T E A R S

Deep in the American story is this story told by the white men who came to this land, Turtle Island, without their white women whose eyes were filled with terror. European women had never conceived of the concept of women being free, or the intellectual possibility of women's rights until they saw how the women living in the Red Nations upon the land white folks believed 'they' had discovered lived their lives! Today, those daughters, those white women's descendants are still with those terrified eyes they try to hide are unable to free themselves of their terror because deep and silent within the caves of Old Europe is the threat white men whisper in their ears.

They can take what they allowed to become law.  ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 3/28/19

Photographer Mercedes Castillo Sánchez. "Rebuke" — with Jose Perez Melendez and Nerea González Cazorla. (Nov. 28, 2017)

Photographer Mercedes Castillo Sánchez. 'Absolve' — with Jose Perez Melendez and Nerea González Cazorla. (Nov. 28, 2017)

Photographer Mercedes Castillo Sánchez. 'Mordant' — with Jose Perez Melendez and Nerea González Cazorla.. (Nov. 28, 2017)

Photographer Mercedes Castillo Sánchez. 'Confined' — with Nerea González Cazorla. (Nov. 28, 2017)

Rebuke — with 

American ME.

Photographer Vern Jensen captured Aliya Mathiesen 

at Pasadena City Hall, March 2016, rejoicing!

"… White American youth are enjoying their illusion of freedom, and their vindication from past misdeeds done by their people. As recently as the other month, when a young Black man was found hung in a trailer park in Virginia, yesterday became today. The lynchings have not stopped, and the cultural vibe of white people's right to take life to get other people's stuff is as vibrant and enforced as ever before. Their defensive structures are stronger under Trump's administration, and whether liberal, or conservative, the benefits extend to both kind of white people. 

It is an old story. It is the fabric of American life. What Black folks can do is the same, and slightly different from what the Red Nations need to do to do more than survive. The other ethnic groups know how to protect their individuality, their culture's dignity, and we all have access to how we gave up so much to recover from the ravages of white conquest, and not lose more in modern times. 

What did our ancestors have that we need today? 

That is all." 

Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 

Feb. 01, 2019

Aunt Betty. She was the slave of Mr. Walker, at Faunsdale, and was the cook for Rev. Mr. Harrison, Rector of St. Michael’s. The picture, taken in Aunt Betty’s home, shows a typical cabin... - Joan Johnson 

Requires Thought.

Slave marriage taking place. I remember this dance.

"During the time of slavery, not every hour was a miserable hour. While alone with their families, slaves did attempt to live a regular lifestyle. They cooked, cleaned, and fed their families and made sure that everyone was doing what they had to in order to not get sold. One thing they did to keep each others spirits up was tell jokes and mimic their masters and mistresses. This is what began black comedy within the United States." - Cedric Freeman 

Dave Chappelle's insight.

"I agree with what you have said; we must learn that if we do not agree with other's lifestyles, do not judge negatively what is seen or viewed. None of us are perfect and communications is very important, in the realization that words can damage if not used in a caring way. We are indeed our brothers' keepers. With that in mind, with "love" and loving someone, you do not have to agree with everything they may say or do, because love is being honest with the individual simply because you do truly love them and not to agree to satisfy them or because you feel obligated to agree; We must learn to be true and honest "BUT" in such a way as to show "love and honesty" in such a way that others see and feel the sincerity within us!!!" - Barbara Tharpe 

White Power movements.

no Force stronger than White Men;s Traditional Contempt for Mother.

Border fences have been terrible for wildlife and plants

Since 1994, the US government has been erecting barriers to keep people and drugs from Mexico and beyond out. By 2010, about one-third of the border had been fenced with materials ranging from barbed wire to steel, bollard to wire mesh, and chain link. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security has built hundreds of miles of roads to allow the Border Patrol to access remote regions, both fenced and unfenced.

All of this construction has sliced and diced a lot of protected land along the border. And ever since the passage of the Real ID Act of 2005, DHS has had the power to waive most environmental reviews in the name of national security.

So, unlike most federal infrastructure projects, these fences have received little or no input from the public, land managers, conservation groups, or other agencies. Experts had no chance to assess beforehand what impact the fence might have on wildlife, plants, and rivers. Only after the fact have researchers documented instances where fences have interrupted wildlife corridors, and caused erosion and other damage to fragile ecosystems, as well as flooding.

But what evidence we do have is alarming. For instance, Lasky and his co-authors found that the biggest risk comes when fences bisect the range of a small population of a species with a specialized habitat, leaving the majority of the population on one side and the others adrift. His paper found 45 species and three subspecies that the current fence has affected this way... By Eliza Barclay and Sarah Frostenson Updated Oct 29, 2017, 9:16am EDT

Biker, Tianna Brinton in a desert, October 20, 2018 

This is a striking picture of Tianna Brinton. As captivating as it is it is disturbing. Behind this scene is a deeply embedded way of looking at the world that excludes the connections between Nature, and Humanity, and most disturbing the lack of connection Europeans hold with the Earth, who is not their Mother!...

This is a deep input. But, it is on my mind pondering the complexity of how President Trump processes his thoughts with a time worn belief system that holds life, land and women in contempt... - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1/15/19

WHEN WE AWAKEN 3

"Some things are just average, other things are spellbinding!"


TO MY Nephew

"Whatever you do as a practice developing body, mind or spirit and however you develop emotional maturity it comes back to assist you at the oddest times; in particular when you have been given life for a long time. In a culture, childishly upset over aging, and obsessed with the illusion of staying young old age trips you up. There are peculiar benefits to a life well lived. The practices of life to stay fit in the four realms are best teaching us how we live.

It is fascinating this way of being. "- Gregory E. Woods, (Dawn Wolf), Keeper of Stories WHITE AS A RIGHT! I was recently watching a video clip of a British man, with images flashing of what his people were doing to people who looked like me of the darker hue, in recent times past in other countries. Black African countries they have conquered and subjugated. The combination was meant to disturb the viewer and his closer was meant to be a kumbaya moment.

The horror he described with emphasis on the images in the film is grim, but a white man with a British accent telling this burns within me. It stirs a rage, a collective one constantly felt in silence by our ancestors and those of us whose people suffered at their hands. It is the way he sits with authority and a measure of disgust and the simple minded appeal to the viewer about how we are one that burns into the soul of non-whites! Historically, whites skip all the steps to heal with a not so subtle a suggestion that we hold hands and let bygones be bygones.

It always comes out this way and it always leaves the rest of us happily lapping it up so we can avoid the long process needed to mend at the deep levels, or it burns with rage on the inside because we know that beast is never chained up and killed. He is always there. It is part of the staying power of Donald Trump! ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12/24/18

Alternative to the 2 Parties.

Ordinary woman by Scratch Hall Photography. 

October 10, 2016. Babes for Liberty.

"Libertarians would free property owners from government restrictions on their rights to control and enjoy their property, as long as their choices do not harm or infringe on the rights of others." - lp.org October 10, 2016

Immature Boy in the White House

Trump swipes at Mattis, McGurk in wake of resignations

Andrew O'Reilly

6 days ago


President Trump took swipes Monday at outgoing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and diplomat Brett McGurk, both of whom resigned in large part over the president's decision to pull troops from Syria.

The president first trained his criticism on Mattis, a day after announcing his Pentagon chief would be leaving the administration on Jan. 1, weeks earlier than his planned February departure. In more evidence of escalating tensions between the two men, Trump claimed Mattis doesn't understand his concerns about "subsidizing" foreign military campaigns.

“We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade,” Trump tweeted. “General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!”

In his resignation letter last Thursday, Mattis, 68, had said he would remain in his role for three more months. But Trump abruptly announced over the weekend that Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan would replace Mattis on Jan. 1.

The sudden change strips Mattis of any chance to further frame national security policy or smooth rattled relations with allies through the originally planned transition at the end of February. And it reflects White House displeasure with the retired Marine Corps general's resignation letter.

In the resignation letter, Mattis made clear he did not see eye to eye with the president on several issues. Mattis was also unhappy with Trump's order to develop plans to pull up to half of the 14,000 U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

On Sunday, Trump's acting chief of staff said that Trump had known for "quite some time now" that he and Mattis "did not share some of the same philosophies ... [or] have the same world view."

Mick Mulvaney told ABC's "This Week" that the president and his defense chief "just could never get on the same page" on Syria, adding that Trump had said since his presidential campaign that "he wanted to get out of Syria." Mulvaney said the president "is entitled to have a secretary of defense who is committed to that same end."

The Trump administration is making plans to pull all 2,000 troops out of Syria. Trump tweeted last week that “we have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.”

Trump has stood by his Syria decision despite fierce bipartisan blowback, telling detractors that the pullout should come as “no surprise” given his 2016 campaign promises and arguing that America’s role as “Policeman of the Middle East” is not worth the sacrifice.

In the wake of Mattis' departure, Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), also was reported to be leaving his post in protest. McGurk said in a resignation letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that ISIS was on the run, but wasn’t yet defeated -- and that U.S. work in Syria wasn’t yet done.

Since McGurk's announcement, Trump has lambasted him on social media for his role in the Iran nuclear deal brokered by former President Barack Obama. While serving as deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran, McGurk spearheaded the secret negotiations with Iran that led to a prisoner swap and release of four Americans from Evin Prison in Tehran. This coincided with a cash payout to Tehran, ostensibly as part of a legal settlement.

Trump on Monday blamed McGurk for that payout, as he fumed over McGurk's "sympathizers."

"For all of the sympathizers out there of Brett McGurk remember, he was the Obama appointee who was responsible for loading up airplanes with 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH & sending it to Iran as part of the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal (now terminated) approved by Little Bob Corker," Trump tweeted.

Fox News’ Gregg Re and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Babes for Liberty 

Skate boarding Earon on a nice day in October of 2016 

in a photograph by Mess Photography.

"Libertarians believe that being free and independent is a great way to live. We want a system which encourages all people to choose what they want from life; that lets them live, love, work, play, and dream their own way." -lp.org October 11, 2016