WI Capital on Lockdown

As stories fly about windows being welded shut at the capital building (and a credible source for this hasn't been found) one thing that remains and IS verified is the lock down on the capital building for "cleaning purposes". Though, there are tweets from inside the capital saying that they can't see anyone cleaning the capital. Here's the deal. Like it or not, Left or Right, this is in our State Constitution;

Article I, §4 – ANNOT. The legislature cannot prohibit an individual from entering the capitol or its grounds. 59 Atty. Gen. 8. Article I, §4 Right to assemble and petition. Section 4. The right of the people peaceably...... to assemble, to consult for the common good, and to petition the government, or any department thereof, shall never be abridged." 

Walker's actions are illegal, bottom line.

Let freedom ring, I guess. 

Also, because I am tired of hearing that "Union Thugs" are violent at the capital, here's a Press Release from City of Madison Police Officers saying how they are thankful that things continue to remain peaceful at the capital.

What I have to say about the negative

I am going to come straight out and say it. Some people in this world are just despicable people. Some people in this world just commit despicable actions. What is the difference, you might ask? I'd like to think that the people writing the horrid things that they are about me are, in the real world, good people; They stand by their beliefs and care very much for their friends and families. They give to charity and care about their fellow man. They love and they cry, and they dream. They are people. Their actions may make them look like despicable people, but they aren't. They are defending what they believe in, in a convoluted way. They are fighting for what they think is right, in a very nasty way. They are people who committed a despicable action, in my opinion, but they are still just people.

I know that in time, I will fade once again into obscurity. This story will be forgotten, while others remain and that is just fine by me. Wonderful, really. I would much rather be known for the fiction that I create rather than articles. I wrote for my college's paper. I was, in point of fact, the Editor in Chief for a time. I disliked politics of any kind because of the animosity it creates and this is a perfect example.

I know that I didn't lie, though I have been accused of lying. I know that I am a decent person, a kind person, a compassionate person. That's why all of this has affected me so personally. Because people are attacking me. They attack my character. I am just glad that the rock I have to cling to in this raging river of animosity is the fact that I am a good person. Anyone who takes the time to know me outside of a blog would learn that as well.

This is a very hard time for the State of Wisconsin. Things are crazy in ways that we have never seen before. People are watching their politicians now! They are paying attention to law and by-law. Civics are alive and well and people are paying attention. There are things to remember in a time like this; Have a stance but don't allow it to make you stand over others. Bend like the willow, and do not break. Be kind to others. Listen; not just with your ears but with your heart. Do not dismiss things as hoax just because someone more fanatical than the next tells you to, because they know it will create a sensation.

I am not telling anyone to take my side or stand with me. I am not telling anyone to believe what I believe because each person must believe in themselves first. I will not be forced to hate Republicans or Tea Party members because a large group of them decides to darken my blog's door. I will stand with those I feel are right, because it is my right... just like it is yours to stand against us because it is your right. I will not out-shout you. I extend my hand in greeting to speak with you, to be open with you, to truly listen with my ears and with my heart. Show me more than statistics. Show me your heart.

I feel that Governor Walker is crossing that threshold from despicable action to despicable person. Why do I say this? Because he refuses to listen. He refuses to back down, and therefore propagates the refusal to back down on the left. There's no reasoning with a person who considers their own stance "THE ONLY" stance. To have someone like this in office is terrifying. I did not vote for this man. I know that some of you out there agree with his stance on things and that is your right to do so. Do you also agree with his stance on not talking it out with the other parties involved? If so, I have to say that you and I would not make great friends.

I have never been a person to judge others. I am a live and let live kind of gal except where it affects my family and friends. I have several friends and family members who would be affected by this. As a Democratic voter, I too will be affected by the crippling of unions. I side with those at the capital; my friends, my family, my kids' teachers, my local police officers, the laborers, the firefighters. I side with them because I side with those would who have our Governor listen. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that stance, and anyone to argue me on it is not worth my time.

I thank you all for taking the time to read this. I thank you for your support, your kind words, and even your arguments with me. You are all people. Go live. Go laugh with your friends and love your lovers and hold your children close. Go dream dreams and stand by your beliefs. Remember this; Your enemy today may be your friend tomorrow so choose your words wisely.

Much love to all of you.

Scott Walker Asked to Leave Local Restaurant

Come looking for an article about Scott Walker being booted from a Madison restaurant? Yes, you came to the right place, but at the request of the restaurant owner due to abusive phone calls, the article has been hidden for the time being.

PLEASE REFER TO THIS BLOG POST:
http://mymindstain.blogspot.com/2011/03/scott-walker-asked-to-leave-local.html
This raises a wonderful point. Why should a restaurant owner be afraid to refuse service to any person? Would the same people have started calling that restaurant and making threats if the person they asked to leave was Black? Muslim? Democrat? No. No they would not.

For those of you who know which restaurant it is, please, at the request of the owner, do not share this information. Not only are they getting TONS of supporter phone calls, but very nasty and threatening ones as well. This is their place of business, and as with any business they have the right to refuse service to anyone. When I have talked again with the owner, the content may be visible once more but while you are waiting, please discuss what YOU think about being able to refuse service to ANYONE, even if that someone is a government official.

Thanks so much for your patience.

Naomi Houser

*Update*
By ANY person, I don't mean discriminatory reasons. I had assumed that was given, but I suppose on the internet you never know. So yeah, NOT discriminatory reasons to refuse service...

*Update! 9:54am*
To respond, yes I have seen the other blogs out there claiming this is all a hoax. Since I have responded to those blogs and they have yet to get back to me, I will respond here because I believe in a certain amount of transparency.

On the "recorded phone conversation" to be found out there on the web, the blogger claims that the establishment denies this happened in their restaurant. From what I can make of it, it sounds to me like they don't want to give a statement one way or the other. I would assume that this is because of what I have already stated, which is because they are receiving threatening phone calls from crazed right wing people. Also on this "recording" you can apparently hear them pulling the blog post down. Well, that's just funny. I have been at this blog for more than a year, and before this no mention is ever made of this establishment because I have never been there. I don't live in the same city, or even county. What it sounds like to me is they are reading the blog for the first time, which is most likely the case. Also, there are bloggers saying that they spoke to Walker's staff and they said he was never at the establishment. Firstly, if it were my boss, I probably wouldn't spread that around either. Secondly, I doubt they reached any staff at all. Their phones have been ringing off the hook with more important questions than where the Governor is dining. As for this being a publicity stunt, it's not. I wouldn't have pulled the post and gone to all the trouble of trying to get people to remove the establishment's name if it was. It's because crazy idiots are threatening their well being. I think have said that three or four times now...

I share this blog with my friends. It's not something that ever gets read except by people who love and support me. That anyone else read it was quite the shock. Call that irresponsible journalism if you'd like, and that's fine. I did the responsible thing and pulled the post when I was asked to because of the threats the establishment is receiving. None of it is a hoax, none of it was or is a lie. For those of you who believe it is, it's not in my power or patience to pander to every question you have but I can try. This page links to my Facebook which I check most often. You can send me a message there, or leave a comment with your email address and question and I will try to get back to you. Because the comments are moderated, no one but me will see your email address or question comment, unless you would like them to.

In the meantime, it is looking like the only people actually posting the name and number are the crazed right wingers who are making the threatening phone calls. I wish they would give me the go-ahead to tell their name because they could really use the support right now.

Have a great day everyone.

*Updated - 11:49am*

Very sorry about the internet silence, I needed to take a couple of days away from this madness. It's not often that I get this much mail and hatred pointed at me, so it was rather new. All of the comments except those that contained the establishment's name in it have been posted, even the ones insulting or harassing me. Not sure why someone would think that there's something in my "KOOLAID", but I suppose that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I was asked to tell about how I had heard about this so that it might better clarify things, and I happen to think that's a wonderful idea. I have a friend on Facebook who had mentioned it and posted a link to the restaurant's website. I asked her if she had a source for that, and she had had friends who were there that night. I called the place and spoke to a very nice gentleman bartender who confirmed it, but he wasn't boastful. It was more or less that they asked him to leave politely and no political affiliation was asked or offered. After what I am assuming to be Badger Blogger's phone call (where you hear them reading the post for what I assume to be the first time), a person from the establishment sent me an email via Facebook asking me to remove the post because of the threats they were receiving. I'd provide a screen grab of this mail for verification, but I really don't have any desire to give this any more of my time or attention attempted to prove its validity.

I am an honest person. I have nothing to gain or lose from this, except perhaps the kind words being sent to me via Facebook, or the disgusting and degrading remarks I receive here. It's no secret that I tend to the Left politically, but not aggressively so. I would never say to people the things that have been said to me lately, nor would I make character assumptions based upon a single or several blog posts having to do with that person. I tend to get along with everyone because of my tolerance and respect for ALL people, left/right, christian/non-christian, whatever. Any of the people that know me from more than this blog would tell you that, though I would never ask them to involve themselves in any of this. I don't need someone to tell the angry people what I already know. That's all that matters, really.

No matter your politic stance right now, Wisconsin is going through a really tough time. We all need to remember to show respect for each other. To listen with our ears and our hearts. To practice love.

I don't really think I have anything left to say on the matter. You keep commenting, and I will keep posting them (minus the restaurant's name of course). I will respond to those things that I feel need my attention but the hateful comments will just have to remain as a reminder that you just can't please everyone.

Thanks for reading.

A Tribute to Despair on Valentine's Eve

Dear Diary,

Today I killed her. Or as good as. Today I took a life that belonged to God... or I would have believed it belonged to God if God had deigned to show up at all tonight... The scratchy hempen rope, the swinging legs... Oh, for you to have seen her swinging legs! The eyes that stared back at me, her empty eyes, spoke of the sadness she had felt all her life. The rose; surely a testament from someone who had loved her, drooped and dying alone in its glass vase. Just like she did. She droops and she swings and she dies alone in this room full of glass... but the glass is different... the glass reflects her face and bears its sour message back to her. 'You'll die alone. You'll swing alone.'

As she hangs there, I notice that her left shoe is slipping from her foot. I would fix it so that all was perfect but she is out of reach now, and getting farther all the time.

I remember watching her from the other side of the glass. I waited here in silence, hands pressed longingly against the glass. My breath never clouded it, my breath is always cold. I watched as fat, salty tears scudded down her cheeks and ruined the makeup that she so meticulously painted upon her face. I watched as she climbed the staircase. I watched as she tied the ropes. I smiled as she jumped.

As her pendulous body comes to rest, I suddenly feel lonely again. But there will be others... there are always others. This is Valentine's Eve, and a cacophony of voices rise from the other side of mirrors from every room of every house, everywhere.

And besides, she was a telemarketer. You wouldn't have liked her anyway.