I stand with the people of France in resisting the evil actions of religious extremists who are imposing their warped views on their culture through horrific & entirely senseless acts of violence. Imposing one’s views on others is never an acceptable approach. In a free world, people are entitled to their views and beliefs and the free expression of those things. We must never allow violent extremists to deter free expression. “Resister califat!”
I sketched this about two years ago and was thinking about this sketch recently. I decided to re-sketch it and paint it. It makes me consider the things in my life that might actually be harming me that I choose to hold onto. Those things are like a vine wrapping tighter and tighter around one’s heart and soul squeezing the life and joy right out. My encouragement today is, “Let them go. Just open your hand and let them go.”
So I have been exploring painting lately. I have in a fairly short period of time produced a number of pieces of art primarily via watercolor paints on cold pressed watercolor paper. I haven’t painted since 6th grade (and I’m almost 40), but there has always been an artist in me. I allowed life and vocation and other circumstances keep that side of me from emerging and being expressed. I can’t do that anymore, I am an artist and writer at heart. The more I paint the more I learn to accept the imperfect. Many of my pieces have imperfect lines and the way the color disburses on the paper is beyond my control. I have always felt this pressure to be perfect, to be what other people want. Art allows me to embrace my imperfections and it is such a freeing experience. Art is a practice that is helping me to learn acceptance. It has become such a gift in my life, one I intend to embrace and explore for the rest of it.
Today our nation’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, announced that he put together a task force of deputy U.S. Attorneys to look at the issue of mandatory sentencing for drug related offenses. While aiding and abetting addicts in the pursuit of their addictive behaviors should never be the stance we take nationally or personally we must also employ the use of common sense sentencing policies for crimes involving possession of currently illegal substances. I agree with Holder that filling our nation’s prisons with repeat drug offenders is not helping rid our communities of illegal drugs, but is instead a veiled war on ethnic communities perceived to be more inclined to use illegal drugs. The war on drugs has failed and it’s about time we acknowledge it and map a better way for the future.
Simple Thoughts About Life & Stuff 
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