RABBI ARTHUR WASKOW WRITES TO THE NY TIMES

”This is a copy of a letter I sent Tuesday, June 27, to Clyde Haberman, NY Times columnist, about his column on p. B1, column 1, that morning”

I was one of the 120-plus people who gathered at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza yesterday to call for halting the use of torture by the present government of the United States, and for closing Guantanamo.

You might have seen me; as a rabbi and director of The Shalom Center, I wear a rainbow-colored yarmulke as a symbol of peace and hope.

You might also have seen Father Dan Berrigan, carrying a gnarled walking stick to help him on his courageous path, now he is at the age of 85.

Both of us, along with 23 other people, were arrested later in the day as we protested at the US Mission to the UN, demanding that the US agree to world-wide demands that it stop torturing prisoners and close that prison — as shameful to the American people as the Bastille became obnoxious to the people of France.

So for a moment I was pleased to see that your column this morning reported on our gathering.

For a moment only. For then I read your column, and discovered that after two inches of introduction and one and one-quarter inches of reporting on the End-Torture demonstration, you spent 13 inches reporting on the three people who want the UN not to interfere with the international traffic in handguns.

You suggested that it was merely a clever “photo-op” that brought most journalists to focus on our demonstration instead of theirs. It seems not to have occurred to you — or at least you did not care to report — that the reporters might very well have been far more interested in what we were doing because we were addressing what most reporters and most human beings regard as a profound evil — torture…”

Richard Dechert writes from Minneapolis:

“Danny, with even the likes of Russ Feingold telling NBC’s “Meet the Press” he “opposes amnesty for insurgents who have killed American troops”–that is, legally defend their own country from illegal U.S. invasion –my update couldn’t be more timely and important

(http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13532589/).

In my judgment the fundamental pathology of Bush & Co. (including its media cohorts) is a pervasive disdain for the rule of law. And the hours I’ve spent researching and writing a lengthy article are devoted to better explaining that, which most Americans don’t seem to sufficiently understand.”

Joe Dunphy on war with Iran:

”Two items of importance that affect the Iraq-Iran border: Since they are both published in open source literature, these are hardly secrets.

1) The flare-up between Israel and the Palestinians on the Gaza strip, which seems unexpected, could upset/delay any moves by the US for ground movement into Iran. Some of the ground and airspace in that region could prove useful as a secondary route for supplies, in the event that the current main routes become clogged/overburdened.

2) Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman on Pacifica today 6-28-06 carried reports by two journalists that Afghanistan is under pressure by India in the East, and Packistan in the West, as the US seems about to withdraw about 3,000 troops (roughly a brigade) from Afghanistan. The resulting “weakness” is attracting more attacks by Taliban and other ethnic forces. In my opinion, this would seem to raise the risk profile of Afghanistan for ground operations.

KINKY FRIEDMAN NEEDS YOU!

Joy writes:

Wow, it just spins my mind to read your entire blog…you are really on top of everything, bravo. some of it i already had read, but was glad to be enlightened by the rest that i had not seen yet.

we are indeed in trouble. we have to have hope and do whatever we can.

do you know about Kinky Friedman’s campaign for governor of Texas? He’s incredible, and if you haven’t already checked him out, PLEASE do as soon as you can. He has a real good chance of winning, which will mean Texas will have some big changes for the better ahead.

Alternative fuels, sustainability planning, investment in education, homeless programs, veteran’s programs, healthcare and all else that the people need. He will take calls from Texans on a regular basis, for feedback, complaints and ideas, and will reform Texas voting rules so that everyone can vote, and anyone can run for office. (campaign spending limits, etc.) Hurray! In the latest polls of ‘likely’ (from the 25% who voted in the last gubernatorial election) voters he received 20% (see article on kinkyfriedman.com for full details).

GLOBALVISION’S JAY HEISLER WRITES ON CANADA’S MEDIA

Canada has a terrible media situation, arguably worse than this side of the border. Our Prime Minister’s rejection of the mainstream media is inexplicable, considering that it is already heavily concentrated and biased to the right, and mostly supported him during the run-up to the last election. That’s not enough, apparently, as he still accuses reporters of bias. I think he’s taking a page from the Fox News book: reporting facts = liberal bias.

Rabble.ca on the issue, and the Bush/Harper similarities:

http://www.rabble.ca/columnists_full.shtml?x=50401

http://www.rabble.ca/columnists_full.shtml?x=50251

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/06/20/1643803-cp.html

LIST: INTERESTED IN PROGRESSIVE PR JOBS?

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The free monthly newsletter, sent to progressive communications staff and others around the country, lists jobs and new resources for progressive PR people.

Progressives can post jobs at www.truespinconference.com/jobs. Or they can look for jobs on the site.

To receive “Progressive PR Jobs List Newsletter,” click on the “subscribe” button on the left side of the web page at www.truespinconference.com/jobs.

HUMOR: A GERMAN SATIRE ON OUR HEROIC LEADER

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3934788900154749704

HUMOR: THE ONION ON ALAN COLMES (Who I Like)

Alan Colmes’ Death Goes Unreported On Hannity & Colmes

WASHINGTON, DC—The accidental death of Alan Colmes, the liberal commentator sometimes featured alongside conservative Sean Hannity, has gone unreported on their Fox News political commentary show for two weeks. “I can’t understand why—why the Republicans are afraid to pull the trigger on immigration!” said Hannity, speaking to an empty seat across the set. “Would someone, anyone from the other side of the issue please tell me exactly how you seduced them to the Dumb Side? This is backwards thinking!” Hannity did not attend the funeral held last weekend for Colmes, who, according to anonymous sources within Fox News, was caught in a D.C.-area crosswalk when the light changed, flip-flopped on which way to go, and was struck by a dump-truck.

REMINDER: EVENTS THIS WEEKEND –NY STATE

Panel on Threats to the press and democracy; Friday night, June 30th, 7:30 PM, SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, from Congressperson Maurice Hinchey, Amy Goodman, Danny Schechter and Jeff Cohen, Alan Chartock, emcee,

Sunday, July 2nd, 5:00 PM, Rosendale (NY) Theatre – sneak preview of my new film In Debt We Trust. (For more on film, See InDebtWeTrust.com)

Hope to see those of you who can make it. Everyone welcome to read, join, and support Mediachannel. Check out our new home page with articles about the World Cup, The Bush strategy, and why citizens have to join the media as well as a new Mediachannel Europe page. Just click on the EU Flag.

Living for the weekend…..

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