FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CINDY SHEEHAN DEMANDS THE RELEASE OF CAPTIVES OF ISRAEL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cindy Sheehan demands the immediate release by Israel of the kidnapped aid workers on the boat: The Spirit of Humanity.

JUNE 30, 2009

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Human Rights’ Activist and Gold Star Mother, Cindy Sheehan, calls on the Israeli government to immediately release the members and crew of the boat The Spirit of Humanity that was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the devastated peoples of Gaza.

Speaking from Newton, Mass, Ms. Sheehan commented: “The detention of the crew and human rights’ workers on The Spirit of Humanity is a clear violation of international law, as the blockade of Gaza is a clear violation of not only international law but the human rights of the people of Gaza. Not only must the Israeli government immediately release and recompense the captives, but it must allow the humanitarian aid to penetrate the blockade.”

She continued: “I not only call on the Israeli government to do the right thing, but I call on our own President, who has claimed that he is an advocate for human rights, to condemn this act of international piracy by the rogue state of Israel and also demand the release of the kidnapped aid workers. This condemnation must be as strong and clear as the condemnation for the Somali "pirates" was. A very courageous and dear friend of mine, Cynthia McKinney, was on that boat and the captives must all be treated with dignity and respect and speedily released.”

Cindy Sheehan can be contacted at:

Cindy@CindySheehansSoapbox.com

or

707-638-6339

Cindy Sheehan's Myth America Tour for July

Cleveland and Akron
July 8th to the 10th

July 8th Wednesday 2-4pm-CLEVELAND BOOK SIGNING
Mac Bac's Books
1820 Coventry Road
Cleveland Hts. Oh
2-4pm

Cindy will be speaking at
Akron Main Public Library
July 8th- Wednesday 7-9pm
60 S. High St.
Akron Oh 44326
330-258-0046


Thursday July 9th
Cleveland Community pot luck with Cindy Sheehan
4-6pm
where: 10220 Clifton Ave.
Lakewood OH
Bring a healthy dish and some love ...show community support for Cindy (she is a glutten free vegan)

CINDY SHEEHAN'S CLEVELAND SPEAKING TOUR w/ special musical guest Cleveland's Own Troubador Charlie Mosbrook
St. Coleman's Parish Hall 7-9p.m.
west 65th and Madison
(parking at Zone recreation w. 65th and Lorain)
Free and Open to the Public
Donations Welcome

Friday July 10 noon-2p.m.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CINDY!
DRUM CIRCLE

Bring your own picnic lunch if you wish & your drum for a circle with Cindy Sheehan Gold Star Peace Mom on the upper Pavilion of Edgewater State Park bring your energy and positive vibrations for healing the Earth and share some of your good wishes with Cindy our Peace Soldier

Pittsburgh July 11-12
Cindy will be speaking at:
National Assembly to End the War

July 13
Columbus, Ohio
For more info email: Connie Hammond at CHammond@Columbus.rr.com

July 14-16
Norfolk, Va
For more info email: Tom Palumbo at norfolkoffbase@gmail.com

July 17-18
Charlottesville, Va
For more info email David Swanson at David@DavidSwanson.org

July 25-29
Washington State

July 25th: Seattle
Trinity United Methodist at 7pm

July 26th:
Sequiem: United Universalist Church 10am

Port Townsend United Universalist Church (time TBA)

July 27th:
Wenatchee (Venue and Time TBA)

July 28th
Twist (Venue and Time TBA)

July 29th
Bellingham (Venue and Time TBA)

For more info email: Tom Brookhart at Tbrookhart@isomedia.com

Passing Propaganda by Cindy Sheehan

"The goal of modern propaganda is no longer to transform opinion but to arouse an active and mythical belief."
Jacques Ellul, philosopher

One day in July of 2006, I was on Hardball and the host was Norah O’Donnell who was filling in for Chris Matthews. I was her first guest that day and when she was introducing the show before the first break, she intro’d me as: THE WOMAN WHO MET WITH COMMUNIST DICTATOR, HUGO CHAVEZ. We then went to break and I told Norah: “You know Chavez is not a communist, he’s a socialist and he has been democratically elected several times, survived a CIA coup attempt and the last election was certified by Jimmy Carter.” She replied: “Yeah, we talked about that earlier, but we decided to call him a ‘communist dictator,’ anyway.”

I was appalled, but not shocked. I was born during the day, but not yesterday and I realized a long time ago that the caca that passes for “news” is just that: caca.

Norah O’Donnell readily and unashamedly admitted to me that she deliberately, intentionally and will full knowledge aforethought spreads propaganda that she knows is not true! She conspired with others on her production team to broadcast lies. How often does this happen? Most of the time? “News” shows are not only lying but are fully aware that they are propagandizing you. This happened on MSNBC, not Fox.

We know that the “news” shows employed Pentagon shills to sell us Iraq and Afghanistan. We also know that the White House Iraq Group that included people who are still commentators on cable “news” developed the product of the invasion like they were selling us some NEW and IMPROVED laundry detergent, douche or toothpaste. Among the members of the White House Iraq Marketing Group was an actual marketing group: The Rendon Group. The WHIG came up with the “smoking gun/mushroom cloud” rhetoric and members of the group should be on the shortlist for war crimes trials.

We know that the CIA has been committing hanky-panky in Iran for over 50 years now and that our government has pumped 400 million dollars into the country to destabilize the ayatollahs and the government and that BushCo were absolutely JONESING for a war with Iran, but it and its policies had been so thoroughly discredited that the invasion of Iran would have been unacceptable to USians. So what better time to foment “revolution” and instability in Iran then when we have a NEW and IMPROVED emperor of the US Imperium? I am not saying that there are not wonderful people in Iran who are actually doing this for good intentions, but what is false and what is real?

When I see the riots on the streets of Tehran (in the mainstream “news” why is it said that those people are “bravely standing up for their rights”, but when people “bravely stand up for their rights” in Oakland, they’re called “thugs”) I am reminded of the staged media event of the pulling down of Saddam’s statue early on in the sanitized and mass-marketed invasion of Iraq.

I have read commentaries on both sides from people that I respect and I still don’t know what to believe or whom to support in this, but I do know that I do not trust the politicians in this country or that country. I am not bold enough to make a definitive statement on the issue and when I was in Princeton, NJ, an Iranian man came up to me after my talk and said that I was smart for taking this position, because his relatives in Iran don’t even know what’s going on.

My response to the events in Iran is to turn off the Norahs of the airwaves and do my own research.

Let’s think for ourselves before we rush off to support or condemn the “Green Revolution.”

The War Party and its Faux-gressive Minions by Cindy Sheehan

For years now, I have been writing about the duplicity of the Democrats and the shocking similarity between the two parties when it comes to the use of state-sanctioned terrorism against innocent populations.

This past week, after the betrayal of every American who elected Democrats to end the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, I am wondering if there is anyone still in this nation who thinks that there’s any significant difference between the war ideologies of Democrats and Republicans.

I know many faux-gressive entities on the “left” whose silence on this matter is so loud it’s hurting my eardrums. Where was MoveOn.org over these past few weeks when the Dems were bludgeoning their caucus to vote “Aye” to extend the war crimes in the Middle East? Where were Markos Moulitsas (Daily Kos) and his bloggers that day? The day the funding bill passed, I wandered over to The Daily Kos and saw that it was all a-twitter about Senator Ensign (R) having an extra-marital affair. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Harry Reid may, or may not, be loyal spouses, but their calumny will kill, maim, torture or displace thousands of people over the next 4-8 years. I am not so interested in what happens in bedrooms as what happens in Democratic war zones.

Faux-gressives MoveOn.org and The Daily Kos supported me, and my work, as long as it solely focused on the Bush regime and the Republicans. However, when I had a late in life epiphany and figured out that the Democrats were abusing the energy of the anti-war movement to regain power, and I started to speak out against the entire War Party, not just one-half of it, I was kicked off blogging for The Daily Kos and ostracized by the fully co-opted MoveOn.org. Nathan Diebenow of the Lonestar Iconoclast then accused me of “alienating” my friends, to add insult to injury.

I think that I have unfortunately been vindicated by almost every single action that the Democratic Party has taken since 2006 when impeachment was taken “off the table,” but “blank-check” war funding was served up to the Military Industrial Complex on a bloody platter dripping with the flesh and blood of real human beings.

Our politicians have no integrity partly because the organizations in the movements that have the largest emailing lists have no integrity. Wars that were wrong under Bush become acceptable under Obama and the stain of torture fades into the woodwork or is hidden from sight like a demented relation because a Senator has an affair. As I understand it, MoveOn.org was founded to oppose the impeachment of Bill Clinton for the same thing Ensign did…now the gatekeepers of the War Party are going to crucify Ensign to distract their subscribers from real issues?

MoveOn.org sent this out in April 2008 in a fundraising email to its 5 million person list: No matter what happens in Iraq, the Bush Administration and John McCain always have the same answer: 6 more months. They're at it again this week, asking for six more months. But six months won't change anything—except the body count and the price tag.

They were not talking about the Democratic war funding this week. Apparently it’s fine to fund wars if we have a Democratic Despotism, but dangerous for our troops if we have a Republican Regime.

Hey MoveOn.org: ComeBack.org. Come back from the dark side of partisan politics. You look like Move America Forward, now:( a reich-wing organization that irrationally and blindly supports Republicans and unquestioningly supported BushCo). CODEPINK supported Barack Obama, but at least CODEPINK is over in Gaza trying to call attention to that crime, while MoveOn.org ignores the situation and most of the bloggers at The Daily Kos just like to sit behind their computer screens and snarkily criticize anyone who is actually on the streets doing the work.

What Pelosi and her Wrecking Crew did last week was disgraceful, but it’s shameful that people who opposed the exact same policies under BushCo support the same crimes of ObamaCo.

Memo to Dennis and Lynn: LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY by Cindy Sheehan

“Congress must use the power of the purse to end combat operations. When the War Supplemental conference comes to the Floor for a vote I urge you to continue to vote no."
Dennis Kucinich, (D-Oh)

"Voting down the funds for war honors the mandate to end the war in Iraq that was given to this body by the American people in November 2006. Furthermore, defeat of the War Supplemental sends a clear message about U.S. priorities at home and abroad.”
Lynn Woolsey, (D-Ca)

I am not even remotely surprised that the new supplemental bill for war funding passed the House today. Hawks: Pelosi (Democratic Speaker of the House from SF), Hoyer (Democratic House Majority Leader), Obama (Democratic President) and Emmanuel (Democratic Chief of Staff) weren’t even about to allow the bill to come up for a vote until they were assured that it would pass. Besides, Pelosi, Hoyer, Obama (Senator) and Emmanuel (Congress Rep) gave George Bush every damn penny for war he demanded so why wouldn’t they also fill their own WAR chests?

I left the Democratic Party over two years ago upset over the passage of another war funding bill. That bill was the first to come up for a vote after the Democrats regained majorities in both Houses of Congress. Nancy Pelosi campaigned on a strong “No more blank checks for war” platform to earn the vote of the “anti-Republican war Democrats” who probably would have voted for Democrats in a logical knee-jerk voting reaction to the obscene Bush regime, anyhow. The only way to force Bush to withdraw troops would have been to withhold war funding but, as previously noted, after the Dems did regain the Congress, Nancy and Crew proceeded to hand George many blank war checks. In complete disgust, I resigned my membership in a party that was too craven to deserve my valuable support.

Are you tired of being used and betrayed by Democrats, yet? Like Matt Gonzalez (a good SF politico) who ran a principled anti-corporate campaign as Ralph Nader’s running mate in 2008, asked: “What can the Democrats do to lose your support?” There’s always the health care “reform” that is not universal and keeps the insurance companies and HMO’s in the mix in something that should guarantee health for all and not wealth for a few. Or how about that torture thing? Turns out that Democrats may not have ordered it, but they are sure good about covering it up and protecting those who did order it. I am pretty sure that the rank and file Democrat does support single-payer health care and does not support torture.

If you care about the fact that the illegal and immoral wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Pakistan are being fully prosecuted under a Democratic Legislative and Executive Branch tyranny, then there are just about 32 Democrats who are worthy of supporting and 203 that must be sent packing in 2010.

Although 30 out of an original 52 Democrats (joined by two more) stuck to their guns and voted twice against the war funding, and I honor their commitment to this, I would like to single out two for this memo: Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Ca).
I think 32 Democrats should leave the party now and form a Peace Caucus, but why am I singling out Dennis and Lynn? Well, I have spent considerable time with both of them in their home districts and in the District. I have marched beside them in peace marches and shared stages with them at rallies and teach-ins. Dennis and Lynn seem to have been leading the gutsy charge against the bill and Lynn especially showed remarkable back bone in opposing her Congressional next door neighbor and by all accounts in San Francisco and DC, one of the most vindictive woman in the country: Nancy Pelosi.

My message to Dennis and Lynn is this: reject the Left Wing of the War-Bird. We have long known that the Right Wing of that evil Bird supported war/torture. Now it is becoming crystal clear to so many that the Democrats do the same. Not only do Democrats support war, but they also support bailing out the International Monetary Fund with our money that should be going towards providing jobs and housing assistance here to shore up our economy and not propping up foreign banks, so our tenuous dollar can remain artificially propped up.

One day about two years ago, when I was visiting Congress, I popped into Lynn’s office and with tears in her eyes, she told me how when she attends leadership meetings, if they talk about the wars at all, it is only to strategize about how the wars should be used to gain political advantage. Lynn said that there is never talk about the human cost and I can tell you that I have a very finely tuned B.S. meter and Lynn does not B.S. about human life, she cares.

Dennis has always been uncompromisingly for peace and he, (and Lynn), have paid with low power in the Halls, but I think they reap the benefits of support in their districts and support from all over the country. I know that they care about the Constitution, their constituents, the nation and the peoples of the world that are feeling the sting of the violence of the Democratic war machine.

Dennis and Lynn: Leave the party! It is not a party that reflects your values and is apparently resistant to your impassioned and compassionate rhetoric for peace flavored with a little common sense. The Democrats so profoundly resemble the Republicans, except for the skewed votes of today that I don’t want to see you being tarnished by the stain of guilt by association with that bloodthirsty brood of vipers.

No matter what Dennis and Lynn do, I will support them as the strongest voices of reason in an unreasonable body. They (and the other 30) will need our support because people who care more about feeding the War Bird than feeding the one million food insecure children who go to bed hungry in America every night have threatened them all with losing their seats in the House.

Is there no limit to the abuse that you will allow the Left Wing of the War Bird Party to commit?

I think we should all withdraw our support from this Robber Class War/Governmental system and just realize that it will always work against us and our best efforts and interests, but I do think you should look up the number for the Congressional switchboard and tell Dennis and Lynn "thank you" for at least trying.

I am going to send them muffin baskets myself.

An Injustice to ONE is an Injustice to everyONE!

Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox has a very exciting announcement:

Starting Sunday, June 14th at 3pm (CST), The Soapbox will be heard on Rational Radio, 1360AM in Dallas! Rational Radio is the new terrestrial flagship station for The Soapbox and we are hoping that it will spread like wildfire across the nation. If any market needs the unvarnished truth of Cindy Sheehan, her topics and her guests, it's Dallas.

- Hide quoted text -

Watch this video of our protest in front of George Bush's new home in Dallas.

Last week, Cindy interviewed Black Panther Party member, Richard Brown about the persecution he and others have received from the government for their alleged parts in the 1971 murder of a San Francisco policeman. The pre-trial for the SF-8 was supposed to begin on June 8th, but has been postponed again until July 6th. The San Francisco board of supervisors is considering a resolution, proposed by Supervisor Eric Marr, to urge California State Attorney General, Jerry Brown, to drop the charges against the 8.

This week, (beginning 2pm Pacific on Sunday) Cindy interviews Khalil Meek of the Muslim Legal Fund, of America (MLFA), about another travesty of justice involving the so-called Holy Land Foundation 5. Please go to this link, and if you can, donate anything you can to help fund the legal appeal of these brothers.

Don't forget to listen to the show tomorrow on the air, or on the net!

Myth America Tour

Cindy has had a very busy week in Texas, from demanding accountability for BushCo, helping to raise money for the MLFA or spreading the word about Myth America, the reception to her message has been great.

Go here to order your copy of Myth America.

Go here for more information about June's Myth America Tour.

Don't forget to email Cindy with any questions, or Soapbox Rants at

Cindy@CindySheehansSoapbox.com

If you wish to be unsubscribed from this list, please send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to:
CindysSoapbox@gmail.com

Right or Left Wing Media Bias? by Cindy Sheehan

Right or Left Media Bias?
Cindy Sheehan

I am sort of confused?

When I was only protesting George Bush, his administration and the wars, I received a fair amount of media attention, especially when we were in Crawford the first summer. As time wore on and the novelty of having a mother speak out against the atrocities wore off, the coverage dwindled, but never down to practically zippo until I ran for Congress against a "liberal," Nancy Pelosi.

After the Summer of Camp Casey and Katrina, it became really popular to protest and hate George Bush. George Bush slank out of office as the most detested president in American history. However, from the time Casey died until today, my focus has shifted from blaming George Bush only, to blaming the entire system: The Military-industrial-

Congressional-Prison-Media-Banker Complex...or whatever you want to call it.

I have integrity. I oppose war, torture, economic oppression and environmental degradation no matter who is in the White House or what political party he belongs to. I have been one of President Obama's earliest and most ardent critics, but where's the media coverage when I protest the carnage now that Obama is president? Where's Air America calling me to comment on the war crimes that Obama has already committed? Why won't most "progressive" online sites print my articles anymore (except AfterDowningStreet.org, Oped News and MichaelMichael.com)?

One time when Bill O' Reilly heard that I criticized Obama...he criticized me!

What is the bias? Is it always towards the Robber Class?

I will do what I think is right, no matter if anyone pays attention, or not.

I just think it's weird.

Leave that Poor Man Alone by Cindy Sheehan

Leave the Poor Man Alone!
Cindy Sheehan

I, maybe more than any other progressive Texas outsider, know that not everyone in The Lone Star State is a Neanderthal, Bush-loving, redneck.

Thousands of people from all over the state came out to join me in protest near Bush’s PR Ranch in Crawford, Texas. There is always two things Texans want me to know: 1) Bush IS NOT a Texan, and 2) not everyone in Texas is a Neanderthal, Bush-loving, redneck.

Having said all that, I was treated to some very ignorant statements on a blog about a protest sponsored by the Dallas Peace House in front of the Bush’s new Dallas home this upcoming Monday that I am joining.

This old nugget has been appearing on right-wing blogs with increasing frequency lately: Yes, the same "grieving" mother who didn't even raise her son who has used the life of a valuable soldier and honorable man for her anti-war political rant. She needs her own life...

Just who do these people think “raised” Casey? An au pair? A nanny? We Sheehan’s are not the Bush’s or Pelosi’s…we actually raise our own children. Casey’s dad and I were married for 28 years and had three more children after Casey. This is the Rovian myth that I “left” Casey’s dad when Casey was 3, 4, or 7 and a stepmother raised Casey. In reality, it was the first and only marriage for both of us and neither one of us has children with anyone else. Facts are an easy thing to check, but truth is not as tawdry as their ridiculous lies.

Besides, even if I did leave Casey’s dad when Casey was 3, 4, or 7, my supposed rotten mothering would not give legitimacy to their two illegal and immoral wars.

In the blog there are a lot of inaccuracies, but these people don’t care about fact or reality: they care about propping up and still supporting someone who used his Presidency to enrich his oil buddies and break almost every amendment in the Bill of Rights and shred this country’s laws to pieces. Bush left office with a rating that was even lower than his I.Q. and he probably purchased a house in one of the only neighborhoods in this world where he wouldn’t be guaranteed a nightly flaming bag of dog poo on his porch.

Many people commenting on the blog also wish that I would “Leave that poor man alone.” He’s not president anymore and we shouldn’t be protesting someone who can’t do anything about the war anymore, anyway.

I think the people making the comments really believe that we are going to protest so Bush will bring the troops home. It didn’t work when he was president, so why should it work when he is Citizen Village Idiot?

We are protesting in front of Bush’s Dallas home because we are tired of American presidents committing war crimes and crimes against humanity and getting away with it to live long lives of bar-be-que, golf and revisionist history to repair their scandalous legacies.

We are protesting because HE is the one who ordered our troops into war and is responsible for over one million deaths. Bush is the one who allowed his DOJ? (Department of Justice?) to formulate plans for torture and indefinite detention contravening our own law and international law.

We are protesting because we are tired of the Democrats protecting the criminal Bush administration and we want to keep accountability on our table, even if it’s off the Democrat’s. Don’t worry, we all realize that the Democrats are in power now and won’t and don’t cut those scoundrels any slack, either.

I am protesting because I don’t have the option of “retiring” and leading a normal (whatever that is) life. There are no term limits on the pain of burying a child who was killed and abused by the government of his country. Longing for my son, I still toss and turn at night and ache during the day.

I am protesting because there are hundreds of thousands of mothers in the Middle East who have not only lost children, but also their homes and communities and who have no voice here in America.

I am protesting because almost 3000 Americans were killed on September 11th, and the Bush Administration did nothing to protect them and, in fact, through criminal negligence and wanton disregard for other’s safety, allowed it to happen.

I am protesting because in the guise of “fighting the war on terror” my civil liberties were attacked here at home. From the USA PATRIOT ACT to the FISA Modernization Act to Obama’s doctrine of “indefinite detention,” we are far less free than we were on September 10, 2001.

I am protesting because George planned these crimes even before he became president and he and his colleagues need to be brought to justice.

Why can’t Casey have justice? Why can’t the 5000 other troops who have died have justice? Why can’t all those people who have been killed or tortured have justice?

We can’t “look forward” if we don’t fix what’s behind us. Republicans and Democrats alike flee from justice like rats running from this stinking and sinking ship of state. It is up to We the People to never “Leave that poor man alone” for what he has done to the world.

The only thing that might keep our stinking and sinking ship of state afloat is if We the People demand that the rule of law extend from the top all the way to the bottom and back up again.

June Schedule for Cindy's Myth America Book Tour

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

June 4th-5th: Phoenix Az

Click here for Events

June 6th-8th: Dallas, Texas

Saturday, June 6, 7:00 p.m.

"An Evening With Cindy Sheehan"

Fundraiser-dinner for the Dallas Peace Center and Cindy's Soapbox

For information/reservations contact jharris866@aol.com
Sunday: Private event

Monday, June 8, 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.

The Rational Radio Report with Jack Bishop, KMNY 1360 AM, Dallas/Ft. Worth

Live interview; listen in! http://www.rationalradio.org/

Call-in number: (214) 631-1360 or (800) 277-1637

Monday, June 8, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Dallas-area peace & justice groups join Cindy for a demonstration and march in Bush's neighborhood to call for the investigation and prosecution of George W. Bush and any government officials involved in decisions that led to torture and other war crimes.

4:30 - meet at SW corner of Preston & Royal in Dallas for peaceful, nonviolent demonstration

5:00 - begin march to 5700 block of Meaders Lane (in front of Pershing Elementary School), across from Daria Dr. For more information, contact: dallasmythtour@gmail.com.

During her visit, Cindy will also be doing interviews with Richard Hunter and Tundee Obazee, so be sure and tune in to their shows at 1360 AM on KMNY Rational Radio!

June 9th: Waco, Texas

6PM: Poppa Rollo's Pizza, Waco
Free pizza, fabulous friends and fascinating presentation by Cindy Sheehan

June 10-12: Austin, Texas

- Wednesday 10 June at 6:30 pm: Camp Casey Alumni will host Cindy Sheehan at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover. Opening for Cindy will be Thom the World PoetRich Bowden, percussionist Kathy Rowell, and other musicians on stage. Then Cindy Sheehan will speak and be available to sign books.
who will be joined by fiddler

~~~~~~~~~~

-Thursday 11 June at 7 pm, Sheehan will speak at Brave New Books, 1904-B Guadalupe, in the auditorium downstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~

- Friday 12 June from 5 to 6:30 pm at Book Woman, 5501 No. Lamar #A-105, Cindy will be honored with a reception and will talk about her new book.

June 13-16: Nashville

June 14th: Peace Festival

11Am to 7Pm

Centennial Park: 2598 West End Park, Nashville

for more info: Contact: Chris Lugo: 615-593-0304 or
Eliz Barger: 931-964-2119

June 15th: Event at The Farm in Summerville, Tennessee

with Cindy Sheehan and David Rovics

Contact Jim at: jnickedu@yahoo.com for more info

June 16th: 1 to 3pm luncheon at the five star Ellendale Restaurant

Contact Jim at: jnickedu@yahoo.com for more info

June 17th: St. Petersburg, Florida

Cindy will discuss her recently published Internet Booklet "Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution" at two venues in downtown St. Petersburg on Wednesday, June 17. Both events are free and open to the public.

The evening will begin at 6:00pm at NOVA 535 (located at 535 MLK Jr. Blvd, N. - appetizers and full bar available for purchase) with Cindy discussing the focus of her latest work followed by a book signing.

Cindy will then be at Cafe Bohemia (937 Central Ave., six blocks from NOVA 535) from 8:00-9:00pm for a casual mix and mingle (food, beer, wine, coffee and more available for purchase), followed by a question and answer session with Cindy from 9:00pm-9:30 pm. Local musicians will provide the evening's music.

This event is being co-sponsored by St. Pete for Peace, WMNF 88.5 FM, Veterans for Peace (Tampa Bay), and Refuge Ministries. For driving directions, parking info, and more please visit stpeteforpeace.org/cindy, call Dwight at 727-864-1535 or send email to Dwight@stpeteforpeace.org

June 18-23: Philadelphia and surrounding communities (Delaware Valley)

CINDY SHEEHAN will be in Philly & South Jersey, at 8 Venues, including one NEAR YOU!

The Woman who snapped America out of its' John Kerry "Reporting for Duty" stupor, with her plaintive cry "WHAT NOBLE CAUSE" on George Bush's front lawn is coming to the Delaware Valley for 8 intimate gatherings, to discuss how to Re-Invigorate, Re-Ignite, Re-Vitalize & Re-Energize our Peace Movement.

Come on out...SHARE & CONTRIBUTE YOUR Ideas & Dreams

Please FWD these dates, far & wide, throughout the Delaware Valley

Saturday, June 20

MAIN LINE Noon-2 pm

Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church, 130 Haverford Rd, Wynnewood, PA 19096

Center City Philadelphia 3:00-5:00

Moonstone Art Center, 110A South 13th Street, 2nd floor, Phila

Cherry Hill, NJ 7:30-9:00pm

Unitarian Universalist Church, 401 N Kings Highway, Cherry Hill

Sunday, June 21

Princeton, NJ 2:00-4:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Rd, Princeton

North East Phila-Bucks County 6:30pm

St Lukes United Church of Christ, 11080 Knights Rd, NE Phila 19154

Monday, June 22

Phila Community College (WaterMark Hall) 2:00-4:00pm

WaterMark Tower, 2 Franklin Town Blvd (between Vine & Callowhill, @17th)

Central Bucks & Montgomery County 7:00-9:00pm

2040 Street Road, Warrington, PA 18976

Tuesday, June 23

Bethlehem 7:00pm

Unitarian Universalist Church, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem 18018

Allentown TBA

For Detailed Info, call Bill Perry @ 215-945-1269

(email: Bill at BPVetforPeace@aol.com for more info)

June 24-25: NYC and Staten Island

June 24: Staten Island

Click here for more info

June 25: NYC

~ Contact: Sallie (646) 354-0699

1) 2PM at All Souls Church in the Reidy Friendship Hall at Lexington Avenue between 79th & 80th Sts.

Hosted by the All Soul's Peace Task Force: President Linda Rousseau with Mary Geissman and Susan Cushman.

2) 6PM at the Church Center for the United Nations on East 44th St. (enter just West of 1st Ave.) on the 2nd floor

Hosted by The Museum of Comedy: President Sallie Elkordy (Sallie will be present at both affairs on June 25th).

(email Sallie at: womensparty@aol.com for more info)

June 26-29: Cape Cod

(email: Diane at: tturco@comcast.net for more info)

June 30-July 1: New Hampshire

June 30: Keene, NH

July 1st: Durham, NH

(email Lloyd at: lkindr@yahoo.com for more details)

Stay tuned for more information for July

San Francisco (ISO Conference)

Ohio

Pittsburgh: National Assembly to end the Wars

Virginia

and Washington State

Robber Class v. Robbed Class: What Can We Do? by Cindy Sheehan

Robber Class v. Robbed Class
What Can We Do?
Cindy Sheehan

In my new online book: Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution, I outline a clear path for grassroots communities, from neighborhoods to associations, to divorce ourselves and declare independence from the Robber Class.

What is the Robber Class? Among other things, the Robber Class is the class that just profited off of the bankruptcy of General Motors.

Besides losing tens of thousands of good union jobs, Greg Palast, economist and journalist, outlined the illegal plan for GM’s bankruptcy in raiding retiree’s pensions to pay off six billion dollars in loans to Citigroup and Morgan Chase. So again, while tens of thousands of autoworkers lose their jobs and retiree’s lose their pensions, the banksters don’t lose a freaking penny.

Besides, as Greg points out in his brilliant article linked here, raiding pensions is clearly illegal under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; which was enacted by Congress in 1974.

Who is responsible for this outrage? The Obama administration and its Car Czar Steven Rattner (Stevie the Rat, according to Palast).

Greg does a good job of outlining the problem and exposing the Obama administration for what they really are: tools of the Robber Class, but he doesn’t propose any solutions, probably because there are none if you go after the Robbers in a head-on, full frontal attack.

So what can we do here in the Robbed Class? The so-called Ship of State that “turns slowly” cannot turn at all if the rudder keeps pointing in the direction of economic piracy for the Robbers and economic pillage for We the Robbed. We can't turn the Ship of State around, but we can turn ourselves around...most of us move more easily than this Empire laden with corruption, anyway. It's easier to turn a canoe than an aircraft carrier!

First of all, I banked at Washington Mutual; which was subsumed by Chase in the frenzy of bankster bailouts and immoral consolidations. After I finish writing this, I am going to my bank and close my account. I am sure my few hundred dollars won’t break the bank, but if we all started to pull our money out of banks and invest instead in local credit unions, it will send a clear message to the banksters. Choose a credit union that invests in your community and has a board made up of locals who have the best interests of your community at heart.

Do not buy into the myth that “Credit is the Lifeblood of our Economy” (Barack Obama in his "non-state-of-the-union address" to a joint session of Congress). Credit is the lifeblood of the Robber Class, but the death knell for our personal economies. Do not use credit except under the direst of circumstances and stop paying your credit card bills. The merchants you purchased goods and services from have already been paid with an electronic transaction after you purchased real goods and services. If you aren’t a debt slave to your credit card company, you are freeing a lot of your real income to pump into your local economy and to do something that we are never encouraged as a society to do: Save for a Rainy Day! We were told our homes were our cash-reserve or our investment in the future, but the bursting mortgage backed derivatives bubble, created mostly by Obama's economic team, solved that issue.

One of the reasons that we are in this mess is because we were sold the illusion of prosperity based on credit. How can we not feel prosperous when we are surrounded by such cool stuff being stored in a really cool home burdened with a really hot mortgage? Look around you…what was purchased on credit? What was purchased used? What was purchased using cash? What was bartered or traded for?

This brings me to my third point: only buy used, only use cash or bank debit cards, or only buy from local merchants. Oftentimes “mom and pop” stores cannot compete with the Megalo-Marts of today, so the goods are more expensive. The money you will save on not paying credit card interest and buying what you can at thrift stores (that often benefit charities---Good Will claims an 84% rate of return to its charity) will offset the extra money you may have to spend when you frequent local merchants. Also, ask yourself why those goods are so cheap at the Megalo-Marts? Because they were made by virtual slave labor in factories that American companies open up in foreign countries so the “savings” can be passed down to you.

Lastly, consume less. Do you really need that 10th pair of shoes or latest video gaming system? Can your old beater run another year or two with a little TLC (give your neighborhood mechanic some business). Bailout the economy of the local shoe or appliance repair shop. Lose the “disposable society” mentality and make do.

Another thing to consider above the fact that our economy is intended to make us debt slaves to the banks for our entire lives, is that we fund our governments war crimes around the world with our tax money. I stopped paying income taxes after my son was killed in Iraq because I paid for Empire with my own flesh and blood, but now, we are financing corporate welfare and still losing our homes and jobs. It's not right and not paying your taxes will also send a message to Robber Class Politicians.

With the impending hyper-inflation that is predicted by many economists, local currencies may spring up organically around the country, but until then, form co-ops of trade: trading goods or services. Form growing co-ops for food. Form neighborhood associations that are modeled after “Neighborhood Watch” but instead of being paranoid, form “Neighborhood Care” associations.

The bottom-line is: Keep your dollars as geographically as close to you as you can. I am not talking about being greedy or stingy. Stop sending your hard earned money to Washington, DC, New York or your local state house that is also on the verge of bankruptcy.

Additionally, buy necessities and staples now when your dollar still has a little purchasing power.

I am not trying to be an alarmist, far from that, but we need to take care of each other. The Robber Class is taking care of itself and certainly is not looking out for our best interests!

Cindy Sheehan is the author of four books, including her most recent book: Myth America, The 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution.

Order your PDF copy of Myth America for a 10.00 donation at www.CindySheehansSoapbox.com