Radio Free Neverland

The Age Of Secret Millionaires

katlindelarosa — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:44:07 +0000

An author once wrote, “You never truly know someone untill you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.’ This has never been more real than in our society today. Everywhere you look there are people in need. As the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and a huge grand canyon exists in betwen. But with this current trend, not everything is apparent. People of integrity have no need to flaunt their yaghts, fur coats, bank accounts, or VIP status. Some unique individuals even choose to be anonymous- living among us as one of the local poor. What defines “richness” anyway? Your net worth, stocks, bonds, autos, or property? Can a person have nothing and consider himself rich?

In the recent news, a man gave a large sum of money to the Salvation Army, in thanks for their help for many years. He was simple and never seemed to have a penny. In another area, a woman living a solitary life endowed a college with a fortune when she passed. Sadly, no one took notice of her when she was alive.

Most people are too proud to speak when they’re in need of money, food, or companionship, but it would do us well to pay attention to our circle of aquaintences and friends. It all adds up to human kindness. Not with the motivation to ‘share the wealth’ after they’re gone or to spread gossip of another’s misfortune- but to be more connected, more fulfilled, more vibrant.

There was a film a few years ago called ‘Pay it Forward’. Its premise was to do an extraordinary act for another with no strings attached and only one condition for recipients. That they in turn did something extraordinary to help someone else. Faith in humankind is restored. A hand up instead of a hand out. What better thing can you do than repair something broken, help a family feed itself, or give an old person a moment of your time? Take stock of all that you have. Your talents, occupational abilities, family and assets. Remember: money isn’t the object. What you have doesn’t define who you are. Even when you’re down- the only direction to go is up. You may find that more value exists in the American people than meets the eye. We can all walk around with our secret treaures inside ready to ‘pay it forward’ when the time is right and our depressed economy can become un-depressed overnight. The first domino waits to be turned.

How the Mighty Have Fallen

katlindelarosa — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:33:13 +0000

It’s difficult to gauge the temperature of a country untill you’ve been out of it for a while and then come back. For many this is not an option, and radical changes in government and social policies go unobserved til the heat swells in their faces. Upon returning to America- my America, last November, this roving reporter has been astonished by the level of increased control over it’s citizens as well as the amazing difficulty it is just to cross through border control in Mexico into your own land.

What purpose does it serve to profile a lone woman with Oklahoma plates with drug sniffing dogs, electronics detectors, and questions as to her very existence? In Palomas I crossed to get a serious cup of coffee and was detained instantly by a big fellow who unclipped his gun and proceeded to go thru my purse and read personal notes I’d written. I was sent to an inside office where I couldn’s see my car or what they were doing. Then the interrogation began and every one who came in asked me the same questions. Where does my mother live? How far does my husband drive to work every day? Why are you here? I left the station with my GMC hood broken and some small items missing. No one can say anything.

Had I become an international spy in secret the few years I was gone? Or were they stereotyping every blonde female who came through just to see her squirm? I asked myself these questions as I waited outside the Agua Prieta station in the cold inspection area with 3 other women as guards looked on in amusement. 200 cars must have went by in this time but did I see any men being searched? No. Did I see any cars with Mexican plates being searched? No. Was I carrying anything in my car other than myself? No. The answer as to why so much trouble is only known by the powers that be. But it only confirmed my suspicions that our democracy is not what we think and our former cry of freedom is heard only as a faint whisper in this new age.

Recently in the news, in the Manhatten area, a nine year old boy was nearly suspended for playing with a two inch toy gun at lunchtime, thus disregarding the school’s no guns policy. Does a tiny plastic representation of a gun- make it a weapon? Does a photo or drawing of a gun make it a weapon? If so then normal school books should be thrown out if they show photos of policemen, government workers or even old west cowboys packing a pistol. This small gun wouldn’t even harm you if you swallowed it. So where is the danger? Where is the offense? (So now we exaggerate the circumstances in the name of trying to stop terrorism.)

In another part of America, one homeless girl- not a vagabond but a hardworking girl who’s family was evicted and sent to a shelter for processing-missed her final exams at school and wasn’t allowed to graduate because she was held at the center for hours so her family could have a place to sleep. (Can you sense a trend where we are majoring on the minors instead of being concerned with the well being of our people?)

Midwestern states can stay the same for years, but bordertowns are nervous places. An American can’t get a job if he doesn’t speak Spanish. People on the street are looked at with suspicion and you feel guilty even when you’re not doing anything wrong. Homeland Security officers walk around like they’re God’s gift to men, but the basic concern is not security but tax money on stuff bought by tourists, apprehending fence jumpers, and the power such a job gives you over the locals.

But who’s fault is it when government gets too big for their britches? The working population gets so narrow focused that we encase ourselves in our own fences. We debate the television over major issues.We hesitate to get involved in real life because involvement means commitment. Committment equals time and time equals money. You say that “I am just one person, and alone I can do nothing.” But many battles have been fought by single solitary examples of greatness. Cancer survivors, mountain climbers, mission builders, philanthropers, and everyday people who brighten the lives of others merely by their existence. Larger organizations like the Red Cross-( worldwide), No More Deaths (at the Mexican Border helping save the lives of thousand of migrants), Salvation Army-( food and shelter for the homeless), and many others, were created to help change situations, solve problems and foster good will within our communities without taking on the world alone.

Gone are the songs of old- ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee’, ‘America the Beautiful’, and ‘Yankey Doodle’. These are past reminders of our beginnings with justice, truth, liberty, and the purusit of happiness for the rich and poor alike. People who stand for something, die for someone, and live for a better future. But maybe it’s too much to ask that America return to her former glory days. It’s just more easy to settle down, relax, and fade into popular opinion- accepting the modern remade version of today’s society-… ‘God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy’.

Saga of the Underwear Bomber

katlindelarosa — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:57:46 +0000

Since this new airline attack by an Isalamic extremist, America has suffered the indignity of a massive wedgie- forcing people to re-evaluate their underwear.

The Obama administration has been criticized for not taking the matter seriously, but to attribute setting one’s pants aflame on board a 210 thousand pound flying machine- a “terrorist act”, instead of an incredibly insane suicide attempt, is stretching matters a bit low under the waistline.

Religious fanatics have been known to do unspeakable deeds. But if someone kills because he believes a dog is telling him to- does this mean we have a war on dogs? Or if someone “Goes Postal”, does this mean a massive conspiracy exists within the U.S. mail?

Now security is beefed up at airports and full invasive searches as well as electronic scans that see right through to your tiny T’s and bikini bottoms are in place. Instead of securing our borders to outsiders, we let ourselves become the objects of investigation. Who has the right to know if I’m sporting my new boy briefs or lacy thong? For the stupidity of the one- all must suffer?

Do you ever think that maybe it’s all a vicious circle of conditioning? One crazy man equals millions of tax dollars for new X-ray machine companies, government allotments for airport improvements, advanced security system analysts, seventeen year old screeners who get their kicks from examining people’s unmentionables, and every person in line vowing to go buy new underwear as soon as the ordeal is over.

Actually, there has been a 20 percent rise in the sale of undergarments in the last week. Can you imagine the back room humor after an oversized woman? Or the screams of a small child as space age technology whizzes around her body? In brief, we are letting the word “terror” hit us in our most private of regions. The Underwear Bomber is immortalized as we let the Islamic world know America can be intimidated by the scoolyard bully. We give him our lunch money and go home to lick our wounds.

Political analysts say that our enemies were victorious in their mission with Northwest Airlines flight 253, but the real tragedy is getting caught with our pants down and then letting ourselves be exposed over and over again in our undies from now on in the name of homeland security.

But the real point is what we all want: for the experts to do their job well, to feel safe on a plane, to have the right to bring the things we need, to not be overly invaded in our bodies, and to not live our lives in fear.

How do we have this? By making our people more afraid? Strip searches, interrogation of American citizens, and the all popular European phrase- “Papers please…” ?

Geyhound Blues

katlindelarosa — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:42:56 +0000

In the absence of a coast- to- coast railway system and the increased cost of airplane tickets- riding the bus is the traditional equivalent to covered wagons. Disheveled pioneers wait in long lines to secure a place and stand like packed cattle with all their belongings. They know nothing is ever on time and are shuffled on and off the wagons in a frenzied rush. It’s survival of the fittest: to save your seat, avoid screaming children, and not be left behind to the elements of cold, and wind and rain. An occasional driver loses his way and the unfortunate passengers circle the wagons like in the old western TV series that never reached their goal. But everyone eventually gets to their destination. Some whose baggage mysteriously jumped ship. Others so tired that they hardly recognise their baggage anymore.

But one thing is certain. The characters are colorful, often scary, but always entertaining. The bus is the only place you can see emanciated black skeleton creatures, any number of jumbo sized women, and nomadic people on the move. One moving to California, one desperate to get to Chicago, and one truck-driver/gigilo going home to plan his next conquest. (Actually he was quite helpful when it came to herding the people back on the coach, guarding luggage, and roping stray children as they romped down the isle.) Like zombies, they disembark- mere ghosts of who they were just 48 hours before. The strangest thing is that they’re willing to jump back on this rolling circus and do it all again.

There should be an advertizing campaign for these daring pioneers. “Do You Have What it Takes to Ride the Bus?” The bold, the brave, and the incredibly addled people who consider it normal to be suspended in time for as long as it takes to reappear in a totally new destination.

This is not to say that riding the bus is bad. It has a few advantages.

1. They don’t let chickens ride the bus so you don’t have to worry about that outrageous squawking.

2. You get to know everybody’s busines: Who’s been arrested, who has a stash of weed available, and who’s spitting mad because they just got bumped from their priority seats.

3. You get to sample fine fast food cuisine from across the nation.

4. You get to learn a whole new vocabulary of words you never heard spoken and get your daily dose of nicotine at every stop.

4. You can critique various bus station bathroom styles and decoration options with your fellow travelers.

5. You get to hear the grisly details of assaults, robberies, and heated discussions between African American street punks discussing the technological aspects of the new millenium.

So if by chance you find yourself riding in one of these metal glass coaches with the satisfying smell of soilded diapers in the air and coughing kids jumping up and down on the seats while you’re trying to sleep: just close your eyes and remember what it was like in the old days to suffer not only Indian attack but the stifling dryness of extreme temperatures and uncertainty of arrival alive. Be happy that in this modern civilization we can travel in style.

Thumbs up Greyhound! You’ve come a long way baby.

The Merits of Babylon

katlindelarosa — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:40:13 +0000

There’s a story about the tower of Babylon. People all spoke the same language and had become very strong. So God came down and confused everyone so they scattered and the land was no more. What is the strength in a unified front? History says it is the most powerful force that exists outside of love. One nation. One goal. One collective of minds. But what do we have to say for ourselves when politicians want to weaken this with tolerance, apathy and dissemination of our nationalism? Sure America is a melting pot of immigration and a collection of various cultures. No one will contest this fact. However when you see our products in Spanish and English and our children are forced to learn other languages in school, are we still Americans? Or are we becoming just an appendage of Mexico? There is no cultural discrimination here- just a question of our loyalty. Our country broke away from British rule just to be sublimated quietly into giving up our English language for Spanish?

In Austria, which is heavy with nationalism, a new phenomenon exists. For centuries these lands of Europe have fought Turkish invasion. You can see it everywhere in Eastern Europe- fortified houses, fierce savage architecture, and a heavy determination to preserve traditional folklore. But now there are so many Turkish immigrants in Vienna, that they’re considering teaching Turkish in schools and making Austrian children learn the language. It’s a very quiet invasion now, and nobody seems to notice as the German culture slips into obscurity and the new occupants smile with so easily won conquest. It seems the best wars are not fought with force, but with a slow overwhelming repopulation of the territory.

Is this what’s happening in America? Are we losing our strength because we can’t hold on to the thing that made us great in the first place? Maybe this new generation doesn’t remember what our ancestors fought for. Shouldn’t we be more like Babylon and less like that soup with so many ingredients that you can’t even distinguish what’s in it?

I’d like to go see the Alamo when I get back to the states. Texans died defending their right as Americans. English speaking Americans. Does it mean anything anymore or is it just a silent forgotten memorial in peoples’ minds? It was the first remnants of Babylon. Everything since then is just silent conquest as we wait to be controlled by another culture. Think about it.

Presidential Roulette

katlindelarosa — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:14:50 +0000

For all practical purposes in this 2008 Presidential election, we might as well spin the wheel and see who’ll be running things for the next 4 years. Party lines are being crossed, and it’s down to the wire-more of a question of black or red- “Do we vote for the black man or the woman?” ” Is he too old?” “Is she too much like Barbie?” “Is he really Muslim?” “Will he just be another Bush?” With all these questions circulating, maybe we’re going about it the wrong way.

Instead of speculating who might do the best job, we can employ the rule of opposites. Who will make America look the worst during their term? Saturday Night Live and other comedians have been having a big laugh lately making the candidates look stupid, incompetent, and even downright ditzy. Are we prepared for the onslaught of political blunders displayed around the world?

Can we handle minute by minute hospital footage of John McCain’s every small sniffle because of those who bate their breath waiting for he moment of proof that maybe he’s too old to run the country? Or folksy Sarah Palin’s continuing saga of As the World Turns with her family, non-existent foreign relations, and her not so presidential-like Hey ya’ll to her basketball girls in Alaska.

On the other hand what if well dressed Obama shows up wearing gold chains and low rider pants, speaking to “the brothers” out there and slowly turns our white conservative atmosphere into a racial free for all? Plus what is this masquerade about Biden being just like the “regular Joe” out there? With a $350 thousand dollar house and all the trimmings. I don’t think so.

Do we really need to give the world’s biggest players more ammunition to discredit America? Is there a snowball’s chance in (you know where) that any of the candidates can stand up to Putin, Sarkozy, Merkel, Brown, Hu Jintao, Musharraf, Ahmadinejad, …….and be totally credible, in the eyes of Europe? Sure it’s only 4 years, but a lot can go down the drain pretty rapidly and with anti-American sentiment already running at an all time high, being an American in a foreign land having to defend your country’s policies every waking moment is like trying to stop a tidal wave with a Q-tip.

So let’s just spin the wheel. Accept where it falls and get on with life as it will be. At least we’ll be assured in the days to come that it was just the luck of he draw.

The New Democracy

katlindelarosa — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:44:08 +0000

Today in Suceava, Romania the election of officials from the Liberal Democratic Party is underway. Thousands gathered in the town square for a mass celebration. As with politicians everywhere- the candidates were kissing babies, hugging children and assuring voters that change is evident. Music blared from the stage and the young cheered with excitement. This is not an everyday occurence in a country where the feeling of Securitate still hangs like vapor in the air.

It is not easy to bring change. But the time is ripe, and Gheorghe Flutur seems to have all the right moves in gaining confidence of the people.

Only 25 years ago, this event would have had a different outcome. Instead of cheering and anticipation, eating ice cream, and waving orange banners- there would have been soldiers firing into the crowd, children lying dead on the streets, and the idea of democracy trampled under the feet of totalitarian government. I stand in awe as I wander through the people- looking at their faces.

Amazingly, Romania has come a long way. The young are no longer afraid to speak out. Sure food is more expensive now that the country has joined the EU. Electricity is almost unpayable, and there is still no social help for the aged. But hope lies in future generations, in future elections, and in the progression of freedom.

Even the women are involved and this is no simple task in a patriarchal society where their rights are small and their opinions overlooked. However, time marches on and their influence will also grow, as the country begins to recognize their value as voters.

I don’t know about you, but these children have a lot to look forward to. In the days ahead, instead of their parents going off to Italy for work and leaving them behind to grow up alone- like many here have been- a chance for life, unity in families and a quality in existance is beginning. Here is democracy in action.

Maybe we Americans didn’t invent the word “Democracy” but we sure believe in its power.

Have No Fear Myanmar-Underdog is Here!

katlindelarosa — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:27:58 +0000

Americans may have to shoot their way into Burma to get food and aide to the people in need. At this point since the cyclone hit, food shipments have been held, naval ships waiting with aide are not allowed in to Burma and even relief workers aren’t given visas. Dead bodies line the countryside and people are desperately needing food, shelter, and water. There is also risk of epidemic disease. It’s not a joke, but a determination at any cost- to help in this crisis. They are even now considering dropping food shipments in by plane without permission. Since when do you need permission to save an entire people? See Link report:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739053,00.html

Wow- those Americans are a determined bunch huh? You ever see the cartoon “Underdog?” Evidently the country is still primitive, secretive and unwilling to provide for its own citizens. Foreign journalists are not allowed to show the world these acts of deliberate genocide of the Burmese people. More than 100,00 have presumably died already, and by not allowing help- the government is purposely letting those affected by this tragedy die.

And to make matters worse- This is from the Herald Sun: BURMESE officials have been accused of selling aid supplies intended for cyclone victims by volunteers who are running their own mini-aid missions to the area.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23693360-663,00.html

So even if people try to give- there is almost no way for the help to get there. Seems like they could use a little un-official intervention, don’t ya think? People may complain about us Americans- but when the rubber meets the road…who’s gonna come to the rescue, huh?

If you don’t know anything about Burma then you have a treat! A very wonderful person in my opinion has placed this movie Beyond Rangoon on the web. It is one of my all time favorites. It will give you some idea of the people and its oppressive government system…”…suffering is one promise life always keeps…” Well worth watching!

http://beyond-rangoon.blogspot.com/2007/11/based-on-true-story.html

Also- Here is an over view of the historical Underdog cartoon and its characters-quite amusing!

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/8850/udog.htm

I leave you with these inspiring words from Underdog himself:

When in this world the headlines read
Of those whose hearts are filled with greed
Who rob and steal from those who need
To right this wrong with blinding speed
Goes Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder
Fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog. Underdog!

Sounds like Americans? Oh yeah… You go dog, Go!

You Need More Stuff! Experiment in Economy

katlindelarosa — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:36:58 +0000

Uncle Sam is sending an urgent message today…. He is imploring, demanding, asking gently in this time of recession that Americans come to the aid of their country. Just like in World War I-when people came together to fight a common enemy- this time the enemy is the powerful force of the falling dollar.

I propose a countrywide experiment. If Americans can go one day, or one week or one month and buy as much American home grown things as possible….it’s entirely probable that we will see the rise of the dollar and our economy. You can’t grumble and complain about what you won’t lift a finger to help.

“There are 293 million people living in the United States. If each one would shift $20 a month in spending from foreign made products to American made products, that would create 5 million new jobs.”

What is still made in America, really made in America? See if you can identify these::

Classics: Cracker Jacks, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Benjamin Moore Paints, Silly Putty, Ivory Soap, La-Z-Boy Chairs, Stetson Hats, Slinky Toys, U.S. Playing Cards, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Louisville Slugger Baseball Bats, and Zippo…

Ones you might not be aware of: Yankee Candles, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Creative Memories Scrapbooks, Longaberger Baskets, Stride Tool Company, Burt’s Bees, Kitchen Aid, Ridley Motorcycles, K’Nex, and Oreck Vaccuums…

Online stuff:

http://www.americansworking.com/ and www.madehereinamerica.com

are good sights for finding products Americans work. I Love Starbucks to death but it might be nice to try some Hawaiian coffee.

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/

Online catalog of stuff.

What you can do:

Buy more stuff. American made stuff. Things produced in China, France, Thailand, etc. don’t count do they? For a list of French companies you aren’t aware of- see the fine print at the bottom of this website:

http://www.madeinusa.org/ It’s interesting how many foreign items we normally buy……

Eat at local Mom and pop restaurants so you can help them buy more stuff.

Read the labels on products. Investigate a little. Ask yourself “where does it come from?”

Shop local farmers markets for fresh produce.

Buy novelty gifts at small private owned shops-and help them buy more stuff.

What could happen if I don’t? Common understandable excuses:

I don’t have time.- because time is money. However,buying foreign made things invests only in other countries, people lose their jobs, and conglomerates replace private ownership.

I don’t shopping online. Thenm just look for what local stuff you can.

I don’t care. Well, then we will all see the rise of future generations with a more European controlled America as their investors buy up our land and our companies.

We don’t lose anything by trying. We may lose everything if we don’t. So go out today on this grand experiment. Do your part to invest in America and invest in yourself.

This moment in time…….Uncle Sam Needs You!

Presidential Pretense in America

katlindelarosa — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:16:50 +0000

Will the REAL candidate for president, please stand up? In this world of pretenders, America has had quite enough of having to vote for nothing more than the ‘Lesser of two evils”. Where are the war heroes? Where are the people who have lived, cried, worked and sweated with normal Americans to feed their families? All we ever get anymore is “Career Politicians.” Is this what was intended at the very beginning of our History when our forefathers created the job? Huh? At least President Reagan was an actor instead of born and bred blue blood material.

Why can’t we nominate someone more personal to be our next president instead of the current circus we are presented with? Some people speculate that a Clinton/Obama or an Obama/Clinton ticket would be great. But what you end up with is the same: A woman who is possibly corrupt to the core, with a track record of mysterious deaths while pushing her husband into office, or a man with less experience than other ones in history, riding on the coat tails of his color for the black vote.

It is a race related or sex related contest with neither one having the qualities for election that is vital to running our country the next 4 years, or the next four minutes for that matter. How could we possibly think that this is a good option for our people?

What are our values? This is what I see as the basics of what our people need:

Truth, justice, fairness,

Work with adequate pay for our jobs.

Experienced, affordable medical care for ALL social classes.

Affordable university education.

Compensation for our soldiers and their families with a promise of war resolution.

Stability of our economy with less export and more emphasis on small business and American made products.

Remember: The President is Commander and Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. He or she can declare war, make friends and enemies of foreign nations, pardon people in jail, stabilize or wreck our economy, enact laws which can be helpful or harmful to our families, and establish the atmosphere we will live in for maybe the next decade of our civilization. Who do we really want to give this power to?

Be brave. If nothing changes before November, we’d all be better off at voting time to just put a big black X on NONE OF THE ABOVE.