I have utopian ideals. And why not, sometimes they help keep me sane. Like the one about everyone working for the same amount of money no matter the profession or task. In other words, a lawyer would make the same as a street sweeper. A doctor would make the same as someone in a daycare.  Who's to say one deserves more money? Isn't money the commodity of prestige? As if to say, 'this person is important because of how much they make' - thus the Porsche, 5 BR home, vacations to the Bahamas (or wherever).  As if to say, 'this person isn't valued very much by our society because all they do is take care of small children all day' - thus the diapers, crying, hugging, constant vigilance and trips to the potty.

    I, too, hear the cry for "MORE JOBS" by both the Demogogues and the Repugnicans. "MORE JOBS!"  How about people do what they love and get appreciated (which translates into dollars) for it? How about that? Rather, what we have is rich people, who can own the factory or businesss, supposedly needing to provide "JOBS" for the rest of the people. And when they don't, they get pilloried for not being good corporate citizens. Since when did we start relying on others to provide for us? (Oh, and by the way, the Repugnicans tell us every chance they get how we're all  too dependent on the government for our welfare -HOORAH!), How to create the kind of society wherein everyone gets to shine.....and get paid for it?

 See, I told you it was utopian !

On Saturday there was a celebration and memorial of the life and work of the late Howard Zinn. Zinn was scheduled to appear at Evergreen to give a talk titled "Three Holy Wars." The memorial celebration of the life of Howard Zinn was organized by Peter Bohmer, Sandy Yannone, Larry Mosqueda, Victoria Larkin, Jeff Antonnellis-Lapp, and Jana Dean.

Speakers giving tribute included Peter Bohmer, Cindy Corrie, Gary Galbraith, Victoria Larkin, Arun Chandra, Lin Nelson, and Josh Simpson.

The following video is the Three Holy Wars lecture, a version of which Howard Zinn was scheduled to give yesterday at Evergreen. The topics contained in the lecture include challenging the idea that a just cause can translate into a just war, and a revision of some of the popular myths about American wars - like the notion that the American Revolution was a popular revolt (Zinn argues that the war was not a popular uprising, but instead a revolt initiated and maintained by owning class interests.)

Howard Zinn's "Three Holy Wars"

After the video a few people made additional statements, and then David Rovics performed closing music.