UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
HAPPY NEW YEAR! “Let’s hope its a good one…. without any tears” - John Lennon
01/09/17 CITY OF ASHEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Committee consists of nine members, all appointed by City Council, with representation from specific community sectors. Members shall be residents of the City or the City’s extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, and shall reflect the socio-economic diversity of Asheville. The term of office is three years. The Committee was established to advise the City Council on neighborhoods within the City of Asheville’s zoning and planning jurisdiction. The Committee shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Develop rules and by-laws for the conduct of its business, including but not limited to meeting schedules, officers, voting, sub-committees; (2) Develop a plan to strengthen neighborhood identity and resilience, and to facilitate communication and cooperation between Asheville’s neighborhoods and City offices; (3) Develop benchmarks and standards by which progress towards implementing the plan can be measured; and (4) Work on special projects that are consistent with the goals of the committee, as assigned or directed by Council. The Committee meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in Room A109 of the Public Works Building, located at 161 S. Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville. The normal length of the meeting is 2 hours.
01/09/17 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL AND MOVIE
“Poisoned Waters” is a PBS Frontline Documentary. It is not for the easily depressed. This is a little dated, but still timely considering the actions at Standing Rock and other recent pollution events. We'll have popcorn and drinks to keep from becoming too depressed about the concern for clean water. One reviewer wrote: “As a high school biology / ecology teacher, I consider this one of the most important programs that PBS has ever produced. Every living, breathing human being in America should see this. I cannot emphasize enough how much this program “hits home” - water quality is rapidly becoming one of the real “hot-button” issues in ecology. Admission to this event is free. Time is 6:30 to 8 PM and location is St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville. This will be in the Parish Hall, which is accessed by crossing the bridge walkway from Evelyn Alley. Parking behind church on Evelyn Alley as well as on Charlotte and side streets. For more information, send an email to transitionasheville@gmail.com.
01/09/17 ASHEVILLE EQUITY MANAGER INPUT MEETING
As part of the City of Asheville’s effort to expand equity in City services and programs, a new position of Equity Program Manager is being created. This position will be dedicated to helping the City achieve meaningful progress by evaluating delivery of programs and services and its decision-making on how to expand equity. The City has been conducting a series of public meetings to ask for residents’ help in identifying specific skills necessary for an Equity Manager position to be successful. Come and be part of this discussion. Time is 6 PM and location is Dr. Wesley Grant Sr Southside Center at 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. Call the City of Asheville for more information.
01/10/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
On the second Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is the Center for Art and Spirit at Saint George, address is One School Road in west Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.
01/10/17 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Occupy WNC General Assembly will be at the Sneak E Squirrel Community Room. Dinner from 5:30 to 7 PM, meeting from 7 to 8:30 PM. The Sneak E Squirrel is located at 1315 West Main Street (on left side) in Sylva -- past Watson Park. For more information, contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com.
01/10/17 PREPARING FOR THE TRUMP ERA - AN ANARCHIST VIEWPOINT
How did Trump come to power, and what does that tell us about the era we are entering? What strategies will be effective in countering repressive government policies and the rise of grassroots nationalism? Framing Trump's victory in a global context, the presenters will explore various approaches to self-organization and self-defense, drawing on the principles of mutual aid and direct action. This talk will be presented by The Crimethinc Ex-Workers' Collective (CWC), a decentralized anarchist collective composed of many cells which act independently in pursuit of a freer and more joyous world. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/10/17 STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
The Do!scussion is a safe space in which to talk about what we see that encourages us to continue to create multi-racial coalitions in Asheville. It is also a space in which we talk about what we are struggling with. Hard for you to get out of bed and get to work on dismantling the white supremacy? Come on over, and we'll talk about it. Then, we'll get to Do!ing! The six organizing principles of SURJ are: 1) accountability through action, 2) mutual interest, 3) take risks and keep going, 4) calling in more, 5) enough for everyone, and 6) growth is good.
Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/10/7 STOP SESSIONS: LUNCH AND DIAL
One of the first things the U.S. Senate is considering in 2017 is President-Elect Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. More than 200 non-partisan organizations are joining together to oppose Sessions. This week NAACP President Cornell William Brooks was arrested for occupying Sessions office along with 5 other members of the NAACP – Brooks says Sessions has “ignored the reality of voter suppression” and “zealously prosecuted innocent civil rights leaders on trumped up charges of voter fraud.” Join us on January 10th at the offices of the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) as we gather to make phone calls to our U.S. Senators from North Carolina and ask them to oppose the nomination of Sessions. As folks take a few minutes to make calls we'll share a pizza lunch provided by CSE and watch the nomination hearings on C-SPAN. Staff members from CSE will be on hand to walk folks through the calling process if you're new to it or have questions. We'll also provide detailed info to everyone on why Sessions is an unacceptable and unqualified choice for Attorney General.To get to the CSE office, come to the rear parking lot of First Congregational UCC at 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Ring the buzzer at the rear glass door with the mailbox. That's us. Time is noon to 1 PM. This is a Facebook event.
01/10/17 POP UP RESISTANCE
On Wednesday, the Senate will hold SIX confirmation hearings for some of the most polarizing and controversial cabinet nominees chosen by Trump. Now is the time for action. Now is the time to harness the massive, collective power of the fierce resistance that has risen in so many of us. Will you join us Tuesday? We will make our voices heard by reaching out to key government officials. We will make phone calls, we will send letters, we will sign petitions. And, importantly, we will experience that we are not alone in this fight, that we do have power, that we can create change. Pop in for 10 min. or join us for the entire afternoon. Bring your phone and/or your laptop. Food: We'll have some light snacks, but you may also want to bring your lunch. Finally, don't worry if you've never done something like this. We'll have scripts and a flexible game plan to make the use of your time meaningful. We hope to see you there. Time is 1 to 5 PM and location is 169 Montford Avenue in Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
01/10/17 ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE NAACP MEETING
Join the local branch of NAACP for our regular monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM at Hill Street Baptist Church at 135 Hill Street in Asheville.
01/11/17 GREEN GRANNIES BOOK CLUB
Founded in 2012, the Green Grannies are a group of women who are willing to make a ruckus about the need for action on climate change. This is their reading group and it is open to all! Time is noon and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/11/17 STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Join us in the new year for another night of roleplaying difficult conversations and practicing calling in versus calling out. We meet downstairs in the main building of the UU congregation of Asheville. Easiest to enter through the playground gate. If you enter upstairs, just come downstairs! Part of the WUWW!?! What's Up with Whiteness Wednesdays educational series, an ongoing ASURJ series endeavoring to dismantle white supremacy. Have you decided to wear a safety pin as a sign that you are a "safe" person to people who are, now more than ever, faced with harassment, bullying, and worse? This session will especially be focused on interrupting potential scenarios including some conversation/idea sharing on de-escalation techniques. Like all Asheville SURJ meetings, this session is open to anyone who wants to participate and is interested in anti-racism work and supporting the movement for Black Lives. Session takes place downstairs in the main building at the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Asheville at Charlotte and Edwin Streets. Parking on the street or in lot (if available). Time is 6:30 PM. This is a Facebook event.
01/11/17 JUST PEACE IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.
01/11/17 DIVEST ASHEVILLE
Fossil fuel divestment is the removal of investment assets (including stocks, bonds, and investment funds) from companies involved in extracting fossil fuels, to reduce climate change by tackling its ultimate causes. Time is 6:30 to 8:30 PM and the location is the Self Help Credit Union on South French Broad in Asheville. Give yourself a couple hours of education with green investment and local credit union education. Lisa Green will speak to socially responsible investments. Jane Hatley Will talk to what our local Self Help Credit Union does with $$ and how they support the community. We will make time as a group near the end to plug other movements happening around divestment/recreating a world based on sustainability, inclusion, and empowerment of regional and local stability. This is a facebook event.
01/12/17 DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION ON MEN DOING OPPRESSION, MEN DOING OPPRESSED, MEN DOING ALLY
This is a recurring discussion / presentation at Firestorm. Sexism. Queerphobia. Racism. Who are you doing it to? Who's doing it to you? Who's saving whom? Who's doing nothing? Who are you allying with? What's happening when you act in any and all the roles of persecutor, victim, rescuer, bystander and ally with others in our world of white male privilege and domination? We gather as men to explore interpersonal, structural, economic and institutional systems of injustice and the ways each of us is the oppressed and the oppressor, and learn to serve as allies, being responsive and accountable for what we choose to brave in our own lives, and with and for all our relations. Who's welcome: all men – White, Cis, Indigenous, Queer, of Color, Trans, and Those called to do Ally. Facilitated by Duncan Tam. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/12/17 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE GENERAL MEETING
Join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC for a general meeting as we inspire one another to good work and discuss our work empowering care for creation. We will connect with one another and explore ways to care for creation. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held in the First Baptist Church of Asheville in Room MB306, which is upstairs. Address is 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org.
01/12/17 PRE-MARCH GATHERING FOR DC MARCH
Odds Cafe in West Asheville has agreed to let us use their space for a pre-march gathering on Thursday January 12th from 6 - 9 PM. We'd like for everyone to meet each other and make signs - or knit hats! Please bring your friends and materials to make signs - if you have the ability to bring extra materials for others to use that would be much appreciated. If you can't afford materials come as you are. Everyone is welcome, including those who can't make the march and want to support. This was a facebook post.
01/13/17 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
01/14/17 TAX RESISTERS EVENT
Why look for peace when you're paying for war? How to organize your life so you don't have to pay federal taxes. Presenter Redmoonsong has been a lifelong war tax resister and has lots of practical information to share about practicing this philosophy. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/14/17 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month at Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville (behind Firestorm Coffee & Books ). We are advocating for a Carbon Fee & Dividend, which would impose a fee on fossil fuels at point entry; this fee will be refunded to individuals and families. There is bipartisan support in Congress as this will create jobs and help grow the economy, boosting renewables. Time is 12:30 to 3 PM. For more information, contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.
01/14/17 MARTIN LUTHER KING PRAYER BREAKFAST
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, Inc. will host its 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, January 14, 2017. The breakfast will be at the Crowne Plaza Resort on Resort Drive at 8:30 AM, with doors opening at 7:30 AM. The theme of the 2017 King Celebration events will be “Stand up, Speak out, and Unfold the Dream for Today.” Keynote speaker for the 2017 Prayer Breakfast will be Patricia Russell-McCloud, writer, attorney, and long considered one of the nation’s best public speakers. She encourages her listeners to surmount every obstacle that stands between them and whatever they dream of accomplishing. Her reputation as an engaging, substantive, well-researched, pertinent, and entertaining speaker has been honed by 30 years of public life, as a lawyer, writer, and inspirational figure. As a bonus to Prayer Breakfast attendees, Russell-McCloud will sign copies of her books following the breakfast; books may be pre-ordered from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association website. Tickets for the breakfast may be purchased for $25 each. Patron tickets are available for $35, with patron names included in the program journal. Tickets may be ordered by calling (828) 281-1624 or going to the website. For information and details, contact Mrs. Oralene Graves Simmons at (828) 281-1624.
01/14/17 MOUNTAINTRUE - SAVE OUR ASHES
Save Our Ashes - Preserve Our Ash Tree Populations for Future Generations. The Emerald Ash Borer is spreading rapidly across our region, destroying ash trees in their wake! To meet the challenge, MountainTrue is launching a “Save Our Ashes” program, and is currently training teams of volunteers to survey and collect data that will help prioritize the preservation of ecologically and culturally significant sites for ash in our area. If you're interested in participating in this valuable survey and helping us with a very important project, be sure you attend the date you sign up for to be properly trained! There you will be taught about the project, how to identify ash trees, and how to use a GPS unit. Trainees will then have the opportunity to survey some of the greatest trails in the region with a team. This day will cover the Green River Gamelands. Time is 11 AM to 4 PM. Please email forestkeeper@mountaintrue.org with any questions and to register.
01/14/17 HARD TO RECYCLE EVENT
Bring out your dead electronics, batteries, appliances and more to be recycled here in the US. Our sponsors are also accepting packaging styrofoam, books and spent cooking oil. Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Asheville Humane Society and Snake, rabbit, and snail bookmobile will be there accepting donations for their organizations (books, building and pet supplies). Time is 10 AM to 2 PM and location is 1298 Patton Avenue in Asheville. We also need volunteers to make this event happen. Please email volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org if you're interested.
01/15/17 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY MEETING
“MLK and Building Bridges” will be presented by Danae Jones Aicher, Building Bridges Board Member, at the Sunday, January 15th 2017 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2 - 3:30 PM, at Asheville Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. All are welcome to attend. Each January, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., the man. While he is responsible for extraordinary accomplishments, he did it with the help of countless people who made up the Movement. We will explore some of those people, the history of similar movements and the cyclical nature of the need for such movements in an effort to understand where we are today and why this time is so significant to so many of us. Danae will also discuss the local impact and history of the Asheville Building Bridges program. The mission of Building Bridges is to dismantle racism by fostering relationships that respect diversity, seek understanding and encourage action. She will discuss how educational programming, paired with a safe place to learn, reflect and discuss, has made a profound impact on people and institutions throughout Western North Carolina since 1993. Danae Jones Aicher is a mass communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in news, politics and public relations. While her degree in History and extensive career in public and mass communication gave her an upfront view of how we perpetuate the problem of race in America, it was her “new career” as a mother that compelled her to begin working to overcome racism. Danae serves on the Board of Building Bridges of Asheville. She also serves on the national Board of Mocha Moms, Inc., the country’s premiere voice for mothers of color. Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. For more information: call 828 687-7759 or email EHSAsheville@gmail.com.
01/15/17 SAVE OUR HEALTH CARE RALLY
Bernie Sanders and the Democratic leadership have issued a call for demonstrations on January 15. Republicans in Congress reportedly have plans to gut Medicare and Medicaid, increase prescription drug prices for over 5,000,000 seniors and take away healthcare from more than 30,000,000 Americans by dismantling or altering the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Americans voted for Trump after he promised not to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. This is organized by Our Revolution. Time is 1 to 5 PM and location is Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. We'll meet at New Mountain AVL at 1 PM, then march to Pack Square (Vance Monument). New Mountain Asheville is at 38 North French Broad Street in downtown Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
01/15/17 MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY CONCERT
You are invited to the Martin Luther King Day Concert featuring Robert (Zack) Zachary as soloist, a program of Negro Spirituals and Freedom Songs. Time is 3 PM and location is Saint Matthias Episcopal Church at 1 Dundee Street in Asheville. Zack became an activist in the Civil Rights Movement at the age of 11 and studied music and voice back in the day. He realizes the importance of preserving the Negro Spiritual as the first American music form. Contact Saint Matthias Episcopal Church for more information.
01/16/17 PEACE MARCH AND RALLY FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY
On Monday, Jan. 16, the official King Holiday, a Peace March and Rally takes place beginning at 11:30 AM at St. James AME Church at Martin Luther King Drive and Hildebrand Street in downtown Asheville, followed at noon by a march to City-County Plaza and rally and peace speeches. Everyone is invited. Please bring signs and banners.. For information and details, contact Mrs. Oralene Graves Simmons at (828) 281-1624.
01/16/17 SERVICE TO HONOR SOCIAL JUSTICE CITIZENS AND ORGANIZATIONS
There will be a candlelight service at Central United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall to honor area citizens and organizations that have dedicated themselves to the cause of social justice. Time is 6 PM. The church is at 27 Church Street in downtown Asheville. For information and details, contact Mrs. Oralene Graves Simmons at (828) 281-1624.
01/16/17 PISGAH LEGAL EVENT
Be an Ambassador for Pisgah Legal. Come learn how you can be an ambassador for PLS! Ambassador Training will be held on Jan. 16 at 12 PM and will focus on the history of PLS and the scope of our work. Lunch is provided. Space is limited, and RSVP is required. Please email Brent McKnight to RSVP.
01/16/17 MEMOIR AS MANIFESTO: REFLECTIONS FOR THE NC BLACK PANTHER PARTY
7th Annual Kenilworth celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is on Monday, January 16 at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church at 123 Kenilworth Road in Asheville. Potluck from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at Kenilworth Center, 4 Chiles Avenue (directly behind church) and the program will begin at 6:30 PM in the Church Sanctuary. Experience an evening with Hazel Mack, Founding member of the Winston- Salem Chapter of the Black Panther Party. The evening’s topic is “Memoir as Manifesto: A Push for Social Justice through Community Service.” Hazel Mack, JD will reflect on her experiences as a member of the Black Panther Party (BPP), her career as a civil rights attorney, and the modern Black Power movement. The Winston-Salem BPP implemented life-saving social programs for the poor and was the first and most prominent BPP chapter in the south. The evening will be hosted by Marvin Chambers a founding member of A.S.C.O.R.E. (Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality) and an icon of the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina. DJ Profe$$ah G. will be spinning great tunes, there will be craft projects for children and lots more. Join us as we explore different ideologies and learn about this fascinating chapter in the fight for civil rights in North Carolina. For more information, contact Katie Adams 828-273-3747 or email kenilworthpresbyterianchurch@gmail.com. This is a Facebook event.
01/16/17 GREENWORKS MLK JR DAY OF SERVICE
Join us for a cleanup of Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Meetup at MLK Jr Park for your cleanup supplies. Time is 10 AM to noon. Please e-mail volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org to sign up.
01/17/17 STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
David Greenson will lead this event/meeting at Kairos West at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Time is 7 to 9 PM. Contact David at davidgreenson@gmail.com or (718)809-2132.
01/18/17 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION
A continuing discussion of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow." Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Time is 6:30 to 8:30 PM and location is Firestorm Books & Coffee at 620 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information. This is a Facebook event.
01/19/17 DEFUND DAPL STRATEGY MEETING
Defund Dakota Access Pipeline (Defund DAPL) strategy meeting. The divestiture movement from South Africa helped bring down apartheid. This pipeline can't be built without millions of dollars from banks. Goal: facilitate people moving their money out of the big banks (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, SunTrust, TD, PNC, Citibank) and into local banks or credit unions. Want to help stop the destructive Dakota Access Pipeline and protect the drinking water for 17 million people? You don't have to go to North Dakota and freeze! Join the #DefundDAPL movement, help us plan next steps. Many folks have no idea where their money is going and are willing to move their account to a credit union or local bank. Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM and the location is the Block off Biltmore (corner Eagle & Market Streets in downtown Asheville). More info: cathyfholt@gmail.com.
01/19/17 EVENING OF DISCOURSE AND COMMUNITY
Asheville Creative Arts and The Magnetic Theatre Announce a Conversation as part of “The Ghostlight Project.’ The Ghostlight Project is a national movement inspired by the tradition of leaving a ‘ghost light’ on in a darkened theater, and on the eve of the presidential inauguration, marks a moment wherein organizations and artists will hold conversations about theatre’s role in sustaining values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone--regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The evening will include a moderated discussion followed by informal conversation around the mission of this movement, its relevance to Asheville artists, and if and how to incorporate these values into our theaters’ work and operations. Time is 5:30 PM and location is Magnetic 375 at 375 Depot Street in Asheville. For more information, please contact Abby Felder at 914/830-3000 or abby@ashevillecreativearts.org.
01/19/17 MLK WEEK KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT UNCA
“Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community.” Free and open to the public. No tickets required. Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, president of Dillard University in New Orleans, known for his writings on African-Americans and higher education, will provide the keynote address for Martin Luther King Jr. Week activities at UNC Asheville. Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough is the 7th president of Dillard University in New Orleans, and has served in the role since 2012. He previously served as president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock from 2004 until 2012. A native of Atlanta, Dr. Kimbrough was his high school salutatorian and student body president in 1985, and went on to earn degrees from the University of Georgia, Miami University in Ohio, and Georgia State University. He has enjoyed a fulfilling career in student affairs, serving at Emory University, Georgia State University, Old Dominion University, and Albany State University. Kimbrough has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college. Kimbrough also has been noted for his active use of social media. Dr. Kimbrough has forged a national reputation as an expert on fraternities and sororities, with specific expertise regarding historically Black, Latin and Asian groups. Time is 7 PM and location is Lipinsky Auditorium at UNCA.
01/20/17 CREATION CARE ACTION FOR THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Will you join us for music, prayer, intention-setting and refreshments? The Creation Care Alliance recognizes that this season, particularly in light of our national politics, does not bode well for God's creatures. The first 100 days of any administration is a time period in which policy and practice are laid out. We are inviting people and communities of faith to initiate 100 acts of creation care in the first 100 days of the new administration as part of a national campaign with GreenFaith. The campaign runs from Inauguration Day on January 20 to April 29. The 100 days will end on April 29th with the People's Climate March in Washington, DC. The Creation Care Alliance and MountainTrue are offering many opportunities during this time, but we also want to hear about your intentions, so we can reach our goal of 100 experiences, events, prayers, advocacy letters/calls, actions. Also, you can share your events and stories publicly on the Facebook group page. Join us as we mark the beginning of these 100 days with a gathering time of words, ritual, and commitments while the sun is setting. Time is 5 to 7 PM and location is Lenior-Rhyne University at 36 Montford Avenue in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Scott at scott@creationcarealliance.org.
01/20/17 ELECTION MONOLOGUES
The Election Monologues – A National Event of Unity & Resistance. On inauguration day in the United States, an event of resistance and unity will take place in 14 cities across the country, bringing together people of all ages; colors and political dispositions to share their personal stories about the 2016 election. The Election Monologues will take place in theaters and public spaces throughout America, where groups of 6-10 people will share monologues about how the election has affected them. Time is 6 to 8 PM and location is The Block Off Biltmore at the corner of Market and Eagle Streets in downtown Asheville. $5 suggested donation. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.
01/20/17 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
Physicians, health personnel and everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings held on the third Friday of each month. Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. This will be held at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Room E205, at 20 Oak Street (just off College St. in downtown Asheville). Time is noon to 2 PM. Meeting starts at 12:30. Parking is available behind the church. Enter the church or ring doorbell at the glass doors on Oak Street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 299-1242.
01/20/17 INAUGURATION PROTESTS / GENERAL STRIKE
We cannot mark the occasion of President Trump's inauguration by just going about business as usual. We need a day of intentional resistance to Trump's reactionary agenda, and a demonstration of OUR power as regular people: students, workers, participants in our communities and economies. All day long, we will resist the ‘peaceful transfer of power’ and reject normalization of racism, misogyny, homophobia, corporate dominance, and intensified state repression; we will celebrate and deepen connections between and across our communities, share knowledge and resources, and offer support and solidarity to those most under threat from the incoming administration. January 20 is only the beginning. We are kicking off ongoing resistance and building our communities and networks for the struggles to come.
**Tentative Schedule of Events**
10 AM - Gather at Pritchard Park. Bring signs. Dress for the cold.
1 PM- Free lunch at Kairos West (610 Haywood road, downstairs) hosted by 12 Baskets
2-7 PM - Workshops, tabling, community-building at Firestorm (610 Haywood Road, upstairs). Check back later for full schedule of workshops & activities. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
5-6 PM - Potluck dinner at Kairos West, sponsored by Food Not Bombs.
9 PM-Midnight - Dance party benefit w/ DJ Malinalli @ the Lazy Diamond. 21+, $5-$20 sliding scale.
01/20/17 BUS TO WASHINGTON DC FROM HENDERSONVILLE
Hendersonville bus to Washington DC for protest of inauguration. The bus leaves on Friday Jan 20, at 9 PM and returns on Sunday Jan 22 at 5 PM. All genders/ages welcome. All costs of the trip, including transportation, lodging, meals and snacks are included in the per-person price of $195. It is past the deadline for sign ups, but contact Darlene to see if there are any spaces last minute. This has been organized by the Sierra Club. For any questions or specific concerns, contact Darlene at retreat@heartwoodrefuge.org.
01/20/17 FORWARD TOGETHER ASHEVILLE
We are planning, with friends around the country, to gather in our respective capitals and larger metropolitan areas on January 20th, 2017. Together we will take a stand on behalf of common decency. The event will be a “PRO” event. Pro- LGBTQ+, people of color, women, people with disabilities, people of all faiths/religions or none, our environment, our civil liberties, our humanity. The march / sit-in will stand as a peaceful statement that we are the people that have been attacked and their allies, and we will not be intimidated. This day is not about politics. This day is about humanity. This day is about inclusion, love, tolerance, and peace. This day is about being heard. We will be heard. We will not be marginalized. Human rights are for every American and we will ensure every American has the same rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This day is not about politics. We will move forward together on this day and every day. We will be heard. Time is 11 AM to 4 PM and location is Pack Square. This is a Facebook event.
01/21/17 WOMEN’S MARCH ON ASHEVILLE
In solidarity with the Women's March on Washington, community members will march peacefully to show our new administration that we stand with our families and friends for the protection of our rights, safety, and health. We recognize that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our democratic society. All who support the march's goals are welcome to join this peaceful gathering. Our mayor of Asheville, Esther Manheimer, will be opening our Women's March on Asheville. Other speakers will join us. Time is 11 AM to 1PM. For more information, email WomensMarchAVL@gmail.com or call/TXT 828-338-3028. This is a Facebook event.
01/21/17 GATHERING FOR WOMEN’S MARCH ON WASHINGTON
Let’s all gather in Asheville in support of The Women's March on Washington on the day after the inauguration. Time is 1 to 3 PM and location is Jubilee at 36 Wall Street in downtown Asheville. Intention: let's gather being mindful, prayerful, peaceful, non-violent, and lawful. We gather bringing our light and our love, standing in our power while sending light and love locally and throughout the United States and the world. Please bring sage, tobacco, sweet grass. Annelinde and the Sahara Peace Choir will lead us in song. For questions or more information please email Nancy at nancydetw@aol.com.
01/21/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘THE BURDEN’
“The Burden” tells the story from the perspective of our military forces of how our dependence on fossil fuels creates a long-term national security threat, and how the military is leading our transition away from oil. Panel discussion to follow film. This is presented by Citizen’s Climate Lobby. See trailer here: www.theburdenfilm.com. Tickets are $10. Time is noon and location is the Grail Moviehouse at 45 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville. Call 828-239-9392 or email grailmoviehouse@gmail.com for more information.
01/21/17 FRENCH BROAD RIVER CLEAN UP
If you have ever boated on section 8, you know what an amazing stretch of the French Broad lies between Redmon Dam and Barnard, unfortunately the Redmond Dam public access is almost always completely trashed. This is the first known clean-up at Redmon Dam, and it's happening on Saturday January 21 at 10 AM. RiverLink is leading a cleanup of litter on the banks of the River near Redmon Dam (map). RiverLink will provide all materials. Volunteers are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. We will meet at Blue Heron Whitewater at 35 Little Pine Road in Marshall at 10 AM and caravan to the worksite. This event should wrap up around 1 PM. Contact RiverLink's Dave Russell with questions at 828-545-9099 or dave@riverlink.org.
01/21/17 GREENWORKS ROADSIDE AND GREENWAY CLEANUP
Join us for a roadside cleanup of Lyman Street, Riverside Drive and the new French Broad Greenway in the River Arts District in Asheville. Meet at 30 Riverside Drive (Parking lot across from Jean Webb Park). Time is 10 AM to 1 PM. We will provide gloves, bags, and water. Please e-mail volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org to sign up.
01/21/17 TRANSFORMATION HAS BEGUN
The transformation has begun. Maitreya, the world teacher, is in the world. Rise of people power. Economic, social, environmental justice. Signs/miracles. Free presentation. Time is 2 PM and location is Asheville Friends Meeting House at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville. Call 398-0609 for more information.
01/22/17 BOOK CLUB MEETING
Beginning in January 2017, Christians For A United Community will sponsor a monthly Book Club and discussion series. The book used will be “The Third Reconstruction” by Dr. William Barber, which focuses on the justice movement in our current times. The Book Club will meet once per month on the fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00-3:30 at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 135 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. The Book Club is open to anyone interested in being a part of the discussion. Participants are asked to supply their own copy of the book. Persons interested in joining the Book Club are asked to register at cucasheville@bellsouth.net , at the CUC Facebook page, or by calling 828-254-4884. Deadline for registration is January 15th.
01/22/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘WE THE PEOPLE 2.0’
Join us for a screening of the groundbreaking documentary, “We the People 2.0” followed by discussion with a representative of CELDF (Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund), in collaboration with Tree Media. The story unfolds through the eyes of rural people who have faced decades of toxic dumping, drilling and mining in their communities. We learn with them that the reason why, in spite of all their efforts, they “get what they don’t want, again and again,” is because the community doesn’t have the legal authority to say “No.” The US has become an oligarchy, run by the corporate few who ignore the rights and will of the people. In this documentary, meet the people are frontally challenging our corporate state; thereby saving nature and themselves. Donations for the screening are appreciated and will help pay for speaker’s mileage expenses. Time is 5 to 7:30 PM and location is The Block Off Biltmore at the corner of Market and Eagle Streets in downtown Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.
01/24/17 ASHEVILLE STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE MASS MEETING
This will be an open meeting where we will be introducing working groups and planning for the coming year. SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Time is 6 to 9 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in north Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
01/25/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘DEMOCRACY FOR SALE’
North Carolina — perhaps more than any other state in the Union — has been transformed by the new and growing tidal wave of political spending. America Divided travels with Zach Galifianakis, the comic star of the Hangover movies, back to his home state to investigate how North Carolina has become a bellwether for how the money of a few has come to dominate our democracy. Galifianakis investigates allegations that the current state government was put in power by moneyed interests and has thus carried out a program that only benefits its backers: cuts to education, healthcare spending and environmental protection; lowering of taxes for the wealthy and corporations; and the passage of laws designed to roll back access to the ballot. Join us for a free screening of this important film. This film investigates why NC has had so many cuts to education, healthcare and environmental protections. Time is 7 PM and location is the Grail Moviehouse at 45 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville. Call 828-239-9392 or email grailmoviehouse@gmail.com for more information.
01/27/17 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.
01/27/17 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
01/28/17 MOUNTAINTRUE - SAVE OUR ASHES
Save Our Ashes - Preserve Our Ash Tree Populations for Future Generations. The Emerald Ash Borer is spreading rapidly across our region, destroying ash trees in their wake! To meet the challenge, MountainTrue is launching a “Save Our Ashes” program, and is currently training teams of volunteers to survey and collect data that will help prioritize the preservation of ecologically and culturally significant sites for ash in our area. If you're interested in participating in this valuable survey and helping us with a very important project, be sure you attend the date you sign up for to be properly trained! There you will be taught about the project, how to identify ash trees, and how to use a GPS unit. Trainees will then have the opportunity to survey some of the greatest trails in the region with a team. This day will cover the Bertram Trail in the Nantahala Gorge. Time is 11 AM to 4 PM. Please email forestkeeper@mountaintrue.org with any questions and to register.
01/28/17 COTHINKK ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE EVENT
CoThinkk is proud to announce its Annual Membership Drive Kickoff Event to our friends and neighbors! Please join us for a meet and greet to continue to introduce CoThinkk, a giving circle dedicated to collectively investing time, talent, and treasure to address some of the most critical social and community issues affecting African-American and Latinx communities in Asheville and Western North Carolina. This event marks an important milestone as we gear up for the new year and provides a unique opportunity to hear more about CoThinkk, what’s ahead for our collective work, learn more about how to become a member, and meet CoThinkk members that have been involved over the past two years! Please RSVP by January 19th and please like us on FB (CoThinkk) and Twitter@mscothinkk. Thank You,Tracey Greene-Washington & The CoThinkk Team. Time is 3 to 5 PM and location is The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville. Go to this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cothinkk-annual-membership-drive-kickoff-event-tickets-30522375246?aff=efbnreg
01/29/17 COMEDY FOR A CAUSE
A Benefit for Read To Succeed Asheville. Join Read To Succeed Asheville (R2S) on January 29th at 2 PM for an afternoon of laughs and entertainment with local stand-up comic, Randy Robins. Randy is a native New Yorker who teaches comedy writing and performing classes, as well as film classes that feature some of the comedians that have influenced him (including Mel Brooks, Sid Caesar, Woody Allen and Billy Crystal). Randy regularly performs for companies, schools and camps throughout Western North Carolina and New York and is donating his time and talents to Read To Succeed. This event will be held at the Reuter Center (OLLI) on the UNCA Campus in room 102. Read To Succeed is a local non-profit committed to tackling the serious issue of Asheville’s Achievement Gap. R2S provides trained volunteer tutors to at-risk children in our public elementary schools who struggle to read. Read To Succeed’s proven results offers these students hope for a productive future through one-on-one intervention and phonics- and multisensory-based instruction. Admission is free, but donations at the door are welcome and encouraged.
01/31/17 COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WALTON POOL
This meeting is not actually being hosted by ASURJ, but we are sharing as a Facebook event in order to help get the word out. The event is one that the city is holding in order to hear from residents about reports and potential changes to the plan for the Walton Street pool. The Walton Street pool is at risk of losing the funding it was promised by the citizens and city of Asheville. This community meeting is being held from 6 to 7:30 PM. Light refreshments served at 5:30 PM. It will be held at the Arthur R. Edington Center; 133 Livingston Street. We are asking people to help get the word out about the meeting and to show up and listen and help hold the city accountable to its commitments to the community. This is a Facebook event.
02/01/17 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102A, from 4:30 to 6 PM, and are free and open to the public. The lecture is “The National Centers for Environmental Information and Climate Change”, by David Easterling, NCEI.
02/04/17 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club presents Drew Jones of Climate Interactive on February 4 at 7:00 PM. Recently returned from the UN Climate Summit in Marrakech, Drew will use simulations to focus on how various regional actions are combining for success. This talk is called “Grounded Hope for the Climate.” This event is free and open to the public. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 1 Edwin Place in north Asheville (Charlotte Street and Edwin Place). For more information, contact Judy Mattox, 828-683-2176, judymattox@sbcglobal.net
02/06/17 CITY OF ASHEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Committee consists of nine members, all appointed by City Council, with representation from specific community sectors. Members shall be residents of the City or the City’s extra- territorial zoning jurisdiction, and shall reflect the socio-economic diversity of Asheville. The term of office is three years. The Committee was established to advise the City Council on neighborhoods within the City of Asheville’s zoning and planning jurisdiction. The Committee shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Develop rules and by-laws for the conduct of its business, including but not limited to meeting schedules, officers, voting, sub-committees; (2) Develop a plan to strengthen neighborhood identity and resilience, and to facilitate communication and cooperation between Asheville’s neighborhoods and City offices; (3) Develop benchmarks and standards by which progress towards implementing the plan can be measured; and (4) Work on special projects that are consistent with the goals of the committee, as assigned or directed by Council. The Committee meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in Room A109 of the Public Works Building, located at 161 S. Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville. The normal length of the meeting is 2 hours.
02/08/17 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102A, from 4:30 to 6 PM, and are free and open to the public. The lecture is “Climate Resilience in Asheville, NC - Moving from 'Did you know?' to 'What can we do about it?” by James Fox, NEMAC.
02/11/17 11TH ANNUAL MORAL MARCH ON RALEIGH
No information on buses, but I think that will be organized.
02/15/17 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
In 1955, a fourteen-year-old African American boy from Chicago named Emmett Till, while visiting relatives in the Mississippi Delta, violated racial taboos in a harmless exchange with a young white storekeeper, Carolyn Bryant. Three nights later, several of her kinsmen and family friends tortured the boy to death and threw his battered body in the river. Part detective story, part political history, “The Blood of Emmett Till” is an explosive reconstruction of the lynching, the trial, and their crucial impact on our history. Award winning author Timothy Tyson uses a range of sources—including the only interview ever given by Carolyn Bryant, along with her unpublished memoir—to tell the definitive story, in which black power and a mother's courage confronted the atrocities inherent in America's enduring racial caste system. Till’s mother’s insistence on an open casket, as well as African American self-assertion in Chicago, spurred nationwide protests that turned this local atrocity into a global symbol of American injustice; it transformed civil rights from a Southern issue into a national movement. Timothy Tyson is Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture at Duke Divinity School, and adjunct professor of American Studies at the University of North Carolina. He is also the author of “Blood Done Sign My Name”, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, winner of the Southern Book Award for Nonfiction and the Grawemeyer Award in Religion, among others; and Radio Free Dixie: Robert F. Williams and the Roots of Black Power, winner of the James Rawley Prize for best book on race and the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize for best first book in U.S. History from the Organization of American Historians. He serves on the executive board of the North Carolina NAACP. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Malaprops at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
02/15/17 ‘NEW JIM CROW’ DISCUSSION GROUP
This is the last in a series of discussions of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow." Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Books & Coffee at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
02/16/17 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE GENERAL MEETING
Join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC for a general meeting as we inspire one another to good work and discuss our work empowering care for creation. We will connect with one another and explore ways to care for creation. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held in the First Baptist Church of Asheville in Room MB306, which is upstairs. Address is 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org.
03/01/17 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102A, from 4:30 to 6 PM, and are free and open to the public. The lecture is “Accelerating Climate Innovation” by James McMahon, The Collider.
03/04/17 WALK TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLES AND PLACES WE LIVE
Walk to Protect our Peoples and the Places We Live. Join us for the walk to stop the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The walk will last about 2 weeks, and will pass through Northampton, Halifax, Wilson, Nash, Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland and Robeson Counties. (Possibly also: Scotland and Richmond Counties). More info to come. This came from Frack-free NC. For more information, for weekly updates, to register, and to donate to the Walk, please visit our website at 2017acpwalk.org or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2017acpwalk/.You can also call of email Steven Norris, earthsun2@gmail.com All potential participants are encouraged to register early.
*******************************************
ONGOING EVENTS
*******************************************
TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM.
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group at 6 PM at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
Green Drinks meets at 7 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.
Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.
THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on fourth Thursday of the month. Materials provided.
Political documentary film and discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books 6:30 PM on the third Thursday of the month. Sponsored by Asheville Citizens Accountability Project.
Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.
Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 PM.
FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.
SATURDAY
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 AM to 1 PM. Call 258-8737 for more information.
Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.
Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.
SUNDAY
Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.
*******************************************
ACTIONS AND READINGS
*******************************************
I Would Love to Share in Your Incredulity
By Thomas S. Harrington, www.commondreams.org
December 28th, 2016
I would love to share, my liberal friend, in your sense of incredulity about the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of United States. I would love to stand with you in the sense of woundedness that, while certainly painful up front, carries with it the secondary compensation of a warm and nurturing solidarity. I would love to sit with you and fulminate in righteous anger about the unparalleled vulgarity and cruelty of Trump and his followers.
As much as I’d like to do these things, I won’t. Why?
Because I know you, perhaps better than you even dare to know yourself. I know you well because I have watched you with great and detailed care over the last three decades and have learned, sadly, that you are as much if not more about image and self-regard as any of the laudable values you claim to represent.
I have watched as you accommodated yourself to most of the retrograde social forces you claim to abhor. I have seen you be almost completely silent before the world’s greatest evil, unprovoked war, going so far as to embrace as your presidential candidate this year a person who cold-bloodedly carried out the complete destruction of Libya, a real country with real people who love their children like you and me, in order—as the Podesta emails make clear—to further her personal political ambitions.
I watched as you stood silent before this same person’s perverse on-camera celebration of the murder by way of a bayonet thrust to the anus of the leader of that once sovereign country, and before the tens of thousand of deaths, and hundreds of thousands of refugees, that war provoked.
I watched during the last eight years as you sought refuge in the evanescent qualities of skin color and smooth speechmaking so as to not to confront the fact that your “liberal” president was almost totally lacking in actionable convictions regarding the values you claim to be about.
I watched as you didn’t say a peep as he bailed out bankers, pursued whistleblowers and deported desperate and downtrodden immigrants in heretofore unimaginable numbers.
And I didn’t hear the slightest complaint (unlike those supposedly stupid and primitive libertarians) as he arrogated to himself the right to kill American citizens in cold blood as he and he alone deemed fit.
I monitored you as you not only completely normalized Israel’s methodical erasure of the Palestinian people and their culture, but made cheering enthusiastically for this campaign of savagery the ultimate litmus test for social and political respectability within your ranks.
I watched as you breezily dispatched the memories of the millions of innocent people destroyed by U.S. military aggression around the world and damaged police brutality here at home in order to slavishly imitate the unceasing orgy of uniform worship set in motion by the right and its media auxiliaries in the wake of September 11th, 2001.
In short, since 1992, I have watched as you have transformed a current of social thought once rooted in that most basic an necessary human sentiment—empathy—into a badge of cultural and educational superiority. And because feeling good about yourself was much more important to you than actually helping the afflicted, you signed off, in greater or lesser measure to almost all of the life-sapping and dignity-robbing measures of the authoritarian right.
And now you want me to share in your sense of shock and incredulity?
No, thanks, I’ll save my tears for all of the people, ideas and programs you heedlessly abandoned along the road to this day.
************************
No comments:
Post a Comment