Most human beings on the planet lead lives of quiet desperation. They have little sense of being, because they function alone. "It's a dog eat dog world out there." They say. "Join the rat race," we say to our youngsters. Somali refugees at the Kenyan border live in a waste dump wondering where to find potable water.
Similarly, Americans drop the keys to their mansions in the mailbox and sleep in the family car at the nearest Wal*Mart parking lot. They have lost possessions that are beyond the wildest dreams of most of the world population.
Both nationalities consider themselves destitute beyond saving. Both groups have yet to learn to think outside the box.
While sliding into a depression, why does a small town 17 miles north of Pittsburgh stage an art show?
Local Building
Owners Open their Doors for Art
The Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce, Sewickley Borough and volunteer
professionals have come together to effectuate a program for temporary
utilization of available storefronts during the Sewickley Fall Gallery Walk.
In the true spirit of cooperation, six property owners are allowing their
available retail storefronts to become galleries in support of the visual arts
community and the Village
of Sewickley. They will
open their doors as complete "Art Galleries during the
Fall Gallery Walk, September 25th 5:30 - 9pm. The locations are in the heart of
the business district, on Broad and Beaver Streets.
Sweetwater Center for the Arts will fill at least
two venues with their talented instructor artwork at the retail spaces on
either side of the Sewickley Hotel.
Featured painting instructors are
Douglas Brown (watercolor),
Deborah McLaren (various media),
Joyce Werwie Perry (oil),
D. Zoe Shutka (acrylic, drawing) and
Ron Thurston (watercolor).
Sweetwater Center ceramic artists Bryce Hemington
and Ellen Siergiej, along with printmaker Bryan Hunt, will be featured at 439 Broad Street. Sewickley Academy will be showcasing its artistic
talent at 510 Beaver street (next to Clearview Federal Credit Union). The former Feathers Shop, located on 417 Beaver Street,
will house Quaker Valley School
District's art exhibition entitled
"Opportunities , which reflects the wonderful opportunities visual arts
provides students for learning and growing. Local art advisor and independent
curator Ingrid LaFleur Whitehead has organized an exhibition of photographs by
Ayana V. Jackson at 541 Beaver
Street entitled "Looking Glass Self . The work is
a collection of images taken during the artist's travels through Kenya, Rawanda, South
Africa and Mexico.
General McChrystal Can Win the Afghan Hearts and Minds
There are
30,000 villages in Afghanistan.
Including Blackwater mercenaries, we have about 120,000 troops in the country.
Our stated intent was to develop the nation into a viable economy with soldiers
able to defend it. Since the US
public lacks the patience [and the resources] for ten years of engagement, I
suggest a shortcut.
The pay should be equalized among our troops mercenary and not. They should
have a unified command under the US Army. The soldiers would become embedded
four to a village. They would take on duties as instructors in elementary
schooling, in infrastructure building and in military training. Their students
would receive a standard wage for participating in schooling, building or
military tasks.
While these projects are underway, each village would be responsible for its
own defense. There would be little or no Taliban infiltration, because
villagers [motivated by the standard wage] can spot them.
Until the program is established, our embedded troops will be in danger. They
can call on air support with a twist. The Taliban must kill innocent villagers
to get at our kids. This makes all the difference. Americans are with the
people rather than invading their land.
Peace with Justice is a Real Stretch
Murder and war
are easier. When an employee rocks the boat, take his health insurance from
him. His chances for dying increase by 40 percent. Who would prosecute a clean
cut businessman or government official for murder and torture?
Most recent articles at OEN bore me to tears. They focus on the blame game.
When the other side fails to reveal their latest ploy to overthrow the
government, the pundits deplore the activities of their troops. Every Sunday
David Gregory fashions a commentary by pestering every sluggard in sight.
Nasty children run the world. They shoot peacemakers, don't they?
The typical suicide bomber earns $9 per day. Limited in job opportunities, he
is probably doing the best he can to provide for his family.
In my spare time I developed a peace plan for Afghanistan. It called for
embedding four US
soldiers in each of the 30,000 Afghan villages. Our people would organize the
common defense, advance education and needed infrastructure development.
However primitive, my plan is superior to trading shots with insurgents and
bombing villages. An OEN editor politely suggested a re-write.
I See 60,000 boots on the Ground for no Useful Purpose
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