Just a friendly reminder that we are singing Wednesday Night! We grannies are opening the fundraiser for BloomingOut, and our performance will be followed by the talented Kelly Zullo, more information on Kelly can be found here:
http://www.kellyzullomusic.com

Headlining the night is the local favorite The LadyQuakes, more information can be found here:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=411467657

This event is sponsored by BloomingOUT in conjunction with Rachel’s Cafe. BloomingOUT exists to educate, entertain and stimulate listeners to engage in dialogue about real issues and events relevant to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) population of south central Indiana. bloomingOUT reaches thousands of people within the regional area through the WFHB radio broadcast, as well as millions more nationally and internationally via the web through podcasting and web download. bloomingOUT strives to maintain an upbeat, informative and entertaining show that can be enjoyed by both the queer and straight communities, and provides a space to facilitate communication within the LGBTIQ community.

Proceeds from this benefit will support WFHB, a local non-profit community radio station which depends on direct local financial support to pay for its’ broadcast operations.

Peace. Granny Donna

No Comments | In: Articles and News, Calendar Posting, Songs, events | tags: Add new tag, equal rights, gay marriage, Gay rights, raging grannies. | #

I thought I would share this email message with you. I think it brings up a point that I had been pondering myself.
Granny Donna

The following message is from Alma of the Ottawa Grannies:

Dear Grans,
I’m impressed as well as shocked by the number and intensity of the protests over the situation in Gaza. The widespread anger is understandable ,as are demands for a Ceasefire, which unfortunately seem blocked by the US in the Security Council .


These protests illustrate the power of public opinion, which realistically should not be ignored though it’s hard ro see what can be done if the protagonists and their backers refuse to act.

That being said, my question is: why have there nor been similar protests over the slaughter in Darfur, the use of rape as a weapon of war, the deplorable and indeed hopeless situation of the 10’s of thousands killed, injured and displaced by the violent conflicts in Africa.

Are the lives of Palestinians somehow more valuable than the lives of Africans? Is the brutality of Israeli airstrikes more reprehensible than the the more primitive means of slaughter in the Congo? We’ve seen images of both conflicts; we know what has been happening and is still happening in Africa. Yet somehow this tragedy has not fired public opinion . The Gaza protests may – hopefully – force some sort of action to stop the Insanity. I sadly fear, though, the massacre of Africans by Africans will continue with little more than pleas by the few who work among them, and general indifference by the rest of the world community.

Am I very far off base if i suggest that part of the explanation lies in widespread and deeply entrenched racism?

Could the Grannies not devote some of our considerable energy and talent to urging everyone to rise up and speak out for ALL victims of war, including specifically those in Africa.

No Comments | In: Articles and News | tags: Africa, Darfur, Gaza, public opinion, racism, war. | #

Just a note: This song was written about Gaza, but I would prefer to adapt it so it covers all children of war…..or perhaps more than one round could be used, substituting Darfur for Gaza (and sadly, others).
Granny Donna

THE CHILDREN OF GAZA
(tune: Sound of Silence)
By Sally Alice Thompson, Albuquerque WILPF
Raging Grannies and Corinne Willinger, NYMetro R.G.s

When I think of Gaza’s plight,
It’s children haunt me day and night.
Of the children who are crying,
Of the children who are dying,
And the things they’ve seen
That no-one should have to bear
Happening there.
So filled with fear
They’re silent.

Children should be having fun,
Safe place to play, safe place to run,
Wholesome food and good clean water,
Safe for parent, son and daughter,
And we must hope and together we must strive
Keep them alive
Not filled with fear
And silent.

In our country we ignore
All the horror of this war,
No-one hears the children crying,
No-one sees the people dying,
But we must stop this sad complacency,
Stop tragedy;
WE WILL NOT BE SILENT
WE WILL NOT BE SILENT.

No Comments | In: Articles and News, Songs | tags: children, Peace, war. | #

I WATCHED IT AT HOME ON TV
(My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean) by Gillian Edwards

A MILLION DIED IN RWANDA
I’M NOT SURE HOW THAT AFFECTS ME
BUT I DO KNOW ABOUT ALL THE KILLING
I WATCHED IT AT HOME ON TV

ENDLESS WARS GO ON IN GAZA
AND NO MATTER WHICH SIDE YOU SEE
INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE DYING
I WATCHED IT AT HOME ON TV

WOMEN ARE RAPED IN DARFUR
MILLIONS HAVING TO FLEE
WHOLE FAMILIES LIVING IN TERROR
I WATCHED IT AT HOME ON TV

STOP WARS, STOP WARS
WE MUST STOP THE KILLING RIGHT NOW, SOMEHOW,
STOP WARS, STOP WARS,
WE MUST STOP THE KILLING RIGHT NOW

WE ALL MUST GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING
NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT MAY BE
WE CANNOT STOP WARS AND KILLING
BY WATCHING IT AT HOME ON TV

STOP WARS, STOP WARS
WE MUST STOP THE KILLING RIGHT NOW, SOMEHOW,
STOP WARS, STOP WARS,
WE MUST STOP THE KILLING RIGHT NOW

No Comments | In: Songs | tags: Add new tag, Peace, war. | #

This was contributed by Rose on the E-vine:

Health Care / Money songs:
1)Get Your Elbows Off The Table

When someone who is working goes off sick
And they can’t afford a doctor real quick
Then the family’s does the care
Takes off working to be there
Whamo goes our labour force, down in a tick!

If we’re looking for a good economy
Then we need some healthy workers, dontcha see?
We’ll all make bigger bucks
When our health care doesn’t sick
*Single user pay’s the plan for you and me

*(Or the name of whatever you Americans think works – in Canada we’d sing: Universal care’s the only plan for me!).

2) Childhood Politically Incorrect Tune ( 1 little, 2 little, 3 little…)

One little, two little, three little dollars
Gotta squeeze ‘em until they holler
Where’s the best place to put that money?
Make a new health care system!

One little, two little, three little sick ones
Spreading their germs with no dough to fix ‘em
We’ve gotta get us a brand new system
Have we got a plan for you!

*Single user pay, that’s the ticket
It will work but we all gotta pick it
Anything else, tell them where to stick it!
Single user pay now!

3) South of the Border (tune) *Could use morrocas and tambourines & ham it up

North of the border
In New Mexico
That’s where we need a break
For goodness sake
On health care rates
And we sure don’t wonder
We know what we need
*Single user pay plan
Is welcome indeed!
I – yi-yi-yi (point to self)
And You, you you! (point to audience)

4) Tune: Oh where oh where has my little dog gone?

Oh where oh where will we get the bucks
To fund a decent health plan?
Government waste will fund more than a taste
Let’s lobby our dear congressman.

5) Silver Threads Among The Gold

Darling, I am growing sicker
And I know we’re out of gold
But our government can fix this
If we make sure that they’re told

*Single user pay’s the answer
Write your congressperson dear
With the proper health insurance
I’ll be better, never fear.

No Comments | In: Songs | tags: children, economic justice, economy, health care, health insurance, jobs, poverty. | #

This Old Gray Granny “F”

(”The Old Gray Mare”)

Lyrics © by Vicki Ryder

This OLD gray Granny ain’t what she used to be,

HAD a hysterectomy,  NEEDS a colonoscopy,

But SHE can’t afford to PAY for her care and so

I GUESS we’ll have to shoot her now.

‘Cause WHERE is she supposed to go

WHEN she doesn’t have the dough?

She DARE not get sick without health insurance so

I GUESS we’ll have to shoot her now.

This OLD gray Granny SPLITS all her pills in half.

The DRUG companies just laugh; Their PROFITS are off the graph.

But GRANNY can’t afford to PAY for her pills and so

I GUESS we’ll have to shoot her now.

‘Cause WHAT is she supposed to do

When MONEY for the rent is due?

She CAN’T buy pills and GROCERIES, too, and so

I GUESS we’ll have to shoot her now.

This OLD gray Granny NOW needs a test or two.

Her BOOB has a lump, it’s true. But WHAT is she supposed to do?

She CAN’T pay the bill so she’ll JUST have to muddle through.

I GUESS we’ll have to shoot her now.

Well, GRANNY’s old but she is wise.

She KNOWS we have to organize,

So CALL up your rep and SENators, too.

We want SINGLE payer HEALTH care for us all!

Just GIVE your Representatives a call,

And TELL ‘em we need health care, one and all!

Then OLD gray granny WON’T have to worry

‘Cause we WILL not have to SHOOT her after all!

No Comments | In: Songs | tags: economic justice, economy, feminism, health care, health insurance, raging grannies. | #

Bail Out the People  

(Tune:  “Roll Out the Barrel”)

Lyrics by Vicki Ryder/Revised by W. MA. Song Committee 1/09

Bail out the people

Give them the money they need.

To hell with the bankers

Who suffer from terminal greed.

Bail out the people,

That’s where our taxes should go.

We say no bailouts to bankers

Or to the big three CEOs.

We hate to say it

Fascism seems to have come:

The poor, they go hungry,

We bail out the corporate scum.

They take our tax money

And send all our jobs overseas.

We’re losing our health care and homes now,

While the rich do as they please.

Layoffs are rising

And more folks are now unemployed.

Whatever happened

To the land of the free we enjoyed?

It’s time for the Grannies

To rise up and now take a stand!

We’ll rage to bail out the people

And we’ll shout out, “Yes, we can!”

No Comments | In: Songs | tags: Bail out, corporate greed, economic justice, economy, health care. | #