http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Wed, 12 Oct 2005 01:40:04 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-253589 ONE is a good idea, but I think its time maybe past: I too have a problem when such uncompromising people like Pat Robertson (who is well-known for his lack of compassion for anything not Pat Robertson). Getting on the Band Wagon for something previously looked upon as "leperous" in our country frequently smacks of politics. Robertson's comments have not only been looked upon as outrageous, they've been perceived as too marginal, therefore he has been forced by his own advisors to give people a softer impression of fundamentalists. In many ways, I hope that form of soft-peddling does not work: millions of Americans deserve to see just what his kind of organized Christianity can do against humanity. 253589@blogcritics.org Wed, 12 Oct 2005 01:40:04 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-146278 indeed you are, thanks 146278@blogcritics.org Fri, 29 Apr 2005 23:02:58 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-146247 I am impressed by the interest finally taking place on an issue that has been with us for many years. The images I have seen from the comforts of my home disgust me. As a nurse, there are moments when I just want to leave my safety & comforts to help those who are in such dire need of medical help. Where do I go and how do I get there? The images terrify me everyone seems to be crying. WHY? They should be able to receive some relief from the illness & starvation they are forced to live with every day of their lives. I see children who probably can no longer digest regular food because of such severe malnutrition. These babies and children require a special source of nutrition to help them grow healthy & strong. Children need immunizations just to live past the age of 5. Children with aids will continue to die without our intervention. They are just babies & deserve a chance to live. I see women unable to care for themselves let alone their children. Women so weak that even standing up is an effort. Women & children crying in pain. This is no longer acceptable in this day & age. We seem to be more concerned about Whose dress or suit are you wearing and where did your BLING come from. We should all be ashamed of this kind of attitude, NO EXCEPTIONS. I have seen people who are in the end stages of AIDS,but in this country we are able to provde comfort measures; medically,emotionally & spiritually, so they can have as peaceful a death as we can give them.Here,no one worries about the simple things those who are dying will have without question. We take this for granted, how selfish we have become. Are we now immune to what we see on the other side of the world through our plasma screen t.v.'s, do we t-vo these images? I think not. I agree that money alone is not the answer. We all need to speak REAL LOUD, LOUD ENOUGH FOR THOSE IN HIGH POSITIONS TO HEAR US!! I want to help. I am an experienced R.N. & would accept the challenge to care for those who cannot care for themselves because I have been given the gift of helping those heal,wherever the need is.I believe that God puts us in places where we need to be rather than where we want to be, but when we get to that place we see the need and begin to realize that this is where we really want to be. I have learned to put my fears aside & work to help each patient one at a time. I can also deal with people facing the end of their life. I am a Hospice Nurse. I see death and dying on a daily basis. I do,however, realize that an experience of this magnitude could devastate me. As a nurse I have been called upon by a higher power to minister healing at all levels. People can be healed, but not always cured.Please understand that I am not a deeply religious individual, but I have been one of the fortunate one's to bear witness to various phenomenon throught my career. I have been a nurse for 30 years, & the more I learn, the less I know,this statement comes with age & experience. How many Nurses would it take to make a dent in the misery and suffering of people who have been living with this for all of their lives, & probably go on long after we are all gone. Do we care enough to begin the long process of providing the things they so desperatly need? Are we willing to give that part of ourselves to others the compassion, comfort, skills, and prayers for this horrific situation to at least begin the process of healing? How many hearts are really into taking a active stand to help these human beings, helping them through the pain, helping them heal physically and emotionally? Where do we begin? Why do we have to wait? Time is running out for all of us, not just them. Life is a fragile journey. Some people have a pleasant journey, some people don't. Then there are the one's whose journey through life is riddled with pain and suffering where death is a relief which knows no age.(To quote Mr. Pitt)," THE TRUTH IS, IT COULD BE US!!!" Each person that requires help is different, help comes in many forms, some people need more drastic measures to survive,in comparison,the help we require, for the most part, is almost at our finger tips. Seeing the images on T.V. is not enough. There should be more reality shows that inform the public of how things are on the other side of the world. The race to survive, the race to get needed medications, food & services just to help, maybe only 1 child. The race to see how many people who are blessed with our way of life, are willing to give up their creature comforts. The simple things like clean water something we take for granted. I see life in a different way than many other people. I have worked in medicine all my life. I have taken care of people in every stage of life; birth to death and everything in between. I can tell you that the images of these fragile human beings are quite foriegn to me. What can I do? Help me help them. Help me teach others what really matters in life. I can teach how to hold a hand, cradle a dying child, help a mother to greive the loss of her child who died because nobody cared enough to help. Help ME do my part in this situation. I can help care for the sick, help them to get well, teach them how to help each other. My skills as a nurse are quite extensive; O.R E.R. ICU CCU Home care etc. I can teach people in this country what we will need to help get a better grip on this situation. I can meet with drug companies, companies that can provide food & water. You as public figures have been put in a position to get through to the large companies to donate supplies. I can go on, hopefully you get the message. We can do this!!! Love,ANNIE SORRY ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THIS LETTER, I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS DEVASTATION. 146247@blogcritics.org Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:56:01 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-143708 I disagree about the last album being anything like devoid of melodies (needless to say), and in virtually anyone else all this do-gooding and self-righteousness would really grate, but Bono's sense of humor and self-awareness about the self-righteousness serve as a very effective counterbalance 143708@blogcritics.org Mon, 25 Apr 2005 07:33:54 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-143679 Bono's going to need a stint in drug rehab to re-establish his credibility as a rock star. That, or a good album. Maybe next trip he could channel some of that time and energy he's indulging in social campaigns into writing some real MELODIES for his next album. 143679@blogcritics.org Mon, 25 Apr 2005 00:53:26 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-143678 Paul Hewson (Bono, to you) kicked my dog. He also doesn't pay parking tickets and parks in handicapped spots. He hates rainbows and puppies too. sorry, I too am a huge U2 and Bono fan... but something has to be done to tide the good press on this guy. He's a rock star, right? Where are the drug busts and the car crashes Bono? Gimme something! 143678@blogcritics.org Mon, 25 Apr 2005 00:47:42 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-143437 I too have many problems with Pat robertson however he does stand as a filter for about 40% of the country. His presence can turn a ripple into a tsunami. I never connect with these kinds of campaings normally i am left leaning. But his presence made the ad Pop out of the white noise very effective 143437@blogcritics.org Sun, 24 Apr 2005 03:16:48 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-140199 Jennifer, that may all be true about Robertson, but I think the entire point is that his blessing on this opens up support of this to an entirely new set, and that was a very smart move 140199@blogcritics.org Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:40:09 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-140197 The ONE Campaign is a good cause, but they should be more careful of the company they keep. Pat Robertson is an outspoken homophobe who has diverted a huge chunk of federal AIDS funding to useless "abstinence education" that amounts to no more than religious indoctrination. His charity "Operation Blessing" used donated money to fly equipment to his diamond mines in Zaire. Now he is just trying to position himself to intercept even more of that generous funding intended for the sick and starving Africans. I'll believe that Pat Robertson is our sincere ally in the fight against AIDS on the day that Bono sprouts wings and flies. 140197@blogcritics.org Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:36:14 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/08/124512.php#comment-137967 One country at a time we shall over come..We can't just let this happen on our watch.. It is our duty as citizens of the world to help our brothers and sisters in Africa fight against poverty and AIDS. Thank you, the ONE campaign, Bono, Brad Pitt and everyone who is working hard to make this happen. You are the VOICE of AFRICA. 137967@blogcritics.org Sat, 9 Apr 2005 16:53:18 EDT