Blogs

A California Thanksgiving

Fine gauze wraps
the Bay area
early on
Morning unfolds
what memory
held hidden
Knowing with certainty
the peaks, terraces and valleys
until the sun
dislodges the known world
revealing splendor.

Our family gathered there
Each knowing each
the old ones
amateurs all
with fuzzy memories
Scaling the mountain trails
riding the back roads with laughter
at our heels

Busy hands molding pies
quick breads and stuffing
remembering moldings and high
ceilings
Scenes of our own
peaks and pratfalls
wrapped in a silver lining
or a shroud
Stunned into now
by the new generation
revealing splendor

Jo Stewart ©
November, 2011

 Check out this interesting fusion of poetry and art:

Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man

The recent shootings in Arizona give even more justification to discuss the dangers arising, in part, from reckless public speech. This mainly modern and ubiquitous practice (because of easy availability of electronic tools) needs to be addressed by senior officials and media alike. Why is it that when personal or inflammatory comments are made that senior officials do not publicly denounce such remarks? That's when leaders rise from political hacks to statesmen and stateswomen. When people choose public service, safety issues will always be an issue. Human beings being what they are, imperfect and some very ill, security and first responders must be part of safety plans. If we want good people to choose public service, reckless public speech must be denounced by anyone in authority, especially politicians, media CEOs, entertainment people, the church and anyone else who has a bully pulpit. Not to do so will continue to coarsen our society and tragedies can and will continue. — Jo Stewart, Chicago Published by

The Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, January 12, 2011 in Voice of the People

A Bliss Cartoon from the New Yorker, October 18th 2010 issue. Page75

It is sickening to hear all the flack about ground zero, and that building a Muslim Center disrespects the lives lost on 9/11, 10 years ago. All distractions from the serious business of governing and who will continue to govern after November's election. The GOP has stirred up every kind of fear a political party can muster: fear of economic collapse, fear of saddling our children with debt,(this is a real concern but we can work out of it if we work TOGETHER) fear of another jihad attack, fear of immigrants, fear that our president is not a citizen, fear of socialism, communism and whatever else they can pull out of their ugly hat. I do believe we are in grave danger, danger to our way of life and our survival as a constitutional democracy. The danger we face comes from within. It is the very powerful corporate structure that rules this country! It is the soulless corporation that doesn't care about the middle class, about education, about the well being of our citizens. Many of the tea party folks who are sincere should be protesting this real enemy rather that fighting against their own self interest. Unless they are among the top 5 percent of this country's earners, they are screwing themselves.