War and Taxes

Last night I helped show a film on war rax resistance. The film, “An Act of Conscience” is about a couple who in the 1990’s fought a battle against the IRS in proceedings that led to the confiscation and sale of their home. The story revolved around what happened next with the family that bought the home, the squatting and then eviction of the home by various community members, and the new homeowners settling with the community who owned a collective that actually owned the land on which the home sat. It is a very compelling story and really makes one think about where their taxes are spent.

Here is a pie chart, published by the War Resisters League that depicts the portion of your federal taxes that go towards the military and war efforts:

I am the state contact for the National War Tax REsistsnace Coordinating Committee. I help show this film each year and provide literature for people who may be interested in learning more about what they can do to divert their tax dollars away from war. You can view the NWTRCC’s Statement of Purpose. It is a coalition of groups dedicated to providing information and resources and support for those considering war tax resistance.
There are multiple ways to engage in war tax resistance.
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Today in history

April 16
1818
US Senate ratifies Rush-Bagot amendment, disarming the US-Canadian border.
1967
Greek government bans Marathon Peace March, held yearly since 196t.
1971
Members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) threw medals they had earned in Vietnam on the U.S. Capitol steps in protest of the Vietnam War.


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Racism Abounds

The Baltimore Sun published an article yesterday by William D. Hartung,No Military Solution. Hartung examines the Bush Administration’s continuing and increasing threats of military action against Iran for its development of nuclear weapons, as the best strategy for addressing the issue with Iran.

I just can’t understand, still, why it is acceptable for the U.S. to make such threats against some countries and not others. Why is it acceptable for Israel, for example, to develop nuclear arms and not Iran? Dick Cheney has been quoted as saying that Iran is engaging in “irresponsible conduct”. Yet the Bushites do not address other “irresponsible conduct” by other countries, not only in the development of nuclear arms, but in the violence that occurs against populations – the plight of Palestinians for example.

This smacks of racism to me. I cannot think of any other justification.

Indigenous Languages Disappearing

An article posted on Common Dreams, entitled Indigenous Languages in Final Throes, takes a look at the gradual disappearance of languages that have disappeared over the past several hundred years, and the continued disappearance of languages. It is estimated that about 20 languages per year disappear.

How to handle immigration

Part of the Plan has posted a tongue-in-cheek

Utah Latino Boy Scouts criticized for being involved in immigrant rallies

This is “something”. The Boy Scouts of America (aka “Brown Shirts of America”) in today’s news:
Boy Scouts chastised for immigrant rallies–Politics: Official says Latino troop violated policy of involvement.

A Utah Boy Scout official has warned a Latino troop earning merit badges for “Citizenship in the Community” that it violated policy against involvement in political events with its participation in immigration demonstrations this week in Salt Lake City.

Now there’s promoting of, advocating for and teaching our children about democracy and citizenship.

Michael Clara, scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 987, said he received a phone call on Wednesday from Vic Rowberry, a Great Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts of America field director, who said the troop shouldn’t have participated in the events.
Clara disagreed, saying he didn’t understand the difference between providing the flag ceremony and staying to observe the Republican State Convention in August 2005 and carrying and passing out flags at the nonpartisan immigration demonstrations on Sunday and Monday.

Clara, a Utah Republican, was told that he would have been in compliance if the troop would have performed the flag ceremony at the demonstration and then left. Yet, troops performed the ceremony at the Republican convention and stayed.

I don’t get it.

Clara said he believes the troop is being “singled out” because it participated in a “nontraditional event.” As the organization tries to diversify its troops, Clara said it needs to understand that ethnic minorities are going to participate in events that some Utah Boy Scouts have not joined in the past.
Clara said the organization teaches civic responsibility and being tolerant and respectful of people’s differences.
“The very thing we’re teaching our young men, the council is not doing to us,” Clara said.
Kay]]Godfrey [spokesman for the Great Salt Lake Council,]called those comments by Clara “ridiculous.”

Sounds like a double standard to me.

“Tomorrow”

Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I’m wond’ring today
Will they sing our songs tomorrow
In this land, the U.S.A.
Oh, I know they’ll sing them someday,
Those who fight for liberty.
Will our songs be sung tomorrow
In this land that they call free?

(chorus)
Now is the time
Now is the day
Now is the hour
No more delay
Let’s build a peaceful world
And get it right away, not tomorrow,
But today.
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Today in history

April 15

War Tax Resistance Day

1947
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson became the first African-American to play in a major league baseball game. His stepping onto Ebbets field in a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform broke the “color line,” segregation dating back 78 years to the nineteenth century. The game, until a franchise moved to Atlanta in the mid-’60s, had been played entirely in northern cities.


“Jackie (Robinson), we’ve got no army. There’s virtually nobody on our side. No owners, no umpires, very few newspapermen. And I’m afraid that many fans will be hostile. We’ll be in a tough position. We can win only if we can convince the world that I’m doing this because you’re a great ballplayer, a fine gentleman.”…
“There was never a man in the game who could put mind and muscle together quicker and with better judgment than (Jackie) Robinson.”
Branch Rickey, the courageous but canny Dodgers’ manager who hired Robinson

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Green Candidates

The Green Party of the United States is spotlighting candidates each week on its website. You can read about the candidates around the nation .

So far there are 241 Candidates in 2006 in 32 States in 52 Types of Offices. There have already been 17 victories in races this year.

The largest slate is Californina with 44 greens running, followed by Texas (yes, Texas!) which has 24, then Wisconsin with 21 and then Pennsylvania with 20. Gubernatorial offices are being pursued by greens in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachussetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Looks like this will be an exciting year for green elections!

Today in history

April 14

Good Friday

1775
The first American society for the abolition of slavery is organized by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.

1930
Police arrest over 100 Chicano farm workers for their union activities in Imperial Valley, California. Eight will be convicted of so-called “criminal syndicalism.”
1937
Bruderhof, a Christian peace church, raided by the Gestapo in Frankfurt.
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