On America's continuing wars, the Arlington National Cemetery Scandal, the treatment of veterans, and more...
A conversation with
Karen Meredith
Gold Star Families Speak Out
Karen Meredith's son, Lt. Kenneth Ballard, was killed in Najaf, Iraq on May 30, 2004. Ever since, Karen has thrown herself into anti-war activism and realsupport for our troops.
In this conversation, we'll talk about where the American wars are headed, especially in light of the very recent Congressional appropriation of an additional $33 billion for the escalation in Afghanistan.
We'll also talk about the growing scandal at Arlington National Cemetery, where as many as 6,600 burial mistakes have been made.
"On May 29, 2004, I was living what I thought was an ordinary life. I had raised my only child on my own and I was enjoying watching him make his way through this world successfully and happily. On May 30, 2004, Ken was killed in a war that I never supported, brought to this country by an administration I never supported. While many people say that casualties in Iraq have been relatively low, any number more than zero was too many for this war. Very few people have actually met a Gold Star Mom. It is important that people know what it feels like to be in my situation. This is not a journey that any family should have to make. Ever. Welcome to my world." ~ Karen Meredith
Tuesday, August 3, 7:00 PM
Community Media Center
900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto
Free and open to all. Wheelchair accessible.
Simultaneous live TV broadcast on cable channel 27, Mid-Peninsula area.
Simultaneous live Internet webcast at the Community Media Center's website (select channel 27)
Presented by
Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
Your local peace and justice movement.
www.PeaceandJustice.org
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The World Affairs Council is pleased to co-sponsor the Marines' Memorial Association's George P. Shultz Lecture Series event with Secretary Robert Gates. Dr. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. He is the only Secretary of Defense in history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected President. President Barack Obama is the eighth president Dr. Gates has served.
Before entering his present post, Dr. Gates was the President of Texas A&M University, the nation's seventh largest university. Prior to assuming the Texas A&M presidency, on August 1, 2002, he served as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999 to 2001.
Secretary Gates joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966 and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional. During that period, he spent nearly nine years at the National Security Council, The White House, serving four presidents of both political parties.
Dr. Gates served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993. He is the only career officer in CIA's history to rise from entry-level employee to Director. He served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1986 until 1989 and as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser at the White House from January 20, 1989, until November 6, 1991, for President George H.W. Bush.
Secretary Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has twice received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA's highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.
Check-in: 5:00 PM, Program: 5:30 PM
Council & MMA Members: $15, Non-members: $25. Limit of 4 tickets per membership/person.
For tickets, click here or call 415.673.6672 ext. 229
This event is hosted by the Marines' Memorial Association and co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Note: this verse by Jill McLaughlin was inspired by Nina Simone's "Mississippi, Goddam" (YouTube here)
Everybody Knows About Oakland, Goddam!
A Twisted verdict came down today
Goddam it takes my breath away
And What that jury really meant to say
"Shoot a Black for free, you don't gotta pay"
I read somewhere as the cops pulled them from the train
Oscar called to people, "Ya all be cool"
He wasn't gonna play their fool
But see they don't teach you in school
if Black in America it don't matter what you're doing
you can be loud, you can be quiet, you can be walking, you can be
working, you can be poor, you can be doing alright for yourself, you can
be a Harvard professor, you can be a radical, you can be running, you
can be funning, you can be sleeping
all you're really good for is a jail cell or police shooting
I can hear Oscar's ancestors crying, hear Sean's and Aiyana's too
long history of toiling and dying, moments of really living too few.
A woman sang it best back then about Alabama, Tennessee and
Mississippi.
Tonight it's Oakland goddam, but everybody knows it's from sea to
shining sea.
Goddam
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There are many organizations already calling for an economic boycott of Arizona, and economic boycotts have proved to be a highly effective tool of the Civil Rights Movement in the past.
But I want to suggest another way to focus the attention of the nation and the world on Arizona. It is time to shine a bright light on the nativists and racists in Arizona who hide behind the legitimizing label of the Republican Party, particularly in the Arizona Legislature, and hold them up to public ridicule and scorn, and public shame. Their extremist views need to be de-legitimized, something our local Arizona media has failed miserably to do.
Make Arizona the new Mississippi. It is time for another "Freedom Summer" (The Arizona Summer Project).
Ocean Beach was abuzz this morning as people gathered for the "Slash Oil" initiative. Nearly 500 people showed up to lie down to call attention to the gulf oil spill. At 11:25am, a helicopter circled overhead to take our picture. I was in the "L".
Slash Oil was organized by San Francisco writer / activist / taxi driver Brad Newsham as part of a larger initiative that took place today called Hands Across the Sand, a national movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables.
After forming the slash oil symbol, participants walked down to the water's edge and spread out across the shoreline holding hands, while the helicopter continued taking pictures. People also joined hands at the shore along Crissy Field...
more here
Attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla constitutes an act of warBay Area World Can't Wait endorses June 5 Day of Action to Protest Attack on Gaza Flotilla and Israeli Blockade.
The savage Israeli attack on unarmed peace activists has already brought protests and condemnation in Turkey and across the globe. The world condemns these murders, and knows that the number one supporter of Israel, financially and politically, is the United States. Emergency Response Protests have been called for cities throughout the world, with this Friday and Saturday called as days for demonstrations across the U.S. and around the world.
World Can't Wait calls on you to join protests wherever you are! Find a complete (and growing) list at the web site of Gaza Freedom March. In the SF Bay Area, join the World Can't Wait contingent in the large
San Francisco March & Rally
Saturday June 5, 11am
SF Civic Center (Polk & Grove Streets) 
Tuesday June 1World Can't Wait condemns the brutal Israeli military attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters. All of the ships were unarmed, part of a non-violent effort to awaken world public opinion to the desperate state of the people of Gaza. This is but the latest escalation in Israel's criminal strangulation of the people of Gaza, the world's largest prison.
Our friend, and advisor to War Criminals Watch, Ann Wright, had been on the largest ship attacked, but moved to another ship in the flotilla before 1,000 Israeli commandos boarded the ships, and began shooting.
The attack has already sparked protests around the world, and we need much more resistance, especially here in the country that is the number one supporter, financially and politically, of Israel. We know that what Israel is doing would not be possible without the "unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel" as Obama put it. Remember, it was Obama who stayed silent while Israel carried out the wholesale destruction of Gaza, murdering 1400 palestinians, including 400 children. Is this change you can believe in, or the same crimes against humanity, sold back to you with a different face?
Anyone with a shred of moral conscience and integrity needs to be in the streets, wherever they are, saying NOT IN MY NAME, I will not be silent in the face of the mounting crimes of my government, from Iraq and Afghanistan, to Guantanamo and Baghran, from Arizona to the Gulf of Mexico, and now to the unprecedented slaughter of international activists by the U.S.'s favorite client state. As the World Can't Wait's statement says, CRIMES ARE CRIMES NO MATTER WHO DOES THEM. Go to Worldcantwait.org, add your name to the growing list of people who refuse to go along with war, torture, attacks on immigrants, environmental destruction, racism, and U.S. support for Israel just because it's Obama, not Bush that is carrying it out.
Enough is enough! The World Can't Wait! Enough is enough! The World Can't Wait!
The U.S. and Israel are to blame, crimes against humanity, not in our name!
