Dear Journal,

An article:

LONDON - Researchers say a new find near the famous Stonehenge monument shows the religious significance of the site.

The smaller prehistoric site is being called "Bluehenge" because of the colour of the stones that were placed there thousands of years ago but have since disappeared. All that is left are the holes made when the stones were put in place.

An artist's impression of the stone circle as it would have looked in prehistoric times was released Tuesday.

Researchers believe the newly discovered stone circle and the larger Stonehenge circle may mark a "domain of the dead" that was linked to the "domain of the living" by the River Avon.

Experts say the stones were incorporated into the circle in about 2,500 B.C.


I find this really inspiring. Two circles of stones. One for the living... one for the dead? One for the plane of the living, one for a transcendence, a middle plane between the two? The stones of one circle missing... the river, suggesting constant flow of life, travel, cleansing. There is something there... there is a story in this.


I'm gradually learning more about American history. I don't want to be as ignorant as Americans are about other countries' histories. I find their own fascination with their rebellion and past somewhat tiresome at times... especially when Republicans use patriotism as a message for unthinking compliance.

The rebellion, as far as I can tell, was all about uncompliance and protesting unfair taxes and laws set out by the British Parliament. Following certain fundamentalist Republicans' logic, the very Americans that they point to for an example of unquestioning loyalty towards the union of the colonies are morally 'un-American' simply because they actually *did* question the ruling authority (Britian) at the time.

What would the United States of America be if they had not stood against tyranny then? I doubt they would be United. I'm not the first to wonder, and I won't be the last. I think it's an important question to ask - what if.

I can envision an alternate USA - I'll call it Fractured British America or FBA for short - that runs from Maine down to South Carolina, and perhaps as far West as Tornado Alley. California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, would be a part of an almagorated Mexico run rampant and wild. The north of California, Washington State, Montana, et al, would be absorbed by Canada; potentially portioned off as Alaska was for sale to Russia and other (obviously different than today) G8 countries. Florida and parts of Lousiana would belong to Cuba. I can almost *hear* the shudder of revulsion this would bring to the average American today.

From Wikipedia:

The Boston Massacre was an incident that led to the deaths of five civilians at the hands of British troops on March 5, 1770, the legal aftermath of which helped spark the rebellion in some of the British American colonies, which culminated in the American Revolution. A tense situation because of a heavy British military presence in Boston boiled over to incite brawls between soldiers and civilians and eventually led to troops discharging their muskets after being attacked by a rioting crowd. Three civilians were killed at the scene of the shooting, and two died after the incident.

From an article posted on Metro Toronto website:

Gwen Thompson is a blond grade schooler, wearing a pretty sundress and summery flip-flops.

She’s also homeless. And a doll. A $95 US doll whose fictional background as an American Girl character aimed at 8-year-olds has drawn some criticism over the propriety of marketing homelessness to children for profit.

“For $95 — more than your average homeless person would dream of spending on a rather mediocre baby substitute — Gwen Thompson can be yours. A mixed message if ever there was one,” wrote Andrea Peyser in a Sept. 24 column that launched the debate over the doll’s merits.

But advocates for the homeless aren’t so quick to condemn American Girl, saying raising awareness for an issue that affects people of all ages is positive.

“On that count, this kind of doll would do that,’’ said Carol Howes, director of program services for Covenant House Toronto, Canada’s largest youth shelter.

I'm not impressed. Profitting from the existance of homeless youth is disgusting. At the very least, a portion of any funds raised by the purchase of these dolls should go towards some kind of program like Covenant House. You want your daughters to appreciate the fact that there are children less fortunate than themselves? Take them to a shelter to donate some clothing. Take them to the Food Bank to sort cans and hand out groceries. Ask them to help you pick out a toy for a little boy or girl for Christmas to drop off for Toy Mountain. Knit a scarf with her square by square. Buy them a $95 doll that cute-ifies homelessness? Bitch, please.

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