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We Pull the Trigger
Liam Madden is a 22 year old who grew up in Vermont. He joined the Marines six months after high school. He is sweet-looking, polite, just the kind of young man any country would be proud of.
Liam in front
His most recent project is to appeal Congress for redress; for a withdrawal of the troops and an end to the war. The statement, now signed by over 1200 military, reads as follows:
As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
Liam is on a national tour to speak to students about the war and his efforts to end it.
We spoke with Liam about patriotism and bravery. What does it mean to speak out against the war? He is still learning, but it is something worth taking seriously and to heart, and his heart is right there, for all to see and feel.
Garrett Reppenhagen is a member of Iraq Vets Against the War and Veterans for America (formerly Vietnam Veterans Against the War). He is working on several fronts, but one of the most important is the work he is doing to find a retreat and treatment center for homeless vets. He is seeking federal and state funds to build the center. Sitting around the table and talking with Lori, Tina Richards, Liam, and Richard and me, Garrett pointed out, "The soldier is only the bullet. It's the American people who pull the trigger."
L to R: Garrett, Sunsara Taylor, Liam
Garrett met with Sen. John Kerry, who told him "Look, I've had 500 people here in my office this week. The other 499 were here for other reasons than the war." Why is this? Why are there not 500 people in each office, demanding an end to this nightmare?
Tina Richards is a Mom from Missouri. Her son, Cloy, is 23; one year older than Liam. He's done two tours of duty in Iraq, has severe PTSD (although the Marines will not acknowledge that he is suicidal), and has just received notice that he can be deployed for a third tour. Tina is a bit upset about this, and she is here in DC to share her concerns with Congress, the American Enterprise Institute, and 36 legislative aides and Chiefs of Staffs and eight legislators, and peace and justice groups throughout DC.
Tina Richards
She has spent the past few years networking across the Midwest. The unions, peace and justice groups, military families all work together and support each and every action. But she has not found that same organization locally in DC and Maryland. So she has been encouraging local groups to coordinate and work together in her spare time.
She delivers letters to Members offices; 379 letters to Claire McCaskill alone. She met with Rep. John Murtha and delivered a note her son wrote to him:
Here's my letter to Congressman Murtha, I hope you don't cry as much while reading this to him as I did while writing it. Jesus please stop this war, I can't hold on much longer, it's killing me more and more each day. STOP THIS WAR
Dear Mr. MurthaSemper Fidelis
First I want to commend you on what an honor
you are to the greatest country in the world, The
United States of America, and the finest fighting
service in the world, the United States Marine
Corps. You had the temerity and the intestinal
fortitude to do what was unpopular and risk
political suicide by doing what was truly right.
As a brother in arms, who has seen too many of
his comrades die for a lost cause, I pray to our
Lord that you will do his bidding. By that I mean
I hope you will use all the power vested into
you, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the people
of America to stop the meaningless suffering of
the people of Iraq and of our soldiers and our
Marines and their families. God help you if you
choose not too.
With all due respect
Corporal Cloy Thomas Richards II
United States Marine CorpsCongressman Murtha was moved by my story, he told his chief of staff to get Colonel Kennedy's, "butt in my office right now." As he addressed the top Marine in Congress, he demanded to know why he has to keep hearing about our troops being so abused by the military. He stated he was disgusted by his fellow congressman viewing this as a game to be played and won. I asked if we would be allowed to testify to congress our side of the war. Our view of the troop moral. He stated yes and asked his chief of staff to get the process started.
If he could get the support of leadership, I believe he would defund the war. But as long as Hoyer and Pelosi exhaust their effort on squashing the voices of peace, the congress must rely on the people to guide them. Without a strong voice on the outside, they have nowhere to turn.
As we gathered in our dining room over food and drink, the disparate group of World Can't Wait, Vets for Peace, Iraq Vets Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and DCP activists, we thought long and hard about what we might say to all of the complacent folks out there, and all of the not-so-complacent, but far-flung supporters online. It is hard to explain the heartache of hearing and knowing the stories of horror and frustration that people encounter in dealing with the leaders of this country. And yet, we ultimately have such little power, because knowledge is not always power; sometimes it is just too much to process.
We need to light a fire that burns through complacency. We need everyone reading this to help us do that.
Tina and Lori Perdue summed up the discussion:
TINA AND LORI'S CALL TO ACTION: Congress needs to palpably FEEL the presence of we the people; to hear us, and know that we mean it. There cannot be too many voices!
The first week that Tina walked around Congress, she had doors slammed in her face because she was not from the district. The second week she walked in with letters from constituents and it was a different story.
So write letters to Congress--Tina will deliver them and she AND you can be heard. Send them to:
Tina@grassrootsAmerica4us.org
Or mail them to her at
Tina Richards
c/o
Institute for Policy Studies
1112 16th St.NW, Ste 600
Washington DC, 20039
573.247.8059
It's past time to walk the walk. Everyone who cares about this war and these soldiers, most of whom have been defunded after returning, must stand up and look these Members of Congress in the eye and make them look at you back. Go to their offices locally and demand an end, NOW. If you can get 100 people to join you, it will make a difference. If you can come to Washington and walk the halls, that will make a difference too.
Challenge people. Tell the truth. Make sure they know about Walter Reed Hospital, about the Military Commissions Act, about Iran and our history with both Iraq and Iran. Tell them they have been had, and lied to, and they must fight back now.
Participate fully. As Abbie reminds us:
"Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles."
- Abbie Hoffman
Let's get going, people.
Hmm.
In Karen's threader she describes her friend Garrett's experience meeting with a particular senator in his office, and asks a very valid question:
"Garrett met with Sen. John Kerry, who told him 'Look, I've had 500 people here in my office this week. The other 499 were here for other reasons than the war.'
"Why is this? Why are there not 500 people in each office, demanding an end to this nightmare?"
On the face of it, that quote and question almost makes it sound as though Kerry is minimizing the importance of anti-war activities compared to whatever it is that the other 499 out of 500 people in his office that week wanted him to address instead.
Needless to say, Kerry has made it more than abundantly clear that deconstructing the current administration's attempts at empire-building in the Middle East ranks among his very highest priorities. His speeches, his legislative initiatives, and his actions in cyberspace leave no doubt about his intentions on that account. That's why there are links to his www.setadeadline.com initiative on his own website and ads about it being spread all across the blogosphere, in fact.
Point one: people tend to deluge their elected representatives with demands that s/he pay more attention to their particular priorities.
I know that if I were to somehow bump into Dick Cheney in a hallway somewhere, the first thing on my mind would be to insist that he wake up and smell the coffee and listen to me as a citizen of this country, because I believe his actions and remarks to be totally wrong compared to everything I believe is correct. I'm not going to bother standing in line at his office just to tell him I agree with everything he says or does (which, um, I do not.)
If people who agree with Kerry's clearly-expressed points of view on the war issues aren't standing ten deep in line to tell him so, then that's probably because they already know he's with them heart and soul on this one. We know why they're not in his office talking to him about the war. They have no doubt that he's already on their side and working on their behalf.
But Kerry's only one senator among many. What about the rest of them?
Point two: The real question, of course, is why they're not lining up ten deep in Cornyn's, and McCain's, and Lieberman's, and the other war-supporting senators' offices demanding that their voices be heard and their feelings against the war be heeded by those people. I suspect that was the point of the exchange in Kerry's office.
And besides, who says they're not doing exactly that? Well... some are, we know. But maybe not enough -- no, strike that, certainly not enough, or else the war-supporters would be having to admit that the current administration's illegal and immoral war for empire in the Middle East is a hopelessly-botched quagmire.
Some of them are already admitting that in public. Many more of them already admit that in private. And if what we need to tip the scales enough that we-the-people can finally force the neocons to abandon their hopeless, heinous plans for empire is that 499 more of us, or 1499 more of us, or 4999 more of us show up in their offices demanding an end to this nightmare they've got us bogged down in... well, then, let's all step away from our computer desks and march on over to Capitol Hill right this very minute.
Garrett met with MANY Senators, but John Kerry was the one who pointed out to him that we need many more people speaking to many more Senators.
And you're right, otter, JK has done a great deal.
But we all need to have the vets' backs.
Come on down. March 4th, March 17th, March 26th, whatever. March NOW.
Karen
Thanks for putting faces with stories for us, with a thread of continuity joining all.
Just reading news at lunch - I see Prodi of Italy is resigning over the issue of troops in Afghanistan, Blair is torn between leaving and stalling & one of the Princes is headed for Iraq, and the neocons are pushing on with the plan to put missile shields in places like Poland. Crazier each day.
48 nations meet to ban cluster bombs and US, China and Russia are not among them
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6433095,00.html
Also confusing:
Condi Rice .. "appeared to keep the possibility of military strikes (against Iran) open"
whereas
Blair said he knew of .. "no plans for military action against Iran" .. "I know of no one in WA that is planning military action against Iran"
and
the Iranian foreign minister said "the issue (of Iran and nuclear power) has to be peacefully decided with the U.S."
whereas
Ahmadinejad called U.S. "the enemy"
(from The Guardian)
An Egyptian blogger got 4 years of jail time for insulting Islam and the country's President ..
GQ MAGAZINE (March issue) ON IMPEACHING CHENEY:
(I don't know if this is on the cover of the magazine or not...)
The People vs. Richard Cheney
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207N.shtml
Resolved, that Richard B. Cheney, vice president of the United States, should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that these articles of impeachment be submitted to the American people.
Excerpt:
Herewith, in the absence of action for the past six years by a timid Republican Congress and a refusal to act by the new Democratic leadership, we, the Fourth Estate, take the mantle of indictment unto ourselves and present these Articles of Impeachment, to be adopted by the United States House of Representatives and voted upon by the United States Senate, at their earliest possible leisure:
{Long... but a good summary of the crimes of Richard B. Cheney....}
Posted by: NonnyO at February 22, 2007 01:32 PM
US loses huge Boeing jet order from Russia
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003583130_boeing22.html
Christian Makarian | Fear of the Truth
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207G.shtml
Confronted with the CIA, European countries flout their own principles. That's what the terrorists want.
{Interesting last paragraph.}
Kelpie Wilson | Children of Men
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207B.shtml
Kelpie Wilson writes: "'Children of Men' is more than just a fable about fertility and whether or not we deserve its gifts. It is also about fascism, the love that blossoms in the cracks, and the will to power that blots life from our vision, only to have life pop up once again in all its thrusting insistence."
{{{Interesting. This is more than a movie review, since it asks some vital questions. I haven't seen the film, but may consider doing so in the future, given the current instability in the world, all thanks to the psychopath who is "leading" this country.}}}
William Fisher | Fingers in the Wind
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207A.shtml
William Fisher writes: "We all know why our public servants are held in such low esteem: earmarks, bribery, corruption, obfuscation, et cetera. But there is another practice just as cynical, just as toxic, and just as widespread. It's called 'pandering'. And it's not only practiced, but widely accepted as 'professional politics' by office-seekers and their campaign staffs, and apparently by voters."
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/22/us-terror-statistics-inaccurate/
US Terror Statistics Inaccurate
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/22/fox-noise-the-24-hour-comedy-hour/
FOX Noise: The 24 Hour Comedy Hour
{Both of these videos are Keith Olbermann....}
From the last thread:
Condi is still fighting Commies, like McCain. They can't transfer to this century.
Neither can the neocons or Bush, even though he says "9-11 changed everything."
Posted by: DiAnne at February 22, 2007 03:10 PM
And so are the Republicans' sweetheart minorities - the Cubans, the Koreans, and the Vietnamese. They are very well convinced that the Communists are funding the Islamic extremists - just grab someone off the streets of Koreatown and ask.
Now if we can only get the Communists to fund the Democracy Cell Project, we'd be all set.
:0)
Posted by: Otter at February 22, 2007 06:21 PM
Bite your mao zedong.
Let's leave my zedong out of this, thankyouverymuch.
Is Cheney Next?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207R.shtml
As a federal jury deliberates the fate of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, several watchers agree that if the jury decides Libby knew he was lying to investigators, it could spur investigators to explore further whether Cheney was involved in conspiring to obstruct justice.
{One can only hope Chinkster is next....}
Divine Strake Canceled
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207S.shtml
The Pentagon on Thursday canceled plans to detonate a 700-ton explosive charge in the Nevada desert that had drawn environmental protests and lawsuits.
Kathlyn Stone | Iraq Labor vs. ExxonMobil, BP and Shell
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022207LA.shtml
"The new Iraq hydrocarbon law opens the door for international investors, led by BP, Exxon and Shell, to siphon off 75 percent of Iraq oil wealth for 30 years," writes Kathlyn Stone. "The law is currently under consideration in the Iraq Parliament, with deputy prime minister Salih, chair of the oil committee, carrying the legislation. Iraq's unions, if not its occupied government, are standing firm against the oil law."
Health Care May Be 1/5 of What You Spend
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022207HB.shtml
Health care is expected to account for $1 of every $5 spent in the United States in another decade. Over the coming decade, spending on health care will continue to outpace the overall economy.
Southern Ocean Being "Strangled" by Greenhouse Gases
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022207EB.shtml
The pristine Southern Ocean, which swirls around the Antarctic and absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is slowly losing a fight against the industrial gases responsible for global warming.
Great Barrier Reef Polluted by Pesticides
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022207EC.shtml
The Great Barrier Reef, already under threat from global warming, is also being affected by pollutants and pesticides from the land carried into the sea by flooded rivers, satellite images show.
Merck Suspends Lobbying for Vaccine
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022207HA.shtml
Merck, maker of the new cervical cancer vaccine, disclosed its behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign to get state legislatures to require 11- and 12-year-old girls to get the three-dose vaccine as a requirement for school attendance.
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut told the Politico Thursday that he has no immediate plans to switch parties, but suggested Democratic opposition to funding the war in Iraq might change his mind.
Lieberman, a registered independent who caucuses with Democrats, has been among the strongest supporters of the war and President Bush’s plan to send another 21,500 combat troops into Iraq to help quell the violence there.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2865.html
Ally
Don't they realize Islamic extremists like faith-based organizations, not state-controlled ones?
Failure to connect dots.
In the NOT news department, but sure to be heavily hyped by the neoCons:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/22/lieberman-threatens-to-join-the-republicans/
Lieberman Threatens To Join the Republicans
In other earth-shattering news, scientists have also concluded the sun will rise from the east.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2865.html
Lieberman Says War Vote Could Prompt Party Switch
Cheney Praises Howard's Loyalty
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/cheney-praises-howards-loyalty/2007/02/23/1171733987915.html
puppet master with poodle2
Democrats plan bill to limit U.S. war mission
Senators’ move directly challenges authority granted to President Bush
BREAKING NEWS
AP
Updated: 27 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Determined to challenge President Bush, Senate Democrats are drafting legislation to limit the mission of U.S. troops in Iraq, effectively revoking the broad authority Congress granted in 2002, officials said Thursday.
While these officials said the precise wording of the measure remains unsettled, one draft would restrict American troops in Iraq to combating al-Qaida, training Iraqi army and police forces, maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity, and otherwise proceeding with the withdrawal of combat forces.
The officials, Democratic aides and others familiar with private discussions, spoke only on condition of anonymity, saying rank-and-file senators had not yet been briefed on the effort. They added, though, that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada is expected to present the proposal to fellow Democrats early next week for their consideration.
The plan is to attempt to add the measure to anti-terrorism legislation that is scheduled to be on the Senate floor next week and the week following.
Jim Manley, a spokesman for Reid, declined to discuss the deliberations, saying only, "No final decisions have been made on how to proceed."
The decision to try to limit the military mission marks the next move in what Reid and other Senate war critics have said will be a multistep effort to force a change in Bush's strategy and eventually force an end to U.S. participation in the nearly 4-year-old war.
Earlier efforts to pass a nonbinding measure critical of Bush's decision to deploy 21,500 additional troops ended in gridlock after Senate Republicans blocked votes on two separate measures.
This breaking news story will be updated.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17286793/
Cheney protest down under
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/protesters-rally-over-arrests/2007/02/23/1171733984976.html
In For the Long Haul
The Petraeus plan will have U.S. forces deployed in Iraq for years to come. Does anybody running for president realize that?
Web-exclusive commentary
By Michael Hirsh
Newsweek
Updated: 4:15 p.m. ET Feb 22, 2007
Feb. 22, 2007 - The British are leaving, the Iraqis are failing and the Americans are staying—and we’re going to be there a lot longer than anyone in Washington is acknowledging right now. As Democrats and Republicans back home try to outdo each other with quick-fix plans for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and funds, what few people seem to have noticed is that Gen. David Petraeus’s new “surge” plan is committing U.S. troops, day by day, to a much deeper and longer-term role in policing Iraq than since the earliest days of the U.S. occupation. How long must we stay under the Petraeus plan? Perhaps 10 years. At least five. In any case, long after George W. Bush has returned to Crawford, Texas, for good.
But don’t take my word for it. I’m merely a messenger for a coterie of counterinsurgency experts who have helped to design the Petraeus plan—his so-called “dream team”—and who have discussed it with NEWSWEEK, usually on condition of anonymity, owing to the sensitivity of the subject. To a degree little understood by the U.S. public, Petraeus is engaged in a giant “do-over.” It is a near-reversal of the approach taken by Petraeus’s predecessor as commander of multinational forces in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, until the latter was relieved in early February, and most other top U.S. commanders going back to Rick Sanchez and Tommy Franks.
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17282867/site/newsweek/
Check this out
A small group of Dick Cheney supporters also showed up and were engaged in a heated argument with protesters over war in Iraq.
They were carrying a $1200 professionally-made banner covered in American and Australian flags, with the words: "The world needs great men like Dick Cheney. We Love America."
One of the Cheney supporters, John Ruddick, 36, from Sydney's north shore, said it was about time Australians who support America had a counter point to the left wing.
"I think the whole world owes a big thank you to the U.S. and to the hard men of the U.S. like Dick Cheney," he said.
One of the Cheney supporters was heard shouting, "You just hate America, baby," at one of the protesters.
"Don't call me baby, you're sexist," the protester responded.
Protesters arrested
A teenage boy was among eight people arrested during what police say was "unlawful protest action" before the arrival of Mr Cheney last night.
Seven males, aged 16 to 53 and a woman, 26, were arrested as scuffles broke out between protesters and officers, including mounted police, who tried to push the crowd into Town Hall Square.
The protesters were among several hundred people who demonstrated against the war in Iraq, the planned increase of Australian troops in the region, and the imprisonment of David Hicks.
Seven protesters were charged with assault police, obstruct traffic, malicious damage, inciting crowd violence, resist arrest and offensive conduct and language, police said.
Six of the adults arrested yesterday will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 15 March, 2007, while the 16-year-old male was issued a caution under the Young Offenders Act.
Protest organisers spent the afternoon in talks with police, negotiating whether they could march to the US consulate in Martin Place.
Yesterday afternoon police advised they would not allow the 5.30pm rally to go ahead because it would cause traffic chaos.
After 15 minutes of pushing against police and the eight arrests, the protesters agreed to walk along the footpath to the consulate.
Police said three officers suffered minor injuries during the protest.
Posted by: not my president at February 22, 2007 08:51 PM
Incredible. Howard MUST go!
Now if we can only get the Communists to fund the Democracy Cell Project, we'd be all set.
:0)
Posted by: Otter at February 22, 2007 06:21 PM
We could always use additional funding. LOL :)
Is Cheney Next?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022207R.shtml
As a federal jury deliberates the fate of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, several watchers agree that if the jury decides Libby knew he was lying to investigators, it could spur investigators to explore further whether Cheney was involved in conspiring to obstruct justice.
{One can only hope Chinkster is next....}
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Can the FBI investigate and charge the Vice-President with a crime? I think that Cheney would have to be investigated by the Congress - the House or Representatives - as part of an impeachment inquiry.
If Libby is found guilty - which according to almost all of the testimony he is, then impeachment, at least of Cheney, should be put back on the table.
BTW: Al Neuharth says Bush tops his list of the 5 worst presidents - beating Richard Nixon and Herbert Hoover...
Posted by: Otter at February 22, 2007 06:21 PM
Posted by: Ally McRepuke at February 22, 2007 10:32 PM
We know Communists. They have no money either.
If we could only get NEOCONS to fund the DCP, we'd be set. Of course then we'd have to do some attitude adjustments, but I think this group is up to the task...
Between Monkey's talent for insults and Nonny's relentless pursuit of the truth, at length, between Ally's clear anger and DiAnne's placid persistence, otter's scathing tongue and sparrow's passion for fairness, etc. etc., they would not stand a chance...
Went to bed quite early tonight, was up again at
3:15 a.m. due to whistleing cold wind whooshing past my window rentlessly for hours, we're due a snow storm soon.
Turned on tv and saw a piece on the discovery channel about the poor veterans who went to desperate measures after WWI. They were starving, and some even got buried alive for money.
When will it end. How much progress have we made, really? What would it really take to make this country live up to it's hype? This has been going on for over a century, folks. Even in those days the lobbiests were running the country, according to the program.
I just don't know.
Truth Shall Prevail
I agree - there have always been cycles of Republican and Democrat control, with the pendulum swinging between emphasis on military and business more and then a reaction back to getting a better standard of living for the rank and file.
Class struggle..
I sometimes listen to the NPR business news in the morning and an economist was saying that the gap between the rich and poor has really grown in this country. He said that our global economy had changed in such a way that big business was favored, not just in US.
We need to cap pay of CEOs, increase the minimum wage and somehow pare down the military-industrial complex, but that's a big task because of greed. Power is addictive.
“Such chaos and mounting danger does not have to occur. It is, however, the enemy’s objective,” Cheney said. “For the sake of our own long-term security, we have a duty to stand in their way.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17273020/
... that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic ...
Hmmmm... anyone wanna play "Guess D'Enemy"?
So about the supposed UK troop withdrawal... Apparently, they're blowing smoke up our butts again. According to this diary from Welshman, UK is withdrawing troops from Iraq & deploying troops to Afghanistan.
UK Troop Withdrawal Truth Finally Now Revealed
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/23/82254/4386
The Republic Party calls this a success. The rest of the world calls this a disaster.
Posted by: madame defarge at February 23, 2007 09:27 AM
You say tomato, I say untold thousands needlessly killed.
Propaganda be damned, Afghanistans need love too.
Posted by: Otter at February 23, 2007 09:40 AM
Forgive me, but who doesn't?
Sorry, that question is directed to fundies.
TSP,
Sorry about the cold winds. We have them here too.
As for who really sets the agenda in this country, and in response to the JK anecdote in the thread header, I can tell you it is a complicated culture here in our nation's capitol.
I believe in innovation and enterprise, and that is what I think the "hype" you describe is really about. But it has become convoluted and it goes back to something I have written about here before:
When did democracy and capitalism become conflated?
The idea that we are FREE to profit from and exploit each other has roots in who could own property and how property became enclosed and passed along. That goes back to feudalism and earlier. But the idea that corporations have the same right to profit and ownership as individuals is a more recent evolution, and its effects are devastating on the planet and on the disenfranchised.
There is a bit of a myth that anyone can become a successful capitalist in America, the land of opportunity. That bit of folklore has become so embedded that many people now feel GUILTY and un-American if one is NOT a successful capitalist.
Hence the industry known as "lobbying". The corporations (and now, even the social services agencies, arts organizations, peace and justice groups, etc.) must influence the legislative process as INDUSTRIES who contribute to the PROFITS of this country, or they will not have the kind of power that allows survival.
It is why so many progressive and even religious organizations have to become mainstream, and hire lobbyists (or *advocates* as they are sometimes called, euphemistically). Success in this country is not defined as "effective", but rather "profitable."
That means that your church cannot survive on faith alone. Your church needs to gets grants to run programs, hopefully that also serve the social and economic needs of your community. Your church needs to have a voice in how much money is available for such programs and needs to help formulate the requirements for receiving such monies (Otherwise someone who does not know the community or what is needed will be hired as a consultant and will advise from his/her own needs, right?).
Therefore someone connected inside the church should at least go to Town Board meetings, and maybe even, eventually, run for office.
And then someone else from the church should maybe oughta go have lunch with that person and talk about what should happen with the feed-the-homeless program.
It's a short jump to Ed-the-caterer getting the contract to make the food to feed the homeless, after which Ed-the-caterer has enough income to donate the new pews the church needs.
And that's why one of those 499 people in JK's office was probably someone from a Massachusetts town where they are doing very good work feeding the homeless and they need his support for a federal bill that would allow Ed-the-caterer to make some more money, although of course, the bill would hardly state that outright.
And another one of the 499 would be a lobbyist for a defense industry plant that is saving the economy of another small Massachusetts town, making widgets for smart bombs that the government is selling to all of our future enemies.
more to come...
RE: Brits in Middle East
The Independent has two interesting articles about this.
First, this one... Weren't we told earlier this week that they were withdrawing because of the "success" and "stability" in Basra???
Revealed: The true extent of Britain's failure in Basra
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2296829.ece
Secondly, here's confirmation of more UK troop deployment.
'1,000 more troops' heading for Afghanistan
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2297715.ece
Also to remember, as we embroil ourselves in the 14 century old question of whether it is the Persian Gulf or the Arabian Gulf our aircraft carriers are sitting in:
Iran is a Persian country. About 3% of Iranians are ethnic Arabs and native speakers of Arabic, the vast majority- over 97% of the country do not speak Arabic and do not consider themselves ethnically or culturaly related to Arabs.
Iranians are predominantly Shia muslims while Arabs (with the exception of Bahrain and Iraq) are predominantly Sunni Muslims.
Arab country neighbors of Iran
Bahrain
Iraq
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Non-neighboring Arab countries
Algeria
Comoros
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Western Sahara (SADR)
Yemen
(from notes I took earlier from Wikipedia)
Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at February 23, 2007 05:38 AM
Buried alive for money? Oh my! But I am not surprised.
I do know that the post-WWI period has many parallels to today. The Republicans had TOTAL control of the government, and cronyism and corruption were severe problems, as was the growing gap between the rich and the poor. It took the Great Depression to end it all.
One-party absolute rule is never good. Especially when the party in control represents the few and the powerful as opposed to the average person.
Posted by: Otter at February 23, 2007 09:40 AM
Posted by: monkey at February 23, 2007 09:45 AM
Seriously, the whole world needs love. Especially the ones who have not accepted Jesus Christ as the Savior.
:)
Posted by: karen at February 23, 2007 09:48 AM
Karen, bear with me while I process all this. I am not very educated on the lobbying process. I do appreciate your input.
I however have NEVER belonged to a church, ANY CHURCH, who gets grant monies or any other kinds of money from the government to run any of it's programs. Mind you, I have always, except for the present, belonged to non-denominational churches (well I was raised a Catholic but had no idea about how monies were aquired as a child). But every single church I have belonged to and or attended since my twenties has NEVER gotten any money from the government. It has relied on donations from it's members or visitors.
Yes, we could mix more, and we should. However, then you run into some complaining about churches and pastors getting involved in local and state politics. The pastors in this town are all on a board together, and they pool their monies from each church to contribute to a food pantry for those in the community who need food and it is available 24/7. They are contributors to aid for the poor in the community, gift baskets at the holidays, etc. that include not only enough food for a huge holiday feast, but staples and canned goods and powdered milk to help them after the holiday, and toys for the children. Not just one toy a child, either.
Our specific church has helped people in need monitarily from it's own church funds, from helping them by buying them clothing and food, to giving them money to help pay their bills.
A woman I work with is the embodiment of the love Christ taught. She is involved in a mainstream church here in town, and gets in and bags the boxes for the poor, works and cooks and organizes benefits to raise monies for poor and underprivileged causes. Someone from their church gives Salvation Army benefits. Anytime ANYONE is sick or in need she and her husband are right there, bringing a meal or soup or a ride or a helping hand. That is how it should be in any community who professes to love as we were asked to love.
Some churches in this town have drives to provide monies for school supplies, backpacks, clothing including coats, hats, and gloves for children and adults. They provide mentoring - both one on one and classes to help people develop skills and self esteem and clothes to become self sustaining. They contribute quilts and bedding and household necessities to anyone who needs it.
Right now I know pastors who work two jobs and pastor their churches here in town to keep bread on their table and the church doors open because it is a small community. But they NEVER receive government funds.
Each church body, in a perfect world, tries to love and do for one another, but often each doesn't tell anyone about their charitable deeds. To quote a scripture from Matthew Chapter 6 in the New Testament of the bible, here is their thinking on why they don't tell:
Matthew 6
Do Good to Please God
l.Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
There are millions of people of all faiths who actually take their faith seriously and try to follow it. I think they often times get a bad rap. Too often times too bad a rap.
This is not an afront to all the good works that are done by activists and bloggers who are trying to effect change in our world. We are talking about churches and members of churches today.
Added comment,
Also, the church I currently attend has regular luncheons where the members contribute all the food and labor and are waitresses etc. twice or three times a year. We send out invitations to everyone in town to encourage them to come in and meet us as we serve them.