MLK: As We Remember the Man, the Dream Remains

Posted by TomCat at 10:13 am Holiday, Politics

Jan 172011

Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced my political thinking more than any other, and I was fortunate to have worked under him on Vietnam Summer and to have been present at two of his greatest speeches. Many thinks have changed since those days. Northern Republicans were often progressive. Southern Democrats, aka Dixiecrats, deserted the party because of Dr. King’s successes and are now the Republican base. But both his Dream and the need for his opposition to wars of aggression remain. To celebrate his like, I have video of “I Have a Dream”, delivered in Washington Mall on August 28, 1063 and audio of “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence”, delivered in New York on April 4, 1967.

I Have a Dream – Text

Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence – Text

The dream still lives. Keeping it alive is our responsibility.

Happy New Year!

Posted by TomCat at 9:04 am Holiday

Jan 012011

New Years Day

On this first day of 2011, thank you all for your comments, your loyalty, your participation, your generosity and your friendship. May your year be as fulfilling as you made the last for me.

Also, a special blessing for politicians of both parties. May you receive for your service, a double measure of all that you deserve.

2010: Merry Christmas

Posted by TomCat at 8:53 am Editorial, Holiday

Dec 252010

Christmas

Christmas is an interesting holiday as most spend it attending to matters that have nothing to do with it’s origin or intent. Even the secular traditions have largely fallen prey to jingle bells on cash registers and Christmas cheer that’s 86 proof or more. Sadly, those with the most joy this year are Republicans and the millionaires and billionaires they represent. But I’d like to step back from all that and remind us all that this is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, not Supply-side Jesus, but the real one.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

[Luke 1:1-14, NASB]

This, in my opinion is not history. Quirinus was governor of Syria at the wrong time and there was no census during his governorship. But that’s not important to me. Most of our traditions are mistaken or unrelated, as well. Shepherds would have pastured their flocks outside Bethlehem in the spring, not in mid winter. December 25 was originally adopted in the Roman Empire because it was Mithras’ (the ‘divine’ man-god of a popular religion) birthday. It was probably kept due to its close proximity to Saturnalia and the solstice. Our Christmas tree, wreaths, yule logs and mistletoe (my personal favorite) are all pagan traditions we have adopted. But that’s not important to me either.

What is important to me is that around 2000 years ago, a man named Jesus was born. According to my faith, he was divine. If you don’t agree, that’s OK. If you believe something else, that’s OK. If you believe in nothing, that’s OK too. Believing in nothing requires the strongest faith of all.

I’d like you to consider a few things about Jesus’ life that make him special. First he was a revolutionary. He taught that love trumps power. He taught that wealth is a hindrance, not a blessing, and had far more concern for the poor than for the rich. He honored the people in his society who were the most despised: lepers, tax collectors, and prostitutes for example. He never called for war. He never condemned people for shortcomings in their lives. He tolerated all except the intolerant, the religious hypocrites, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Republican Theocons of his day. He condemned them for meddling in people’s daily lives, trying to control people with piety codes, and pretending to he righteous, when they were just as flawed as anyone else.

My point is this. No matter what you believe about Jesus’ divinity, his example is worthy for us to emulate, especially his overriding concern for the poor and his opposition to those who use religion to dominate others.

Finally, Christmas is just another day. If we are not practicing peace on earth and good will towards men all year long, isn’t it rather foolish to celebrate it for just a day?

December 7: Remembering the Day

Posted by TomCat at 2:05 am Holiday, Plus

Dec 072010

7Pearl_Harbor I suppose there will always be controversy surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor. History is clear that FDR wanted to go to war on the side of Great Britain, but faced a recalcitrant Congress and a public with loyalties so mixed that, many Americans, especially Republican Plutocons, favored Nazi Germany. Even after the war had started, FDR had to threaten Prescott Bush with prison to make him stop trading with Hitler. History is also clear that FDR did everything he could to push Japan into embarking on a war against the US. He wanted Japan to make the first move, because that was the only way he could get the public support he needed. There is no doubt that FDR knew when Japan planned to attack the US. The only thing is question is whether or not he knew where. In my opinion he did. I suspect he thought that the American forces at Pearl Harbor were sufficiently prepared to fight off the attack without prior warning. If he did, he was wrong. Nevertheless, his speech before Congress the following day is a landmark in US History, and I invite you to listen.

I also hope you will join me in honoring those who were killed and injured on that fateful day, those who survived, and all the men and women who have served in our military. They are not at fault for the crimes of our politicians.

Lord, I’m Not Thankful for the Tea Party

Posted by TomCat at 12:49 am Editorial, Holiday, Politics

Nov 252010

Thanksgiving

Lord, I’m thankful for each new day, but I’m not thankful for the Tea Party. I’m thankful that I have a roof over my head, but I’m not thankful for for the Tea Party. I’m thankful that, though poor, I have enough food to share with those less fortunate than I, but I’m not thankful for for the Tea Party. And I’m thankful for the friends who read and comment here, but I’m not thankful for for the Tea Party. Why?

I’ve never seen a group of people so willing to believe the most outrageous lies without the slightest effort to fact check them, and continue to do believe them, even when confronted with proof. Here’s an example fitting for today.

Forget what you learned about the first Thanksgiving being a celebration of a bountiful harvest, or an expression of gratitude to the Indians who helped the Pilgrims through those harsh first months in an unfamiliar land. In the Tea Party view of the holiday, the first settlers were actually early socialists. They realized the error of their collectivist ways and embraced capitalism, producing a bumper year, upon which they decided that it was only right to celebrate the glory of the free market and private property.

Historians quibble with this interpretation. But the story, related by libertarians and conservatives for years, has taken on new life over the last year among Tea Party audiences, who revere early American history, and hunger for any argument against what they believe is the big-government takeover of the United States.

It has made Thanksgiving another proxy in the debate over health care and entitlement spending, and placed it alongside the New Deal and the Constitution on the platter of historical items picked apart by competing narratives.

There are other debates about Thanksgiving — whether the first was in Jamestown, Va., or Plymouth, Mass.; whether it was intended as a religious holiday or not. But broadly, the version passed on to generations of American schoolchildren holds that the settlers who had arrived in the New World on the Mayflower in 1620 were celebrating the next year’s good harvest, sharing in the bounty with Squanto and their other Indian friends, who had taught them how to hunt and farm on new terrain… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

I quibble with the official version as well, because that initial harvest was not all that bountiful. The pilgrims were not sharing their bounty with poor savages as the official account portrays. The Native Americans went hunting and brought the meat to the feast. Inviting a guest to Thanksgiving dinner is not an act of charity when the guest brings the turkey. So Lord, I’m thankful that Native Americans shared their bounty with the rest of us, but I’m still not thankful for the Tea Party.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Off topic: I may be sporadic for a couple days. See today’s Open Thread.

A Very Scary Halloween!

Posted by TomCat at 1:06 am Holiday

Oct 312010

Halloween2010

When the Republican children of perdition come calling this year, it won’t be Trick or Treat. It will be Tyranny or Teabuggery. If you are foolish enough to choose one, you’ll get both, and America loses.

Vote!

Happy Labor Day!

Posted by TomCat at 12:35 am Holiday, Plus

Sep 062010

Labor-day

Every labor day, I post an article on the importance of the labor movement, and this year is no different. I think mine is an excellent article. But One Fly has posted a piece so remarkable, that I have moved my own article to the number two position for the day.

…In this country there are not many who know why we celebrate this holiday but the story told below explains and we should all take pause now and then and remember those who came before us whether it’s this or any number of other stories of people who sacrificed so our country could be a better place to live in.

Remembering the Haymarket Martyrs…

Inserted from <Oak Creek Forum>

Please click through and read this most excellent piece. It will open in a new window, so when you you’re done, I hope you will scroll down and read mine too.

Independence Day: A Break from Tradition

Posted by TomCat at 2:51 am Editorial, Holiday, Politics

Jul 042010

Over the years, I have written an article on the Declaration of Independence every July 4. Today I’m going to break with that tradition. The basis of our system of government is our Constitution. It is under threat like never before since the Civil War, not from without but from within. The threat comes from people who carry little paper Constitutions and display they claiming to defend it, while their policies demonstrate beyond doubt that, if they have the slightest idea what it says, they have chosen to ignore it.

Starting today, we are going to go over the Constitution and its Amendments line by line. When Republicans wave their paper props and parrot their vile machinations, we will be prepared to expose the lies. The text comes from The US Constitution. It will be displayed in black, while mi comments will be indented in blue.

Preamble – Article I, Section 5

(Preamble)

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Note that when Republicans say that the such programs as health care reform exceed the government’s authority, that promoting for the general (not for the rich only) welfare is right on top.

Article I

Section 1

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

The Constitution did not give Bush the legislative powers to rewrite laws as he did in his infamous signing statements.

Section 2

1: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

Note that a black slave, referred to as “other persons” counted as only 3/5 of a person. When a winger parrots that the Constitution must be interpreted according to the founders’ original intent, ask them if an African American is still 3/5 of a person.

4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Articles of impeachment must begin in the House, a responsibility they overlooked for eight years. The House has impeached only two Presidents: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Richard Nixon resigned before the House voted.

Section 3

1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Some elements of the far right want to return to having state legislatures, not voters, elect Senators.

2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Achieving a two-thirds majority is most difficult. The Senate has never removed a President, finding both Johnson and Clinton not guilty.

7: Judgment in Cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section 4

1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

Congress did set the date as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

They changed the date to January 3, but change it from year to year.

Section 5

1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Note that the filibuster is not the right Republicans claim it is. It is a Senate rule and is subject to change according to the rules of the senate.

3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

I shall try to put up a new article in this series almost every day. It will take some time to cover it all, but when we’re done, we shall be immune to the lies with which Republicans seek to undermine our freedoms.

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