Oscar Lopez Rivera, a person to Learn About (and either honor or be concerned about) this Sunday June 11th, 2017 as he declined to lead the Puerto Rican Parade in NYC even after corporate sponsors withdrew support

 I was fishing round the radio and went to about 10 stations after hearing some nice Hispanic music. I landed at NPR with the DemocracyNow.org commentator, Amy Goodman, with Juan Gonzalez interviewing Oscar Lopez Rivera who'd been released from decades in jail, many of those years in solitary. "Yikes!" I thought,"I can't miss this." I learned a lot in a  short period of time. What seemed like Oscar Lopez Rivera being part of FALN (if I am recalling that right, a 'terrorist' type group resposible for bombings, turned out to be more of a case of him believing in being against colonialism and not taking part in anything that hurt or claimed human life."

(Now after learning a bit more from articles in print and online, FALN is linked to the a few bombings and deaths of a few people. It seems Oscar Lopez Rivera is saying he was not involved in Those Events resulting in loss of life (Not so sure what he'd say about Property...). There was a lack of evidence I think so that is why more than a dozen members of FALN who were in jail for 25-35 years were allowed to go free by President Obama. There do seem to be two serious sides to this issue, the main players and of course Oscar Lopez Rivera as freedom fighter versus 'terrorist."

On his NPR interview, Oscar Lopez Rivera shared that the premise the Puerto Rico has the inalienable right to independence is what he was fighting for, and that it is akin to other countries and places who have wrestled with the problem of being a sub-group of a ruling class and government they cannot readily participate in with adequate representation. He said 169 public schools are going to lose funding and possibly close in Puerto Rico.

That happens to be the number of towns in CT, so maybe they could help have sister efforts to connect with the ailing schools (even though yes, they have their challenges also. Maybe more folks from PR could help with Sustainability (which happens to be the next talk on NPR about the necessity of joining together as the majority of humanity rather than allow five powerful families to control the world. We need to not poison the earth so life can be sustained.)

The echoes of challenge whether political or ecological is one we can all reflect on in a meaningful way this week and month. In New York, its "Make Music NY!" Perhaps more advocacy could take root in the culture at large particularly through the arts and even the parades.  All the best and feel free to claim our teen son Kaelan who is in spirit as a friend to help inspire you on your journey.

He shared a lot of good life evergy and values in his decade and a half of life, exiting unexpectedly on June 16, 2009 (eight years ago as of 6/16/17.) Google for posts and info or read through some of the titles of these blog posts to help with healing and preventive measures on many fronts, including keeping the faith that life is worth living with integrity, friends, and shared values of peace and respect.

New York has the Gay Pride Parade on June 10th, 2017 so that is another feather in our country's cap to find ways to allow for free will, mutual respect and support as we find meaningful ways to live in a democracy and caring world. As one person who spoke to the values of American freedom, having the right and protection to exercise one's religious beliefs that do not harm others and be in social relationships or intimate relationships that are based on mutual consent (not one party giving into the other or being pressured to be or stay in a relationshp) are fundamental tenets of liviing in a democracy.

Expecting to have those rights implies extending those same rights to others. 
Live and let live, within the rule of common law.' With various cultural, religious, social and regional customs and 'rules' there is plenty to debate. Keeping the important matters such as clarifying the rights for a woman to have control over her body and her eggs, and a man to also have control over his body and his sperm are topics that are important to consider and understand as growing options for surrogacy, in vitro and frozen eggs, sperm and embryos emerge.

The legal 'protections' and 'responsibilities' for being intimate, for agreeing to co-parent biologically or as a donor or surrogate, for living together, getting legally married, having children, step-children, adopted children together and then all the possibilities for lifelong changes in the roles or living conditions (custody, separation, divorce, etc) need to be more readily available online. So much can vary state to state (and even within regions linked to judges, attorneys, services, domestic abuse and foster care and social services, etc.)Whether in the US of another country the options could be spelled out clearly and shared with young people even in simple terms from about after 5 up so everyone understands there are freedoms or options they could discuss with caring, fair-minded local and national resource people.

The option for Puerto Rico to request to become the 51st state of the United States is being covered in mainstream media. A paper vote of the those who took the time to do so (about 25%) were slightly in favor of doing so (or maybe moreso.) Yet without the other 75% really being screened that does not necessarily indicate the will of the people. Some say the lack of turn out indicate the majority is not in favor. Yet the problems are pressing and hopefully more people on all fronts can address the concerns in meaningful ways.