Zimbabwe!

Written by: DFA Staff on Jul 4, 2008 11:34 PM

The Guardian (UK) reports on a film which shows supporters of Robert Mugabe rigging the recent election:  

A film that graphically shows how Robert Mugabe's supporters rigged Zimbabwe's election has been smuggled out of the country by a prison officer. It is believed to be the first footage of actual ballot-rigging and comes as Zimbabwe's president faces growing international pressure.

Shepherd Yuda, 36, fled the country this week with his wife and children. He said that he hoped the film, which was made for the Guardian, would help draw further attention to the violence and corruption in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe is saying he will not talk to the opposition unless and until they agree that he is legitimately the president.  This video is just the latest evidence that this election was anything but clean, fair, and transparent.  

What does the future hold for Zimbabwe?  It is clear that Robert Mugabe will not easily or soon relinquish his grip on power.

Danny
Communications Director

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July 4th--What's Your Idea of Patriotism?

Written by: David Reiter on Jul 4, 2008 4:02 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), DFA-Link Organizers, Florida DFA, Blog For America, What are Progressive Values? Study Group

232 years ago, the founding fathers of our nation penned the Declaration of Independence, and 11 years later, the Constitution and Bill of Rights.  They clearly laid out what the definition of patriotsim is, and I believe Progressive values stand firm to these tenets.

To me, patriotsism is standing up for what we believe is best for our nation.  It is getting involved in our government however and at whatever level we can.  It is letting our representatives know how we feel about issues so they can best represent us in our government.  It is encouraging those that stand up for our rights and represent what is in our best interest.  It is telling those that are not representing our best interest how we feel, and what they can do to better represent us.  It is having open dialogue and a free exchange of ideas. It is respecting each others opinions no matter how much we may disagree, and having the right to try to change opinions.  It is believing in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and standing against any attempt to dismantle or pervert them.  It is being a good citizen that cares about our communities and respect each others pursuits of happiness.  In wartime, it is supporting our troops, but speaking up to our leaders if we feel it is an unjust war.  It is respecting and acknowledging the brave men and women in the military that swear to protect our nation and what it stands for...the Constitution, and the rule of law that has emanated from it.

Many people seem to think patriotism is about flags, fireworks, parades, or blind faith in government.  It is not.  This is the definition of nationalism, not patriotism--rabid nationalism is the same ideology that led to fascism in Nazi Germany.  I'm not suggesting we are at this extreme here, but I get tired of people saying they are patriotic because they wave a flag.  Don't get me wrong--I love our flag, fireworks, and parades, but blind faith in government or our leaders is the furthest thing from patriotism an American can get. Oh--wearing a flagpin: nothing to do with patriotism.  It is what we stand for and do to make our nation better, not what we wear or display in order to get someone to think something about us. 

Some people on the other side of the aisle like to say, 'if you don't like our country, then leave.'  This kind of statement is the very essence of being 'unpatriotic'. Our Constitution clearly states that it is not only our right, but our duty to change government if we are not happy with it.  Those that make the above statement have absolutely no idea what our nation stands for, or even why they enjoy the right to make that statement.  I was in a conversation with a Republican friend of mine the other day, who made this statement in the middle of a conversation about how we can bring about Universal Health Care.  My knee-jerk response to him was, 'if you don't want to change your government for the better, then you should leave, because blind faith is not patriotism and is not what our nation stands for.'

Okay...so you found out what prompted me to write this article:-)  What does patriotism mean to you?

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One Voice Can Fight City Hall & Win Victory for the Bill of Rights

Written by: Denise on Jul 4, 2008 12:01 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, DFA-Link Organizers

We had a little, but not insignificant, victory play out here in Riverside, California, over the last few days.  A victory that proves you can fight City Hall and win.  A victory that proves that one voice really does matter.

Both the Bill Hedrick for Congress Campaign and local Obama volunteers had been told by the City of Riverside Parks and Recreation Department that they could not have a booth at the 4th of July festivities in Fairmont Park, nor would we be allowed to register voters in the park, nor even put up our own tents in the park with signs, literature, etc.  Some plans for visibility and voter registration efforts in the park were cancelled.

However, with a little encouragement ;->, one volunteer, our very own indomitable Alice, wrote her councilman on Wednesday afternoon and asked, Why?  Why can't we register voters in a public park?  Why can't we put up a tent, and wear our t-shirts, and talk to anyone we like about our candidates?  Why were we denied a booth?  Is there a City ordinance prohibiting these activities?  Could she have a copy?  On Thursday morning, she followed up with a phone call.

By noon, the councilman was speaking with the City Attorney.  By afternoon, Victory!  Alice received a return phone call from the councilman.  Yes, you are free to register voters in a public space.  Yes, of course, you are free to wear any t-shirt you like, and talk to anyone you like, about any candidate you like.  Yes, you are even free to have a booth at the City's festivities in Fairmont Park on the 4th.  The Parks and Recreation Department was duly chastised by City officials, and Alice soon received a call to make arrangements for a booth!  

Proof that the Bill of Rights is still alive and well in Riverside.  Proof that once voice can make a difference. Come on down and join us at Fairmont Park today in celebrating Independence Day and reveling in your rights and freedom.

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Friday Music Post -- July 4th Edition

Written by: DFA Staff on Jul 4, 2008 11:54 AM

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates

Melody by Samuel Ward

Performed by Ray Charles

Full lyrics after the jump.

Danny
Communications Director

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On Looking Back, Or, A Jerry Springer Administration--Why Not?

Written by: fake consultant on Jul 4, 2008 7:38 AM

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL

I bring to you today a story that is eight years old and as recent as today’s headlines. 

A foolish tale of mirth and merriment it is indeed--and for those who want a real all-American Fourth of July story, well...this one fits better than a glass slipper on Cinderella’s foot. 

The story, as you might have guessed from the headline, starts with a simple premise and ends by paraphrasing Ronald Reagan’s famous question:

Had we elected Jerry Springer in 2000 instead of George Bush the Younger, would we be better off today than we were eight years ago?

Come along for the ride, Esteemed Reader, and we shall see...

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4th of July news & views scan from Gerry

Written by: Gerry L on Jul 4, 2008 8:32 AM

commemorating the promise of our nation...

Friday~

****************round of articles about our domestic ‘issues’

July 4,  2008

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

Thomas Jefferson

 Just Democracy

By Katrina vanden Heuvel-The Nation

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080721/kvh

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Our National Anthem

Written by: DFA Staff on Jul 3, 2008 10:52 PM

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Take the Bus

Written by: DFA Staff on Jul 3, 2008 8:30 PM

On and off for ten years, I lived in Los Angeles.  And, like millions of other Angelenos I drove.  Los Angeles is definitely a car city, but there is a public transportation system.  There are buses and even a subway.  The problem is that none of the infrastructure of this mass transit system fully and effectively allows for the elimination of the car.

For example, to get from where I last lived to where I worked was a 20 minute drive during off-peak hours, a one hour drive during rush hour, but a two hour commute by bus.  And that was if the bus was on time and I caught all the connections.  As much as I would want to use it, the bus was just not a practical option.

With gas prices getting higher and higher, Americans are driving less and using public transportation more.  From McClatchy:

Evidence already is mounting of a wholesale change in the way Americans commute. Motorists have driven roughly 30 billion fewer miles over the last six months compared with the same period a year ago, according to federal government estimates. Meanwhile, commuters took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation last year, the most in 50 years — when the population was about 60 percent the current size — according to the American Public Transportation Association. Ridership is up 3.3 percent in the first three months of 2008 and 30 percent since 1995.

Both trends suggest that growing numbers of Americans are reaching their tipping points in how much they'll spend for the freedom and luxury of personal automobile transportation.

I would love to see all of this result in a real investment in mass transit.  An investment that would allow us to break free of the car.  An investment that meets the needs of not just urban dwellers, but also people who live in the suburbs or rural areas.  Public transportation addresses concerns connected with our dependence on foreign oil and global warming.  It is a shame we had to reach $4 a gallon gas to figure all this out.

Danny
Communications Director

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Gun Control Decision Highly Confusing to a Layman

Written by: myles s on Jul 3, 2008 12:08 PM

Gun control decision

is highly confusing to a layman

Well, constitutional law experts having been vetting the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down D.C.’s hand gun ban, with varying opinions. But to a layman, the ruling makes no sense whatsoever, and the majority opinion written by Justice Scalia is even more non-sensical and highly confusing.

Further, the opinion written by Scalia (who claims to be an “originalist" strictly interpreting the Constitution) again shows him, and others on the majority, to be quite the opposite and he seems to have based his opinion on politics, pure and simple.

The Second Amendment right to bear arms is quite specific and clear. It states:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

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Pentagon Inspects KBR, but Don't Hold Your Breath

Written by: Kate Drazner on Jul 3, 2008 12:14 PM

Linked to groups: Montco DFA, PA for Democracy

Call it a qualified victory.

On July 1, the Pentagon agreed to investigate the showers built by KBR, a private military contractor in Iraq. More than a dozen U.S. soldiers have been fatally electrocuted by faulty wiring in the showers. There has been a lot of blogger commentary and reporting about the electrocution, including several items I wrote for Progressive Future.

And while I think we certainly helped push this issue into the mainstream, I'm pretty sure all the blogger activism in the world would not have made a bit of a difference without the efforts of Cheryl Harris.

Cheryl's son, Ryan, died from electric shocks suffered in a KBR-built shower. The military told Cheryl that Ryan died because he foolishly entered the shower with an electric device. Which, of course, turned out to be a lie. It was the fault of an improperly-grounded water pump, which electrocuted the young sergeant.

Cheryl did some research, and found that a similar scenario had caused the deaths of at least 12 other U.S. soldiers, as well as a multitude of reports of milder shocks among troops. She also found that faulty shower wiring and reported electric shocks had been brought to KBR's attention as early as 2004, and the contracting company neither investigated nor mitigated the situation. In the spring of this year, Cheryl filed a wrongful death suit against KBR.

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