working together for social inclusion in America

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Demon Possession

Bruce Wilson examines Teen Challenge addiction recovery centers in Colorado, where exorcism is used to cure people of homosexuality. As noted by recovery center staff, demon possession is a common problem.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Dissipation

Keeping focused on major spectacles of global issues or national plebiscites channels concerned citizens into ineffective venues where their energies can be dissipated without posing a threat to the established order. When people become involved in political activities where they live, there is always the chance they might change things, and set an example of independence that could be replicated elsewhere. Nipping these autonomous zones in the bud, be it in Chiapas or Clayoquot, is the role of corporate political parties, corporate media, and other anti-democratic institutions.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Cashing in on Hate

One of the ironies of the current US military expansion in Central Africa, is that while homosexuals fight for their constitutional rights in our armed forces, the armed forces of America's proxy army in Uganda may soon be legally authorized to murder homosexuals under Ugandan law. Another irony in the resource rich heart of the African continent, is that the charismatic pentecostal network behind lethal homophobia and other forms of Christian bigotry there was promoted in part by Rick Warren, the right-wing preacher President Obama propelled into international prominence by selecting him to preside at his inaugural.

As the Ugandan troops prepare to attack opponents of US aggression in the region, religion will no doubt play a large role, albeit not as large as the insatiable transnational corporations pulling Obama's strings in order to plunder the minerals and forests of Africa's heathen natives. Joseph Conrad couldn't have written a more bloodthirsty script.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Handmaid's Tale

For anyone who has read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, the image of Christian theocracy is a terrifying prospect. With candidates like Christine O'Donnell, James Aiona and Sarah Palin, the likelihood of Christian fascism spreading like wildfire is enough to challenge our taken-for-granted values like diversity and multiculturalism. Bruce Wilson examines Hawaii gubernatorial candidate James Aiona's relationship with the homophobic Christian theocracy movement known as International Transformation Network.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Red Power

Lorraine Jessepe interviews Madonna Thunder Hawk about the Red Power movement, a global indigenous initiative that is on the move.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Fighting Fire

Them sons-of-bitches was Mennonites and wouldn't fight in the last war -- said they wasn't afraid to work or die for their country but wouldn't kill anybody, so somebody, maybe for this somebody's idea of a joke, had them sent to the Smokejumpers. It turned out them sons-of-bitches was farm boys and, what's more, didn't believe in using machines no way -- working was just for their hands and their horses, and them sons-of-bitches took them shovels and saws and Pulaskis and put a hump in their backs and never straightened up until morning when they had a fire-line around the whole damn fire.

Them sons-of-bitches was the world's champion firefighters. The rest of us bastards was dead by midnight.

--Hal Samsel, United States Forest Service

From Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean

America's Brown Shirts

Recent news about the Pentagon recruiting Mexicans to join the U.S. military in exchange for green cards reminded me of a post by Juli Meanwhile five years ago, in which she so eloquently critiqued the Pentagon sponsorship of the Boy Scouts. Evidently, all that mass marketing and hot air by the top brass was for not, as the boys in brown opted for playing at home rather than fighting abroad.

Friday, October 08, 2010

Human Migration

As one of the inevitable consequences of the global crises generated by globalization, human migration is a growing aspect of life in the 21st century. Given the projected disruptions from climate change, widescale migration is perhaps a permanent social phenomenon. At the Fourth World Social Forum on Migration held in Quito, activist scholars will discuss such things as human mobility and refugees, as well as the intersection of displaced rural residents, indigenous peoples, and migrants worldwide. Mapping out this aspect of the likely future for humankind, they will address the core issues of diversity, coexistence, and sociocultural transformations now taxing our resourcefulness.