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JAMES' PERSONAL WRITINGS: SLOVING
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3.27.2010

America is in Deadly Peril. If you value democracy, and decency, read this.

America is in Deadly Peril.  If you value democracy, and decency, read this. 


THIRTY ONE GROUPS PROTEST FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF GAZA AT WALDORF 2010


"You'll know the True Peace Lovers. They're Paying the Price for Peace." SL

"You'll know the True Peace Lovers.  
They're Paying the Price for Peace.
They're Redeeming Peace with their Lives.
They're Ransoming Peace with their Lives."  SL

"I'm not supposed to say, but thanks for what you are yelling," the Cap. Hill Policewoman whispered to me.

"I'm not supposed to say, but thanks for what you are yelling," 
the Cap. Hill Policewoman whispered to me.

Last Saturday I went to Capitol Hill where DNC / BarackObama.com 
is, intending to phone bank for Health Care Reform Passage.  But
then I encountered the GOP angry mob. I was horrified.  It was
savage, disgusting.  And there was nothing but the rabble - no
counter protesters.  I proceeded to DNC to suggest some of us
go the the Hill, but my suggestion was greeted with 'Get out of
here or we'll call the cops.'

I returned to the mob by myself.  "Kill the bill, Kill the bill...." They
shouted at each congress person that passed. God / Universal Love
inspired me - "Kill the UnInsured, Kill the Uninsured," I'd scream 
at the same congressmen.   Each time it would quite the crowd
noticeably.  They couldn't figure out whether I was with them
or against them.   They overall figured I was with them, I could
tell by their sheepish grins.  This went on for several hours,
till my voice quit.

"I'm not supposed to say, but thanks for what you are yelling," 
the Cap. Hill Policewoman whispered in my ear as she walked
past.  She "got it."

If there is ever a Peace Movement that pays a price, millions
like her will join.

3.26.2010

"The deadly mistake of my generation: Religious Devotion to Self, not Others." SL

"The deadly mistake of my generation:
Religious Devotion to Self, not to Others."
  SL

"The Right hates the Left cuz they know what "paying the price" is." SL

"The Right hates the Left cuz
they know what 'paying the price' is.
They detest 'lip service,' and resent the 'easy life.' "
  SL

There are few if any police in the park here anymore that don't have
at least a grudging respect and affection for Connie and I. And it ain't
cuz of how we dress, how we look, what we talk about, or how the
vigil looks...; rather in most cases it is DESPITE all that.  They are
folks that put it on the line - and so are we.


"Peace, Life, Joy, Love are found always and only in devotion to the neediest." SL

"Peace, Life, Joy, Love are found always and only 
in devotion to the neediest in Our Family." SL

3.25.2010

St. ArchBishop Oscar Romero - Murdered Yesterday. 'The Violence of Love."

DN! Salvadorans Begin Marking 30th Anniversary of Romero Murder

Archbishop Oscar Romero Quotes

Archbishop Oscar Romero

"We have never preached violence, except the violence of love,which left Christ nailed to a cross, the violence that we musteach do to ourselves, to overcome our selfishness and such cruelinequalities among us. The violence we preach is not the violenceof the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love,of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons intosickles for work.

"Those committed to the poor must share the same fate as the poor.

"A church that suffers no persecution but enjoys the privileges and support of the things of the earth - beware! - is not the true church of Jesus Christ. A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel's call. (1/22/78).

"When the church hears the cry of the oppressed it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises (8/6/78).

"The church would betray its own love for God and its fidelity to the gospel if it stopped being . . . a defender of the nights of the poor . . . a humanizer of every legitimate struggle to achieve a more just society . . . that prepares the way for the true reign of God in history (8/6/79).

"I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador."

"Aspire not to have more but to be more.

"Let us not tire of preaching love; it is the force that will overcome the world.

"Defence of human rights, equality, and freedom… is a matter of policy… rooted in the gospel.

"The poor have shown the church the true way to go. A church that does not speak out from the side of the poor is not the true church of Jesus.

"The gospel is the great defender and proclaimer of all the great fundamental rights of the person. The fundamental right to…… Food & Water, Shelter; Protection; Medicine; Education; Work; Rest; Freedom; Respect; Dignity; Fullness of Life.

"The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword; ... it is the violence of love.

"Let my blood be a seed of freedom.

"I will not tire of declaring that if we really want an effective
end to violence we must remove the violence that lies at the root
of all violence: structural violence, social injustice, exclusion
of citizens from the management of the country, repression. All
this is what constitutes the primal cause, from which the rest
flows naturally. September 23, 1979.

"I'm deeply impressed by that moment when Christ stands alone
before the world figured in Pilate. The truth is left alone, his
own followers have been afraid. Truth is fearfully daring, and
only heroes can follow the truth. So much so that Peter, who has
said he will die if need be, flees like a coward and Christ
stands alone.

"Let's not be afraid to be left alone if it's for the sake of the
truth. Let's be afraid to be demagogs, coveting the people's sham
flattery. If we don't tell them the truth, we commit the worst
sin: betraying the truth and betraying the people. Christ would
rather be left alone, but able to say before the world figured in
Pilate: Everyone who hears my voice belongs to the truth. Feast
of Christ the King, 1979.

"Would that the many bloodstained hands in our land were lifted
up to the Lord with horror of their stain to pray that he might
cleanse them. But let those who, thanks to God, have clean
hands -- the children, the sick, the suffering -- lift up their
innocent and suffering hands to the Lord like the people of
Israel in Egypt. The Lord will have pity and will say, as he did
to Moses in Egypt, "I have heard my people's cry of wailing. It
is the prayer that God cannot fail to hear. September 18, 1977

"The church is calling to sanity, to understanding, to love. It
does not believe in violent solutions. The church believes in
only one violence, that of Christ, who was nailed to the cross.
That is how today's gospel reading shows him, taking upon himself
all the violence of hatred and misunderstanding, so that we
humans might forgive one another, love one another, feel
ourselves brothers and sisters. November 20, 1977.

"We have never preached violence, except the violence of love,
which left Christ nailed to a cross, the violence that we must
each do to ourselves, to overcome our selfishness and such cruel
inequalities among us. The violence we preach is not the violence
of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love,
of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into
sickles for work. November 27, 1977

"Who knows if the one whose hands are bloodied with Father
Grande's murder, or the one who shot Father Navarro, if those who
have killed, who have tortured, who have done so much evil, are
listening to me? Listen, there in your criminal hideout, perhaps
already repentant, you too are called to forgiveness. December
18, 1977

"A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of
the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good so that they
become entrenched in their sinful state, betrays the gospel's
call. A preaching that does not discomfit sinners but lulls them
in their sin leaves Zebulun and Naphtali in the shadow of death.

"A preaching that awakens, a preaching that enlightens -- as when
a light turned on awakens and of course annoys a sleeper -- that
is the preaching of Christ, calling, "wake up! Be converted!"
this is the church's authentic preaching. Naturally, such
preaching must meet conflict, must spoil what is miscalled
prestige, must disturb, must be persecuted. It cannot get along
with the powers of darkness and sin. January 22, 1978

"And so, brothers and sisters, I repeat again what I have said
here so often, addressing by radio those who perhaps have caused
so many injustices and acts of violence, those who have brought
tears to so many homes, those who have stained themselves with
the blood of so many murders, those who have hands soiled with
tortures, those who have calloused their consciences, who are
unmoved to see under their boots a person abased, suffering,
perhaps ready to die. To all of them I say: no matter your
crimes. They are ugly and horrible, and you have abased the
highest dignity of a human person, but God calls you and forgives
you. And here perhaps arises the aversion of those who feel they
are laborers from the first hour. How can I be in heaven with
those criminals? Brothers and sisters, in heaven there are no
criminals. The greatest criminal, once he has repented of his
sins, is now a child of God. September 24, 1978

3.24.2010

"I deeply admire them. They're really nice folks," said the Secret Svc agent to the Tour Guide.

"I deeply admire them.  They're really nice folks," 
said the Secret Svc agent to the Tour Guide, 
regarding the vigil.  http://www.prop1.org

My greatest hope for raising an army of courageous
peace makers is from among our men and women
in uniform.  They've got the courage, discipline,
self-sacrifice, commitment... down.  I JUST NEED 
THEM TO SWITCH WEAPONS - FROM GUNS TO THEIR
OWN BODIES.

"Give me a military man to work with any day.
Don't give me any cowards."  Gandhi

3.22.2010

"Violence - to Violate the Boundaries of another (physical, psychological, property....)" SL

"Violence - to Violate the Boundaries of another
(physical, psychological, property....)  I didn't see, till now."  SL

MUST READ: Fear Strikes Out, Krugman, NYT


Obama, Lincoln: "We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.”

Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln:  

"We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. 
We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine."

"Full effort IS full success. [There is no other.]"  

Gandhi

"We are called to be faithful, we are NOT called to be successful." 

Scripture

"Live as though the entire world depends on what you do, [because it does,]
and realize that what you do will probably make no difference at all, [that anyone notices.]"

Buddhist

Pr. Obama - Passage of Health Care Reform in House
HC Reform - House Votes YES (1)

3.19.2010

3.16.2010

"Life's Secret: The End of our own suffering is in the attempt to Save others." SL

"Life's Secret: The End of our own suffering
is in the attempt to Save others from theirs."  SL

Fw: "It may change, but I am now clueless about fear of death. I used to 'get it.'" SL

"It may change, but I am now clueless about fear of death.
I used to 'get it.'  I totally don't 'get it' any more. 
Oh, I desperately want to be here to help, as long as I can help!
But fearing death?  I just don't get it.  When the time is up, it is up!
What's to fear?  Twice last week cars almost took my life.
My pulse didn't rise a beat then, or now.  This is not about
being careless or reckless.  I'm sure it has to do with living
on the battlefield, ALWAYS, for a Mission worth more than one's life.

I find this quite amazing, and I can barely remember my old way, of fear." SL


"The most promising idea on earth: Our Father. We're certainly Dead, without it." CJ via SL

"The most promising idea on earth:  Our Father.
We're certainly Dead, without it."
  CJ via SL

3.14.2010

"The sole purpose of my body and my blood is to feed Universal Love." SL

"The sole purpose of my body and
my blood is to feed Universal Love.
That's the only reason any of us are here,
as much as we insist on imagining otherwise;
or King, Gandhi, Tolstoy, Jesus... are wrong, and they are not wrong."
  SL

THE BOOK, IF TAKEN TO HEART, WOULD HAVE PREVENTED HITLER AND WWII !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The Wrecking Crew:
How Conservatives [ARE RuinING] Government,
Enrich[ING] Themselves, and Beggar[ING] the Nation

(Paperback)


If there had been the equivalent of Thomas Frank's book, in 1930 Germany, EXACTLY 80 YEARS AGO,
AND IF IT HAD BEEN READ, AND TAKEN TO HEART, you and I would not know the
name Hitler, or the words THIRD REICH. 

But if there was such a book, IT WAS NOT TAKEN HEART, and the rest is history.

WE ARE 1930 GERMANY, 80 YEARS LATER - TODAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The following I've just put up, with more to follow.  THEY ARE NOT A
SUBSTITUTE for the book.  GET IT. READ IT. SHARE IT. SEND OUT COPIES.

But in the hours before you get and read the book, these might help:

Rachel Maddow - Thomas Frank, The Wrecking Crew
Thomas Frank, GritTV, The Wrecking Crew_1
Thomas Frank, GritTV, The Wrecking Crew_2

While we snipe at and pillory this great man, this brother TO us, HE REFUSES TO BE DIVERTED FROM DEVOTION TO OUR LIVES. God damn us. BarackObama.com . JUST DO IT.

The President discusses his blueprint for an updated Elementary
and Secondary Education Act to overhaul No Child Left Behind,
the latest step from his Administration to encourage change and
success in Americas schools at the local level.

While we snipe at and pillory this great man,
this brother TO us, HE REFUSES TO BE DIVERTED FROM
DEVOTION TO OUR LIVES.

God damn us.

BarackObama.com . JUST DO IT.

"I'm learning to maniacally stay out of others' business so that I can more fully mind my own." SL

"I'm learning to maniacally stay out of others' business
so that I can more fully mind my own.


I am NOT responsible for what ANYONE ELSE DOES, EVER.
BUT I AM TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I DO, ALWAYS, 
EVERY SECOND; and if find that minding my own business RESPONSIBLY
takes every second of my time and every ounce of my energy, to do so well.

I know this is central to why I can be sooooooo difficult to
deal with.  Sorry."
  SL

3.13.2010

Ellen's house, a Godsend to my work; becoming even more of a Miracle?

When I started this work in DC, years ago now, I didn't expect to survive
more than a few months.  I was, and remain ENTIRELY, AND TOTALLY unwilling
to divert energy, ANY OF MY ENERGY, from the neediest of Our Family, to my
own survival.  But here I am.  Thomas was the first to reach out, years ago,
with sandwiches he placed on the bench where I'd sleep sitting up all night
on vigil for Darfur.  There they'd be when I awoke.  :-|

Then he, with Ellen's approval, brought me in to their base of operations so there would
be a roof over my work for Darfur.

Even after Thomas' passing I've been blessed by Ellen,
and another benefactor of the house, with a bed
and a public space where I can sleep and work when not on my daily
shifts at the White House vigil.  I'll do my work living in the streets when
that is what Our Father wants, but my productivity certainly has been
infinitely higher in the space I've had in Ellen's house.

BUT MAYBE NOW MY PRODUCTIVITY WAS JUST PROVIDED A MASSIVE ADDED
BOOST!!!!  At least for the moment I've just been afforded a more secluded
room in the house.  The house is busy, circumstances are such that
there are frequent interruptions so far in this room... but in the last week I've had two 5 hour
or so uninterrupted blocks of solitude for my work.  MY STRESS LEVEL HAS
GONE DOWN BY HALF, IT SEEMS.  This room supports a 2nd computer, so
I just purchased one on CraigsList, a 2004 $85 job, but it works.  With
it and the laptop Ellen and the other benefactor provided me, by keeping both
loaded down with my video processing, etc, MAJOR BOTTLENECKS
ON MY YOUTUBE WORK HAVE BEEN LIFTED!  I feel like one feels when they've
maybe had emphysema, didn't know they had it, but were just put on
OXYGEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Life!

I never count on something like this lasting, not for an hour, not for a second. 
That is Our Father's business, not mine.  But oh my Goodness, the two glimpses of
solitude, space and technical capacity I've had since this recent room change ARE OF AN EVEN
GREATER GOD-SEND.  Maybe.  We'll see.

SL dying in prison - Starts this Monday in Federal Court?

I am not worried or concerned.  Our Father's Will be done.  But you few
I've copied, I feel I owe such a "heads up," as this.

The several premonitions I've had like this before have come to pass -
For 5 years or so now it has seemed inevitable to me that I will die
in prison.  This doesn't trouble me.  It has never been a nightmare for
me, literally; never a cold sweat; never an elevated pulse (hmmmm, except
the adrenalin from an expected conflict).  I suspect it will come to pass in time,
but maybe it is just an acute clarity of how society's ways and mine are anti-matter
and matter - mutually annihilating.  Some of you have personally encountered
how stubborn I can be on what seems Important.  :-)  :-(  Standing as close
to the Truth as I do now will likely get me killed, one way, or another - exposure,
starvation, prison, murder....  He certainly does NOT want me by natural causes
just yet, having saved me from two near, might have been fatal near-car hit's last week -
neither my fault.  What am I rambling about?  This essay grasps the macro-physics-
reality that seems to have me (thank God) and society (thanks to unopposed
Satan / Evil / dEvil), in its grasp:  

THE MEANING OF THIS HOUR, ABRAHAM J. HESCHEL
The single most sacred essay I've ever encountered.

Monday, I've been subpoenad to appear in FEDERAL court.  No, nothing I've done,
yet.  As a witness.  Late fall, early winter, as I ever sooooooooooooo
vvvvvaaggguuueeeellllllyyyyyyyy recall, upon returning about 11pm from
my evening shift in the Park, in front of Ellen's house was a police cruiser(s),
group of officers, and someone being arrested (I'm pretty sure, I never
looked to see, as I recall).  There was a fence slat missing that I'd not
noticed missing before and a police woman, seeing me approach the house
asked if I lived there.  I said I did - I respect, and cooperate with the
police, IF and WHEN they operate within their job.  ('The only group in this
country I have any respect for is our men and women in uniform - they are
the only group that puts their life on the line for others,' I say to folks
every day at the Park.  Gandhi felt similarly.)

She explained that the person they were arresting had pulled the slat off
to attack them with, and that he (?) had done similar things ever so many
times, and that it would be a great kindness to HIM if I "witnessed" that
the slat was from the fence and it had repair worth that I set at $100 or
so.   The vaguest of recollections.  I DISTINCTLY recall the impression that
my "witnessing" that night  WAS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST I'D HEAR OF THIS!
Last week the subpoena arrived.

I gave them my name, the only name I'm known by in DC - Start Loving.
On prior arrests - Pentagon, White House... I've thought to give my old
name as well, but this time, it absolutely never even occurred to me -
I was doing her, the officer, and the person being arrested a "favor!"

Will I be jailed for giving the Feds a "false" name tomorrow?  What DID I witness
to?  I gave it almost no thought at the time, so I CERTAINLY don't recall now!
I'm required to bring ID.  I HAVE NO ID, refusing to have such under Bush.
What if what I can testify to now is in opposition to what I testified to
then?  I'LL NOT LIE.  I'll be sworn to "tell the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help me God."  AND THIS I'LL DO.  This is where I expect
they'll get me, cuz I AM IN CONTEMPT OF OUR IN-HUMANE "LEGAL" SYSTEM.
I'LL NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT REFER TO SOME OVER-PRIVILEGED WHITE GUY,
OR WHATEVER, AS "YOUR HONOR."  ETC, ETC, ETC.

"Contempt of Court" - is this how the end will start for me?  Cuz, I AM TOTALLY in
contempt of a system that incarcerates 2 million poor folks in this country.
Gandhi was asked - 'What do you think if Western Civilization?'  He
responded - 'I think it would be a good idea.'  He wasn't kidding.  Neither
am I.  Neither was Heschel (above).

3.11.2010

Refusing to Leave Heaven EQUALS Refusal to Leave the Neediest." SL

Refusing to Leave Heaven

EQUALS

Refusal to Leave the Neediest.

This is the Truth of Human Psychology"  SL

"Living, Leading, Peace Making equals Generating Universal Love. Period." SL

"Living,
Leading,
Peace Making

EQUALS

Generating
Universal Love. Period."  SL

I've been working  toward this evolution of clarity on
Leadership, my core interest, hope, competency
for a decade and a half now.

Hmmmm, a 15 year pregnancy is loooooonnnnggggggggggg!

3.07.2010

SL, 25 yr computer exec: "The purpose of automation is to take salaries of the poor for the rich."

SL, 25 yr computer exec:
"The purpose of automation is to take salaries of the poor for the rich."

NO!  I didn't see it that way.

NO!  I'm not saying it is an explicit plot.  CANCER is not an explicit plot.
Both kill.

BOYCOTT AUTOMATION.  PATRONIZE PLACES THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF MACHINES OF THE RICH.

3.04.2010

Congressman Grayson: "GOP Weapons of Mass Distraction." Quote of the day.

Congressman Grayson: 
"GOP Weapons of Mass Distraction."  Quote of the day.

GRAYSON vs BACHMANN

These GOPredators guys make Hitler's Joseph Goebbles proud!

Our inaction in the face of their rabid disinformation
campaign is the height of cowardice and treason.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK TODAY MAY WELL BE -



The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule  
Thomas Frank (born 1965) is an American author, journalist and columnist for the
Wall Street Journal
, authoring The Tilting Yard since May, 2008.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.... READ IT.  NOW.

"A no-holds-barred exegesis on the naked cynicism of conservatism in America."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Written with barbed wit and finely controlled anger, he skewers such juicy targets as libertarian strategist Grover Norquist and Michelle Malkin."—Publishers Weekly, starred review  "Glorious… Often brilliant… Frank's gloom is leavened by an eye for the unexpected and the absurd."—Los Angeles Times 
"Well-researched and witty… Provides a powerful liberal antidote to the high-volume rantings of Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Fox News."—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Frank's gifts as a social observer are on display… His analysis of why there are so many libertarian think tanks in a country with so few libertarians is dead on. In Thomas Frank, the American left has found its own Juvenal."—The New York Times Book Review

"Frank offers one damning anecdote after another. The Wrecking Crew explains how cynical conservatives have wrested control of the government by railing against its very existence, all while using federal perches to funnel billions into the pockets of lobbyists and the corporations they represent."—Time

"Thomas Frank is back with another hunk of dynamite. The Wrecking Crew should monopolize political conversation this year. It's the first book to effectively tie the ruin and corruption of conservative governance to the conservative "movement building" of the 1970s, and, before that, the business crusade against good government going back at least to the 1890s."—Salon.com

"Tom Frank has hold of something real. The Wrecking Crew can be good, spirited fun. Frank captures a quality of exuberant bullying in those of his conservative subjects he knows well enough to identify individually, rather than categorically."—The New Yorker

"Frank's sentences inhale and unfurl with a wit and verve…"—The New York Observer

"Conservatives in office have made their share of blunders and mistakes, and Frank is at his finest in depicting some of the stunning instances of hypocrisy and idiocy in the period of Republican rule."—The New York Post

"Smart, thoroughly researched, and written with wit and panache."—The Wichita Eagle

"A welcome read. There is no doubt that Frank is helping to restore the journalistic and literary standards to political books. Elegant… The Wrecking Crew has the rhetorical power to illustrate the dire consequences of a government sold off piece by piece to the highest bidder. One finishes the book feeling as if one's political vision has been brought into focus."—The Courier-Journal

"A superb follow-up to What's The Matter with Kansas?... Thorough reporting and incisive historical analysis. With genuine outrange and blasts of polemic, but Frank never allows The Wrecking Crew to become just another seething right- or left-wing political tract preaching to the choir."—The Oregonian

"Frank brings invaluable insider perceptions, ardor, and precision to his lancing inquiry into the erosion of democracy and the enshrinement of the mighty dollar… An electrifying, well-researched analysis of 'conservatism-as-profiteering.' This staggering history of systematic greed with inject new energy into public discourse as a historical election looms."—Booklist (starred review)



SL here. Friends EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - PLS ACT NOW

I just sent a letter. Please you too.  Hurry.  SHARE.  SL


From: "Bertha Lewis, ACORN" <newsacorn@acorn.org>
To: start_loving@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, March 4, 2010 6:15:06 AM
Subject: Re: Sting the stinger - This is just embarrassing

Dear Start,

By now everybody knows that James O'Keefe, the anti-ACORN video stinger, is willing to lie, manipulate, and apparently break the law, in pursuit of his extremist agenda. Monday, sources inside the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, as reported by the New York Post (long hostile to ACORN) said the videos were a "heavily edited splice job".[1] The New York Daily News further reported that sources in the DA's office, which reviewed the unedited New York tapes as part of a five month investigation -- the first time anyone not associated with O'Keefe has seen unedited tapes -- said "they edited the tape to meet their agenda"![2]

As Media Matters columnist Eric Bohlert writes, "the '70s-era, blacksploitation pimp costume was a propaganda tool used to later deceive the public about the undercover operation."[3] If you watched the videos you probably thought he wore that suit inside our offices. He didn't. He dressed as a professional and presented himself as a boyfriend trying to help his girlfriend escape from an abusive pimp, something also noted in former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger's December 2009 investigation of ACORN.[4]

So why, then, does America's newspaper of record, the New York Times, insist in report after report -- as recently as March 1st -- that he presented himself as a pimp in our offices?[5] Can you send an email to the Times' Public Editor and tell him to retract the Times' erroneous reporting about O'Keefe and ACORN?

There are two critical reasons why this matters and my friend Brad Friedman of The Brad Blog lays them out nicely:

"Because O'Keefe is now facing federal felony charges and his past credibility is important to the future proceedings and because these videos, and the Times reports on them, resulted in the U.S. Congress passing legislation to deny ACORN federal funding based on what appears to be an entirely phony premise which … the Times went along with, in error, time and again." [6]

Incredibly, the New York Times' first response when challenged their reporting was to say, "If there is a correction to be made, it seems it would start with Mr. O'Keefe himself. We believe him. Therefore there is nothing for us to correct."[7]

Wow. To say that in the face of everything that's been laid out about how O'Keefe operates - lies, manipulation, even alleged illegal actions - well, that's just embarrassing.

Can you tell Clark Hoyt, The New York Times' Public Editor, that The Times needs to retract its past ACORN stories and report the truth about the anti-ACORN sting operation from now on?

The New York Times played a significant role in the breathtaking rush to judgment instigated by O'Keefe's work. As the blogger Digby said about the Times and other mainstream media, "in rushing to judgment they also failed in their journalistic duty to figure out if this story was true." [8] The Times perpetuated the idea that his videos represented what ACORN workers do all day. They do not. ACORN organizers spend their days talking with working families and helping them take action on issues like foreclosure prevention, raising the minimum wage, fighting for jobs, and working to hold the banksters accountable for their destruction of the economy.

That work, combined with our tireless efforts engaging working families and families of color in the electoral process, are the real reasons why O'Keefe and his corporate-funded backers in the attack media targeted ACORN.

The Times continues to refuse to state the obvious-that O'Keefe deceived the public, specifically by editing in "b-roll" of his absurd costume and more broadly by misrepresenting what ACORN organizers do. This despite the clear admission by O'Keefe co-conspirators Hannah Giles and Andrew Breitbart both being caught on tape saying he never wore the pimp suit in any ACORN office.[9] Despite the findings of the Harshbarger report. Despite Breitbart's admission that the pimp get-up was just a marketing gimmick. [10]

In fact, Clark Hoyt continues to profess, "I still don't see that a correction is in order, because that would require conclusive evidence that The Times was wrong, which I haven't seen." [11]

Can you help Mr. Hoyt see the conclusive evidence by sending him a letter in his role as the Public Editor of the New York Times?

With your help we can set the record straight and put America's newspaper of record on notice that we expect it to live up to its responsibility to us and to our democratic system and report the truth.

Lots of people have asked me why we don't just drop the topic of O'Keefe's video scam and move on. Believe me, no one would like to close the book on this story more than I would.. But the truth is important, and the truth is the lies that O'Keefe peddled and that news outlets that should know better continue to perpetuate, to this day, not only hurt ACORN -- they represent standing threat against anyone who empowers poor people and people of color in this country.

With your help we can help strengthen democracy in America and make sure that working families have a strong voice in 2010 and beyond.



In solidarity and strength,

Bertha Lewis
ACORN CEO and Chief Organizer

[1] Alex Ginsberg and Murray Weiss, New York Post, March 2, 2010,
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/acorn_set_up_by_vidiots_da_x16IroTf4AsXCI19nttFLL

[2] Mike Madden, Salon.com, March 1, 2010,
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/01/acorn_cleared

[3] Eric Bohlert, Media Matters for America, February 17, 2010,
http://mediamatters.org/columns/201002170008

[4] Report of former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22649&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12340&cHash=acfa3c666a

[5] Andy Newman, The New York Times, March 1, 2010,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/nyregion/02acorn.html

[6] Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 23, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7715
[7] Greg Brock, Senior Editor of Standards for the New York Times as reported by Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 23, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7715
[8] Digby, Feb 22, 2010, http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html
and also here:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2010/02/22/acorn_muckraking_open2010/index.html

[9] Max Blumenthal, Conversation at the Conservative Political Action Convention, February, 2010,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vztHmjV5134

[10] Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 21, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7710
[11] Clark Hoyt, Public Editor of the New York Times as reported by Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog, February 23, 2010, http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7715

© 2009 ACORN and ACORN logo are Registered Trademarks of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Inc.

ACORN is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 500,000 member families organized into neighborhood chapters in 71 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our members. Our priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools. ACORN is an acronym, and each letter should be capitalized. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
 


3.03.2010

"I'm simply your mother, like when a hoard of bullies is attacking you." SL

"I'm simply your mother, like
when a hoard of bullies is attacking you; cuz they are.
You are damn right I'm harsh, rough, aggressive, out-there;
just like she would be if she saw the same attack on you, that I do."  SL

"Do you burn hot enough to start a fire?" Start

"Do you burn hot enough to start a fire?"  Start

"She who would give light, must endure burning." 
Eleanor Roosevelt

SL here. URGENT, FRIENDS.


3.02.2010

SL here. I found my $.50 Crucifix. That beings tears toward my eyes, why?

Please don't ever assume my Love of Jesus is traditional in ANY way.
See here:  http://thechristlikechurch.blogspot.com/

Around Christ-mass time one of the pleasures my suburban zombie
sisters and brothers give themselves is an annual visit to DC to
do something for the poor - their not-my-family.  It does wonders to
refresh their illusions that they are not Dead.  Did you know that
Washington, DC, capitol of the wealthiest country in history,
in the US is:

#1 most powerful population of elites in the world!

#1 in concentration of the top 10 richest counties as suburbs (3) !!!!!!

#1 in child poverty!!!

#1 in mortality from HIV/AID!!!!

#1 in lowest life expectancy in the country!!!!!

See here:

DN! Washington, DC - 3rd World Capital

Well, anyway, at Christ-mass time they come out from their mansions
in their gated communities with their food bags, my zombie siblings,
or whatever, for we poor.  One bag I got had a simple wooden Crucifix,
on the type of faux leather thong you'd use to make something
at summer camp.  My $2.50 Crucifix I wear under my clothes, always,
but this one is larger and can go over my clothes.  But about 3 weeks
ago it went missing.  I looked everywhere.  I was sooooo sad to lose it.

What magic draws me to these Crucifixes, and those on my head?  Love.

Turns out that my beloved sister Connie found it, and I got it today.
Tears of Joy and Relief came toward my eyes.  Why?  A $.50 Cross.
Still moves me toward tears hours later.

Reminds me of the time 5 years or so ago my little Catholic sister and
I were in Texas on a business trip.  Out of Love for her I attended her
Sunday Mass with her, and we were tapped to carry the chalice and Hosts up
to the alter.  I sobbed and quaked uncontrollably.  Brings tears
to my eyes whenever I think of it, like now.

Hmmmmm.   I do so adore our brother Jesus.   I do indeed.  So did Gandhi.
He Loved us so.