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| Capitalism versus democracy - America's struggle City officials from coast to coast have sent out police in riot gear, with zip-tie handcuffs dangling from their military-issue body armor, to harass and arrest Occupy protesters, and drive them from the streets. Under the guise of concerns about "public health and safety," mayor after mayor ordered police to tear down encampments--a curious justification after the years of cuts to public hospitals, heating subsidies and homeless shelters that have actually endangered "public health and safety" for millions of Americans. Elected officials and law enforcement sends an unmistakable message: "Sure, you have the right to free speech, but once you try to use it, we will do all we can to stop you." Read More |
Event Reminders: CA State Democratic Convention in San DiegoSaturday, 02/11/2012 The Ca State Democratic Convention will be held in San Diego this year on Feb. 10-12 at the Convention Center on Harbor Drive. Starts Friday 10:00 AM and adjourns Sunday at 2:00 PM. Escondido State of the City address Open Mic for Fallbrook creative writers Occupy Vista planning session Wed. Feb. 8 Volunteer in SD at CA Dem Party Convention Kent Davey to address Progressive Democrats Protest planned at CA State Dem Convention in SD List of Democratic events in San Diego County To read the best progressive newsletter west of the Mississippi, click on Jellison's EZINE here Rally-Hold Issa Accountable! Apply for a City of Escondido Board or Commission Workshop on Water Saving Native Plant Gardens Escondido Democratic Club Meets 2nd annual birdhouse auction at BVAS Vista City Council-Adoption of New General Plan OCCUPY Encinitas, weekly demonstration List of Democratic events in San Diego County To read the best progressive newsletter west of the Mississippi, click on Jellison's EZINE here Workshop on Water Saving Native Plant Gardens This 'N ThatThere is nothing that war has ever achieved that we could not better achieve without it.- Havelock Ellis I stand at the altar of murdered men, and, while I live, I fight their cause. If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways: the point is to change it. Murder and capital punishment are not opposites that cancel one another, but similars that breed their kind. It is the deed that teaches not the name we give it. War is as outmoded as cannibalism, chattel slavery, blood-feuds, and dueling, an insult to God and humanity...a daily crucifixion of Christ. The only thing that's been a worse flop than the organization of nonviolence has been the organization of violence. The Bible has a very meaningful expression: The Spirit makes all things new. We are those who grow old, and we want everything done to our aged standards. The Spirit is never old; the Spirit is always young. We plant seeds that will flower as results in our lives, so best to remove the weeds of anger, avarice, envy and doubt, that peace and abundance may manifest for all. Many oppressors are also oppressed. Nonviolent confrontation is the only confrontation that allows us to respond realistically to such complexity. What good is it to me that Mary gave birth to the son of God fourteen hundred years ago, and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and in my culture? We are all meant to be mothers of God. God is always needing to be born. Non-violence is a very powerful weapon. Most people don't understand the power of non-violence and tend to be amazed by the whole idea. Those who have been involved in bringing about change and see the difference between violence and non-violence are firmly committed to a lifetime of non-violence, not because it is easy or because it is cowardly, but because it is an effective and very powerful way. The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy. In April, we cannot see sunflowers in France, so we might say the sunflowers do not exist. But the local farmers have already planted thousands of seeds, and when they look at the bare hills, they may be able to see the sunflowers already. The sunflowers are there. They lack only the conditions of sun, heat, rain and July. Just because we cannot see them does not mean that they do not exist. We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make strong progress towards it. The Attainment of freedom, whether for a person, a nation or a world, must be in exact proportion to the attainment of nonviolence for each. Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them more. A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes. Why does man have reason if he can only be influenced by violence? Productive work, love and thought are possible only if a person can be, when necessary, quiet and alone. To be able to listen to oneself is the necessary condition for relating oneself to others. The point of nonviolence is to build a floor, a strong new floor, beneath which we can no longer sink. A platform which stands a few feet above napalm, torture, exploitation, poison gas, A and H bombs, the works. Give man a decent place to stand. Activism pays the rent on being alive and being here on the planet. It is clear that the way to heal society of its violence . . . and lack of love is to replace the pyramid of domination with the circle of equality and respect. When men talk about defense, they always claim to be protecting women and children, but they never ask the women and children what they think. You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery? Life is a whim of several billion cells to be you for a while. Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely an absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people. The cause of violence is not ignorance. It is self-interest. ... Only reverence can restrain violence - reverence for human life and the environment . Only when there are many people who are pools of peace, silence, understanding, will war disappear. Some things you must always be unable to bear. Some things you must never stop refusing to bear. Injustice and outrage and dishonor and shame. No matter how young you are or how old you have got. Not for kudos and not for cash, your picture in the paper nor money in the bank, neither. Just refuse to bear them. Sometime in your life, hope that you might see one starved man, the look on his face when the bread finally arrives. Hope that you might have baked it or bought or even kneaded it yourself. For that look on his face, for your meeting his eyes across a piece of bread, you might be willing to lose a lot, or suffer a lot, or die a little, even. World peace is us....We are each walking agents of the vision of peace we carry inside us. It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them. Do it big or stay in bed. Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces. | Articles & News: Prop 8 Court decision expected today - Feb 7 News The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to Weigh in with Prop 8 Decision Tuesday, Feb. 7. RALLY IN HILLCREST! When it was declared that Prop 8 was unconstitutional by Federal Judge Vaughn Walker in 2010, many equality activists cheered the language that was used to describe the courts decision, but cringed because a stay was placed on that decision pending appeal. These events precipitated the Equality 9 civil disobedience because many of us felt that the appeals process was simply stalling real justice. Well, we are getting word that the same court who accepted the appeal and stay of decision will release their opinion on the Federal Courts ruling tomorrow at 10AM. Chicago clamps down on protest free speech Media drivel on US/Israel plan to bomb Iran Whistleblower retaliation - Obama sets record Right decision on birth control Number of Homeless Female Veterans Rises Sharply Obama’s Refinancing Swindle to help the Banks Press release from Jerry Tetalman OCCUPY Encinitas, weekly demonstration Cartoons of the Week Obama, the negotiatorGOP's Unplanned ParenthoodUnions & the Middle ClassObama plays poker with GOP Issa provokes taser attack on Occupy in DC?
The National Park Police in D.C. PARK POLICE brutally tasered a DC protester. -- Previously the Park Police had said, "We don’t have any issues with these folks" and "The core of their First Amendment activity is that they occupy the site." But on January 24, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa politicized the Park Service -- holding hearings where he pressured them to evict us under the pretext of enforcing camping regulations. The Park Service quickly buckled. Late-breaking news: This just in ...
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Police pepper spraying and arresting students at UC Davis - In this video, now gone viral nationwide, a group of college students are huddled on the ground in a defensive position at UC Davis on November 18. UC police Lt. John Pike, then casually douses them with a chemical agent. Bystanders who were simply watching what was going on are also exposed. - If the police had legal grounds to make arrests, it seems apparent from the video that little or no force was necessary to achieve that goal. The students are obviously not a threat to the officers. It appears that the heavily armored riot police could have simply grabbed them and put them in flexi-cuffs had they chosen to do so. That means that this entire assault appears to be a perfect example of excessive force.
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Supreme Court lit up with Batman signal
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Supreme Court Building was covered in giant dollar signs to send a message: rights are for PEOPLE, not corporate & Money is not speech.
Ted Olson Interview With Fox News Chris Wallace
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Wallace, insinuating that Gay Marriage is judicial activism, asks where is it in the Constitution that permits gay mariage. "Where is the right to interracial marriage in the Constitution" asked Ted Olsen of Wallace. Brilliant arguments by Olson. When Wallace insists the voters have the right to outlaw gay marriage, Olson asks if it would be constitutional for the voters to force blacks to drink at separate water fountains.
Public Has Right to Videotape Police, Court Rules
News
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - It is legal for citizens to videotape police carrying out their duties in public, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year. The Aug. 26 ruling in Glik v. Cunniffe is important to professional journalists and citizen journalists alike.
Like to see Bilbray defeated?
News
Even though Rep. Brian Bilbray's district no longer includes Escondido, we all have years of motivation to see him turned out of office. Lori Saldaña, who spoke to EDC early in 2011, is running against him.
Manning's bravery helped end the Iraq War
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The patriotic courage of Pvt Bradley Manning as a whistle-blower helped expose corruption, war crimes and devious war strategies, and bring the Iraq War to a close. His legal and constitutional case is laid out by attorney professor Marjorie Cohn at the rally for Manning in Freedom Square, San Diego on Dec. 14th, Manning's birthday and 2nd Christmas in prison without a trial. Cohn, past president of the National Lawyers Guild, stated "If Bradley Manning had committed war crimes, not exposed them, he would be a free man today."
Manning Video:American troops slaughter civilians
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Army intel analyst Bradley Manning faces decades in prison for allegedly leaking this video of a U.S. helicopter attack killing 11 civilians and wounding two children in Baghdad, Iraq. The Army covered up the evidence and declared the war crime "justified". Now they say that exposing the massacre is criminal.
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Prophetic words from Chalmers Johnson
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San Diego's own sage, author, scholar and prophet,Chalmers Johnson, gave his take on the Military-Industrial Complex, American defense spending and the coming downfall of the Empire years before it happened. Johnson is the author of "Blowback" and "The Sorrows of Empire".
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