My Dear Cousin,
Thanks for your latest email, asking me to turn off Fox TV News. I don't really need to turn off Fox, because I don't watch ANY television news anymore, no not ever. Almost everything on television so is filled with violent propaganda, hatred and fear mongering, I gave it all up years ago for the sake of my mental health. I still read a national newspaper every day, the local weekly, and some stuff I find on the internet. Recently, I get more and more news from friends posting on Facebook. Most reliably, it is from people, like you, my dear cousin, that I find out the truth of what is happening in our world today.
I think it's great all the time you spend trying to raise awareness about what is really going on in our country. We all need to express our selves freely and remember that is one of the most basic human rights that makes America great and special, even today. In Mexico, China, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Iraq, Iran and lots of other countries across the globe, we would be arrested and quietly shot for expressing our views against the ruling powers. Not to mention just for being women with ideas!
Unfortunately, since the era of Ronald Reagan (I like to think of him as the Great Deceiver) our media has become more and controlled by corporations, and a "news" diet of constant lies have become the main menu for most Americans. The Bush administration's FCC removed the last barriers to keeping our media unbiased when they removed the restrictions on owning two or more of the same kind of medium (like a tv station and a newspaper.) Not many noticed these changes, but a few of us knew what it meant. So now FOX TV owner Rupert Murdoch controls a vast portion of our media, and not unlike R.W. Hearst, he sells the right to create content to the biggest power and the highest bidder. And now just watch out for Google, for they want to own our internet as well, and be able to control who has free access to any information, just like with television and print media.
Sadly, it doesn't stop with the media, not by a long shot. The multi-national, corporate control of American life extends from the US Congress, to the Judiciary, the Presidency, the military, the market place, and to every corner of this vast and beautiful land. Even the Unites States Coast Guard now works for BP, selling blatant lies as official NOAA science reports and hiding the millions of dead birds and mammals in dumpsters in Mexico to minimize the liability cost for the most massive destruction of earth's ecosystems since we dropped the atomic bombs on the Japanese.
HEY BP, ya'll cleaned that dang oil up right fast, didn't ya? Most of it just plain just 'evaporated', didn't it?
And how about some nice, tasty Corexit 9500 sauce with that Gulf coast shrimp PoBoy, Mr. President?
HEY AMERICA, I am really pissed! I'm sick and tired of seeing our beautiful land destroyed for the profit of a greedy few who care nothing about who they rape and rob. I'm sick of us people just sitting around doing nothing and thinking the government will solve our problems or protect us from the threats of modern life. I'm sick of voting for men who always break their promises and my "HOPE" filled heart, while they murder their own integrity to feed the endless hunger of the endless war machine. Will anyone really speak out for peace? Will anyone ever stop these constant wars against all creation and life on earth? Will you?
More than anything, I am sick to death of the constant, ever flowing lie that there just isn't enough food and shelter for every person on this planet. WHO ARE THEY FOOLING? How can we sit here and stuff more fat in our fat American faces while bony, terrified children still lie starving and thirsty among the dusty piles of concrete rubble in what remains of Haiti? What are we waiting for? Why don't we just send them our extra food? WHY NOT?
Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the horror of it all, I forget the most simple truth. The answers, of course, can only come from within our own hearts. The solutions are all between us, just you and me. We know we should be kind and helpful to each other, so we do. We know it's wrong to steal from our friends and neighbors, so we don't. We tell each other the painful truth that must be spoken, even when it hurts and makes us cry out in fear and disappointment. And when times get really hard, we will share every bit of of food and comfort we have with each other, and all those around us in need. We will feed the children and shelter the homeless and care for the sick and old and down trodden folks because that is who we really are, people who care for each other, no matter what. And that is what the great teachers have always taught, no matter where you go.
I believe in you and I believe in me. Together we can find a way out of the horrible, disgraceful mess our country has become. If only more folks would unplug those damn machines, and come outside to join us, "by the river side, here beside the rising tide." The Peace is already here, and the breeze is blowing sweetly, a singing in my ear.
With all my love, your cousin
