Monday, January 03, 2005
Shirley Chisholm, R.I.P.
Shirley Chisholm, who passed away Saturday, was such a sassy heroine to my friends and me back in the 1970s, when feminism was in resurgence after the deathly conformity of the 50s and early 60s, and we had a bold and brassy African-American woman in the Congress and running for president. That's Shirley with sister firebrand Bella Abzug in the photo above. If you're too young to remember Shirley, or if you've forgotten what a strong presence she was on the national scene, here's a commentary on her accomplishments and daring deeds. I think we can benefit from pondering Ms. Chisholm and her spunk as we return from the holidays to confront the political barricades of our own time:
From ms.musings:
Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed
"My greatest political asset, which professional politicians fear, is my mouth, out of which come all kinds of things one shouldn't always discuss for reasons of political expediency.”
Shirley Chisholm died Saturday at the age of 80. The first black woman elected to Congress, she was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a presidential candidate in 1972. From The New York Times obituary:
In 1972, when she entered the presidential primaries, she did not expect to capture the Democratic nomination, which ultimately went to George S. McGovern. "Some see my candidacy as an alternate and others as symbolic or a move to make other candidates start addressing themselves to real issues," she said at the time. She did not win a single primary, but in 2002, she said her campaign had been a necessary "catalyst for change."
She was also aware of her status as a woman in politics. "I've always met more discrimination being a woman than being black," she told The Associated Press in December 1982, shortly before she left Washington to teach at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. "When I ran for the Congress, when I ran for president, I met more discrimination as a woman than for being black. Men are men."
A documentary about her political life -- Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed -- made its debut at Sundance last year. It will be shown on television in February as part of PBS’ POV series. Visit the PBS website for more information.
"Women have learned to flex their political muscles. You got to flex that muscle to get what you want," Chisholm said during her presidential campaign, according to the Washington Post.
An expert on early childhood education, Chisholm worked as the director of a daycare center after receiving her master’s from Columbia University. When she was elected to Congress, she protested her appointment to the House Agriculture Committee.
"Apparently all they know here in Washington about Brooklyn is that a tree grew there," she said. "Only nine black people have been elected to Congress, and those nine should be used as effectively as possible."
She was later reassigned to the Education and Labor Committees. Throughout her career, Chisholm was a tireless advocate of women’s rights and public policy initiatives that would benefit the poor. She fought for unemployment insurance for domestic workers and childcare providers, as well as college funds for low-income students. From the Times:
When she left Washington, she said she did not want to go down in history as "the nation's first black congresswoman" or, as she put it, "the first black woman congressman."
"I'd like them to say that Shirley Chisholm had guts," she said. "That's how I'd like to be remembered."
Here’s the text of a speech Chisholm delivered on the floor of the House in 1970, arguing in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment. Michigan State University has an inventory of audio recordings, some of which are available as mp3 files, including Chisholm discussing in 1974 why she ran for president.
January 3, 2005 at 09:34 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Friday, December 31, 2004
The Earth Feels Old Tonight
May Sarton's 1937 New Year's Greeting
The earth feels old tonight
And we who live and stand on the cold rim
Face a new year.
It is raining everywhere
As if the rain were mercy,
As if the rain were peace,
Peace falling on our hair.
Open your hearts tonight, let them burn!
Let them light a way in the dark.
Let them one by one affirm there is hope for a staff:
I say it will flower in our hands,
We shall go garlanded.
There is the fine fresh stuff of faith for a coat:
We shall go warm.
We shall go on by the light of our hearts.
We shall burn mightily in the new year.
We shall go on together.
O you who stand alone on the rim of the earth and are cold,
I salute you here!
(Information on May Sarton.)
You can watch live Earthcams at various locations on Times Square in NYC, including streaming video of the ball drop at midnight Eastern Standard Time. Also at this link are livecams in various cities across the nation and the world.
And as we bring in the New Year here in New Mexico, let's honor all those suffering from the Iraq War, the tsunami and other painfully sad occurrences, man-made or natural, with a moment of silence and an awareness of how privileged we are to be here welcoming another year.
December 31, 2004 at 04:06 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Give Now
These photos from DigitalGlobe show the waterfront area of Banda Aceh, Indonesia before and after the tsunami:
Before:
After:
and Amazon are making it easy to donate. Even the price of a New Year's Eve drink can be a meaningful donation in this region of the world. You know what to do.
December 31, 2004 at 12:23 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Two Good Links on Vote Problem News and Actions
VotersUnite.org has up-to-the-minute news from many sources on voting and election problems and actions. This organization has produced a Summary Report on NM Election Data.
No Stolen Democracy is a clearing house for information on getting Senators to refuse to certify the electoral vote and also has information on related protests and other actions.
December 30, 2004 at 12:35 PM in Candidates & Races, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
More On How to Help Tsunami Victims
The Washington Post has an excellent list of organizations that are accepting donations to help the victims of the tsunami in Asia. Click through to the continuation page below for a complete listing.
In Albuquerque, all banks will be collecting donations for the aid efforts in response to a request by Mayor Chavez and the local Red Cross. Residents will be able to inform any bank teller that they want to the contribute to the American Red Cross South Asia Disaster Fund. Many retailers and other businesses are also expected to participate.
According to an article in the Albuquerque Journal, here are some other places where donations are being accepted:
Some Web sites, such as the Network for Good, allow people access to listings of U.S.-based charitable organizations in a searchable database. Amazon.com also enables users to route donations to organizations from its homepage.
More information about donations to humanitarian organizations can be found on the U.S. Agency for International Development's Web site, www.usaid.gov.
Donors can also call the Center for International Disaster Information at 703-276-1914.
Action Against Hunger
247 West 37th St.
New York, NY 10018
212-967-7800
https://www.actionagainsthunger.org
ADRA International
Asia Quake Fund
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
800-424-ADRA (2372)
https://www.adra.org
Air Serv International
6583 Merchant Place, Suite 100
Warrenton, VA 20187
https://www.airserv.org
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.
DC-South Asia Tsunami Relief
P.O. Box 321
847A Second Ave.
New York, New York 10017
212-885-0832
https://www.jdc.org
American Jewish World Service
45 W. 36th St., 10th Fl.
New York, NY 10018
212-736-2597
https://www.ajws.org
American Red Cross
International Response Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
800-435-7669
https://www.redcross.org/
AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Ave.
Stamford, CT 06902
800-486-4357
https://www.americares.org
Association for India's Development Inc.
AID Zone 3
P.O. Box 4801
Mountain View, CA 94040-0801
https://www.aidindia.org
Baptist World Aid
Asia Tidal Waves
405 North Washington St.
Falls Church, VA 22046
703 790 8980
B’nai B’rith International
B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund
2020 K. St. NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
212-490-3290
https://www.bnaibrith.org
Brother’s Brother Foundation
1200 Galveston Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412-321-3160
https://www.brothersbrother.org
CARE
151 Ellis St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
800-521-CARE
https://www.care.org
Catholic Relief Services
209 West Fayette St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
800-HELP-CRS
https://www.catholicrelief.org
Christian Children’s Fund
Child Alert Fund
PO Box 26484
Richmond, Virginia - 23261-6484
800-776-6767
https://www.ChristianChildrensFund.org
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC)
South Asia Earthquake
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49560
800-55-CRWRC
https://www.crwrc.org
Church World Service
PO Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
800-297-1516
https://www.churchworldservice.org
Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-4767
https://www.directrelief.org
Food for the Hungry
Asia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
https://www.fh.org
Friends of the World Food Programme
P.O. Box 11856
Washington, D.C. 20008
International Aid
17011 W. Hickory
Spring Lake, MI 49456
800-968-7490
https://www.internationalaid.org
International Medical Corps
Tsunami Emergency Response
1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90404-1950
800-481-4462
https://www.imcworldwide.org
International Relief Teams
Asia Earthquake/Floods
3547 Camino Del Rio South
Suite C
San Diego, CA 92108
619-284-7979
https://www.IRTeams.org
International Rescue Committee
PO Box 5058
Hagerstown, MD 21741-9874
877-REFUGEE or 733-8433
https://www.theIRC.org
Latter-Day Saint Charities
Welfare Services Emergency Response
50 East North Temple Street, Room 701
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150-6800
801-240-3544
ldscharities@ldschurch.org
Lutheran World Relief
South Asia Tsunami
700 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-230-2700
https://www.lwr.org
MAP International
P.O. Box 215000
Brunswick, GA 31521
800-225-8550
https://www.map.org
Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake
Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-2669
800-852-2100
https://www.mercycorps.org
Operation Blessing International
Operation Blessing Disaster Relief Fund
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463
800-730-2537
https://www.ob.org
Operation USA
8320 Melrose Ave. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90069
800-678-8876
https://www.opusa.org
Oxfam America
Asian Earthquake Fund
PO Box 1211
Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211
800-77-OXFAM
https://www.oxfamamerica.org
Plan USA
Asia Disaster
155 Plan Way
Warwick, RI 02886
800-556-7918
https://www.planusa.org
Project Concern International
Asia Tsunamis Press List
5151 Murphy Canyon Road
Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92123
858-279-9690
https://www.projectconcern.org
Project HOPE
Asia Tsunami Response
255 Carter Hall Lane
Millwood, VA 22646
800-544-4673
https://www.projecthope.org
SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service Office)
South Asia Relief Fund
615 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA, 22313
800-SAL-ARMY
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org
Save the Children USA
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
1-800-728-3843
https://www.savethechildren.org
Southeast Asia Relief Fund
Donations can be sent c/o The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
6101 Montrose Rd., Rockville, Md. 20852.
In the memo line of your check, write: SDG05DRT.
Stop Hunger Now
SE Asia crisis
2501 Clark Ave, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27607
888-501-8440
https://www.stophungernow.org
Tsunami Relief Inc.
9302 Lee Hwy.
Fifth Floor
Fairfax, Va. 22031
703-934-6922
US Fund for UNICEF
General Emergency Fund
333 E. 38th St.
New York, NY 10016
800-4-UNICEF
https://www.unicefusa.org
World Concern
Asia Earthquake and Tsunami
19303 Fremont Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
https://www.worldconcern.org
World Emergency Relief
2270-D Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-930-8001
https://www.worldemergencyrelief.org
World Vision
P.O. Box 70288
Tacoma, WA 98481-0288
888-56-CHILD
https://www.worldvision.org
December 30, 2004 at 12:05 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, December 27, 2004
Help Tsunami Victims
With more than 23,000 33,000 59,000 100,000 116,000 135,000 155,000 people killed in Asia and many more injured, with millions homeless or without food, shelter or clean water, now is the time to open up our hearts and pockets to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Here are links to organizations that are helping now and that will be helping for many months to come:
Save the Children
Oxfam
UNICEF
Relief Web
CARE
Doctors Without Borders (Medcins sans Frontiers)
Caritas
Red Cross
World Vision International
December 27, 2004 at 11:57 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Friday, December 24, 2004
Top Ten Most Outrageous Statements by Media in 2004
Given all the misleading, misinformed and miserable statements we've heard and read this year in the mainstream media, it must have been difficult to limit themselves to only the ten worst statements. From Media Matters for America:
- Rush Limbaugh: on the Abu Ghraib photos: "I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of need to blow some steam off?"
- Ann Coulter: "[Senator John] Kerry will improve the economy in the emergency services and body bag industry."
- Tony Blankley called philanthropist George Soros "a Jew who figured out a way to survive the Holocaust."
- Michael Savage: "When you hear 'human rights,' think gays. ... [T]hink only one thing: someone who wants to rape your son."
- Oliver North: "Every terrorist out there is hoping John Kerry is the next president of the United States."
- Pat Robertson on gays and lesbians: "[S]elf-absorbed hedonists ... that want to impose their particular sexuality on the rest of America."
- Pat Buchanan: "[H]omosexuality is an affliction, like alcoholism."
- Bill O'Reilly to Jewish caller: "[I]f you are really offended, you gotta go to Israel."
- Bill Cunningham (Clear Channel radio host who appeared as a guest on The Sean Hannity Show): The election is over because "Elizabeth Edwards has now sung."
- Jerry Falwell: "And we're going to invite PETA [to "wild game night"] as our special guest, P-E-T-A -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. We want you to come, we're going to give you a top seat there, so you can sit there and suffer. This is one of my special groups, another one's the ACLU, another is the NOW -- the National Order of Witches [sic]. We've got -- I've got a lot of special groups."
December 24, 2004 at 09:40 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Video on Ohio Voter Suppression
From the The Progressive Mind, mirroring the Free Speech Zone:
This video footage is a must see for everyone who feels a concern regarding the gross injustices that took place in African American precincts in Ohio on election day. We have done the civil rights movement in this country already. Heck we have had to do it a few times. Yet, if you feel that everyone is indeed equal, then you are not paying attention. Through deceitful manipulation of information and equiptment, the citizens of Ohio were often turned away from voting booths. This footage, which is in 2 parts, is a documentaion of what took place on Nov 2nd. It is only a small part of the larger story.
A press release was sent out today to the press and public this morning.
The video footage provides a first hand glimpse of what transpired in Franklin County on Election Day, only in heavily leaning Democratic precincts, including unexplained voting machine shortages, organized campaigns directing voters to the wrong polling places, malfunctioning voter tabulation equipment, election worker confusion and incompetence, and a host of other problems. However, as detailed in an official affidavit by Richard Hayes Phillips, a geomorphology Ph.D. from University of Oregon, the extent of voter disenfranchisement was systematic and widespread in African American precincts throughout the state. Dr. Phillips sworn testimony read:
"For the second Presidential election in a row African American voters have been subjugated to second class citizens through systematic efforts by Republicans to suppress, intimidate, and disenfranchise our vote," said Rev. Bill Moss, the original Plaintiff in Ohio, and founder of the Center for Freedom and Justice. "Whether its Katherine Harris or Kenneth Blackwell, the purpose is the same: do everything in their power to ensure George W. Bush becomes President. If those in power are willing and able to thwart democracy and abuse the civil rights of American voters, right in the face of the press and public, what won’t they do? I am contesting this election because tyranny, particularly in the guise of democracy, is our civic duty to fight."
Read the rest. Here is how you can help:
• Watch the video and e-mail everyone you know
• E-mail or call the main stream news media outlets and demand that they cover this story. (Contact information below)
Once you have seen this please let the world know!
Click here for contact information for Government employees
Click here for media contact information.
Thank you!
Ohio Voter Suppression Videos: Click here.
December 23, 2004 at 03:26 PM in Candidates & Races, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Kerry Enters Ohio Recount
According to William Rivers Pitt at truthout, Kerry is entering the Ohio recount in a significant way, by "filing a request for expedited discover regarding Triad Systems voting marchines, as well as a motion for a preservation order to protect any and all discovery and preserve any evidence on this matter."
According to Pitt, "It should be noted that Kerry's filing of these requests does not indicate his complete entry into the recount process, but does clearly indicate that he is moving decisively in that direction. His previous stance on the matter was based simply on his desire to defend the right to have a recount in the first place. The evidence of election tampering in Ohio, specifically surrounding Triad, has motivated him to actively join the fight. The Democratic Party is also quietly putting financial resources into the Ohio recount effort.
Read more of this article.
December 23, 2004 at 12:14 PM in Candidates & Races, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Happy Yule, and a Very Merry Winter Solstice
Winter solstice arrived at 5:42 AM (MST) today. Starting tomorrow, the days get longer and the nights get shorter.
Chaco Canyon was inhabited from the 9th century by people of the Anasazi (Early Pueblo) culture. Every year, at noon on the day of the winter soltice, light shining through stone slabs casts a wedge-shaped beam upon the center of a spiral etched into the rock (photo above). This spiral is believed to be a solstice marker created by this ancient culture. See the Solstice Project.
From the Odinist Forum: Except for the Nativity Scene and Christmas Mass, everything celebrated, practised and observed by Christians at the "Yule" (Winter Solstice) season, or so called "Christmas", was appropriated from Heathen/Pagan sources, i.e., the ancient Northern European, pre-Christian religion, in its various forms . . .
“Christmas” traditions with Heathen/Pagan origins…
- Feasting
- Gift giving
- Singing
- Tree decorating
- Performing Religious Rites
- Visiting Relatives and Friends
- “Christmas” Parties
- Eating “Christmas” ham
- Eating “Christmas” Pudding
- Drinking “Christmas” Punch
- Father “Christmas” Reindeer
- Burning a Yule Log
- Hanging a “Christmas” Wreath
- Hanging Mistletoe
- Decorating with Holly
- Lighting of Candles
- The twelve days of “Christmas”
- The word “Yule” or “Yuletide”
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To celebrate Solstice Week, photographers all over the Earth are producing another World Wide Panorama. You can see their previous efforts. Photos for a winter's day. Enjoy.
December 21, 2004 at 01:23 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)