Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Just Beginning

No preamble, folks, just starting this blog off with a bang.  You'll just have to find out what all this blog will be about by sticking with me for a while, as I hope you'll do.  One-handed typing isn't conducive to eloquence, I'm finding (I'm fine and on the mend), and really, it's beside the point.  Right now, what matters most to me is working, day by day, to build a more just world, by all means possible.  I'm hoping folks will drop by and share their ideas and experiences, and perhaps take away a few new thoughts as well.  

First up, the case of Mohammed Omer.  This Palestinian journalist writes for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and was going home to Gaza last week after accepting the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism (which he shared with Dahr Jamail).    He was strip-searched at gun-point and physically abused by Israeli security officials at the Allenby Border crossing as he tried to enter the West Bank from Jordan.  You can read details about his experience here. You can sign a petition protesting Israel's treatment of journalists here. Omer is presently hospitalized in Gaza with cracked ribs and other injuries.

I owe a debt of thanks to bookish for getting me off my duff and on with this blog.  Please go pay him a visit and ask him what the teapot looks like!

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you'll come back soon.


20 comments:

Unknown said...

A pleasure to find you've started your own blog, Laura!

Betsy said...

Great start Laura!

LoudounLib said...

Hi Laura! Adding you to my fave bookmarked places :-)

NewDealFarmGrrrlll said...

way to go, Laura! I'm glad you're doing this. Blessed are the peace-makers.

Molly said...

Yay, Laura! Go for it!

Molly said...

Hmmm....what was in the anaesthetic from your hand surgery that resulted in a brand new blog?

Eureka Springs, AR said...

Nice hand work, Laura. /s

I do hope you are recovering quickly with as little pain as possible.

Suzanne said...

woohoo and welcome to the blogosphere. i'll be sure to add ya to my blogroll, laura, and have bookmarked ya.

newspaperbrat said...

Wowie Zowie - you never fail to inspire! Now off to bookmark your brand new JustPeaceNow blog. So happy your recovery is underway and in such fine style. npbrat

neurophius said...

Hi, Laura. Congratulations on your blog. Will look forward to seeing what you have to say.

Rick said...

Woot woot! Nothin' but good times ahead.

Anonymous said...

I'm so delighted you've got this up & running - congratulations (& I've bookmarked you).

BOOKISH said...

WOW..Congratulation

I'm very happy you have started blogging... and very glad to be the one who made it happened so. (or is it the teapot?) LOL

I'm quit sure that we will like your posts.

well, you have beat me and moved faster than I expected. I am obliged to post the photo now.

God bless you and all the peace makers.

Good luck and best wishes.

Elliott said...

Congratulations Laura, and many many more -- posts!

newtonusr said...

what a nice start!

Anonymous said...

Woot!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Laura for letting us share you your wonderful thoughts....

Anonymous said...

I'm proud of you, Lefty.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to blogging, Laura! A nice start, I must say

wrensis said...

Dahr was a rock of solid info when I first started getting out information on the reaity in Iraq. He covered Iraq and Juan Cole offered the history and background. Dahr and I lit candles and prayed for the safe return of the 4 hostages in Iraq, but later Tox Fox was killed. The five of them had had Thanksgiving dinner together before they had been abducted. The other three were finally released. You will find more information than you can digest on both of their sites. Another source of on the ground reality was Riverbend, an Iraqi girl who I believe has taken up refuge in Jordan. To understand the brutality of Gaza is beyond the pale. Thank you for anything you do