Posted on 08/31/2002 9:46:33 AM PDT by chance33_98
NOW Endorses "March to Justice" Campaign
August 30, 2002
Statement of NOW Action Vice President Olga Vives
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is joining the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's "March to Justice" campaign to demand protection of civil liberties and rights, and to continue opposition to the Bush and Ashcroft attempts to undermine the laws and the Constitution of this country. Activists from all backgrounds will march to the Department of Justice on September 13 with the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, NOW and a broad coalition of organizations to make these demands heard.
George W. Bush has shown that "his" government — as he likes to refer to it — is for the benefit of the wealthy few. Bush's economic policies have wreaked havoc on the country, with daily announcements of massive lay-offs and the unemployment rate reaching its highest levels in over six years. As a result, millions of families — and disproportionately those headed by women and people of color — face severe economic hardship. Yet their plight is ignored while the Bush administration continues on its path to undermine our rights and civil liberties, most of which is left unreported.
In the wake of September 11, George W. Bush and John Ashcroft found a way to exploit a tragedy as an excuse for policies that trample the civil liberties which are the cornerstone of democratic society. Since September 11, as a daily occurrence in this administration, we see the further erosion of our individual freedoms and more controlled messages and factual distortions coming from the White House. We see the dismantling of safety net programs vital to the survival of women and people of color. And we see the influence of corrupt, corporate money finding its way through all the branches of government and driving an ultra-conservative agenda.
Upholding civil liberties and true democracy is essential. The rights of all individuals to equal protection, freedom from discrimination, harassment and violence, to due process and a fair judicial system are non-negotiable. We call on all people of conscience to join NOW and a wide coalition of civil rights organizations on September 13 to tell Bush, Ashcroft and their ilk that we will not allow them to destroy or erode our rights.
Upholding civil liberties and true democracy is essential.
Uhhhhh....
Thats ALL they care about? The don't care about the First Amendment? Second Amendment? etc.? Essentially what they are saying is "As long as you're not mean to us, you can do anything you want" --- a recipe for tyranny!
Politics? YES.
A greater and greater percentage of the country are having problems with what Bush and Ashcroft are doing, including lots of FReepers. Now we're not about to start backing Jesse and NOW and the whole lot.
But someone who isn't as politically aware, and who doesn't know what NOW was and is, and what Jesse has done and is capable of, might look at the above news clip, and if they are already having problems with what's going on in this country, see these groups as their friends, and put all of that rabble-rousing talk about "race hustler" and "feminazis" in the discard pile.
I trust I don't have to explain why that's a problem. NOW right now has lost a lot of its power due to their unholy alliance with our past (insert-your-favorite-sex-crime-perpetrator-description) in chief. If they and PUSH manage to tie their name to something that people agree with, they could very well get people to forget about their past transgressions and start trusting them again, and from that start weilding real political power again.
So what am I saying here he should do in return?
Like a lot of political debates, I'm seeing signs in this one of people calling all anti-terrorism efforts across the board either an intolerable infringement or a necessary protection. I understand both arguments, but that kind of adamancy can let reasonable debate slip through the cracks, and if we don't pick it up, it's clear the left will (well, at least something that their followers will consider "reasonable").
So what I think I'm saying is that in order to combat this, we need to continually keep a clear focus of what is going on in this country, and not get overly dogmatic with each other regarding what we should do, and that includes our discussions here. In other words, don't either oppose or accept any individual efforts on the part of the feds just on face value, but clearly examine each one, and not label anyone here who disagrees with you. This is not an easy issue, and needs to really be approached with as much clarity as possible.
Sorry for the long rant, it's just that I like the fact that NOW and PUSH have returned to being sideshows, and don't want to see that change. If we don't play this one right, it very well could.
I also find the timing of the march a little interesting. All the things going on 9/11 will be wrapping up and the news may be searching for something new to cover the days following. If I were able to be there freeping I would hold a sign up mentioning something about their blatant hypocrisy. But they are idiots, and if there is one thing I despise in this world is gross stupidity, which they excel at. The hole they are digging for this country is so deep I fear it may someday reach down to hell itself (and I mean all liberals in that, not just Now).
Yeh, you might have to give up a few beers or your drugs to buy that cereal and milk.
Sac
Amen, brother! I was about to object to the name of the march as well!
They can march all they want - there was only ONE MFJ!
Viva FR! Viva JimRob! Viva MFJ!
I don't know which group is slumming the most here…
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All three of the NOW 'ladies'?
As close to "labor" most of these idiots ever get.
I dare say that they already have and have been hurling its fireballs at the rest of us with gleeful derision for quite some time..
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