I will be discussing the labor movement. As far as the direction I will take, it will probably be along the lines of immigration and how it is affecting the labor movement. Much of my topic will deal with illegal immigration, our countries dependence on the workers, and how it affects labor in this country. Any suggestions are welcome.
Chris
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Texas Anti-Death Penalty Movement Saves Kenneth Foster
August 30, 2007
Movement to Save Kenneth Foster Wins Historic Victory
Family members and supporters of Kenneth Foster, Jr. are jubilant in the reaction to Texas Governor Rick Perry’s announcement today that he would commute the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted under the controversial “Law of Parties” for a 1996 murder in which he had no actual involvement. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had recommended clemency by a vote of 6-1. Foster’s execution had been scheduled for tonight.
In a statement announcing the commutation, Perry said, “I am concerned about Texas law that allowed capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously and it is an issue I think the Legislature should examine.”
Reaction among Foster’s family and friends included both joy and disbelief. “We felt a bit of disbelief because Perry’s decision was so unprecedented.” said Dana Cloud of the Save Kenneth Foster campaign. “But everyone is so happy that Kenneth will be able to touch his wife and daughter and that we have a chance of seeing him free. Anything is possible when you are alive.”
Claire Dube, a close high-school friend of Kenneth’s and an active member of the Save Kenneth Foster Campaign, broke into tears when she heard the news. “We don’t even know what to say. It’s incredible.”
Keith Hampton, Foster’s attorney, also expressed relief and happiness at winning his client’s life. Hampton thanked the activists of the grassroots movement that started in Austin and spread around the world for putting the necessary pressure on the Board and the Governor to win. “Extra-legal means work,” he said.
“Governor Perry once said that there was no hue and cry against the death penalty in Texas,” commented Lily Hughes of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. “Well, here was your hue and cry.”
Foster’s family and other supporters will continue to work to free him from prison. “It seems like ten years on death row under 23-hour lockdown could amount to time served for any crime that Kenneth ever committed,” Cloud said.
Perry’s decision is historic. Not only has the Board of Pardons and Paroles rarely recommended clemency (by one count, 3 times since 1982), but Rick Perry has overseen more executions than any Governor of the State of Texas, including George Bush.
“This case demonstrated to the world just how arbitrary and capricious capital punishment is,” Cloud said. “It gives people pause when someone who killed no one could come this close to being executed.”
“Public sentiment has been turning against capital punishment,” Hughes said. “We’ve seen a lot of states stop executing people. Winning Kenneth’s life might be a real turning point in the history of the death penalty in Texas.”
For more information
Movement to Save Kenneth Foster Wins Historic Victory
Family members and supporters of Kenneth Foster, Jr. are jubilant in the reaction to Texas Governor Rick Perry’s announcement today that he would commute the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted under the controversial “Law of Parties” for a 1996 murder in which he had no actual involvement. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had recommended clemency by a vote of 6-1. Foster’s execution had been scheduled for tonight.
In a statement announcing the commutation, Perry said, “I am concerned about Texas law that allowed capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously and it is an issue I think the Legislature should examine.”
Reaction among Foster’s family and friends included both joy and disbelief. “We felt a bit of disbelief because Perry’s decision was so unprecedented.” said Dana Cloud of the Save Kenneth Foster campaign. “But everyone is so happy that Kenneth will be able to touch his wife and daughter and that we have a chance of seeing him free. Anything is possible when you are alive.”
Claire Dube, a close high-school friend of Kenneth’s and an active member of the Save Kenneth Foster Campaign, broke into tears when she heard the news. “We don’t even know what to say. It’s incredible.”
Keith Hampton, Foster’s attorney, also expressed relief and happiness at winning his client’s life. Hampton thanked the activists of the grassroots movement that started in Austin and spread around the world for putting the necessary pressure on the Board and the Governor to win. “Extra-legal means work,” he said.
“Governor Perry once said that there was no hue and cry against the death penalty in Texas,” commented Lily Hughes of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. “Well, here was your hue and cry.”
Foster’s family and other supporters will continue to work to free him from prison. “It seems like ten years on death row under 23-hour lockdown could amount to time served for any crime that Kenneth ever committed,” Cloud said.
Perry’s decision is historic. Not only has the Board of Pardons and Paroles rarely recommended clemency (by one count, 3 times since 1982), but Rick Perry has overseen more executions than any Governor of the State of Texas, including George Bush.
“This case demonstrated to the world just how arbitrary and capricious capital punishment is,” Cloud said. “It gives people pause when someone who killed no one could come this close to being executed.”
“Public sentiment has been turning against capital punishment,” Hughes said. “We’ve seen a lot of states stop executing people. Winning Kenneth’s life might be a real turning point in the history of the death penalty in Texas.”
For more information
Post-Mortem America?
Hello everyone. My first blog post and though I am not sure it applies directly to where we are in class I felt the need to submit it. I am not going to go on at length about it now. I may in the future but I am simply too depressed at the moment. If nothing else, I do think the content is at least apropos in the grand scheme of discussing to the "Rhetoric of Protest/Social Movements." So without further ado or comment, here is what I have today.
Post-Mortem America
by Chris Floyd
Tomorrow is here. The game is over. The crisis has passed -- and the patient is dead. Whatever dream you had about what America is, it isn't that anymore. It's gone. And not just in some abstract sense, some metaphorical or mythological sense, but down in the nitty-gritty, in the concrete realities of institutional structures and legal frameworks, of policy and process, even down to the physical nature of the landscape and the way that people live.
The Republic you wanted -- and at one time might have had the power to take back -- is finished. You no longer have the power to keep it; it's not there. It was kidnapped in December 2000, raped by the primed and ready exploiters of 9/11, whored by the war pimps of the 2003 aggression, gut-knifed by the corrupters of the 2004 vote, and raped again by its "rescuers" after the 2006 election. Beaten, abused, diseased and abandoned, it finally died. We are living in its grave.
I encourage you all to follow the link above to read the work in its entirety. Oh, and for a bit of commentary on the above, here is another blog I frequent.
Once Upon A Time... by Arthur Silber
Take care everyone.
Post-Mortem America
by Chris Floyd
Tomorrow is here. The game is over. The crisis has passed -- and the patient is dead. Whatever dream you had about what America is, it isn't that anymore. It's gone. And not just in some abstract sense, some metaphorical or mythological sense, but down in the nitty-gritty, in the concrete realities of institutional structures and legal frameworks, of policy and process, even down to the physical nature of the landscape and the way that people live.
The Republic you wanted -- and at one time might have had the power to take back -- is finished. You no longer have the power to keep it; it's not there. It was kidnapped in December 2000, raped by the primed and ready exploiters of 9/11, whored by the war pimps of the 2003 aggression, gut-knifed by the corrupters of the 2004 vote, and raped again by its "rescuers" after the 2006 election. Beaten, abused, diseased and abandoned, it finally died. We are living in its grave.
I encourage you all to follow the link above to read the work in its entirety. Oh, and for a bit of commentary on the above, here is another blog I frequent.
Once Upon A Time... by Arthur Silber
Take care everyone.
Women's Movement
Being a student of Women's Studies, I am extremely interested in both historic women's movements as well as contemporary, while I do not have a concrete focus at the moment here are the key issues according to the National Organization for Women:
Abortion/Reproductive Rights
Violence Against Women
Constitutional Equality
Promoting Diversity/Ending Racism
Lesbian Rights
Economic Justice
Visit http://www.now.org/issues/ for further information as well as other important issues.
Abortion/Reproductive Rights
Violence Against Women
Constitutional Equality
Promoting Diversity/Ending Racism
Lesbian Rights
Economic Justice
Visit http://www.now.org/issues/ for further information as well as other important issues.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Praise Be to Dagon!
From the Teens-4-Christ forums. I stumbled across these whilst researching for the Purity Revolution.
The Big Media Reformist cont.
This is an excerpt from the Media Reform Network, mediareform.net for more information. The statement is often made that the U.S. media system offers the best of all possible worlds in terms of serving audiences. However, over the past half century, as the bottom line operating mode of the predominantly commercial system has intensified and public interest components have been dismantled, many government representatives, citizens' groups, academics, and concerned individuals have become involved in the movement to reform the system. A belief that broadcasters who use the public airwaves should be required to serve the public interest is at the root of the media reform movement.
This is more in response to the second question posed about media reformists, what issue are their or projects in the works: Some media activists are engaged in media literacy education, or training people how to interpret media with a critical eye; others produce and build networks for distribution of alternative media. Media reformists focus on bringing public pressure to bear on media outlets and owners, as well as government bodies and agencies, to create changes that will serve to enhance the democracy and diversity of the mass media public sphere.
This is more in response to the second question posed about media reformists, what issue are their or projects in the works: Some media activists are engaged in media literacy education, or training people how to interpret media with a critical eye; others produce and build networks for distribution of alternative media. Media reformists focus on bringing public pressure to bear on media outlets and owners, as well as government bodies and agencies, to create changes that will serve to enhance the democracy and diversity of the mass media public sphere.
The Big Media Reformist
Well needless to say, I resonate quite strongly with this cause, so I will be managing this section of Crazy for Rhetoric for the duration of the class this semester along with some help from our resident continuing ed member, Rob. First and foremost, what are the interests most central to the Media Reform Movement, where can one find more information on the Media Reform agenda, and what references (terminology) are made when discussing media reform?
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