Five years of blogging today --

Celebrating "blogiversaries"  is a tradition in the blogosphere.  This is the fifth year I have been posting at South by Southwest, a blog about politics and government.  The areas of focus were citizen activism, civil liberties, Congress, the Middle East and the space program.  I also devoted a lot of page space to the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.  I worried that the previous administration did not adhere to the rule of law.  And I have worried that the current administration was too quick to adopt some of the more questionable national security policies of their predecessors.  Overall, however I am a happy citizen these days.

Posting  at several blog sites -- I came to writing regularly on my own and others' web pages.  I began to expand first with a more personal and creative site called Making Good Mondays, as well as a round-up site called Behind the Links.  More recently I joined a couple of social networking sites, Facebook-(private) and Twitter.  Each venue had distinct advantages.  When I felt the need for a piece of nonpolitical writing, I turned to MGM.  And I came to the practice of posting to BTL the interesting links my readers who became blog buddies sent me via Email.  At present I am drawn to the social nature of Facebook.  I keep up with personal friends and family as well as friends and acquaintances I made on the internet.  Twitter turns out to be the perfect way to do a quick scan of the very latest news, as well as read some of my favorite writers who have mastered the 140 character format.

Joining blog communities -- For several years I cross-posted my original political pieces at several "big" and 'little' group websites.  The blogging communities I joined include Daily Kos, Texas Kaos, TPM Cafe, The Reaction, Sirens Chronicles, Red Gage and Political Voices of Women. Like most other people in the blogosphere, I came to favor each group for different reasons.  Kos and TPM  are cutting edge, Texas Kaos is more local.  Reaction writers are among the best progressive voices; Sirens were wonderfully edgy and occasionally outrageous.  Red Gage is a friendly community where contributors earn money for the work they post.  Political Voices of Women spans the ideological spectrum.  These days I have stopped posting on most of the group sites.  It became too time consuming. I also felt a little burned out, which made me question the caliber of my writing for these high quality group sites.

My posting frequency has changed over the years, expanding and now contracting.  During the early years, there was no lack of issues about which I was passionate.  You see, I had a discernible opponent.  I am a progressive Democrat and President George W. Bush provided me with many things about which I could rant.  I did not know I was ranting at the time because I was a "newbie."  I just knew something was wrong and that I could speak out.  And I did, almost every day.  My goal, however,  was to try to balance criticism with positive recognition, though I have not always kept that balance equal.  Since President Obama was elected and Democrats became the majorities in both houses of congress, I am much less critical of those in charge.  And somehow I have not felt as driven to write as in the past.

Five years of rather regular writing has been a wonderful challenge, which I have not always met as I would have liked.  I have often felt the pressure to produce -- something very good or something to meet a deadline.  That is possibly a recipe for burnout.  However, the writing members of these communities were unfailingly supportive, accepting and intellectually stimulating.  I am sure I have gained more than I gave at each site.  Now I am about assessing where I am and what I want to do in my writing future.  I do know for sure that I will be around.  Stay tuned.

[Post date - 3/29/10]

Blogs: My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. My creative website is at Making Good Mondays. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for all my websites.

Technorati tags: blogging news blogs writing

Posted via email from Southwest Postings

It is hard to put into words.

 

 

Because it feels like a very important day, I must try to express it, however feebly.  The health care bill signing ceremony at the White House is the occasion for my full heart.

Almost 5 years ago I started writing my blog, South by Southwest.  I had a lot to say then, not so much now.  And much of what I had to say about politics and the circumstances of my country was pretty negative.  I came to learn the meaning of the blogosphere term "rant."

In recent years I haven't had nearly as much reason to rant, because my party captured the leadership roles in Congress and the White House.  For whatever reason, I developed an internal calm about the potential well-being of our country with Democrats in power.

Today marks one of the reasons I had confidence.  It is the day that health care for all Americans becomes a right and no longer a privilege for the "haves."  It will need to wait on Senate reconciliation action this week to be in its more proper form.  But, even if it has to go back to the House for another vote, it will happen, because it was supposed to happen.  It is now high time.

On this bright morning President Obama dedicated the occasion to his late mother.  He also recognized many others from the past and present who had helped to make the long awaited new health care law possible. It came too late, however,  to help his mom and others in attendance who had lost loved ones before this momentous signing day. Let us hope that it has not come too late for "Natoma," who came to symbolize the plight of thousands of very ill people who do have not the benefit of health care insurance.

At last change has come however.  The promised change will happen incrementally, and with fits and starts.  It will be accompanied with hand wringing "No!"s by those motivated by loss of power, anger at "others" and fear of change.  Narrow visioned pundits will spend countless hours examining the miniscule bits of so-called "news," casting everything in the light of politics.  And members of my party will make many more mistakes as they try to do the right things and hold on to power at the same time.

In time, in other words, everyone will be exposed as merely human.  God bless us all.

 

[Post date - March 23, 2010.  Image credit: Wordle.net]

 

See also Behind the Links, for further info on this subject.

 

Blogs: My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. My creative website is at Making Good Mondays. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for all my websites.

Technorati tags: health care reform congress obama

Posted via web from Southwest Postings

Major legislative threat to civil liberties filed with Senate Juciciary Committee.

What's in a name? Changing what the government calls its enemies is not a fix for this proposed major over reach of presidential authority. The bill in question could potentially violate the constitutionally protected habeas corpus rights of U.S. citizens. Designating a person suspected of a terrorist act as an "unprivileged enemy belligerent," rather than an enemy combatant makes no difference to the person who might be erroneously and indefinitely held without cause. Glenn Greenwald is correct to be alarmed. We really need to keep our eyes on this situation. We absolutely cannot trust that the bill will not go anywhere because it is so outrageous. http://amplify.com/u/3fd8

Posted via web from Southwest Postings

March is Women's History Month -- Honors to Women of Courage

International Women of Courage Awards were presented on International Womens Day, Wednesday, March 10. 

 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama honored a number of outstanding women for their courage in standing for women's rights around the world.  To quote from Secretary Clinton's remarks at the event:

I am particularly delighted to welcome back to the State Department our First Lady, Michelle Obama. (Applause.) This is the second time that Michelle Obama and I have celebrated the International Women of Courage Awards together. It’s a tradition I really like because she is doing so much for women and girls not only in our own country, but around the world. She inspires them. She challenges them. She exemplifies for them the kind of strength, warmth, and grace that so many of us see in her and aspire to for our own daughters. She has made the health and empowerment of young people, particularly young women, a centerpiece of her leadership. And she and I agree on many things, but one that we particularly agree on is that every child should have the chance to fulfill his or her God-given potential. And I just have to thank her for the mentoring programs that she created at the White House, for the special project that she is doing now to tackle childhood obesity, and to really setting the standard for what we want to see in our own country and around the world as well.

And I want to thank and recognize – I want to also recognize Melanne Verveer. (Applause.) Melanne is our country’s first Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, and it’s no accident that that would happen in the Obama Administration, where we would have someone of her experience and expertise promoting the political, economic, and social empowerment of women. As Melanne often reminds us, the world is full of remarkable women whose work goes unnoticed or undervalued. And today, we celebrate some particular women, but they really stand in for millions of other women who are serving their communities and making our world a better and safer place for all.

********** [Each honoree was presented with her award between the following segments]

What we’re going to do now is actually present the honorees. I will read the awards citations and then Mrs. Obama and I will present them with their International Women of Courage Award. I’d like to note that we’re going to start with two women from Afghanistan, so let me start with Shukria Asil – (applause) – as one of four female members of the Baghlan Provincial Council. Ms. Asil has been instrumental in promoting government responsiveness to the needs of Afghan women. She is being honored for pioneering efforts to promote opportunity, justice, and education for women and girls; serving as a voice for diverse members of Afghan society; and at great personal risk, increasing the accountability and responsiveness of the government to the needs of women and girls in Afghanistan. Thank you so much, Ms. Asil. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: I woke up to the voice of this next honoree because she was interviewed on public radio, NPR, this morning. And Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi of Afghanistan is the Director of Gender, Human, and Child rights within the Ministry of the Interior. She began her career in the Afghan National Police. She has been at the forefront of integrating women into the government and police force. And she is being honored for her visionary leadership in breaking down barriers to the professional advancement of Afghan women, promoting unity and gender equality, humanitarian activism, and initiating programs to strengthen the Afghan National Police. Congratulations, Colonel. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: You heard Mrs. Obama speaking of this next honoree, Sonia Pierre of the Dominican Republic. She was born on Dominican soil to Haitian parents. She is the founder and leader of the Movement for Dominican Women of Haitian Descent, an NGO dedicated to fighting for the rights of vulnerable communities in her country. She is being honored for advancing the cause of social justice, confronting exploitation and discrimination, defending the dignity of persons of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic, and helping marginalized communities develop their own voices for their own future. Congratulations, Sonia. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Ann Njogu of Kenya is the co-convener of the Civil Society Congress – (cheers and applause) – a leader in constitutional reform and head of the Center for Rights, Education, and Awareness. She has been an activist seeking social transformation and working for reform in her native country. She is being honored for progressive leadership in the fight against corruption, the push for gender equality in Kenya, the battle for constitutional reform, and for bravely mobilizing Kenyan civil society to secure the passage of landmark legislation against sexual offenses. (Applause and cheers.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Dr. Lee Ae-ran of South Korea was born in North Korea. She was a witness to tyranny at a very early age. She defected to South Korea and transformed her life, where she has been a force for promoting human rights of the North Korean refugee community. She is being honored for spearheading initiatives to improve the lives and education of the North Korean refugee community in South Korea, elevating the empowerment of women, and raising awareness of the dire human rights situation in North Korea. Congratulations, Dr. Lee. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Jansila Majeed of Sri Lanka is a women who lived as an internally displaced person for almost 20 years. She became one of the few women activists working on behalf of the displaced Muslim and Tamil civilians and is the managing trustee of the Community Trust Fund in Puttalam Province. She’s being honored for her dedicated grassroots activism and minority community leadership on behalf of women and girls, their empowerment, peace building, relief work, the resettlement of internally displaced persons, and a commitment to bringing society together. Congratulations.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Sister Marie Claude Naddaf is the Mother Superior of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. She has been a beacon of hope for women and girls who have nowhere else to turn. She is a pioneer in working for social services for women in Syria. She is being honored for her steadfast dedication to ending the suffering of women and girls who are victims of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. She launched Syria’s first shelter and emergency hotline for women. Thank you so much, Sister. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: And the final honoree who could be with us today is Jestina Mukoko of Zimbabwe. Jestina is the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project and a longtime leader in the human rights and activist community in her country. She is being honored for her relentless activism for justice and defense of human rights, for bringing attention to widespread violence against women in Zimbabwe, and for pursuing her case to the supreme court, resulting in a victory that has offered hope to her fellow citizens. Congratulations. (Applause and cheers.)

Reference:

Here are some very interesting facts, pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau about the state of womanhood… It comes from Women's History Month, a blog post by Lijit.com (3/5/10).

[Post date: 3/11/10]

Blogs: My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. My creative website is at Making Good Mondays. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for all my websites.

Technorati tags: women State Department International Women of Courage Awards Women's History Month

Posted via email from Make Good Mondays

Just start writing . . .

. . . the words might make sense.  And they might not.

This is the thing from which comes spring fever, that  thing that makes me long for warm sunshine on my forehead.  It makes me cold to the bone.  It still hides the life about to emerge as another season rolls around.


Starting to write itself is a little poem to enhance the image,



"Words plus image equal knowing"

My thoughts are unformed, sensory drifts of misty illusory impressions.
To plow through without absorbing the chill leaves out the essence of winter.
My memories come from long ago and far away, a skiff of stuff, my confession.
To grow up with long winters leaves one always wishing for next spring, a hint
of warmth, at least.  But that means missing out on one of life's central lessons:
Thoughts of spring, ever elusive, crowd out the now, one's true enjoyment.

Copyright by Carol Gee
March10, 2010



Blogs: My news and political blog is at South by Southwest. My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for my websites.
Technorati tags: writing