Occupy Delaware
Wednesday GA Notes
Spencer Plaza
2012-08-22
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10-MINUTE DISCUSSION
1) War in Afghanistan, 2000 of our kids are dead. How will we stop it?
2) New York, it’s coming up. Are we going as a group? (Anniversary of OWS, Sept. 16-17)
3) Where do we move the GA to?
1) Afghanistan
Our government is spending billions of dollars, it’s the longest war in American history (10 years). There are now 2000 dead American soldiers, no mention about Afghani casualties. No mention about contractors getting killed. And no mention of that the Taliban is receiving US money so that our supply trains can get through. We are paying our enemy to fight us! The US media is not talking about it. Only on RT America.
It was in the US media, the first 1000 died over the first 7-8 years, the second thousand died over 20 months. Obama started paying the Taliban, illegally, last year.
The rationale for staying is we need time to train the Afghanis to fight for themselves. I’m sick of protesting the war.
They’ve been trained, it’s time to go.
From the meet-greets I’ve been going to, the talk about this war frankly, most people don’t know what’s going on with the war? The American voter is very uninformed, on most subjects, and if you challenge their assumptions they get mad. Defensive.
I will continue to bring up in any meet-and-greet and within the parties to raise this issue, to stop and cut the funding off of the war. It’s bankrupting our economy and our souls. It blows my mind how we are giving millions of dollars to the enemy to let our trucks through and that money is probably reaching Al-Qaeda. The war machine is self-perpetuating, it’s out of our control.
A chart on line, showing military expenditures. The US has spent 8 times the next closest country, China. It’s the only industry that’s prosperous right now.
To take action against the war, focus on the banks and work that angle, and also work with other peace groups, more than Pacem in Terris. We should reach out and see if we could mobilize a massive peace rally.
ANSWER rallies last year were larger than any other Viet Nam rally, but they received basically no coverage in the press. This is a political year, and the candidates who want change must work together. We must throw the incumbents out of office, all of them, they’re literally war criminals. We must get the word out, into the neighborhoods. Occupying the recruiting stations. Talk to the kids in high school.
The war machine is totally out of control. Our values of decency and humanity have been co-opted by a corporate controlled government. We’re in the same place as Germany was in the 1930s.
We have anti-war allies among people all along the political spectrum.
Except the pro-war oligarchs are on the right. And they control the media.
It’s best to share your own experience to persuade people, and people from all political perspectives do that. War does not stop terrorism. It is terrorism.
The problem is the MIC is completely IN control. We need to not use the language of war to fight war! It’s so endemic in our culture. We need to consciously change our speech, and out culture.
Peter Spencer was a warrior, MLK Jr. was a warrior.
Our culture is so steeped in adversarial culture, part of our task is to reframe the discussion. We don’t have a non-war language, we’ve never had peace. How do we make ourselves heard in the new language? It’s a paradigm change.
What should Occupy do? Join other peace groups, focus on banks financing the war. Keep publishing. Blogging. Letter writing campaign. Our Web sites.
International Call to Actions with other Occupies, cross-post with Interoccupy.net. As groups are getting smaller Interoccupy will be critical.
We could add Peace hub to Interoccupy.
REPORT-BACKS
WeAreWoman Rally in DC
Small but mighty. It was inspirational. Fantastic speakers all day long. It was well organized. There were some really good crafted umbrellas. Also, new ideas were generated, and there’s so much work to do. There are more than 1000 laws that affect choice that states are trying to enact. And after 40 years we still don’t have an ERA. I was very active in 1972, it was the birth of my activism, and we’re right back where we were then. By law, women are still second class citizens. Next, I’ll be going to conventions. One thing that I keep throwing over in my mind are the polls out there showing a 4% spread between Obama and Romney. Why isn’t there a bigger spread if women are knowledgeable (and Jill Stein was only mentioned by us on DC!) and there’s such a difference between platforms. There are a lot of women who have to be reached. Take it home, take local action. Silence is compliance.
Veggie/Fruit Giveaway
10th and King this past Friday. We served 23 families, 70 people, in about an hour. A great turnout. Ideas for the next one: wear Occupy shirts, have signs, we need bags, we need water, and a rolling cart, and more volunteers. And we need more flyers. The time for the next one will be announced at the next Wednesday GA. People were grateful for the food, and they were saying they need it. It’s awesome, but it’s also very sad. Wilmington food desert. We had organic, garden-fresh produce donated. Next time we’ll get wholesale local produce.
Wilmington Rally
3 people today. A lot of positive feedback, 3 fingers, 2 head-shakes. Definitely a good action. There was also somebody who stopped by and was talking about his misconceptions about Occupy so we had the chance to educate him.
Also we rallied at Triangle Park on Tuesday.
Last night I went to the mayoral candidate forum for Environment, Transportation, and Health care. The cookies and venue were very nice. Williams and Kelly were not there. Main take-away: the majority of the candidates are sadly uninformed about environmental issues. They all go on record supporting local initiatives to limit, ban, or tax single-use disposable ultra-thin disposable bags. Spencer said he thought Wilmington should take the lead and demonstrate the initiative for the state.
Last Sunday at Spencer’s grave, wreath laying. A very inspirational moment, the events continue through the month, in Tubman Park. The TNJ coverage didn’t mention ODE’s presence especially w.r.t. our history and common principles. Peter Spencer was a great man and Rev. Livingston’s service covered all of that, it was a wonderful service. We should get the videos taken there to share the event.
SECOND-DISCUSSION
#S17NYC New York: Are people planning to go? Main day on the 17. Carpooling? Rent a van? Should we do something here? For those who can’t go to NY. Do a bank action that day, say. Press release…It’ll be a great experience. Good walking shoes, extra water. We’ll continue the discussion next Wednesday. There’s the curbside bus out of Wilmington, maybe $40 round trip.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monday the 3rd is Labor Day. Just sayin…
One of the things I want to do is send out a list of 10 questions to people who are running for office, everybody running for office, on women’s issues. If anybody has a burning question for the list, Facebook message Kris.
In Texas they’re trying to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, judge ruled in their favor.
Delaware Gay Pride, Sept. 8, Blue Diamond Park, Rt. 13, New Castle, GPDE will have a table, and ODE will represent. [see below]
[https://www.facebook.com/events/166684870132385/]
Bank Action on Sept. 8, meet … and go to the Delaware Pride after. See the calendar on the Web site.
This Saturday, ODE/Sierra Club Move Your Money action on Saturday at UD, 1-5pm.
Labor Day parade, AFL-CIO. We are in the parade! It’s a big parade! We’ll need to be at 16th and King at 8:30 am (H. Fletcher Brown Park). Sept. 3. Kazoos, tambourines! Banging pots!
George Orwell, in 1941, made the statement the he was of the 99%! So this idea has history.
THIRD DISCUSSION
Where may we move the GA to? One idea is H.B. duPont Park, by the Y, in the middle of many banks. More visible.
We could approach Rev. Livingston and see if we could use their church. It’d be a way of continuing the connection. Hanover has made some overtures as well. Change locations, to public meeting rooms, to reach out to other people. E.g., the Delaware City Environmental Coalition. Take it on the road, once a month. Have a set place most of the time, but once a month go out. We could have a theater, ODE Theatre, [link to our video] Commission a play. Old-fashioned melodramas are very popular. Villain with a mustache, “Pay the rent!”
Interfaith (and atheists) Forum on Peace
Meeting adjourned: 2058 hr
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The Delaware Pride Festival is the single largest LGBTA gathering in Delaware, and it helps give the community needed exposure and recognition. Our goal is to promote platforms for expressing diversity and creating a more visible and united LGBTA community.
This year’s Pride Theme:
“Don’t Hate, Don’t Segregate, Just Participate!”
Saturday, September 8, 2012
11AM – 6PM**Featuring HEADLINER** JADE STARLING of PRETTY POISON!!!!Festival Emcee ~ Kristina Kelly
Royal Court Pageant Emcee ~ Miss Red Star 2012 ~ Gracie FreebushAlso Featuring:
The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
Kalifornia Futuristic
Alyssa Ford
Shadina
Carol Regan
Jonathan Stone
Miss Delaware Pride Queen 2011 ~ Miraj Jolie
Miss Delaware Pride Queen 2000 ~ Karyn Thomas
Miss Unlimited at Large 2012 ~ Danielle Revlon
Miss Reading Pride Celebration 2012 ~ Whitley Nycole DeAire’
Mr. Stonewall 2012 ~ Christopher Rice
Keisha Karey
Foxxy Walker
Katie Trainer- Entertainment with a TwistNO PETS THIS YEAR…..
Sorry Everyone.This years festival will open with the Delaware Pride Royal Court Pageant honoring our Mister & Miss Delaware Pride King & Queen 2011 & crowning our 2012 Titleholders.
Tickets at the Festival – $7
Pre-Order Tickets online – $5
Pre-Order Tickets Online at:
http://www.showclix.com/
Please make sure to print your ticket out, and have it with you at the Festival. We will not be able to reprint tickets at the festival.
Blue Diamond Park
765 Hamburg Rd.
New Castle, DE 19720
Come out and be a part of the 16th Anniversary Delaware Pride Festival celebration being held on September 8th, 2012, from 11:00 am – 6:00pm.
Vendors will also be on-hand, offering various food, drink, clothing, jewelry, books, and other items. Regional LGBTA groups will also have tables at the festival, including political groups, churches, community organizations, and extracurricular activities. Local politicians have been invited to speak at the festival, as well.
If you are interested in having a table at the festival, or sponsoring the festival, please visit www.delawarepride.org. For more information on the festival or Delaware Pride activities, visit www.delawarepride.org or call 302.265.3020.
Directions to Event:
From The South (I-95 North):
From I-95, take Exit 4A in Delaware (Route 1 South – Christiana Mall Exit).
Take Route 1 South for approx. 4 miles.
Exit left at 156B (Route 13 – North Wilmington).
Merge onto Route 13 North.
Turn right at first traffic light.
Blue Diamond Park entrance is on the left!
From the North (I-95/New Jersey Turnpike):
From the Delaware Memorial Bridge, stay on I-295.
Merge right onto Route 13 South.
Stay on Route 13 South for 7.0 miles. (You will pass New Castle Airport).
Make a left at Hamburg Road.
(LOCATED BEFORE ROUTE 1 UNDERPASS. BP AND VALERO GAS STATIONS AT INTERSECTION.)
Make your first left into Blue Diamond Park!!