Sacramento for Democracy - Middle East Conflict

An Evening with Robert Fisk: “Lies, Misreporting and Catastrophe in the Middle East”

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:50:16 +0000

Date:

Mon, 09/20/2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

An Evening with Robert Fisk, best selling author, provocative journalist, master story teller and excoriating critic of those in power.

“Lies, Misreporting and Catastrophe in the Middle East”

Monday, September 20, 2010; 7:00 p.m.
CSUS: Student Union. Redwood Room. (Doors open at 6:30 PM) Come early, leave time for parking, SEATING IS LIMITED.
Free parking: Parking Structure III, 6th floor only (attached map)

Admission $15, Seniors: $10, CSUS Students with ID $5

Sponsored by CSUS Middle East Cultural Association, Focus on the Middle East, and Sacramento Physicians for Social Responsibility

About his writing: “Passionate in his concerns about the region and relentless in his pursuit of the truth, Fisk has been able to enter the world of the Middle East and the lives of its people as few other journalists have.”

“Fisk interweaves this history with his own vividly rendered experiences in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Algeria, Palestine and Lebanon–on the front lines; behind the scenes; in the streets of cities and villages; and inside military headquarters, the hideouts of guerrillas, the homes of ordinary citizens."

Gaza Freedom Flotilla Passengers Speak in Sacramento

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:28:19 +0000

Date:

Fri, 07/30/2010 - 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Gaza Freedom Flotilla passengers Paul Larudee and Kathy Sheetz speak about the recent Israeli military attack on the humanitarian aid ships and upcoming efforts to end the siege on Gaza.
Friday, Jul 30, 7:30pm,
Salam Center,
4541 College Oak Dr., Sacramento,
FMI: pac.sacramento@gmail.com

Humanitarian Aid Under Attack - Survivors from the Freedom Flotilla

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:49:19 +0000

Date:

Thu, 07/29/2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

From John Reiger...

Here's a unique chance to hear from some actual participants in the recent attempt to bring supplies to Gaza.

Humanitarian Aid Under Attack

On Thursday, July 29, 2010, hear testimony from human rights workers who survived the Israeli Navy’s attack on the May, 2010 unarmed Freedom Flotilla that was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Nine people were killed and over 50 wounded in the attack. San Francisco Bay Area activists Kathy Sheetz and Gene St. Onge were among the over 600 passengers and crewmembers on six ships.

The event is at 7pm at Pioneer Congregational, 2700 L Street , Sacramento . The program will also include a West Bank update from recently returned local activists and information about boycott & divestment efforts you can get involved with locally (www.sacbds.org/campaigns).

Right to Education under Siege and Occupation

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:25:14 +0000

Date:

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Right to Education under Siege and Occupation: the challenges facing young Palestinians.

Wednesday, Aug 4, 7pm,

Berlanty Azzam, the courageous young Bethlehem University graduate from Gaza will tell the story of her harrowing deportation from the West Bank last year, just weeks before she was set to graduate. This visit marks the first time she has been allowed to leave Gaza. Sierra Arden United Church of Christ, Pilgrim Hall, 890 Morse (at Northrup), Sacramento. FMI: 916-448-7157; info@SacramentoBethlehem.org

More details below...

FREE Screening @ The Crest: "Occupation 101"

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:09:34 +0000

Date:

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

An evening at the Crest Theater:

A free showing of "Occupation 101" and brief conversation with its producer, Abdullah Omeish as well as a viewing of the trailer for his new film, "365AM".

Crest Theater, 1013 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:00 p.m. -- light refreshments)

You can watch a trailer here: http://www.occupation101.com/multimedia.html

Synopsis:

A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict -- 'Occupation 101' presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions.

Israel as Abusive, Immature Parent Offers Battered Gaza/Child Jam and Cookies

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:38:45 +0000

Two books by two renowned psychologists I read long ago have been haunting me the more and more focused I become on the tragic dynamics of the Israelis and Palestinians. I am also more and more mindful of how this toxic dynamic is endangering the entire world.

One book was written by Eric Berne, Games People Play, in which he sets forth his theory of Transactional Analysis. Berne contends that human beings relate to one another from three basic ego states: the Parent, the Adult, the Child. Some people stay locked into one ego state more than others. Sometimes one ego state invites a counterpoint ego state, for example, a scolding parent voice might evoke a submissive, childlike response or, on the other hand, a rebellious, childlike one.

I won't linger on his general theory, though it is very rich reading. What was most provocative in his approach for me then and now, is a subgroup of the child ego state Berne labels the "pig parent". The "pig parent" pretends to be "parent", but is really an immature, primitive, narcissistic child ego state masquerading as the "caretaking" parent. I did a blog a while ago in which I cited John McCain as slipping into a "pig parent" ego state when he was running for president. The way he often forcefully and paternally scolded the country for not doing the right thing. The "pig parent" voice can really enthrall certain citizens -- maybe citizens who were raised by "pig parent state" parents?

I am of the opinion that the Israeli government and many Jewish citizens right now are locked into the "pig parent" ego state in relating to the Palestinians. The Gazan War at the end of 2008 and the Freedom Flotilla Slaughter on May 31st were caused by a murderous "pig parent" child ego state, the participants of which enabled, authorized and/or perpetrated such inhumane and merciless, irresponsible behavior.

Now, soon after the violence, as a primitive, irresponsible, immature child, Israel is posturing as the "parent" of Gaza, expecting not only Gaza but other countries looking on to buy it, but it is really the "pig parent", still punishing and not in the caretaker role at all.

Ret. Army Col. Ann Wright–Person of Conscience/Gazan Flotilla Survivor–Recounts Experience to 300+ New Yorkers

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:17:53 +0000

Last night I attended another Gazan Freedom Flotilla Slaughter event at All Souls Church on Lexington Ave., with featured speaker, a survivor of the attack, Ann Wright. Adam Shapiro, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, also spoke and pointed out something seemingly significant I will share up top in this blog:

The WH’s official description of Helen Thomas’ recent and admittedly harsh remarks about Israel used the word “reprehensible”. The WH’s official description of the Gazan Freedom Flotilla slaughter in international waters which resulted in 9 tragic deaths, the bodies penetrated by a total of 30 bullets -- one victim a high-school aged American born citizen -- along with the serious wounding of 50 others, used the word “regrettable.”

Hmmmmm. “REPREHENSIBLE!” remarks from Helen, “regrettable” deadly and internationally illegal behavior of the Israeli military. That, in the language of diplomacy, would be a clear “tell” of “allegiance” vs. “not so much” from our Israel-cronied, “pragmatically” apathetic-to-assaults-on-human-rights administration.

Ann Wright held an audience of approximately 300 concerned New Yorkers spell bound on Wednesday night. Ms. Wright, a very down to earth and engaging speaker, holds an amazing resume. She is a retired U.S. Army colonel. After retirement she became very active in the diplomatic service. In 2003, when George Bush invaded Iraq, Wright resigned from the U.S. State Dept. in public protest of the illegality of that war. Since then she has been profoundly and effectively active in the anti-war movement.

The War on Empathy: Real Bullets @ Close Range to the Forehead

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:12:42 +0000

So who are you going to believe, America?

Forensic evidence, the eye witness accounts of 700+ humanitarians and your own lying eyes (as Groucho Marx once quipped) OR the earnest and pre-emptive Israeli propagandists, admittedly plentiful, within the U.S. media, administration, Congress and citizenry?

Robert Booth writing in the Guardian Friday, June 4th:

Nine Turkish men on board the Mavi Marmara were shot a total of 30 times and five were killed by gunshot wounds to the head, according to the vice-chairman of the Turkish council of forensic medicine, which carried out the autopsies for the Turkish ministry of justice today.

The results revealed that a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times in the temple, chest, hip and back. A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back. Two other men were shot four times, and five of the victims were shot either in the back of the head or in the back, said Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the council of forensic medicine.

The findings emerged as more survivors gave their accounts of the raids. Ismail Patel, the chairman of Leicester-based pro-Palestinian group Friends of al-Aqsa, who returned to Britain today, told how he witnessed some of the fatal shootings and claimed that Israel had operated a "shoot to kill policy".

He calculated that during the bloodiest part of the assault, Israeli commandos shot one person every minute. One man was fatally shot in the back of the head just two feet in front him and another was shot once between the eyes. He added that as well as the fatally wounded, 48 others were suffering from gunshot wounds and six activists remained missing, suggesting the death toll may increase.

YouTube Access: Gazan Flotilla Slaughter Emergency Forum Held 6-1-10 at NYC Revolution Books

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:55:33 +0000

Last Wednesday I posted a blog entitled "Israel to Peace Activists: We Shoot to Kill … and nyahh nyaaah … Obama and the US Congress Have Our Anti-Humanity Back!" It was inspired by my horror, anger and heartache over the Gazan Flotilla Slaughter, my participation in two days of NYC protests, as well as a very insightful "emergency forum" Tuesday night, June 1, at Revolution Books on W. 26th St.

At the end of this post is a collection of youtube links with excerpted statements of the panelists. As I wrote in the blog: "Not one of the speakers pulled any punches. Hungry for 'truth to power'? This was 3 hours of industrial strength 'truth to power' which these brave men have been speaking, apparently, for a good, long time."

The panel of speakers for the highly provocative, riveting 3-hour exploratory forum included:

Alan Goodman, writer for Revolution newspaper

Chris Hedges, author, "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle"

Abdeen Jabara, past-president of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee

Joel Kovel, author of "Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine"

Adam Shapiro, human rights activist and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement

NATO Aggravated Enuf to Recognize & Cut Its U.S. Puppet Strings?

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:10:42 +0000

Craig Murray was a member of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office for over 20 years. He served in 5 countries and took part in 13 formal international negotiations. As a result he declares:

I have in consequence a great many friends among ex-colleagues in both British and foregin [sic] diplomatic services, security services and militaries.

I lost very few friends when I left the FCO over torture and rendition. In fact I seemed to gain several degrees of warmth with a great many acquantances [sic] still on the inside. And I have become known as a reliable outlet for grumbles, who as an ex-insider knows how to handle a discreet and unintercepted conversation.

Mr. Murray asserts that NATO is terribly unhappy with what is happening, not only with Israel and the United States concerning the Gazan flotilla attack, but also with the U.S. in Afghanistan.

First the Israeli issue:

What I was being told last night was very interesting indeed. NATO HQ in Brussels is today a very unhappy place. There is a strong understanding among the various national militaries that an attack by Israel on a NATO member flagged ship in international waters is an event to which NATO is obliged - legally obliged, as a matter of treaty - to react.