A Must Read from Edward Snowden

I fairly regularly follow The Guardian's coverage of the NSA spying story and Edward Snowden. 

They have a "blog" going now covering NSA/Snowden related developments.  If you visit the link and scroll down to the section marked 11:07 AM BST and marked with the title: "Snowden: Economies Are Built On Creativity, Curiosity, and Privacy." you will be able to read his statement read at the meeting of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. There is also a video of his statement being read by a Ms. Radack.

The link:  Guardian NSA Blog

There's quite a bit in their NSA files section and Greenwald's commentary series.  I encourage you to browse them and stay informed!

Racial Issues Discussion

Hello and welcome readers!  There was some interest from folks commenting on Memory Hole Blog to have a discussion of racial issues.  So here I am setting up a thread.  Since I know this a touchy issue and discussions could get intense, allow me to set up some GUIDELINES!

First and foremost, be civil at all times and post respectfully.  No personal attacks, etc..  As of right now, comments are not moderated - that could change and I still can remove any abusive comments (and no, I WON'T censor ideas,!).  I don't think this will be a problem - everyone at MHB seems fine - but you don't know who else is reading, may want to participate, so I'd rather say it and have no need for doing so than not.  And please, as a favor to your hostess, no cursing or profanity.

Second - and this is really more of a hint - although our language is certainly imperfect and imprecise, do try to write as clearly as possible.  If your meaning is clear, there's less chance of fuss over misreading and simple misunderstanding.

I would like this discussion to be thoughtful so here are some questions to get us started.  You may answer all or any in comments and go from there...

1) Do you perceive race/ethnicity has impacted your life?  How so?  (be as specific or as general as you feel comfortable with sharing.)

2) Why do we seem to separate ourselves into "us" and "them"?  (I ask this because this has happened in many cultures over the centuries, but it seems in the U. S. it was often done along racial lines.)

3)  What changes in race relations have you noticed in your lifetime?

4) Can we eliminate racism by ignoring the existence of race?

5) What book(s) would you suggest for a reading list on race/racial issues?

My responses:

1) Full disclosure for those who don't personally know me: I'm multi-ethnic/multi-racial - that is (in alphabetical order): African-European-Native American.  It's hard to say how race has specifically impacted me.  Of course my experience I don't believe is typical.  I've not encountered very much, if any, OVERT racism, and covert? Well that's harder to pin down, but of course there have been some things here and there.  I've had supporters and mentors of most races and both genders.  My parents were great, supportive as well as my extended family (which especially on Mom's side looks now like a mini-U.N.). I also grew up in an integrated neighborhood and attended an integrated Church. So I'd better try to relate to everyone.

2) This is not original, but I think it comes from a place of fear.  "We" somehow feel threatened (about something - maybe economic?) and think it is "they" who are to blame.  Along with that, maybe if "we" look down on "them" it somehow makes us feel better about ourselves. 

3)  Hmmm - I think there was a "coming together" during the sixties - people were talking to each other even through the turmoil.  I remember going to a discussion group ( I was in maybe in 9th grade) with my parents.  Then things sort of fizzled out; groups sort of diverged, especially economically.   Now I feel the differences are probably as much socioeconomic as racial. Maybe that's why groups have such a hard time relating to each other. Socially, though - I think interaction of races is a bit lagging, I'll say.

4) Tough one.  Can we really ignore race, should we?  My own take is that we have to work on accepting each other, differences included.  My great Psych prof., Dr, Keller (shout out!) once said, it would be so boring if there were no differences in people.  The only question left would be 'Why are we all the same?'

5) The one I'll suggest is old, but I believe to be classic and more than likely still relevant.  It is  The Nature of Prejudice by Gordon W. Allport.  I will confess I have not read it, but do have a copy here somewhere!

Ok, folks, now to it!

CUNY Protests

I am again dismayed about the treatment of peaceful protesters.  This time at CUNY, protesting against ret. General Petraeus.  You can read about it here .

When will people start demanding that police stop using brutal tactics on peaceful protesters?  We cannot remain silent.  We must raise our voices in support of those who dissent. Yes, sometimes, those who dissent may be distasteful to us; however, if they do things peacefully, nonviolently, we must decry any such brutality used against them.

You can also read the support letter/petition including contact info for adding your signature.

And one more time:  I know I'm getting page views.  I would hope that someone would leave a comment or two.  I do put *some* effort into these posts; can't someone even spare a moment to comment - good, bad, indifferent?

Urgent - Save Food Stamp Funding

The House is set to consider a bill that would drastically cut food stamps (supplemental nutrition programs) ON TOP OF cuts that are already scheduled for this Fall. 

The vote might come Thurs. - that's TOMORROW.  Please contact your representative and ask that he/she vote against HR 3102.

We need to stand together and stand up for each other!

Oh, My, WHAT is going on???

I follow developments in the NSA spying scandal, of course, and there always seems to be a new outrage.

I would recommend that everyone follow this story, get informed, and press for serious reforms.  Again, probably the best place to start is The Guardian online site.

The latest incident happened just this past weekend when security at Heathrow Airport detained David Miranda, the partner of journalist Glenn Greenwald who broke the NSA story and continues to report on it.  Supposedly, he was detained using a terrorism law, but it seems clear he was involved in NO terrorist activity.  In fact, in his interview at The Guardian site, he says he was interviewed about the NSA/Snowden story, Greenwald, and Laura Poitras (who is doing documentary on the subject.  Definitely NOT terrorism.  Also it has come to light that GCHQ personnel destroyed computers in The Guardian's basement  in an attempt to stop reporting on Snowden's leaks and NSA (and GCHQ?) spying.  You can read about that (and Miranda's detention) here .

We all should be outraged that Freedom of the Press is under such severe attack.  We must start standing together to support real journalism, and to work to defend our liberties.

My Update on a Classic

Here, without further ado, is my update and take on an old classic:

First they came for the “terrorists”

And I said nothing because I was not a “terrorist”
After all, they were bad guys, right?

Then they came for the “lawbreakers”
And I said nothing because I was not a “lawbreaker”
For those who have nothing to hide had nothing to fear, right?

Then they came for the “whistleblowers”
And I said nothing because I was not a “whistleblower”
Besides, they should have followed internal procedures, right?

Then they came for the “conspiracy nuts”
And I said nothing because I was not a “conspiracy nut”
Oh, they all probably just went off somewhere to party in tin foil hats, right?

Then they came for the “protesters”
And I said nothing because I was not a “protester”
Then I finally started to think
That couldn't happen HERE; that could only happen somewhere else, right?

Then they came for me –

And the silence was deafening.

Happy Belated Birthday to Edward Snowden

Hello there!

Just saw that yesterday was the 30th birthday of whistleblower Edward Snowden.  Hope that you had a good one under the circumstances, Edward, and that you are and continue to remain, safe!

Saw the birthday blurb in the latest Glenn Greenwald piece at The Guardian site

This is a good read as to the important issues involved.  The comments are usually pretty good, too.  Pay attention to those who mention that stifling of dissent is probably at least one cause behind all this suspicionless snooping and warrantless wiretapping.

You can also read the Q and A Snowden did at the Guardian's site.  I read it a few days ago and was pretty stunned.  Here's why: 

Back in February (before any of us had heard of Snowden), I wrote a poem, the first I'd composed in a while.  When I read his response to the second part of the first question - what did he say----- "Truth is coming..."  THAT WAS THE TITLE OF MY POEM !!!  So here's the poem - I hope somehow Snowden gets to read it:

Truth is Coming (Truth Chant)

 

Truth is coming
Truth is on the horizon

Truth is coming
Truth must be our guide
Its light chasing the shadows from our path

Truth is coming
Truth must be our fortress
Its strength forming our pillar of support

Truth is coming
Truth always must be heard
Its voice piercing the static of oft-competing lies

Truth is coming
Truth must not be denied
Its pure simplicity finding a way to be openly revealed
 

Truth is on the horizon
Truth is coming


A neat (I think) aside:  The fortress/strength stanza was inspired by Rep. John Lewis. Shortly after I finished the first version of the poem, I was reviewing his BookTV appearance and at one point he said: "Nothing is stronger than the Truth!"  Well, I had to add a stanza after that!

BTW, I see I have been getting some readers - or page views anyway.  Hope some of you leave some comments sometime; it would be nice to actually hear from folks - it would make it less like speaking to an empty hall!