Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
I am a Charity!
I hear that you were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize recently in Oslo, Norway and that, in addition to that spiffy medal, it comes with 1.4 million tax-free dollars that you are going to "donate to charity."
I just want to let you know that there are still some of us in the US who oppose the wars, even though you are president, and its nothing personal, but I vehemently oppose your wars and especially oppose the escalation of troops to Afghanistan and the fact that there has been no de-escalation from Iraq.
It has been super-tough being a peace activist since you took office, because a lot of my colleagues supported your candidacy and gave you a "wait and see"and "give him a chance," while I have been working against these policies since Bush was president and have never stopped.
Well, I don´t know if you have heard, but I am planning on setting up a Camp right across the street from you house on the lawn of the Washington Monument called--Camp OUT NOW--and, not only will it be an anti-war Camp, but it will also be a community for people who have lost their jobs and homes during the past years of the Goldman Sachs depression. Also, while the need is rising, the city of Washington, DC is cutting back on services for the poor.
Mr. Obama, Camp OUT NOW will provide services to these people AND be the launching pad for what we hope will end the mad wars for profit and imperial power in Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan.
You proposed a "Just War" theory during your Nobel acceptance speech and I just want to also let you know that we don´t think, and never have thought, these wars are "Just," but we think what we are doing, beginning March 13th is extremely, "Just." I think if you thought about it really hard, you would agree. We are saving the lives of Americans and our brothers and sisters in the Middle East.
Well, Mr. Obama, the reason that I am writing to you is to apply for part of that money that you will be donating to charity. We don´t need all of it, but my coalition--Peace of the Action--could use a couple of hundred thousand of it!
Please go to www.PeaceoftheAction.org for more info about our efforts, which we are hoping will, "Make you do it."
You can go to www.Paypal.com and put in my email address: Cindy@CindySheehansSoapbox.com to make a donation online, or mail a check to:
PO BOX 6264
Vacaville, Ca 95696
You did say, time and again, during your campaign that we the people had to "make you," and Peace of the Action will do just that! We just want to be of service to show you the way to Peace.
Thanks for your consideration,
Cindy Sheehan
Director of the Peace of the Action Coalition
Thursday, December 10, 2009
How Dare They!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Say What? Peace Prize for a War President?
I was in Stockholm, Sweden when it was announced that President Barack Obama had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and, even though the people of Sweden were still enamored of him, when they heard that, they (and I) were shocked.
We got over our shock a little while later when we snapped to our senses and realized what the NPP is all about—it’s an establishment prize (usually) that rewards the status quo and Obama won’t be the first warmonger to ever win it. Awarding the prize to Obama, who has not done one concrete thing for peace, just confirmed that inconvenient truth.
A little know fact is that all of the other Nobels are awarded from Stockholm, but Alfred Nobel wanted the peace prize to be awarded from Oslo, because he didn’t trust his own country-fellows to make such an important decision, but since it has been awarded to people like Woodrow Wilson, Menachem Begin, Yassir Arafat, Henry Kissinger, and Jimmy Carter, I wonder if Alfred could really trust Oslo, either!
Anyhoo, a few weeks after I returned from Stockholm, I was invited to Oslo to be with that peace community when Obama receives his medal and money in a ceremony there on December 10th. The invitation was simple: “He’s fighting three wars. This is an abomination. Please come!”
The undeserved nature of this “Peace Prize” was just brought into sharper clarity this past week when Obama announced that he would be sending tens of thousands of more troops to Afghanistan. There is no reason to send these troops and there is no reasonable expectation for “success,” which is as ill-defined under this administration as it was during the last administration.
Nobel Laureate, my big toe!
One of the aspects of the US Military Empire that needs to be exposed and stopped is the profoundly immoral drone bombings.
Drones, or UAVs, (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), are robotic death machines that are controlled from thousands of miles away to rain violence down on people who have not been tried or convicted in any court of law. This program has been expanding at a horrific rate under an Obama regime and we have to registers our disgust as loudly as possible!
I was watching a propaganda piece on CNN about the drones and a general came on and said that drones: “Maximized power while minimizing vulnerability,” and soon, the drones won’t even need any remote pilots—they will be autonomous actors after programming. Am I the only one that these things scare the shit out of?
MARK THE DATE!
NO MORE DRONES!
It was just announced that the CIA is expanding its illegal, immoral and intensely awful drone program. When did the CIA become the 6th branch of the US military, anyway?
We are putting together a protest/rally in front of CIA HQ in Langley, VA, for Saturday, January 16th—from 1pm to 4pm—so far, Cindy Sheehan, Cynthia McKinney, Debra Sweet (National Coordinator of World Can’t Wait (are scheduled to speak).
Stay tuned for more info!
RADIO SHOW
NOW HEAR THIS: Cindy's Internet broadcasts continue!
This Sunday (December 6th) is a very peaceful one, especially in this already too war-weary week. Cindy welcomes Kevin Zeese, who represents both Voters for Peace AND Peace of the Action. They talk mostly about Peace of the Action. In addition, Cindy also welcomes Ralph Lopez, who brings forward a realistic, real world approach to creating peace and stability for the Afghan people. Of course, because his idea is creative, workable, and equitable - it has the profound disadvantage of not feeding the American War Industry with an endless supply of bodies and loot. (Beware of this sinister plot: it MUST be un-American!) So it will only interest wimps and wussies who hate killing and want a safe future for our children in this world! (What losers!) So OK, boys and girls - this will be a very good Soapbox!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
30,000 Wrongs Won't Make it Right
I have had to reluctantly watch many presidential speeches since my son was killed in Iraq in 2004. I was even dragged out of a Bush State of the Union speech in 2006, that I didn’t want to go to anyway, for just wearing a shirt with an anti-war message.
Now, I knew that Obama was going to announce that he would be condemning 30-35,000 more troops to Afghanistan(Pakistan): that wasn’t exactly a state secret. I also knew that his speech would be filled with jingoistic propaganda—that’s a given with presidential speeches--and the Pope of Hope is no different. However, I was not prepared for the physical sickness that overcame me while he was speaking. His delivery was wooden and not convincing, but the words tore my heart apart like I was a newby to presidential calumny.
I did not support Obama when he ran for president because he said he was going to send more troops to Afghanistan. He is a rare bird: a president that fulfills a campaign promise. I am not surprised, or disappointed, but I am filled with anger.
I am angry that thousands of more mothers will, without reason or rhyme, be served the unending pain of burying a child.
I was watching O’Bomber’s speech tonight at a bar in Las Vegas after our protest at the Federal Building there and I was punched in the gut with Obama telling the Cadets at West Point that he has:
“As President, I have signed a letter of condolence to the family of each American who gives their life in these wars. I have read the letters from the parents and spouses of those who deployed. I have visited our courageous wounded warriors at Walter Reed. I have travelled to Dover to meet the flag-draped caskets of 18 Americans returning home to their final resting place. I see firsthand the terrible wages of war.”
Just like goddamned George Bush and his evil vice-president, Obama has no freaking idea what the “terrible wages of war,” are. Signing letters, or saluting caskets, or meeting with the wounded are NOT the same thing as receiving one of those letters, lying in one of those caskets or being maimed for the rest of your life. He has only “witnessed” the “terrible wages of war,” from a remote viewing location that is filtered through the gauze of a deep disconnect from the violent pain that he is imposing.
Another thing—no one in our armed forces are “giving” their lives. No one has “given” his or her life for decades now, if ever, in our history. The people who have been killed in the Racket of War have had their lives STOLEN from them and their futures denied by chicken hawks who sign condolence letters in comfortable offices surrounded by millions of dollars of protection and by Congress members who also have no idea of the never-ending ache that is not dulled by time. Don’t even start with the bullshit that our troops are “volunteers.” If they are “volunteers” then I would suggest every one of them, or any one of them try to “volunteer” not to be deployed to Afghanistan.
December 7, 1941 was a day that has lived in “infamy” but it was not use to justify the waging of unending wars, even though our permanent bases still remain in Germany and Japan after 65 years. However, Obama again uses the attacks on 9-11 to justify this absolutely bat-shit crazy occupation of Afghanistan—no matter what he says, it IS an occupation. Tonight, in the speech he gave in front of his Cadet “props,” Obama said that the attack on 9-11 was “vicious.”
I agree that 9-11 was awful and it’s a day that we surely will never forget, but if that was “vicious” then what does Obama call what America has been doing in Iraq-Af-Pak now for twice as many years as WWII lasted? What’s worse than “vicious?” Genocide, that’s what.
Genocide is the systematic killing of a racial or cultural group and please don’t waste your time telling me that Obama has a “good heart” or “great intellect” because if he had either one of those things, the troops would be coming home by now.
Obama is just another coward that has risen to the highest office in the world and I am tired of having to be shoved by crazy people, chased and shot at by police, tear-gassed, arrested, called names that make even me blush, scrimping for every penny to stay afloat in this peace business, traveling and protesting to the point of exhaustion, etc. Not only did Obama condemn 30,000 troops to horror, with just one speech, he also condemned the real anti-war movement that was opposed to his policies from the beginning, to many more years of our sacrifices.
Well, I am not going to stop protesting and doing all of the above things, but I am not doing them for the rest of my life. If you believe in the mythical “drawdown” that Obama has just lied through his teeth about, then I ask you where did the “one combat battalion per month” out of Iraq go? Remember that promise? There has been no significant “drawdown” of troops from Iraq at all.
No matter what Obama says, these wars aren’t “just” and we aren’t “right” and we only have the “might” of the War Machine to open those “new markets” he talked about in his speech.
No matter what Obama says, these ARE open-ended wars, but I am NOT an open-ended anti-war activist.
We have to end them as soon as possible. We have to escalate our peace as the War Machine escalates its violence.
Want to go all the way for peace?
Join us this spring in D.C. for Peace of the Action!
www.PeaceoftheAction.org
Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kooba/30421877019#/group.php?gid=113028838246&ref=ts
Sunday, November 29, 2009
"Killing is right and proper" (What happened at Travis AFB, yesterday)
“The Killing is Right and Proper”
Cindy Sheehan
Yesterday, Bay Area CODEPINK and I, started our caravan to Creech AFB in Nevada with a morning peace rally at Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA.
After we got there we were informed that we had to move off the base and were shown by MPs where we could protest. As good warriors for free speech and peace, we groused about it and we were moving forward to where we were supposed to go, when a very angry older man pulled up and started yelling at us to: “Don’t go, I want to counter protest you.” I told him, first of all, he shouldn’t be drinking so early in the morning, and secondly not to worry, that we were going anywhere, we were just moving about 100 yards away.
We decided to just stop and take a picture by the Travis AFB sign and then we were going to get back in our cars to caravan down to Lemoore NAS because it was extremely windy and we were running a little late anyway.
I was giving a little speech denouncing the drone-bombing program and the upcoming 50 percent troop escalation to Afghanistan, when the angry old man, now dressed in a military uniform, charged around the corner and got right into my bullhorn—I told him to get out of my face and he very violently slaps the bullhorn away from me.
Everything happened so quickly: I was so shocked that I was actually physically assaulted that I just turned away from him and that’s when my colleague, Suzanne immediately jumped to my aid and got between the man and me. He swore profusely and pushed her—and then a mini-melee ensued. The numerous MPs and POs that were there finally intervened after I asked them to stop the man from assaulting my friends. I touched no one even though I was within my rights to defend myself. The video clearly shows that the aggressor and the person who brought unreasoning anger and violence to the rally was Sgt. Phil Ward
After the mini-melee, a Fairfield Police Officer, told Suzanne and I that we couldn’t press charges against the man who physically assaulted us because it was a “he-said, she-said” situation, when at least one dozen law enforcement officers were standing around and witnessing the events AND if we did press charges, then Suzanne and I would also have to go to jail until things got sorted out! Complete bullshit.
After all that, when we were leaving, like we were asked to, I got about 2 feet out of the parking lot and I noticed one of the CODEPINK women was not in the van, so I pulled over to the side of the road to wait for her and as soon I we got rolling again, to add insult to injury, I WAS PULLED OVER and detained for about one-half hour and kept isolated in my car from the others until I was presented with a ticket for “impeding traffic!”
We dropped my daughter’s car off and I hopped in the van with a group of desperadoes, (with me being the third youngest, at 52, and six out of eleven in the van being over 70), and we headed down to Lemoore NAS and a National Guard post in Fresno. After another three- hour drive from Fresno, we landed at a cheap motel in Mojave California and I was shocked to open my email and see that I had received numerous emails attacking me for essentially “bullying” a poor, old military veteran.
I watched the news videos to confirm my recollection, which was 100 percent correct. I got to watch an interview that Phil Ward did after his attack on us and he says that the killing in the wars is “right and proper” and was exceedingly upset with Obama because he is only sending 34,000 more troops to Afghanistan when the generals asked for 40,000 more. During an interview with me, I am clearly shaken, but I say, “no matter how much violence they bring to us, we will bring them more peace.”
A thing to think about in this whole episode, is that at least one area newspaper posted that we were going to be at Travis AFB, and it only drew ONE person out to protest us who was unreasonably aggressive and almost comically out of control? Hmm—it makes one wonder what Phil Ward was up to. He charged out of his car at us from the second he got there and felt it was okay to be physically aggressive towards me and the other protestors and he did get away with it with impunity?
We will bring them more peace, but we will also bring them justice, too, as we are planning on pressing charges against Phil Ward as soon as we return from Creech AFB.
There’s scum that attack and more scum that protect those attackers.
There’s scum that take away our rights to peaceably assemble and to freedom of speech, and more scum that protect those who try to steal those rights.
We the People need to be the ones to vigorously defend our rights and defend peace on earth from everyone from Sgt. Phil Ward to President Obama who think that killing is “right and proper.”
Video of Phil Ward attacking our protest:
http://cbs13.com/video/?id=64185@kovr.dayport.com
Friday, November 27, 2009
You Get What you Vote For!
The so-called anti-war movement currently finds itself in somewhat of a quagmire: What to do when the man you raised money for, volunteered for, and yes, even voted for, actually fulfills one of his most repulsive campaign promises?
First of all, I never understood why, or how, peace people could support someone who voted to pay for the wars while he was a Senator and was quite clear on the fact that he would increase violence in Afghanistan and perform a slow, painful and very incomplete withdrawal from Iraq. Principles that were proclaimed so loudly while Bush was president get shoved aside and buried now that a Democrat is president and how do you get your principles back from the dung-pile of selling out?
Secondly, On January 23rd of a rapidly dissipating 2009, Barack Obama perpetrated his first war crime (as president) by authorizing a drone attack in Pakistan. In February of this same year, he ordered an increase of roughly 20,000 more troops to Afghanistan: more war crimes, no corresponding outcry. However, when I cried out, I was roundly attacked by the “left” for not giving Obama a “chance.” 2009 is going to be the most deadly year for our troops and Afghan and Pakistani civilians on record. I think George Bush is calling: he wants his Nobel Peace Prize back.
It is being widely reported (and it seems hotly anticipated by some)—that even though the “anti-war” movement wrote a letter to Obama and asked him to “pretty please” not send any more troops to Afghanistan and had us calling the White House all day on Monday the 23rd when Obama was scheduled to hold his final “war summit"—that the U.S. will commit 34,000 more troops to Afghanistan which is a 50 percent increase in troop strength in the Land of Certain Empire Death.
What is the “anti-war” movement’s response going to be? Candlelight vigils; “honk if you love peace” rallies; a hundred rounds of “We Shall Over Come" (someday, not today or tomorrow); or, is the “anti-war” movement going to say: “Phew, McChrystal asked for 80,000, but our letter worked—he’s only sending 34,000?”
True story: in October of 2005, U.S. troop deaths were going to reach 2000, within days and the “movement” was planning its response. I called for a die-in, with risk of arrest, in front of the White House and MoveOn.org called for a candlelight vigil in Lafayette Park. MoveOn.org moved their vigil to another location because they told me that their members weren’t ready to do civil disobedience and some of them may be accidentally swept up in some kind of a "peace sweep." I said, “Fine, MoveOn.org, have a candlelight vigil for 2000 like you did for 1000 and next year you’ll have one for 3000, then 4000, and then 5000.” I think many of MoveOn.org’s members were ready, I just don’t think that MoveOn.org was then, or is now. They didn’t do it when Bush was president, I can’t imagine MoveOn.org standing up for peace when their man is the one doing the killing.
So, here we are four years, thousands of U.S. troops deaths and hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths later, and the Pope of Hope, the Dalai O’bama, the Nobel Laureate will soon be condemning thousands of more to the same fate and his supporters have given him permission to do so, no matter how many letters they write, petitions they sign or phone calls they make.
In the end, you always get what you vote for.
I knew that this surge was a done deal no matter how much political posturing and pandering occurred. I chained myself to the White House fence on October 5th and was arrested with 60 other people protesting the wars and demanding that peace be put on the proverbial table. But those were symbolic actions and the problems we are facing are deadly and in full Techno-Color, real. The time for symbolism and street-theater ended years ago, but moribund actions won’t seem to just go away gracefully, so we will have to cut them off, cold turkey!
On Monday, November 30, the Peace of the Action Coalition will be sending out a press release condemning the escalation and announcing our Mother of all Protests (MOAP) that will begin in the spring.
If you’re looking for some action, look no further than Peace of the Action and stayed fine-tuned for further details!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Soapbox Crew are thankful for our listeners, supporters and guests!
Four more shows and Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox will have been on for one year already!
Our Soapbox has seen some fabulous guests like Howard Zinn, Roseanne Barr, Noam Chomsky, John Perkins, Cynthia McKinney, Graham Nash, Gore Vidal, Gov. Jesse Ventura and many others! The archives are always there to re-listen to a favorite or catch up on shows you have missed.
We have covered topics that are so crucial to our lives and important to our education and edification. Besides war and peace, we talked about politics, the environment, health care and social justice issues like racism, poverty and the prison industrial complex.
Cindy has taped the show from all over America and we have even done live interviews in the field and played your listener Soapbox Rants and have answered "Ask Cindy?" questions galore.
Truthfully, it's been a struggle to keep Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox airing, but we are now heard in George Bush's hometown of Dallas on 1360am Rational Radio and we just had to increase the bandwidth of the website because of an increase in traffic!
Thank you for listening and thank you for supporting YOUR SOAPBOX.
We couldn't do it without you and we love and appreciate each and every one of you!
Peace!
The Soapbox Team
Please consider making a donation to keep this important and dynamic show on the air!
******************************
This week's Soapbox has a super-special guest, so we are starting to air it at a super-special time.
Friday is what we consumers here in America call "Black Friday" (I don't know why, maybe it's because people get trampled fighting each other for cheap consumer crap), but we at the Soapbox want to brighten up that day a little, and we are airing the show on Friday at noon!
Please tune in this Friday beginning at noon to hear Cindy's interview with Ralph!
The portrait is by Maine Artist, Rob Shetterly and is included in Rob's Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibit. Check Cindy's protrait out, too!
******************************
Click on this link to watch the video of Cindy's interview with feminist and Afghan Parliamentarian, Malalai Joya from the November 15th Show
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Three cheers for women behaving "badly"
This Sunday on Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox, one misbehaving woman interviews another one. Thank goodness for women who do buck the system and resist "going with the flow," just so as to appear socially acceptable to a society that is not so polite.
Cindy interviews Malalai Joya, a female Afghan Parliamentarian who courageously stands up for female rights and peace against the warlords of Afghanistan and America. Cindy and Cliff (videographer--video of the interview will be available soon) caught up with Malalai when she was in Berkeley to talk about her book: A Woman Among Warlords.
Cindy loves to bust Myths (and is almost finished with Myth America II: 20 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution) and was thrilled when Malalai busted the stuffing out of the Myth that US and NATO forces must remain in Afghanistan to "protect the women."
Please listen to this interview on Sunday at the website after 2pm (PACIFIC):
or
1360am Rational Radio in Dallas, TX at 3pm (central)
******************************
On this week of gluttonous eating and shopping, American Style, Cindy urges her listeners to perhaps forego a treat and seek out a local food pantry and donate food, time or money: even if it's a can of corn or five bucks, everything helps especially at this time of year!
******************************
NOAM CHOMSKY
Watch the entire video of Cindy's interview last week with Professor Chomsky here.
******************************
NEXT WEEK'S (11/29) SOAPBOX
We will have a special edition of the Soapbox up before the shopping hell of Black Friday with none other than consumer advocate and perennial presidential candidate: Ralph Nader!
We will let you know when the new show goes live at the website.
***************************
******************
if you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line to: CindysSoapbox.com
****************************
Don't forget to send your "Ask Cindy" questions or Listener Rants to Cindy at:
CindysSoapbox@Gmail.com
****************************
if you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line to: CindysSoapbox.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
Barack Obama DOES NOT Speak for Me! by Cindy Sheehan
I was facilitating a meeting in Washington, DC this past weekend, and an Iraq “War” veteran claimed that the GI resistance movement ended the Vietnam War. I started to say that I was sure that the GI movement was a part of ending the Vietnam War as was the draft, the student movement, the Congress (that had some influence back then), and I was interrupted by the rep from Veterans for Peace who simply said: “actually it was the Vietnamese people who ended that war.”
That’s the plain truth after millions dead/wounded, the Vietnamese people succeeded in vanquishing the U.S.
Today, I recalled that meeting as a couple of very insidious things crossed my path, or caught my eye.
The first thing was an article in the rag called the Washington Post about the attack at Ft. Hood and the alleged suspect, Nidal Hasan and how there is an increasing pattern of soldiers targeting other soldiers. The WaPo editors filtered the article through the Propaganda Wing of the Pentagon and came up with the title: “Fort Hood attack is 3rd this year by antiwar radicals targeting military on U.S. soil.” I think the message is clear: “anti-war=terrorism.”
Call me cynical, (I haven’t always been this way, but I stood up a new person after I fell on the floor screaming my heart out when I found out that Casey was killed in Iraq), but I feel the next item that I would like to point out on this Friday the 13th, is something the Commander in Chief promised the troops when he stopped in Anchorage, AK to refuel Air Force One on his way to Japan, and something that I think is connected to the increasing war path rhetoric.
He actually told the men and women assembled at Elmendorf Air Force Base that if he decides to “not hesitate…to use force to protect America’s vital interests (not defined in the speech)” then he promised, promised, promised (like he promised to close Gitmo within the year and bring one combat brigade per month home from Iraq) to:
A) Have their backs.” I vote that he put on a helmet and some Kevlar and shoulder an M-16 and really “have their backs,” AND take Congress with him.
B)“And that includes public support back home. That is a promise that I make to you.”
We see the revisionist “historians” (spin-doctors) tell us this about Vietnam: it’s not that public sentiment was rightly against that disastrously unjust and inherently unwinnable war, but if the public only supported it, we would have “won.” It’s called the V"ietnam Syndrome."
The two incidences put together spell this: If the USA “loses” in Iraq-Af-Pak, which we certainly will since those "wars," too, are disastrously unjust and inherently unwinnable, then the fault will lie with an American public that are either non-supportive, or outright “anti-war radicals.”
During my Camp Casey campaign, there were “Cindy Sheehan speaks for me,” rallies and conversely, “Cindy Sheehan DOES NOT speak for me,” rallies.
Well, as a member of the American public, Barack Obama DOES NOT speak for me!
I can’t count how many times I have been called an “anti-war radical,” and I have never killed anyone or plotted to kill anyone, but I will NOT support the troops by supporting insupportable missions.
I will not support the “mission” by paying my Federal income taxes and I will not support the troops by flying the imperial flag or putting a yellow ribbon on my car, either. I will support the troops the only way I know how: by being an “anti-war radical,” no matter what the cost.
If we “lose” in the “wars” that the Bush regime started and the Obama regime has escalated it only will be because they were ever started in the first place.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Aunt Cindy Wants You! from Cindy Sheehan
If Not Now, When?
If Not Me, Whom?
Cindy Sheehan
“A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Oh boy! Here comes Cindy Cynical again.
I know you want to hear that Obama is the Savior of the World…but the only thing Obama is saving is the Empire and the Corporatocracy. The new elitist health care bill is nothing but another handout to corporations and at the same time the Democrats limited a woman’s right to reproductive choice over her own body. About 130 people will die today because he/she did not have access to health care because they are uninsured or grossly under-insured: that’s 47,000 a year. That’s an Empire-imposed holocaust the size of a small city every year.
I know you want me to tell you that the economy is in recovery, but 17.5 percent unemployment and the fact that every 7.5 seconds someone’s home will go into foreclosure and one million of our children here in the US will go to bed tonight and every night with hunger pangs gnawing at their bellies tell a different story than the Geithner-Summers=Bernanke fantasy "recovery."
I know you want to think that someone who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize may actually be a person who works for peace, but in addition to the tens of thousands of troops Obama has already sent to the war torn zones, he will shortly announce an increase of at least 34,000 more for Afghanistan. This increase will incredibly happen even though members of the “anti-war” movement signed a petition asking him to "pretty please" not escalate the wars. How rude!
Soon pilots for drones (slaughter by robot) will be trained in Syracuse, NY and will also be controlled from there, too. How convenient: pilots can kiss their kids in the morning, go to work to remotely kill other people’s kids and then be home in time for dinner and the evening news.
I wish I could announce the cure for cancer and that cars can henceforth cleanly run on air and that the abuses of the Bush regime have been prosecuted and rectified, but I regrettably can't tell you any of these things either.
So, what are we going to do about it? Stay in sweet, yet disordered denial? Or get busy?
I choose to get busier.
CAMP
The “Camp Casey” aspect that was so crucial to the experience in confronting Bush in Crawford, Tx will also be an integral part to Peace of the Action. Camp will be set up on March 13th-14th on the Ellipse and will be the staging area and camping area for people coming to DC to take part in the Action.
We will have a contest to have a name for the Camp. Send your suggestions to me at: CindysSoapbox@gmail.com.
There are many tent cities springing up around the country and we believe that our suffering should not be hidden from those that caused it so we will set up right under their snooty noses.
Come to our Camp for food, basic shelter and lots of warm community.
We are including social services, entertainment and education pieces in our Camp life.
WHEN WILL WE BEGIN?
I had originally intended to begin Peace of the Action when we had 5000 people committed to joining us, but now we will begin on March 23rd no matter how many have signed up, to partner with the ANSWER Coalition’s March 20th anti-war march (7th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq) and World Can’t Wait’s events on Friday, March 19th. We truly believe that this is going to be such an amazing and energizing action that if we “build it you will come.”
So, now everyone has target dates to plan to join us for the boldest anti-war action in recent history that will make all kinds of history! Make your plans! We will also have housing and ride sharing boards on our website.
INVITATION
Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan and close all bases.
No drone bombings.
Bring home contractors and paid mercenaries from those countries and Pakistan.
Reparations and political/diplomatic help for the people of those regions.
Fully fund VA programs to help reintegrate our troops healthfully back into society, physically, emotionally and mentally.
We in the coalition believe that we can’t have economic health without the profound reduction of the US Military Empire and Peace of the Action will go very far in accomplishing this.
Troops and dollars home!
If you can’t attend our actions in DC at any point (or even if you can), we will be encouraging and helping with local actions.
If you would like myself, or anyone from the steering committee to visit your church, school, peace group, or community to talk about Peace of the Action and to help us raise money, please contact me at: CindysSoapbox@gmail.com.
CindysSoapbox@gmail.com
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
QUICK JOG DOWN MEMORY LANE
One year ago today, I was running around San Francisco doing last minute campaigning in my independent run against House Speaker and nine-term incumbent, Nancy Pelosi. In case you didn't hear, I lost. I lost big time, but I came in second in a field of about six.
I am still proud of that campaign, though, because for not being able to get any media attention and very few endorsements from clubs and zero from local unions, I did receive almost 50,000 votes.
Yesterday, during another election day, (that saw the rejection of the weak-kneed Democratic Party Politics), my second grandchild, Jovie Lee, was born at 6:24 am.
Jovie Lee weighed in at a very healthy 8 lbs 10 oz and we are so grateful that we have a health system in California (so far) where mothers without insurance can get great pre-natal and birthing care. Although my daughter works very hard as a massage therapist, like so many of us, she has no health insurance. I am thrilled to report that Mommy, Daddy, Brother and New Baby are doing very well! (As is Gigi---me).
So besides being blessed with two wonderful grandchildren (Jovie's older brother, 17 months old, Jonah, was my first) what else have I been doing since the elections of '08?
Well, in the beginning of the year, still reeling from the election (not mine, Obama's) and the continued violence of the US Empire and the silence of the lambs who once fought against Bush, I wrote the first edition of Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution and hit the road doing book events to what was at first smaller crowds that have grown. I went to about 40 cities in about 4 months and realized that I barely skimmed the surface of the great class divide in the USA.
So, between protests in Martha's Vineyard, Pittsburgh, DC, Dallas, etc, I rewrote Myth America and expanded it to: Myth America II: 20 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution.
Myth II is at the editor and will be available probably in less than two weeks.
My book sales are what keep me financially afloat (barely) and traveling from community to community to spread the word of a true grassroots rebellion to wrest control of our economy, our security, our environment and our survival out of the hands of the Robber Class.
To preorder Myth America II, please click on the image.
INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE'S DECLARATION OF PEACE
At this point in the Declaration's evolution, we are stalled because we need a website and a place where people can enroll in this true grassroots movement for peace on earth.
A broad coalition of activists will be meeting in DC this weekend to further plan this bold new plan to force our government to finally bring the troops back home from Iraq-Af-Pak. More details will be forthcoming.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? UNSUBSCRIBE?
PLEASE EMAIL CINDY AT:
CINDYSSOAPBOX@GMAIL.COM
Monday, November 2, 2009
Black is Back and End the Fed!
I am honored to be asked to speak at the Black is Back Coalition march and rally this Saturday, Nov. 7th at 10am beginning in Malcolm X Park.
Black is Back
Coalition for Peace, Social Justice and Reparations
CLICK ON THE LINK FOR MORE INFO
And
I will be in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, November 22nd to speak at the End the Fed Rally.
| Date: | Sunday, November 22, 2009 |
| Time: | 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
| Location: | 530 E Trade St Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 358-2137 |
POPULAR POSTS
-
FIRST PUBLISHED IN GLOBAL RESEARCH “The goal of modern propaganda is no longer to transform opinion but to arouse an active and m...
-
There is always a war on the poor, working-poor, and working-class This episode of The Soapbox reunites Cindy and Mickey-Z who may b...
-
In 2005 while I was roasting for peace under the hot Texas sun at Camp Casey in Crawford, Tx, Rob Reiner sent his wife Michelle and a cre...


