A “right” that requires “government” permission is not a right, but a government-granted privilege. A “right” that legislation can negate is not a right. And yet most of the pro-freedom movement goes to great lengths to ASK those in “government” to please not violate our rights. FULL ARTICLE

Protest (American, definitely not a verb): Wait for UFPJ or ANSWER to stage a parade (I mean, demonstration) on a weekend afternoon so no one misses work or school or in any way disrupts the flow of commerce. Don’t make a sign; the organizers will make one for you. March in an orderly fashion, be polite to the occupying army (I mean, cops), and be sure to stay in designated free speech zones. Blame the Republicans. Wear costumes. Make puppets. Exclude anarchists. Hold a candlelight vigil. Sign a petition. Chant. Vote for a Democrat and hope for change. Need I continue? Continue reading →

Featured Post for 04/17-04/23: When sports fans are asked to come out and “root for the home team”, there is an unspoken benefit for those who have an economic stake in the team’s existence. We recognize this benefit but regard it as their “fair share”, our share being the vicarious enjoyment of “our” team. Our enthusiastic participation in this rooting example is a local form of jingoism. Continue reading →

From United for Peace and Justice

President Obama announced his decision to send 17,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, on the grounds that ‘the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent attention’.

We strongly oppose this decision. We urge you to immediately call on President Obama to choose diplomacy, not escalation. We must let him know that a military solution is not the answer in Afghanistan. Call 202-456-1111 today! Continue reading →

Some years ago, I spent quite a bit of time trying to get into the mind of a “terrorist,” to see if I could articulate what makes him tick. Finally, I wrote I am a Terrorist. Then, later, I read a story in the local paper. It was an interview with a young American soldier, a sniper. That led to I am a Terrorist-2. I never published either one, but thought I would here on the blog. Perhaps worthy of some comment?

Continue reading →

Would you give up the ability to text ttyl to your BFF in order to save a species from going extinct? In 2009, it’s not an insane question.

The next time your cell phone rings, try focusing on these six simple words: The Democratic Republic of the Congo. I ask you to do this because one of the primary components of cell phone circuitry is a metallic ore called Columbite-Tantalite—or “coltan.” Continue reading →

“The era of responsibility is not never making mistakes, it’s owning up to them and trying to make sure you do not repeat them.”
– President Obama, February 3rd

Our chance to learn from, fix and never repeat the policies that brought us torture, illegal detention, Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib is passing us by.

President Obama has already issued orders to close Guantanamo Bay and end torture. Though the orders are a major step in the right direction, they don’t tell us how the world’s most powerful democracy chose to renounce human rights and the rule of law. Continue reading →

In December, I asked whether there will be an anti-war movement in the United States after George Bush’s departure.  Many of you said, yes.  But there has been a lot of “wait and see” going on among people who had opposed Bush’s program, but who expected major change from Barack Obama.

So, now we’re seeing, and we can’t wait.

Obama announced Tuesday that 17,000 troops will be surged into Afghanistan.  The US military admits that the increase in civilians killed by US forces is destabilizing the Karzai puppet government, and driving people to support the Taliban.  But the U.S. will push its war for empire further into the Middle East. Continue reading →

In December, World Can’t Wait brought several veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam into the classrooms of 1200 high school students in the We Are Not Your Soldiers Tour.

Leading up to Thursday, March 19, the sixth anniversary of “Shock & Awe” on Iraq, we are going to more schools with more veterans, more reality, and more urgency.  Continue reading →

Just out is the latest book by political activist Mickey Z, and like his other works this one is packed with incisive analysis and engaging wittiness. Never reluctant to take on sacred cows, Mickey looks at our political culture and lays bare all of its pretensions and illusions.  FULL ARTICLE