Peace Through All People by Emma's Revolution

Letter to the Editor

Submitted to Asheville Citizen Times on 12/17/17, published on 12/21/17:

In today’s wars, about one quarter of fatalities happen to children under the age of eighteen. Therefore, all wars are wars against children.

We will not win a war by bombing other people’s homes and villages. We will not win by killing their children, nearly all of whom were born after 9-11-01. It seems now that war is a permanent state for the USA, not something to be won or even ended. And while the costs to us are high, the costs paid by the poor people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Syria are vastly higher. They have died by the hundreds of thousands and have fled by the millions from their homelands. Those five countries are the ones that President Trump has continued bombing when he came into office. President Obama also bombed Libya and Pakistan, and there is a high likelihood Obama also bombed the Philippines and Sudan. Trump is continuing Obama’s wars, and may follow Obama’s example of starting new ones. I see very little outrage from the US American people to these ongoing atrocities. As Albert Einstein said: “War cannot be humanized. It can only be abolished.”

To Know Good Will

To Know Good Will

by Lee Hays

If I should die one day by violence

Please take this as my written will

And in the name of simple common sense

Treat my destroyer only as one ill

As one who needed more than I could give

As one who never really learned to live

In peace and joy and love of life

But was diseased and plagued by hate and strife

My vanished life might have some meaning still

When my destroyer learns to know good will

++++++++++++++

I also wish the instructions in these lines to be followed if ever I was to die or be hurt by a violent action. It is unlikely to happen that I would die this way, but if the unlikely were to pass, I would not wish to see any violence done in return by anyone, anywhere, at any time, in any manner.

Susan Oehler 

December 2017

Drummer Boy of War

Corruption is Legal in America

In Honor of the Christmas Truce

Fenya - Christmas Truce from Veterans For Peace UK on Vimeo.

Christmas in the Trenches

Happy Holidays!

Upcoming events for the week of December 17, 2017

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

Please note: next email calendar will be sent out on January 7, 2018. I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

12/18/17 ASHEVILLE SURJ 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. 

12/19/17 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.

12/19/17 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.

12/19/17 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.

12/20/17 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Informal networking focused on the science of sustainability. Free to attend. Held at The Block off biltmore at 39 South Market Street. Time is 6 PM. No contact information.

12/20/17 UPCOMING SESSION: BUILDING BRIDGES WINTER 2018

Registration for the upcoming Winter 2018 session will open on Wednesday, December 20. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email buildingbridgesofasheville@gmail.com or phone (828) 412-0915. Each nine-week Building Bridges session offers an introduction to the dynamics of racism and is an opportunity to explore how race has impacted our relationships, communities, and institutions. A celebratory pot luck supper is held for all participants at the final meeting. Families are welcome to attend the potluck. Past participants are welcome to register for upcoming sessions. We hope you will encourage and recommend other individuals and organizations that you know to participate in Building Bridges. Our upcoming winter session will convene on Mondays, 7-9 PM at Central United Methodist Church at 27 Church Street in Asheville. Registration will open on Wednesday, December 20. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact us. Thanks and we hope to have you in the program. For information on how to register, contact the email above.

12/21/17 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING

Next Meeting: Thursday, December 21st, 6:30-8:30pm. Location: Kairos West Community Center (behind Firestorm Books & Cafe). Address: 610 Haywood Rd, in west Asheville. Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter

12/26/17 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. 

12/26/17 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.

12/27/17 BOARD MEETING FOR LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN ASHEVILLE - BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Board Meeting, Public Comment Open at beginning of each meeting. Wed, December 27, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Monthly on the fourth Wednesday. Location is The Cathedral of All Souls at 9 Swan Street in Asheville. Join us in the CE Room.

12/29/17 POCAHONTAS DISCUSSION GROUP

Fri, Dec 29 @ 5:30pm. The True Story of Pocahontas Discussion Group. A community conversation about Dr. Linwood “Little Bear” Custalow and Angela L. Daniel Silver Star's “The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History.” Our discussion will be facilitated by Sharon Smith of Asheville Friends Racial Justice Committee and Asheville Black Lives Matter. The True Story of Pocahontas is the first public publication of the Powhatan perspective that has been maintained and passed down from generation to generation within the Mattaponi Tribe, and the first written history of Pocahontas by her own people. Location is Firestorm in west Asheville. Contact them for more information.

12/31/17 WNC SOLIDARITY CONCERT SERIES 

The final Sunday of each month in 2017, two groups of WNC-based musicians and their ensembles will each perform a benefit concert to raise funding for WNC nonprofits. The music performed each week will fluctuate between jazz, rhythm & blues, soul, jazz funk, jazz fusion, and swing. Each event will host two groups, playing, consecutively between 3 and 5 PM with a brief intermission. All of proceeds go to the nonprofit organization. The nonprofit for today is Homeward Bound. This is a special WNC solidarity New Year’s Eve concert. Location is The Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and South Market Streets in downtown Asheville. Suggested donation is $10, and are available the day of the event. Please call The Block Off Biltmore for more information.

01/02/18 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. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville. We meet the first Tuesday of every month. Contact Bruce at brucerothchess@gmail.com for more information.

01/02/18 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. 

01/02/18 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.

01/03/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Sierra Club January 3: Greenways and Blueways. Marcia Bromberg, President of Connect Buncombe, and Marc Hunt, Woodfin Greenway & Blueway, will explain the value of greenways and blueways to our community. Learn how you can be part of the greenway movement in Buncombe County. Date: Wednesday, January 3. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of   Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The Town of Woodfin is teaming up with Buncombe County to develop the Woodfin Greenway & Blueway, a visionary $13.9 million public project. Hunt, who volunteers as fundraising coordinator for Friends of Woodfin Greenway & Blueway, will provide a “virtual tour” of the project, which will promote recreation, conservation and water quality, economic development, and quality of life for regional residents. Asheville resident Marcia Bromberg is a founding member and president of Connect Buncombe, a greenway advocacy organization. For more information, contact judymattox@sbcglobal.net, 828-683-2176.

01/04/18 NEW JIM CROW DISCUSSION GROUP

New Jim Crow Discussion Group on Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Event address: Malaprop’s at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Contact Malaprops for more information. 

01/06/18 RACE RELATIONS STATION 

Canceled: Sat, Jan 6 @ 4:00pm. Race Relations Station. A pilot program where diverse groups of people meet once a month to share stories, build trust and break down barriers which will aid the community in healing, connecting and regeneration. Location is Firestorm in west Asheville. Contact them for more information. Update: After our initial meeting, we noticed a shortage of participation on the part of people of color. Therefore, we set out to specifically recruit them. We have invited and engaged a small group and are courting them for the Station. We agree that it is by the focus on the small group that our project and work will bear the most fruit. Small, slow and intentional is what we believe will pay the most dividends with this project.  Soon we will have a date for the next group meeting and will advise you at that time. Meanwhile, thank you again for your understanding, patience and commitment to this project.

01/08/18 PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS MEETING IN ASHEVILLE

Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County Meeting. When:  Monday, January 8, 2018, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Where:  Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ at 951 Old Fairview Road in 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. For more information, contact: Kris Kramer at pdobpresident@gmail.com.

01/09/18 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. 

01/09/18 FORUM ON CHINA AT UNCA

China: Key to the North Korea Threat? - Leadership Asheville Forum. This event is free and open to everyone, presented by Leadership Asheville Forum and OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville. Event description provided by Leadership Asheville. Date: 1/9/18. Time: 7:00 PM. Location: Reuter Center - Manheimer Room at UNCA. Event description provided by Leadership Asheville Forum: Many Asia experts believe that China holds the key to preventing further escalation of the nuclear threat from North Korea. That theory and other issues will be discussed by two prominent China scholars, Dr. Jim Lenburg, professor-emeritus at Mars Hill University and Dr. Sarah-Ann Smith, a noted author and former member of the U.S. diplomatic corps, who holds a Ph.D. in international and East Asia studies. The program will be moderated by Dr. Elizabeth O. Colton, also a veteran of the U.S. diplomatic corps. Contact for this event for more information: olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

01/10/18 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING

This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church Library at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Beth at elizakeiser@aol.com or 828 707 4271 for more information. 

01/10/18 RIDE TO FAIR COURTS DAY IN RALEIGH

Organized by Democracy NC. Need a ride to the January 10th Fair Courts Day of Action at the state legislature in Raleigh? We will meet in Asheville at 5:30 AM and take a charter bus to Raleigh for the event from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  The bus should return to Asheville around 9:00 PM. The bus will have a bathroom, and there will be donuts on the bus. One stop for food should be able to happen but is not guaranteed. 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 below. What is the Fair Courts Day of Action? Think our judges should be fair, independent, and removed from politics? Unfortunately, politicians in Raleigh think differently. Top state lawmakers are trying to gain partisan control over the courts and rig the system in their favor. First, they canceled primary elections for judges, and now the politicians are planning to return in January 2018 to cancel judicial elections altogether and simply appoint their political friends to fill the bench and tilt the scales of justice in their favor. It's outrageous. It's time to hold them accountable. The NCGA will be back in session on January 10th and we will be there along with partners from the North Carolina NAACP, North Carolina Voters For Clean Elections, and Progress NC. The bus will meet riders in front of MLK Park (50 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Asheville 28801). We'll begin loading the bus at 5:30 AM. Riders should park on MLK Dr. (but not in the dirt/gravel lots of St. James AME on Hildebrand). Contact Edward Peters with questions (including how to register) at 336-601-9534 or edwardpeters@democracync.org. 

1/11/18  TRAUMA STEWARDSHIP MEETUP: ENGAGING IN SELF-CARE WHILE CARING FOR OTHERS 

For ourselves – helpers, advocates, healers, activists, empaths. Participants share tips and strategies for self-care and resilience. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Duncan Tam, MSW at duncan2729@yahoo.com for more information.

01/11/18 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE MEETING

Creation Care Alliance Meeting-Planning for 2018. Thursday, January 11, 5:30-7pm at First Baptist Church Room MB306 Upstairs at 5 Oak Street, Asheville. Please park near the playground closer to Charlotte Street. We need your help as we plan the direction and events for 2018. We will explore priorities, needs of congregations and ideas as we look toward 2018. Team leaders and all who are interested are welcome. We will also share stories of hope from our faith communities as well as explore upcoming events and experiences. No contact information.

01/13/18 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR PRAYER BREAKFAST

The 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast. Saturday, January 13, 2018 @ Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville. Tickets are $25. Call The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County at 828-335-6896 for information on how to register or any questions. 2018 MLK Prayer Breakfast to Feature Founder Oralene Simmons. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, Inc. will host its 37th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Resort on Saturday, January 13, 2018. For the first time since breakfast began in 1982, the keynote address will be given by the organization’s founder, Ms. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons, who will address both her journey and the larger civil rights history that helped lead to the establishment of the MLK Association. The event is particularly poignant this year, as 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, TN. The 2018 Prayer Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m., with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. For information and details about the 2018 Prayer Breakfast, contact Darryl Rhymes, Chair of the Prayer Breakfast Committee, at (828) 335-6896 or mlkjrassociationinasheville@gmail.com. 

01/15/18 PEACE MARCH AND RALLY

Peace March & Rally. The MLK Association holds several events during the national holiday weekend to commemorate Dr. King and build upon his legacy of peace and justice. On Monday, Jan. 15, the official King Holiday (which would have been Dr. King’s 78th birthday), a Peace March and Rally will take place beginning at 11:30 a.m. at St. James AME Church at Martin Luther King Drive and Hildebrand Street, followed at noon by a march to City-County Plaza to hear speakers on justice and peace. In addition to the Prayer Breakfast, the MLK Association holds other events during the national holiday weekend to commemorate Dr. King and build upon his legacy of peace and justice. A Peace March and Rally will take place beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at St. James AME Church at Martin Luther King Drive and Hildebrand Street, followed at noon by a march to City-County Plaza. For information and details about the 2018 Prayer Breakfast, contact Darryl Rhymes, Chair of the Prayer Breakfast Committee, at mlkjrassociationinasheville@gmail.com.   

01/15/18 CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 

On January 15 at 6 p.m. a Candlelight Service at Central United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall honors area citizens and organizations that have dedicated themselves to the cause of social justice. The association also honors area youth with a Youth Celebration and Awards in the spring, and commemorates Juneteenth each summer. Call The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County (who are the hosts) at 828-335-6896 for information on how to register or any questions.

01/16/18 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. 

01/17/18 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Informal networking focused on the science of sustainability. Free to attend. Held at The Block off biltmore at 39 South Market Street. Time is 6 PM. No contact information. 

01/17/18 READINGS FROM ARKANSAS PRISON PROJECT

On the Row - Dramatic Reading. Date: 1/17/18. Time: 7 - 9 PM. Location is Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center at 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. On The Row, from the Northwest Arkansas Prison Project, features the writing of death row inmates in Arkansas, and this will be its second-ever road production. The reading will be presented by Asheville-area actors, including three UNC Asheville students. This event is co-produced by UNC Asheville faculty members Patrick Bahls and Jessica Pisano, with support from the university’s Department of English. Director David Joliffe, professor of English at the University of Arkansas, will lead an audience Q&A after the reading. For more information, contact the Honors Program at cplaxco@unca.edu or 828.251.6277.

01/18/18 MLK WEEK KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT UNCA

Michelle Alexander: MLK Week Keynote Address on January 18, 2018 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Michelle Alexander will deliver the keynote talk for UNC Asheville’s observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Week on January 18 at 7 p.m. in the Sherrill Center’s Kimmel Arena. The lecture is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6 p.m. Michelle Alexander’s best-selling book, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” both crystalized and amplified public discussion about racism and civil rights, the war on drugs and the prison system. As an attorney, Alexander clerked for Justice Harry Blackmun at the U.S. Supreme Court, directed the Racial Justice Project at the ACLU of Northern California, and brought discrimination suits in private practice. She now is a visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary and a forceful public speaker who argues that mass incarceration is today’s version of Jim Crow segregation. This event is presented by UNC Asheville with support from the Blue Ridge District of the United Methodist Church. UNC Asheville’s Cultural Events Series is sponsored by Blue Ridge Public Radio, Biltmore Farms Communities, and Our State Magazine.

01/18/18 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS

Time is 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm and location is Malaprops Bookstore/Cafe in downtown Asheville. On January 28, 2018 my husband, Dennis, and I will be appearing at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café in Asheville to talk about our new book “We Fought the Road,” released by Epicenter Press in October. Local authors, we live in Weaverville, NC.  Our cause, though, is the forgotten black soldiers who helped build the Alaska Highway in 1942. After Pearl Harbor, America’s leaders panicked.  Alaska and the Aleutian Island chain offered a direct path from Japan to North America, and defending Alaska meant getting men, weapons and material there in quantities well beyond the capabilities of air transport or the Navy. Desperate for a land route from Montana to Fairbanks, America’s leaders threw a ‘hail mary pass’.  They launched the Corps of Engineers to Canada and Alaska and demanded the impossible–1600 miles of road through some of the most difficult territory in the world. And, by the way, they needed it in 8 months.  The result was the Alaska Highway–the Alcan. The Corps wanted no part of black soldiers in Canada and Alaska, but they simply didn’t have enough white regiments. Three of the four regiments launched into the North Country were segregated black regiments. “Hidden Figures” living under the Army’s version of Jim Crow, approximately 3600 young black men, most from southern states, wound up in deep wilderness, isolated from contact with the local population, living in tents with temperatures 30, 40, 60 even 70 below zero. Today people in the lower 48 think of the Alaska Highway as a tourist destination. And, God knows, it is a stunning experience. But very few people know of its origins, of the heroes who suffered and died to build it, and, especially the black heroes. Contact Dennis McClure at 828-713-1628 for more information.

01/19/18 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, 285-2599.

01/19/18 LECTURE AT UNCA

Fab Friday Lecture 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM Friday, January 19, 2018, at Reuter Center Room 102. January 19 “Film is Like a Battleground” by Marsha Gordon. American director Samuel Fuller famously declared that a film is like a battleground during his cameo in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 film, “Pierrot Le Fou.” These words aptly describe the career of this World War II veteran who began directing movies in 1949. Whether about World War II, the Korean War, or the cold-war, war and its consequences were the subjects Fuller obsessively returned to throughout his long career. Drawing from her extensive archival and historical research, Dr. Marsha Gordon will discuss how war films really got made during the Studio Era. Her talk will be illustrated with film clips from Fuller’s films as well as with behind-the-scenes documents from the Departments of Defense and the Army, the FBI, and the Production Code Administration. Attendees will learn what a real battle it was to make war films in Hollywood. Marsha Gordon is Professor of Film Studies at North Carolina State University and the author, most recently, of “Film is Like a Battleground: Sam Fuller’s War Movies” (Oxford University Press, 2017). Gordon has a monthly show, 'Movies on the Radio,' with Laura Boyes & Frank Stasio, on WUNC's The State of Things, which airs locally on Asheville’s NPR affiliate station. No contact information.

01/19/18 AUTHORS CONVERSATION EVENT IN ASHEVILLE

Sponsored by Malaprops. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors coming to Asheville. I am writing to share the news that Malaprop's is bringing #BlackLivesMatter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and her new book, “When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir” to Asheville. We are hosting her at Rainbow Community Center (60 State St in West Asheville) on January 19th in conversation with Warren Wilson professor Dr. Rima Vessely-Flad, author of “Racial Purity and Dangerous Bodies: Moral Pollution, Black Lives, and the Struggle for Justice.” The tickets are $10 and can be used as a coupon toward the purchase of either author's book. We will be giving away some seats for students and for people in the community who could not attend otherwise. Please contact me with requests. Contact Melanie McNair with Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe at (828) 254-6734 or melanie@malaprops.com for more information or to obtain tickets. 

01/23/18 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. 

01/23/18 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.

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. 

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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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CompACTION is an initiative of A.A.A. EXPRESS. (CompACTION- "COMPASSION in ACTION”) Many white people, after they are “WOKE,” ask, "What can I DO?" Bettie Council ("MsBettie"), an African American teacher, community activist and abolitionist, has created a long list of opportunities for things you CAN DO! She will be sharing some ways you can PLUG IN, during a three-hour event which will include a presentation and Work Session. If you are interested in attending, please do the following: Text "CompACTION" - your name and cell number to 828-582-2581 by Friday, December 22nd at 5:00 pm. No calls please! She will set up a time and venue when she determines the approximate number of participants. She is looking forward to hearing from Allies and ABOLITIONIST who are ready to make substantial, immediate changes to support the local black community by working on concrete, practical tasks...DIRECT ACTION/DOing!

Bettie Council

MsBettie's Perspective:

Often, Black voices are not included in spaces where white people have conversations about race and social justice. There are a number of reasons for this. Bettie Council ("MsBettie”) is an educator, visionary, abolitionist and advocate for the black community. She is willing to come and be a part of your conversations and share her perspective on some of the popular questions, issues and points made concerning racial equality and social justice. She will also, soon, have a schedule and/or will come and give presentations on a number of popular topics related to equality and racism. Some of her presentations include:

* "Eye Don't See Color & ALL Lives Matter"

* The STAGES of Awareness"

* "Things Your Organization Can Do To Ensure a Racially Diverse Workplace"

* "How To Hold Difficult Conversations about Race"

* "You DON'T KNOW What You DON'T KNOW!"

* ...and MORE!!!

There will be NO “blaming" or “Shaming” during the sessions. She doesn't suggest that you won't feel some discomfort, however, it will not be done willfully or intentionally. LET'S LISTEN! LET'S TALK!!!

* If you would like to host a presentation or to be notified of presentations, please contact her at lionessdear@yahoo.com – Subject: MsBettie's Perspective – (Then put the name of your group or organization)

* For more information, updates and schedules please email Better Council for her Facebook link.

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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. 

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Winter Rose

“When blossoms flowered midst the snow upon a winters night…” 

- quote and photograph by Cathy Holt.

From Clean Water for NC

This came from an email from Clean Water for NC. They are getting people to sign these postcards and send them to Governor Cooper, NC Secretary Regan, Jay Zimmerman of NC Dept of Environmental Quality, and Tracy Davis of NC Dept of Environmental Quality. Go to their website to either download or order these postcards.

Russia gate

Glenn Greenwald debunks the latest fake news about Trump and Russiagate:

The spectacle began on Friday morning at 11:00 am EST, when the Most Trusted Name in News™ spent 12 straight minutes on air flamboyantly hyping an exclusive bombshell report that seemed to prove that WikiLeaks, last September, had secretly offered the Trump campaign, even Donald Trump himself, special access to the DNC emails before they were published on the internet. As CNN sees the world, this would prove collusion between the Trump family and WikiLeaks and, more importantly, between Trump and Russia, since the U.S. intelligence community regards WikiLeaks as an “arm of Russian intelligence,” and therefore, so does the U.S. media.

(snip)

There was just one small problem with this story: it was fundamentally false, in the most embarrassing way possible. Hours after CNN broadcast its story – and then hyped it over and over and over – the Washington Post reported that CNN got the key fact of the story wrong.

The email was not dated September 4, as CNN claimed, but rather September 14 – which means it was sent after WikiLeaks had already published access to the DNC emails online. Thus, rather than offering some sort of special access to Trump, “Michael J. Erickson” was simply some random person from the public encouraging the Trump family to look at the publicly available DNC emails that WikiLeaks – as everyone by then already knew – had publicly promoted. In other words, the email was the exact opposite of what CNN presented it as being.

(snip)

So numerous are the false stories about Russia and Trump over the last year that I literally cannot list them all. Just consider the ones from the last week alone, as enumerated by the New York Times yesterday in its news report on CNN’s embarrassment:

It was also yet another prominent reporting error at a time when news organizations are confronting a skeptical public, and a president who delights in attacking the media as “fake news.”

Last Saturday, ABC News suspended a star reporter, Brian Ross, after an inaccurate report that Donald Trump had instructed Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser, to contact Russian officials during the presidential race.

The report fueled theories about coordination between the Trump campaign and a foreign power, and stocks dropped after the news. In fact, Mr. Trump’s instruction to Mr. Flynn came after he was president-elect.

Several news outlets, including Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, also inaccurately reported this week that Deutsche Bank had received a subpoena from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, for President Trump’s financial records.

The president and his circle have not been shy about pointing out the errors.

That’s just the last week alone.

(snip)

Let’s just remind ourselves of how many times major media outlets have made humiliating, breathtaking errors on the Trump/Russia story, always in the same direction, toward the same political goals. Here is just a sample of incredibly inflammatory claims that traveled all over the internet before having to be corrected, walk-backed, or retracted – often long after the initial false claims spread, and where the corrections receive only a tiny fraction of the attention with which the initial false stories are lavished:

• Russia hacked into the U.S. electric grid to deprive Americans of heat during winter (Wash Post)

• An anonymous group (PropOrNot) documented how major U.S. political sites are Kremlin agents (Wash Post)

• WikiLeaks has a long, documented relationship with Putin (Guardian)

• A secret server between Trump and a Russian bank has been discovered (Slate)

• RT hacked C-SPAN and caused disruption in its broadcast (Fortune)

• Crowdstrike finds Russians hacked into a Ukrainian artillery app (Crowdstrike)

• Russians attempted to hack elections systems in 21 states (multiple news outlets, echoing Homeland Security)

• Links have been found between Trump ally Anthony Scaramucci and a Russian investment fund under investigation (CNN)

That really is just a small sample.

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Amazing, isn’t it, how relentlessly the corporate media pushes their relentless lies about Russia and Trump? Seems to me that there is plenty of things to complain about with Trump’s behavior and choices, yet they keep making shit up. Almost like they have an agenda to follow…… which seems to be leading to war or aggression with Russia. And meanwhile, we do have evidence that the Trump team colluded with Israel - and that is hardly a news item at all.

Link to the full article.