We Will Not Be Silent

We Will Not Be Silent
by C.A. Matthews

We will not be silent
We will not be forced to stay quiet while injustices occur
We will not pretend that domestic terrorism doesn't happen here
We will not say that what happens to our fellow Americans doesn't matter in the long run just as long as we have our Netflix and our Starbucks
We will not let go of our mantra: "Health care is a human right!"
We will not agree that a woman acknowledging a sexual assault committed against her is somehow "selfishly ruining" a man's career and legacy 
We will not kowtow to political bullies who attempt to shut us down because we choose to think outside of the box and support progressive candidates of all persuasions

We will not be tricked into staying home on election day or voting for the "lesser evil" because, as we know, evil is still evil
We will not acknowledge false leaders, leadership and hypocritical thinking
We will not condone endless wars and imperialism
We will not cheer while innocents suffer for the sake of a billionaire's bottom line or an oilman's wet dream
We will not consider our fellow human beings "illegal" because of the color of their skin, their religion or their country of origin  
We will not permit children to be locked into kennels
We will not sit idly by and let the world go to hell in a handbasket if there's a remote chance that our speaking out and sharing information with others can turn the tide of tyranny and bring about a future to believe in
We will not stop crying out like a voice in the wilderness
We will not give in to despair and bemoan our fate and the fate of our planet without a fight
Welcome to the Revolution Continues
We will not be silent

 Our featured blogger this week shows us what it means to be forced into silence throughout history .

Censorship

by Coast Watcher

Censorship (noun)

1a. The institution, system or practice of censoring b. The actions or practices of censors, especially censorial control exercised repressively. Source: Merriam Webster dictionary

Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information, on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient" as determined by a government or private institution, for example corporate censorship. Source: Wikipedia.

Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional. Source: ACLU

The First Amendment--Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances--protects against government restrictions on or interference with the content of speech. The First Amendment applies to government at the national, state, and local level. 

Suppression of dissenting voices is the hallmark of dictatorships—both secular and religious—and has occurred throughout history. In the twentieth century repressive regimes achieved it through official examination and prohibition of books, plays, periodicals, films, radio, and later television programs. News reports were vetted to ensure they played to the government narrative. They were altered to suppress ideas said government found objectionable or offensive. Even in relatively liberal Britain, the office of the Lord Chamberlain had the responsibility of censoring plays and movies from 1737 up until 1968.

The militarized dictatorships of Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin saw the major imposition of censorship upon the populace. Post-war Germany saw a complete revulsion against the Nazis and all they stood for, which led to its own form of censorship. Under the current German law of haßsprache (hate speech) it is illegal to depict any kind of glorification of the Nazis and their emblems, including the crooked swastika--something which has caused problems with Germany's Hindu community since the true swastika is an emblem of their faith. In the twenty-first century we have the new phenomenon of internet censorship.

I suspect we all know what a dumpster fire Facebook turned into before, during and after the 2016 election. Let’s not forget the deliberate use of child pornography to attack the Facebook pages of Bernie Sanders’ supporters on the eve of the 2016 New York primary. A certain party favoring the Clinton campaign had no compunction in using a particularly vile and rightly censored means of crippling her opponent, for which Clinton never apologized nor condemned.

Facebook recently carried out a purge of over 800 political pages in these closing weeks of the mid-term primaries. The message is clear—corporate censorship is a real and potent force in support of the current right-wing regime in the White House and Congress. In fact corporate censorship has probably overtaken government censorship in terms of widespread use and effectiveness.  

"The extent of Internet censorship varies on a country-to-country basis. While most democratic countries have moderate Internet censorship, other countries go as far as to limit the access of information such as news and suppress discussion among citizens. Internet censorship also occurs in response to or in anticipation of events such as elections, protests, and riots." (Wikipedia)

It’s no secret that polling machines have been and are being rigged to give a result of use to The Establishment. It’s no secret that governmental and corporate activities which directly contravene the Constitution are being reported in the independent online media while the mainstream media remains strangely silent—until you consider that a mere handful of people own 90% of all mainstream media outlets in the United States and these people have a vested interest in the status quo. It would be interesting to know the opinion of those people about Trump’s continuous attacks on fake news, in other words anything that throws his governance (or lack thereof) into a bad light—which is every day now.

It’s vital to the interests of the people of this country and the world beyond for news to be reported and information disseminated. Even humble outlets such as this blog have their part to play in keeping freedom of speech alive. That’s why I close this piece with the heartfelt request to share the blog post widely, so that we may hold our "betters" and those who govern us to account.  

Related links:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship

https://www.aclu.org/other/what-censorship

http://gilc.org/speech/osistudy/censorship/

https://ncac.org/resource/what-is-censorship

BIO: Coast Watcher is doing his best to spread the word of progressive revolution in spite of the odds. He vows to keep speaking out and demonstrating that the worst periods in history can indeed repeat themselves and, therefore, we have to remain vigilant at all times. He will not be silent!



More on Facebook purging alternative media sites from The Real News Network. https://youtu.be/PgXv6igtW3c

  ***

Calling them out whether they like it or not. Don't let them shut us down!

The Revolution Continues has set up an easy way to donate to the cause of taking on the corrupt system and keeping it ad-free. Three years plus without obnoxious ads (that many news sites have to cover costs) has been great, but the editor does have to pay for internet, electricity, etc., out of her own pocket, and she would like to be able to pay her contributors in the future. 

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Power to the people and not the corporations!

***

From Health Care Voter:

We don't have to remind you what's at stake in this election.

Contrary to President Trump's tweet earlier this week, Republicans will NOT protect people with pre-existing conditions. In fact, they're literally suing right now to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and those protections.

We need all hands on deck to stop the Republicans' plan to repeal the ACA, cut Medicaid and Medicare, and rip away health care from millions of Americans if they win in November. And to make sure we stop the Republican health care sabotage, we need your help.

Today, reach out to your friends and family with our new outreach platform to make sure they head to the polls on November 6 (or earlier if your state has early voting!).

The most effective way to hold the Republicans accountable for their years of senseless and hurtful attacks on our health care is for you -- yes, YOU -- to reach out to your friends and family directly.

Tell them why you're a Health Care Voter and what this election means to you. Your voice and conversation will have a much larger impact on them than any ads or news articles ever will. Ask them what issues they're concerned about and remind them that their voice can, and will, make a difference.

We need to do everything we can in these next 11 days to save our health care -- and this is one of the most important ways you can help.

Take action today to protect our health care by encouraging your friends and family to vote in this election.

We can't do this without you,
The Health Care Voter Team

***

Two days after the Pittsburgh shooting, and in the wake of a racist shooting in Kentucky and the pipe bomb mailings, I remain profoundly sad, angry and determined.

Sad for the lives lost and for the families that will forever, for all of their lives, have to grapple with the tragedies. And so sad for our country that such things could happen.

Of course, racist violence is nothing new in America, but that does not make these incidents any less heartbreaking and sickening.

Angry, because as is painfully apparent, these are not random acts of violence.

We’ll never know what internal demons speak to someone who shoots and kills 11 people in a synagogue, or who sends explosives by mail to prominent political figures who he finds objectionable, or who opens fire on people in a grocery store.

But we do know what external voices are speaking to these individuals.

We know the social environment in which they live.

Let’s be very clear: This is not about a problem of polarization on “both sides.”

This is about the increasing extremism on the right.

It’s about the rampant racism on social media, the conspiracies of Alex Jones and the zealotry of Fox News.

But above all — far above all — it is about President Trump.

It is the president who more than anyone sets the tone of our political culture.

This President of the United States routinely spews not just nasty and uncivil remarks, but engages in racist, anti-immigrant and hateful speech, embraces conspiracy theories, many with anti-Semitic overtones, and winks and nods at — and sometimes overtly encourages — political violence.

The horrible truth is, I’m surprised we haven’t experienced more political violence under Trump.

I know you share my grief and outrage.

I hope you also share my determination.

Donald Trump does not get to define who we are as a people.

We do.

Our retort to Trumpian proto-fascism must be love and solidarity.

Each and every one of us, in every circumstance in which we encounter it, must confront and denounce anti-Semitism, racism, anti-immigrant “nationalism,” sexism and homophobia.

There are no “others.”

We need to show that, as a society, we care about, and take care of, every human being.

Everybody counts, and no one gets left behind.

We need also to recognize the teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Power without love is reckless and abusive and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”

We must evidence that love and solidarity not just in words but policies and priorities that show we value everyone.

Trump draws his political strength and bases his appeal not just on deep reservoirs of racism, but on a profound sense of grievance and alienation.

For many, the attraction of Trump is that he rejects the trappings of a system they believe, rightfully, is rigged to benefit elite insiders.

Trump validates the sense of alienation among his more rabid followers by calling the system rigged — using our word — evidencing his disdain for accepted norms and protocols.

And he redirects their anger away from the forces and institutions that are actually disrupting communities, directing it instead to scapegoat vulnerable communities.

In response, we need to explain, again and again, how Trump is governing by corruption, and enriching and empowering the plutocratic class.

But even more, we have to advocate, demonstrate real commitment to, and ultimately win policies to cure the rigged system and offset the nation’s historic and obscene wealth, income and power inequality.

We must build vibrant, growing social movements to displace Trump’s right-wing demagoguery by building the power to win an aggressive, progressive agenda.

We have to continue to come together to figure this out together.

We have to continue to take care of each other.

I know we will.

Thank you for everything you do for a better and kinder America, and a better and kinder world.

With love and determination,

Robert Weissman
President, Public Citizen

Are WE The Refugees?

We start this week out with a song...

The Chorus of This Land is My Land 

(Reworked for the Modern Age)

by Coast Watcher

This land is your land, this land is my land. From California…
 
Er, no, sorry.

What?

California has decided it's had enough of the United States. It got together with Oregon, Washington state, Alaska and the Canadian province of British Columbia to form a new nation called Pacifica. It now has one of the largest economies in the world. Hawaii is making noises about joining it too.

Huh. Okay. To the New York island…
 
Ah, again, sorry.

What now?

Due to rising sea levels caused by climate change, the New York Island no longer exists. It's all underwater.

Good grief! Okay then. From the redwood forests?
 
Er, no. Trump sold the redwood forests to Georgia Pacific. They were used to make seven billion toilet rolls and a nice desk for David Koch.

Seriously? What about the rolling Gulf Stream waters?
 
Ah, er, sorry, no. They're heavily polluted by agricultural run-off mixing with all the oil spills. Nowadays the Gulf waters don't so much roll, as gloop.

(Singer tosses the song sheets over her shoulder and walks away muttering)

Bio: Coast Watcher often waxes comically poetic to deal with the stress of living in the modern world.

 ***

Are We the Refugees?

by Still Bernin'

Human beings are being displaced in record numbers. Climate change, drone bombings, wars for oil, land grabs, natural disasters, economic disparities--the list goes on and on. Indigenous peoples are pushed off their lands or killed so others can steal and profit from their resources. Employment opportunities dry up and cause many to leave their homes and head to where they hope the jobs are. The one-percenters grow richer at others' expense. Misery is the order of the day.

If everyone is "on the move," then those who wish to remain rooted in one place are old fashioned. Americans who try to live in a world patterned after

the eighteenth or nineteenth century, while denying the reality of the twenty-first, are destined to be disappointed. Like the rest of humanity, they must move on. "Make America Great Again" says their red baseball caps. Doesn't the tag in the hat's interior that says "made in China" tell you the world has moved on and left America in the dust?
 
If rising ocean levels and the futility of endless wars for the remains of dead

dinosaurs doesn't convince those stuck in the past that we must move on or die as a people, then what will? It's the basic problem with Trump's vision of America--it's locked into a timewarp. Sadder still, it's not even the real past.

When was the United States ever "great" for all of its people? Slavery for African-Americans existed until the 1860s, and, when comparing current wages of whites and people of color with the same level of training and education, it could be argued slavery continues to this very day. Women couldn't vote until 1920. Children worked in dangerous jobs in factories until little over a hundred years ago. Gays and lesbians couldn't legally marry in most states until a few years ago. The indigenous peoples of the Americas have never felt things were "great" for them since Europeans landed in 1492.

The Trump version of America is an imaginary one where rich, white males are forever on top and everyone else is happily jitterbugging away, gladly giving up their civil liberties. And for what? It's not like an average American will profit off the tax breaks for billionaires, and it appears social programs will continue to be slashed, leaving many working poor, elderly and disabled persons in the lurch. Can any sane person truly consider that a happy scenario?
      

America has moved and is still moving, but where are we moving to? Are we moving away from the slavery that is capitalism and toward an egalitarian utopia that democratic socialism can provide? Away from the consumerism that eats our souls and rots our sense of compassion? Away from placing the price on a human life at a mere $1.05 (activist David Hogg's estimation derived from the amount of money Senator Marco Rubio received from the NRA divided by the number of Florida students)? Away from the idea that health care is a privilege only the wealthy can enjoy?
 

Will Americans who want to oppress those who are different from them be forced to become refugees instead? If we don't force these immoral types out of our society, will we all suffer for their lack of compassion? The more our elected officials treat the homeless, the displaced and the poor with impunity, the more likely Americans will get a taste of our own medicine. We could be denied sanctuary when we need it because of rising oceans. The wall that Trump wants to build around our country could be used to contain us from others who have had enough of our rotten attitude. 

We will become the unwanted people among peoples. We will be the refugees nobody wants.

I have a strong feeling that the cliche, "You can dish it out, but you can't take it," is going to be heard by Americans a lot more in the near future. It serves us right if we continue to support the current regime's policies toward the environment, refugees and the poor.

Articles to make you think:
The Gig Economy Celebrates Working Yourself to Death https://www.newyorker.com/culture/jia-tolentino/the-gig-economy-celebrates-working-yourself-to-death

An End to Protections for Undocumented Youth

https://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/49297-trumps-easter-wish-an-end-to-protections-for-undocumented-youth

Weapons for Anyone--Donald Trump and the Art of the Arms Deal

https://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/49301-focus-weapons-for-anyone-donald-trump-and-the-art-of-the-arms-deal

Bio: Still Bernin' is moving on and marching toward a better future for all peoples. It's time we put capitalism to rest and embrace democracy through democratic socialism.

***

The Revolution Continues has set up an easy way to donate to the cause of keeping it ad-free. Three years without obnoxious ads (that many other sites have to cover costs) has been great, but the editor does have to pay for Internet, electricity, etc. Any amount you can donate to keep this progressive site going without those awful ads is appreciated. Thank you.

You can donate via Paypal at http://paypal.me/camatthews

Power to the people and not the corporations!

***

Donald Trump and his army of anti-immigrant forces are tearing apart the United States’ refugee resettlement program. Call and ask Congress: #WhereRTheRefugees? >>

In September, the Trump administration set the lowest ever refugee admissions goal: 45,000 refugees for this fiscal year. Now, they’re not even meeting their own pathetically low standard. Halfway through the fiscal year, the Trump administration has resettled under 10,000 refugees into the United States — WAY less than half of their underwhelming goal.
This is not who we are as Americans.

Thousands of refugees are now in life-threatening limbo while the Trump administration continues its heartless and xenophobic agenda. What’s more, many refugees are fleeing American bombs devastating their countries or American-fueled climate change and famines destroying their homes and livelihoods. America has a black-and-white moral responsibility to open its doors, not slam them shut. 

So Win Without War is joining a coalition of refugee and humanitarian activists to flood phone lines today — and we need your voice. If we can drive enough calls to Congress in one day about the Trump administration’s historic failure on refugee admissions, we can pressure our Members of Congress to hold the Trump administration accountable for admitting the refugees they promised.

Call and ask your Members of Congress: #WhereRTheRefugees? 

The United States refugee resettlement program is reserved for only the most vulnerable populations fleeing war, climate change, inequality, and persecution. They undergo the most extensive selection, security vetting and medical screening processes of any travelers to the United States. But the Trump administration continues to spread their hateful agenda by refusing to accept refugees who have already been promised resettlement, imposing refugee bans disguised as “extreme vetting,” and choosing dangerous anti-refugee advisors like John Bolton.

Make no mistake: the Trump administration’s actions directly threaten the lives of thousands of refugees, devastate families, and undermine our American values. What’s more, they make a mockery of our responsibility to welcome those fleeing horrors--- many of which are the direct result of America’s endless wars in their home countries. But together, we can fight against these unjust, cruel policies and work towards an America where all are welcome.

Tell Congress: This country was built from the contributions of refugees and immigrants. Don’t let Trump wash our legacy away. The US must honor its promises to accept refugees fleeing life-threatening situations.

Thank you for working for peace,
Aubrey, Mariam, Cassandra, and the team at Win Without War

***

No no no no no.

1,400 Palestinians were injured and 18 were killed in Gaza - nonviolent protesters shot by Israeli soldiers during the #MarchForReturn on Friday. 

The Israeli military evidently believes that any time Palestinians assert their basic rights in any way, they will be considered violent, and met with deadly violence. This cannot stand.

SIGN OUR OPEN LETTER TODAY:
We will not sit quiet while the IDF murders Palestinians demanding their rights.

It feels impossible that this should be true. Like Sharpeville, Selma, or Kent State, again and again into 2018. 

Because I know in my heart that the right to peaceful protest is sacrosanct. The biggest and boldest mobilizations of my lifetime are rolling into the streets. It’s a truly beautiful thing.
 
These protesters - people just like you and me - prove that there’s another way, one we have to recommit to today.

I think the only way truly forward is to recognize that there is a root cause: 70 years of Nakba.

After all, that’s the reason 15,000 people were marching in the first place. 

The catastrophe of Palestinian dispossession and expulsion by the Israeli government has gone on 70 years too long. And the #MarchForReturn is about making good on the undeniable, basic right of Palestinians, and all people, to live freely in their homelands. 

Please sign here and share - as widely and quickly as you can.

It was difficult to sit through a Passover seder Friday night with family that doesn't yet share my outrage at Israel’s aggression. But that’s what makes this community at JVP all the more important to me today as a place I can bring my full heart - and where we’re all working together for real and lasting peace.

Onward,
Rabbi Alissa Wise
Deputy Director

1. http://7amleh.org/2018/03/05/7amleh-releases-new-racism-index-exposing-heightened-israeli-online-incitement-against-palestinians/

***

From Rainforest Action Network:

The numbers are in, and they are infuriating.

In spite of deadly impacts to communities and climate, big banks actually increased their financing to extreme fossil fuels last year. And they are hoping you won’t notice.

See the findings from our new report, and let the banks know that we won’t let them get away with this.

Each year, RAN and our partners grade the world’s big banks, and calculate how much money they are funneling to extreme fossil fuels — some of the most climate-intensive and destructive energy sources, which must be phased out quickly. Many of the dirtiest, riskiest projects wouldn’t happen without billions in bank funding.

In 2017, some banks, especially in France and the Netherlands, started to wake up to reality, and made policy improvements. But unfortunately, overall financing for extreme fossil fuels still went up. 

It’s simple. Without funding, these projects would never happen. Click here to take action and demand banks stop funding destructive projects and companies.

Here are just some of the findings of the new report, titled Banking on Climate Change: Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card 2018:

• JPMorgan Chase (Chase Bank) was already the biggest financier of extreme fossil fuels on Wall Street, but now the bank has doubled down, increasing that amount by over $4 billion last year. Chase is making a quick profit instead of supporting communities and the planet.
• All of the Canadian banks increased their shameful financing, sending more money to destructive tar sands oil extraction and pipelines. Together, they more than doubled their financing.
• While some have announced exciting oil and gas policies, most European banks are heading in the wrong direction on coal. Combined, their financing to the deadly, climate-polluting coal sector was $2 billion higher than the previous year.

With news like this, it’s time to step up the pressure. I hope you’ll join me in sending a clear message to JP Morgan Chase and its friends that we will not stand for funding the past. 


Alison Kirsch
Climate and Energy Program and Research Coordinator
Rainforest Action Network

***

Late last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) caved to corporate interests and voted to strip internet users of their rights to choose what they do, where they go and whom they connect with online. Without these Net Neutrality protections, large phone and cable companies are now able to block, throttle and slow access to sites and services at will.

The FCC's massively unpopular decision has sparked a national movement to demand the return of real Net Neutrality. Millions of people across the political spectrum are taking action in the streets, at their statehouses, outside the FCC and before Congress.

Mayors are taking action, too. Mayors Bill de Blasio of New York, Ted Wheeler of Portland and Steve Adler of Austin recently called on all other U.S. mayors to join them in a Cities Open Internet Pledge, which requires all internet providers with whom they do business to follow a strong set of Net Neutrality principles. Within a week, more than 20 mayors took the pledge (see below)!

Urge your mayor to stand for Net Neutrality. Send an email to your mayor, asking them to sign the Cities Open Internet Pledge -- and join the national movement for an open internet!

In solidarity,
Andrea Miller
Executive Director


In just 2 weeks, thousands of people will gather around the world in support of science.  Are you ready? 

If you’ll be joining us in Washington D.C., the day will start at 9 am with teach-in and expo tents on the National Mall at 15th and Constitution NW.  Then it’s time to get your signs ready for the 12:30 pm rally and 3 pm march! All this week we’ll be announcing speakers and musical guests leading up to the big event.

Joining a local event? Check out marches around the world at marchforscience.com/2018. 

To support the March for Science, visit us here. Help drive this movement forward!