IMPORTANT HISTORY

Lest we forget.....let us remember how it was, not so long ago.

IMPORTANT HISTORY
Something to remember! This is the story of women who were ground-breakers. These brave women from the early 1900s made all the difference in the lives we live today. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

Do our daughters and our sisters know the price that was paid to earn rights
or women here, in North America? 2009 is the 80th Anniversary of the
Persons Case in Canada, which finally declared women in Canada to be Persons!

The women were innocent and defenseless, but when, in North America,
women picketed in front of The White House, carrying signs asking for the vote,
they were jailed. And by the end of the first night in jail, those women were barely
alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of obstructing sidewalk traffic.


Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the
Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the
suffragists imprisoned there because they had dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from
an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

Lucy Burns
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left
her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

Dora Lewis
They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed
and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and
suffered a heart attack.

Alice Paul
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a
chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. All women who have every voted, have ever owned property, have ever enjoyed equal rights need to remember that women’s rights had to be fought for in Canada as well.

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know,
so that we remember to celebrate the rights we enjoy.
“Knowledge is Freedom: hide it, and it withers; share it, and it blooms”

COPY RIGHTS AND INFRINGEMENTS

Hello my dear readers,

It came to my attention today that it was not such a good idea to put my writings, as such as they are, on my blog for all to see. That there are those who will take advantage and that I am way too trusting. Therefore, I have deleted all of my stories from the blog. I loved having them there for your enjoyment and perusal, but it's a sad thing that trust no longer has the value it once had. So sorry.

For anyone who may be interested, all of my writings have been entered as written by ruie Mullins and copies of same have been registered with the Writers Guild West in Beverly Hills, CA for safe keeping. This is for my protection as a writer that I will always get credit for anything written by me.

Just a word of caution.

always with love, ruie

Ogham - Ancient Irish/Celtic Alphabet

Untitled

After a while you learn
the difference between holding a hand
and chaining a soul...and you learn
that love doesn't mean security, and
you begin to learn that kisses aren't
contracts, and presents aren't promises

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up
and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman, not the
grief of a child...and you learn to build all your roads
on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain, and
futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much...so you plant your own
garden and decorate your own soul, instead
of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure...
that you really are strong, and you really
do have worth. And, you learn and learn,
with every 'goodbye' you learn.

p.w.e.corgill
@1989
I don't know where I found this, but I just love it
and wanted to share, it's so true.

What If

What if the world was kinder
and everyone was free
what if the world was tender
to each other like you and me

what if I said I need you
what if you said you need me too
would the world be safe
what if that were true

what if I said I love you
what if you said you love me too
would it be such a tragedy
to love me as I love you

what if every morning
there were rainbows on the dew
and stars at night fell from the skies
to touch the hearts and melt the sorrows
and compassion was our view

what if I said I love you
what if you said you love me too
would it be such a tragedy
to love me as I love you

ruie...What If - a work in progress

William Shakespeare

Doubt thou that the stars are fire;
Doubt thou that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt that I love.

Hamlet

Sent by a Friend

"LOVE TRANSFORMS EVERYTHING"
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Yesterday is gone, today is here and tomorrow has not arrived, what are you doing at this moment to improve your life!
Every day there are many lessons to be learned in life, even about yourself.
The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
Love and family always come first, without your loved ones, the gifts would have no meaning. Cherish and appreciate these times.
Take one day at a time and enjoy the moment.
Tomorrow will get here fast, do what your heart desires, if not you may regret it tomorrow and in future.
Friendship starts with smile.
Hope is all we have, keep on hoping.
God is love, start the day with God in you.
The storms of life reveal the strength of our Faith.
...anonymous

Story People

I've had some of my best conversations with strangers, she said, because they have no idea who they're dealing with...from Story People

This is one of the most fun web sites ever!

More from Mike Dooley

The trick with imagination is remembering to use it.

Visualize every day.

Notes From the Universe

Life is like a dance and we're partners. Setbacks, delays, and detours?
Heck, they're just like some of the steps in the mambo, tango, and cha-cha.
If you dissected the movements and saw them without regard to the rest of
the dance, everyone would look like total dorks. But when you see the
big picture...poetry in motion.

In life, setbacks, delays, and detours are often just my way of "keeping"
you for something way better. Don't let them discourage you, don't lose
faith, and whatever you do, don't stop dancing.

Your most able choreographer,
The Universe

PS--You choose the dance, the ballroom, or the disco, and let me write the steps, 'kay?

...from Notes from the Universe New Perspectives From An Old Friend by Mike Dooley
as featured in The Secret

Notes

Regrets are a waste of time crippling you in the present.

No matter what happens; keep your childish innocence.

Writings:

She said that even the purple grapes smelled of purple.

Magic

I wish I had a magic wand
To wave about your head
To sweep you to the clouds
And fulfill your dreams
Instead, alas I am only mortal
And magic I do not possess
Except, the magic of my love

I LOVE YOU MORE

The soft light'
Of early morning
Casts shadows on my cup
As I drift away in thought
I cannot say in truth go find the love you seek
For in my heart I know your love is mine to keep
I cannot say in truth
I love you less than I did before
For in truth I do not love you less
I love you more

SUNDAY

I love to lie in my bed on Sunday
To look out my window
At the peaceful green on the sloping hill
To feel the quiet as it surrounds
The early morning
And every now and then to hear
The cricket call the hummingbird
To visit at my window
Just below the limb of the tree that protects
The Jasmine
Safe in my Queen Anne bed
Pillows plumped
Down blanket scrunched around my legs
Safe and secure from the world outside
My coffee cup seams sweet and savory
Among the scent of early morning dew
While music envelops my very soul
And caresses my mind
The sleepy world of my environment
Not yet awake to spoil the pleasure
Of the quiet, sweet morning of Sunday

Poetry by ruie
from "Two Poets"

SOON

The night lay like black silk
silence loomed from every corner
as a soft layer of mist fell on
the window
the car seemed to sense that it too must be still
nothing dared to interrupt her thoughts
how could it end this way
no shouts, no recriminations
just a whimper so small it could hardly be heard
it was over after all the years of trying
it was finally over
it was what she had wanted for so very long
then why was she crying
tears streamed down her face as if they were a part
of the mist
quiet tears of relief or were they tears of regret?
a little of both perhaps
if you won't move out by Sunday, then I will
the words fell from her lips before she knew she had said them
no, he said, I will
they stood there and just looked at each other
both knowing, both feeling empty
it was over
marriage, children, family
never to be the same again
it had been six months since that day
yet here she was driving the streets at midnight
not far from the house
but there was something about the absolute silence
somehow it kept her sane
how many times now had she laid on the kitchen floor
in terror not knowing how do it alone
yet knowing she had no choice
she couldn't turn back
not now, not ever
so the midnight ride became a ritual
the tears, the mist, the silky black sky
all a part of saying goodbye
soon, she told herself
soon she would find her way
and get on with life
but tonight it seemed as if soon was all gone now
somehow it was different
she stopped at the end of the street
the wall loomed large in front of her
all she had to do was back up, step on the gas
and it would end
the fear, the terror, the empty feeling
suddenly a scream shattered the silence
a light shone in the window
are you alright?
she rolled the window down
the officer looked anxiously at her tear stained face
yes, yes, I'm okay now
he looked at her for a moment or two
you better get home, it looks like it's going to be a wet night
thank you she said, I'm on my way
as she drove home in the silence
tears streaming once again down her face
she had come close
but she was still here
something inside telling her to have faith
it will be alright
it's over and a new day is dawning
soon
.....by ruie

Tooting my own Horn ruie's Totems

Each of ruie’s Totems from Living Backstreet is a one of a kind, customed designed original (no two are exactly the same) and represent ruie’s own interpretation of an artistic inspiration. The materials used are natural products, pine wood, silk, hemp, burlap and cotton. Each totem representing something specific, e.g. a Russian Muse, a flute player and his companion, an Egyptian palace guard or an old Indian woman expressing her dignity. An object d’art to remind you that there is so much more to you than just the obvious. A Totem is not a religious icon but is a symbol of unity, tradition, pride, strength and protection.

The totems are made from recyclable materials and are environmentally safe. The head piece is 9” by 2” The contemporary base is approximately 3” x 3”
The body piece is of various heights 22”, 26” or 28”.
Contact ruie at rumu1844@gmail.com

Here's a Thought!

You can live your whole life and never know who you really are until you see yourself through the eyes of others!

Martha Graham-- Keeping the Channel Open

A dear friend sent this to me and I thought I would like to share it with all of you.

Quotation of the Day for May 10, 2009


"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it.

"It is not your business to determine how good it is: nor how valuable it is: nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.

"No artist is ever pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine satisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."

- Martha Graham

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Anonymous

"Unsaid words when you love can be like very painful slaps."

"Real love whatever the time, whatever the obstacles...lasts"

"Moon tears and lilac mist to comfort me and please my soul and heart. I bring to you my gifts of love and harmony"

"Poetry doesn't most usually spring from you, but from sorrows."

"There's a rainbow laying yonder o'er the hill as green as jade
Someone dreams of love forever, in the prayers that she has prayed
She was Lady Gwen and wished that she had wings and could fly above
the clouds and mist, her eyes filled with dreams and sadness and wishes."

"Trust your heart and never turn away from love."

Love at first sight? "A heart recognizes a heart"

Oh how I love being Irish!

O Son of Spirit

The best beloved of all things in my sight is justice
turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me
And neglect it not that I may confide in Thee
By its aid thou shalt know with thine own eyes
and not through the eyes of others and shalt
know of thine own knowledge and not through the
knowledge of thy neighbour. Ponder this in thy
heart how it behooveth thee to be. Verily
justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My
loving kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

Treasurers of Wonderment

http://www.treasurersofwonderment.com

Arts & Spirituality 'Workshop February 2-7, 2009

Desert Rose Baha'i Institute hosted international artist Hong Tatt Foo this week and what a week it was. A few of us were given the incredible opportunity to have Mr. Foo as our mentor and instructor. I can't begin to thank him enough for being so kind and generous with his talent. Allowing us to learn and feel good about ourselves. These are my contribution to a week of absolute wonder.

Wild bird & JuJu Man on black silk with burlap backing

Living Backstreet
Fiber Art by ruie

MUST SEE

http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/the-inauguration-at-last/

The Inauguration and The Pursuit of Happiness NYC Times Maira Kalman

MUSIC IS THE FOOD OF HEARTS AND SOULS

Bahá'u'lláh, in this glorious period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing and music are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 378)

The Inauguration of Barack Obama

In the words of Martin Luther King, "we shall overcome, some day...we are free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last!" May God bless Barack Obama and keep him safe.

Thought for the Day

Keep God in first place in your life and He will take you to places you have only dreamed of...

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"The highest expression of civilization is not its art but the supreme tenderness that people are strong enough to feel and show toward one another. Art proceeds out of an exquisite awareness of life. The creative spirit and the compassionate spirit are not things apart but kindred manifestations of response to life. If our civilization is breaking down, as it appears to be, it is not because we lack brainpower to meet its demands but because our feelings are being dulled."...from HUMAN OPTIONS by Norman Cousins

Thought for the Day

Dare to dream a new dream; a failure is not a denial, it's just a delay...Joel Osteen

The Rule of Saint Benedict

Hear, O my son, the words of the Lord, and incline thy heart's ear.

AL - LE - LU - IA

Gregorian chanting inspires even, relaxed breathing...by using only three notes and repeating the same phrase many times, we can sense inside our bodies the effects of chanting...from The Mozart Effect by Don Campbell

GHANDI

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.