Activist Cindy Sheehan Arrested in the House Chambers.

She was wearing a T-shirt with a political slogan.

I wish there were a picture of what is said — she only revealed the shirt once she sat down at her seat.

Political protest is forbidden inside the House chamber, so she was escorted out.

What I find interesting is that the cheering of the president is allowed and encouraged, but not the protest. I find that a bit spooky, and a little unnerving.

The moment, however, that I treasured most the entire night, was the moment when President George Bush acknowledged, though somewhat unknowingly, the victory of the underdog democrats in shutting down his social security bill. The democrats stood up and jeered him — I’ve never seen that happen during a state of the union speech. I was happy, jumping up and down with the giddy joy that I hadn’t felt since Kerry lost the bid for president two years ago. It only lasted a moment, but it was euphoric — the democrats were given the time to claim victory over that one thing. And there will be more victories. (more…)

Timothy Kaine for President!

This is the guy we’ve been waiting for! He doesn’t sound like he’s talking down, but he has the same eloquence of Kerry and Edwards, the passion of Dean… I have hope that Timothy Kaine can be president. That must be why the response is from a fire-lit, soft image, warm room…

The tone wasn’t at all aggressive — only Barack Obama has the eloquence of Kaine — we have a young group of politicians that might actually be able to defeat the evil, lying monster that the right has become. I understand why the right can attract the upper class cronies, but I don’t understand how the ‘underclasses’ and middle America don’t see through the empty promises of programs such as ‘No Child Left Behind…’

There was a man in New York recently who was arrested for raping his daughters all of his life — and he was employed by the department in the state that dealt every day with abuse, and with child rights… This world is so replete with that lying truth — and the Republican Party embodies that lying truth. Reagan, Nixon, Bush. Don’t we see the fact that they were all crooks? Isn’t it clear to people that they are not God-loving people that want to help, but are only interested in money?
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Chuck Currie Printed the full text of this incredible State of the Union Response on his blog, which encouraged me to do the same. I feel passionately that we, as ordinary folks, have the power to affect change in this small way.

From FaithfulAmerica.org, a project of the National Council of Churches USA

This is also a link to an mp3 of the FaithfulAmerica.org Christian Response to the State of the Union Address.

In little more than two centuries the United States of America has grown from a band of fledgling colonies to one of the grandest nations in the history of the world.

Much has been said of the wisdom that has guided this great nation across the centuries; the wisdom of its founders, its constitution, and, at a few pivotal times, it’s elected leaders.

Yet thousands of years before there was a United States of America, the Hebrew Prophet Micah proclaimed in just a few words what would be a moral standard for persons of faith and the nations they build. He declared, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?”

In light of these words, the state of our Union is troubled indeed. (more…)

I find myself, despite my revulsion at the lies and denials that spill off of the televisions across the country right now, out of the mouth of our good president, George Bush, finding the diamonds in the rough…

“America is Addicted to Oil”

This is like an abusive parent admitting that they’ve been wrong. It’s like a murderer apologizing to the family.

I remember well that George Bush said that 30,000 civilians had died in Iraq. That’s another such admission. (more…)

The wonderful life and legacy of Coretta Scott King came to an end today. And today, the President of the United States preaches the gospel of his lying-truth. Let us remember the Kings today.

The day that George Bush speaks freedom and covers up bloodshed, Coretta Scott King’s passing reminds us of the words and life of Dr. Martin Luther King and his talented and passionate wife.

Dr. King spoke not only of peace for African-Americans, but for all human beings. Coretta Scott King, after her husband was murdered, stood with the garbage collectors union in place of her husband. Through the last 40 years, she has stood by her husband, and represented him to a world that tends to forget.

And what is it that we need to remember about Dr. King, and his powerful partner, Coretta Scott King? They were non-violent activists, aggressive and powerful. They did not stand by and watch, and stood up in the face of immense fear and derision.

Chuck Currie collected many articles about Coretta Scott King’s life and passing. Visit his entry at:
Coretta Scott King

Let us remember the legacy of non-violence today. With the arrest of Cindy Sheehan, and with the lying and deceitful words of our president, we have to stay true to Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Jesus Christ.

Let us fight to turn the other cheek — (more…)

I recently visited Rance White in the hills of Appalachia…

Rance gave me a short tour of the workshop where he builds his Lazy River Guitars, and showed me the small, packed, varnish-scented area where he keeps all of his finished guitars, weissenborns, and other creations…

I was intrigued, and drawn to the gorgeous look of his instruments, and his use of American woods — walnut, cedar and others…

He is very well known for building weissenborns, and builds the most beautiful instruments of that kind I have ever seen, and custom builds instruments for the most reasonable rate out there…

Check out Rance’s website at:
http://www.lazyriverguitars.com

There are a few soundclips available of his weissenborns — worth listening to at:
http://lazyriverguitars.com/Pages/mp3s.html

Here’s a page of Rance’s current projects:
http://lazyriverguitars.com/Pages/current

And there are some pictures of my guitar as it was being built here:
http://lazyriverguitars.com/Pages/currentprojects/kentgustavson.html

Here is a list of Lazy River Guitars’ amazingly reasonable price list (only 1300 for a base rate on a new guitar!)
http://lazyriverguitars.com/Pages/prices

Contact Rance through his webpage here:
http://www.lazyriverguitars.com/Pages/contact

Rance built me two guitars (more…)