In the 1800s immigrants from Germany and other mid-European countries flocked to cities like Cincinnatti, Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Louis.  They built many things including built great breweries, like Blatz, Miller, Schlitz, Pabst, Falstaff and a thousand lesser ones.  The greatest brewery of them all was Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis.  I went to high school just 10 blocks from the 100 square block Busch brewery complex in St. Louis.  If the breeze was just right, the smell of hops would blow in and engulf our classroom.  It was a reassuring smell.  It meant union jobs at solid middle class wages with great benefits that had been won thanks to strong unions and a paternalistic management.  Anheuser-Busch, then & now, was the cornerstone of St. Louis.  

Hello all,

This is my first MyDD diary - I've been commenting here for a week now, doing my best to stay positive, while admittedly being  partisan for my candidate of choice, Barack Obama.

This isn't a candidate diary, because all of us have had a year and then some to make up our minds about where our support would go. I also don't believe that such a diary is useful at the present moment, nor is a diary about why you should vote for Obama in November. After all, this is May, and Obama has yet to lock up the nomination, assuming that things continue on their present course. My focus is on some of the harm that has characterized the blogosphere in this election.

I know that damage has been done, and I am not urging that anyone forget about the insults that have been thrown around. I myself have been called naive, foolish, stupid, blind, hypocritical, and more. I have been told that my "neophyte" candidate's success means that our country is "damned to Hell," and that all Obama supporters are "set on voter intimidation, sexism, and general violence against democratic ideals."

That last quote is from yesterday.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Jimmy Carter. This is a man that has consistently tried to do what others in the political arena seem unable to do, and that is to live up to their own expectations, regardless of the political costs. His recent trip to the Middle-East was Carter at his finest. While he understood all to well that the compromised, immoral regimes of both Israel and Washington did not support his mission and were unlikely to approve anything that came out of his meetings with Hamas, he chose to go in order to illustrate to the world what these two governments are really about. I believe Carter was successful in illustrating that neither America nor Israel want to pursue a realistic solution for peace. If anything, his visit proved once again, that Israel seeks not peace, but capitulation.

The campaign just put together this wonderful video of Hillary talking about her experiences in Northern Ireland, and a bit of her recent visit with Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ian Paisley and Deputy Minister Martin McGuinness.  Given all of the BS out there by people claiming she didn't contribute anything to the process, I thought it was important to get this out there.  Take a look...

I know there's probably not much to add after Linfar's excellent diary last night, but I got a great email a few weeks ago from a woman who worked closely with Hillary during the time of the peace process in the mid-90's, and I thought this might be a good time to share it.

Follow me over the fold....

Like it or not the United States is considered a global player and in some minds a global leader. Senator Obama has reminded the global public as to why they admire Americans. President George W Bush has of course reminded us as to why we love to hate Americans.

Senator Obama is playing a totally different game from his rivals? What will it symbolize to the planet if a Black man is elected to the highest office?  Why has Senator Obama created so much excitement globally? Like it or not we are not just electing a president of the United States but a person who will have great influence and the momentum to change the planet. To elect Senator Obama would be telling the world we still have a dream, we are still optimists, and we are still a wonderful country with amazing people who want to help our brothers and sisters. Senator Obama is breaking the color barrier because it isn't about color it's about great ideas and the courage to dream
again without fear.

The Peace symbol, which has been not seen enough lately turned fifty on February 21st.

Here's a link or two
http://www.happybirthdaypeace.com/
http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/p eace.html
http://www.peacesymbol.org/

Originally made from the semaphore symbols for N and D for nuclear disarmament the peace symbol has come to represent all those working for, dreaming of, aching for and desperately needing peace.

"Blessed are the peacemakers."

And a reminder part of what is at stake this election.

"There will be more wars."
     John "10,000-years-in-Iraq" McCain

California Representative Tom Lantos, who was the only holocaust survivor to serve in the US congress, died today.  He was always a strong advocate for peace, and upholding the constitution, and countless other progressive causes, and will be missed greatly by this community.  Our thoughts should go out to his family and his congressional district, which has lost a great leader.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/11/l antos.obit.ap/index.html

May God bless Representative Lantos and his family

Here is a passionate submission to the local publication, The Tahoma Organizer, by my friend Michelle. She, and the Organizer, have been invaluable in this community for being a voice for all of us who care what's happening in our world. Please take a moment to read:

This is Michelle's story and her words.

If you are human, this will touch you.

The story is below the fold.