Progressive Springfield

Springfield...I mean, Champaign

2008-06-22T18:43:00.001-05:00

Hmmm...hard to run a blog called "Progressive Springfield" now that I live in Champaign. What to do...what to do...

Government of the People

2006-03-01T05:31:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been reading "Civil Disobedience" by Henry Thoreau, required reading for any student of peace. This was written in 1847, and it strikes how similar things were then to how they are now. At that time, the U.S. government was waging an essentially private war against Mexico, not unlike our current situation in Iraq. This blog's subtitle mentions "taking back our country," as if the country was ever "ours." Reading Thoreau makes me wonder if this is just the nature of governments, even our government which, at first glance, appears founded on principles of democracy, yet in practice acts more like an oligarchy.

By the way, don't forget to call your Congressperson and Senators about ending the funding for this war. Call Congress: 202-224-3121 (or, temporary toll free number: 888-355-3588). There is vote coming up soon for an additional $72 billion dollars for the war. There is no end in sight for this war, especially now that civil war is on the horizon.

Out of Iraq 2006 : Vote with your checkbook

2006-02-14T14:13:00.000-06:00

As election time approaches, those who can afford to do so may wish to consider contributing to one or both of the following Congressional campaigns. Both Democratic candidates are running on anti-war campaigns, and both races are considered close enough to overturn Republican seats.

Major Tammy Duckworth is running for Illinois 6th district (north Chicago - Henry Hyde's vacating seat). Major Duckworth lost both her legs on tour in Iraq. From her website, she states:
"To bring our troops home, we need a much more aggressive plan and timetable than the Bush Administration has offered for training the Iraqi police and armed forces, and transferring to the Iraqis the responsibility for securing their own country."

Diane Farrell is running for Congress in Connecticut's 4th District against a Republican who has stood steadfastly by Bush and his bloodthirsty invasion. From Diane's website:

"I have been deeply concerned by the current administration’s headlong rush into war with Iraq. This War has alienated our allies, solidified the US position as an object of resentment and mistrust in most of the Arab World, destroyed much of Iraq’s infrastructure and increased its ethnic strife and increased global terrorist activity. A huge economic burden has been placed on the United States to fund a war entered into without a strong, committed coalition. Worst of all, the Administration’s lack of an exit plan has resulted in the tragic loss of life of hundreds of our American servicemen and citizens as well as thousands of Iraqis.”

bin Laden truce

2006-01-20T19:25:00.000-06:00

You know, perhaps I'm extremely naive; but it seems to me that when the world's most feared terrorist offers a truce, maybe it shouldn't be just totally dismissed out of hand.

"We don't negotiate with terrorists," Dick Cheney says. "We destroy them."

How stupid is that? How are we ever going to achieve peace if we aren't willing to negotiate? Has anyone in this administration ever heard of the word "Diplomacy?"

Granted, maybe it's a ploy; maybe bin Laden isn't being sincere. Who cares? Does it hurt to at least talk things over with the guy? I mean, it doesn't seem like his demands are all that unreasonable: pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, for instance. We have no business being there anyway. Even if we pretended to negotiate with bin Laden, maybe we'd find out where he was hiding. One would think that might be worth a lot, even to Dick Cheney.

Or could it be that we really don't want bin Laden? Do we want to keep him at-large so we can justify the "War on Terrorism?" What would happen if we actually caught or killed bin Laden? Would we still be able to justify robbing the taxpayers to support the neo-conservatives' Crusade against the Muslim world? Could Halliburton and the rest of the military-industrial complex survive without our ongoing public subsidy?

It's enough to make you wonder...

5-Minute Activism

2005-12-18T20:10:00.000-06:00

Some people call me an activist. I suppose I am. I'd like to think I am. It's hard to be particularly active when you have a demanding day job.

My new prescription for myself is 5-minute activism. I will spend 5 minutes every day doing something activist. These activities could include:
- Learning more about an issue that concerns me
- Debating an important issue with someone (such as online politics chat rooms)
- Sending an e-mail to my representative/senator/president
- Donating a few bucks to a worthy cause
- Discussing issues with other concerned citizens
- Posting to my blog (or elsewhere)

These are easy ways in which we can all make a difference in only 5 minutes a day.

Try it. Become a 5-minute activist!

Bye Bye Scooter!

2005-11-02T13:10:00.000-06:00

It's so encouraging to see Scooter Libby indicted. I'm hoping the investigation turns up something on Karl Rove also. These guys need to be made accountable for their involvement in the biggest scam on the American people ever. Convince Americans that Saddam is a threat, and they'll gladly fork over their tax dollars to Halliburton.

The tide does appear to be turning against Mr. Bush. Public opinion is at an all-time low. Rove's involvement is diminishing due to his preoccupation with the Senate investigation.

More and more, the American public also appears to be swaying towards an Iraq pullout. The casualties keep mounting, and will continue to mount as long as we maintain a military presence there. The "insurgents" are developing more advanced bomb technology, as they attempt to take back their homeland.

I was encouraged at a recent march on Washington. There was such a feeling of hope amongst my fellow protesters. Most of these people were veterans of the Vietnam protests, and they had seen first hand how their actions eventually led to the pullout from Vietnam. Many of these people were actual Veterans, giving credence to the anti-war cry. And a large number of clergy and laity spoke out against a President who attempts to use God to justify his evil ways.

It will likely be several more years until we pull out of Iraq, if we ever do. But at least I have hope that this may actually happen. Until recently, it seemed like the Bush junta had too much power for any change to occur.

The mighty do fall. In this case, it will be a fabulous spectacle!

Slow to respond

2005-09-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

Who's slower to respond, our President to the natural disaster Katrina, or our citizenry to the un-natural disaster George W. Bush?

Traitor Awards

2005-08-17T22:47:00.000-05:00

I think there are several officials of the Bush Administration (aka the Corporate Oil and Gas Junta) that are due awards--traitor awards. Obviously, Carl Rove is a traitor in the first degree. I thought these Republicans were supposed to be big on protecting national security, but he pimped Ambassador Wilson's wife( the deep-cover CIA agent working on nuclear proliferation issues), just to get back at Wilson for exposing the big "Iraqi Niger uranium buy" lie. So when necessary to cover up Bush lies, the national security can be compromised, and even if it would encourage some nuclear anihilation by a rogue state.

But from I've seen at infowar.com, it looks like these wacky neo-cons have already got a nuclear attack on the US planned. Could be why a 4-star general at Fort Monroe got fired right before his retirement. He might have interfered with an "inside job," an apocalytic Wag the Dog where there's a nuclear accident related to a nuclear drill, and Rumsfeld and Cheney can use it to start war on Iran. They've got a policy all set to automatically attack Iran if there's ANY nuclear attack on the US. Talk about your rogue states with nukes, how about the George W. Bush Amerika run by Right-Wing wackos?

Vigil tonight for Cindy Sheehan

2005-08-17T18:01:00.000-05:00

To sign up for this event, click here:http://www.moveonpac.org/event/cindyvigils/4909

Embedded

2005-06-27T18:54:00.000-05:00

I need to check out the new DVD by Tim Robbins called "Embedded Live." Robbins produced a play about the Iraq war, and this is a live filming. Also see interview in this months In These Times.

March on Washington

2005-06-27T18:52:00.000-05:00

A massive anti-war mobilization is planned for Sept. 24-26. United for Peace and Justice is organizing it. Should be lots of fun!

Bring the troops home!

Anti-war movement growing

2005-06-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

I was encouraged to see the latest polls showing increasing popular dismay with the war in Iraq. According to Washington Post /ABC News, for the first time, a majority of Americans feel that the war has not made the United States safer. Fifty-eight percent disapprove of Bush's handling of it. Fifty-eight percent say the war was not worth fighting. And 73 percent consider the number of casualties unacceptable.

This is very good news. Finally, people are seeing the light. Maybe there's still hope that we'll be able to pull out of this mess we've got ourselves in.

This can't be good...

2005-05-13T23:11:00.000-05:00

Muslim protests are spreading in demonstration against reported desecration of the Qu'ran by Guatanamo Bay interrogators. This can't be good. So far, most of the protests have been peaceful, but 8 were killed in Afghanistan.

No, this can't be good at all. This is the sort of spark that could ignite some serious backlash from a Muslim world that is already angry about Bush's Crusade.

Which will, in turn, makes things even harder for American Muslims like me. I'm lucky enough that the FBI hasn't interrogated me yet over the comments I've made on this site. I'm sure they are watching (remember, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!).

No, this just can't be good at all.

You know, I actually remember a time, oh, maybe 3 years and 8 months ago, give or take, when being a Muslim in America didn't seem to be such a big deal. Now, you say the wrong thing and people think you're a "terrorist!"

But I have to say my piece (or is it peace?). This is the only way to clear my conscience for what's being done with my tax dollars.

One of my friends is thinking about moving to New Zealand because he's just as disgusted with contemporary American politics as I am (and he isn't even Muslim!). By the way, New Zealand was listed in The Bush Survival Bible as one of 7 countries to move to (the others being Costa Rica, Canada, France, Spain, Iceland, and Pitcairn Island!).

Unfortunately, as I just found out from an ex-patriate in Spain, you may still have to pay U.S. taxes even if you emigrate (depending on your income). So it's really hard to get away from paying for these wars no matter what you do.

I suppose not paying your taxes is another option. You do risk going to jail, however. Which may not be such a bad thing, depending on your circumstances. Some great people have done serious jail-time. Gandhi and Mandela come to mind. But some of us have kids to feed. It's hard to feed your kids from jail. (And let me just say, before I get into too much trouble, that I am not recommending that anyone break the law. Breaking the law is a BAD thing. BAD BAD BAD! Whew.)

By the way, I'm always eager to hear from my loyal readers (or anyone else, for that matter). Just click below the post where it says "comments."

Politics as Usual

2005-05-12T22:16:00.000-05:00

Another $82 billion approved for further bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan with unanimous senate approval!

I should rename this Blog to "Observations from the Politically Naive ," because only someone like me would actually find this news surprising or even mildly shocking. To oppose an active war is certain political suicide, or so I'm told. Better to kill other people than have one's own political career in jeopardy, the reasoning must go.

Still, I would have expected more out of our more progressive senators. Dick Durbin, how could you? And Barbara Boxer?! I thought she had more "balls" than that.

I guess no one wants to look like they aren't supporting our troops. I bet they'd feel plenty supported if we flew them back home to be with their families.

And someone please explain to me why the bill includes $592 million for a secure diplomatic compound in Baghdad. I mean seriously, half a billion dollars for a fucking embassy? Is this some sort of joke? Doesn't anybody question these things?

The worst part is, I'm paying for it...and so are you!

Just Say "No" to Bolton

2005-05-10T23:13:00.000-05:00

This is so typical of our administration...nominate someone to be ambassador to the UN who has repeatedly ridiculed the United Nations and alienated U.S. allies. He helped formulate the administration's go-it-alone policy that has isolated us from our allies and tarnished our image abroad.

We need a diplomat in this position, not the kind of hard-liner who supports unilateral action in disregard to world opinion.

Write your Senators! Tell them you oppose the Bolton nomination and they should too.

hmmmm...

2005-05-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

Ok, I've got this great money-making scheme:

First, bomb the shit out of some weak country.
Then, appropriate that country's assets to pay you to rebuild what you've just destroyed. Also pay yourself with your own country's taxpayers' money.
Then offer this now-desperate country a big loan.
Then, open and control new markets in this country, so that they have to take the money you loan them and give it right back to you to buy the things they need from you.

Brilliant!

Naomi Klein on the war in Iraq

2005-05-05T19:41:00.000-05:00

Great article

Midwest Forum for Activists

2005-04-25T23:25:00.000-05:00

Radfest (June 3-5 in Williams Bay, Wisconsin) looks like it could be a pretty cool and interesting get-together for progressive activists in the MidWest. Wish I could go!

Fight the Conservative Media

2005-04-14T13:51:00.000-05:00

There's a nice article on-line at In These Times about fighting the conservative media. Excellent discussion section as well.

In my mind (and this may seem very obvious), the biggest problem trying to fight the conservatives is that they have most of the money and most of the power . How do you fight that?

On the other hand, acquiscence isn't a very palatable option either.

Lost causes are still worth fighting for.

Health Department Merger...how to vote?

2005-04-05T07:43:00.000-05:00

I can't say I have a very good feel for how to vote on the merger of Springfield City and Sangamon County Health Departments. One one level, it seems to make sense, if there is duplication of services. No one is supposed to lose their job with the merger, with savings to occur over time through attrition. That seems to make sense also.

What bothers me a little bit is just how vocal the supporters have been. The County health department is controlled by Republicans, while the City dept. is marginally controlled by Democrats. Politics rears its ugly head once again. The Sangamon County Medical Society endorses it, and they've left messages on everyone's voice mails (or at least mine) saying how "Springfield's Doctors Support it...so should you!" Well, I happen to know of at least one Springfield doctor who has his doubts about this merger, so this blanket statement ticked me off a little too. Besides which, most doctors in Springfield are Republican, so is this just another political statement?

We have this great democratic system called "voting" which gives people like us the power to help make important decisions. Yet when it comes down to voting time, it often seems like we don't have enough information to make an informed decision. We end up having to decide between one party's rhetoric and the other's.

I'm tempted to just sit this vote out. Perhaps that's not very civically responsible. But is it responsible to vote when the issues remain unclear?

Maybe the merger IS a good idea, and my reluctance to vote on it is merely a reflection of my difficulty supporting a measure so strongly supported by Republicans. Republicans can't be wrong ALL the time. Many of them aren't really bad people. Some of my best friends are Republicans!

Any other thoughts out there?

Now what?

2005-02-17T14:02:00.000-06:00

So what do people think of this Iraq election anyway?

I don't know what to think. I couldn't help but feel good seeing Iraqis going to the polls to exercise some freedom of choice. Despite my long-standing opposition to this war, it was a moment where I actually found myself wondering if maybe it was all worth it.

Was it? Do George Bush and his neo-con supporters know what they're doing after all? Maybe I'm being naive in thinking that the world can change for the better without taking a few innocent civilians here and there. Maybe violence is a necessary means to certain desirable ends. Maybe we ought to take 'em all out, Iran, Syria, North Korea, the whole lot. Maybe we should take out France while we're at it. No, France has nukes. Can't do that.

Nuclear weapons - the great equalizer. You know, I've always wondered why it's OK for the United States to have weapons of mass destruction, but no one else. We can destroy a country just because we think they might be developing weapons of mass destruction. But what about us? I mean, isn't that a bit hypocritical? Is anyone else bothered by this? I'm not advocating widespread nuclear proliferation. But what gives us the right to dictate the world order?

Our military. Might makes right. He who has the biggest and deadliest weapons wins. The other guys are bad. They aren't white, they dress funny, they speak a funny language, and they probably smell AWFUL. They worship some strange thing named "Allah". They deserve to die.

What part of "Thou shalt not kill" don't we understand?

The Iraqi Election

2005-01-27T20:21:00.000-06:00

The violence ever increases. Polling stations destroyed. Helicopters crashed.

"The vote must go on," Bush says.

Wotta farce.

What the insurgents don't realize is that no matter how illegitimate Sunday's election turns out to be, the U.S. will endorse it as legitimate, and the U.S. puppet regime will be installed, and then....?

Look out, Tehran...you're in our sights.

Selective Service Brainstorming Meeting

2005-01-25T20:58:00.000-06:00

Interested folks are invited to join in a community effort to bring information, education and resources to Springfield through participation in a brainstorming meeting on Wednesday, 2/2 from 7 - 8:45 p.m. at Lincoln Library Carnegie Room North. If you are interested but can't make that date, please let me know when you are available in March, and we will try to plan a March meeting with many schedules in mind, as long as we have them by 2/2! If you like the idea, can't make the meeting, but might like to help financially once you see our plans, please let me know.

Individuals from the following groups have expressed plans to participate in this effort: Abraham Lincoln Unitarian/Universalist Congregation, First Church of the Brethren, Middle East Peace Project, Pax Christi Springfield, and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, as well as one wonderful free agent.

Please bring resources, stories, clippings, website, and other items that you would like to see prioritized. We are brainstorming here, so the only limit on us will be that of time.

If you know others who might like to hear about this meeting, please send this message to them.

Peace,

Diane Lopez Hughes

Some thoughts on MLK day

2005-01-17T19:04:00.000-06:00

I never paid much attention to MLK Day. I was happy to get the day off, sure. But I never spent any time reflecting on who MLK was or why he is important remembering. Today, I decided to learn a bit more about this great man. The more I learn, the more I realize what a loss occurred on April 4, 1968. Not only did MLK fight for racial equality, he was vocal against the corporate control of America, and advocated "social democracy".

Besides pulling out my yet-unread copy of "Why We Can't Wait?", I decided to flip around the TV to see if there were any MLK specials on. To my disappointment, nothing appeared on any major stations, not even the History channel.

However, I was overjoyed to make a new discovery. DISH has a channel call FSTV (#9415) which featured MLK's last speech, and is now broadcasting a show called "Shocking and Awful" about citizen opposition to the Iraq war.

WATCH THIS CHANNEL!

And let's say a prayer for Martin Luther King, Jr., and hope that others like him will rise up to continue the dialogue against social injustice.

Getting the hell out of Iraq

2005-01-16T17:25:00.000-06:00

It's encouraging to see some active movement afoot in Congress to get our men and women out of Iraq. On January 12, sixteen Democrats in the House of Representatives, including three Illinoisans, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. This comes at an important time, when, according to the New York Times (Jan. 10), discussions of how the U.S. might disengage from Iraq are "bubbling up in Congress, in the Pentagon and some days even in the White House."

Within the next 4-6 weeks, the Bush administration plans to ask Congress for an additional $80-$100 billion for the war in Iraq! Jesus Christ! What is wrong with us?!? How much of our money and our children's money are we going to keep spending on this bloodbath?

Time to write the press and write your congressperson.

The three Illinoisans who signed the letter were Danny Davis (IL-07) 202-225-5006, Lane Evans (IL-17) 202-225-5905, and
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-02) 202-225-0773.

Lane Evans even represents some of us in Springfield...Hooray for us! Now, someone please tell me why Springfield is split up between 3 congressional districts (17, 18, and 19).

Fair Trade store opens in Springfield

2005-01-15T18:48:00.000-06:00

The Fair Trade movement seeks to counteract the inequities of "free trade" (sweatshops, environmentally unsound practices, etc.) by providing access to North American markets to low-income farmers and artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other parts of the world.

Project Peace has just opened their store at 318 E. Monroe. They sell fair trade handicrafts and coffee from around the world, and also have a resale shop to for used clothing and other items.

Check it out!

End of the Blog?

2005-01-05T18:42:00.000-06:00

Doesn't seem like this blog is really getting off the ground. The frequency of my posts has slowed down secondary to the lack of response. I must also admit that my initial aggravation and "call to arms" feeling after the election, has now drifted to complacency and apathy. Which is exactly what the corporate right-wing ruling class wants, I guess. Or maybe they just don't care, 'cos there never really seems to be much I can do to fight them anyway.

It would be fun to be an activist and spend all my time pushing for progressive reform. Who knows what good it would do. But the reality is, I have a job, I have other responsibilities, and after the high emotions fade, I fall back into the day to day routine, paying my bills, feeding my cat, taking out the garbage, worrying about my daughter, etc...

I'd like to believe that, on the horizon, there is an evolution of consciousness that will occur in the human race. More and more, people will realize, "Hey...killing thousands of people on false pretenses just ain't right," or "Hey...it just isn't right for the rich to keep getting richer while the poor keep getting poorer." Maybe. I'd like to believe that, anyway. I'd like to see that in my lifetime.

A New Course in Iraq

2004-12-19T19:08:00.000-06:00

More thoughts on getting the hell out.

How to End the Iraq War

2004-12-14T22:57:00.000-06:00

This interesting article by Tom Hayden suggests some things we can do to end the killing spree in Iraq.

I find it ironic that a large percentage of Bush supporters are regular churchgoers; yet they don't seem to grasp the concept of the Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."

Supposedly, our troops are still over there to enhance security during the transition to a "democratic" government (i.e., American puppet regime). And a political and military presence would strategically enhance America's global domination. But do the ends justify the means? A stronger America is a worthy aspiration; but not at the cost of more than 100,000 lives, mostly women and children (see Lancet article). Furthermore, I think the chances that a democratic government will long survive in Iraq are remote. Some countries just aren't ready for democracy.

White Ribbon Campaign

2004-12-12T06:06:00.000-06:00

United for Peace and Justice has just launched a White Ribbon Campaign to increase the visibility of those who oppose the Iraq war. The concept is to support our troops by advocating an immediate end to this war to bring them back safely. A worthy goal to express the sentiment of many Americans who feel that being patriotic doesn't mean blindly following the administration's lead but rather questioning the sanity and morality of the actions "our" government undertake. Patriotism means participating in activities aimed at making this country a better place, one that we can all be proud of. Although I can't keep track of what all different colored ribbons mean any more, the act of making one's political opinions more public may be the only power we have left in a political process that otherwise leaves us feeling helpless.

Department of Peace

2004-12-09T21:20:00.000-06:00

With so much money spent on War, why not spend a little on Peace?

Ohio congressman and former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is sponsoring a bill (HR 1673) to create a U.S. Department of Peace. This bill establishes non-violence as an organizing principle of American society, providing the U.S. President with an array of peace-building policy options for domestic and international use.

See The U.S. Department of Peace Coalition or The Department of Peace Campaign for more info.

Central Illinoisans, contact Joe Keck to participate in the campaign.

Makes sense to me!

From BBC: Key US state certifies Bush win

2004-12-07T21:59:00.000-06:00

** Key US state certifies Bush win **
The battleground state of Ohio confirms the final result of the US presidential poll, although challenges are expected.

51 Capital March in Springfield

2004-12-06T19:56:00.000-06:00

I must admit to being a bit ambivalent about this one. I'm HUGE on election reform, but do I really want to demand a hand recount of Illinois votes? In case you do, the march begins at noon this Sunday, December 12, in front of the State Capitol. State coordinator is Laura Cleveland.

OK...twist my arm...nothing like a bit of live protesting to spark up the weekend!

Marc Sanson, where are you?

2004-12-06T17:02:00.000-06:00

I was just getting ready to add a link to Springpatch.org when I noticed that the website is way out of date!

In all fairness to Marc, the webmaster, I understand he's extremely active within the Green Party, which may not leave him much time for updating web sites. While I twiddle on my keyboard, he's been trying to get the Ohio recount going. Maybe he'll give us an update on that. Last I heard, some judge said Kerry had to give his support to the recount in order for it to happen.

International Human Rights Day in Springfield

2004-12-05T15:56:00.000-06:00

Dec 10, 4-5p, Candlelight vigil & reading of Declaration of Human Rights at the State Capitol, 2nd & Edwards, by Springfield Peace & Justice Community, 544-3997, 899-3389.

Where is your shopping money going?

2004-12-05T15:04:00.000-06:00

Here's an interesting web site which helps you determine which political party your shopping dollars go to:http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php

I don't know what's more surprising: that Shell Oil is the only oil company that donated more to the Dems, or that there actually was an oil company that did so.

Welcome to the blog!

2004-12-05T12:43:00.000-06:00

I was inspired to start this blog by a book I read this weekend. The book is called The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, by Joseph Trippi. Trippi was Howard Dean's campaign advisor, and a great believer in the use of the Internet to empower people and create communities. I was also inspired by a recent MoveOn house party I hosted. I was amazed that in the largely "red" community of Springfield, Illinois, there were so many others out there just like me, who had progressive values and felt a strong need to Take Back America from the corporate right-wing coalition that currently rules it.

Since hosting that house party several weeks ago, I've struggled with how to maintain that sense of community amongst the people in my cramped living room that evening. Perhaps this will be a step in that direction.

Welcome!