“I’ve seen the other kind of poverty — the kind that’s at least partly self-inflicted and more than a little self-destructive.”
Read the full essay: The other kind of poverty « Ben Irwin.
The Last Gasp
“We increasingly do not remember what it means to be free. And because we do not remember, we do not react with appropriate ferocity when it is revealed that our freedom has been taken from us. The structures of the corporate state must be torn down. Its security apparatus must be destroyed. And those who defend corporate totalitarianism, including the leaders of the two major political parties, fatuous academics, pundits and a bankrupt press, must be driven from the temples of power. Mass street protests and prolonged civil disobedience are our only hope. A failure to rise up—which is what the corporate state is counting upon—will see us enslaved.”
Read More: Chris Hedges: The Last Gasp of American Democracy – Truthdig.
Ease My Revolutionary Mind
“I need a union working woman! I need an Occupy Wall Street woman!”
Fellow Worker Tom Morello, at the Woody Guthrie Centennial…
The Life of Dorothy Day
Here’s an introduction to Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement that aired on PBS’ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly back in February of 2013.
Transcript is here.
Our Salvation – A Quote From Dorothy Day
“I firmly believe that our salvation depends on the poor.”
– Dorothy Day
The Place To Learn How To Fight
I’ll see you in Chicago.
Remembering Eugene Debs
“On the day of his release, the warden ignored prison regulations and opened every cell-block to allow more than 2,000 inmates to gather in front of the main jail building to say good-bye to Eugene Debs,” according to Howard Zinn. “As he started down the walkway from the prison, a roar went up and he turned, tears streaming down his face, and stretched out his arms to the other prisoners.”
Read More: Eugene Debs: Dreaming of a red Christmas » peoplesworld.
Bye Bye Burke
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke has been bumped from the influential Congregation of Bishops — a post that gave him say in the selection of bishops.
Some observers of the Roman Catholic Church said the move by Pope Francis is yet another example of his effort to tone down highly publicized stances on divisive social issues such as gay marriage, contraception and abortion, on which Burke has made strong remarks.
Burke was the one who stated publicly that he would deny Eucharist to John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election.
Read More: Pope Francis removes former St. Louis Archbishop Burke from Congregation of Bishops : Lifestyles.
Bill Ayers Interview
Read the interview: Bill Ayers Talks Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Toni Preckwinkle | Chicago magazine.
Ayers is the authentic voice.
20 Things The Poor Really Do Every Day « Ben Irwin
I’ve never had any use for the likes of Dave Ramsey and his little cult of prosperity. It was nice to see somebody stand up to his recent un-Christian stereotyping of poor people, although it is always saddening to be reminded of the daily struggles of our brothers and sisters.