The Real Tragedy
Neighbor Wade - 090105

Like rotting debris floating in the flooded streets of New Orleans, it did not take long for "Compassionate Conservativism" to rise up and foul the environment.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert questioned why New Orleans should be rebuilt at all. After all it lies below sea level and is now 90% under water. This is the early thoughts of someone who most likely is shielded from disaster, both financially and geographically. To Hastert, those people screwed up big choosing to live in the Big Easy.

Michael Brown, head of FEMA declared that those who stayed in New Orleans "chose" to do so. This from a government official who has use of taxpayer funded cars and motorcades. So detached are these "compassionate conservatives" from the reality of poverty and poor health they think folks in storm ravaged areas willfully chose to wait around for their Apocalypse.

Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff similarly said the poor saps in New Orleans were just getting a Big helping of just deserts by saying, "The critical thing was to get people out of there before the disaster. Some people chose not to obey that order. That was a mistake on their part." The reality is many people had no way out.

And then there is the "Commander in Chief", the "CEO" president who was rockin' out with Country Singer Mark Wilson on his visit to Naval Base Coronado. While experts predicted that Katrina would wipe New Orleans off the face of the Earth Bush sees fit to strum a few chords. I guess he is "getting on with his life."

The most ignorant quote comes again from the lips of Mr. Bush on ABC's Good Morning America:

"I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees."

This staggers the mind. Truly. How can our president not know what is common knowledge?

When a friend of mine came back after living in New Orleans he talked to me about Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River and the levees that kept the city dry. It was a constant thought on the minds of that city's residents that someday a storm could overwhelm the delicate flood control network and destroy the city. We here in Los Angeles live with similar attitude knowing that giant earthquake faults crisscross the area. One day it will happen. In New Orleans that day, as predicted and feared, it did.

But the real tragedy, if not the utter, inexcusable, incompetence the Federal Government has shown in the five days after the hurricane as people die for lack of food and water is the criminal policies of the last four years. Funding for strengthening the levees severely cut back halting major work for the first time in 37 years. FEMA was incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security which hampered its preparedness to respond to natural disasters.

And leave it to the Republicans to send out a newsletter on September 1st calling up activists to fight for reducing taxes for the wealthy. Why not? All the wealthy folks had the morals in the form of hard cash to escape Katrina. The rest were left with absolutely nothing for five or more days waiting for the legions of "compassionate conservatives" to come to their aid.

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Death in Iraq
Jean Holt Koch - 081705

It upsets me to hear people refer to "our brave young soldiers who gave their lives for their country".  They did not GIVE their lives.  Their lives were TAKEN from them - and not for our country.  They were taken because the president lied to get us involved in this war. 

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Stem Cell Disconnect
Neighbor Wade - 072905

The religious extremists pulled the Republican party so far to the right that an ideological tear has finally appeared. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has pulled away from this extremism and endorsed public funding for the promising research of embryonic stem cells. The ultra-right is furious.

Tony Perkins, President of the Washington, DC based Family Research Council had this to say:

"Senator Frist's announcement is very disappointing but not a surprise. It is reminiscent of the speech he gave to the 2004 Republican platform committee, where he squelched open debate on the ethics of embryonic stem cell research, as well as a 2001 Senate hearing testimony where he advocated production of hundreds of human embryonic stem cell lines, which would have required destruction of thousands of human embryos."

Mr. Bush is threatening to veto any legislation that includes government funding for stem cell research. True to his character, Bush has little respect for science.

Perhaps Mr. Frist is trying to gain wider appeal for a presidential run in 2008. Maybe he is helping out the biotech industry. Anyway, it shows that Bush and the Religious Right are way out of step with most Americans.

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London Calling
Neighbor Wade - 071105

The "war on terror" will never end as long as the West fails to understand its true roots and continues a foreign policy which fosters its growth.

While arms dealers, defense contractors and Dick Cheney may never want the war to end (or terrorism for that matter), I for one would like to hasten the demise of both.

But as Bush said in a rare candid moment, we cannot "win" a war on terror. But we must understand its origins and as John Kerry said isolate it and reduce its influence.

This will be achieved through reducing world poverty, increasing freedom (not in the way Bush and company propose) and sharing the globe's limited natural resources in a fair manner.

Some go on about how the jihadists hate our "freedoms", when in reality they are like our own religious radical right, and continue to miss the whole notion that oppression and greed are largely to blame. That being the oppression Western greed causes in the rest of the world.

So while you go to your "Drink a Beer for the Troops" rallies and call critics of the war unpatriotic, the terrorists continue a simple and effective plan to weaken America.

Slowly they grind away undermining our strength and credibility (i.e. Iraq) pointing out the folly of heavy handed militarism and imperialism.

Osama bin Laden once remarked that his goal was to simply to bleed our treasuries and bankrupt western governments.

Too bad that the terrorists have the upper hand presently because Bush and Blair do not - and worse - refuse to understand the true enemy that uses terrorism.

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in the bag
MelindaRosy - 062305

pete wilson de-reg energy
cheney & enron price gouge energy in cali
grey davis toppled by paid operatives collecting sigs
schwartenegger installed
schwartzenegger topple demo secy of state, installs repub
secy of state has access to hack diebold voting machines 06
case closed
 
in secret team terms, calif is "in the bag"

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Mothers for Peace and Justice
Helena G. Harvilicz - 051705

Hello, all. Some of you may remember me, most probably not. About two or three years ago, before the birth of my second son, I attended NPJ meetings and vigils and tried to do what I could about the impending war with Iraq. But, unfortunately, the demands of motherhood have made it very difficult for me to remain active. Recently, another mother of young children mentioned to me that she would like to be more active regarding issues that concerned her, such as the war, healthcare, and global warming, and suggested we try to form a group of mothers who would work together. The type of group we envision would be very child friendly -- we might not get as much done as other organizations, but we could work for change with all the maddening interruptions and two steps back that come along with having little ones around. And our activities would also be a learning experience for our children. I would love to talk with someone who might have advice or information about getting started and possibly working with NPJ.

Helena G. Harvilicz helenah@mindspring.com

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Gen. Franks vs Logan Elementary

Report from the May 10th
LAUSD meeting
Luiza - 051105

Spanish channel 52 came out and covered the piece. Board member Tofkowski's staff member came out and said that David was also against what happened at Logan and supported our view asked us to wait, he wanted to make a statement.

He also was interviewed on TV. Mr. Tofkowski speaks excellent spanish, he was against this practice.  We asked the staff member if she knew why school board prez. Jose Huizar hadn't returned our NUMEROUS CALLS from concerned parents and community from Echo Park. She said basically Huizar's a republican and HE IS GOOD FRIENDS with Governor Terminator.

We tried to speak at the board meeting but were not allowed since all speakers cards for public comment where filled and are filled till June 14th,2005. For anyone interested in making a public comment call 213 241-7002 they will pencil you in and put u on the public comment agenda.

This is a battle we can win, but we must be united, it can only get worse. If we expect this country to be free we need people to get off their behinds, call and show up on June 14th,2005. If not it will be our fault as this country of ours follows in the steps of George Orwell's well written book "1984".

Bush and his cronies would love nothing more than to train our kids to be soldiers. Who needs books, when we can just have the kids learn how to shoot a gun. During the Vietnam era there was a poster that said war is not good for children and other living things, in the future the new posters will say " War, what a great playground".

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To those interested parties that found General Tommy Franks not appropriate for 5th graders
Luiza - 050405

As you recall US Trust, the PR company, worked out a deal with LAUSD and Logan St. School to have Ret. Gen. Tommy Franks speak without parent consent nor parent knowledge of said appearance. Rumor is that he took pictures with our community youth to be used in a future run for office bid on the republican ticket. 

For those of you who found this incorrect, wrong, unpleasant, etc. ... the next school board meeting is next week, Tuesday May 10th, 2005 at 12 noon. Call 311 ask for school district 4 phone number, call it and place yourself on the agenda for public comment, or just show up and support those who will go.

Concerned Citizens Echo Park has contacted the office of LAUSD president Jose Huizar numerous times. He has yet to call back nor has the LAUSD given a good reason for having a person of this nature around our children. What if Michael Jackson came to our local school and spoke and invited all our children to Neverland, would you still think it's OK??

At one time we where told there was a tape, Ms. Siegal spoke with Will Mavropoulos and said if one parent came forward he could see the tape. One parent did come forward. Ms. Siegal then told Will she was ordered by the school board to destroy the tape. Why? Will even asked Ms. Siegal if councilman Eric Garcetti could view the tape ... she said no! We want to believe the assembly was a benefit to the children involved. If it was, why destroy the tape that shows what happened.

We know everyone's time is valuable. If you can not attend, please try to get someone to go for you. Talk to your local community kids you know and teach them war is not good for them or other living things.

What are we asking for:

1 – that if the kids faces are used to make any commercial they be compensated. No parent signed release forms allowing pictures or likeness to be used at all. US TRUST should pay $500.00 to each likeness used.

2 – A Democratic dove appear before the children of Logan and address the same issues that republican hawk Ret. Gen. Tomy Franks gave.

3 – That the "No Child Left Behind Act" not be implemented without parent consent and that approval language be written into the act. 

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Thanks to the parents and veterans who protested Tommy Franks' visit to Logan Street Elementary School on Tuesday April 19th.
Tonia Young
Topanga Peace Alliance

I suggest we follow up on this by making sure those fifth graders get equal time with Veterans for Peace and / or Iraq Veterans Against the War. Those children have the right to hear the truthful reports of veterans who can tell them their first hand experiences of what enlistment in the military really means.

To do this we need support from any and all parents or teachers at Logan Elementary School. Please call principal Ramirez and demand equal time for the Veterans for Peace to come to the school as soon as possible. 213-413-6353

Jackie Goldberg's office has been notified. She is outraged that Franks is targeting this young audience, obviously softening them up for enlistment.

Gail Greenburg at Congressman Xavier Bercera's office is making an inquiry. Both offices support getting the Veterans for Peace into Logan to speak with the kids.

According to Greenberg, Retired General Tommy Franks was not there on direct behalf of the federal government. He was brought there as part of a speaker series funded by a private "charitable" foundation, on behalf of a private company called, U.S. Trust. The speaker series is titled, "Pivotal People at Pivotal Moments." Further inquiry is definitely required. We need to know where the money is coming from and go after these "charitable" foundations and private companies that support them.

Any further ideas would be appreciated,
Tonia Young
Topanga Peace Alliance
310-455-2688
email: tonia4@earthlink.net

Echo Park Elementary School Secretly Ambushed
Luiza - 042105

I was there, LOUD AND PROUD protesting Gen.Tommy Franks appearance to SELECTED 5th graders. What burns my rubber is that THE PARENTS where NOT NOTIFIED of this assembly, no community was notified to my knowledge.

WHAT WAS THE BIG SECRET? Parents whose children attend Logan had to fight with the Teacher Assistants (TA's) to gain entry to the school grounds, TA's are paid to work with the children not to act as gate keepers. Logan Administration locked down the school. What if there had been a fire and/or other emergency and the kids could not get out.

I attempted to speak to some adults who work in the school. One TA said he knew nothing about it, another under unanimity said she couldn't say anything or else she would get fired on the spot by the principal of the school SHE WAS UPSET AND SAID IT WAS A CLEAR DANGER TO THE CHILDREN ON CAMPUS. Another man pointed to the principal and made the gesture of zipping up his lips, he later said they where told to say nothing. What happened to the first amendment to freedom of speech?

How dare LAUSD do this to our children, the majority of whom are Latino, do they think we are stupid and will just let this happen? Well they do not know the tenacity of Latino mothers when they sense danger to their children.

The General and company had a hard time getting out as we tried to keep an eye out on all three available exits from the school. When the people saw Franks getting into a black suv the protesters blocked the vehicle, some jumped on the car, others hit the windows all the while screaming out "no more murder for oil / baby killers / how dare you try to brain wash young children" – one man screamed out "YOU KILLED MY SON IN THE GULF WAR!"

The worse part of this is that the LAUSD gave Principal Valdez the right to close and lock the gates with chains and padlocks, or so he claims, thus possibly endangering young lives. I thought the job of the school board was to educate our community children. Remember when the LAUSD ripped off the tax payers on land they knew was contaminated (New Belmont) that school board was NOT reelected, I hope and pray that when the time comes up to vote for the school board, ALL RESPONSIBLE for allowing the endangerment of our community children meet the same fate.

VOTE THEM OUT!!!!

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Demonstrators Bolck Car of Gen. Tommy Franks
Don White / CISPES

A small but militant group of anti-war protesters confronted retired Iraqi war general Tommy Franks this morning as he left a student assembly at Logan Street Elementery School in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. General Franks, attempting to leave the school in an SUV with tinted windows, was totally blocked by protesters who climbed onto the hood and body of the car and blocked his departure with banners, signs and their own bodies. "War criminal! Murderer of the Iraqi People!" and other chants were directed at the car as it remained immobilized in the middle of the street.

Parents and community people, outraged by the appearance of the general, joined in the direct confrontation which came as the vehicle was leaving campus. A father whose son was killed in the Iraqi war reported after the episode, "I looked Franks right in the eye and told him he killed my boy." Veterans of the Iraqi war also reported that they were able to see into the lightly tinted windows and address Franks with their comments.
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