Mobile version

civil disobedience

The Path We Must Take by: Rusty1776 Mon Jan 25, 2010 at 12:00:14 PST ( - promoted by buhdydharma ) If Dr. King hadn't been assassinated for speaking truth to power, if he was here today, if he was at the Lincoln Memorial again, looking out at that corporate capital of deceit and corruption, what would he say, what would he ask us to do? He'd ask us to overcome our fear, he'd call for mass protests and civil disobedience, he'd explain why it's necessary, just as he did in 1968 . . .   If you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you would die for it, then you are not fit to live.  You may be 38 years old, as I happen to be, and one day some great crisis arises and calls upon you to stand for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause, but you refuse to take a stand because you are afraid. You refuse to do it because you want to live longer.  Or you're afraid that you will lose your job, or that you will be criticized, or that you will lose your popularity.  So you refuse to take a stand.  Well you may go on and live until you're 90, but you are just as dead at 38 as you will be at 90.   And when you take your last breath, it will only be the belated announcement of the earlier death of your spirit. You died when you refused to stand up for right. You died when you refused to stand up for truth. You died when you refused to stand up for justice. Can you understand that, "leaders" of the Netroots?  Can you understand that, Markos Moulitsas?  Can you understand that, Obamacrats?  Tap your TR trigger fingers on the lid of that coffin you call a blog if you do.  Can you understand that, MoveOn.org?  Can you understand that, Josh Marshall?  John Amato? Digby?  Jane Hamsher?  If you do, explain it to TBogg, that Mighty Slayer of "Purists."  How about you, Madame Proprietor of the Huff and Puff Post?  Can you understand that?  Can any of you understand that??? None of you have called for mass protests or civil disobedience.  In the streets of Washington D.C. or anywhere else.  You refuse to because you're afraid.  Well go ahead, keep on blogging until you're 90, it won't matter, you're just as dead right now as you will be then.   You died when you refused to stand up for right. You died when you refused to stand up for truth. You died when you refused to stand up for justice. Welcome to Netroots Nation  . . . Enjoy your stay. I have some news for those nonstop typers.  Typing isn't standing up for right, truth, justice, or anything else.  It's just typing.   There's More... :: (57 Comments, 809 words in story)

Remember Mischief Night? It's back, and it could get us statewide single payer in PA by: rossl Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 15:51:37 PDT (11 am. - promoted by ek hornbeck) In case you're unaware, there is currently a bill in the Pennsylvania state legislature to establish a statewide single-payer (that's something close to Medicare for all) system.  Governor Rendell has pledged to sign it if it gets to his desk, and there are currently 35 co-sponsors in the House - including 4 Republicans - and 9 co-sponsors in the Senate.  That's out of a Senate of 50 and a House of 203. This Friday, the 30th, there will be a protest at a Blue Cross/Blue Shield building in Philadelphia in support of single payer, and in my state of Pennsylvania this will have particular significance because of how close we are to real health care reform. IMPORTANT:  If you can't make it to the protest, but live in Pennsylvania, please contact your state legislators and/or the media to either thank them for their support or to urge them to support these bills (SB 400 and HB 1660).  You can do that here. There's More... :: (2 Comments, 427 words in story)

Vets on McCain & Life On The Ledge by: jimstaro Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 05:51:22 PDT (6pm - promoted by RiaD) The following video ad was produced by veteran  inlookout and linked, in the replys, in an initial writeup posted at Vet Voice after the Debate. John McCain Loves Cutting Veterans Health Benefits There's More... :: (5 Comments, 3818 words in story)

Veterans Occupy National Archives Building and Much More by: jimstaro Wed Sep 24, 2008 at 05:13:56 PDT (11:00PM EST - promoted by Nightprowlkitty) "Arresting Bush and Cheney for war crimes will honor our oath to the Constitution," vets say.   There's More... :: (8 Comments, 1781 words in story)

Gitmo On The Platte: The Police State Lives In Denver (Updated) by: davidseth Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 13:10:19 PDT (9 am. - promoted by ek hornbeck) cross-posted from The Dream Antilles Just in case you thought that exercising your Constitutional Right to assemble in Denver,  engage in non-violent protest and perhaps participate in civil disobedience at the Democratic National Convention was going to be easy and humane, the NY Times informs in an article entitled, "Grim Warehouse Set To Process Convention Arrests," that is not to be the case.  The Government has set up a mini-Gitmo to handle pesky protesters who get arrested in Denver.  And they're telling you about it now, so you'll reconsider your plans.  And maybe stay home. Individuals arrested at the Democratic National Convention will be processed at an industrial warehouse with chain-link cells topped by razor wire, a facility some have compared to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. /snip The Denver sheriff's office, which operates city and county jails, insists anyone taken to the center will be there only a few hours while they're fingerprinted, issued a court date and released after posting bail. Others will be transferred to facilities designed for longer detentions. ''Of course if the numbers are overwhelming, that's all going to be out the door,'' said Capt. Frank Gale, a sheriff's spokesman. ''If we're inundated with a bunch of civil unrest, it doesn't matter how well we prepare. If we get severe numbers it's going to take us forever'' to process those in custody. /snip  A sign [at the facility] read: ''Electric stun devices used here.'' Gale said each cell will be about 20-by-20 feet. He refused to say how many people could be processed there.  /snip ACLU-Colorado legal director Mark Silverstein said city officials told him detained protesters will be taken by bus to the facility, about 2 miles northeast of downtown. Those who are unable or refuse to post bail will be taken to a downtown city jail to await a court date. Silverstein said warehouse cells won't have running water, bathrooms or telephones. Gale said deputies will escort anyone needing those services. Great.  A mini-Gitmo on the Platte.  20 x 20 cells with an unknown number of people in them, for an unknown period of time, without food, water or toilets.  And the idea that if there are too many people, whatever planning there was would be overwhelmed.  And then those incarcerated would be stuck. There's More... :: (8 Comments, 583 words in story)

It's time to stop talking and complaining. It's time for action. by: TominMaine Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 14:27:07 PST (@6 - promoted by buhdydharma ) Cross posted to Dailykos, VetVoice & Turn Maine Blue with link to here to post comments. I am tired. So tired. I usually use an editor for my diaries because of my head injury and poor organization, grammar, repeating myself and essays that are generally too long.  Those take me 10 hours or more and then an editor. This one is straight from the heart and hip and will be written in short order and to the point (I hope). During Viet Nam there were tons of protests and large marches and people in front of the White house and more. This war is even worse and the condition of our nation is far worse. We have some small and well meaning attempts at rallies and marches. Nothing near the ones of the Nam era.     There's More... :: (44 Comments, 1040 words in story)