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***Entry 502***
Friday, April 25, 2003
05:05 p.m.
DC: Back on Top?
Washington, DC residents should be thrilled to know that the District has regained its former title of murder capital. What an honor. [via: the DC IMC listserv.]
***Entry 501***
Thursday, April 24, 2003
09:00 p.m.
Reporting From Texas
I'm safe in Houston. I had the wildest day of travel...and my mind is so overworked that I can't possibly begin to blog about last night's West Wing episode. Sorry kids.
***Entry 500***
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
12:22 p.m.
What Goes Around, Comes Around
I have blogged incessantly about how hard I work and how I rarely receive recognition for the work I do. With that said, yesterday was perhaps the *best* day of my life.
I got a call shortly after I arrived at the office from my St. Mary's Project [SMP/read: senior thesis] advisor, Prof. Sam Chambers who told me that I had won the Boone Award for best Political Science SMP. This is an honor I had hardly expected to receive, given that there was intense competition. I'm honored and impressed. And, I'm *so* applying to grad school now.
Additionally, I was interviewed by an Anthropology grad student about my senior thesis; I befriended a radio talk show host in Houston; and I scored a free dinner next week at the Saloon because I'm a 'regular' there.
Life is good. Tomorrow, I head to Houston, TX for business related to this report on the TX criminal justice system. I'll see y'all soon.
***Entry 499***
Sunday, April 20, 2003
11:32 a.m.
4/22/03 Update
In case you've been wondering where I've been, I have some *major* news to announce...but I'm waiting until it's official to post ***Entry 500***. In the meantime, read my senior thesis. The announcement will make more sense that way.
A Holiday for Everyone
While there are advantages to being agnostic during religious holiday season--namely, no dietary restrictions--in many ways, I feel a little left out. Honestly, I'm more interested in the traditions associated with Passover and Easter than I am in gaining religion, hope, or 'faith.'
Nevertheless, there's a holiday for everyone, including agnostics: Happy 420!
***Entry 498***
Friday, April 18, 2003
05:34 p.m.
Cheating the System: Education, the Internet, and 'The Claims of Culture'
I've been getting a slew of hits over the past couple of days from google searches for reviews of Seyla Benhabib's The Claims of Culture. Almost all of them have been from .edu domains, causing me concern: are college students looking to the Nominally/Arbitrary Project for commentary on a book they might as well just read?
In any case, I'm not going to please them by writing a long, elaborate review on my blog. [A more thorough analysis will someday be found elsewhere...someday.] I'm going to state, simply and definatively that Benhabib's work is worth reading if you are interested in the negative implications of 'identity politics' and/or another exploration of deliberative democracy.
But, I will leave you with one little sentence from The Claims of Culture to ponder this weekend, which is *very* fitting for my blog:
In this "global.com civilization," persons will shrink into e-mail addresses in space, and their political and cultural lives will proliferate extensively into the electronic universe, while their temporal attachments will be short-lived, shifting and superficial.
If you want to talk about this, please, for the sake of Benhabib's argument, don't send me an email: call me. A little google search will give you my number.
***Entry 497***
Friday, April 18, 2003
05:27 p.m.
Eat Up: Hemp Foods Remain Legal
I warned you all about being excessively busy this week. One of the main reasons, I've been so busy is the Hemp Foods Action on Monday. Then we were happily surprised when the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted the hemp industry's stay.
What does this mean? Hemp foods will *not* be illegal on Monday...This is great news.
***Entry 496***
Friday, April 18, 2003
10:16 a.m.
Limited Postings...
8. Newsbrief: CIA Propaganda Radio Rap Song Links Saddam to Demon
Weed
From... The Week Online:
Ah, those wacky guys at the CIA! According to BBC Monitoring,
which selects and translates information from media sources
worldwide, a Kuwait-based, CIA-sponsored radio station has been
playing a rap-style parody of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
in which the US's demon du jour brags about smoking pot.
To the tune of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," a Saddam
impersonator raps a message from the missing leader in English and
Arabic:
"Bush wanna kick me, I don't know why and if I call him, he does
me goodbye.
"Smoking weed and getting high. I know the devil is by my side.
"My days are finished and I will die -- all I need is chili
fries."
The parody, being broadcast on so-called Radio Tikrit, also has
Hussein proclaiming such bon mots as "If you don't like me I will
kill you, I am Saddam," and "I am so dead, I am so bad, I am big
daddy, this is my game, I don't have any feelings, I don't have
any shame."
Your tax dollars at work.
***Entry 495***
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
11:55 a.m.
"I Ran Like a Rabbit From the Rifle"
I've been extremely busy over the last few days and I will continue to be extremely busy until the end of April. Expect sparse blogging and erratic posts about being busy.
I miss thinking about anything other than work. I miss substantive discussions that aren't work related. I miss reading/writing theory in general. I've become a work-a-holic. I think about work. I talk about work. I write about work.
I've gotta stop that...now. I've gotta get back to work.
***Entry 494***
Monday, April 14, 2003
04:41 p.m.
On To Syria...and Other Things That Don't Make Sense
The fact that I'm citing this, proves far too much about the 'reality' of this situation.
But in spite of his pretentiousness, and his typically post-modern hyping of symbols, Baudrillard had some key insights into a new kind of war - a war that is not really a war at all. As the current Gulf conflict seems to be drawing to a close, parts of Baudrillard's essays seem more pertinent than ever....
Really...[Link via: Political Theory Daily Review, the best website you're not reading...]
And...Nominally Correlated...
And since Machination.org has just recently been revived...you probably missed Matt's brilliant essay on the demise of the Saddam statue as well:
When an American soldier climbed up to Saddam's head and draped an american flag over the face of the statue, Katie Couric described it as a "serious in your face gesture, literally." As soon as this happened, there was buzz in the east coast studios of north american news networks. The commentators and hosts recollected the american flag being hoisted over Um Qasyr and it being ordered down. It seemed almost as if the soldiers could hear the murmuring: soon an american pulled the flag down, and was given an Iraqi flag. "The word has gone down, the Iraqi flag goes up," said Tom Brokaw.
***Entry 493***
Monday, April 14, 2003
11:37 a.m.
As Promised
Tomorrow is the saddest-day of the year. Tomorrow is the day in which our monies are taken away from us to pay for all kinds of ridiculousness: war, the drug war, nonsensical pork-barrel projects, shady government contracts, etc. Tomorrow is the day when DC residents are exploited without recourse. Simply put, tomorrow is "tax day" and we will be protesting.
And...for another important tax day protest, see what SUSTAIN has created--a tax day flyer that really challenges you...
***Entry 492***
Saturday, April 13, 2002
02:51 p.m.
Don't Look Here
If you're looking for *hot* coverage of the protests this weekend, stay clear of The Nominally/Arbitrary Project. I'm not protesting this weekend and I'm not going to write about the protests. I'm taking a solid, necessary break from activism this weekend to enjoy the much needed Zoe time. I didn't go online yesterday and I'm staying off today after I finish this entry.
Over the past couple of weeks I've been far too stressed out. The sheer amount of organizing I've been doing has overwhelmed me. So I took a break...and the weather has been beautiful enough for me to enjoy myself. It's nice.
And...if all you care about is protesting...go to the DC IMC. I'll be back reporting on the upcoming "Tax Day" protest sometime tomorrow.
***Entry 491***
Friday, April 11, 2003
03:30 p.m.
Curtailing Communication
"Self-censorship"--When I first heard that term in ninth grade Journalism 1, I was appalled. These days, the association is far more soothing.
I don't tend to blog about the nuances of my personal life. There are things I would rather not allow my readership to know about me--for a variety of reasons. In short, despite my public image, I want to remain a private person. In as much as I like having control over what people know about me, I am disturbed by the fact that people continue to "read into" my words things that are completely beside the point that I am erratically trying to address. Nevertheless, I am all-too-aware I cannot change other people's interpretations. But I still feel that I should offer advice:
I prefer blatant explanations to subtle hints. I prefer explicit communication to couched arguments. I prefer honesty at-all-costs to the niceties of social interaction.
With that said, I must admit to using subtle hints, couched arguments and the niceties of social interaction. I must admit to being cryptic to the point of confusion. I must admit to using the blog as a clumsy form of communication with individuals and the world.
I self-censor because it is easier than allowing myself to be hurt.
***Entry 490***
Friday, April 11, 2003
01:06 p.m.
On the RAVE Act Controversy
Skarlet wrote a brief synopsis of the RAVE Act. This information just came over email from the Week Online:
Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) took advantage of Congress' engrained inability to vote against anything that might "save the children" to win passage of two measures destined to cause pain and misery for untold numbers of adult partygoers, club owners, event organizers and criminal defendants. Biden, an inveterate drug warrior who authored the notorious "crack house" legislation of 1984, hitched his widely criticized RAVE Act (S226, now known officially as the "Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act," Biden having dropped the inflammatory moniker after running into unexpected opposition last year) to the popular Amber Alert bill (S151/HR1104), which sets up a national system of alerts for kidnapped kids and increases child pornography penalties, while Feeney used the bill to pass a measure to limit the ability of federal judges to grant downward departures in sentences -- a measure not limited to sex crimes against children and much more likely to be used to prevent federal judges from lightening sentences for drug offenders.
The Amber Alert bill passed both chambers this week, with the House approving 400-25 and the Senate approving with a unanimous 98-0 vote Thursday evening.
Under Biden's RAVE Act, anyone who organizes an event or owns a venue where someone uses an illegal drug can be held liable for that drug use. Although expressly crafted and advanced as an attack on the rave culture, the bill's implications are frighteningly broad. It could be used against promoters of hemp fests, rock concert promoters or even -- in theory -- against professional sports franchises if fans are smoking joints in the stands.
Biden first advanced the bill last year, but pressure from a coalition of drug reform, civil liberties, electronic music and business groups led by the Drug Policy Alliance and its subsidiary, the Electronic Museum Defense and Education Fund, peeled off initial supporters and stopped the legislation in its tracks. But in a move demonstrating his mastery of legislative legerdemain, Biden attached his pet project to the Amber Alert bill last week.
In a bit of understatement, DPA national affairs director William McColl told DRCNet "it is unusual for a bill to appear with zero votes in committee and zero floor votes." But pushed on the Senate floor today by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), Biden's RAVE Act did just that. "This was real back door legislative sausage making," said McColl.
"This is not a good situation," said McColl. "This opens up clubs and one-day events to increased scrutiny, civil fines, and even arrest for club owners or event organizers. How this plays out will rely to a great extent on prosecutorial discretion. The language of the bill applies to owners who 'knowingly' open a business for the 'purpose' of drug use, but a pair of federal circuit courts have ruled that the 'knowingly' applies to owners even when it is not the owner's but the customer's 'purpose' to use drugs."
Still, said McColl, the bill is a slight improvement over last year's version, and the coalition against the RAVE Act is prepared to continue to fight to undo it. "While this is obviously disappointing, the coalition's efforts did change the bill for the better. The overt discrimination against electronic music by using the word 'rave' has been removed, as have findings that suggested that harm reduction measures, such as the presence of glow-sticks or the sales of water, were evidence of an owner's ill-intent." Still, said McColl, that wasn't enough. "This is just the beginning. We will be back and people will come out of the woodwork to help us now."
***Entry 489***
Thursday, April 10, 2003
08:20 p.m.
More Updates
The good news: I'm back in the city and my leg is healing as expected. The bad news: I can't run or jump until mid-May...which means, it's unlikely that I can play softball this season. And...I was *totally* looking forward to it. I guess I'll be a coach again. *sigh*
***Entry 488***
Thursday, April 10, 2003
12:13 p.m.
On Planning and Progress
It's really a shame that it takes nine deaths to compell people in Southern Maryland to reconsider the design of major roads in the area. There are three major roads in Southern Maryland--Route 5 [Branch Ave], Route 4 [Penn Ave] and Route 235. All are similar as people regularly speed--going over 80mph at some points--and drive erratically. If these roads were interstates, this wouldn't be an issue. However, in Southern Maryland, these roads are peppered with traffic lights and sprawing subdivisions, making driving particularly difficult.
Officials said growth in Southern Maryland -- where the population rose 24 percent in the 1990s, to 283,000 -- partly explains the high number of fatalities among teenagers.
Southern Maryland's country roads, built for sparse, free-flowing traffic, often are filled with commuters, and side streets connecting new subdivisions to major thoroughfares are sometimes as busy as highway access ramps. As a result, officials said, the area's roads can be a deadly arena for young motorists with relatively little driving experience.
"These cemeteries are loaded with tombstones for teenagers," said Kathryn Orosz, 46, of Crofton, whose 18-year-old son, Michael Vito, died in a Calvert car crash in 1999.
I knew Michael Vito. He went to my high school. He died about a mile away from my parents house on his way home from school. In many ways, his death elucidated the problem with exponential growth without sufficient road preparation.
But, nearly four years later, nothing has changed...and the problems have gotten worse.
It isn't easy to find solutions in Southern Maryland. Calvert County Commissioner David Hale explains why:
He also said that many residents moved to Southern Maryland to escape the stop-and-go traffic common in bigger counties. "For every person who wants a traffic light," Hale said, "I can find one who wants to take one out."
So what is there to do? Progress is a difficult thing, especially in Southern Maryland, which has held on to its image as a down-homey cultural enclave in the midst of the high-stress Washington suburbs. However, as shown by the increasing number of teenagers that die in completely preventable car accidents, progress is necessary.
Southern Marylanders and commuters using those dangerous roads need to slow down, watch traffic more carefully and lobby hard for legislators like Hale to wise up and install more traffic lights. That will help solve the traffic problems.
I'll be driving in Southern Maryland very shortly for my final doctor's appointment re: my broken leg. I'm a little nervous, but I'll drive safely.
***Entry 487***
Thursday, April 10, 2003
10:38 a.m.
My Medical Marijuana Feature
Currently the lead feature on the DC IMC
Early Wednesday, March 9, DC medical marijuana activists braved the pouring cold rain handing out information on jury duty and medical marijuana issues to judges, jurors and the general public at the Federal Courthouse.
"Despite the rain, it was pretty cheerful. We were a small but determined group of people dedicated to shedding light on how jurors can weigh in on the DEA raids which have effected scores of medical marijuana patients and their caregivers," said Adam Eidinger, a member of the DC Chapter of Americans For Safe Access.
Additionally, the activists had a large banner reading "Jurors: Acquit all Pot Cases/ It Could be Medical" which was held in front of the Federal Courthouse and was later paraded around the Judiciary Square complex.
The protest was in anticipation of the arrival of a delegation of California medical marijuana patients, their families and federal jurors who have served on medical marijuana trials. Additionally, DC activists elucidated the lack of federal recognition of the DC voter approved
Initiative 59 which legalized marijuana for seriously ill people.
While President Bush will formally appoint Karen Tandy as the new DEA Administrator this month, medical marijuana activists are questioning the reasoning behind denying access to one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to mankind by arresting patients and providers. These patients and providers are then forced to endure lengthy trials with juries who are not informed of the medical necessity defense. This situation could change as U.S. Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduce the “Patients’ and Providers’ Truth in Trials Act” in Congress later this week, which will allow for a medical necessity defense. ...More...
And...As A Side Note
I'd like to apologize for the blog entry directly below. I was feeling overwhelmed by the large amount of work I've been doing over the past few weeks. I hadn't had any "Zoe time" in weeks and I was feeling ill. I had a quiet night last night, which included a full 8 hours of sleep. I'm feeling better and less antagonistic now. I just needed some space to sort through my ever chaotic thoughts.
***Entry 486***
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
01:15 p.m.
On Today's Medical Marijuana Action and Responsibility
I wrote a short story up on the DC IMC about today's medical marijuana direct action. On the whole, the action was successful. We talked to judges, jurors and the general public about the rights of jurors and medical marijuana. It was great.
On the other hand, I am very upset that several people who had committed to being at this event failed to show up at the last moment. Sure, everyone has a personal reason why they couldn't attend--but those, regardless, are merely excuses. Achieving a policy change requires the involvement of responsible people. If everyone were to make an excuse, absolutely nothing would ever change. It's the "if you don't vote, you can't complain" taken to a far more significant level. Being indifferent or incompetent doesn't cut it anymore.
I am abrasive sometimes. I am difficult to work with sometimes. But, I am committed and I am responsible. And I am honest about my faults. And, I'm only starting to realize how *rare* these characteristics really are. I often feel like if I stopped working...nothing would ever happen. I often feel like I could really use a break.
***Entry 485***
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
04:17 p.m.
Back to Meetings vs. Actions...oh...so...Nominally
Skarlet had a *nasty* dream about meetings...and placed the blame squarely on me. What can I say to redeem myself--nothing...I dreaded facilitating last night's DC IMC meeting...and used our email correspondence as a means to vent my adversion. Skarlet, blogging rockstar, I'm sorry that you had to dream about *that* because of me ...
And... as this is likely the *last* entry of the day... Please... Please... Please... consider coming out to tomorrow's medical marijuana direct action. It will be *really* hot.
***Entry 484***
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
03:58 p.m.
On Protests
There's another debate on the purpose and effectiveness of the Critical Mass Bikes Not Bombs protests. First, John Whiteside, on DC Watch's The Mail writes against Adam Eidinger and the protests. [Scroll down about half way to "They Doth Protest Too Much"]. The most 'off-handed' criticism:
The bike groups have focused on blocking rush hour traffic around Dupont Circle, that hotbed of hawks. Expected results? Regarding the war, none, but giving the participants a fuzzy sense of empowerment and maybe some air time, quite a bit. It's an elaborate form of mental masturbation for the protesters.
Hmmm...well...because protests initiate a lively discourse, Adam has responded with this [to be published next week] response:
Riding Bikes is Our Right and So is Protest
In the last edition of the The Mail, John Whitesides', "They Doth Protest Too Much" complained about the twice weekly bicycle rides that leave from Dupont Circle on Mondays and Fridays at 6:00 PM. His letter included inaccurate statements about me and the bike rides which require my correction.
Whitesides claimed that the Bikes Not Bombs rides are designed to block rush hour traffic. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Besides the fact bikes take up far less space on the road than cars, the bike rides have not been designed to block traffic. Rather, they are designed to maintain resistance to the war in Iraq and Americas reliance on foreign oil in the street. In fact, as most bike riders will tell you, bikes travel much faster than cars in rush hour traffic. Riding a bike doesn't produce air or noise pollution and is a good way to stay physically fit. The rides actually go somewhere, whether it be Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's Kalorama Casa, Ari Flieschers Capital Hill townhouse or the British Embassy, these rides bring peace activists to people waging the illegal and bloody war on Iraq.
Another statement by Whitesides alleges that I am the spokesperson of Bikes Not Bombs. In fact, I am one of about 100 people who participate in these rides, but to be exact we have no leaders or spokespeople. Each ride has one or two people who volunteer at the previous ride to design the next ride's route. So far this year I have only planned one ride.
Finally, I did run for U.S. Shadow Representative on behalf of the DC Statehood Green Party , receiving about 14% of the vote and placing second. I am proud to be a DC resident and I will likely run again for office because I am not satisfied with the level action our current shadow officials are making to get DC residents long overdue equal rights. If standing up for what you believe in is crime, then I am guilty as charged. Considering the obscene amount of police harassment we experience week after week for holding these rides, Whitesides should reconsider who is wasting taxpayers time and money. (For more on the police harassment see my story). Far from being an inconvenience to DC residents, Bikes Not Bombs is in the forefront of standing up for sustainable transportation, peace and the dignity of all people. If Whitesides truly supports anti-war positions, then he should come to the ride this week and see for himself how we conduct ourselves.
Adam's response will surely generate a larger debate on these protests: but at the very least, the Bikes Not Bombs events have garnered recognition and interest.
***Entry 483***
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
01:10 p.m.
Updates
The Mintwood website is being reconstructed right now. Finally, my bio, no longer claims that I'm a college junior. Next up, the revising the in/famous Zoe's Diary page.
***Entry 482***
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
11:24 a.m.
Literally, Vomit Inducing
From the Shirts Off listserv:
New York City) Humans Everywhere Against Violence Eternally (HEAVE) unexpectedly struck at the New York Fox News headquarters and CNN on Tuesday, April 1, 2003. A group of 12 snacked on homemade blueberry, cherry and apple pies before they emptied their stomachs on the sidewalk of Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Corp at 48th and 6th ave. and CNN at 49th. Tuesday's campaign was entitled "Operation G.I. Tract Freedom". Organizers claimed their action was a gut-response to the current war reporting in mainstream media in general and Fox's heavily pro-war bias specifically.
If you don't feel ill yet...you can read on.
***Entry 481***
Monday, April 7, 2003
05:22 p.m.
Take Action for Medical Marijuana
This Wednesday, the DC Chapter of Americans For Safe Access will be holding our first federal jury education direct action. This action is extremely important as most jurors are uninformed of their rights.
U.S. juries have a proud and heroic tradition of standing up to tyranny and saying no to oppressive, unjust, or misapplied laws. No one has ever died from an overdose of marijuana and it has a wide variety of therapeutic applications: release from nausea and increase of appetite, reduction of intraocular pressure, reduction of muscle spasms, and relief from chronic pain. “Why must our government continue the harassment, persecution, prosecution, and criminalization of innocent, harmless people?" asks Eidinger.
And Speaking of Adam...
...look what we found today: this little photo of Adam on CBS News...with this little quote:
In Washington, D.C., anti-war activist Adam Eidinger is suing the Metropolitan Police Department, claiming officers posed as activists and attended meetings at his home. "It's Soviet..., it's outrageous," he said.
***Entry 480***
Monday, April 7, 2003
12:06 a.m.
On Returning from Richmond
I love Washington, DC more completely than I could elucidate in this blog entry; however, it was *very* *very* nice to get out of the city and relax. I had an incredible time thanks to Jill's friends, [the other] Jill, Graham, and Ed. They treated me like a rockstar with fresh sushi and free tix to a fundraiser for a Richmond marijuana legalization group.
The fundraiser was the messiest, strangest party *I* have ever been to. Getting a beer took 30+ minutes and the entire wearhouse where the party was being held became a pit of mud and water due to *mudwrestling.* Let's just say, I didn't end up staying long. Instead, we went to a bar and listened to some decent d&b.
When we awoke, we headed to the stellar/dive-y 821 Cafe and had an incredible brunch before hitting Belle Isle for some outdoor adventures. It was really amazing to be a two-day tourist in a city that is so close to DC, yet so *extremely* different.
Sometimes, it's simply nice to get away. Afterall, tomorrow, I have to go work, hit the next Shirts Off action and then head up to an DC IMC meeting. Escape, is more than a temptation these days.
***Entry 479***
Friday, April 4, 2003
02:14 p.m.
I'm so Dizzy
While walking home from the bus yesterday, I found a theoretical justification for my current job: as a Public Relations Professional, I--my personal background, etc.--am irrelvant. Instead, I am only the ideas that I present to the public. I write about ideas. I talk about ideas. I am, in short, ideas.
And, it's perfectly legitimate because there is simply so much for me to talk about.
Now, you know why I have a peculiar admiration for White House Press Secretaries. Ohh...Ari...It's a Friday.
***Entry 478***
Thursday, April 3, 2003
05:53 p.m.
Weekly West Wing Review
It's coming late today, but I had a lot of work to do before I could get back on the blog. Prolific readers will note that the first entry of this "week" was dreadfully incomplete for most of the day. But, hey, isn't that what this whole blog thing is supposed to be about: a somewhat random way of explaining the odd events of the day.
Whatever. GovExec's analysis of the CJ's plot to keep the press corps from reporting on Air Force One's crisis, left a little to be desired. CJ's actions weren't just simply silly and ridiculous--they were absolutely unrealistic. I don't like to consider myself an authority in any topic [yet!]; however, my current job as--of all things--a media consultant gives me some understanding of CJ's dilemma in last night's episode. And her "this story is embargoed" line hit far too close to home. However, her approach: to shut off communication, to lie, to mislead, and to ultimately stifle the news cycle was not about "spinning." It was about already being out of control.
Despite the CJ plot, last night's episode was tolerable for other larger issues. It was yet another example of how people attempt to control situations which unravel entirely. [My metaphors are really cliched tonight.] And how they react by talking about it. Silence and speech. That just may be the dynamic of the week.
***Entry 477***
Thursday, April 3, 2003
05:07 p.m.
Sadder than "Saddam International Airport"
Here's a website which lists most of the medical marijuana patients and providers currently making their way through the federal system.
The next case up, that of Osborn's, is particularly saddening:
Lynn and Judy tended the patient-run cannabis garden located at their Ventura County ranch. They were victims of the first federal raid against the co-op just three weeks before the cruel DEA closure of LACRC. The end result of both raids: nearly 1000 patients were robbed of their state approved medicine. The federal shutdown devastated LACRC members. Over 50 have since died.
Stay tuned. We'll be doing something about this here in DC.
***Entry 476***
Thursday, April 3, 2003
09:41 a.m.
On "Action"
There's a flyer in my office describing a new form of antiwar organizing in Washington, DC. Put simply, it states: "less talk, more action." How revolutionary.
Although I have used the blog numerous times to criticize the length and stupidity of meetings; however, I can't endorse an action being initiated solely because the organizers are sick of discussion.
In a truly innovative new social movement there would be sufficient space for both: short-term action planning requiring some discussion and long-term strategizing about future goals and ideals requiring indepth, throrough discussion. The strange reality of antiwar organizing in DC is that the approach is reversed. Meetings are filled with long, endless discussions about seemingly simple tasks and the long-term strategizing happens quietly behind the scene with few participants.
It's as if organizers are all the willing to wax poetic for hours about exactly how to tie a banner to a pole, but incapable of seeing the long-term effects of their actions. Just as a day cannot be separated from the week--each action an antiwar group creates, is vital for understanding this entire movement. Far more importantly, however, is that long-term strategizing. If organizers are interested in forgetting that, and forgetting the vital "talk" that accompanies it, then the actions are meaningless.
For example, some state legislators in Oregon introduced a bill that roughly equates antiwar protesters to terrorists. This bill, thankfully, is unlikely to go anywhere. However, it is encouraging debate on free speech and society. See:
The bill has met strong opposition but lawmakers still expect a debate on the definition of terrorism and the value of free speech before a vote by the state senate judiciary committee, whose Chairman, Republican Senator John Minnis, wrote the proposed legislation. [Link via: Joanne]
It would be an interesting turn of events if the Oregon Anti-terrorism bill initiated a debate about how the anti-war movement could *really* progress.
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