The Unbearable Lightness of Being

My nom de plume (nom de keyboard) is Tomazulob.  This is a combination of a character of a novel/movie and the initials of he movie:  Tomaz from The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.  I have chosen this name because of the transformation of a man who went through the early part of his life doing good for society but taking care of his narcissism as well.  His political views were minimal until one night he made a statement about the Russian occupiers of his native country, Czechoslovakia.  When the Russians came into Prague in 1968 to reclaim control of Czechoslovakia from its liberal and independent ways, the Russians found citizens they felt were agitating their own homeland to resist the Russian control.  He lost his ability to be a doctor; so, he had to resort to menial jobs.  During this time he changed his personal philosophy from a harmful creator of pain to those that loved him into one who learned the true love to those close to him and to those he came in contact with.

Some of the situations in this novel parallel what we are seeing now with the so-called conservative tide overwhelming the common sense of how people should treat each other.  We see a wave of oppressive and repressive corporate leaders moving in with the financial tanks, reclaiming what was lost before the FDR administration.  When FDR and the Congress instituted the New Deal policies, the corporate overlords were seething.  It got to a point in which they contacted Major General Smedley Butler (a James Cromwell look-alike) to try to lead an overthrow of the US Government.  Gen. Butler, hero that he was, testified to Congress what had happened and stopped the insurrection in its tracks.  However, they are back.  Their tanks are loaded with huge wads of cash and misinformation.  Their soldiers are politicians that they have bought and are using against the foundations of the Middle Class:  collective bargaining, fair tax rates, Social Security, Medicare, and more. 

We are living in an age similar to what Tomaz and the rest of the Czechs were in:  a false sense that the overlords had been minimized, that their influence on society was not in the political equation.  Some of us were voting for the overlords’ soldiers, thinking the consequences would not be dire.  Then Wisconsin happened.  While some of us saw the signs, many of us did not.  Those union members who voted for Gov. Walker bought into the innocuous presence he led them to believe were his policies.  While the Koch brothers were paying him to suppress the unions of the teachers and the fire fighters, many people were shocked to find that he completely misrepresented himself in his campaign.  Now the tanks are rolling in, and the people need to fight back or lose their livelihood.  While we wallowed in our lightness of being, the overlords took advantage of us and have come in for the end of our easy ways.  They want us in poverty.  They want us in ignorance.  They want us in revolt against each other instead of against them.  They want us to stop our ideals of helping children for our country’s future because their definition of a good future is a large savings account on the Cayman Islands.  Will we allow them to do this, or will we stay awake from here on?

"This country does in fact have a serious deficit problem.  But the reality is that the deficit was caused by two wars - unpaid for.  It was caused by huge tax breaks for the wealthiest people in this country.  It was caused by a recession as result of the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior on Wall Street.  And if those are the causes of the deficit, I will be damned if we're going to balance the budget on backs of the elderly, the sick, the children, and the poor.  That's wrong."  Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Budget Committee, 11/18/11

Possible Agenda for Regionals

MIDWEST REGIONAL CAUCUS AGENDA, 2012
The NEA Peace and Justice Caucus does not speak on behalf of or for the NEA. It is a members only internal group.
I. Introduction of people present.
II. Distribute list of P&J goals.
Members promote economic and social justice and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Our goal is to……
Reduce violence.
Promote tolerance.
Increase awareness of basic human and civil rights.
Support the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively
Work for world peace & disarmament.
Reduce the military budget and increase funding of education and other social needs.

III. P&J Goals: Our extensive list of supportive NBIs and Resolutions at the RA have caused confusion and conflict. The Exec Bd decided to limit the support we will give to the following:

IV. New priorities Campaign which has many of the same goals as the PandJ caucus to put money into social programs as opposed to war including:
End the Wars, Cut the Pentagon Budget, Tax the Rich, Corporations and Speculators, Invest in Our Communities; web site for principles,
http://newprioritiescampaign.org/about/declaration-of-principles-full-text/

V. Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid have been on the chopping block of the Federal Government in looking at budget cuts. There is a way to sustain these programs.
VI. Student College Debt: (Obama plan will help because it looks at the maximum students can now pay back, but more needs to be done to help our system and our students.)
VII. Economic justice: voting rights/restrictions being placed on voting rights/languages of citizens such as Spanish speaker offers discrimination/elderly ability to get to the polls
VIII. Environmental issues: right to clean air and water

IX. Explain Chiapas initiative, and list website for Paul Mann School: http://www.schoolsforchiapas.org/english/photos/schools-of-hope/577.html.
X. Explain Paul Mann Award
XI. P&J Websites:
a. National site not working right now.
b. Midwest site, http://midwestpeaceandjustice.blogspot.com/. Send anything you’d like posted to Nancy Porter at PorterNancy@msn.com. Need new blood running the site. Volunteers?
Thanks to Tom Wolfe for putting this together.

Rethinking Schools: Stop the School to Prison Pipeline

Special Issue

An exclusive interview with Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, centers Rethinking Schools' special winter issue. Our focus is the school-to-prison pipeline and how to stop it in our classrooms, our schools, and our communities.

"Arresting Development: Zero Tolerance and the Criminalization of Children" reviews the history, impact, and future of zero tolerance policies. Our investigative reporter is Annette Fuentes, author of Lockdown High: When the Schoolhouse Becomes a Jailhouse.

In "The Classroom-to-Prison Pipeline," master teacher and RS editor Linda Christensen faces a classroom revolt. She realizes that opting out of this "pipeline" requires us to continue to rethink our classrooms.

Then Jody Sokolower, policy and production editor, discusses how teachers can support students with incarcerated parents and other family members.

And much, much more.

This is one of our most exciting and thought-provoking issues. Don't miss it.

Resolution presented at Iowa Caucus Night

by Maher A Josephson on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 4:24pm
Foreign Affairs, Israel/ Palestine
Because the conflict in the Middle East is critical to peace and justice worldwide, its implication on human rights, war, financial cost, and our cherished civil rights values;
We support (1) the rights of the Palestinian People to live in dignity in their own state on portions of historic Palestine as appeared before the Six-Day war of 1967. (2) Israel’s right to live within a secure border where all citizens regardless of religion are treated equally, and provided equal opportunity economically and politically. (3) A direct, active, and even-handed US role to facilitate a peaceful final resolution.
We oppose (1) Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. (2) Moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem prior to a final resolution to the conflict. (3) All calls for ethnic cleansing of Palestinians who live behind the Green Line, who are Israeli citizens. (4) The Separation Wall for its symbolism, and for erecting it in the occupied territories, which resulted in de facto annexation of land. (5) The use of violence, human shields, and collective punishment, whether perpetrated by state or non-state actors. (6) Any violence directed against peaceful demonstrators in the West Bank & Gaza. (7) The sending of arms to the region actuated by the influence of the Military Industrial Complex.

The officers and staff of USLAW wish you, your family and friends joy filled holidays and a new year that brings more peace, equality and justice to the world! NEA PandJ has been a member of USLAW for several years due to the donation of individual members on the Executive Board. You, too, can join this important group.
Peace and Justice Midwest wishes you a great holiday season.

Call Your Senator about the National Defense Authorization Act

HR 1540, the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), was approved by the House yesterday on a vote of 283 - 136. Democrats were split, 93 -93. Rep. Braley was the only Iowa legislator to vote no. This bill includes a lot of stuff, including authorization of almost $670 Billion for FY 2012 expenditures for the Pentagon and for the Afghan war. It also includes provisions that allow for indefinite detention of anyone accused of terrorism, and eliminates a previous amendment which specified no Afghan war after 2013. This bill no longer bears the threat of a veto by the President.
It appears this bill will come to a vote in the US Senate today Dec. 15th. Please call Senators Harkin (202 224-3254) and Grassley (202 224-3744) or your US Senator and urge a NO vote.. Ask your friends to do the same.

PEACEFUL Demonstration

What: Rally and Occupation of Pres. Obama's IA Campaign HQ in DM
Date: Sat. Dec 17, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Site: 621 E. Second St, DM IA


Please consider doing the Obama Pres. Offices occupation and risk
arrest. Or sponsoring someone from your group who can, by offering to
help pay a their fines and court cost. Please recommend to any peace
or justice groups and org. that you belong to sponsor someone in your
group to officially represent them at the occupation and risk
arrest...


Come the last week of Dec. the whole world will be watching. This is
as good a time as I have ever sense in my 35 yr peace making career
when doing a simple nonviolent low risk civil disobedience witness can
make a big difference in the political life of our nation.


Anyone considering joining Elliott Admans, IA VFP's Ed Bloomer and
Jeff Strottman, Rev. Robert Cook and DMCW Frank Cordaro (The five
people so far who have signed on the risk arrest.) must contact Frank
Cordaro and / or Gil Landolt before hand.....


Please feel free to pass this invite on to others...


DMCW Frank Cordaro

----


Gil Landolt 515 333-2180; Frank Cordaro 515 282-4781

Small World

At this time of the year when giving is in so many minds, read what some are doing to make life better for children around the world.
Dear Friends,
I’m sharing this with you either because you are a parent, work with children or have demonstrated a commitment to our global community of children. My friend John is pioneering an initiative to create a global consciousness about the well being of children world-wide. Read and enjoy!
Alisa
###
Today we are launching a new organization called Small World. The mission is to create a global community of parents and families committed to ensuring a peaceful, livable, just planet for all children on earth.
We invite you to join us as a founding member by signing the pledge for all children.
The threats to the present and future well-being of children are many, but they can be overcome by a much more powerful force -- the united power of love and concern in action for our children, for all children everywhere.
We know what a challenge it is managing the day-to-day demands of life, much less fitting in a rally or letter to the President. With this in mind, Small World will provide ways to take meaningful actions in concert with others from the global to the personal level. Small World will help create, cultivate and connect parent & family networks. We’ll share ideas, resources, strategies and actions to bring about a world that is worthy of the imagination, laughter, joy and dreams of each and every child.
Together, we have the power to create a world where every child lives without fear of war and violence, on a livable planet with a stable climate and healthy life support systems, in societies that provide the necessities of life for all children, everywhere in our one Small World.
We are just beginning. We welcome and encourage your ideas, energy and commitment to make this vision a reality. Please join us by taking the first simple step of signing the pledge for all children.
Gratefully,
Alisa, Amelia, Ann, Ayize, Carolin, Dianne, Jacques, James, John, Jon, JP, Julie, Karen, Kathleen, Kim, Launa, Lynn, Mike, Pete, Rebecca, Steve, Zahara

Death Penalty

Mike Farrell was our guest speaker at the RA in 2009. He is an activist who is making a difference. Below is an update on
Working for alternatives to the death penalty

2011 has been a year of tremendous achievements, heartbreaking losses and, at last, real hope for change in California.

In March, Illinois followed New York, New Jersey and New Mexico and abolished the death penalty. Two months later, we at Death Penalty Focus were thrilled to honor Illinois Governor Pat Quinn at our Annual Awards Dinner. Governor Quinn, who had long supported the death penalty, spent two months deliberating on his decision. At our event he spoke eloquently about his change of heart. "If the system can't be guaranteed 100% error-free, then we shouldn't have the system," Quinn said. "It cannot stand."

April brought the incredible Jeanne Woodford to Death Penalty Focus as our new Executive Director. For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Jeanne, please hear me when I say that she is our secret weapon for ending the death penalty in California - and beyond. As the warden of San Quentin State Prison, Jeanne experienced the pain of overseeing four executions. After leaving San Quentin, she was appointed to head the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Today, the more people Jeanne has the opportunity to meet and talk with, the more support we gain for ending the death penalty. It’s almost that simple. Put Jeanne in front of a group of death penalty supporters and before long their support begins to evaporate. We are thrilled to have her on board.

I am also thrilled that, last week, Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon halted executions in his state. In a simple but uncompromising statement, he echoed the growing distaste for capital punishment being heard in many of our courts, our legislatures, churches, and homes. "I am convinced,” he wrote, “we can find a better solution that keeps society safe, supports the victims of crime and their families and reflects Oregon values. I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system any longer; and I will not allow further executions while I am Governor." Bravo Governor Kitzhaber!

September brought the heartbreaking execution of Troy Davis. Yet, even on that most awful day, Mr. Davis himself understood that his death would galvanize support for ending this barbaric practice. On his last day he said, "There are so many more Troy Davis’. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country…Never stop fighting for justice and we will win!"