Monday, September 12, 2005

Katrina pledge and Sending Smiles

I just got this in my email from Sojourners.

The Katrina Pledge: A commitment to build a new America

Here is the text of the pledge:

The waters of Hurricane Katrina have revealed fault lines of race and class in our nation, washing away our national denial about the large number of Americans who live in poverty and about its disproportionate impact on people of color. We have now seen, and so has the rest of the world, the effects of public policies that sacrifice the common good to private interests and misguided priorities.

In the aftermath of the storm's destruction, a new America must be born in which compassion and conscience reshape our society's priorities at all levels. Together we can transform our country into one where economic security for all is an essential part of our national security.

As a person of faith, I believe that the poverty we have witnessed on the rooftops of New Orleans and the devastated communities of the Gulf Coast is morally unacceptable. Therefore, I join my fellow Americans across the barriers of race, religion, class, and politics in the following commitments:

1. I pledge to be personally involved in helping those whose lives have been affected by this natural disaster - by praying for the victims and their families and by offering my time, talents, and resources to relief and recovery ministries that are meeting their needs.

2. I pledge to work for sweeping change of our nation's priorities. I will press my elected representatives to protect the common good - especially the needs of our poorest families and children - rather than supporting the twin social disasters of tax cuts for the rich and budget cuts that hurt the poor.

Click here to sign the pledge.

I also wanted to draw your attention to the following, which was posted by Lauren in Tokyo:
Launch of project "Sending Smiles"

I had the idea soon after the NOLA and other Hurricane Katrina survivors and evacuees were moved to shelters in Houston and across many states, to organize a drive to provide some activity books, crayons and coloring books for the families and kids that are going through so much stress and worry as they try to deal with the future after Katrina.

Thanks to some Democrats Abroad friends world wide, especially Shari Temple for help in tracking down information and assistance back home from, I am ready to launch an action called "Sending Smiles."

Many of the larger centers are getting a lot of assistance and media attention so we decided to start this by working with some smaller shelters or less well known ones first, this will also help make sure that our donation is not a burden for distribution in areas already overwhelmed with donations and gift items.

"Sending Smiles" from Overseas Americans will start by partnering with Camp Gruber in Braggs Oklahoma

read all about the project and help us at
sendingsmiles.blogspot.com
please help us get the word out.

Questions, suggestions, comments? please email me.

thank you.
*Lauren in Tokyo
Democracy for America- Japan Chapter www.dfajapan.org
Democrats Abroad Japan www.demsjapan.jp

And here is Lauren's post as a Kos diary, for anyone who would like to recommend it.

3 comments:

  1. Maybe now the American people will open their eyes to other urban poverty ghettos...they exist in every large metro area of the country. The people there are forgotten and usually blamed for their lack of money and position. God forbid that the Bible thumpers would read Matthew 25!

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  2. Right on, Elaine. Those "Bible believing" folks seem to have missed a great many things in the Bible. The Old Testament also has a fair amount to say about taking care of the poor, and one's fellow man in general. Funny how so many *Christians* have never heard about, much less read, those passages.

    Renee, I am checked out at Live Journal. Just need to confirm from the e-mail they sent. It looks pretty good. Was able to create an account, and got a journal whether I wanted one or not *grin*. It asked whether I wanted to create an individual account or a community. Presumably, you created a community?

    I'd hate to have to move again. Where we are seems congenial. Still, if people have trouble signing in, then it's as well to have options.

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  3. The following is somewhat florid for my taste; but, I think the writer makes some good points that we would do well to take to heart.

    From the Inbox
    From: "Zwarich" (arm@americanrm.org)
    Subject: Labor Action and Katrina
    Date September 10, 2005 4:23.43PM

    I have been keenly interested in the recent developments in Organized =
    Labor, and particularly in the need to forge bonds of common cause =
    between Labor and the general 'progressive movement'. I have been =
    working with a group that calls intself the Labor Action Coalition, =
    which recently (in July) sponsored a 'Take Back Our Unions' Conference =
    in Chicago, which I was fortunately able to attend.

    Below are comments which I recently posted to the Labor Action Coalition =
    list-serve, concerning the staggering tragedy we are witnessiinmg down =
    South, both the horrible tragedy of the natural disater itself, and the =
    ongoiung tragedy of government and corporate malfeasance that is =
    continuing to bring even more suffering down on the heads of Katrina's =
    refugees.=20

    There is brief introductory reference in the opening paragraph of these =
    comments to an ongoing discussion among the Labor Action list, but the =
    rest is very straightforward commentary that I hoped might be of general =
    interest to all progressives, as well as to people in Labor.=20

    RZ

    Many thanks to George Gruenthal for his comments concerning strategies =
    for the Labor Movement. I am sorry to be so slow in reply, but I think =
    that the immensity of the tragedy down South has knocked us all a bit =
    off stride.=20

    =20

    The ongoing human tragedy is completely staggering. The curtain that has =
    hidden the putrid corruption of our economic and political system was =
    temporarily ripped away by this natural disaster, and many American =
    citizens found themselves forced to look upon the full extent and true =
    nature of this corruption as they never have before.=20

    =20

    It's way too soon to tell what the long-term effects of this sudden =
    exposure of what lies behind the constant huckster's smile of our =
    corrupt system will be, but we should not assume that these effects are =
    going to favor us, (working people, the common people, ordinary =
    citizens), in any way. With the complete control of the Means of =
    Communication in the hands of the Corporate Party, (the =
    corporate/military cabal), I am afraid that the long-term effects are =
    going to fall far short of our best hopes and expectations.=20

    =20

    Time will tell, of course, and none of us can predict the future, but =
    we're already seeing the corporate owned media, whose correspondents =
    were at first as horrified as any of us, beginning to gently but =
    insistently sweep the ugliness of the failures of the system under it's =
    ample rug. The stories of failure and outrage are already beginning to =
    fade, replaced by stories of 'heroism' and rescue. Perhaps a head might =
    roll here and there (poor 'Brownie'). In the end, even Bush himself =
    might be sacrificed, (doubtful but entirely possible), as the Corporate =
    Powers are already planning their post-Bush strategy anyway. But we =
    shall see as this story unfolds what the Common People will learn from =
    our brief glimpse of the fat, ugly under-belly of Corporate Party =
    neglect, malfeasance, corruption, and naked Greed. Will this shock =
    finally awaken us to the danger of our desperate plight? Or, like the =
    previous horrible shock of 9/11, will this simply gradually fade into =
    the background as we return to our morbid and mindless fascination with =
    the latest 'missing girl' case, (when Natalee finally fades from the =
    scene, as did Laci and Jon Benet before her), or with the legal troubles =
    and/or sex lives of vapid celebrities, and/or with our own indulgences =
    of our constant human desires for wealth and fame and biological =
    gratification. =20

    =20

    And even now, right before our very eyes, in full plain sight for all to =
    see, the Corporate Buzzards are already swooping in to feed on the =
    tragedy. What may bring tears to our helpless human eyes, as we see our =
    brothers and sisters writhe in their defenseless suffering, only lights =
    up a shameless glow of dollar signs to gleam from the ghoulish eyes of =
    the Buzzards of Corporate Capitalism.=20

    =20

    The government, supposedly our (the Common People's) government, but =
    which is also, (like the corporate media), in the complete and firm =
    control of the Corporate Party, is already shoveling a silo full of =
    money at Bechtel, Halliburton, and their ilk, like it was cattle feed. =
    Billions upon billions of our tax dollars are being shoveled out via =
    no-bid contracts to the same graft-connected corporations, (it's no =
    secret that our Vice-President, whose last job was CEO of Halliburton, =
    Inc., still shares generously in Halliburton's profits), that are raking =
    in opulently luxurious profits in Iraq. To add insult to the horrible =
    indignity of this injury, rich no-bid contracts are being given out to =
    hired guns, the new mercenaries, virtual private armies, like =
    Blackwater, Inc., (who seem to have taken over from the Pinkertons of =
    old as the premier company supplying private goons to the corporate =
    sector), to shoot the starving for stealing food. It is not enough that =
    the laws, the courts, the police forces, the national guard, and every =
    other arm of governmental authority are all stacked against working =
    people, against the Common People, in any dispute with Capital, (and its =
    religiously vaunted rights of Private Property), now we must contend =
    with private armies of mercenaries armed with automatic weapons and =
    given orders to shoot to kill anyone who would 'loot' a loaf of bread to =
    feed his family, or diapers to swaddle her baby. =20

    =20

    Wars and natural disasters are only painful to those of us who, as =
    sentient human beings, feel a connection to our fellow humans, as our =
    brothers and sisters, and to their children as our own children. When =
    we, the common people, see our brethren and our sisters suffer, when we =
    see the pain of grief on human faces, when we watch a parent beat the =
    earth and curse the sky in guttural shrieks and moans for a dead child, =
    when we see stark fear on the faces of children who have lost their =
    parents, we are overcome with the pain of our own helplessness.=20

    =20

    For the Corporate Buzzards, however, (like the ruthless inhuman Nazgul =
    come to raid the suffering Shire), the calamities that bring such =
    immense human pain to so many are but golden opportunities for profit. =
    One can sense the very palpable excitement of their greed as they swoop =
    down to feed.=20

    =20

    The money that our corporate controlled government is even now shoveling =
    out the door as fast as it can, (our money, taken from our paychecks =
    each week, or borrowed from our children), will find its way, like water =
    to the sea, to more amply line the coffers of the Rich. Already they are =
    plotting their schemes to lay claim to the lost and ruined homes of the =
    poor, to seize the valuable land that will remain when the rubble has =
    been profitably hauled away. They will 'gentrify' ancient neighborhoods =
    that have sheltered and nurtured a vibrant (if impoverished) culture for =
    centuries. They will build their cruel palaces on land where humble =
    homes once stood and gave modest shelter to the fragile human dreams of =
    the poor. The Rich Buzzards will laugh, and their eyes will gleam with =
    Greed, as they indulge their every desire. The echoing cruelty of their =
    inhuman laughter will drown the sound of human anguish from their =
    greed-calloused ears. =20

    =20

    'They' sure didn't waste any time in suspending the Davis-Bacon =
    prevailing wage law, (by imperial proclamation of the Emperor, no less), =
    did they? Anyone want to take a bet that very little of the billions =
    upon tens, upon hundreds of billions of dollars that the government is =
    shoveling at the Corporate Buzzards will end up in the hands of the =
    workers who actually re-build New Orleans and the other ravaged Gulf =
    Coast towns and cities? Most of this money will end up invested in =
    richer stock portfolios and hedge funds, more opulent vacation homes, =
    more private jets, more luxurious vacations on opulent yachts to exotic =
    locales, and, of course, more jewels to guild the throats of the =
    privileged perfumed females of the Ruling Class.=20

    =20

    A veritable army of workers from the desperate poor is close by at hand =
    in Mexico, and they are strong, and they are desperate to provide for =
    their own families, and therefore willing to work for peanuts. Wages =
    will be cut to the very bone of these desperate dispossessed, who will =
    come in droves and be grateful for the work, at any wage they can make. =
    These strong and desperate poor, eager and willing, out of love for =
    their own families, will be heedless of those they displace, who will =
    suffer and starve for lack of jobs at living wages. Money in the tens =
    and hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars, money that could ease so much =
    suffering by providing well-paid work and healthy sustenance for =
    families in such desperate need, will instead line the already swelling =
    pockets of the Rich Buzzards, who will shower an orgy of luxury over =
    their every desire. And these Buzzards of Corporate Capitalism will =
    laugh loud in their orgy of greed. They will watch without seeing, they =
    will listen without hearing, they will witness without testament, as =
    children, and the old, and the weak, will suffer, and many will even =
    die, from want of simplest sustenance. =20

    =20

    The very stench of death that repels us (you and I) in shuddering horror =
    attracts the Buzzards of Corporate Capitalism like sweet perfume. What =
    is horrific tragedy to us, as simple folk, as the common citizens of the =
    nation, as the Common People who work and sweat to make our way in this =
    world, who feel the stabbing pain of our brothers and sisters when they =
    suffer, is but a gilded opportunity to these Corporate Buzzards, and =
    they are already swooping low to wet their beaks in feeding frenzy.=20

    =20

    Thanks again to George Gruenthal for your comments. Life will slowly =
    return to 'normal' in the days and weeks ahead. That is my guess. =
    Certainly, even in the midst of our own grief over what we are watching =
    helplessly, we must make time to continue to discuss strategies for the =
    Labor Movement.=20

    =20

    I actually sat down to do exactly that, to respond to what you had to =
    say, Mr. Gruenthal, but these insistent thoughts got in the way.=20

    =20

    For the moment let's take the lessons that are to be learned from this =
    tragedy for all working people everywhere, and to all the Common =
    Citizens of the nation. Let's learn what there is to learn from this =
    story as it unfolds. This is History being written before our very eyes, =
    and we cannot be content to read it passively. Rather we must help write =
    it. We must use all the power in our outrage, derived from the pain of =
    our brothers and sisters, and their children, who are suffering in the =
    wake of this ongoing tragedy, to make sure the WHOLE story is recorded, =
    in the full measure of all its sordid sleazy 'glory', for all =
    posterity. As we watch our brethren, the Common People, the working =
    folk, the poor, suffer at the hands of a Corporate Greed that knows no =
    bounds to its intention to make profit from disaster, perhaps we can =
    redouble our determination to find the means to bring the interests of =
    the Common People, those of us who work for a living and struggle to pay =
    each months bills, to power.=20

    =20

    Although it is not often spoken of as such, Democracy is the Central =
    Theme of our Age. As we set out to 'Take Back Our Unions' under our =
    democratic control, let's not forget that we cannot stop there. We must =
    take back our Nation from the control of inhuman corporations. No one =
    ever said it more simply than Lincoln. "Of the People, by the People, =
    FOR the People". In our unions, AND in our Nation. =20

    =20

    In Solidarity,
    Zwarich

    PS: I hope all people in the 'progressive wing' of Organized Labor, all =
    who want to make what once was a proud and powerful Labor Movement, (but =
    has fallen into being the Labor Business), into a genuine MOVEMENT once =
    again, will join the Labor Action Coalition list-serve, and help as we =
    build solutions to these problems that we see so clearly. Look around us =
    folks. There's just nobody else is gonna do it. If WE don't do it, it's =
    just not gonna get done. It's just as simple as that. (Join at =
    laborcoalition-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ).

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