! What a learning experience!

As a child in the 60s and 70s I remember us schoolchildren participating in school activities that included a mock vote for our President, Nixon vs McGovern. For weeks we held debates and walked around the schoolyard with our signs trying to woo more people to our side. It was participation and discussion.

Let me say that again, louder...

We were allowed to PARTICIPATE and DISCUSS pros and cons of our candidates.

Our parents thought it was a good thing and didn't make us sit out. They embraced different opinions and they were conducted with decorum and respect. Not that we didn't get passionate at times.

So, why now is it an "us vs them" attitude and if you don't believe what I believe then I don't have to show you any respect and I will not participate?

I am clueless on this new attitude.

Some people are taking their rights way out of context and no one benefits or wins. It promotes closed-mindedness and perpetuates fears vs reasoning or debating.

Kinda anti-free speech!

"ACCESSIBLE APARTMENTS NOW! "

Participated in the action yesterday attended mostly by ADAPT/Pact people and other interested parties over at Festival and Mesa streets. ADAPT people never cease to amaze me with their strength and gumption!

This was to voice our concerns over the city possibly changing code to appease developers wanting to only build 2 handicap accessible apartments per 100 instead of the current code of 5.

I want to give a shout out to everyone that organized, participated and helped out in so many ways! Thanks for your strong direction and other support!

And a big thank you to the downtown businesses that donated cases of water for us! And thank you to the young gentleman that actually came and passed it out- I'm terrible with names so please forgive me!

I didn't get to take any pics as I was holding up a banner most of the time. And it almost looked as if it were going to rain, but we would have stayed anyway.

I received information from a Ft. Bliss public information office that there are about 80,000 disabled vets in El Paso County! (I hope I heard right on that number- I was pretty amazed at it!). And according to stats for the city there are about 60,000 disabled/elderly disabled in our area. I don't know if the two figures overlap. But these are astounding numbers!

Even if you take just the lower number of 60,000 disabled- that's just under 1/10th of our population! And builders just want to build 2 units per 100??? What's wrong with this picture? Do you know how many people are living in in-accessible housing because they can't find a vacancy in accessible apartments (let alone a shortage of houses handicap accessible)? Tea Partiers are shouting about their liberties and choices, but what do our disabled have? Very little- and the developers want to give them even less.

BYOH- Bring Your Own Healthcare

I really am having a hard time trying to start this piece.

There's so many nuances of importance that add to and affect my feelings on the health care reform issue, but I'm afraid to expound too much on some of them for fear of taking away from my overall point, and, of course, of rambling on a bit, which I can slide into easily.

So, I will trudge forward and hope that you all will follow with patience.

I was waiting at my bus stop for the 46 to arrive around 9:15 Wednesday morning to check out the Tea Party Express rally, I wanted to see for myself what was being said. Up pulled a supervisor's van instead of the bus. Seems 46 broke down with air pressure problems at around 7:30 a.m. I thought it was great I still had a ride to scope out the rally but then I also wondered how people in wheelchairs in the NE that were relying on a bus with a lift/ramp were going to get there? (A working bus DID meet us at NorthGate)

On the bus was a gentleman I had seen around the Walmart/Trans Mtn area. Maybe late 40s or early 50s, raggedy clothes, with his cane and his walker with a seat. I have spoken with him before while waiting for buses. I know some of his plight and that he is waiting for SS/Disability to kick in. In the meantime he resorts to panhandling, walking (if you wanna call it that) the rock median and asking for help from passersby. Now before you judge- I have never smelled alcohol on this man's breath nor does he seem to have other characteristics to imply other socially unacceptable problems, except that he doesn't have a job and is disabled. He was sitting on the bus praying with a dollar in his cupped hands- and it wasn't a quick one. He then took his package of 2 poptarts and was praying over that. It was quite a humbling site, and ironic, as I was heading to a group of people at the Tea Party that I feel don't want to be their brother's keeper.

I cried behind my sunglasses.

And I cried that I did not have any money to give him as I live paycheck to paycheck, literally. And this was right before payday. But that day I did not feel hopeless for him, in fact the opposite. He had someone on his side stronger than me and I felt it!

So I exited the bus right at Sue Young Park and started walking to the gathering. The parking lot was full of cars and no one got off the bus with me. I was met with people trying to sell me "Don't Tread on Me" flags and pieces of conversation- mainly of the nature breaking down to "us and them". But there were two "thems". Government and Democrats.

It was not "us Americans" plurally.

Cds, books and t-shirts were being sold, also. Nothing was free. Everything had a price. Go Capitalism! The new religion of the selfish! (just a smidgen of sarcasm) I looked around for someone possibly giving out water- none. I was amazed I didn't even see anyone SELLING water- what an opportunity missed! (I've never been to this park and didn't know if there was a water fountain somewhere)

I wasn't walking around with a mini flag, no buttons stating how American I am, no military affiliation colors worn- just me. A free American trying to understand another's point of view.

The thing is, there are many valid points made by some at these rallies. Unfortunately, alot of them are drowned out by the more vocal and radical. Some feel they need to be extreme or dramatic to make their point, which I feel is counter-productive. The fact that health care needs to be reformed is a strong enough point.

If we came together as united Americans we would have more numbers and a bigger impact, and then work out the finer details together.

Anyway, I'm walking around and listening. You could say my ears were perked. The signs that were being held up were everywhere, shouting out the words socialist! marxist! muslim! my money!

It was getting quite hot and humid and I was looking forward to going home and having some cool water. A funny thought ran across my mind. What if I passed out right here in front of everyone from heat exhaustion or dehydration? Would any of these people help me up?

And I thought of the man on the bus, and now probably sweating out there in the street at Trans Mtn/Woodrow Bean, and I was hoping he had enough money for lunch.

And I wondered how long he'd have to be out there before the government powers that be and people that only see him as a beggar decided he was poor enough and sick enough to be worthy of help?

Some pics from the Tea Party Express rally today at Sue Young Park in the NE.

They pretty much speak for themselves and the rhetoric was pretty much what I expected.

I will add more commentary later tonight.