New Profile Picture

A friend asked me about my new profile picture, "What's the story" ...

I was standing in front of a helicopter, I think it's a 'blackhawk', at the Olympia Air Show, while taking a break during a day of tabling for the Thurston Public Power Initiative (www.thurstonpublicpower.org). 

I guess the story might be something like, I want to stand in front of this helicopter to make it impossible to use it to perpetrate acts of aggression! 

Aggression is wrong in our community, and it is wrong amongst nations. And a great amount of Aggression has been committed in the name of the national interests of the USA, enough is enough. No more people of any nation shall suffer harm because of the Aggression of this nation!

I also used the photo as inspiration to write a letter to my Senator, Patty Murray, to ask her to support changing national policies with regard to benefit the health of people in the military. The rate of suicide among people in the military is very high right now. I argue that one of the reasons is because so many of the activities of the military are unjust, and are geared not toward defense, but instead constitute an Aggression geared toward national dominance, and international economic hegemony for giant corporations and their benefactors...

here's the photo again:

Dark Clouds and Capitol

Dark Clouds, a photo by ˇBerd on Flickr. 


Seen on the 8th of June, 2012, at Percival Landing during the weekly Oly FOR peace vigil. 

June Beauty, Nature Area Video

Early Summer Daisies

Early Summer Daisies

Early Summer Daisies

☮☮☮

The Cables

The Cables, a photo by ˇBerd on Flickr.

June 2007

I climbed these things back in June 2007. It was gnarly. I was intensely sore for three days after. 17 mile round trip with a 5000 foot change in elevation from valley floor to the top. That's Half Dome at Yosemite Park. 

For Better Mental Health: End Aggression

I just received an email from Senator Patty Murray. She is working on getting a system wide review of problems with the health of people in the military.

Here's an email I quickly sent off in reply to the Senator's:

Dear Patty,

Do you think part of the issue with the health problems of so many active duty and veteran military personnel might be that the military itself, overall, is engaged in unjust actions geared toward posture and practice of aggressive national dominance?

Thanks for giving it some thought.

Maybe it's time for an overall shift in priorities here. Away from aggression, bullying and questing for dominance—and toward equality and cooperation, with goodwill toward all people, regardless of their nationality, or any other defining difference (be it age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or socio-economic status, etc.)

It is one thing for Senators and other politicians and the State itself to talk about having goodwill toward all people. It is another thing entirely to practice goodwill toward all people.

The facts on the ground show that the USA does not practice goodwill, but instead practices an aggressive and hostile posture of control over resources and economics.

Also, please consider how the policies affect people who are not directly in the military, or in the path of military aggression.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Berd

Robert F. W. Whitlock
Olympia, Washington
(360) 259-4291
http://peacepotential.blogspot.com

At the 2012 Olympia Air Show

b

on ydhwm again

from late May, 2012

untitled photograph of pathway

Pledge of Allegiance

Pledge allegiance: not to a national flag, but to the standard of global liberation from oppression, fear and ignorance. Toward collective, mutual liberation, and uplift —global nonviolence, peace, harmony. For all humanity and all beings. Pledge!

Three Photos

Orange Flowers in the Conservatory at Volunteer Park, Seattle


North, view of Budd Waterway from Percival Landing, Olympia


Another Northview, from North Point, on the downtown peninsula, Port of Olympia

Cowboy Waltz, Woodie Guthrie