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STEPHEN GREEN reports on the real motivations behind Israel's MISSILE STRIKE on SYRIA. PETER MONTAGUE on the NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE or How the Nuke Industry is using Gore's Prize and Global Warming to Plot Its Big Comeback. WILLIAM BLUM on the DEVALUING of "ANTI-SEMITE" or How to Make a Term Meaningless. Get your copy today by subscribing online or calling 1-800-840-3683 Remember contributions to CounterPunch are tax-deductible. Click here to make a donation. If you find our site useful please: Subscribe Now
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October 22, 2007 Ishmael
Reed October 20 / 21, 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Tariq
Ali Jeffrey
St. Clair Andy
Worthington Mike
Whitney Daniel
Wolff David
Rosen Saul
Landau Ron
Jacobs Robert
Fantina David
Heleniak Joe
Allen Prairie
Miller Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
October 19, 2007 John
Ross Sheldon
Rampton Rahul
Mahajan Devra
Davis Christopher
Brauchli Wadner
Pierre Bill
Quigley Website
of the Day
October 18, 2007 Saree
Makdisi Meg
Dwyer Alevtina
Rea Norman
Solomon Kristoffer
Larsson Harvey
Wasserman Website
of the Day
October 17, 2007 Steve
Niva Andy
Worthington Alan
Farago Russell
Mokhiber Sharon
Smith Mike
Whitney Robert
Fantina Chris
Irwin Website
of the Day October 16, 2007 Peter
Linebaugh Paul
Findley Robert
Bryce Uri
Avnery Paul
Craig Roberts Ray
McGovern Norman
Solomon Martha
Rosenberg William
S. Lind Joel
S. Hirschborn Website
of the Day
October 15, 2007 Gary
Leupp Andy
Worthington Heather
Gray John
Walsh Joshua
Frank Dave
Lindorff Matt
Vidal Ali
Khan Sen.
Russ Feingold Johnny
Barber Website
of the Day October 13 / 14, 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Wajahat
Ali Jeffrey
St. Clair Ralph
Nader David Heleniak Laura Carlsen Brian Cloughley Richard Rhames Ron Jacobs Fred Gardner John Ross Russell Hoffman Missy Beattie Poets' Basement Website of the Day
Cindy
Sheehan Brendan
Cooney Alan
Farago Jan
Oberg M.
Shahid Alam David
Macaray Julia
Kendlbacher Peter
Rost, MD Website
of the Day
Al
Giordano Saul
Landau Jacob
G. Hornberger William
S. Lind Joshua
Frank Josh
Mahan Pat
Williams
October 10, 2007 Michael
Yates Gary
Leupp David
Macaray Alan
Farago Tom
Clifford Col.
Douglas MacGregor Sunsara
Taylor George
Wuerthner Roxanne
Dunbar-Ortiz Michael
Dickinson Website
of the Day
October 9, 2007 Paul
Craig Roberts Andy
Worthington Alan
Farago Brian
Eno David
Rovics Farzana
Versey Andrew
Buncombe Website
of the Day
October 8, 2007 David
Macaray Jeff
Ballinger Brian
Eno Christopher
Brauchli Louay
Safi Matt
Reichel Dave
Lindorff Thomas
P. Healy Martha
Rosenberg Richard
Rhames Website
of the Day
October 6 / 7, 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Norman
Finkelstein James
Bovard Patrick
Cockburn Jeffrey
St. Clair Ralph
Nader Ray
McGovern Saul
Landau Ben
Tripp Terry
Lodge Seth
Sandronsky Kevin
Funk / Steve Fake Missy
Beattie Website
of the Weekend
October 5, 2007 Andy
Worthington David
Macaray Lee
Sustar Dan
La Botz Aaron
Hess William
A. Cook Website
of the Day
October 4, 2007 Uri
Avnery Dave
Marsh Valerio
Volpi Cecilie
Surasky Dave
Lindorff Norman
Solomon Laura
Carlsen Walter
Brasch Ben
Terrall William
S. Lind Website
of the Day
October 3, 2007 Vijay
Prashad Anita
Sinha Winslow
T. Wheeler Sharon
Smith Jeff
Leys Sen.
Russ Feingold Mohamad
Bazzi Brenda
Norrell Robert
Weissman Website
of the Day
October 2, 2007 Ibrahim
Warde Gary
Leupp David
Macaray Conn
Hallinan John
Ross Alan
Farago Sonja
Karkar Niranjan
Ramakrishnan Website
of the Day
October 1, 2007 Al
Giordano Paul
Craig Roberts Moshe Adler Ingmar Lee John V. Walsh Norman Solomon Roger Burbach Ramzy Baroud Stephen Lendman Susie Day Website of the Day
September 29 / 30, 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Uri
Avnery Andrew
Cockburn Jeffrey
St. Clair Wajahat
Ali Andy
Worthington Don
Santina Ralph
Nader Fred
Gardner Seth
Sandronsky Gideon
Levy William
S. Lind Reza
Fiyouzat Richard
Rhames David
Michael Green Zach
Mason Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
September 28, 2007 Kathleen
and Bill Christison Roberto
J. González / Saul
Landau Tom
Clifford Christopher
Brauchli Martha
Rosenberg Dave
Zirin Laray
Polk Binoy
Kampmark James
McEnteer Website
of the Day
September 27, 2007 Alan
Farago Andy
Worthington Jonathan
Cook William
Hughes Ray
McGovern Ron
Jacobs Dave
Lindorff Joshua
Frank Anne
Dachel Website
of the Day
Bill
Quigley Paul
Craig Roberts Jeff
Kisseloff China
Hand Behzad
Yaghmaian Sonja
Karkar Mike
Ferner Col.
Dan Smith Clifton
Ross Brenda
Norrell Website
of the Day
September 25, 2007 Nicole
Colson Uri
Avnery Brendan
Cooney Harry
Browne Marjorie
Cohn David
Macaray Ralph
Nader Dan
Bacher Anthony
Papa Christopher
Ketcham Website
of the Day
September 24, 2007 George
Ciccariello-Maher Saree Makdisi David
Keen Sherwood
Ross Ron
Jacobs Donna
Saggia Mike
Ferner Malini
Johar Schueller Monique
Dols Website
of the Day
Alexander
Cockburn Jennifer
Loewenstein Linn
Washington, Jr. Jeffrey
St. Clair Alan
Farago Brian
Cloughley Robert
Fantina Roxanne
Dunbar-Ortiz Jason
Hribal David
Rosen Mike
Whitney John
V. Walsh Dave
Lindorff David
Michael Green Fred
Gardner Cassandra
Jones Roger
van Zwanenberg Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
September 21, 2007 Karim
Makdisi M.
Shahid Alam Alan
Farago Joshua
Frank Dave
Zirin Kenneth
Couesbouc Dr.
Steffie Woolhandler and Dr. David Himmelstein Ben
Terrall Steve
Fournier Frederico
Fuentes, et al Website
of the Day
September 20, 2007 Kathleen
Christison Zoltan
Grossman Paul
Craig Roberts Stan
Cox Russell
Mokhiber Charles
Modiano Raymond
J. Lawrence Brendan
Cooney Website
of the Day
September 19, 2007 Paul
Craig Roberts Paul
Krassner Sgt.
Martin Smith Seth
Sandronsky Claud
Cockburn Victoria
Buch Robert
Weissman Mike
Ferner Dan
Bacher Website
of the Day
September 18, 2007 Mike
Whitney Alan
Farago John
Ross Ron
Jacobs Alex
Doherty September 17, 2007 Marjorie
Cohn Paul
Craig Roberts Ricardo
Alarcón Marc
Levy Eva
Liddell Website
of the Day Sept. 15-16, 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Vicente
Navarro Mike
Whitney Herman
Mindshaftgap Ellen
Cantarow Jordan
Flaherty Zachary
Hurwitz September 14, 2007 Debbie
Nathan Franklin
Lamb Patrick
Cockburn Farzana
Versey Alan
Farago Hank
Edson September 13, 2007 Patrick
Cockburn Scott
Vest, former Air Force Captain at Minot Andy
Worthington Michael
Baney Dr.
Susan Block September 12, 2007 Paul
Craig Roberts Stan
Goff William
Blum Manuel
Garcia Debbie
Nathan
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October 22, 2007 It's Time to Stop Being Taken for GrantedShould Blacks Go Green?By ISHMAEL REED Though eastern talk show hosts might view Berkeley, California, as a hotbed of diversity, census reports show it be the whitest city in Alameda County. According to Berkeley's Health Officer, Dr.Linda Rudolph, it is also a city where life expectancy among whites has increased to 80, while the rate among black citizens of the university town has decreased. The report blamed some of the problems that blacks experience on eco-racism. Their neighborhoods being located near the freeway, for example, has led to an increase in cases of asthma among black residents. The report also cited "the lack of stores carrying fresh fruit and vegetables in southwest Berkeley." A number of reports conclude that toxic dumps are more likely to be found in black neighborhoods. Chester W. Hartman, author of Poverty & Race in America writes, "Studies have documented that hazardous waste landfills are disproportionately placed in African- American communities. . .Race is independent of class in the distribution of air pollution, contaminated fish consumption,location of municipal landfills, and incinerators, abandoned toxic waste dumps, cleanup of Superfund sites, lead poisoning in children and asthma." Some of the problems of my
inner city neighborhood are also environmental. Residents are
fearful of walking exercise, because of a gang that has been
operating an open drug market for about three years. The police
say that they don't have the manpower to do anything about it.
(See my article, "Assisted Homicide In Oakland," December,
Playboy). I'm sure that the kind of high rate of hypertension
among Berkeley blacks exists among my neighbors. One of the causes
is noise pollution, in the form of the rumbling bass emanating
from the speakers lodged within car trunks of "Boom Cars."
We are exposed to this Like the black Berkeley residents, we have to motor to the upscale neighborhoods in order to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and during the recent garbage strike, garbage in black neighborhoods was most likely to remain uncollected. Given the choices that African Americans have and the environmental issues at the root of their problems, should blacks go green? I grew up in a Democratic household and have voted for Democrats all of my life, but was I the only African American annoyed when I heard Al From, founder of the Democratic Leadership Council, brag about the Sister Souljah incident, during which former President Clinton embarrassed Jesse Jackson as a way of wooing white voters. Appearing on C-Span, From said that Clinton's action represented a rebuff to a powerful interest group. So powerful that blacks were never able to have one of their people included on a presidential ticket. In California, black Democrats have had to endure Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, a Democrat, who believes that diversity means everybody but blacks. Former Oakland Mayor, Jerry Brown, another Democrat, enhanced his standing among whites by picking fights with blacks, the Giuliani strategy. For his fight against those whom he deemed "dysfunctional," he received an award from the Manhattan Institute, an outfit that hobnobs with "Race Science," quacks. Another Democrat, former Governor Gray Davis, was beholden to the scandal plagued powerful California Corrections Industry; he is another Democrat who followed the From formula. He endorsed a bill that would treat juvenile offenders as adults. Unlike Clinton, these Democrats weren't able to mask their attitudes toward blacks by posing as their chum. Blacks can't have a party or a picnic without Clinton showing up unannounced. Now we have another black presidential candidate whose campaign will probably end with the Democrats providing him with a prime time speech opportunity to endorse the white candidate, after which, the tearful delegates will lock arms, sing and sway. Barack Obama has sparkle. He's cool. As a wordsmith he ranks with JFK and Ronald Reagan. But he seems to be emulating the Clinton-From model by preaching personal responsibility to blacks, exclusively, when the white family is in such a state of dysfunction that Andrew Hacker, a contributor to The New York Review of Books, has written that were Daniel Moynihan around today, he'd be writing about the "tangle of pathologies" in the white family. (Nobody has told this to Bob Herbert and Orlando Patterson, who are brought in by The New York Times Op-ed editor to aid the newspaper's campaign in assigning all blame for the abandonment of family values to black men.) Why no tough love for white, Hispanic and South Asian families? I suspect that Mr. Obama's ideas were partially formed by African American professors at Harvard University, at least one of whom has become a millionaire by blaming the African slave trade on blacks, charging blacks with Anti-Semitism (even though Senator Joe Lieberman was the first choice for president among blacks in 2003, before Al Sharpton entered the primaries) and scolding "35 year old black grandmothers who live in the projects," when, statistically, multi-generational welfare recipients are rare, and the rate of out-of-wedlock births among black teenagers has plummeted. When Tim Russert, Don Imus' buddy, regularly deplores the state of the black family, he never mentions this. In California,for the first time, the traditional nuclear family is in the minority; this can't be blamed on blacks, since they are only 4% of the population. The Mercury News reported (9/12/07): "As recently as the 2000 Census, about 52 percent of Californians 15 or older were married. But 2006 population data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau says that share of married Californians has slipped to 48.5 percent this decade as the share of adults who have never wed has grown. "Californians are waiting longer than ever--and longer than people in many other states--to get married, or they're just skipping it altogether. About three in 10 women in California have never married, a percentage topped by only three other states, according to the new census data. An even higher percentage of men--38 percent--have never married." Of course, Democratic candidates are capable of delivering some inspirational applause lines like the ones spoken at the recent Howard University forum. They can express outrage about AIDS and its impact on the African American community, but they dare not offend Reagan Democrats by citing the role that the criminal justice system plays in the spread of the virus. The book Prison Madness by Terry Kupers, M.D., describes how prison officials use rape as punishment and how some inmates become infected with the virus, and when released spread it in the population. If the Democrats addressed that aspect of the AIDS disaster and criticized the prison industrial complex, they would be perceived as weak sisters. For the same reason, they dare not criticize the gun lobby. While black and Hispanic children have been mowed down in the streets as a result of the National Rifle Association's intransigence, it took the slaughter of white kids at Virginia Tech to get Congress to act on some modest gun law reform. Mrs.Clinton is the favorite candidate of the arms industry. It was reported on Democracy Now, Oct.19:
Moreover, Mrs. Clinton won't mention how her husband's welfare reform bill has contributed to increased infant mortality in the South and led to hardship among the brown, white and yellow communities. Quoted in Norman Solomon's Made Love Got War, poverty scholar Gwendolyn Mink says, "ten years after the so-called welfare reform, mothers are being forced into full-time jobs that do not pay wages that allow them to make ends meet. The wage gap for mothers is growing, and economic insecurity for mothers and children gets worse. Indeed, the persistent insecurity enforced by sub-poverty wages-combined with harsh welfare rules and the lack of child care and health provision make families fragile and puts mothers' custody of children at risk." And though President Clinton wooed the new black class of Martha's Vineyard blacks, entrepreneurs and intellectuals, his administration saw the largest rate of black incarceration of in history. The headlines of a press release issued by the Justice Policy Institute on Feb. 19th, 2001 read "More American Were Imprisoned under President Clinton than Under Any Other US President." On the other hand, there are members of the Republican Party who still admire Jefferson Davis. Their leading candidate for president had a relationship with New York City blacks that, according to the late Jack Newfield's The Full Rudy, was less than cordial. This is a man who takes credit for a reduction in a crime rate that was begun under his predecessor, David Dinkens, a fact ignored by the inbed with press, which coddles him the way they do Bush. This is a man who was so concerned about National Security that he suggested a friend with connections to organized crime to become the head of Homeland Security. One of the reasons for his appeal to white voters is that he gives the impression that he knows how to handle blacks (or as one writer put it euphemistically, "urban chaos"), the kind of reputation that's gotten presidents elected in the past. In the South they used to call it "running against the niggers." Though these men are elected to spite blacks, they end up harming the voters who elected them to office. Bush won the presidency by defeating John McCain in South Carolina, Scotland in America. All Rove's surrogates had to do was spread the rumor that McCain had fathered a black child out-of-wedlock. So when confronted with a party that takes them for granted and one that doesn't care whether they go drown, why shouldn't blacks go green? The one argument I've heard against the idea is that the Green Party is dominated by coffee house liberals. Obviously, blacks have made alliances with worse. Ishmael Reed's new play, "Body Parts," will open on Oct. 25 at the Nuyorican Poet's Café, 236, East Third Street, between Aves. B and C. For more info call 212-505-8183. Ishmael Reed is a poet, novelist and essayist who lives in Oakland. His widely-accalimed novels include, Mumbo Jumbo, the Freelance Pallbearers and the Last Days of Louisiana Red. He has recently published a fantastic book on Oakland: Blues City: a Walk in Oakland and Carroll and Graf has recently published a thick volume of his poems: New and Collected Poems: 1964-2006. He is also the editor of the online zine Konch. Copyright, 2007, Ishmael Reed. 
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