Okay, Some Positive Things

How Do I Feel Today?

I feel like the Space Shuttle Columbia as it re-entered the atmosphere in 2003. I feel that what little I have is falling apart — much to the joy of the neocons, who are probably at a bar right now raising their mugs of draft beer, proposing toasts, and proclaiming, "We really nailed that little Canary."

Okay, man, think of something POSITIVE

Well, the picture below is something positive. This is sister canary Patty, one of the greatest environmentalists in the state of Georgia. Like me, she got into this because she got tired of seeing all the tree loss in her county. She got involved and did great things in Forsyth County, and then she turned to full time environmentalism by working for a conservation organization, and then more recently, for a much larger, statewide organization.




My hope and dream is that more individuals like Sister Patty will wake up around the world and say, "ENOUGH," and really start giving their all to protect the natural world. It seems like many of us, including myself, would like to do so much more, but Mother Life keeps kicking us in the face and keeps us down.

But really, Patty is making a difference in my state. Since meeting her a few years ago, she has really gained in perspective and understanding of the greater issues. Her increased insight is probably due to the fact that she is an avid reader — that is so important. This country I live in is so utterly uneducated and uninformed.

So, today, I thank you Patty for helping to keep me going.

A few individuals CAN make a difference

If someone came up to me and said, "Well, Canary, what accomplishment are you most proud of this year?" I would have to smile and say, "I helped promote the statewide smoking ban."

The smoking ban was passed by the Georgia legislature this year and went into effect July 1. I'm telling you, it is now so wonderful to go into a restaurant. The air is so cleaner, and I can now more greatly enjoy the aroma of the foods. And the food tastes better, everything is better!I mean, come on, while nearly all restaurants put smokers in a separate area, the smoke was still everywhere in the building.



I really didn't do a lot to promote the new law, but I like to think that I helped make a difference. I went to a political forum and raised the issue, I sent an action alert, I left a message for my state representative. I also encouraged the Georgia Sierra Club lobbyists to take on this issue, and even though it was already on their list, I think my interest likely encouraged them. Even though the final version of the bill was watered down, it passed and was signed by the governor. So, I'm not saying that I singlehandedly made a difference, but I do think I played a small part in a really positive collective effort.

At this point, I would like to give a "shout out" to Brother Canary Gordon, who is president of GASP (Georgians Against Smoking Pollution). He is the one who really did the hard work in getting the smoking ban passed. He is a great hero of the movement and someone I deeply respect.

A quick diatribe

Now, as for smokers, I have one thing to say. Every time I see a tobacco addict stuffing a lit paper stick into his or her mouth, I'm thinking, "Wow, this is the greatest corporate coup of our time." Even with all the lawsuits and settlements, a whole industry is getting rich by addicting people to a drug, poisoning them, and then murdering one third of them. Now, that is free market capitalism at its finest. I'm so damn proud to be an American!

Yellow Canary
"The Troubled Bird"