January 2011
36 posts
Prof. Lawrence Davidson: Tunisia & Egypt - Why...
Tunisia and Egypt: Why Now? – An Analysis (31 January 2011)
Part I
If the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt tell us anything it is that predicting the beginning of mass unrest is very difficult. Indeed, it is probably easier to predict the stock market. What one can do, however, is describe conditions that are likely to create a context conducive to such unrest. What might those be?
1. First...
So right-wing anti-government hate speech doesn't...
Michigan Cops: Army Vet Threatened Mosques At Bar, Found With Explosives Outside Islamic Center
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/michigan_cops_army_vet_threatened_mosques_at_bar_found_with_guns_outside_islamic_center.php?ref=fpb
Hmmmmmmmm…………………………..
Just in from Egypt...
…from Joe Viscomi, a Chester County Peace Movement member who’s living and studying in Egypt:
If you are American, call Sec. of State (202-647-4000) and tell them you’re ashamed to hold that passport until the US administration sticks up for the principles it values. The lives of 80 million Egyptian people are NOT of mere strategic importance to US interest… and this is NOT a...
Who was worse? Hitler or Stalin?
During my recent Russian sojourn, this is a question that has haunted - and/or intrigued - me often. When you mention Hitler and Stalin in the same breath, Russians are appalled – many of them, particularly older Russians, do not – or cannot - equate the two. Stalin, to many Russians, is still a “father figure,” a hero. Are they in denial? Do they just not know? Or do they excuse it...
Don't we DESERVE a secure retirement?
Thanks to Reid Warren for this:
Don’t we deserve a secure retirement?
By Reid Warren, Elverson
The majority of us tried to do the responsible thing through our employment years - contribute to the corporate pension plan; contribute to the county, state or federal employees retirement plan. Some of us got suckered into 401(K) plans with the promise that it was “our very own retirement plan...
Republicans/teabaggers: Let 50+ folks eat cake!...
The far right keeps talking about raising the elibibility age for Social Security retirement benefits - so, what are people to do between their jobs ending and Social Security? LET ‘EM EAT CAKE!!!—KP
For older, out-of-work residents, the future looks grim
Rough economy has pushed some into homelessness
By Jamie Smith Hopkins, The Baltimore Sun, January 22,...
Blowing smoke...
This looks like it’s worth your checking out, from Josh Marshall’s talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPM Editors Blog
TPMCafe Bookclub: Blowing Smoke
Josh Marshall | January 29, 2011, 9:24PM
While Egypt is the story of the day and perhaps the month and year, don’t miss a very different subject we’re discussing over at TPMCafe Bookclub. This week we’re discussing Michael...
Prof. Lawrence Davidson: Palestine papers
The Palestine Papers – An Analysis (29 January 2011)
Part I - A Tradition of Strength
The Palestinians have always been a strong and determined people. You have to be so in order to defy a powerful and ruthless adversary, backed by the most of the world’s great powers, for close to one hundred years. The Palestinian leaders, both secular and religious, have likewise been strong and determined. A...
ACT NOW: Apply to be a Chester County...
But you must act FAST - see this Daily Local News article:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/29/news/doc4d43258c7f026308879217.txt
Many of you are well qualified - here’s your chance to make a difference, but you MUST ACT FAST - READ THE ARTICLE AND ACT NOW!
Why I won't "debate" the know-nothings...
A few weeks ago, someone asked me if I would debate a teabagger, pro-violence far-right-winger, and I promptly said, “No. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.”
What I tried to explain to this man was that, like, how can you “debate” a group to whom facts don’t matter?
How can you debate a group that claims ignorance as a badge of honor?
How can you debate a...
Please, please support public broadcasting today!
OK, the pledge drive got to me…again. But it’s more important now, as states are already cutting back support - and federal support is threatened now more than ever, particularly with the far right’s incessant battle against truth, facts, and intelligence.
A very easy way to contribute is to go here: https://www.whyy.org/support/join.html
AND select at least the $120...
Names of the dead
Published: January 24, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 1,451 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans recently:
AMORES, Jason G., 29, Sgt., Marines; Lehigh Acres, Fla.; First Marine Division.
SINKLER, Amy R., 23, Pfc., Army; Chadbourn, N.C.; 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion,...
Panera Bread fundraiser dinner tonight POSTPONED...
We just got word that Panera Bread has experienced weather-related delivery problems and cannot open today….so this fundraiser for the Nonviolent Peaceforce has been postponed to a new date that we will announce.
Hysteria of the day: Creeping Sharia law, secret...
You better watch out, you better not cry.
You better not pout…they’re telling you why:
Sharia law and secret Muslim food (halal!) are coming to town!
If you don’t believe it:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/372154/january-25-2011/threatdown—-radical-muslim-snacks—flying-robot-drones—-coked-up-vacuums
Names of the dead
Published: January 21, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 1,449 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans recently:
CRUZ, Dominique, 26, Petty Officer, Navy; Panama City, Fla.; U.S.S. Halsey.
LANCASTER, Joshua T., 22, Specialist, Army; Millbrook, Ala.; 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd...
When the politically fueled murder of a 9-year-old...
Thanks to Will Bunch for this - and go to his original blog to see this beautiful little girl’s photo.—KP
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/When_the_politically_fueled_murder_of_a_9-year-old_girl_in_Arizona_is_NOT_national_news.html
By Will Bunch, Philadelphia Daily News, blog “Attytude”
All of America continues to mourn the unbelievably tragic loss of Christina Green, the...
Names of the dead
Published: January 19, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 4,426 American service members who have died since the start of the Iraq war and 1,447 who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans this week:
Iraq
EVARTS, Michael S., 41, Maj., Army; Concord, Ohio; 256th Combat Support Hospital.
Afghanistan
...
A note about the naysayers....
Blogs open up their authors to all kinds of “comments” - some constructive, most not. When I first started this blog, the “usual suspects” all came out of their caves in full maniacal regalia with endless naysaying, personal attacks, hysterical ravings….yadda, yadda, yadda. All the Glenn-Beck-wannabes.
B-O-R-I-N-G.
These people have nothing to say that I...
Tucson hero Daniel Hernandez invited to State of...
The Republicans and teabaggers would simply dismiss this great American hero, Daniel Hernandez, as so much garbage, to be thrown away as refuse:
Tucson hero Daniel Hernandez invited to State of the Union Address: This is what a progressive hero looks like
By Hans Johnson, AlterNet
Americans listening for a still, small voice of reason amid the rhetorical firestorm that followed the shooting of...
Names of the dead
Since the beginning of 2011, I have started every day finding out who the (American only) dead might be in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I look at their names, ages, homes, and think of the incredible waste that just goes by without much, if any, notice by most Americans who supported these wars. Too many Americans simply don’t care about the American dead, and particularly about the nameless,...
REMINDER - 50 diners needed at Panera Bread...
HAVE DINNER:
Between 4:00 & 9:00 p.m., Thursday, January 27
Panera Bread, 1115 West Chester Pike, West Chester
When you hand in the receipt for your meal, Panera Bread will contribute 10% of that amount to the Nonviolent Peaceforce
Volunteers there for the evening: Anne Moore, Mary Ann Wagner, Robin Garrett, Andi Hubbard, Karen Porter, Cathy Lakoff
RSVP to ahtmoore4@yahoo.com or...
Right “backfires” in West Chester (with apology...
It’s appropriate today to thank at least a couple of local pro-war/pro-violence/pro-torture groups this morning – their most recent attempts at intimidation of the county’s peace/nonviolence organization “backfired” – please excuse the borrowing of the right’s usual weapon imagery!
When The Chester County Peace Movement planned to repeat an annual theme of “Close GITMO” at its regular Saturday...
More on Frances Fox Piven
By way of postscript to my earlier post today - submitted by a reader:
“Amy Goodman interviewed Professor Piven on Democracy Now! Very disturbing, the deceptive method that a couple of right-wingers used to get Piven to speak about her views. They told her they were students, which they were not”:
FRANCES FOX PIVEN: Well, a couple of years, but I think it started before I was aware...
Harsh economic times generate right-wing hatred...
There are times when the events in today’s United States are overwhelming in their predictability. For many years, many of us on the left have known, without a doubt, that a serious economic downturn (this one created by the right, no less, via George W. Bush) would generate a crescendo of hatred, bigotry, and violence by the right.
That time is not “coming” - it is here. The hatred and violence...
Names of the dead
Names of the Dead
Published: January 18, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 4,425 American service members who have died since the start of the Iraq war. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans this week:
BARTLEY, Michael P., 23, Sgt., Army; Barnhill, Ill.; First Cavalry Division.
LAMAR, Martin J., 43, Specialist, Army; Sacramento; First Cavalry Division.
TORRE, Jose A. Jr.,...
Names of the dead
Names of the Dead
Published: January 17, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 1,446 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It recently confirmed the deaths of the following Americans:
CREAMER, Zainah C., 28, Sgt., Army; Texarkana, Tex.; 212th Military Police Detachment, Headquarters Battalion.
MOOLDYK, Evan J., 47, Maj., Army; Rancho...
The Tucson shooting and the end of the frontier...
Hello darkness my old friend,
I’ve come to talk with you again,
- Paul Simon, 1964
The same year the Tet Offensive in Vietnam made it clear that war was a quagmire there was a spate of domestic political assassinations in America. It was a highly polarized and volatile time when people struggled with issues of race and class. Civility suffered.
Forty-three years later, the similarities are...
Names of the dead
www.nytimes.com
Names of the Dead
Published: January 10, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 1,440 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans recently:
GIESE, Joseph R., 24, Lance Cpl., Marines; Winder, Ga.; Second Marine Division.
HARDIN, Ethan C., 25, Specialist, Army; Fayetteville,...
In Memoriam: Toni Brinton
There are some people in this life who show you how to live your life.
There are some people in this life who immediately become part of your family.
That was Toni Brinton to me and to many, many others. All our heartfelt expressions of condolence and sympathy go out to her family, particularly her husband, Ted, this morning. You’ve seen Ted countless times at our peace vigils on Saturday...
Names of the dead
www.nytimes.com
Names of the Dead
Published: January 6, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 4,422 American service members who have died since the start of the Iraq war. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans on Thursday:
ARROYO, José A. Delgado, 41, Specialist, Army; San Juan, Puerto Rico; 1013th Engineer Company.
ROSADO, José M. Cintrón, 38, Sgt., Army; Vega Alta, Puerto...
Caught in the crosshairs...we reap what we sow...
The events of yesterday in Arizona - in which a U.S. Congressional representative was shot in the head, with a bullet going through her brain, and a federal judge, a 9-year-old girl, a young man at the beginning of a wonderful professional career and preparing for his wedding, and, reportedly, three senior women who could have been any of us were shot and killed - bring the culmination of the...
Names of the dead
www.nytimes.com
Published: January 8, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 1,434 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the death of the following American on Friday:
NETTLETON, Eric M., 26, Sgt., Army; Wichita, Kan.; First Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry.
50 committed peace lovers wanted for dinner...
Please have your dinner between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on January 27 at Panera Bread in West Chester to support the Nonviolent Peaceforce - 50 customers must come for dinner that evening for the Peaceforce to benefit!
Jan. 27, 4-9 p.m., Panera Bread, 1115 West Chester Pike, West Chester
When you hand Peaceforce volunteers the receipt for your meal, Panera Bread will contribute 10% of that...
Names of the dead
www.nytimes.com Published: January 4, 2011
The Department of Defense has identified 1,433 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the death of the following American on Tuesday:
Tate, Jacob A., 21, Cpl, Marines; Columbus, Ohio; Second Marine Division.
Names of the dead
www.nytimes.com
Published: January 3, 2010
The Department of Defense has identified 1,432 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the death of the following American on Monday:
HTAIK, Maung P., 20, Lance Cpl., Marines; Hagerstown, Md.; Second Marine Division.
When will we ever learn? After all the flowers...
I am sitting here in the comfort and warmth of my home watching “Morning Joe” and hearing about how Republican Congressional respresentatives are talking about Afghanistan “as if it’s our country,” while shouting “Rah-rah” as our troops die every day. Even the “Morning Joe” crowd is saying “No, it’s not our country” and...