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News from the 2007 Annual Peace Alliance Conference
Greetings from the Annual Peace Alliance Conference in Washington, DC!
All of us here wanted to let those of you that couldn't join us, to know you are in our thoughts. This conference is already a huge success. Sold out and standing room only for some events. More requests from the media than we've ever had in the past. And it couldn't have happened without all of the work everyone has done over the past year. Those who were able to make it to the conference and all of those who couldn't join us in person. We know you are here in spirit and that it is our work and energy together that continues to nourish this movement...
For all of those who have been writing to tell us you wish you were here and sending your best wishes, we will try to bring some of the conference to you via a new blog section on the website and through some informal reporting on our forum. We'll have posts from our participants, as well as a special youth and student section with updates on their program. Kerrie W., we will try to stream you in. We set up a YouTube account and will post links in the forum and blog if we can get the equipment to cooperate and let us get some video posted.
Here are the links:
Conference Blog: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/blogsection/19/178/
Conference Forum: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/forum/index.php?f=391
Breaking news: we now have 9 Members of Congress confirmed to join us at the Conference Finale on Monday night and that, thanks to you, we already have 41 congressional co-sponsors for the re-introduction of the bill. If you have not yet called your representative, we urge you to do so. Right now, at least 210 meetings with Representatives and Senators have been scheduled by our citizen lobbyists supporting the Department of Peace legislation.
The Gift of Peace play proved to be a most excellent way to kick off the Conference. As tired as everyone was having traveled all day to get here, over 400 chose to attend the play. The audience laughed and there were some tears spotted as emotions danced up and down the scale. Yet the main message of personal empowerment was not lost and no doubt it's what energized the frequent, "right on's" and cheering.
The conference is sold out, but if you are in DC or have friends here, there are still tickets to the Monday night finale event at George Washington University. In case you misplaced it, you will find the information you need here:
http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/259/147/
Watch for an e-lert dedicated to the very exciting introduction of the Student Peace Alliance! The youth met with each other, state coordinators, and a panel of peace building experts to discuss how young people can best support the Department of Peace movement through organized student activism. The students say they were motivated and inspired by the amazing efforts occuring around the country by their fellow students and can't wait to return to their schools and take action
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This is a series of responses to Howard Zinns letter "Impeachment By The People" at: http://www.alternet.org/rights/47467/?comments=view&cID=510342&pID=50907...
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Posted by: MAD on Feb 3, 2007 8:42 AM
So, are all you big Dem fans satisfied that your votes served a greater purpose? Remember all that fierce talk about electing leaders who would hold Bush accountable? Remember how many people warned you that electing the Democrats, rather than looking at alternatives, would only end in disappointment? SO, sorry yet?
I understand that there were not viable alternatives in every instance, but honestly, how goddamn stupid are we? We know that politics is the nexus of money, corruption and greed, and D.C. has become nothing more than a corporate whorehouse where our elected officials pimp themselves to the highest bidder. AIPAC and the Big Oil Lobby come to mind. So I ask you, how does this resemble a democracy in any way?
With all due respect Howard, your naivete is touching and your books are amazing but I think you're getting a little long in the tooth to be holding on to such romantic notions of a Democrat-sponsored revolt. The hour is getting late and the only people we have ever been able to count on HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS! Enough with this silly talk of the Dems impeaching Bush. That was taken OFF THE TABLE, remember? They meant it.
Now, how about growing some balls and taking action youselves? How about civil disobedience on such a scale that there is no "overlooking" it? Let's shut down several metropolitan areas and force them to face the prospect of having to arrest tens of thousands of us at a time. Let's put those damn KBR camps to good use! Let's start parking tractor trailors and CAT front-end loaders right on main street and shut down traffic and commerce. Let's blockade the entrances to Exxon stations and Wal-Marts. You'll be amazed how quickly things get rolling when the big boys are threatened.
Time to show the world that we are not the pathetic, sorry ass cowards they think we are, and I'm beginning to believe we are. Oh, that's right - I forgot. Americans are real big talkers but not much for action. We can't be troubled to do more than cast a vote every four years, then it's back to the status quo. Say what you want about the conservatives, but they certainly do more than talk!
Thanks for the speeches, but we need more than blind faith in politicians. What do we do when one group of politicians gets us into trouble? Turn to another group! Give me a break! Politicians aren't good for much and they certainly aren't going to fix this mess. We do it or it won't get done. Why is that so hard to understand?
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I'm in total agreement with this, that it IS time to take the bull by the horns… that it will SOON be too late- forever - if we continue to leave it to the same politicians who do nothing but stall and yammer…! (there is basically not much difference in them, beneath the 'labels' they wear. They ALL share ONE major interest: their own personal advancment. How about some SERIOUS ACTION now, start by passing it along to every action group, reposting on as many places as possible…??? (hell, we've tried "mandating" and petitioning and street protests) HOW'S THAT WORKING FOR US?
The first thing that has to happen is the hardest thing of all… getting all the action groups to co-operate! I have said so many times since Bush first stole our country: A million Man March does NOTHING when the million men are marching in different directions, on different days…. ImpeachforPeace did make an excellent atempt to get cohesion when they had people writing letters to Pelosi on jan 15th… and to her local office, not to DC where mail is manipulated by HS…
If we could convince some of the Biggest Activists like MoveOn.org and some of the Hollywood people, this can actually be accomplished.
You have to realize that there are just soooo many people in this country now, that half a million screams aren't going to even be heard in DC… For a reality check, take a look at the morning traffic commute in any of our huge cities, and try to understand how many of those braindead folks couldn't care less about anything but what's happening in their own personal day. Not to be discouraging -!- I just want to impress upon you all that it is IMPERATIVE to connect all the action groups for ONE enormous display - one that truly CAN and WILL be heard in every living room and BOARD ROOM in America!
When is the next big protest? March ? …we should each spend an hour or two per day, just making posts to any/all action groups, forums, comments sections we can find, asking for cohesion. What suggestions? Naturally, it is best to use a protest already being planned and that is already fairly well known… then EXPAND it
The Corporate Media monopoly has made it very, very hard for any grassroots accomplishment………….
but we H-A-V-E to try to get past them!!!