Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Now that a judge in Spain (the same one who indicted General Pinochet a short while ago) has agreed to look at a prosecutor's request that six former Bushco apparatchiks be tried for (according to AP):
(giving) "legal cover for torture at Guantanamo Bay, a lawyer in the case said Saturday."
perhaps the Obama WH will be willing to something about it at our end.
In South Africa, Rwanda, the Balkans and Cambodia--among other, mostly third world countries--there have been attempts at "Truth and reconciliation" style commissions. With varying degrees of success these commissions have attempted to clear away the deliberately obfuscatory layers of camouflage and unravel the reality of criminal or just plain bad government policy in those countries. Policies which resulted in much human suffering and lots of death and injury to those countries' citizenry.
Can we do less? Can we fail to follow the example of a country like Rwanda and shine a light on the mechanisms, motivations and identities of those responsible for such horrific depradations?
Admittedly, in the case of the U.S., from 2000-2008, most of the dying took place in yet other third world countries. Nevertheless, the people of the United States have suffered as well. Certainly we are not victims to the extent of the innocents of Iraq and Afghanistan, or the extra-legal "prisoners" that have been shoved into the likes of Gitmo. However, these actions were taken, like it or not, in our collective names.
I am not suggesting the gallows (although I think it is actually an appropriate punishment for some of the people who were in charge during the Bush era), but if we fail to investigate the excesses; if we fail to identify--publicly--the miscreants; if we "sweep it under the rug", it will be impossible to expiate the collective guilt of our nation for what amounts to war crimes.
I and most others were simply bystanders, witnesses to the depradations committed in the name of "The war on terror", but our guilt is, while diffuse, quite real in our own hearts. Without the truth coming out we cannot "fix the problem".
Can we not do at least as well in this regard as Rwanda?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Golden Pez Award ~~
I try to visit Johnny Pez every day, but somehow missed notice of my uncontested victory.
Here's the announcement:
Many years ago, I had dinner with William Safire, and my great anxiety was over my grammatical, syntactical and idiomatic leanings. I feared any mistake or odd expression would end up in one of his Sunday columns in the NYT magazine.
Alas, I don't find myself in Newport often, but the opportunity to receive my award is enticing. Perhaps my son can take a photo.
I highly recommend Johnny Pez
Here's the announcement:
We have a winner!
My "pick the new New York Times wingnut" contest has come to an end with word that the Times has chosen Atlantic Monthly scold Ross "Dudley" Douthat to fill the seat recently vacated by legacy neocon Bill "William the Bloody" Kristol. The winning (and only) entry is Nomi Hurwitz' suggestion of Ann Coulter. Although Nomi didn't win the distinguished Platinum Pez Award by actually predicting Dudley's ascension to the Safire Chair of Punditry, her choice of Coulter is close enough to earn her the prized Golden Pez Award. She can pick up the award the next time she finds herself in Newport.
Many years ago, I had dinner with William Safire, and my great anxiety was over my grammatical, syntactical and idiomatic leanings. I feared any mistake or odd expression would end up in one of his Sunday columns in the NYT magazine.
Alas, I don't find myself in Newport often, but the opportunity to receive my award is enticing. Perhaps my son can take a photo.
I highly recommend Johnny Pez
South Providence Bests John Hope ( 13-14 yr olds): An Amazing Game
I am not neutral. I was rooting for the John Hope Settlement House team, because of my long history with them.
It was an amazing game. I wanted it to be close, and this one was settled in the second over time.
South Providence beat John Hope by one point. The score was something like: 57 to 56 or 55 to 54.
John Hope had recovered from an 8 point deficit in the first half to lead briefly by 2 or 3 points before South Providence also rallied.
Kudos to all players, coaches, referees involved.
It was an amazing game. I wanted it to be close, and this one was settled in the second over time.
South Providence beat John Hope by one point. The score was something like: 57 to 56 or 55 to 54.
John Hope had recovered from an 8 point deficit in the first half to lead briefly by 2 or 3 points before South Providence also rallied.
Kudos to all players, coaches, referees involved.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
When nice words fail.
Good Morning:
I'd like to think that I'm a sane, reasonable guy (not saying it's true, just that I'd like to think that); the reptilicans make it hard for me to think that way.
Between the list of Republican governors who are saying they will turn down stimulus package dollars (only, apparently, those that would extend unemployment benefits) and the likes of Rushbo Limpboy stating that they want the plan to fail I'm having a hard time retaining my civility.
I say, fine, let those fucking douchebags do whatever they want to in order to boost their political fortunes. Then, take some small percentage of the money they turn down and use it to run some "public service" ads for their constituents--just so that they understand that it's only a portion of the stimulus money that was turned down. I think that would be appropriate.
As for Rushbo? I wish I believed in hell. Unfortunately, I don't. However, if Rush were to contract some horrific disease or die of a self-administered drug overdose I would be less than bummed.
It was bad enough when these opportunistic sons-of-bitches joined up with the fundies on the sex and prayer crap, now their thinking seems to be that propsperity (other than theirs) is also a gift from THEIR GOD, and everybody who isn't in their small, select circlejerk isn't worthy of it. Well, fuck them and THEIR GOD. I don't believe in GOD anyway, but the version they hold in their heads is anathema to everything I've ever learned about a compassionate and loving deity.
I'd like to think that I'm a sane, reasonable guy (not saying it's true, just that I'd like to think that); the reptilicans make it hard for me to think that way.
Between the list of Republican governors who are saying they will turn down stimulus package dollars (only, apparently, those that would extend unemployment benefits) and the likes of Rushbo Limpboy stating that they want the plan to fail I'm having a hard time retaining my civility.
I say, fine, let those fucking douchebags do whatever they want to in order to boost their political fortunes. Then, take some small percentage of the money they turn down and use it to run some "public service" ads for their constituents--just so that they understand that it's only a portion of the stimulus money that was turned down. I think that would be appropriate.
As for Rushbo? I wish I believed in hell. Unfortunately, I don't. However, if Rush were to contract some horrific disease or die of a self-administered drug overdose I would be less than bummed.
It was bad enough when these opportunistic sons-of-bitches joined up with the fundies on the sex and prayer crap, now their thinking seems to be that propsperity (other than theirs) is also a gift from THEIR GOD, and everybody who isn't in their small, select circlejerk isn't worthy of it. Well, fuck them and THEIR GOD. I don't believe in GOD anyway, but the version they hold in their heads is anathema to everything I've ever learned about a compassionate and loving deity.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Happy Birthday, Frances Crowe! (One Week Late)
It's been over 20 years, but some will remember a white haired woman who was part of a nonviolent protest at Electric Boat at Quonset Point .
She's just turned 90, and is still doing great things.
She's just turned 90, and is still doing great things.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Washington Park Library ReOpening Party
This blog has been rather grim lately. Here's something to celebrate:
And here's a cheerful email from Patricia:
Dear library advocates,
We are delighted to report that Library Friends groups are forming all over the city! While Smith Hill, Mount Pleasant, Rochambeau and Wanskuck have active and long-standing Library Friends groups, the other neighborhood libraries do not currently have such groups.
Friends of the Library serve three important purposes:
* They support their neighborhood library--They hold bake and book sales and bazaars to raise money for library books and equipment, they volunteer to work on specific projects designated by the library staff, and they sponsor programs designed to contribute to the cultural life of the neighborhood.
* They protect their neighborhood library. Their strong neighborhood presence and authority to speak on behalf of neighborhood patrons gives the Friends groups added clout when campaigning for library legislation or appropriations. In the darkest days, when PPL has attempted to reduce staff and/or close neighborhood libraries in years past (and this year), the Library Friends groups write letters in protest to PPL trustees and to City officials, organize petition drives, and participate in rallies.
* They help to govern the library system. Assuming that the City decides that Providence Community Library is the best steward of the neighborhood library system, PCL has proposed a system of governance whereby representatives from all neighborhood libraries participate in policy decision-making as part of the PCL's board of trustees. We anticipate that these representatives will be selected by the neighborhood Friends groups.
Knight Memorial has already held an organizational meeting to establish a Friends group and is planning a second meeting soon.
Meanwhile, both Fox Point and South Providence have scheduled organizational meetings for March 31. Those interested in joining the Fox Point Friends of the Library should meet in their neighborhood library that Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. South Providence's meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on the same night. http://friendsofsouthprovidencelibrary.wordpress.com/
Olneyville is holding an organizational meeting on the following night--April 1--at 6:30 p.m. Meet at the Olneyville Library.
Library Developments
Washington Park is reopening next Monday, March 23. Open Table of Christ will be conducting a Friends Sign-Up next week, and we hope to be able to announce an organizational meeting at Washington Park by early in April. If you live in the Washington Park area and would like to join a Friends Group there, please send me an email.
Providence Community Library is continuing to have productive meetings with the Mayor's staff. We feel encouraged by these sessions, but the Mayor still has not firmly committed himself to PCL. We have another meeting scheduled in about 10 days, and we are hoping for a decision soon after this meeting is held.
Patricia
Washington Park Community Celebrates Opening of Neighborhood Library
Join us at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, to celebrate the opening of Washington Park Neighborhood Library, which has been closed for the past three years.
Community members will present the Washington Park library with books donated at last year's Read In and saved for the reopening of the facility, they will introduce Providence Community Library (which has pledged to keep all the neighborhood libraries open), and they will encourage patrons to join a new Washington Park Friends of the Library group to protect and support their local library.
Music and refreshments will be provided.
Sponsored by Open Table of Christ Church.
And here's a cheerful email from Patricia:
Dear library advocates,
We are delighted to report that Library Friends groups are forming all over the city! While Smith Hill, Mount Pleasant, Rochambeau and Wanskuck have active and long-standing Library Friends groups, the other neighborhood libraries do not currently have such groups.
Friends of the Library serve three important purposes:
* They support their neighborhood library--They hold bake and book sales and bazaars to raise money for library books and equipment, they volunteer to work on specific projects designated by the library staff, and they sponsor programs designed to contribute to the cultural life of the neighborhood.
* They protect their neighborhood library. Their strong neighborhood presence and authority to speak on behalf of neighborhood patrons gives the Friends groups added clout when campaigning for library legislation or appropriations. In the darkest days, when PPL has attempted to reduce staff and/or close neighborhood libraries in years past (and this year), the Library Friends groups write letters in protest to PPL trustees and to City officials, organize petition drives, and participate in rallies.
* They help to govern the library system. Assuming that the City decides that Providence Community Library is the best steward of the neighborhood library system, PCL has proposed a system of governance whereby representatives from all neighborhood libraries participate in policy decision-making as part of the PCL's board of trustees. We anticipate that these representatives will be selected by the neighborhood Friends groups.
Knight Memorial has already held an organizational meeting to establish a Friends group and is planning a second meeting soon.
Meanwhile, both Fox Point and South Providence have scheduled organizational meetings for March 31. Those interested in joining the Fox Point Friends of the Library should meet in their neighborhood library that Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. South Providence's meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on the same night. http://friendsofsouthprovidencelibrary.wordpress.com/
Olneyville is holding an organizational meeting on the following night--April 1--at 6:30 p.m. Meet at the Olneyville Library.
Library Developments
Washington Park is reopening next Monday, March 23. Open Table of Christ will be conducting a Friends Sign-Up next week, and we hope to be able to announce an organizational meeting at Washington Park by early in April. If you live in the Washington Park area and would like to join a Friends Group there, please send me an email.
Providence Community Library is continuing to have productive meetings with the Mayor's staff. We feel encouraged by these sessions, but the Mayor still has not firmly committed himself to PCL. We have another meeting scheduled in about 10 days, and we are hoping for a decision soon after this meeting is held.
Patricia
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Providence, RI Vigil on March 19: Commemorating the 6th Anniversary of the War and Occupation of Iraq
VIGIL TO COMMEMORATE THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE WAR AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ
Thursday 5:00 - 6:00 PM, March 19, 2009
At the War Memorial, Corner of College Street and South Main Street,
Providence
OF THE WAR AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ
Thursday 5:00 - 6:00 PM, March 19, 2009
At the War Memorial, Corner of College Street and South Main Street,
Providence
Monday, March 16, 2009
Remember Rachel Corrie. Vigil for Tristan Anderson
Take Action: Remember Rachel Corrie,
Vigil for Tristan Anderson
On March 13, 2009, Tristan Anderson, a U.S. citizen from Oakland, CA, was critically injured when he was shot in the head by a high-velocity tear gas canister fired by the Israeli army.
Tristan was shot while photographing a weekly demonstration against the building of the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank village of Ni'lin. The Wall, which was declared to be illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004, cuts off Ni'lin from much of its agricultural lands. Since 2008, Israel has killed four unarmed Palestinians during these weekly protests: Yousef Amira (17), Ahmed Mousa (10), Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22), and Mohammed Khawaje (20).
This incident comes almost exactly six years after the death of U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie. Rachel was killed by the Israeli military with a Caterpillar bulldozer as she was nonviolently trying to protect a Palestinian home from being destroyed on March 16, 2003.
Tristan's family has released a statement informing supporters that Tristan's condition has stabilized and that he has been moved from emergency care to specialized neurological intensive care unit in the Tel Hashomer hospital outside of Tel Aviv. The family is "deeply hopeful that Tristan will recover" and is "looking forward to when he is stable enough that he can return home to the care and comfort of his family and community."
"In the meantime, we are deeply appreciative of the excellent care he's receiving, the amazing support that Gaby [his girlfriend] and his friends are providing, and the thoughts and prayers of those around the world who are holding him in their hearts and minds. It matters tremendously as we all hold faith for Tristan to recover and return home. Again, we are so very grateful for the outpouring of love and support for Tristan and our family."
Cindy and Craig Corrie, the parents of Rachel Corrie, have released a statement on the 6th anniversary of their daughter's death: "On this anniversary, Rachel would want us all to hold Tristan Anderson and his family and these Palestinians [killed in Ni'lin] and their families in our thoughts and prayers, and we ask everyone to do so….[The] attacks on all the people of Gaza and the recent one on Tristan Anderson in Ni'lin cry out for investigation and accountability."
TAKE ACTION
Across the country, organizations and individuals have planned vigils and actions today to commemorate Rachel Corrie. We call on supporters to join these events and to call for justice and accountability for all innocent victims of Israeli occupation.
Find out if there is a Rachel Corrie Remembrance Day event near you by clicking here.
The Amnesty International blog has more information about Tristan Anderson.
There may be an event in Rhode Island to raise funds for Tristan this Thursday. I will post more information when I have it.
Vigil for Tristan Anderson
On March 13, 2009, Tristan Anderson, a U.S. citizen from Oakland, CA, was critically injured when he was shot in the head by a high-velocity tear gas canister fired by the Israeli army.
Tristan was shot while photographing a weekly demonstration against the building of the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank village of Ni'lin. The Wall, which was declared to be illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004, cuts off Ni'lin from much of its agricultural lands. Since 2008, Israel has killed four unarmed Palestinians during these weekly protests: Yousef Amira (17), Ahmed Mousa (10), Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22), and Mohammed Khawaje (20).
This incident comes almost exactly six years after the death of U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie. Rachel was killed by the Israeli military with a Caterpillar bulldozer as she was nonviolently trying to protect a Palestinian home from being destroyed on March 16, 2003.
Tristan's family has released a statement informing supporters that Tristan's condition has stabilized and that he has been moved from emergency care to specialized neurological intensive care unit in the Tel Hashomer hospital outside of Tel Aviv. The family is "deeply hopeful that Tristan will recover" and is "looking forward to when he is stable enough that he can return home to the care and comfort of his family and community."
"In the meantime, we are deeply appreciative of the excellent care he's receiving, the amazing support that Gaby [his girlfriend] and his friends are providing, and the thoughts and prayers of those around the world who are holding him in their hearts and minds. It matters tremendously as we all hold faith for Tristan to recover and return home. Again, we are so very grateful for the outpouring of love and support for Tristan and our family."
Cindy and Craig Corrie, the parents of Rachel Corrie, have released a statement on the 6th anniversary of their daughter's death: "On this anniversary, Rachel would want us all to hold Tristan Anderson and his family and these Palestinians [killed in Ni'lin] and their families in our thoughts and prayers, and we ask everyone to do so….[The] attacks on all the people of Gaza and the recent one on Tristan Anderson in Ni'lin cry out for investigation and accountability."
TAKE ACTION
Across the country, organizations and individuals have planned vigils and actions today to commemorate Rachel Corrie. We call on supporters to join these events and to call for justice and accountability for all innocent victims of Israeli occupation.
Find out if there is a Rachel Corrie Remembrance Day event near you by clicking here.
The Amnesty International blog has more information about Tristan Anderson.
There may be an event in Rhode Island to raise funds for Tristan this Thursday. I will post more information when I have it.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Federal Investigation of Jason (Hiu Lui) Ng's Death
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Richard Walton Is Right: "This is Appalling"
Richard just sent me the following email (which I have edited only very marginally!-grin!)
Hi: This is appalling. ANSWER is being hit with big fines for putting up
posters for March 21 anti-war posters. Peace. Richard.
ANSWER Fined $7000 for March 21st Anti-War Posters
Take Action to Stop These Repressive Fines!
Dear Mark[?--friend of Richard's I'm guessing],
Free Speech rights in Washington D.C. are under attack and we need you to take action.
The outcome of this struggle will have an impact on all progressive groups.
In the last weeks, the ANSWER Coalition has been hit with nearly $7,000 in fines for posters announcing the March 21 National March on the Pentagon that have been put up in Washington D.C. Just today, we received another $1,850 in fines for 12 posters.
The government is trying to effectively eliminate ANSWER's and any group's ability to engage in postering for Free Speech protected activities or dissemination of posters and flyers. The message is this: If you are an anti-war group or a progressive grassroots organization and you hand out or put up a poster, as you may have always done in the past, you can now expect heavy fines and long court battles that are designed to divert money and resources -- or shut you down completely.
The posters for which we were fined are lawfully posted. The District is also issuing fines against ANSWER regardless of who put up the poster -- they are just sanctioning us for being organizers and supporters of the political anti-war demonstration being publicized. Unlike many of the politicians, concert promoters and other corporate entities that put up posters in DC, the ANSWER Coalition even sends out teams of volunteers to remove posters following the conclusion of a demonstration or event.
Many individuals come in and take posters and leaflets from the office or download them from the website. As we have done for the past eight years we provide copies of the DC regulations to people that indicate how to poster in conformity with lawful regulations.
A big shift happened prior to the September 15, 2007 Bring the Troops Home Now mass demonstration that was led by veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We were targeted in an unprecedented campaign and hit with $55,000 in fines.
When we held a press conference in Lafayette Park to protest the postering fines, the news conference was attacked by the police on horseback. Three people were falsely arrested and the media was scattered by the police. Nearly 100,000 people watched the attack on YouTube and support for the demonstration grew rather than diminished. That was an important lesson about how we can resist and win.
We announced then that we would file a lawsuit to defend our constitutional rights. That lawsuit was brought on behalf of ANSWER and the Muslim American Society Freedom (MASF) by attorneys from the Partnership for Civil Justice is continuing and is now before the federal D.C. Circuit court.
We also stated that under no circumstances would we pay these illegal fines.
Tens of thousands of people sent letters to the DC government supporting our Free Speech rights and condemning the obvious targeting of the anti-war movement. Today, those massive fines and the new and ever mounting fines are being held over our head and really over everyone who is engaged in traditional grassroots organizing.
Our leaflets and posters are our voice. Neither ANSWER nor any other grassroots movement has corporate backing and financing that would allow for mass media advertising. We have to firmly defend our rights in the face of an attack that comes from the DC government but not from it alone. In DC and elsewhere during the Bush-years, national and local law enforcement agencies fine-tuned the coordination of their efforts to suppress Free Speech and harass activists.
We are urging that you send a send a letter today to Washington DC Mayor (Adrian M. Fenty) and to the Director of DC Department of Public Works (William O. Howland, Jr.) demanding an end to the fines, harassment and repression of the anti-war movement. We have a right to publicize the March 21st March on the Pentagon. Fining the anti-war movement tens of thousands of dollars for putting up Free Speech-protected literature makes a mockery out of the First Amendment.
This Free Speech fight comes at the very moment that we are in the final stages of preparing for the demonstration and carrying out the many logistical and mobilizational tasks and obligations. We are organizing on many fronts simultaneously and we also need to raise tens of thousands of dollars in the final week.
Please make an urgently needed tax-deductible donation to help us pay the huge costs associated for a National March by clicking here.
Sincerely,
Brian Becker, ANSWER Coalition National Coordinator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
> http://www.answercoalition.org/
> info@internationalanswer.org
> National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
> New York City: 212-694-8720
> Los Angeles: 213-251-1025
> San Francisco: 415-821-6545
> Chicago: 773-463-0311
"The only way out of our crisis (terrorism) is to reduce the anger of the most
rational, thus also reducing the constituency of the least rational." Sam Smith.
"When they come for the innocent without crossing over
your body, cursed be your religion and your life." Anon. But
often quoted by Dorothy Day.
--
Hi: This is appalling. ANSWER is being hit with big fines for putting up
posters for March 21 anti-war posters. Peace. Richard.
ANSWER Fined $7000 for March 21st Anti-War Posters
Take Action to Stop These Repressive Fines!
Dear Mark[?--friend of Richard's I'm guessing],
Free Speech rights in Washington D.C. are under attack and we need you to take action.
The outcome of this struggle will have an impact on all progressive groups.
In the last weeks, the ANSWER Coalition has been hit with nearly $7,000 in fines for posters announcing the March 21 National March on the Pentagon that have been put up in Washington D.C. Just today, we received another $1,850 in fines for 12 posters.
The government is trying to effectively eliminate ANSWER's and any group's ability to engage in postering for Free Speech protected activities or dissemination of posters and flyers. The message is this: If you are an anti-war group or a progressive grassroots organization and you hand out or put up a poster, as you may have always done in the past, you can now expect heavy fines and long court battles that are designed to divert money and resources -- or shut you down completely.
The posters for which we were fined are lawfully posted. The District is also issuing fines against ANSWER regardless of who put up the poster -- they are just sanctioning us for being organizers and supporters of the political anti-war demonstration being publicized. Unlike many of the politicians, concert promoters and other corporate entities that put up posters in DC, the ANSWER Coalition even sends out teams of volunteers to remove posters following the conclusion of a demonstration or event.
Many individuals come in and take posters and leaflets from the office or download them from the website. As we have done for the past eight years we provide copies of the DC regulations to people that indicate how to poster in conformity with lawful regulations.
A big shift happened prior to the September 15, 2007 Bring the Troops Home Now mass demonstration that was led by veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We were targeted in an unprecedented campaign and hit with $55,000 in fines.
When we held a press conference in Lafayette Park to protest the postering fines, the news conference was attacked by the police on horseback. Three people were falsely arrested and the media was scattered by the police. Nearly 100,000 people watched the attack on YouTube and support for the demonstration grew rather than diminished. That was an important lesson about how we can resist and win.
We announced then that we would file a lawsuit to defend our constitutional rights. That lawsuit was brought on behalf of ANSWER and the Muslim American Society Freedom (MASF) by attorneys from the Partnership for Civil Justice is continuing and is now before the federal D.C. Circuit court.
We also stated that under no circumstances would we pay these illegal fines.
Tens of thousands of people sent letters to the DC government supporting our Free Speech rights and condemning the obvious targeting of the anti-war movement. Today, those massive fines and the new and ever mounting fines are being held over our head and really over everyone who is engaged in traditional grassroots organizing.
Our leaflets and posters are our voice. Neither ANSWER nor any other grassroots movement has corporate backing and financing that would allow for mass media advertising. We have to firmly defend our rights in the face of an attack that comes from the DC government but not from it alone. In DC and elsewhere during the Bush-years, national and local law enforcement agencies fine-tuned the coordination of their efforts to suppress Free Speech and harass activists.
We are urging that you send a send a letter today to Washington DC Mayor (Adrian M. Fenty) and to the Director of DC Department of Public Works (William O. Howland, Jr.) demanding an end to the fines, harassment and repression of the anti-war movement. We have a right to publicize the March 21st March on the Pentagon. Fining the anti-war movement tens of thousands of dollars for putting up Free Speech-protected literature makes a mockery out of the First Amendment.
This Free Speech fight comes at the very moment that we are in the final stages of preparing for the demonstration and carrying out the many logistical and mobilizational tasks and obligations. We are organizing on many fronts simultaneously and we also need to raise tens of thousands of dollars in the final week.
Please make an urgently needed tax-deductible donation to help us pay the huge costs associated for a National March by clicking here.
Sincerely,
Brian Becker, ANSWER Coalition National Coordinator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
> http://www.answercoalition.org/
> info@internationalanswer.org
> National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
> New York City: 212-694-8720
> Los Angeles: 213-251-1025
> San Francisco: 415-821-6545
> Chicago: 773-463-0311
"The only way out of our crisis (terrorism) is to reduce the anger of the most
rational, thus also reducing the constituency of the least rational." Sam Smith.
"When they come for the innocent without crossing over
your body, cursed be your religion and your life." Anon. But
often quoted by Dorothy Day.
--
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Thank You, Congressman John Lewis (Love is Love)!
From Pam's House Blend comes a wonderful post with a quote from the tremendous civil rights leader, John Lewis:
Here's the link to his website and to the wikipedia entry about him.
"It is unfortunate that a segment of our society fails to see that we all should be treated like human beings, that we all are citizens of the United States of America. I've taken the position and I've long held this position that I fought too long and too hard against discrimination base on race and color not to stand up and speak out against discrimination based on sexual orientation. It doesn't matter if someone is gay or straight or whether someone believes in a different philosophy or different religion. We're one people, we're one family, and we're one house. There is not any room in American society for discrimination based on sexual orientation. It doesn't matter whether someone is gay or happens to be lesbian or transsexual. We're one people; we're one family, the American family.
You call it what you want, discrimination is discrimination and we have to speak up and speak out against discrimination. You have too many people in this society saying they're against same-sex marriage. If people fall in love and want to get married, it is their business. Martin Luther King Jr. used to say races don't fall in love in love and get married; individuals fall in love and get married. So if two men or two women want to fall in love and get married it's their business. Some people say it is a threat to the institution of marriage, and some of these people who go around saying that same sex marriage is a threat to the institution of marriage, which marriage or what marriage are they talking about? Some of these same individuals have had several marriages and I don't think individuals that happen to be gay are a threat to anybody's marriage. Love is love. It is better to love than to hate, it is better to be together than to be divided.
Here's the link to his website and to the wikipedia entry about him.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Matt Jerzyk's New Blog!
Closing Argument: a blog on truth, justice, the law (and the politics in between)
Matt emailed a "heads up" to me and other RI bloggers:
Matt is famous for founding the RIFuture website, for playing a pivotal role in organizing the Roger Williams Law School students, and (are you reading this?) for sharing a birthday with Marguerite Vigliani, Elizabeth(Betsy) Scharf and me.
Mazel Tov, Matt!
Matt emailed a "heads up" to me and other RI bloggers:
i have started a new blog called "Closing Argument" that is going to focus on our three branches of government in RI, MA and the US as well as the politics that play out in between.
i intend Closing Argument to be more legal-based, intellectual and objective than my previous endeavor.
Matt is famous for founding the RIFuture website, for playing a pivotal role in organizing the Roger Williams Law School students, and (are you reading this?) for sharing a birthday with Marguerite Vigliani, Elizabeth(Betsy) Scharf and me.
Mazel Tov, Matt!
Monday, March 2, 2009
So, a nice light post about wonderful music.
I saw the most amazing violinist over the weekend: http://www.dbrmusic.com/dbr.htm
I do some photography (pro bono of course) for a couple of local non-profits and the gig this weekend was to photograph this amazing musician and teacher: http://www.dbrmusic.com/dbr.htm
Daniel Roumaine is a virtuoso on the violin, no question about that. But, he is so much more. He is a thoughtful, humorous and gifted instructor. Watching him put on two workshops with young people (ages 5 through late teens) was just a joy. He never condescended. He always challenged. And the kids always gave him more than they knew they had to give. What this world needs now is exactly what he has, a love for the process of education and the skill to do the job in such a profoundly uplifting way.
Mr. Roumaine is returning to Oswego for a concert on March 21. He and two other composers are going to be playing their works as part of a program celebrating the Hudson River. I look forward to seeing, hearing and photgraphing him again.
My photography is not the best, technically. Shit, it's not even close. My favorite subjects are musicians and dancers and I shoot in available light about 99% of the time. What I get are, literally, thousands of out-of-focus, underlit, crappy images. But, on the rare occasion when the gods of chiara-oscuro smile on me; well that's what makes it worthwhile. I'm going to try and put a few photos up with this (none from this weekend--I don't have releases from anyone). They will not be problematic as they will be mostly close-ups of hands and instruments or so blurred that they won't be recognizable. But I just want you to have the idea. If you're subject to motion sickness, take some dramamine. Otherwise, enjoy. The photos will be forthcoming.
NB: The second photo was originally on film and when I looked at it the first time I said, "Shit, it's out of focus!". Then I looked at it again and said, "Oh, the microphone is sharp, everything else is moving, COOOOOOOOOOL!"
Second NB:
Photos didn't survive the wayout machine trip, you have to come to my house (http://polrant.blogspot.com/) to look at them. Wear HazBlog gear.
I saw the most amazing violinist over the weekend: http://www.dbrmusic.com/dbr.htm
I do some photography (pro bono of course) for a couple of local non-profits and the gig this weekend was to photograph this amazing musician and teacher: http://www.dbrmusic.com/dbr.htm
Daniel Roumaine is a virtuoso on the violin, no question about that. But, he is so much more. He is a thoughtful, humorous and gifted instructor. Watching him put on two workshops with young people (ages 5 through late teens) was just a joy. He never condescended. He always challenged. And the kids always gave him more than they knew they had to give. What this world needs now is exactly what he has, a love for the process of education and the skill to do the job in such a profoundly uplifting way.
Mr. Roumaine is returning to Oswego for a concert on March 21. He and two other composers are going to be playing their works as part of a program celebrating the Hudson River. I look forward to seeing, hearing and photgraphing him again.
My photography is not the best, technically. Shit, it's not even close. My favorite subjects are musicians and dancers and I shoot in available light about 99% of the time. What I get are, literally, thousands of out-of-focus, underlit, crappy images. But, on the rare occasion when the gods of chiara-oscuro smile on me; well that's what makes it worthwhile. I'm going to try and put a few photos up with this (none from this weekend--I don't have releases from anyone). They will not be problematic as they will be mostly close-ups of hands and instruments or so blurred that they won't be recognizable. But I just want you to have the idea. If you're subject to motion sickness, take some dramamine. Otherwise, enjoy. The photos will be forthcoming.
NB: The second photo was originally on film and when I looked at it the first time I said, "Shit, it's out of focus!". Then I looked at it again and said, "Oh, the microphone is sharp, everything else is moving, COOOOOOOOOOL!"
Second NB:
Photos didn't survive the wayout machine trip, you have to come to my house (http://polrant.blogspot.com/) to look at them. Wear HazBlog gear.
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