Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Thanks, Meetup Next Week, more
Hello Everyone!

First, sad news comes tonight that every liberal and progressive's favorite columnist, Molly Ivins, died today in Texas. Some people are not replaceable, and Molly Ivins was one of them. The world will be a sadder place.

In This Update:

1. Vigil Thanks
2. Meetup Next Week
3. War Fever?
4. Climate Change
5. Circular Letter
6. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Vigil Thanks

Thanks to everyone who came out of the cold and wind last Saturday, or were with us in spirit, for another successful vigil against the escalation of the war in Iraq and to bring our troops home.

I think we owe special thanks, also, to Frank Grassia, the late Pvt. Nathan Brown's Social Studies teacher for his eloquent words to the Post Star, and also to the paper for their coverage and Bonnie Naumann for her fine article.

Bit by bit we are all making a difference.

2. Meetup Next Week

A week from today, February 7th, is the first Wednesday of the month and time for our DFA meetup. As usual we will be meeting at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls at 7pm.

On the agenda this month will be reports on the demonstration in Washington, discussion of more actions, the War Tapes video DFA National in Burlington is proposing, the Circular Letter on Global Climate Change and we may get around to a special video on windpower.

3. War Fever?

The Bush White House continues to push ahead with escalating the war in Iraq. There's a petition from the DSCC tonight urging a halt to the escalation: http://www.dscc.org/makeadifference/petitions/20070111_Reid_Escalation.htm

There are also several bills now before both the House and Senate to limit and/or withdraw American Forces from Iraq. Bernice, who went to the demonstration in Washington, tells me all the discussion there was of House Resolution 508, which would begin a staged withdrawal.

Martha sends this very disturbing piece along about what may really be behind the escalation-- a smokescreen and defense for a totally new war on Iran http://www.consortiumnews.com/Print/2007/013107.html

I Congress doesn't act quickly to restrain the President and not merely protest, it may be too late to avoida much larger and worse war. Sen. Russ Feingold is going to introduce legislation in the Senate to start withdrawing the US from Iraq: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/013007T.shtml


4. Climate Change

There is no question the issue of Global Climate Change/Global Warming is definitely heating up, no pun intended. Watch the news Friday for a major report from an international conference studying Global Climate Change.

Salon.com thinks we may have approached a tipping point in opinion on Climate Change:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/01/23/muckraker/

A tipping point does seem to have been reached. Here's four links from Truthout that came in just yesterday alone:

Millions to Go Hungry by 2080
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/013007EA.shtml
Rising temperatures will leave millions more people hungry by 2080 and cause critical water shortages in China and Australia, as well as parts of Europe and the United States. By the end of the century, climate change will bring water scarcity to between 1.1 and 3.2 billion people as temperatures rise by 2 to 3 Celsius (3.6 to 4.8 Fahrenheit), a leaked draft of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report said.

US Urges Scientists to Block Out Sun
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/013007EB.shtml
The US wants the world's scientists to develop technology to block sunlight as a last-ditch way to halt global warming. It says research into techniques such as giant mirrors in space or reflective dust pumped into the atmosphere would be "important insurance" against rising emissions.

Global Warming: The Vicious Circle
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/013007EC.shtml
The effects of man-made emissions of carbon dioxide are being felt on every inhabited continent in the world with very different parts of the climate now visibly responding to human activity.

Indonesia May Lose 2,000 Islands to Climate Change
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/013007ED.shtml
Indonesia could lose about 2,000 islands by 2030 due to climate change, the country's environment minister said on Monday.

Hope none of your were looking forward to vacation on a tropical island paradise.

5. Circular Letter

That brings back around to the Circular Letter on Climate Change and the coming Presidential primaries coming up. I received suggestions and feedback on the letter (all are positive so far, with some suggestions). Special thanks to Nancy for proofreading. I am going to paste a revised version at the bottom for everyone to review again. Please let me know what you think of this and if you have any suggestions, alterations or additions! We will be discussing this at our meeting next week.

6. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Festival continues this week at 7:30pm with:

Feb 2 MALCOLM X: MAKE IT PLAIN (1994) Orlando Bagwell 139 min.
This film chronicles Malcolm X's remarkable journey from his birth on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, to his assassination at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City on February 21, 1965. His compelling story is told through the memories of people who had close personal and working relationships with him and included is extensive archival footage of Brother Malcolm,
speaking in his own words at meetings and rallies, and in media interviews."Make It Plain" presents an intimate portrait of the controversial black political leader and militant. The interviewees include many members of the Nation of Islam, Maya Angelou, Ossie Davis, Alex Haley, Mike Wallace, Malcolm's wife Dr. Betty Shabazz, daughter Atallah Shabazz, and brothers Wilfred and Philbert Little.


Thanks Everyone! Check out the Circular Letter below!

Larry Dudley


******



To our fellow DFA members
A Circular Letter On Climate Change
February, 2007


During the American Revolution it was a common practice for local Committees Of Correspondence, which were groups very much like ours, to compose circular letters to other groups and areas. These letters would pass on information, make observations, share opinions and propose new actions.

We propose this letter in a similar, revolutionary spirit.

Our community is located at the base of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. Anyone who has watched weather maps of New York or New England over many years will know that Glens Falls is always one of the coldest and snowiest spots on the map. Glens Falls is an archetypal snow belt community. Winters here are normally five months long, and occasionally more. To live here is to live in winter.

However, December 2006 was the warmest December on record. Temperatures commonly hovered in the 40s all month long and sometimes broke into the 50s. There was no snow accumulation. At the beginning of January, grass was still green in Glens Falls. Lakes and ponds, which have always frozen hard by now, were free flowing. At their peak in early January, temperatures reached into the mid 60s.

We are all familiar with the lobster in the pot phenomena. If it is put in a cold pot and heated slowly, it will not attempt to escape. In a similar way, people who live in extreme conditions-- like Eskimos and polar bears-- or people like us in Glens Falls-- sometimes see changes others who live in less extreme circumstances will miss because they are more dramatic here.

If you live in Richmond, Virginia, or Little Rock, Arkansas, or Las Vegas, Nevada, where it doesn’t snow much, it might be easy to miss the fact that you are experiencing a significant warming in your winter weather. No snow is no snow. But when you live with snow on the ground five months of the year, as we do, have grown up with that and expect that, the sudden disappearance of snow comes as a shock.

Few people live in the Arctic or in the Antarctic or atop a glacier. That means there are few people in those places to bear witness to radical climate change.

We believe we are on the front line of climate change, are seeing directly for ourselves something others may not be picking up on, and must bear witness to the fact something very extreme and very deadly is happening to our planet.

Dangerous climate change is not a hypothetical event in the future. It is here now. We are sounding the alarm.

We also fear it will get much worse. Recent scientific studies have learned that vast quantities of methane gas, trapped for eons in the arctic permafrost of Russia and Canada, will be released as the permafrost melts.

Most of the climate change we have seen so far has been driven by carbon dioxide. However, methane gas in the upper atmosphere traps 23 times more heat than CO2. The release of methane will radically accelerate global warming. And it could be released in a very short period of time.

If that happens, an irreversible tipping point will occur. All the planet’s ice caps will melt, within a lifetime, possibly much less. The average ocean level will rise 30 feet, inundating all the world’s major coastal cities and shores. Whole regions like Florida, Cape Cod, Louisiana will largely vanish beneath the waves.

Concomitant with that rise will be a likely change in the world’s weather patterns. Specifically, the monsoon rains around the world will cease. The desertification we see now in Africa will spread around the world into South Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and southern China.

Renowned environmental scientist James Lovelock, who created the Gaia hypothesis, that the world operates as a single regulating mechanism, now believes these events are all but inevitable. Lovelock has concluded that humanity will likely be driven to the polar regions in search of habitable terrain. There will not be enough arable land to feed the world’s population. He estimates that as many five to six billion people could possibly perish in a hundred years time.

This is the most dangerous crisis facing the human race since the Black Death killed 40-60% of the world’s population in the 1350s, or since imported diseases like smallpox killed as much as 90% of the people of the Americans after European contact in the 16th and 17th centuries.

For instance,after the arrival of the Black Death, the population of England was reduced in about three years from five million to two million.

Rapid climate change is not an inconvenience. It will have a similar lethality. Whatever the exact percentage, billions of human beings are going to perish. This is true even if prophets like Lovelock are only half right-- instead of four billion people perishing, two billion.

This may seem extreme. But one question has to be asked? What if Lovelock is right? What if he is only half right? Billions will still die.

The mass mortality of so many human beings is what makes this crisis the greatest event in human history.

What kind of actions are impelled upon us?

The first action is to seek appropriate leadership. Then we need to entrust them with
political power to address that crisis, the greatest crisis in at least 500-700 years.

We are now at the cusp of a Presidential election season. Many of us are upset about the Iraq War, civil rights, the war on the middle class, and many other issues. But Global Warming needs to be made the dominant issue of this selection process. It is a life or death issue for most of the human race. As horrifying as the Iraq War is, the long term judgement of history is likely to be that its principle consequence was that it delay our addressing the climate change crisis.

Accordingly, we believe as an organization we must insist on leaders who have several qualities:

*A solid commitment to dealing with the Global Warming/Global Climate Change issue.
*A specific plan of action.
*A solid and verifiable track record on Global Warming/Global Climate Change dating back over a period of years that can be inspected and adequately vetted.
*A record of integrity and standing up for issues, in other words, the strength to carry through. This specifically means not knuckling under to short term corporate pressure.

We would urge all candidates be required to meet this test first before even being considered for our endorsement and support.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:53 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Saturday, Fairness Doctrine In News, More
Hello Everyone!

I hope the state of all your unions are good! I know mine was tonight seeing Speaker Pelosi on the rostrum behind George Bush! And did anyone else notice Dick Cheney smiling and smirking when Shrub was talking about replacing oil? What, exactly, did he find so amusing? I also hope everyone heard Sen. Webb's great rebuttal.

In This Update:

1. Vigil Saturday At Noon Against Escalation and to Bring Our Troops Home
2. Demonstration In Washington For Saturday & Bus
3. Murtha Calls For Withdrawal
4. More Bills To End War Proposed
5. Fairness Doctrine In News
6. Mayor Val Keehn Celebration
7. Friday Night Film Fest



1. Vigil Saturday At Noon Against Escalation and to Bring Our Troops Home

At our Vigil Against The Escalation a week ago Thursday, there were proposals to do another Vigil on Saturday the 27th in conjunction with the big demonstration against the War in Washington, DC.

There were many positive responses, so we will gather again at 12 Noon at the Five Corners in downtown Glens Falls for a one hour vigil against the escalation of the Iraq War and to bring our troops home.

Please bring a friend and a sign if you like. For directions, go to: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17392
Please RSVP at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17392

2. Demonstration In Washington For Saturday & Bus

I've been asked if there are any buses from our area to Washington for the Saturday March. Margaret Sawyer sends this along:

"There is an overflow bus leaving from Exit 9 off I-90 at 10:30 pm on Friday the 26th and leaves DC at 5 pm Sat. The bus station is about 3 miles south of 787 across the Hudson not far from the Amtrak station, looks easy to get to. The bus would arrive DC at 7 am. People are supposed to gather around 11 am with the march starting at 1 pm. It costs $60.00 for adults and $50.00 for students.
The contact person is Wendy Dwyer. Home 781-0071, cell 542-4194. She said she is up early and up late! To confirm your seat, you should send a check made out to her to her address 2529 Rt. 295,Canaan, NY 12029. Her email is missmisc@taconic.net."


More information on Saturday's March, which is being organized by United For Peace and Justice, is at: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3468

3. Murtha Calls For Withdrawal

Rep. John Murtha, who had been calling for a redeployment of US forces, today called for the US to begin a "responsible phased withdrawal" from Iraq beginning with Saddam's palaces. Says Murtha, "The Green Zone is surrounded by Iraqis who have no electricity, no water, none of the things they need, yet inside the Green Zone, they have everything that they need and all the food that they want."
And, " Historically, whether it was India, Algeria or Afghanistan, foreign occupations do not work and, in fact, incite civil unrest."
For more: http://www.examiner.com/a-524641~Murtha_encourages_troop_withdrawal_from_Saddam_s_palaces.html

4. More Bills To End War Proposed

New legislation to end the war, Hr. 508, has been proposed by Congresswomen Lynn Wolsey, Maxine Waters, and Barbara Lee. This is in addition to the Kennedy-Markey Act and legislation introduced in the last Congress, and reintroduced, by Rep. Dennis Kucinich. It has numerous co-sponsors. It provides that:

1. Withdraw all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq within six months from date of enactment.
2. Prohibit any further funding to deploy, or continue to deploy U.S. troops in Iraq. The bill does, however, allow for funding to be used, as needed, to ensure a safe withdrawal of all US military personnel and contractors, diplomatic consultations. Funding may also be used for the increased training and equipping of Iraqi and international security forces.
3. Accelerate, during the six month transition, training of a permanent Iraqi security force.
4. Authorize, if requested by the Iraqi government, U.S. support for an international stabilization force. Such a force would be funded for no longer than two years, and be combined with economic and humanitarian assistance.
5. Guarantee full health care funding, including mental health, for U.S. veterans of military operations in Iraq and other conflicts.
6. Rescind the Congressional Authorization for the War in Iraq.
7. Prohibit the construction of permanent US military bases in the country.
8. Finally, we believe that Iraqi oil belongs to the Iraqis. Once the oil is in the international market, the U.S. will certainly have access to our share. That's why our bill ensures that the U.S. has no long-term control over Iraqi oil.

For more on the bill go to: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/19/33438/7191

5. Fairness Doctrine In News

At our last meeting we adopted a resolution advocating our Congressional Delegation support legislation restoring the Fairness Doctrine.

News comes this week that new committee Chair Dennis Kucinich will be holding hearings on the Fairness Doctrine:
http://nab.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=98294

Drew also sends along a great interview by Raw Story with Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who is also working hard on the Fairness Doctrine issue, and an equally dire problem, media consolidation. According to Hinchey, ""Media reform is the most important issue confronting our democratic republic and the people of our country," and "This is a critical moment in history that may determine the future of our country…maybe forever."

I'll paste the whole piece at the bottom. It's the must read of the week.

6. Mayor Val Keehn Celebration

There will be a celebration of Saratoga Springs Mayor Val Keehn's first year in office on Friday, January 25th at Sargos at the Saratoga National Golf course from 5:30-7:30pm, 458 Union Avenue (east of the Northway). There will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. Contributions will be accepted, Please RSVP to Nancy Goldberg at 518-587-3271 by 1/24.

7. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 7:30pm with:

Jan 26 WHY WE FIGHT (2006) Eugene Jarecki 99 min.
Released as the American military continues to make its presence felt in Iraq and across the globe, Eugene Jarecki's film asks some pertinent questions about the economic necessities of war. Speaking to a number of key figures including Republican Senator John McCain and author Gore Vidal, as well as lesser-know names such as Wilton Sekzer--a Vietnam veteran and ex-New York City cop who lost his son in the World Trade Center attacks--Jarecki's film is a bipartisan treatise that was inspired by Dwight Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address to the nation. Eisenhower spoke of a burgeoning American military-industrial complex, which he believed would threaten democracy across the globe. Jarecki takes a look at whether this has occurred by questioning his subjects on the links between big business and the military, while also talking to people whose lives are inexorably tied to the business of war.


Thanks everyone! See you all on Saturday!

Larry


******



Rep. believes Democratic media reform bill may prevent possible 'fascist' takeover of US media

Miriam Raftery
Published: Sunday January 21, 2007


Rep. Hinchey: New bill would break up media monopolies and restore fairness doctrine

Warns media reform critical to prevent 'end of democratic republic'

Concerns about monopolies and fears of a possible "fascist" takeover of the US media have prompted a Democratic congressman to push to restore the Fairness Doctrine, RAW STORY has learned.

"Media reform is the most important issue confronting our democratic republic and the people of our country," Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) said at the Free Press National Media Reform Conference held in Memphis, Tennessee last weekend. "This is a critical moment in history that may determine the future of our country…maybe forever."

Hinchey told RAW STORY he plans to reintroduce the Media Ownership Reform Act (MORA) that would break up media monopolies and restore the Fairness Doctrine, which was eliminated by the Federal Communications Commission under the Reagan administration.

“If Rush shoots his mouth off, he must give equal access to our side,” Hinchey said. “The American public will begin to get both sides or all sides of an issue. That is basic – fundamental to a democracy.”

Last year, Hinchey introduced H.R. 3302 (MORA), but Republicans blocked the measure in committee. He also founded the Future of American Media Caucus in Congress in 2005. With Democrats now in control of Congress, a new media reform measure is expected to be assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee within the next couple of weeks, Hinchey’s staff confirmed.

“We’ll be trying hard to get the subcommittee and the full committee chairs to bring this to the House floor,” Hinchey pledged. A companion bill will be introduced on the Senate side by Bernie Sanders (D-VT), he added.

MORA would restore the Fairness Doctrine, reinstate a national cap on ownership of radio stations, lower the number of radio stations that one company can own in a local market, and reinstate the 25 percent national cap on television ownership, among other restrictions. The bill’s no-grandfathering provision would compel media conglomerates to divest to comply with new ownership limitations.

MORA would also require public interest reports from broadcasters and require more independently produced programming on TV. In addition, it establishes new public interest obligations to assure that broadcasters meet the needs of local communities and requires increased, sustained public input and outreach to give the people a voice in programming.

Media 'con job'

Hinchey faults the mainstream media for failing to tell Americans the truth about “an administration in Washington that has falsified information to people about weapons of mass destruction in order to justify an illegal and unjustified attack perpetrated on Iraq. How was it that Congress voted to give the President that authority? And how was it that so many people just bought into it when Iraq had nothing to do with the attacks on the World Trade Center and whatever weapons they had were given to them by the Reagan administration?”

Talk radio has become dominated by shows that are “right wing, even neo-fascist,” he said, adding that even the best newspapers gave readers a “con job” by reporting false information fed by the administration.

“This should make every single citizen in America deeply concerned,” he told conference attendees. “What lies will they tell in the future to jeopardize this democratic republic or even end this democratic republic? That is the objective of many of those involved.”

Hinchey believes the takeover of the U.S. media has been carefully calculated by the “political right wing,” starting with the abolition in 1987 of the Fairness Doctrine, which was originally adopted in 1949 in reaction to the rise of global fascism prior to World War II.

“Fascist government dominated discussions in Europe. They could now broadcast all over and control all information going out. That’s how they took over governments in Spain and Italy,” Hinchey recalled. “The U.S. said the airways should be owned by everyone.”

The Fairness Doctrine required that broadcasters give equal time to people who wished to express an opposing viewpoint. “Under the Reagan administration, the FCC wiped out that rule and said only businesses that operate stations can express their view,” Hinchey noted. Congress passed a bill that would have required the FCC to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, but that bill was vetoed by Reagan.

“The veto said clearly that this is an idea from the political right wing because we do not want to allow other points of view – because if we allow free and open discussion on the environment, healthcare [and other issues], in almost every case the right wing will lose.”

Asked whether the Congressman believes there is now an attempt at a fascist takeover of the U.S., a Hinchey staffer noted that Rep. Hinchey’s legislation arose from his concern about increasing concentration of media ownership into the hands of a few individuals and corporations. “Whether or not there is a purpose that includes fascism, we could wind up in a fascist situation if corporations end up controlling information without the government providing some balancing mechanism, such as the Fairness Doctrine,” said the staffer, who spoke on background only and did not wish to be named. “He would also say that the FCC’s recent efforts to weaken media ownership rules in order to enable corporations to own more and more outlets plays into that as well.”

How far would the Fairness Doctrine go?

If reinstated by Hinchey’s bill, the Fairness Doctrine would govern all news programs on public airways, including networks as well as cable stations such as Fox or MSNBC, but would not apply to entertainment shows. Thus a broadcaster such as Comedy Central could argue that the Daily Show or Colbert Report is exempt. Requiring multiple viewpoints via a Fairness Doctrine is particularly important in rural areas, where residents may have access to only a single TV station and can’t afford cable, the staffer added.

Similarly, regulation of talk radio programming would be dependent on whether those shows are defined by broadcasters as news or entertainment. But a Hinchey staffer noted, “We would argue that they are providing commentary on news much like what you see at the end of a news broadcast and as such, they should provide time to people providing other views. We are not saying that they should be taken off the air.”

Just how far would the Fairness Doctrine go? RAW STORY asked Hinchey’s staff whether a station might be compelled to give equal time to a holocaust denier or KKK spokesman if pro-Jewish or civil rights viewpoints were aired. According to a staffer, a station might air controversial opposing views with a disclaimer that those views do not necessarily reflect the station’s viewpoint. A broadcaster might also provide a factual report to dispel lies told by a guest.

A Hinchey spokesperson stressed that the Fairness Doctrine does have limits. “If you’re reporting on al Qaeda, you’re not going to have to have a sympathizer talk about the merits of Al Qaeda activities.”

What about races such as the California gubernatorial election following the recall of Governor Grey Davis, in which around 100 candidates were on the ballot? A broadcaster could impose “reasonable standards.” For example, a TV debate during the California gubernatorial race included candidates who polled above a certain level. “There is no way to have an exact science, but the spirit is what’s important,” Hinchey’s staffer said. “The FCC would look to see that a broadcaster had employed some guidelines and done its utmost to respect the doctrine.” Complaints would be investigated on a case-by-case basis by the FCC, as is currently done for indecency complaints, the staffer added.

The need for media reform is crucial, Hinchey stressed, citing the President’s escalation of the Iraq War and “jacking up” a “need to attack Iran and Syria.” He also expressed concerns over the elimination of habeus corpus and the President’s recent signing statement declaring a right to open citizens’ mail. “He is violating the Constitution and the law,” Hinchey said. “If you can control the media, you control ideas and actions of the people.”

While Hinchey said that impeachment is not likely to go forward, he stressed the importance of making sure that the American people see the proceedings of a “series of investigations” in the new Congress. “The people of America have got to understand what happened, who did it, and why they did it to make sure that no future president gets away with it again.”

Asked by RAW STORY what steps can be taken to assure that Congressional oversight hearings on the administration will be aired by major broadcast networks, Hinchey replied, “Some networks will carry it.”

Hinchey added, “There is a definite role for the public. The American people have got to understand how important this is. Five corporations control ninety percent of radio and TV. They are trying to change the rules of access to let them control the newspapers as well.”

In an op-ed published at a website run by the right-wing think tank Frontiers of Freedom Institute, the owner of the web-based news journal, Daley Times-Post, argues that Democratic efforts to exhume the fairness doctrine reveal "just how far to the left their party has slid over the years."

"Mr. Hinchey states that MORA 'seeks to restore integrity and diversity to America's media system by lowering the number of media outlets that one company is permitted to own in a single market,' but he fails to point out that no company is going to be successful enough to buy very many media outlets in any market unless it gives its audience what it wants," Edward L. Daley writes. "Fed up with the left-wing bias that has permeated the television news industry for decades, today's media consumers demand both diversity and integrity from the people who provide them with news and information."

"That's why talk radio programs are so popular these days," Daley adds. "Shows like Rush Limbaugh's afford their listeners with a wide variety of viewpoints, and their hosts routinely cite articles from the most reputable news sources around."

On newspaper consolidation

RAW STORY spoke with Hinchey about increasing newspaper consolidation and newspapers that restrict access to political candidates. For example, the San Diego Union-Tribune refused to cover Democratic Congressional candidate Jeeni Criscenza, who was running against Republican incumbent Darryl Issa, the richest member of Congress, despite the fact that Criscenza visited hotspots in the Middle East, traveled to Mexico to observe the vote count, and made numerous high-profile campaign appearances throughout the district she sought to represent.

“This is an issue we’ll have to look at and address,” Hinchey said. “It’s clear it is a conspiratorial agenda going on, led by the right wing political operatives in America.”

Asked whether a Fairness Doctrine for newspapers is worth considering, particularly in cities with only one major newspaper, Hinchey responded, “It is, but the big thing now is for television and radio. The primary focus is on the broadcasting system, because that is where most Americans get their news.” Partisan newspapers is nothing new, he added, noting that Colonial Era publishers attacked both Jefferson and Madison.

As early as April of this year, a window is expected to open for the FCC to approve applications for FM radio stations. RAW STORY asked Hinchey what criteria the FCC will use to determine who will be awarded high-power FM licenses and how to make sure that right-wing groups or churches are not given priority over progressive applicants.

“To be candid, there isn’t anything we can do to be certain that this won’t happen,” the Congressman revealed. He noted that the FCC is an executive branch agency with five commissioners – and three are Republicans who control decisions. “It is a roll of the dice,” he warned, “but some of those dice are loaded – and the FCC is loading them.”

With Democrats now in control of the House, Hinchey has been named to a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee with jurisdiction over the FCC budget. He posed a challenge to members of Congress to pass media reform, asking, “Will we be strong enough to bear this responsibility?”
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:53 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA: Meetup Report (Finally!), Fairness Doctrine Resolution, Tim Merrick, Circular Letter and More
Hello Everyone;

Hope everyone has their power back on, too!

In This Update:

1. Meetup Report:
Fariness Doctrine Resolution
Tim Merrick Appearance
Draft Circular Letter
2. Extremely Successful Vigil Thursday
3. Post Star Honors All Of Us
4. Anti War Protest For 27th?
5. Iraq War Bills Info And Links
6. More Evidence of Bush's and the War's Madness
7. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest
8. GF Dems Sponsor "Dance Fever"
9. On The Lighter Side: Garrison Keillor

1. Meetup Report:
Fariness Doctrine Resolution

I wasn't able to get a report on our last meeting into the last update: here is it. There were three major items on our agenda:

First we discussed a resolution proposed in January by Drew Monthie to urge our congressional delegation to restore the Fairness Doctrine. We unanimously passed the following resolution:

"In 1986 a Federal Communications Commission packed by President Ronald Reagan abolished the Fairness Doctrine. Reagan then vetoed an act of Congress to reestablish the Fairness Doctrine."

"Established early in the days of radio, the Fairness Doctrine was an important New Deal reform. Broadcasters had to fairly present alternative points of view and give those attacked an opportunity to respond. It also provided for equal time and emphasized public service in broadcasting."

"Ever since it’s abolition, the United State’s political discourse has rapidly deteriorated. The sense of fairness and public service that once characterized broadcasting in America has largely vanished. Our democracy has suffered as a result."

"Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area believes the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine is a vital reform the new Congress must adopt. Therefore, we urge our congressional delegation to support Rep, Slaugher’s resolution to restore the Fairness Doctrine, introduced in the 109th Congress as HR. 501."

Tim Merrick Appearance

We were also very pleased to have our State Senate candidate Tim Merrick come down from Plattsburg to appear at our meeting. Tim thanked everyone in DFA for all their efforts on his behalf, and he was very complimentary and gracious. I think everyone present also expressed their gratitude to Tim for the great effort he made. It was too long a conversation to summarize here, but it wide ranging, covering everything from the way the election played out, issues facing the Northcountry today and the future of DFA and what we can do here locally for real change.

Draft Circular Letter

We also discussed a draft Circular Letter I proposed to the group. We all probably saw today the email from DFA in Burlington polling everyone in DFA on what DFA's roll will be in the next primary election for President.

For the majority of us this organization originally gathered to support the candidacy of Governor Dean. I think he is still the overwhelming sentimental favorite of most of us. But I think it is also very clear he is not running. So what is DFA to do? The issue really is whether or not DFA will be relevant to the process of selecting the next president or not.

Like many of you, I have been spooked by the winter we are having here. It's true it just turned colder, but this winter was the culmination of 25 years of increasingly warming weather.

I would like to propose that Global Warming must be the leading criteria for selecting our next presidential nominee. Global War will be the leading issue for the next 100 years.

The idea is to send the circular letter to other DFA groups, to urge them to consider this as their criteria, too.

I will paste it in at the bottom of this message your everyone's review. Let's all think about it, whether or not we should do this, whether we like the language, and, if all are agreeable, we can discuss and revise it at our next meeting.

2. Extremely Successful Vigil Thursday

Thanks to everyone who came out in the cold last Thursday for the Vigil Against the Escalation and to Bring Our Troops Home. Everyone who read the paper knows it was a huge success. If you haven't see it, the article is online at: http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/01/12/news/ doc45a70fc6d6509595118092.txt

3. Post Star Honors All Of Us

The Post Star also honored all of our and our efforts Monday on the Boos and Bravo section of the Op Ed page. They gave the vigil and everyone who came a big Bravo for doing so. That credit goes to everyone who came, came to others in the past, or wanted to but could not. All matter.

4. Anti War Protest For 27th?

One of the questions raised at the Vigil was about the big anti-war demonstration being planned for Washington, DC, for January 27th. It is being organized by United For Peace and Justice. Here are the details: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3468

At the vigil people asked if we could have a parallel event here on the 27th-- specifically, another of the Saturday Morning vigils we were doing until the election heated up. If anyone is interested in something like that, let me know and I will schedule it! Like the Vigil last week, we are the people who can make that happen and make an impact.

5. Iraq War Bills Info And Links

People at the vigil also wanted to know about the bills before Congress mandating the removal of our troops from Iraq, particularly the Kennedy-Markey Act.

Andrew White of our Albany DFA group has assembled that info and sends it along (thanks to Andrew! ).

"Hi Folks,

There are bills proposed in the Senate and House to prohibit funding of
Bush's escalation of the Iraq War. Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Markey are
sponsoring matching bills on this issue. There are also resolutions in the
House that "express the sense" of the House against the escalation.
"Expressing the sense" does nothing. "Expressly prohibiting" is real action.
It is important that we get our Congresspeople on board with "Expressly
Prohibiting" rather than "expressing the sense."

Unfortunately, the Congressional Service for researching these bills is not
providing a permanent link to them. You can go to this web page

http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html

Select to search by Bill number and plug in either H.R. 353 or S. 233. Looks
like the exact text of the bills haven't been loaded into Thomas for the
110th yet.

I would like to request that we get as many of us as possible to call our
various Representatives and our Senators and get them to sign on to H.R. 353
and S. 233 rather then the alternatives.

Title and summary information for both bills is included below.

H.R.353
Title: To prohibit the use of funds for an escalation of United States
forces in Iraq above the numbers existing as of January 9, 2007.

Sponsor: Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] (introduced 1/9/2007) Cosponsors
(14)

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred
to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

And here are the current co-sponsors beyond Markey:

COSPONSORS(14):

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 1/9/2007
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 1/10/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 1/9/2007
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 1/10/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/9/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 1/10/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 1/11/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/10/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 1/9/2007
Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 1/9/2007
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 1/12/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 1/11/2007
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 1/12/2007
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 1/11/2007

S.233
Title: A bill to prohibit the use of funds for an escalation of United
States military forces in Iraq above the numbers existing as of January 9,
2007.

Sponsor: Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] (introduced 1/9/2007) Cosponsors
(6)

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read
twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
And here is the link to the Senate version in the 110th:

Along with Kennedy here are the current co-sponsors:

COSPONSORS(6)

Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 1/9/2007
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] - 1/9/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 1/9/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 1/9/2007
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 1/10/2007
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 1/9/2007

Peace,

Andrew

6. More Evidence of Bush's and the War's Madness

Dick sends along this extraordinary piece in Britain's Guardian. Many of us remember the madness of Vietnam. This article makes it clear that the madness of Iraq is of an order of magnitude greater, this is truly something out of Lord Of The Flies. The violence is so horrendous that the basic nature of the conflict has changed: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1989397,00.html

Martha sends this along that that may explain the popularity of murderous religious militias to the Bush Administration-- they will sign a deal for oil: http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/46602/

I find this account by Maureen Dowd about Bush's personal madness, which was pretty plain in his 60 Minutes interview, fascinating: Bush has always upped the ante: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/13/51227/2275

7. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 7:30pm with:

Jan 19 THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER (2002) Eugene Jarecki 80 min.
A documentary based on the book by British journalist Christopher Hitchens, argues that Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State and the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, was a power-hungry warmonger responsible for massive military cover-ups in Vietnam, Cambodia, and East Timor in the 1960s, as well as the assassination of a Chilean leader in 1970. The film includes interviews with historians, political analysts, and such notable journalists as the New York Times' William Safire--a former speech writer for Richard Nixon. In addition, it uses archival footage from the Nixon era, including coverage of events both in Washington and in Vietnam. With narrator Brian Cox guiding the flow of the film and keeping it tightly focused on its

8. GF Dems Sponsor "Dance Fever"

The Glens Falls Democratic Committee is one of the sponsors of a monthy "Dance Fever" at the Park Theater in downtown Glens Falls on Saturday, January 20th. Bill Loeb sends this along:

PARK THEATER’S DANCE FEVER

Third Sunday every month, 6:30 – 9:00
Park Theater, Park Street, Glens Falls

Sunday – January 21 – 6:30 – 9:00
6:30 – 7:15 Dance Lesson – Rumba, instructor – Jan Holik
7:15 – 9:00 Open Dancing

DJ – Carrine K. Henry Songs by Airplane, Janis Joplin, Anne Murray, Patsy Cline, Blondie, ABBA, Monkeys, Engelbert, Julio, Frank, Michael Jackson., CCR, Michael Buble’, Ritchie Valens, Pink Martini, Jay and the Americans, Roy Orbison,UB40, Randy Travis, Toby Keith, Drifters, Del Shannon, Hollies, Linda Ronstadt, Debbie Boone, Neil Young, Lee Ann Womack, New Riders, Beach Boys, Platters, John Denver, Diana Ross

Dances – Rumba, Cha-Cha, Waltz, Fox Trot, Swing (East and West Coast), Tango, Jitterbug, Country Two Step, Stroll, Merengue, Romantic Slow Dance, and Rock ‘n Roll

Refreshments will be sold by the Park Theater Management Concession. Cost - $10 per dancer Attire – Smart Casual All ages, singles and couples.

Directions – Park Street is in Downtown Glens Falls. It is a short street with the Glens Falls Hospital at one end and the Civic Center at the other end. Plenty of close parking including the Hospital parking lot.

For further information please contact Bill Loeb at 792-1759 or william.loeb@verizon.net
Sponsored by Glens Falls Downtown Enthusiasts, the GF Democratic Committee and The Park Theater

9. On The Lighter Side: Garrison Keillor

Finally, on the lighter side, Garrison Keillor has our modern Ahab pegged, or is it peg legged?
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/01/17/keillor/

Thanks again everyone! Sorry this was so long. The Draft Circular Letter is below.

Larry Dudley



***********


Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area

A Circular Letter

To our fellow DFA members
January, 2007


During the American Revolution it was a common practice for local committees of correspondence, which were groups very much like ours, to compose circular letters to other groups and areas. These letters would pass on information, make observations, share opinions and propose new actions.

We propose this letter in a similar, revolutionary spirit.

Our community is located at the base of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. Anyone who has watched weather maps of New York or New England over many years will know that Glens Falls is always one of the coldest and snowiest spots on the map. Glens Falls is an archetypal snow belt community. Winters here are normally five months long, and occasionally more. To live here is to live in winter.

However, December 2006 was the warmest December on record. Temperatures commonly hovered in the 40s all month long and sometimes broke into the 50s. There was no snow accumulation. At the beginning of January, grass was still green in Glens Falls. Lakes and ponds, which have always frozen hard by now, are free flowing. It is likely they will not freeze at all.

We are all familiar with the lobster in the pot phenomena. If it is put in a cold pot and heated slowly, it will not attempt to escape. In a similar way, people who live in extreme conditions-- like eskimos and polar bears-- or people like us in Glens Falls-- sometimes see changes others who live in less extreme circumstances will miss.

If you live in Richmond, Virginia, or Little Rock, Arkansas, or Las Vegas, Nevada, where it doesn’t snow much, it might be easy to miss the fact that you are experiencing a significant warming in your winter weather. No snow is no snow. But when you live with snow five months of the year, as we do, have grown up with that and expect that, the sudden disappearance of snow comes as a shock.

Few people live in the Arctic or Antarctic or atop a glacier. That means there are few people in those places to bear witness to radical climate change.

We believe we are on the front line of climate change, are seeing directly for ourselves something others may not be picking up on, and must bear witness to the fact something very extreme and very deadly is happening to our planet.

Dangerous climate change is not a hypothetical event in the future. It is here now. We are sounding the alarm.

We also fear it will get much worse. Recent scientific studies have learned that vast quantities of methane gas, trapped for eons in the arctic permafrost of Russia and Canada, will be released as the permafrost melts.

Most of the climate change we have seen so far has been driven by carbon dioxide. However, methane gas in the upper atmosphere traps 23 times more heat than CO2. The release of methane will radically accelerate global warming. And it could be released in a very short period of time.

If that happens, an irreversible tipping point will occur. All the planet’s ice caps will melt, within a lifetime, possibly much less. The average ocean level will rise 30 feet, inundating all the world’s major coastal cities and shores. Whole regions like Florida, Cap Cod, Louisiana will largely vanish beneath the waves.

Concomitant with that rise, will be a likely change in the world’s weather patterns. Specifically, the monsoon rains around the world will cease. The desertification we see now in Africa will spread around the world into South Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and southern China.

Renowned environmental scientist James Lovelock, who created the Gaia hypothesis, that the world operations as a single regulating mechanism, believes these events are all but inevitable. Locklock has concluded that humanity will likely driven to the polar regions in search of habitable terrain. There will not be enough arable land to feed the world’s population. He estimates that five to six billion people could possibly perish in a hundred years time.

This is the most dangerous crisis facing the human race since the Black Death killed 40-60% of the world’s population in the 1350s. For instance, the population of England was reduced in about three years from five million to two million. Rapid climate change is not an inconvenience. It will have a similar lethality. Whatever the exact percentage, billions of human beings are going to perish.

This may seem extreme. But one question has to be asked? What if Lovelock is right? What if he is only half right? Billions will still die.

What kind of actions are impelled upon us?

The first action is to seek appropriate leadership. Then we need to entrust them with political power to address what is in fact the gravest crisis since the Black Death, a crisis that may well exceed that event in overall mortality.

We are now at the cusp of a Presidential election season. Many of us are upset about the Iraq War, civil rights, the war on the middle class, and many other issues. But Global Warming needs to be made the dominant issue of this selection process. It is a life or death issue for most of the human race.

We believe as an organization we must insist on leaders who have several qualities:

*A solid commitment to dealing with the Global Warming issue.
*A specific plan of action.
*A solid and verifiable track record on Global Warming dating back over a period of years that can be inspected and adequately vetted.
*A record of integrity and standing up for issues, in other words, the strength to carry through. This means not knuckling under to short term corporate pressure.

We would urge all candidates be required to meet this test first before even being considered for our endorsement and support.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:10 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Thursday To Say NO escalation, More
Hello Everyone!

Before I get into the rest of this update, DFA National in Burlington has called on us to join with True Majority Action and Moveon.org to hold vigils Thursday at 6pm to protest any escalation in the war in Iraq. More below.

In this update:

1. Bush To Escalate War
2. Vigil Thursday
3. Crootofs Make NY Times
4. Meetup Report
5. Global Warming News-- GM Unveils Revolutionary 100mpg Car. Really!
6. Gillibrand Gets Ag Committee
7. Martin Luther King Day March and Service
8. Friday Film Fest

1. Bush To Escalate War

The headlines will be dominated this week by George Bush's latest neocon madness-- tomorrow he will propose an escalation of the war in Iraq. Part of this is that he can't admit he's lost the war. But the Republicans clearly want to drown out the new Democratic Congress.

The Republicans like to claim they listen to the real military pros, and support the military, but Bush appears to be purging military leaders who won't go along with what he wants: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010607Z.shtml

Sen. Kennedy says escalation is not Bush's decision to make, but the new Congress', and that it won't work: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010907B.shtml
He has a petition: http://www.tedkennedy.com/page/s/ourdecision

A major call-up of Guard and Reserve units may be the only way to staff such a large new force: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010907C.shtml

2. Vigil Thursday

Accordingly, we will join with other DFA groups, True Major and other groups across the nation to hold a candle light vigil Thursday at and around the bandstand in City Park near the Crandall Library in downtown Glens Falls. This will be a quiet one hour vigil for peace and to bear witness against any escalation of the War In Iraq, without speeches. Please bring a candle, if you wish (with a cup to catch the wax) and a sign, if you wish.
Date: January 11, 2007
From: 06:00 PM until 07:00 PM
Address
The Bandstand City Park Downtown Glens Falls, NY between Bay and Ridge Streets and Maple Ave.
Directions
From The Northway (Rt 87) take Exit 18 east into Glens Falls. Go past the Hannaford supermarket. At the Stewart's shop, bear right past the Post Office and the Glens Falls Hospital. Continue on through the five corners intersection in downtown Glens Falls. Take the center road, Ridge Street. Go past Glens Falls City Hall. City park and the band stand is on the left.

3. Crootofs Make NY Times

We are not the only people protesting the war. The efforts of the Crootof family in Middle Grove, just outside Saratoga, put most of us to shame, with a field with over 3011 yellow flags, one for every American service member killed. The New York Times just did an article quoting Caren Crootof:

“Just imagine if instead of flags, there were soldiers standing here,” Caren Crootof said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/06/nyregion/06flags.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

4. Meetup Report

We had a busy meetup last week, but because of the press of today's call I want to get this out ASAP, and I haven't written it yet! (Unlike the rest) So I will include that in the next posting.

5. Global Warming News-- GM Unveils Revolutionary 100mpg Car. Really!

This is probably the biggest news story this week outside the war. At the Detroit Auto Show this week GM unveiled a new auto. Now hype surrounds new auto rollouts. But this is revolutionary because it is actually a car that can get over a hundred miles per gallon: The Chevy Volt. It's actually an electric car. It carries an internal combustion engine, but only to drive a generator to recharge the batteries. Only the electric motor is connected to the wheels. But you mainly will recharge it by plugging it in. It will go 40 miles on a charge before the motor starts. Since 78% of all car trips are less than 40 miles it's quite possible to go long periods of time without ever buying gasoline. I know in my own case, unless I drove down to Manhattan or up to Burlington or somewhere, I would never need to buy gas. I could go on two or three tanks of gas a year. In theory, if you drove less than 40 miles per trip, you would never need to buy gasoline at all.

Having the gas engine only run a generator increases efficiency because the internal combustion engine runs at an optimal speed 100% of the time. (Running without the batteries, it can still get 50 miles per gallon.) Normally with a car, the engine runs too fast or two slow to run with real efficiency-- that's why we need a transmission. The Volt has no transmission, which saves weight and cuts costs.

This technology leapfrogs the present generation of hybrid vehicles (Sorry Drew, Linda, George and Tim!) with their complicated drive trains.

The car will be placed on the market as soon as batteries are ready, probably in about two years. But again, this is a real car, not a showroom show piece. GM is committed to building it. GM has done a 180 on electric cars, after killing the EV-1. They now say the very survival of GM as a company depends on the success of the Volt.

Two or three observations: General Motors in introducing this car is basically cutting its ties to the petroleum industry. They are looking way down the road to a whole new era. The economic and political implications of that are enormous.
*The Volt can also run on pure ethanol like in Brazil, E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) and potentially biodiesel or even in theory, hydrogen. That means we could produce our fuel, here.
*Also, it can be charged at night. When you turn on a light after about 8pm, you are mainly burning nuclear generated electricity (nuke plants run at full power all the time). So plugging in the Volt at night will not simply shift from one pollutant to another. There is ample spare capacity at night to do this charging: the existing system can handle the extra load for years to come.
*I also notice in looking at some of the pictures that there are GE logos on some of the components. Since GE is still a New York company, however diminished, that has interesting implications, too. Could Chevy Volt parts production come to NYS?
*Finally-- what's ultimately driving the conflict in the Middle East? Petroleum. We have to break our dependence on Middle Eastern oil or we will be right back in another war over oil eventually.

For More and some pictures this is the best coverage I've seen:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/01/07/detroit-auto-show-its-here-gms-plug-in-hybrid-is-the-chevy-v/

Also, you can vote for volt-- ask GM to build this car!
http://www.gm.com/company/gm_exp_live/events/naias_2007/index_flash.html?navID=3.0.1.1

And to further clarify why this matters so much, 2007 is likely to be the warmest year in recorded history. We are frying our planet with greenhouse gas emissions. Clean cars like the Volt, along with the recent development of green energy from algae I posted a couple of weeks ago show there's real reason for hope. For more on 2007:
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070104/D8MEFCCO0.html

6. Gillibrand Gets Ag Committee

Late news comes tonight in an official press release that Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand has landed the coveted seat on the House Agriculture Committee she desired. This will come as good news to upstate farmers, particularly dairymen. New York has not had a major presence on this committee in the recent past.

7. Martin Luther King Day March and Service

There will be a commemorative march and celebration of Martin Luther King Day on Sunday, January 14 in downtown Glens Falls. There will be a march reenacting the early Civil Rights marches led by Dr. King beginning at 3pm at City Hall in downtown Glens Falls. Mayor Roy Akins will speak first. At 3:30 the march will proceed from City Hall to the United Methodist Church on Bay Street. There will be a celebration inside beginning at 4pm. For more information call Carol Kirkwood at the Y at 793-3878. Sponsors include the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, the GE Elfun Society and the YMCA.

8. Friday Film Fest

Finally, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe resumes its Friday Night Film Fest at 8pm with:
Jan 12 ** PREMIERE ** THE GROUND TRUTH (2006) Patricia Foulkrod 78 min.
Hailed as "powerful" and "quietly unflinching," Patricia Foulkrod's searing documentary feature includes exclusive footage that will stir audiences. The filmmaker's subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities. The terrible conflict in Iraq, depicted with ferocious honesty in the film, is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home – with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government. As these battles take shape, each soldier becomes a new kind of hero, bearing witness and giving support to other veterans, and learning to fearlessly wield the most powerful weapon of all - the truth.

Thanks Everyone! See you Thursday downtown.

My best,

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 6:23 PM 0 comments