Tricounty DFA Update: Invitation-- Five Years of War Commemoration March 19th
Hello Everyone;

First, what a difference three days makes. I am sure the humiliating fall of Eliot Spitzer has transfixed most of us this week-- I know from the many of you who have called me how shocked and saddened we all are. I have been told by those who know him, what a remarkable figure soon to be governor David Patterson is. Stories of his decency and kindness seem to be commonplace-- along with a real talent for bringing people together to get the people's business done. If these many stories are only half true, the future of our party and New York looks bright, despite this week's sad events.

In This Update:

1. Invitation: Vigil Commemorating The 5th Anniversary Of The Invasion Of Iraq
2. Republicans To Focus On War?
3. Stop Drive Through Mastectomies
4. Friday Night Film Progressive Film Festival


1. Invitation: Vigil Commemorating The 5th Anniversary Of The Invasion Of Iraq

One week from today, March 19th, is the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq. You are invited to join a special candlelight vigil and reading of the names of the dead at the bandstand in City Park in downtown Glens Falls at 6pm.

Millions of people in thousands of communities will be coming together simultaneously on the 19th in solidarity to stand for peace, protest the war and its cost and solemnly remember those lost. This coordinated nation wide commemoration and protest promises to be the largest simultaneous public gathering since the protests against the start of the war five years ago, which were the largest in history, with tens of millions of people around the world in attendance.

Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area and local Moveon.org members are co-sponsoring this event as part of The National Commemoration Of The Iraq War organized by Moveon.org, United For Peace And Justice, True Majority Action, Working Assets/Credo Mobile, US Action, the SEIU and other national organizations.

Those wishing to come are asked to please R.S.V.P. at http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=45117
or http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=28485

During the event the names of Americans lost in Iraq will be read in a form of counterpoint, along with major losses of Iraqi lives, with one person reading the names of those lost in each year. A separate reading of those lost from New York and Vermont will begin the event. A poem will be read at the end followed by the playing of taps. The reading of the names of the dead will begin at 6pm.

Those wishing to participate in the reading of the names are asked to come at 5:30pm.

This event is open to all members of the public and everyone concerned about the ongoing war in Iraq is urged to attend and bring a candle and a sign, if they wish, along with friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers. In recognition of the gravity and solemnity of the moment and in respect for the vast lost of human life, there will be no speeches or other entertainments.
Glens Falls.

Again, those wishing to come are asked to please R.S.V.P. at http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=45117
or http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=28485


2. Republicans To Focus On War?

Kathy Sonnabend sends this piece which underscores the importance of keeping public attention focused on what a disaster Iraq has become, despite claims of a successful surge or escalation. Studies indicate McCain may actually be able to get voters who oppose the war to support him, anyway. This is definitely the must read of the week!

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/79351?page=entire

Congress failed last year to remove our troops from Iraq-- allowing the war to be an issue in this election, which is what the Republicans wanted. Now we have to deal with it. As this article makes clear, there is going to be a huge battle for public opinion over the war. As Kathy pointed out to me, we must strive to remind people how terrible this war is-- for our economy, for the safety of our nation and the world, and the lives of those called to serve. So we would urge everyone to make the special effort to come Wednesday at 6pm, with a candle and sign if you like, to show our opposition to our continued presence in Iraq.

3. Stop Drive Through Mastectomies

Lisa Scerbo sends this horrifying message:

"I received this link from a operating room nurse who has experienced this horrendous practice of "Drive-Through Mastectomies". Insurance companies are making mastectomies an out patient procedure. There is a bill in Congress now to make insurance companies cover a minimum stay of 48 hours following a mastectomy. Lifetime Television is promoting this petition drive to tell Congress to end this practice. Please take 1 minute to sign this petition. Who knows it could make a difference."

http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php


4. Friday Night Film Progressive Film Festival

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive FIlm Festival continues at 7:30 with,

Fri Mar 14 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
CAPITOL CRIMES (2006) Bill Moyers 120 min. No RT Rating
"It's a dizzying scope of perfidy and politics that boggles the imagination, and although Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay have been brought down, the system remains as vulnerable as ever," says Bill Moyers. "The scale of corruption still coming to light dwarfs anything since Watergate. In one sense it's the age-old tale of greed, but greed encouraged now by the way our system works. Deep in the plea agreements of Jack Abramoff and his cronies is the admission that they conspired to use campaign contributions to bribe politicians; campaign finance is at the core of the corruption. They took great pains to cover their tracks, and they might have pulled it off except for a handful of honest people, and the work of some enterprising print reporters, Senate investigators, and the ethics team at the department of justice. Following the money in this story leads through a bizarre maze of cocktail parties, golf courses, private jets, four-star restaurants, sweatshops - and the aura of chandeliered rooms frequented by the high and mighty of Washington." The ramifications of the Jack Abramoff scandal continue to mount. Since "Capitol Crimes" was broadcast in October 2006, Jack Abramoff started his prison sentence, and U.S. voters in exit polls named "corruption" as the biggest factor in their ballot-casting - above terrorism and the economy. Indeed, association with Abramoff was cited in the defeat of at least two incumbent Republicans - Representative Richard Pombo of California and Senator Conrad Burns of Montana.

Thanks everyone! Hope to see you all at City Park downtown at 6pm on the 19th.

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Iraq, Iraq War, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:49 PM