Rolla Peace News
July 14, 2010
Dear Friends:
In this newsletter is:
1. THURSDAY NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE
2. SUBMISSIONS FROM READERS
A: War—What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing!
B: A Framework for Reform and Restoration of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
3. YET ANOTHER STUPID UN-WINNABLE WAR
4. A LITTLE CIVILITY PLEASE
5. WAITING FOR GANDHI
6. NEW POSTINGS
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1. THURSDAY NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE
Our weekly noon vigils are on Thursdays. We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, July 15, (and all subsequent Thursdays until peace is established) from Noon to 1:00 PM. Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be around 90 with a 30% chance of rain (bring water and a sun hat). If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign.
2. SUBMISSIONS FROM READERS
Thanks to Lynda Richards and Mark Haim for submitting the following two items:
A: War—What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing!
Ronnie Cohen discusses the movie, Every War Has Two Losers, on the life and ideas of William Stafford, a conscientious objector during World War II, (click here). Says film maker Haydn Reiss, "I think William Stafford's ideas are as vital today as when he wrote them 20, 30 years ago, and his essential opinion is that war is not inevitable." Hopefully, this movie will come to Rolla soon.
B: A Framework for Reform and Restoration of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
I was unable to find this entire document on the internet, so I took the liberty of posting it on my own website. Our Ozark National Scenic Riverways are under stress and degradation from illegal roads and illegal use. Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, the public interest law center that saved our own Buehler Park from commercial development, is working to hold the National Park Service's feet to the fire and force them to enforce the law and their own regulations.
KEEP THE SUBMISSIONS COMING!!!!
3. YET ANOTHER STUPID UN-WINNABLE WAR
Dow Chemical is declaring War On Weeds with, you guessed it, Agent Orange, the same chemical that killed thousands of Vietnamese civilians and American troops, and poisoned millions of acres almost 50 years ago, (click here). This is clearly another case of corporate profits trumping our health, safety and well-being; like off-shore oil drilling.
Meanwhile, British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf of Mexico still spews millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf daily. It appears BP may be no closer to capping this gusher today than when it blew almost 3 months ago.
4. A LITTLE CIVILITY PLEASE
In the past, I have discussed the foul potty-mouthed tea-cozy movement and other neo-conservatives, (click here). Their foul language is second only to their racism and other foul ideas. George Monbiot, documents threats directed at climate scientists by the climate change deniers, while noting that "the silver-tongued chevaliers who send [these messages] live on the other side of the Atlantic, don't possess passports and would struggle to place the United Kingdom on a map," (click here).
Glenn Greenwald, discusses the firing of Octavia Nasr and many other journalists, such as Helen Thomas, who have dared to express "heretical opinions" concerning Palestine and Israel, (click here). Greenwald reproduces a neo-conservative rant calling him among other things, "a quintessentially anti-American, pseudo-pacifist, pro-terrorist, self-hating Jewish liberal." I find the epithet "self-hating Jew" to be among the more racist phases currently in vogue, far more racist than standard racial hate words. It is used almost exclusively by Jews against other Jews for the express purpose of enforcing orthodoxy of thought.
5. WAITING FOR GANDHI
When asked what he thought of Western Civilization, Mahatma Gandhi remarked famously, "I think it would be a good idea." Western pundits are now waiting for the appearance of Gandhi in Palestine, (click here). Their quest is much like that of the protagonists in Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" who wait and wait and wait for what is already here. Little do they know there are thousands of little Gandhis right here in the United States and in Palestine and elsewhere throughout the world, working in the much-maligned peace movement.
In truth we once had a leader of Gandhi's stature in the United States. Martin Luther King was murdered under the watchful eyes of the FBI 42 years ago; and his message of social change through non-violent civil disobedience has been corrupted beyond recognition. (I, personally, don't believe Dr. King would have wanted a Holiday named after him. I think he would prefer to see a Holiday celebrating his ideas. Why isn't January 15 called "Non-Violent Civil-Disobedience Day" instead of Martin Luther King Day?. Why don't we read King's "Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence" speech, at least as much as his "I Have A Dream" speech, . Why isn't there a Secretary of Peace in our Cabinet along with all the secretaries of war?) In the United States, many worship another great leader who came with a message of social change through non-violent civil disobedience. It is said that, like King, he was crucified under the watchful eyes of the authorities and his message corrupted beyond recognition.
6. NEW POSTINGS
There are some new posting on my website. Check them out.
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Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (links below my photo on upper left of home page).
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Wage peace,
Yusha
tom (at) tomsager.org
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