Madison Institute Newsletter

1pixel.gif (807 bytes)Volume 2, Number 2
1pixel.gif (807 bytes)February, 2008

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Three days ago, a wall fell here,  just as the Berlin Wall fell, just as the apartheid wall will fall and just as all walls and fences in this country will come down.

But the inhuman blockade that has been imposed on a million and a half human beings in Gaza by our government, by our army, in our name – This siege is continuing in its full cruelty.  We, Israelis from various political camps, have come to bring basic supplies and to say to the Israeli public and to the whole world: We will not participate in crime! We are ashamed of the blockade!

Uri Avnery at a rally supporting a convoy bringing needed supplies to Gaza.  Mr. Avnery is a journalist, former member of the Israeli Parliament, peace activist and founder of Gush Shalom.
We’ve recently been struck again with the ominous casualness of comments assuming we’re all in agreement that America should emulate the Israeli example of occupying, suppressing, imprisoning and torturing an Arab population. The Wall Street Journal had an editorial on February 5th which loudly praises Israeli “security” walls and shrugs off their “disproportionate” attacks on the Jenin refugee camp, and—oh yes!—targeted assassinations. It makes my blood run cold to read such things. They tell us such methods should “apply equally in Iraq.” Well, they already do. This country is making a quick and dangerous slide toward becoming an international outlaw. Aren’t we just proud to be Americans?

Our last MIPP (Madison Institute for Peace and Progressivism) meeting was devoted to Bruce’s presentation of the film “9/11 Press for Truth,” a riveting documentary of how four 9/11 widows known as "The Jersey Girls" fought for an official 9/11 investigation--only to find some 70% of their questions ignored.  We were pleased to welcome a number of new attendees to the meeting, leading to a lively discussion of the issues raised by the stonewalling and lack of answers offered by the Bush administration.  Ira also discussed the issue presented in our last newsletter regarding Dr. Dhafir, that of the total lack of the rule of law and fair trials when it comes to Arab-Americans facing charges in this country and in this time. We hope that more and more people will join us in our discussions as we try to keep progressive politics alive and involve more who are concerned about our current political crisis.
You’ll recall in the last newsletter (and the one before!) I waxed eloquently about Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich as an actual alternative candidate who honestly does want change away from corporate-controlled America. Well, corporate-controlled America succeeded in squelching him, especially through the device of the media ignoring him and his party excluding (or acceding to the exclusion) him from debates. So step up and choose your corporate spokesmodel for next year. I’ve been reading Jeremy Scahill’s Blackwater and it is fascinating and horrifying. It’s the first account I’ve read that outlines what happens in the daily nightmare that is Iraq. One thing that is perfectly clear is that government and mercenary soldiers alike have dehumanized the Iraqis in their minds so that they have no problem killing them, or at least humiliating them and destroying their lives. It also makes clear the scary nature of outsourcing the military along with everything else America outsources. At the least, not there’s much real substance to it anymore, but it means a total lack of democratic oversight or input as to matters having to do with war.
Speaking of corporate America. Our lovely oil company execs continue to unabashedly rake in their profits at our expense. And of course corporate/government does not help us—except for perhaps an occasional congressional hearing which may administer a gentle slap on the wrist. It cost me $732 to fill up my small oil tank!! These honchos at Exxon and Mobil are eating out handsomely on my dime.

The Siege of Gaza
The siege of Gaza is much like the US War in Iraq.  The aggressors disingenuously claim it is a part of the "Global War on Terror."  Israel, with the enthusiastic support of the Bush administration, has imposed a crippling economic blockade on the residents of Gaza.  The Jewish state has turned Gaza into the world's largest open-air prison using fences and walls to seal its common border with the strip and pressuring Egypt to do the same.

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Last month the border between Gaza and Egypt was breeched.  An estimated 350,000 Gazans crossed into Egyptian terroritory in order to purchase needed food, fuel and other embargoed supplies.

Unfortunately, under intense political pressure Egypt has proceeded to reclose much of its border, thus returning the Palestinians to their indefinite incarceration.  As a result,one and half million Gazans are experiencing a ever-worsening and deadly humanitarian crisis.

Both Israel and the United States refuse to recognize the Hamas government, preferring the Fatah-led leadership of Mahmoud Abbas.  Both Israel and the US feel that the imposed sanctions will force Gazans to reject the democratically elected Hamas government, whom they hold responsible for recurring rocket attacks.

This type of collective punishment of a civilian population in order to overthrow an authority with significant grass-roots support is rarely successful.  It is also in violation of accepted international humanitarian law.

Many Palestinians, Israelis and Jewish-Americans are involved in bringing the plight of the people of Gaza to world attention.  Three groups which are prominent in this effort are:

I encourage you to enter their web sites, learn more about this issue and participate in their campaigns.

Young Local Man Dies In Iraq
John Patrick Sigsbee Is Posthumously Awarded Bronze Star At His Funeral
January 25, Waterville, NY -- John Patrick Sigsbee came home to this Upstate New York village this week and so did the war for which he gave his life. More than 2000 people came to the junior/senior high school on Thursday, January 24th to say farewell to a young man the Army was calling “a true American hero.”

Mr. Sigsbee, 21, was killed in Bichigan, Iraq on January 16. He was a specialist in the 101st Airborne Division 32nd Cavalry which is based in Fort Campbell, KY.   John Sigsbee graduated from Waterville High School in 2004. A year later he joined the US Army. In 2006, Sigsbee was injured in Iraq by a roadside bomb and returned home to recuperate.

funeral1.jpg (27063 bytes)On Friday morning, the high school auditorium was nearly packed for the funeral. In his eulogy, Waterville High School technology teacher Steve English said, “after being injured, he [Sigsbee] could have chosen to be assigned anywhere. He chose Iraq… John was doing something that he knew was important.”

In addition to Mr. English, Mr. Sigsbee was eulogized by his mother, Sue Sigsbee, who said her son always wanted to be a soldier. The Rev. Tom Servantis of Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church offered a short prayer of condolence.

But most of the hour-long ceremony was conducted not by area residents, but by two representatives of the US Army. The first was a tall bible waving chaplain whose speech and demeanor spoke of years of experience conducting similar ceremonies. The second a stocky younger Brigadier General who had only days before had met with members of Mr. Sigsbee’s unit in Iraq.

Chaplain Allen Ferry offered his sympathies to the family, then praised the Lord and the war effort. He chanted “we make war in Iraq so that there will be peace, I repeat we make war in Iraq so there will be peace.” The chaplain lectured the mourners about the blessings of freedom our soldiers are bringing to the Iraqis. He also told the audience that we in Waterville enjoy democracy because American soldiers are fighting in places like Iraq.

Brig. General Todd Semonite read words of remembrance that were written by Mr. Sigsbee’s comrades in Iraq. He intoned, “remember these words ‘American hero.’ John Sigsbee is an American hero.” Did echoes of the names of past heroes, Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman fill the room? I imagine some heard them, but most were happy to believe that John Sigsbee died valiantly liberating a small farming village much like Waterville from the terror of Al-Qaeda.

Mr. Sigsbee, who Mr. English remembered fondly as a student who loved technology classes, was posthumously and unofficially promoted to the rank of corporal. He also received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for the actions which lead to his death.

After the funeral, the casket carrying the body of John Patrick Sigsbee left for the Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville where he would be buried. His family and close friends went with him, but most of the mourners stayed behind, with their thoughts of Mr. Sigsbee and the war that came here today.  -- IG
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The next MIPP meeting will be held on Tuesday (changed from Wednesdays),  February 19 at 7:00 pm at Half Moon Books in Madison.

We will be having a Palestinian/Israeli mini film festival.  We will screen two films and eat hummus, tabouli and pita. (See poster on this page for details.  Click titles on poster for film information)

In March, we'll  be turning away from film to do what will no doubt be a lively session--it'll be "Potluck and Politics" -- dinner and a political discussion.

In April, we are scheduling an ERA talk with Linda Ford, the author of Iron-Jawed Angels and yours truly.

For information, please contact Linda at lford@toast2.net or 315 893 7577.

See you there!

Coming Events

The Shape of Water
A Film by Kum Kum Bhavnani
Presented by Peace and Conflict Studies
Women Activists from Around the World
Monday, February 11, 7 pm
Golden Auditorium
Colgate University, Hamilton

Sir, No Sir
Presented by the Chenango Valley Peace Alliance.
A documentary about the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam.
Tuesday, February 12, 7 pm
Hamilton Public Library
Community Room

Weekly Peace Outreach, Syracuse
Stop the War In Iraq!
Thursdays, Noon-12:45 pm
(See Syracuse Peace Council Events
Calendar for times and locations.)

No More Tears Sister
Presented by Peace and Conflict Studies, includes lecture.
Monday, February 25, 7 pm
Persson Hall
Colgate University, Hamilton

Howard Zinn's 72nd Birthday Party
Meet and Eat  -- Yes, Howard will be there!!
Saturday, April 26, 3:30 pm - til?
Online Reservations
Cost $10-$72/person (sliding scale)
A Syracuse Peace Council Extravaganza
St. Lucys Church
432 Gifford Street
Syracuse, NY

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

 

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Previous newsletters
Volume 1, Number 1
Volume 1, Number 2
Volume 2, Number 1

Submitted by Linda Ford and Ira Glunts