The new Percival Landing is up and running. Definitely some major improvements, like the water fountains just for one example. I walked around there a week or so ago, shortly after the grand opening. One conversation I heard was some parents apologizing to their kids that the playground wasn't ready.

The Harbor House is an interesting component. A friend asked what homeless people will think of it. Good question I think.

Here we have a nice warm room with a fireplace...on a cold winter night. Maybe ouch.

Harbor House is interesting, and despite the what some might consider lack of respect toward those of us suffering from economic (and other) hardships, I think there is still other potential for improvement.

Maybe the space could be used more of as a visitor center. Maybe even story-tellers could work there, and people could go there to learn about this area, and past events and peoples. Maybe along the lines of a welcome center.

I would suggest adding a significant indigenous component to the Harbor House. I appreciate the salmon over the fireplace. I think it would add a lot of meaning if the building would tell more of the story of the indigenous population. Who were they? What were their names? What did they do? What happened to them? Where are their ancestors now? The Harbor House might be a good location to tell some of these stories.

Part Two: Ethnic and Racial Diversity, and other thoughts about today:

I was on my way to a neighborhood in East Lacey this morning when I passed a police officer with a scowl. I wondered, was the scowl for me, or was it a general sort of scowl?

Speak truth to power!

Dear White House,

A foreign policy of aggression does not honor our military service personnel. We must bring troops home. We must end this international belligerence! Stop bullying!

Berd
www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/posts/226512484028704
[memorial day peace vigil video]

There must be some benificial balance between the recognition of your own oppression and the self empowerment that comes afterwards without perpetuating cycles of oppression. 

Does Empowerment, by the nature of energy laws, mean that some power, or energy must be transfered from one place to another? And if that's true then is there some grace which we must do this with, so that we are not conquering our oppressors the same way they must have perceived it being their right to do unto us? Is there a peaceful way to reclaim the space that was taken from you? Or do we all emulate our experiences, and enact the roles that our oppressors taught us, and take what we consider ours?

Is this entitlement, or balance? Are everyones needs aimed to be met, or are there an elite few endowed with the righteousness to proclaim themselves more deserving of said privilege? 

Does being abused ever give you the right to abuse other people?

This is a theatrical rendition of a speech my USMC Major General Smedley D. Butler to the National VFW. Please watch this compelling and important video:

War is a Racket, by Smedley Butler

I just posted this photo on the White House Facebook Page (link). It's from Percival Landing, September 2008. Following are a few quotes, by Former President and Five Star General Dwight D. Eisenhower, George Orwell, Albert Einstein, and Major General Smedley D. Butler:

These Strykers were blockaded on the I-122 exit from I-5 yesterday afternoon. Activists have taken to blocking the movement of these weapons in order to resist the Imperialism, and Aggression, of the USA.

Deployment of a brigade of soldiers from Fort Lewis to Afghanistan is expected in the next weeks. Already, Strykers have been moved to a staging area at the Port of Tacoma. Due to logistics, activists are considering broadening the range of potential blockade sites.

Stop the War!

Olympia Port Militarization Resistance

[update: there are reports of about one dozen resisters having been arrested last night.]

I am feeling slightly under the weather. So I will not be attending tonight's City Council meeting to use my three minutes of public comment. Instead, I just sent this letter to the Council and to City Hall:

From:     Robert Whitlock
             [address redacted]

To:         Olympia City Council; City Staff; and Everyone