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OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, COMMENT
SEPTEMBER 17, 2005, BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE
--Senator Blanche Lincoln: Web Site: www.lincoln.senate.gov
Washington Office:355 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-0404
Phone: (202) 224-4843 Fax: (202) 228-1371. Fayetteville office: 251-1380;.
--Senator Mark Pryor: Web Site: pryor.senate.gov
Washington Office:217 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-0403
Phone: (202) 224-2353 Fax: (202) 228-0908
Main District Office:700 W. Capitol, Rm. 2527 Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 324-6336 Fax: (501) 324-5320
--Congressman John Boozman, District 3, 12 counties from Benton to Washington
Fayetteville office: 442-5258; 207 W. Center, 72701.
Ft. Smith office: 479-782-7787; 30 Soutt 6th St. Rm 240, Ft. Smith 72901.
Harrison office: 870-741-6900; 402 N. Walnut, Suite 210, Harrison 72601.
DC address: 1708 Longworth House Office Bldng., Washington, DC 20515; 202-225-4301.
PETITIONS: OMNI is trying to have at least one petition circulating on various issues at each of our events. Let Dick know for publicity and other assistance, if you plan to create and organize a petition. Petitions now being circulated for Getting Out of Iraq, Against Violence Toward Women, Opposing U. S. Torture. Send your gathered signatures to Dick, 2582 Jimmie, Fay 72703, or put them in the OMNI mailbox at United Campus Ministry.
These newsletters are organized roughly into 3 groups: 1. upcoming events; 2. local and state news and comment. 3. national and international news and comment.
Surely one of these actions for peace will inspire you to shift your priorities to include it.
SEPTEMBER 17, SATURDAY, CONSTITUTION DAY
Melanie Dietzel reminds us: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are no more than dessicated pieces of antiquity. It is we, the people, who breathe life into them. Each time we get involved in a political campaign, each time we mark a ballot, each time we stand up and speak out to defend the Bill of Rights, we keep faith with those who have gone before.
Let us celebrate that magnificent document today. Let us defend it and all that it stands for against any person or entity that seeks to undermine the ideal that it was ordained by and belongs to "we, the people."
OMNI supports Bill of Rights Day Dec. 15 each year. If you want to help, contact Dick.
SEPTEMBER 17, Benefit Concert for nwa Rape Crisis Center
4 TO 8 PM at the Gypsy on Dickson in Fayetteville. $10 at door.
SEPTEMBER 18, SUNDAY, PROTEST AFGHAN AND IRAQ WARS
Intersection of Dickson and College, Fayetteville, mainly 10-11am, but any time from 7:30 to 12:30.
SEPTEMBER 18, PEACE POLE PAINTING, OMNI UA CHAPTER
4PM AT OMNI
SEPTEMBER 19, 10 TO 3, MONDAYS, OMNI OFFICE OPEN
Contact Rachel Townsend-Moore
SEPTEMBER 19, MONDAY, BENEFIT FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS
A benefit auction and concert sponsored by Teatro Scarpino, The Omni Center, and KUAF will be held to raise money for the American Red Cross to help with disaster relief. This is an official Red Cross Benefit. From 6-9 at Teatro Scarpino located on West Street. For more information please contact Rachel Townsend, 200-0642.
SEPTEMBER 19 Next Interweave meeting will be Monday Sept. 19 @ the UUFF Annex building.
6:30-7:15 Potluck/ discussion; 7:15-8:30 Interweave meeting
SEPTEMBER 20, NOON, SHORT TAKES AT CAT
5 minutes free to speak or read about peace, justice, or the environment.
SEPTEMBER 20, TUESDAY, FESTIVAL DECLARED
Mayor Coody will kick off the Peace on Earth Music Festival by signing a declaration in front of the World Peace Fountain on the square at 2:15. Come support the Mayor support us.
SEPTEMBER 21, WEDNESDAY, DIWAN BAGHDAD, UA STUDENT UNION, 12:30
Profs. Swedenburg, Gadhbian, and Gordon discuss the Iraq and Afghan wars and other Middle Eastern issues.
SEPTEMBER 21, OMNI’S CAMPAIGN FOR DEPARTMENT OF PEACE
Here’s your chance to join a group dedicated to promoting Cong. Kucinich’s DoP legislation. 6:30 at home of Casey and Sarah Milford (sara@everydaysimple.org) .
SEPTEMBER 22, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
5pm at home of Jay and Joyce Hale.
SEPTEMBER 24, PEACE ON EARTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
Come to the Greek Theater on Dickson Street at the U. Of A. Campus in Fayetteville on Saturday, September 24th, from 3:00 – 10:00 pm for a performance of international artists. Sponsored by the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology, the OMNI UA Chapter, Sierra Club, Nature’s Water, and other groups and businesses. Food, t-shirts, bumper stickers.
SEPTEMBER 25, Sunday, at 7:00 Video Underground Presents "Tying the Knot"
showing at the Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology in The Deep End of the United Campus Ministry, corner of Storer and Maple in Fayetteville.
This documentary chronicles the political war between gay people who want to marry and the people determined to stop them. Stories of a gay rancher's fight to keep his home and a lesbian cop's battle for her slain partner's pension are set against the charged movement playing out in American streets, courts and legislatures. From a historical trip to the Middle Ages, to gay hippies storming the Manhattan marriage bureau in 1971, this exploration of the embattled institution looks at rights, privilege and love as gay activists and right-wing politicos lock horns in the debate over same-sex marriage.
The full schedule of upcoming movies is located on the web at http://omni-vu-films.blogspot.com .
For questions please call Greg: 841-2855.
SEPTEMBER 24, SATURDAY, FAYETTEVILLE FREETHINKERS MEETING
Contact Darrel Henschell (pianodarr@yahoo.com). Last Saturday of each month.
SEPTEMBER 25, SUNDAY, WAR PROTEST, Dickson and College, 10 am mainly, or come earlier or later with your own sign.
SEPTEMBER 25, RICHARDSON FAMILY BENEFIT AT ARSAGA’S CROSSROADS
Afternoon.
SEPTEMBER 28, CELEBRATE FREEDOM TO READ
Come read passages from censored books (or books someone sought to censor) to celebrate those who work to defend our FREEDOM TO READ. Place and time to be announced. Contact Dick if you wish to participate. Sponsored by OMNI and ACLU of Fayetteville.
SEPTEMBER 25, NWA Audubon Society Annual Picnic, 5pm, Pavillion in Veteran’s Memorial Park, go east past Lowe’s and turn left. OMNI supports the mission of the NWAAS: “to preserve the natural world through education, environmental study, and habitat protection, and to promote awareness and enjoyment of local and regional natural areas.”
ARKANSAS POLITICAL CANDIDATES: We should try to educate them for a Culture of Peace-- world peace, social justice, and environmental stewardship--, which connects with our alliance with Citizens First.
September 20th at 11:30 at Western Sizzlin in Springdale, Senior Democrats of Northwest Arkansas will hold their regular monthly luncheon meeting on Tuesday. Guest speakers will be Attorney Mac Campbell who is a Democratic Candidate for State Treasurer and Attorney Dustin McDaniel who is a Democratic Candidate for Attorney General. Campbell worked in the legal department for U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln; McDaniel, a State Representative from Jonesboro, introduced the RX plan designed to lower prescription drug costs.
September 22, Thursday, 5 to 7, Attorney Mike Hathorn, a Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor will make his Campaign Kick-Off Speech at a Fundraiser at Uncle Gaylords located at 315 West Mountain Street in Fayetteville.
OCTOBER 1, SATURDAY, 4TH ANNUAL NWA LULAC GALA
League of United Latin American Citizens Council 754’s 2005 Gala at Embassy Suites of Rogers/Bentonville, 6pm: banquet, silent auction, speaker, dancing. Call Rey Hernandez, 479-366-1923; or www.nwalulac754.org
FAYETTEVILLE, NWA, ARKANSAS
STEREOTYPES: ANOTHER OMNI FORUM
Dr. Mohja Kahf’s presentation mainly about Muslim women’s dress 9-14 at Hog Haus overflowed with a highly responsive audience sitting on the floor and standing at the doors. Dr. Kahf’s book on the subject: Western Representations of the Muslim Woman: From Termagant to Odalisque. And see her column on sexuality and Islam for www.muslimwakeup.com OMNI’s educational diversity campaign is ongoing.
OMNI’S ECOLOGY WATCH
DEVELOPMENT. The Beaver Water District can now pump almost twice as much water out of Beaver Lake because of a new intake facility that cost $13.7 million. This is good news for real estate businesses, road building contractors, and everyone else seeking profit from expansion. The downside: the report said nothing about the inevitable destruction of forests and wetland, the killing of species, or controlling population or any other alternative to one of our nation’s most unexamined popular beliefs—the necessity of constant growth regardless of consequences. Alas, water is an essential component of the bulldozing mentality.
OMNI’S WAL-MART WATCH
Quebec Labor Relations Commission ruled that Wal-Mart closed a store to thwart a union drive and ordered the company to compensate former employees (TMN 9-17-05).
Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-0H) will hold a forum in Ohio to examine Wal-Mart’s business practices. “’Companies like Wal-mart are not good public citizens so much of the time.’” (TMN 9-17-05).
OMNI’S MILITARISM WATCH
TMN 9-17-05 printed a large photo of UA Air Force ROTC cadets standing at attention before the Fulbright Peace Fountain in honor of prisoners of war and those missing in action. Just as corporations commodify everything for profit, the Pentagon will exploit peace for war, or as in the world of Orwell’s 1984, “War is Peace!”
Read: The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War by Andrew J. Bacevich. During the latter half of the 20th century the United States slipped into a general state of belief that all its major challenges could be met, and all its largest problems solved, by going to war. more
MIDDLE EAST GAS
Linda Farrell puffer@cox.net urges us to stop buying ME gasoline:
These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
Shell 205,742,000 barrels, Chevron/Texaco 144,332,000 barrels, Exxon /Mobil 130,082,000 barrels, Marathon/Speedway 117,740,000 barrels, Amoco62,231,000 barrels. If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (oil is now $55-$60 a barrel). (You might buy Venezuelan gasoline at CITGO. D)
NATION AND WORLD
PEACE VICTORY IN CHICAGO
The Chicago City Council Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the removal of US troops from Iraq. Passing by a Council vote of 29 to 9, with 12 abstaining or not voting, the resolution urges 'the United States government to immediately commence an orderly and rapid withdrawal from Iraq. In addition to the death and suffering of the war, the resolution stressed that 'Chicago residents' share of monies appropriated for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now exceeds $2.1 billion.' What is Fayetteville’s share, NWA’s, Arkansas’?
LOCAL WOMAN CONNECTS REFUGEES WITH HOMES
Serena Howard of Pea Ridge has created www.openyourhom.com to find homes for victims of the flood.
MEDIA: UNDER-REPORTED STORIES
From: peter.phillips@SONOMA.EDU Project Censored at Sonoma State University announces the annual release of the most important under-covered stories of 2004-05. For full postings see: http://www.projectcensored.org/
NEW FILM ON CENSORSHIP: “HEART OF THE BEHOLDER”
“This is an excellent independently produced movie, that deals with censorship imposed by a radical militant religious group, aided by corrupt public officials. It illustrates why it is so important to preserve and defend our religious liberties against those who would deny them to us, in the name of so-called "family values" and other such bogus euphemisms. It has, so far, won awards at the first two film festivals in which it has been entered. Last week it was screened at the Bluegrass International Film Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. There were over 700 films submitted and 71 were chosen to screen at the festival. "Heart of the Beholder" was awarded the "Director's Choice Award" for Best Feature Film. Along with last July's St. Louis Film Critics "Critics' Choice Award" for Best Feature Film.
Here is the web site: http://www.beholder.com/ “ From Jim McCollum
VIOLENCE in, by, and from RELIGION
A goal of OMNI is to reduce violence. A major source of violence is religion. Here is the great Baptist Bill Moyers speaking: “Muslims have no monopoly on holy violence. As Jack Nelson-Pallmayer points out, God's violence in the sacred texts of both [Muslim and Christian] faiths reflect a deep and troubling pathology "so pervasive, vindictive, and destructive" that it contradicts and subverts the collective weight of other passages that exhort ethical behavior or testify to a loving God.” Nelson-Pallmayer “carefully traces this trail of holy violence in his important book, Is Religion Killing Us? [Trinity Press International. 2003].” As Moyers says, both Bible and Koran also support “a loving God.” A brilliant essay by the environmentalist Bill McKibben in Harper’s, “The Christian Paradox,” argues that the two contrasting major strands of U.S. Christianity, both of which concentrate on self—“apocalyptics” and “positive thinking”—have rejected “Jesus’ radical and demanding focus on other”s: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” with neighbor meaning “the poor person, the sick person, the naked person, the hungry person.” These two essays might be the basis of our next RELIGIOUS PEACE TRADITIONS FORUM. Contact Dick if interested in helping.
This story was told to me by a member of the Peace Network of the Ozarks in Missouri:
A minister of an area church began a sermon recently with these words:
I want to tell you 3 things today.
37,000 children starve to death every day.
You don't give a shit.
You are bothered much more by my saying "shit" than you are by the death of these innocent children.
“We will have to repent in this generation, not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” From “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr.
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