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07.27.11 - 12:04 PM
This is What Hope Looks Like...
A must read! Tim DeChristopher's sentencing statement from last night:
At this point of unimaginable threats on the horizon, this is what hope looks like. In these times of a morally bankrupt government that has sold out its principles, this is what patriotism looks like. With countless lives on the line, this is what love looks like, and it will only grow...
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37 Comments so far
Show AllHave only read the intro to DeChristophers "sentencing statement". But with circumstances and and intro like that, the rest simply must be good.
DeChristopher is a hero and a living martyr in these times, one to bring hope for others to dare such ingenious acts of resistance as his. Clever, with humor, and stamina.
Deep respect to you, DeChristopher!
Totally agree.
Bless you, Tim DeChristopher. Before this is over, I predict many Tim DeChristophers will find the inner strength and say NO MORE and be thrown into prison for it. Sooner or later, the real criminals will be in the prisons, and the heroes freed.
Tim DeChristopher's statement is inspiring, . . . well worth reading.
As linked above:
"I Do Not Want Mercy, I Want You To Join Me" by Tim DeChristopher
Article URL: www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/26-13
I have said it many times before, "our beloved country is being run by fools"." We can love it but must not love those who are in control of it." Our freedom is but an illusion and we must wake up before it's too late. I am 60 years old and with inoperable brain tumor otherwise I would join you in your fight. Take care
While I have a ton of respect for DeChristopher for his ideals and actions, I am rather dismayed by the martyr meme.
Really? Is there no better way to challenge the system than to let yourself rot in prison?
You could send a sternly worded email to your elected representatives.
Martin Luther King, members of the IRA, women's suffrage, etc. were all willing to go to jail for a cause they believed in. If the strength of your convictions is not such that you would risk jail time, I wonder how much you really believe in your cause. I wouldn't depend on you having my back.
Mohandas K. Gandhi comes to mind...
accomplished more than you just did...
How can it grow? Only one in many thousand have, or ever will have, heard of DeChristopher or his act.
Sorry, there is nothing noble about little-orphan-pollyannishness.
Yes, we are well aware that the MSM does not promote stories of principled citizen activism.
So here is how it can grow: Go chain yourself to the front door of your local news station until they air the Tim DeChristopher story.
No.
How about emailing a bio on the guy with a local interest angle to the assignment editor, OK?
The less rambling and more interesting, the better. Provide a (large) pic that's legal to air; contact info.
Not to say that they'll spend money to send a reporter out but it might make it in as a short reader.
"Pollyanna" is advocating for nuclear energy and assuming that the safety standards of the future will be somewhat less risible than those of the past and present.
You want pollyanna, pjd412? Get a f***ing mirror.
The mean heart of a coward.
Tim, You are an inspiration to us all. Your vision is just and progressive. Your confidence and courage are admirable as is your ability to remain focused and articulate in the face of a corrupt system and a gallery of pathetic fools-- from judge to jury.
I hope we haven't heard the last of Tim DeCristopher.
Tyrants don't like martyrs. With a little luck he should be OK.
But with less and less luck over time. Yes, tyrants don't like martyrs, but Bradley Manning isn't ever leaving prison. Which, when you think of it, puts him more in the "martyr" category than the "should be OK" category. And with time, "crimes" like DeChristophers will be met with increasingly draconian punishment.
Have you noticed the change in public attitude over the last few years? I believe a majority support the guy fighting the system now. Public opinion does count for something. The government isn't able to control public opinion it like it used to. While I expect this regime and the next will try to pass more draconian laws to suppress dissenting views I don't think they can do anything when the view becomes the normal view of the people.
Sure the gov goes against the will of the people blatantly now - more than ever but I don't think it's going to last. If that really worked, they'd have been doing it all along. . Tyrants don't last long in perceived democracies. Machiavelli had it right - you can't really conquer a democracy. These people screwing us are temporary. They'll be removed by the common people when the common people see no other way to the prosperity they believe they deserve.
The only change I've noticed is that five years ago, a majority of Dims were opposed to police state tactics, torture, the flouting of habeas corpus, etc. etc. Now a majority of Dims supports all these. Rethugs always did support them.
Machiavelli may be right, but is certainly irrelevant: We aren't a democracy. Never were, never will be, and are certainly utterly incapable and unworthy of it.
No we are worthy of it and we are a perceived democracy. I see the majority of people going the opposite way that you see them going.
Did everybody notice that a peer reviewer study *Just* came out proving that cancer rates double near mountain top coal mining? Can you spell vindication?
What we have here is a failure to communicate. Boy you have got to get your mind right. Remember the Warhol quote from 68 "In the future everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes" Update that to everyone will spend time in a Federal Court. The judge will say we have to help you get your mind right so you don't get in any more trouble. Sixty million laws and counting. When everything is illegal, the real power lies in not who you put in jail, but who you don't. Maybe in exchange for all of our jobs the Chinese can show the US government how properly run a reeducation camp.
Am meeting with a group of friends tomorrow to tackle local environmental/political response. Plan to take a copy of this article to offer us Hope, Strength, and Wisdom.
Thanks Amy: Your words and the words and actions of Tim inspire me.
I am commiting to Occupy Washington in October: see http://october2011.
Don't worry - Obama will save us.
GoingGreen,
Of course he will. :-)
Good man. Thank you. sir.
thus... stating the need for the "state" to imprison individuals for barely nothing to gain fee's for "there" cause such a lame lame excuse for a gov
I am a little man. Great men are not Napoleons or Caesars or Washingtons, but the guy who faced the tank in Tinanmen Square, or Michael Moore, or Chomsky--- or Tim DeChristopher.
When it is my turn to stand up for human rights I pray for the courage to do exactly that---without a thought to what it will cost me.
Much respect to you Christopher...you are a true hero and I take heart, during weeks of some of the most gruesome acts of hatred and debase political and journalistic conniving in your actions/words, and this quote, found on my FB page today:
“We shall punish the terrorist, and this will be his punishment: More democracy, more tolerance, more generosity.” Fabian Stang, Mayor of Oslo, Norway
Excellent statement about the importance and role of civil disobedience.
This kind of action is needed to confront the "Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire" in the 2006 book by Morris Berman.
I think we need to take this time to organize against the criminalization of environmental activism in the USA. The Obama administration is locking up non-violent environmentalists and members of Congress aim to see "ecoterrorism" become a common household term. These trends cannot continue.
In a time where people are being encouraged to "go green", the real "green" American citizens shouldn't be arrested for their committed actions.
Tim you are
a true American Hero.... god bless you sir and I hope you are released from prison very soon
Will someone please explain to me why DeChristopher acted apparently all by himself? Why were there no sympathizers from the green movement or party there with him to block the sale? Am I looking at crocodile tears now?
What can we do to get him out? Anyone? There must be some measures to be taken.
People, this country is bought and sold every second of it's existence. There shall be no justice as long as the the monetary system we have continues to exist. Take a look at the root of ALL the injustice that has taken place and you'll see. Universal consciousness is our only defense. It may sound corny but that's the only thing we haven't tried. THIS ABOVE ALL:" TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE, AND IT MUST FOLLOW, AS THE NIGHT BECOMES DAY, THOU CAN NOT THEN BE FALSE TO ANY MAN".Know Thy self and you then will Know Thy Lord and there shall be no fear or injustice.
Peace and Blessings to Mr. DeChristopher and his family
Very well said. I learned a lot from your eloquent words. I will do all I can to help your actions not be in vain. I will definitely spread the word. Thank you for not giving in to the powers that be. They're morally corrupt and have perverted the dreams of our forefathers. I wish you peace and justice.