Remembering 9/11/2001

They Were Our Neighbors
 -

by Dawn Colclasure

They were our neighbors,


Someone to whom we'd just say "hi."


Never did we ever think


The next day they would die.


We never took one last long look


Or gave an extra smile.


The attacks on September 11


Taught us to go that extra mile.



We'll never be able to hug them again


But now we can hug others.


And say an extra "I love you"


To our children, friends and mothers.

We miss our neighbors every day


And wish they were not gone.


But we'll cherish those that are still here


While we will move on.

The local Red Cross in Buffalo put out 2,917

flags in memory of those who died.

Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11 -

we will never forget.




photos by peacesojourner

Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela - 94 Today

Mr. Mandela shared that the following poem was one of the things that helped him to remain focused during the twenty seven years of incarceration.

William Ernest Henley. 1849–1903

Invictus

OUT of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

******

In 2009, the United Nations established Nelson Mandela International Day to honor the African leader on his birthday through acts of community service.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged people around the world "to make a difference" by tutoring a child, feeding the hungry or volunteering at a hospital or community center.

"A healer of nations and a mentor to generations, Nelson Mandela — or Madiba as he is affectionately known by millions — is a living symbol of wisdom, courage and integrity," Ban said. "Together, the best way we can thank Nelson Mandela for his work is by taking action for others and inspiring change."

People around the world were asked to mark his birthday by giving 67 minutes of their time to work in their local community — one minute for every year of Mandela's public service.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racist apartheid rule, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Happy Birthday Madiba -

peacesojourner

Sunday Reflection - A Pit Bull's Unfailing Love

FOXY

A Pit Bull Who Provided Lessons in Loyalty and Unfailing Love

By PETER APPLEBOME
Published: March 28, 2007
HOBOKEN, N.J.

Foxy the loyal pit bull.
In the pecking order of man and beast, there was no lower rung than the one shared by Randy Vargas and Foxy on the streets of Hoboken.

He was 46 and homeless, regular work like that fondly remembered machine-shop job long in the past. She was a member of dogdom’s least-fashionable demographic, a 10-year-old brindled pit bull, compact as a pickup truck, ears askew, two-tone face, white neck, the rest an arbitrary mix of light and dark.

And yet in this city increasingly defined by creatures who drew the long straw — winners in real estate and on Wall Street, sleek goldens, pampered Yorkies, fashionable puggles and doodles — there was something transcendent in their bond.

Maybe in a world of opaque relationships, theirs was a lesson in clarity like a parable from the Bible. He had rescued her back when she was homeless and abused, a scared runty thing living with homeless men who had no use for her. She in turn gave him purpose and companionship and love.

Maybe it was how the relationship brought out the best in both. It brought him to life and into the world, as much a part of Hoboken street life as any young comer with his black Lab. And it made her a creature of eternal sweetness, unfailingly friendly to people and animals, tail wagging at the merest glance, a pit bull in name but not metaphor.

So if you spent any time in Hoboken the odds are pretty good you would have seen the two of them, sleeping in front of SS. Peter and Paul Parish Center, visiting the Hoboken Animal Hospital, walking down the street — the dog keeping perfect pace with him, dressed in winter in raffish layers of sweatshirts and T-shirts plucked from the St. Mary’s Hospital Thrift Store, she keeping perfect pace with him.

Cheryl Lamoreaux remembered seeing Mr. Vargas resting on a condo’s shaded concrete steps on a sweltering August weekend day, flat on his back with Foxy in the same position one step below. It was the perfect image of man and dog, she said, and added, “This really was a dog with a deep soul.”

Everyone who knew them said the same thing: Mr. Vargas cared for the dog better than for himself.

“If it was the dead of winter, the dog would get all the blankets, he’d get the sidewalk with nothing on it,” said Robin Murphy, a groomer at the Hoboken Animal Hospital. “If it was raining, he’d put the umbrella up for the dog before he’d put it up for himself.”
But there’s not much margin for error at the bottom rung. Once this winter, he was arrested, accused of making threatening remarks to women. The case was dismissed, and friends say it should never have gone that far. But Ms. Murphy had to rescue Foxy from the pound in Newark, where she could have been euthanized.

It all ended so fast, people still can’t explain it. Aside from a dog run, she had seldom been seen off the leash, but on the morning of March 19 in the park, she was. She saw a dog she knew across Hudson Street, dashed across to say hello and was hit by a white pickup that stopped briefly and then sped off.

He held the dog, blood spurting from her mouth, and waved at passing cars, but none stopped. So he carried her 60 pounds, feeling the broken bones in his hand, as far as he could, then put her down and ran to the animal hospital for help. But it was too late.

People come by every day, some fighting back tears, to leave donations, more than $900 so far. Some come from people who knew them, most from people who felt like they did. Alone they might have been invisible. Together, they were impossible to miss.

In different ways, they’re still around. Her picture is in some store windows, wearing a gray sweatshirt with a red T-shirt under it, gazing to the right like a sentry, a wondrous study in essence of dog with a touch of human thrown in. Since the accident Mr. Vargas has had good days and bad ones, sometimes being up and around, sometimes, like the other day, looking groggy and defeated under his red comforter on the street. “I feel,” he told a friend, “like I have a hole in my soul.”

At the animal hospital they’re buying a pendant to hold some of her ashes that he can wear around his neck. Friends check on him regularly, bring him food, talk of finally getting him a place to live. There’s talk of getting him a new dog when he’s ready, which surely isn’t now.
“It’s like most relationships,” he said from under the red blanket. “You have to wait for the right time.”

*****

I read this article some time ago and was touched by the story -

hope you like it.

peacesojourner

Remembering Markus who died June 1, 2004

A tribute to Markus J. Johnson of Springfield, Massachusetts

He was an Army Pfc and on June 1, 2004 he died while serving in the

Al Anbar Province of Iraq when an Avenger rolled over.

He was 20 years old

He was awarded seven medals, including the Bronze Star

and the Purple Heart

Brig. Gen. Bo Temple presents Sandra L. Thomas, the mother of Army Pvt. Markus J. Johnson, a flag and her son's medals during Markus Johnson's funeral at the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery in Agawam, June 12 2004. Beside Thomas are Markus Johnson's stepfather Lawrence Thomas, Jr., and aunt Katherine Johnson

Siblings Laura Thomas, left, Craig L. Johnson, Nathan L. Johnson

and Dwayne A. Johnson share a laugh as they remember their

brother, Army
Pfc Markus J. Johnson, during his funeral.

Military pallbearers carry the casket of Army Pvt. Markus J. Johnson

from Symphony Hall after the funeral

Tribute to a fallen warrior

Markus' parents and brother Nathan at a memorial event

on the first anniversary of his death.

*****

I would like to introduce you to Markus J. Johnson.

I was living in Massachusetts when I first met Markus. He was a young child and his aunt Kathy was a good friend of mine. She usually had Markus and his brothers with her when we would meet. His mother was in poor health and was confined to a wheelchair so he spent a lot of time with his aunt.

He was full of energy, asked a thousand questions and had a great sense of humor.
When he got older he made the decision to join the Army so that he could help his mother financially and like many of our young citizens Markus dreamed of pursuing a college education when he was discharged from the military.

Markus holds the distinction of being Springfield's first resident to sacrifice his life in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in the country's War on Terrorism. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 1st Infantry Division of the Army, based in Kitzingen, Germany and was 20 when he was deployed to Iraq.

Markus’ death was a shock to his family and friends and to the entire community. He was well known at the local Martin Luther King Community Center which he attended during his childhood and teen years. Hundreds attended his funeral.

I wanted to introduce you to Markus because his story is so typical of many of the young men and women who have died in the Iraq War. They wanted to help their families financially, pursue a higher education and to be of service to their country.

Markus’ mother and father have both died since the time of his death. His siblings have undergone the pain of losing their parents and their brother in the past eight years.

I remember Markus with fond affection and we all miss him very much.

We are proud of him and will never forget him.

*****

peacesojourner

Memorial Day - 2012

Korean War Veterans Memorial Washington DC

From 1950 to 1953, the United States joined with United Nations forces in Korea to take a stand against what was deemed a threat to democratic nations worldwide. At wars end, a million and a half American veterans returned to a peacetime world of families, homes, and jobs - and to a country long reluctant to view the Korean War as something to memorialize. But to the men and women who served, the Korean War could never be a forgotten war.

The Three Soldiers - Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

A national war memorial in Washington D.C. It honors members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War and who died in service or are still unaccounted for.

WWII Veterans on parade

The National World War II Memorial

Located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial commemorates the 16 million American men and women who served, fought, sacrificed and died during the Second World War.

The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home.

Arlington National Cemetery

War	Dates	Served	Battle Deaths
American Revolution	1775 - 1783	217,000	4,435
War of 1812	1812 - 1815	286,730	2,260
Indian Wars	1817 - 1898	106,000	1,000
Mexican War	1846 - 1848	78,718	1,733
Civil War (North)	1861 - 1865	2,213,363	140,414
Civil War (South)		1,050,000	74,524
Spanish-American War	1898 - 1902	306,760	385
World War I	1917 - 1918	4,734,991	53,402
World War II	1940 - 1945	16,112,566	291,557
Korean War	1950 - 1953	5,720,000	33,686
Vietnam War	1964 - 1975	9,200,000	47,410
Gulf War	1990 - 1991	2,322,332	148
Totals		42,348,460	650,954

These totals do not include the 4,486 who have been killed in the Iraq War

and 1,984 in Afghanistan - TOTAL 6,470

The memorials are a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment

of those who served their country.

Never to be Forgotten. May they Rest in Peace.

peacesojourner

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Leadership, Diversity, Harmony - Gateway to Success

The Dr. Fox statue of a Chinese worker sits outside the Auburn, California, Chamber of Commerce building as storm clouds and rain create a rainbow in the background.

Fox created the statue, according to the plaque, as "a tribute to the historical significance of the Chinese worker in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierra Mountains of California."

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) is celebrated in May to commemorate the contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution in 1978 to commemorate Asian American Heritage Week during the first week of May. This date was chosen because two important anniversaries occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (by many Chinese laborers) on May 10, 1869. In 1990 Congress voted to expand it from a week to a month long celebration and in May 1992, the month of May was permanently designated as “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Who are the Americans of Asian or Pacific Islander descent? (APA's) There are 28 Asian and 19 Pacific Islander subgroups and they make up a population of almost 15 million residents.There are a total of 2.7 million Chinese , making Chinese the leading Asian group

There are so many people and courageous deeds that I could write about to honor this topic but my mind continues to dwell on the Chinese contribution in the 1800’s as the railroad tracks were laid, one by one, by thousands of workers and eventually completed. The United States was changed forever

Recently the Colfax Area Historical Society placed a monument along Highway 174 at Cape Horn, near Colfax, California to recognize the efforts of the Chinese in laying the tracks that linked the east and west coasts for the first time. With the California Gold Rush and the opening of the West came an increased interest in building a transcontinental railroad. To this end, the Central Pacific Railroad Company was established, and construction of the route East from Sacramento began in 1863. Labor and financial problems were persistent, resulting in only 50 miles of track being laid in the first two years. Although the company needed over 5,000 workers, it only had 600 on the payroll by 1864.

Chinese labor was suggested, as they had already helped build the California Central Railroad, and the San Jose Railway. The first Chinese were hired in 1865 at approximately $28 per month to do the very dangerous work of blasting and laying ties over the treacherous terrain of the high Sierras. They lived in simple housing and cooked their own meals, often consisting of fish, dried oysters and fruit, mushrooms and seaweed.

To conquer the many sheer embankments, the Chinese workers used techniques they had learned in China. Ropes from the top of cliffs in baskets lowered them down and while suspended, they chipped away at the granite and planted explosives that were used to blast tunnels. Many workers risked their lives and unknown numbers perished in the harsh winters and dangerous conditions.

By the summer of 1868, 4,000 workers, two thirds of which were Chinese, had built the transcontinental railroad over the Sierras and into the interior plains. The project was completed on May 10, 1869.

Without the efforts of the Chinese workers in the building of America's railroads, the development and progress as a nation would have been delayed by years. Their toil in severe weather, cruel working conditions and for meager wages cannot be under appreciated. Our sentiments and thanks go out to the entire Chinese-American community for its ancestors' contribution to the building of this country, the United States of America.

Once the railroad was completed Chinese immigrants found work in a variety of industries, from making shoes and sewing clothes to rolling cigars. Since language barriers and racial discrimination barred them from many established trades, however, they often created opportunities for themselves and launched new businesses. Many of the shops, restaurants, and laundries in the growing mining towns of California were operated by Chinese immigrants.

I have travelled by train, from west to east, across the United States on several occasions and I have always appreciated their existence. When one learns about the blood, sweat and tears that went into the construction I have an even greater appreciation for those who pioneered in those early days.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – I challenge you to turn to your history books and learn more about, and give honor to, this wonderful culture.

Remembering Malcolm X on his 87th Birthday

Malcolm X (he became El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz in 1964) was a major theoretician and advocate for Black pride and liberation. One of most influential and important people of the 20th century. “He spoke more truth, with less pretense, than any other Black Leader…”

Bill Russell.

Malcolm X born Malcolm Little; May 19 1925, was an African American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, his childhood included his father's lessons concerning black pride and self-reliance and his own life experiences concerning race, which played a significant role in Malcolm X's adult life.

As an adult Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam. On January 14, 1958, Malcolm X married Betty X (Sanders) in Lansing, Michigan. The couple had six daughters. Attallah (1958), Qubilah, (1960), Ilyasah, (1962) Gamilah, (1964), and twins, Malaak and Malikah, born in 1965 after their father's assassination and named for him.

On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X publicly announced his break from the Nation of Islam. He also expressed his desire to work with other civil rights leaders . On March 26, 1964, he met Martin Luther King, Jr. in Washington, D.C., after a press conference which followed both men attending the Senate to hear the debate on the Civil Rights bill. This was the only time the two men ever met; their meeting lasted only one minute, just long enough for photographers to take a picture.

Malcolm X became a Sunni Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. He traveled extensively throughout Africa and the Middle East. On April 19, 1964, he completed the Hajj. He later said the trip allowed him to see Muslims of different races interacting as equals. He came to believe that Islam could be the means by which racial problems could be overcome.

Less than a year after he left the Nation of Islam, on February 21, 1965, in Manhattan, New York, at the Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm X was assassinated while giving a speech. He was 39 years old.

Many schools have been named after him and several cities have renamed streets in his honor. In New York City, Lenox Avenue was renamed Malcolm X Boulevard in the late 1980s.
In 2005, Columbia University announced the opening of the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. The memorial is located in the Audubon Ballroom, where Malcolm X was assassinated.

*****

In early 1963, Malcolm X started collaborating with Alex Haley on The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The book was not finished when he was assassinated in 1965. Haley completed it and published it later that year.

Though often controversial in his lifetime he was admired by many and has left an important legacy. I would encourage you to read this book to gain further knowledge on the life of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz .

*****

Some of his Quotes :

"Truth is on the side of the oppressed."

"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."

"You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being."

"We have to keep in mind at all times that we are not fighting for integration, nor are we fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition...for the right to live as free humans in this society."

"For the freedom of my 22 million black brothers and sisters here in America, I do believe that I have fought the best that I know how, and the best that I could, with the shortcomings that I have had...I know that societies often have killed people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine."

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today"

peacesojourner