" For every evil under the sun there is a remedy ...
November 01 2006 12:46 PM Cynthia Rosenberry
It was pretty cool. The UT event was attended by about 20 or so. Older people. Families. Young people. A real mix. It was great. As it turns out, Bob Grimac has been doing this once a month all year. website What a great thing to do! And I was pleasantly surprised to find that 90% of the feedback from passers-by was very supportive and positive. Even my sign which was about a subject many are not all that familiar with (the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that denies anyone a president deems "enemy combattant" the right to habeas corpus) got a few people giving me the thumbs-up saying, "YEAH, GREAT SIGN!" A serious-looking old guy in a UT vehicle took a picture of my sign in particular that stated "Military Commissions Act MCA2006 = Treason! Save Our Bill of Rights!" The sign my son held most of the time said "Torture is not a family value". We both agreed, it was a positive experience, well worth our time and we'd both be back on Nov. 19th to do it again with Bob Grimac and friends.
I had the opportunity (because I also had with me a yardsign for Chris Lugo) to explain to Bob why I was anti-incumbent over the war. He gave me the usual Democrat standpoint that if more Greens had voted for Gore, we wouldn't be HAVING this war. And so I explained to him how (IRV) Instant Runoff Voting would allow people to vote their preferred candidate first without fear of inadvertantly throwing away their vote to the opposition if they vote for a long-shot like Nader or this year in TN, Lugo. I told him that with IRV, Ford could have ended up with many anti-war votes in his pocket anyway despite that they voted for Lugo to protest the war. See how this worked for Muppets It's obvious that a lot of people against the war want nothing to do with the Green Party after 2000 though (even though Nader tried to promote it even then). I see no point in harboring a prejudice against citizens for exercising their right to run candidates for office when the problem lies with the flawed election process, not the individual in this case. I'm sending Bob info and hope he'll begin to see IRV as a solution to the rift between Greens and Democrats being effective but also voting their conscience, as I do.
The second gathering at Y-12 was not really a protest so much as a regular gathering of long-time civil rights devotees in the Knoxville/Oak Ridge area. We discussed upcoming human rights events/issues but spent most of the evening thinking up names of people who have had an impact on our lives in forming our conscience and activism, writing the names on strips of paper, and making a chain of people we honor both living and dead (in celebration of the Latin American holiday on Nov.2nd Dios de la Muerte, the Day of the Dead). I chose my mother who although she was not a civil rights hero, was a kind and decent, compassionate human being. She has everything to do with my ability to see good in others, even those unlike me or that I disagree with strongly. Her influence reminds me that empathy is crucial to realizing the difference between activism and militance, between doing what you know is right and acting out on prejudical assumptions. Militant prejudice will never bring about peace. My son and I (see photos) plan to do more with Stop the Bombs! as well, specifically, joining them when they go to Georgia to protest the School of Americas that trains Latin American fascists like Noriega. The one last year brought 15,000 people to the SOA's gate. I'd like to know what it's like to be part of something like that.
I'll be posting info at 10-east soon if anyone wants to find out about future events.
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October 26 2006 04:04 PM Cynthia Rosenberry
I just met with his opponent Democrat Brent Benedict today to pick up some big signs for Grainger County. Brent said he bumped into Wamp at the local diner in Blaine (what are the odds??). They were apparently working the same diner but were on opposite sides of the establishment. How classic. Brent walked right up to him and shook hands, started up a conversation but did not attempt to debate, although he fully realized he could. He said Wamp seemed wary, even nervous but Brent tried to be polite & friendly (which is not hard for him because he always comes off that way anyway). "We've all had enough negative campaigning this year," he told me. "Going negative is just not my style (although I could because Wamp has plenty to hide from the public), but we've heard enough of that this year between Corker & Ford. Wamp's voting record speaks for itself." I said, "I know! I have found the issue that's all about why I'm not voting for Wamp (believe me, there are many but this is THE ONE). His vote to sell out our right to habeas corpus is just the most recent of a string of abuses. I'm so mad, I'm ready to take to the streets!" Such talk obviously made Brent uncomfortable since he's trying to stay away from "going negative" but this is not even about him, I reassured him. There is no Benedict voting record to compare to Wamp's. Wamp and other Bush rubberstampers have voted themselves out of a job this year. I really, truly hope people wake up and realize if they vote for these rubberstamping incumbents, they can kiss America-as-we-know-it goodbye. We wrote to our reps and pleaded with them not to vote for this horrible bill. As usual, they did it anyway. They're just a court of sycophants to the king, waiting for their tablescrap annuity or more. We might have one last shot at making a stand and forcing them to repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006. But we must all get out now in record numbers. Even I will pry myself away from my computer for this issue. How often does that happen? I care but I don't get out much. But I'm so ready to get out over this. You have no idea.
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October 21 2006 09:31 AM Cynthia Rosenberry
I added a new Comics comic October 19, 2006 dedicated to my favorite Human Rights hero in 2006.
Feingold really brought attention to John Bolton's lack of concern over genocide in Darfur during the nomination hearing in 2005 regarding his appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Feingold remarked, "I try to vote for the nominee...[Bolton] has a sworn disdain for the U.N. itself... Here's a person that's actually antagonistic to the very premise of the job."
A Sample of Bolton's Diplomacy:
video
The senate chose not to approve his appointment but Bush installed him on a temporary basis anyway during their recess. Bolton's temporary position expires in 2007, a lot of people are hoping they manage to get his ass out of there next year and find someone who will actually work to improve relations with the rest of the world.
Contact Frist & Lamar (tell them to find someone better):
take action
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September 30 2006 01:32 PM Cynthia Rosenberry
. for voting against the Torture Bill (Military Commissions Act of 2006):
Nashville Office
Phone: 615-736-5295
Washington D.C. Office
Phone: 202-225-4311
cooper.house.gov/email.htm
Jim Cooper was the ONLY member of our TN delegation to do the right thing. Of Course Wamp voted for it. Guess he forgot to ask WWJD.again. But then, all the rubberstampers must scramble to enact legislation retroactive to save their own hides for past actions that possibly led to violations of both U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions, mustn't they? No accountability in government any more. Just shameful.
From Amnesty International:
"Our representatives in Congress have just passed legislation that:
1.Establishes a new judicial system to try a wide variety of people in military commissions that lack the minimal safeguards regarding coerced evidence may deny the right of the accused to examine evidence against them. A person could be sentenced to death under this flawed system.
2.Strips prisoners in Guantanamo – and other alleged “enemy combatants” in U.S. custody — of the ability to file a writ of habeas corpus and challenge their detention. Many of these prisoners have been held for almost five years without charges or meaningful judicial review
3.Expands the definition of ‘unlawful enemy combatant” to allow the U.S. government to detain people – on or off the battlefield – indefinitely without charge or access to judicial review for an act as minor as writing a check.
4.Provides retroactive immunity to those who may have been implicated in creating policies or participating in abuse and other acts that most of us would consider torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
We appreciate the efforts of the members of Congress who voted against this legislation and in favor of human rights, the rule of law, and our standing in the international community. They took a principled stand. The first thing that we should do is thank the leaders who stood up for the America we believe in."
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August 29 2006 09:29 PM Cynthia Rosenberry
Anyone interested? Email me: webmaster@cedargrovedesign.com
I'm talking to some people in Cocke County working on starting up a local Farmers' Market there and we could possibly duplicate their efforts here if enough local growers and local consumers are for it.
Cyn
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August 16 2006 09:59 AM Cynthia Rosenberry
Ya know, you start up a new business and don't get many bites for awhile and then suddenly, boom, you have too much on your plate and not enough time left over for the volunteer-type stuff you were doing when you had tons of free time on your hands. But ya know, gotta pay the bills. Last month we did a website facelift for The Vegan Baking Company which has changed over with a new name and product packaging to "Harb Baking Company". Their great organic/vegan chocolates are now called, "Monkey Moo Munchies". www.harbchocolates.com
This week I'm working on a website for some Grainger County businesses: "Whimzey Things", for a jewelry crafter and "Homestead Realty", for the new solo effort of Sherry Beeler...years of experience in the field but now she's decided to "GO LOCAL". :) Lookout Grainger County, there's two new entrepreneurs in town who might just liven things up around here. When completed, the websites will be housed at www.homesteadrealtytn.com and www.whimzeythings.com Check out their websites in about a week to see their sale listings.
Meanwhile, Lewis has been subcontracting his programming services to a design firm in Omaha, Nebraska and has recently helped out Trinity Church. www.trinityomaha.com Now they're working on Grace University. www.graceu.edu
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