This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager
*For The Late Rosalie Sorrels- Don’t Mourn- Organize (And Maybe Sing A Song Or Two) - In Honor Of Labor Agitator/Songwriter Joe Hill-"The Preacher And The Slave" Sung By Her Dear Friend Utah Phillips
If I Could Be The Rain I Would Be Rosalie Sorrels-The Legendary Folksinger-Songwriter Has Her Last Go Round At 83
By Music Critic Bart Webber
Back the day, back in the emerging folk minute of the 1960s that guys like Sam Lowell, Si Lannon, Josh Breslin, the late Peter Paul Markin and others were deeply immersed in all roads seemed to lead to Harvard Square with the big names passing through the Club 47 Mecca and later the Café Nana and Club Blue, the Village down in NYC, North Beach out in San Francisco, and maybe Old Town in Chicago. That is where names like Baez, Dylan, Paxton, Ochs, Collins and a whole crew of younger folksingers who sat at the feet of guys like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. (I should tell you here in parentheses so you will keep it to yourselves that the former three mentioned above never got over that folk minute since they will still tell a tale or two about the times, about how Dave Van Ronk came in all drunk one night at the Café Nana and still blew everybody away, about catching Paxton changing his Army uniform right before a performance at the Gaslight, about walking down the street Cambridge with Tom Rush just after he put out No Regrets/Rockport Sunday strictly aficionado stuff if you go anywhere within ten miles of the subject-I will take my chances here because this notice, this passing of legendary Rosalie Sorrels a decade after her dear friend Utah Phillips is important)
But there was another important strand that hovered around Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, up around Skidmore and some other colleges. That was Caffe Lena’s where some of those names played but also where some upstarts from the West got a chance to play the small crowds who gathered at that famed (and still existing) coffeehouse. Upstarts like Bruce “Utah” Phillips (although he could call several places home Utah was key to what he would sing about). And out of Idaho one Rosalie Sorrels who just joined her long-time friend Utah in that last go-round at the age of 83.
Yeah, out there in the West, not the West Coast west that is different, where what the novelist Thomas Wolfe called the place where the states were square and you had better be as well if you didn’t want to starve or be found in some empty arroyo un-mourned and unloved. A tough life when the original pioneers drifted westward from Eastern nowhere looking for that pot of gold or at least some fresh air and a new start away from crowded cities and sweet breathe vices. Tough for guys like Joe Hill who tried to organize the working people against the sweated robber barons of his day (they are still with us as we are all now very painfully aware. Tough too when you landed in rugged beautiful two-hearted river Idaho, tried to make a go of it in Boise, maybe stopped short in Helena but you get the drift. A different place and a different type of subject matter for your themes.
The last time I saw Rosalie perform in person was back in 2002 when she performed at what was billed as her last go-round, her hanging up her shoes from the dusty travel road. She was on fire that night except the then recent death of another folk legend, Dave Von Ronk, who was supposed to be on the bill (and who was replaced by David Bromberg who did a great job) cast a pall over the proceedings. I will always remember her cover of her classic Old Devil Time that night-yeah, give me one more chance, one more breathe. But I will always think of If I Could Be The Rain whenever I hear her name. RIP Rosalie Sorrels
Joe Hill’s Last Will My will is easy to decide, For there is nothing to divide, My kin don’t need to fuss and moan- “Moss does not cling to a rolling stone.” My body? Ah, If I could choose, I would to ashes it reduce, And let the merry breezes blow My dust to where some flowers grow. Perhaps some fading flower then Would come to life and bloom again. This is my last and final will, Good luck to all of you, Joe Hill Joe Hill was an IWW man. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was, and is a radical union dedicated to abolishing the wage system and replacing it with a democratic system of workplace organization. Joe Hill was a migrant laborer to the US from Sweden, a poet, musician and union radical. The term “pie in the sky” is believed to come from his satirical song, “The Preacher and the Slave”. Hill was framed for murder and executed by firing squad in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 19, 1915. His last words were, “Fire!” Just before his death he wrote to fellow IWW organizer Big Bill Haywood a letter which included the famous words, “Don’t mourn, Organize”. The poem above was his will. It was set to music and became the basis of a song by Ethel Raim called “Joe Hill’s Last Will”. A praise poem by Alfred Hayes became the lyrics of the best-known song about Joe Hill, written in 1936 by Earl Robinson. This was sung so beautifully by Joan Baez at Woodstock in 1969: Joe Hill words by Alfred Hayes music by Earl Robinson I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, Alive as you and me. Says I “But Joe, you’re ten years dead” “I never died” said he, “I never died” said he. “In Salt Lake, Joe,” says I to him, him standing by my bed, “They framed you on a murder charge,” Says Joe, “But I ain’t dead,” Says Joe, “But I ain’t dead.” “The Copper Bosses killed you Joe, they shot you Joe” says I. “Takes more than guns to kill a man” Says Joe “I didn’t die” Says Joe “I didn’t die” And standing there as big as life and smiling with his eyes. Says Joe “What they can never kill went on to organize, went on to organize” From San Diego up to Maine, in every mine and mill, where working-men defend their rights, it’s there you find Joe Hill, it’s there you find Joe Hill! I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, alive as you and me. Says I “But Joe, you’re ten years dead” “I never died” said he, “I never died” said he. "The Preacher And The Slave" Long-haired preachers come out every night, Try to tell you what’s wrong and what’s right; But when asked how ’bout something to eat They will answer in voices so sweet You will eat, bye and bye, In that glorious land above the sky; Work and pray, live on hay, You’ll get pie in the sky when you die And the Starvation Army they play, And they sing and they clap and they pray, Till they get all your coin on the drum, Then they tell you when you’re on the bum Holy Rollers and Jumpers come out And they holler, they jump and they shout Give your money to Jesus, they say, He will cure all diseases today If you fight hard for children and wife- Try to get something good in this life- You’re a sinner and bad man, they tell, When you die you will sure go to hell. Workingmen of all countries, unite Side by side we for freedom will fight When the world and its wealth we have gained To the grafters we’ll sing this refrain You will eat, bye and bye, When you’ve learned how to cook and how to fry; Chop some wood, ’twill do you good Then you’ll eat in the sweet bye and bye The chorus is sung in a call and response pattern. You will eat [You will eat] bye and bye [bye and bye] In that glorious land above the sky [Way up high] Work and pray [Work and pray] live on hay [live on hay] You’ll get pie in the sky when you die [That's a lie!] You will eat [You will eat] bye and bye [bye and bye] When you’ve learned how to cook and how to fry [How to fry] Chop some wood [Chop some wood], ’twill do you good [do you good] Then you’ll eat in the sweet bye and bye [That's no lie] THE REBEL GIRL
by Joe Hill /words updated/ There are women of many descriptions In this cruel world as everyone knows Some are living in beautiful mansions And wearing the finest of clothes There's the blue blooded queen and the princess Who have charms made of diamonds and pearls But the only and true kind of lady Is the Rebel Girl chorus: She's a rebel girl, a rebel girl To the working class she's the strength of this world From Newfoundland to B.C. She's fighting for you and for me Yes she's there by our side With her courage and pride She's unequalled anywhere And I'm proud to fight for freedom With the rebel girl! Pete Seeger Lyrics
Joe Hill Lyrics I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night Alive as you or me. Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead." "I never died," says he, "I never died," says he "In Salt Lake, Joe," says I to him, Him standing by my bed. "They framed you on a murder charge." Says Joe, "But I ain't dead, Says Joe, "But I ain't dead." "The copper bosses killed you, Joe, They shot you, Joe," says I. "Takes more than guns to kill a man." Says Joe, "I didn't die," Says Joe, "I didn't die." And standing there as big as life, And smiling with his eyes, Joe says, "What they forgot to kill Went on to organize, Went on to organize." "Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me, "Joe Hill ain't never died. Where working men are out on strike, Joe Hill is at their side, Joe Hill is at their side." "From San Diego up to Maine In every mine and mill, Where workers strike and organize," Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill." Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill." I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night Alive as you or me. Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead." "I never died," says he, "I never died," says he. Pete Seeger Lyrics
Talking Union Lyrics If you want higher wages, let me tell you what to do; You got to talk to the workers in the shop with you; You got to build you a union, got to make it strong, But if you all stick together, now, 'twont he long. You'll get shorter hours, Better working conditions. Vacations with pay, Take your kids to the seashore. It ain't quite this simple, so I better explain Just why you got to ride on the union train; 'Cause if you wait for the boss to raise your pay, We'll all be waiting till Judgment Day; We'll all he buried - gone to Heaven - Saint Peter'll be the straw boss then. Now, you know you're underpaid, hut the boss says you ain't; He speeds up the work till you're 'bout to faint, You may he down and out, but you ain't beaten, Pass out a leaflet and call a meetin' Talk it over - speak your mind - Decide to do something about it. 'Course, the boss may persuade some poor damn fool To go to your meeting and act like a stool; But you can always tell a stool, though - that's a fact; He's got a yellow streak running down his back; He doesn't have to stool - he'll always make a good living On what he takes out of blind men's cups. You got a union now; you're sitting pretty; Put some of the boys on the steering committee. The boss won't listen when one man squawks. But he's got to listen when the union talks. He better - He'll be mighty lonely one of these days. Suppose they're working you so hard it's just outrageous, They're paying you all starvation wages; You go to the boss, and the boss would yell, "Before I'd raise your pay I'd see you all in Hell." Well, he's puffing a big see-gar and feeling mighty slick, He thinks he's got your union licked. He looks out the window, and what does he see But a thousand pickets, and they all agree He's a bastard - unfair - slave driver - Bet he beats his own wife. Now, boy, you've come to the hardest time; The boss will try to bust your picket line. He'll call out the police, the National Guard; They'll tell you it's a crime to have a union card. They'll raid your meeting, hit you on the head. Call every one of you a goddamn Red - Unpatriotic - Moscow agents - Bomb throwers, even the kids. But out in Detroit here's what they found, And out in Frisco here's what they found, And out in Pittsburgh here's what they found, And down in Bethlehem here's what they found, That if you don't let Red-baiting break you up, If you don't let stool pigeons break you up, If you don't let vigilantes break you up, And if you don't let race hatred break you up - You'll win. What I mean, Take it easy - but take it!
I'd also recommend I.F. Stone's HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE KOREAN WAR if you can find it. Also, there was a PBS series by Jon Halliday on the subject. ________________________________________ From: mapa-nuclear-disarmament@googlegroups.com <mapa-nuclear-disarmament@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Jonathan Alan King <jaking@mit.edu> Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2017 10:12 PM To: MAPA Nuclear Disarmament Subject: [MAPA nuclear disarmament] Korean War History
From Richard Wright's influential memoir *Black Boy* to the autobiography of political exile Assata Shakur, the stories of African American radicals retain the power to teach and inspire. What can we learn today by studying the experiences and reflections of past generations of radical activists? In an era where our public schools and our communities are sites of growing struggles, what can previous generations of black radicals teach us today that can help to strengthen our community movements for social justice, in the classroom... and beyond?
Please join us for a panel discussion and community dialogue, featuring speakers: Mimi Jones, Tony Van Der Meer, Nino Brown, Joseph G. Ramsey, and Jessie Gardner. The conversation will be hosted by Dorotea Manuela and Suren Moodliar of Encuentro Cinco.
41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02121 617-427-3337
“We’re protesting Simcha Felder’s role in blocking the passage of the NY Health Act. “The political establishment of New York had an opportunity to guarantee healthcare to all New Yorkers at a time when we are fighting against the threat of Republican healthcare reform in Washington. They failed.
“We can’t let that happen again. We need mass protests. We need a systematic campaign, led by the main progressive organizations and the unions, that aims to mobilize thousands of people into action, starting with a mass demonstration on day one of the next legislative session. Let’s build a fight to demand the passage of the New York Health Act.”
- Tyler Hassan, mental healthcare worker, Socialist Alternative member, and resident of Senator Simcha Felder’s district in Brooklyn
“Young people face a future of skyrocketing tuition, rent, and healthcare costs, and we are fighting back. The for-profit healthcare system is completely rotten and we’re tired of politicians making excuses for why people have to keep dying. We want to know where Senator Felder actually stands. Is he on the side of the predatory insurance companies? Or is he on the side of the uninsured and the sick?”
Today, members of Socialist Alternative, Socialist Students, the Green Party and others occupied Democratic Party State Senator Simcha Felder’s Brooklyn office. Jabari Brisport, the socialist running for city council in Brooklyn as a Green Party candidate also joined the protest
Felder is the only Democrat in the State Senate who has not come out in support of NY Health Act S4840, which is a Medicare for All plan for New York state supported by healthcare unions and Physicians for a National Health Plan.
The Democrats technically have a majority in the Senate, but Felder and other Democrats choose to caucus with the Republicans and give the GOP a majority to block the health bill.
For the third year in a row, the NY State Assembly passed the act, and for the third year in a row the NY State Senate has sided with the insurance companies.
This year is different because the stakes have never been higher. Trump’s election has put the Republicans in a position to gut the Affordable Care Act, a real threat to millions of people who could lose their insurance. The NY Governor’s office estimates that 2.7 million residents of NY state could lose coverage.
Passing the NY Health Act now would ensure nobody loses their healthcare because of Trump, and it would also extend healthcare to the more than 1 million people in NYC who still lack insurance despite Obamacare. Passing the NY Health Act would also give confidence to people around the country that it’s possible to defeat Trumpcare.
Support for Medicare for All is growing. A May 2016 Gallup poll showed 58% of Americans support “replacing the ACA with a federally funded healthcare program providing insurance for all Americans.”
Nobody should have to rely on the patchwork of competing, predatory, for-profit insurance companies who are more interested in profiting off the sick than delivering high quality care.
Unfortunately, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and other establishment Democrats are not backing Medicare for All legislation, preferring to uphold the prestige of “Obamacare”. The ACA extended care to millions of people and we defend that, but it hasn’t been enough to stop rising costs or provide everyone insurance.
Meanwhile, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has not said if he would actually sign the NY Health Act. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, who organized a rally of 25,000 to protest Trump’s inauguration, has done nothing to mobilize support for passage of the NY Health Act. This was a huge opportunity and the entire Democratic political establishment completely failed.
The hesitation and opposition of establishment Democrats reflects the huge pressure of the insurance industry who will not be passive in the face of threats to their power and profits. They have spent tens of millions of dollars lobbying politicians over the decades and have bought off entire sections of both parties.
New Strategy Needed
That’s why we can’t rely on the politicians to simply “do the right thing.” We need a new strategy in the fight for health care that mobilizes the power of working people.
We call on the powerful unions of New York and all the progressive organizations who are already working hard in the fight to pass the NY Health Act to build for a united mass demonstration in Albany at the start of the next legislative session.
We should systematically build for the protest, with local actions building up to the main demonstration, to ensure the widest participation.
The for-profit healthcare system is failing. Under capitalism, every service is turned into a cash making operation for the billionaires at the expense of the needs of working people.
There are so many issues to fight on -- healthcare, racism, sexism, poverty, housing, transit, jobs, the environment. But the key underlying issue is power: the billionaires have too much and working people don’t have enough. The fight for Medicare for All can be a starting point for changing that. Join Socialist Alternative today!
Socialist Alternative calls for:
Pass the NY Health Act now! No more delays.
A mass demonstration on day one of the next session of the NY state legislature demanding passage of NY Health Act
A united mass movement to escalate pressure on the political establishment, led by progressives organizations like Physicians for a National Health Plan, healthcare unions, and the broader labor movement
Free quality healthcare and public services for all, paid for with a massive tax increases on Wall Street and the billionaire class
An end to for-profit healthcare - democratic public ownership of the predatory pharmaceutical industry and the largest medical supply companies, hospital chains and healthcare providers
For an ongoing mass movement against poverty, inequality, racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression
For independent candidates and a new party of the 99% that reject corporate cash and fight for the urgent needs of all working people
A democratic socialist society organized to meet the needs of people and the environment, not profits
