Eating in the cemetery on New Year’s Day

By |

Afghan New Year coincides with the first day of Spring and has incorporated the Zoroastrian tradition of the new birth of Spring making the start of a new year as part of it. It seems to make a lot of sense to me instead of doing it in mid-winter. Who really wants to start a new year when you really are waiting for the next 2 ½ months to be behind you?
Continue Reading

Creating peace via Skype

By |

We were told to expect the AYPV boys at our office lodgings at 4:30 AM because the Global Day of Listening was scheduled to begin by 5:30. They arrived a little late because they had been on the phone to others around the world since 10 PM last night. The plan for today was to continue the conversations over Skype connections on the internet. Continue Reading

Planting trees, burning candles

By |

In the morning we walked in groups of five for about 30-45 minutes through our area of Kabul en route to our morning activity. I awoke at 4 AM to use the bathroom and when the call to prayer was broadcast from the nearby mosque about 40 minutes later, I knew it was time to get up because the dogs on the street also joined the chorus. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Protest At Minneapolis Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar

By |

On April 13th, 4:00 p.m. at Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office on Washington Ave in Minneapolis there was another peace protest.This is this Indy Media journalista’s report of the event.There was a gathering of about 80 people there, along with corporate media represented by KSTP, Fox News Channel 9/29, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St Cloud Independent.The first thing noticeable was the rather large number of grey hairs present. I am not sure if there was anyone younger than 40 at this event, except perhaps Melissa Hill. There was the usual assortment of signs, white tee shirts with red hand prints, obviously signifying blood stained hands and other types of political theatre props.At this stage I decided to do some interviews. It was time to ask some muck-raking questions.I approached some of the protesters and leaders and asked the same basic question: Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases.”What should the response of the peace movement be, if the Congress and Senate do decide to vote for the requested $33 Billion?” Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | The Viet Nam/Afghanistan analogy…fact or fiction?

By |

Recently, President Obama stated there were many differences between our actions in Afghanistan and those in Viet Nam. And no wonder – the Viet Nam war was so damaging to our country, so divisive for our society, and so destructive to our deficits that every one who supports ratcheting up our efforts in Afghanistan wants to stay away from that comparison like the plague. That is a futile effort, because in virtually every way, Afghanistan is Viet Nam! Let us count the ways.    FREE SPEECH ZONE The Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Corrupt governmentsViet Nam had a corrupt government that lacked broad based public support. Ngo Dinh Diem was named premier of South Vietnam in 1954 by former emperor and Head of State Bao Dai. Continue Reading