Sing with me

The social activist in me hearts these YouTube videos featuring Holly Near, an incredible woman, activist and folk singer.

May we all sing so beautifully and angrily in our own way.

The most profound sermon I've ever heard...

And lastly, a new chant I learned recently that seems appropriate today:

Stepping out to define myself,

Stepping in to connect with you (repeat)

We are (I am) walking with a Warrior's heart (descant)

*****

Namaste'

The Passing of a Warrior

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

~ Robert Frost

The world and I lost a dear friend today. We lost a true warrior for what is Right and Good in this world. Words and poetry alone cannot express the depth of loss I feel right now.

I knew this woman, this warrior.

Today, I honor the memory of Denessa Smith, who passed last night.

Denessa had a beautiful daughter, Tempest. Young Tempest had been bullied and harrassed since second grade for being different from other students in her Michigan school because of her religion.

Tempest was raised Wiccan, an honorable and benevolent religion that honors all living things as Divine. It may not be my choice of path, but it was hers and her mothers and she walked it with beauty, practicing in a quiet, family-based way that caused no harm to anyone.

The bullying reached such a crescendo that this little girl felt she had no other choice but not to walk among those who would make her life here so miserable and devoid of compassion any longer. Sadly, at 12 years of age, Tempest committed suicide.

As a mother, I cannot imagine the heartache and fury Denessa felt at this terrible tragedy and loss. In time, she took that energy and channeled it into gaining the skill sets that would help her in building a foundation to benefit other youngsters who were persecuted, harrassed and bullied. She created the TempestSmithFoundation.

I have donated to this foundation, participated in the fundraisers, spoken several times at length with Denessa, danced, drummed and celebrated by her side. We talked parenting mostly, she was always interested in my kids' experiences at school.

She was an incredible woman with a passion for creating understanding and raising awareness of bullying with teens and adults alike, so no one else had to suffer as her child did.

Denessa Smith was a warrior for tolerance in every sense of the word.

She was one of those people you "felt" walk into a room, the energy and drive was that high around her. Yet she always made time to talk with you and share a smile.

From the Tempest Smith Foundation website:

When Tempest died, Denessa donated her daughter’s organs to the Gift of Life Foundation. She has since become a registered spokesperson and greater advocate for the Gift of Life and does work with the National Kidney Foundation. Denessa is also a registered candidate for bone marrow donation with the National Marrow Donor Program.

For the last five years, Denessa has become actively involved in several community organizations. She joined DeMolay with her son and became an Advisor for the Masonic youth group. She also joined the Order of the Eastern Star to show more support for the Masonic organization.

Through the Meals on Wheels program, Denessa has brought together people from many organizations and multiple communities.

In September 2001, PaganPride.org created a Memorial Page in honor of Tempest. Thousands of people from all over the globe have pledged themselves to being part of the resolution against intolerance. By reading this, you, too, have become a part of the bigger picture — a grand portrait of tolerance, where you can be you and Tempest is free.
***

Today, I honor the passing of a Warrior.

Denessa,

Fly Free. Your son is safe and loved. Your work will continue. Be at peace with your daughter. Rest a while and enjoy her company.

Cursing My Old Memory

About a month ago I had met a friend for a soda at a nearby McDonalds. While we were sitting there talking, a couple began a conversation over each other's behaviour as it regards the young girl who was sitting right there. She couldn't have been more than 6 years old.

Slowly the conversation got more heated and it became evident that there was no simple resolution. There was history between them and it wasn't about to be settled in a short, quiet conversation in McDonalds.

One parent made a reach for the child and it got pretty ugly very quickly. Pushing and shoving ensued, but what really hurt was watching them both play a game of "Keep Away" using the child.

I'd had it! No one but my friend and I were in this part of the dining room so the options were limited. I grabbed my half full soda and faked a refill, sat behind a partition and dialed 911.

The police came, but not before the man shoved the woman hard enough to send her sunglasses and phone to the floor (breaking the glasses) - while putting his body between the mother and child. They both took turns playing this game. The child clung to whichever parent she could - when she wasn't being yelled at to "run" or "get in the car" or something. Like I said - Ugly.

In the end the man left in cuffs and the woman was talking with an officer. The little girl sat nearby looking terribly sad. One officer came over to me asking if I was the woman who had placed the 911 call. I said yes and gave them my contact info and thought very little of it.

It seemed obvious to me that there was enough history here and people involved now to settle it. It shook my friend and I up for a while but both of us had to be on our way so off we went.

Lo and behold I get mail yesterday from the courthouse. I've been served a subpoena to testify in the resulting Domestic Assault and Batter case.

Well Drat! Now of course I don't remember all the particulars like I had weeks back and I'm freaking out worried that I'll get something wrong. A child is at stake. As difficult as it is to replay in my mind I can't let myself forget what happened that day.

Anyone have tips for recalling events as they happened? I have a better than average memory already, but who pushed who first and who said what isn't as sharp as I want it to be right now! I can't go on the stand saying what I think happened, I have to KNOW. I was there, I saw it all. Why can't I jog my memory more!? I need an Instant Replay button. Help?

Happy Freaking Monday

This is how I will look today while I am cheerfully helping customers at work... This is what I wish I was doing instead (while outside gardening)...
This is how I will really feel at work today...
This is probably what should be said to me if I ever let my current job-satisfaction rating show!

Heck Yes!

By The Way... I'm still job-hunting.

Damn

Since graduating BMT at Lackland the week after V did, JP, V's boyfriend, has been at Sheppard AFB, training to be an A-10 Loadmaster. From everything I've heard he's enjoyed the training and the job, and even though it was far from V, he was looking forward to being stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in AZ. and doing his job.

News came to us via Avivah yesterday, that her bf is being ELS'd from the AF. Seems they selected too many A-10 Loadmasters and don't need him in the field. So I ask ~ Whose fault is that?! Certainly not his!

JP enjoyed that he had made a committment and had a direction. He was learning a valuable skill, making friends, and was getting his adult life in order. Then this.

I'm still confused about whether the AF gave him a choice to retrain or ELS. (The AF isn't big on giving Airmen a choice.) I wish he'd had the choice to take another job where he was needed instead of this. Damn.

Maybe in the end this will have been for the best, but for now I think he'll spend some time regrouping. No news on when he'll be home or what direction he'll take when he gets here.

He has options though ~ With an honorable ELS he can rejoin the AF in 6 months and this time go in with a guaranteed job. Or he could join another branch of service. Not sure if he'd have to wait the 6 mos or not with that option. And there's always school and/or work.

If you could, spend a few moments today sending positive, supportive energy to a young Airman who has a few tough months ahead of him. Thanks.

SkyWatch Friday

My SkyWatch Friday contribution this week was taken by me at a Road Rally this past October.


It didn't hurt that my team ended up winning the rally, but seeing this moment in our corner of the sky made us all winners of a sort.

May your every dark moment have a silver lining as radiant as this one.

Force(d) Shaping

Air Force officials announce 2008 force-shaping plans
Nov-Dec 2007

WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials recently announced plans to meet the 2008 fiscal year end-strength of 328,600, which calls for a force reduction of about 5,400 officers and enlisted members through normal attrition, retirement, or force-shaping measures.

"For the enlisted force, we will be able to use the tools we have in place to adjust and keep the force balanced," Armentrout said. "As we go through the year, we assess [the process], and if it doesn't look like the goal is going to materialize, we'll look at waiving service commitments for enlisted."

Click here for the full article

Air Force charts new course for 2009 force shaping

6/12/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials here currently are deciding how to carry out force shaping plans in the coming year following an announcement by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates Monday to halt personnel cuts.

The halting of force reductions does not mean those officers and enlisted members already in the pipeline to separate will be required to stay, Colonel Armentrout said. "We're not talking large numbers here," he said. "We're talking about staying where we are [in terms of personnel numbers] for 2009, and then increasing slightly to 330,000 in 2010."

Click here for the full article.
***********************************

So now, is it me, or do these two articles appear to end the people slashing?? Cut people. Stop cutting people. Simple, yes?

Since the group of AF parents to which I belong already knows of Airmen who have been involuntarily separated (given an Entry Level Separation ELS) in the past couple of weeks, I was prompted to write about this trend. You would think that with the sampling of ELS's we've seen, the group would be sizable... it isn't even all that big!

I also have to share that this method of Force Shaping simply makes no sense to me.

There have been no offers of retraining for the Airmen I know (well, their parents), people who want to serve are being booted from AF BMT and Tech School for the most foolish of reasons, one Airman is "on hold" which is more like unending limbo, and even those who were selected for - and passed - highly specialized training have faced RIF-dom.

That must be the "tool" they have in place.
One swift kick in the pants and buh-bye.
Nice tool, eh?

From the mother of a young adult who is gleeful every time she declares her status as "Permanent Party", I hear what it means to these Airmen, and the pride they have in their role as part of the US Air Force. It would make anyone proud.

There has to be a better way to sift and proportion the Force to result in better balance without spending thousands of dollars to train people they then do not need and force to separate.

How about requiring higher ASVAB scores? It's a heck of a lot cheaper to deny someone entrance because they don't make the grade than it is to house, train and feed them for months before deciding they're not needed. I mean it's not like this Force Shaping edict is news. It's not.

The USAF is one of the best in the world. Why can't they get it together when it comes to accepting Airmen that they're willing to train to fill a necessary job?

*end rant*