Chorus performs
photo by Dan Cohen
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Go, Howard, Go!
This is just a button, not an endorsement
"People want us to fight," Dean told the national party's executive committee. "We are here to fight."Addressing Iowa party activists later Saturday in Des Moines, he added:
"We need to be blunt and clear about the things we're going to fight for. I'm tired of lying down in front of the Republican machine. We need to stand up for what we believe in."
And who would you turn to for an evaluation of Dean as Democratic Party Chair? Dick Cheney, of course.
"Howard Dean is 'over the top,'" Vice President Dick Cheney says, calling the Democrats' chairman "not the kind of individual you want to have representing your political party."
Well Dick, he fortunately isn't "representing your political party."
"I've never been able to understand his appeal. Maybe his mother loved him, but I've never met anybody who does. He's never won anything, as best I can tell,"Cheney said in an interview to be aired Monday on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes.
If I were a resident of Vermont, I would be mightily insulted by Cheney's ignorance. As AOL points out, Dean was elected Vermont Governor 5 times.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
World Youth Festival benefit party
Thursday, June 16
World Youth Festival Benefit Party!
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: The Welfare Poets!
Thursday, June 16 7-10 PM
Plan B Bar:
339 E 10th Street (Avenue B) in the East Village
Drinks special! Happy hour prices = $2 off
all drinks
with performances by:
IMPACT THEATRE
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
and The Welfare Poets
Also, back by popular demand: DJ Mellow G
(Directions:F to Second Ave, L to 1st or 6 to Astor Place)
$15 suggested donation to support NYLOC Scholarship
Fund sliding scale / no one will be turned away
For more on the 16th World Festival of Youth and
Students www.festivalmundial2005.org.ve
World Youth Festival Benefit Party!
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: The Welfare Poets!
Thursday, June 16 7-10 PM
Plan B Bar:
339 E 10th Street (Avenue B) in the East Village
Drinks special! Happy hour prices = $2 off
all drinks
with performances by:
IMPACT THEATRE
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
and The Welfare Poets
Also, back by popular demand: DJ Mellow G
(Directions:F to Second Ave, L to 1st or 6 to Astor Place)
$15 suggested donation to support NYLOC Scholarship
Fund sliding scale / no one will be turned away
For more on the 16th World Festival of Youth and
Students www.festivalmundial2005.org.ve
The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international gathering of young people from every region of the world who come together in the spirit of peace and international solidarity. The festival movement started after the events of World War II when young people swore to never again allow fascism to take hold and spread. The first festival was held in Prague in 1947 and since then it has become an important event for radical and progressive youth featuring cultural exhibitions, performances, workshops, panel discussions, intramural sports events, parties, demonstrations, marches and much more. The festival offers a chance to learn about the struggles and cultures of young people from around the world. One exciting feature of the festival is the clubhouse, which is organized by region and offers each delegation an opportunity to display information, materials and artwork from their country to share with other delegations. The festival also offers a space for dialogue and exchange between delegates; both in formal settings like workshops and panels and in informal settings like over a meal or at a party.
The 16th World Festival of Youth and Students will be held in Caracas,Venezuela, August 7-15, 2005. It is expected that over 10,000 youth from over 100 countries around the world will travel to Caracas to participate in the festival. This year, given the current state of the world and the particularly destructive and illegal behavior of the US government towards not only Iraq but other countries around the world, the theme of "For Peace and Solidarity, We Struggle Against Imperialism and War" is of particular importance. This festival will allow us a chance to show that young people in the U.S. do not agree with George Bush and his policies and that we too believe in and struggle for a more just, peaceful world.
Reading: Shattering the Stereotypes-Muslim Women Speak Out
Reading: Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out with Editor
Fawzia Afzal-Khan and Nawal El Saadawi
Thursday, June 16th, 7PM – Free
Bluestockings Books
172 Allen Street (in the LES)
Ethnically and attitudinally diverse, the texts in Shattering the- Eve Ensler
Stereotypes offer a rounded portrayal of what it is to be a Muslim woman in the 21st century. Through essays, poetry, fiction, memoir, plays, and artwork, Muslim women speak for themselves, revealing a complexity of experience and thought that escapes most Western portrayals. Shattering the Stereotypes breaks open the poetic, complex, visionary, luscious, surprising, fierce, and uncompromising world of the women of Islam.
Fawzia Afzal Khan, Professor of English at Montclair State U. (NJ), is a
scholar/critic, poet, memoirist and playwright.
Nawal El Saadawi is a novelist, a psychiatrist and a writer.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Iraqi Trade Unionist Forum
Iraqi Trade Unionist Forum:
Friday, June 17, 5:30-8:00 PM.
1199SEIU, 330 W. 42nd St., 9th Floor, NYC.
As part of a national tour Adnan Rashed and Abed Sekhi of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) will present their first hand accounts of the issues facing workers in Iraq. They will discuss their struggle against US efforts to privatize Iraqi industries and develop a strong labor movement and civil society in Iraq.
Sponsored by US Labor Against the War (USLAW), 1199ers for Peace & Justice, CWA-1180, UUP-SUNY AFT 2190, PSC/CUNY AFT 2334
The NAFTA highway (I-69): Too Sexy?
John Hostettler, the Congressman representing the 8th district of Indiana, has been convinced by local religious groups to introduce legislation in the House that would change the name of an Interstate 69 extension to a more moral sounding number.
There are plans to extend the interstate from Indianapolis through southwestern Indiana all the way through Texas into Mexico in the coming years. While activists are opposed to I-69 for political reasons, religious conservatives believe "I-69" sounds too risque and want to change the interstate's number.
Hostettler, a proponent of the interstate extension, agrees.
"Every time I have been out in the public with an 'I-69' button on my lapel, teenagers point and snicker at it. I have had many ask me if they can have my button. I believe it is time to change the name of the highway. It is the moral thing to do."I'm not sure what has happened to Hostettler's I-69 bill, it's just to good a story to pass up. But Hostettler has certainly kept busy.
He also was the right-wing kneejerk who introduced the Marriage Protection Act. He said,
Recognizing that marriage is a divinely ordained institution - not a social experiment to be reinvented and redefined by a handful of unelected ideologues of the federal judiciary - I am introducing legislation to limit the federal courts’ ability to set a national precedent that undermines marriage as we know it.
Mountain Justice Summer activists in jail
LEGAL DEFENDS FUNDS NEEDED ASAP; NONVIOLENT ACTIVISTS FACE TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AND LUDICROUS BAIL
Three nonviolent activists with Mountain Justice Summer are in jail after protesting National Coal Corporation's first shareholders meeting. They face trumped-up felony charges and outrageous bail, and are in urgent need of legal defense funds. At 10am on Tuesday, June 7th, approximately 45 activists surprised Knoxville-based National Coal Corporation, the most destructive coal company in Tennessee, by showing up at their first-ever shareholders meeting at a Holiday Inn Select meeting room in west Knoxville. (for complete story) Email: ecoautonomy(at)yahoo.com (unverified!)
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Biodemocracy-2005: Philadelphia June 18-21
The world's largest convention of biotech and pharmaceutical executives is coming to Philadelphia this June.
Join us to resist their closed-door corporate agenda of GE agriculture, health care for profit, and bioweapons proliferation.
Give voice to a different vision of local food sovereignty, fair trade, health care for all, community power, biodiversity and honest science.
RECLAIM THE COMMONS FESTIVAL Saturday June 18th. Live music, puppets, food, farmer speak-out, plant give-away
BIODEMOCRACY TEACH-IN
DAY OF ACTION
FOOD NOT BOMBS 25th ANNIVERSARY GATHERING
GREEN AND BLACK URBAN GATHERING
Get Involved!
215-222-4711 or leave a message toll-free at 877-806-2871
For further details, housing information, etc., see.
More info. and ongoing coverage will be available from the Philadelphia Independent Media Center
The Pimping of the President
Jack Abramoff
According to Lou Dubose of the Texas Observer:
Jack Abramoff and Grover Norquist have been caught billing clients for face time with George W. Bush. Don't believe it? Just follow the paper trail.for the complete "Pimping of the President."
Film Showing: Strategic Omissions: The Truth Behind the Health Effects After 9/11
STRATEGIC OMISSIONS The Truth Behind The Health Effects After 9/11
Sunday, June 12th 2005
1:00 PM - TBA
All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington ave @79th st.
New York City, NY
Film with Speakers, Discussion
Suggested contributions: $10; $5 for seniors. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY.
All proceeds go towards supporting the final editing and production of this film.
Contact: hananwatson@yahoo.com
http://www.peacetaskforcenyc.org
THE PEACE TASK FORCE OF ALL SOULS CHURCH in collaboration with NOT IN OUR NAME’S “RESISTANCE CINEMA “ series, presents:
“STRATEGIC OMISSIONS The Truth Behind The Health Effects After 9/11”: (90 min, 2005) a documentary film by Heidi Dehncke-Fisher and Gordon Skinner.
There will be a post screening discussion introduced by special guest Congressman JERROLD NADLER (Dem. 8th district)
The collapse of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center released 2,358 toxins into the air. These toxins are known to cause asthma and upper respiratory allergies and those exposed to them are at heightened risk for numerous cancers. “Strategic Omissions” investigates the impact of 9/11 on the health of rescue workers and lower Manhattan residents and unearths the political cover-up of the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Panelists will include the filmakers, health professionals, environmental experts, rescue workers and jornalists.
Sunday, June 12th 2005
1:00 PM - TBA
All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington ave @79th st.
New York City, NY
Film with Speakers, Discussion
Suggested contributions: $10; $5 for seniors. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY.
All proceeds go towards supporting the final editing and production of this film.
Contact: hananwatson@yahoo.com
http://www.peacetaskforcenyc.org
THE PEACE TASK FORCE OF ALL SOULS CHURCH in collaboration with NOT IN OUR NAME’S “RESISTANCE CINEMA “ series, presents:
“STRATEGIC OMISSIONS The Truth Behind The Health Effects After 9/11”: (90 min, 2005) a documentary film by Heidi Dehncke-Fisher and Gordon Skinner.
There will be a post screening discussion introduced by special guest Congressman JERROLD NADLER (Dem. 8th district)
The collapse of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center released 2,358 toxins into the air. These toxins are known to cause asthma and upper respiratory allergies and those exposed to them are at heightened risk for numerous cancers. “Strategic Omissions” investigates the impact of 9/11 on the health of rescue workers and lower Manhattan residents and unearths the political cover-up of the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Panelists will include the filmakers, health professionals, environmental experts, rescue workers and jornalists.
Howard Dean has brought back a fighting spirit
I can't understand how anyone who watched even a little bit of last year's Republican National Convention could have any problem with Howard Dean's statement that the GOP is "pretty much a white Christian party." If anyone can think of anything the Republicans have done recently (how about the last 100 years) that benefited anyone who wasn't rich, white and probably Christian. I would love to know.
So I can only ask New York Democratic Party Spokesperson Howard Wolfson (also a top aid to Sen Clinton), who according to the NY Post said, "I do think these comments are over the line and not appropriate, what line do they cross? The truth line? The Post also reports that Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and House minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have joined in the criticism of Dean.
These are, of course, many of the same people who predicted that Dean would be a disaster as DNC chair. They are also from the wing of the Democratic Party that wants to accommodate the right-wing ("red states").
If this happens-and we should appreciate Dean's resistance to this strategy-the Democrats will become the Washington Generals to the Republican Harlem Globetrotters. AS the Globetrotters realized: you can't win if you don't have a patsy to play.
Atrios and AmericaBlog; have suggested people contribute to the the Party to support Dean. Although I support Dean's attempts to bring back a fighting spirit to the Democrats, I could not in all good conscience recommend contributing money to the Democrats when there are so many other far more valuable ways to spend your money. But I cheer on their intent.
Right-wing using "race card" in judicial nomination fight
Christopher M. Rabb of Afro-Netizen asks some crucial questions about the GOP and the "race-card":
California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown is the daughter of sharecroppers. And the American people are supposed to do what with this information exactly?
Are we to make certain assumptions about a Black woman whose parents labored within the harsh post-slavery servitude of the Jim Crow South? And if so, what assumptions should we be forming based on the GOP's media blitz hyping this aspect of Justice Brown's family history?
Are Republicans playing the "racial authnticity card"?
Movie screeening: "Coming Up Short-Women & Culture"
COMING UP SHORT: Women & Culture
June 19th 7pm
at the Pioneer Theater (155 E. 3rd St at Avenue A)
Presented by Alter Magazine
Featuring…
HUMAN SHIELD (Debra Hussong)
In February 2003, about 300 Human Shields from 30 countries including the US, mobilized in Iraq for what would become a futile mission to prevent an invasion. 63-year old Faith Fippinger was a human shield in Iraq from February 20 - April 26, 2003. She speaks candidly about her experience as a human shield in Iraq duringthose two months. Sara Joffe shares 23-year old Benjamin Joffe-Walt's experience from a mother's point-of-view.
VOICES OF WOMEN (Cristina Massafra)
"Voices of Women" explores testimonies of activists and of women who have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation from different parts of the world. With love and passion for their communities they guide us to new movements, which are fighting to abandon this practice. Their voices and strong emotions give us a glimpse of their universe with all itscomplications.
WOMAN IS OF THE HOUSE AND MAN IS OF THE STREET (Martha Garzon)
Inequality in Latin America is still legitimized and enforced by law,
religion and tradition. This experimental documentary explores public and private spheres in Latin America through interviews with men and women from Colombia, Cuba, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. Filmed in Colombia and the US, the video looks at Latino popular culture and functions as a mirror of Latin America's sexually segregated society.
BAKING BREAD (Rose Spinelli)
When families emigrate, culinary traditions get lost. Chicago writer Rose Spinelli's documentary, prompted by her inability to make the traditional bread of her family, sends her on a trip to Sicily, the land of her ancestors, and allows her to make peace with the past.
Tickets are $9 ($6.50-members,students & seniors) and every attendee will receive a gift bag full of prizes and promotional materials from our sponsors worth over $50.
To buy tickets, go to
www.AltarMagazine.com.
Space is very limited!
For more information call
917-337-0443.
June 19th 7pm
at the Pioneer Theater (155 E. 3rd St at Avenue A)
Presented by Alter Magazine
Featuring…
HUMAN SHIELD (Debra Hussong)
In February 2003, about 300 Human Shields from 30 countries including the US, mobilized in Iraq for what would become a futile mission to prevent an invasion. 63-year old Faith Fippinger was a human shield in Iraq from February 20 - April 26, 2003. She speaks candidly about her experience as a human shield in Iraq duringthose two months. Sara Joffe shares 23-year old Benjamin Joffe-Walt's experience from a mother's point-of-view.
VOICES OF WOMEN (Cristina Massafra)
"Voices of Women" explores testimonies of activists and of women who have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation from different parts of the world. With love and passion for their communities they guide us to new movements, which are fighting to abandon this practice. Their voices and strong emotions give us a glimpse of their universe with all itscomplications.
WOMAN IS OF THE HOUSE AND MAN IS OF THE STREET (Martha Garzon)
Inequality in Latin America is still legitimized and enforced by law,
religion and tradition. This experimental documentary explores public and private spheres in Latin America through interviews with men and women from Colombia, Cuba, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. Filmed in Colombia and the US, the video looks at Latino popular culture and functions as a mirror of Latin America's sexually segregated society.
BAKING BREAD (Rose Spinelli)
When families emigrate, culinary traditions get lost. Chicago writer Rose Spinelli's documentary, prompted by her inability to make the traditional bread of her family, sends her on a trip to Sicily, the land of her ancestors, and allows her to make peace with the past.
Tickets are $9 ($6.50-members,students & seniors) and every attendee will receive a gift bag full of prizes and promotional materials from our sponsors worth over $50.
To buy tickets, go to
www.AltarMagazine.com.
Space is very limited!
For more information call
917-337-0443.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Patriot Act Organizing Meeting
Patriot Act Organizing Meeting
The New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign and 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows invite you to a:
Patriot Act Organizing Meeting
Wednesday, June 15 at 6:30 PM
125 Broad St, 17th Floor
At the end of this year, sixteen sections of the Patriot Act are due to expire, or "sunset," unless Congress acts to reauthorize or expand those sections. Join the New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign and 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows for a meeting on stopping this expansion of the Patriot Act.
Cartoon By David Horsey (Seattle-Post Intelligencer)
Anti-military recruitment info
June 9 Counter Recruitment flyering in front of High Schools
This is an important time of year to reach high school students who are about to graduate.
Recruiters are counting on signing up many graduating seniors as their quotas for the year have not been met. We need to let students know the truth about what recruiters tell them and that there are other options for training and $ for college besides joining the military.
SO..... please sign up to hand out flyers to students at one of the 3 schools we have chosen. We chose these schools because recruiters have been present at the schools. You don't even have to get up early, as we have decided to flyer in the afternoon as students are leaving school. (yvonne@unitedforpeace.org)
Washington Irving High School,
40 Irving Place.
3:00 PM
Email: Megan at EBehrent@aol.com to let her know you will be there.
George Washington High School,
549 Audubon Ave. (The school is between 191 and 193 Streets.)
2:00 PM
Email: Lisa at LRN1212@aol.com to let her know you will be there.
Columbus High School
in the Bronx, 925 Astor Ave.
3:00 PM
Email: LRN1212@aol.com
Curtis High School, Staten Island,
Short walk from the ferry. More information soon.
Email: Dave at dpoleshuck@yahoo.com
**6/12 SUN, 2 pm - Forum:
"No Military Recruiters in OurSchools." Tells the truth about military recruitment in our
community.
Nicole Goodwin (Iraq War vet),
Guy de Veaux (Vietnam vet),
Cesar Casamayer (youth organizer, Action for Community
Empowerment).
At St Mary's Episcopal Church,
521 W 126th St (btw
Amsterdam Ave & Old B'way,
Free.
Sponsor: United NY Black Radical Congress.
Info: 917-573-5812, nyblackradicalcongress@yahoo.com
This is an important time of year to reach high school students who are about to graduate.
Recruiters are counting on signing up many graduating seniors as their quotas for the year have not been met. We need to let students know the truth about what recruiters tell them and that there are other options for training and $ for college besides joining the military.
SO..... please sign up to hand out flyers to students at one of the 3 schools we have chosen. We chose these schools because recruiters have been present at the schools. You don't even have to get up early, as we have decided to flyer in the afternoon as students are leaving school. (yvonne@unitedforpeace.org)
Washington Irving High School,
40 Irving Place.
3:00 PM
Email: Megan at EBehrent@aol.com to let her know you will be there.
George Washington High School,
549 Audubon Ave. (The school is between 191 and 193 Streets.)
2:00 PM
Email: Lisa at LRN1212@aol.com to let her know you will be there.
Columbus High School
in the Bronx, 925 Astor Ave.
3:00 PM
Email: LRN1212@aol.com
Curtis High School, Staten Island,
Short walk from the ferry. More information soon.
Email: Dave at dpoleshuck@yahoo.com
**6/12 SUN, 2 pm - Forum:
"No Military Recruiters in OurSchools." Tells the truth about military recruitment in our
community.
Nicole Goodwin (Iraq War vet),
Guy de Veaux (Vietnam vet),
Cesar Casamayer (youth organizer, Action for Community
Empowerment).
At St Mary's Episcopal Church,
521 W 126th St (btw
Amsterdam Ave & Old B'way,
Free.
Sponsor: United NY Black Radical Congress.
Info: 917-573-5812, nyblackradicalcongress@yahoo.com
Brecht Forum: Upcoming events
Exhibit of Diana Greene Lent's photos of United for Peace &
Justice
Here are two upcoming events (this week) at the Brecht Forum
451 West Street, New York, NY 10014
mail@brechtforum.org
Thursday, June 9
7:30 pm
Man Made Disasters in Post-Tsunami India
Relief and Rehabilitation as a Zone of Disempowerment
V. Suresh
Friday, June 10
7:30 pm
BOOK PARTY/FORUM
The Party
The Socialist Workers Party, 1960-1988, A Political Memoir
Barry Sheppard
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Right-wing fishing expeditions into Planned Parenthood files
Let's begin with a truism: "Save the Children" is the last resort of the right-wing scoundrel.
Who can forget the 1977 anti-gay "Save the Children" campaign of orange juice saleswoman and former singer Anita Bryant.
Now along come the Attorneys-General of Indiana and Kansas (what is wrong with Kansas?) who want to go on fishing expeditions in the files of Planned Parenthood.
National Review editor Rich Lowry says:
Yes please let that sink in.
There is no mention of any evidence of wrong doing except vague notions that "Teen sex often involves adult men exploiting teen girls."
In this country-before the rise of the right-wing-it has always been the case that evidence precedes search warrants. But the Indiana and Kansas AGs want to bypass this knotty evidence problem and go straight to the fishing poles.
"Planned Parenthood," according to Lowry "is developing the 'statutory rape-positive' wing of feminism."
How are they doing this? By protecting the doctor-patient privilege of young women.
Further according to Lowry, "An Indiana judge has just upheld the attorney general's request, although the case is under appeal." Note that there is no mention of the right-wing bug-a-boo "judicial activism" in this case.
Keep in mind: There is no evidence of a crime having been committed.
So here we have a beautiful example of right-wing strategy: Anti-abortion activists (the attorneys-general)yell "save the children." A sympathetic judge says "Oh yes! We must save the children." And then this is all echoed in print by right-wing knee jerks like Rich Lowry.
Well let's hope that even in Indiana and Kansas there are still judges who believe in the U.S. Constitution and the law of the land: abortion is still legal.
Who can forget the 1977 anti-gay "Save the Children" campaign of orange juice saleswoman and former singer Anita Bryant.
Now along come the Attorneys-General of Indiana and Kansas (what is wrong with Kansas?) who want to go on fishing expeditions in the files of Planned Parenthood.
National Review editor Rich Lowry says:
Can you say “perverse”? Planned Parenthood in Indiana and Kansas is effectively fighting to protect child rapists from potential prosecution in two high-profile legal fights. That an organization devoted to the interests of women finds itself in this position is a cautionary tale of abortion-rights extremism.
In Indiana, the attorney general is seeking the records of girls under the age of 14 who have visited Planned Parenthood clinics. Let that sink in: WeÂ’re talking about 12- and 13-year- old girls.
Yes please let that sink in.
There is no mention of any evidence of wrong doing except vague notions that "Teen sex often involves adult men exploiting teen girls."
In this country-before the rise of the right-wing-it has always been the case that evidence precedes search warrants. But the Indiana and Kansas AGs want to bypass this knotty evidence problem and go straight to the fishing poles.
"Planned Parenthood," according to Lowry "is developing the 'statutory rape-positive' wing of feminism."
How are they doing this? By protecting the doctor-patient privilege of young women.
Further according to Lowry, "An Indiana judge has just upheld the attorney general's request, although the case is under appeal." Note that there is no mention of the right-wing bug-a-boo "judicial activism" in this case.
Keep in mind: There is no evidence of a crime having been committed.
So here we have a beautiful example of right-wing strategy: Anti-abortion activists (the attorneys-general)yell "save the children." A sympathetic judge says "Oh yes! We must save the children." And then this is all echoed in print by right-wing knee jerks like Rich Lowry.
Well let's hope that even in Indiana and Kansas there are still judges who believe in the U.S. Constitution and the law of the land: abortion is still legal.
Labor Chorus Gala Benefit Concert- Sat. Eve.
Photo by Sue Zugaib
New York City Labor Chorus 7TH Gala Benefit Concert
Saturday, June 11, 2005 - 7:00 pm
The Graduate Center, CUNY
General Admission $25 Seniors & Unemployed $15
Thanks to an overwhelming response, the Gala Concert is SOLD OUT!
If you are one of the lucky ones to have a ticket, look for us. We'll all be there-Ann will be on the stage and Andrew and I cheering the loudest.
(Photo above by Sue Zugaib
The Labor Chorus performs at the 20th Anny of the Mayworks Festival in Toronto)
Mrs. Robinson-Anne Bancroft- is dead
One of the truly iconic characters of 20thCentury film-Mrs. Robinson is dead. Well actually the actor who played her-Anne Bancroft is dead.
Four Oscar nominations, One win for "The Miracle Worker."
Here's to you Annie, Here's to you.
Where have you gone, Mrs. Robinson?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
(Woo woo woo)
What's that you say, Annie
Mrs. Robinson has left and gone away?
(Hey hey hey - hey hey hey)
An Evening for Vieques-June 10
The Welfare Poets new album
The David Sanes Rodriguez Brigade for Peace & Justice in Vieques
Date: Friday, June 10th 2005 - Friday, June 10th 2005
Time: 7:00 PM - TBA
Location: Theater at the Clemente Soto Velez Center
107 Suffolk St, NYC, lower east side
New York
The David Sanes Rodriguez Brigade for Peace & Justice in Vieques(AKA the
"Vieques Brigade")will be hosting AN EVENING FOR VIEQUES FRIDAY, JUNE 10TH,
2005 7 P.M.
$15 advance tickets $20 at the door
Food & Drink will be sold
It will be an evening of live music, theater and spoken word
featuring
AURORA & ZON DEL BARRIO
THE WELFARE POETS
MARIA SOLANA
JESUS "PAPOLETO" MELENDEZ
MARI POSAYAYALA BRUJA
FRANK PEREZEL
DAVID GOYAALMA
& Many more
This incredibly talented group of artists are
donating their artistic expressions to a grass roots effort at an
alternative medicine health initiative for the people of Vieques who face
the highest rates of cancer and heavy metals contamination in Puerto Rico
For further info: (212 865 9308) (917) 626 5847
The Lies About Hillary in new book?
Although truth be told, when Bill Clinton was running for President, I wore a button, for a while, that said "Hillary for First Lady," the following should not be taken as more than information.
If you have been reading the right-wing knee jerks comments promoting a new book about Hillary Clinton, you should read Media Matters on it:
"Conservative publisher announces plans to "Swift Boat" Sen. Clinton"
So what do we actually know about The Truth About Hillary?
The Truth About Hillary is a partisan effort designed to "influence" voters
"In recent days, a forthcoming book about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) titled The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President has gotten free advance publicity in major newspapers and on cable television, with several media outlets and figures already speculating -- some five months before the book is to be available -- that it will damage Clinton's much-speculated-about, but undeclared, presidential campaign."
"The comparison to the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is significant for at least two reasons. First, the SBVT were explicitly formed to defeat John Kerry's presidential campaign; thus, the publisher's comparison of the book to the Swift Boat group reveals the book to be little more than a partisan political tool designed to influence an election. But the comparison is also telling because, as Media Matters for America and others extensively documented, the SBVT repeatedly lied, misled, and distorted the truth about John Kerry."
(Once again, thanks to Wonkette for pointing me to important stuff)
Dean and party fundraising
Dave Weigel of The Daily Kos quotes the following from The Hill:
Sounds like a good idea to me.
But he didn't quote the following:
Changes the story a bit, doesn't it?
Three top fundraisers at the Democratic National Committee have resigned at a time when its chairman, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, has come under fire from fellow Democrats for controversial comments and his Republican counterpart has raised more than twice as much money.
Democratic sources link the resignations to Dean’s decision to focus on raising money in small increments through the Internet, as he did during his 2004 presidential bid, and building up the party’s grassroots infrastructure while paying little attention to major Democratic donors.
Sounds like a good idea to me.
But he didn't quote the following:
But other Democrats say the first several months after a party’s losing presidential campaign are naturally a time of transition and it will take time for committee officials to get their “sea legs.”
Dean’s defenders also note that DNC fundraising is ahead of where it was at this point after the last presidential election, when Democrats could still raise unlimited amounts of soft money.
Changes the story a bit, doesn't it?
Monday, June 06, 2005
MoveOn turns up heat on Tom Delay
From MoveOn:
"Last week, MoveOn members made the news when we took on Republican members of Congress who continue to back Republican leader Tom DeLay despite his numerous ethical and legal misdeeds. The Rocky Mountain News headline was, "MoveOn Targets Beauprez, Musgrave." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "PAC Targeting Hart with Anti-DeLay Radio Ads" and the Ventura County (CA) Star noted that "Gallegly Gets Anti-DeLay Petitions."
In an impressive week:
The "Fire Tom DeLay" petition topped out at more than 484,146 signers urging Republicans to fire DeLay as their leader.
MoveOn volunteers organized 195 events to deliver these signatures to Republican members of Congress and others.
Thousands of MoveOn volunteers attended or organized the petition deliveries and worked hard to alert the media. It paid off. We've seen news stories for about a third of the local events and heard about many more-meaning millions of people heard about their representative's support for Tom DeLay through our efforts.
We've been running ads against seven members of Congress who both come from vulnerable congressional districts and fundraise with DeLay's help.
The goal of all of these actions was to drive home the public outrage over corruption and abuse of power among the Republican leadership and make it clear to Republicans that they should dump DeLay as their leader.
How well did it work? On the front page of today's edition of The Washington Post, there's a story with the headline, "GOP Worries Ethics Issue May Hurt Party in '06."
The article opens:
After enlarging their majority in the past two elections, House Republicans have begun to fear that public attention to members' travel and relations with lobbyists will make ethics a potent issue that could cost the party seats in next year's midterm races.That's what MoveOn members have been working to make a reality.
The reporter adds:
In what Republican strategists call "the DeLay effect," questions plaguing House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) are starting to hurt his fellow party members, who are facing news coverage of their own trips and use of relatives on their campaign payrolls. Liberal interest groups have begun running advertising in districts where Republicans may be in trouble, trying to tie the incumbents to their leaders' troubles.
This is one sure sign that we've made an impact over the last week. You helped create "the DeLay effect" that is making Republicans nervous by turning up the heat on the members of Congress who shield DeLay from accountability. The media has caught on to the fact that members of Congress who shield DeLay will face troubles of their own. That is helpful and why we have to keep the heat turned up.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Bush nominates Cox to payoff debts to Wall Street
Christopher Cox.
Bush has nominated California Republican Rep. Christopher Cox to "reshape" the Securities and Exchange Commission. A fitting companion to his nomination of Bolton to Represent the U.S. at the U.N. Both fit the Cheney/Roveagenda.
According to the NYT:
"A major recipient of contributions from business groups, the accounting profession and Silicon Valley, he [Cox]has fought against accounting rules that would give less favorable treatment to corporate mergers and executive stock options. He opposes taxes on dividends and capital gains. And he helped to steer through the House a bill making investor lawsuits more difficult."
......
"'But as a result [of Cox's nomination],' [William Lerach, a prominent shareholder lawyer in San Diego] argued,' the policies it [the S.E.C.] sets could be devastating for investors. I would expect that Cox will use his authority for an across-the-board assault on investor protection,' Mr. Lerach said. 'In my experience with him, I found him to be virulently anti-investor and unrestrained in his desire to gut the securities laws. It's hard to think of a worse choice for the S.E.C. This is a world-class payback to the corporate world."
The Cheney/Rove agenda is coming into more and more clear focus with this nomination. Exploit their right-wing religious constituency in order to free business (Wall Street, in particular) of all restraints. This is ultimately the Cath-22 in the Republican strategy. It is indebted to two contradictory groups: business, which funds its campaigns (and much else Republican) and the religious right-wing, whose very lives are dependent on controlling unrestrained business, particularly small investors, whose safety net will be destroyed by Cox's policies.
Just remember: whenever you think Bush has gone as far off the map as is posssible (eg. the Bolton nomination), he will fool you and out do even himself (eg. the Cox nomination). One keeps asking: on how many fronts at a time can we fight?
Friday, June 03, 2005
Deep Throat: The right-wing knee jerks
I have, until now, avoided commenting on the "deep throat/Mark Felt" revelations, because it seemed like an interesting historical footnote with no real relevance today.
But the totally unsurprising knee-jerk responses of the right-wing ideologs seems quite interesting.
Ben Stein-who spoke at Andrew's recent graduation (I will never know why? There was unanimity among the graduates and guests to whom I spoke that it was a terrible speech) says about Nixon in the right-wing journal The American Spectator:
"That is his legacy. He was a peacemaker. He was a lying, conniving, covering up peacemaker. He was not a lying, conniving drug addict like JFK, a lying, conniving war starter like LBJ, a lying, conniving seducer like Clinton -- a lying, conniving peacemaker. That is Nixon's kharma."
Could he have possibly meant to say: A lying conniving war starter like LBJ and George W. Bush?
Just asking
For an excellent review of the right-wing knee jerks see Jon Perr on PERRspectives:Bringing light to darkness.
But the totally unsurprising knee-jerk responses of the right-wing ideologs seems quite interesting.
Ben Stein-who spoke at Andrew's recent graduation (I will never know why? There was unanimity among the graduates and guests to whom I spoke that it was a terrible speech) says about Nixon in the right-wing journal The American Spectator:
"That is his legacy. He was a peacemaker. He was a lying, conniving, covering up peacemaker. He was not a lying, conniving drug addict like JFK, a lying, conniving war starter like LBJ, a lying, conniving seducer like Clinton -- a lying, conniving peacemaker. That is Nixon's kharma."
Could he have possibly meant to say: A lying conniving war starter like LBJ and George W. Bush?
Just asking
For an excellent review of the right-wing knee jerks see Jon Perr on PERRspectives:Bringing light to darkness.
Rush spouts off again
According to Media Matters for America:
"From the June 2 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: The two to three big opportunities so far mentioned by Howard Dean -- pension portability and changes to election laws. ... So portability of pensions. What's the second one? Oh, yeah, Election Day a holiday. And well, you know -- I don't know why they need to do that. Most of their voters don't work anyway, so I don't know how that's going to help them that much. At least in a percentage basis."
How is it possible that this man isn't a national joke?
(Thanks to Daily Kos for pointing us toward this item)
"From the June 2 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: The two to three big opportunities so far mentioned by Howard Dean -- pension portability and changes to election laws. ... So portability of pensions. What's the second one? Oh, yeah, Election Day a holiday. And well, you know -- I don't know why they need to do that. Most of their voters don't work anyway, so I don't know how that's going to help them that much. At least in a percentage basis."
How is it possible that this man isn't a national joke?
(Thanks to Daily Kos for pointing us toward this item)
Lincoln Chafee's little problem
From the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee:
"Sen. Lincoln Chafee has a funny habit of taking one position in his home state of Rhode Island and adopting another stance entirely as soon as he gets back to Washington. Never was this more apparent than on April 6, 2005. On that day, Chafee told the Boston Globe that he was leaning against voting for John Bolton's confirmation because his constituents were "overwhelmingly" opposed to the nomination.
The only problem is that Chafee told a Capitol Hill newspaper that he was "inclined to vote for" Bolton on the very same day. He ultimately voted for Bolton in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
It's just another example of Chafee pretending to be a moderate when he's in Rhode Island but following the conservative Republican party line once he gets back to Washington. You can read more about Chafee's little problem here:
http://action.dscc.org/ct/t1aC-3n1Gme_/"
"Sen. Lincoln Chafee has a funny habit of taking one position in his home state of Rhode Island and adopting another stance entirely as soon as he gets back to Washington. Never was this more apparent than on April 6, 2005. On that day, Chafee told the Boston Globe that he was leaning against voting for John Bolton's confirmation because his constituents were "overwhelmingly" opposed to the nomination.
The only problem is that Chafee told a Capitol Hill newspaper that he was "inclined to vote for" Bolton on the very same day. He ultimately voted for Bolton in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
It's just another example of Chafee pretending to be a moderate when he's in Rhode Island but following the conservative Republican party line once he gets back to Washington. You can read more about Chafee's little problem here:
http://action.dscc.org/ct/t1aC-3n1Gme_/"
Thursday, June 02, 2005
War Resisters annual dinner
WRL Annual Dinner and
42nd Annual Peace Award
H O N O R I N G: Karl Bissinger & Ralph DiGia
Friday, June 10, 2005
6:30 p.m
Cyril & Methodius Hall
502 West 41st St., New York City
(at 10th Avenue)
"Every year, the War Resisters League Annual Dinner and Peace Award presentations lift the morale of the antiwar community by honoring extraordinary efforts for peace. This year's award is extra special, going to two of WRL's own: Karl Bissinger and Ralph Di Gia, lifelong activists who both turned 90 in 2004. Karl is an internationally respected photographer who gave up a flourishing career to become a draft counselor during the Vietnam War. Ralph spent World War II in prison as a conscientious objector and came out of prison to become a champion of the burgeoning civil rights movement. Both men have continued to work for an end to all wars.
At the Dinner itself and in the Dinner Journal, people who have known and loved Ralph and Karl, including friends, family members, colleagues and admirers like Dan Berrigan, Connie Hogarth, Hanon Reznikov and Judith Malina, David McReynolds, Lisa Miller, Grace Paley, Toshi and Pete Seeger, Bill Sutherland, Gore Vidal, Vera Williams and other surprise guests will be offering their tributes to the two honorees.
The value of an evening with Ralph and Karl, former peace award recipients and longtime WRL members cannot be quantified, but we are charging a small fee for tickets. We are offering tickets on a sliding scale, from $25 for low income to $45, with a third category for donations. As has always been true of the Annual Dinner, no one will be turned away for lack of money. Please call the office if you can't afford $25.
War Resisters League Peace Award was begun in 1958 to honor an organization or person whose work represents the League’s radical nonviolent platform of action. Jeannette Rankin was the first recipient and received the award from Tracy Mygatt, one of WRL’s first members and a later recipient with Frances Witherspoon. Past recipients of the Peace Award include: A.J. Muste, Bayard Rustin, Norman Thomas, Barbara Deming, Daniel Berrigan, Grace Paley, The Resistance (1968), Gulf War Resisters, Children of War, The Living Theatre, Bob Moses, Movement Music and David McReynolds.
War Resisters League
339 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 228-0450
fax (212) 228-6193
42nd Annual Peace Award
H O N O R I N G: Karl Bissinger & Ralph DiGia
Friday, June 10, 2005
6:30 p.m
Cyril & Methodius Hall
502 West 41st St., New York City
(at 10th Avenue)
"Every year, the War Resisters League Annual Dinner and Peace Award presentations lift the morale of the antiwar community by honoring extraordinary efforts for peace. This year's award is extra special, going to two of WRL's own: Karl Bissinger and Ralph Di Gia, lifelong activists who both turned 90 in 2004. Karl is an internationally respected photographer who gave up a flourishing career to become a draft counselor during the Vietnam War. Ralph spent World War II in prison as a conscientious objector and came out of prison to become a champion of the burgeoning civil rights movement. Both men have continued to work for an end to all wars.
At the Dinner itself and in the Dinner Journal, people who have known and loved Ralph and Karl, including friends, family members, colleagues and admirers like Dan Berrigan, Connie Hogarth, Hanon Reznikov and Judith Malina, David McReynolds, Lisa Miller, Grace Paley, Toshi and Pete Seeger, Bill Sutherland, Gore Vidal, Vera Williams and other surprise guests will be offering their tributes to the two honorees.
The value of an evening with Ralph and Karl, former peace award recipients and longtime WRL members cannot be quantified, but we are charging a small fee for tickets. We are offering tickets on a sliding scale, from $25 for low income to $45, with a third category for donations. As has always been true of the Annual Dinner, no one will be turned away for lack of money. Please call the office if you can't afford $25.
War Resisters League Peace Award was begun in 1958 to honor an organization or person whose work represents the League’s radical nonviolent platform of action. Jeannette Rankin was the first recipient and received the award from Tracy Mygatt, one of WRL’s first members and a later recipient with Frances Witherspoon. Past recipients of the Peace Award include: A.J. Muste, Bayard Rustin, Norman Thomas, Barbara Deming, Daniel Berrigan, Grace Paley, The Resistance (1968), Gulf War Resisters, Children of War, The Living Theatre, Bob Moses, Movement Music and David McReynolds.
War Resisters League
339 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 228-0450
fax (212) 228-6193
Finally! The "I" word
Ralph Nader and Kevin Zeese are finally using the "I" word:
"THE IMPEACHMENT of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, under Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, should be part of mainstream political discourse."
.................
"The president and vice president have artfully dodged the central question: 'Did the administration mislead us into war by manipulating and misstating intelligence concerning weapons of mass destruction and alleged ties to Al Qaeda, suppressing contrary intelligence, and deliberately exaggerating the danger a contained, weakened Iraq posed to the United States and its neighbors?
"If this is answered affirmatively Bush and Cheney have committed 'high crimes and misdemeanors." It is time for Congress to investigate the illegal Iraq war as we move toward the third year of the endless quagmire that many security experts believe jeopardizes US safety by recruiting and training more terrorists. A Resolution of Impeachment would be a first step. Based on the mountains of fabrications, deceptions, and lies, it is time to debate the 'I" word."
(For the full article)
"THE IMPEACHMENT of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, under Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, should be part of mainstream political discourse."
.................
"The president and vice president have artfully dodged the central question: 'Did the administration mislead us into war by manipulating and misstating intelligence concerning weapons of mass destruction and alleged ties to Al Qaeda, suppressing contrary intelligence, and deliberately exaggerating the danger a contained, weakened Iraq posed to the United States and its neighbors?
"If this is answered affirmatively Bush and Cheney have committed 'high crimes and misdemeanors." It is time for Congress to investigate the illegal Iraq war as we move toward the third year of the endless quagmire that many security experts believe jeopardizes US safety by recruiting and training more terrorists. A Resolution of Impeachment would be a first step. Based on the mountains of fabrications, deceptions, and lies, it is time to debate the 'I" word."
(For the full article)
Is Giuliani finally leaving NYC?
NY Daily News gossips Rush & MOlloy ("Daily Dish") report:
"Rudy Giuliani obviously knows something about homeland security. The former mayor and his wife, Judith, bought a two-bedroom Palm Beach condo last year - and we're hearing about it only now. The $410,000 private sale stayed out of public records until the Palm Beach Daily News found it in an appraiser's report. Though poll numbers show Giuliani is more popular outside New York, his rep denies waggish speculation that he's considering establishing residency in the Sunshine State."
Maybe he could follow Jeb Bush as Gov. of Florida. He's had lots of experience interfering in museum policy. (see 5/31/05 post: "Broward County (Fla.) no longer just hanging chads."
"Rudy Giuliani obviously knows something about homeland security. The former mayor and his wife, Judith, bought a two-bedroom Palm Beach condo last year - and we're hearing about it only now. The $410,000 private sale stayed out of public records until the Palm Beach Daily News found it in an appraiser's report. Though poll numbers show Giuliani is more popular outside New York, his rep denies waggish speculation that he's considering establishing residency in the Sunshine State."
Maybe he could follow Jeb Bush as Gov. of Florida. He's had lots of experience interfering in museum policy. (see 5/31/05 post: "Broward County (Fla.) no longer just hanging chads."
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
American nightmare II
The following night the Bush parents visited with Larry King:
"KING: Last night, Lynn Cheney suggested that Laura run against Hillary.
Barbara BUSH: That's crazy.
KING: Laura wouldn't run.
B. BUSH: We can't have another president in the family.
KING: Would you want Jeb to run? He says no.
G. BUSH: Some day I would, yes."
Larry, what are you talking about? Jeb Bush? That even makes Laura Bush seem like a good idea.
Barbara Bush has always seemed like the sanest one in the family.
"KING: Last night, Lynn Cheney suggested that Laura run against Hillary.
Barbara BUSH: That's crazy.
KING: Laura wouldn't run.
B. BUSH: We can't have another president in the family.
KING: Would you want Jeb to run? He says no.
G. BUSH: Some day I would, yes."
Larry, what are you talking about? Jeb Bush? That even makes Laura Bush seem like a good idea.
Barbara Bush has always seemed like the sanest one in the family.
The American nightmare I
Lynne Cheney said on CNN's Larry King Live. ''If we want to have a Bush dynasty, let's get Laura Bush.''
Hey Lynne, don't even think about it.
Hey Lynne, don't even think about it.
Women and Big Tobacco
"Researchers at Harvard University's School of Public Health said they examined more than 7 million documents - some dating back to 1969, others as recent as 2000 - for new details about the industry's efforts to lure more women smokers.
Carrie Carpenter, the study's lead author, said companies' research went far beyond a marketing or advertising campaign.
'They did so much research in such a sophisticated way,' she said. 'Women should know how far the tobacco industry went to exploit them.'"
(for full story)
Carrie Carpenter, the study's lead author, said companies' research went far beyond a marketing or advertising campaign.
'They did so much research in such a sophisticated way,' she said. 'Women should know how far the tobacco industry went to exploit them.'"
(for full story)
Public figures and private schools
Unlike New York Post "Columnist of the Year," extreme right-wing ideolog Andrea Peyser, who last year wrote a totally self-righteous column about why she couldn't send her daughter to a public school ("What choice do I have But to Send My Kid to a Private School?" Feb. 14, 2004), City Council Chair and mayoral candidate Gifford Miller has left the question open:
"City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, who has made education a focal point of his bid to unseat Mayor Bloomberg, said yesterday he and his wife haven't decided whether they'll send their sons to public school." (New York Daily News, May 25, 2005)
Well Giff, our son, Andrew, is a perfect example of what the New York city public school system can produce. He spent his entire school life in NYC public schools- from nursery school through high school. As the photos on this blog (www.contestedterrain.blogspot.com) will attest, he graduated from college on May 15th. (He was accepted by every college to which he applied). In August he will be a published poet.
(For some examples,see www.shakespearnevertitledhissonnets.blogspot.com.)
But most important he has been exposed to a world which will stand him in much better stead than the cloistered world of private schools. He has also made friends who will remain so for life.
Certainly you have to pick-and -choose the schools to which you send your children but there are many wonderful schools and teachers within the public school system. And it is without question that for people with yours and Peyser's information sources and contacts these schools are well within reach (and except when they have fund raising activities they are free.)
Giff, you can't just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. If you forsake the public school system in your own life (as Peyser has done), many thoughtful New Yorkers will forsake you. Talk is cheap.
"City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, who has made education a focal point of his bid to unseat Mayor Bloomberg, said yesterday he and his wife haven't decided whether they'll send their sons to public school." (New York Daily News, May 25, 2005)
Well Giff, our son, Andrew, is a perfect example of what the New York city public school system can produce. He spent his entire school life in NYC public schools- from nursery school through high school. As the photos on this blog (www.contestedterrain.blogspot.com) will attest, he graduated from college on May 15th. (He was accepted by every college to which he applied). In August he will be a published poet.
(For some examples,see www.shakespearnevertitledhissonnets.blogspot.com.)
But most important he has been exposed to a world which will stand him in much better stead than the cloistered world of private schools. He has also made friends who will remain so for life.
Certainly you have to pick-and -choose the schools to which you send your children but there are many wonderful schools and teachers within the public school system. And it is without question that for people with yours and Peyser's information sources and contacts these schools are well within reach (and except when they have fund raising activities they are free.)
Giff, you can't just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. If you forsake the public school system in your own life (as Peyser has done), many thoughtful New Yorkers will forsake you. Talk is cheap.
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