Dear nancy, Good Morning!
Happy MLK Day! I hope you many of you have today off work and can enjoy a local parade or plan to work in a Day of Service project.
In this week's newsletter, I've included some great articles and videos you may have missed. Check out the great after action report and video from CodepinkDallas and others on the Guantanamo /NDAA event. Get involved with DFW99% and plan on attending the anti- Citizens United event this Friday! Let's get organized and get the Amendment movement going in North Texas !
Follow @NTProgressive on Twitter and put me on your group's mailing list !
Thanks,
Nancy Cunningham
Email /Webpage /Facebook /Twitter / Donate /Newsletter archive |
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream" | 
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream ," Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial: "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a DREAM today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of 'interposition' and 'nullification' -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a DREAM today!" http://bit.ly/Ar7tYq |
Is This Land Made for You and Me--or The Super-Rich? by Bill Moyers | 
Bill Moyers and Michael Winship ponder the question at the heart of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land"--what kind of America do we want? The traveling medicine show known as the race for the Republican presidential nomination has moved on from Iowa and New Hampshire, and all eyes are now on South Carolina. Well, not exactly all. At the moment, our eyes are fixed on some big news from the great state of Oklahoma, home of the legendary American folk singer Woody Guthrie, whose 100th birthday will be celebrated later this year. Woody saw the ravages of the Dust Bowl and the Depression firsthand; his own family came unraveled in the worst hard times. And he wrote tough yet lyrical stories about the men and women who struggled to survive, enduring the indignity of living life at the bone, with nothing to eat and no place to sleep. He traveled from town to town, hitchhiking and stealing rides in railroad boxcars, singing his songs for spare change or a ham sandwich. What professional success he had during his own lifetime, singing in concerts and on the radio, was often undone by politics and the restless urge to keep moving on. "So long, it's been good to know you," he sang, and off he would go. Read on |
Sh*t Republican Candidates Say by Lizz Winstead | 
I thought I had a potty mouth, but you should hear the way this GOP field talks. For starters, they're obsessed with sex ... And then, there were six. After Iowa, we are left with a half-dozen halfwits who want to defeat Barack Obama and become leader of the free world. These are the Top Dogs, the Pick of the Kitty Litter, the Jewels in the Clown. So, how did these masterful hatesmen earn their coveted place in the Cream of the Crap? With their unwavering obsession with sex. All kinds of sex. Same sex, opposite sex, sex with animals.
read on
Follow Lizz on Twitter https://twitter.com/LizzWinstead
|
Join the Protest "Vigil for Democracy" Dallas January 20th !! | 
Democracy in America is on life-support - Money in politics has stolen the people's ability to influence the course of government. The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee made it constitutional to flood the media and the Congress with corporate money to drown out all other voices. When: Friday January 20th 2012, starting at 11:30 and ending at 6pm Where: In front of the Earle Cabell Building, 1100 Commerce (and Griffin) Why: To educate people about the Citizens United vs FEC decision and to build support for a constitutional amendment to abolish corporate money in politics, starting with Dallas City Council. . Help us hold a vigil with our Democracy and learn more about the results of the Supreme Court decision on the elections and what can be done to reverse them. Join us on January 20th - come anytime and stay as long as you wish. If your organization can commit to a two-hour shift, please let us know at vigilfordemocracy@gmailcom. As befitting a vigil, we will stand quietly, letting our signs speak for us. We will stand as witnesses to the damage done by this decision and in recognition that it is up to We The People to save our Democracy. vigilfordemocracy@gmailcom Facebook: unitedagainstcitizensunited - dfw This event is sponsored by: Public Citizen, MoveToAmend, People for the American Way, Free Speech People, and Common Cause. Many other national and local organizations have joined in as well. Liz Wally 214.821.2237 |
Making It Easier to Do Business in America | 
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on government reform in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 13, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Today, President Obama announced a new plan that will make it easier to do business in America. There are currently six major federal departments or agencies that focus on business or trade: the U.S. Department of Commerce's core business and trade functions, the Small Business Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. The President is asking Congress for the authority to merge those six entities into a single department tasked with boosting American business and promoting competitiveness.
read on |
Democracy Now | 
On this eve of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we host a wide-ranging discussion with TransAfrica founder Randall Robinson and Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, about the mass incarceration of African Americans that has rolled back many achievements of the civil rights movement. Today there are more African Americans under correctional control, whether in prison or jail, on probation or on parole, than there were enslaved in 1850. And more African-American men are disenfranchised now because of felon disenfranchisement laws than in 1870. Watch/Listen/Read Michael Copps served two terms with the Federal Communications Commission. Now the staunch supporter of an open internet and opponent of media consolidation has retired. In a wide-ranging discussion, he examines the FCC's key accomplishments and failures of the past decade. Copps argues broadband is "the most opportunity-creating technology perhaps in the history of humankind," and laments that the United States still lacks a national broadband infrastructure. He says the FCC has yet to address a lack of diversity in media ownership, noting that "owning a station has a lot to do with the kind of programing that's going to be on that station." Regarding the future of journalism, Copps calls on the FCC to make access to quality journalism a "national priority," saying, "the future of our democracy hinges upon having an informed electorate." Watch/Listen/Read Ahead of the Monday holiday celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., we speak with two people key to establishing the day as a paid state holiday in New Hampshire-the last state to do so-replacing its optional Civil Rights Day in 1999: Arnie Alpert, the New Hampshire program coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee since 1981 and activist with Occupy New Hampshire, and Arnie Arnesen, a former New Hampshire legislator. Watch/Listen/Read |
DFW 99% - gets organized and would like you to join them | 
I asked Jim Burkholtz to tell me a little about his new group ! North DFW 99% is the "Swiss Army Knife" of the local Occupy Wall Street movement. Strong on organization and individual skillsets, we seek to increase the presence and advance the movement in the DFW metroplex. Having started as a MoveOn meeting in late October, partially to provide supplies to the Occupy Dallas encampment, we're evolving into an activist hub. We are currently reaching out to the Democratic Party membership on one hand and to Occupy Dallas members on the other. We are also developing relationships with local universities, authors, activist groups and progressive groups. On our own, we conduct weekly canvassing and awareness efforts to a targeted neighborhood in the area of Belt Line and Marsh. We've been putting fliers on doorknobs of apartments and single family homes, as well as handing out fliers while taking surveys in parking lots. We will be "occupying" street corners soon, with pairs of activists holding large signs and passing out fliers spread out through the targeted neighborhood. Lectures and debates are also being planned. We support other activists including Occupy Dallas and Frisco Unleaded. We intend to help with voter registration efforts. Our online presence includes a wiki of resources and educational articles, a Facebook page, a Meetup.com page for events and meetings, and our main website: DFW99.org http://dfw99.org, (all of the other resources can be reached from the main page). We operate three mailing lists (so far): an internal dialogue list, a list for interested parties to monitor our activities and one for coordinating collaboration efforts with other groups. One of our highest priorities is to gather together area progressives to support the movement. The Occupy movement addresses and overlaps a broad range of social justice issues and political and economic reforms. We have a multitude of opportunities for any interest and involvement level, from checking for broken links on our wiki to participating in protests. There is much research and outreach to do. If you would like to check us out, visit our main page and sign up for notifications. Better yet, follow the link there to our Meetup page and come visit us at our weekly Saturday night meetings or other activities. Please join them ! |
North Texas Progressive Book Suggestion | 
Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America By Melissa V. Harris-Perry List Price: $28.00 Price: $18.48 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details "Sister Citizen": Black Women in a Crooked Room Melissa V. Harris-Perry, Yale University Press: "Sometimes black women can conquer negative myths, sometimes they are defeated, and sometimes they choose not to fight. Having a clear view of the distorted images and painful stereotypes that make America a crooked room for African American women is the first step toward understanding how these stereotypes influence black women as political actors." |
North Texas Democrats : Notes and News | 
Tuesday, January 17th Stonewall Democrats of Dallas 6:30 PM, Ojeda's Restaurant, 4617 Maple Ave., Dallas Wednesday, January 18th Garland Democratic Women's Club 11:30 AM, Siciliano's Taste of Italy, 2210 W. Buckingham, Garland The Donkey Show political entertainment variety show and dinner, produced by the Far North Dallas Democrats Club, benefiting Dallas County political causes, featuring musical guests Lucky Pierres and the political comedy of Tony Snow. For more information and to purchase tickets on line go to this page. (6:45 PM, Pocket Sandwich Theater, Mockingbird & Central [5400 E. Mockingbird Lane], Dallas Northwest Dallas Democrats
7:30 PM, Taco Cabana, 11824 Webb Chapel Road, Farmers Branch Thursday, January 19th Drinking Liberally Mid-Cities 6:30 pm Los Jimadores, 3314 Harwood Road Saturday, January 21st Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Town Hall Meeting Topic: Mobilizing Our Community to End Violence Against Women and Children. 9 AM - Noon, Methodist Dallas Medical Center Hitt Auditorium, 1441 N. Beckley Avenue, Dallas. Enter the campus at 221 W. Colorado at Bishop, the main entrance to the hospital. Texas Democratic Women of Collin County 6:30 p.m.Collin College Preston Ridge Campus /Founders' Hall, Shawnee Room F148 / 9700 Wade Blvd /Frisco, TX 75035 Tuesday, January 24th DPCC State of the Union Watch Party 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Dodie's Place /190 E. Stacy Rd., Ste 1320 /Allen, TX 75002 |
| Liberals find their radio voice -- again | 
Presidential election years have been good to Gary Richards. It's that post-election season that's a bit tough. This time, however, Richards plans to stick. Richards is the general manager of Columbus's new progressive talk radio airing on WVKO (1580 AM) since Jan. 2. And in his first few weeks, he said the response has been overwhelmingly welcoming. "I've had people contacting us to advertise, which is refreshing," Richards said.
read on
|
Report back - Dallas Guantanamo/NDAA action, Jan 11, 2012 | 
| Dallas protest against NDAA |
CodePINK Dallas, along with allies from Occupy Dallas, the Dallas Peace Center, Veterans for Peace, North DFW 99%, Amnesty International Group 205, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee - Dallas, and Pax Christi - Dallas staged a demonstration, in solidarity with a broad coalition of groups across the country for "10 YEARS TOO MANY: NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST GUANTANAMO." The goals were to remind people that after ten long years, there are still people - some who have already been approved for release - indefinitely detained at the prison at Guantanamo Bay without ever having been afforded a trial, and to raise awareness about the NDAA . The National Defense Authorization Act was signed by President Obama on December 31, allowing indefinite detention to be codified into law. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, any military detention of American citizens or others within the United States is unconstitutional and illegal. Demonstrators dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods used street theater to draw the attention of the public. The group rode the DART train to downtown Dallas, and then marched to the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Rosa Parks Plaza, where they did mic checks, listened to speakers, chanted, and passed out 400 flyers explaining what the street theater was about. They returned via the DART train, mic-checking along the way, to the Mockingbird Bridge, in the shadow of the Bush Institute, to call for accountability of George W. Bush for authoring wars of aggression, indefinite detention, and torture.
|
|
| How Fares the Dream? By PAUL KRUGMAN NY Times | 
"I have a dream," declared Martin Luther King, in a speech that has lost none of its power to inspire. And some of that dream has come true. When King spoke in the summer of 1963, America was a nation that denied basic rights to millions of its citizens, simply because their skin was the wrong color. Today racism is no longer embedded in law. And while it has by no means been banished from the hearts of men, its grip is far weaker than once it was. To say the obvious: to look at a photo of President Obama with his cabinet is to see a degree of racial openness - and openness to women, too - that would have seemed almost inconceivable in 1963. When we observe Martin Luther King's Birthday, we have something very real to celebrate: the civil rights movement was one of America's finest hours, and it made us a nation truer to its own ideals.
read on
| |
North Texas Progressive Newsletter Nancy Cunningham
Editor
Contact: Nancy This newsletter is a project of the North Texas Progressive , which is an umbrella organization for the Dallas Air America group, which was founded in 2004 to promote and support progressive talk radio and independent media in North Texas. Visit the North Texas Progressive web pages to get more information. Newsletter archive Sponsor the newsletter here ! |
|
"Super PAC Satire: Colbert Explains (Faux) Presidential Run to ABC News" and Anti Romney Ad | 
| Colbert Super PAC Ad - Attack In B Minor For Strings |
"Super PAC Satire: Colbert Explains (Faux) Presidential Run to ABC News": "Colbert said that he has not launched a campaign for president, but merely an exploratory committee to find out 'if there is a hunger for a Stephen Colbert campaign. ... I'm exploring right now ... I'm like a one-man Louis and Clark and I'm looking for my Sacagawea. ... They say I can't get on the ballot in South Carolina? ... They said you can't go to the moon. They said you can't put cheese inside a pizza crust, but NASA did it." Story and video http://abcn.ws/xPPToP
|
We need you to be a sponsor! | 
Sponsor an edition today
|
Majority Report with Sam Seder Daily show 10:30am | 
Call in to the show M-F 10:30am CST: 646-257-3920
Daily show , podcast and SammyCam
Check out the great new website !
Become a Member and choose a level of membership. Memberships start as low as $10 a month. That's only 50 cents per show!
|
Occupy Wall Street (OWS) - Occupied Media Interview with Sam Seder | 
| Occupy Wall Street (OWS) - Occupied Media Interview with Sam Seder |
|
Donate today to the North Texas Progressive using PayPal |
Please sponsor a newsletter today!
To send a check, email me.
northtexasprogressive@gmail.com
|
Dr. Errington Thompson's "Where's the outrage? " blog | 
Dallas native Dr. Errington Thompson, former host on Revolution 880 from Asheville, NC now blogs at erringtonthompsonmd.com
|
It's Viral!" The Movement to Overturn Citizens United Swamps the Internet | 
| "It's Viral!" The Movement to Overturn Citizens United Swamps the Internet |
Comedian Lee Camp ("Moment of Clarity") helps democracy advocates take their message about the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision "viral." Starring Katrina vanden Heuvel of The Nation, Jim Hightower, Laura Flanders, Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, and Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's. Cute cats, babies, Mentos and More!
|
C-SPAN Trolled By Callers Asking About Mitt Romney's Penis | 
| C-SPAN Trolled By Callers Asking About Mitt Romney's Penis |
C-SPAN Will Not Employ Tape Delay On Live Call-In Shows (B&C)
A C-SPAN spokesperson said Friday that the cable public-affairs network would "continue to monitor the situation," but it has thus far opted not to employ a tape delay on its live call-in shows "as we hope to preserve the open nature of our town hall forum."
|
WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM screening | WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM Directed by Heather Courtney The Video Association of Dallas, along with the Texas Independent Film Network (TIFN) and The Austin Film Society (AFS) are pleased to announce the first film in TIFN's Spring 2012 program. Join us Jan. 20 at the Texas Theater for WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM, a documentary film that follows several U.S. soldiers on their personal journeys as they fight the war in Afghanistan. The film will be proceeded by Denton filmmaker Liz Colunga's short "They Are Still Here."
wheresoldierscomefrom.com
|
Faith Voices on Justice | 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' (Luke 4:18-19) "Human Rights as a Way of Life" Thursday, January 26, 7pm Rick Halperin, Director, Embrey Human Rights Program, SMU & Former Chair, Board of Directors of Amnesty International USA. Located at, and co-sponsored by, Northaven United Methodist Church, 11211 Preston Road at Northaven If you have any questions, email us at Matthew-25@earthlink.net or call 214/333-7577. http://www.dallaschristians.org/ 
|
|
|
0 comments:
Post a Comment