Uprising for a new world

Rep. Kucinich and eight other brave members of Congress are currently suing President Obama for Peace. Their case states that the commander-in-chief is in violation of the War Powers Act when it comes to the War on Libya. Obama absurdly contends that our military is not engaged in "hostilities" when it bombs buildings and kills people in this North African nation. Therefore, the pres claims the law does not apply. The War Powers Act was passed in order to further clarify Article 1 of our Constitution (that Congress and the President need to make such war-making decisions jointly). Passed in 1973, it was designed to check unlimited presidential military actions. Sadly, it has been ignored by presidents and Congress for at least a couple decades now.

I doubt this lawsuit, although a very honorable step, will gain much ground. If folks haven't noticed things have not gone well for the peace and justice movement for the last few years... The American people, however, are getting increasingly angry with the lack of jobs, the continued bailout of bankers and the wealthiest of the wealthy, and endless wars which cost us trillions of dollars we simply do not have.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the U.S. Government has spent more than $1.2 Trillion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. If we break that down for Fiscal Year 2011 alone, that sum of money could have been used to provide healthcare for 86.8 million low income children, or 73.7 million households with renewable electricity (wind power), or 15.5 million one-year university scholarships for one year. Where are our priorities?

On October 6th of this year my affinity group will be gathering in downtown DC and then marching to the huge mobilization at Freedom Plaza. The organizers of this mobilization intend for the mass of peace and justice loving people to not leave until some demands are met. Chief among those demands are to remove U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which will be entering its second decade (the longest U.S. war ever) that month, and redistribute these funds into relief for the poor and programs to protect our fragile environment.

We, the people, can change the direction of our country. We need to have faith in our own power. Just as the people in Tahrir Square, Cairo had faith in their own collective power. We must remain united and strong and beautifully nonviolent, but not passive. Yes, positive social change can happen in our lives. Are you ready to be a part of it?

My affinity group will be taking the name Camp Agape. You can join if you are committed to nonviolence, and are willing to put the groups needs above your own during your time at Freedom Plaza. We need to look out for one another, comfort one another and share food and water with one another. We also hope to be a place of hospitality to those more vulnerable than us who typically make the streets of downtown DC their homes. We hope to share some of our food and water with them.

Camp Agape also hopes to be a place of listening, sharing wisdom, and supporting one another during some stressful days. If you want to play a part in a great change with other people who believe (and live) in love of their fellow humans, join us.

Here's some more information on this massive mobilization!

Guantanamo put on trial -- May 27th

In eight days, Eve Tetaz, a 76-year old retired D.C. public schoolteacher, will enter a courthouse in Washington, D.C. and engage in the legal debate over the fate of America's detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The name of Noor Muhammad has never appeared in an American criminal court. On May 27th, Tetaz will change that. On that day, she will appear at the Washington, D.C. Superior Court as Noor Muhammad. Tetaz was arrested, along with 78 others, at the U.S. Supreme Court on January 11, 2008, protesting the denial of habeas rights to and the torture of inmates at Guantanamo. Like her fellow protestors, Tetaz took the name of an inmate during her arrest. ( See the January 13 Washington Post article "Activists Pose as Guantanamo Prisoners" ) Tetaz says she felt compelled to participate in the protest at the Supreme Court because detainees are being tortured at Guantanamo. "Torture is a terrible crime and sin against humanity," she said. Thirty-four ...

The Sad and Disturbing Tale of Dustin Thompson

Wow, it has been a while since I have written a blog entry. In fact, it has been a year, and I have a lot to fill you in on. But let's get down to what I covered via Tweets recently -- the insurrectionist Trial of Dustin Thompson, of Ohio, who entered into the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, and stole first a bottle of booze and then a coat rack from the office of the Senate Parliamentarian. Yesterday Thompson was convicted on all six criminal counts the Department of Justice had charged him with. There have now been about a half dozen January 6th insurrectionists (many call them rioters) who have been convicted following a trial. About 170 have already plead guilty. Growing up in central Ohio, Thompson was originally a libertarian with moderate political views overall. According to his wife Sarah, the two met when they were both students at Ohio State University, Thompson had a double major of history and psychology. Sarah, a democrat, was a fashion merchandising major an...

Rev. Yearwood attacked by police, arrested, injured

This is American democracy in action. My friend, Rev. Yearwood, was jumped by these six power-tripping Capitol Hill Police officers. He was wearing a button which read "I love the people of Iraq." I have seen the video a couple of times, and while it is disturbing it will be useful in court. If it was me, I'd probably pursue a civil case for damages. Rev. in hospital after anti-war arrest Published: Sept. 12, 2007 at 11:28 AM WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- An anti-war minister and U.S. Air Force veteran was treated in hospital after his arrest by Capitol Hill police outside this week’s Iraq congressional hearings. The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, president of the Washington-based Hip-Hop Caucus, was charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting a police officer after being denied entry to a House hearing room in which Gen. David Petraeus was giving evidence Monday, Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider told United Press International. But a video of his arrest, post...

Inside the Belly of the Beltway Beast

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