It's not just interns, people. Muslims like myself plan to infiltrate every branch of the government through lawful means. We wish to be--brace yourselves--politically active. Rep. Paul Broun (GA) stated the following regarding CAIR (Council on Islamic-American Relations): "If an organization that is connected to or supports terrorists is running influence operations or planting spies in key national security-related congressional offices, I think this needs to be made known."
Funny that no one really cares that Muslims are denigrated in this manner. Should Muslims just accept the fact they are not only illegally wiretapped, but also subject to hate speech in Congress?
Let me speak on behalf of the 99.9% of all Muslims world-wide, when I say
Dear Team Obama,
Below, please see: 1. Strong Press Coverage of our Earth Day event.
2. Announcement of our May 17th House Party with Mark Walsh.
3. Invitation to join us when we receive the Democrat of the Year Award for the amazing work of our large team of Obama volunteers.
1. Our Grow The Hope Earth Day House Party was both fun and productive. I’m pleased to report that we got some media coverage for this event including a piece on NPR. We asked the reporters to interview not just our impressive speakers but also the Awesome Obama Interns who helped organize this special meeting. Luckily they did so. Don’t miss it. After following this link, you have to scroll down to find our story. Look for the one titled, “Obama Volunteers Carry Presidents Earth Agenda- Volunteers who worked on President Obama's campaign want to keep that energy moving.” http://wamu.org/news/09/04/22.php Additional coverage with video and more audio at: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washington/news.aspx?id=126801 After our previous event, we got blogged on what I’m told is Maryland’s most widely read political blog. http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2009/04/work-goes-on.html
2. We already have a large number of sign-ups for our May event. Mark Walsh joined us in March to hear Susie Trunbull speak and to share brief remarks with the crowd. He wowed everyone and I know there will be a large turnout to hear him on May 17th. Sign up early because this event will max out. On Sunday, May 17 at 2:00, we will hear from Mark Walsh, CEO of Genius Rocket. Mark is an exciting leader who will inspire us to remain active and build on our great success. Mark got very involved in politics earlier this decade, serving as the first Chief Technology Advisor to the Democratic National Committee, head of internet operations for the John Kerry for President Campaign, and the founding CEO of AirAmerica Radio, the liberal talk-radio network. He hosts a popular political talk show on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio and appears regularly on MSNBC and Fox News radio as a political commentator. Please RSVP at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptwcp
3. As you may have heard, the work of the thousands of volunteers in our Obama office is being recognized. Your impressive efforts, which contributed significantly to the historic win in Virginia, inspired the Montgomery County Democratic Party to honor us with their Democrat of the Year Award. They couldn’t give this top award to each volunteer who worked at the office so they are presenting it to the Bethesda Obama Office (BOO) Leadership Team (LT). The BOO LT has discussed this and will accept this award on behalf of all of you – our amazing team of committed, hard-working, and fun-loving volunteers. Thank you so much for the hours of work you put into the effort to elect President Obama. Let’s celebrate together at the Spring Ball on Sunday, May 3rd when the award will be presented. To show the local party leaders that they made a good decision in selecting to honor our work, let’s make this the most successful Spring Ball ever. Please plan on being with us at the Spring Ball. For more information, please visit: http://www.mcdcc.org or contact Montgomery County Democratic Party 3720 Farragut Avenue, 3rd Floor · Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-1000 (main) · 301-946-1002 (fax) · montgomerydems@msn.com
Nurturing the spark of creativity and hope that came alive during the Obama campaign.
http://www.growthehope.org
View our videos and subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/growthehope
For updates, please join our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grow-The-Hope/49959058596?ref=ts
I plan to discuss some of the issues in my FIRST EVER webcast on under-reported human rights issues. I plan to host a live webcast 2-3 times per week at 9pm, EST. I believe that there is much work to be done to better address human rights violations. But as humans, I do believe that we have come a long way. And I believe that that the march of history will lead us to a world that treats one another more humanely. But in order for this to occur, the international community must be more aware of crimes against humanity that are occuring at this very moment. Please join me at 9pm, for the first webcast of "STRIKING THE ROOT." I will provide a link on this blog by 6pm tomorrow. The show will be archived, so if you miss it, not to worry!
Much of the news related to the conflicts in the past 15 years--from the Bosnian genocide to the recent atrocities by the janjaweed in the Sudan--have talked the number of people killed. But one never seems to hear or read about the mass rape these conflicts and several more. What does rape "accomplish" in the setting of conflict. Many aid workers who have participated in reconciliation efforts mention that rape serves several "symbolic" functions. What do you believe these are? And why is the press so hesitant to discuss rape in the context of being a terrible crime against humanity? Why are people afraid to examine the psychological effects of rape when it occurs elsewhere but quite quck to address the long-term impact of rape victims in the U.S.?
Please join my Human Rights Meetup.com group! We are called the "Washington Global Human Rights Meetup Group." As I mentioned in the description for this forum, this isn't going to be just a blog. In light of the desire for those who are interested to meet one another and truly garner exposure for human rights issues that have been all but ignored, I am officially connecting this blog to a meetup.com group!! Our first event will be participating a rally to stop genocide and will feature survivors from recent genocidal campaigns (4/19) . Kindly sign up by directing your browser to http://www.meetup.com/DC-Global-Human-Rights-Meetup-Group.
Many thanks! Hope you can make it to our first event.
Nurturing the spark of creativity and hope that came alive during the Obama campaign. http://www.growthehope.org
During the Obama campaign, we learned: 1) We are not alone! There are many other people who care – people who care deeply - and who are willing to work hard to make the world a better place. 2) We are powerful! Together we can accomplish great things. You heard it throughout the campaign - Yes We Can. Fired Up! Ready to Go! Yes We Did! We built a powerful movement – now people all over are asking what next. 3) Working together is fun! The campaign gave us a glimpse of what a renewed sense of community can accomplish. We see that the task of revitalizing our democracy can be full of creativity, inspiration, and hope. We can do our work in manner that reflects our deep understanding of what creates real and lasting social change. And, we can – we must - have fun while saving the world. Thus, Grow The Hope was born. For several months, we have been actively exploring the creation of a new organization dedicated to nurturing the spark of creativity and hope that came alive during the campaign. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We already have over 500 sign-ups around the country, a growing team of volunteer leaders, and a strong online presence. So, after testing the waters, we are ready to dive in. Our approach attempts to take into account the reality that people want to feel part of something bigger than themselves. We know we can’t solve the problems facing our nation from our community alone, but connected with others around the County, State, and Country, we can bring about real change. In addition to being connected to others, people want models that nurture their own creativity and value individual initiative. Some people are working to build GTH. Others have joined us on particular projects. Still others have decided to wear a GTH button and talk it up while participating in local service projects, social change work, or activities with OFA 2.0. All these models will be enthusiastically welcomed. We are finding that simply using the name Grow The Hope sparks important conversations about what happened during the campaign, what needs to happen now, and how we can make the world a better place. Grow The Hope’s current campaign urges citizens to actively engage in revitalizing our democracy. We declare “the task is not his alone – it is ours together.” Our country has a tradition of grading the first 100 days of a presidency. We usually ask - what has our new president done for us. This year, we recognize that the challenges before us are far too massive for any one person to solve alone. So, during the first 100 days of President Obama’s first term we each commit to doing what we can to revitalize our democracy. We will report to each other on our accomplishments, our set backs, and our dreams. This year the 100 day report card will not be his alone, but ours together. Grow The Hope video taped interviews of some of the wonderful established leaders who spoke at Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America. These interviews were conducted by our Awesome Obama Interns. This project helped make sure we are not just celebrating our proud activist past, but also building a bridge to the emerging leaders of the future. You can see some of these videos on our site and our entire collection at: http://www.youtube.com/growthehope To learn more or to sign-up for occasional updates, please visit: http://www.growthehope.org. If you are ready to help build Grow The Hope, please contact David Hart at david@growthehope.org
============== To be clear, the organizations and events listed below are not connected to each other. They are just groups and events that I personally support. Some are nonprofit organizations that never endorse candidates or parties. Others are political groups in our community. They are not in any way affiliated with each other.
There is going to be a crucial County special election in District 4 that has the potential to change the balance on the County Council. The primaries are on April 21, with seven Democratic candidates and two Republicans (including Robin Ficker). The general is on May 19. Help the Democratic candidate in the County Council District 4 Special Election. For more info go to http://sites.google.com/site/boovols or contact Jon Randall (jrandall39@comcast.net or 301-588-5304) Kismet for Kids is a fun event for the DC professional community that allows you to network and connect with business, sports, political, and cultural luminaries AND help orphans and foster kids find their forever families. http://www.kidsave.org. June 11, Thursday, 6:30-11pm, Navy Heritage Museum. Tickets are: $75 for 1, $130 for 2, $180 for 3, $250 for 5. For more information about the event as well as volunteer and sponsorship opportunities please contact Margarita Rozenfeld at: margarita@inciteinternational.com.
Olmert: Israel must return to 1967 borders
(Haaretz)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1036118.html
By Shahar Ilan and Nadav Shragai
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took advantage of yesterday's special Knesset marking the 13th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin to call for territorial withdrawals in all disputed areas and to denounce violence on the part of Jewish settlers. "We must give up Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem and return to the core of the territory that is the State of Israel prior to 1967, with minor corrections dictated by the reality created since then," he said.
"Many Israelis viciously beat up Palestinians seeking to harvest olives as they have for centuries, and there is no end [to it]. Young Israelis, smitten by messianic dreams, hit our soldiers, breaking their bones and threatening their lives, and no one stops them," Olmert said. "I will not permit this to continue," he promised. Olmert also said that, "Every government will need to tell the truth, which unfortunately will require us to tear out many parts of the homeland in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights." Addressing the settlers, he said: "You, too, will have do carry out a moral reckoning and reach a decision." The National Union-National Religious Party Knesset whip Uri Ariel and fellow party MK Aryeh Eldad left the plenum in protest. "We cannot tolerate the fact that a failed prime minister, who is accused of corruption, uses the little free time he has left between police interviews to call for the destruction of the Jewish settlement enterprise in Israel," Eldad said. Likud whip Gideon Sa'ar accused Olmert of "cynically exploiting a state ceremony for a political speech in the spirit of the extreme left." Three hours earlier, Foreign Minister and Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni told a meeting of party MKs that "the murder of a prime minister in Israel must not be a subject of political disputes. [Rabin] was the prime minister of us all." Yesterday was the last day of deliberations in the Knesset plenum before the election hiatus. Party whips postponed the dissolution of the Knesset session by a few days in order to hold the Rabin memorial. The denunciation of attacks by Jewish settlers on Israel Defense Forces soldiers and pointed criticism of the media for conducting interviews with Rabin's killer, Yigal Amir, dominated yesterday's Knesset deliberations. "We cannot tolerate the calls being heard today to hurt the prime minister or IDF soldiers. We will take immediate action against lawbreakers and inciters," opposition leader and Likud Chairman MK Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset. Knesset Speaker MK Dalia Itzik (Labor) said she was astonished by the competition between the television networks over broadcasting the interview with Amir. "The name of the despicable murderer must not be mentioned among us," Itzik said. "This is not an issue of freedom of expression, rather it's an attempt by the murderer to win legitimacy. Let him rot in prison, don't give him a stage, throw him into the garbage pail of history." In large measure Olmert's Knesset speech yesterday echoed his remarks at the state memorial for Rabin earlier in the day at Jerusalem's Mt. Herzl, where Rabin is buried. He called for giving up Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and returning to the 1967 borders, with slight amendments. "We have no choice but to give up, with great torment, parts of our homeland of which we dreamed for generations of yearning and prayers," Olmert said. "For a generation an increasingly sharp disagreement has been raging in Israel over what should be here. Since the murder the dispute has only become fiercer. "Rabin was not thrilled about the decision, he was tormented before Oslo, he hesitated about the agreement and was filled with doubt even after making a decision - not out of illusions or false hopes - but rather he decided to go in a direction that more and more people today are willing to accept," Olmert said. President Shimon Peres addressed recent settler violence in his remarks at Mt. Herzl. "There is a small minority of reckless, unrestrained people who boldly defy the state's authority, attack Palestinians just for being Palestinian and challenge the law-enforcement mechanisms that, among others, protect them, too. "We must isolate and expel this violent and dangerous minority," Peres added, "and we mustn't be silent in the face of their incitement. We cannot tolerate the acts of vandalism and violence. It is as though they are a state within a state. It is the responsibility of the state to carry out justice without fear - the honor of Israel and the strength of its democracy and lawfulness depends on it."
There are no words with which to express the profound. In spite of knowing that we were marching into an historic event -- in spite of talking about the impact and importance of the moment -- nothing prepared me for the incredible depth of emotion, the pride in my country, the knowledge that others besides myself were ready and willing to come forward to create change, the thankfulness that a higher power/profidence/fate brought us a leader I could dream about but never imagined I would see.
I look back at the process -- my part in the process -- my very, small moment. The chance that I walked in the same places, experienced similar events, and even knew people who touched his life. WOW!
I wish I could have been there to see it in person! I wish I could have had one more walk with history and I hope that there will be more chances in the future.
I do know that what I witnessed on my television screen this evening was a magical, moment with extreme importance for the world -- a moment that transcends history. We have all been blessed with this moment and will be blessed. I pray for the continued safety of our next president and to help him as he prepares to lead us.
Yes, we did. Yes, we can.
After the polls close tonight, here's the next step: Grow The Hope <http://www.growthehope.org>
For so many of us the Obama campaign has inspired us to hope for a better future and engage in the political process to make change possible. We know that something special is happening in this campaign. We feel it. We experience it personally and share this profound and moving feeling with others.
We celebrate this special moment and continue our work to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States. The final day of this historic campaign is crucial to our success. We will canvass, phone bank, and organize until the polls close. While we keep focused on the prize - electing a smart and moral man as the next president of the United States, we also feel moved to do what we can to nurture the hope that has built within this campaign and within many of us. Thus we begin the process of building Grow The Hope - a people's movement for progressive social change. We seek to capture the spark of creativity and hope that has come alive during this campaign. If you are interested, please join us. Explore the brief introductory website at: http://www.growthehope.org and sign up by giving us your contact information. As this movement unfolds we will reach out to you.
Those of us working on Grow The Hope are so busy with the campaign that we don't yet have complete answers about what's next. We have not yet determined our organizational structure, programmatic initiatives, or funding options. If you get involved now, you can help shape the future direction of this emerging movement. At this point, we urge all those interested to take one minute to sign up, spread the word, and get back to working on the campaign! Let's do all we can this final crucial day of the campaign to make sure that we can celebrate on November 4th. Then on November 5th, let's take a day of well deserved rest. On November 6th, let's be back in touch to see how we might join together and Grow the Hope.
Yes We Can!Brian
Brian CorrOrganizer, Progresive Massachusetts for Barack Obamahttp://my.barackobama.com/page/group/ProgressiveMassachusettsforBarackObamaBCorr@CambridgeConsultingServices.com -----------Grow the Hope is not affiliated with Obama For America.
Even non-political organizations in civil society are vital for democracy. This is because they build social capital, trust and shared values, which are transferred into the political sphere and help to hold society together, facilitating an understanding of the interconnectedness of society and interests within it. In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and non material, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks.
The same concept can be used for all family, to develop well. Multifamily groups in local community can share personal experiences, make impact into decisions and changes, education and information. Multi -way communication between the home and family group can aid them in problem solving, and finding solutions.Family lifetime market for free. A mutual help support group is fully organized and managed by its members, volunteers. We can find a way how to open, and share a talents that pupil have, for better life, to respect each other, take responsibility, help each other, and bring our lives in our hands. My family want to be a part of world family village, establishing a growing up world community healing process with Obama as a leader.
Here are examples of how I'm using the "Observation -- feeling -- need -- request" model of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in email messages. The intent is to create a positive dialogue, coming from a place of peace in my heart, and to maintain in myself energy to support Obama. Hope it is of interest
Keep it positive -- keep it flowing. together, yes we can!! -- Clarelynn (Nonviolent Communication Supporters for Obama)
EXAMPLE 1: ENCOURAGING PEOPLE
I've watched with distress and unease recently seeing more and more emails, blogs (even from HQ) giving energy to the opponents by naming and talking about them, encouraging us to "fight back," etc. (OBSERVATION & FEELINGS)
I so support Barack yet feel my own energy to participate dissipating as I see this turn in focus... (NEED & FEELING)
We can frame the debate with energy independence, renewable energy, the environment, Iraq, etc...Can we please do our best to reframe the debate? Focusing on what we SUPPORT? (REQUEST)
EXAMPLE 2:RESPONDING TO A SUPPORTER OF THE OPPONENTS
This morning I was stunned to see the response from "ManagingPartner@project76.org", a member of this list, copied below. His 2-word note was in response to "re-focusing on what we want". (OBSERVATION) Mr. Cooper, I'm confused (FEELING) as to why you choose this response on a pro-Obama board. Would you be willing to provide the clarity I'm needing (NEED) and share what your intention was? (REQUEST)
Yep, I was there. I didn't plan to be, I didn't think I'd be, but I was. And man, was I surprised when I got there. A lady who I had never met had won a trip and then suddenly I was there, sent on her behalf. I knew I had stumbled into a miracle, with airfare and a hotel room, but beyond that - I was totally clueless. It fell in my lap, I only had a week to prepare, and I went and it was incredible. I went as a representative for the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team, the Obama Blog, Santa Cruz, and Citizens For Change all throughout the world. I felt change and momentum and hope in the air every single day I was there. It would be my first time to see Barack speak in person. And many other legends of American politics.....
The biggest surprise, of course, was my email from MaryanneAZ the week before - telling me that she had won this all-expense paid trip to the DNC through the organization, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and she wanted to transer it to me. Read this: Barack Obama | Joe Ruwe's Blog: MaryanneAZ That was the heart attack, fall-down, pass-out moment of the whole week. She had very little info for me, very few details, but it surely did not matter to me. Just get me to Denver and I'll see what I can do. Amazingly, the DCCC itself had virtually no information for me except my travel/lodging reservations. No problem. I felt a sudden and painful realization that I was totally underinformed when representing this historic democratic mechanism of nominating a President. I couldn't really even remember exactly what went on in a national convention. Speeches, confetti, a good band if you're lucky. ?Hmmmm... Woefully inadquate for a few moments, but it passed.
However - my world was about to be rocked.
I left for Denver Monday morning, scheduled to meet my DCCC contact at 5 pm at the downtown Hyatt Regency but due to flight delays in the beautiful, sweltering town of Phoenix AZ, I was late arriving. This was a nervous moment for me, since my 5 pm meeting would organize and essentially dictate the rest of my week. So, in the back of my mind, I started thinking - if I missed this meeting, which it looked like I would, the whole week would be reduced to mayhem and chaos. I had no DCCC contact info, no cell numbers, no nothing - just the adress and Mapquest of where to go to get to the Hyatt Regency. I am an idiot.
Needless to say, I missed the meeting. My plane had been too late for me to even have a chance. I found out later that I missed getting my credentials for the first night of the Convention. I missed getting into the Pepsi Center to see Michelle Obama and Teddy Kennedy, two historic and inspired speeches to say the least. We learned only that afternoon that Kennedy had made it to Denver and would be appearing onstage. Travelling by air sucks nowadays, that's all that can be said. You have to pay extra now to have the plane and its crew actually take your luggage with you on your trip. I paid 2 dollars for the very smallest bottle of water from a friendly flight attendant who seemed as embarassed as I was startled. A bottle of sunscreen was confiscated. I took off my flip-flops and walked through the X-ray barefoot, remembering travels by plane in my 20's with long hair and a huge beard. Official airline interactions always had suspicious and nervewracking undertones in the past, and my strange airline paranoia of yesteryear had subsided. As I watched the clock tick by that day, watched my flights delayed, my shuttle connections delayed - the eery sense of fear and loathing in a large, western city crept up on me, I fought to remain calm and hopeful. It was however, much like most things we worry about - no problem. Much greater things were in store.
As I ambled through the crowds in downtown, seeking strong drink to quench my thirst and soothe my nerves - I called meta, who had left me her cell phone number in case I made it to Denver. Well, I'm glad I missed my 5 pm meeting because I GOT TO MEET META!! Yes, it's true. And I can tell you that she is somehow even cooler and more amazing in person than she is on the blog. Incredible! We made our way to an overcrowed and overpriced, noisy joint and sat down outside to compare notes, talk about the blog and introduce ourselves. I skipped strong beverage in favor of a meal and a great meeting of the minds. With one eye on the convention that was visible on all the TVs around, we had a @#$%ing excellent few hours - eating drinking and being merry. We got to see Teddy on screen and shared the magic moment from Marlowe's - a classy little ripoff of a joint. Cheers meta! All my troubles from the previous hours vanished, all the dust from the trail from Santa Cruz to Denver somehow whisked away..... Ahh, the irony of worry! Everything always works out the way it should.
Among many other intriguing things, meta and I also agreed that despite a preponderance of sinister and depressing scandals and failures of the Bush administrations and the probable long-term, negative impact on the world because of these scoundrels - there was an underlying sense of seriousness, urgency and hope all throughout the town and quite possibly the whole country. People seem to be feeling that there is something going on in this country behind Obama. People are getting involved again. People are waking up. People are uniting and mobilizing. We realize that unless we stay engaged in our government, it can become hijacked and grotesquely distorted. 2008 will be a pivotal and crucial year for our great country. I gave meta an extra helping of Joe Ruwe Rants against the Machine for old times sake. I think Dick Cheney's name came up once or twice....
Hours later we parted, and I made it back to my Days Inn on the light rail and called it a night. Now, this needs to be a whole side-story on its own, because my Days Inn could not possibly have been any further away from Denver or the Downtown area and even remotely been still considered part of the Convention. We're talking a 10 to 15 minute walk to the light rail station, a 20,25-minute light rail to Downtown, and then footing it to reach the Hyatt or wherever else I needed to go. But Denver was packed to the gills, and I understood and I was happy to be there. In shock still, actually. Comical though, how many miles I walked and tickets I bought. Excellent light rail system in Denver, however. Clean city, on the outside at least.
The D.I. was not a bad little place - a free hotel is always a refreshing delight, so I hunkered down and watched CNN rebroadcast of the night's highlights, Michelle and Teddy's speeches. As I drifted off to la-la land, my wife called and told me that the DCCC had frantically been trying to reach me, had left multiple messages on my home phone instead of my cell phone (?) and were eager to meet me in the morning. Aha! Great news! Directions were given, instructions relayed, and critical cell phone numbers were recorded. Several days too late, but terrific news anyway. A great night had just gotten greater, and the next day promised to be even more incredible than this first Monday had been. I drifted off quickly with a smile on my face and an eageness to sleep through the night for only about the third time since my boy Desmond was born in December. Ah - the thrill of it all!
First day a success by almost all accounts. Though I had missed my meeting, I had met meta, Teddy had made it to the Convention and even delivered a speech(!), and although I missed Michelles speech, I would have opportunity to see her speak again... Plus, meta had told me that the Streak was still alive.
Incredibly, Day One was, highlighted by meeting up with the legendary meta - a great start to the week. Each day would get increasingly and exponentially more inspiring, moving and historic, as I would soon find out.
I thanked my lucky stars (MaryanneAZ) and slept like a rock for 6 hours. When you have an 8 month-old and a 3-year old, sleeping 6 hours is like hibernating for the winter.
I new that Denver and the Democratic Party hadn't even seen the beginning of Joe Ruwe yet.
Stay tuned for Day 2 and more highlights from Denver......
(CNN) -- Giving what could be the most important speech of his political career, Sen. Barack Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at a packed stadium in Denver, Colorado.
More than 80,000 people filled Denver's Invesco Field to hear Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech.
The senator from Illinois on Thursday night laid out his road map for improving the U.S. economy and heralding the country into an era of change.
"The change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington," he told supporters at Invesco Field at the Democratic National Convention. "Change happens because the American people demand it -- because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time."
iReporters across the country watched Obama's speech on television, and many said his address won their vote.
"As of August 28, 2008, I am officially voting for Barack Obama," Melody Munroe of Norfolk, Virginia, wrote on iReport.com.
Munroe described herself as "a very harsh critic of Obama's." She voted for a Republican candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, during the presidential primaries, saying she never considered supporting Obama in the election.
"After I got past all the rumors about him ... I was finally able to really look into the man he really is," she said.
Munroe said many of the speeches during the first three nights of the Democratic convention left her unimpressed, but she said Obama's address inspired her.
"I was moved," Munroe said. "For the first time I actually felt like there was some hope at the end of the tunnel."
As a military spouse, Munroe said she was impressed with Obama's plans for improving health care for veterans.
"I was tired of just taking what the Republican Party kept saying at face value," she said. "Obama is our only hope for change."
Janie Lambert of Knoxville, Tennessee, who had backed Obama's former Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, said, "He won me over."
She added, "It was very emotional. I never thought I would feel this way after hearing him speak."
Lambert, who voted for President Bush in 2000 and 2004, said she votes for the candidate she feels is the best choice, not based on the political party.
Thursday's speech convinced her to vote for Obama, she said. "I have at long last decided to support this man for president," she said.
Keith Cooper of Tampa, Florida, voted for Clinton in the primaries, pointing to her experience in the Senate and as first lady.
Cooper, a longtime Democrat, said Obama's address moved him "to tears of joy."
He described the speech as a "powerful, inspirational and informative discourse of hope."
Cooper also said he was happy with Obama's choice of Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his running mate. He said that Biden, who's been in the Senate more than 30 years, will have "experience, filling in places where Barack is learning."
Obama offers "fresh ideas, his ability to unite the parties and his charisma," Cooper said.
Mary Kopczknski joined a crowd Thursday night in New York's Times Square to watch Obama's speech. A former supporter of Clinton's, Kopczynski said she had considered voting for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain in the general election.
Kopcynski said she was looking for Obama to lay out specific plans during his acceptance speech.
"Ironically, what I found most impressive was the loftiness of his speech," she said. "It really sealed the deal that we do need to have change right now and that he is the better person than John McCain."
Like Kopcynski, former Clinton supporter Vincent Yau of Knoxville, Tennessee, said he was hoping for substance in Obama's speech.
Yau said he was impressed by Obama's energy plans. During the speech, Obama laid out a specific promise to invest $150 billion over a decade in "affordable, renewable sources of energy."
"I would liken the 10-year term to what John Kennedy said when he wanted to put a man on the moon," Yau said.
iReporter Caroline, who declined to give her last name, said she worried that Obama on Thursday night "wasn't going to be able to top himself."
Caroline, a staunch Clinton supporter, posted glowing reviews of the former first lady's convention speech Tuesday and former President Clinton's speech the following night to iReport.com.
"I didn't think [Obama] could top Hillary or Bill or even himself for that matter," she wrote. "But he did."
Caroline, who lives in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, said she was pleased Obama challenged McCain and laid out his vision for the nation.
"Never in my life have I been more on a mission to get someone elected to the presidency," said Caroline, 24.
"He is just history," she said. "This speech is going to be something that my future children study in school and ask me what it was like to be alive when Barack Obama was president."
Do not forget about Iraq. Though it is becoming difficult to find any stories anymore about the two wars we are still mired in, it's on my mind every day. The Olympics have distracted us. The Presidential race has distracted us. The Russian war in Georgia has distracted us. The anthrax hoax has distracted us. The economy has distracted us.
Do not be distracted.
This country should be demanding an end to this war at the top of their lungs. It has proven to be based on lies, document forgeries and other sinister foundations. We are not "winning", whatever that means, and the "surge" did not work. In fact, now that troops are slowly leaving, combat deaths and attacks are going back up. Well, DUH!!!??!!
What did we think was going to happen? Iraqi politics is a corrupt mess. Our mission there is murky and questionable. Iraq still has nothing to do with the hoax called the "war on terror." We still have not found Osama bin Laden or brought anyone to justice in connection to the crimes of 9/11. There is growing consensus among experts around the globe that bin Laden is probably dead and most likely was NOT behind the 9/11 attacks.
Yet we slog along in Iraq, losing more good people every day. All for nothing. Hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars being flushed down the toilet. Innocent people being killed, families destroyed, and chaos raining down all over the country. Still no proper water and electricity in Iraq. I know, unbelievable. All I can do is shake my head.
I wish the war was still on everyones mind like it is mine. If the war was on the front pages, if the names of those killed were on the nightly news each night, if pictures of flag-draped coffins rolling home were everywhere, perhaps there would be a much greater public outcry. And McCain and the GOP would lose in a landslide in November.
I say again, do not be distracted. We were fools to invade and occupy that country. We will eventually be held accountable, in one way or another. We have helped make the world considerably less safe. We have created a generation of new enemies who hate us more than ever. And we have saddled our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a debt that they might not be able to ever repay.
Stay focused. Stay angry. Keep pushing. Do not let the war mongers off the hook.
Not this time.
Already almost totally faded from headline or memory, the recent "conviction" of Salim Hamdan, the accused driver for Osama bin Laden, is further proof to many that the "war on terror" is a sham.
The US government created this entirely new system. It was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The lazy and corrupt Congress wrapped it up in new shiny wrapping and handed it back to the White House and the Pentagon and off they went.
The US government created it's own rules, allowing heresay evidence, evidence procured through torture, and other legal trickery that would never be allowed in civilian or military court.
The US government took 7 years to build it's flimsy case, that this man had anything to do with 9/11 or the "war on terror," which the independent panel of jurists quickly rebuffed.
The US government created all the rules, picked the venue, made things up as they went, sought 30 years, and Hamdan's sentence will be up in 6 months.
What happened? Why, after the worst attacks ever on US soil, an exhaustive, exspensive, and wide-sweeping assault on "terror," can we only prosecute bin Laden's driver? Where are the others? Where is our justice?
We've waited 7 horrendous years only to send one low-level criminal to 6 more months of prison?
Something, like many other things, doesn't smell right.
Is bin Laden's chef next?
We have not seen justice yet for the attacks of 9/11. We have made ourselves and the world much less safe. We have not even answered the numerous, mind-boggling mysteries of 9/11 itself!
Yet the defense industry is booming. Warships, fighter jets, submarines, and all the accompanying missiles and guns are being constructed at record pace. How do we fight terrorism with these things? Seemingly random countries are being invaded and occupied indefinitely. People are being tortured, innocent people are being imprisoned indefinitely without charge, and many, many thousands of innocent people are being needlessly killed.
And our grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will be paying for it all.
Damn. Getting mad all over again. Here's some articles that explain it better than I can.
Salim Hamdan’s Sentence Signals the End of Guantanamo - CommonDreams.org
and
Analysis: Bin Laden driver Salim Hamdan trial a disaster for George Bush - Times Onlineand
The Forged Iraqi Letter: What Just Happened? - CommonDreams.org
or
Andy Worthington: Folly and Injustice: Salim Hamdan's Guantanamo Trialor
Senate Report's New Findings on Pre-War Deception | Newsweek Voices - Terror Watch | Newsweek.com
Educate yourself. Ask questions.
Yes we can.
Who are we?
by Dorothy in Rural MO
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/dorothy75/gG5z3z
Who the hell ARE we? What have we become? What have we allowed this nation to become? Originally American companies, who now give no allegiance to ANY nation, but have bought our Congress and our military off, have become who we are abroad - and that is frightening...
This week, I have listened to a variety of reports, none boding well for the US...
That Trent Lott, and crew, are attempting to BLOCK Ecuador's lawsuit to force Chevron to clean up the god-awful environmental disaster that they left behind..
That the Congress EXEMPTED Chevron from trade sanctions on companies doing business in Burma, thus supporting, directly or indirectly, another military dictatorship..
That Congress basically bailed out Freddie Mac to prevent China from chucking the dollar;
That the top 1/2 of 1% now own some 22% of the nation's wealth, while the BOTTOM 90% only own 4%- so where's the other 72%? (I suspect it is NOT in the US)
That more Americans are 'food insecure' (read one paycheck from hungry) while commodities speculators are 'making a killing' - god, I HATE that phrase... while millions around the world are facing outright starvation - not always because it's not available but because it's overpriced...
AND that corporate America is on the warpath, frightening their employees with dire tales of what will happen if Obama gets elected (but they're NOT trying to influence the vote) - PUH-LEEZE....
I've read Kinzer's OVERTHROWN; I've read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man; I've read FREE LUNCH; I've even read some of Milton and Thomas Friedman's nightmare economics theories - and they DID give us nightmares, not to mention, Pinochet and crew - oh, boy, I really want to repeat THAT horror!
We have military bases in over 130 countries - why? To protect corporate profits? That is not the way to win friends... it is the road to exploitation and oppression. And we wonder why the world hates our government? DUH...
We have been too willing to sell our military to protect the profits of companies that have left us high and dry, that have moved jobs to the cheapest labor market, that have 'externalized' their filth onto indigenous populations here and elsewhere; that don't pay taxes here; that will sell us out in a heartbeat on any excuse and then blame US.
How do we repair the damage our 'free trade' reign of terror has wrought on the poorest and most vulnerable across the world? How do we help the democratic movements that we have helped quash in the name of trade? How do we rebuild sustainable alliances that are actually based on MUTUAL respect and benefit? How do we become something OTHER THAN the biggest bully on the block?
Until Obama came along, I was pretty convinced that the US had BECOME "the evil empire". While he is certainly a statesman, and will not make everyone happy all the time, at least the tenor and timbre of his language says that we must, once again, become good, responsible and responsive world citizens. That if we have been blessed with more, we must be more responsible for helping those with less - because we MADE our more on their less... Good world citizens... what a concept.
