Farewell 2008, Don't Let the Door Hit Your Ass on the Way Out (Turn It Up To Eleven)

As the year draws to a close, I will not wax nostalgic.  I'd rather forget most of the stream of bullshit that was 2008.  From the complete collapse of democracy in America, to the unbridled sexism and misogyny, and the latest round of stupid in the Middle East, I have very little use for most of it.  But it was all well worth the fight if I gained nothing more than a rather extended family across the country, and around the globe.  To all my brothers and sisters in arms with whom I fought this year; I look forward to renewing our struggle for equality and human freedom in the coming year.

For my readers, thank you for coming along.  When I said this bus was going to cross borders I had no idea what was lying in wait for us.  Now we face the ultimate border, the ugliest, most blistered conflict on our planet.  I have no faith that the current players will resolve it.  I do hope that a Department of State under Hillary Clinton sees it from a different angle.  One that puts the priority of the people on both sides of the fence before the rhetoric of the leaders.  This is the only path from which I see any hope of success.  They had their shot, and clearly they can't play like good boys and girls, and sure as hell don't know how to share.  

So tonight, on the turn of the year, I send out a message to the people who sleep under rockets, and the threat of violence.  Be you in Sderot, Be'er Sheva, or Gaza, Darfur, Mumbai, Karachi, or Kabul, Tibet, or Tel Aviv.  Our leaders are asshats.  Let's learn to get along in spite of them.  Our needs are all the same aren't they?  Freedom.  Peace.  Equality.  You are the people I pray for most.  

For all of us living in the shadows of rhetoric, malice, prejudice, shortsightedness, and stupidity...may this be the year we make ourselves seen, heard, touched and healed.

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