Category Archives: Current Events

September 14, 2025 · 11:20 pm

Gaza 5K walk/run – Virtually

I’m fundraising for UNRWA USA by participating in the Gaza 5K walk/run VIRTUALLY on or about Sunday, October 12th, 2025. I’d like to walk in person in New York, but I will be in Albuquerque.

I choose to show my solidarity with Palestine refugees by committing myself to raising money for UNRWA mental health services. The trauma of the crisis and the stress of living under blockade, unable to leave the Gaza Strip, has left thousands of refugees, particularly children, in need of psychosocial support.

The situation may seem hopeless, but by providing counseling through UNRWA, we can support their mental health, help them cope with their traumas, and improve their quality of life even slightly during this assault on their homes and lives.

Though I know I can’t change the world for every refugee, with your support, I intend to reach as many children as possible.

If you share my commitment to bettering the mental health of Palestine refugee children, please donate to my Gaza 5K walk.

Proceeds will go directly to UNRWA mental health services and counselors–refugees themselves–in the Gaza Strip. NOTE – this fundraiser does not raise funds for immediate food needs. There are other ways to do this. This fundraiser helps to provide mental health services.

Thank you for supporting me to show Palestine refugees that Americans care and for giving what you can!

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September 14, 2025 · 9:28 am

A prayer in a world where children know hunger

God who makes and loves each child,

forgive me for wasting food

in a world where children starve,

where children experience malnutrition,

where children go hungry,

in too many places,

including places near my home.

Forgive me, God.

Help me do better

by making wiser choices

about what I eat,

how much I eat,

where my food is produced.

Help me do better

by supporting organizations

that share food with children (and adults) in need,

that address root causes of hunger,

that work to end conflict,

that enable people to feed themselves,

that challenge our impact upon creation

which affect food production.

Help me do better

by demanding action

from individuals and organizations

that shape policies

which result in hunger

and which work to end hunger.

Forgive me, God.

Help me do better.

In the name of Jesus

who fed the hungry and welcomed children.

Amen.

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September 13, 2025 · 8:54 pm

A prayer for water

We went down to the river, Creator,
and no river flowed.
Dried sands,
muddy puddles,
cracked earth.
A bed.
No water. No river.
We walked across
and did not get wet.
Even as we suffer from too little water,
we know there are people and places
with too much water that results
in floods and mudslides,
destruction and death.
We pray for water, Creator,
for water is life.
Send rain to places in need of water.
Hold rain from places with too much water.
Help us all to learn and implement
ways to conserve the water we have.
Lead those who make decisions about
water allocation and sharing
to do so wisely.
Guide us to make responsible decisions
about uses of water
so that this precious resource
sustains life for all your children and this world.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
baptized in the Jordan.
Amen.

Despite its name, the Rio Grande is not that impressive in most parts of Albuquerque. It should look better than it did today.

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September 1, 2025 · 7:21 pm

Steelers 5K Run Walk

Steelers 5K Run Walk to support the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund and the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research. Done virtually in North Domingo Baca Park.
Renegade – Styx
Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
Apple Cider Re-Constitution – Al Stewart
The Weight – Aretha Franklin
Running On Empty – Jackson Browne
Edge of America – Annie Humphrey
All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
Long May You Run – Neil Young
Let The Circle Be Wide – Tommy Sands
Grapefruit Moon – Tom Waits
Nantucket Sleighride – Mountain
Last Lonely Eagle – New Riders of the Purple Sage
Mr. Bojangles – Nina Simone
A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
Tell Me Why – Archie Roach
Victor Jara – Arlo Guthrie
Carry On Till Tomorrow – Badfinger
Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles
Will It Go Round in Circles – Billy Preston
Fire Of Freedom – Black 47
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Calling All The Children Home – John McCutcheon
No Surrender – Bruce Springsteen
Crowded Table – The Highwomen
The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Chieftains & The Rolling Stones
Stairway to Heaven – Dolly Parton
Piper to the End – Mark Knopfler
Gone To Shiloh – Elton John & Leon Russell
Blackbird – Emma Stevens
Boulder to Birmingham – Emmylou Harris
Someday We’ll All Be Free 40 Keb’ Mo’

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September 1, 2025 · 6:54 pm

1 September 2025

Labor Day.
9 To 5 – Dolly Parton
Workin’ At The Carwash Blues – Jim Croce
The Hands That Built America – U2
Bracero – Phil Ochs
She Works Hard For the Money – Donna Summer
Worker’s Song – Dropkick Murphys
Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
Mr. President – Randy Newman
Working Class Hero – Green Day
Working Man – Imagine Dragons
Working On The Highway – Bruce Springsteen
Joe Hill – Paul Robeson
There Is Power in a Union – John McCutcheon
Las Madres Cansadas – Joan Baez
We’Re Still Here – Si Kahn
Which Side Are You On – Natalie Merchant
Bread and Roses – Judy Collins
Three Miles Down – Gil Scott-Heron
More Than a Paycheck – Sweet Honey In the Rock
Ship In The Sky – Woody Guthrie
Solidarity Forever – Pete Seeger

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August 14, 2025 · 5:37 pm

14 August 2025

Morning stretching. Floor stretching. Arm stretching. Hip flexor stretching. Walking. North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center.

Navajo Code Talkers Day.
Navajo Code Talkers – Jack Gladstone
The Navajo Code Talkers – US Air Force Academy Band
Navajo Code Talkers – Bennie Shay
Navajo Code Talkers – Jay Begaye

John McCutcheon birthday. All songs by John McCutcheon unless otherwise noted.
Welcome The Traveler Home – John Mccutcheon & Tom Chapin
We Shall Rise
Christmas In The Trenches-Song
Greatest Story Never Told
Children Of Abraham
All God’s Critters
Somos El Barco
Cross That Line
Streets Of Sarajevo
Crazy Or Courageous
Immigrant
Hope Dies Last
Te Recuerdo
SuAnne Big Crow
Sara Tucholsky
The Great Storm Is Over
Water From Another Time
Stone By Stone
No Mas!
When I Grow Up
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Hobo’s Lullaby
Wish You Goodnight
Calling All The Children Home
One Strong Arm
Le Chambon-Sur-Lignon
In America – Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon
Loggerman’s Breakdown/Dulcimer Reel
This Road
Picture Of Jesus
The Rebel Girl
Shadowland
Reasons To Believe
Kindergarten Wall
Here On The Islands
Doing My Job – John Mccutcheon & Tom Chapin
We Are Not Alone
Step By Step
Turn, Turn, Turn – John McCutcheon, feat. The Steel Wheels
Well May the World Go – John McCutcheon feat. Hot Rize

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August 12, 2025 · 5:28 pm

9 August 2025

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Tuva Kazhangnar – Tuva Folk Ensemble
He Toa Takitini / Ka Tohia Atu Koe / Ki Okoiki – Maori People Of New Zealand
Ayoro Kotan – Matsuko
Busigan (Shame) – Las Golondrinas Viajeras
Kantus De Apacheta – K’antu Ensemble
Máhte Lemet Elle – Ole Larsen Gaino
Sote Tulifurahia Kama Siku Ya Arusi – Hukwe Ubi Zawose With Ensemble
Stick Game Song – Bad Canyon Wellpinit Singers
Untitled (Iran) – Indigenous Turkmen People
Batara Guru – Gondang Sabangunan Ensemble
Lelore – Wodaabe Of Dakoro
Mbumbusa (Warrior’s Cry) – Honiata Musicians Of Guadalcanal Island
Vinango (Voyage By Canoe) – Villagers From Panueli, Island Of Savo
Ejengi Ceremony – Ba-Benjellé Pygmies Of The Central African Republic
Nazirkhom – Raman Sawut & Osman Oskur
No’ôk-‘amor – Central Mekrâgnoti Of Brazil
Akuka (Tubuan Dance) – Tolai Musicians
Gending Sekar Gabund (Excerpt) – Gamelan Salunding
Màrsi Màlasri – Jyàpu musicians of Guita Tol
Imìna Imìna – Indigenous Inuit People
Navssâpaluk Sadorana – Indigenous Inuit People
Son Sventa N’ahual San Lorenzo – Lol Gomez, Xun Perez, and Mariano Santis Hernandez
Koroghlu – Ashiq Hasan
Rashaida Dance – Indigenous Rashaida People
Gyütò Tantra (Excerpt) – Monks Of Gyütò Tantric College
Ghungsgot Thonpo (The High Sky) – Tashi Palkit & Isewang Namgyal Kidar
Bisitaita (Song Of Consolation) – Bunun People of Taiwan
Danse Des Toka Nod (Tiga)- Kanak People of New Caledonia
Dalubun (Love Song) – Tjoli Laiwongka & Tom Yorkdjanki
Apu Peikussian – Florent Vollant
The Unforgotten – iskwē, feat. Tanya Tagaq
Shine – Sihasin
J-ilol – VAYIJEL
starlight – nêhiyawak
Cauyaqa Nauwa – Pamyua
Sikumiut – Sikumiut
A Tribe Called Red – Angel Haze
Pashtu Ghazal- Musa Jan & Zahir Jan

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August 11, 2025 · 11:42 pm

6 August 2025 – 2

Jamaican Independence Day
Jamaica, Land We Love – The One World Ensemble (The Jamaican National Anthem)
Throne – Koffee Rapture
We Shall Overcome – Toots & The Maytals
History of Jamaica – Early B
The Song My Mother Used to Sing – Dennis Brown
Jump Independently – Count Lasher
Teach the Children – Dennis Alcapone
Rivers of Babylon – The Melodians
Rebuild Jamaica – Lee “Scratch” Perry
I Shall Be Free – Toots & The Maytals
Independence Ska – The Baba Brooks Band
Jamaican Spirit – Stacious
I Am Jamaican – DahNiel-Jae
Sweet Jamaica – Casey Donaldson
Jamaica Jamaica – Tricia Cunningham
One Jamaica – Kimiela Candy Isaacs
Fi Mi Island Home – Sister Novelette
Jah Love This Land – Lex M.D
Jamaica Is A Big Brand – TrishMaq
Waa Back Jamaica – Renzzah
Proud Jamaican – Auraiya Hope
Better Jamaica – Reggae Maxx
We Are Jamaicans – Pepita

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August 11, 2025 · 7:25 pm

6 August 2025

Hiroshima Day
Thousand Cranes – Hiroshima
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Russian Roulette – Jim Page
A Thousand Paper Cranes – MONO
I Come And Stand At Every Door – Anne Hills
No Nuclear War – Peter Tosh
Nuclear War – Yo La Tengo
Hiroshima-Nagasaki – Ozymandias
Enola Gay – Utah Phillips
Sadako – The Sands Family
Nagasaki no Kane – Meisterbrass Quartet & Yumi Aikawa Yuuji Koseki
When the Wind Blows – Eric Bogle
Ippon No Enpitsu – HIbari Misori

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August 5, 2025 · 10:06 pm

There’s a lot in a name

Isn’t it odd that the same person who removed the Indigenous name Denali from the mountain in Alaska now wants to return the name of the Washington football team to a racist slur because “Our great Indian people … their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them.”???

Spoiler:
This is a rhetorical question.
There is nothing odd about it.
It is the same old white supremacist bs that undergirds the dominant society and is being expressed in so many ways by the current administration.

Here endeth the lesson.

Here begineth and continueth the advocacy.

Advocacy opportunities related to the use of Indigenous names and imagery include
National Congress of American Indians
Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance
Not Your Mascot
National Museum of the American Indian Webinar: Changing the Narrative About Native Americans
Twin Cities PBS: Not Your Mascot: Native Americans and Team Mascots
The Lakota Law Project provides many opportunities for advocacy around issues facing Indigenous peoples
In Whose Honor? – video from more than 20 years ago that, sadly, remains relevant in the current atmosphere

For information about the naming of Denali and the suggestion to change back the names of the Washington football team and the Cleveland base ball see:
Denali name change
Proposed sports name changes

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