New Content: (08/03/2008) Last Addition: (08/23/2008)
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"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, (i.e., the "business cycle") the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
I want to thank Richard Rawlings for nominating me on behalf of the United States Marijuana Party. To be clear it would take a historic viral internet campaign to actually deliver me to the White House in 2009. But it is my hope that we minimally build a large coalition, in the next several months, so that we can minimally push the "New Agenda for America" down the throats of whichever Corporate Candidate (e.g., Obama or McCain) actually "wins" the election.
Here are the initial "planks" of my Presidential Platform known as the "New Agenda for America:"
(1) Universal Health Care for All American Citizens (2) A 20-year moratorium on all immigration into the United States (3) Legal Marijuana for all Adults and Medical Patients (4) An immediate reversal to the Offshoring and Inshoring of American Jobs (5) A strict enforcement on issues of Separation of Church and State (6) An immediate move from so-called Free Trade Agreements to Bilateral Trade agreements (7) A major R&D project to bring energy independence to the United States and the World through recycling, reuse, ending hyper-consumerism and investing in the development of sustainable energy sources (e.g., solar, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal) (8) No further ownership of US Assets (businesses, homes, ports, stock exchanges) by foreign governments or individuals! (9) Replace the Federal Reserve with a People's Reserve which allows public oversight (10) Absolute support for Net Neutrality
Of course one of the 10 planks, of the "New Agenda for America" is the MERP Model for Re-Legalizing Marijuana.
The MERP Project The Marijuana Re-Legalization Policy (MRP) Project
This is the most progressive of all Marijuana reform models because it basically allows all adults over 18 to grow up to 100 plants without ANY federal taxation, regulation or other forms of interference. I would also argue that this small expansion of individual liberty is required, given the liberties that have been lost since September 11th, 2001.
If, by some miracle, I did win the election, my first official act would be to set up a special office that would grant clemency to EVERY non-violent Marijuana offender throughout the United States. This would be followed by executive pressure on both Houses to remove Marijuana completely from the Controlled Substances Act (1970). This would definitely end 70 years of needless Marijuana Prohibition throughout the United States of America.
The very next thing I would do is reinstate Habeas Corpus and Posse Commitatus. It should be remembered that the writ of habeas corpus goes all the way back to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 AD. That is a good measure as to how far George Bush has pushed back the rights of Americans in the last 8 years. After that is a long list which would include:
* Sending out the 12 million "No-Match" letters and deporting all Illegal Aliens and Visa "overstays" that these letters would surely identify. * Reopen the "911" investigation with the help of such experts as Griffin etc. * Drafting a massive "debt relief" program for legal American Citizens that will assure the ownership of their homes and the access to American jobs and other opportunities. * Complete disruption of funding to any nation (e.g., Saudi Arabia) that does not recognize inalienable rights such as Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church and State.
Well, I think you've got the idea. It would not be "business as usual" unless of course we are finally talking about the People's business. And it is sad to say that no one has talked about the business of the American People in at least 50 years.
Now for more information on the United States Marijuana Party:
The United States Marijuana Party - is a motivated group of Americans who are tired of living in fear of their government because of marijuana prohibition. We are fed up with the intrusion into our personal lives, with urine testing at work and at school, with armed home invasions, and with the possibility of prison because of a plant. WE are Americans and WE do not piss in a cup for anyone!
WE feel it is time for the 12 million Americans who smoke marijuana on a regular basis to stop hiding their love for this plant and unite as one large body of voters to demand an end to the unconstitutional prohibition of marijuana and the drug war. The U.S. cannot lock up 12 million people. The War on Drugs causes more harm than the drugs themselves ever will. United WE are a potential 12 million vote political machine. WE want to live free and WE must be determined to stand up, be counted, demonstrate, rally, and write. Waiting for the government to silence us all in the American prison system is not an option! Too many of our brethren are there, in prison right now.
More Americans are in jail today for non-violent drug offenses than at any previous time in American history. More Americans are in jail today for marijuana offenses than at any previous moment in American history. The war against marijuana is a genocidal war waged against us by a government determined to eradicate our plant, our culture, our freedom and our political rights.
Though I recommend a 10-year amnesty -- on foreclosures of primary residences, owned by Legal American Citizens -- I'm not really quite sure if that is the answer. What I do know is that the elite has screwed the American working class, over the last 50 years, and some form of massive debt relief IS in order. Moreover this relief needs to be distributed immediately given the unrelenting destruction of jobs that has occurred over the last 7 months. My chief concern is extending meaningful, equitable relief to the American working class.
This, and many other videos, can be viewed through my YouTube Channel:
Please note that I have also constructed a "New Agenda for America" playlist, at my YouTube Channel, which currently consists of 5 videos. To access the entire playlist you can click on the YouTube link (above) or play all 5 videos by clicking the window below.
As always, I also recommend reading through the archived files (e.g., in the blue right hand column) as there is a lot of interesting literary and video content to absorb.
This edition includes the movie "Zeitgeist," my "write-in" candidacy progress and much more. As usual I will be adding additional content over the next few weeks.
Much more (articles, videos) on the "New Agenda for America" can be found through the following links:
Here are the initial "planks" of my Presidential Platform known as the "New Agenda for America:"
(1) Universal Health Care for All American Citizens (2) A 20-year moratorium on all immigration into the United States (3) Legal Marijuana for all Adults and Medical Patients (4) An immediate reversal to the Offshoring and Inshoring of American Jobs (5) A strict enforcement on issues of Separation of Church and State (6) An immediate move from so-called Free Trade Agreements to Bilateral Trade agreements (7) A major R&D project to bring energy independence to the United States and the World through recycling, reuse, ending hyper-consumerism and investing in the development of sustainable energy sources (e.g., solar, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal) (8) No further ownership of US Assets (businesses, homes, ports, stock exchanges) by foreign governments or individuals! (9) Replace the Federal Reserve with a People's Reserve which allows public oversight (10) Absolute support for Net Neutrality
I'm also happy to announce that you can now listen -- and purchase -- the music CD "Gnostic Raw." "Gnostic Raw" is exactly what it implies: a set of 8 complete songs in their early compositional forms. You are welcome to click the link below and listen to samples of each of the 8 songs from "Gnostic Raw" and 1 song from "Classical Guitar Live:" Both are the work of New Age Citizen's editor, Bruce Cain. Proceeds will be used to further promote the "New Agenda for America" and other future projects of "New Age Citizen."
The following YouTube Video showcases some of the songs from the CD:
You can order you own copy by going to this link (below):
Note: The transcript is also included along with the video
Today I am challenging candidates McCain and Obama to join me in calling for a 10-Year Moratorium on the foreclosure of all Primary Residences owned by Legal American Citizens. This is part of a 4-point plan that they can implement immediately to show their leadership abilities as Senators. This 4-point plan will provide both jobs and debt relief to all Legal American Citizens at a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty.
But first let me introduce myself.
My name is Bruce Cain. I am the author of the “New Agenda for America:” a set of policy planks, favored by many Americans, but ignored by Corporately-financed candidates Obama and McCain. I am also running as a “write-in” candidate for the 2008 Presidency in order to illustrate that there are sensible alternatives to many of our current policies that are not being given due consideration by either Congress or the Presidential candidates.
For the last year the elite, through a corporately controlled media, has been promulgating what I like the call the “Big Lie” about Home Foreclosures. The “Big Lie” goes something like this:
“The only people loosing their homes, over the last 2 years, have been Americans who had no business purchasing a home in the first place.”
This is not only a “big lie” – it is a calculated lie: a lie with a purpose. And the purpose of this lie is to cover up the real reasons for levels of home foreclosure that now threaten to exceed those levels seen during the Great Depression.
The “big lie” on foreclosures is an attempt to cover up the ongoing economic destruction of the American Worker: the destruction of our jobs, our pensions, our social security; the devaluation of our dollar, and much, much more. All these things, taken together, constitute a “perfect storm” of destruction of both the American worker and the American family. Only a traitor would allow such policies to continue. Truth be told, both our President and our Congressional Representatives have sold out the America people and have also nearly destroyed the US Constitution.
Text: Case Study: Fire an American, Hire a Foreigner
My introduction into the “New World Order” came a little over 8 years ago. I was working as a Systems Analyst and needed to pick up the family health insurance. My wife wanted to go part time and health insurance was not provided for her as a part timer. I checked with Pat, the executive secretary where I worked, and she assured me that health insurance was part of the benefit package and that it should not be a problem.
About a month later some odd things began to occur. I started getting written up for trivial things, like saying “silly” in a meeting. Despite my excellent work record they fabricated a paper trail, over the next year and ultimately fired me.
The day I was fired, I had just returned from a medical leave. Pat had previously assured my wife that they were excited about my return. But immediately upon my return Pat called me to a meeting with Gary, the companies Chief Financial Officer.
At the meeting I was told that I was immediately terminated and my family’s medical insurance would end at midnight. In addition they informed me that, because they were firing me “for cause,” I would not receive any unemployment. It took over 6 months of litigation before the Michigan Labor Board determined that I was not fired for cause. But even though they falsely fired me, all I got out of the deal was an unemployment check.
This is a company with no concept of family values. To the contrary, this is a company that is willing to throw American families into the path of a train in order to maximize profits. And if it means replacing hard working American workers with foreigners, that doesn’t appear to be a problem.
It is important to note that the day that I was fired, my office was already occupied by an Indian programmer who could barely speak English. Nearly 8 years later the entire IT staff, of my former company, is dominated by foreign Indian IT workers: who are ironically getting paid through the federal and state taxes of American citizens.
The Real Foreclosure Problem: Americans are being replaced for foreigners
It has only been in the last few years that I have fully understood just how badly my own government has screwed millions of other blue and white collar workers. And as the good jobs continue to go to foreigners, Americans are unable to pay their mortgages. That is the real “foreclosure” problem in the USA: the displacement of American workers for cheap foreign labor.
We are being betrayed.
The fact is our own government is purposely targeting American workers and incentivizing their replacement them with younger foreign workers. Consider the following:
* The cost of providing health insurance, by your employer, doubles between the ages of 35 and 50. So a given employer can save nearly $6 thousand each year by merely hiring a younger worker. Ageism is becoming the new Racism, yet no one is talking about it in the Corporate-controlled media. * Because many foreign workers are dual citizens the employer does not have to contribute 6.5 percent of the workers gross into Social Security.
These are just a few examples of how US businesses are profiting by getting rid of American workers. And whether this foreign worker sits at your desk in the US, or a desk in India, China, or some other 3rd world country – you’re still going to loose your job and possibly your career.
The Biggest Lie: Free Trade Agreements are good for America
And what is driving this is probably the biggest lie of them all: Free Trade Agreements. The concept of free trade goes back to the economist, Ricardo, who looked at free trade in terms of “comparative advantage.”
But the globalists conveniently ignored Ricardo’s warning that, in order to ensure mutual gains of trade, only consumer goods and producer’s goods must be allowed to cross boarders. For if labor or capital crosses boarders, all of the capital will flee to the place where there is absolute advantage.
"Mutual Trade Gains are lost when labor or capital are allowed to cross borders"
And that is exactly what has happened. Our jobs and factories have been shipped out to China, India and other cheap labor markets. And this is why we can no longer pay our mortgages. This is why we are going bankrupt. And the last 5 Presidents and your Congressional Representatives did this to you. Doesn’t that make you at least a little bit angry?
Meanwhile, the top 1% benefits, with each additional job loss, because the only reason they can continue profiting, off their stocks and hedge funds, is if they can continuously reduce the cost of labor and seduce the worker into more and more debt. And when their sub-prime investments tank they can just have the fed bail them out and give the bill to the American worker.
And this bailout can be summarized by this phrase I’ve begun to hear lately. We are seeing the “privatization of profit and the socialization of debt.” In other words the fed will bail out the elite’s bad investments and the working class will ultimately foot the bill.
Obama will ignore this. McCain will act like he doesn’t understand this. But the fact of the matter is that our government is screwing its own people. So now the government needs to “unscrew” the people. Some form of fair, but massive debt relief is required right now in order to salvage the American worker and the American family. Otherwise we will be literally displaced by foreigners.
Consider this.
* Current projections estimate over 5 million American families will be left homeless, due home foreclosures, between January 2007 and December 2008. That means that roughly one of every 20 American families have been thrown out on the street in just the span of 2 years. * The average retiree only has $60 thousand dollars in their account at the time they retire: barely a year’s wages. And growing numbers of retirees are going bankrupt as they enter retirement because they are unlikely to have supplemental income, such as pensions, paid medical benefits etc.
What is to become of the American worker and the American family?
Well, if we allow this to continue then Jefferson’s warning will come true. For he warned us in the following statement:
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, (i.e., the "business cycle") the banks and corporations, that will grow up around them, will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
Jefferson’s warning is becoming today’s reality and it must be stopped. I challenge Obama and McCain to implement the following 4-point plan immediately to save the American worker. Today is July 17th, 2008.
And here is the 4-point plan:
(1) 10-Year Moratorium on Foreclosures; (2) Send “No Match Letters”; (3) 20-Year Moratorium on Legal/Illegal Immigration; (4) Universal E-Verify]
(1) Implement a 10-year moratorium on all foreclosures on primary residences occupied by legal American citizens. I also recommend that any American citizen, that has lost a home since 2000, be offered homes of similar value, to the homes they have lost. Ultimately the Federal Reserve should be forced to pay off most mortgages as it has been the deceit of these very global bankers that got us into this mess in the first place. Additional debt relief measures will follow to insure equal relief for all Legal American Citizens. We simply cannot allow millions of American families to become homeless.
(2) Send out of the 12 million “no match” letters in order to rid all visa over stays and illegal immigrants from our workplaces. This could instantly create over 6 to 10 million jobs for American workers. These “no match letters” are currently held up in federal court.
(3) Impose a strict 20-years moratorium on all immigration into the United States which includes moratoriums on anchor babies and chain migration. Immigration is the primary driving force in population growth and we cannot afford ANY further growth. We are already seeing water shortages on the East Coast in the Southwest.
(4) Implement emergency legislation to force all US businesses to E-Verify every single worker that applies for a job immediately.
It is more than evident that the globalist model is a recipe for economic disaster. Also evident is the need to protect American families during this unprecedented transition between economic models. The “New Agenda for America” will aid in this transition by stopping further immigration, bringing back our industries and working toward an era of sustainable energy independence. The North American Union must be stopped, dead in its tracks. For more information on my “write-in” candidacy and the “New Agenda for America” I highly recommend that you visit my website “New Age Citizen.” To watch other videos, pertaining to the “New Agenda for America,” please go to the following link:
Finally, let me make an observation. The 4th Amendment guarantees the right of “the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects.” In other words our founding fathers assumed we would have homes in which we could expect to be protected. Apparently Bush, Clinton, Obama and McCain no longer care if we have a home or a future. Get on my mailing list and get involved. The peaceful, viral, internet revolution needs to get started right now. It is time to take our country back.
Comment: This demands direct pressure on Congress to pass the "Marijuana Personal Use Act (H.R. 5843). Though it falls short of the ultimate model for Marijuana Re-Legalization, the MERP Model, this is the most progressive Pro-Marijuana legislation to "get legs" in years. I would recommend a "proactive" approach that proceeds as follows:
(1) Call your representatives, in both the House and Senate.
U.S. Senate switchboard: 202-224-3121 U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
(2) Tell all of your representatives that you will be tracking this bill through www.thomas.com. And if they don't assure it's progress to the floor and then vote for the "Marijuana Personal Use Act (H.R. 5843), no later than April 2009, you will vote for their opponent in the next election cycle. (3) Follow through with the promise you made in step (2)
For the first time in decades, a marijuana decriminalization bill is before the Congress. Actually introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) in April, the Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults (H.R. 5843) got its coming out party Wednesday as Frank, a handful of other representatives, and leaders of prominent drug reform organizations held a Capitol Hill press conference to push for the bill.
In the eyes of many, the bill couldn't come soon enough. Since 1965, more than 20 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, 830,000 in 2006. Of those, nearly 90% were for simple possession. In addition to the jail time and other costs imposed on offenders, marijuana law enforcement costs society more than $7 billion a year.
While passage of a federal decriminalization bill would have little direct impact -- only 160 people were charged with federal marijuana possession offenses last year -- its symbolic impact could help break the marijuana law reform log-jam that has endured since the days of the hippies.
Here is the text of the bill in its entirety:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no penalty may be imposed under an Act of Congress for the possession of marijuana for personal use, or for the not-for-profit transfer between adults of marijuana for personal use. For the purposes of this section, possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana shall be presumed to be for personal use, as shall the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less of marijuana, except that the civil penalty provided in section 405 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844a) may be imposed for the public use of marijuana if the amount of the penalty does not exceed $100."
Reps. Lee, Frank and Clay at press conference (courtesy Drug Policy Alliance)Frank and other advocates conceded the bill has no chance of passage this year, but lauded it as a long overdue beginning. Hearings could come next year, they said.
The federal government should stop arresting marijuana users, Frank said as he stood before the microphones flanked by Congressional Black Caucus members Reps. Lacy Clay (D-MO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), and advocates Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML; Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, and Bill Piper, national affairs director of the Drug Policy Alliance.
Existing laws aimed at marijuana users punish otherwise law-abiding citizens and sick people whose doctors have recommended the drug, disproportionately impact African-Americans, and waste law enforcement resources, Frank said. They also amount to an unwarranted intrusion into the private lives of Americans, he said.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the responsible use of marijuana by adults and this should be of no interest or concern to the government," said NORML's St. Pierre. "In fact, the vast majority of marijuana smokers are adults who cause no harm to themselves or to anyone else, so there is no reason for the state to be involved."
Marijuana use should be treated like alcohol use, St. Pierre continued. "With alcohol we acknowledge the distinction between use and abuse, and we focus our law enforcement involvement on efforts to stop irresponsible use. We do not arrest or jail responsible alcohol drinkers. That should be our policy with marijuana as well," he said, noting that there were more than 11 million marijuana arrests since 1990.
Reps. Clay and Lee both emphasized the inordinate number of arrests of minority pot smokers. The application of the marijuana laws unfairly targets blacks, said Clay.
Clay called marijuana prohibition part of "a phony war on drugs that is filling up our prisons, especially with people of color." It is time for a "practical, common sense approach" instead, he said.
Lee also noted the disproportionate impact of marijuana law enforcement on the minority community, but as a representative of a state where medical marijuana is legal also singled out another group that suffers under the law. "This bill is about compassion," she said. "The federal government has better things to do than send sick people to jail."
MPP's Kampia noted that marijuana arrests outnumber arrests for "all violent crimes combined," and suggested that law enforcement concentrate less on pursuing nonviolent marijuana offenders. "Ending arrests is the key to marijuana policy reform," he said. "It is important to eliminate the threat of arrest. For the many marijuana users who aren't arrested, they still live in fear of arrest."
Marijuana prohibition is "one of the most destructive criminal justice policies in America today," said DPA's Piper, noting that in addition to arrest and possible imprisonment, marijuana users face the loss of jobs, financial aid for college, federal benefits, and access to low-cost public housing.
Even while conceding the bill has virtually zero chance of passing this year, earlier in the week Piper said you have to start somewhere. "The goal is to raise the issue and have something that advocates can organize around," he said. "But just having this bill introduced is groundbreaking in itself."
It could also rub off at state houses across the land, Piper said. "This will encourage state lawmakers to introduce similar bills. This is also something we can now turn around and use to lobby with at state houses," he said.
"There's a growing sentiment in Congress that the prisons are overcrowded," said MPP spokesman Dan Bernath. "I think we are at or near a tipping point, and this bill is a good way to start chipping away at our marijuana laws," he said. "This will set the stage for sensible marijuana reforms at the state and local level, as well as more meaningful federal reforms in the future."
If reformers see little likelihood of anything happening this year, the federal government's anti-drug bureaucrats were taking no chances. Crashing the gate at the press conference were Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) chief scientist Dr. David Murray and two aides. They came carrying glossy ONDCP propaganda and hoping to immediately rebut any claims by reformers, but both press corps and event participants seemed more bemused by their appearance than interested in what they had to say.
Comment: I don't know more than what is presented here but it appears to be an action that I can lend support. The organizers appear against further immigration and support a number of the "New Agenda for America" planks. So check it out and see what you can do to participate. BC
The reason for this shutdown is not to hurt this country in any way shape or form. But is in fact a peaceful method of sending a message to Washington, D.C.
We the people...The Constitution of The United States of America spells out in the first line where the power of our great democracy lies. Unfortunately we the people have allowed the power to slip away to special interest, lobbyist, corporations and career politicians. It is time to reclaim our democracy from the people that are destroying it. Thomas Jefferson said that “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent” now is the time for all people to be heard.
The framers of our democracy did not intend our representatives be career politicians. They foresaw the danger in this. The constitution states that “The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year.” The framers intent was for our democracy to be governed by everyday people not career politicians for obvious reasons. Legislators would meet enact laws and go back to their chosen profession. Career politicians will do and say anything to keep their power. Power corrupts even those with the best intentions.
Individually we find that we are powerless against corporate media or Big Oil or Washington. Our choices are limited. Our effectiveness diminished. This is not by accident. Unions, social gatherings, clubs that all flourished before the 1960s have all been destroyed by those who find you & me to be a threat.
Without direct action, republican democracy is truly disempowering: our only means of influence are to beg the Very Serious And Important Intermediary - the congressman, the governor, the president, etc. - to do something on our behalf.
We all know how well that has worked out.
Today people will tell you that protest are ineffective. And they are. But real change does not come from the ballot box. Great social change like the eight hour work day, child labor laws, a woman's right to vote, civil rights, etc., etc. all came about through blood & sweat & great effort.
The Establishment wants us to focus all of our energy on elections because elections are the controlled space whereby popular ferment can be contained by rules, regulations, etc. But there are many different methods of direct action - ie. taking matters into our own hands - that can wield a tremendous amount of power.
The only effective action left to take now in order to stop the gears and levers of this lemming-like perpetual motion machine of destruction is---to do nothing. That's right, nothing. To go on strike.
It is one thing to endure abuses and to carry on in spite of them. It is quite another thing to carry on to the point of abetting the abuse. We need to move the discussion of our nation's health to the emergency room. We need to tell the doctors of the body politic that the treatment isn't working-and that until it changes radically for the better, neither are we.
It does not matter if we vote Democrat, Republican or Independent. We have seen Congress change power 3 times since 2000. Each time we were promised that the ways of old were over. We were told that the new party in power would return the power to the people and get rid of the status quo in Washington DC. We were promised solutions to the health care crisis, social security crisis, taxation, inflation and the deficit.
In fact these were the same problems we spoke about in the 1960’s. They are still not fixed. WHY? Because the special interest, lobbyist and corporations have a strangle hold on our career politicians. The special interest, lobbyist, and corporations do not care which party is in power because there are enough career politicians in both parties willing to take their money and perks to look the other way.
Taking the day off, not buying anything. That part is easy. What's the hard part? Spreading the word, getting the message out, reminding The People that they have the power to shut it down. Yet what you need is not marches, demonstrations, rallies or wide associations; all of them are important. What you need is direct action. The sooner people understand that, the sooner we'll begin to change things. --Arthur Scargill
General strikes shut down the normal operations of a city, state, or nation for a period of time. These strikes aim to force action on a single issue or broader set of concerns.
The General Strike is a national call to action, from citizens to other citizens. It is not about a single issue. It is not an anti-war protest, a gas price protest, a civil rights protest, an election fraud protest. It is not about torture, surveillance, corporate media, or the environment.
This strike is about all these issues and more
The strike targets key issues facing the American public, issues that have not been addressed in any meaningful way by any branch of government.
Unions, corporations, & the major parties have failed to deal with pressing matters of war & peace, income inequality, crime & punishment & the meaning of citizenship itself, it has fallen to the American people to set things right!
Public protest is an important part of democracy, just like a free press, a judiciary, and congress. A general strike does NOT have to be violent. It is a matter of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, NOT VIOLENCE. You are NOT going to school. You are NOT going to WORK. You are NOT shopping. You do NOT have to be violent to NOT do those things. March legally. Protest legally. Our causes are many but it's time to make our voices as one.
1) Sign up with your email address HERE in order to get updates, e-alerts@votestrike.com
2) Send this URL to all your friends, post it to forums, put it on your personal pages, http://www.votestrike.com There will be ZERO mainstream media discussion of this General Strike BEFORE it happens. ZERO. So, we must BE OUR OWN MEDIA and promote it. Link to this site from sites and blogs. Mention it with links in your comments on blogs. PROMOTE IT.
Contact local activist groups, your church groups. Find local activist through www.meetup.com, www.tribe.net, Myspace, all social networks via the internet, etc. It is imperative for YOU to promote the General Strike for it to have any success. This should include, but not be limited to: writing/publishing articles, essays, poems, posting in forums, commenting in blogs, starting your own blog, newspaper ads, online ads, local random phone calls, letters to editors, opeds, freeway banners, bumper stickers, car signs, yard signs, street signs, every online newspaper allows comments (NY Times, Washington Post, etc.), call in to talk radio shows, print & distribute flyers............ IF YOU FAIL AT PROMOTION BUSH & CO. WILL WALK AWAY......... SCOTT FREE, with congressional medals of honor & big fat speaking checks from Halliburton.,
3) Join the Consumer Fast already underway. Click here: Shut'EmDown "It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error". -U.S. Supreme Court, in American Communication Association v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382, 442
"It was not by accident or coincidence that the rights to freedom in speech and press were coupled in a single guaranty with the rights of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition for redress of grievances. All these, though not identical, are inseparable. They are cognate rights, and therefore are united in the first Article’s assurance." - -Judge Wiley B. Rutledge
If you only watch one movie this would be my recommendation. I have often talked about a dichotomy between the philosophy of "literalism" vs. "mysticism."
Literalism encompasses all contrived organized religions that conveniently place the elite in a position between the people and their supposed "god." Such "literalist" religions include Roman Catholicism, Islamism and the fiction of elitist economic theory. The true modus operandi of such traditions was never really about religion, but rather the control of the masses.
Mysticism, on the other hand is all about objective knowledge or gnosis (e.g., knowledge). Mystic traditions believe that "truth" is only attainable through "self-knowledge" as taught by such philosophers as Buddha, Patinjali, Jesus etc. Such "mystic" traditions include Yoga, Buddhism, Zen, Wicca and of course, Gnosticism.
Around 500 BC Mystic traditions began being supplanted by Literalist traditions that rightfully saw mysticism as a threat to their hegemony because much of their power was derived from keeping the masses -- sometimes referred to as the "sheeple" -- ignorant by hiding much of what was known (e.g., knowledge). Mystical traditions, on the other hand, were always more interested in spreading the "gnosis" which was seen as a threat to the elitist literalists. One of the true ironies of mystical traditions is the fact that there is really nothing mystical about mystics.
In point of fact it was the mystical traditions that developed the tools from which all modern science has been derived. For example it was the mystic Pythagoras that developed the "scientific method" (e.g., the axiom, proof and theorem) from which all modern science evolved. The mystic alchemists were the fathers of modern chemistry. The mystic astrologists were the fathers of modern astronomy.
A perfect example of the tension between literalist and mystic traditions can be found in the astronomer Galileo. The Roman Catholic church was so incensed by his insistence, that the earth actually went around the sun, that they threatened to put him to death. Why such a reaction? Because he dared to question the authority of "the church."
"Zeitgeist" refers to the ethos of a select group of people, that express a particular world view which is prevalent at a particular period of socio-cultural progression. But I would argue that this film is better described as contrasting literalist and mystic world views. The movie starts out with this very interesting quote:
They must find it difficult . . . those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth (e.g., knowledge) as the authority. Massey, Egyptologist
In any case take 2 hours, of your precious time, and watch the movie. I'm quite confident that you will thank me for this recommendation. I have always believed that our transition to a "new age" would be preceded by a new awakening to mystical traditions. I'm pleased to say that this is well underway.
Comment: This could be the most revolutionary discovery in the last thousand years because it could very well emancipate us from the dependency on Global Energy Corporations and Islamic-controlled Oil Wealth. I have always believed that the untying of the Gordian Knot would occur when we harnessed the process we all learned about in elementary school: photosynthesis. As the researcher said,
"There is enough sunlight falling upon the earth in one hour to provide all the energy needs of the planet for an entire year."
This could very well be the literal "light at the end of the tunnel" and the final end of funding for the spread of Islamic Terrorism through oil wealth and the indentured servitude which we have been forced to accept from the Global Energy Corporations such as Exxon, Mobil and BP. Bruce W. Cain
MIT's Professor Daniel G. Nocera has discovered a way to do large-scale solar power generation. (Photo: Donna Coveney) Scientists mimic essence of plants' energy storage system. In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn't shine.
Until now, solar power has been a daytime-only energy source, because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. With today's announcement, MIT researchers have hit upon a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy.
Requiring nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials, this discovery could unlock the most potent, carbon-free energy source of all: the sun. "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," said MIT's Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT and senior author of a paper describing the work in the July 31 issue of Science. "Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon."
Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants, Nocera and Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera's lab, have developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun's energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.
The key component in Nocera and Kanan's new process is a new catalyst that produces oxygen gas from water; another catalyst produces valuable hydrogen gas. The new catalyst consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, placed in water. When electricity - whether from a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine or any other source - runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.
Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.
The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it's easy to set up, Nocera said. "That's why I know this is going to work. It's so easy to implement," he said.
"Giant Leap" for Clean Energy
Sunlight has the greatest potential of any power source to solve the world's energy problems, said Nocera. In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year.
James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis who was not involved in this research, called the discovery by Nocera and Kanan a "giant leap" toward generating clean, carbon-free energy on a massive scale.
"This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," said Barber, the Ernst Chain Professor of Biochemistry at Imperial College London. "The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem."
"Just the Beginning"
Currently available electrolyzers, which split water with electricity and are often used industrially, are not suited for artificial photosynthesis because they are very expensive and require a highly basic (non-benign) environment that has little to do with the conditions under which photosynthesis operates.
More engineering work needs to be done to integrate the new scientific discovery into existing photovoltaic systems, but Nocera said he is confident that such systems will become a reality.
"This is just the beginning," said Nocera, principal investigator for the Solar Revolution Project funded by the Chesonis Family Foundation and co-Director of the Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center. "The scientific community is really going to run with this."
Nocera hopes that within 10 years, homeowners will be able to power their homes in daylight through photovoltaic cells, while using excess solar energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen to power their own household fuel cell. Electricity-by-wire from a central source could be a thing of the past.
The project is part of the MIT Energy Initiative, a program designed to help transform the global energy system to meet the needs of the future and to help build a bridge to that future by improving today's energy systems. MITEI Director Ernest Moniz, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, noted that "this discovery in the Nocera lab demonstrates that moving up the transformation of our energy supply system to one based on renewables will depend heavily on frontier basic science."
The success of the Nocera lab shows the impact of a mixture of funding sources - governments, philanthropy, and industry. This project was funded by the National Science Foundation and by the Chesonis Family Foundation, which gave MIT $10 million this spring to launch the Solar Revolution Project, with a goal to make the large scale deployment of solar energy within 10 years.
There should be absolutely no more immigration or business deals with Islamic Terrorists. And since it is impossible to know who is a terrorist and who is not, this requires that we reject all business deals and further immigration from ALL Islamic countries. It is only prudent that such measure are taken at this time in order to protect the security and economic colonization of the United States by these "oil-rich" entities.
While some may quickly dismiss me as some sort of xenophobe I must insist that this is not the case. I have probably read more about the negative impact of Islam, throughout the world, than most. My conclusions are based on prudence and constitute an informed opinion.
Yet despite the ample evidence our state governor is allowing an additional 1,300 Iraqi immigrants and up to 800 Kuwaiti elite into Dearborn over the next year. The net increase in Muslim population could easily exceed 10,000 by the time anchor babies and chain migration are factored in. In a city of 100,000 this would result in a 10% increase in Muslim population, in Dearborn, bringing the percentage of Muslim to nearly 40-50 percent of the Dearborn population. This must be stopped.
After reading this I recommend that you contact Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's office and insist that she stop the Kuwait-Dow project and insist:
* No more foreign investment from Islamic countries, be allowed in the state of Michigan * No more immigration of people from Islamic countries, be allowed in the state of Michigan.
In addition you might want to ask her the following questions:
(1) Number of Non-Islamic US Citizens employed at K-DOW and mean/median annual benefits. (2) Number of Islamic US Citizens employed at K-DOW and mean/median annual benefits. (3) Number of Islamic Non-US Citizens employed at K-DOW and mean/median annual benefits. (4) How many additional Kuwaiti's (employees, family members, extended family) do you suppose will be invading Dearborn which is already the most concentrated population of Mid-Easterners in the United States? (5) What are the details of the "tax credits" given to K-DOW? I want both quantitative figures as well as qualitative information on this one.
Before I get into the minutia of this issue let me summarize why my "New Agenda for America" is against further immigration and foreign ownership of US assets:
My primary reason for a 20-year moratorium on immigration is based on the fact that we cannot even sustain the 300 million already here as evidenced by water shortages and looming food shortages. Current immigration trends could result in a 1,000 million population by 2100. That would be a three-fold increase in US population over a single 100-year period! This is simply unsustainable. Nothing "against" immigrants. Just acknowledgement of the facts. We must consider the need for sustainability and further immigration is not sustainable. Make sense?
Also, Americans DO have a right not to be colonized by foreign oil wealth from misogynistic Muslim countries and slave wealth from Communist China. The American People have a right to choose their destiny. So, yes, no more ownership of US assets also makes sense less we want to live under Sharia laws or Communist rule.
Now for my reasons to oppose the Kuwait-Dow Venture . . .
First of all you should know that I have lived in Dearborn all my life and really harbor no ill will towards people from the Middle East in general, or Muslims specifically. In point of fact I have enjoyed the cultural diversity that it has brought, up until this point. But I think ALL immigration MUST be halted for all ethnicities due to the fact that we are already experiencing the beginnings of resource non-sustainability throughout the country. I also think the most prudent course, in lieu of 911, is to stop all immigration from Islamic countries immediately and to encourage Muslims, that are here, to assimilate to US culture -- something that is increasingly NOT happening.
As some have expressed, we are becoming a "salad bowl" rather than a "melting pot" with the unprecedented influx of Mexicans, Chinese, Muslim and other immigrant populations. Let me give you a few examples of what I am referring to here as it applies to Dearborn:
* In 2007 Muslim families were pressuring a local elementary school (Kinloch) to stop saying the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom. While I support one's right to not participate I also think these actions illustrate a culture that has no inclination to assimilate to the cultural ideals that are prerequisites to being considered an American citizen.
I pledge my allegiance to the flag Of the United States of America And to the Republic for which it stands One nation, under god, indivisible With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
Of course I am well aware the Islamic theocracies don't believe in extending liberty to gays, pot smokers, Christians and other non-Muslim traditions. But if these people really have a problem with that they don't belong here. As far as I'm concerned they should be deported if they insist on clinging to these backward beliefs.
* Between 2000 and 2003 the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights school systems have prohibited pork and have supplanted all meats with halal meats. Both Halal and Kosher meats are religiously blessed and therefore have no place in a school system because they are a violation of the separation between church and state. The fact that both school systems have capitulated to this is very troubling to me. If the school administrators don't understand the concept of separation between church and state, how can we expect them to transfer this knowledge to our children. All religiously blessed meats should immediately be banned from all public schools immediately.
* A similar thing happened in 2007 when the University of Michigan (Dearborn) allowed taxpayer dollars to build foot baths so that the burgeoning population of Muslim students could wash their feet before their incessant prayer rituals. Again, I find it troubling that University administrators don't see this as a violation of the separation between church and state. The baths need to go, immediately.
* There has been a conspicuous increase of Middle Eastern wealth and population into Dearborn, and greater SE Michigan, over the last 10 years. 30 years ago Middle Easterners constituted about 3% of the Dearborn population. Today it is growing exponentially and is currently at around 30% of the population. And in proportion to the population increase has come an increasing disregard for American culture and morays. In point of fact the Dearborn area is the largest Muslim population in the United States and I fear that it may be a "beach head" for Islamic Terrorism in the near future if we don't act immediately.
* There is also a conspicuous amount of foreign wealth coming into this area from the Middle East. The big urban myth is that all these immigrants are getting 7-year moratoriums on their taxes, which is a "red-herring" as far as I can ascertain. What we are slowly figuring out is that the mosques and businesses are being subsidized through vast cash flows from various Middle Eastern countries. About 6 months ago (early 2008) an Iraqi was convicted of influence peddling: probably the same thing that is going on between Kuwait and the Governor. It was disclosed that Hussein had subsidized his efforts with nearly 60-million dollars from the UN "oil for food program." I am confident that there are huge cash flows of terrorist money coming into the Dearborn area from the Middle East. I am also confident that this money is what explains the fact that most of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights businesses are now Mid-East owned. If people outside of this area realized the extent of the cultural zeitgeist in this area they would be appalled.
The simple fact is the Dearborn area is literally being colonized by very suspicious flows of Middle East wealth and goodness knows how much of it is coming from terrorist groups.
* I recall reading an article some years ago that stated that the early mosques, located primarily in SE Dearborn, conducted their services in English and actually frowned upon women wearing hijabs and other blatant forms of head dress. Today we have some of the largest Saudi-subsidized Mosques in the United States and they are purposely instructing all women to wear these forms of head dress all the time. It is becoming so apparent that you would swear you were living in Saudi Arabia sometimes. If you do your research it will become clear that this is not a benign, expression of religion, but rather the leading edge of a cultural jihad.
I could give many more examples of the "cultural jihad" that we are witnessing here but I have neither the time or inclination at this moment in time. Instead let me take you further up the "pyramid" of Mid-Eastern influence and allow me to discuss a rather harrowing experience I had a few years ago when I attended a Arab-Trade summit that was definitely not intended for the observation by mere American citizens. This little story will illustrate the power of the Middle Eastern concerns and the corrupting influence they are having on our elected representatives that have been selling us all out for years.
About 2 years ago I attended a "Mid-East/African Trade Summit" in Dearborn at the Fairlane club, which, of course, is now owned by Mid-Eastern interests, like just about everything else in Dearborn. The focus was on Dubai and I don't really think there was any real talk about Africa. Both Senator Levin and Congressman Dingle were speakers at the meeting, via a conference phone system. There were about 60 attendees, 30% of which were from the Department of Commerce. During the meeting I let it be known that I thought it unwise to partner with Mid-Eastern concerns, especially given the FACT that 15 of the 19 Terrorists that destroyed the WTC were from Saudi Arabia. The next morning I received a death threat in my email originating from a company in Indonesia.
I believe it was either Stalin or Lenin who predicted that the West, (that would be us), would eventually sell our adversaries the rope from which we would be hung. I want you to keep that thought in your head over the next couple of years.
Now there are those that think Islam is a benign phenomenon. They could not be more wrong. Recently Debbie Schlussel, a critic of Islam, has been threatened by Muslims in the Dearborn area for criticizing Islam. One of the perpetrators is likely to go to jail for awhile for threatening to rape and kill her.
Here is an excerpt from one of those emails:
You fucking Jewish whore I feel like firing up one of those old gas chambers and just burning up your fucking bigot pussy! I am coming for you bitch and I am goanna fuck you GOOD. You fucking cunt! Move to fucking Israel and leave us in peace you god damn bitch. http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/07/i_need_your_hel.html
Well I hope that I have provided an adequate thumbnail sketch for you here today. Hopefully, it will be enough to get you to send a letter to our Governor and tell her not to allow any more immigration or business deals with Islamic countries, private equity corporations or sovereign wealth funds. And once again I want to make it clear that I harbor no racism of xenophobia towards Muslims in general. The problem is that we have no way of telling which of you are terrorists until the bombs start going off or until you subjugate our economy with your oil money and heroin profits. Either way both of these forms of "cultural jihad" are threats to the very Constitution that forms the bedrock of this once-great republic. In view of this the only prudent course that we can now take is to stop the flow of both Mid-Eastern population and Mid-Eastern wealth. This is a serious issue of national security that we immediately implement both of these measure.
On a more positive note a researcher at MIT just found a cheap method to harness photosynthesis. See the August 2nd (or current home page edition, www.newagecitizen.com) for more information. As the researcher said, "there is enough sunlight falling upon the earth in one hour to provide all the energy needs of the planet for an entire year." This could very well be the literal "light at the end of the tunnel" and the final end of funding for the spread of Islamic Terrorism through oil wealth. And to put a final nail in the Islamo-Fascist coffin we also need to legalize Marijuana in order to cut off the spigot of heroin revenue coming out of Afghanistan. Because if you've got really good Marijuana, what need is there for such dangerous drugs, such as heroin? Then, as my favorite pot smoker, Louie Armstrong once said . . .
"And I say to myself, what a beautiful world."
by Bruce W,. Cain Editor, New Age Citizen www.newagecitizen.com
Evidence of Terrorism in Dearborn This is a link to Debbie Schlussel's website. Just take a few hours to go through the archives and see for yourself how Dearborn is becoming a "beach head" for Islamic Terrorism in the United States. No one has done a better job of alerting America to the threat that Islam poses to Dearborn and the United States. http://debbieschlussel.com
Dearbornistan This is my subproject which focuses on educating Americans about the significant threat that Islam -- and further Islamic immigration -- poses to the United States of America. There are numerous articles and videos here that show just serious a threat Islam poses to our Constitutional Republic. Unfortunately the truth is that the only "peace" Islam will ever accept is the total subjugation of free societies by a global Islamo-Fascist caliphate. Most troubling is their total rejection of the most important tenant of the US Constitution: the Separation of Church and State. http://www.newagecitizen.com/Dearbornistan.htm
An open hearing of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs bore witness to an unusually candid discussion about the Muslim Brotherhood's network in the United States. It was unusual in the respect that it was discussed at all. The fact that many major American Muslim organizations are derived from the Muslim Brotherhood is rarely addressed on Capitol Hill.
LANSING -- On a day when Michigan's industrial future took a hit -- more job cuts planned for General Motors and no new Volkswagen plant for the state -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm's economic team served up 4,800 new, disparate jobs Tuesday to soften the blow.
Leading the good news parade was Dow Chemical Co.'s announcement of a joint venture to manufacture plastics with a large Kuwaiti oil firm and build a global headquarters in southeast Michigan with 800 jobs -- many of them high-paying.
The $11-billion new firm -- K-Dow Petrochemicals -- also had bids from Texas and Louisiana.
Hours later, the state approved tax breaks for 13 companies that will build or expand operations, with the promise of an additional 4,000 direct jobs. It was the largest single-day approval of tax credits for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC).
One of those companies makes amphibious cars that can reach speeds of 35 m.p.h. in water and 115 m.p.h. on land. The British firm will hire about 250 people, including many engineers, to work in a new research and development operation in Auburn Hills.
Five housing projects were approved for tax incentives in Redford Township, Flint and Lansing.
Granholm said the planned $231 million in new investments shows the state is diversifying its economy. In turn, the state will give out $44.4 million in tax credits. The 13 companies will make -- among other things -- solar panels, jet engine parts and automotive sound systems.
"Michigan is a great place to do business," Granholm said, flanked by executives from the companies. "Michigan's workforce is second to none. It has great incentive tools, and truly, Michigan will give you the upper hand if you compete here."
MEDC Chief Executive Officer James Epolito said the companies chose Michigan over Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Texas, Indiana, Tennessee and other states, as well as Britain, Germany and India.
Granholm said tax breaks for K-Dow will be considered after the company chooses a location for its headquarters.
It was unabashed cheerleading in the face of bad economic news, but Granholm insisted the state is rebounding with nonautomotive jobs. She said despite the news that GM will slash thousands of salaried jobs, the company will retool for more fuel-efficient vehicles and "come roaring back."
MEDC officials said in addition to 4,000 new jobs, the 13 companies and the Dow plastics venture would spin off another 3,000 jobs from suppliers, retailers and housing.
Volkswagen had been expected to pass over Michigan for its new, $1-billion plant. The company announced Tuesday it would be built in Chattanooga, Tenn. Granholm said the chosen site was better situated for a new auto plant.
Dow's joint venture was a patch of blue between economic clouds. Dow will team up with Petrochemical Industries Co., a subsidiary of the Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
Granholm praised the venture as another major commitment to Michigan by Dow, following last week's announcement that Dow would acquire chemical company Rohm and Haas Co. for $18.8 billion.
K-Dow will manufacture various plastics used in materials for products such as milk jugs, packaging materials, pipes and automotive parts.
Dow cited three reasons for choosing metro Detroit over Louisiana and Texas, including its proximity to an international airport, the quality of public schools and metro Detroit's diversity, especially its large Arab-American population, said James Fitterling, CEO of K-Dow. Fitterling is currently group president for Dow Basic Plastics.
He said schools with Arab-English bilingual programs would be attractive for Kuwaitis who move to the area.
"The location allows us to create a distinct corporate culture, which is going to be very important to the success of this joint venture," Fitterling said.
Metro Detroit has the largest proportion of Arab-American residents in the United States, with about 300,000 residents. Dearborn, where Arab Americans comprise almost one-third of the city's 90,000 residents and many businesses have signs in both English and Arabic, is considered the unofficial American capital for Arab Americans. A high percentage of Dearborn school students speak English as a second language.
K-Dow would be heartily welcomed in Dearborn, said Hebah Alwerfalli, marketing and membership director for the Dearborn-based American Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Hassan Jaber, executive director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Justice, added: "Maybe this Kuwaiti company is only the beginning of ... a huge partnership between Michigan and the Arab world."
K-Dow will employ 5,000 people worldwide, with manufacturing operations that include the Middle East and Asia. The Detroit-area site for the new headquarters will be selected this year.
Epolito, the MEDC CEO, said Granholm helped seal the deal with the Kuwaiti company to invest in Michigan with Dow. It happened, he said, during a low-key dinner June 24 at the governor's Lansing residence. Two top women who are executives of the Kuwaiti company were impressed with Granholm's role as governor.
Granholm was to have met with the executives in April during a trade mission to the Middle East. That was canceled when Granholm underwent emergency bowel surgery. Instead, the dinner meeting in Lansing was arranged.
Michael Gambrell, executive vice president of Dow Basic Plastics and Chemicals, said Dow has manufacturing operations in Texas and Louisiana that were attractive. But, he said, "in this great state, this is our home, and this is where we're committed."
Contact CHRIS CHRISTOFF at 517-372-8660 or christoff@freepress.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read Comments(2)Recommend (2)Print this page E-mail this article Share this article: Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine What’s this? When she lived in Iraq, Halah Abdul-Kareem was almost always stuck inside her house. Because of the violence, she couldn't play outside, ride her bike or even go for a walk.
After moving to Dearborn in May, the 14-year-old refugee has found new freedom. But her life still is limited -- this time by her lack of English and awareness of the American way of life.
To help refugees like Halah assimilate, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan has created a summer camp this year for recent arrivals from war-torn countries such as Iraq. About 150 refugees, children and adults, are attending the camp this year, which wraps up its first year this week. Lutheran says it hopes to expand the camp in future years.
"It's helping me with the language," Halah said through a translator. "I need the help."
About 1,300 refugees are expected to arrive in Michigan this year, many of them from Iraq, according to Lutheran Social Services. More than 2 million refugees have fled Iraq since the start of war, and many are desperate to find a stable future. Some say they hope to find it in metro Detroit, partly through the help of the camp.
Most of the camp's participants are from Iraq, with about 20 Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia joining them.
On a recent Tuesday morning, kids scampered on the basketball court while their parents learned English in a nearby classroom inside a YWCA facility in Redford Township. Today's lesson: how to buy fruits and vegetables in English.
"What is this?" the instructor, Nakia Najor, asked as she held up a picture of a banana.
Some looked confused, but others answered correctly, slowly sounding out the syllables.
Najor goes through a list of pictures of fruits, gently correcting mispronunciations.
An easier adjustment To help them adjust, some of the refugees were settled in Dearborn, where the high concentration of Arab Americans makes everyday life easier for them.
Halah's family is able to shop, dine and look for jobs in Arabic.
"What I found in my country, I find it here" in Dearborn, said her father, Mustafa Majeed. "It makes the new life easier."
But there are differences. Unlike in many parts of Iraq, Halah and her 17-year-old sister, Hadel, said they are able to go outside without having to wear an Islamic headscarf, known as hijab.
Like some other refugees, Majeed worked for the U.S. Army, and his family was threatened as a result. He said one of his brothers was kidnapped and murdered.
Two years ago, the family fled to Syria, where they lived for 18 months. They then were able to move to the United States in May through the help of a United Nations program.
Majeed's two daughters plan to attend Fordson High School in Dearborn in the fall, he said, but he is worried about finding a job to support his family. Like other refugees in the program, they've heard about the weak local economy.
But for now, the camp helps him, his wife and two daughters improve their skills. It also provides a comfort zone where participants can share stories with each other about their struggles in a new world.
Mixed emotions Camp attendee Zeena Mansour, 10, of Farmington Hills also is glad to be out of Iraq "because they were killing people," she said.
At the same time, she misses her family there.
"Sometimes, I want to go back to Iraq, and sometimes I want to stay here," Zeena said after an arts-and-craft class. Her mother, Manahel Daao, 30, also has conflicted feelings.
"America is better for us because of the safety," though there are limited job opportunities.
But judging by the camp participants' determination, she and others will succeed, camp organizers said.
"They're eager to learn -- they get here early," said Jessica Cotton, a senior coordinator for the camp. "You can see it."
I must say I feel vindicated as Pat Buchanan and others finally recognize that we must stop further legal and illegal immigration. Now if we can just get Lou Dobbs on the bandwagon. Note that despite the evidence against legal immigration, which he presents nightly, he still insists on further legal immigration.
The second plank of the "New Agenda for America" nails the issue of "legal" immigration right on the head. To learn more about my agenda please watch the 5 videos on "The New Agenda for America." You can access them from the following link:
On this webpage you will find the first 5 videos that I have produced to explain the "New Agenda for America."
If you like what you see please help me promote this by placing the "4-Presidnets" graphic on your MySpace, FaceBook or website in order to get this thing going viral, accross the internet, before the November election. You can cut/paste this graphic from the homepage of my website:
Within the month I will start sending out mailings from this list in order to orchestrate the "viral" campaign and to update my progress in establishing a core group of activists.
I am running as a "write-in" candidate for the 2008 Presidency. Please feel free to check out my video biography at the following link:
A more comprehensive biography will soon be made available.
If, by some miracle, we could get 50 million before November, we could wrest control of our futures from the Corporate elite that are backing both Obama and McCain. Now I have every doubt that this is even possible but is it not worth a try? Are you really going to be happy with and Obama or McCain at the helm? Even if this desperate attempt fails to succeed I am confident that these efforts will establish a base of activists that can effectively thwart the globalist agenda that both Obama and McCain will surely attempt to push forward beginning in early 2009.
And while it is not even worth commenting on McCain there are still millions of voters who are perfectly willing to vote for Obama. The following article illustrates why this would also be a huge mistake:
The modern day Merlin's have given us the internet and I believe we have vastly underestimated its value in challenging the current corporate order. The following book illustrates just how powerful a force the internet is becoming:
Whatever your political leanings I think most Americans are fed up with the current field of candidates that we are being forced to choose between: Obama or McCain. We are a society in transition between socio-economic systems. And unfortunately this transition, in which we find ourselves, is far more challenging than the transition to an Industrial-based society or a transition to a post-industrial" knowledge-based society. What we are truly witnessing is a transition of far greater magnitude: more like a transition from a "hunting and gathering" society to a "agricultural" society.
The "New Agenda for America" is intended to get us beyond lassie fair capitalism and move us toward a sustainable, non-corporate model of government. We have been dumbed down to forget what intelligent creatures we have become over the last 4 million years. Should we not exercise that intelligence soon, I highly doubt that this republic will even last another 10 years.
Yours in Freedom,
Bruce W. Cain "Write-In" Candidate for the 2008 Presidency
The United States has released 425 terrorists from Guantánamo, at least 50 of whom have returned to the battlefield to fight our troops.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both say they're fiscally responsible. But each has called for $1 trillion in tax increases over the next ten years—and dressed them up as tax cuts!
Mainstream Media has been given marching orders from the Society of Professional Journalists: never refer to "Islamic terrorists" or "Muslim terrorists." And they are obeying! Whenever our brave agents disrupt a terror plot, The media dismisses the culprits as a gang of idiots—lulling us into a false sense of security.
If the liberals win the 2008 election, they will cripple talk radio—forcing stations to give equal time to left-wing programs, and insisting that liberals play a key role in station management.
Up to a quarter of all state pension funds in the United States are invested in companies that are helping Iran, Syria, North Korea, or the Sudan—for a total of nearly $200 billion.
The Do-Nothing Congress is still doing nothing—and the worst offenders are the presidential candidates Clinton, Obama, and McCain, who never show up for their day jobs as senators . . . except to pick up their $165,000 paycheck!
Is it any wonder that Americans feel fleeced at every turn?
As more and more critical problems develop that need national attention, the White House and Congress appear to be AWOL.
Who's calling the shots instead?
Big business, big government, big labor, and big lobbyists. And their self-serving agendas are doing nothing to help the ever-increasing number of American people who are losing their homes, paying credit card interest rates higher than 25 percent, and finding their jobs increasingly outsourced to foreign countries.
In this hard-hitting call to arms, Dick Morris and Eileen McGann reveal the hundreds of ways American tax-payers are routinely fleeced—by our own government; by foreign countries like Dubai that are gobbling up American interests and spending millions to influence government decisions and American public opinion; by Washington lobbying firms that are pushing the agendas of corrupt foreign dictators on Capitol Hill; and by hedge-fund billionaires collecting huge tax breaks courtesy of the IRS.
With their characteristic blend of sharp analysis and insider insight, Morris and McGann call offenders of all kinds on the carpet—and offer practical agendas we all can follow to help turn the tide.
In order to raise money for the "New Agenda for America" -- and to continue with this website -- I am releasing a series of music CD's. I'm hoping to showcase some of this music during some of my future public appearances. Currently "Classical Guitar Live" is available for purchase and "Gnostic Raw" is available for pre-order. The mastered version, "Gnostic" should be available towards the end of 2008. Click here to place your order.
(1) I Know What You Want George (2) The Hemp Song (3) Crown of Thorns (4) Love Will Find a Way (5) Something in the Air (6) Rosslyn Church (7) Rainbow Farm (8) Acoustic Medley
First you might want to take a listen to the 8 out takes from the "Gnostic Raw" CD by clicking on the links above.
What is "Gnostic Raw"
I've featured some of my acoustic music from time to time but have yet to put forth any of my other compositions. Soon I will be releasing a "Raw" version of the "Gnostic" music project that will feature about half of the compositions that will appear on the final CD. You might say it is something like the Beatles "Anthology" project in reverse (minus the talent) . . . as they released early versions of their compositions after selling their CD rights to Michael Jackson. I, on the other hand, am releasing the early version first, because the final versions simply aren't completed. Yet despite the "work in progress" nature of this CD all songs evoke a powerful edge and are in fact complete compositions.
Philosophical Parallels
In my writings I have begun to define an interesting dichotomy between "Mystic Traditions" and "Literalist Traditions." "Mystic Traditions" tend to value knowledge which is derived from the Latin "Gnosis." "Literalist Traditions" tend to keep the masses ignorant and uninformed: they basically see the masses as so much expendable grist for the mill So in this sense the title, "Gnostic," is sort of a challenge to the prevailing order . . . in the form of a music CD. It attempts to define a persona that challenges the current order.
"Gnostic" is also philosophically parallel to the "New Agenda for America" in many ways. There is the "Hemp Song" which strongly advocates for the legalization of Marijuana. "I Know What You Want George" is a rocker which criticizes George Bush's fascist tendencies.
I know what you want George I can hear your feet outside my door I know what you want George You’d like to make us your slaves forever more
But your emperors clothes have worn away And all that’s left is a smarmy corporate whore
Your time is coming And when the people wake they foil your plan Your time is coming And when we rise we’ll take our country back
‘Cus your emperor’s clothes have worn away And the devil waves behind your back ["I Know What You Want George" by Bruce W. Cain]
"Rainbow Farm" is an instrumental homage to the massacre at that occurred at "Rainbow Farm" the week before 911. If I ever get out lecturing this year I may make an attempt to perform some acoustic versions of some of the songs.
I wrote "The Hemp Song" quite awhile ago: shortly after meeting hemp activist Jack Herer (author of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes") in the early 90's. It reflects our shared vision of what the world might be like if Marijuana prohibition were to end. The refrain says it all as it is only after we change our thinking that we can change our reality.
Any time, any day Any time that we want it that way We don’t need your Drug War anymore
Although I admit that many of the song's predictions are "over puffed" (e.g., Legalization is unlikely to end Global Warming by itself), there is no doubt that Marijuana Re-Legalization would have an incredibly positive effect on society. Of course many attorneys and drug testing labs might not quite see it that way, however, that is not my concern. It is my hope that this ballad is embraced by the "grass roots" movement to demand an end to Marijuana Prohibition throughout the globe.
Hopefully, by the end of 2008, the final version of "Gnostic" will be mixed, mastered and available for your listening pleasure. Unfortunately I can be a procrastinator so it is possible this will never be completed. While "Gnostic Raw" features 8 songs, there will be at least 12 songs on the final "Gnostic" CD.
"Classical Guitar Live" contains 14 solo guitar compositions that span the 16th to 20th Century. All were captured from a single performance by Bruce Cain performed when he was at the top of his form. This live concert has been recently remastered and is now available for your listening pleasure.
Here is a MP3 version of "Dance of the Corrigedor" by Manuel deFalla which is one of the compositions on "Classical Guitar Live"
Here are the facts: 
