An Opportunity to Give Your Input on the Route Transfer of SR 89A

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Forum Administrator

Subsequent to the meeting with the City on January 19th, the DORR Board decided to encourage membership and supporters to contribute toward the debate. You now have that opportunity! We have now placed a poll on our Web site:

SR 89A Route Transfer Poll

We encourage you to go onto the site and complete what is a very simple, straight forward poll on what you think about the proposed route transfer of 89A. Whatever you feel about this, there will be changes in West Sedona. The Council will be making their decision on February 22nd. As a result, there will either be continuous lighting on 89A from Airport Road to Dry Creek Road, or the City will take back the road and follow other proposals, such as those put forward by the CivTech report, in order to ensure increased safety on this section of SR89A. If you would like to read more about the City’s Proposal and Presentation, you can find information at:

SR 89A Route Transfer Meetings & Information

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Common Sense 7: The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism

Posted on January 16, 2011 by beverly coleman

According to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh the following 14 precepts are requirements for building and maintaining peaceful/healthy individuals and community activism:

1. Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.

2. Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others’ viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.

3. Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.

4. Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contact and visits, images, sound. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.

5. Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.

6. Do not maintain anger or hatred. As soon as anger and hatred arise, practice the meditation on compassion in order to deeply understand the persons who have caused anger and hatred. Learn to look at other beings with the eyes of compassion.

7. Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Learn to practice breathing in order to regain composure of body and mind, to practice mindfulness, and to develop concentration and understanding.

8. Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

9. Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest of to impress people. Do not utter words that cause diversion and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things you are not sure of. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.

10. Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community should, however, take a clear stand against oppression and injustice, and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.

11. Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to life. Select a vocation which helps realize your ideal compassion.

12. Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and to prevent war.

13. Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others but prevent others from enriching themselves from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.

14. Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. Sexual expression should not happen without love and commitment. In sexual relationships, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.
[Edited 10/14/08 22:35pm]

For more information and to learn how the Socially Engaged Buddhist community is putting these precepts in action, go to

Shambala Sun: Buddhism, Culture, Meditation, LIfe

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Are We Happy With This?

Posted on January 10, 2011 by William Timberman

From Harper’s Magazine, an online article by Ken Silverstein which ought to make every Arizonan wince, particularly in the wake of Saturday’s terrible events in Tucson.

Tea party in the Sonora: For the future of G.O.P. governance, look to Arizona

His take isn’t a pretty one, but it seems likely to be the first of many similar condemnations from concerned people in the rest of the country and elsewhere in the world. Here’s a sample:

The general unsightliness of the capitol makes it a fitting home for today’s Arizona legislature, which is composed almost entirely of dimwits, racists, and cranks.  Collectively they have bankrupted the state through a combination of ideological fanaticism on the Republican right and acquiescence and timidity on the part of G.O.P. moderates and Democrats. Although dozens of states are facing budget crises, the situation in Arizona is arguably the nation’s worst, graver even than in California. A horrific budget deficit has been papered over with massive borrowing and accounting gimmickry, and the state may yet have to issue IOUs to employees and vendors. All-day kindergarten has been eliminated statewide, and some districts have adopted a four-day school week. Arizona’s state parks, despite bringing in 2 million visitors and $266 million annually, have lost 80 percent of their budget, with up to two thirds of the parks now in danger of closure. The legislature slashed the budget for the Department of Revenue, which required the agency to fire hundreds of state auditors and tax collectors; lawmakers boasted that these measures saved $25 million, but a top official in the department estimated that the state would miss out on $174 million in tax collections as a result.

Is this a fair assessment of our legislature, and of our Democratic Party? Fair or not, I suspect that if we don’t redouble our efforts to talk some sense into our neighbors, this is likely to become the consensus view of our state. Not a happy thought, is it?

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At last, Sedona is becoming a REAL community

Posted on December 28, 2010 by beverly coleman

This holiday season was the first time since arriving in Sedona (1995) that I felt the presence of true community.  This sense of being a part of a caring, sharing community began at Thanksgiving dinner at the Elks where I dined with my friends, patients, neighbors, politicians, community service providers, business people and their employees — over 1,000 of our 11,000+ residents (10%) shared a dinner of Giving Thanks.

At Christmas, Sedona’s holiday love fest became even more palpable.  Every place I turned I was invited to a community dinner with “no strings attached.”  I wasn’t asked what dish I planned to bring.  I wasn’t expected to pay, pray or stay the evening.  I was only expected to be there with all the others who were invited.  Hundreds of smiling faces greeted friends and neighbors, people who often silently passed each other in stores and along the streets of Sedona.

Who were we and where were we invited to come? We were all religions at the ecumenical Christmas morning breakfast at the Jewish Community of Sedona.  We were all ages, from many places merged into one at the Sedona Community Center Christmas lunch.  We were side by side with visitors, business people, many of Sedona’s public servants and each other at the joyous Christmas dinner prepared by the Coffee Pot Restaurant family.

Some were there for the comfort of being with “family.”  Some wanted to leave their “holiday blues” at home for a few hours.  Everybody looked forward to the delicious food.  For all of these gifts, we thank our hosts, those who cooked for us, served us, laughed with us, made special gifts for our tables… loved our community.  Next season – and all the days between — I hope that the sense of community continues to grow in the hearts and deeds of us all. Happy New Year, Sedona!

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Fox Viewers the Most Uninformed. Really?????

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Jessica Williamson

University of Maryland study finds Fox viewers most uninformed.

Fox News Viewers Are The Most Misinformed: Study

Also found that sun rose today in the east ……

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Today’s Scrooges

Posted on December 14, 2010 by emmajc@q.com

As Christmas gets closer and I hear our country’s news about extending the Bush tax cuts for the ultra- wealthy, I can’t help but think about the story of Bob Cratchit and Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The greed and wealth of the miser Scrooge are revealed as he refuses to give his employee, Cratchit, a raise for the coming year and makes him work overtime on Christmas Eve. At the same time, Cratchit’s impoverished family awaits his return home, wondering what their Christmas will be like.

There is a parallel of this famous story with our administration, Congress, and many others in our country who favor a tax break to the wealthiest of us while unemployment is nearly ten per cent and many, too, are wondering what their Christmas will be like.

As we all remember, Scrooge experiences an epiphany later in the tale and has a change of heart. He gives Cratchit a raise, brings food to his home, and spends Christmas day joyfully with the family. All is well!

Those in our country who want to help only the wealthy are the Scrooges of today. One wonders if Washington will have an epiphany and change of heart, too, and vote to discontinue the tax cuts for the very wealthy.

Posted in Current Politics | 1 Comment

Obama’s Taxes

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Jessica Williamson

Whatever else the President is, he doesn’t appear to want to be a leader. I don’t know if he could have gotten a better deal from the republicans, and I am quite sure they’d throw us all under the bus come January 1st and raise our taxes and eliminate unemployment payments. But Obama isn’t convincing. Did he even fight?

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Common Sense 6: Thoughts About Obama’s Tax Decision

Posted on December 10, 2010 by beverly coleman

I have ambivalent feelings about Obama’s Tax decision.  Perhaps it was ultimately the only or best possible course of action but he did not ask “we the people” for OUR opinion or OUR help or OUR mobilization or give us a chance to demonstrate OUR level of concern.  If “we the people” were to fail in our intensity or intelligence, so be it.  Then WE would have to see our failings, take the blame and pay the price.  But he didn’t even ask us which was discrediting.  And he did not give “we the people” a chance to inform ourselves and each other or to see who we REALLY are and how much power we REALLY have or how loyal we will REALLY be if and when the “sh–  hits the fan.”  His move seemed paternal and lacking in faith that “we the people” might have come to the same OR BETTER decision as he.  I think that “we the people” are his REAL power.  He hasn’t lost us yet but he’ll have to trust us more.  After all we ARE just waking up and we DID demonstrate to him in 2008 that we CAN BE formidable when we are needed by the right person(s) and issues that we believe in.  That’s what I think.  I am wondering what others think about this.

Posted in Current Politics, Democratic Party, Economics | 2 Comments

Reward Work Not Wealth

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Jessica Williamson

Krugman links to an interesting site regarding progressive deficit reduction plans:

Our Statement of Principles

And when did honest work become a bad word in America? Seems like we’re patsies if we work for a living.

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One (Very Important) Democrat Who Gets It

Posted on November 13, 2010 by William Timberman

If we want to explain to people where their jobs went, and why the ones that remain pay so little, here’s a powerful article on our lack of an industrial policy by William Greider in the current issue of The Nation, republished at ZNet:

With the World Economy on the Brink, America Must Start Producing for Itself Again

Democrats dedicated to combatting the egregious economic nonsense being spouted by Republicans these days, and, it must be admitted, by some Democrats as well, should find powerful encouragement in President Obama’s developing commitment to bringing industrial production back to the United States. Make no mistake, this may be the most important policy shift in Washington in decades. When even Andy Grove, the ex-CEO of Intel, which almost single-handedly invented outsourcing in the Eighties, has signaled his approval, we may finally be able to look forward to real progress on the economic front.

If we as Democrats are serious about bringing middle-class prosperity back to the U.S., but have been frustrated by the intransigence of free-traders from both parties, this article can go a long way toward legitimizing our arguments. Here’s the section on President Obama’s efforts, which ought to be memorized by every Democrat in Arizona, and repeated in every public forum we have access to:

Doubters may say that Obama doesn’t have the nerve to tackle this problem. They may be right. But the president is clearly thinking along these lines. He is the first president in thirty years to call for restoration of US manufacturing. This past summer he pushed modest tax measures that give a small advantage to home-based producers. The impact was so meager that Republicans didn’t bother to object. But the GOP may also have grasped that measures favoring US factories over foreign ones will be wildly popular with voters. Obama repeated the message before a Labor Day audience in Milwaukee, saying, “I don’t want to see solar panels and wind turbines and electric cars made in China. I want them made right here in the United States of America.”

The best evidence for Obama’s potential comes from liberal-labor reformers fighting the trench warfare on trade cases while advocating far more fundamental reforms. “The president has been true to his word and very supportive on trade-law enforcement — better than any president since before NAFTA,” says Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers. “The president is trying to do the right thing on outsourcing, on taking away tax breaks from multinationals.”

The next time Jan Brewer or Joe Arpaio, or one of their idiot henchman tells you that Mexican border-crossers are stealing our jobs and our precious bodily fluids, ask them what they make of this. Try to do it in public, where God and everybody can hear their answer first-hand.

Posted in Democratic Party, Economics, Industrial Policy, Labor | Leave a comment