On this Cesar Chavez day, let us remember Juan De La Cruz

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Monday March 31, 2025 · 12:15 PM PDT

2025/03/31 · 12:15

Juan De La Cruz, 60, was an early recruit into Cesar Chavez’s farm worker union during the 1960s. On August 17, 1973 he was murdered by a strikebreaker driving by the picket line in a pickup truck only two days after Yemeni immigrant Nagi Daifallah, 24, a leader among Arab workers on strike that summer, was clubbed to death by a Kern County sheriff’s deputy on the streets of the small farm town of Lamont. Juan became the UFW’s third martyr, men and women who gave their lives during union strikes. The first was a young Jewish woman, Nan Freeman, who was killed supporting striking sugar cane workers on a UFW picket line in Florida in 1972.

Among the many achievements of United Farm Workers founder Cesar Chavez was the creation in the 1980s of the nation’s first–and only–functioning pension plan for farm laborers: the Juan de la Cruz Farm Workers Pension Plan. The Plan has paid out benefits in excess of $150 million since inception. The Plan pays benefits to over 4500 retirees and beneficiaries every month.

A song by my friend Sean Slattery about the murder of Juan de la Cruz during the United Farm Works strike of 1973.

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March 29th. Happy Việt Nam Veterans day.

BOHICA

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Saturday March 29, 2025 · 9:41 AM PDT

2025/03/29 · 09:41

“O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

The biggest lesson I learned over there was that I was the enemy. With the current regime here in the good old USA, I still am.

I won’t be holding my breath waiting for (name redacted to avoid the ban hammer) to issue a proclamation.

Waiting to reload my Cobra for a mission(me on the left, still have the jacket)

Ranch Hands spreading death. I was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base where these fuckers were based.

When I got out in April, 1970, a month later was Kent State (May 4th my birthday). The next week there was a gathering at the South Park blocks right across from Portland State University. Without any warnings the police waded in with Billy Clubs. Alumni Memories Portland State Magazine.

"I am a law abiding citizen. Why don't you shoot these commie-loving, long-haired hippy freaks? How can you let them get by with this?"

I was driving back from riding my horse and this came on the radio. I had to pull over and weep.

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50,000 Names

Words and music by Jamie O'Hara

There's Teddy Bears and High School rings

And old photographs that Mama's bring

Of Daddies with their young boys playing ball

There's combat boots - he used to wear

When he was sent over there

And there's 50,000 Names carved in THE WALL.

There's cigarettes and cans of beer

And notes that say: "I miss you, dear."

And children who don't say anything at all

There's Purple Hearts and packs of gum

Fatherless daughters and fatherless sons

And there's 50,000 Names carved in THE WALL.

They come from all across this land

In pick-up trucks and mini-vans

Searchin' for a boy from long a-go

They scan THE WALL and find his name

Teardrops fall like pouring rain

And silently they leave their gift and go.

There's Stars of David and Rosary Beads

And Crucifixion Figurines

And flowers of all colors, large and small

There's a Boy Scout Badge and a Merit Pin

Little American flags wavin' in the wind

And there's 50,000 Names carved in THE WALL.

There's 50,000 Names carved in THE WALL.

It will always be with me but doesn’t define me.

Later today I’ll be going to a Takedown Tesla demo.

Songs for St. Patrick's Day

BOHICA

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Monday March 17, 2025 · 11:38 AM PDT

2025/03/17 · 11:38

Or as I like to call it Amateur Drunk Day.

While everyone is raising a glass, let us not forget the struggles for independence the Irish have had to go through to be free of the damned English.

Some rebel songs for your enjoyment.

I think this one is pretty relevant with the renditioning going on.

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Judy Blue Eyes does this sad song of the struggles.

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MAGA thugs are the new Back and Tans

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Leaving the best for last

Rule 303

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Playing in harmony, despite the president's DEI executive order

BOHICA

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Sunday March 16, 2025 · 8:30 PM PDT

2025/03/16 · 20:30

“When President Trump's executive order banned DEI programs throughout the government, the United States Marine Band was forced to cancel a planned concert with teens from Equity Arc, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring for young musicians of color. That's when veteran military musicians answered the call to step in.”

That’s from the description on this 60 Minute’s video.

I am but a humble messenger.

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See belinda ridgewood’s post below for the background story (also 60 Minutes).

Time for a new Veterans Bonus March.

BOHICA

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Friday February 28, 2025 · 9:11 PM PST

2025/02/28 · 21:11

This group of unemployed veterans of the World War left Columbus, Ga. and Girard, Ala. on a long trek to Washington to demand payment of the soldier's bonus, June 2, 1932, near Lawrenceville, Ga.. The men carried their own provisions and traveled in two trucks. (AP Photo)

Because we are such a large country its hard to get massive demonstrations like there are in European nations (Georgia, France etc..) Ours are all spread out and don't get the coverage except maybe local news.

Might I suggest something on the order of the Veterans Bonus Army march on Washington.

With many vets being fired they could be the vanguard with other fired gov employees joining in. Supporters would of course be welcome to join up too!

Starting on the West coast (just as the Bonus Army started in Oregon), imagine thousands of pissed off people marching on Washington, (Picture the Forrest Gump running scene but much bigger), support vehicles, horses, motorcycles, bicycles, unicycles, (I'm getting carried away here). Social media would run out of band width.

Would do you think? Sort of a nation walking in singing a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking IN.

And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said

fifty people a day walking in singin' a bar of Alice's Restaurant and

walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

Bonus Army History

In 1932, with the Northwest lumber industry hit especially hard by the Depression and with “Hoovervilles” springing up in the city’s Sullivan Gulch and elsewhere, Portland became a center of activity for a direct-action political movement known as the Bonus Army. By late 1931, thousands of unemployed World War I veterans across the country had begun to call on Congress to pay their long-promised enlistment bonus ten years early (it was not due until 1942). In the opening months of 1932, Portland veterans became increasingly vocal, some of them calling for a veterans’ march on Washington, D.C.

Hate

BOHICA

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Wednesday February 12, 2025 · 10:46 AM PST

2025/02/12 · 10:46

Hate

Years ago when I was blind, we were child sitting a friend's young girl (8-10 years old). What better activity than making chocolate chip cookies. So I got out the mixer and the ingredients and set up everything so we could make them together. As I had the measuring cup about 3 inches from my face she said: "I bet you hate being blind." I replied: "No I don't hate it, because hate is a waste of energy." Or something to that effect.

I've often thought about that exchange. I'm generally a pretty stoic guy. After I lost my eye I only broke down once, on the way to the stable with Inka. Then I got back on the horse (metaphor alert) and kept going.

Back to hate. Fast forward to 1991 and the first Gulf war. I'm riding the bus with a portable radio on (earphones of course because I'm polite) when I heard the bombing started. Fuck! Having gone to war I knew what was in store for all involved.

" I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, as only one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its STUPIDITY."

Dwight Eisenhower

Ike was right. But it was the act and the men who brought it about that were the focus of my hate for war. Sometimes it is justified, I did not think "Operation Desert Storm" was justified.

But God damn it was the greatest video war ever! Reporters reporting from their hotel rooms, embedded reporters riding on APCs like Slim Pickens riding the bomb in Dr. Strangelove, Glorious!

Something I wrote back then:

War is a false god worshiped by warmongers and poll watchers; a false god worshiped by the media whores who wish to be bathed in its reflected glow; a false god worshiped by those who have never seen, heard, smelled or touched the obscenity of the violence they glorify.

Anyway, 100 days later it was over and wasn't that fun. Of course we did fuck over the Kurds but that was to be expected.

Fast forward to 9-11. Now going after the perpetrators was justified, but fuck me it kinda got out of hand didn't it. Hate started to rise in me. But being a peaceful man I joined Veterans For Peace and tried to get the message out that this was wrong. Protested, speechified, called for GWB's impeachment, but it seems all I got was a flat forehead from beating it against the wall.

Yes I hated those motherfuckers. But it was justified hate as time has proven.

Fast forward to now. Holy fucking shit balls! I knew these guys were crazy but the speed at which they have FUBAR'ed everything is mind boggling, not that they didn't tell us what they were going to do!

Again the press went along with the narrative that it's just DJT being DJT, he's not really going to do any of it. Hot damn he is doing it, now we can call him out! Fucking feckless cowards.

Back to hate. Unlike my blind self, I have learned to hate with the heat of a thousand Suns. Unfortunately I'm now old and physically beyond hitting streets, I think marching all over for over ten years took its toll on my hips and legs. Sucks getting old.

So now I guess I'll just post news and memes on social media and pass the torch to a new generation and hope they cause him to have a stroke. Maybe when the weather gets warmer I'll get my guitar out and sit in a park and sing protest songs, I have got a few.

Oh well a touch of gray, kinda suits me anyway,

That's all I had to say, but it's alright

I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive.

Silent F*cking Night

BOHICA

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Sunday December 24, 2023 · 10:47 AM PST

2023/12/24 · 10:47

Probably the best Christmas story ever told:

Silent F*ucking Night.

This is the eighth annual posting of the Christmas Story, from a mother's point of view.

Through the years it's changed a bit — the language tweaked here and there, photos added then improved upon.

In 2011 it was dubbed the top "anti-Christian rant" by the stupidest man on the internet, Jim Hoft the Gateway Pundit.

It's also been praised by a few members of the clergy for emphasizing the humanity of the story.

And it all started as a conversation between two working mothers about what a stupid idea it is to pound on a drum anywhere near a newborn and his mother.

A snippets:

There was no consideration at all of what Mary needed: the wise men show up with gold, frankincense and myrrh for Jesus — they could have at least have brought a pacifier to keep the baby quiet, and Mary could really have used a fluffy down comforter or some nice bath salts (although the frankincense would have been useful for covering up the stench of the cow shit).

I try and remember to repost it every Christmas Eve.

Holocaust remembrance day. Band of Brothers- Why we fight

BOHICA

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Thursday January 27, 2022 · 11:35 AM PST

2022/01/27 · 11:35

Yes it happened.

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My flabber is overgasted. Lincoln - Douglass debate required study in Virginia

BOHICA

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Friday January 14, 2022 · 6:43 AM PST

2022/01/14 · 06:43

Frederick Douglass, ca. 1879. George K. Warren. (National Archives Gift Collection).Exact Date Shot Unknown.NARA FILE #: 200-FL-22.WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 113

No not that Douglass

Virginia’s proposed social studies reform legislation is terrible for myriad reasons, but the assertion that the Lincoln-Douglas debates were between Lincoln and Frederick Douglass is a new level of historical inaccuracy. https://t.co/mVyBUetG5a
— Anna Yonas (@annayonas) January 13, 2022

Virginia’s proposed social studies reform legislation is terrible for myriad reasons, but the assertion that the Lincoln-Douglas debates were between Lincoln and Frederick Douglass is a new level of historical inaccuracy.

No exercising of their 1st amendment rights either.

As soon as the liquor store opens...

How Sweet The Sound. Happy 81st Joan Baez

BOHICA

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Sunday January 09, 2022 · 9:44 AM PST

2022/01/09 · 09:44

"I went to jail for 11 days for disturbing the peace; I was trying to disturb the war."
Joan Baez, 1967

From the “Great Folk Scare” to the civil rights movement, the anti Viet Nam war protests and beyond, Joan Baez has been one of my favorite human beings.

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Bookmark this comprehensive documentary to chronicle the private life and public career of Joan Baez. American Masters: Joan Baez How Sweet The Sound

A bright spot from 2020

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Walking the walk with the bad ass Cellist of Sarajevo, Vedran Smailovic.

Smailović caught the imagination of people around the world by playing his cello, most notably performing Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor for twenty two days, in the ruined square of a downtown Sarajevo marketplace after a mortar round had killed twenty-two people waiting for food there. He managed to leave Sarajevo in 1993, during the second year of the siege that lasted from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996 (1,425 days)[1] and is often mistakenly identified as a member of the Sarajevo String Quartet, which played on throughout the siege.

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Christmas in the trenches

BOHICA

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Friday December 24, 2021 · 9:42 AM PST

2021/12/24 · 09:42

1200px-Illustrated_London_News_-_Christmas_Truce_1914.jpg — An artist's impression from The Illustrated London News of 9 January 1915

Annual posting. Tissues my be needed.

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Peace Through Music: A Global Event for the Environment | 200+ Artists Unite to Save Our Planet

BOHICA

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Wednesday December 15, 2021 · 6:47 PM PST

2021/12/15 · 18:47

Live now!

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200+ artists from 58 countries including Black Pumas, Jack Johnson, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Sara Bareilles, Slash, and The Lumineers, along with world leaders and influencers, join the fight for Planet Earth. Donate now via the blue donate button or at https://playingforchange.com/peacethr....

"When you're finally up on the moon, looking back at the earth, all these differences and nationalistic traits are pretty well going to blend and you're going to get the concept that maybe this is really one world and why the hell can't we learn to live together like decent people."
~ Frank Borman

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