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August 09, 2005
Sheehan Draws Tears of Support
Later in the evening black suburbans started whizzing past. A stream of maybe 25, coming down the road, one after the other, about a minute apart, with government tags. Soon after that overhead came the presidential helicopter with a three helicopter escort, buzzing past the camp and over to the Western White House. But the impressive action was down in the ditch among the small band of resolute activists who have flung themselves together for this circle of courage and tears.
"It's very moving being out there," says Abbe. "I'm so glad I went." She's going to clear her schedule and go back soon. "I'm very emotional, very glad. If I could communicate to you what it's like to be there. If people could see it and experience it, well then number one..." But Abbe can't finish the sentence. "I can't finish the sentence, because I'm crying."
"Let me just say," says Abbe Waldman DeLozier through her tears, "that there would be millions out there.
Sheehan Draws Tears of Support Peacefile
Posted by gregmoses at 12:28 AM | Comments (1210)
August 07, 2005
A Day in the Bar Ditch of American Democracy
"You have to see that road," says Young. "There is no traffic on that road at all, yet they made us walk in the bar ditch beside the road, which was full of weeds. Real hard ground." After a while the cops stopped them. "They were looking for an excuse to stop us," says Young. "They said we were walking in the road against orders."
"We protested loud and proud," recalls Young. "And we meant everything we said. That went on for about 30-45 minutes. We even told the police to get out their history books and read about Hitler so they could understand their role in history, standing here protecting a war criminal. We were being brutally honest from our point of view. And there was lots of press there at the time."
"Cindy got right in their face, too," says Young. "She said look, this is a public roadway. How can you prevent me from walking on a public roadway?"
"At that point I got right behind her," says Young. "If she was going to jail, I was going to jail. If they wanted confrontation, I was going to back her up. I had made my mind up about that." But there was no confrontation, no arrest.
A Day in the Bar Ditch of Democracy USA Peacefile
Posted by gregmoses at 06:26 PM | Comments (1995)
August 06, 2005
Dining with the Posse
"If you've ever been in a war situation," says the vet, "imagine what it must be like to find out while it's still going on. That they lied. While you were into it." He looks at me directly, shakes his head slowly, and digs at some food on his plate. He's talking about the Downing Street memo, and he references AfterDowningStreet.Org.
"And as for Karl Rove," says the vet, "in boot camp they used the word traitor. Loose lips sink ships. He's just spitting in everyone's face." Rove, the so-called brain of the Bush regime, has been widely identified as the most likely source for the public 'outing' of CIA agent Valerie Plame.
"Saturday I'm going," says the vet again, talking about Sheehan's plan to confront the President at Crawford. "I'm going to follow her down there." And you can tell by the slight grin on his face that he's proud to have the opportunity. This is the 20th Annual convention of Veterans for Peace, and tonight this big, wide tent is a swirl of activists in motion.
Dining with the Posse (of Peace) Peacefile
Posted by gregmoses at 10:25 AM | Comments (2360)
How to Avoid a Transit Strike
If the voters of Austin some day decide that they want to abolish their city transit system then so be it. But so long as voters want it, and so long as you are in charge of that public trust, we implore you, do not use your political clout to bully your workers. Instead, help keep Austin moving--on the streets and in the negotiating rooms. Do not put the brakes on work quality or transit efficiency. You can easily avoid this strike. All it will take is about a dollar's worth of good faith.
Take it from a frequent bus rider: your operators are gettin' it done. They deserve your respect, not your threats.
How to Avoid a Transit Strike in Austin, TX Texas Civil Rights Review
Posted by gregmoses at 10:15 AM | Comments (924)
Bush Teaches Intelligent Design in Prison
So if science class is not the place for intelligent design, what would be the place to teach it? I think the obvious answer is philosophy. And in a perfect world, philosophy would be universally taught for reasons that the President shared with the Texas press corps.
Also in a perfect world, George W. Bush will be spending decades in prison for his part in launching at least one cold-blooded and illegal war. So in the perfect world that Bush is helping to shape, why couldn't he teach intelligent design in prison, too? It will make a fine seminar for war criminals.
Bush Teaches Intelligent Design in Prison Texas Civil Rights Review
Posted by gregmoses at 10:10 AM | Comments (1001)