Sheesh! Stop goading me; can’t you see that I’m suffering from Terminal Heartbreak? Gimme a break! What can you expect with the whole world crashing in on us and around us. One year ago I wanted to believe that we Earthlings could actually create change. I wanted to believe that we could get-it-together and unite in common purpose in at least one activity…for instance, such as generating a little respect for this mind-boggling, amazing way-station in the Universe; and even embarking upon the task of actually trying to save our Mother Earth and learning to live in harmony with Nature. This is not even to mention generating some respect for the beings and creatures who live here.

I thought that our voices could be heard!

You know….I even wanted to believe that we could actually create a democracy, the very one that many of us Americans believe that we already have. But, I wonder if most of us might feel like I do: thwarted, like little urchins with our faces pressed on the window where the hither-to only dreamed-of, and tantalizing goodies are displayed….out of reach. For a short while, I could actually taste the delights of a democracy. Even believing that our voices, the voices of the workers, the parents, the teachers, the students, the small farmers, the shop keepers, the small business owners, the retired, the unemployed, the homeless and the hungry, and whoever else is not represented… might be heard over the beguiling and demanding din of corporate interests.

Efforts seem futile!

Now, I’m back to the old routine of alternate bouts of frustration, disillusionment, sprinkled with tiny rays of hope that truly inspire me. I scramble to call Congress; click here to add my name to a petition; write to the editor, try harder to promote the Humanist philosophy; try to get publicity for the books of Corliss Lamont, etc. but seeing the Bill fail, and the petition ignored, and my letter not published, little interest in these ideas, my hopes again get dashed. Then the whole cycle of depression sets in again. The Corporate Networks pundits keep spewing out sound-bites of garbage and lies, and yeegods! some of my apparently normal friends fall for this stuff and repeat it!

Illogic prevails!

Someone in my world, who shall remain nameless, was gloating over what he alleged was Obama’s neglect in “allowing” the BP oil spill to take place. This was a shocker, but I queried rather calmly…what do you mean? The answer was surprisingly logical…he should have had more people in place to do inspections. Well, that was good news, I said; you approve of more regulatory agencies and governmental control in behalf of the best interests of the people and the environment? Hell no, was the answer…we’ve got to get the damn government off our backs and stop wasting our hard earned tax money with all that baloney! Oi! What can I say? There was no point in pursuing the issue any further with this non-thinking person who couldn’t connect the two ideas. I sort-of mused to myself, though, about nature’s interesting design of our species, particularly the ratio of ears to mouth. Doesn’t it actually seem like an admonition from nature for us to listen twice as much as we speak?

But, unfortunately, the fatal flaw in nature’s interesting design might ultimately become the death knell of our Species: the amazing cerebral circuitry between the ears and the mouth can be totally by-passed!

Hope in cyberspace?

Despite the permeation of our airwaves with Limbaugh-like illogic, a little voice in the back of my head keeps saying “don’t give up…good things are happening…more young folks are becoming aware…the Internet makes the sharing of ideas possible like never before. Maybe this could create an information stream that might eventually render irrelevant the vested interests of the television networks, and completely out-do them in meeting the People’s hunger for truth. I’m always quick to cite The Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace by John Perry Barlow, former lyricist for the Grateful Dead, and co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who says, in essence, but in eloquent prose, you governments and you corporations, keep your hands off of Cyberspace; it belongs to the people, who will communicate with each other, and we will do a better job than you have.

Give the Guy a break!

No matter how discouraged I get, there is an undying hope that underlies it all, as evidenced by my angry response when I hear any criticism of Barak Obama! I just fly into a tizzy! Give the guy a break…I’ll retort. He inherited a mess! What do you expect him to do? He’s trying (overlong, in my opinion!) to be conciliatory and he listens to all sides of the various appeals…after all, he’s supposed to be the President of ALL the People, not just the President of us Raging Grannies and Peace Persons and the ecologically astute and the alternative energy advocates, and insisters on more access to better education, and those of us who are screaming for change! I have to admit grudgingly that he must hear advice from Generals and Wall Streeters, BUT! Alrightalready! Enough!! We need the cabinet level Department of Peace advocated by Dennis Kucinich and dozens of Congresspersons. (1) We need jobs! How about putting people back to work, but with efforts to convert to a peace economy, and to transform our dependency on oil and gas toward solar, wind, geothermal and tidal energies. We could even use something akin to Roosevelt’s WPA and the Civilian Conservation Corps for service to the community.

(1) For additional information about the Department of Peace, please visit The Peace Alliance Web site.

Captaining the Titanic!

If I can get Obama critics to hold still and listen to my Grannyrant…here’s what I tell them: Imagine you’re on the Titanic in its last moments, but this scene is playing out in agonizing slow-motion.. Our trajectory is set! We are headed for disaster….there’s no denying it! Those persons who made the decision to throw caution to the wind, disregarding the danger surrounding us, in favor of gaining speed to set a record, or with this metaphor, in favor of an exercise of “shock and awe” power, aren’t even at the helm in charge, or even owning any responsibility for the devastation that they set in motion. Are you with me on this? Got the picture?

Now, airlift Obama onto the bridge! Please, Mr. President, now let’s see you turn around the Ship of State!

Be a real help to the cause of change:

Go to Organizing for America and please let’s don’t just sit there: please pledge your support in some manner, phone banking, voter registration, flyer distribution, etc. You know what they say: it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. We have a long way to go. Millions of Folks who had long felt disenfranchised and felt no incentive to engage in even political discussion, let alone vote, came out to register their faith in change. Their hopes were short lived, alas. We truly understand this great disappointment. But in our conversations, we can try to rekindle in others some hope that we together can ultimately achieve the needed change. We can try to explain and emphasize the truth that democracy is messy. The voice of the People might even prevail over the noise of corporate power. Please, come out and help?

The Anti-Empire Report

Here’s a brilliant essay that caused me to rededicate my resolve to keep hope alive. Bless you Bill Blum!

The Anti-Empire Report, July 5th, 2010, by William Blum
http://killinghope.org/bblum6/aer83.html

Some thoughts on “patriotism” written on July 4
Most important thought: I’m sick and tired of this thing called “patriotism”.

The Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were being patriotic. The German people who supported Hitler and his conquests were being patriotic, fighting for the Fatherland. All the Latin American military dictators who overthrew democratically-elected governments and routinely tortured people were being patriotic — saving their beloved country from “communism”.

That’s just the start of his essay. Go there. Read the rest of it for yourself. Then sign up for his messages.

Who on earth ever heard of herding donkeys?

Come to think of it, I’ve never ever seen a circus act with donkeys following each other like those silly elephants with tails and trunks entwined. Donkeys must truly be mavericks, and maybe that’s why they can’t cooperate long enough to out-do the elephants. Maybe Chimps will do a better job? I’d vote for them over elephants or donkeys if they could get themselves on the ballot. But, back to herding donkeys: What do you say? Let’s try to find out? Please bring friends and come to the following Program:

Herding Donkeys: Howard Dean and Ari Berman on the Future of the Democratic Party
at the 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street, New York, NY, on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7pm. Hope to see you there!

Click here for additional information.

WHERE:

Bluestockings Books, 172 Allen Street, New York, NY

Hello to Friends and lovers of promoting real change in behalf of the people!

You are invited to a presentation at Bluestockings on Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM to hear a bit of history about how the original ideals of creating, within the democratic framework, a system more responsive to the real needs of the people, has been thwarted, maligned, corrupted and distorted, especially by the vested interests of the “powers that be.”

Corliss Lamont’s book called: You Might Like Socialism, describing its benefits and even its detractors, originally published in 1939, has been re-issued with a current update written by his wife, Beth K. Lamont. It is now named: Lefties Are In Their Right Minds.

This is a very timely topic, partly of public indignance, with the bailout of banks that are deemed to be “too big to fail.” Yet the idea of controlling the banking system in the best interests of the people is feared by Congress. And the public is barraged with gross misinformation by the media. Here’s a matter that needs more open discussion: advocacy of Democratic Socialism!

The book is currently available and is being featured at a Bluestockings reading. Please come to the meeting, prepared to discuss the issues, especially those of how we might make beneficial changes in behalf of the people. Hope to see you there!

It was published by Half-Moon Foundation, Inc. on May 18, 2009 and is ISBN 978-0-578-00782-3.

This is a re-introduction of Corliss Lamont’s You might Like Socialism that was written in 1939. Many of you, friends and cohorts of Corliss Lamont, may wish to have your own copy. You will find it at Amazon.com if you wish to purchase it.

Folks seem to enjoy the little play on words of the title. The use of the word “Lefties,” of course, is not in the least anatomical; it is strictly political. And how timely is this re-introduction of Corliss’s compilation of historical information describing the ideals and the ordeals of the Socialist Movement in the earliest years of the Twentieth Century, now that the almost forbidden word is on many lips with the election of Barack Obama.

The Rush Limbaugh types speak the word in accusatory tones, citing tax-and-spend tactics of a welfare state, and predicting the end of democracy. Others, in almost prayerful whispers, are daring to say those long discredited and maligned words, “Socialism” or “Democratic Socialism,” believing that now at last we might begin to build a real democracy that includes all of the people, and enjoy a more equitable distribution of this country’s assets, and turn away from counterproductive foreign policies and entrenched warmongering.

I keep reminding that Corliss Lamont had an inside view of the flaws of the Capitalist economic system, having benefited from Wall Street wealth, yet siding with the plight of the working class. His vision for improving the conditions of those who were exploited and abused by the callous indifference of Capitalism developed in the early days of the Bolshevic Revolution. The ideals of this new philosophy that might have taken off like wildfire in this country were inspiring to the working classes; there was respect for the workers; women were equal partners; education for all would be a value; and many of the assets of wealth would belong to the community for all to enjoy.

Corliss tells the story of how the powers of the Church and Wall Street, each fearful of having their own powers eroded, fueled the fears that became a rabid anti-communist hysteria that raged for all of the Twentieth Century and is still a dominant and counterproductive factor that determines U.S. domestic and foreign policy. He was witness to these fitful violations of civil liberties. He saw violence against labor protestors. He saw concerted efforts to rid the educational institutions of “those damn Reds!” He saw J. Edgar Hoover and Joseph McCarthy in full swing, wielding their fearful powers to destroy, to terrify, to intimidate. And all of this. . . .to root out the evil vestiges of ugh, Communism and Socialism!

There’s so much more to tell, but Corliss Lamont tells it so very well. Please check out this exploration of the ideals of Socialism, which he so innocently and optimistically called: You Might Like Socialism. I promise that for its historical value alone, it is a worthwhile read. Advice from another “Leftie” who loved him, Beth.

For additional information on Lefties Are In Their Right Minds, please visit the following Web page.

http://www.corliss-lamont.org/lefties/

Our discussion covered current events and historical Humanism and just about everything in between. If you enjoy this Podcast version of the interview, available below, you might wish to hear an unedited, longer version that’s available at the following URL.

http://www.corliss-lamont.org/lefties/

Thanks for your interest.

Beth K. Lamont

HumanValuesWeblog20090126-Post38.mp3   29 minutes 26 seconds - 14,140,978 bytes

How is it that the system that is “too large to fail,” got that large? And without proper oversight? How is it that this faulty system must be saved by the hard-earned tax money of its victims? We, who are small, are allowed to fail, to loose our homes, our jobs, and who gives a damn? The People should be served by the market, not the other way around. We are not here to serve the market! It should be working in our behalf!

This Nation was conceived in Liberty, and this ideal of personal freedom was not designed for the freedom of its market system that would become so powerful as to allow its People to be ground-up in its machinery. This is another case of the tail wagging the dog!

Lefties Are In Their Right Minds

The book that I’m introducing is called Lefties Are In Their Right Minds. I’m going to say that again: Lefties Are In Their Right Minds! Do you like that title? No? You are shocked by that assertion? You recently heard our Democratic Candidate accused of being a Socialist, and denying it vehemently. Those gathered around him also were expressing their own disdain of such a possibility. But, ladies and Gentlemen, guess what we’ve got? Not only do we have Socialized Militarism, but now we have Socialized Capitalism! The exploitive Capitalist Free Market can’t stand on its own but has to be propped up by the Government and the tax-payer’s money! What a surprising development this is! Maybe if there had been a little Socialized Government regulation in behalf of the people, we wouldn’t have been left to be doubly victimized by the so-called Free Market.

I want to tell you who I am and why I’ve written Lefties Are In Their Right Minds. The story starts more than a hundred years ago, way back in 1902. A young man born of Wall Street wealth grew up learning of the flaws of this Democracy right at the Family dining table. He heard of plant closings that put people out of work; he heard of the thwarting of labor unions. Being an ethical person, he began to champion the underdog, the victims. He believed in worker’s Rights and even went to jail for supporting strikers. That young man was Corliss Lamont, you may have heard of him? I was honored to have been his wife. I’m sad to be his widow. He would be making some fiery speeches in support of a Democracy that would not betray its own people.

When he learned of the Bolshevik Revolution he identified with the workers, the soldiers, the sailors, the farmers who were throwing off the Czar, like we, in the U.S. threw off the King and declared our own independence. He proceeded to study and write and visit the new Socialist Democracy and he believed that we in the U.S. might be inspired and that the same ideas could take root in this country as well, and the people would benefit thereby. He wrote and published in 1939 the book entitled You Might Like Socialism: A Way of Life for Modern Man. I quip the following: Sorry, Corliss. They didn’t like it then and they don’t like it now, but who the hell are the theys? It turns out to be the Fat Cats who profit by uncontrolled Capitalism. And, hold your hats for this comment: you might not believe it, but I’ll say it anyway! It’s the American People themselves who don’t even understand that they are getting screwed! We have been totally brainwashed!

We have been conditioned to fear and be repulsed by the dreaded S-word, or worse, the C-word, and even the L-word is a no-no. We have been brainwashed for over a century. And do you know where it all started? No? Well, it started on Wall Street. Capitalism was scared spitless with the idea that workers would have a right to demand a share of the profits and to have a voice in the management of their own industries or factories. The church was terrified of those godless Atheists who were throwing off the blood-sucking Russian church, and refusing to be docile and obedient anymore! So here you have a collusion of church and state to stop the spread of dangerous ideas…which could possibly spread like wildfire.

President Woodrow Wilson was persuaded to invade the new Soviet Union. So, there we were in 1918 sending troops to Vladavastok and Archangel in Siberia to protect the White Russians from these Bolsheviks. The rationale was, and I quote: “To strangle the dangerous infant of Socialism in its cradle.” I’ll just bet that you’ve never heard of that before! The ideal of Socialism started out just that way…as an ideal…the same way that our ideal of Democracy started out as an ideal. But we all know what happens when power runs rampant and tramples those ideals. We end up with a totalitarian system that thwarts the will of the people and simply perpetuates its own power. So, this is what the book is all about: urging the people to regain their power.

If you unite in your purpose you can create a true Revolution at the Ballot Box. Throw out the perpetual warmongers, put some Democrats in office who will actually respond to your needs and your wishes. We can have good schools, real health care, secure jobs that don’t migrate overseas; we will rebuild our infrastructure; we will create new industries for non-toxic renewable energy. We will create a peaceful relationship with other nations and provide ethical leadership. Afghanis and Iraqis will actually applaud us when we leave.

I say that Socialists are called Lefties because on the left is where the heart is located.

We need heartfelt compassion and concern for all of Humankind. This is the only way that Americans can be safe and become the truly great nation that we like to believe we already are. We can work together and make changes. Please visit the Web site and read the whole book if you like. Later there’ll be paperback copies sponsored by Half-Moon Foundation. The Web page is located at http://www.corliss-lamont.org/lefties/.

P.S. You might notice that this is my first blog post for many months. I’ve been blogging for the book. And here it is!

HumanValuesWeblog20081025-Post37.mp3   8 minutes 22 seconds - 8,041,673 bytes

It is the North American New Humanist Forum that will take place in New York City November 16, 17, and 18. All are invited! Are you interested in helping to map out new directions for real democracy in this hemisphere? Come to this event and participate! I will! I hope to be a speaker or a panelist or as a member of a working group.

Information about this important gathering of concerned Humanists can be found on the Web site of the North American New Humanist Forum (NANHF).

Scheduled speakers will include representatives from many different countries, and working groups will be discussing new approaches to various issues and problems. I’ve had contact with the sponsoring group previously, and was much impressed with the scope of their Humanist activities in the community. The group has been referred to as Siloists. The name Siloist is used to describe those have been inspired by the teachings of the Argentinean philosopher, Mario Rodríguez Cobos, also know as Silo. Because there seemed to have been some misunderstanding about the group’s origin and intent, I wrote an article that was posted several years ago on the Humanist Society of Metropolitan New York Web site, discussing some of the issues, and inviting a humanist dialogue between the Siloists and the non-Siloists. This will be just such an opportunity to discuss our areas of agreement and explore any differences.

This article entitled The Other Humanists, can be found here.

Humanist Healing for the Woes of the World

Planet Earth, the home of all living things and life as we know it, is in mortal danger.

Fundamentalist religious fanaticism, greed, and exploits of empire, have brought us to this brink. The Humanist Philosophy respects and embraces the efforts of all caring persons, of all faiths, of all ethnicities, of all traditions, of all nations, who take responsibility, for trying to make changes to improve the perilous conditions of Humankind, working together to foster understanding among the diverse Peoples of Earth, working toward the development of a respectful, lawful, equitable, compassionate and care-taking Culture of Peace that most of Earth’s Peoples long for. Strangely, some beliefs hold to ancient notions of vengeful deities that champion one segment of humanity over another, giving rise to fears and hatreds, militarism, fascism, violence, vengeance, exploitation, inequities, and injustices that still abound, endangering our survival as a species, jeopardizing the lives of our children, grandchildren and all future generations.

I am concerned about this danger and, as an individual, I have the power to raise my own voice in protest. I value Life; I love my own Family and the larger family of Humankind. I revere the Human Species, and believe in the right to peaceful pursuit of individual and societal happiness. I pledge to support the ideals of a Culture of Peace, and will encourage others to do likewise. I, therefore, pledge to take responsibility to promote the following Human Survival Principles:

I, personally, and as a representative of my own ethical perspective, life-stance or faith, pledge to act with courage, in all ways short of violence, to renounce and thwart the various adverse forces that have gained the power to dominate Earth and its inhabitants. I renounce all systems of repression, whether by governmental or economic control. I support only systems that are in the best shared-interest of all of Earth’s Peoples and of Earth itself. I, personally, renounce violence and vengeance as an option to redress grievances for wrongs done to me, my people, or my ancestors. I pledge to seek justice and compensation, never before feasible, through pursuit of new lawful means, consistent with the recognized principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations’ Responsibility to Protect, and the newly established International Criminal Court. These new tools must be fostered and ultimately established, for all times, promoting the pursuit of justice in every village and in every community. No longer will there be impunity for perpetrators of Crimes against Humanity. There will now be justice in the Courts! I pledge to support this goal.

I agree that technology, medicine, science and biology must be harnessed to serve only the best interests of all Humankind, whether it be our means of communicating freely with each other in the pursuit of truth and democracy, and the sharing of information regarding our common interests, or for the creation of power sources that do not damage Earth’s ecosystem or harm living things. Biotechnology must not modify or claim ownership of Earth’s bounty, and the benefits to Humankind in all of these areas must not be tied to a corrupt and capricious profit motive, enslaving the many and ignoring the most needy.

I pledge to work in behalf of the survival and best interests of Humankind right here and now, because I believe in the basic goodness of other human beings. I will willingly join with them in order to help to create a Culture of Peace, regardless of any known traditional beliefs that aspire to other worlds or any belief in end-times scenarios. I will not allow my name or my belief to be used to endorse actions that are contrary to my own personal beliefs. I will not allow my faith to be conscripted or construed in order to justify support for actions that are harmful to others, such as seeking retaliation and vengeance, or to justify terrorist acts, or the making of war against alleged and illusory enemies, with whom I have no quarrel. If my tradition aspires to a Heaven elsewhere, I will surely have earned my place in it as a Peacemaker. Meanwhile, I will do my best to help make Peace on Earth, and to keep my pledge in behalf of the Human Survival Principles. In doing so, I reach out my hand in respect for others of good will, showing that I hold no weapon or animosity, and expect that others will do likewise.

I recognize that we humans are more alike than we are different.

These Human Survival Principles are logical and important to me and I’m leaving a comment below. I’m adding my name to many others online at this Web site.

Here are two Adobe Acrobat PDF (Portable Document Format) versions of the Humanist Healing for the Woes of the World brochure, one intended for on-screen viewing (four pages) and the other designed for duplex printing (two pages).

• On-screen viewing (1,691,053 bytes)
• Printing (997,285 bytes)

Comments can be posted anonymously and this blog can be used as a forum for communication. Registration is necessary if you wish to be contacted. Feel free to link to this blog post. The URL is http://www.humanvalues.net/blog/?p=35. Please discuss these important issues with others, and take action.

You are in a position to change the course of history! You have the opportunity to become a Hero in the eyes of the world. You know that as the Mayor of the greatest City in the United States you already have the eyes of the world upon you. We need your courageous leadership! Please consider this appeal?

Congress has just curtailed the Civil Liberties of the American People. The Military Commissions Act of 2006 will be know as the Permission to Torture Bill; it removes the centuries-old right of Habeas Corpus protection for those wrongfully imprisoned; it threatens to make “Enemy Combatants” or accomplices of every American dissenter to the policies of this administration. This Bill was just approved on September 29th by Congress. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut was one of twelve Democratic Senators who approved the Bill.

People of our city, who are lovers of peace, plan to take to the busy streets on Thursday, October 5th! Our voices must be heard! We need for you to protect our rights to dissent! We are patriotic Americans who favor diplomacy over destruction. We favor an ethical response instead of one of revenge. We renounce Bush’s plan to bomb Iran as totally insane. This insanity must be stopped! Bombing civilian populations is a war crime! You know it! The world knows it! The eyes of the world are upon us, worrying that this will be allowed by the American People. They can’t see our bumper stickers!

New York City is still the symbolic target of those who hate the United States. We are now in more danger of terrorist attack because our inappropriate military response to 9/11 has generated more hatred rather than less. Worse still, is the revenge that will be wreaked upon New York City if the plan for bombing Iran proceeds.

There are two important points that we wish for you to consider:

1. The terrorists will have accomplished their mission of “destroying” our country if the voices of the People are stifled. We Americans are proud of our heritage of freedom, and of our Bill of Rights that allows us “peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Do not allow those who hate us to have the satisfaction of having destroyed our Civil Liberties.

2. There will be a “Nuremberg Trial” for the Leadership, the military and the People of the United States at some time in the future. We cannot pretend that “we didn’t know” or that we were “just following orders.” The Bush Regime is hell bent on starting World War Three by planning to punish Iran for not obeying its dictates. There are nuclear bombs. Someone will use them. New York City is still the prime target! Don’t let partisan politics and loyalty to the Republicans allow you to be silent. We need your help. The brave New York City Police are American citizens as well as our protectors. We need their help on this important day of October 5th. We deserve the right to march on Broadway and disrupt the traffic. Business-as-usual-just doesn’t get it! Celebrities, dignitaries, and corporations are given special treatment. They are not more important than the People!

Our request to use the busy streets was denied; we cannot fathom the rationale that went into such a strange denial. You have no right to hold the People hostage this way. We have a right to speak out. We are peace loving People. The assertion that “Homeland Security” is a consideration is total nonsense. If anti-peace, supporters of the war were to heckle us or even attack us, we would hope that the Police would protect our protest march. Peace Marchers have never been violent! We have occupied the full expanse of Broadway with a sea of Citizens without incident in previous years.

We invite the Police Department, rather than barricading us, penning us up, and preventing us from gathering together to have our voices heard, to walk with us to protect us in the street. This is contrary to current accepted practices called “crowd control.”

Mistakes can be made in high places, New York, Washington, it doesn’t matter where, but to perpetuate these mistakes is not very wise. We need wisdom. It is insane for mistakes to become entrenched, even ossified, in public policy, without ever examining the unintended consequences.

The Peace People of the World are angry at the Bush policy of using the military might instead of wisdom; the Peace People of New York are angry at the prevalent Bloomberg policy of allowing military might and corporate interests to take precedence over the long range wisdom of helping the People “peaceably to assemble.” We patriotic Americans will gather in the streets on Thursday, October 5th. Our voices must be heard! Help us! We are counting on you!
Thanking you in advance,

Beth K. Lamont, Humanist Chaplain, Non Governmental Organization
Representative for the American Humanist Association to the United Nations,
Member Council of Ethics Based Organizations at the UN
777 UN Plaza, Lobby Level, New York, NY 10017

Also in behalf of: The World Can’t Wait!, Not In Our Name, International Action Center, Students Against the War, Grannies Against the War, Veterans Against the War, (these last three are categories, not titles) and many other concerned organizations and citizens.

The reason that I’m writing to you is to ask your advice. Those of us who were arrested at the United Nations when Bush was speaking, (there are 16 of us) are trying to decide how to get the most mileage publicity-wise out of our situation. Most of us are charged with the offense #240.20 (6), which I believe is disorderly conduct. Admittedly we went to 44th Street across from the U.N. for the purpose of performing Civil Disobedience by challenging the police blockade, with our signs and chants, saying that Bush is a war criminal and that he should be arrested. We were waving copies of the 51 page verdict delineating the Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration, to call attention to the findings of fact gathered by testimony at the International Commission of Inquiry, published on September 13, 2006. We were told to remove our hands from the barricade that we were trying to open; we refused!

Three of us are additionally charged with resisting arrest which is totally absurd, inasmuch as we all went there to be arrested. Most of us are to appear in the Centre Street court on October 18th. We discussed the options for several hours this evening at John Jay in a room provided by Father Luis Barrios, the Episcopal Priest, who is also charged with assaulting an officer…a totally bogus charge; they were brutalizing him, instead. With us was disabled Iraq Vet, Geoffrey Millard, who was manhandled as well.

On Thursday, October 5th, we will be in the streets again protesting the imminent and insane bombing of Iran. We hear that October 9th will begin the “October Surprise,” and that warships are moving into position. This actually dominated our conversation tonight; no wonder we couldn’t focus on how we are going to plead when we get to court. We’re not finished getting arrested yet!

So, here’s my question: several other lawyers are already involved, Siegel, Stolar and Upton, all of whom gave differing and non-spectacular advice to their clients, so far. The 16 of us sat around a table this evening and each had a different idea of how to proceed. Ultimately, we did decide that we would stick together and try to make a media event of whatever we do, which was the whole point in the first place. We will all wear We Will Not Be Silenced black T-shirts to court, for one thing, but how we plead is the dilemma. Here are the options that we discussed:

1. Just plead guilty and take our lumps, whatever that may be. Some really objected, saying that of course, we are not-guilty of any real crime. The law is the crime: the police are guilty of thwarting our right to peaceably assemble, etc. and exercise our right to free speech, etc. Those few felt that they just couldn’t say “guilty.” We discussed the difference between morally and legally, etc. Those who favored “guilty” felt that we must turn the charge around, using that same word in referring to the Bush regime and its war crimes…like, we would each make the very same statement to that effect in court. We would probably be further charged, with contempt of court for giving the wrong answer? At least we might get the publicity that the issues deserve, plus, we 16 would go out with a bang, instead of a whimper. And, the other options discussed were:

2. All plead not-guilty and be postponed, coming back again and again, etc. Probably eventually to be dismissed. If that isn’t a whimper, I don’t know what could be worse, and wasting a perfect opportunity to make a valid point. There was the suggestion that if you promise not to get into trouble for 6 months you can be released. Most rejected that, saying “no way, we plan to be visible and vocal! This is our patriotic duty!” We probably will get arrested again on the 5th, because we want to gather at the U.N. on 47th Street at Noon, after speeches for an hour or so, start up the march onto Second Avenue heading south. We want to turn onto 42nd Street and go to Broadway, then down Broadway to 14th Street where we will have a speakers platform, and ending maybe 4 PM or so. The police say we have to stay on Second Avenue all the way to 14th. This is absurd. We might as well stay in the pen at 47th Street for all the notice and participation we would get on quiet Second Avenue. I’m asking for your advice because I value your courage and your judgment. How do you think we can make the maximum impact in this situation? Will you please be our advisor?

Or maybe just suggest the best way for us to get the media attention about the Real crimes initiated by the Bush regime that are going on, like torture, and bombing civilian populations.

Hugs from Beth. I’m now officially part of the Grannie Peace Brigade, and “The U.N.-16, who will not be silenced,” as well as speaking in behalf of the Humanists, The World Can’t Wait!, Not In Our Name, and International Action Center…and other groups as well. We hear that many student groups are planning come out on the 5th. That’s one thing that this country needs lots of: informed young people who are activists! Hoping to hear from you.

Best wishes to you and family. May there be peace!

Militarism, exploitation, usurpation, arrogance, inequities and vengeance all abound, endangering our survival as a species, and actively prevent the development of a respectful, lawful, equitable, compassionate and care-taking Culture of Peace.

I am concerned about this danger and, as an individual, I have the power to raise my own voice in protest. I value Life, I love my own Family and the larger family of Humankind. I revere the Human Species, and believe in the right to peaceful pursuit of individual and societal happiness. I pledge to support the ideals of a Culture of Peace, and hope to encourage others to do likewise. I, therefore, pledge to promote the following Human Survival Principles:

I, personally, and as a representative of my own ethical perspective, life stance or faith, pledge to act with courage, in all ways short of violence, to renounce and thwart the various adverse forces that have gained the power to dominate Earth and its inhabitants. I renounce all systems of repression, whether by government or economic control. I support only systems that are in the best shared-interest of all of Earth’s Peoples and of Earth itself.

I, personally, renounce violence and vengeance as an option to redress grievances for wrongs done to me, my people, or my ancestors. I pledge to seek justice and compensation, never before feasible, through pursuit of new lawful means, consistent with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nation’s Responsibility to Protect, and the newly established International Criminal Court. These new tools must be fostered and ultimately established, for all times, to promote the pursuit of justice in every village, in every community, in every nation, I will do my best to support this goal.

I agree that technology, medicine, science and biology must be harnessed to serve only the best interests of all Humankind, whether it be our means of communicating freely with each other in the pursuit of truth and democracy, and the sharing of information regarding our common interests, or for the creation of power sources that do not damage Earth’s ecosystem or harm living things. Biotechnology must not modify or claim ownership of Earth’s bounty, and the benefits to Humankind in all of these areas must not be tied to a corrupt and capricious profit motive enslaving the many and ignoring the most needy.

I pledge to work in behalf of the survival and betterment of Humankind right here and now, because I believe in the basic goodness of other human beings. I will willingly join with them in order to help to create a Culture of Peace, regardless of any known traditional beliefs that aspire to “other worlds” or any belief in “end times” scenarios. I will not allow my name or my belief to be used to endorse actions that are contrary to my own personal beliefs. I will not allow my faith to be conscripted or construed in order to justify support for actions that are harmful to others, such as seeking retaliation and vengeance, or to justify terrorist acts or making war against alleged and illusory enemies, with whom I have no quarrel. If there is a Heaven elsewhere, I will have earned my place in it as a Peacemaker. Meanwhile,….

I will do my best to help make Peace on Earth, and to keep my pledge in behalf of the Human Survival Principles

___________________________________________________
Signature                                                                Date

___________________________________________________
Affiliation (optional)

___________________________________________________
E-mail (optional)

Please state any affiliation that you feel is relevant. Please add an e-mail address, if you wish for others to reach you.

Please feel free to duplicate this document. Disperse it widely. Use these issues for a discussion with others. If you wish to publicize your pledge, and add your name to the pledges of thousands of others, please contact us via e-mail or postal mail at:

Fred Edwords
American Humanist Association, 1777 T Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

There are a few things that Ned’s critics better get right. Ned Lamont is his own man. He is neither his Great Grandfather, Thomas W. Lamont, a partner of J.P. Morgan, (as described in the book: An Ambassador from Wall Street), nor his Great Uncle, Corliss Lamont, Champion of Civil Liberties, a Democratic Socialist, and author of the Philosophy of Humanism and Freedom is As Freedom Does.

It would seem that the Great Grandfather and the Great Uncle might have been exactly polar opposites in their thinking. Can Ned be blamed and suspected for both points of view? His critics should make up their minds! For which of the many ideas of his relatives are they faulting him? One was a highly successful, liberal, Wall Street Banker; the other, an American Patriot who was falsely accused of being un-American by Senator Joseph McCarthy. One worked within the bounds of respectability; the other, a severe critic of those boundaries. Ned’s Grandfather, Thomas Stillwell Lamont, Brother of Corliss, who followed his Father to Wall Street, was embarrassed by Corliss’ radical views. He took his Brother to task, saying that he was a traitor to his class and that he was bringing shame upon the Family.

And little wonder! Corliss Lamont was scathing in his criticism. He was challenging the totally mistaken concept that we peddle at home and abroad. Capitalism and Democracy are not, repeat, NOT synonymous! One is an economic system; the other a political system. In fact, they might not even be compatible, as He was witnessing union-busting, slimy war-profiteering, conscienceless exploitation of vulnerable and minority persons, and blatant, sinister violations of the Bill of Rights.

So which of these philosophies should Ned be faulted for? You’ve got it! The right answer: NEITHER!

As for the Great Grandfather and the Great Uncle, they actually agreed on many liberal issues, among which were education and philanthropy. Incidentally, they, both father and son, spoke on the same Madison Square Garden platform in 1942, at a meeting of the National Council for American Soviet Friendship, in behalf of U.S. Aid to the Soviets. The menacing specter of Socialist idealism seemed to frighten neither of these two Gentlemen, not even the danger to Wall Street of the radical Socialist concept of sharing the wealth with the workers!

I repeat, Ned Lamont is neither of these historic figures; he shares their genes, but he is a man of his own times and of his own experiences, with his own perspectives. He certainly must not be held accountable for potential extremes that lurk only in the perceptions of his critics. Ned Lamont is his own man. He is not responsible for previous generations. Nor is Joe Lieberman, for that matter; each of these men is responsible for his own actions and decisions, based on his own concept of public service, patriotism and especially of ethical behavior.

Ned Lamont sees the so-called war on terrorism as counter-productive to the safety of the American public, and as a destabilizing element to the world in general. Joe Lieberman no doubt acted out of patriotism when he voted to give President Bush the power to launch what Bush surely knew was an illegal, immoral war. The bombing of civilians, whatever the pretext, by whatever country, constitutes state terrorism. These acts violate Human Rights norms and are culpable by the International Criminal Court as war crimes. If the U.S. had no intention of violating Human Rights norms, it need not have bothered to coerce 84 nations into promising to not allow extradition to the ICC of U.S. personnel if they were charged with war crimes.

Acts of terror by individuals or organizations are reprehensible. They must be dealt with on an individual basis. Most of the World Trade Terrorist hijackers were Saudis; by what twisted and distorted illogic did this heinous act perpetrated upon American citizens translate into “shock and awe” revenge against Afghan and Iraqi citizens? Terrorists are hiding among them? Not valid! Though we grieve for Israeli victims of violence, now should this same illogic justify the vengeful murderous bombing of Palestinian and Lebanese citizens? Not on your life! Not on the lives of thousands of innocent victims!

War-mongers in Washington, in cahoots with the mercenary sellers of fear and hatred and armaments, have created a backlash that has caused the American public to be more vulnerable now, at this moment, than they were in September of 2001. The U.S., with its totally over-zealous, poorly conceived, but previously planned, vengeful attacks, not on individual suspected terrorists, like Osama bin Forgotten, but instead, perpetrated on sovereign nations, without provocation, has earned this country disrespect by the rest of the world. Sad to say, because most Americans still like to believe that we are the “good guys in the white cowboy hats who come to the rescue.” Vengeance will be heaped upon us for generations.

Ned may not have mentioned support of the United Nations yet, but an endorsement is certainly in order.

It is working within this International framework that world peace will come. The U.S. has had the notion that rather than being just one member of the human family, it should dominate. Adolescent arrogance develops into mature wisdom, sometimes with sad experience. The whole world will benefit from wise and ethical leadership that champions equality, justice, the rule of law, and respect for the dignity and Human Rights of all Peoples of Earth. With the strengthening of the potential of the United Nations, building its capacity to intervene and protect the innocent from the scourge of war; to intercede to prevent nuclear proliferation and other destructive military forces; and to provide humanitarian aide and support for peace and justice movements, and efforts toward building democratic institutions, we Earthlings of every nation will someday begin to realize the age old dream of living our lives in safety and Peace.

I would vote for Ned Lamont in a New York minute! Just wish he were running for the Senate in this state. Perhaps his courageous leadership will inspire our own Hillary Clinton to renounce Bush’s war as well.

Go for it, Ned! Hold steady and just stare down your ill-informed detractors, if they can’t be enlightened by your well-researched information. Go for it, Ned! I should live so long I can vote for you for President!

Sent with love from an admirer who was part of your Great Uncle’s world.

Beth K. Lamont