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    Because People MaterProgressive News and Views January / February 2009

    Inside this issue:Editorial ....................................................2Rick Nadeau Dies ...................................... 3Soapbox Needs Your Help .........................3SB840: We Will Be Back .......................... 4What Will Happen to Big Media? ............4Conscientious Objectors ...........................5Dorothea Lange Exhibit ............................5Foreclosures ...............................................6

    KKK in Sacramento .................................. 7West Coast Eco-Socialism .........................7The American Worker ...............................7Proposition 8 Resistance ........................8-9Proposition 11 .........................................10Nuclear Threats ......................................10

    August Peace Event ................................10Declaration of Human Rights.................11Who Owns Black History Month ...........11Reporting Live from the West Bank ...12-13Book Review: Much Too Promised Land 14Calendar .................................................. 15

    Progressive Media ...................................16

    By Amanda Wilcox

    It is said that a child in the US is ar more likely tocatch a bullet than to catch the measles. Every year inour country, about 30,000 people die rom gun violenceand over 70,000 people are injuredby gunre. Drive-by shootings andrearm homicides are becomingcommon occurrences in the Sacra-mento area. Have you had enough?Join the Campaign to keep illegalguns o our streets and help curbgun violence in Sacramento. AskSheri McGinness and the Sacra-mento County Board o Supervisorsto adopt an ammunition ordinancethat will save lives.

    My amily has been personally touched by gun vio-

    lence. In 2001, my only daughter, Laura, was murderedwhile home on winter break rom college. Laura waslling in as a receptionist at a Behavioral Health clinic inNevada County, when without warning, a patient suer-ing rom severe paranoid schizophrenia opened re witha semiautomatic handgun and shot Laura our times atpoint blank range. Laura was ki lled instantly. When theshooting rampage at the clinic and at a nearby restaurantended, three people lay dead, three were severely injured,a community was shaken, and the world was diminishedby the loss o an incredible young woman.

    Te circumstances surrounding Lauras death dramati-cally highlight the tragic intersection o untreated severemental illness and inappropriate access to rearms.Certainly, improved mental health care and better access

    to treatment are morally right and necessary or trueviolence prevention. Te enorcement o laws that keep

    rearms out o inappropriate hands is also essential.Lauras killer had a houseul o il legal weapons. Te

    Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence believes thatdangerous weapons should be keptout o dangerous hands. Tere areclasses o people, who, based onpast behaviors, are deemed to be athigh risk o committing violent actswith rearms. We have laws thatprohibit these personssuch as thedangerously mentally ill, gang mem-bers, violent elons, or wie batter-ersrom purchasing or possessingrearms or ammunition. We have

    laws, such as the Brady Background Check, that regulatethe transer o weapons and provide the means or keep-

    ing guns out o dangerous hands. Te City o Sacramentoand the State o Caliornia are leaders in adopting suchlaws, which need to be expanded to other jurisdictionsor states.

    Last year, Sacramento City Council Member KevinMcCarty introduced a city ordinance that tracks ammu-nition sales in order to deter and detect ammunitionpurchases by criminals, gang members, and other unlaw-ul purchasers. Te ordinance requires gun dealers tomaintain a log o ammunitions sales, including identiy-ing inormation about the purchaser. Te SacramentoPolice Department cross-checks these logs with theexisting state database o prohibited persons and candetermine who is illegally buying ammo and may beillegally armed. Furthermore, the Police Department

    regularly uses the ammunition log inormation in theinvestigation o gun crime.

    Aer eight months o data (Jan 2008Sept 2008), the

    results are astounding. Te Sacramento Police Depart-ment reports that 117 prohibited people purchasedammunition. O these prohibited people, 80% had elonyconvictions and 6 were gang members. 67% o the illegalammunition purchased was primarily ammunition usedin handguns. It is important to note that handguns arethe weapons o choice or criminals.

    As a result o the inormation rom the ammunitionlogs, the Sacramento Police Department was able toexecute 28 search warrants and recover 56 ill egal re-arms, 800+ rounds o illegal ammunition, and 3 stolenrearms. Arrests, elony charges and convictions havetaken place. Te Sacramento Police Department reportsthat the ordinance and the enorcement program which

    By Bill Durston

    he National Bureau o Economic Researchdeclared in December, 2008 that the US economyis ocially in the throes o a recession, with the

    nations gross domestic product having declined or thepast two quarters. Te recession has economic expertsand political leaders, including President Obama and hisnewly assembled economic team, scratching their headsand trying to gure out how we got into this messand

    how we can get out o it.A number o actors have been cited as contributingto the economic downturn, including the sub-primemortgage debacle, the burst o the housing bubble, thederegulation o the nancial industry, increasing energycosts, and tight credit markets. Te solution to the eco-nomic crisis, we have been told, is to spend trillions odollars to bail out Wall Street, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac,AIG, the auto industry, and other corporate interestsortunate enough to be considered by those controllingthe government purse strings as essential to an economicrecovery.

    But during press conerences and Congressional hear-ings concerning the countrys economic woes, there is

    an elephant in the roomwhich ew people seem tonotice or talk about. War isthe gigantic pachyderm thatmost pundits overlook inthe middle o our countrys economic mess. And almostno one in a position o power is suggesting, as a solutionto the current economic crisis, that we stop wasting vasthuman and nancial resources on war and preparationor war, and that we instead redirect these resourcestoward more constructive uses.

    Weve spent over $800 billion already on the militaryinvasions and occupations o Aghanistan and Iraq.Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz estimatesthat long-term costs will approach $3 trillion. But evenbeore the invasions o Aghanistan and Iraq, the US wasspending as much on its military as the next ten milita-rized countries o the world combined.

    When President Dwight Eisenhower stepped downaer his second term as President in 1960, he warned:

    we must guard against the acquisition o unwar-ranted infuenceby the military-industrial complex.Te potential or the disastrous rise o misplaced powerexists and wil l persist.

    Few would disagree that America needs a strongdeense, but conventionalmilitary orce is noteective in combating

    terrorism. And when wespend as much on ourown military as the nextten militarized countrieso the world combined,we cannot construe thisas deense spending.Te vast sums o moneybeing wasted on war andpreparation or war rep-resent war proteering,enabled by the disas-trous rise o misplacedpower by the military-industrial complex thatPresident Eisenhower

    warned us about.

    No country in the historyo the world, rom AncientGreece to the ormer SovietUnion, has been able toconsistently devote massive

    human and nancial resources toward war and prepara-tion or war without collapsing rom within. It wouldbe oolhardy to believe that the United States can be anyexception to this rule. As the 1987 United Nations con-erence on Disarmament and Development concluded:

    see Ammunition, page 6

    see Economy, page 14

    Last year, Sacramento

    City CouncilmemberKevin McCarty

    introduced a cityordinance that tracks

    ammunition sales.

    Follow the Bullets, Find the GunsHow Sacramento Citys ammunition ordinance helps

    The Elephant in the RoomWar and the economy

    Even beore the invasions oAghanistan and Iraq, the US was

    spending as much on its militaryas the next ten militarized

    countries o the world combined.

    Laura Ligon Wilcox 1981-2001Age 19 at the time of her death.photo courtesy Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

    Your tax dollars at work: a view of the American Embassy inIraq, originally estimated at $1 billion, just one of many sink-holes into which our money is disappearing.photo: MSNBC

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    2 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

    People MaterVolume 18, Number 1Published Bi-Monthly by the

    Sacramento Community forPeace & Justice

    P.O. Box 162998, Sacramento,CA 95816

    (Use addresses below forcorrespondence)

    Editorial Group: JacquelineDiaz, JoAnn Fuller, Jeanie

    KeltnerCoordinating Editor forthis Issue: Jacqueline Diaz

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    Learn the true news and thenTeach Peace

    Check out www.teachpeace.com thewebsite o the same-named organiza-tion in Davis. I youre a teacher, youllbe especially interested in their materi-als or teaching peace to people o allages. But here we want to point out thesites other extensive resources. Alongwith important articles rom the worldpress on crucial topics in the news (likeRussia, Georgia and Ossetia), there isalso an extensive library o all the latestpolitical documentaries to watch with aclick o your mouse.

    by Jeanie KeltnerCut him some slack, Jeanie, my proessor

    riend says, chiding my criticism o Obama. Myriend had been part o that joyul victory crowdat the Raddison election night and his heart wasstill high. But that was over a month agoandits hard or me to eel too optimistic about a manwho chooses a cabinet that is almost perectaccording to Joe Lieberman! Or reassuringtoKarl Rove! (Empire classic or empire lite?www.therealnews.com)

    All the conservative pundits yelling at Obamato govern rom the center, to abandon hissocialistic ideas (raising the capital gains tax?)must be overjoyed. (Why is it only when Demswin that we hear this insistent call to bipartisan-

    ship and the center.)I dont want to just end the war, Obama hadsaid during the campaign. I want to end themindset that got us into war. But you couldntprove it by his cabinet choices, so many o whomhelped create our tragic situation.

    Already Obamas cabinet choicesbecause otheir connections to previous administrationshave made certain needed directions ar lesslikely. And one o those directions is BACK.

    Oh, how we want to believe in the changeObama promisedto believe that this countrycan and willchange to something closer to itsideals. We long or change, and we want, manyo us, to put the outrages o the Bush/Cheneyregime behind us. We dont even want to thinkabout them any more, so tired we are o the

    anger/cynicism/disgust/sadness/despair suchcontemplation can arouse.

    And so I hear people saying, Weve got a newadministration. We need to turn the page, getover it, look to present tasks and the uture. Letbygones be bygones. We want to believe thatour long national nightmare is over. But its not.

    Somehow this country allowed the presidentand his people to break laws and violate theconstitution, to wiretap and spy on us all withoutwarrants, to arrest and hold without charges, totorture, to construct phony pretexts or real wars,to destroy countries, kill hundreds o thousandso innocent people and drive millions more intoexile, all the while pulling millions into their ownbank accounts.

    And now were going to let them just walkaway? Let them go back to their ranches andlodges, suites and compoundsonly just richerthan when they le? Let them come back laterinto positions o power (as the Iran-Contraculprits did) because they were not held account-able, their crimes were not exposed, evidence wasnot made public, and they did not have to answeror their illegal actions.

    Are those people above the law?I agree with David Swanson, co-ounder o

    www.AfterDowningStreet.org about thenecessity o ending the Culture o Impunity. Tedemands o the people that the Bush Adminis-tration obey the Constitution, the Laws o the

    United States, and International Law have been

    ignored or ridiculed. I we are to have Justice,they must be called to account or their crimes.I we are to have Peace,all uture administrationsmust know that they toowill be called to accountin their turn. [F]utureactions alone can never beenough to heal this nationand restore its place in thecivilized world unless thereis a reckoning with the past.South Arica needed itsCommissions o ruth andReconciliation beore it could move orward. Wetoo must have Accountability. Tose who have

    committed crimes must be brought to Justice. Swanson continues, A vocal social move-ment pursuing accountability or the crimes othe Bush Administration will serveas a deterrentagainst the newly elected (or any uture) admin-istration ollowing the same path. (Press releaserom David Swanson)

    Obamas plans to leave residual troops in Iraq,to intensiy the war in Aghanistan (which is asalsely motivated and illegal as the war in Iraq),to conront Iran and Pakistan, and to rebuild theUS military to global supremacy suggest that asPepe Escobar said in Empire classic or empirelite? on TeRealNews.com, Obama is still aconceptual prisoner o the war on terror rame-work. What does that mean?

    At a recent symposium on Te Rule o Law

    and the Global War on errorism, three inter-national law specialists, urged correction o thisconceptual misdirection:

    Te phrase Global War on errorism shouldno longer be used in the sense o an on-goingwar or armed confict being waged against ter-rorism. Nor should it serve as either the legal or

    security policy basis or the range o counter- andanti-terrorism measures taken by the Adminis-

    tration in addressing the very real and presentchallenges aced by the United States and other

    nations in addressing terror-ism. (Washburn Consensuson Post-9/11 Principles,http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/orumy/2008/11/way-orward-post-911-principles.php).

    A public investigation intothe Bush/Cheney Adminis-trations actions would go along way toward showing theexcesses and illegalities such

    misdenitions lead to. Weve got to look back tomove orward.

    Well, its a wild understatement to say thatObama aces enormous challenges. Hes steppinginto a mineeld o tightly structured, incrediblypowerul, pre-existing special interests, and ia leader does really want to change direction, itmay be sound strategy to bring in closeeven tothe cabinetpeople connected to past decisionsor them to eel part o the change.

    So I will give Obama the benet o the doubt.But o course, ultimately its the people that

    count. And Obamas words roused so manypeople. One o the best parts o working on BillDurstons campaign or congress was callingthe list o newly registered Dems. Judging romtheir answering machines (Wassup?!) many wereyoungand energized and appreciative o Dur-stons peace and justice stance.

    Teyre the ones who must make the change weneed. Can we reach them, work with them, getthem ino beyond corporate media views, keepthem energized? Against all the powers at the toparrayed against progressive change, we need tokeep pushing Obama in OUR direction.

    Tat means we must visit www.change.gov/page/s/ofthepeople oen and share our ideasor the uture. At least now we have someonewho says he wants to hear.

    For progressives the struggle goes on.Jeanie Keltner is an editor with Because People

    Matter.

    Looking Back to Move ForwardPainul but necessary

    Oh, how we want tobelieve in the change

    Obama promisedto believe that this

    countrycan andwillchange to something

    closer to its ideals.

    Thanks!

    Our sincere thanks to

    those of you who made

    contributions to BPM

    through our holiday

    fundraising letter or in

    memory of Rick Nadeau.

    You know who you are;

    we know who you are

    and we thank you!

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    www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 3

    by Diana Tumminia

    Activist, Sociologist/Philosopher, LaborAdvocate, Feminist, Environmentalist, PublicIntellectual, Blogger, Political Essayist, Jokester.

    Rick Nadeau died in his wies arms and in thecompany o a close riend on November 20,2008. A well attended public memorial servicewas held on December 13th at Sacramento StateUniversity.

    Ricks spirit is loved by many or his gener-ous riendships and erocious representation ounderdogs.

    Born in New England during WWII, Rickgrew up in a Catholic working-class amily withtwo brothers and two sisters. As a young boy, heexperienced an early love or nature playing withbaby ducks and growing a garden at his riversidehome. He remembered standing up to local bul-lies who shot birds, taking away their bb gunsand chasing them home. Despite disabilities, par-

    ticularly severe asthma, back pain, and problemswalking, he developed such a large public pres-ence and powerul articulation or social justicethat many considered him the strongest personthey ever knew.

    Rick majored in sociology and philosophy,mastering a wide range o intellectual paradigmsrom Hegel to the beat poets and rom Marxistwritings to postmodernism. In college, he senthis papers to noted critical theorist, Herbert Mar-cuse, who invited him to attend graduate schoolat UC San Diego where he obtained a graduatedegree in the 1970s.

    His college years oered him a rst career, soto speak, as an activist, political essayist, andprotest organizer. He helped organize the rstprotests against the Vietnam War on his college

    campus and the November 1969 anti-war pro-test, aptly named the largest anti-war protest, inWashington, DC. He worked as one o the origi-nal Earth Day organizers in 1970. During 1970sand 1980s, Rick wrote or various undergroundnewspapers, OB Rag (now online), Te WholeDamn Pie Shop, Te New Indicator, ritonimes, and Daily Onion. He also worked with theAmerican anti-apartheid movement to promotereedom or Blacks in South Arica.

    Known or his prodigious oratory, Rick lent hishighly inormed voice to the major social justicecauses o the time, lecturing or ree in localcommunities, colleges, and political rallies. In hisspare time, he taught sociology at junior coll eges.

    Troughout 1988-1990, he worked as eld

    manager and later director o Greenpeace SanDiego. At that time, he could be seen wearinga magenta t-shirt with a whale saying Save theHumans. Known aectionately by locals as Mr.

    Greenpeace and by news crews as Mr. SoundBite, Rick made local and national news whenhe attended a press conerence, arguing againstthe Exxon Valdez being towed to San Diego. Heand others in small boats tried to stop the ExxonValdez rom docking. Rick resigned rom Green-peace when the national oce objected to hissuccessul local community organizing aroundmalathion spraying. Tey wanted him to ocuson international issues and ocial Greenpeaceissues. Beore leaving San Diego to work or aaculty union, he and others led a protest marchagainst the rst Iraqi War, an act that shockedand awed other politicos rozen by inertia.

    In 1990s, Rick began labor organizing anddeending aculty rights as an arbitration special-

    ist or the Caliornia Faculty Association (CFA).Aer many years o stellar service, he won theF. Ben Mansell Academic Rights Award orExcellence in representation in 2005. He waswell-known on all the Caliornia State campusesor his intense and dauntless advocacy o acultyrights. Numerous CSU aculty owe their careersto his representation eorts, said his riend, BeauGrosscup o CSU, Chico.

    For many years, he wrote strident letters to theeditor o the Sacramento Bee, which sparked vig-orous discussions at local coee shops and politi-cal circles. In the early morning, Rick oereddaily political analysis to a circle o riends at thelocal coee shop where he will be sadly missed.Aer retirement rom CFA, Rick joined BecausePeople Matteras editor and writer, adding his

    loving and ery energy and insight to his articleson: immigration, Bush wars, Palestinian-Israeliconfict, the prevalence o denial in Americanpoliticsdespite the eects o chemotherapy orliver cancer. In addition, he blogged or OB Rag,Media Le, and was published by Z magazine.

    Weeks beore he died, Rick donated his exten-sive jazz collection to CSUS music students.Wherever Rick was, he added his lie-armingcontribution. His tender-heartedness ueledhis passion or the underdog. He will be sorelymissed by a large circle o amily, riends, people,animals, plants and trees.

    Memorial donations in his name can be madeto BPM, rees or Lie International, or rees orLie Zatoun.

    By Jeanie Keltner

    Do you watch Soapbox? (Ch 17-Mondays at8pm)?

    Have you appreciated our interest in the thingsyoure passionate aboutNEVER covered by thecorporate media?

    Have you enjoyed our conversations with localactivists and analysts aboutamong other top-

    icsmedia consolidation, war resistance, thedeath penalty, keeping the Internet ree, peak oil,bikes, buses and light rail, the Black Panthers,vitamin D, and current politics rom a truly lepoint o view?

    (Even more, have you been on Soapbox talkingabout your issue?)

    Ten would you consider making a contri-bution to keep it on the screen? We have ewexpenses because everyone (almost) works onlyor Pieces heavenly pizza and undying glory.

    But we want to cover Access membershipeesor the show itsel and or the wonderulcrewas well as other small expenses.

    imes are very hard to be sure but please, iyou can, consider sending check, cash or money

    order to 403 21st St Sacramento 95814, made

    out to me, Jeanie Keltner, since the show has nobank account (I promise to not fy to Rio with themoney).

    We believe Soapbox serves the progressivecommunityand reaches the many people whodont pick up BPMor tune in to DemocracyNowbut who DO channel surand end up onSoapbox getting progressive ino almost in spiteo themselves!

    Any gi o $40 or more will receive a set o tenpostcard reproductions o original Keltner Pariswatercolors.

    PLEASE HELP US!

    Richard Paul Nadeau

    (1944-2008)

    Rick Nadeau was a dedicated member o oureditorial board. During his tenure with BPM he

    contributed numerous articles, worked tirelesslyon the issues he produced as coordinating editor,distributed papers and developed a great rapportwith all o us because o his openness and enthusi-asm. At meetings Rick was a charmer with a sweettooth, who could as easily serve up an analysiso world events as a home cooked meal. We arethankul or the time he chose to share with us andto his wie, Diana umminia, or welcoming usinto their home and hearts.

    BPM Editorial Board

    BPM Editorial Board MemberRick NadeauDies

    Soapboxneeds your help!

    photo: Diana Tumminia

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    4 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

    CAAC Goesto the Movies

    ALMOST EVERYMONTHThe Central AmericaAction Committeeshows interestingand informativevideos on socialjustice, laborstruggles, and somuch more! Call tosee whats playingthis monthWE ALSO HAVE A

    VIDEO LIBRARY YOU

    CAN CHECK OUT.

    1640 9th Ave (eastoff Land Park Dr)INFO: 446-3304

    by Charlene Jones

    Politically uneasible is just another way osaying that olks are scared to stand up toinsurance companies. I dont accept that. Itstime to take a stand or what we really want.

    Its time to have hope.State Senator SheilaKuehl, 2008

    Senate Bill 840 authored by Senator SheilaKuehl passed a nal vote in the Caliornia leg-islature this summer and was sent to GovernorSchwarzenegger who vetoed the promise ohealth care or all Caliornians or the secondtime during his administration. A similar bill wasapproved in both the State Assembly and Senateby a 62 percent vote in 2006 but the governorreused to sign. His vetoes erased the prospecto comprehensive health care or all Caliorniaresidents that would preserve a patients right tochoose a doctor and hospital, and save consum-ers, employers and state and local governments

    millions o dollars in health insurance costs usinga single-payer nancing structure.SB 840 would have established a universal

    public insurance plan built on Caliornias exist-ing private health care delivery system. Tiscomprehensive coverage would be achievablethrough a streamlined claims and single-payerreimbursement system, which has proved tosave billions o dollars in administrative costs. Apayroll tax would take the place o all premiums,co-pays and deductibles currently paid by thosewho are insured. Te bill would also allow Cali-ornia to use its enormous purchasing power tonegotiate bulk rates or prescription drugs anddurable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs.Savings would be used toward covering the unin-sured and reducing total health care spending in

    Caliornia.Failing implementation in 2006, health-

    care costs have soared. Because the state is anemployer, as well as the saety net or manyresidents, those costs have intensied the pres-ent state budget crisis, now extraordinary in its

    scope. Caliornia buys a lot o healthcare, paiddirectly though social programs and indirectly bypurchasing thousands o insur-ance policies as an employer. Ihealth care costs rise about

    vetimes aster than wages,according to a study released inOctober 2008 by Families USA,a national nonpartisan publicinterest group, and taxes thatpay or health care are a unc-tion o wages, its no surpriseCaliornians are digging a holedeeper and deeper each year.

    Despite mounting data about spiraling costs,seven million Caliornians without coverage,more bankruptcies and growing decits, theLegislative Analysts Oce (LAO) was directedlate in the 2008 legislative session to answer ques-tions incompatible with SB840s model to undthe bill. Undermining easibility o a single-payer

    universal plan appeared to be the purpose thatled Schwarzenegger and a ew legislators to inac-curately claim SB840 would bankrupt the state.

    Upon ull examination, however, the LAOreport agreed a single-payer health care systemsaves money and lowers the rate at which healthcare costs grow each year. In addition, it identi-ed substantial savings on administrative costsand bulk purchase o drugs and durable medicalequipment. According to a June 2008 essay byKuehl, legislators directing the LAO review askedno questions about how the bill could lowerhealthcare spending in the year it was to havebeen enacted. Tey asked only whether the und-ing, modeled to nance the bill two years in thepast, would pay or it three years in the utureaer ve years o rampant health care infation.

    Predictably, the LAO ound a unding modelor healthcare spending in 2006 would not be su-cient in 2011. However, this estimated decitcould be seen as costs passed on to Caliorniansas a result o the governors 2006 veto o SB 840.

    With unchecked growth in premiums,

    steady decline o benets and quality o care,and ewer employers able to provide or their

    employees, the situationonly worsens. Disjointedand eeble attempts at health

    care reorm have broughtCaliornia a system that isinconceivably costly andscandalously ineective.Tis governor and assortedlegislators are unwilling toconront the health insur-ance industry to pursuesolutions, but thousands o

    Caliornians are willing.With term limits orcing Kuehl rom senate

    leadership, State Senator Mark Leno will continueto advance the cause. Te Governor lost yetanother golden opportunity to bring relie andjustice to millions o uninsured working amiliesand employers struggling with rising healthcare

    costs in our state, said Leno in September 2008.Te stakes are too high or us to be deterred,and that is why I am proud to have been askedto continue this critical ght next year in thelegislature. We will bring this issue back againand again until everyone in Caliornia has accessto high quality healthcare that puts people beoreinsurance company prots.

    SB840 is supported by a growing network omore than 500 organizations across the state,representing tens o thousands o nurses, doc-tors, school employees and teachers; counties,cities and school districts; hospitals and busi-nesses; medical and health proession students;church groups, community organizations andmany others. Join the ght and stand up or realchange, change that means comprehensive qual-

    ity care or all Caliornians, all amilies and allcommunities.

    Contact: 916-424-1653 www.healthcare-forall.org

    Charlene Jones is a member o SacramentoMedia Group.

    by JoAnn Fuller

    Media reorm activists are excited about thechanges the Obama Administration will bring tomedia policy and the Federal CommunicationsCommission. Te Bush Administration triedto urther concentrate Big Medias ownership,increasing the number o television and radiostations, newspapers and other communicationservices one corporate conglomerate controls in amedia market. Under President Bush, telephonecompanies and Internet service providers werealso allowed to ignore constitutional protectiono privacy and spy on communications. Andthousands o Americans continue to stand on theother side o the digital divide, with no means oraccess to the Internet and its opportunities.

    Now the media reorm community is talkingabout moving orward on requirements that

    would increase diversity in media ownership,protect Internet neutrality as well as boost publicinterest obligations o broadcasters and theirprogramming on issues important to local com-munities. Te goal is a new policy encouragingthe spread o ast, low cost Internet access. Japanand countries in Europe have access to muchaster Internet connections at much lower pricesbecause governments required providers to makebetter services available. Te US is ar behind andPresident Obama highlighted this ailing in histechnology innovation agenda, saying this needsto change.

    In response to Obamas agenda, FreePress, anational nonpartisan organization working toreorm the media, outlined their comprehensive

    recommendations or key media and telecommu-

    nications policy changes. Ben Scott, Free Presspolicy director, noted, Te core o the Obama

    agenda aligns squarely with the public inter-est goals o creating a more democratic mediasystem and promoting universal access to com-munications technologies. We look orward toholding accountable those who will be chargedwith delivering on its promises. FreePress high-lights the our public interest priorities below.

    Protect an Open Internet: Internet com-panies want to charge users more or sendingsome messages quickly. Instead, Congress andthe FCC should pass legisl ation and regulationsthat keep the Internet open and ree or all.

    Promote Universal Afordable Broad-band: the FCC should increase access to theInternet and other communication tools bysetting new speed standards, and ensuring ruraland low income communities have access to

    computers and the Internet while stimulatingcompetition.

    Increase Diversity in Media Owner-ship: the FCC should reverse pro-consolidationpolicies and increase competition, diversity andcontent.

    Renew Public Media: Congress shouldincrease unding or all levels o public media,protect public media rom political intererenceand promote local cable access channels.

    Read the whole document at www.freepress.net/files/2009techpolicy.pdf.

    JoAnn Fuller is active with the Sacramento

    Media Group. To take eective action on mediaissues, join us. For more inormation, contactSMG [email protected] or 443-

    1792 extension 11.

    SB840: We Will Be BackFighting or universal healthcare or Caliornia

    We will bring this

    issue back again and

    again until everyonein Caliornia hasaccess to high quality

    healthcare. StateSenator Mark Leno

    What Will Happen to Big Media?Media reform activists energized Send an Open Letter

    To: The President,Congress, or the Media

    OpenLetters.freeforums.org

    Discuss Hot Topics, orvoice an opinion

    Big Business and Lobbyistshave no problem lettingthe President know whatthey want. Now it is ourturn to let him know whatwe need. Send an Open Let-ter or comment:[email protected]

    Video ResourcesCitizens media is on the rise.Want some non-corporate news but Hate toRead? Check out

    On your computer:www.ringoffireradio.com/blogengine/

    www.youtube.com/user/golefttv

    www.therealnews.com

    On your TV set:Media Edge and Soapbox

  • 8/14/2019 2009 Jan Feb

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    www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 5

    By Sarah Lazare

    19 year-old Army private ony Anderson wascourt martialed in November o 2008, sentencedto 14 months o connement, and given a dis-

    honorable discharge rom the military or deser-tion with intent to avoid hazardous duty anddisobeying a lawul order. Teyoung soldier reused to deployto Iraq in July o last year on thegrounds o conscientious objec-tion to war.

    Members o Iraq VeteransAgainst the War and ColoradoSprings peace organizationsattended the Ft. Carson, Colo-rado court martial to show theirsupport or the young soldier.Immediately aer sentencing,Anderson was placed in handcus and taken tothe Colorado Springs Criminal Justice Center,

    where he was held or a ew weeks until he wasmoved to an army stockade.Te 14 month sentence is one o the longest

    given to a US military serviceperson or reusingto ght in Iraq.

    Who is Tony Anderson?Hailing rom the small city o Wilkes-Barre,

    Pennsylvania, Anderson says he was never veryattracted to military lie, but joined the serviceat the behest o his ather, who had regretted notjoining the military himsel. Once in the ranks,Anderson realized that he had made an unor-tunate decision. During basic training, he oundhimsel ethically opposed to taking a human liein a military confict. He was disturbed by see-ing soldiers on his base return rom Iraq deeplytraumatized rom their experience in combat. I

    didnt want to mess mysel up or the rest o mylie doing something I didnt want to do to beginwith, he says.

    Anderson had vague thoughts about ling orconscientious objector (CO) status but was dis-couraged rom doing so by his commanding o-cers. Tey told him that it would not be possibleor him to obtain, and even alsely inormed himthat he was not the right religion. Anderson wasled to believe that ling a CO application wouldbe utile.

    Anderson says that when he was ordered todeploy to Iraq on July rst, he reaked out.What upset me most was the thought o havingto hurt or kill someone else, he said at his trial.I know this may be hard to believe, but I never

    really thought about the idea o hurting or ki llinganother human being beore I joined the military.And then in training, it just didnt seem real.

    Just hours beore boarding his fight, he wentAWOL. Aer 22 days he turned himsel in, inhopes o diminishing the severity o his punish-

    ment. Anderson was ordered to deploy to Iraqimmediately. Tis time, he simply reused.

    Objection to warAnderson is not alone: a growing number o

    US troops are reusing to ght in the so-calledwar on terror. Accordin to the Associated

    Press, Army soldiers are resist-ing service at the highest ratesince 1980, with an 80 percentincrease in desertions, denedas absence or more than 30days, since the invasion o Iraqin 2003. Over 150 resisters havecome out publicly against thewar, and some cases, such as Lt.Ehren Watada, the rst armyocer to reuse to deploy toIraq, have garnered widespread

    support and attention.Meanwhile, an increasing number o active

    duty GIs have been joining Iraq Veterans Againstthe War (IVAW), an organization comprised oover 1,200 US veterans who have served sinceSeptember 11, 2001. With 12 active duty mem-bers at Andersons base alone, IVAW has taken aposition o open support or GI resisters.

    Te rising numbers o troops who do not wantto join the war ace a challenge because conscien-tious objector status is dicult to obtain. COsmust prove that they are opposed to war in a llorms, that their objection is based on religioustraining and belie, which can include moral orethical training, and that their belies are sincereand deeply held. Te application process is ardu-ous and includes written applications, a series oexaminations, and a hearing with an investigativeocerprocesses that can take up to a year and

    cannot orestall deployment. Applicants mustace commanding ocers who accidentally loseapplications, impose inormal punishments onapplicants, or give alse inormation about theprocess, as in Andersons case.

    Tere has been no reliable study o the di-culty o obtaining CO status. Te GovernmentAccountability Oce (GAO) released a reportnding that between 2002 and 2006, the MarineCorps and Coast Guard approved a third o COapplications, Army ocials approved 55 percent,the Air Force approved 62 percent, and the Navyapproved 84 percent. Critics claim, however, thatthese gures are grossly misrepresentative, sincethey do not actor in the number o potentialapplicants who are deterred rom completing

    their applications at all stages o the process.Elizabeth Stinson, Director o the SonomaCounty Peace and Justice Center, urges potentialCO applicants not to be deterred. Applying orconscientious objector status is hard, she says.Still, I would love to see the amount o conscien-

    Conscientious Objection on the RiseThe tale of Tony Anderson, from Courage to Resist

    What does a depression look like?See or yoursel at Sacramento States University Library Gallery where photographs o infuential photojournalist Dorothea Lange will be on view as

    part o the Caliornia Central Valley Museum o Working Class Art and Culture Project.Known as the mother o documentary photography, Lange photographed migrant arm workers and sharecroppers o the 1930s Depressionmany o

    them in the Sacramento valleyand the spare immediacy o her work orced viewers to connect with those suering the worst in a time o hard times.Project director Moore says, In her photographs theres a great deal o hope in the uture, and I think that theres a real connection to today.

    Te exhibition runs through March 7, 2009rom 10am to 5 pm, uesday through Saturday.

    tious objector applicants go up. For some, it canbe the most liberating thing ever.

    Tere is a huge problem with people beingdiscouraged by the chain o command romgoing through the process o applying or COstatus, said Andrew Gorby, who was dischargedrom the Army in May 2007 as a conscien-tious objector and now works or the Center onConscience and War, a counseling organizationthat works to deend the rights o conscientiousobjectors. But being granted CO status is pos-sible. It is a matter o getting in touch with aqualied CO counseling organization.

    Court MartialAnderson, who remained in tears during much

    o his trial, did not have amily present at hiscourt martial. His mother sent a statement sayingshe does not agree with what her son did, butbelieves that he was sincerely trying to ollow his

    conscience.Andersons civilian lawyer, James Branum,

    expressed rustration with the lack o air processor cases o conscience, and said, I am disap-pointed by how long onys sentence was. 14months is on the high end, but it could have beenworse. At least ony was able to have his day incourt.

    At the trial, ony read a statement explain-ing that he was deterred rom or conscientiousobjector status at every step, leaving him withthe impression that his only option was outrightreusal. He expressed regret that he did notpersist in obtaining his conscientious objectorapplication. Anderson closed by saying, I onlyask that you remember that I was trying to do the

    right thing.Sarah Lazare is a project coordinator withCourage to Resist. For more inormation, the

    original version o this article, or to donate toTonys legal deense, please visit: www.courag-etoresist.org.

    The 14 month

    sentence is one othe longest given

    to a US militaryserviceperson or

    reusing to ght inIraq.

    Tony Andersonphoto: Courage to Resist

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    6 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

    Some of the

    Places You Can

    Find BPMSacramento AreaCoffee Works

    Crest TheaterDimple Records,Arden Wy

    Flowers RestaurantGalleria (29th & K)GrindersHart Senior Center

    Lido CafeLight Rail:65/Folsom4th Ave/Freeport

    Los Jarritos

    Lunas Cafe & Juice BarMercy Hospital, 40th/JPancake Circus, 21st/

    Broadway

    PlannedParenthood:FranklinBlvd, Watt Ave., 29th

    St.Queen of Tarts

    Quick MarketSacramento Bagel,47th/H

    Sacramento Natural

    Foods CoopSacramento PublicLibrary (Main & manybranches)

    Starbucks (B'wy & 35th)

    The BeatThe Bread StoreTime Tested BooksTower Theater (inside)

    Tupelo (Elvas & 57th)Underground Books(35th St. near B'way)

    Weatherstone Coffee

    Chico AreaDavisEspresso Cafe RomaDavis Natural Food CoopNewsbeat

    University MallGrass ValleyBriar PatchSacred Bee

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    For a complete list, visit

    our web site:www.bpmnews.org.Where would you like tosee BPM?Let Paulette Cuilla know,

    916-422-1787.

    has resulted rom it have proven to be eectivetools or locating rearms violators.

    Te level o gun crime and gun violence in theSacramento area has become disturbingly high.Disarming criminals and other prohibited per-sons is a cr itical step or improving public saety.Te Sacramento City Ammunition Ordinanceprovides a means o identiying and disarmingcriminals and other prohibited persons. However,illegal guns and illegal ammo do not stop at citylines. o the extent that Sacramento County andother neighboring jurisdictions adopt similarordinances, the surrounding communities willbecome saer. o that end, Councilmember

    McCarty and the Sacramento Valley Brady Cam-

    paign Chapter are seeking a countywide ammu-nition ordinance. Sheri McGinness and theSacramento County Board o Supervisors wouldbe oolish not to avail themselves o this eectivetool or reducing gun violence.

    For more inormation or to sign a petitionin support o the Ammunition Ordinance, visitwww.gopetition.com/petitions/prevent-

    gun-violence.html

    For more inormation about the SacramentoValley Brady Campaign Chapter, visitwww.bradycampaign.org/CA

    Amanda Wilcox is Interim President o theSacramento Chapter o the Brady Campaign to

    Prevent Gun Violence.

    Ammunition from page 1

    Tese are economic earthquakes o crisisproportions, and invisible in the oreclosure crisisare the peoplehomeowners and renterswho arebecoming homeless. Bob Erlenbusch, President,National Coalition or the Homeless

    By Rachel Iskow

    Elena Costas, her sister and parents rented ahome in Elk Grove or several years. Tis year,they were shocked to receive a notice that theyhad two months to leave their home because abank had taken it back in a oreclosure action.Her parents were devastated, wanting to providestability or their children in their last years oschool. Elena contacted the lender and beggedor an extended stay until the bank could sell thehome, hoping the new owner would maintain itas a rental. Te loan servicer said he had no abil-ity to negotiate. Aer a desperate search, Elenasamily ound a smaller, more costly rental in Sac-

    ramento arther rom the girls schools.Elenas amily managed to stay together,although their new rental is causing them moreeconomic stress. Many renters acing evictiondue to oreclosure are not so ortunate and endup the streets. Most likely, this situation will notlet up or years, and all renters will suer in atighter rental market.

    It is dicult to advocate or amilies whosestories are hidden. Behind the headlines o themortgage crisis is the dire situation aced byrenters living in oreclosed homes and the com-plete lack o support or both these renters andhomeowners orced out into an increasingly tightrental market.

    Across the nation, oreclosures wipe out tenantleases and their rights under these leases. When a

    property being used as a rental goes into oreclo-sure, the lender taking over the home most oenevicts the tenant. Te newly vacant property istaken out o the rental housing inventory. Vacan-cy rates decrease and rents are orced upward

    as it becomes a landlords market. Families ndthemselves in a desperate, oen ailed search orhousing. Foreclosure victims urther exacerbatethe pressures on the rental market and homelessshelters.

    Other outcomes or renters in oreclosed hous-ing include damaged credit scores due to theireviction rom oreclosed homes; landlords indeault reusing to pay utility bills or which the

    landlords are responsible under lease agreements;and landlords and banks that take over propertiesailing to make needed repairs.

    Unscrupulous landlords have ound ways totake advantage o renters in crisis. Owners ooreclosed properties dont inorm renters thatthey no longer own the properties and continuecollecting rent. Tis puts renters in deault whenbanks, the new owners o the properties, comecollecting. In many other cases, ormer ownersand banks reuse to return security deposits.Caliornia has one o ew state laws protectingrenters living in oreclosed housing. In July 2008,the Perata Mortgage Relie Bill, SB 1137, wassigned into law. enants must now be given 60days notice when a bank takes back a home. Tis

    is the only Caliornia state legislation protectingrenters in this situation. Tere has been no ed-eral law or local Sacramento ordinance passed toprotect renters in oreclosed housing.

    How concerned citizens and

    activists can help:

    Press or laws that require leases to surviveoreclosure.

    Advocate or laws that require owners to main-tain their properties.

    Demand that tenants receive more notice priorto termination o leases.

    In Caliornia, demand a moratorium on ore-

    closures or 180 days during which time loanservicers should be required to work out loanmodications and convert to aordable, xed-rate mortgages.

    Tips or renters:I served with notice that the bank is buying

    the property you rent, start searching immedi-ately or housing.

    Keep paying your rent! I you believe you havethe right to stop paying rent, see an attorney rst.In most cases, you must keep current on yourrent or you will lose the noticing period allowedby state law.

    Dont all prey to banks pressuring you intotaking a cash or keys deal in which you areoered cash to leave your rental home soonerthan state law allows. I you want to take the cash,make sure you know where you will stay and thatthe cash you are oered will cover the costs omoving and security deposits. Have an attorneyreview the agreement proposed by the landlord.

    You can sue the ormer owner in small claimscourt or deaulting on his mortgage whichcaused him to break your l ease. You may sue to

    recover moving costs and the dierence in therent you were paying and the rent you will needto pay now or a comparable unit.

    For help, renters can call:Legal Services o Northern Caliornia.916/551-2150o become an advocate contact:Caliornia Reinvestment Coalition 916/340-6080

    For more inormation visit:http://www.nlihc.org

    Rachel Iskow is the Executive Director o Sac-ramento Mutual Housing Association. o obtaininormation about afordable housing opportuni-ties, go towww.mutualhousing.com.

    Foreclosures Hidden VictimsRenters face eviction

    Press conference and rally at the State Capitol highlightslegislation to help victims of foreclosures.photo:Andrea Porras

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    www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 7

    By Rick Bettis

    Tis year we will be observing Black HistoryMonth, marching to honor the birthday o Dr.Martin Luther King, and celebrating the inaugu-

    ration o the rst Arican American President othe United States. Our nine member SacramentoCity Council now includes three Arican Ameri-cans, one Asian American and one Jewish mem-ber. However, as Santayana observed, Tose whodo not learn rom history are bound to repeat it.

    We should not orget the rise and activities othe sel-styled Invisible Empire, the Ku KluxKlan. Conederate Army ocers ounded theKlan in 1865. Started as a prankish raternalgroup it soon became an underground terroristorganization committed to destroying the Recon-struction era rights given the reed slaves. Duringthe 1870s, the Klan aded when many memberswere arrested, but the social and political sub-ordination o Arican Americans was tacitly

    reestablished.Te Klan was reincorporated in Georgia andin 1915 spread throughout much o the nation inresponse to the migration o Arican Americansto the north. It reached an estimated peak mem-bership o approximately 3 million in the late1920s, and was inamous or terrorist activitiesincluding kidnapping and lynching.

    Te Empire reached Sacramento in late 1921when a County Sheris Deputy became theKleagle, the local recruiter and organizer. Dueswere a substantial ten dollars, which, when com-pared to average incomes, would equal approxi-mately $300 today. Six dollars was sent to the

    national organization while our remained withthe local Kleagle.

    Sacramentans had read nationally syndicatedarticles describing Klan

    atrocities, especially againstBlacks. Undaunted bypublic outcry, the Klan heldan initiation ceremony inApril, 1922 at a privately-owned hall at 35th Streetand 5th Avenue in OakPark, then a white uppermiddle class suburb andnow a predominantlyArican American inner city community. Anestimated 250 to 300 attended the two-hourceremony while hooded guards were stationedon the street and the roo o the hall. Later meet-ings were held in secluded rural areas near ElkGrove and near Folsom Boulevard in what is now

    Rancho Cordova. Although it attempted to keepits membership secret, the Klan claimed a total o400 members including doctors, bankers, teach-ers, ministers and government ocials. Whencompared to the countys population this wouldbe equal to approximately 5,500 today.

    Since its origin the Klans avowed concernshad expanded to include all people o color andRoman Catholics and Jews. Tey associatedthese groups with nearly all social sins such asbootlegging, night clubs, road houses, violationo the Sabbath, unair business dealings, indel-ity and other scandalous behavior according toDonald J. Merlino. Merlino is the author o the

    unpublished essay Hooded Americans, CSUS,1961. According to Joseph McGowan in his 1981work or the Sacramento Historical Society, Ku

    Klux Klan in Sacramento,

    Hooded Klan memberswould enter Protestantchurches during services,give the pastor a substan-tial donation and oertheir services to ght theorces o evil.

    Since the Black popula-tion in Sacramento in theearly 1920s was small and

    subordinated the Empire ocused on the largeand prosperous Catholic community, saying that,Romanism is absolutely unchristian and nearlyall the bawdy houses, bootleg joints and otherdives are owned or controlled by Romanists(Sacramento Bee, 06/12/1922).

    Following Klan violence in southern Calior-nia, the Sacramento Klan was subject to closescrutiny and was charged with raud. Te Kleaglefed Sacramento in 1923 with all the collectedunds. And the Empire aded into obscurity.

    Sacramento and the nation have progressedar rom the heyday o the Klan but racism andhate crimes still exist. We must not orget the pastwhile continuing to work toward true equalityregardless o race, gender, religion, ethnicity andsexual orientation.

    Rick Bettis is a community activist and a mem-ber o the Sacramento Historical Society.

    By Karl KramerEvery region o the earth is acing the coming

    dislocations o ecologies, economies, and publichealth brought by global cl imate change.

    Many socialists believe that a socialist perspec-tive can provide a necessary analysis o the rootso the problem in capitalisms imperatives ogrowth and prot.

    o that end, the Northern Caliornias Com-mittees o Correspondence or Democracy and

    Socialisms West Coast Regional Conerence willeature Climate Catastrophe and Social Change,an Eco-Socialist Perspective, on January 10 and11, 2009. Te conerence will have a couple oplenary sessions, multiple workshops, and a Sat-urday evening event.

    Te keynote speaker will be Joel Kovel,Editor-in-Chie o the journal Capitalism NatureSocialism, a ounding member o the EcosocialistInternational Network and author oTe Enemy

    o Nature. Kovel also promulgated the Ecosocial-ist Maniesto with Michael Lowey in 2001. In themaniesto, Kovel and Lowey write, Te deep-

    est shadow that hangs over us is neither terror,environmental collapse, nor global recession. Itis the internalized atalism that holds there is nopossible alternative to capitals world order. Sincethen, there have been several meetings held inEurope to address this vital question.

    Socialists, environmental activists, and work-ing class and community organizations are com-ing to the conerence to study hard science, shareexperiences on physical mitigation and the social

    ght back, and to discuss the likelihood that onlya socialist transormation can prevent capitalismrom killing the planet and that accomplishingthis will take an extreme concentration o socialor people power.

    Te conerence will take place at Laney Collegeat 900 Fallon Street, Oakland (near Lake MerrittBAR station). Te plenary session will start inthe Forum lecture hall between Buildings A andB. Registration is $10 to $30, sliding scale.

    Sponsors and participating organizationsinclude the Committees o Correspondence orDemocracy and Socialism, Capitalism NatureSocialism, the Global Citizen Center, Green Partyo Alameda County, KPFA radio, Niebyl-ProctorMarxist Library, Socialist Action and Solidarity,among others.

    Other speakers and presenters include HenryClark, executive director, West County oxicsCoalition; Kevin Danaher, co-ounder o Global

    Te American WorkerBy Rick Kepler or Truthout.org

    I am an American worker, and you are damn right I want the wealth tobe shared and spread. I am talking about the wealth my hard work helpedto create, but was taken rom me by George Bushs base, the very rich,or as I know them, my corporate bosses. For the past eight years I havewatched Ws and McCains (Country Club First) base grab the l argestshare o our countrys wealth. Where did they take it rom? Tey took itrom my amilys pocketbook, and my co-workers amilies pocketbooks.Tey stole the wealth that I was trying to build or me and my amilywhen they stripped my pension plan rom me and told me to invest in a401k.

    Te American worker doesnt want a handout. Never did. We do wanta hand up rom our government. We still believe and have hope that thisis a government o, by and or the people. We do want to know that ourgovernment will nally stand with us against this onslaught, this RobinHood in reverse, being conducted by the bosses against the workers.

    www.truthout.org/112108L

    An Invisible EmpireThe Ku Klux Klan in Sacramento

    The Empire reachedSacramento in late1921 when a County

    Sherifs Deputy becamethe Kleagle, the local

    recruiter and organizer

    Conference Premieres Eco-SocialistMovement on West CoastCan socialism save the planet?

    The keynote speaker will beJoel Kovel, Editor-in-Chie

    o the journalCapitalism

    Nature Socialism

    Pizza by the slice

    PIECES

    Te most delicious andsocially responsiblepizza in townJeanie Keltner

    1309 21st St Between M and N

    Exchange, Green Festivals and Global CitizenCenter; Adam Scow, Food and Water Watch;Dan Bacher; Christine Frank; Carl Bloice;Larry Shoup; Gene Coyle; Je Mackler; DavidMakosky; Jack Rasmus; Salvatore Engel-

    DiMauro, SUNY New Paltz; and George .Martin, Senior Editor, Capitalism NatureSocialism.

    For more inormation, contact the Commit-tees o Correspondence or Democracy andSocialism, 415-863-6637, [email protected].

    Karl Kramer is West Coast Organizeror the Committees o Correspondence or

    Democracy and Socialism. .

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    8 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

    By Jack D. ForbesIs it possible or a bare majority o voters to change

    the Caliornia Constitution to enorce a religious viewo marriage, thereby overturning the May 15, 2008 deci-sion by the State Supreme Court allowing same-gendercouples to legally be joined together in a state-approvedcivil (not religious) ceremony?

    Among many other issues, Caliornias Proposition 8ails the constitutional test because it revises the constitu-tion rather than simply amending it. Tis is because Prop8 revises the text o Prop 209, which is now part o theCaliornia constitution. Prop 209 specically and unam-biguously prohibits giving preerential treatment on thebasis o sex in any governmental actions. o deny mar-riage on the basis o sex is quite clearly an open revisiono Prop 209 and cannot stand since marriage by a publicocial is obviously a governmental action.

    But Prop 8 also revises the Caliornia guarantee o

    equal protection o the law since it clearly denies the righto secular marriage to persons simply because o whothey choose to marry. It also denies marriage to personswho are not man or woman, that is, to young couples orto persons who possess attributes o both genders.

    Te promoters o Proposition 8 seem to believe thatthey can change the equal protection guaranteed by theCaliornia Constitution with simply a declarative state-ment. And very importantly, they are ignoring Proposi-

    tion 209, also part o the Constitution, which outlawsdiscrimination on the basis o sex. Can they impose gen-der discrimination without amending 209 specically?Can they violate equal protection without specicallychanging the language o the Caliornia Constitution? Wecan be certain that to discriminate on the basis o gendercould only be adopted by a ormal amending process,which commences in the legislature.

    Prop 8 limits marriage to only man and woman.Tis would make marriage impossible or girls and boys.Many states allow persons who are not adults to marry,especially with parental consent. Girls and boys do notbecome men and women until at least 18 and probablynot until 21 (in terms o complete emancipation romrestrictions). o deprive young people o the right tomarry would seem to revise the constitution as well.

    Tere are no absolute dierences between men and

    women. Many individuals exhibit personal character-istics usually belonging to the opposite gender. Her-maphrodites do possess physical characteristics o bothgenders. Since they are both man and woman can theybe denied the right to marry? Certainly not, since such aprohibition would be a denial o equal protection.

    And surely the Fourteenth Amendment to the ederalConstitution would seem to trump any discriminatoryrevision, as well as the separation o church and state

    doctrine. Te proposed amendment establishes a Jewish-Christian tradition as the l aw, excluding CaliorniaNative American and other traditions and perspectives.

    Te proposed amendment would also require Cali-ornia to deny the validity o all boy-girl marriages per-ormed in other states. Such couples could not move toCaliornia and retain married status, since they are nei-ther man nor woman. Male and emale, the age-inclusiveterms, are not used by the proposed amendment.

    Proposition 8 is a poorly conceived attempt at revis-ing the Caliornia Constitution without ollowing theprocess prescribed by that very constitution. It is nulland void.

    Jack D. Forbes has written several articles about mar-riage and Proposition 209. His latest book is the newlyrevised edition oColumbus and Other Cannibals,

    exploring Native American spirituality and ethics.

    By Sarah Sol

    Its been an interesting time since Proposition 8passed in Caliornia. Whether its passage was pri-

    marily a result o money, lies, ear and politicking orthe intention o more than hal o Cal iornias voters toexpress an opinion about who is deserving o basic civilrights, it hit me hard.

    I called in sick on Nov 5, a mixture o bad allergies, asore back rom being out in the cold the night beore ata polling place, staying up to watch election returns, andthe sick realization that my state had just passed a lawrestricting my rights and pursuit o happiness.

    I had some o the same emotions on Nov 5 as I hadSept 12, 2001. Not the same shockits not a big surprisethat a minority would have a hard time making a case oritsel in the ace o a massive eort to scare, threaten andmanipulate votersbut denitely the anger, disappoint-ment and concern about what might be coming next.

    Prop 8 was one big hate crime. It was perpetrated not

    just by a ew errant and mean-spirited religious organiza-tions, but also by our neighbors, colleagues and amilymembers. In my rst blog posting or the website Equal-ity Action Now, I recapped things that motivated meand gave me some comort in the two weeks ollowingElection Day. o my surprise, it was a long list and justthe beginning.

    1. Positive Election Day experiences: I was one oabout 7,500 Election Day volunteers or the No onProp 8 eort, and conversations I had made a lastingimpression. I went with two volunteers to a polling placein Land Park. Te idea was to encourage those whoopposed Prop 8 to make it past the presidential candi-

    dates to vote all the way through to the end o the bal-lot. Aer a rustrating early experience with one angryneighborhood resident (who stormed out o his houseshouting at us, took our signs, threatened to blind myeyes, and called the police on us), we had great encoun-ters with people wed never met beore.

    Te police returned our signs. Ten a poll workersent out yummy chocolate chip cookies, which greatlyimproved standing around in the cold and dark. We hadsupportive conversations with the vast majority o voterswho stopped to talk.

    Most importantly, a voter whod passed by earlier withhis wie and son went home, changed his clothes, androde back on his bike to stand with us. He held a No onProp 8 sign or the next hour and a hal. I came home

    on election night crushed but sensing a real movementmight be starting. It was!

    2. Signs o a cooler White House: Tough it elt liketoo little too late when he said it, President-elect BarackObama included the word gay in his election nightacceptance speech. Obama plans to end discrimination

    based on sexual orientation and gender identity; expandhate crime statutes; supports passing the MatthewShepard Act; and end Dont Ask, Dont ell, accordingto his website.www.change.gov.agenda/civil_rights_agenda

    3. Challenges to the Church o Jesus Christ o Latter-day Saints: As has been widely reported, the church wasone o the largest proponents o the amendment thattook my rights away. Its members made phone calls,walked precincts, produced ads, and donated millions odollars toward the campaign. Its unclear whether anyonecan prove the church violated the law in promoting Prop8, but i it did, it must be held accountable. Te state hasagreed to look into the churchs role in the campaign.

    Prop 8 Revises Californias ConstitutionWhat ever happened to equal protection?

    Proposition 8 ails the

    constitutional testbecause it revises theconstitution rather than

    simply amending it.

    Talk about Galvanizing a Movement!Proposition 8 broke hearts but brought a community together

    Were not going to go

    anywhere. Wereyour neighbors, were

    your sisters, we workor you, and were here

    and we want our rightsback.Activist Jade

    Baranski to News10

    See Galvanizing, next page

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    www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 9

    4. Political commentator Keith Olbermann onMSNBC: Olbermanns six minutes against the passage oProp 8 were reasoned and passionate. He reached mil-lions o V viewers nationwide plus thousands on You-ube.www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVUecPhQPqY

    5. Elected ocials support: Governor Arnold Schwar-zenegger expressed sympathy or the gay and lesbiancommunity aer the election and urged us to ght back.A ew dozen Caliornia legislators signed a riend-o-the-court brie urging the Caliornia Supreme Court to inval-idate Prop 8. Te Legislature introduced a resolution

    opposing Prop 8, and legislators and mayors across thestate have participated in countless rallies and vigils sincethe election. Te Caliornia Supreme Court also acceptedthree lawsuits attempting to invalidate the proposition.Oral arguments could come as early as March.

    6. ireless local activists: urnout at Sacramentosmajor rallies has been amazing. Additional events arekeeping up the momentum, including the National DayWithout Gay, boycotts o individuals who unded theproposition, blue lights in windows and on porches orsupport, and Sacramentos silent all-night march. Asevent organizer Jade Baranski told News10, Were notgoing to go anywhere. Were your neighbors, wereyour sisters, we work or you, and were here and we wantour rights back.

    7. Local media coverage: Fox40, KOVR, Te Sacra-

    mento Bee, the Sacramento News & Review, CapitalPublic Radio and other media are covering it all,including events, the legislative battle ahead and relatedissues. Teyve got video rom rallies, photo albums andarchives o news coverage.

    8. Te whole world is watchingand participating:In mid-November, rallies were scheduled in nearly 300American cities, with Prop 8 generating news coverage

    and debate in international media. We are not alone.9. Petitions: OK, we dont typicallyoverturn election results through petitions,except maybe to get another initiative onthe ballot. But the number o signaturesgathered by the Courage Campaign andsimilar organizations is encouraging.

    10. Blogs and bloggers: Angry BlackBitch, Te Hungton Post, Kel Munger orSN&Rs Snog, Broadsheet and many othershave been all over this, oering humorousheadlines and insights.

    11. Creative und-raising: For example,the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian CentersInvalidate Prop 8, where you can makea tax-deductible donation, in the name othe president o the Mormon church, to

    support organizations working to invali-date Prop 8 and to und grassroots activi-ties in support o ull marriage equality.

    12. Reality checks and perspectiveson communicating with all voters: Notthat the basic rights o a minority groupshould be up or popular vote in the rstplace, but i our next step is another ballotinitiativehell, even i it isntwe need toimprove how we reach out to those out-side our pride parades and social circles.Authors, radio hosts and linguists havebeen discussing phrases l ike civil rightsand amily values and how they play invarious religious and cultural communi-ties. We should be paying attention. Lesbi-

    ans and gays exist in all cultures, religions

    Take Action Against Prop 8www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/repealprop8

    www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.

    cgi?seg5130

    www.equalityactionnow.org

    California ConstitutionArticle 1. Declaration of Rights

    Section 1.All people are bynature free and independent andhave inalienable rights. Amongthese are enjoying and defendinglife and liberty, acquiring, pos-sessing, and protecting property,and pursuing and obtaining safety,happiness, and privacy.

    and economic groups, and we need to do more to reachout.

    13. More people coming out: Comedian Wanda Sykeshad been vocal in the past about Prop 8, but the electionmoved her to talk about her own relationship and workharder or equality nationwide.

    14. Support rom straight olks: Like my ex-husband,whos been blogging, running sound at rallies, holding

    candles at vigils, working on the Equality Action Nowwebsite and just generally being a great person.Sarah Sol is a ormer Navy journalist, ormer copy edi-

    tor or SN&R and current technical editor at ICF Jones &Stokes in Sacramento.

    This page and page8: photos of the rally

    at the state Capitol,November 9, afterthe passage of Propo-sition 8.photo: Sarah Sol

    Galvanizing, from page 8

  • 8/14/2019 2009 Jan Feb

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    10 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

    SacramentoSoapbox

    Progressive Talk Show

    Access Sacramento,Channel 17 with

    Jeanie Keltner.

    Monday, 8pm, Tuesdaynoon, Wednesday, 4am.

    Now in Davis, Channel15, Tuesday, 7pm.

    Peace Action

    on the WebKeep up to date

    on peace activism

    in Sacramento.

    Check out

    www.sacpeace.org.

    RememberingHiroshimaand

    Nagasaki

    Annual August peace event seeks

    volunteers

    Will the US Congress push to develop newnuclear weapons this session or will they

    respond to initiatives to reduce the US arsenaland take nuclear bombs o hair trigger alert?One important way our community opposes thedevelopment and use o nuclear weapons is byremembering the atomic bombing o Hiroshimaand Nagasaki by the United States. Every Augustwe gather on the anniversary o the bombingsto renew our opposition to any urther use onuclear weapons. Te importance o this work isemphasized today, as the US and other nationscontinue to commit vast amounts o resources toweapons development, while ailing to stop thespread o nuclear weapons.

    A group o volunteers will meet in February toplan the next August Peace Event, at the CrepeEscape restaurant at the corner o Freeport Blvd.and 10th Ave. just north o Sacramento City Col-

    lege. For exact date, contact JoAnn Fuller at 441-2085. Every year we hear that this ree, amilyoriented event is the best yet. Please join us andhelp make this years program another best yet.

    Another way to be active is to tell the storyo Sadako, the Japanese girl who inspires us tonever again allow the use o nuclear weapons. Asshe sickened due to radiation poisoning, Sadakolabored to old 1,000 origami cranes so she couldwrite peace on their wings and send this messagearound the world. I you would like to help pres-ent the story o Sadako and help children oldcranes, contact Kazuyo Morishita at 487-1414.

    By Mary Bisharat

    Im one o the thousands o opera loversacross America who attends live opera in localtheaters via satellite, shown on a huge screenin HD with multi-channeled surround sound.But one I attended on November 8 was not theusual story o lovelorn, star-crossed lovers. It wasa contemporary opera, Dr. Atomic, commis-sioned by the San Francisco Opera a ew yearsago and composed by John Adams. Te story wasbased on the events leading up to testing o therst atomic bomb in New Mexico, an explorationo real people and the issues involved: Edwardeller, Army Commander General Leslie Groves,and starring J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliantphysicist who directed Te Manhattan Project,Americas secret plan to create an atomic bomb.

    Te libretto by Peter Sellars was ashioned roma wide variety o sources, including US govern-ment documents and communications rom thescientists and military personnel involved in theproject. Tus, it was based on historical reality,which gave it a convincing authenticity. It was agorgeous melodic opera, a hair-raising, ascinat-ing exploration o knowledge and mans ultimateuse o it.

    Te composer noted how opera has a curiousability to handle lies biggest themes in a way noother art orm can. He is right: I was under itsspell or several days, haunted by its terriyingbeauty and its daunting message: Who has therequisite moral authority to put global nuclearthreats on the ront burner? No one! But we allhave the moral authority to ght to save our

    planet rom nuclear annihilation and to deendthose who are persecuted or their actions in thestruggle.

    A case in point is nuclear whistle blower Mor-dechai Vanunu, the Israeli nuclear technicianwho revealed to the imes o London in 1986 theacts o Israels nuclear weapons. He provided 60photos with the exact location o Israels approxi-mately 200 bombs. From London, he was spiritedo to Israel, tried in a secret court and given an18-year sentence, eleven o which he spent insolitary connement. Released in 2004, he wasre-arrested in his wall ed sanctuary at St GeorgesAnglican Church by 29 machine gun wieldingpolice commandos in bullet-proo vests. Tebishop wrote the Israeli Prime Minister In 100

    years o the cathedrals history, such an event had

    never taken place.

    Israel is attempting to gag Vanunu to keep himrom creating a linkage between Israels nuclearstatus and the US/Israel drive to pressure Iranrom continuing its nuclear research. Vanunu hasrepeatedly deed orders not to give interviews,talk to oreigners, or talk about his work. He hasbeen re-arrested and is under continuing housearrest. Successive American administrations havea turned a blind eye to Israels nuclear arsenal andthe American press has been strangely incuriousexcept or Seymour Hershs Te Samson Option(1991).

    Few voices have been raised until Vanunuscall to awareness. Tere is a straight line romDr. Oppenheimer to Vanunu: in 1946, one yearaer the US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

    Oppenheimer proposed banning nuclear weap-ons; he characterized them as unparalled instru-ments o coercion, antithetical to world saety.He was punished or his stance by having hishigh-level security withdrawn. Vanunu is beingpunished or having gone public about Israelsstatus as a nuclear power. His is the same goalas the late Dr. Oppenheimerto banish nuclearweapons.

    We are at a cr itical point or nuclear disarma-ment as President Obama enters the WhiteHouse. We must demand he take the ollowingactions: work or complete nuclear disarmament,adopt a policy o no rst use, renegotiate SAR(Strategic Arms Reduction reaty) with Russia,due to expire at the end o 2009, ratiy the Com-prehensive est Ban reaty (CB), and rescue

    the Non Prolieration reaty (NP).Te original nuclear ve (US, France, Great

    Britain, Russia, and China) have been joinedby India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.Vanunus long poem, I am Your Spy writtenrom Ashkelon Prison, ends as ollows: Iveheard the voice o my conscience/and there is noplace to hide./Im on your mission. I am doingmy duty.ake/ it rom me/. Come and see oryourselves. Lighten my/ burden. Stop the train./Get o the train. Te next stepnuclear/disaster.Te next book,/the next machine. No. Tere is nosuch thing.

    We must listen, lighten his burden and saveourselves.

    Mary Bisharat is a retired therapist and peace

    activist.

    By JoAnn Fuller

    Te redistricting reorm initiative passed inNovember, taking away the power to draw vot-ing districts rom the l egislature and giving it toa citizen commission. During the election, the

    opposition (made up largely o desperate incum-bents) resorted to political scare tacticstheytold Democrats this was a Republican power graband then turned around and told Republicansthat this was Democratic power grab.

    Supporters, including Caliornia CommonCause, the League o Women Voters o CA andAARP, just told voters the truth. Prop 11 willend gerrymandering abuses where incumbentsput their interests ahead o cities and communi-ties (oen splitting them into several legislativedistricts). We advocated or an independentredistricting commission that would give peoplea more eective voice in government.

    In 2000, Caliornia legislators with Democratsin the majority designed a gerrymander that

    protected incumbents o both parties by drawingdistricts that were super-Republican or super-Democratic. As a result, just one legislative orcongressional incumbent has been voted out ooce in the eight years since.

    As the LA imes ound in this Nov 6 article,Reporting rom SacramentoDemocratic hopeso ending budget gridlock in Sacramento by win-ning a super majority in the Caliornia State Leg-

    islature ell short Wednesday even though theirpresidential candidate, Barack Obama, took morethan 60% o Caliornias vote.

    Why?Te great irony, noted Dan Schnur, who

    directs the Jesse M. Unruh Institute o Politics atthe University o Southern Caliornia in the SanDiego Union ribune, is that i there were morecompetitive districts this year, the Democratsalmost certainly would have increased their ranksin the Assembly, the Senate and the House oRepresentativesTe only thing that protectedRepublican legislators in such a big Democraticyear was the act that the party agreed to gerry-mandered districts.

    Every 10 years, legislative political boundar-

    ies or districts are redrawn to refect populationchanges. Until the passage o Prop 11, statelegislators controlled that process. Aer Prop11, an independent commission will design newdistricts or the state Assembly, Senate and Board

    o Equalization.Te Commission selection process starts

    with the State Auditor inviting applicants orthe commission which will be vetted to weed

    out those with conficts o interest or those tooclosely tied to a politician. Te initiative detailshow members o the commission will be cho-sen. It also requires the commission to abide byopen meeting laws, open hearings, and to posttheir deliberations on the Internet. Criteria ordrawing the new districts have also been set.

    While the redistricting commission wontbegin work until aer the results o the nextcensus in 2010 are known, Common Causehas already begun work to ensure the commis-sion is made up o citizens who represent thestates ethnic, racial, and geographic diversityand is gender balanced. I you think you havethe experience and ability to serve or or moreinormation, contact Caliornia Common

    Cause.JoAnn Fuller is associate director o Cali-ornia Common Cause. She can be reached [email protected] or 443-1792extension 11.

    Proposition 11 Passed!Who will beneft in redrawing voting districts?

    Nuclear Threats Are Real

    It happened at the opera

  • 8/14/2019 2009 Jan Feb

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    www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 11

    Cofee rom

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    By Susan Scott

    When om Brokaw asked during the secondpresidential debate whether healthcare wasa right, McCain said he thought it was a

    responsibility, Obama said it should be a rightor every American.Actually, it not onlySHOULD be a right;it IS a rightin mostcountries, that is.

    Te Universal Decla-ration o Human Rights,the rst internationallyrecognized denitiono the basic rights o allhuman beings, draedwith the support o Eleanor Roosevelt, wassigned by the US and 47 o 55 members o thenewly created United Nations on December 10,1948. Only the Soviet Bloc, Saudi Arabia and

    South Arica abstained. On December 10, 2008hundreds o thousands throughout the worldcelebrated its 60th anniversary.

    Americans might be surprised to know thatthe US government has dened human rights toinclude not only ree and air voting, air trials,ree speech and prohibition against slavery anddiscrimination, but also health care, housing,social security and employment.

    As Article 25 o the UDHR states: Everyonehas the right to a standard o living adequate orthe health and well-being o himsel and his am-ily, including ood, clothing, housing and medicalcare and necessary social services and the right tosecurity in the event o unemployment, sickness,disability, widowhood, old age or other lack olivelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

    Article 23 provides or the right to work and pro-tection rom unemployment as well.

    But the UDHR was only a declaration, not atreaty enorceable in US courts under our Con-

    stitution. So, in 1966, the UN adopted twotreaties to bind members to the UDHR com-mitments. Te International Covenant o

    Political and Civil Rights (ICPC)coveringthe rights to vote,to an impartialcourt, to speak outand associate, andto not be discrimi-nated againstwasratied in 1977,signed by PresidentCarter in 1977,and ratied by theUS Congress in 1992.

    Much like the practice o George W. Bushssigning statements, however, the US ratied theICPCR with several reservations, includingrequiring additional legislation by Congress or

    enorcement. Nevertheless, its provisions areuniversally recognized.Economic, social and cultural rights, however,

    were too controversial or the US to sign evenwith reservationsand were thereore split ointo a separate treaty. Te International Cov-enant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightswas signed by Jimmy Carter in 1977 but has yeteven to be submitted to Congress or ratication.Te ICESCR has now been ratied by 162 othe 192 UN members, including virtually all oEurope and Latin America.

    So the USsupposed leading light or humanrights and whose rst lady helped dra thedocument 60 years agois one o the onlyindustrialized nations that has reused to makea commitment to the economic, social and cul-

    tural rights o its peoplerights long enjoyedin Europe and most industrialized countriesand now nally being ullled in much o LatinAmerica.

    Now why would that be? Could it have to dowith our (now bankrupt) capitalist system thatdenes health care, housing andincreasinglyeducation, water and even security as a com-modity? Could the preeminent role o privateproperty in our constitutional system be imped-

    ing the ability the American people to savor theirinternationally recognized human rights?O course signing on to a Covenant doesnt

    mean actual compliance, but at least signatoriesare obligated to make regular progress reportsand move toward compliance. And since lastsummer, people who claim violation o theirrights under the ICESCR have a orum at the UNto make their complaint.

    Many o us walked out o Michael MooresSicko wondering why our country is so out ostep with the rest o the industrialized worldwhen it comes to healthcare. We blamed it onBush and the Republicans. But the history o USresistance to the ICESCR indicates that some-thing else is going on. Republicans and Demo-crats alike consider government responsibility or

    Americans economic, social and cultural r ightsto be socialist and inconsistent with our wayo lie.

    o avoid hypocrisy, perhaps we should un-sign the UDHR, like Bush did with the KyotoProtocol.

    Or better, perhaps we should pressure our newadministration and Congress to help us celebrateUDHRs 60th Anniversary by nally ratiying theInternational Convenant on Economic, Socialand Cultural Rightswithout reservations.

    Former Sacramentan Susan Scott is a lawyerwho Chairs the National Lawyers Guilds Task

    Force on the Americas and has organized o sev-eral delegations to Venezuela.

    Reclaiming the pastBy Roger White

    Every February the debate continues. Do wereally need Black History month anymore? IsntBlack History ully integrated into the standard

    American History curriculum? Isnt it, at best,a slightly patronizing gesture that promotesthe marginalization o black achievement and,at worse, a divisive relic o the past that blackAmericans should have outgrown by now. Andbesides dont we have a black president anyways?

    Well, whatever one may think o Black HistoryMonth it certainly isnt going anywhere. Teresjust too much money in itsponsorships, proj-ects, tax write-os, ticketsalesyo


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