(ARCHIVE: April 8, 2006) ¡Inmigración, Justicia and Common Sense! "Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." - Exodus 23:9 KJV The issue of immigration has been discussed by every generation throughout the history of America. The original residents watched in dismay as huge sailing ships entered their waters and farmers and settlers spread across the land like a plague of white locusts until the entire continent was repopulated and their culture largely displaced. These early immigrants then turned against "foreigners" who spoke and dressed differently than they did - Irish, Italians, Germans, etc. - while the more enlightened welcomed the energies of these new arrivals. Then, as the nation became formed, immigrants and slaves were imported from the Far East and Africa to till the land, build rail roads, and provide the services needed by this growing economy. Some later moved here and became "Texians". And so it has been to the present day. [Disclosure: the author's family immigrated from Europe during the 17th century and settled in Texas in 1826] Six flags over Texas We are a nation of many peoples - natives, citizens, guests, and inmigrantes - who live and work side by side each day. It is exactly this diversity and infusion of new peoples and cultures with each generation that have made the U.S. the strongest economy in the world. In Texas we acknowledge the flags of many nations - from France to Mexico - that have flown over this territory while we express our heartfelt thanks to be part of the United States of America....there's no better place to be! One of the better things about having a U.S. President from Texas is that he knows and values the contribution of the millions of immigrants - both legal and illegal - from our neighbors to the north and south. At the same time, he has sought to improve the situation whereby illegal workers can become certified to work here legally without the burden of possible arrests, imprisonment, or worse. "Guest" work To turn this situation from one of unlawful entry to one of invited "guests" would be great contribution by meeting the practical needs of the nation in a common sense manner. The great economic engine of America continues to demand particular highly-skilled and low-cost labor that has attracted people the world over. At the same time, such movements of people should be regulated to ensure that there are indeed jobs available that other citizens can't fill or don't want. And, a true "guests" these new workers should take care to ensure that they are truly welcome and not a burden in another's home. The issues of who has access to public services, payment of taxes, and other items needs to also be considered. Mamas, Don't let your babies grow up to be red-necks There are those who are motivated by a variety of other interests, who would seek to further criminalize, imprison, or eject immigrants. They are currently lead by a small group within the U.S. congress who pander to racists, xenophobes, and the fraidy-cats. Shame. Proposals by the House of Representatives included building a wall along the US-Mexico border (but not Canada, hence their obvious racism) and tough penalities - including felony convictions - for those who sneak into the United States. "I say let the prisoners pick the fruits," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California recently. Some even talk about fining employers while arresting all illegal immigrants and removing them from the U.S. altogether. Texas Senator John Cornyn is one of those. At odds with the President's position, he feels that all illegal immigrants should be forced to leave the U.S. before they could apply for temporary worker status. He has obviously not seen the movie "A Day Without a Mexican". Some senators have sought to address the issues of immigration in more reasonable ways that include the regulations of the flow of temporary workers into the country while offering solutions to the legal fate of the millions of illegal immigrants already here…a thorny issue in every case. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, also from Texas, demagogues the issue by saying she objects to provisions of "having all the people who have come here illegally go first in line [to apply for legal status] in front of the people who came here legally and play by the rules" even though the legislation would force those seeking legal status to go to the end of the line and face an average wait of about six years. Meanwhile, the debate has heated up with millions of immigrant supporters marching in streets across America: in Detroit, Nashville, Grand Rapids, Phoenix, Kansas City; not to mention the other major southern states. Déjeme hablar del corazón, por un momento (Let me speak from the heart, for a minute). I spend a great deal of time traveling throughout the world and am constantly amazed at the wide diversity of culture and friendship (the Texas motto) of people that I meet. Even in places where some feel that the U.S. has not been a good partner, most of those I meet seem to genuinely accept me for who I am and where I come. In return, I enjoy saying mi casa es tu casa and inviting my friends around the world to come visit me in Texas and learn why we love it here so much. There is much to learn by coming here and going there, wherever "there" is. One of my favorite poets, Pablo Neruda, was not a political poet. Rather he wrote of humanity, of love. But, in one of his poems, he helps us to give pause whenever we get too caught up in the debate on immigration. "I ask myself if the frogs stake out, sneeze at, themselves, whether they whisper in ponds against the outlaw frogs against the joy of spawn. I ask myself if the birds make bird enemies and if the bull listens to oxen before he pays court to the cows. From 'Estravagario' Justice and common sense...Texas traits As the debate heats up over immigration, stop and think "what would I do if I were born in Mexico?" Then pause and think, "what would I do if strangers were coming into my home without invitation?" There are many answers to these questions - it's for you to decide - but Texas, if you can, err on the sides of both common sense and justice. Somos Tejanos Charlie Jackson, Texans for Peace

Immigration Justice Day - April 10 Texas will be host to multiple protests for the national day for immigration justice. One of the largest demonstrations is expected to be in Houston with others planned for San Antonio, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas on April 10. That date, a Monday, "will be around the time that both the House and the Senate bills will be in Congress. And around that time, members of Congress will be in recess and back home. It's a way for community members to really voice their opinion," said Maricela Donahue, field organizer with Community for Change, a Washington-based organization that coordinates grass-roots movements. During the past week, students from schools around the state- from Round Rock to McKinney - have walked out to voice their opinon on the issue of immigration reform. Texas colleges hike tuition Texas universities are raising the price of tuition next year - much to offset increasing costs of energy - at a time when Texas energy companies have seen record profits. Students at the University of Houston and UT Arlington will pay nearly 10 percent more in tuition and fees for the coming school year. Make it 11.9 percent at UT-Dallas, 9.5 at UT-San Antonio, 12.8 at UT-Brownsville. At the University of Texas at El Paso, students will face a 7.5 percent increase in tuition and fees this fall and a 6.5 percent increase in fall 2007. By the fall of 2007, tuition at the flagship Austin campus will average $4,100 per semester for Texas residents. That's about 50 percent more than students were paying three years ago Tuition hikes across Texas have become common since the Legislature conferred the ability to raise tuition rates upon the governing boards of the state's universities in 2003.

200th Texan dies in Iraq An airman who died in an explosion in Iraq this week was at least the 200th Texas service member to die there since the war started in 2003, according to the Department of Defense. Tech. Sgt. Walter Moss, 37, who is from the Houston area, died Wednesday while trying to defuse a homemade bomb near Baghdad, said Capt. Kelly Cahalan, a spokeswoman for the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Moss was assigned to the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron on the base. More than 2,300 U.S. service members have died in the war. Texans make up 7.7 percent of the U.S. population but have accounted for almost 9 percent of the military deaths in Iraq...almost twice the total of British losses. Texas company's royal flush Texas Pacific Group's operations span the globe - from Burger King to J. Crew. And, like many other Texas companies, they are leveraging the low taxes and growing workforce to build an even stronger economic base for Texas. TPG told investors that it has raised a record private equity fund of more than $14 billion to use as a buy-out fund to acquire more companies. The strong fund-raising is caused by an seemingly insatiable appetite from banks, insurance companies, public and private pensions schemes, university endowments and wealthy individuals, to pump capital into the asset class. Large amounts of Middle Eastern capital are also flowing into private equity funds. This group, founded in only 1992, has more than $20 billion of capital under management.

American Reporter Jill Carroll released. 3 Peacemakers friends released: Read the latest about our CPT friends Click here to find latest updates>> What are critics saying about CPT? T4P and CPT have been criticized for using "released" instead of "rescued" in describing the freeing of the CPT hostages. My reply is that that since no hostage takers were found, and the circumstances of the kidnapping, murder of Tom Fox, and subequent freeing of the CPT members is still unclear, we don't know to what extent the activities of their "rescuers" had in their evenual freedom (such as in Jill Carroll's being "released" by her captors. This doesn't diminish the work that many professionals and volunteers put into finding them nor the fact that whoever took them captive are criminals. A full, and independent, investigation of the kidnappings and murders should be conducted. As always, we appreciate your comments and feedback. (ARCHIVES - March 17, 2006) This is the face of war, reflected Texas, we are "baby killers". By "we" I mean you and me and every America citizen, since our government continues to war on Iraq. During the past three years we have been warring not only against insurgents, but on the children of Iraq; half of the population of Iraq is under the age of 15, according to the World Health Organization. While pundits debate grand schemes of "global hegemony" and "bringing Democracy to the Middle East", we continue as baby killers on this third anniversary of Iraq. We kill the young, along with their mothers and fathers, in acts of terrorism every week. We use "deadly force" in an ideological battle, just as insurgents and terrorists organizations do. Does it matter to the dead and injured that we claim to do so as "liberators"? This week alone, U.S. soldiers using armored vehicles and planes, launched a raid in al-Ishaqi (about 80 miles North of Baghdad) that resulted in more dead children. They flattened the house killing all eleven occupants. An AP reporter on the scene said the roof of the house collapsed, three cars were destroyed and two cows killed. Five children, the youngest only 6 months old, were also killed. Major Ali Ahmed of the Ishaqi police said, "U.S. forces had landed on the roof of the house in the early hours and shot the 11 occupants, including the five children," according to Reuters news. "After they left the house they blew it up," he said. American soldiers, directed by Commander-in-Chief Bush are killing babies, and as citizens of the U.S. we share the blame. The war on Iraq, soon to begin its fourth year, has had some successes, but overall many tragic consequences for the people of that country. President Bush specifically stated that one of his main goals was to make Iraq a safer place for its citizens. The President declared that "Iraq is now liberated, the people no longer have to fear the awful regime of Saddam Hussein; the people are now safe to move onwards toward democracy, freedom, and a brighter future where everyone has clean water, abundant food and opportunity to be free." "Freed" indeed…more than 50,000 from their lives. The Lancet, a British Medical Journal, report an estimated 50-100,000 Iraq civilians have been killed in the three years of the war - the majority of those who have died women and children. ''Most individuals reportedly killed by coalition forces were women and children. The risk of death from violence in the period after the invasion was 58 times higher (95% CI 8·1-419) than in the period before the war. As editor Jay Shaft commented, "Killing one person is murder, but killing 100,000 has become accepted US foreign policy." The blood of each innocent Iraq killed by the U.S. during this war is on the hands of every American. We cannot stand apart from our leaders and are collectively responsible for each child killed by our troops - a reality we must face. The ongoing carnage isn't simply a result of insurgent bombings but is a direct result of incompetent management during the occupation and conditions that are little better today than they were during the years of United Nations sanctions. Today one of the major causes of death among Iraqi children remains lack of electricity for pumping and resulting polluted water they must drink. UNICEF states that since 2003 the rate of children dying of water borne illness has tripled to almost 6,000 per month. Diarrhea and lack of medicine - all easily preventable and accountable for by occupation forces - is responsible for 70% of child deaths. A March 2005 report on the unsanitary water conditions by the BBC directly backs up previous reports of just how bad the sanitary conditions are in most of Iraq. Humam Misocni of the Iraqi public works ministry was quoted as saying- "Even the so-called treated water or clean water is not actually clean - it is contaminated with sewage water" Iraqi children are starving as well. While U.S. troops eat three squares per day in the air-conditioned palaces of the "Green Zone", "Since the war more children in Iraq are malnourished, fewer children are protected from immunizable diseases and there has been an increase in the incidence of diarrheal disease," according to UNICEF. The relief group Save the Children has reported that one out of every four children under the age of five is chronically malnourished. It is estimated that at least 3,000,000 more Iraqi children are suffering from less severe malnutrition or at least going without adequate nourishment for several weeks out of each month. When the people of Texas stand silent while our own children, mothers, and fathers are doing this to the children, mothers and fathers of another country - we send a tacit message by our silence that we approve of such horrors. This is the face of war that we see reflected when we look into the mirror… we have become the evil that we wish to see the world rid. Charlie Jackson, Texans for Peace

Texans remember Christian peacemaker Tom Fox, a member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Iraq, was remembered by friends in Texas this week. Tom, along with 3 other CPT members, was taken hostage on November 26. His body was found last week after he was apparently tortured and killed. Tom, a Quaker from near Washington, DC, was known as a gentle and generous soul. He, along with the others, was in Iraq "shining the light" while investigating ongoing reports of torture and abuse in prisons. (Charlie Jackson, of Texans for Peace, was in Iraq with Tom in September, just prior to the kidnapping) Texans get richer despite needy Texas with a population of only 22,490,022 is home to 25 of the world's 793 billionaires, according to the most recent survey by Forbes. This means that more Texans are billionaires than either Canadians (19 billionaires / pop. 32,805,041) or Mexicans (10 billionaires / pop. 106,202,903). In a state where once land was given away for free to attract residents to live, Texans have become one of the world's foremost wealth generators. Meanwhile, Texas ranks as one of the poorest states in the U.S. and is home to 17 of the poorest counties in the nation. The current minimum wage amounts to slavery, middle-class homeowners pay the enormous share of taxes, but only 1 in 16 Texas businesses pay taxes - something the Texas legislature should correct.

Do unto others, before they do unto you President Bush reinterated the "Doctrine of Preemption" this week, in year in which US military expenditures - including more than $300 Billion already spent in Iraq - reached historic highs. "If necessary ... under long-standing principles of self defense, we do not rule out use of force before attacks occur, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy attack," said the President. All members of the Texas congressional delegation continue to stand firm with the President. Of the 32 members who voted on the Defense Appropriations Act, FY 2006, only Ron Paul (R) voted against it. Students forgoe Spring Break to stop death Many university students decide to come to Austin for Spring break this year...not to attend the SXSW music festival, but to work to bring the death penalty in Texas to an end. The Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break brought hundreds of students together to plan, organize and find better ways to work together across the state. Texas continues the lead the rest of the country - and most of the world - in the number of citizens it executes.

TX School for Blind turns 150 The Texas School for the Blind is celebrating 150 years of service to blind and visually impaired children and across the state. In a century and a half, they've gone from helping one student from a small house to serving thousands across the state. The school began in 1856, twenty years after Texas gained its independence from Mexico and fifteen years before the creation of the Texas railroad system, hundreds made the trek to Austin by horseback, mule, or buggy, risking their lives so that their blind children could attend our school. Israeli and Palestinian parents found peace institute More than 500 parents of children who have been killed by the conflict in Israel/Palestine have formed an institute to work towards peace in that troubled land. The Arik Institute for Reconciliation Tolerance & Peace was established by Yitzhak Frankenthal, Arik's father. Yitzhak was a businessman until July 1994. Following Arik's death Yitzhak relinquished his business interests and turned his energies towards public activities to foster reconciliation, tolerance and peace. Mr. Frankenthal has asked Texans to work with him on his vision of a better world. Tourist fined $150 for "assualt"; Veep shoots friend An Australian woman, trying to watch a movie, tapped her neighbor on the arm to ask her to be quiet when the other woman began talking on her cell phone. Shortly after, two armed police officers arrived and arrested the tourists on a charge of assault. She was convicted in municipal court and fined $150. In other news police this week decided not to press charges against Vice President Dick Cheney who accidently shot and wounded a friend during a hunting accident near Corpus Christi. Harry Whittington survived and is recovering.

War costs continue to rise Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the U.S. has spent more than $1,000 per minute on the war. President George W. Bush asked Congress Thursday for 72.4 billion dollars in additional funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, the White House said. If approved, the request would raise war-related direct costs to nearly 400 billion dollars in the past three years. The request is on top of 50 billion dollars already approved for fiscal 2006, raising the total for the year to 120 billion dollars. Additionally, the White House has said it will seek another 50 billion dollars in bridge funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for fiscal 2007, which begins October 1. Scott Ritter coming to Austin Former UN weapons inspector, Scott Ritter, will be in Austin, February 25 at St. Andrew's Prebyterian Church's conference: Activism and Spirituality. Scott Ritter was the UN's top weapons inspector in Iraq between 1991 and 1998. Before working for the UN he served as an officer in the US Marines and as a ballistic missile adviser to General Schwarzkopf in the first Gulf war. US Church alliance denounces Iraq war The 34 US members of the World Council of Churches, the largest gathering of churches in a decade, issued a statement sharply denouncing the war in Iraq. "We lament with special anguish the war in Iraq, launched in deception and violating global norms of justice and human rights," read the statement. "We mourn all who have died or been injured in this war. We acknowledge with shame abuses carried out in our name."

(ARCHIVES: February 1, 2006) Texanomics: Increasingly separate and inequal in the Lone Star State

We pride ourselves in Texas that despite the circumstances of birth a person who works hard can achieve much. In decades past upward mobility - from the farm to the city - has been one hallmark of Texas families' success.

But, increasingly we live in a state where financial inequality is separating generations of Texans from one another. The myth of instant fame and fortune from "black gold", cheap land, and "can do" has been replaced by greed and a lack of concern for our neighbors.

In its most recent report on the state of income inequality, The Economic Policy Institute and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ranks Texas near the top of the list of having the greatest divide between rich and poor families. Texas' top 5% of families with an average income of $203,174 at more than thirteen times wealthier than the poorest 20% of families who earn only $14,724 per year. The gap between the well-off and the rest continues to grow.

Before the "Reagan Revolution" of the 1980's, widely supported by Texas' ruling elites the gap was only six times. Now "No other state has a wider income gap between its richest and middle class than Texas," as the Houston Chronicle Reports reports. Only Arizona has a broader gap overall.

Political Ascendancy in the Land of the Rich

Builders in Texas suburbs compete with one another in their race to build "McMansions" in gated communities, luxury stores - from Nordstrom to Tiffany - can now be found in San Antonio, and the parking lots of mega-churches boast Hummers and Porsche Boxsters … belying Biblical admonitions to "love thy neighbor as thyself".

Wealth creation within Texas is at an all-time high and increasingly dramatically - for those at the top. Texas is now home to 34 of the 400 richest people in the United States (it takes $900 million to make the list) with Dallas leading the list (12 members) followed by Fort Worth (9), San Antonio (4), Houston area (7), Austin (1), and Temple (1). "If inequality is a gulley in other states, it is a deep canyon in Texas," said Don Baylor, Jr., policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, in Austin.

This has lead to political ascendancy of those with excess, as well. What began as a social experiment to limit government spending, with simplistic "use your own bootstrap" arguments, has morphed into senseless self-aggrandizement and sleaze. Recent corporate scandals, political corruption, and theft of public treasuries have contributed to the stagnating incomes of the middle-class and the poor.

Yet, a steady stream of political donations continues to find its way from the coffers of Texas' wealthiest families directly back into the hands of lobbyists, and the politicians they purchase. Too frequently, the political clout in Texas is lead by those who work and profit from the energy and defense-related industries who seek immediate personal gain while their neighbors struggle to make ends meet.

The Devil's excrement

A 2003 article in The Economist, one of the world's leading economics magazines, examined the role of Big Oil in politics and called for greater responsibility and transparency. This article, titled 'The devil's excrement', was published just after the invasion of Iraq and well before oil reached $60 per barrel…fattening wallets across the state.

The writers noted that resource rich countries and companies are accumulating wealth much faster than the rest of the world - mostly because of energy resources. It also posed alternative methods of sharing this wealth through public mechanisms. They foresaw Exxon's enormously huge profits (which directly benefit thousands of Texans) but noted that real income continues to fall for many citizens.

In recent years, a new phrase has cropped up: Texanomics. It is a brand of "compassionate conservatism" that is built on cronyism and war profiteering. Sadly it has "Texas" attached to it.

This phrase was noted in the "American Dynasty" articulation of George W. Bush's policies as they were enacted in Austin and then carried to the White House. It accounts for recent scandals from the fall of Enron to lobbyist Jack Abramoff's indictment and the Tom Delay affair.

Ain't we got fun?

Recorded by Doris Day, the song 'Ain't we got fun?" was popular during the 1950's and 60's, particularly among Texas populists:

There's nothing sur - er: the rich get rich and the poor get poorer.
In the mean - time, in be - tween time, ain't we got fun?

But the situation is serious for the 20% of Texas families that in the year 2005 only earn $14,724 or less per year. This means that parents must find a way to house, feed, and care for their children on $1,227 per month.

Those forced to live so meagerly are little more than slaves or serfs and those who allow it to happen are no better than slave owners or feudal lords.

It means more and more children without homes over their heads and inability to move into the real estate market when they become older. Families who forgo medical and dental care because they need to purchase basic necessities burden the health care system. Long walks and waits at bus stops make the day long for some who have families to tend to when they get home.

The barriers created by poverty also diminish participation in the fabric of civic life for many.

¡Ya Basta! (Enough is enough!)

We live in a great "Texas House", to borrow from Martin King. In this house some members of the family are struggling mightily while others have lives of luxury. But, even for the rich, there is little comfort in forgetting the plight of brothers and sisters left behind, passing by the beggar on the street corner, going to sleep at night wondering about the children living under a bridge.

How can I say that I truly enjoy freedom when my family members remain in bondage to poverty?

A growing gap in household income is unjust and against the principles upon which our just societies are built. It's time we said enough is enough and did something about it here in Texas.

Strong families, communities, and states require equitable and sustainable economies - for individuals as well as the whole. We need to quit brushing this issue aside and confront it directly.

While it is true that some have more than others, it is also evident that the tax, business, and social system today does not allow all to rise and break their chains. It's time we say that we will no longer leave things as they are but work to make real changes in a world in which there is plenty for all.

4 Ways to narrow the gap in Texas

Texans for Peace is recommending four actions to immediately address the economic gap in Texas. While the list isn't comprehensive, these are things that can be done which will provide substantial and rectifying results:

Livable Wages - Wages are the primary source of income for those living in poverty. However, a person employed full time at the Federal Minimum Wage of $5.15 per hour, working 52 weeks per year with no vacation, can only earn $10,712 before taxes. The Universal Living Wage movement recommends a minimum wage of $9.27 per hour in San Antonio and $12.83 per hour in Austin.

The Texas Legislature should enact legislation raising the Texas Minimum Wage to $10 per hour, superseding the Federal minimum.

Doing this would immediately raise that standard of living for millions while at the same time generating a tremendous growth in business sales and tax revenues.

Fairer Taxation - Those who have the least, particularly the bottom 20%, should pay the least in taxes while those in the top brackets should pay significantly more….including businesses.

The Texas Legislature should enact legislation that provides a minimum tax of all business revenues and legislation prohibiting tax incentives or subsidies being provided to any private business or corporation that exceeds a certain threshold - such as Fortune 500 companies.

This would help small and medium size companies to compete more fairly in the marketplace while providing a more equitable income of state revenues that from the individual wage earner.

Sensible Economic Development - The investment of tax revenues to help businesses grow is a sound strategy…if public monies are handled wisely and by good stewards. However, recent ventures - such as the Texas Enterprise Fund - by the Legislature appear to be more cases of cronyism and corporate welfare.

The Texas Legislature should provide guidelines for investment of economic development funds and prohibit the investment of such funds to private businesses or corporations that exceed a certain threshold - such as Fortune 500 companies. Guidelines should also target areas of greatest need and should be managed by an independent board or agency.

This would allow small and medium sized businesses - the backbone of employment in Texas - to have access to funds needed for growth and expansion.

Greater Local Action - In every community and town there are those willing to work together to "bridge" economic gaps. This ranges from organizations that put together teams to build homes for the homeless to community foundations and individual efforts to alleviate poverty.

All Texans, as they are able, should work together to encourage one another to share in resources when possible, donate more to building up capacity, education, and infrastructure so that families can provide for themselves, and make sure that everyone has opportunity and no one is left behind.

There is much to be done to ensure that all Texans benefit from the economic miracle of the state economy and share in the wealth. By ourselves we can achieve somewhat, but together nothing is impossible!

Charlie Jackson, Texans for Peace

* Ain't We Got Fun - Lyrics Gus Kahn, Raymond B. Egan & Richard Whiting, 1921

Feds reimburse Texas little for hurricane relief

State leaders have been madder than hell at the federal government ever since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced last week that Texas will only get $74.5 million out of an $11.5 billion pot of hurricane aid for Gulf Coast states, according to the Austin Chronicle.

Texas, more than another other surrounding state, reached out and helped hundreds of thousands of displaced hurricane victims. Now, Texas request for $1.8 Billion in reimbursement has been cut dramatically by the Feds.

Statewide Petition Campaign to Begin

Texans for Peace will soon announce a statewide campaign to gather peitions calling for an End to the War in Iraq

For the past two year, Texans for Peace has collected signatures on an "Emergency Petition" urging members of Congress from Texas to call a halt to the occupation, quit funding the war, and bring the troops home.

Texans for Peace hope for volunteers to go out in pairs in neighborhoods, attend events, set up tables wherever folks congregate, and otherwise collect signatures. Volunteer@texansforpeace.org

Look for more soon!

Texans raise $30K for Guatemalan flood relief

A group of Presbyterians who have actively worked with the Maya Quiche villages of Guatemala, recently raised $30,000 to help with urgent flood relief in that country to help keep people from starving. CESSMAQ has been raising money at concerts in San Antonio and donations around the sate.

Hurricanes and tropical storms caused massive flooding in Central America that has swallowed highways, buried buildings, and left many of the villages inaccessible. Entire communities have been washed away. Small towns have run out of food. The late fall harvest of corn, sugar cane, coffee and sesame is in ruins and ood supplies for the coming year will be incredibly low.

Texas, first statewide org. for gays of color

ALLGO, the longest-standing Queer People of Color Organization
in the country, announced that is has become the country's first and
only statewide organization of its kind.

Founded in 1985 by a group of Latina/o activists, artists and scholars, ALLGO holds a rich history of diverse radical organizing and serving as a center for gays, lesbian, transgendered, and bisexual Texans of color.

(ARCHIVES: January 12, 20060 King's light still shines*

"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows," proclaimed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on February 25, 1967 in a speech titled The Casualties of the War in Vietnam.

Little could MLK know that his voice would become an instrument to illumine future times and chillingly similar circumstances.

Martin spoke of the casualties of the conflict, the burned and broken bodies of women and children and the tortured souls of returning soldiers. He reminded us of the "fields and valleys of battle being painted with humankind's blood."

He also called attention to the other "casualties" of the war: self-determination of the people of Vietnam, domestic welfare and poverty eradication programs in the United States, national humility in a country perceived as arrogantly supporting dictators around the world, the American principles of dissent and free speech, and the prospect for humankind's survival when faced with a vast nuclear arsenal.

Against the deceit and duplicity that has brought about full-scale conflict in Iraq, King's light still shines. It is carried on by people of faith, dedicated to the vision of America's founders of a place where even an individual could humbly redress "kings and potentates" and express age-old calls for justice.

Members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) from around the U.S. will embark on a "Shine the Light" campaign in Washington, D.C. this week. This same group continues to work for a just end to the war in Iraq - despite having four of its members currently being held by kidnappers in that country.

During the next two weeks CPT will shine the light on hostage-taking and abuse of detainees in an ongoing effort to expose the shadowy scourge of war and end the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Members will carry out a series of dramatic processions in Washington starting at key institutions which bear responsibility for war-making - from the CIA to Congressional offices - ending with a brief prayer service at the White House.

Each day, candle-carrying participants will walk in prayerful silence guided by a torchbearer shining the light on a hooded detainee who symbolically represents all persons held captive by war and occupation. They are asking for like minded people of faith throughout the country to join them with daily, local, activities. Groups in towns throughout the world are holding vigils in response.

Members of Christian Peacemaker Teams recognize that the issues surrounding war and terrorism are complex, yet are grounded in the reality of the situation in areas of conflict.

They have had a continuous presence in Iraq throughout this war and have sent delegations to other areas of conflict around the world in the past. CPT members know that just as warfare is a human invention, so the diligent work of peacemakers is needed if hostilities are to be ended.

"In the light of all this, I say that we must narrow the gaping chasm between our proclamations of peace and our lowly deeds which precipitate and perpetuate war. We are called upon to look up from the quagmire of military programs and defense commitments and read history's signposts and today's trends," King reminds.

This exactly what CPT members are doing, both in Iraq and our nation's Capitol. They are working to bring about and end to war while keeping the flame alive for generations to come.

Throughout the United States, groups large and small are joining in. CodePink has created a beautiful section and flash movie commemorating MLK's fight against war. Voices for Creative Nonviolence has also taken up the charge. Christian groups ranging from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to Sojourners are getting the word out to their members.

Martin Luther King stepped up when the times were needed. He left the comfort of his local church congregation and spoke truth directly to the powers of that time. So now, America is being called again to shout loud and clear and to create a better world.

It can't wait.

"We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say 'we must not wage war.' It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it." This is exactly what the CPT members in Iraq are doing this week - following MLK's admonition to "transform our pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of peace."

At Texans for Peace we celebrate the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth, and will help carry that torch of this noblest of dreams as well.

Charlie Jackson, Texans for Peace

No on SA and Dallas MLK marches

A bitter dispute over the planned military flyover at Monday's Martin Luther King march has split peace activists, longtime march supporters and East Side community members, and could result in a smaller turnout for what has been the nation's largest MLK march, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Some opponents of the flyover are calling for a boycott of the march, while others plan to attend with bandanas over their mouths and black and yellow ribbons around their arms in a show of protest.

Texans for Peace has withdrawn its support of this year's march in protest that such as flyover is inappropriate during a time of war - particularly one that MLK would have preached against. Support for the Dallas parade has also been withdrawn because of participation of uniformed soldiers.

Gloryroad celebrates Texas progressivism

Gloryroad, celebrates the basketball team Texas Western Miners and the decision by their coach to integrate the team in 1966.

The movie tackles the issue of race in Texas headon but provides insight into progressives in Texas as well. The film is a good starting point for students today to discuss racism in the context of their parent's generation.

Anti-immigrant rallies fizzle

Racist groups, such as the Lone Star Minutemen that have recently tried to hold anit-immigrant rallies have been rebuffed by Texans. Around the country the handful of anti-immigrant participants have been vastly outnumbered by immigrant rights supporters.

North Texas peace activists found out that the Minutemen planned to protest where day laborers regularly gather in Fort Worth Drive. I Less than 24 hours before the planned action, peace activists forwarded the racist plans with a simple call, “We need feet on the street in Denton on Saturday morning!” The resulting numbers tell the story: Number of Minutemen protesting: five. Number of counter-protesters: 42.

Texas help NO residents fight for their homes

A move is afoot to not allow many residents of New Orleans to return home - particularly in the Lower 9th Ward area that was most affected and is home to many of NO's poorest residents.

Texans from Austin and Houston have been actively working with NO residents since the days right after Hurricane Katrina hit - rebuilding, operating clinics, providing food and aid. Now, they are helping NO residents fight demolition of their homes. Common Ground has been formed to provide "common ground" for our neighbors to the East.

(LAST WEEK: January 1, 2006) Is it Fascism yet?

fas·cism (N)
A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

2005 closed at a New Year's Eve party with someone changing the words to the song by Prince. "…oops out of time. So tonight we gonna party likes it's 1939," was toasted amid the gaiety of the evening.

So begins January with a question of what the New Year will bring. Conceivably fresh new works will sweep away the ills and sufferings of the past. Possibly dark lies and deceptions will give way to the light of truth. Maybe war (at least the one in Iraq) will end.

Or, will an old "F" word resurface in the popular lexicon, Fascism?

Not since the murky days during WWII when Nazis reigned throughout Europe have Texans been so concerned that events are outstripping reason, decency and honesty. That, at some point in the future, good men and women may find it difficult to meet in harmony, work in friendship and be charitable to one another.

Such a calamity would not due to any fault of their temperament but caused by external actions - such as those coming from Washington - beyond their immediate control.

What is Fascism?

Fascism, from the Italian fascismo, was coined by Benito Mussolini's nationalistic movement which sought authoritarian political rule. It has come to mean a system of government that exalts nation (and often race) above the individual, uses violence and instruments of propaganda to achieve its goals, ruthlessly suppresses dissent and opposition, and engages in severe economic and social regimentation.

"Fascism is not in itself a new order of society. It is the future refusing to be born," observed Welsh politician Aneurin Bevan. He saw many around him who were reacting to change in their lives and rebelled at modernity. Alvin Toffler predicted this inability to adjust with the times as the coming "future shock".

Fascists come from both the Right and the Left, but hold to a common set of totalitarian ideals. Often they are considered radicals - not satisfied with the status quo - who prefer to make far-reaching change. And, any means is justified including coercion, deceit, and outright violence.

In The Mystery of Fascism, historian David Ramsay Steel notes "They never stopped thinking of themselves as anti-liberal revolutionaries." They abhor the perceived hollowness of liberal ideas and secularism, They also hate intellectual rationalism. They believe that force, power-over, and hierarchical systems are ineluctable." He goes on to conclude that, "Fascism, like Communism, like all forms of socialism, and like today's greenism and anti-globalism, is the logical result of specific intellectual errors about human progress."

How does Fascism grow?

A decade ago I traveled into the war zone and ethnic cleaning occurring in Bosnia to try and understand how modern people could turn into such savages. What I found were ordinary professionals, many in the middle-class, who had turned against their countrypersons. The primary impetus has been a coordinated political campaign that set neighbor against neighbor. As I interviewed snipers, church leaders, and businessmen, it became evident that this sort of behavior, and descending spiral of hate, could happen to anyone. It was exactly as Raul Hilberg noted in his study of Nazi behavior.

It is an ages-old manipulation of people by corrupt leaders, usually during times of conflict. "Why of course people don't want war … But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along... That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the danger," said Hermann Goering.

How do we identify Facism?

Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies social and political agendas common to fascist regimes in his essay, "Fascism Anyone?". His study of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 "identifying characteristics of fascism:"

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
4. Supremacy of the Military
5. Rampant Sexism
6. Controlled Mass Media
7. Obsession with National Security
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
9. Corporate Power is Protected
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14. Fraudulent Elections

From time to time governments fall from favor due to neglect of those they serve. From the American revolt against King George to current attitudes of "L'Etat, c'est moi" (I AM the country!) attitudes by officials - in both government and industry - politics and who think they can act with impunity and not be caught, citizens are considered irrelevant to political or commercial desires.

In the United States, President Bush - acting under powers that he apparently gave himself - admits to authorizing wiretaps and spying on American citizens, despite resistance from attorney and judges and the Justice department. Within the hi-tech community there is general agreement that the data gathering activities of the government are much more widespread and intrusive than what has already been reported.

Meanwhile, the President continues to assert that he has almost unlimited power during this "time of war".

American tanks have rolled into Afghanistan and Iraq as the President launched attacks on these two sovereign nations. He, along with a small group within the White House, is currently planning an invasion of Iran, this time possibly using nuclear bombs. Not to be out done, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to "wipe Israel off of the map" while Israel has responded in kind.

In Milton Mayer's They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-1945 one colleague observed "What no one seemed to notice was the ever widening gap, after 1933, between the government and the people. While Germany and the states of Europe were unraveling, concerns mounted in the U.S. as well

What does Fascism look like in a Democracy?

Vice President Henry Wallace, in an April 9, 1944 New York Times editorial wrote, "The really dangerous American fascist, is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power."

In a strong indictment of the tide of fascism he saw rising in America, Wallace added, "They claim to be super-patriots, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise, but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection."

The rise in fascist ideology is part of a global trend as well.

The Netherlands, a country with mainly practical and peaceful people, was seeing an upsurge in xenophobic attacks on Muslims and immigrants, even before the bombings in nearby London. Dutch officials recently deported an imam from the cosmopolitan town of Eindhoven, declaring him a "national security risk".

The British Government just announced plans to use deploy global positioning system (GPS) technology to track every car in the U.K. at all times just as they are doing for mobile phones.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin ended popular elections of regional governors, tightened rules for political parties, and pushed through a new law restricting non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

On the other side of the globe, residents of Sydney woke recently to race-related riots on their pristine tourist beaches. Australia, as well as in the U.S. and in Europe, there are calls to take away citizenship of "people of color" or non-Christians.

Can Fascism be defeated?

Like all cancerous social movements, Fascism is ultimately destined to collapse even while it may appear to be growing. That doesn't mean that immediate, and sometimes radical, intervention isn't necessary. As we know from recent, and recorded, history such movements aren't always easy to eradicate but there are ways.

Since fascism is a set of beliefs embodied in the social consciousness, the first place to start is by providing an alternative framework. Many select political action as the method of reacting to fascism. Some choose the courts and judiciary. Others look to nonviolent direct action in the manner of Gandhi and MLK.

Gene Sharp, a leading writer on theories of power in society points out the many nonviolent actions that took place to defeat Nazis, British imperialists, and Latin American dictators. He recommends that following approach:
" Clearly determine the issues and goals and develop a concrete strategy with achievable objectives.
" Use wise planning, realistic strategies, and creativity in planning tactics.
" Focus on opponent's weakness and undermine their support; use non-cooperation as a tactic.
" Remain disciplined in the face of repression; continue resistance; do not become passive.

Has fascism come to the USA?

The editor of the Hartford newspapers clearly thinks so.

Some are quick to state the fascism requires secrecy or can't happen in Democratic states with a free press - conveniently forgetting the history of the rise of the Nazi party in Germany.

Critics counter that America has been slowly drifting towards fascism since the Civil War.

Others look at United States history and frequent brushes pseudo-fascist ideas and note that Americans always reject the appeals of totalitarianism in the end in favor of independence.

Is it fascism yet?

No. As yet America is not a dictatorship, although we do have more of our citizens incarcerated in prisons (2 million), exceeding China or Russia. 30,000 of those are in Federal Prison Camps (FPCs) and there are plans to build many more. see the Immigrations Customs Enforecment's (ICE) "Endgame" report.

America is still a place where people, with a wide set of ideals and beliefs, must negotiate and compromise with one another in order to achieve political consensus. The vox populi, or peoples' voice, remains strong.

Each year brings a chance for renewal, hope, and redirection. In the coming weeks and months, as we go about work, play, school, and our daily lives we need to remember the lessons of history and keep ever watchful against all un-democratic forms of behavior.

2006 may prove to be a pivitol year and determine the political direction of the United States for a generation to come. There continue to be fears of a crowing tide of racism, xenophobia, illegal government actions, and outright fascist moves by some.

At the same time we should remember that fascism isn't something external but can come from any one of us. Each Texan needs to resist the temptation to turn against brothers and sisters and instead learn to look lovingly in one another's eyes.

We need to pause, consider our actions and ask ourselves, "Am I part of the problem or the solution? What values do I hold dear as a Texan and citizen of the world?"

If we can do this, then each of us can look ahead and say (in the words of U2), "I… I will begin."

Charlie Jackson, Texans for Peace

* (New Years Day, 1983 - Under and Blood Red Sky album)

Texans who died in Iraq in 2005 remembered At least 72 Texas service members were killed in Iraq during 2005, according to the San Jose Mercury News (Texas newspapers seldom dwell on this). The youngest was 19 and the oldest was 44. The come from communities large and small throughout the state: ichard M. Salter, 44 (Cypress). Benjamin T. Britt, 24, (Wheeler). Johnnie V. Mason, 32, (Rio Vista). Samuel Tapia, 20, (San Benito). James C. Kesinger, 32, (Pharr). Michael C. Taylor, 23, (Hockley). Robert A. Martinez, 20, (Splendora). William D. Richardson, 30, (Houston). Donald J. Hasse, 28, (Wichita Falls). Javier A. Villanueva, 25, (Temple). William B. Meeuwsen, 21, (Kingwood). Dominic J. Hinton, 24, (Jacksonville). Miguel Terrazas, 20, (El Paso). Christopher M. McCrackin, 20, (Liverpool). John M. Longoria, 21, (Nixon). William J. Byler, 23, (Ballinger). George T. Alexander Jr., 34, (Killeen). Jacob D. Dones, 21, (Dimmitt). Russell H. Nahvi, 24, (Arlington). Tommy I. Folks Jr., 31, (Amarillo). Lorenzo Ponce Ruiz, 26, (El Paso). Sean B. Berry, 26, (Mansfield). John R. Stalvey, 22, (Conroe). Timothy J. Roark, 29, (Houston). Steve Morin Jr., 34, (Arlington,). Shawn Graham, 34, (Red Oak). Robert Macrum, 22, (Sugar Land). Christopher L. Everett, 23, (Huntsville). Ivica Jerak, 42, (Houston). Hatim S. Kathiria, 23, (Fort Worth). Roger D. Castleberry, 26, (Cedar Park). Ernest Dallas, Jr., 21, (Denton). Steven P. Gill, 24, (Round Rock). Rafael A. Carrillo, Jr., 21, (Boys Ranch). Christopher R. Kilpatrick, 18, (Columbus). Robert M. Horrigan, 40, (Austin). Tyler Trovillion, 23, (Richardson). Jonathan Flores, 18, (San Antonio). Mario A. Castillo, 20, (Brownwood). Roberto Arizola Jr., 31, (Laredo). Wesley R. Riggs, 19, (Beach City). Samuel T. Castle, 26, (Naples). Aaron N. Cepeda, 22, (San Antonio). Lance T. Graham, 26, (San Antonio). Gary W. Walters Jr., 31, (Victoria). Aaron M. Hudson, 20, (Highland Village). Francisco Gregorio Martinez, 20, (Fort Worth). Juan M. Solorio, 32, (Dallas). Danny L. Anderson, 29, (Corpus Christi). Trevor D. Aston, 32, (Austin). Clinton R. Gertson, 26, (Houston). Ray Rangel, 29, (San Antonio). Jeremy Allmon, 22, (Cleburne). Daniel Torres, 23, (Fort Worth). Nazario Serrano, 20, (Irving). Taylor Burk, 21, (Amarillo). Fred Maciel, 20, (Spring). Tony Hernandez, 22, (Canyon Lake). Paul Alaniz, 32, (Corpus Christi). Lyle L. Gordon, 30, (Midlothian). Saeed Jafarkhani-Torshizi Jr., 24, (Fort Worth). Dexter S. Kimble, 30, (Houston). Rhonald D. Rairdan, 20, (San Antonio). Jesus A. Leon-Perez, 20, (Houston). Viktar V. Yolkin, 24, (Spring Branch). Javier Marin Jr., 29, (Mission). Paul C. Holter III, 21, (Corpus Christi). Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez, 23, (El Cenizo). Matthew W. Holloway, 21, (Rockport). Joseph E. Fite, 23, (Round Rock). Julio C. Cisneros Alvarez, 22, (Pharr).

USS San Antonio: $1.76 Billion The U.S. navy's new ship - bearing the name of San Antonio - cost an eye-popping $1.76 Billion. Originally pegged to cost about $644 million by the Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress, the San Antonio is more expensive than the Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile Aegis destroyer, which averages $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion. The 684-foot-long troop transport built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems will be commissioned Jan. 14 at Ingleside Naval Station near Corpus Christi. Texas Jews celebrate Hanukkah in small towns Reveles, known to his friends as “Doc,” began making Jewish ceramic art while he was practicing medicine at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. After retiring in 1983, Reveles traveled the country in an RV. He often spent the winter months in Mission, Texas, but traveled through Kerrville. When he decided to settle, he chose Kerrville. Now he is a permanent resident of Kerville and ejoys practicing his faith in this small town, like many Jews throughout Texas. Texas landowners embrace conservation More and more Texas landowners are taking stewardship of living things seriously and embracing conservation. Republicans, Independents, and Democrats alike are seeing the value of sound environmental policies and preserving Texas lands. While various tax incentives and policies are debated in Austin and Washington, a new generation of conservationists are already at work saving Texas.

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