Humanvalues Weblog

Here’s an interview that aired on WBAI FM radio in New York yesterday, January 25, in which I was invited to discuss the relevance of my new book, Lefties Are In Their Right Minds. The interviewer, Barry F. Seidman, is a Humanist cohort who is Executive Producer/Host of the Equal Time For Freethought program that is heard regularly on WBAI.

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.

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

Thanks for your interest.

Beth K. Lamont

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

Hello and thank you for checking out this Podcast. I’d like to tell you about a new book that speaks to the dilemma in which we voters find ourselves at the moment. We need to bring about a real Ballot Box Revolution that will tilt this Democracy toward its working class citizens. If this really is a nation of,… for, and by its People, why have we allowed the so-called Free Market system to become more powerful than ourselves? How can it be allowed to dominate us? What are we, chopped liver?

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 https://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

Something new is happening!

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 https://www.humanvalues.net/blog/?p=35. Please discuss these important issues with others, and take action.

Hello Mayor Bloomberg,

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 Celebrant, 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.

Dilemma: How shall we 16 Protestors Plead in court? Who is Guilty of What?

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!

PLANET EARTH, HOME OF ALL LIVING THINGS AND LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, IS IN MORTAL DANGER.

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

All right! I’ve had it already! It’s barely the beginning of Ned’s campaign and already I’m up to here with the idiotic nonsense, drivel, innuendos and even outright vindictive lies that are saturating the radical right wing blogs! Red diaper Baby with a Silver Spoon! Indeed! They almost constitute a case study in illogic. What do we have here? The Karl Rove dirty tricks department out in full force to undermine a challenger to Bush’s war?

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

Hello, Federal Communications Commission, are you protecting the People? Or corporate interests?

This message is to encourage others to communicate with the FCC on this last day for testimony.

The voices of the American People must not be stifled! The only way that our voices can be heard is through Public Access availability and through Community, Local Government, state Government, and Local Origination programming, where information and ideas can truly be shared.

The ideal of Democracy, and the ideal of Freedom, so cherished in this country and which has served as a model over the past sixty years for newly emerging Nations, is being completely thwarted by corporate rule over Radio and Television. Except for C-Span, bless their hearts, which records gavel to gavel coverage of important meetings of Congress, the public is exposed to, not the entire discussions or arguments, but selected sound bites that fit into the corporate best-interest mold.

Those few reporters who deviate from this filtering of the “News” that will be presented to the American public, find themselves out of a job! Bill Moyers is one of my heroes; he shares my conviction that people are more important than profits! Look what happened to him! Too Lefty? Ha! Consider the great segment of the American Public who agree with his views? What happens to them? Who speaks for them? We need Public Access on Cable channels so we can speak to each other!

The Network pundits present a gamut of opinion from A-to-B, as the saying goes; we get a broad range of spokespersons from the ultra-right/war mongers to the right-right/corporate kissies, supposedly for the purpose of enlightening the American Public as to what is going on in the world. How will they learn what damage US foreign and domestic policies are doing watching/listening to lies? Goebbels was the first to use this technique; laxity of the FCC, has allowed the corporate media to perfect It!

The FCC, from 1934, that was supposed to be the watchdog protecting the “Airwaves that belong to the American People,” has become the lapdog of Corporate power. What did you guys do? We used to have equal access to rebut allegations made on Radio/TV. No more! There used to be requirements to prevent consolidation of media in a single market; now Newspaper/Radio/TV can speak with one voice in Cowpattie, PA, and the local folks don’t know the difference! What happened to divestiture?

Some of us watch foreign TV to get the REAL NEWS! The FCC has sold off the Birthright of the American Public to the HIGHEST BIDDERS! Of course, you are being pressured to release companies from any obligation to enter into contracts with local governments! They want access to the consumers without any obligation! They want to sell us their garbage, filled with “lowest common denominator” programming, riddled with unconscionable violence and inane titillation. They’ll make more profit!

This technology of Radio and TV has the potential, along with the potential of the Internet, to help the People of Earth recognize that they are more alike than they are different. With ETHICAL and HUMANISTIC programming that has intellectual content, and an anti-chauvinistic, truly ecumenical world view it can help to generate a Culture of Peace. If there were Peace in the world…the bomb builders and the bomb droppers and the planners of bomb targets would all have to get honest jobs and learn how to earn ethical livings, wouldn’t they? Perhaps this Anti-Corporate consideration is seen to be THE GREATEST THREAT TO THOSE WHO WANT YOU TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC ACCESS!
HELLO, FCC MEMBERS! PLEASE HELP?! SAVE PUBLIC ACCESS!

This appeal is from:
Beth K. Lamont, Humanist Celebrant, American Humanist Association, NGO Representative to the United Nations, and Producer of Manhattan Neighborhood Network Cable Access Program “Here & Now”, since 1984.

Ambassador Bolton! We hear you’re a Kick-Ass, Get-Things-Done Guy! Also, we heard that you are very interested in the architecture of the U.N.
This is really great news! Because, here’s what we want you to do:

First, arrange to add 10 more floors to the U.N. to accommodate the additional services that are needed for new Programs to Protect the Peoples of Earth from the Scourge of War! Then please do the following:

1. Dismantle the obsolete, so-called U.N. Security Council and its veto power, wherein a few powerful nations hold the rest of the world hostage! This body “Secures” only the perpetuation of inequitable and unethical power in the hands of the few. These hands have proven to be untrustworthy. Even the proposed expansion of this U.N. Branch, a move toward more power-sharing, will merely enhance its chauvinistic dominance over the majority of Earth’s People. It is time to put an end to this tyrannical situation. The Security Council was created 60 years ago in a completely different dynamic when fewer Nations were involved. It is a relic of the U.N.’s founding that is no longer relevant. Now there are 191 Nations in place to take full responsibility for solving Earth’s problems and creating Peace. Ambassador Bolton, if you absolutely insist on dismantling something, please start with the U.N. Security Council?

2. Help to create a new kind of U.N. Peacekeeping: A Standing Regional Intervention Peace Force, under the direction of the U.N. Secretary General, with the authority to exercise a new Responsibility to Protect. Kofi Annan, (who shall be accorded proper respect) has declared that the U.N. has a mandate to assume the responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves, those who are the helpless victims of war and aggression! He has pledged that there must never be another Rwanda! But, what do we have today? Sudan, Congo, Iraq, and what’s next? Iran? Think of this: the U.N. is criticized for non-intervention; this automatically implies that the world EXPECTS it has an obligation to intervene! We, of Civil Society agree! But critics do not understand that Kofi Annan has no Executive Power to do so! This power presently rests with the inconsistent Security Council. The same Council that is arbitrary and capricious, depending on “whose ox is being gored!” The original mandate for the U.N. was to protect the Peoples of Earth from the Scourge of War! Ambassador Bolton, after sixty preliminary years, it’s high time that we start protecting!

3. Help to create a new U.S. Humanitarian “Police” Force. If the U.S. feels that its role must be to police the world, then let it be for the purpose of protecting victims, not creating them! The natural corollary of such intervention would be the delivery of humanitarian aide to victims. Ambassador Bolton, what do you say? How about recruiting idealistic young people of the U.S. for such a noble role? Many of them have begun to recognize that a strictly military response serves only to exacerbate the problems with which we must deal. Veterans who’ve had a belly-full of lies and killing in behalf of the U.S. military will tell you! Ask one who has held the lifeless mangled body of a buddy or an “enemy combatant” that is only a child. If the U.S. had gone into Baghdad with only food and medicine, rather than despicable “shock and awe” bombing, our presence there would not have become a recruitment for “insurgents” and an influx of “terrorists.” Americans used to think of themselves as the Good Guys who would come to the rescue! Ambassador Bolton, we’re asking for your help in figuring this out. Let’s get it straight once and for all: Who are the Good Guys? Who are the Bad guys? And by what criteria is one expected to judge anymore?

4. Help to finance Humanitarian Aide by taxing the instruments of war! How can we pay for such an Intervention Peace Force? How will we pay for humanitarian aide? It’s very simple! Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio da Silva, along with Jacques Chiraq, France’s President, proposed a perfect solution for raising the money needed to implement the humanitarian programs needed by the U.N. The solution is to impose a worldwide TAX ON ARMAMENTS! This tax could be extended to include manufacture of, sale of, purchase of, transfer of, all guns and military equipment and paraphernalia, tanks, military planes, all bombs, landmines, all potential death-making machines, especially all weapons of “mass destruction.” Such a tax would certainly take a big bite out of the profit of the war industry. The mercenary proliferation of the instruments of war are contrary to the best interests of the People of Earth. Who benefits? Corporate war-profiteers! No one else! The United Nations, in the best interest of the Peoples of Earth, must one day begin to deal with the unethical principles and irresponsibility involved in this, the creation of bullets and bombs, the sole purpose of which is to kill human beings. Ambassador Bolton, where do you stand? With the proliferators of death machines? Or with their victims? It can’t be both! An entrenched, traditional military response to crises serves only to exacerbate the problems we must deal with. We can learn responses that are more creative and life-affirming. Ambassador Bolton, if we invest in war, and we prepare for war, we will make war! Help the Nations of Earth to promote and invest in Peaceful pursuits instead!

5. Support the Millennium Development Goals! Children are starving! Ambassador Bolton, what will you do about starvation? Have you been sent to the U.N. to threaten to withhold the U.S.’s share of support for the Millennium Development Goals? When children are dying by the thousands every day from hunger, malnutrition, preventable disease, no clean water, from the lack of something as cheap as mosquito netting that could prevent malaria deaths, there is no justifiable excuse for the U.S. to turn its back on them! It is unethical and inexcusable to skimp or give niggling amounts to this effort. The relatively un-ambitious goal of just cutting hunger in half by the year 2015 will not be met, according to recent estimates on the lack of progress; we are going backwards, instead of forward! Ambassador Bolton, please support and sign-on to our obligation regarding the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

   In order to reach the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015, the industrialized Nations must increase their contributions to 0.44% of their Gross National Product starting in 2006. What actually is the amount of the GDP of the U.S. for 2005? Wall Street can help you out with these calculations. Ambassador Bolton, if you are a courageous man of integrity, do not allow yourself to be used as a tool of destruction. You can become a hero to all People of conscience and especially to the hungry of the World. We expect that you will do the conscientious thing: Hold your president’s feet to the fire and tell him to ante-up!

6. Affirm all treaties on Nuclear Non-Proliferation! Provide ethical world leadership! This is a crucial matter that the U.S. must face. Our foreign policy is extremely hypocritical, to say the least. We will invade a sovereign country simply with the allegation that they have the potential to create various “weapons of mass destruction,” and proceed to threaten those nations that wish to belong to the most powerful “Nuclear Club,” while, we ourselves, refuse to provide ethical leadership in preventing the further proliferation of our own nuclear weapons of mass destruction! The US opened the Pandora’s Box of unethical use of Atomic power; the U.S. has a moral obligation to forbid its further use for weapons by any Nation, and to slam the lid shut! Nuclear weapons must be located, accounted for, and verifiably dismantled. All weapons-grade fissionable material must be rendered harmless, and the by-products, such as depleted uranium, must not be used in weaponry because of its lasting damage to human health and the environment. Furthermore, weapons must not be placed in space. Ambassador Bolton, this Earth needs a Non-Nuclear Club! Start one!

7. Sign the Document supporting the already up-and-running International Criminal Court! Hundreds of activists and organizations in the U.S., along with representatives of many other nations, worked diligently to help design and perfect this instrument of justice to end age-old impunity to prosecution by perpetrators of genocide and war crimes. It is an insult to the International Community that endorses the Court, for the U.S. to have refused, first of all, to approve the Rome Statute, stating that it would interfere with military obligations of the U.S., and then, to Un-sign the document after President Clinton had given it his approval before leaving office. No U.N. document had ever before been Un-signed by any Nation. Ambassador Bolton, where were you when the U.S. went around bribing and coercing 80-some Nations to sign non-extradition treaties? We required of each a promise to not cooperate with the International Criminal Court if the U.S. were charged with war crimes. This seems to be a morally culpable indication that we were, still are, and even further, plan to continue being, in violation of the tenets of this Court. If the U.S. is ever to regain a shred of respect in the world community, especially when it covets a world leadership position, pretending to promote democracy, it is nothing but hypocrisy, if we do not endorse the International Criminal Court!

8. Renounce “Free Trade!” Economic aggression is just another kind of war that is being waged against the Peoples of Earth! There is a great deal of confusion over terms. What is the meaning of Free? It sounds great! It brings to mind the right of an individual to freely express a preference for a political system or an economic structure. Not so in the case of Free Trade! Ambassador Bolton, what is being pawned off in the guise of Free Trade, is actually economic colonialism and a form of ruthless capitalism. The corporate world is free to grind up workers and resources in its machinery, and freely, as well as callously and indifferently, spit them out in order to maintain profitability. Sure, the workers are free also! Free to eat out of garbage cans! Free to starve to death and to die of preventable illnesses! Free to be uneducated! Free to have their lands polluted! Free to be exploited as slave labor or worse, be murdered for labor-organizing!

9. Help to modify the World Trade Organization, and its Regional counterparts. They are engaged in unscrupulous, coercive, anti-democracy, anti-labor, anti-human rights, and anti-environment practices that dominate the most vulnerable Peoples of Earth and their natural resources and assets. For instance: anytime that a local government, concerned with its fishing industry, cannot cancel a previously and mistakenly entered-into-contract with off-shore oil drillers, without incurring a fine from the governing body of the WTO, which is greater than its gross national product, the antithesis of democracy is at work. Or anytime that a host country must abide by a contract to bring out its own police force to quell its own people’s labor dispute against a foreign corporate exploiter, you will see the antithesis of local democracy and of collective bargaining. It is union-busting! If the host country does not quell the strike, it can be charged and fined for the unforgivable crime of “interrupting profit-making!” Ambassador Bolton! These coercive practices must cease! Free trade is the wrong word; it needs to become FAIR trade. Any World Trade regulating body must have only democratically elected officers who can be withdrawn by the People. And those officers must be required to hold corporations to universal standards of human rights, and of internationally accepted labor practices, and environmental protocols. Consideration of the human values involved and of Earth’s shared-in-common goods, such essentials as air, water or forests, must always prevail over the claims of stock shareholders and the myopic “false profit” called the bottom line.

10. Sign the Kyoto Protocol! Global Warming is disturbing the Earth’s weather patterns, no matter how vigorously corporation-scientists deny that there’s a problem. We industrial Nations and our greenhouse gases are destroying mother Earth in demonstrable and observable ways right in our lifetimes; not in some distant predictable future! Ambassador Bolton, take steps to set standards to diminish the pollutants and destroyers of our environment, not tomorrow, but in order to stop pollution right now! Plan to diminish the use of non-renewable fuels; invest in solar, wind and water technologies. The ice caps are melting; the hole in the protective ozone layer keeps getting bigger. Flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes, droughts, contamination of soil, pollution of air, spoiling of seas, waterways and marine life, are threatening life on Earth as we have come to know it. Ambassador Bolton, acknowledge that we are doing something very wrong! Please consult with the citizens of New Orleans! Will you ask their opinions? Provide leadership; sign the Kyoto Protocol!

11. While you’re at it, sign the Convention on the Rights of the Child! What an embarrassment! That the U.S., which purports to be a civilized Nation, will not sign a document agreeing with all other Nation’s concerns that children must be accorded basic human rights to water, to food, shelter, medical care, to education, to the right not to be abused, executed, sold, or conscripted into military, sexual or economic exploitation. Tell us, Ambassador Bolton, what part of sign-the-document do you not understand?

12. Support Civil Society and respect its concerns! This is the new collective name for Non-Governmental Organizations at the U.N., the issue-oriented groups that work to alert the world about, and to influence decisions on, various matters pertaining to every imaginable problem on Earth. Mostly international in scope, their focus is not necessarily bounded by sovereign state’s borders, but deal instead with the issues that transcend arbitrary boundary lines; issues like Peace, poverty, pollution, banning of land mines, refugees, immigration, labor standards, human rights, slavery of children and women, torture and abuse, or epidemics like Aids that can affect all Peoples of Earth. Some of these organizations are much older than the U.N. itself, yet we are shunted to a peripheral role, of little notice or consequence. We require the respect of a Civil Society Home of our own at the U.N. The Trusteeship Council Chamber is now mostly unused; more than a hundred Nations have passed through this Chamber in seeking their independence from colonial Nations. It now can be put to appropriate use, becoming the Civil Society Council Chamber! Ambassador Bolton, please help the NGOs that represent Civil Society obtain the use of this chamber?

13. Help establish appropriate respect for the U.N. We NGOs are charged with the responsibility of promoting the U.N. to our constituencies. The new World Wide Web presence for U.N. information is excellent, but it is available to only a self-selected portion of the public. NGOs envision the dissemination of information about the efforts and the accomplishments of the U.N. and its day-to-day agenda, by the method that average Americans obtain their news: by Television in the 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week fashion of a U.N. C-Span. It is essential that it be available right here in the U.S., the most powerful Nation on Earth, and whose citizens consume the greatest amount of Earth’s resources, and who cause the greatest amount of pollution and desecration of the ecosystem of our endangered Planet. The Citizens of the U.S. have little knowledge of the United Nations or its value or its potential. They are taught by the corporate media to scoff and fear, in sound-bites that denigrate, urging replacement of its heroic Secretary General, and crying scandal, merely to discredit it. How can the Citizens of the U.S. possibly begin to understand that this amazing organization, envisioned and created 60 years ago, and dedicated to the protection of the Peoples of Earth from the Scourge of War, is their best hope for Peace on Earth? Ambassador Bolton, don’t undermine the United Nations; help us to sustain it and promote it, for all the world to witness. Help us to realize its potential for peaceful deliberations among Nations, and to celebrate its 60th anniversary, respecting the progress that it has made.

14. Help the U.S. to be a leader in the promotion of Peace by earnest and respectful negotiations, and by renouncing lawlessness on the world stage, thereby easing the perceived need for military might. Millions, perhaps a majority, of U.S. Taxpayers, the very conveyors of “family values,” immersed as they are in the struggles of balancing their own budgets, simply cannot be oblivious to the total insanity of the U.S. war-focused budget. Especially knowing that we are less safe now than ever! Ambassador Bolton, you surely recognize this insult, especially to our veterans! And what about the elderly, the homeless, ill, un-employed parents, under-funded schools and neglected children and hungry families right here at home? There’s something terribly wrong! What is going on here? Where is the money for needed social services? We NGOs will tell you where! Here is a practical lesson in family values, an example of kitchen-table budgeting. When your children are hungry and sick and under-educated, you don’t waste money on so-called “security measures” just because you fear that your neighbors might threaten you. You have finite resources; how will you spend them? You can borrow only as long as your credit lasts. Because you wish to appear strong and powerful and impenetrable, you can make a great show of guns, locks and barred windows, alarms, guards, vicious dogs, security systems, police protection, etc. spending the greater part of your focus and your budgetable income. With the little that is left, how will you sustain the life within your home? You simply cannot “serve up” a gun at the dinner table. Can you imagine such perverse “family values?” Such obsessively paranoid and totally insane bad budgeting is the absolute antithesis of family values! Instead of living in fear of them, you might try befriending your neighbors; invite them to a party; take your kids shopping at the grocery store, take them to the clinic, to the school, to the library. Your children are your future. Teach them to respect others. Give them reasons to enjoy life! Do you understand this kitchen-table budget analogy?

15. Help to bring respectful resolution to the extremely complicated and seemingly unsolvable dilemmas of self-determination, and of disputed lands. The People themselves must have the right, through a democratic process, to determine their own leadership. And as for disputed lands, the U.S., along with the inconsistent U.N. Security Council, has been in-cahoots with certain political entities that have a “god-given claim” to such lands. We admonish you: listen to the voices of all the occupants in such a dispute, and to protect all! The Native Peoples of the North and South American continent have much to say about such prior claims! If the U.S. champions the right of any Peoples to claim prior ownership of disputed lands, especially those who have long been persecuted, even decimated, over the centuries, we ask you, Ambassador Bolton, to be consistent and to consider also the plight of Native Americans right here at home!

Well, Ambassador Bolton, this is enough for a starter. If you can accomplish all of these assignments right here at the U.N. in New York City by January 2006, and express willingness to take on a second round of assignments, you will have the undying devotion and admiration of the Peace People of the World, but we must warn you: you’ll sure shock the sox off of all the war mongers, the religious nuts, and all of the corporate profiteers in Washington DC!

Good Luck to you! Have courage, Ambassador Bolton, to make changes that benefit the People of Earth!

For additional information on the UN General Assembly 2005 World Summit, September 14 thru 16, 2005 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, please visit the following page on the U.N. Web site.

2005 World Summit (14-16 September 2005)
https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/newyork2005

“Step away from the Keyboard! Hands in the air!”

The whole scenario races through my mind. The Blog Squad of the Anti-Terrorist Security Forces bursts in the door to arrest me. I’m protesting, “What’d I do? What’d I do? Why are you arresting me?” One of the growling military types smacks me with his AK47, knocking me to the floor, and snarls,” Don’t play innocent with me, you subversive sonofabitch! We know what you’ve been doing!”

Two of them carry my computer out the door. They swarm all over, ransacking my place looking for arms and explosives and Damn! They find my stash! “No! No!” I plead! “Don’t confiscate my chocolate!” (It’s my one and only, single, uncontrollable addiction). “We’re taking you to the Anti-Terrorist Security Center; we found your Blog on the Internet! You are guilty of criticizing the government! This kind of terrorist activity is now under our control! You will be nullified and rendered powerless!”

“What about my rights? Aren’t you supposed to read me my rights?” I scream, struggling to stand up. The one who knocked me down sneered, “You are a terrorist…you don’t deserve any rights! You bet, I’ll read to you! I’ll just read the charges against you. I’ll read every single word. These charges are serious and there are a lot of them. You are charged with the following crimes:

1. Stating that the most destructive and terrible anti-human force in the world today is the U.S. Military;
2. Stating that George Bush is an arrogant, lying, warmonger, who should be charged with War Crimes;
3. Stating that the whole Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld administration is a bunch of lying, arrogant, warmongers, who should all be charged with War Crimes;
4. Stating that Condoleeza Rice, who also lies, is not a fit person to head the U.S. State Department or to represent the US to other Nations around the World;
5. Stating that John Negroponte, is not a fit person to head the new, combined security forces, and also should be charged with War Crimes for his stint in Central America;
6. Stating that John Bolton is not a fit person to represent the US at the United Nations, inasmuch as he does not respect the institution, worse, is dedicated to destroying it; and
7. Stating that Paul Wolfowitz is not a fit person to head the World Bank, inasmuch as he views the world in Machiavellian terms of domination and power, shrugging off “collateral damage,” rather than viewing the world with decent, respectful, humanistic and humanitarian considerations of what measures will ease the suffering of the tortured, hungry, homeless, sick, oppressed human beings on the face of this war torn, ecologically doomed, planet. …..End of charges.”

Well, at least I was quoted correctly, I feel a little sense of relief!

I’m struggling against the handcuffs and feeling panicky. “Hey! Wait a minute!” I holler. “This is a democracy; don’t you know that? We have the right in this land of the free, to criticize the government; we have the right, even the obligation, to speak out and object to heinous crimes that are being committed in our name, in the name of the citizens of the US!

Don’t you know that George Bush is asserting that he’s bringing democracy to repressed citizens in other countries? Don’t you know these things? Where are you from? What the hell do you think democracy is all about? It’s the right of the people to know what’s going on, even to demand to know what’s going on, and to take responsibility to warn, when things are going wrong. What do you think we’re supposed to do? Sit on our assets and let everything that we believe in…the whole freakin’ American Dream, be destroyed by madmen who have taken control of our country?”

“Shut up, bitch! You’re in trouble enough already. Now we’ll get you for resisting arrest!” the leader snarls, grabbing me and forcing me toward the door. My eyes fall on the framed parchment copy of the Bill of Rights that hangs near the door. “See that document on the wall?” With my hands behind my back, I’m trying to gesture toward it; I’m screaming, “It’s the Bill of Rights. Article 1. says that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. Article 4. says that people have a right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, and a warrant shall only be issued upon probable cause.”

“I told you to shut up, bitch!” He slams me forward and I’m literally and figuratively banging my head against the wall and The Bill of Rights, which crashes to the floor. As I’m dragged out the door I hear the crunch of the broken glass as boots stomp across the parchment page.

(fade to black)

Who was it, some Senator? I heard the other day that one fearful official or another was warning about those dangerous bloggers, and pledging to take action to bring them under control. It really freaked me out!

But then, I got to thinking about it. In the face of that feeling of despair that many of us share, that I’ve even described as the futility of the times, I suddenly felt very powerful…and proud of the new technology that belongs to the people. Click here to PUBLISH for all the world to see.

Nearly 60 years ago, when the United Nations was formed in 1945, a few key action phrases from the Preamble of its Charter clearly stated the intent of those gathered there with a new vision of peace in their hearts:

We the Peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, …and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, …have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.

The very word save denotes the ability to protect or preserve, and although this may have been the original intent, and this organization of sovereign states has accomplished astoundingly beneficial changes, the sad truth is, that in all of the intervening years, no constant and effective mechanism has ever yet been established for the purpose of actually saving any succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

After Rwanda, a swift and deadly genocide of thousands of helpless people, the United Nations was called into question. Where were the rescuers when rescue was needed? The question, itself, became its own mandate. The world now expects the UN to come to the rescue and take responsibility to save those who are in danger. This is almost a pivotal point in UN history! Previous to this horrendous slaughter 10 years ago, all “Peacekeeping” forces had been dispatched only by the UN Security Council, episodically, into situations of varying degrees of intensity and complexity, always subject to very inequitable political influences, with no long-range plan, no accomplishment goals and no real exit strategy. Any successes were remarkable. No constant, and inflexible definition of danger to a helpless population had yet been established as the criteria for action.

New principles have now been set forth in a report entitled The Responsibility to Protect issued by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, with the support of the Government of Canada. Kofi Annan, himself, in observing the sad anniversary of Rwanda, and then of the Holocaust, declared that human beings must never again suffer such atrocities. He affirmed that we, the International Community have a Responsibility to Protect.

The Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty made many recommendations; one is for permanent Regional Directors, who will be issued the authority to take immediate action. There should be a stand-by, quickly available intervention force, both military and humanitarian, assigned to the region. Instead of trying to solicit funding from various entities before any response can be made, there must be funds readily available for executing rehearsed contingency plans to protect civilians who are threatened, focusing on preventing further bloodshed. Another recommendation is for the Regional Director to be the single centralized authority for coordinating the efforts and activities of humanitarian organizations; there can be great counter-productive confusion over which agency is in charge. As additional funding becomes available it should be funneled into the Regional Director’s agency for the purpose of prioritizing and consolidating efforts so that the funds will be allocated most effectively. Some disasters are well publicized and civilian response may be tremendous; the response to the disastrous tsunami, for instance; while on the other hand, some humanitarian disasters are less known and receive less response; some can even be totally ignored, or worse, denied, which is another matter. How can the International Community respond to a disastrous situation that is denied by local governing bodies when witness testimony indicates otherwise!

But it has now been firmly established that the International Community has a “responsibility to protect” the world’s populations from genocide and other humanitarian crises even when states are unwilling or unable to protect their citizens. The responsibility to protect means that no state can hide behind the concept of sovereignty while it conducts – or permits – widespread harm to its population. Determining how this new mandate will be played out as it begins to be implemented makes for a defining milestone in human history. This means that the safety of human beings is, for the first time ever, a consideration to weigh in the balance against super-sanct sovereignty of nations. Another milestone is, of course, the founding of the International Criminal Court; a body that is dedicated to ending the impunity of individual perpetrators of heinous crimes against humanity and genocide. The concepts of protection, justice and punishment for wrongdoing seem so elementary, ideally taught as basic family values and reflective of life in the local community. The taking of such responsibility in the International Community is centuries overdue; how amazing to witness this mark of human progress.

Now at last the humanitarian disaster in the Darfur region of Sudan is getting attention. The U.N. Security Council in September authorized, under resolution 1564, the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed there. The Security Council was urged by Human Rights Watch to refer the commission’s findings to the International Criminal Court to help ensure justice for the serious crimes committed in Darfur.

As a result of this sequence of events a whole new dynamic is emerging. The United States supports action against the Sudanese government for allowing/supporting the atrocities against its people in the Darfur region. This is commendable. However, the US has placed itself in a very awkward position. How can it agree to use an institution that it fears? The present administration does not approve of the International Criminal Court, even moving to UN-sign the document that President Clinton had signed. They fear correctly that US personnel may be vulnerable to charges/ Not as a result of political manipulation as they anticipate, but of indisputable fact.

The US is suggesting instead that an ad hoc court be created for the sole purpose of trying Sudan. If this attempt prevails, it will certainly avoid the embarrassing issue. This old power play may create some interesting new alliances among the other Security Council States. Time will tell. The other point of contention/uncertainty is the definition of genocide. Has willful (meaning intent) targeting of a specific people for the purpose of causing their extinction occurred? What is the criteria for determining intent? Perhaps this is a matter for the Court itself to decide upon completing an investigation. What is the trigger condition that activates a UN response?

Meanwhile, human progress is taking place before our very eyes. I personally, am feeling very aware of this dichotomous situation. I have been bemoaning the extraordinary powers assumed by the US Executive Branch of government. I believe that deranged individuals have taken control of the US Presidency, and that they have an overwhelming influence upon the other branches of government. What has happened to this precious nation that we believed to be a democracy? Or, if not yet a democracy, then at least a republic, but a country in which the people had a voice in its major decisions. Not so, any more. So, on one hand, I distrust executive power, knowing in my heart that every decision taken by this administration is the wrong one…emanating from a very flawed philosophy. To see enemies all around us, is paranoia. To respond to difficult situations that demand diplomacy with deadly force instead, believing that shock and awe can make anything better instead of worse, is the most asinine faulty reasoning one can ever imagine. As a staunch Humanist I’m firmly convinced that this kind of fanaticism is from basic character flaws…gullibility and resultant illogical reasoning. If the good hearted well-meaning sensible American People with their touted power of Freedom do not gain control of their touted Democracy, we will, in the eyes of the rest of the world, be as guilty as they are. The paradox that I am seeing in the matter of executive power is that the United Nations has been handicapped by the lack of it! The structure of the institution needed reassessment and revision from the beginning. The one certain reason that wars and aggression have been allowed to prevail has been all of the power posturing among nations, with no executive branch to counter balance and to say “Stop!” In the person of Kofi Annan as its Secretary General, I will trust executive power of the United Nations because I believe in the principles to which it is dedicated. I trust his judgment as being in the best interest of the many, especially the vulnerable, rather than the few who flout military power and promote hypocrisy in the guise of democracy.

Civil society, the NGOs, and the various institutions of law and ethics and conscience must speak out in support of the United Nations at this pivotal time, and in behalf of the Responsibility to Protect if we are to become a more civilized human species. There is a call to the international community to take early and effective action to protect the world’s citizens. The Responsibility to Protect-Engaging Civil Society project (R2P-CS) is building a network of NGOs that seek widespread acceptance of these principles. Visit the Web site for information on how to take action.

Of the other issues that concerned citizens of the World are addressing, one of the most urgent is to raise people’s consciousness about the UN Millennium Goals, those of eradicating hunger, poverty, unemployment, lack of education and health care, discrimination against women, and lack of basic rights of the child to adequate protection and nurturing.

Another matter for consciousness raising is the unconcern by industrial nations, chiefly you-know-who, with the conditions that are destroying our environment and causing the unnatural devastation of global warming.

Overriding and influencing all of these concerns are the issues of weapons, (regardless of the hype on the danger of WMDs…all armaments are capable of the mass destruction of human beings); the fact that many corporations are more wealthy and powerful than most nations, and are infamous for generating exploitive labor conditions; and the inequities in the International Banking systems that promote hopeless debtor conditions among those nations most needful of help and least able to pay high interest rates.

We know of several responses to some of these prevailing problems that concerned citizens are working on. Corporate power can be curtailed by the states in which they are incorporated, by state-mandated inclusion of phrases in the corporate papers that make adherence to international standards regarding human rights, labor practices, concern for the environment, concern for common community values, etc. required.

Another effort that concerned citizens can pursue is advocating a new head of the World Bank. The term of the current president is about to expire. A person with experience in a developing nation, intimately familiar with its problems might be a good choice. Worth exploring anyway. Suggestions?

President Lula DaSilva of Brazil has the perfect two-pronged solution to one of the greatest plagues on Earth. His plan could be the best way of raising capital for humanitarian projects ever devised: TAX ARMAMENTS! If the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, even trade of all kinds of weapons were taxed, and the power to inspect and enforce such an international law were voted upon by the UN General Assembly and such law came into force, we citizens of earth will have achieved the ultimate victory. The cats at their convention dealing with problem of the danger posed by the cat, cheered at the suggestion of putting a warning bell on the cat. But then, it occurred to them that someone (who?) would have to do it! Dear fellow peace lovers: I can’t think of a better way to begin to control the menace of weapons. Can you? May peace prevail.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born a few months before I was. His resounding and inspiring voice was cruelly snuffed out in the ascendancy of his career. I’ve been privileged to live into the present day. I salute his memory, his wisdom, his experiences, his leadership, and his ability to inspire new generations beyond his living years. Those of us who identify with his message recognize that we share his dream.

I did not live most of his experiences, completely immersed in my own struggles, yet I empathize, even feel the impact of the reality that he lived. I was not permeated with religious faith. This must be very important to believe strongly in a better place, somewhere, someday, because the struggle against the day to day here and now adversity that we encounter is so powerful and even, perhaps, so hopeless. Faith for me was less essential. I knew little adversity; just normal WPA depression upbringing. I didn’t feel subjected to any discrimination, much less fear or suspicion or hatred.

I sang with the other Presbyterian Sunday Schoolers, “We are precious in His sight: red and yellow, black and white.” Diversity made sense to me. I grieved for and prayed for my Japanese schoolmates who had been whisked off to the Tulelake internment camp. I lived in a multicultural neighborhood, and chose my friends for their compatibility and similar interests. We focused a lot on the environment at our John Muir School which especially inspired respect for the endangered Redwoods. I still share, along with millions of others, concern about the plight of endangered mother earth.

Respect is the keyword! This is perhaps the most important word of all. It comes before Peace! It comes before Liberty or Justice or Freedom or Rights! Before all of the ideals to which we aspire! More than love and caring and compassion. The first thing that must be established in one’s heart and mind is to respect others for the individuals that they are, and to acknowledge their right to be themselves and to live in peace, unmolested, and allowed to follow their own dream. If only each of us could accord all others this basic right we would indeed have peace on earth.

Unfortunately, the powerful do not see it this way. The key word for them is not respect; it is control! I am cringing with shame at the behavior of the U.S. Government: of the Bush administration, most particularly! I am ashamed that the Bushites and corporations are spending millions of dollars on an inaugural gala while millions of people in this country and around the world suffer and do without. This is absolutely without decency or conscience!

And those of us who would protest this shameful extravagance will not be heard! We are to be barricaded away from the celebration for fear that we will disrupt the disgusting proceedings. Let’s hear it for respect! Where should respect begin? With the people? With the leadership?

I have a dream! My dream is also, as Martin proclaimed, that people are recognized for the content of their character, and not for the color of their skin, but more than that! They must be recognized for the truth of their voices! They must be recognized just because they are human beings upon this earth, deserving of respect. There must be first of all…respect. Kofi Annan says we have an obligation to respect the rights of those who are endangered. The hungry must be respected! The threatened must be respected! The unemployed, the homeless, the ill, the uneducated. Respect must include the right of self-determination for all of the peoples of the world. Nature itself is devastating enough; why must human beings plague other human beings? This is shameful, immoral!

My dream is that respect will at last permeate all of the lands, and all of the hearts in this world, beginning with the hearts of persons who are attending the out-of-context, incongruous, Washington, DC spectacle, almost in the very spot from which you made your famous speech. This shameful spectacle is sticking like an arrogant finger in the eye of the watching world.

I, too, have a dream, Martin! I salute you! And I salute all dreamers of your dream! May your dream and mine, and the dreams of all of us lovers of peace and happiness come true!. But first of all, may our dreams of respect for ourselves and for all the other people on the face of this earth come true. This is where it will begin.