International protests on Bradley Manning’s 1000th day jailed without trial. Photos, videos, reports.

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A video of Feb. 23rd events prepared by supporters in Berlin (@freebradde on Twitter)

It was a historic week. Leading up to last week’s pre-trial hearing at Fort Meade, supporters staged over 70 events internationally in support of Bradley Manning on his 1000th day in prison without trial. The actions were an enormous success raising awareness of the government’s persecution of Bradley Manning, while at the same time waking up the media prior to one of the most important pre-trial hearings thus far. And while Judge Lind ruled against the defense motion to dismiss the charges due to the lack of a speedy trial, Bradley Manning issued a powerful statement denying most of the government charges against him, while accepting responsibility for having released documents to WikiLeaks as an act of conscience. News coverage of this historic event was significantly improved thanks to the phenomenal grass roots support demonstrated internationally.

Supporters did incredible work disseminating information face to face, holding signs, organizing music and theatre events, street performances, and by taking action online. Beyond waking up the media, thousands of people became aware of Bradley Manning at the demonstrations through these direct actions of supporters.
Events took place globally:
North America
Tucson, AZ, Tempe, AZ, Guerneville, CA, Cahuenga (L.A.), CA, Los Angeles, CA, Long Beach (L.A.), CA, Montrose (L.A.), CA, Studio City (L.A.), CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, Washington, DC, Washington, DC, Daytona, FL, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Pensacola, FL, St. Petersburg, FL, Tallahassee, FL, Hilo, HI , Honolulu, HI, Chicago, IL, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, New Orleans, LA, Boston, MA, Augusta, ME, Portland, ME, Detroit, MI, Kalamazoo, MI, Minneapolis, MN, Wilmington, NC, Eatentown, NJ, Highland Park, NJ, Albuquerque, NM, Santa Fe, NM, New York, NY, Rochester, NY, Toledo, OH, Corvallis, OR, Philadelphia, PA, Newport, RI, Austin, TX, Houston, TX, Norfolk, VA, Bristol, VT, Bellingham, WA, Seattle, WA
International
Brisbane, Australia, Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Brussels, Belgium ,Vancouver, Canada, Paris, France, Berlin, Germany, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Rome, Italy, The Hague, Netherlands, Oslo, Norway, Oporto, Portugal, Seoul, South Korea, Kampala, Uganda, Dublin, Ireland, Birmingham, UK, Edinburgh, Scotland, London, UK, Peterborough, UK, Yorkshire, UK, Fairford, UK, Bangor, Wales, Cardiff, Wales, Newport, Wales, Wrexham, Wales, Wales/Ireland/Scotland/England
Public support has, and continues to play a critical role in this trial. In light of Bradley Manning’s statement taking responsibility, the government’s decision to prosecute the greater charges, particularly “aiding the enemy,” is ridiculous, irresponsible and wrong. We must pressure the government to do the right thing: drop the charges against Bradley Manning. On June 1st, days before Bradley Manning’s court martial, the Bradley Manning Support Network is calling for an international day of action. Please keep up the fight. Join us June 1st for a day of action at Fort Meade, and worldwide.

From supporters in Holland.

Video from the NYC protest

Videos from the events:

VTV – Free Bradley Manning!

2/23/13 FREE BRADLEY MANNING RALLY NYC – VETERANS FOR PEACE.

BRADLEY MANNING RALLY – DRUM MONTAGE – NEW YORK CITY 2/23/2013

Denver’s Free Bradley Manning Protest (2/23/13)

Bradley Manning 1000 Days Bridge Protest San Diego
Larken Rose - Protest for Bradley Manning’s 1000th Day in Prison
Bradley Manning 1000 Days Candlelight Vigil Rally San Diego

Bradley Manning Protest in Long Beach, CA

Free Bradley Manning Protest, Chalking is illegal in California

Bradley Manning 1000 Days March (Eastbound) San Diego

February 23. 2013 worldwide protests for Bradley Manning #freebrad

Bradley Manning Rally SF 21030223

the bradley manning protest

Rainey Reitman at Bradley Manning rally in San Francisco, Feb 23, 2013

I am Bradley Manning: from the San Francisco rally Feb 23, 2013

Bradley Manning 1,000 in jail without trial Portland ME rally

FREE BRAD MANNING – Seattle Solidarity 2/23/13 Ethos Speech

Free Bradley Manning Vigil San Diego – 1000 Days of No Justice

FREE BRADLEY MANNING (part 2) – 2013 NYC – STREET THEATER feat BRENDAN HUNT

Free Bradley Manning- Park Street Station, Boston

Catching YOU UP and What's ahead to HELP FREE Vanunu

• Posted to Free Mordechai Vanunu by Eileen Fleming
• Mar 31

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35 people viewed the note

"I am calling to US media to report, to interview, for my human rights, freedom, and for telling the truth about NWs in Israel. 

-Mordechai Vanunu
In 2005, when I met Vanunu I was writing an historical novel. I became a reporter after we began a series of interviews-which began because THE MEDIA was NOT reporting on Vanunu!

This April 21st marks the end of the 9th year since Vanunu was 'freed' from 18 years in a windowless tomb sized cell but denied the right to fade into the world instead of continuing to make headlines.

The Second Annual Global Day of Action to HELP FREE Vanunuis April 21 -LEARN MORE HERE

I will be at the LA TIMES FESTIVAL of BOOKS in support of Vanunu's RIGHTS, as well as on a few other missions-among them is the launching of my 4th book.

On 22 April I will send out my final note from this Cause and resign as Administrator.
I IMAGINE that if even 1% of the 10,848 Members of this Cause were to DO the 3 Purposes of this Cause

BEFORE April 21, it could really HELP FREE VANUNU:
1. Learn and Disseminate information
2. CALL your political reps to help FREE Vanunu

3. Request your Media report and report accurately!
They can LEARN ALOT here:
IMAGINE: Vanunu's WAIT for LIBERTY...and My Life as a Candidate of CONSCIENCE for US House 2012

May Day rally info (Original Message)

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***Out In The 1950s Rockabilly Night- With Sonny Burgess’ Red-Headed Woman In Mind

From The Pen Of Frank Jackman

As he tossed and turned on a Saturday night, no, early Sunday morning bed, alone, he thought that if he had played it just a little bit differently, just a little more smoothly he might not now be lying there alone, alone with his troubled tosses and turns. Yah, if he had just played it differently. So naturally you know, as anyone who has not played just right knows, or even if you played it right once and know what a close thing that was, that it had to be about a woman, a red-headed woman to be exact, that had Sonny Smith all aflame, and all tossing and turning sleepless. And fretful to hell and back that he had not played it right. As the dawn approached he also knew, knew as sure as he was born, that she had played it her way, her own quirky way, and knew, knew just as sure as she was born, that the way she played it would have Sonny sleepless that night.

Of course if it was a woman, it also, of course, had to be a woman he met at a bar, his only place in those days after his divorce, and lately what with the extra run on the truck to keep up with the alimony and child support payments, that he could meet women. It wasn’t exactly that Sonny was head over heels looking for a woman but if he had a choice between, say. drinking with the boys, drinking shots, whiskey shots and beer chasers, and playing a little “shoot pools” over at Lester’s or heading out to the Lazy Flamingo on a Saturday he didn’t have to think twice about it. He would put on his best shirt and pants, shine up the shoes, maybe throw a little aftershave on and head out, head out alone for he had long ago, long before he had met his ex-wife, not gone with the herd when he was seeking female companionship.

Then he would drive over to the Lazy Flamingo early in order to set up his kingdom on a corner stool at the bar and see what played out, if anything, as the night wore on. This sitting at the bar thing was also calculated, calculated just so, in case nothing came along,, or sensing nothing for the evening he could just leave Timmy the bartender his tip and slip out without any hassles. The Lazy Flamingo, for those who want to know, was strictly a pick-up bar and so certain strategies like his were useful to give a good impression to the thick clot of regulars who populated the place, especially on Saturday night, who had their own pecking order of “winners” and “losers.” And then she came in.

Yah, she, Tanya Fields by name, came in all satin and silky, a long tall, thin woman, small-breasted, maybe just a little too athletic in her build like she might have been a gymnast in high school, something like that, for his tastes but still something to grab onto, grab onto and hold onto if he was any judge. While she wasn’t beautiful, not magazine beautiful cover (just as he wasn’t handsome just sort of good-looking, a good roll in the hay his ex-wife and others as well would say) she had this massive flow of red hair all hither and yon that enflamed something in him right away. Strangely he had never had a red-headed woman before (and maybe he thought later that might have played a part in how things turned out, maybe you had to work the angles with them differently), running, like with his ex-wife to blondes and an occasional brunette.

She sat down, he was not sure whether consciously or not, a couple of seats away from him at the bar and ordered a scotch, straight up, from Timmy giving him a familiar wave as she did so. So she had been here before, maybe a regular although he did not recognize her from before and he surely would have if he had seen her in the joint before. After ordering she turned in his direction and gave him some kind of quizzical smile that he was not sure was meant for him to come hither or that she was just acknowledging a fellow bar-stool habitué. And that smile, and its meaning, kept him frozen through at least two more drinks (he was drinking whiskey, high-shelf whiskey, no chasers since he was “on the prowl”) while he planned his strategy.
As it turned out whatever strategies he had planned were quickly shelved when some guy came over to Tanya, some guy she knew anyway and he figured that was that, when they moved to the dance floor and started dancing to the latest rockabilly song out of Memphis, Warren Jones’ Good-Time Rockin.’ And those same strategies proved unnecessary when she came back to her stool alone and gave Sonny another less quizzical smile. That smile signaled his time to move, and he did so, doing the standard intro thing, including the inevitable asking if the seat was taken and offering of a drink. She okayed both, and she also made it plain because she said so that she was not looking for a man’s company that evening, was not going home except alone but was looking for some interesting talk and maybe a couple of dances. Sonny bit, bit further inflamed by that soft voice and by that close–up view of her massive red-hair. It acted on him like a red cape must act on a bull, by instinct. And so he sat down as he had too.

Tanya proved to be very good company, sipping her drinks slowly, asking and answering questions with abandon, and occasionally going to the dance floor where she proved to be a very good rockabilly dancer with some nice moves (maybe picked up from that athletic past, she had been a gymnast in high school as he surmised) and as the evening wore on (and the whiskies started to kick in) he got a little bolder, and a little more hopeful that she would change her mind and go home with him. Tanya, in turn, seemed to loosen up, seemed to get a bit more coquettish, and one time on the dance floor during slow one had come very close, so close that he could feel the steam off her dress. As Timmy called “last call” Sonny decided to take a stab at it. He asked her home, she in turn, answered, answered gently but firmly that she had told him that she was going home alone that night. But just as Sonny, alone now, was finishing up his drink and putting on his coat at the bar and as she was heading toward the door she mentioned that maybe some other night she might see him at the bar. And she gave him that same quizzical smile that had lured him in earlier. Redheads!...

***Out In The 1950s Film Night- Burt Lancaster’s The Sweet Smell Of Success

From The Pen Of Frank Jackman

DVD Review

The Sweet Smell Of Success, Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis,

Apparently screenwriters, Hollywood screen-writers anyway, a bandit breed themselves taking perfectly good material like War and Peace and turning it into soap suds and cleavage, when characterizing Broadway theater critics (uh, the legitimate theater in the old time parlance) refuse to touch them with anything less than a cattle prod. Maybe a rather long cattle prod at that. At least that has been my recent film review experience after watching Bette Davis’ All About Eve and its totally cynical critic Addison played superbly by George Saunders. Here we are confronted with the weasel Broadway critic and man about town J.J played by Burt Lancaster ably assisted by press flak Sydney Falco played to a groveling tee by Tony Curtis. The story line is a little thin, mainly concerning J.J.’s overweening concern that his very much younger sister does not wind up with some ne’er- do- well.

In the red scare cold war 1950s that winding up included some weirdo ultra-communist parlor pink with a smooth line (party line of course) and fast hands. Or worse some dope-addled beatnik opium den jazz musician reeking of some Norman Mailer white negro madness (or worse, much worst some miscegenation real negro madness, Jesus, J.J. would definitely flip on that). Also, by the way, with fast hands. So brother/father scribe for the public prints moves heaven and earth to protect Sis and tears up half the great white way in the process, that and he ever present need to humiliate whoever and whatever he can along the way. Except, of course, maybe some chorine that he has his eyes on and can plug in his rag column.

The tricks, manipulations, and downright skullduggery, hardly invented by J.J., although he has made his bid for the heel hall of fame here, has a long pedigree and might seem all too real to a modern audience who know that fame is fleeting and one better grab it by the neck, fast. This tricks played in this film set in 1950’s Broadway, however, seem almost like kid’s stuff compared to the vicious action today, on any given day in Hollywood, Wall Street or Washington (the D.C. one). That, my friends, was something of a ‘golden age’ of gentile skullduggery by comparison.

A note on Tony Curtis who on the face of it seems in cinematic history to have been something of a ‘pretty’boy, a draw for the ladies and not much more. But then you think about the performance here as the groveling and morally confused Mister Falco and in Spartacus and in Some Like It Hot and one, including this reviewer, is compelled to start changing one’s opinion of the depth of Mr. Curtis’s talent. Change it upward and fast.

We seek a nation and world that invests in peace and human needs, not war

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Imprisoned US Army war resister needs your help today

25 March 2013• no comments • Featured News, Legal support project

Part of the work of the Oklahoma Center for Conscience is helping to provide low cost (and sometimes no cost) legal assistance to military war resisters. The following story is about one of the clients that our legal director has worked with. We urge you to read this statement and then to write a letter of support today so that this war resister can be release from prison.

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Statement by SPC Justin Colby

This statement was written by SPC Justin Colby on the morning of March 22, 2013, just a few hours before he would be sent away to 9 months in military prison, reduction to the rank of Private, loss of all pay and forfeitures and a bad conduct discharge.

My name is Justin Colby and I am an Active Duty soldier serving in the United States Army. I am writing today to talk about some of my experiences serving in the US Army. I was admit right up front that there were many positive experiences about my serving the Army (and I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for many of those that I served with), but for the purposes of this writing I will focus on the negative experiences that shaped my ability to participate in this organization.

I enlisted in May of 2003. My first duty station was South Korea. While I was in South Korea, I learned about the Iraq war. Glaring discrepancies became obvious. One professor said that Iraq never attacked the United States. As I talked to other soldiers about this, none of the people I served with could seem to explain why we should attack a country that never attacked us. When I asked at the command level why we were attacking Iraq I was dismissed completely.

Eleven months into my Korean tour I was notified that I would be going to Iraq. I started researching more and asking more questions. While my unit was in Kuwait getting ready to cross over the Iraq border I explained to my first sergeant that I did not think I could participate in offensive operations against a country that never attacked us. I asked to apply for conscientious objector status. The First Sergeant made me do pushups until I was completely exhausted and humiliated. He told me that we could take “this” as high up the chain of command as I wanted, but the only result would be that I would be labeled a “domestic terrorist.” This intimidation worked and I crossed the border as commanded.

Our destination was Ar-Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq – in the heart of the Sunni triangle. Immediately, I was terrified. Our base was attacked with mortars daily. Coalition forces and Iraqi resistance fighters came to our medical facility daily, wounded and killed in action. It was very difficult for me to watch mothers cry to us as we tried to save the lives of the women wounded by US forces. On multiple occasions, soldiers opened fire on vehicles carrying unarmed women and children. This happened for a variety of reasons (but most often happened because)if the soldiers commanded them to stop and they failed to stop ,lethal force was authorized. Regardless of the reasons, watching the life slip from a three year old toddler was devastating to both its mother and myself.

I can also remember the Marines being particularly brutal in the handling of the dead bodies of the Iraqis killed in action. They would routinely toss the bodies off of their vehicles into the dirt beyond our medical facility. Watching bloodied, mutilated bodies rolling around in the dirt never felt normal to me. I can remember how we openly referred to the Iraqi casualties as “practice patients.” We routinely allowed medics to perform procedures outside of their scope of practice. As medics, we only had sixteen weeks of medical training.

To put it in perspective, imagine if you mother had a heart atack and passed away, and you had to come to the hospital to identify her – but when you saw her body, you discovered that it was essentially dissected by somebody with only sixteen weeks of training – and imagine find out it was for “practice.”

I made it through our year long deployment to Iraq only to return home to be abused by my new chain of command. I returned in August of 2005. In the late fall I found out that my girlfriend was pregnant. I married her after hearing this news (something I was very excited about), but it ended up being a nightmare. By December of 2005 I discovered that my pregnant wife was addicted to methamphetamine and was having an affair with a convicted felon (with a history of domestic violence). I immediately contacted the Colorado Springs police and Child protective service. I also filed for divorce (seeking custody of my soon-to-be-born son). I was told that this was the only way that I could prevent my soon-to-be-born son from being further harmed was to divorce my wife and demand custody.

My June of 2006 things were reaching a very bad place. I was only weeks away from finalizing the divorce (and gaining full custody of my son). But at the end of June I was told that I would be deploying to the National Training Center for training in preparation for a second Iraq deployment. Our deployment to NTC was scheduled for early July, preventing me from protecting my son. I as devastated and both my physical and mental health deteriorated. I begged and pleaded with my leadership to no avail. My life turned into a nightmare. I felt like I had to leave before things got worse. In a time of extreme emotional distress, I left my unit and went AWOL. A short time later I went to Canada where I sought legal status based on my family hardship and my moral objections to further participation in war. After I left, Child Protective Services ended up removing my son from his mother. I unfortunately was unable to gain custody myself due to my legal status with the Army. It is this aspect of my story that I regret most. I can only say that had lost all faith in the legal system to do the right thing.

While in Canada I tried to live my life as best I could. In the coming years, I formed a new family (with my Canadian common-law spouse, I had two new children). I always grieved the circumstances of why I had to leave, but I felt betrayed by the Army. I had felt that I had been required to put my own moral concerns aside to deploy the first time (doing this out of a sense of obligation to my oath and to my comrades), but when I later faced a terrible family crisis, the Army abandoned me.

By the summer of 2012 I made the decision to return to the US. I had completed the first stage of being sponsored for legal residency in Canada (based on my family ties in Canada) so I was not deported. But I made the decision to come back anyway because I wanted to take responsibility for my actions and not be separated from my extended family. I wanted my children to grow up getting to see their grandparents and their aunts and uncles in the United States. In July I returned to military custody and was eventually sent back to Fort Carson. I continued to serve (doing whatever jobs were asked of me) from July 2012-March 2013. I sought an administrative discharge in lieu of court-martial but my request was denied. Today I will be pleading guilty to the charge of desertion.

A few hours after Justin Colby wrote this, he was sentenced to 15 months in confinement, a bad conduct discharge, reduction to the lowest rank (E-1) and loss of all pay allowances (despite the fact this income is desperately needed to support his family), however, thanks to a sealed pre-trial plea agreement SPC Colby will only be serving a 9 month prison sentence.(Unlike the civilian system, military defendants who have a plea deal receive the lesser sentence of either the pre-agreed terms or what the judge thinks the sentence should be)

Justin Colby is currently being held in the county jail in Colorado Springs awaiting transport to military correctional facility. Justin will, however, have the opportunity (likely in 3-6 months) to request clemency from the commanding general of Fort Carson. We are asking for friends, family and supporters of Justin Colby to write letters to the general asking that Justin be given an early release form prison so he can be back with his family. We do ask that all letters be respectful.

Please send all letters to:

Maj. General Paul J. LaCamera
Public Affairs Office
1626 Ellis Street
Ste. 200, Bldg.118
Fort Carson, CO 80913, USA
Fax: 1-719-526-1021

Please also copies of the letters to Justin Colby’s civilian attorney (this is important because we need copies of the letter to submit in the formal clemency process). These copies can be sent to:

James M. Branum
Attorney at Law
PO Box 721016
Oklahoma City, OK 73172
Fax: 1-866-757-8785
Email: girightslawyer(at)gmail(dot)com

We will be posting an address (at freejustincolby.org) where supporters can write Justin Colby once we know what military prison he is sent to (likely in early-Mid April). Until then he is being held at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His mailing address at the CJC is as follows (guidelines for letters can be found here):

Justin Raymond Colby – # 1300004791
Criminal Justice Center
2739 E. Las Vegas St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906-1522

For further updates on Justin Colby, please go to: www.freejustincolby.org (coming soon)

Rainbow Resource Information Fair – March 30, 2013

March 11, 2013

Events, News

Come Out Travel is a proud sponsor of this years NH Rainbow Resource Information Fair March 30, 2013. This is a great way to meet the local GLBTQ community! Seacoast Outright has arranged an information fair open to all GLBTQ friendly organizations in NH which include community members, service providers, educators, guidance professionals and social groups. Stop by our booth to see our latest trips or just to say Hello!

For more information click here!

"April Days" to Protest Drone Killing and Surveillance, Long Planned,

Gets Boost From Opposition to Drone Use Inside the U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Nick Mottern nickmottern@earthlink.net tel: 914-806-6179 (m)

Joe Scarry jtscarry@yahoo.com tel: 773-610-2464 (m)

What: Rallies, Protests, Visual Photo-ops

Where: Across U.S.

When: April, 2013

A nationwide, month-long campaign of counter-drone teach-ins, rallies and protest, called "April Days of Action" by its organizers, will challenge the escalated use of drones for targeted assassination by the Obama Administration as well as domestic surveillance by police agencies around the United States. The actions will call for a total halt to drone killing and surveillance.

The campaign, that has been months in the making, is being boosted by a groundswell of domestic opposition to use of drones against American citizens in the United States, sparked by the leaking in February of a government "white paper" on drone targeting of United States citizens and the drone filibuster by United States Senator Rand Paul in early March.

"The April Days of Action will continue to build the surging interest in banning -- or given the blank slate of existing law, at least regulating and limiting -- the domestic use of drones," said Shahid Buttar, Executive Director, Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC). "Some jurisdictions have already passed legislation to ban drones, and BORDC will soon release model legislation that anyone can use to recruit allies and local elected officials to assert control over drones."

"There is no question that the April Days of Action will exhibit a level of antiwar and civil liberties activism that is unprecedented in recent years," said Medea Benjamin, founder of Code Pink. "The only question is whether the Administration's half-hearted attempts to put the drone genie back in the bottle will satisfy the American public, now that the public has been awakened."

Planning for the April campaign was set in motion in December, 2012 by a group of antiwar organizations (listed below), with the goal of bringing the widest possible public attention to the ways in which drones are violating rights of sovereignty, due process, privacy, freedom of assembly and safety of persons and communities and to point out the exploding proliferation of U.S. drone manufacturing, U.S. drone research, and U.S. drone bases.

"Most people here in the United States know a little bit about drones; we want everyone to begin to see the depth of the threat that drones present to all of us, regardless of what nation we live in," said Nick Mottern, founder of Know Drones, an educational organization.

The April events, which span the United States, from Hawaii to Maine, have been coordinated by Joe Scarry, of the No Drones Network. "As I have talked to people across the country," Scarry said, "I have found a remarkable level of determination to be part of this campaign to stop drone killing and spying. People read about this in the paper every day, and they can feel in their guts that it's wrong, and they want to stop it now."

Events are planned for Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Seattle, Tucson, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Honolulu, as well as in dozens of other locations, including many of the communities that host the estimated 100 drone basing sites in the U.S.

A broad alliance of organizations -- in addition to Code Pink, Know Drones, and No Drones Network -- worked to promote the national mobilization against drones, including national organizations like the American Friends Service Committee, Fellowship of Reconciliation, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Pakistan Solidarity Network, Veterans for Peace, United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), Voices for Creative Nonviolence, War is a Crime.org and World Can't Wait, as well as dozens of state and local peace and justice organizations, including Peace Action (NY), Upstate (NY) Drone Action and Brandywine Peace Community (Philadelphia).

Details on events are being posted at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1170/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=708

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In Honor Of The 142^ndAnniversary Of The Paris Commune-From The American Left History Blog Archives(2007)- On American Political Discourse

Markin comment:

In the period 2006-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

************

THE OTHER SIDE IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR- ROME HONORS FRANCO’S ‘MARTYRS’

COMMENTARY

Under ordinary circumstances I do not give a tinker’s damn about the internal ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church, or for that matter, any church but a recent news item hit me square in the eye. On Sunday October 28, 2007 at Vatican City some 498 priest and nuns killed just prior to or during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 were given a mass of beatification. Apparently beatification is a direct step in the process to sainthood- the Catholic Hall of Fame. Unfortunately the article did not give a list of reasons why these ‘martyrs’ were chosen other than the fact that they had been killed, presumably by forces that supported the lawfully designated Republican government, in the Civil War.

But wait a minute- this is Spain, this is the Spanish Civil War-what the hell- these are General Franco’s agents who fell all over themselves to aid his rebellion and ultimately led to forty years of hell. Those are the kinds of people that the Roman church is giving its blessing to. Let us further set the historical record straight - these were agents of that Romish church that owned significant lands and assumed all the prerogatives of feudal landlords in relationship to their peasant tenants. This, I might add, is the church of the Inquisition; the church that oppressed the poor, downtrodden and other wise confused people of Spain for centuries. Yes, there seems to be some symbolic ‘justice’ here as Mother Church honors her most trusted agents.

Popular anti-clericalism had a long tradition in Spain, justifiably so from any fair reading of the history of that benighted land. Many times during social turmoil ignited by the fed up peasantry and the plebes in the smaller cities prior to the Civil War the first plebian act was to go lay waste to the local church and scatter or otherwise harm the clergy. The period of the Spanish Civil War was no different in that sense. Except that by that time the anti-clerics had also taken on an anarchist or anarcho-syndicalist coloration. In fact during this period they made church vandalism into an art form. Thus this batch of ‘martyred’clergy were likely the victims of that tradition, although a stray irate republican, insolent socialist or undisciplined communist may have gotten caught up in it depending on the furies of the local population. Ernest Hemingway in his Spanish Civil War novel For Whom the Bells Toll has one of his characters narrate a very graphic description of what anti-clerical (and anti-central government) revenge was like in one locale.

Historically attacks on churches are an elemental first reaction by the plebian masses in a revolutionary period. In the English Revolution the yeomen of the Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army made a regular practice of reducing churches (for their silverware to be used as ammunition as well as an expression of rage). In the French Revolution the same thing occurred although on a less disciplined basis. Thus Civil War Spain is hardly an exception to that general trend. However socialists, especially Marxist socialists, have always drawn the line on the question how to deal with religion differently. We stand in solidarity with such elemental acts against the oppressions brought by religion however that is not our program. We recognize that we must change the whole material basis of society in order to get rid of the ‘need’ for religion as solace for an unjust and chaotic world. Hey, we are the ‘religion is the opiate of the people’ guys, remember? Thus we spill no tears over the fate of these Popish ‘martyrs’ but neither do we advocate such action to create social change. We go after the big guns- the capitalists.

While we are on the question of honoring those who died in the Spanish Civil War we have our own heroes to recognize. Like those who fought under the banner of the Central Committee of the Anti-Fascist Militias and saved the republic, in the short haul, as Franco’s rebellion reared its ugly head. Or those far flung legions of‘pre-mature” anti-fascists who came from all over Europe and the Americas and formed the International Brigades that did valiant service on the Ebro, the Jarama and elsewhere. Or those who defended Madrid in its hour of need so that Franco should not pass. And the anarchist Friends of Durritti (to speak nothing of Durritti himself) and the fighters of the Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) who were ready to give their all in the last ditch effort to save the revolution in the May Days in Barcelona in 1937. Yes, those are OUR kindred spirits. They stand in no need of beatification. However, in the end the best way to honor their efforts is to fight for socialism. Then we can put religions in the museums as historical curiosities

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007) - On American Political Discourse  

Markin comment:

In the period 2006-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

************
Adieu, Karl Rove- Almost

There appears to be something of a law that right wing political ideologues, venal as many of them are, do not retire but merely move on to greener pastures. At least that appears to be the case of one Karl Rove who until this past September served as President George W. Bush’s ‘brain’. No sooner had we seen him off to the rolling hills of East Texas the he pops up on the “Charlie Rose Show”. And his purpose? To muddy the waters about who and who did not act impulsively in the lead up to the ill-fated Iraq War. Rove is retailing the notion that the legislative branch, in this case, the august ‘slumbering giant’ United States Senate ‘bushwhacked’ the Administration into a rush to judgment. Okay, Karl have it your way. That, however, is not the real point here. The nefarious Mr. Rove is getting a jump start on history by influencing what the first drafts will look like. Oh, well. But mark this, some ‘objective’ historian writing about the Iraq War and the slow demise of the American Empire in fifty or one hundred years will in order to give all sides their due, cite Mr. Rove’s remarks as the coin of the realm. Nice touch, Karl.  But know this also, there is no truth to be found there. Nevertheless, as I noted in the commentary below written as a ‘tearful’ farewell to a departed foe in September here is savage class warrior.       

COMMENTARY

A SAVAGE CLASS WARRIOR LEAVES BUSH TO HIS OWN DEVICES

Well by now everyone among the ‘chattering classes’ knows that Republican President George Bush’s ‘evil counselor’, one Karl Rove, has like so many in the recent past abandoned the sinking ship U.S.S. Bush and gone off to seek greener pastures in the hills of Texas. However, unlike most of the Bush ilk, the likes of Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz to a name a couple, I will miss Karl Rove as a target. Why? I will make a confession based on a very long experience in politics- I get along better with and better understand right wing ideologues than the usual mushy ‘consultant’ types who populate today’s political scene. The ‘band aid guys’ and the ‘scotch tape gals’ whose political program is a small grab bag of ‘nice’ things to tweak the capitalist system while leaving it intact and that solve nothing leave me cold. One only needs to mention the name of the apparently recently retired Democratic Party consultant and perennially ‘loser’ Robert Schrum to bring this point home.

Give me the hard ball players, the real bourgeois class warriors, any day. They know there is a class struggle going on as well as I do and know and that, in the final analysis, it is a fight to the finish. And who will dare say that Karl Rove was not the hell-bent king of that crowd. Anyone who could get a genuine dolt like George Bush elected twice Governor of Texas and twice President of the United States without flinching knows his business. Imagine if Rove had had a real political street fighter like Richard Nixon for a client. Yes, I know in the end Mr. Rove and I will be shooting from different sides of the barricades but Karl was a real evil genius and I will miss that big target.

Karl Rove honed two basic propositions that Marxists can appreciate, even if only from an adversarial position. One was the above-mentioned sense of the vagaries of the class struggle for the bourgeois class that he so faithfully represented. How he was able to grab the dirt poor and against the wall farmers of places like Kansas and the desperately poor of the small towns of the ‘Rust Belt’ as cannon fodder voters for a party that has not represented plebian interests since at least the 1870’s is worthy of study. The second was his notion, parliamentary-centered to be sure, of a ‘vanguard’ party.  What? Karl Rove as some kind of closet Leninist? No. However, his proposition that the Republican party should cater to its social conservative base and drag whoever it could in their wake is a piece of political wisdom that leftists should think through more. Much better that approach than to  rely on the current dominant ‘popular front’ strategy of organizing on the basis of the lowest common denominator issues whittled down to a meaningless point just to avoid antagonizing the Democrats instead of fighting for what is necessary. Yes, one can learn something from one’s political adversaries- Adieu, Karl.

Tell Obama to award Bradley Manning for his bravery

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Bradley Manning did the right thing: he exposed war crimes and revealed the truth about a war that was based on lies. Nominate Bradley Manning for the 2013 Citizen Medal.

In addition to making the nomination online, call the Whitehouse directly. Comment line: 202-456-1111. Switchboard: 202-456-1414.

The White House is giving U.S. citizens until March 31 to nominate someone for the 2013 Citizen Medal, which will “recognize ‘citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.’ Executive Order 11494 (Nov. 13, 1969). It is generally recognized as the second highest civilian award of our Government.”
Who is more worthy to receive the award this year than our whistle-blowing hero Bradley Manning, who informed the public about actions performed in our name in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world?
Bradley Manning has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions, yet a U.S. military prosecution threatens him with life in prison. It will be a shameful day in American history if Bradley Manning is convicted of “aiding the enemy,” when the group he aided the most was the American public. Therefore, we are calling upon President Obama to uphold campaign promises with regards to creating the most transparent government in history, and to protecting whistle-blowers, by awarding the Citizens Medal to our hero Bradley Manning.

Nominate Bradley Manning for the 2013 Citizen Award Medal

To nominate Bradley for the award you will need to visit the nomination webpage (link above) and fill out a form.
Bradley Manning is 25 years old, and he is being held at Ft. Leavenworth, KS (use this as his address). Check “Yes” on the box saying his service was “performed outside of his or her regular job.”
Then answer the following questions. We’ve included responses that incorporate points we feel justify Bradley’s nomination:

Question 1) Bradley Manning should receive the medal:Bradley Manning is the heroic soldier who, at great personal risk, revealed truths of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, exposing military abuse, unnecessary secrecy, and political corruption. His actions have led to intense domestic debate about the nature of the war on terror. For doing the right thing, for exposing war crimes and disturbing foreign policy, he has been in prison for almost three years awaiting trial. Bradley Manning has since been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he has become an icon of democracy around the world. Who else has done so much to motivate worldwide debate, discussion, and reform?

Question 2) Bradley Manning aided the American public.Bradley Manning said he sought to “spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan.” His actions helped catalyze democratic uprisings in the Middle East, particularly in Tunisia. Here in the United States, journalists have acknowledged the importance of his acts by publishing thousands of articles based on documents he released, in America’s top news outlets. Bradley helped build a better-educated democracy – “because without information,” he said, “you cannot make informed decisions as a public.”

Nominate Bradley Manning for the 2013 Citizen Award Medal

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In addition to nominating Bradley for the Citizens Medal online, we encourage you to call the White House directly. Let President Obama know that in revealing facts about Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and foreign diplomacy worldwide, Bradley Manning has aided the American public. Please award him the U.S. Citizens Medal for his bravery. Please free Bradley now!

Call the President

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

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Help us continue to cover 100%
of Bradley’s legal fees! Donate today.

***Those Oldies But Goodies…Out In The Be-Bop ‘60s Song Night- Betty Everett’s “It’s In His Kiss”

It’s In His Kiss- Betty Everett

Does he love me?

I wanna know!

How can I tell if he loves me so?

(Is it in his eyes?)

Oh no! You need to see!

(Is it in his size?)

Oh no! You make believe!

If you wanna know

If he loves you so

It’s in his kiss!



(That's where it is!)

(Oh yeah! Or is it in his face?)

no girls! It's just his charms!

(In his warm embrace?)

no girls! That's just his arms!

If you wanna know

If he loves you so

It's in his kiss!

(That's where it is!)

yeah!! It’s in his kiss!

(That's where it is!)

Oh, oh, oh, honey !

Squeeze him tight!

Find out what you wanna know!

promise love, and if it really is,

It's there in his kiss!



(How 'bout the way he acts?)

no no no! That's not the way!

You're not listenin' to all I'm sayin'!

If you wanna know

If he loves you so

It's in his kiss!

(That's where it is!)

Oh, yeah! It’s in his kiss!

(That's where it is!)

Oh, oh, oh, hold him !

Squeeze him tight!

Find out what you wanna know!

promise love, and if it really is,

well It's there in his kiss!

(How 'bout the way he acts?)

no no no! That's not the way!

You're not listenin' to all I'm sayin'!

If you wanna know

If he loves you so

It's in his kiss!

(That's where it is!)

Oh, yeah ! It’s in his kiss!

(That's where it is!)

mmmm ! It’s in his kiss!

(that's where it is)

mmmm is in his kiss


Well everyone knows by now that Jenny Dolan and John, John O’Connor, the running back gridiron hero of the North Adamsville football team, the one who almost single-handedly won them their state class championship are postponing their plans to be married now that John has been given a football scholarship to Boston College. See the love-bugs want to wait to see how that pans out, and besides they have each other through thick and thin so to wait is no big deal. But just in case that is not in the cards they are together more these days and so John is not to be seen around Salducci’s Pizza Parlor as much as in his old single days, or even as much as in his“married” days, the days since he and Jennie became an item a couple of years back.

For that matter Frankie Riley, the leader of the pack, hasn’t been seen lately either, ever since his 247th “break-up" with flame, Joanne, Joanne Doyle. That can only mean one thing; old Frankie is out catting around before Joanne reins him in again. And Chrissie knows, Chrissie McNamara knows damn well that Frankie is on the prowl because about twenty minutes after he got his “walking papers” from Joanne this time he was on the phone to Chrissie seeing if she was ‘available.’ “No dice,” said Chrissie and not because she wasn’t interested in Frankie. A lot of girls were, a little. Except “ball and chain” Joanne history meant that this was just Frankie lark time. Besides Chrissie and Joanne had been friends longer than Joanne had known Frankie and Chrissie liked Joanne, which is not what you could say about most girls who knew Joanne. But this is not about Joanne and so it need not be gotten into here.

What needs to be gotten into though is why Chrissie is ambling into Salducci’s Pizza Parlor at ten o’clock at night, a Thursday school night ten o’clock all by herself. Well, it ain’t for the pizza, although the way Tonio, the zen master pizza maker and owner of the parlor, makes those pizza slather and slither is worth coming in for almost any time. And it ain’t for Peter Paul Markin’s company, no way, not for a long time. Peter Paul is “holding down the fort” just now while his “boss” Frankie is, as is already known, out catting around. He probably already has made a note, a mental note, that Frankie for the 27th time has “struck out” with Chrissie and so maybe she wants his company. No way, no way that way, anyway. Peter Paul and Chrissie have gotten friendlier, or Chrissie has, ever since Peter Paul started getting into the be-bop folk music scene now growing by leaps and bounds in Boston. They actually went to some coffeehouse over on Joy Street in Boston one night with Frankie and Joanne. The latter pair couldn’t wait to leave (probably because Frankie’s calling card, flannel shirt, jeans, work boots, and yah, midnight sunglasses didn’t raise an eyebrow. Half the guys in the place looked just like him, except maybe the sunglasses). But Chrissie and Peter Paul thought it was fantastic. Just no romance, no way, got it.

What does have Chrissie’s attention is one James Joseph Kelly, Fingers Kelly, who is sitting right next to Peter Paul at the moment. Now Fingers Kelly used to have the moniker of "Five Fingers" Kelly and for the squares out there that meant he was a clip artist and for the real squarey squares that meant he took things from stores…without paying. In other words he swiped things. But a couple of juvenile court appearances and some manhandling by James Joseph Kelly, Sr. shorten his moniker to Fingers, fast. Now what Chrissie wants to talk to Fingers about is why, why just a couple of hours ago, did Fingers state to the best of his recollection that he did not want to see one Christine Anne McNamara on Saturday night. And on that night take her to the annual North Adamsville High School “Hi-Jinx”dance.

Now Fingers, Fingers Kelly, is wise enough to the ways of the world, to know that if he doesn’t grab Christine Anne McNamara with both arms when she is “after” him then some other guy (or guys) will be more than happy to do so. See Chrissie, besides being the head cheerleader at North is nothing but a fox. And Frankie, Fingers, hell even Peter Paul know this fact. Tall, brownish blonde hair, a few freckles, nice legs, and a very nice personality (has to be if Peter Paul thinks so) to go with that physical description. And she is interested in lots of things besides corn-ball cheer leading like that folk music stuff that was just mentioned. But Fingers has the freeze on for her.

Fingers is not bad looking, kind of tall, somewhat athletic (you had to be in his former career), not bad to talk to, but is nothing if not just an okay guy. So the number one question, well, really the number two question after how many days will it be before Joanne reins her lover boy, Frankie, in, is why Chrissie is after Fingers so bad. And why Fingers, knowing what he knows about North Adamsville high school guys, is not waiting with bells on to take Chrissie to the dance. Well, you have not been paying attention on that Finger’s part (Chrissie we will get to in a minute). Finger, when he was Five Fingers, always had kale (cash, money, dollars, okay) and was not afraid to spend it. But in his new life as just Fingers he is broke more often than not. And see, he cannot go back to the five fingers way of life because one Senior Kelly will bop him good. And old Senior, while we are at it, is not lending sonny boy any dough (kale, okay) after forking out a ton of money to keep one James Joseph Kelly, Junior out of reform school. So that is the skinny, pure and simple. So if you have any loose change hanging around ship it over Finger’s way, and thanks.

Now Chrissie is another matter. As already mentioned Fingers is okay but just okay so it has to be something else. And it ain’t dough (although she does not know that Fingers is broke, totally broke). And it ain’t the no car for a Saturday night date. She said that she would borrow her father’s car. Even Peter Paul is puzzled by this situation and usually he is clueless about such “high” romance. The only thing anybody has come up with is something that people noticed after Chrissie first’s heavy“parking” date (you know what that is right, nobody is that square) with Fingers (a double date because of Finger’s car-deprivation so it’s not what you think, not back seat all hands and twists sex stuff ). For a couple of days after that she was all dreamy-faced, all glowy and stuff. Humm.

Hint: For the serious squares, the clueless, and any parents, any generation think about the title here.

Let’s Redouble Our Efforts To Free Private Bradley Manning-President Obama Pardon Bradley Manning -Make Every Town Square In America (And The World) A Bradley Manning Square From Boston To Berkeley to Berlin-Join Us In Central Square, Cambridge, Ma. For A Stand-Out For Bradley- Wednesdays From 5:00-6:00 PM

Five Ways To Support Heroic Wikileaks Whistle-blower Private Bradley Manning

*Urgent: The government has announced, in the wake of Bradley Manning’s admission of his part in the Wikileaks expose in open court on February 28th, its intention to continue to prosecute him for the major charges of “aiding the enemy” (Espionage Act) and “material aid to terrorism.” Everyone should contact the presiding officer of the court –martial process, General Linnington, at 1-202-685-2807 and tell him to drop those charges.Once Maj. Gen. Linnington’s voicemail box is full – you can also leave a message at the DOD: (703) 571-3343 – press “5″ to leave a comment.*If this mailbox is also full, leave the Department of Defense a written message. Do it today.

*Come to our stand-out in support of Private Bradley Manning in Central Square, Cambridge, Ma (corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Prospect Street near MBTA Redline station) every Wednesday between 5-6 PM. For other locations in Greater Boston, nationally, and internationally check the Bradley Manning Support Network -http://www.bradleymanning.org/and for details of the current status of the case and future event updates as well. Also plan to come to Fort Meade outside of Washington, D.C. on June 1^stfor an international day of solidarity with Bradley before his scheduled June 3^rdtrial. If you can’t make it to Fort Meade plan a solidarity event locally in support of this brave whistle-blower.

*Contribute to the Bradley Manning Defense Fund- as the trial date approaches funds are urgently needed! The government has unlimited financial and personnel resources to prosecute Bradley. We have a fine defense civilian lawyer, David Coombs, many supporters throughout America and the world working hard for Bradley’s freedom, and the truth on our side. Still the hard reality of the American legal system, civilian or military, is that an adequate defense cost serious money. So help out with whatever you can spare. For link go to http://www.bradleymanning.org/

*Sign the online petition at the Bradley Manning Support Network (for link go to http://www.bradleymanning.org/ )to the Secretary of the Army to free Bradley Manning-1000 plus days is enough! The Secretary of the Army stands in the direct chain of command up to the President and can release Private Manning from pre-trial confinement and drop the charges against him at his discretion. For basically any reason that he wishes to-let us say 1000 plus days is enough. Join the over 25,000 supporters in the United States and throughout the world clamoring for Bradley’s well-deserved freedom.

*Call (Comments”202-456-1111), write The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500, e-mail-(http://www.whitehouse.gov’contact/submitquestions-and comments) the White House to demand President Obama pardon Bradley Manning- The presidential power to pardon is granted under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution: “The President…shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in case of impeachment.”

In federal cases, and military cases are federal cases, the President of the United States can, under authority granted by the U.S. Constitution as stated above, pardon the guilty and the innocent, the convicted and those awaiting trial- former President Nixon and former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, for example among others, received such pardons for their heinous crimes- Now that Bradley Manning has pleaded guilty to some lesser charges and is subject to further prison time (up to 20 years) this pardon campaign is more necessary than ever. Free Bradley Manning! Free the whistleblower!