Camping with Blackwater in Potrero

Note: I've been a bit tired and lazy lately. I am just catching up on blogging now after all of our recent activities. This is the first of several on Blackwater to come.

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We passed a pumpkin patch as we were driving home from our weekend in Potrero, California. There they waited, bright orange and round in the afternoon sun, the future jack-o-lanterns of October, 2007. How wonderful for the children, I thought, to live where fields of pumpkins grow.

It was not that surprising to find a pumpkin patch in Potrero as it is a rural community made up of farms and ranches. Cattle and organic produce thrive on the rocky hillsides and the meadows of the lovely valley. The ancient oak trees still provide the acorns that were ground into a paste by the Kumeyaay who had populated this land for generations. Potrero in Spanish means "pasturing place".

To experience of Potrero is to experience the spiritual peace that comes when the sky meets the land, the winds dance, and all is in balance. But the peace and balance are about to be shattered and destroyed forever, by Blackwater USA

Unfortunately Potrero, the surrounding region, the State of California and American Democracy have been targeted by Blackwater, the violence worshiping, mercenary army headed by Christian extremist Erik Prince. Mr. Prince has more than our tax dollars in his sights.


We camped at the Potrero Regional Camp along with other concerned citizens who had gathered to make a stand against Blackwater USA. We had a beautiful camp site under the oaks and were overjoyed to find ourselves in the company of so many intelligent, dedicated, courageous people.

Following the Potrero Encampment various websites and blogs referred to the Stop Blackwater campers and marchers as moonbats and filthy hippies. American conservatives seem prone to name calling and abuse stereotypes with mindless zeal because they do not think for themselves. Among our fellow campers, workshop attendees, and marchers were teachers, builders, nurses, doctors, firemen, lawyers, artists, musicians, members of the clergy, veterans, business people, students, financial and insurance professionals, retired persons, mothers, children, and peace dogs. Of the hippies present, myself included, none were nor ever had been "unwashed, dirty, or filthy" as claimed online.


During the weekend we attended workshops and were able to take part in many brainstorming discussions and stimulating conversations. There are two arguments against Blackwater each one comprised of several compelling aspects. The first concerns land use and the second concentrates on the political effects on our democratic society. The vice president of Blackwater West, Brian Bonfiglio, has been busy trying frame land use objections as the only arguments against Blackwater's encroachment into California. That is why I am going to write about each of the two arguments separately. First I will post on the environmental impact. Secondly I will post about the political danger and illegality of establishing private military bases and allowing private mercenary armies like Blackwater to exist within our republic.


Our weekend of tent camping in Potrero was well worth every minute for the group of determined patriots who joined together will lead the fight against Erik Prince's personal Strum Abteilung (SA). Along with the Nisour Square murders, the end of Blackwater USA has begun.

What if they gave a war and nobody came?
................Kitchen Window Woman...................