from the Friday 8 April 2011 We Are One rally to put people first:

It's Columbus day (even though the holiday was observed yesterday.) Have you taken a moment to reconsider what this means? Please take a moment out of your busy day. Columbus brought conquest to the American Continents; is this something to celebrate? Is this a socially just and appropriate national holiday? Would it make more sense to remake the day into an indigenous holiday?

Video from Reconsider Columbus day:

And here is a passage from Howard Zinn People's History. It describes what Columbus saw, and why Columbus was traveling, what he thought, and what did to the people who were already here:

Chapter 1: Columbus, The Indians, and Human Progress

Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island's beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts. He later wrote of this in his log:

  So we elect folks to govern the country. What we expect and what they do are worlds apart. They get all wrapped up in playing games on the world map, like what country to invade next. Which one of us called up or wrote and asked them to kill a few hundred thousand people somewhere in the world in their name; so they could sleep better at night?

  Here, from our neck of the woods, the neck that seems to be chopped off from the other Washington, here we have Fran & David Korten and YES! magazine. Just one article will give you a taste of the difference in thought process between those looking out for all of us, and the planet, and those who think we sent them to D.C. to cuddle up with the NRA, AIPAC, WALL ST. execs, and all the "good ol' boys" in the military-industrial-corporate club.

  Check out this article:

 http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/10-ways-to-solve-the-jobs-problem?utm_source=wkly20100903&utm_medium=yesemail&utm_content=init&utm_campaign=mrKortenF

Interview by CS Song on KPFA, Pacifica Radio's Against the Grain, with Stuart Archer, author of Army of the Republic:

Listen to this Program:
Tues 1.26.10| Taking On The State | Against the Grain: A program about politics, society and ideas

In Stuart Archer Cohen's novel The Army of the Republic, unbridled privatization spurs grassroots activists and underground militants to directly confront the power of the State. Cohen talks about organizing, revolution, corporate power, and other issues addressed in his book. Also, Gordon Edelstein directs Athol Fugard's Coming Home at Berkeley Rep.

What does "progress" mean to you? (How do you define "progress"? Progress being a somewhat nebulous term: moving forward {whether it is socially, economically, politically, or etc.} can take on multiple different meanings.)

Do you have a vision of progress for Olympia? If so, what is it?

I ask these questions in the hope that people will want to, (and will feel comfortable to,) share their vision(s). In that spirit, I ask for people to refrain from engaging in criticism of each others' visions. The idea is for everyone to feel comfortable expressing their self without worry over being attacked.

Additionally, maybe we can inspire each other into thinking about creating, and forging, a common vision.

What does progress mean to you? Do you have a vision of progress for Olympia?

...Jove shield thee well.

 

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What is extreme? I mean seriously. Recently, someone accused me of having "left-wing extremist" views. So what are they? What views of mine are extreme?

Is it extreme to want peace and justice? Is it extreme to ask people to be nice to each other, and that people use respectful dialogue to resolve disputes? Is it extreme to advocate for nonviolence?

Is it extreme to ask that people receive fair treatment? Is it extreme to oppose power politics of global corporate domination (at gunpoint)?

Seriously - all I want is a world where people and planet (and animals and plants, rocks and oceans, etc.) are respected and protected for the benefit of future generations. I want a world where people choose love over fear - trust over hostility. I want a world where people look each other in the eye because they enjoy community.

Is that extreme? Is it extreme to ask that public officials serve the public interest? Is it extreme to ask that public officials be held accountable to the rule of law?

Is it extreme to expect that public officials will behave in a manner that is honest, that they will respect the rule of law, and that they will tell us the truth - and also that they will not use their position in public office to serve special and private interests?

Is that extreme? You tell me.

What do you consider to be extreme?

I enjoyed listening to Kim on Parallel University today. He interviewed Susan Lerner, from Common Cause, an organization that seeks to "hold power accountable." It was a good interview. I wish I could get an mp3 of it. If I do, I'll post it. Do you know where I could find one? [update: I also can't remember what the national legislative action item was - the information needed to give my Congressional Representatives. So if you heard it, and you know - well then - don't hold back. Shout it out!]

The second portion of the show was with Ralph Nader. Ralph Nader is so awesome. He was really instrumental in kindling my political awareness. I saw him in Minneapolis, MN at the "Target Center." I haven't been the same since. I suppose you could consider it an awakening. I was working, at the time, on a Voter Registration Drive for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). I registered a lot of people in traditionally economically depressed and low voter-turn-out areas, can't remember exactly how many, but it was right around 2,500 if I remember right.

Voter registration drives are great. It's good to inspire political awareness.

Anyway, it was a good program. Thanks to Kim and all the good folks at KAOS.

And I hope that I can find a mp3 from the show so that I can plug you in to the discussions. - bert

I found this comment buried in a thread.

homesick
Submitted by globaldenny on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 12:21am. I am a former Olyboy, currently living in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and I must say these images are making me a bit nostalgic. I invite all folks to view my blog globaldenny.livejournal.com and let's start a trans-pacific link between two great places. Thanks again for the great pics. It never gets below 70 degrees Fahrenheit here, and after three years in the tropics i think I would like to see snow and Olympia again. Cheers! Denny Jones