There is a recently made video that examines in a very balanced manner, the Mexican elections as seen from the viewpoint of the people living in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua- US made war zone. It is very informative and well worth the time watching this 20min film... THE FEMALE JOURNALISTS OF JUAREZ. One has to ask why is it that the US can run this 'drug war' inside Mexico from right out here in NORTHCOM command center, Colorado Springs, and nobody in Colorado Springs knows anything about it? Why? And where are our tough, hard hitting local journalists from The Gazette and The Independent? They're both missing the big story. In fact, they have utterly failed to keep us Colorado citizens informed.
Tag: Colorado Spring Independent
Waldo Canyon concert fundraiser feted Colo. Springs self-interest & ignorance
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- All night local speakers proclaimed: "Colorado Springs knows how to look after its own." And doesn't it! But I'm almost positive that it used to be, if only everywhere else, the virtue was looking out for others, not just your own. The Waldo Canyon fundraiser for fire victims was titled "a community rising" and was explained as a coming together, without regard for religious or political differences, I would also add, minus humility and what would be common sense if the denominator wasn't so debased. This was so embarrassing it hurt. So we experienced a wildfire, part of the natural cycle of western forests, which burned a neighborhood probably built too far into a canyon, made worse, and ubiquitous right now across the Southwest, by an unnatural heatwave that portends climate change. Was any of that mentioned? NOPE. Instead victims vowed to rebuild, as they fetishized firefighter vigilance over that ever threatening beast in the hills. Headliner Michael Martin Murphy, apparently the perpetual flame of wildfire vigil keeping, owing to his "Wildfire" hit but it was about a horse, sang a lament which listed the West's many epic fires, appending mention of "Waldo Canyon" like a latest mining disaster. We're supposed to prevent the fires apparently, like buying pink things to fight cancer. Wildfires aren't tragedies except to logging interests. When Smokey the Bear cried, it was over timber that didn't get logged. Of course national park visitors have to be reminded to exercise caution, because, the US Forestry Service jobs depend on the trees. We thought it was about Bambi's mom, but those wildlives are managed too, with bullets, lest their populations threaten the trees. Should people who who want to live in the forest be let to deny its nature like they shrug off global warming? And much as we gush over firemen, it's a job. More clerks are shot at 7-11s than there are fallen heros listed on the multiple "national" monuments to firefighters. The Waldo Canyon Fire destruction was the wrath of nature, whether owed to arson or deficient firefighting, the calamitous fire season throughout the state confirms that climate change created the perfect storm, but Jesus Springs is probably not prepared to consider the flaming villainy was an Act of God. And where does anyone need reassurance that Colorado Springs doesn't look after its own? We're the no-holds-barred world street-fighting champions of supporting our workforce, standing up for our war criminal enabling ways. We're a Support the Troops, Climate Denying, Drill Baby Drill, Charter-Schooling, God Hates Fags, No Thanks We're Racists, God Damn apologists for Ayn Rand lowbrow cultural ignorance, and flag-waving PROUD OF IT. We don't give a damn about burning other people's houses, the people in them included. But when it happens to us, prayers and calls for prayers spam the internets. We look after our own, if by our own, we mean our neighbors with homes. Colorado Springs stopped pretending to care about the homeless, it's still piling on ordinances to criminalize
CS Indy turns to cruel IFES deceiver to voice cautionary best hope for Haiti
When it came to coverage of the Haiti earthquake disaster, the CS Indy left it to their Your Turn column, and by "your" they meant YOUR MASSAH. What caught my eye was the headline "Time for a new Haiti" accompanied by the excerpt blurb "Aristide's return would be a disaster," written by a pasty diplomat who had a personal hand in Haiti's ongoing misery. Here is our allegedly progressive newsweekly giving the podium to IFES criminal Richard Soudriette instead of bundling him off to Port Au Prince for a well deserved drubbing. Mr. Soudriette presided over the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) from 1988 to 2007, the period which saw two US coups in Haiti, where twice the democratically elected Bertrand Aristide was removed from office by our hands. Who better to have blown the whistle on the US interference than someone observing, even advising and conducting, the elections? That's ignoring of course that the IFES is actually a private agency which does the CIA's work, created in the 80s when Congress moved to limit the CIA's official role destabilizing democracies. Through the IFES, through the National Endowment for Democracy, the CIA continues its intelligence wars subverting foreign governments who threaten America's corporate rule. If you want to believe that enterprises like IFES might be serving some good, consider this: if democratic ideals were really being advanced, the US State Department would be proud to do the work. These aren't subcontracted jobs that wouldn't benefit from official diplomatic networks. The IFES and ilk are as disreputable cretins as ever wore stuffed shirts, designed to separate people from legitimate representation. And don't think all the pitchfork bearing victims of its election racketeering are overseas. The IFES has been an adversary of the American people as Americans have tried to rescue their elections from Diebold and the stolen votes of 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. When will traitorous, undemocratic Neocons like Richard Soudriette meet the wrath they have so richly courted? The Haitians are suffering, there are countless stories of Americans helping in the effort, instead the Indy gives people of Haiti more of the same malignant spin. How did Soudriette explain his expertise on Aristide? He didn't: "Unfortunately Aristide is hinting at a comeback despite his two failed terms. Aristide's return to Haitian politics would be a disaster for the country. His many political allies in the U.S. and abroad would best serve Haiti's interests by encouraging Aristide to permanently step aside from politics." Rather, Soudriette says, we need to back efforts to amend Haiti's constitution to allow America's man Preval serve additional terms. Oh, and give more responsibility to USAID, another CIA arm. Why is Soudriette spinning this message to Colorado Springs I wonder? It's not enough that Soudriette lent his villainy to Haiti's disastrous last decades, now two years removed from the job, on the occasion of its most recent natural calamity, Soudriette resurfaces to damn the Haitian people with the same lies, lest they ever catch a break. That's what
Jim Hightower: no Agitation, no change
Populist wit Jim Hightower will keynote a belated Labor Day Dinner, Friday Sept. 18th, 2009, 6:00-8 p.m. NO AGITATION, NO CHANGE at IBEW Union Hall, 2150 Naegele Rd. Colorado Springs. $35/person. Sponsored by Colorado Springs Labor Council and the CS Independent.
Independent mutual admiration society
COLORADO SPRINGS- It was a great honor to be named the Independent's Top Activist, ranking with Annie Oatman Gardner and Richard Skorman, the former who now holds the latter's job representing Colorado Springs for Senator Ken Salazar, Colorado's Democrat who supports the war, torture, and plays a cat and mouse game with the Patriot Act, Guantanamo, and Pinon Canyon expansion. Of course I think the laurels mean I will want to keep at it.
Confront GOP vote fixers Monday Oct 27
EVERY VOTE MATTERS “Election Protection” Town Hall featuring Office of El Paso County Clerk & Recorder (confirmed) and Sec. of State (invited) Monday, Oct. 27, 2-3:30 p.m. Carnegie Room, Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave. Downtown. If you cannot attend, watch live at koaa.com or on Comcast Channel 9 (CS) or Channel 247 (Pueblo). Email questions you want asked by Oct 26 to jweiss (at) csindy.com
Bad DNC protesters? get them to behave
That was embarrassing. The Indy asked me how to keep a protest peaceful, in light of participants who may be tempted to mix it up. The Indy said my advice was get them to behave. It's what I meant of course, but I said: set a good example for others to follow. I was talking to the Independent reporter about how one could participate in the DNC demonstrations without getting caught up in trouble. It is a perplexing balancing act. Despite every organizer's best intentions, there are going to be soccer hooligans and plain-clothed provocateurs. The best use you can put to all the digital video devices is to catch undercover cops trying to instigate crime. Young would-be rabble-rousers will have to offend for themselves because cameras might catch them too. Against police video surveillance, the bystander videotape will be the least of their problems. Principally, demonstrators will need to catch the various law enforcement agents trying to entrap participants and incite riots, for which they can blame their unwitting accomplices. Don't hold anything for a stranger, don't follow the directions of someone you don't already know to be an organizer. And above all, remember why you're here. To represent your message. To give voice to others. Taking to the street is as fundamental as fighting for your rights. They weren't given us without somebody taking to the streets to demand them. Let the politicians and media and authorities know why you're there. That's real patriotism.
Congratulations John and Delia
John and Delia Weiss married April Fools Day in a spectacular bohemian ceremony at their home above Manitou. Photos in reverse order.
Cuba is a gayer place today than it was yesterday
Such a repressive place, Cuba! Hateful and nasty communists run the island. They are hateful and nasty that is, unless you happen to be Gay! That's right, Cuba is a gayer place today than it was yesterday. And I'm hoping that John Weiss, publisher of The Colorado Springs Independent, will run a piece about how Gay Havana can be! What about it, John? The Castros are gayer than the Teletubbies are even! Gayer than the teachers of Harry Potter! Gayer than Ted Haggard! Yes ! Castro champions gay rights in Cuba Got to love it!