(from http://mic.com/articles/18987/obama-humans-rights-violations-we-must-demand-accountability-in-the-encore-term)
". . . even the most vehement rights defenders have barely mentioned the extrajudicial killings of Americans, the deaths of innocent civilians in the drone war, or indefinite detention. Yes, Obama ended Don't Ask Don't Tell, defended free speech on the internet, and bolstered socioeconomic rights with his health care plan — for this he deserves great credit. But supporters must be honest with themselves: overall, Obama has a very mixed rights record and we’ve done next to nothing to challenge him on it. . . . Human rights proponents who support Obama have fallen to the rabid partisanship that pervades this country; they are afraid to criticize “one of their own” too harshly for fear of losing political ground. This must stop. If we want to continue to create a more ethical society, all of us, regardless of political affiliation, must be courageous enough to challenge our leaders—even, nay especially, when we like them. If we support the principles, not the politicians, those politicians will be forced to become more principled."
OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
(from The Joker by Thomas Mann)
". . . The action had been roughly thought out in advance, but the details had to be improvised. The vocal strains, accompanied by the warbling of the clarinets and the drone of my cardboard drum, were sweet and passionate, and the text was strange and sonorous: verses full of bold and grandiose words, which occasionally rhymed but seldom made sense. The opera nevertheless took its course: with my left hand I drummed, with my mouth I sang and played , and with my right hand I conducted not only the performers on the stage but everyone else, with such diligent care that as each act ended enthusiastic applause broke out, the curtain had to rise again and again and the conductor was often obliged to turn round on his rostrum and express his thanks with a dignified but fortified bow to the auditorium.
And indeed, as I packed up my theater after such a performance, flushed by my exertions, I would feel both exhausted and happy, as a great artist must feel at the triumphant completion of a work in which he has given of his best. . . "
OHO's
"Ocean City Ditty," the
CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if
you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)
My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:
(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)
(from http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/19751-drone-strike-victims-tell-their-story-but-is-america-listening by Rania Khalek)
". . . Pakistani school teacher Rafiq ur Rehman traveled over 7,000 miles with his children - 13-year-old Zubair and 9-year-old Nabila - from a small, remote village in North Waziristan to tell lawmakers about the US drone strike that killed his 67-year-old mother, Mamana Bibi. It was a harrowing tale that brought many in the room to tears, including Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), who was responsible for inviting the family to Capitol Hill for the briefing.
In the end, only five members of the US House of Representatives bothered to attend. Grayson was joined by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D- Ill.), Rush Holt (D-NJ), John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.).
Meanwhile, President Obama, according to his October 29 schedule, was meeting with the CEOs of Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman, both of which manufacture drones. More importantly, Lockheed Martin manufactures hellfire missiles, the very weapon fired from the drone that killed Mamana Bibi.
Though Obama did not publicly acknowledge the briefing, his actions the next day suggest he was either unmoved or did not tune in. . ."
Some common sense to begin restoring America to its former position of respect and admiration:
No more drone strikes. They don't stop, but help to make terrorists.
Save money and help the cause by closing the drone airbases.
Free Guantanamo prisoners which have already been cleared for release. Holding them is an affront to humanity and hypocrisy with regard to our values.
Apologize and compensate the families of innocent people hurt or killed by drones or other military action.
Withdraw all US
troops from Afghanistan.
Talk. The Taliban and more rational elements of Al Qaeda have indicated they are open to negotiations. History shows a large percentage of terrorists groups have been dissolved by joining the political process.
End support of dictatorships and repressive leaders.
Business selling weapons might be good for US weapons makers but not for the rest of us.
Support non-violent democracy movements. Chaos and instability only help terrorists.
Stop disregarding international law and national sovereignty in killing terrorism suspects.
Use foreign aid to support education, healthcare and
elimination of poverty.
A friend recently commented to me that he wished the President had not made those recent comments about race relations to which I, naturally, responded, "Why?" He said that among all of the problems we as a people, society and world currently face, the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman situation should not be monopolizing our attention. In short, like a popular song on a top 40 radio station, he was just sick and tired of hearing about it.
Like many other conversations with many people, I was quickly distracted from this one and on to other things. But later that day, after contemplating our short interchange further, I realized what I could have, should have, and hope to tell my friend upon our next encounter. And, in brief, that is: the President's remarks were spot-on. They were NOT political, they were not platitudinous or pompous blather, trite heard-it-alreadies or scolding. They were simply a from-the-heart reflection and plea for US to reflect on how we treat each other. Reflect- probably something very few of us do during our busy, self-absorbed days. He also described how it feels (and felt to him) being a young black man and some of the racist behaviors with which young black men must cope everyday. He mentioned the history of mistreatment to which black people have been subjected and alluded to the anger that results. So many things which white people know, but have somehow tucked away and choose not to think about too much. . . BUT SHOULD!
These are things that middle-aged white men such as my friend and myself do not now, nor have in the past, encountered. If we have a country, and a world, where people must live together, we must, at the very least, be empathetic to these things. This is every bit as important as the economy, the environment, budgets and spending, foreign policy, drones and (do-nothing)politicos. This is our world. It's the only one we've got. We can, and should, certainly make time to help resolve such such relevant and important issues as THE WAY WE GET ALONG!
. . . of Obama bashing, well, simply because he is Obama. I’m not sure if it’s a subjective thing like, his face, his ears, his smirk or maybe even, (yes Virginia, I’m afraid it’s true) his color. I’m just sick and tired of it. I don’t want to hear about his birth certificate (if that’s a REAL issue which his haters were able to uncover but the election officials were not before the election to his first term, then the haters should be pursuing the election officials), his salary cut, his dogs or even, although they are beautiful, his kids.
Let me be clear. I am not an Obama fan. But none of the reasons above have anything to do with why I am not an Obama fan. The reasons below however, do. . .
• 20,000 Airstrikes (First Term) Cause Death and Destruction From Iraq to Somalia.
• Signed the NDAA into law - making it legal to assassinate Americans w/o charge or trial.
• Escalated the CIA drone war in Pakistan.
• Maintained a presence in Iraq even after "ending" the war.
• Sharply escalated the war in Afghanistan.
• Secretly deployed US special forces to 75 countries.
• Sold $30 billion of weapons to the dictatorship in Saudi Arabia.
• Opened up deepwater oil drilling, even after the BP disaster.
• Did a TV commercial promoting "clean coal".
• Signed the Patriot Act extension into law.
• Continued Bush's rendition program.
• Signed the Monsanto Protection Act into law.
What
do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html
My latest release, Black & White Then Back,
can be downloaded digitally at:
(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak3)
Cry for the cameras but put your conscience where your [fake?] tears are. Maybe after guns, we can discuss all the children (of other nations) that the U.S. has killed with drone strikes. True, outlawing guns won't completely get rid of the violence. It sure could help though. Isn't that a GOOD thing? And don't we have to start SOMEWHERE???
Is it me, or might what you see below be UNNECESSARY - not to mention criminal???
(from http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2012&id=D000000082)
National Rifle Assn: All Recipients
Name Office Total Contributions
Adams, Sandy (R-FL) House $2,000
Aderholt, Robert B (R-AL) House $1,000
Akin, Todd (R-MO) House $1,000
Alexander, Rodney (R-LA) House $2,000
Allen, George (R-VA) Senate $6,450
Altmire, Jason (D-PA) House $2,500
Altschuler, Randy (R-NY) House $2,500
Amodei, Mark (R-NV) House $4,000
Archer, John H Jr (R-IA) House $2,000
Austria, Steve (R-OH) House $1,000
Baca, Joe (D-CA) House $2,500
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) House $1,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) House $3,000
Barletta, Lou (R-PA) House $2,000
Barr, Andy (R-KY) House $2,500
Barrasso, John A (R-WY) Senate $5,308
Barrow, John (D-GA) House $4,950
Bartlett, Roscoe G (R-MD) House $4,000
Bass, Charles (R-NH) House $2,000
Benishek, Dan (R-MI) House $4,950
Berg, Rick (R-ND) House $7,450
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) House $2,000
Bilbray, Brian P (R-CA) House $2,500
Bilirakis, Gus (R-FL) House $1,000
Bishop, Rob (R-UT) House $1,000
Bishop, Sanford D Jr (D-GA) House $3,650
Black, Diane (R-TN) House $2,000
Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN) House $4,500
Boehner, John (R-OH) House $2,500
Bonner, Jo (R-AL) House $2,000
Bono Mack, Mary (R-CA) House $1,500
Boustany, Charles W Jr (R-LA) House $1,000
Brady, Kevin (R-TX) House $1,000
Brooks, Maggie (R-NY) House $1,000
Brooks, Mo (R-AL) House $2,000
Broun, Paul Jr (R-GA) House $2,000
Bruning, Jon (R-NE) Senate $1,000
Buchanan, Vernon (R-FL) House $1,000
Bucshon, Larry (R-IN) House $4,000
Buerkle, Ann Marie (R-NY) House $2,500
Burgess, Michael (R-TX) House $1,000
Burton, Dan (R-IN) House $2,000
Calvert, Ken (R-CA) House $2,000
Camp, Dave (R-MI) House $2,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) House $1,000
Canseco, Francisco (R-TX) House $4,950
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) House $7,450
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) House $1,000
Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA) House $2,500
Carter, John (R-TX) House $6,950
Cassidy, Bill (R-LA) House $1,000
Chabot, Steve (R-OH) House $2,000
Chaffetz, Jason (R-UT) House $1,500
Chandler, Ben (D-KY) House $4,000
Coble, Howard (R-NC) House $4,000
Coffman, Mike (R-CO) House $7,450
Cole, Tom (R-OK) House $3,500
Conaway, Mike (R-TX) House $2,000
Cook, Paul (R-CA) House $1,000
Coors, Joe (R-CO) House $1,000
Corker, Bob (R-TN) Senate $4,950
Cornilles, Robert (R-OR) House $1,000
Cravaack, Chip (R-MN) House $2,000
Crawford, Rick (R-AR) House $2,000
Crenshaw, Ander (R-FL) House $2,000
Critz, Mark (D-PA) House $3,500
Cruz, Ted (R-TX) Senate $250
Cuellar, Henry (D-TX) House $2,000
Culberson, John (R-TX) House $1,650
Daines, Steven (R-MT) House $2,000
Davis, Geoff (R-KY) House $1,000
Davis, Rodney (R-IL) House $1,000
Delong, Gary (R-CA) House $2,000
Denham, Jeff (R-CA) House $3,000
Dent, Charlie (R-PA) House $1,500
Desjarlais, Scott (R-TN) House $2,000
Diaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL) House $1,000
Dingell, John D (D-MI) House $5,000
Duffy, Sean P (R-WI) House $3,500
Duncan, Jeff (R-SC) House $2,000
Duncan, John J Jr (R-TN) House $1,000
Ellmers, Renee (R-NC) House $3,000
Emerson, Jo Ann (R-MO) House $1,000
Farenthold, Blake (R-TX) House $2,000
Fincher, Steve (R-TN) House $9,900
Fischer, Deb (R-NE) Senate $3,000
Fitzpatrick, Michael G (R-PA) House $2,000
Flake, Jeff (R-AZ) House $2,000
Fleischmann, Chuck (R-TN) House $2,000
Fleming, John (R-LA) House $1,000
Flores, Bill (R-TX) House $4,500
Forbes, Randy (R-VA) House $2,000
Fortenberry, Jeff (R-NE) House $1,000
Foxx, Virginia (R-NC) House $2,000
Franks, Trent (R-AZ) House $2,500
Gardner, Cory (R-CO) House $1,000
Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) House $2,000
Gibbs, Bob (R-OH) House $3,000
Gibson, Chris (R-NY) House $2,500
Gill, Ricky (R-CA) House $2,000
Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) House $1,000
Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA) House $2,000
Gosar, Paul (R-AZ) House $5,950
Gowdy, Trey (R-SC) House $2,000
Granger, Kay (R-TX) House $3,500
Graves, Sam (R-MO) House $1,000
Graves, Tom (R-GA) House $3,000
Griffin, Tim (R-AR) House $4,000
Griffith, Morgan (R-VA) House $4,150
Grimm, Michael (R-NY) House $1,000
Guinta, Frank (R-NH) House $2,000
Guthrie, Brett (R-KY) House $2,500
Hall, Ralph M (R-TX) House $1,000
Hanna, Richard (R-NY) House $1,000
Harper, Gregg (R-MS) House $1,000
Harris, Andy (R-MD) House $3,000
Hartzler, Vicky (R-MO) House $2,000
Hastings, Doc (R-WA) House $2,000
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) Senate $5,000
Hayworth, Nan (R-NY) House $2,500
Heck, Joe (R-NV) House $2,500
Heller, Dean (R-NV) Senate $6,950
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) House $3,000
Herrera Beutler, Jaime (R-WA) House $2,000
Higgins, Brian M (D-NY) House $1,000
Hochul, Kathleen (D-NY) House $3,000
Holden, Tim (D-PA) House $4,950
Holding, George (R-NC) House $2,000
Huelskamp, Tim (R-KS) House $2,150
Huizenga, Bill (R-MI) House $3,000
Hultgren, Randy (R-IL) House $2,000
Hunter, Duncan D (R-CA) House $2,000
Hurt, Robert (R-VA) House $3,000
Issa, Darrell (R-CA) House $2,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) House $2,000
Johnson, Bill (R-OH) House $2,000
Johnson, Ron (R-WI) Senate $1,000
Johnson, Sam (R-TX) House $3,000
Johnson, Timothy (R-IL) House $4,000
Jones, Walter B Jr (R-NC) House $2,000
Jordan, James D (R-OH) House $2,000
Kelly, Jesse (R-AZ) House $2,500
Kelly, Mike (R-PA) House $2,000
Kind, Ron (D-WI) House $2,000
King, Steven A (R-IA) House $5,950
Kingston, Jack (R-GA) House $2,500
Kinzinger, Adam (R-IL) House $2,000
Kissell, Larry (D-NC) House $3,000
Kline, John (R-MN) House $2,500
Labrador, Raul (R-ID) House $7,100
LaMalfa, Doug (R-CA) House $2,000
Lamborn, Douglas L (R-CO) House $2,000
Lance, Leonard (R-NJ) House $1,000
Landry, Jeff (R-LA) House $1,000
Lankford, James (R-OK) House $2,000
Latham, Tom (R-IA) House $3,000
LaTourette, Steve (R-OH) House $3,000
Latta, Robert E (R-OH) House $2,150
Lewis, Jerry (R-CA) House $1,000
Lingle, Linda (R-HI) Senate $1,000
LoBiondo, Frank A (R-NJ) House $2,000
Long, Billy (R-MO) House $2,000
Lucas, Frank D (R-OK) House $2,000
Luetkemeyer, Blaine (R-MO) House $1,000
Lujan, Ben R (D-NM) House $1,000
Lummis, Cynthia Marie (R-WY) House $2,150
Lungren, Dan (R-CA) House $1,000
Manchin, Joe (D-WV) Senate $4,500
Mandel, Josh (R-OH) Senate $9,450
Manzullo, Don (R-IL) House $1,000
Marchant, Kenny (R-TX) House $2,500
Marino, Tom (R-PA) House $2,000
Massie, Thomas (R-KY) House $1,000
Matheson, Jim (D-UT) House $6,950
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) House $2,500
McCaul, Michael (R-TX) House $3,150
McClintock, Tom (R-CA) House $2,000
McCotter, Thaddeus G (R-MI) House $2,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) House $1,000
McIntyre, Mike (D-NC) House $2,000
McKeon, Buck (R-CA) House $2,000
McKinley, David (R-WV) House $2,500
McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA) House $2,000
McSally, Martha (R-AZ) House $2,150
Meehan, Patrick (R-PA) House $1,000
Messer, Luke (R-IN) House $2,000
Mica, John L (R-FL) House $1,000
Michaud, Mike (D-ME) House $3,000
Miller, Candice S (R-MI) House $1,000
Miller, Gary (R-CA) House $2,500
Miller, Jeff (R-FL) House $4,000
Moran, Jerry (R-KS) Senate $3,000
Mourdock, Richard E (R-IN) Senate $4,950
Mulvaney, Mick (R-SC) House $1,000
Murphy, Tim (R-PA) House $5,000
Myrick, Sue (R-NC) House $1,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) House $2,000
Noem, Kristi (R-SD) House $2,000
Nugent, Richard (R-FL) House $138
Nunes, Devin Gerald (R-CA) House $2,500
Nunnelee, Alan (R-MS) House $3,150
Olson, Pete (R-TX) House $2,000
Owens, Bill (D-NY) House $1,000
Palazzo, Steven (R-MS) House $2,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) House $2,250
Pawlenty, Tim (R) Pres $1,000
Pearce, Steve (R-NM) House $2,000
Perry, Rick (R) Pres $1,500
Perry, Scott (R-PA) House $3,000
Peterson, Collin C (D-MN) House $2,500
Petri, Tom (R-WI) House $1,000
Pittenger, Robert (R-NC) House $2,000
Pitts, Joe (R-PA) House $1,000
Poe, Ted (R-TX) House $2,000
Pompeo, Mike (R-KS) House $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) House $1,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) House $1,000
Quayle, Ben (R-AZ) House $2,600
Rahall, Nick (D-WV) House $2,000
Reed, Tom (R-NY) House $1,000
Renacci, Jim (R-OH) House $9,900
Ribble, Reid (R-WI) House $3,000
Rigell, Scott (R-VA) House $4,950
Rivera, David (R-FL) House $1,000
Rogers, Hal (R-KY) House $5,000
Rogers, Mike (R-MI) House $2,500
Rogers, Mike D (R-AL) House $1,000
Rokita, Todd (R-IN) House $1,500
Romney, Mitt (R) Pres $5,850
Rooney, Tom (R-FL) House $1,000
Roskam, Peter (R-IL) House $3,000
Ross, Dennis (R-FL) House $2,000
Ross, Mike (D-AR) House $5,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) House $1,000
Runyan, Jon (R-NJ) House $5,000
Ryan, Paul (R-WI) House $2,000
Ryan, Tim (D-OH) House $3,000
Scalise, Steve (R-LA) House $2,000
Schilling, Bobby (R-IL) House $3,500
Schmidt, Jean (R-OH) House $2,000
Schock, Aaron (R-IL) House $2,000
Schrader, Kurt (D-OR) House $3,000
Schweikert, David (R-AZ) House $2,000
Scott, Austin (R-GA) House
Scott, Tim (R-SC) House $2,000
Sensenbrenner, F James Jr (R-WI) House $2,000
Sessions, Pete (R-TX) House $4,950
Shimkus, John M (R-IL) House $2,000
Shuler, Heath (D-NC) House $4,950
Shuster, Bill (R-PA) House $1,000
Simpson, Mike (R-ID) House $5,000
Smith, Adrian (R-NE) House $1,000
Smith, Lamar (R-TX) House $4,500
Southerland, Steve (R-FL) House
Stearns, Cliff (R-FL) House $4,950
Stewart, Chris (R-UT) House $1,000
Stivers, Steve (R-OH) House $1,000
Strickland, Tony (R-CA) House $2,000
Stutzman, Marlin (R-IN) House $1,500
Sullivan, John (R-OK) House $3,000
Tavaglione, John F (R-CA) House $2,000
Terry, Lee (R-NE) House $4,500
Thompson, Glenn (R-PA) House $2,000
Thompson, Tommy G (R-WI) Senate $7,000
Thornberry, Mac (R-TX) House $2,000
Tipton, Scott (R-CO) House $4,500
Turner, Michael R (R-OH) House $1,000
Turner, Robert L (R-NY) House $1,000
Upton, Fred (R-MI) House $3,500
Valadao, David (R-CA) House $2,000
Wagner, Ann L (R-MO) House $2,000
Walberg, Tim (R-MI) House $2,000
Walden, Greg (R-OR) House $3,000
Walorski, Jackie (R-IN) House $3,500
Walsh, Joe (R-IL) House $2,000
Walz, Timothy J (D-MN) House $2,000
Webb-Edgington, Alecia (R-KY) House $1,000
Webster, Daniel (R-FL) House $1,000
Wenstrup, Brad (R-OH) House $2,000
West, Allen (R-FL) House $2,000
Westmoreland, Lynn A (R-GA) House $2,000
Whitfield, Ed (R-KY) House $1,000
Wicker, Roger (R-MS) Senate $4,950
Wilson, Joe (R-SC) House $1,000
Wittman, Rob (R-VA) House $2,000
Womack, Steve (R-AR) House $2,000
Yoder, Kevin (R-KS) House $4,000
Young, C W Bill (R-FL) House $1,000
Young, Don (R-AK) House $2,000
Young, Todd (R-IN) House $1,500
What
do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html
You can NOW download
your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE
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