Jim Wallis, Founder of Sojourner Magazine

Jim Wallis writes a thought-provoking article about the “end” of the Iraq War entitled, It’s Finally Over – and it was Wrong.”

It made me think about the first time I was arrested for direct action and civil disobedience in protest of the military invasion and occupation of Iraq four years ago. The action was planned and promoted in large measure by the Sojourner’s community. I kept the cuffs that restrained me that cold night so that I can show my sons that sometimes living with convictions will cost you something.

But Wallis’ article on Iraq also pricked something else in me. It made me think of the ever-expanding U.S. military action now under President Obama. The same convictions that catapulted me to the White House in protest four years ago are the same ones that critique this president. Obama is not above critique and is NOT greater than the foundational spiritual tenets that I embrace as a follower of Jesus. Here is the comment that bubbled up from my soul onto Wallis’ website in response to his article:

Great article, Jim.

I marched with you and others during the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in March 2007.

Reading how you rightly described the distortions and lies that justified war in Iraq under Bush made me think of the lies spewed to justify military action in Libya, Uganda, and other parts of the world under Obama.

I didn’t march in 2007 against a republican president. I marched because I embrace the ethic of the Prince of Peace and am co-laboring with others to experience the Beloved Community. With the American military empire spreading now under a democratic president; I believe it’s time for another gathering and mobilization of people of Faith.

To march when Bush calls for war and withhold from marching when Obama expands war across the world threatens our credibility as people whose “citizenship is in Heaven.” It’s easy to stand for conviction when it’ll be embraced and applauded (as it was under Bush). It takes a greater level of resolve to act on convictions when it won’t be popular and will cost us something.

The Church is in danger of losing its voice.

Time to Blow the Trumpet,

Pastor Heber Brown, III
Baltimore, MD

One of the most poignant comments captured for me from that day didn’t come from anyone on the stage. It actually came from Brenda Pridgen. Here’s the clip from The Baltimore Sun:

Brenda Pridgen, a 59-year-old Baltimore resident, said she is not particularly enthusiastic about O’Malley but came to the Obama rally to “restore my understanding that the whole country has not gone crazy.” She said she plans to vote for O’Malley reluctantly. “When you have two devils to choose from, you might as well pick the one who is more progressive,” Pridgen said.

When someone shows up to an event organized in your honor with the first president of color there championing your cause and onlookers who are holding your signs still call you a “devil”, you’ve got to believe that your campaign is in trouble with this demographic. The sentiment of Pridgen’s words can be heard all over the city and some are now openly questioning the futility of voting for either candidate. The voting strategy of supporting the “lesser of two evils” just has not worked for Baltimore’s Black community. We know that now.

We also now know that three separate reports have revealed that Baltimore does NOT need new prisons and/or that an adjustment of policies is preferred over an exorbitant capital budget project that will cost the state $104 Million. (THREE REPORTS: Just Kids Partnership, Justice Policy Institute, National Council on Crime & Delinquency) We need new policies to address the issues of over-crowding, treatment, diversion programs, and justice.

Despite this, Governor O’Malley refuses to open his eyes to the recommendations of the reports and refuses to open his ears to objections of the Black Community – the same community that has the power to deny him a return trip Maryland’s State House.

The question at this juncture, however, is what will the Black Community do. Will we allow our voices to be ignored or will we make demands that will determine the future of our community.

Only time and our children will tell. In the meantime…..

“BLACK PEOPLE WHAT YA’LL GOIN DO?!”

From l to r: Nancy Kopp (Treasurer), Martin O'Malley (Governor), & Peter Franchot (Comptroller)

The Maryland State Board of Public Works is the legislative body which will ultimately decide either to sign or dismiss contracts to continue with planning and construction of another youth jail in East Baltimore. The Board is made up of State Treasurer, Nancy Kopp, State Comptroller, Peter Franchot, and of course Governor Martin O’Malley.

According to its website, “the Board of Public Works ensures that significant State expenditures are necessary and appropriate, fiscally responsible, fair, and lawful. In reviewing and approving capital projects, procurement contracts, and the acquisition, use, and transfer of State assets, the Board assures Marylanders that executive decisions are made responsibly and responsively.”

We’ll see how responsive the Board is to the desires of the people of Baltimore City and specifically the city’s Black community. As I and many others have been canvassing the community, it’s become clear that an overwhelming majority of city residents disagree with O’Malley’s $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail proposal for East Baltimore. Ask people what this money can be used for and you’ll hear them speak of support for mentoring programs, after school opportunities, youth jobs, and new school construction. All wonderful ideas which should be further explored and supported.

But the question is will Governor Martin O’Malley listen to the people? He is the major influencer on the Board of Public Works. Peter Franchot has already out right said as much when he said that he will follow the lead of the Governor on this issue – which I hope he reconsiders because the Governor is dodging the issue. He doesn’t want to talk about it until after the November 2nd election.

He’s running to Black churches like Morningstar Baptist Church in Catonsville (He was there this past Sunday) and attending Black functions in hopes to get the Black vote without respecting the Black voice. As the former mayor of Baltimore City, he’s used to Black folks pulling the lever and voting for him without expecting or demanding anything in return.

Well, this time things are different. The Black Community is waking up to the fact that to an overwhelming degree, Black politicians – those who are supposed to accurately advocate our interest – are severely compromised. Their allegiance is to the power structure and not to their community. We lift them up to represent our interest and they turn their backs on us.

It’s time to do this one ourselves. People from all walks of life are contacting Governor O’Malley to let him know that they are YOUTH JUSTICE VOTERS. That means that our support of O’Malley on voting day is contingent upon his decision on this Youth Jail. If he makes the decision to publicly scrap his plans to build a $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail in East Baltimore, he’ll get our support. However, if he continues to ignore us on this issue, we will ignore him when we go to vote. Plain as that.

The Black Community and our true allies have leverage now. O’Malley is so nervous about his so-called “rematch” against former Governor, Robert Ehrlich, that he’s bringing in the president this Thursday to drum up more support in the Black community. Mr. Obama, O’Malley, and others will hold this event at Bowie State University.

The heat is on, but we must turn it up even higher. Let’s not fall for the okey doke this year!

To contact Governor O’Malley and challenge him on his $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail, please call 1 (800) 811-8336.

Erez Crossing at the Gaza Strip

What if a military force came to your neighborhood built walls all around your block and refused to allow you to go and come as you please. How would you feel about that? What if they decided to attack your walled-in neighborhood from the sky and sent troops in to kill people too. How would you feel?

Those are two of the questions that I had to wrestle with while standing at the walls of one of the world’s biggest prisons. It’s called the Gaza Strip and has 1.5 million Palestinians as its prisoners. In the name of security, the Israeli Government decides who comes and who goes. It decides what is allowed in and what is not.

This is not something that I just heard about – I’ve seen the Gaza Strip with my own eyes. It was almost unbelievable to think that this could be happening in our world today. We claim to be so progressive as a global community. When certain natural tragedies strike, there is often quick and worldwide response. But this day, I stood at the walls of an unnatural tragedy – a government sponsored, world “leader” endorsed tragedy. 1.5 million Palestines in the largest open air prison on earth!

Our group got off the bus at the Erez Crossing which is a tightly controlled entry/exit point for the Gaza Strip. Only Palestinians with Israeli issued ID cards are allowed to enter and leave and even then there’s no guarantee. The guards at the gates saw us coming and began to gather – noticeably irritated by our presence. Some Palestinian taxi drivers were sitting nearby and some of us went to speak with them. Mustering up more courage, some others of our group walked right up to the gate to speak with the “security” officials and demand entry.

There were people locked up behind those walls. The world’s governments know it. President Obama knows it. But they won’t do anything of substance about it. Forget everything you hear them say. They are all lying and should be tried – all of these “world leaders” for crimes against humanity. You may read that and say I’m being harsh, but if your eyes had seen what my eyes saw this day, you would completely understand. To collectively punish and imprison human beings – HUMAN BEINGS! – behind “security” walls and restrict the flow of food, fuel, medicine,etc. is a crime. History will look back in shame at a world community that allowed this to happen.

In all of my years I’ve never watched a documentary that had more of an immediate and intimate impact than Food Inc. It shares a perspective of the food system in the United States. A perspective that tells the story of what happens when major corporations dictate how food is grown, delivered, sold, stored, and eaten in this country. It’s not just about food, but it’s about animals and how they’re treated. It’s about fruits and vegetables and how they’re genetically modified. It’s about farmers and how they are manipulated. And ultimately, it’s about you and me.

And this is a horror story ladies and gentleman.

I’ve been careful to say that Food Inc. provides a “perspective.” I’m sensitive to the possibility that there are other angles on the Food System that aren’t as grim. Nonetheless, the perspective given by this documentary is provocative enough to make anyone who views it to think twice about what they are buying off the shelves and putting in their bodies.

Before the movie was even over, I made the subconscious decision to declare a personal fast from meat. This wasn’t a planned thing. Nor did I have to have an internal debate or negotiation with my stomach. What I saw in this film had me steer clear from meat for more than a week! It drove my wife a little crazy, but my diet during that time consisted of basically peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and waffles. Now that the shock has worn off, I am piecing together a realistic dietary plan for me that has impact on my family as well.

While I generally get claustrophobic when it comes to adopting labels to describe myself; I heard a term last week that seemed to settle right with me: flexitarian. I’m not a vegetarian and definitely not a vegan, but as a “flexitarian” I eat meat from time to time. The difference for me now is I want to know where the meat came from and how it was produced before I consume it. (Hence the visits to Farmer’s Markets, Halal Grocers, and Whole Foods.)

Saying all of that, I refuse to pull out my big, judgmental stick or the rod of self-righteousness in order to beat people over the head about their diet and participation in an unjust food system. It is very clear to me that many in this country have been backed into the proverbial corner and their economic exploitation forces them to buy the cheapest and most available food within reach. It is reality in this country that the most unhealthy food is the most affordable and the healthier foods are more expensive. So as it says in the movie – economic status is one of the greatest predictors of personal and community health. Many times, the poorer you are the more unhealthy you are.

So while First Lady Michelle Obama should be commended for her Let’s Move Campaign against childhood obesity; unless she’s willing to speak truth to power to Big Agribusiness that is producing the food that’s making us fat and unhealthy than her efforts will fall woefully short. This isn’t just about personal lifestyle choices. It’s also about the government-backed, corporate controlled food production assembly line that’s killing us not so softly.

The movie helps unveil not only the complexity of this issue, but also the interrelated nature of it. I don’t believe there are any simple or quick fixes, but with courage, innovation, creativity, and political will (“political” in the sense of the body politic, the proletariat – not necessarily the elected officials); viable alternatives can be created that pave the way for a more just, healthy, spiritual, and environmentally harmonious food system in this country.

I highly recommend Food Inc.

Christians around the world began Holy Week yesterday by commemorating Palm Sunday – a day which marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. During his sojourn down from the Mount of Olives into the city, the scriptures record that he stopped and wept over Jerusalem saying in part, “If you, even you, had only known the things that make for peace.” [source]

It is a sorrowful prayer that applies to the United States of America as well. For this nation does not seem to know the things that make for peace. As Christians celebrated the unauthorized parade of the Prince of Peace on Palm Sunday; President Obama was in Afghanistan touting the feats of war. It was a stark picture which juxtaposed the priorities of the Kingdoms of this world with the Kingdom of God. Just as they did in scripture, the two kingdoms collided on Palm Sunday.

What a tragic irony and disheartening re-run of prophetic proportions. Indeed, there is no new thing under the sun.

Last Thursday, I was a guest on the Marc Steiner Show (WEAA-Baltimore) talking politics and specifically giving reaction to the President’s first State of the Union Address.

Overall, I think the President gave an ok speech, but it’s what I expect from him at this point. What I wasn’t ok with at all was the President’s proposal to freeze non-military government spending in an effort to address the national deficit. That will mean in essence that funding for schools, libraries, roads, and other important domestic initiatives will be halted while money for the nation’s ever-growing military machine will continue to flow unabated. In a time when African American unemployment is expected to reach a 25-year high (with Latinos disproportionately impacted as well), I find it ludicrous to continue uncritical funding of the Pentagon which has cost overruns of $296 billion dollars for its largest weapons programs.

I asked the question on the radio and I’ll continue to ask:

Why is it perceived to be forgone social wisdom to continue funding America’s War Machine even in times of economic strain?

Why is the halting of war funding off the table?

Why is money to support domestic initiatives viewed as DISCRETIONARY, while money for war is viewed as MANDATORY?

As CNN Money reports, “the President’s budget will actually call for billions more in spending for defense, diplomacy, and homeland security agencies.”

Both Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader, John Boehner (R-OH) have signaled that military spending should be reviewed for excess and waste as well. Now whether they were just paying lip service to that idea or not only time will tell.

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For a president that attempts to echo Dr. King so much, he certainly must remember that King stated that militarism was one of the triple evils of society along with racism and materialism. Obama is credited with doing so much to excite and ignite progressives and peace activists in this country, but when you get beyond the speeches, you’ll find that many of his policies align with the most disheartening policies of his republican predecessor. Is he identical to Bush? No. But policy-wise, he’s not as far from Bush as many would like to believe.

After nine months in office as President of the United States, President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 9, 2009 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Committee recognized him for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The award, named after Swedish industrialist and inventor, Alfred Nobel, is awarded to those who “have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” [SOURCE]

The award couldn’t have come at a better time for President Obama who has had an interesting week in terms of job performance perception and upcoming decisions regarding the military occupation of Afghanistan.

Saturday Night Live may have signaled a shift in American perception of the 44th President of the United States last weekend with a skit which presented Obama as a president who has accomplished none of the big goals that many feel swept him into office. Questions about whether President Obama over-promised during the campaign and has under-delivered as Commander-in-Chief are now being raised.

In addition, while the Nobel Peace Prize is reserved for those who work toward peaceful aims between nations, the spokesman for the White House announced last week that President Obama is not considering troop withdrawal among the many options being currently set before him by those who would make for war. A decision that comes as the Senate Armed Services Committee has authorized more than $630 billion in funding for the expansion of the United States’ military to no doubt support the ongoing occupation of foreign lands and the spreading of misery the world over.

However, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize just may serve to remind President Obama of the hope he instilled in not only the peoples of the United States, but even in fact the peoples of the world. That hope was founded not in military expansion, not in fearful silence in the face of human rights abuses in the Middle East, and not in expanding the coffers of health insurance companies at the expense of the poor. The hope that helped usher Barack Obama into the White House was founded on “change we could believe in” – a turning away from the wicked ways of war, a reconciliation among people in this country who’ve grown weary with engaging each other with an “I-It” mentality, and a recognition of our responsibility to be in right relationship with our neighbors in the world.

Perhaps the Nobel Peace Prize is a political fork in the road for President Obama. As many express concern that he’s drifting into the dark embrace of old policies with a new melaninized face; perhaps this nobel prize can be a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path clearing his way as the forces of spiritual wickedness in high places hovers near.

source: www.electronicintifada.net

The most direct and impassioned message on the occupation of the Palestinian people and the complicity of the U.S. Administration in light of that occupation came from Ali Abunimah at the Sabeel Conference in Washington, DC last week. Ali is a Palestinian political activist and co-founder of Electronic Intifada, a online forum on Palestine-Israel.

Ali chronicled the speeches and policy moves of President Barack Obama toward issues of the Middle East. Disputing those who would say that we need to give Obama time to address the Middle East conflict and that it’s too soon to see where he stands; Ali aptly chronicles what candidate and President Obama has already said in regard to the issue implying that it’s time for activists to just listen and believe him.

One of the latest clear indicators of President Obama’s stance against justice and peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict comes with his Administration’s decision to “bury” the Goldstone Report. (WARNING! It’s 575 pages! Here’s a 1-page summary.) Instead of pursuing a vote on the report by the UN Human Rights Council, the U.S., Israel, and strangely enough, the Palestinian Authority blocked movement on the report until March 2010.

Ali reminds us that President Barack Obama is not deliberating on the Middle East issue. He’s already decided to stand with the Israeli Government and its apartheid aims. The Palestinian people are under siege because of their ethnicity and the first Black President of the United States is standing by and allowing it. Now ain’t that something.

Listen to this excerpt of Ali Abunimah’s presentation at the Sabeel Conference in Washington, DC.