LaborGroups, Defenders of the Faith


<http://www.LaborGroups.org>LaborGroups News 10Apr03


"The War on Working Families Continues"


http://server781.dnslive.net/mailman/listinfo/news_laborgroups.org





1) Don't buy Scab Nachos at Cubs and White Sox Home Games


2) Tax Cut for the Rich Results in Cut in Veterans' Benefits


3) The Murder of Media Covering Iraq


4) Gun Owners: NRA Means "Right to Work"


5) Racist Discrimination in Jobs & Education


6) Jobless in Bush's America


7) United Students Against Sweatshops


8) David Rovics


9) "I Dream of Genie"





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1) Don't buy Scab Nachos at Cubs and White Sox Home Games





http://www.laborgroups.org/ATTENTION-CHICAGO-CUBS-AND-WHITE-SOX-FANS.doc





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2) Tax Cut for the Rich Results in Cut in Veterans' Benefits





WAR DISTRACTS FROM BUSH'S BUDGET CUTS





By Robert Kuttner, Boston Globe -- 3/26/2003





THE WAR IN IRAQ might not be going quite as smoothly as the Bush administration hoped, but the war at home is going just swimmingly. War is silencing debate not just on the wisdom of Bush's foreign policy but on a host of other issues that would normally be front-page news.





You might have missed it, but this is budget season. Thanks to the distractions of war, bizarre budget resolutions are swiftly moving through Congress and will be law by mid-April. For the first time ever in the United States, we are rushing through an immense tax cut in the midst of a war that the president admits will cost at least $74.7 billion just in its first phase. The consequence of this, not surprisingly, is massive cuts in popular outlays.





The budget enacted by the Republican House on a straight-line party vote (with just 12 GOP dissenters) is astonishing. It not only gives Bush his entire tax cut but proposes to balance the budget within six years. The casualties of that process would be monumentally unpopular if the public were not distracted by war.





For starters, the House Republicans are cutting, of all things, veterans benefits. The message, evidently, is God bless our troops when they are dodging bullets but God help them when they come home.





Once, a grateful nation offered vets free medical care. Now, the Republicans want to charge premiums to ''well-to-do'' vets -- with well-to-do defined as earning $26,000 a year. All told, the House budget cuts an amazing $14.6 billion in vets' programs, including money for disabilities caused by war wounds, rehabilitation and health care, pensions for low income veterans, education and housing benefits, and even -- nice touch -- burial benefits.





After World War II, we welcomed back vets with a huge program of education, health, and housing -- the justly celebrated GI Bill of Rights. This time, returning military personnel will not only face cuts in their own benefits as veterans; their kids will face cuts in education and health aid as well.





One of Bush's signature programs was ''No Child Left Behind.'' The House Republican budget cuts education funding by 10.2 percent below the reduced level proposed by President Bush, which had proposed to cut several billion previously approved by Congress.





The Bush administration claims that the war is being fought to make sure weapons of mass destruction will not rain down on Americans. Incredibly, the Republicans are shortchanging the Nunn-Lugar program, the bipartisan effort to dismantle the nuclear arsenal of the former Soviet Union. Which is the bigger threat: Russia's thousand of loose nukes or Saddam's hypothetical ones?





There's more: $93 billion in Medicaid cuts; a skimpy prescription drug program financed by other massive cuts in Medicare; huge environmental cuts.





As astonishing as the slap to veterans is a slight cut in real outlays for homeland security -- at a time when threats will increase. There is no new money for port security. Even the administration's ''first-responder'' initiative comes from cuts in other law enforcement aid.





Though the war serves as a handy distraction, these budget assaults are not mainly the result of war. Mainly they go to pay for the cost of tax cuts. The final cost of the war, occupation, and rebuilding may reach $200 billion. The cost of the two Bush tax cuts is over $3 trillion. (In a preliminary vote, the Senate voted yesterday to trim Bush's latest tax cut by $350 billion, but this still would have to be reconciled with the House.)





This administration's slogan might as well be, ''Sacrifice is for suckers.'' While young men and women risk their lives in a war whose rationale remains to be proven, the larger Bush program diverts money from services to ordinary Americans, even our homeland security -- to give tax breaks to multimillionaires.





Meanwhile, Vice President Cheney's former company, Halliburton, stands to make a pile of money as a military contractor in Iraq, while Richard Perle, one of the architects of the Iraq war, is to receive $725,000 as a consultant to a telecom company seeking regulatory approval from the Pentagon.





War is never good for democratic deliberation. That's why it's so good for this administration, whose policies would otherwise not withstand public scrutiny.





One final issue lost in the fog of war is the effort by tax reformers to close the loophole that allows unpatriotic US companies to move to offshore tax havens. The IRS puts the cost to the US Treasury at around $70 billion a year -- about the direct cost of the Iraq war. It's an instructive contrast: ordinary American soldiers slogging through the sands of Iraq while Bush's corporate cronies relax on a sandy, tax-free beach.





Robert Kuttner's is co-editor of The American Prospect. His column appears regularly in the Globe.





GUNS AND TAX CUTS - BUT WHERE'S THE BUTTER?


As the war intensifies in Iraq, it's business-as-usual for special


interest campaign contributors in Washington. Powerful lobbies are


banking on round-the-clock media attention overseas keeping us from


noticing how ordinary people are being left out of key legislation at


home. This is the first of a special three part series of OUCH!


bulletins that we will send out over the next week illustrating how,


while life is being changed for hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops and


their families, and all of us hope and pray for a quick end to the war


in Iraq, the influence-peddlers are working overtime in our nation's


capital.





Part I. The Budget





America's troops, drawn largely from working families living in


blue-collar cities like Kalamazoo, MI and Erie, PA, will face serious


financial challenges when they eventually return home. In Washington,


DC, President George W. Bush and Congress are dealing moderate- and


low-income Americans blow after blow as they hammer out the details of


the 2003 budget. Generous campaign contributors are being rewarded,


while ordinary Americans, who can't afford to give cash to politicians,


are left out.





So far, the House of Representatives has passed $726 billion in tax cuts


advocated by the president; while last week the Senate trimmed that


number to $350 billion. Most observers expect the two bodies to


compromise somewhere in the middle. Either way, the benefits will accrue


mostly to the wealthy. According to Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ),


"three-fifths of Bush's proposed tax reductions for this year would go


to the best-off 10 percent of all taxpayers." While the average taxpayer


would get a cut of $289, millionaires would get cuts of more than


$30,000. By the end of the decade, CTJ reports, "more than half of the


President's proposed new tax reductions would go to the top one percent."





To pay for these, there will be drastic cuts in Medicaid, education


programs, and other social services. The House version of the budget


will require $265 billion in spending cuts. Nearly two-thirds of these


will likely come from social programs for families, children, and


elderly and disabled people with low incomes, according to analysis by


the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Food stamps, school


lunches, foster care and adoption assistance - all of these would be


slashed. Indeed, the House budget actually cuts $14.6 billion in


programs for veterans, "including money for disabilities caused by war


wounds, rehabilitation and health care, pensions for low income


veterans, education and housing benefits, and even -- nice touch --


burial benefits," according to columnist Robert Kuttner.





With less than one-quarter of one percent of Americans giving


appreciable campaign contributions, and more than 80 percent of donors


earning more than $100,000 a year (not exactly the profile of an


infantry soldier), these policies make it clear that politicians are


rewarding the contributors and neglecting those who can't.





It may seem bizarre that Washington should be pursuing a plan of reduced


taxes, deep cuts in social services, and sundry other special interest


wish lists, during war-time. But it's a perfect illustration of how big


campaign contributors set the agenda in Washington, and how policy is


skewed in their interest, even in a time of great national crisis.





If this makes you angry, go to www.howdarethey.org


<http://www.howdarethey.org> and tell your representatives in Congress


and President George W. Bush that they should stop rewarding big


campaign contributors and start passing legislation that helps working


families. Most of all, tell them that you want them to change the


campaign finance system so candidates aren't dependent on wealthy


contributors in the first place!


------------------------------------------------


OUCH! is a regular e-mail bulletin on how private money in politics


hurts average citizens, published by Public Campaign, a non-partisan,


non-profit organization devoted to comprehensive campaign finance


reform. Every day, we pay more as consumers and taxpayers for special


interest subsidies and boondoggles because of our system of privately


financed elections. It's time for a change.





Help spread the word! Send copies of this message to your friends and


join the growing movement for real campaign finance reform. If you would


like to add yourself to the OUCH! listserv, send an e-mail reading


'subscribe' to ouch-request (at) ouch.org or go to


http://www.ouch.org/mailman/listinfo/ouch.





Want more info about Public Campaign? Visit www.publicampaign.org


<http://www.publicampaign.org> or write to info (at) publicampaign.org. You


can also help support our work by making a credit card contribution on


our website. This bulletin may be reposted to newsgroups as long as it


is printed in its entirety.





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3) The Murder of Media Covering Iraq





http://www.ifj.org/publications/press/pr/030408iraq.html





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4) Gun Owners: NRA Means "Right to Work"





Gun owners are all too familiar with the NRA, and their spokesperson


Charleton Heston.





When Charleton Heston is not busy making NRA videos for the anti-union GOP,


he is busy making "Right to Work" videos for the National Right to Work


Foundation.





Tribute to Charlton Heston Event in Jeb Bush's ReCount State of Florida


http://www.nraam.org/events/tribute.asp





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5) Racist Discrimination in Jobs & Education





"Why Affirmative Action Needs to Be Defended".





Affirmative action, now under attack, was fought for and won by


Blacks, women and others during the struggles of the l950s,`60s


and `70s. Come to a discussion of why, far from dividing workers,


affirmative action is needed to unify the working class and to end


the racist discrimination in jobs and education that continues today.





There will be a special guest speaker, Osborne Hart, who was active


in campaigns to defend affirmative action in the l970s and later.


Hart is from Michigan where the attack on affirmative action is


centered in the University of Michigan admissions policies case


before the U.S. Supreme Court.





SUNDAY, APRIL 13: LUNCH 1:00 p.m., PROGRAM: 2:00 p.m.


Pathfinder Books and Libros


2901 W. 59th St (two blocks west of California, between Western and


Kedzie)


Suggested donation: $5, lunch $5





El foro Militante presenta: "Porqué se debe defender la Acción


Afirmativa"





La Acción Afirmativa, ahora bajo ataques, fue luchada y ganada por la


nacionalidad negra, mujeres y otros durante las luchas de los años


1950, 1960 y 1970.


Venga a una discusión del porque aún se necesita para ganar la unidad


dentro de la clase trabajadora y terminar con la discriminación


racista en el empleo y la educación que aun continua en la


actualidad.





Orador: Osborne Hart, activista de las campañas para defender la


acción afirmativa desde los años 1970. Hart reside en Michigan, donde


el ataque a la acción afirmativa se ha centrado, el caso de la


política de admisión a la Universidad de Michigan se ventila delante


de la Corte Suprema de E.U. Recientemente fue candidato del Partido


Socialista de los Trabajadores.





DOMINGO, el 13 de ABRIL: ALMUERZO 1:00 p.m., ORADOR: 2:00 p.m.


Pathfinder Books & Libros


2901 W. 59th St. (59th y Francisco, entre Western y Kedzie)


Donación sugerida: $5, almuerzo $5





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6) Jobless in Bush's America





JOBLESS IN BUSH'S AMERICA


The war-saturated media may not be paying attention, but millions of people


are getting desperate in their search for a job--any job.


http://www.socialistworker.org/2003-1/448/448_12_Unemployment.shtml





OAKLAND COPS' BRUTAL ATTACK


Police in Oakland, Calif., shot wooden bullets and tossed concussion


grenades at peaceful antiwar protesters and union dockworkers, injuring


several people in a confrontation April 7.


http://www.socialistworker.org/2003-1/448/448_12_OaklandCops.shtml





A LOOK AT WASHINGTON'S TWISTED PRIORITIES


"If you have to pay for guns," says House Speaker Dennis Hastert, "you can't


pay for all the butter." SW pulls together the facts about spending on the


U.S. military machine.


http://www.socialistworker.org/2003-1/448/448_08_GunsVButter.shtml





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7) United Students Against Sweatshops





http://www.laborgroups.org/USAS_Summer_Opportunities.rtf





Hey folks! Here's some information about great jobs


for students with United Students Against Sweatshops


this summer and next year! We're looking both for people


who want to travel to producing regions and to organize


with students here; all these positions have stipends,


and USAS covers travel and living expenses for summer


work! So what have you go to lose? Apply now! The deadline


for summer positions is this Monday, the 14th, so don't


delay! Applications to be a regional organizer next


year are due May 1, but wouldn't you feel better if


you did it now while it was on your mind? Don't be


afraid if you don't have lots of experience with USAS;


while all of these positions require motivated students,


staff and student leaders will provide a great deal


of support to make sure you have the tools you need


to succeed.





United Students Against Sweatshops will be sending


at least six to eight students to different regions


of the world to research, organize, and build relationships


with workers, unions, and other allied organizations


as international organizers (Some of these positions


will be coordinated with the American Center for International


Labor Solidarity's International Union Summer program).


These internships will be skill-building experiences


for the students, and provide resources for the organizations


overseas. They will also provide the space for USAS


students to gather feedback from workers and allied


organizations on our campaign, as well as conduct strategic


research for upcoming campaigns. These positions are


great opportunities to travel to Mexico, Indonesia,


the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere, as organizers


will receive a stipend in addition to having travel


and living expenses covered!





United Students Against Sweatshops is also hiring a


student Campaign Coordinator for the summer, who will


work to develop USAS' "Raise the Floor" campaign and


be based in Washington DC or New York City. The "Raise


the Floor" campaign is an effort to build on our past


victories in the student anti-sweatshop movement by


using our leverage to "raise the floor" in wage disclosure


and living wages. The Coordinator is expected to work


15-20 hours a week and will receive a stipend based


on financial need.





Finally, United Students Against Sweatshops is hiring


at least 12 regional organizers for the next school


year! Regional organizers play a key role in USAS,


by helping to maintain our grassroots base on campuses


near them. Students that become regional organizers


get lots of great experience building regional coalitions,


working with labor and community allies, and tons of


support from USAS staff and students! Regional organizers


receive stipends of at least $1000 a semester, and


are expected to work 10-15 hours a week.





Applications for all of these positions are attached


and below!





thanks,





the USAS staff





BIG P.S. Don't forget the USAS National Affiliates


Gathering August 8th-10th in New York City! We'd like


every school we work with to send at least one person!


Please select and register your delegates before the


end of the school year!





P.P.S. We've also got three regional events for the


weekend of April 25th-27th: a Mid-Atlantic regional


conference in Morgantown, WV; a Northeast regional


Grassroots Organizing Weekend training in New York


City; and a Midwest organizing meeting in a city TBA


-- e-mail organize (at) usasnet.org for details!





--------------------------------------------------------------------


USAS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.


People of color, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender


people, and people with disabilities are encouraged


to apply.





USAS International Summer Organizing Internships 2003





United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) will be sending


at least six to eight students to different regions


of the world (Latin America, Africa, and Asia) to research,


organize, and build relationships with workers, unions,


and other allied organizations. These internships will


be coordinated with the American Center for International


Labor Solidarityÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿s International Union Summer


program (http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Bd12wSY1wdat/)


The internships will be skill-building experiences


for the students, and provide resources for the organizations


overseas. They will also provide the space for USAS


students to gather feedback from workers and allied


organizations on the ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿Raise the Floorÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿


campaign, as well as conduct strategic research for


the campaign.





USAS Summer Interns will be expected to:


1. Meet the criteria, respect any guidelines, and fulfill


any obligations given to them from the Solidarity Center


they are working with;


2. Establish and maintain relationships with workers,


unions, and allied organizations in the region or country;


3. Gather data on collegiate cap production, wages,


living expenses, and family demographics, etc., necessary


to the Raise the Floor campaign;


4. Gather testimonials and other information, if possible,


on factories producing licensed hats;


5. Comprehensively distribute information and gather


feedback from workers, unions, and allied organizations


on the Raise the Floor campaign, soliciting ideas for


the direction, timeline, tactics, and scope of the


campaign;


6. Communicate regularly with the USAS Campaign Coordinator,


USAS staff, and USAS International Solidarity Committee.





Requirements:


1. Proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesian,


Mandarin, Bengali, Tamil, or other language


2. Availability for at least 8 weeks during the summer,


3. Attendance at the USAS affiliates gathering, August


7-10 in New York City,


4. Previous involvement with a USAS affiliate group


or other international labor solidarity and/or student


activist organizations,


5. Minimum 1 year left before graduation, and willingness


to remain active in USAS' international solidarity


work





Chosen organizers will be placed in one of four regions


chosen by the Solidarity Center across the globe. USAS


will provide guidance and other resources necessary


to help interns meet their goals. All travel and living


expenses will be paid for by USAS and the Solidarity


Center, and a stipend will be provided. Participants


are encouraged to look into getting academic credit


for this work.





Application:


Please return to organize (at) usasnet.org by April 14.





Name:


College or University:


Expected year of graduation:


Major(s):


Address:


Telephone number:


Email address:


Do you identify as a woman, as a person of color, as


an LGBT or queer person, AND/OR as a working class


person? [Optional; we ask in order to promote non-traditional


leadership in our organization]





1. Describe your past experience with United Students


Against Sweatshops or other campus activism and/or


international labor solidarity work.


2. How do you envision this internship working towards


the larger goals USAS has as an organization?


3. How do you intend on working with the allied organizations/unions/workers


abroad? What are your goals?


4. What languages, other than English, do you speak?


How would you rate your ability in that language (speaking,


reading, writing, oral/written translation)?


5. Any other specific skills that you would like us


to know about?


6. Please send us a resume that includes:


a. Past internship experiences


b. Positions of responsibility or leadership that you


have held


c. Organizing experience


d. Volunteer work


e. Relevant academic coursework or research


f. Anything else that you think we should know about


you


g. Three references





This can take the form of a formal resume or simply


be a list of experiences and accomplishments. Please


include *brief* descriptions.





--------------------------------------------------------------------





USAS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.


People of color, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender


people, and people with disabilities are encouraged


to apply.





USAS Campaign Coordinator 2003





United Students Against Sweatshops is hiring a Campaign


Coordinator. The Campaign Coordinator will work to


develop USASÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿Raise the Floorÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿


campaign.





Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:


1. Regularly schedule, attend, and facilitate conference


call/meetings of the International Solidarity Committee,


focusing on developing the Raise the Floor campaign;


2. Ensure ISC members attend these calls and that there


is an equal division of labor in campaign development


work among the committee;


3. With allies and students, develop strategy and materials


for the campaign;


4. Keep database of active local student campaigns;


5. Facilitate company research and collect and file


information on companies;


6. Coordinate with USAS staff to oversee summer interns


and maintain contact with international allies.





Requirements:


1. proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesian,


Mandarin, Bengali, Tamil, or other language


2. ability to work out of Washington, DC,


3. previous experience with a USAS affiliate group


or other


4. international labor solidarity and/or student activist


organizations,


5. corporate campaign experience is a plus, but not


a requirement,


6. minimum 1 year left before graduation, and willingness


to remain active in USAS' international solidarity


work.





A stipend of $1200 will be provided for the summer,


although this amount is flexible based on financial


need and may be raised. Students are also encouraged


to look into getting class credit for this work. The


position is 15-20 hours/week.





Application:





Please return to organize (at) usasnet.org by April 14.





Name:


College or University:


Expected year of graduation:


Major(s):


Address:


Telephone number:


Email address:


Do you identify as a woman, as a person of color, as


an LGBT or queer person, AND/OR as a working class


person? [Optional; we ask in order to promote non-traditional


leadership in our organization]


1) Describe your past experience with United Students


Against


2) Sweatshops or other campus activism and/or international


labor solidarity work.


3) How will you work towards accomplishing the ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿Raise


the Floorÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ campaignÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿s goals?


4) How will you, as campaign coordinator, help USAS


work towards this vision?


5) Can you speak a language other than English? How


would you rate your ability in that language (speaking,


reading, writing, translating)?


6) Are there any specific skills that you would like


us to know about?


7) Please send us a resume that includes:


a. Past internship experiences


b. Positions of responsibility or leadership that you


have held


c. Organizing experience


d. Volunteer work


e. Relevant academic coursework or research


f. Anything else that you think we should know about


g. Three references





This can take the form of a formal resume or simply


be a list of experiences and accomplishments. Please


include *brief* descriptions.





--------------------------------------------------------------------





USAS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.


People of color, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender


people, and people with disabilities are encouraged


to apply.





REGIONAL ORGANIZER APPLICATION





Regional organizers play a key role within USAS keeping


the grassroots campus affiliates informed and in touch


with the work of national USAS. This is a position


for students to develop as leaders and as more effective


organizers.





A typical RO workplan includes:


 Maintaining database and contact info for


schools and individuals in your region/state


 Activate your region for Solidarity Actions





 Work with staff and elected reps to organize


regional trainings and provide region with necessary


materials and information


 Work with staff to develop field plan that


allows RO to maintain contact with students in your


region


 Outreach to new students and campaigns


 Focus on development of new schools, people,


and leadership in your region


 Be in regular contact with campus contacts


in your region; being available to answer questions,


offer advice, and establish contact between campus


groups experiencing similar struggles


 Plan a regional conference


 Recruit students in your region to attend


national conferences and trainings


 Fundraise money for conferences


 Have up-to-date knowledge on USAS campaigns





You must be:


 Willing to take direction as well as provide


leadership


 A good communicator- 99% of this internship


is working with people


 Open to working with a broad scope of people


from diverse backgrounds


 Committed to working AT LEAST 10-15 hours


per week


 Willing to learn: from mistakes, from other


people, from each other


 Good but not essential: At least one semester


or summer of working with USAS or with your local campus


progressive groups.





USAS will be offering stipends of at least $1000 per


semester. We can also:


1. arrange for college credit as an internship


2. work with you to arrange for work-study hours from


your university


3. provide reimbursement for travel/phone/other expenses


on an as-needed basis.





Regional organizers will be supported by the organizing


staff and will be accountable to them.





APPLICATION TO BE A USAS REGIONAL ORGANIZER


Name:


School:


Spring Address:


Spring Phone:


Summer Address:


Summer Phone:


Fall Address:


Fall Phone:


Email:


Expected Graduation Date:


 Are you available June 19-22nd for training?


(yes/no)


 Are you available August 7-10th for the USAS


Conference? (yes/no)


 What will your class load be in the upcoming


school year?


 Do you identify as a woman, as a person of


color, as an LGBT or queer person, AND/OR as a working


class person? [Optional; we ask in order to promote


non-traditional leadership in our organization]





Please answer each question with a short paragraph:


1. Why do you want to be a regional organizer?


2. What has been your previous experience with USAS?


3. What do you see as the particular organizing needs


of your specific region?


4. Based on your answer above, list at least one major


(but realistic) goal you would like to see accomplished


regionally by USAS during this academic year. Briefly


state how you, as the regional organizer, would take


the initiative to accomplish this goal.


5. How do race, class, gender and sexual identity figure


into your and USAS' priorities in the coming year?


6. Briefly describe your campus organizing experience


and one campaign/event/ experience you and your campus


organization learned from.


7. What other organizing experience will you bring


to the internship?


8. Have you ever planned or helped plan a conference?


Describe your experience a little bit.


9. Do you have any skills in Web design, fundraising,


or anything else that would aide you in this position?


Please list any.


10. What else do you think you can bring to this position?





--------------------------------------------------





Visit the web address below to tell your friends about


these great job opportunities.





http://www.unionvoice.org/join-forward.html?domain=studentsagainstsweat&r=Kp12wSY1M1qd





If you received this message from a friend, you can


sign up for United Students Against Sweatshops at:





http://www.unionvoice.org/studentsagainstsweat/join.html?r=Kp12wSY1M1qdE





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8) David Rovics





Hi folks,





Well, here we are, life continues in the belly of the beast while the


empire does what empires do -- conquer more countries and destroy more


lives. This week is the anniversary of the Israeli invasion and


bulldozing of Jenin, along with many other sordid anniversaries. Today


is the day when Phil Ochs hanged himself, at the age of 36, back in


1976. Tomorrow I'll be 36. I'm sure not gonna hang myself, but a few


days ago a car came speeding down the fast lane on the highway going in


the wrong direction. This is the third time I've had this happen in my


many years of lots of driving, and the probability that it will happen


many more times is somewhat chilling. Definitely not into dying that


way, either. Drive carefully, folks, and stay on the right side except


to pass... (And smash car culture and create a world where with mass


transit!)





Anyway, speaking of dying, "The Death of Rachel Corrie" and several


other new songs are now up on my website, www.davidrovics.com. Go there


and click on "listen to songs." For the five new songs (15 new songs


altogether; new being post-Hang A Flag In The Window) click on the link


for "15 new songs." There you'll also find a link to


www.mp3.com/davidrovics, where every song from my past five CD's is


available for free download. (Don't feel guilty about downloading free


stuff, just take a few minutes to tell some other folks about it!)





Other than the new song about Rachel you'll find several new songs


related to the Palestinian struggle, and a song that is a different take


on September 11th, called "Promised Land." Hope you like 'em. The


mixes are not meant to be stellar; different versions of these songs


will be recorded this summer and will be on my next CD, to be released


in the fall on Ever Reviled Records.





I'm heading off to DC for the Latin America Solidarity Conference which


coincides with IMF/World Bank events, and it's gonna be a good weekend.


If you go to www.davidrovics.com and click on "gigs" you can see the


various places I'll be playing in DC over the next several days. After


that I'll be doing gigs in Worcester, MA, Columbia, MO, Carbondale, IL,


Bloomington, IN and then San Francisco, Berkeley and probably elsewhere


in the Bay Area, then I'm off to spend most of May in Denmark, Germany


and Britain. If you're from any of these places or you know folks who


are, all the details are on my website.





Only a couple weeks after the murder of Rachel Corrie by the Israeli


state terrorist apparatus, another US activist with the International


Solidarity Movement was shot in the face by Israeli machine gun fire. A


few days ago a tank fired at a house where two other ISM activists


lived. The Israeli regime is targeting internationals along with


Palestinian civilians, in an effort to scare them off and carry out


whatever sinister plan they have for the Palestinian people. Please


visit the website of the ISM, www.palsolidarity.org and consider joining


a delegation, donating money to help with ISM's legal expenses,


organizing teach-ins about the Palestinian struggle, etc.





A few days ago at Kent State I shared the stage with Baldemar


Velasquez. I've run into him in various other places (it's a small


left) in the past, but I was once again blown away by this man's


stories, determination and his ability to speak to an audience. He had


many valuable things to say, and I'm not gonna try to sum it up here,


but check out the website of his organization, the Farm Labor Organizing


Committee -- www.floc.com.





The targeting of Middle Eastern and other immigrant communities in the


US continues, and frankly I find it terrifying. Looming fascism at home


to go along with the foreign policy of the empire. Many friends and


acquaintances of mine have been questioned, arrested and some are being


held on secret evidence. Sami Al-Arian is being held based on secret


"intelligence information" provided by the Israeli secret police. Next


will the OHS arrest the Dalai Lama on "intelligence information"


provided by the Chinese government?





Dr. Al-Arian is only guilty of being a scholar and an activist who has


taken a principled stand in support of his people, the Palestinian


people. He and the growing ranks of other imprisoned immigrants in this


country must be defended. Now my friend Omar Jamal, Executive Director


of the Somali Advocacy Center in Minneapolis, has been arrested.


Perhaps because of the level of support he has in the Twin Cities, he


was released on bail, but he is being charged with felonies for minor


visa problems which would normally be misdemeanors. I believe more info


can be found on www.fnvw.org.





Guess I'll stop there. Hope to see you on the road and in the streets.


La luta continua. Death to the empire. (There, Ashcroft, now you can


lock me up with Sami.)





--David





------------------------------------------------------------------------


9) "I Dream of Genie"





Saddam Hussein & The Genie





While trying to escape during


the attack on Iraq,


Saddam found a bottle in


the desert and picked it up.





Suddenly, a female genie


rose from the bottle and


with a smile said, "Master, may I grant you one wish?"


"You ignorant unworthy daughter-of-a-dog!


Don't you know who I am? I don't need any common


woman giving me anything!" barked Hussein.


The shocked genie said "Please,


I must grant you a wish or I will be returned


to that bottle forever."





Saddam thought a moment, then grumbled about


the impertinence of the woman, and


said "Very well, I want to awaken with


three white women in my bed in the


morning, so just do it and be off with you !"


The annoyed genie said, "So be it !" and disappeared.





The next morning Saddam woke up in bed


with Lorena Bobbitt, Tonya


Harding, and Hillary Clinton. His


penis was gone, his knee was broken, and


he had no health insurance.





------------------------------------------------------------------------


Have a great day !





In Solidarity,


Bob :-)Robert P. Kolb <http://www.SlideShows.us>





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