Cri-sis (n.)
1. a situation or period in which things are very uncertain, difficult, or painful, especially a time when action must be taken to avoid complete disaster or breakdown2. a time when something very important for the future happens or is decided.
When I retired as the “face” of the American anti-war movement in May, I had decided that my group, Camp Casey Peace Institute, would focus on changing the world one person at a time by becoming a humanitarian group: People for Humanity. After Congress gave George another blank check to continue the murder and mayhem in Iraq, we came to the conclusion that it would be better to focus on the people who have been harmed by American corporate imperialism than fight it at home. We decided that our first project would be helping the refugees who have been displaced by the violence and instability in Iraq.
Official figures and anecdotal figures place the number of humans who have fled Iraq to be between two and three million. One million are dead this time (two million in the barbaric sancions period of Clinton) and two million are refugees inside Iraq. Jordan and Syria have absorbed the brunt of this calamity for humanity, which came in the “wolf in neocon clothing” of “freedom.” A recent New York Times article correctly identified that Iraqis with means fled to Jordan and the poorer refugees go to Syria.
Our trip must in no way be construed as condemnation or criticism of the governments of Jordan and Syria which are straining at the seams with an influx of new inhabitants who are putting a stress on the already scarce resources of that region. The six of us who traveled here to be witnesses to the crisis and to hear the stories of pain and hardship mixed with resiliency know who is to blame and who should bear the entire cost and who should be providing all support to the refugees inside and outside of Iraq: the government of the USA.
In speaking to refugees that I have met around the world and to the people who work with them here in Jordan, the one thing that the Iraqi people want is stability in their country. The refugee catastrophe is going a long way to destabilize the countries to which the Iraqis flee. If some kind of political stabilization with resulting increase in security doesn’t happen in Iraq soon, then solving these issues will become increasingly difficult. Consequently, the first priority of our movements in the states should always be to end the occupation of Iraq.
However, emergency CPR needs to flow to Jordan and Syria immediately to help the Iraqi people and the two mentioned countries. Significantly, both countries also have vast populations of Palestinian refugees that has now become a generational problem. Solving the problems in Israel will help the Palestinian refugees who want the right of return to their homes as well as help solving our own “terrorism” problem at home. This is also an issue that needs to be pressed and exposed back in the states.
I am traveling with Kathy Murphy who is a member of GSFP (her brother, Patrick, was killed in Vietnam) and also works with Iraqi Health Now which sends medicines and medical supplies to hospitals in Iraq; Rev. Lennox Yearwood and Liz Havstad from the Hip-Hop Caucus; and Tiffany Burns and Dede Miller from GSFP and Camp Casey Peace Institute. Our first order of business was to meet with Noah and Natalie Merrill from Direct Action Initiative who have been working in Amman with refugees for a few months now and who provide money for emergency medical care and Kathy Kelly from Voices for Creative Non-violence and the Occupation Project who has been working with Iraqis since the devastating Clinton sanctions.
The crisis cannot be overstated or hperbolized. Iraqis in Jordan cannot work although there are jobs and Iraqis in Syria can work, but there are no jobs. CARE, Caritas and Save the Children have been working with UNHCR to try and help alleviate some of the needs, but it is not enough. America has given aid to UNHCR, but it is nowhere near enough.
Americans are the most generous people in the world when it comes to tsunamis, hurricanes or earthquakes around the globe, but Tsunami BushCo has swept over the Middle East with no hue or outcry. The people of Iraq are warm, caring human beings who are being either destroyed in their own country by the bloody violence brought to them by BushCo, or are in horrible situations outside their country caused by the same evil entity. It is time for we the people of America to stand more forcefully ourselves against the corporatocracy that hurts people and to reach deeply into our own pockets to give material assistance to our brothers and sisters who are suffering.
The first thing I saw when we landed in Amman was a man with a cardboard sign in his hands with “Blackwater” lettered on the sign. He was surrounded at that point by about a dozen burly American males intent on making their fortunes by the oppression of the Iraqi people. Our country is spending billions of dollars on destabilization, when about ten hours of the bloody occupation would go a long way to giving emergency CPR to the citizens of Iraq who have been able to run from the disaster for corporate profit.
Action must be taken today! Invading a country pre-emtively is a war crime. Not providing security, health care, education, food and clean water for the occupants of an occupied country is a crime against humanity. Please help the people of Iraq to let them know that the American public in general does not support or are not complicit in these crimes.
Please support the organizations who are helping and help us get the hearings in Congress we need to be able to force Bloody BushCo to clean up after themselves!
Direct Aid Initiative: www.electroniciraq.net
Voices for Creative Non-violence: www.vcnv.org
Iraqi Health Now: www.mysite.verizon.net/kathymurphypeace
CARE: www.care.org (gives monthly stipends to refugees)
Caritas: www.caritas.org (gives mostly medical help)
Save the Children: www.savethechildren.org
Camp Casey Peace Institute: www.thecampcaseypeaceinstitute.org
Hip Hop Caucus: www.hiphopcaucus.org
Write or call your Congress rep to demand action.
This list is in no way meant to endorse anyone relief effort, or be comprehensive. There are many orgs working to help and I would suggest each person investigate this problem and decide what is the best workable solution on their own.
Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan who was KIA in Iraq on 04/04/04. She is a co-founder and President of Gold Star Families for Peace and the author of two books: Not One More Mother’s Child and Dear President Bush.
And a lovely face it is too, Cindy. Hang in there! You are doing good.
Americans may be generous but our government has certainly been rather stingy. As I recall our contribution to the Indonesian tsunami relief was a pitance. However, this calamity is not a natural disaster, it’s a national disaster, one of our making. No matter what anyone thinks of the war, they can’t deny that those displaced by it are our direct responsibility.
No offence, Ms. Sheehan, but it’s “invading a country pre-emPtively”.
I know misspelling a word is a tiny, tiny matter, given what you’re discussing, but the wingnuts thrive on tiny details these days; it’s about the only thing they have left to cling to.
Can readers here help identify which of these organizations are the best bet to support and contribute to?
aymon and others … please don’t sit in your chairs and rewrite Cindy’s words …or tell her what to do … she’s DOING IT … are you?
aynon …you sound carried away with your own words … hopefully you have “walked the walk!” … but doesn’t sound like it, otherwise you would know that your “60% of “white support” for this holocost is way off base…. only right wing bushies support this krap … and that percent is getting smaller and smaller every day!
Keep on keeping on Cindy … Thanks for doing what so few in these times seem/are willing to do … Not just a “face” of these times, but also a major “voice” .. (o;
Let’s get one thing straight, folks. There have been acts of genocide which continue sadly to this day, but there has only been one Holocaust — the systematic, orchestrated and technologically driven attempt to exterminate an entire race, which resulted in the annihilation of six million Jews and five million other by the Nazis. To misuse or overuse the term Holocaust is a distraction from an intelligent dialogue
Cindy how can we contribute or volunteer for your campaign?
Cindy,
You are God’s miracle amid this madness created by massmurderers inside the White House. God is with you and with the USA, we know this much.
How do we help without incuring a death sentence from Ming the Merciless and his infamous Proclimation 51?
Hope the “Co” in “BushCo” stands for “Congress.” That vacationing body is as culpable as the president at this point. Spoil a Congressman’s vacation if you have a chance. Don’t worry how he voted. The bloodshed continues, and, whatever your guy might have done, he didn’t do enough.
Pere Ubu: “I know misspelling a word is a tiny, tiny matter, given what you’re discussing, but the wingnuts thrive on tiny details these days; it’s about the only thing they have left to cling to.”
Details? Where was THAT spirit five years ago?
Cindy, best of luck on your trip. I’m sure you’ll keep us posted, and I’m looking forward to further dispatches. And even comments, if you find the time!
I think the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, Doctor of Gonzo Journalism, was thinking of people like you when he wrote, “When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro.”
(He wasn’t using “weird” in the dumbed-down modern pejorative sense.)
So… keep on truckin’.
Impeach Bush first before committing to flights of fantasy.
At least she has a sense of humanity. Regarding IMPEACHMENT, is it to be NOT heard round the world? Unless it IS, monsters like Pelosi should not be listened to again.
TEDBOHNE: Please provide us with a link to a picture of yourself and a resume of your efforts and accomplishments as a progressive activist–IF YOU HAVE ANY–so we can criticize YOUR appearance and compare YOUR contributions to the peace movement and progressive politics with your SHALLOW, CRUEL, CHEAP SHOTS at Cindy Sheehan. Your comments indicate that you are a vicious person who has an anger management problem, and probably a deep inferiority complex. Have you considered getting some therapy for your problem? And unless you have something constructive or informative to say, YOU should SHUT UP and GO AWAY!
Peace and social justice activists for Congress! For President!
P.S. No, I could not add an “e” to tedbohne’s name, because the edit function is really unpredictable in its behavior. Webmaster?
But I would caution anyone from actually sending email to the aforementioned crank’s address. You could end up having your vote “caged” by this troll, who is obviously one of THEM.
iriqouis227, everyone has opinions, and many I don’t agree with, but your comments were just plain cruel!
You just nullified anything you may say in the future.
IRIQUOIS227 TEDBOHNE, is that you KKKarl? Stop it, your keeeelling me!
Best to ignore Ted Bone Head. Great work Cindy ! Your efforts and leadership will be etched in History long after the graffitti and ignorant scrawls of “BoneHead” are BLOWIN IN THE WIND.
Hi Dear Cindy —
You’re the conscience of our nation now — thank you!!
Imagine that someone like George Bush would claim to be close to “god” — advised by “god” to attack Iraq!
I was in a painting class this evening and watching the happiness of people involved in their art and each others art brought me to tears because I don’t understand how people can want to explode things — especially other people!!! And I hope I never do understand such insanity.
Taking a stand against war is one of the most dangerous things that any of us can do!!!
Thank you again and I’ll try to help via some avenue.
Moose 62 Let’s get one thing straight. You seem so defensive of poor Israel. Do you realize the systematic annihilation and imprisonment that they are perpetrating on the Palestinians??? God forbid someone should use the word holocaust since it belongs by copyright to the Jews.
I look forward to the day when more Americans will quit being deceived by poor old Israel.!!!
QUOTE —
Moose62 August 14th, 2007 5:26 pm
Let’s get one thing straight, folks. There have been acts of genocide which continue sadly to this day, but there has only been one Holocaust — the systematic, orchestrated and technologically driven attempt to exterminate an entire race, which resulted in the annihilation of six million Jews and five million other by the Nazis. To misuse or overuse the term Holocaust is a distraction from an intelligent dialogue UNQUOTE
Unfortunately, there has been more than one Holocaust –
the women’s holocaust — for one.
Genocide against the Native American Indian was, of course, a Holocaust, as well.
I would suggest to you that within Iraq right now there are millions of people living another Holocaust.
In trying to confine a “Holocaust” to one definition of a race of people, or people of one religion you would be denying the overall violence the world has suffered.
Long before the Jewish Holocaust in Germany, there was the Holocaust brought to us by the Vatican — the Christian Crusades where, again, Jews were victims.
I would also suggest that Nagasaki and Hiroshima were Holocausts — innocent citizens purposefully chosen.
We should constantly be reminded of the Jewish Holocaust in Germany, but we must acknowledge the full violence this planet and humans have suffered.
Cindy sees the humanity, aymon sees only skin color and spews an underlying hate (and spews the same thing every time he posts no matter what the subject or issue of an article. Yes every time). Aymon I’d say look in your own mirror but you are blind, as much as is tedbohne. Cindy who is white (apparently a serious flaw)is doing…walking the walk instead of aymon’s standard repetitive talk but because she is white, that doesn’t count to aymon. Yes there are right wing extremists who have brought this misery to iraq. One of them is Cheney, a neocon and pnac biggie but gee aymon …he’s not jewish…um…sorry. But hey…he is white and I suppose it is all the same to you. So amid your delusions and illusions aymon, your hate based on race is the only torch you really carry. Ted meet aymon, you have a lot in common and common is the word. Cindy…thanks as always for your heart…as you see …we need it. Peace…God bless you …for your shining intrinsic decency and caring. There is the torch aymon… you could see it if you weren’t so blinded by hate.
funny how the bush regime calls syria a sponsor of terrorism yet they have to support a brunt of the refugees…what shitbags
Moose62 …. The word “holocoust” is in the bible … it is not a new term used only for hitler’s personal “solution” ….
Holocaust: A burnt offering; desruction, or slaughter …
Let’s get that straight.. Faulty reasonings detract from intelligent dialogue
“Americans are the most caring people in the world…..” Could we please change that to “Americans are AMONG the most caring people in the world” It gets somewhat irksome to continue to hear Americans place the mantle on their own heads. egs. The WORLD series, Route 66 the WORLD’S most beloved highway etc., etc. Enough already!
BushCo’s vicious and heartless attack on the innocent Iraqis was a huge act of state-sponsored terrorism. I’m glad to see someone like Cindy Sheehan calls the tragic plight of the Iraqis to our attention. The deaths of the GIs is also tragic, but it’s all I ever hear; the more-than-a-million Iraqis killed are rarely mentioned. Cindy has a conscience and a heart. God bless you, Cindy.
stepfour;
I really wanted to spoil my Congressman’s (Hoyer) vacation. However, in looking at the Majority Leader’s webpage, he apparently has not scheduled ANY public forums for the August recess! Amazing. Granted, since he goes home to his suburban DC district (Prince George’s Co. MD) every night, he can have a forum just about any time he wants to. However, the August recess is sold to the voters as a time for the members to communicate with their constituents at home, and their leader is not going to do any of that. I think this shows that the Democratic leadership really doesn’t care what their constituents think. We need to replace these Democratic pretenders who are really corportists and Zionist tools.
malatesta: Yes, something is missing, but you know what–I am sick to death of witnessing the vile level of attack on Sheehan. And for what? We all agree that we should be “doing something” and look what happens when someone actually does it. It makes me sick when I see supposed progressives adopting Rightwing buzzwords and clueless attitudes.
IT MAKES ME FUCKING SICK, so I applaud CommonDreams for removing the virus.
To: Cindy Sheehan
The economic resources that can be generated by private individuals, no matter how compassionate, can barely ameliorate and never stop the massive destruction and death that is daily inflicted upon humanity by the Bush/Cheney regime. This phony “war on terrorism” is just the first step of The Project for the New American Century, to secure the resources, profit and plunder of the planet by brute force.
This PNAC agenda is supported by the Demcratic as well as the Republican Parties. You left the Dempocratic Party when you realized that the Democrats are supporting the war effort and destruction of peoples and planet.
The next most powerful step that could possibly be taken would be for you to call to establish a new political party.
A new party that rejects corporate funding. A party that opposes the war and the corporatization (privatization) of the military.
There are many notable people such as yourself that would join with you in calling for a founding convention of such a party. There are MILLIONS of people, activists and regular working people, would work with you in this most essential effort.
Millions of people around the world are desperately looking to the people of America to stop this unending death and destruction. We are living “in the belly of the beast”. It is up to all of us to slay this monster that is destroying this country as well.
DUMP THE DEMOCRATS!
UNITE INTO A NEW PARTY NOW!
We the people, opposed to the destruction of the planet and it’s peoples, now atomized and powerless in “grass roots” and “special interest” groups, must unite our efforts and resources into a new party to replace the corrupt Democratic Party! A new party that rejects corporate funding in order to end the corporate plunder of the federal government.
A new party explicitly opposed to the Project for the New American Century. Opposed to unending war for profit and power. Cut the military budget by 50%, shut down the 700 military bases around the world. Re-instate taxes cut by Bush gang.
A new party that commits the entire resources of the country to end global warming, end imperialist wars, implements true non-profit universal health care. promotes mass transportation, develops renewable energy, and produces the essentials for human survival.
A new party that promotes an economy that works towards fulfilling the economic needs of all the people, not just to profit a tiny minority of super wealthy. No more people living on the streets! No more hospitalized people being dumped into the streets when they have no money or health insurance! (See the film SICKO)
A new party to unite all of the oppressed people of this country. A new party that cuts across all the false social and cultural divisions that keep us forever powerless (racial, ethnic, age, language, etc.). A new party to unite us against the unending destruction of peoples and planet.
A SOCIALIST PARTY to promote the end of gangster capitalism, run-amok capitalism, which is supported by both Democratic and Republican parties.
A new party to support the labor movement and all working people. We urge the labor movement to stop supporting the Democratic Party (already besotted by corporate money), and to focus its precious resources to fund a new national radio and television network. By being on the air 24 hours a day the labor movement can provide the latest news, information, education and current affairs analysis desperately needed by all working people. This effort, combined with the formation of the new party, will be a bold step towards reviving the organized labor movement.
For years we have listened to radio programs like DEMOCRACY NOW! that has discussed with numerous “grass roots” groups desperately struggling to make a positive change in society. Anti-war protest groups, civil rights groups, union struggles, affordable housing groups, teachers unions, health care access, seniors about Social Security, have involved millions of people. Now is the time to unite the energy and resources of the people into a new party.
The new party provides a means of uniting the “special interest” agendas of each group into the platform of the new party. The new party candidates, selected from the various individuals and groups, would become the candidates representing their cause and the new party. The new party will contest for office at every level of government in order to take power. The new party will provide the new leadership and new programs this country desperately needs.
There is still time before November 2008 elections to start this process. Even the announcement and preparation for a founding convention of such a new party will shock both Democrats and Republican incumbents. They will know that their days are numbered!
The needs of all previous “minority” and “special interests” people now become the platform of the new party representing the vast majority of people. Can the existing activists of so-called “minority” and “special interest” groups overcome their existing powerlessness, and link up with each other to start this new party?
This all-inclusive struggle will attract millions of atomized working people, often non-voters and uninvolved people, who have been atomized, exploited, brain-washed by corporate media and ultimately destroyed by gangster capitalism.
Really Moose 62, give me a break. The Holocaust was truly horrible and frightening in its scope and should never be forgotten, but the emotion that drives that sort of thing is the same whether it is some long forgotton tribe completely wiping out another thousands of years ago before recorded history or the organized, systematic use of modern technology to wipe out 6 million Jews and other ‘undesirables’. It is also the same emotion that is at play in modern Israel against the Palestinians. Deal with it, Jews are human beings and capable of the same evil as the rest of mankind. The Nazis had their own justification as twisted and evil as it was.
It was a pure troll–in my opinion a GOP-con in disguise, and the post had zero nutritional value. Can’t blame them for deleting it. It was trash.
Impeach Bush-Cheney 2007!
Hey, Cindy, don’t forget Operation Iraqi Children!
www.operationiraqichildren.org
I totally support Cindy’s campaign against Pelosi, AKA the AIPAC girl.
This is a battle I want to be involved in.
Jeremy Wells,
I agree with your suggestion to Cindy Sheehan for a conference for the creation of a new political
force. At this stage it will be much more productive to invite all small political parties (and there are many), drop-outs from the democratic party, grass roots movements for peace and justice, progressive labor movements, environmental movements, students, scientists, poor, unemployed, scared middle class and on and on. All these people can become a majority (objectively they are a majority)and I am sure they would agree with most of your programatic proposals. Call it a PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS to encompass all the progressive parties and movements. This is what we need in order to start moving successfully against the deadly trap of the “two” party system.
To Vangelaras!
Yes. An All Peoples Economic Justice and Democracy Party… (the name must be decided as democratically as possible!)that somehow conveys the sense of where we want to go!
To involve so many people and groups and ideas, a national convention in many cities linked together may be necessary!
I can think of many people, of great integrity, who have spent their lives trying to bring about positive change. Perhaps these people could become candidates for election.
There are several great TRANSFORMATIONS this country and the planet must undertake if humanity is to survive. Global Warming, the enviornment, renewable energy etc.!
Militarism and War must end as it is destroying the economy of this country and destroying the planet. This will take a TRANSFORMATION of the military-industrial complex away from destructive weapons to a peace-time economy. This must be done so as not to destroy those employed in these industries, but they must be re-employed in new technolgies for sustainable living. (Solar energy, mass public transportation, new forms of affordable housing and communities. etc.)
In every area of life so many urgent crises need to be dealt with!
A national television network might be created (perhaps one taken away from purely advertising media), to have a national network of discussion, education, and information to bring the entire country “up to speed”.
A national “teach-in” on national television on all the problems the people are having today, to focus on the different levels of problems.
No one person or group has all the answers.. some require expertise that must be disseminated and understood by everyone at some level.
This TRANSFORMATION from an economy controlled and exploited for the profit of a tiny 1 or 2 percent must end if humanity is to survive. The economy must be TRANSFORMED to an economy that is sustainable environmentaly and that serves the survival economic needs of all of humanity.
It is really terrifying in some senses, as it will ulimately seem like a negative change to some of us who are “better off”. Traditional “consumerism” is not sustainable and the “middle class” is drowning in credit-card debt, etc.
With all the debt, with no health insurance, the idealized life-style is becoming increasingly unattainable for most us, and certainly not possible for our children and grand-children.
Our lives are already being threatened by anti-social and anti-human forces, and by out-of-control forces such as Global Warming, collapsing capitalist economies, unending wars, millions threatened by food and water shortages. etc.
ONE FINAL NOTE: Is there any way to know if Cindy Sheehan and supporters and others that read this plea to action will act upon it!!
PLEASE RESPOND! WHAT DO OTHER CD READERS THINK?
Jeremy Wells,
Starting with your last question about Cindy Sheehan respoding to such an appeal to action, I can only say that she has undergone a revolutionary transformation that exploded in dumping the democratic part,in discerning clearly the imperialist nature of the US foreign policy and its military corporatist destructive nature.
And she explodes with the demands for action and solidarity to the victims of imperialism; with demads for ending the war and demilitarization of the US and the world; with demands for environmental protection;
with demands for impeachment of BushCo; demands for social justice, universal health care, education, etc. etc. These are some of the key demands which, you have to admit ,most of the progressive parties and movements will support while the candidates of the “two” parties wouldn’t touch.
The people who can make a People’s Movement at this moment feel that we are living in an exceedingly critical period and only extraordinary reaction on their part can lead us out of the crisis and into a better tomorrow. Cindy Sheehan, I hope, would formulate a good statement to that effect. call all the democratic/progressive forces to organize in each district and city under the banner of ” People’s Movement for Change. A Better World is Possible “, or something like that and elect representatives for the organization of a National Conference of the Movement.
I agree there are many capable leaders with many years in the struggle, who will play a big role by staffing the organizational and functional
needs of the Movement. Cindy stands above all for her simplicity combined with depth and humanistic perspective of the worl needs.
The parties, organizations, movements etc. will be united around the commonly accepted programs and objectives of the Movement. At the same time they will retain their organizational, ideological and programmatic identity.
I do not know what other CD readers think. Now they are given the opportunity to respond.
To Vangelaras!
This is really magnificent! What a breakthrough!
Do you remember in 2004 when the leading intellectuals of the left (like Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky) came out in a statement, with many signing on, in support of Kerry.
I hope these same people have learned something in the last four years and would now come out in support of this “People’s Movement for Change”.
Most important: to approach as many elements of the organized labor movement as possible, to break them away from the Democratic Party, and to involve their many millions of members in this People’s Movement.
The AFL-CIO of Connecticut supported Lieberman, perhaps because of defense plants that are organized (?). The concept of helping working people to transistion away from defense work to peace time work is an important concept for these people. (We also have the same problem in California with prison guards unions supporting the building of more prisons! - (More prisons not needed, of course, but drastic reformation of “prison-industrial” complex. About one quarter are mentally ill, other inmates drug addicted, nearly one quarter illiterate, impoverished, etc. We need treatment centers, schools, and rehabilitation not warehouses!)
I hope Cindy starts posting some more of her thinking about this here on COMMON DREAMS! Perhaps she could be on DEMOCRACY NOW! as this develops! Perhaps DEMOCRACY NOW! and PACIFICA NETWORK could devote programs or even entire day(s) of programming to any preliminary discussions, presentations by supporters, endorsements of ideas, etc. to educate the listeners to the concepts involved in THE PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT!
And to start organizing locally throughout the country!
Coming soon, the true story, “Ms Sheehan Goes To Washington”.
Coming soon, the true story, “Ms Sheehan Goes To Washington”.
To make that happen let’s join Ms. Sheehan get the message out that this is a democracy and we need to participate in the decision-making.
I may be the only one but I hope that I can contribute to Cindy’s campaign in the old fashioned way of sending a check.
There may be more of us that would like that and just don’t trust the credit card way.
jimglover@verizon.net
To Jeremy Wells
I have heard Amy Goodman twice saying : ” People like Cindy Sheehan will be the leaders of tomorrow “. This makes me confident that Amy Goodman will place her broadcasting coverage and connections at the service of a People’s Movement for Change led by Cindy Sheehan. I am sure that many local independent radio and TV stations and a plethora of informational bulettins from local organizations will streamline their coverage in the same direction.
To: vangelaras
O.K. re: Amy Goodman and media comment.
There is one point that I wanted to make in my “DUMP THE DEMOCRATS” post above, which I wanted to subordinate to the more imporant concept that perhaps might not be incorporated into the notion of Cindy Sheehan’s “People’s Movement for Change”.
The question of ask always towards understanding is to ask the question: WHY?
WHY the war in IRAQ? (Not just for oil, or Al Quida, or war on terrorism, or the million other lies!)
WHY is universal single-payer health insurance so opposed my Clinton, Obama? (Corporate backing opposed to these things)
WHY must CORPORATE FINANCING be rejected by any new people’s movement? (To stop corporate agendas from weakening or destoying agendas for the people)
WHY should the new movement by OPPOSED TO PRIVATIZATION AT EVERY LEVEL? (Privatization of the military, federal government (CIA!), public schools, water and utilities, etc. see below.)
I tried to briefly hint at an answer:
“A SOCIALIST PARTY to promote the end of gangster capitalism, run-amok capitalism, which is supported by both Democratic and Republican parties.”
Most readers would read this in HORROR!
By “socialism” I mean those economic activies which a society chooses to perform for the common good as in the old American colonial word: COMMONWEALTH
Socialistic or commonwealth activities are as American as apple pie! We have had public education, public roads, a postal system (considered a commie plot a few years back and made into a business), and most importantly Social Security!
The right wing is constantly saying that “the government is on our back!” What they mean of course is that taxes are collected to support these commonwealth activies deemed essential to the maintenance of society.
The extreme right propaganda (such as Ayn Rand Institute) vision of capitalism is UNTAXED capitalism, in which every dollar collected is to go into the hands of the capitalist.
Thus FREEDOM to capitalism is the FREEDOM to exploit, to pollute, etc. without any REGULATION at all. All of these LIMITATIONS TO CAPITALIST FREEDOM mean an attack on PROFIT, which is the supreme evil to capitalism.
Corporations have no notion of HUMAN VALUES whatever. Have you noticed that the employee paycheck comes the HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. In other words employees are mere resources, to be acquired as cheaply as possible to MAXIMIZE PROFIT. If human resources can be found in China (dramatically cheaper!), the greed driven coporation will move there.
Although a college degree has usually meant a higher income and a professional status, this is now being destroyed by global capitalism. A computer programmer in this country might expect to make $50,000 to $80,000 a year or more. Now degreed professionals are coming to this country from India making one half or less!
What I am trying to communicate here is that corporate capitalism is now “run-amok” in destroying the economy of this country. Did you know that the CIA now outsources over 60% of it’s work to profit making companies? (What value is this intelligence if biased by profit-making considerations??)
(There is now a “melt-down” in the housing market, which threatens to bring the whole economy into a recession or depression! Capitalism is inherantly unstable and forever promoting war for profit!)
The military has been corporatized (privatized) with over 100,000 MERCENARY soldiers, not regulated by the military command, and not having any loyalities to the Constitution but to the signer of the paycheck.
The E.P.A must now be called the ENVIORNMENTAL PRIVATIZATION (or perhaps PLUNDER) AGENCY.
The P.B.S. Public Broadcasting System is now controlled by the Wall Street Journal, American Enterprise Institute, various “generous foundations” who have their own agendas, etc. Perhaps it should be called the Privatized B.S. system.
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS WE NOW FACE ARE DUE TO CORPORATE CAPITALISM TAKING OVER AND OWNING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE RESOURCES OF THE PEOPLE, OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ARE BEING LOOTED AND DESTROYED FOR PRIVATE GREED AND PROFIT.
A final quote attributed to Benito Mussolini:
Fascism is best called corporatism, where you have the merger of state power and corporate power.
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An explicit understanding of some of the above is ESSENTIAL! Merely merging mass movements into some sort of populist movement, will do nothing to change the world into a humanistic direction.
Instead you will end up with millions marching to the drumbeat of fascism!
Jeremy Wells
jeremy@infowells.com
To Jeremy Wells
You gave us a good list of the ongoing horrors and potential horrors of Capitalism and you emphasized the need for raising the level of understanding of the people about the workings of capitalism and its exploitative, oppressive and destructive nature. Otherwise the various massive movements will end up “marching to the drumbeat of fascism!”.
First we muct be clear about one important thing.
As of this moment Cindy has not given any explicit indication that she plans to lead a national movement. We are hoping she will.
A people’s movement will be open to all socialist parties, grass roots, associations etc. And we should not underestimate the advanced level of understanding of the nature of the issues that already exists. I do not remember any other period when so many people had the same many needs and would be receptive to the same objectives at the same time. And I do not remember any other period when so clearly so many people realized that the true mission of the “two” political parties was and is to represent corporate intrests. Which are some of the programs that would appeal to the people today? Peace and demilitarization, international cooperation and solidarity,just income distribution, one payer universal health care, free elementary and secondary education and affordable college education, affordable housing, development of mass transit, renewable energy technology and protection of the enviroment.
Many people already have made the connection between their needs and the “two” party capitalist death trap. Definitely much more educational work is needed to build the defenses of the masses against the deceptive siren songs of “liberal democracy” . Let the more advanced schooling take place within the rich zymosis of ideas and information that inevitaly will take place within the movement. The clearly stated, concrete demands of the movement, i.e, peace, health care, economic justice, etc. provide a rich base for elucidating the WHYS behind each demand and the interrelationship among all the demands and their roots.
Let the simple listing of the demands uniting all the segments of the movement be the banner for Change. In older times, when hunger was aggrevated by war the banner for a rebellion would be PEACE and BREAD ! Now let it be: Peace and Justice; Peace and Global Brotherhood; Peace and healthy Earth; Peace and Public Health; Peace and Ecucation;Peace and Jobs for All, etc. etc.
Let us see what Cindy says after she returns for the Middle East on the 22nd of September.
Sorry, correction. In the last line of my last post 22nd of September must be changed to 22nd of August