Language Lessons

This story was written by my friend, Beth:

"When my own daughter Sara was 7, we went to the pet shop for a filter for the goldfish bowl. While we were there, we encountered a blue-eyed baby Springer Spaniel puppy for sale. Not what we came for. This was a hard time in our family's life. Sara never said a word, but she looked at me in a certain way, you might be able to imagine it. "I know," her eyes seemed to say, "It's too much to hope for." We took the puppy home that day. So many things are said by not saying them. I'm coming to think, more and more, that we give words way too much credit, and sometimes they just get in the way.

I couldn't digest my food Monday night; it sat in my stomach, even though I ordered the lightest of vegan meals from the noodle place menu. It had nothing to do with the food. My spinach pancake was excellent. I loved it. I adored it. I am so glad I ordered it. It was affordable, too. I will get it again next time. My stomach was uncomfortable about something else, and it was letting me know.

During dinner, behind a backdrop of street music and a crying baby, I tried to reach Abu Ali to let him know Ken and I wished to visit that night, but all I could get was voice mail. Ann Cothran, National Community Coordinator for nomorevictims.org, had given me his direct number.

I felt shy and nervous, in spite of the delicious pancake, the sunny Asheville evening, our pretty indoor table. I felt sad and distressed to have learned that Rusul, Abu Ali's daughter, will have her foot amputated (there'd been a little ray of hope they might save it). And I don't speak Arabic; I was pretty sure that Abu Ali and Rusul did not speak English. Could we get along without an interpreter? I had a package for them and I wanted to get to know Rusul and her father, to have a small connection on a quieter level, before everything started happening. I wanted to give Rusul something soft, knowing her upcoming surgery would be so hard. In the back seat of my car I had a brand new light blue blanket made of the plushiest plush for her to wrap around her whole entire little 7-year-old self.

Maybe she already had a plush blanket. That didn't matter. She could have two.

Monday evening was balmy, sunny; a good night for a walk around town, maybe even get to bed early. I couldn't reach Abu Ali on the phone. Ken and I debated our options. A walk? A movie? Was it not meant to be? Should I go anyway? Did Ken still want to go with me? Should I go alone? It was getting late. I dialed Ann Cothran to tell her we weren't coming but she said, "Oh, it's okay, I've let them know you are coming. They'll be watching for you. "

"It won't be too late? " I asked.

"It won't be too late, " Ann replied, her voice kind and happy.

We'd left the GPS at home, no maps in the car, but of course we had some idea how to get to Greenville, so in the end we just went—and in the end, the kind desk clerk at the Ronald McDonald house spent 20 minutes on the phone directing us in. She did a far more excellent (and friendly) job than any GPS could.

I gave Rusul the plush blanket. And some little-girl magnetic paper dolls: she giggled at the underwear beneath their fancy Victorian dresses. Abu Ali and Ken sat together, talking, miming, pausing, trying again, simply regarding each other, two men conversing about their loved ones. Abu Ali says: "Americans are good!" He repeats, he insists: "All American people are good, all the people themselves are good!" Abu Ali is strong, graceful, grateful, with a firm handshake and a ready laugh. Rusul wears a glowing smile; she's all music and energy and open-heartedness.

For just a brief moment, Abu Ali's smile faded; it would be lost on a television screen, but there in the softly lit sitting room, a few feet from one another, I saw, just for a moment, somewhere behind his eyes, packed deep and close: the traumatic, instant loss of a son; two daughters' horrific injuries; running with Salee in his arms, her legs gone; those threatening airplanes still flying overhead keeping him awake night after night; his inconsolable wife. What strength, what faith, what love keeps him going?

Fourteen years later, our Springer Spaniel is now blind and beloved. I can still see my daughter's quietly hopeful face, and I would buy her that puppy all over again. It's such an imperfect analogy, but in Abu Ali's face, I glimpsed the face of war, all wars, and I heard the unspoken, pressing request: Can we not put an end to this nightmare? "I know, " his eyes seemed to say, "It's too much to hope for." I want to purchase peace for him, send it home with him, wrap him and his family in its soft plush folds.

We stand up to go. Heart-felt hugs and handshakes. Abu Ali thanks us for our gifts and our visit, asks us please to come again. Please, please come back soon, Abu Ali says, smiling. Come back. His eyes seem to say: We'll be watching for you. It won't be too late."

TODAY IS THE DAY THAT RUSUL HAS SURGERY. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I will update when I know something. No More Victims website may have information too, and if you can make a donation, that would be much appreciated.

Upcoming events for the week of January 28, 2018

Photo from Facebook.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

01/29/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

Asheville SURJ weekly evening meeting: Monday, 6:30-8:30pm at Asheville Unitarian Universalist Congregation (downstairs main building). Accountability group for folks seeking to focus on anti-racism work. Meetings include opportunities such as discussion, educational opportunities, or role-playing difficult conversations, and building connections. For more info email avlsurj@gmail.com. 

01/29/18 TO 2/27/18 EXHIBIT AT UNCA RAMSEY LIBRARY

The Blowers Gallery in UNC Asheville's Ramsey Library will host the touring exhibit, “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” from Jan. 12-Feb. 27. The exhibition is free and open to everyone and will be on view during regular library hours. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent story in words and text. The exhibit was developed with the assumption that language shapes thinking. In creating the exhibit storyline, the project team foregrounded the Cherokee language, believed to reflect inherent community values. “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” was conceived of and designed to include community input as a way to develop its content. Rather than present historical outcomes, the team favored a thematic approach. Major themes include Cherokee Homeland, Heritage Sites, Tourism, Family, and Community Celebrations.  The result is an exhibit that tells a more personal story and provides insight into Cherokee identity. Rather than translating from English into Cherokee, as is often done, much of the exhibit text was excerpted from conversations originally recorded in Cherokee. A Cherokee speakers group, organized in cooperation with the Cherokee Language Program at Western Carolina University, met weekly at the Kituwah Academy, the language immersion school on the Qualla Boundary. There, members were shown historic photographs and asked to comment on them. Their conversations were transcribed, translated, and included on the fifteen panels that make up the exhibit. Re-recorded by language instructor Tom Belt, these conversations are digitally archived.  The exhibit panels use smart phone technology and QR codes to link to conversations in the archive.  By hitting the on-screen play button, a visitor can listen to the Cherokee syllabary as it is spoken. The touring exhibit was funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Eastern Band of Cherokee in partnership with the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center at Cherokee Central Schools. The exhibition is presented at UNC Asheville by its Center for Diversity Education and Ramsey Library. For more information, contact the Center for Diversity Education at dmiles@unca.edu or 828.232.5024.

01/30/18 ASURJ DO!SCUSSION

The Do!scussion is a weekly safe space in which to talk about what we see that encourages us to continue to create multi-racial coalitions in Asheville while working to dismantle white supremacy. Feel like you're struggling with the how? Come on over and we'll talk about it. Then, we'll get to do!ing. Do!scussion presently runs on Tuesdays from 10-11:30 AM followed by Do!session from 11:30-1:30 PM during which we working with accountability partners on a particular project or issue. The seven 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, 6) growth is good, and 7) centering class. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/30/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 4:30 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. 

01/30/18 MEDICARE FOR ALL EVENT

Jan 30 Medicare for all: a tool for health justice from 7:00-9 PM. Location is the West Asheville Library at 942 Haywood Road. Come hear the renowned and nationally published ‘heavy metal healthcare’ expert Tim Faust speak about the necessary cause that is Single Payer in America. There will be a speech and then Q&A session following. $5-$10 sliding scale donation. Information came from Asheville Socialists. Contact Jacob at asheville.socialist@gmail.com for more information.

01/30/18 INDIVISIBLE ASHEVILLE MEETING

Join us as we kick off the new year with monthly meetings, to be held on the last Tuesday of the month. Each month we’ll give updates on recent and future actions and opportunities to get involved, and we’ll focus on learning more about our elected representatives in Raleigh and Washington, or hearing from candidates who are seeking election, or learning more about a particular issue, or sharing tools for being involved in our democracy. So mark your calendars. Hope to see you there. If you have suggestions for future meetings, let us know: email info@indivisibleavl.org. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Pack Memorial Library Auditorium at 67 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.

01/30/18 LEGACY OF DESEGREGATION BY ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF) is hosting a four-part community series titled, "Choosing Equity" on integration, inclusion, and equity in our schools. The Legacy of Desegregation is part one in ACSF's series. Join us on Tuesday, January 30 at 6:00 PM in the Hall Fletcher School (changed from Stephens Lee Recreation Center) for a community conversation about the history of desegregation in Asheville City Schools. Middle school students from the Find Your Voice IRL program will provide a dramatic presentation of key events from the desegregation of the Asheville City Schools. Community leaders will share their lived-experiences of that time. We will explore the lasting legacy of the desegregation process in Asheville probing how it impacts our schools today. Food and childcare will be provided. This information came from Building Bridges, and you can contact them at info@buildingbridges-ashevillenc.org if you have any questions.

01/31/18 ASHEVILLE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RELATIONS

The task force committee will serve for approximately three months in an advisory capacity to define the mission, scope and duties concerning a newly formed Human Relations Commission. They are calling for community input. Discussions will focus on marginalized communities in Asheville, their needs, and how the new Human Relations Committee can best engage these communities and strengthen relationships citywide.  Wednesday January 31st at 5:30 pm - Public Works, 161 S. Charlotte Street,  1st Floor, A 109. For more information, contact 828-232-4541 or JMatthews@ashevillenc.gov. 

01/31/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES AT AB TECH

Community Voices Lecture Series Beginning at A-B Tech. A-B Tech is launching a Community Voices lectures series that will be kicked off with a Black History Month presentation by Dr. Darin J. Waters, Assistant Professor of History and Special Assistant to the Chancellor at UNC Asheville, at 3 p.m. on January 31 in Ferguson Auditorium. Dr. Waters will explore the meaning and significance of the controversial and yet transformative period of American History of the Reconstruction, a 12- year period that ended in 1877. During the post-Civil War period, Americans experienced political, social, and economic change. Dr. Waters will be placing this in a local context, as well as a broader national focus as well through his talk titled, “The Burden of History: Slavery, Emancipation & Our Collective Historical Memory.” Black History Month lectures will include two additional presentations by Oralene Simmons and Nicole Townsend in February. Contact AB Tech for more information. 

02/01/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Sierra Club Feb. 1: “Skywalker” Shares Hiking in Nepal and the World. On Thursday, February 1, the Sierra Club presents Bill Walker who will share his latest adventure – hiking the world’s greatest mountain range, the Himalayas. Known as “Skywalker” because of his seven-foot height, he has left his boot prints on the length of both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, as well as countless other trails in Europe and Asia. His experiences will both awe and inspire you. This event is free and open to the public. Important Note: Effective with this February meeting, all Sierra Club meetings will be on the first Thursday of the month. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte and Edwin). Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Contact: Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, (828) 683-2176. 

02/01/18 COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS MEETING

Get Involved: Community Bill of Rights on Thursday, February 1st from 5:30-7:30 pm at The Block off Biltmore at 39 S Market Street in Asheville. Be part of Asheville and Buncombe County’s just and equitable transition to 100% renewable energy. Learn how Corporations have hijacked the Rights of Communities and what the Community Rights movement is doing to take back our Power. 5:30-5:45 Connect with like-minded fellow citizens. 5:45-7:00 Interactive presentation on Community Rights. 7:00-7:30 Ways to get involved locally. Contact The Block off Biltmore for more information.

02/01/18 BUS RIDERS ASSEMBLY

Just Economics and The Peoples' Transit Campaign are hosting a Bus Riders Assembly on Thursday, February 1, 6-8:30PM. Location is the United Way Building, First Floor Conference Room 1 at 50 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville. Childcare (call to reserve) & dinner provided (Snow Date Feb. 8th same time and place). For more information, contact Amy (amy@justeconomicswnc.org). People's Transit Campaign of Just Economics of WNC 

828-505-7466. Join Better Buses Together Group on Facebook.

02/02/18 LECTURE AT UNCA

Fab Friday Lecture 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM Friday, February 2, 2018, at Reuter Center Room102. “Asheville Race Relations, Black-White, Past and Present.” Panelist include Al Whitesides, Marvin Chambers, Keynon Lake and Tracy Green-Washington. This panel presentation will focus on black and white race relations in Asheville from the days when desegregation happened in the schools to what is happening today. The speakers include activists who were a significant part of the effort to desegregate Asheville City Schools. These activists are still civic leaders today continuing their part in improving race relations in the twenty-first century. ASCORE (Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality) exists because of them. There are younger panelists too who have another perspective and know that the task is on-going and they are leading actions and movements to improve the lives of African-Americans in the Western North Carolina. The task is not done. Come listen and learn what these movers and shakers have to say. Panelists include Al Whitesides, Buncombe Country Commissioner, and Marvin Chambers, both instrumental in the desegregation of Asheville public schools in the 1960s and 1970s, and still making strides for change. Panelists Keynon Lake, founder of ‘My Daddy Taught Me That’ works for the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Dept. Tracy Green-Washington is the founder of the CoThink Foundation; she formerly worked for the Z Smith Reynolds. All are continuing the of social activism for race relations in the Asheville area. No contact information.

02/02/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

The French Broad Riverkeeper and Mountain True are combating sediment pollution by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks. Time and location TBD. Sign up at mountaintrue dot org for updates or to register.

02/03/18 SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENT AT PACK LIBRARY IN ASHEVILLE

Mark your calendar: On Saturday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m., we're hosting a tell-all history event on Buncombe County's Confederate monuments, courtesy of the North Carolina Room, Pack Memorial Library: Monumental Decisions: The Legacy and Future of Civil War Markers in Our Public Spaces. Speakers: The program will begin with two brief presentations by local historians. Roy Harris will survey Buncombe County’s Confederate monuments—when and how they came into existence. Jon Elliston will review the history of the local white supremacy movement that undergirded the introduction of the monuments. Special quest speaker: Professor Fitzhugh Brundage, Chair of UNC Chapel Hill’s History Department, will headline a program on interpreting and dealing with Civil War monuments. The title of Professor Brundage’s talk will be, “A Vexing and Awkward Debate: The Legacy of a Confederate Landscape?” The focus of this program is to present when and where monuments were placed, who placed them, who paid for them, and a look at how they were presented to the public when they were placed. We also hope to shed light on the social and political times of Asheville, Buncombe County and North Carolina, during the time that they were erected.

02/03/18 FOOD AND CLOTHING DRIVE

 West Asheville Food/Clothing Drive. When: Saturday, February 3, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Where: West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806. Description: Your friendly neighborhood West Asheville Democrats are organizing a food/clothing drive for our brothers and sisters who are struggling right now. From 12-4 at the West Asheville Public Library we will be receiving canned foods and clothing. These in turn will be distributed to those in need. Please make sure any clothing is washed and folded and ready for distribution. There is a tendency with these types of event to just empty out your closet or bring boxes of random stuff you want to get rid of. That just creates more work and chaos for everyone involved. So pretty please, with sugar on top, be conscious of what you bring. This will also be a great chance to come out and meet your fellow West Asheville Democrats! Contact: Jeff (Tree) Anderson at (678) 895-4771 or jaacrodude@gmail.com.

02/04/18 POLITICAL PRISONER LETTER WRITING NIGHT

Sunday, Feb 4th at 5:00pm. Political Prisoner Letter Writing Night! Each month on 1st Sundays, join members of Blue Ridge Anarchist Black Cross for an evening of solidarity with long term political prisoners: people who have been incarcerated due to their activism and resistance to systems of domination and oppression. We come together each month to celebrate their birthdays by sending words of encouragement and support. We let them know that they--and their sacrifices for our movements--are never far from our minds and hearts. Continuously showing up for comrades who have had large chunks of their lifetimes stolen by the State is crucial solidarity work. If you have ever sat in a jail cell--for even one night--you know how important it is to show folks they are not alone on the inside. If you haven't seen the inside of a prison cell (and we hope you never do!) you can probably imagine how mentally and emotionally taxing it is to lose control over your physical self and surroundings. For those facing this reality, especially for years and even decades, any reminder of support and connection from the outside means more than most of us can imagine. We know because our comrades tell us again and again, it is no exaggeration: LETTERS SAVE LIVES! This event will be held at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Street in west Asheville. Contact them for more information.

02/05/18 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL

Transition Asheville Monthly Social: Energy Savers Network. Looking for a way to do something tangible to help the climate and help people? Come learn about the Energy Savers Network at the February 5th Transition Asheville social. We’ll meet from 6:30pm – 8:00pm at the First Congregation UCC, 20 Oak St. Asheville, NC (parking in rear).You might become a volunteer to help lower the energy burden of some of our most vulnerable communities and make a dent in our national energy footprint.  Please note: this event was previously postponed and was rescheduled. Contact: Rebecca Mahan (812-334-0176) or palmtree747@gmail.com. 

02/06/18 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB

Join host Bruce Roth for a lively discussion on topics of current interest including war and peace, the economy, the environment, and other hot political topics. This month’s selection is “Rules for Revolutionaries: How Big Organizing Can Change Everything” by Becky Bond and Zack Exley. Time is 7 PM. 

02/07/18 ASHEVILLE SOCIALIST MEETING AT UNCA

Feb 7 Year One of Trump: Building a Socialist Left and Fighting Back from 6:30-8 PM at UNCA Rhoades Robinson, room 103. Contact Jacob at asheville.socialist@gmail.com for more information.

02/07/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

The French Broad Riverkeeper and Mountain True are combating sediment pollution by planing live-stakes along eroding river banks. Time and location TBD. Sign up at mountaintrue dot org for updates or to register.

02/07/18 LETTER WRITING DROP IN

Beer & Politics Letter-Writing Drop-In on February 7 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Beer & Politics is an informal letter-writing drop-in open to everyone, held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Drop by the Westville Pub at 777 Haywood Road in west Asheville after work on any B&P Wednesday, any time between 5:30 and 7:00, and make your voices heard. We provide the Fact Sheets, stationery, cards, pre-addressed labels, and stamps. If you can’t make it to Beer & Politics this week, be sure to call and write your elected representatives about issues that matter to you.

02/07/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES AT AB TECH

Community Voices Lecture Series Beginning at A-B Tech. A-B Tech is launching a Community Voices lectures series that will be kicked off with Black History Month presentations. Black History Month lectures will include presentations by Oralene Simmons and Nicole Townsend in February. Simmons will discuss the work of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association at 3 p.m. on February 7. Townsend will discuss colorism and its implications for the African American community at 3 p.m. on February 28. Future lectures include topics for Women’s History Month in March and other issues impacting our community throughout the academic year. All Community Voices events are free and open to the public. Location is Ferguson Auditorium at the Asheville campus of AB Tech. Contact AB Tech for more information. 

02/08/18 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Learn about current environmental issues with regional guest speakers and like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks. Guest speakers TBD. This is from 5:30 to 7 PM and held at the Black Bear Coffee in Hendersonville. Contact mountaintrue dot org for more information.

02/08/18 PLAY AT BEBE THEATRE IN ASHEVILLE

Censorship, Racism, and “Sepia Toned” Leadership. Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective presents A North Carolina Premiere of “Alabama Story” by Kenneth Jones. Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman. Runs from February 8 - 24, 2018 (Thurs - Sat) at 7:30PM. Online tickets are $18 in advance, and $21 at the door. Location is the BeBe Theatre at 20 Commerce Street in downtown Asheville. Features: John Mendenhall, David Mycoff, Molly Graves, Daniel Henry, Sonia D'Andrea, and Bjorn Goller. “Alabama Story” is based on a true event from 1959, in Montgomery, AL. When Alabama Senator E.O Eddins Sr. (renamed E.W. Higgins in the play) learns that a children's book called “The Rabbits' Wedding” featuring the marriage of two rabbits - one white, one black, is among the books available for check-out in Alabama libraries, he determines to have it banned. Calling it subliminal propaganda for interracial marriage, Eddins engages Emily Wheelock Reed, the director of Alabama's Public Library Service, in a conflict that becomes known as the “bunny book crusade.” A secondary story-line involves the chance meeting of two childhood friends separated by a traumatic incident. Their role in the play is best described by Jones, himself - “Lily and Joshua, a black man and a white woman who were once childhood friends in that small town, reunite in Montgomery the same year that the library battle is being waged. They are meant to suggest the private heart of the public controversy… the quality of their character will be challenged in their 30 exchanges.” Contact BeBe Theatre for more information.

02/08/18 TOWN HALL FOR THE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN

The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, sponsors its first Town Hall in Asheville 7-9 p.m. Feb. 8, at Hill Street Baptist Church. The campaign originated in December 1967, created by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated before he was able to organize and carry out his stated mission of changing public policies that keep people in poverty. The current national campaign is organized by North Carolina’s Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, former president of the NC NAACP and current head of Repairers of the Breach, and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, of the Kairos Center at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The campaign’s actions are slated to begin in May and last 40 days, and will include civil disobedience, education about issues of poverty, contact with elected officials and protest rallies. The Feb. 8 Town Hall here will include information on issues such as healthcare, hunger, the environment and justice reform, among others. Speakers include people whose lives are impacted by poverty, plus Rev. Amy Cantrell of Be Loved Asheville; Richard Fireman, M.D., Community Roots, Alliance for Energy Democracy; Rev. Shannon Spencer, Asheville Poverty Initiative; Carmen Ramos Kennedy, president, Asheville-Buncombe NAACP; Mirian Porrras Rosas, Nuestro Centro and Leslie Boyd, health care activist. The program also will include music by the Be Loved Justice Band. Participants will learn how they can support the Poor People’s Campaign in a number of ways. Come hear what the campaign is all about, learn how you can become a participant and hear how poverty affects people and communities. The event is free and open to the public.  Contact Richard Fireman at richard.fireman1@gmail.com or (828) 645-0469h or (828) 206-8877c for more information. (Rescheduled because of bad weather on January 16.)

02/09/18 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM SCREENING AT UU IN ASHEVILLE

Our next film, “Whose Streets” a film about the killing of Michael Brown and the subsequent Ferguson uprising will be screened Friday, February 9th. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance film festival. This will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Edwin and Charlotte Streets in Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Empowered parents, artists, and teachers from around the country come together as freedom fighters. As the national guard descends on Ferguson with military grade weaponry, these young community members become the torchbearers of a new resistance. Filmmakers Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis know this story because they have lived the story. Whose Streets? is a powerful battle cry from a generation fighting, not for their civil rights, but for the right to live. By the way, most of you missed the December film, “The Hunting Ground” rescheduled from 12/8 to 12/15 due to the winter storm. I wanted you to know that this outstanding film about college campus sexual assault can be streamed online on Netflix. (Also available at the public library.) All high school and college students, and their parents should see this film. For more information, contact Charlie Wussow at 612-860-6628.   

02/10/18 RIDE TO MORAL MARCH ON RALEIGH - H.K. ON J. 

Need a ride to the February 10th Moral March on Raleigh? We will meet in Asheville and take a bus to Raleigh for the event from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM and then return to Asheville. Thank you to our local NAACP for sponsoring this ride. Please note that bus transportation does have a fee, but if you are unable to pay or need a discounted rate, there are different price options available. What is the Moral March on Raleigh? The Historic Thousands on Jones St (HKonJ) Coalition holds an annual mobilization called the Moral March on Raleigh & HKonJ People’s Assembly. It grew to approximately 80,000 in 2017. Each year, on the 2nd Saturday in February, thousands of HKonJ marchers from many partner organizations flood downtown Raleigh, NC where the HKonJ People’s Assembly convenes and ultimately marches to the North Carolina State Capitol. In 2007, the HKoJ Coalition sanctioned and signed a 14-Point People’s Agenda and then worked to transform this agenda into comprehensive reform bills that have been introduced in legislative sessions. What: Moral March on Raleigh. When: Saturday, February 10, 2018. Where: Bus departs from Asheville (exact meeting location TBA). Contact Edward Peters with questions (including how to register) at 336-601-9534 or edwardpeters@democracync.org  

02/10/18 SWANNANOA VALLEY MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST

28th Annual Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Prayer Breakfast. This is on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Location is Camp Dorothy Walls on Cragmont Road in Black Mountain, N.C. This years speaker is George Logan, a native of Black Mountain, NC, and son of Wayne Logan and lifelong Black Mountain resident Lillian Logan. Logan graduated from Owen High School in 1982 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1986. He was commissioned as a United States Army Officer shortly after his graduation from UNC. Upon completion of his military training, he sensed God’s call to ministry and attended a school in Los Angeles at Crenshaw Christian Center Ministry Training Institute. Fulfilling his theological and ministerial studies and graduating from the program in 1992 he ministered with New Life for Old Prison Ministry, serving in jails, prisons, and youth camps in California and Nevada. Pastor Logan now resides in Morganton, NC where he pastors the church he founded in 1994 - New Day Christian Church. He has continued much involvement in the prisons and community serving on a variety of boards as well as coaching, mentoring youth, and volunteering for NC Dept. of Corrections. Adult tickets are $15. For more information, including how to get tickets, go to svmlk dot org. 

02/12/18 PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING

Monday, February 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ, Old Fairview Road, Asheville. Our goal is to further progressive ideals. We work to get big money out of politics and bring power to the people--not just corporations. We believe higher education needs to be available to anyone willing to do the academic work. We stand up for single-payer health care. Come and join us--make these ideals a reality! Contact:  Kris Kramer at pdobPRESIDENT@gmail.com.

02/13/18 DISCUSSION BOUND BOOK CLUB

Hosted by the Asheville Art Museum, this monthly discussion is a place to exchange ideas that relate to artworks and the art world. Bring your book and a brown-bag lunch to make the most of your midday break! This month’s pick is Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power by Mark Godfrey. Time is 12 PM. Call Malaprop’s for more information.

02/14/18 MOUNTAIN TRUE AND SIERRA CLUB ISSUES & ACTIONS MEETING

Join Mountain True and the Sierra Club to discuss concrete action for environmental issues at the state, local and national levels on the second Wednesday of every month. Time is 6 PM and location is The Wedge at Foundation. Contact Mountain True dot org for more information.

02/15/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

The French Broad Riverkeeper and Mountain True are combating sediment pollution by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks. Time and location TBD. Sign up at mountaintrue dot org for updates or to register.

02/15/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HENDERSON COUNTY MEETING

Thursday, Feb. 15 at 4:00 PM. February Program - Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy. The National LWV has developed recently this succinct mission statement. How can we build a common framework for advocacy and achieve this mission right here in Henderson County? As members, we came to the League on different paths but have shared goals. Please join us as we explore our mission in small group discussions. As always, our meetings are free and open to the public. Water is available, but if you would like a drink or snack, please bring your own or support the Co-op for offering this space to us. The Self-Help Credit Union next door has additional parking behind their building. Hendersonville Community Co-op 60 South Charleston Lane, Hendersonville.

02/18/18 FILM SCREENING IN HENDERSONVILLE

Dinner & A Movie “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin” Come have dinner and learn about Bayard Rustin, often called ‘the unknown hero’ of the civil rights movement. A tireless crusader for justice, a disciple of Gandhi, a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., and the architect of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Rustin also dared to live as an openly gay man during the fiercely homophobic 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The film and potluck dinner will begin promptly at 5:30pm, and a discussion on the film will follow at 7:00pm. Providence Baptist Church at 1201 Oakland St, Hendersonville, North Carolina. No contact information. This was rescheduled from January due to weather.

02/19/18 NOTORIOUS HBC* (*HISTORY BOOK CLUB)

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “Notorious.” This month’s pick is “Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program to Bring Nazi Scientists to America” by Annie Jacobsen. Time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprop’s for more information. 

02/20/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING

On the third 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 5:45 PM and location is the Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and Market Streets in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.

02/21/18 LETTER WRITING DROP IN

Beer & Politics Letter-Writing Drop-In on February 21 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Beer & Politics is an informal letter-writing drop-in open to everyone, held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Drop by the Westville Pub at 777 Haywood Road in west Asheville after work on any B&P Wednesday, any time between 5:30 and 7:00, and make your voices heard. We provide the Fact Sheets, stationery, cards, pre-addressed labels, and stamps. If you can’t make it to Beer & Politics this week, be sure to call and write your elected representatives about issues that matter to you.

02/27/18 INDIVISIBLE ASHEVILLE MEETING

At this month’s general meeting we welcome Kelly Garvy, founder of KillTheBill, who’ll speak with us about what’s going on in the NC General Assembly (NCGA) in Raleigh and what we can do to get involved and help ensure that our legislature works for the citizens of North Carolina, not against us. Indivisible general meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month. Each month we’ll give updates on recent and future actions and highlight opportunities to get involved, and we’ll also focus on learning more about our elected representatives in Raleigh and Washington, or hearing from candidates who are seeking election, or learning more about a particular issue, or sharing tools for active engagement. Hope to see you there. General meetings are open to all. If you have suggestions for future meetings, let us know: email info@indivisibleavl.org. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Pack Memorial Library Auditorium at 67 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.

02/27/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

The French Broad Riverkeeper and Mountain True are combating sediment pollution by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks. Time and location TBD. Sign up at mountaintrue dot org for updates or to register.

02/28/18 AUTHOR EVENT FOR ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Nikole Hannah-Jones: Ending Racial Inequity in Our Schools: What Actually Works. Time is 7:00 pm-8:30 pm and location is Lipinsky Hall - Auditorium. Writing for The New York Times Magazine, investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones has won the Peabody, George Polk and National Magazine Awards for her reporting on segregated housing and schools, the black experience in America and racial inequality. Her current project is a book on school segregation titled The Problem We All Live With, and her talk will be titled “Ending Racial Inequity in Our Schools: What Actually Works”. Proceeds of this event will benefit for the Asheville City Schools Foundation. Tickets are $25; $75 for the talk and a 6 PM special reception. To purchase tickets over the phone, please contact Rebecca Abide at 828 - 350 - 6174. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Copland Rudolph at 828 - 350 - 6139 or by email at copland@acsf.org.

02/28/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES AT AB TECH

Community Voices Lecture Series Beginning at A-B Tech. A-B Tech is launching a Community Voices lectures series that will be kicked off with Black History Month presentations. Black History Month lectures will include presentations by Oralene Simmons and Nicole Townsend in February. Simmons will discuss the work of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association at 3 p.m. on February 7. Townsend will discuss colorism and its implications for the African American community at 3 p.m. on February 28. Future lectures include topics for Women’s History Month in March and other issues impacting our community throughout the academic year. All Community Voices events are free and open to the public. Location is Ferguson Auditorium at the Asheville campus of AB Tech. Contact AB Tech for more information. 

03/01/18 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA

Meeting the Other: Can We Talk?. March 1-4, 2018. The Interfaith Peace Conference at Lake Junaluska strives to advance the work of reconciliation and peace. Represented by a coalition of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other religious traditions, the event features workshops, music, prayer and lectures. At the 2018 conference we will demonstrate the art of building bridges of Godly love and participating in holy conversation. We can agree to disagree with civility and respect while upholding the core values of our various traditions. Program Fee: $150/person. Student Program Fee: $60/person. Contact Lake Junaluska at 828-452-2881 or information@lakejunaluska.com for more information, including how to register.

03/01/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Engaging with Conservatives on a Bipartisan Climate Solution -- Thurs, Mar 1, 7 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation,1 Edwin Place in Asheville. Come learn how you can engage positively with your legislators and conservative friends and relatives on the issue of climate change. Learn what terms to avoid and what language to use to actually reach areas of agreement. The same lessons can be used to lobby elected officials who may be skeptical of climate change. Free and open to the public. Sierra Club meetings now on Thursdays. Steffi Rausch, lead organizer for the Asheville Chapter of the Citizens Climate Change Lobby (CCL) will share how you can engage positively with your legislators and conservative friends and relatives on the issue of climate change. Learn what terms to avoid and what language to use to actually reach areas of agreement. The same lessons can be used to lobby elected officials who may be skeptical of climate change. Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) is a non-profit, non-partisan international organization with 80,000 members worldwide that focuses on empowering and educating citizens to engage respectfully with their legislators on the issue of climate change as well as pushing for a bipartisan solution on the federal level. A big part of CCL’s outreach is reaching out to people with differing views to help bridge the partisan divide on the issue of climate by finding common ground between us. CCL works towards keeping a respectful bipartisan dialogue that is supported by a bipartisan advisory board that includes conservatives, liberals, scientists, and military. CCL’s proposed solution is called Carbon Fee & Dividend and has been adopted in various forms by four countries around the world, including Canada recently. It is a revenue-neutral, market-based, national alternative to regulations and the most effective, least intrusive, and government-free solution possible that will put more money back in to the pockets of low to middle income households while growing our economy, jobs, and GDP. Top economists say it is the best and easiest way to fix a carbon market failure and incentivize producers and consumers to lower their carbon consumption while not regulating how they do this. For more information, call Judy Mattox at 828-683-2176 judymattox@sbcglobal.net. 

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ONGOING EVENTS

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MONDAY

Asheville SURJ weekly meeting at 6:30 pm at UU Congregation in Asheville, downstairs

TUESDAY

Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument 

SURJ Discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM-11:30 AM. Followed by Do!sessions from 11:30-1:30 PM.

Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women. 

Gathering of people who like to stitch and otherwise puncture the status quo at 68 Haywood Street Outdoor Space at 9 AM. 

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 Drinks meets at 6 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.

Indivisible Asheville does political letter writing at 5:30 every Wednesday at The Block Off Biltmore. 

THURSDAY

Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

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.

Progressive Women of Hendersonville hold a letter/postcard writing to government representatives from 4 to 7 PM at Sanctuary Brewing Company at 147 First Avenue 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.

Dances of Universal Peace on the third Saturdays at 7:30 at 1 School Road in Asheville. 

SUNDAY

Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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On this MLK Day 2018, we're calling on you to ask the young people in your life to heed the call of Martin Luther King, Jr. and help us lead the call for justice in 2018. 

You know the young people I'm talking about — that special person in your life who isn't letting their young age stop them from helping their community. They're always getting involved, leading programs and people, and being the change they want to see. Tell them to APPLY NOW for Democracy Summer 2018, our paid summer internship program for college and community college students. 

Democracy Summer is a life-changing, hands-on internship experience. Interns work for nine weeks during the summer as organizers in communities across the state. Right now, we're looking for interns who can spend the summer in Western NC, Eastern NC, the Triad, and Charlotte area regions to empower local volunteers, advocate for policies that improve democracy, and help our state navigate North Carolina's power structure and political process during this important year of "justice elections."   

All interns earn a $3,000 stipend while building relationships and receiving training that will help them kickstart a career in social and political change. Now in its 19th year, Democracy Summer is ideal for students interested in working in social and economic justice, advocacy, research, politics, law, nonprofits, or public service.

Applications are due on March 18. For more information (including link to application) email info@democracync.org. Use the subject line: "Democracy Summer Application." Apply or encourage someone you care about to apply today. 

Thank you for reading, forwarding this email, and helping us to recruit our newest class of interns!  

Onward!

Cheryl Ellis

Democracy North Carolina

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Hood Tour Tickets

An interactive tour focusing on Asheville’s African American resilient history and future in the arts, environmentalism and entrepreneurship. The tour visits neighborhoods with existing and active green spaces, art, and grassroots initiatives. Tours run most Thursdays at 1 PM and Saturdays at 3 PM, and by appointment for groups by emailing info@hoodhuggers.com. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Cost is $25 per person. Tours begin at the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue.

Hood Huggers International, LLC offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for resilient historically African American neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education and social enterprise.

DeWayne Barton is the founder/CEO of Hood Huggers. A sculptor and poet, Barton has been involved in community improvement and youth development for over 20 years. He serves on the African American Heritage Commission, CoThinkk, and the City of Asheville Neighborhood Advisory Board. 

Please call (828) 275-5305 or email blove@hoodhuggers.com for more information including how to register for these tours. 

Stop the Killing in Afghanistan

Stop Killing and Dying in Afghanistan: Now More Than Ever

By David Swanson

The Richmond (Va.) Times Dispatch recently published an editorial, republished by other papers with the headline: “Remembering why we still fight in Afghanistan.” It’s a rather striking piece of writing, because it does not even attempt to offer a single reason why anyone would “fight” in Afghanistan. The headline, however, suggests that someone is still waging war there because of something they’ve forgotten and can be reminded of. Given that the top killer of U.S. troops who have participated in that war has been suicide, one is tempted to shout “Get on with the reminding already!” But then one has to wonder: reminding of what?

The first few paragraphs of the editorial simply tell us that 17 years have gone by. 

Then we come to this:

“There are still about 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.”

In fact, the U.S. military now has approximately 11,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, plus 4,000 more that Trump sent plus 7,148 other NATO troops, 1,000 mercenaries, and another 26,000 contractors (of whom about 8,000 are from the United States). That’s 48,000 people engaged in a foreign occupation of a country 17 years after the accomplishment of their stated mission to overthrow the Taliban government.

Next in the editorial comes this:

“Most Americans, however, have little idea what we’re doing there. Many Americans probably do not even realize that there are still Americans deployed there.”

So “we” are both there and unaware of being there, or there and unaware of why. That’s quite a feat for “we.” Imagine rewriting those sentences in ordinary factual language:

Most people in the United States have heard no convincing reason why the U.S. military is in Afghanistan, and many don’t even know it is there.

When you say it like that, so that I am not somehow magically there myself, I feel more open to urging the U.S. military — an entity that exists separately from me — to get out of there.

The editorial continues:

“The Virginia War Memorial hopes to change that. For 20 years, the memorial has produced a series of short documentary films called ‘Virginians at War’ to preserve history and educate future generations. On September 11 this year, the memorial released its newest film, ‘A New Century, A New War,’ focusing on the terrorist attacks and the ensuing wars. The documentary was created in response to requests from Virginia teachers searching for tools to introduce the difficult and important subjects of 9/11 and our long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

If you look up “the Virginia War Memorial,” you find an institution promoting such initiatives as “Little Soldier Saturdays” with pro-war activities for children aged 3-8. But you don’t find any explanation of why wars in general or the war on Afghanistan in particular are justified. Nor have they made their film available; so no readers of this editorial are able to watch it, and the editorial does not convey any explanation of the war that might be found in the film. Instead, the Times Dispatch tells us:

“Twenty interviews were conducted with Virginia veterans and with family members of those lost in the Pentagon attack. From these interviews, a moving and informative film was created that presents vivid memories from 9/11 and shows the personal costs of the wars. ‘A New Century, A New War,’ was created to show how the world changed in one day and how Virginians have lived and served in this new environment. Clay Mountcastle, director of the War Memorial, explains: ‘We wanted a film that would convey the full spectrum of feelings surrounding 9/11, and the weeks and months after, to those too young to have experienced it themselves. We also tried to capture the complex nature of serving in a prolonged war with several lessons and meanings.’ The War Memorial hopes the film will remind Virginians about this critical chapter in history and provide an invaluable reference tool for classrooms. ‘A New Century, A New War’ will soon be available for viewing at the Virginia War Memorial and distributed to teachers across the state. Go see it. It’s well worth the visit and the viewing.”

And that’s it. So, one is left simply to assume that because “9/11” happened, war on Afghanistan is justified until the end of times or until Jesus gets back (has anyone even explained where he went or checked on whether he’s stuck in traffic?). And the “full spectrum of feelings surrounding 9/11” I’m willing to bet you one ten-billionth of a Pentagon budget does not include the feelings of any of the survivors and loved ones who have been pleading for 17 years that their suffering not be turned into propaganda for war.

The rest of the article is here.