Obama Train Engineer

Dear President Obama,

I wish we could bring back TRAINS!

Our country needs a great mass transit system. I bet it would reduce pollution if we di so. Maybe we could put folks to work (like the WPA did) and rebuild tracks and trains?

My partner and I love touring in Europe (www.stillonthehill.com) because everyone rides the trains. (Well, not EVERYONE...but lots and lots)  They are SO inexpensive and extensive. I'm surprised that this topic is not being talked about more on mainstream radio. Special interest groups may be discussing this but I rarely hear a serious dialogue about mass transit as a viable option in the fight to reduce carbon emissions on the radio.  Just a thought.
I LOVE TRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!

Sincerely,
One Worried Mom

Obama Deep Sea Diver

Dear President Obama,

      Again, please ignore any typos, grammar or spelling flaws as I am trying to create one of these every day or so to send you and I'm not a great editor...so I apologize in advance!
       A couple years ago, a friend gave my partner and I a trip to St. John in the Virgin Islands. We had a lovely place on a private CORAL REEF. I had never snorkeled and it was a life changing experience to swim with sea turtles, squid and fish of every color in the rainbow. It was breathtaking, like being in the movie FINDING NEMO!
       Recently I learned about how the coral reefs are dying...bleaching out....YIKES- It breaks my heart.  The repercussions are VAST; the oceans are the LIFE BLOOD or our planet! HELP!!!!

Seafully yours,
One Worried Mom

Obama Crooner

Dear President Obama,

I just want to say that I voted for you in both elections. I think you are a great man and have done many great things for our country. I understand that often your hands are tied and you are not able to do things 'YOUR WAY'.  That is frustrating to us Americans as well.

I wish you could just CROON into the microphone and tell the world that NONE of the pressing issues will even matter if we don't make taking care of the Earth the #1 PRIORITY!

I believe that Climate Change is the MOST important challenge of our times. I know many people don't agree.

I hope your LEGACY will be...that YOU were the President that stood up against huge oil companies and corporations and said all the things that NEED to be said...and that you DID what you had to do WITHOUT EXEMPTION!

HERE IS THE SONG FOR THE DAY!

Excerpts from:

I DID IT MY WAY

Frank Sinatra

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,

Oh, no...oh no not me, I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words

of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my my way!

Sincerely,
One Worried Mom
 

Obama Uncle Sam

Dear President Obama,

I didn't send a letter/collage over the weekend but I'm back!  I'm keeping it simple here today, just posting the lyrics to one of my songs.

WISH MY FOOTPRINT DIDN'T HURT
Words & Music Donna Stjerna

Up on my soapbox I complain, about global warming, acid rain
but last night I left my kitchen light on...way past dawn
I wish I would walk lighter on this earth,
wish my footprint didn't hurt...wish my footprint didn't hurt

Ever time I stick a nozzle in my tank
I complain...fossil fuel down the drain...
but last night I drove my car down the block,
for a case of Shiner Bock
I wish I would walk lighter on the earth
wish my footprint didn't hurt, wish my footprint didn't hurt

Sure it helps to turn my AC down, ride my bike all over town
Sure it makes a difference when I buy, 
ecological fluorescent lights      
Sure it helps to put a sweater on instead of turning up the heat
Sure it's good to make sure that my faucets never leak...
BUT IS IT ENOUGH????

I try to buy organically, locally...good and green, fresh and clean
but last night I bought a box of macaroni with processed cheese  
I wish I would walk lighter on this earth,
wish my footprint didn't hurt, wish my footprint didn't hurt

Sure it's great to take a shower with a friend, become a vegetarian
Drink coffee grown in the shade, recycle everyday
It's great to hang your clothes on the line, they'll smell & save a dime
It's really swell to plant a tree, turn off the water when you brush your teeth,
BUT IS IT ENOUGHT???  

I think we...COLLECTIVELY-need to keep doing these simple things...
even though we try, I know sometimes...we miss the brass ring
I wish we would walk lighter on this earth
So our footprint will not hurt
So our footprint will not hurt

Sincerely,
One Worried Mom
  

To Frack or Not to Frack

Dear President Obama,

Several months ago we went to a program at our local library put on by an elderly couple who had experienced problems with some drilling that was done on a piece of property they had been hard developing hoop houses for organic nursery plants.

Their water was CONTAMINATED and so they couldn't grow organically anymore and they had to move. At their age this was incredibly challenging both emotionally and financially!

The woman suffered with some severe health problems due to gasses that were released due to the drilling. They are passionate about this subject and have been traveling around the state of Arkansas, doing a power point program to educate folks about the dangers of fracking from their FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE!


This man is VERY articulate and I'm sure he would LOVE to talk to you or anyone on your team about his challenges. If you would like his email, let me know and I'll ask him if it's OK for me to send it.  (Of course, I'm not that naive...I realize that this letter will probably only make it to a secretary or someone who handles the huge influx of mail you must get, BUT what the heck, I'm pretending that you personally read each and every one of my letters!)

SO....To Frack or NOT to Frack, that is the question.  My vote is NOT TO FRACK!

Sincerely,
One Worried Mom

Obama Dragon Slayer

Dear President Obama,

I don't believe that chant we hear over and over on the news, CONSUME, CONSUME, CONSUME is the message we need to be sending out as a way to boost the economy! This earth does not have unlimited resources and our enormous population of consumers are using them up at an alarming speed. YIKES!

I wrote this song years ago. Instead of the Greenback Dollar...it is the Greenback Dragon (a symbol of greed and over-consumption). Actually...I know that I too am part of the problem, when we point one finger...3 point back at us. We can all do better. My partner and I are trying to green up our home and live with a smaller footprint on this earth, but sometimes AFFORDABLE options are few. Converting our house to solar is EXPENSIVE and not super available to the middle and lower class folks like us.

We were touring in Germany last year (we have for the past 9 years) and were SHOCKED to see solar panels on houses & barns ALL over the country The government has made INCENTIVES for folks to do so and it is amazing how quickly things are turning around over there. At least that is what I saw and heard from people we stayed with. How cool is that? We could do that here in America as well if YOU would lead the way and be our KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR...help us to slay that Greenback Dragon!

Here are the lyrics:

GREENBACK DRAGON
Words Donna Stjerna, Music Donna & Kelly Mulhollan

The Greenbacked Dragon convinced the maiden
she needed everything in his cave...
bright red shoes made in far off places,
where spiderweb laces were the rage.
But she didn't care...if the shoes were woven,
from the wings of fairies, they made her dance like a queen!
Then she wanted a crown made of Snowy Owl feathers...
money can buy those things.

Then the Greenbacked Dragon convinced a young man
he would be free and brave,
shiny new armor and a badge of honor
if he joined in the warring game.
But the boy did know...he'd be burning the homes,
of innocent gnomes and bringing the dragon their jewels...
he did his duty like a good soldier should, never questioned the rules!

I know it sounds like a fairy tale
one that could never ring true
but the Greenbacked Dragon is alive and well
convincing me, convincing you

One day the maiden, she had a dream...
a vision, some would say....and in that dream,
she saw the future, forever and a day...
in that vision there were no more fairies,
no Snowy Owls and much to her dismay...
by following the ways of the Greenbacked Dragon,
there was a price to pay!

Years dragged by and the young man grew tired,
of wars that would never cease...
while he was traveling, he met that young maiden,
she taught him how to live in peace.
They swore to the stars and the moon up above...
by the strength of their love, the dragon must be slain.
It is said they brought him down, without a sword or a sound,
by simply walking away!

I know this sounds like a fairy tale,
one that could never come true,
but if we all walk away from the Greenbacked Dragon
He'll lose his grip over me and you!

Obama, Come Blow Your Horn!

Dear Mr. President,

As you know, we have over 130 species of creatures going extinct EVERY DAY! I find that staggering, I hope we humans aren't in that line!

In Barbara Kingsolver's new novel, FLIGHT BEHAVIOR there is a quote by one of the main characters, Ovid, who is a scientist and butterfly expert. He says, "What is the use of saving a world that has no soul left in it? Continents without butterflies, seas without coral reefs, what if all human effort amounted basically to saving a place for ourselves to park?"

That line struck me HARD! I wrote this song in response.

THY KINGDOM COME

words & music Donna Stjerna

for Gladys Tiffany & Barbara Kingsolver

I walked through the desert when the spring flowers were blooming

Their tiny faces raised in prayer, grateful for the rain

I've seen majestic mountains, rise up like an alter

Watched sunflowers bow their heads, across the fruited plains

In the belly of the mountain, where the min the finest marble

For the walls and polished floors, of cathedrals down in Rome

There I sang my songs of peace and they echoed through the temple

Reminding me this earth is my heavenly home!

This lovely blue marble spinning round and round in space

This glorious, beautiful, heavenly place...

Why do we wait for paradise to come?

Ain't it high time we treasure this EARTHLY KINGDOM?

I swam in the ocean with fishes they called angels,

In and out of coral reefs that have not yet been bleached white,

I've stood in a snowstorm, watching trees take communion,

In their lacy white gowns neath the northern lights.

And at the foot of the Redwoods, under green jeweled crowns

I felt diving salvation, deep down in my soul

There I sang my song of peace and it echoed through the forest

Reminding me this EARTH is our heavenly home. (Chorus)

At the edge of the world, where land touches sea,

I have watched a golden sunset and glimpsed eternity

This Garden of Eden, we hold in our hand

We raped and we pillaged with greed in command,

But we have the power to turn things around

Gabriel (Obama) blow your horn, we stand on sacred ground,

Let songs of Peace, ring down here below

Remind us that this EARTH is our heavenly home.  (Chorus)