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Resistance - November 27, 2011 (SOAPBOX #118) - Cindy brings us a virtual smörgåsbord of principled resisters to a globalized American military empire. [Note to self: some people DO object - and effectively!] First up are Ruth Benn and Ed Hedemann of the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC). Ed is the author, and Ruth a co-editor of War Tax Resistance: A Guide to Withholding Your Support From the Military. Next comes Cheryl LaBash, co-coordinator of the U.S. Cuba Labor Exchange (an association of individuals who act on their belief that the best way to learn about working people around the world is through meeting with them face to face). Shockingly, they're somehow rather anti imperial propaganda oriented! Plenty of informative and fascinating discussion follows. Please use the title link (above this paragraph) to eavesdrop on all their discussions!
Jim Thorpe: World's Greatest Athlete - November 13, 2011 (SOAPBOX #117) - Cindy presents William (Bill) Thorpe, the surviving son of James Thorpe - and Robert Wheeler, his biographer. Jim Thorpe was a Sac and Fox Indian who was sent to the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, where he led the football team to victories over some of the nation's best college teams. From that point, his career was well launched. In 1912 he participated in the Olympic Games in Stockholm, winning both the decathlon and pentathlon. King Gustav V of Sweden dubbed him "the world's greatest athlete." Ironically, Thorpe's Medals and record were stripped by the IOC after they decided he had played baseball during 1909 and 1910 to earn money as a college student. Afterwards he became a professional athlete - eventually becoming the first President of the National Football League, upon its foundation in 1920. He died and was buried in 1953 - and so began the final conflict saga in his EPIC story, an issue of where he can be laid to rest I believe the case is still being litigated, and the brothers William and Richard [Thorpe] as well as the Sac & Fox Nation have joined the fight for the return of Jim Thorpe's remains to Oklahoma. Please remember: the 2012 Olympics will mark the 100th year anniversary of Jim Thorpe's victories at the 1912 Olympics. You can use the title link (above this paragraph) and listen in to Bill [Thorpe]'s, Robert [Wheeler]'s and Cindy's carefully nuanced commentary.
William's Wisdom - November 6, 2011 (SOAPBOX #116) - Cindy welcomes William Blum, who is an American author, historian, and critic of United States foreign policy. He studied accounting in college. Later he had a low-level computer-related position at the United States Department of State in the mid-1960s. Initially an anti-communist with dreams of becoming a foreign service officer, he said he became disillusioned by the Vietnam War. He now lives in Long Beach, New York. A prolific critic of our militarized world-wide American Empire, William - with his impressive Publications list here for our edification, brings his perceptive intelligence and most sagacious commentary to us here, on our Soapbox. He and Cindy then proceed with the most wonderful discussion! Use the title link above this paragraph and listen in to William's and Cindy's biting dissection of today's history.
CHRIS FLOYD! - October 30, 2011 (SOAPBOX #115) - Cindy brings us a long-anticipated (and memorable) interview with Chris Floyd, the intellectual light shining through the pages of "Empire Burlesque." A prolific and articulate writer, his perceptive private blog has illuminated all of us here at Soapbox and inspired many of our firm principles. We're not yet certain WHICH topics he'll discuss with Cindy. However, I would guess that he will discuss our recent "Police Riot" in Oakland on Tuesday night, 10/25 2011. That was the evening that Scott Olsen sustained a skull fracture after being shot in the head with a police projectile while peacefully participating in an Occupy Oakland march. Honor our veterans? An Iraq War veteran who survived two tours of duty got his skull fractured in ... Oakland! 53 activists were arrested in Atlanta. while Nationally, SWAT teams were deployed to boot out peaceful protesters! THIS is how we protect our First Amendment rights! Cindy observed the fact that the Occupy movement's terminology about "the 99 percent vs. the 1 percent elite" is not entirely accurate; far too many of the 99 percent are serving as willing tools of the 1 percent - in the police forces, in the media, even in the general public, where you can always find plenty of people eagerly genuflecting to the high and mighty. As Chris notes: "You can smell the fear in the boardrooms (and in their bought-and-paid-for extensions, the government offices) around the world." He and Cindy then proceed with their most wonderful discussion! Use the title link above this paragraph to hear Chris Floyd talk with Cindy.
Obama On The Couch - October 23, 2011 (SOAPBOX #114) - Cindy welcomes Dr. Justin A. Frank M.D. - who practices and teaches psychoanalysis in Washington, DC and is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the George Washington University Medical Center. A clinician with more than thirty year's experience, Dr. Frank has been a former columnist for Salon.com, DailyBeast.com, and continues to be a frequent contributor to HuffingtonPost.com on topics as diverse as politics, film, and theater. He employs the principles of applied psychoanalysis to assemble the kind of psychological profile used in his previous best-selling book Bush on the Couch (ReganBooks 2004, 5, 7) in his new book Obama on the Couch: Inside the mind of the President, released October 18, 2011 by FreePress/Simon&Schuster. Use the title link above these paragraphs to listen to Cindy and Dr. Frank.
Occupation SpecialSunday, October 23, 2011 - October 16, 2011 (SOAPBOX #113) - Cindy brings us this SPECIAL REPORT from the scene of Occupy DC by listener / blogger / journalist Lisa Barr on the rising movement within this country.
Like all of us here at The Soapbox, Lisa deeply appreciates this rising Occupy movement, which constitutes the first substantial opposition this country has seen during this generation against the Wall Street juggernaut (of vultures) that wants to crush us ALL - so they can more easily drain our blood. We have great hopes for the survival of this mass movement and for the survival of our country - which was once the proud "home of the free": It could yet become so once again. (Which might happen!) Go, all you #Occupy people. You rock! Use the title link above these paragraphs and listen to Lisa's wonderful report.
Do you like our new Big Bird? (it's over here --->)
It's f*^&%ing STUPID to hand out Death Penalties! - October 9, 2011 (SOAPBOX #112) - Cindy brings aboard Martina Correia, sister of the likely innocent - but still executed - Troy Davis. Today we all dwell in a dungeon of economically-driven inequality, where so-called "cop-killers" are put to death but killer cops go free with at most a slap on the wrist. (Ask the relatives of Oscar Grant, executed by BART police as he lay on the ground, unarmed and fully cooperating. The unprovoked killing was captured on numerous videos and went viral on YouTube. Oscar's killer was eventually found guilty of "involuntary manslaughter.)" Now it's too late for Oscar. It's also too late for Troy. And back in the present day, Martina is carrying on the fight for accountability. Cindy and Martina discuss this killing, who is responsible and how they can be held to account for what they've done. They talk about the Georgia Parole Board - which will spare the life of one who pleads "guilty," but vengefully kills any who insist on their innocence. This is state sponsored killing of the innocent. Of course, bear in mind that some who proclaim their "innocence" are actually guilty; but who among us are wise enough to NEVER make a mistake? Who is wise enough to carry the burden of choosing life or death - for others? Cindy and Martina continue to explore the relevant issues here. Please use the title link above this paragraph to listen in to Cindy and Martina!
Welcome Back Cynthia - October 2, 2011 (SOAPBOX #111) - Cindy is absolutely thrilled to welcome back another dear long-time Soapbox friend - whom Cindy loves, respects and welcomes. She's been an intellectual BFF to Cindy's soapbox for a long time: the erstwhile U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia Mckinney. You see, Boyz and Grrls, she's often been a justly revered guest here. Here is her most recent show from March 20, 2011 where she discussed how things would be if she were President. Her previous shows were: January 31, 2010,Then her older shows, which you may (or may not) have to completely download before listening to them: September 27, 2009, August 16, 2009, July 5, 2009, plus March 15, 2009. Remember, all you who live in this best of all possible democracies which money can buy: Occupy Wall Street. Keep in mind 2008 and up through today! Please use the title link above this paragraph to listen to Cindy and Cynthia!
It's Your Turn (Up on the Soapbox)! - September 25, 2011 (SOAPBOX #110) - Today the subject is the star of the show. Cindy welcomes two contributors who sound off! She features reports contributed by each of these gracious journalists, one from James Rhodes, and the other from Lisa Barr. Jim leads off with his interview of displaced Californian expatriate Rick Peltier, formerly a licensed building contractor in that state who had the good sense to get out - while the getting was still good! This interview was conducted in Hanoi, the once feared Communist domino capitol - which Rick says is now a wonderful and peaceful place to live. Lisa follows up with an OUSTANDING report, discussing the corporate stranglehold on our political process and the social chaos and devastation that engenders. She proposes and advocates evidence-based social policies. (Do we instead currently feature "the best democracy money can buy"?) Please use the title link above this paragraph to check out their reports!
No new Nukes! - September 18, 2011 (SOAPBOX #109) - Cindy welcomes the accomplished CounterPunch author Michael Leonardi, also active in No Nuke Action and in the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS). Planned No New Nukes actions are shown here. And here he can be seen, writing in CounterPunch, to discuss a Huge Victory in Italian Referendum from June, 2011. He tells us that now in Italy there is a renewed hope and belief that another world really is possible! Thank you for illuminating that hope, Michael. He is a dedicated progressive and a renewable energy advocate. We here at the Soapbox are oh so happy that he's here today. Above and beyond his most informative talk, Cindy has a real treat for everybody: a pre-recorded interview she did with Time magazine. Enjoy! Please use the episode's title link above this paragraph to listen to their disussions.
The 9/11 decade. - September 11, 2011 (SOAPBOX #108) - It's been 10 years since the fall of the towers, and America has been "shifted right" - far to the right; into the realms of Eternal War. To my mind, the formerly generous and caring American spirit has been transformed into distrustful and suspicious fear of anything that's "alien" and "different", coupled with a lust to punish all "miscreants". And that's not to even mention the growth of the national Security State and our decling / decaying civil rights! (See this on civil rights.) Cindy's first guest is "Paul Thompson", pseudonymous author of the respected history The Terror Timeline: Year by Year, Day by Day, Minute by Minute: A Comprehensive Chronicle of the Road to 9/11 -- and America's Response. You can read more about him and his work here. He carefully outlines the American perspective. Cindy's second guest is Iraqi-American peace activist Dr. Dahlia Wasfi, (who is reputed to "absolutely kick ass" in presenting another perspective, from a country destroyed because of the 9/11 attacks). Please use the title link above, and listen to the memories!
Ms. Wright speaks. - September 4, 2011 (SOAPBOX #107) - Cindy welcomes good friend of peace and of Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox, the notable woman of conscience, Ann Wright. Ms. Wright won't steer you wrong! On this show she will talk about the recent Gaza Freedom Flotilla which she was a leader on the American boat and her recent trip to Jeju Island in South Korea where the Korean occupants are making a courageous stand against a US Naval base being built there. The American Empire doesn't even pay attention to the 82% of its citizens who want to preserve our safety net in the face of an artificial "deficit" crisis necessitating "austerity" - so why would they care what the occupants of Jeju island want? They're not even Americans, after all. Please listen to her current assessment.
Use the title link above.
Another (radioactive and) HOT show. - August 21, 2011 (SOAPBOX #106) - Cindy brings us theoretical physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, well-known as a guest of many shows on cable television and radio. Dr. Kaku is the author of a new book that just hit the NYTimes best seller list: Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration of the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel. Cindy and this innovative working scientist discuss the recent nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan, plus other important and timely issues. Note that many of Dr. Kaku's contributions to society are offered on his web site. I suggest you check that site out and become familiar with this fascinating gentleman.
Please use the title link above to check out this very HOT show!
A (radioactively) HOT show. - July 31, 2011 (SOAPBOX #105) - Cindy welcomes Arnie Gunderson, an eminent U.S. nuclear expert and Nuclear power whistleblower, who is chief engineer of energy consulting company Fairewinds Associates and a former Nuclear power industry executive. He has questioned the safety of the Westinghouse AP1000, a proposed third-generation nuclear reactor. Gundersen has also expressed concerns about the operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant and served as an expert witness in the investigation of the Three Mile Island accident. He also is a knowledgeable energy advisor commenting Nuclear power issues. He discusses the flood threatened Nuclear power plant in Fort Calhoon, Nebraska with Pacifica Radio's Robert Knight right here. Listen up!
The Golinger report. - July 24, 2011 (SOAPBOX #104) - Cindy brings back Venezuelan / American Attorney and author Eva Golinger (with first name pronounced like ave a in "save a buck"), our soapbox's visiting expert in all things Venezuelan and general good friend. She starts by discussing the health of & prognosis for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, currently undergoing chemotherapy in Cuba following his recent cancer surgery. Incredibly hard-working, Chavez finally had a significant health problem to overcome. But evidently, surgeons got 100% of the tumor, and the chemotherapy is a cautionary procedure to ensure the tumor won't come back. He's effectively back to work again - from his residence for treatment in Cuba. Eva discusses his health situation and its consequences. Cindy and Eva discuss the political implications of the situation, as well as a fascinating and revelatory history of interactions between Venezuela and the U.S.A. - especially history between, say, 1970 and today. Please use the title link above, and lend them your ears!
Women, strong and wise. - July 17, 2011 (SOAPBOX #103) - Cindy brings us two very different guests. First up is Chelsea Byers, a young Code Pink Intern who was sexually assaulted at AIPAC conference when she tried protesting Netanyahu's speech at the gala. Chelsea says the sexual assault by an AIPAC member was an attempt to dampen her spirits. She said there was an organized response of violence there [ready] to squelch protests. Fortunately, Chelsea has recovered (as much as one can "recover" from such deep personal violation) and is continuing her University education, where she's majoring in Political Science and Women's Studies. Cindy's second guest is Kathleen Barry, Feminist and Professor Emerita from Penn State University. Her new book is UNMAKING WAR, REMAKING MEN: How empathy can reshape our politics, our soldiers and ourselves. Dr. Barry focuses on the masculinity of war and the social expectations placed on boys. Introducing new concepts such as core masculinity and expendable lives, this book exposes how masculinity and the military prepare men for killing and introduces new approaches to world peace and a new masculinity that is already in the making. We can change socialization within our society to reduce the agression and violence which war demands!) Please use the title link above, and give them your ear.
Cindy's very FIRST SHOW: - July 10, 2011 (SOAPBOX #102) - This was a repeat copy of Cindy's Inaugural broadcast, electronically delivered today - with today's expiration dates. (This copy will vanish on 07/17/2011, in order to preserve our disk space.)
So away . . We go . (again)! - June 19, 2011 (SOAPBOX #101) - Cindy once again presents two superb guests: Laura Wells and Nance Parry. Articulate, focused and forceful, Laura Wells was the 2010 Green Party candidate for governor of California. She has a plethora of good ideas for digging CA out of its self-generated self-entrenching fiscal rat-hole. Naturally, they're not considered "serious" enough for general circulation and discussion, at least along the ruling class party lines of Democrat and Republican learned opinion. Note: you just might want to listen to Laura explaining these ideas to Cindy. (Heartedly recommended!) Cindy's next guest is a woman who wrote what's best described as "A handbook (re: harassment) for anyone working on any job." Learn all about her vitally-needed and empowering leading-edge publication here. Nance Parry now makes a living as a writer, but she had a professional acting career for fourteen years. That career ended when she had three sexual harassment lawsuits - she sued her employer (a television network), the actor's union, and the harasser (a Stage Manager on a popular soap opera) - and won all three suits. It taught her a great deal about the law, where sexual harassment is concerned, as well as - to quote the title - how to avoid, handle and litigate over sexual harassment - IF and when necessary, which unfortunately is far too common. (It's better to be prepared, rather than to be sorry!) Please use the title link above, and listen to this new season's lead-off show.
Our show, number 100 - June 5, 2011 (SOAPBOX #100) - Cindy presents two guests: 1) up is actress, comedian and political commentator Rosanne Barr, and then on to 2) Cindy Hickey, mother of incarcerated hiker (in Iran?) Shane Bauer. Roseanne presents her own web site, roseanneworld.com, and then moves on to discusses her new book: Roseannearchy, also known as "Dispatches from the Nut Farm." It's really her personal Journal on leaving 'Babylon' (Hollywood), for a real life in Hawaii. Golly gee, she sounds like "gasp" a real person here, boyz and grrls! Awesome, indeed - especially in this day and age! What I expected was a semi-comedic tour of "Roseanne's World," perhaps a distant cousin to "Wayne's World." What I got was a carefully reasoned and well thought-out semi-comedic presentation of a serious plan to save the world we already have. She's done a marvelous job analyzing/structuring her "Roseanearchy" here, folks! Next up is Cindy Hiickey for her son, Shane Bauer. In July 2009, Josh Fatal and Shane Bauer, along with his fiancée Sarah Shourd were detained by Iranian forces while they were were enjoying a recreational hike in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. There are conflicting news reports about whether Iranian forces entered Iraq to arrest the three young Americans or they strayed across the poorly marked border by mistake. Supposedly, these three crossed the border into Iran illegally. Even Sarah says there were absolutely no border markings anywhere. Sarah, 32, was released on September 14, 2010, on humanitarian grounds after spending 410 days in solitary confinement and immediately vowed to work for the freedom of Shane and Josh, both 28. All three were charged shortly before Sarah's release with illegal entry and espionage at a hearing in Evin Prison in Tehran where they were finally allowed to meet their lawyer for only the first time. Shane, Sarah and Josh are innocent of any crime. You can sign the International petition to free them at Freethehikers.org. Please use the title link above, and listen to this most illuminating show.
AIPAC disruptors disrupted - May 29, 2011 (SOAPBOX #99) - Cindy welcomes her special guest, Rae Abileah, central character in the International Solidarity Movement's Jewish protester disrupts Netanyahu During Congressional Address story. Rae courageously interrupted the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in Congress this past week, earning her a roughing up by AIPAC thugs and the Capitol Hill Police. In fact, Code Pink organized a campaign "Move Over, AIPAC" to address peace and justice related issues at this year's AIPAC gala. Check the Gala Protest here. During Netanyahu's speech to AIPAC yesterday, 5 individuals interrupted Netanyahu and were removed from the building. Please use the title link above, and check out Ms. Abileah's tale.
Gadfly on the wall - May 22, 2011 (SOAPBOX #98) - Cindy presents her guest Susan Lindauer, author of Exreme Prejudice: The Terrifying Story of the Patriot Act and the Cover Ups of 9/11 and Iraq. Ms. Lindauer was a US "asset" covering the Libyan and Iraqi embassies in Washington D.C. and served as a "back channel" during the Lockerbie negotiations. Thus she was situated in an ideal "fly on the wall" position there. She and Cindy discuss Susan's perceptions, the Lockerbie, incident, and the unraveling of the "whole cloth" manufactured to "prove" Libya's 'guilt' in the matter. Ms. Lindauer maintains the Libya was known actually innocent of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. She also agues that . . . . No; . . No; It's just too good. You gotta listen in to this for yourself!
Please use the title link above, and listen to their most illuminating discussion.
Winging it - with a backup - May 15, 2011 (SOAPBOX #97) - Cindy is out of town and not readily available to answer our webmaster's questions. This show featuring a military rape survivor [our webmaster believes] named 'Rebekah Havrilla,' and her lawyer, Keith Rohman was recorded in March 2011 in our studios. It tells, once again, the same old tragic story of female and male victims of military sexual assault. This theme keeps popping up in the tales of its surviving victims - throughout history. Our webmaster sez: "That's NOT nice!" Fortunately, at least some intervenors take their responsibility seriously. In particular, SWAN, the Service Women's Action Network, is committed to addressing military sexual violence, and in helping correct its effects on our society and in our veteran's lives. Rebekah, Keith and Cindy have an illuminating discussion on this sad but hidden facet of today's military life, touching on the all too common phenomenon of the services themselves turning on the victims of military sexual assault and penalizing them for speaking out. Please use the title link above, and check out their fascinating conversation.
Dissent, as a Federal Crime - May 8, 2011 (SOAPBOX #96) - Cindy hosts Ralph Poynter, husband of Lynne Stewart, telling us Lynne's story: Lynne found the truth: Told the truth: Learned too many of the powerful - hated the truth. Eventually she was convicted of supplying her blind Egyptian cleric client (Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman) TO THE TERRORISTS - by virtue of having defended him. Which, of course, she was legally obligated to do. They also found her guilty of "conspiring to kill American Citizens overseas" - avoiding pesky embarrassing questions like asking which American citizens (i.e., who?) Without raising questions like what did she plan to do to them?" Without specifying "when did she originate this unspecific - but still nefarious (huh?) plan." Finally, the prosecutors skipped questions of the form "overseas, where?" So let's see: She's guilty of a crime. We don't know what the planned crime was. We don't know who the targeted victims were. We don't know when did she "conspire." We don't even know where this conspiracy was planned. WE KNOW NOTHING. Having said that, I can but recommend: listen in as Ralph rips into this "school of thought" - and tears them some brand new anal orifices! How 'bout some Mother's Day cards and letters for Lynne, boyz and grrls? She has risked so much for all of us. Life in lockup is very hard on dissidents. To at least some degree her life in lockup depends om how many people respect & support her through snail-mail and post cards. Her mailing address is LYNNE STEWART; 53504-054; FMC CARSWELL; FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER; P.O. BOX 27137; FORT WORTH, TX 76127. The more public support she has, then the less official harassment she must face. Please use the title link above, and listen to their revelational discussions.
Mayday: May Day! - May 1, 2011 (SOAPBOX #95) - Cindy celebrates the arrival of May by extending a happy welcome to Genevieve Vaughan, driving force behind the perspicacious and innovative website, Gift Economy. Ms. Vaughan is an independent researcher, a strong feminist and a highly original economic thinker. She developed the theory of a gift-based economy - in contrast to today's exchange-based systems. She is the author of For-Giving: A Feminist Criticism of [the] Exchange [economy]. Genevieve has much to say, which has proved tough to get out to the public. Who could imagine having trouble getting an unapproved message out, here in the land of our oft-vaunted freedoms, for which "they" hate us(?) It's likely you've never heard a discussion like the one between Ms. Vaughan and Cindy! Please use the title link above, and listen to their fascinating conversation.
Hell Boyles Over: (Not really.) - April 17, 2011 (SOAPBOX #94) - Cindy presents one hellaciously illuminating show, featuring popularly demanded Professor Francis Boyle, who refuses to buy the common brown, squishy and stinky "party line" proffered by our ruling class, or corporatocracy. (See his Faculty profile here.) He wants WORLD PEACE! The man speaks good sense. He PREFERS logic and truth - a very serious "character defect," which can cost an adherent profoundly in terms of popular acceptability. (Non-"official" viewpoints completely disqualify one from being a "serious" and relevant pundit.) No; the real truth about this show is that Professor Boyle's Integrity boils over. He and Cindy discuss the Democratic Party's immense skills at co-opting social movements that might be effective. Both agree that today our Peace Movements are mostly front organizations for the Democratic party. Dr. Boyle totally endorses the honesty & sincerity of people at the grassroots level in these organizations - but he does have grave doubts about the National leadership of such groups. concurring with Cindy, he explicitly cites "Uniting for Peace and Justice" and "MoveOn.org" as working to keep the Peace Movement inactive and ineffective. One real gem of wisdom is their parallel observations that "Obama is a "gift to the ruling class," in that they can further their objectives quicker with him than they could with Bush, who lost so much popular support in the country. (One could regard Obama as the black "velvet glove" on the "iron fist" of the U.S. Empire.) Please use the title link above, and check out Francis's talk with Cindy!
April's FIRST double-header - April 10, 2011 (SOAPBOX #93) - Cindy's first guest is activist Karen Tostado. Her main website is United We Strike. She's also developing another web site, Taxfree15.com. She contributes many worthwhile & cogent insights (catch her radioactive comments here) and ideas. Check it out! Cindy's next guest is former Economic Hitman John Perkins, who discusses events in Libya plus the Shamanic movement and its influence of Shamanic spirituality on the non-violent popular revolution in Latin America - and on the Robber class's (= corporatocracy's) profound FEAR of the emergence of a "Good Example" there (i.e., any form of social organization that doesn't concentrate the wealth in the hands of the upper 0.1% of the population and thus all the real power in society). Please use the title link above, and hear Karen, John and Cindy!
My Grandpa, the Mahatma - April 3, 2011 (SOAPBOX #91) - Cindy hosts Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K., famously known as the "Mahatma" - or great-souled one. (He would have hated that, tolerating only being treated as an average man!) Nevertheless, it was that man who invented what he called satygraha (or "militant nonviolence") and thereby changed the course of our whole world, inspiring leaders like Martin Luther King and many others, often less famed - but no less a stout and influential hero for peace. [Such as Badshah Khan. (BTW: If you don't already know him, then click that link!) Gandhi's intentions and actions aroused millions of Indians, shook the Empire, and provoked both ridicule and admiration among people throughout the world. For nearly fifty years he first challenged the European masters of South Africa, then the British masters of India, and then even the basic tenets of orthodox politics. As Gene Sharp notes, he was an extraordinary political strategist. Sharp comments that we need to cintinue considering Gandhi's challenge to established political thought, his refinement of the art of nonviolent struggle, and his perception of the requirements for ending oppression, reconstructing society, and lifting dependence upon political violence. Today, this need has become URGENT! I wonder what he'd say about "protecting" Libyan civilians by killing Libyan civilians? Maybe Arun can tell us! Please use the title link above, and listen to Arun and Cindy.
Double feature - March 27, 2011 (SOAPBOX #90) - Cindy welcomes two notable guests. Cindy's first guest, Thaddeus Russell, is an historian and cultural critic, author of A Renegade History of the United States. (And those are just his introductory credits!) A true nonconformist, he has a long list of public appearances. Yes, previously, our "Big Bad Thad" had moved past the social / ethical conservatism of our historical "cultural leaders" to focus on the actual people themselves. He regularly argued that many white Americans envied slaves for good reason, since slave culture offered many liberating alternatives to the highly repressive and work-obsessed, anti-sex culture of the early United States. He demonstrated that prostitutes, not feminists, won virtually all the freedoms that were denied to women but are now taken for granted. In short, this man is a truly creative & revolutionary thinker. It should come as no surprise the man today perceives himself as though he's been on an island and yelling for three years now. (It seems he doesn't want to kill the world's unfortunates in order to SAVE them.) He asks why are today's "liberal" people are not separating themselves from the slaughter of innocents? Hey there, boyz and grrls: Can you say "Bad mass murderer?" "Bad!" (I knew you could!) Cindy's next guest is Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, discussing our military intervention in Libya. Congressman Kucinich had SEVERAL objections to this action, all on quite serious grounds. This is a new nightmare for people in another land and a new nightmare for the American people. Yet the BIGGEST objection seems to be that the entire power to make war is given by our Constituation in Article I, section 8 to Congress; not to the President. This is not an academic debate. The Founders felt very strongly, indeed about putting the war powers in the hand of the country's legislative body. Dennis offers MANY important points to consider! Please use the title link above, and listen to Thaddeus and to Dennis!
Cynthia - March 20, 2011 (SOAPBOX #89) - Cindy welcomes back our outstanding and well-loved soapbox buddy, courageous former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, discussing how things would be if she were - President. (We can dream, can't we?) Cynthia was the Green Party candidate for President back in 2008 when she ran, along with Rosa Clemente. . . . (They lost.) Barack Obama "won," if that's what you'd call gaining responsibility for killing so many innocent civilians. The last time Ms. McKinney was on this show, she was standing in for Cindy Sheehan, guest hosting what proved to be the final Soapbox interview for Howard Zinn, prior to his unanticipated death on January 27, 2010. Cynthia's classic show from September 27, 2009 featuring Howard is archived below, as well as (here), just in case you wanted to listen to her prove herself the accomplished and most professional guest-host she truly is. (Worthwhile listening, indeed!) Please use the title link above, to listen to Cindy and Cynthia!
Against robbery: unity of "opposites" - March 13, 2011 (SOAPBOX #88) - Cindy brings you "two-fers" featuring 1) "conservative" Karen Kwiatowski, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel whose assignments included duties as a Pentagon desk officer and a variety of roles for the National Security Agency. (There's also another good biography of her on the web here, from Source Watch.) Next, she brings you 2) "the left," represented by our old good web buddy, David Swanson, the author of two (2!) books: Undoing the Imperial Presidency, plus his latest, War is a Lie. Karen's archives can be found at Lew Rockell. What fascinated me the most was how eloquently these two vastly different personalities shared the heart of their vision, namely their dedication the TRUTH, and the way both despise politically-motivated lies presented as "truth." Gee; they even made me feel that maybe; just maybe - there are people out here who care about actual truth! (What a concept! Wow!) If so, then maybe there's still hope for humanity. Karen had MUCH to say on "intelligence" and its politicization. David noted revolutionary organizations cannot only align with Democrats when they oppose Republicans. Why is organized labor in such deep horse excrement today? Anyone think it just might be related to the fact that the Labor Movement never went after the Democrats when they failed to put the Employee Free-Choice Act through, when the Democrats were elected to do it - and had the power to do it? You can't win without an offense and you can't have an offense if you're subservient to a party that's the lesser of two evils. (That lesser's still evil, folks.) Today it's like pulling teeth to seek honesty out of groups who see dedication to the Democratic Party as part of their agenda. Example: the fictitious "cuts" to the military budget that actually represents its increase. But I've said ENOUGH here. And anyway, David speaks far better for himself than I can. Please use the title link above, to listen to Karen and David!
Awareness unchained - March 6, 2011 (SOAPBOX #87) - Cindy Sheehan features Jacob George and Ramsey Sprague, who was described in Tallahassee's Rally for Egypt as a member of Ride till the End, an organization that rallies and raises awareness for the injustices of people in the United States. Ramsey stood in solidarity with the people of Egypt in their calls for Mubarak to step down. Both Jacob and Ramsey are with Operation Awareness, which is calling attention to the crimes of war; the lack of support military families get, and the Bradley Manning case - plus many other "popularly" accepted atrocities of our times. (Talk about infamy!) Please use the link above, to hear their educational and enlightening interview, featuring Operation Awareness.
Spicy, under-appreciated history - February 20, 2011 (SOAPBOX #86) - Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox continues its quest for truth, peace, and accountability with this offering! Cindy starts with Dr. William Pepper, who talks about his personal associations with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr during the last year of his life, and then the legal battles Dr. Pepper undertook on behalf of Dr. King's family and the patsy: James Earl Ray. He offers an unpublicized retrospective view of the passing of one of our nation's most revered and inspirational leaders. Then this past week, Cindy's dear friend and good Soapbox buddy, Ray McGovern was brutalized at an event where Sec. of State, Hillary Clinton, was speaking, condemning foreign governments for treating protesters harshly. Ray stood in silent and dignified protest, turning his back on her - when he was blindsided, manhandled and arrested - for peacefully protesting. (Fine job Hillary: Show everyone how we respect our own protesters, here at home!) Cindy chats with Ray about that awful experience. Please use the link above, to hear educational and enlightening radio.
A Tale of Two Cindys - February 13, 2011 (SOAPBOX #85) - Cindy Sheehan welcomes a most honored guest, Cindy Corrie. (Note: That link goes to Part 1 of an interview with Rachel Corrie's parents. Part 2 is here.) Both of these ladies suffered a mother's worst nightmare: the loss of her precious child - to the forces of empire! Our listeners here are all aware of the loss of Casey Sheehan in Iraq in 2005. Cindy Corrie's daughter, peace activist Rachel Corrie, was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003 as she tried to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian family's home. Brother Larry - February 6, 2011 (SOAPBOX #84) - Cindy celebrates February by hosting Larry Pinkney, previously a two time January guest (in 2009 & 2010) - in this month instead. Brother Larry Pinkney is an editorial board member of Black Commentator, a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of Interior of the Republic of New Africa and a former political prisoner. He's the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil/political rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He's been a distinguished activist and solidly established as an intelligent and perceptive commentator for a good time now. We recommend examples of his incisive and trenchant observations - here, here and here. Larry and Cindy analyze our nation's prospects, as President Obama heads into his 3rd year. Larry observes that Barack Obama has widened the bloody wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and rained down bloody missile death from the skies - on Pakistani civilians. To award a Nobel Peace Prize for such Chicagoland-style gangsterism on a world scale is beyond absurd. It mocks the very idea of the Nobel Peace Prize itself. Black white and brown red and yellow people all need to be aware of that. (I thank you for your insights, my dear brother Larry.) Please use the link above, to listen in as Larry and Cindy play our very own Soapbox Pundit game. (Of course, they can't be real pundits: they have a clue. That alone disqualifies them.)
Economics of Happiness - January 30, 2011 (SOAPBOX #83) - Cindy welcomes Helena Norberg-Hodge, an analyst of the impact of the global economy on cultures and agriculture worldwide and a pioneer of the localization movement. The destructive impact of globalization on our children is no less destructive than its historical impact on the Ladakh, an isolated Himalayan culture described in countercurrents.org here.
Over the past three decades, Ms. Norberg-Hodge has studied this process in numerous cultures around the world and discovered that we are all victims of these same psychological pressures. In virtually every industrialized country, including the US, UK, Australia, France and Japan, there is now what can only be described as an epidemic of depression. In the US, a growing proportion of young girls are so deeply insecure about their appearance they fall victim to anorexia and bulimia, or undergo expensive cosmetic surgery. Why is this happening? Too often these signs of breakdown are seen as 'normal:' we assume that depression is a universal affliction, that children are by nature insecure about their appearance, that greed, acquisitiveness, and competition are innate to the human condition. What we fail to consider are the billions of dollars spent by marketers targeting children as young as two, with a goal of instilling the belief that material possessions will ensure them the love and appreciation they crave. But the reality is that consumption leads to greater competition and envy, leaving children more isolated, insecure, and unhappy, thereby fuelling still more frantic consumption in a vicious cycle.
In this way, the global consumer culture taps into the fundamental human need for love and twists it into insatiable greed. Please use the link above, to check out Cindy's & Helena's perceptive cogitations.
Afghans for Peace! - January 23, 2011 (SOAPBOX #82) - Cindy welcomes Canadian resident PhD student Spogmai Akseer, representing that whole group of Aghans world wide, both internal and abroad, who take a stance against war and occupation in Afghanistan and demand that the Afghan people be allowed their right to self determination. That group is formally known as Afghans for Peace. They present a non-propagandized "view from the inside" of Afghan reality. Spogmai Akseer pretty strongly contradicts the "official" line that we are in Afghanistan to Anniversary Madness - January 16, 2011 (SOAPBOX #81) - Cindy presents admirably scurrulous election satire by no less than George Carlin, and then "celebrates" two anniversaries, one famous and most healthy for our nation - but oh so hated today by the "religious right" (which is really neither) - Roe versus Wade - and the other, a truly sickening anniversary, that of the opening of Guantanamo Bay Prison, on Jan 11th, 2002. Roe versus Wade is commemorated by Somer Loen, a long-time activist for the Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights, or BACORR. The disgusting opening of Guantanamo Bay Prison by Matthew Daloisio of Witness Against Torture, another long standing activist against our modern Imperial "Death State" (as so eloquently designated by one of our webmaster's heroes, Arthur Silber). Cindy and Matt have an illuminating discusion about Guantanamo and its meaning for America's future. A future which we all hope will be far brighter than today's sad state of affairs.
Please use the link above to scope out the madness!
YOKO gets a Peace of The Action! - January 9, 2011 (SOAPBOX #80) - Cindy welcomes famous peace activist Yoko Ono. Long before there was a John and Yoko, she grew up in Japan during the end of World War II. It didn't take much more to make her a committed peace activist. It had a critical formative influence on her whole life. They discuss the historical growth of the peace movement, plus rippling effects from the dawning public recognition of just how much our "democratically elected" government lies to us. Yoko and Cindy both suffered great tragic losses in their lives. Cindy asks how she could possibly keep going and stay so strong and so positive. Yoko just anwers "It was the only thing I could do." Optimism is NEEDED. Both observe we need to "take a sad song - and make it better!"
Please use the link above and give Peace a chance!
The BP Plague. - December 19, 2010 (SOAPBOX #79) - Cindy welcomes FOUR guests (count them!) in this year-ending blowout, all discussing the ever-spreading BP Plague, still destroying our Gulf Coast. First up is Karen Mayer Hopkins. She is Treasurer of Gulf Change, an environmental group from within the Gulf Seafood Industry. Next is Mac MacKenzie, founder of NOLA Emergency Response (http://www.nolaer.org/), who purchased 3 lbs. of Gulf Shrimp and had their digestive tracts tested for contaminants. She found 193 PPM of organic matter and hydrocarbons and then corroborated that by other tests. She therefore warns us that the seafood sill isn't safe to eat. She's followed by Trisha Springstead, RN - a Medical Research Professional with a web site at morgellonsreport.com. Trish discusses the effects and biochemical results of all this ignored oil and dispersant brew. She proceeds onwards from there. Cindy completes her power play with Medical Professional, activist and organizer - Anita Stewart, who also delves into the real-world consequences of this un-acknowledged disaster. Please use the link above to learn of this hidden plague!
Anwar al Awlaki. - December 12, 2010 (SOAPBOX #78) - Cindy welcomes Maria LaHood, Senior Staff Attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. She has a LONG history of fighting for the victims of our official "Justice" (not) system. Check out this interview she did with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Maher Arar's case against US officials for their role in sending him to Syria to be tortured. The Federal Bench calmly ruled that that victims of extraordinary rendition cannot sue Washington for torture suffered overseas, because Congress has not authorized such lawsuits. (See how simple that was? Yes, boyz and grrls - it's true: THE US DOES NOT TORTURE! Our "leaders" all say so.) Today, she and Cindy discuss the case of Anwar al Awlaki, a US citizen currently on the special forces "kill" list. Last Monday, the U.S. District Court agreed with the Obama Administration that U.S. Citizens can be killed without any charge; without any trial - and the District Court inexplicbly agreed. Uh, hey folks: Who amended the Constitution to delete the Fifth Amendment? It once said: Awlaki is not serving in the Armed Services. He is not in a combat zone. WHEN WAS THIS AMENDMENT INVALIDATED? Who invalidated it? Double Trouble. - December 5, 2010 (SOAPBOX #77) - Cindy welcomes both Matt 'maximum gonzo' Taibbi and David Swanson, author of War is a Lie, the new blockbuster revelation masterpiece. The discussion moves on, through the current fake mortgage crisis. Matt Taibbi has much published material in Rolling Stone, and knows what he's talking about. David Swanson is a well established activist with a long history in the peace movement. He contributes his expert insight here, using his expertise to discuss the lies behind all wars. The discussion moves on, through the current fake mortgage crisis. Matt Taibbi has much published material in Rolling Stone, and knows what he's talking about. David Swanson is a well established activist with a long history in the peace movement. He contributes his expert insight here, using his expertise to discuss the lies behind all wars. Please use the link above to listen to these gems of wisdom, from two more of our wisest.
Grande Dame. - October 31, 2010 (SOAPBOX #76) - Cindy speaks for herself: "Dear Friends, As a path finding journalist that covered every president since JFK, Helen Thomas ended every presidential press conference with her trademark: "Thank you, Mr. President," (except for during the Bush years, when she was relegated to the back row). This Sunday, we say: "Thank you, Helen Thomas," as I chat with her about her life that has been intertwined with our history for the last five decades. She is characteristically straightforward in this interview that will first air on October 31st at 2pm Pacific at the website. If you miss it this Sunday, you can access it any time after that at the archives. Please use the link above to listen to these gems of wisdom, from two of our wisest.
Hola Eva! - October 10, 2010 (SOAPBOX #75) - Cindy sez: "We will be hosting Venezuelan / American Attorney and author Eva Golinger to talk about some recent South American events." Ms. Golinger is the author of The Chavez Code, which illuminates (using US documentation) the US's profound part in the attempted overthrow of President Hugo Chavez in 2002. We chat about the importance and the implications of Venezuela's recent parliamentary elections, and last week's coup attempt in Ecuador. We also try to answer the age old question of why does the Huffington Post hate Hugo Chavez and Venezuela so? I doubt you will find an hour on radio or tv that is packed with more relevant info than on today's Soapbox. Please use the link above to listen to today's today's revealing conversations!
Terrific Triumphant Trifecta. - October 3, 2010 (SOAPBOX #74) - Cindy welcomes 3 respected guests: Count them;
three! 1) Father Roy Bourgeois of the School of the Americas Watch. SOA is a notorious training school for torturers and right-wing activist coup plotters that is currently actively destabilizing democratic regimes in South America. His biography can be found
here, 2) Jess Sundin, who was one of the activists raided by the FBI last week. She's a longtime antiwar activist in Minneapolis. Evidently, this was reason enough for the FBI to paint a target marker on her back. This is documented on Democracy Now! (Is our government still rivaling the old Soviet Empire as well as modern Iran for supremacy in social control ?), and finally 3) Lisa Barr, who works at Pacifica radio station WTND-FM in rural Illinois. It's been a long time since we've had 3 guests! I'm so excited. Please use the link above to check out today's today's fascinating discussions!
Independent Journalism - September 26, 2010 (SOAPBOX #73) - Cindy holds a very in-depth interview with British journalist, Robert Fisk, who has been living in the Middle East and reporting from there for decades. He is an English writer and journalist from Maidstone, Kent and has primarily been based in Beirut for more than 30 years. He has published a number of books and has reported from the United States's attack on Afghanistan and the same country's 2003 invasion of Iraq. Fisk holds more British and International Journalism awards than any other foreign correspondent.
Angela's Analysis - September 19, 2010 (SOAPBOX #72) - Cindy welcomes socialist, philosopher, political activist and retired professor Angela Davis. Since moving in the early 1990s from party communism to other forms of political commitment, she has identified herself as a democratic socialist. A famous revolutionary, she is the founder of a national grassroots organization committed to ending society's use of prisons and policing as an answer to social problems: Critical Resistance. Conspicuously an intellectual, she brings analytic substance to subjects she explores and discusses. Her statements on capitalism - versus socialism - versus communism are penetrating and highly enlightening. Listen to the Angela Davis interview this Sunday for a fascinating intellectual discussion about the "ISMs" of political economy. Also, she drops a bomb responding to the question "Is Obama a Socialist?" Please use the link above and listen to today's didactic discourse.
Remembering the Tragedy, Part 2 - September 12, 2010 (SOAPBOX #71) - Cindy hosts the executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, Glen Ford. He's already had a long career as a distinguished radio host, though usually pre-recording his show prior to broadcast in order to facilitate editing & correction. (Whereas that silly Cindy has live guests.) They discuss the major recent conservative kerfluffle over the "ground zero mosque," which isn't at ground zero, and isn't a mosque either. [But what do facts have to do with it, anyway?] They're calling a single nearly microscopic piece of land by the superstitious name "hallowed ground." This "controversy" conceals white nationalism by suggesting that the whole of America is being polluted by these non-American, not-good-American influences which should never be allowed in the vicinity of the "hallowed ground" nearby. The same organization that's calling for the anti-"mosque" demo is also calling it a demo to prevent the Islamification of America. The virulent anti-white hostility aimed at the Islamic community has a far too great chance of inciting actual violence. Beyond that, a larger problem is the apologists who endorse, spread, and approve of such hatred. Such sentiments almost exactly reflect the anti-desegregation opinions widely endorsed back when the Civil Rights barricades were falling: "Why can't these unworthy-Americans just stay in their places?" It's not like there's anything new here! We "been there; done that" before! Please use the link above and listen to today's discussions.
Remembering the Tragedy - September 5, 2010 (SOAPBOX #70) - This week our webmaster is sick, so I'm forced to do this by myself! He did manage to get the new show up and ready for you, so that much is already taken care of. As we enter September, I recall back in 2001 on the morning of September 11, when I awoke from what I feel was a precognitive dream to find that two passenger jets had flown into the World Trade Towers and two were out of communication with air traffic control. My life, your life, and indeed, everyone on this planet's life has not been the same since that terrible day. Some people's lives prospered under the "new paradigm" of global and almost total police state control and with two military invasions and occupations by the U.S. on two countries that did not attack us on 9/11/01. Most people, though, have felt the pain of war, environmental decay and economic depravity that have been imposed by the U.S. Empire. This week on the Soapbox, (beginning Sunday at 2PM PDST) my guest is Bob McIlvaine whose son Bobby perished in the lobby of Tower Two on that morning (in an explosion, hmmm) and Bob gives a passionate, well-informed and intense evaluation of that day--and a touching remembrance of his son. Please use the link above to listen to today's remembrances.
Anti-War - August 29, 2010 (SOAPBOX #69) - Cindy chats on Liberty Radio with Scott Horton of Antiwar.com, a site devoted to the cause of non-interventionism and followed by libertarians, pacifists, leftists, "greens," and independents alike, as well as by many on the Right who agree with the opposition to imperialism. This is not just an idea from the political left. In 1952, Garet Garrett, one of the last of the Old Right "isolationists," said it well: "Between government in the republican meaning, that is, Constitutional, representative, limited government, on the one hand, and Empire on the other hand, there is mortal enmity. Either one must forbid the other or one will destroy the other." But the Empire's carnage continues. Real people, real individuals - dying for nothing. They are our friends and our neighbors. It's not a movie scene we're talking about here. One of my goals is to personalize these wars. Obama declared the Iraq war over and said "we're going to call the troops that are there something other than combat troops so we can keep combat troops there." Well, at least he's being honest about what a liar he is. Please, please, pretty please use the link above to listen to today's discussions.
Deju Vu--Yet Again. - August 22, 2010 (SOAPBOX #68) - Cindy sez: "Greetings! This Sunday, (August 22nd) at 2 pm PST, I hope you tune into Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox to hear my fascinating and informative interview with legendary whistle blower and activist, Daniel Ellsberg. Daniel and I will be chatting about; the Wikileaks controversy, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan--an info packed show, for sure. With millions of bits of disinformation and propaganda flying around our airwaves this past week, Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox continues to be a light shining through the lies. Please use the link above to listen to today's discussions.
Just Say Now - August 15, 2010 (SOAPBOX #67) - Cindy welcomes Tommy Chong to chat with him about legalization/decriminalization of marijuana, and the use of hemp for plastics and fuel. Tommy Chong is a marijuana activist, and a supporter of marijuana legalization and medical use of marijuana. (Only I really must apologize for something here, boyz and grrls: This episode's name is a blatant rip-off of Jane Hamsher's most outstanding and desperately needed Marijuana Legalization campaign.) We also speak with a San Francisco pot activist, Mesha Monge-Irizarry, who will talk about these issues from a local standpoint. Former Soapbox guest Ralph Lopez offers his EXPLOSIVE observations: He notes that the Wikileaks soldier who found the rocket launcher at the scene (last week's guest, Ethan McCord) says "No Attack Was Imminent." McCord discussed these observations in last week's interview. The massacre video showed 12 men, including two Reuters newsmen, standing on a street corner before being fired upon with the Apache's 30mm cannon, resulting in what appears to be unprovoked murder. The video caused an international outcry after it was leaked to the media by the government watchdog Wikileaks. The presence of the rocket launcher that McCord found was seized upon by defenders of the attack as proof that the attack was justified, and offered as evidence of an impending ambush. There's only one problem: Ethan McCord says "It ain't so!" Click here to read Ralph's article and listen to the interview. Today's discussion asks "Why is our nation jumping so rabidly on the Save Drug Cartel Profits bandwagon?" I mean, come on. Haven't we already tried prohibition, back in the 1920s & 1930s? Do we really need to guarantee the continuance of drug related carnage, exactly as bootlegging profits fed Prohibition carnage back then? It looks like we will need to use the power of NO to stop rewarding drug cartels with Marijuana profits and generate some desperately needed State revenue. Please use the link above to listen to today's discussions.
Why to Say NO - August 08, 2010 (SOAPBOX #66) - Cindy interviews Ethan McCord, who became an unfortunate star of the Wikileaks "Collateral Murder" video, seen in the video carrying the wounded children from the bullet riddled van and Jud Newborn, PhD, co-author of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose, a companion volume to the recent Oscar-nominated German film, "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days." (There's a fascinating PDF Afterword to the book available here.) As the recent and newest Wikileaks revelations fade into undeserved obscurity - accepted and ignored by what was once an anti-war community - I feel I need to yell "WAKE UP" once again. So we've elected a new wearer of the Imperial Purple (mainly by virtue of NOT being George W. Bush). That doesn't mean we can go back to sleep, and just wait for our problems to get fixed. The murder of civilians hasn't stopped, the looting of our nation's wealth by corporate arms-merchants hasn't stopped, and the criminalization of dissent proceeds apace. As Hans Scholl (Sophie's brother) wrote in his diary after his first arrest by the Gestapo in 1937: "If you tear our hearts from our bodies, you yourselves will burn to death for it." Well people: America is also tearing the hearts of innocents out of their bodies. Wikileaks confirms it. Everybody knows it. Do you think we will be rewarded for it? What do you expect from a democracy, anyway? Come on folks: Democracy is what we have when our masters tell us what's right, and then we just do it. Only a fool would think that it has something to do with what we the people want. Our democratically elected "fearless leaders" all say so. I'm sure they must be right. Today's discussion delves once more into the power of NO, and how to say it. Please use the link above, and listen in to these maximally cool discussions.
A trifecta of truth-tellers! - August 01, 2010 (SOAPBOX #65) - Cindy interviews ELaine Brower of World Can't Wait and Sustainable Orphanages for Haitian Youth, Matthis Chiroux of Iraq Vets Against the War, and Bobby Whittenberg of Under the Hood Cafe in Killeen, Tx. Cindy sez: "Hope you enjoy this week's show as I chat with Elaine, Matthis and Bobby about how to make a difference - one person at a time, if we have to." Today the latest Wikileaks revelation fades into ho-hum obscurity, accepted and passively ignored by what was once an anti-war community - back before our national empire's war crimes were enshrined by our Nobel Peace-Prize laureate, who became a progressive darling simply by virtue of NOT being George W. Bush. Of course, the murder of civilians hasn't stopped, the looting of our nation's wealth by corporate arms-merchants hasn't stopped, and the criminalization of dissent proceeds apace. But what do you want in a democracy, anyway? Come on folks: Democracy is what we have when the masters tell us what's right and we do it. Only fools would think it has something to do with what we the people want. Today's discussion examines the power of NO and how to say it. Please use the link above, and listen to the discussion.
Stop Civil Wrongs - by strong Civil Rights! - July 25, 2010 (SOAPBOX #64) - Cindy interviews legendary Civil Rights Attorney John Burris, a renowned and accomplished civil rights lawyer who has prevailed in some of the most notorious cases of police misconduct and civil rights violations in recent history. He was Rodney King's co-counsel in his civil trial against the LA PD, and Oscar Grant's mother's lawyer. If you've been in a cave the last few weeks you may not remember that Oscar Grant is the young African-American males shot in the back and killed by an Oakland police officer while laying helpless, face down on the ground. Mr Grant's killer was found guilty of "involuntary homicide," a slap on the wrist for this well-documented needless killing. Still, as John and Cindy first note, the most amazing thing about this is that a police killing of an unarmed, restrained victim actually went to trial at all. Mr. Burris remarked that in this era of police misconduct against African-American males, the verdict could have been the best that could be hoped for. THE MOST IMPORTANT BIT OF SENSE they contribute here is simply this: Don't just "accept" these trevesties of justice and decency. KEEP FIGHTING!
Their discussion examines today's "Police State" now being imposed on the black community. Cindy and John have lots to talk about - and it's all good listening! Please: use the link above, and listen to their discussion!
Ann Wright: All Right! - July 18, 2010 (SOAPBOX #63) - Cindy interviews a noted woman of conscience, Ann Wright, former Army Colonel, Foreign Diplomat, and Anti-war Activist. Ann was in a small boat, just astern of the Mavi Marmara in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla - from which vantage point she closely observed the unprovoked Israeli attack on an unarmed mercy ship in International waters. Colonel Wright is an old friend of Cindy's; having helped her organize and operate Camp Casey during Cindy's famous mission to Crawford, Texas in 2005. (You remember: back when President Bush demonstrated to the whole world he was afraid to meet with her.) Today, we have a brand-new President, bringing brand new changes. Since that brand-new President still wants more sacrifices (of other mothers' children) for that noble cause, Cindy still wants to know what that "noble cause" might be. (Is that too hard to comprehend?) Certainly, the President of the most powerful nation on the face of the earth cannot be scared to explain to one mother just why grinding her once-living precious baby into just another corpse was a noble act, can he? After all, it's not like it's something he doesn't do every day. Every day he send out the children of other mothers to be turned into corpses, - or, if they're lucky, to grind the children of Iraqi or Afghan mothers into corpses instead. By now we've had two Presidents tell us "this is noble." Is it too much to ask the current wearer of Imperial purple just why it's noble to turn children into corpses? We're dying to hear your explanation. Cindy and Ann Wright have lots to discuss; it's all good listening! [Note: The web site for Colonel Wright's boat to Gaza is here, (a dot org site) - not at the dot com site she inadvertently gave in her conversation.] Please do: use Ann Wright's link above, and listen to their discussion!
Ambassador - July 11, 2010 (SOAPBOX #62) - Cindy brings us a most illuminating Requiem for the antiwar movement. Also, this Sunday (July 11th) she features Edward L. Peck, a one-time Deputy Director of Covert Intelligence Programs and retired career diplomat who served thirty-two-years in the U.S. Foreign Service, from 1956 until 1989. He's had a few "bumpy rides" - for example when he objected to invading Iraq prior to our March 2003 invasion, asking "when you take out Saddam Hussein, what happens after that? We don't have a clue. Nobody knows, but it's probably going to be bad." Not exactly fitting my pre-existing image of a career Foreign Service diplomat, he seems to be a real person - with a real heart! (So who screwed up by letting someone with a working conscience into our Foreign Service? How un-American!) He certainly offers a unique perspective on our international affairs. Most recently, he was in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and told of it here. They have much to talk about; it's all good listening! Please do: use the link above, so you can listen to our interview!
Bad boy - July 4, 2010 (SOAPBOX #61) - Cindy returns! She welcomes that most famous ex-Weatherman poster boy of opposition to war: Bill Ayers - beloved by all launderies who wash out conservative underwear; if only for creating so many stains for them to eradicate. Today Dr. Bill Ayers is a Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also the author of "To Teach: The Journey, In Comics," which uses the comic book format to reach out to teachers. He truly is a highly innovative expert in education, with lots to say - although not always conformist in content. Cindy and Dr. Ayers discuss some of those non-conformist thoughts in a perfectly delightful interview. They put opposition to this "war" into the historical context of the Vietnam war, and come away with the conclusion that we must build a real, living, anti-war movement in our country, and discuss how. The key is people's consciousness. And the way to build that? Talk to people. Cindy and Bill discuss the rhythm of resistance. They have much to discuss, and plenty worth listening to. So please do it: use the link above, so you can listen in to our interview!
Sabattical week 1 - May 9, 2010 (SOAPBOX #60) - Cindy is on sabbatical, working on her documentary REVOLUTION: A LOVE STORY. It's about her recent visit to Venezuela and her non-propagandistic glimpse of life inside Hugo Chavez's Bolivarian revolution. (Here in the U.S.A. no view outside an official "party line" is normally allowed.) Only, what was that saying? "Homie don't play that!" Cindy is engaging in a labor of love - for the truth. She's doing final production edits so she can "Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth." (She's sure got her work cut out for her there! It'll take some time.) But don't worry: she still has a real treat arranged for you: This Sunday's guest is: Two-Time Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Major General Smedley Butler USMC, Retired (OK, actually it's Joshua Smith, doing General Butler, if you really want to get literal about it) giving his famous "War is a Racket" speech - in its entirety. This subject too is usually far too verboten to express in words. Only sometimes people's native (naive?) honesty gets the best of them. So listen in: use the link above, and then - take it away, Joshua!
Major Parties only: a love story - May 2, 2010 (SOAPBOX #59) - Come on: what loyal American doesn't love the suppression of unpatriotic dissent? Cindy hosts the surprising president of Free and Equal Elections, Christina Tobin, currently the Libertarian Candidate for Secretary of State in California. She is a long-time opponent of restrictive legal requirements making it difficult for Independent and Third Party candidates to place their names on the ballot. Also, she's a mortal enemy of California's notorious Proposition 14. (Ralph Nader, leading advocate for third-party candidate and full voter rights, stated, "Unless defeated, Proposition 14 would establish a two-party tyranny that prevents other candidate choices for California voters from the November election ballot. In short, Proposition 14 wants to shut you up if you disagree with the arrogant, big two-party politicians." Such an approach is especially interesting when you consider the fact that, as we've often pointed out here, the supposed Left-Right opposition is only a stage act, as faked as "Professional Wrestling" - pure Kabuki Theater designed to distract the public from becoming aware of the fact that both sides identically serve exactly the same masters. (Here, we call those masters our "robber class," the secret and hidden true Emperors of America.) So please listen in: use the link above - check out Christina's insights!
Shifting Sands - April 25, 2010 (SOAPBOX #58) - Cindy welcomes author/editor Osie Adelfang of an anthology, telling a story best capsulized as "Jewish Women Confront the Israeli Occupation." Now this is significant, because Osie was raised as a Jewish Israeli girl in the USA, and was nourished with the "official" propaganda story of Jewish emigration into an empty land and their subsequent victimization by Arab predators. This "official" line somehow failed to tell Jewish children of the fact the land was already occupied - by Palestinians. Osie had quite a journey to come to understand what she really knew, what she really didn't know, and what she "knew" that just wasn't so! She was so alone. Even today, the "official" rendition of current events within Israel doesn't include inconvenient facts, like the recent worldwide Gaza freedom march. It was a *bleeping* difficult transformation, for all who did undergo it. It was a principal motivation for her book, so the book holds many poignant, meaningful stories. Osie and Cindy discuss much personally meaningful detail, and tell marvelous stories. The process of revising what you've always believed to be the "facts" of your life is always the most poignant of human experiences. Especially the mythology of "A land without a people for a people without a land" was especially difficult to confront and rectify. Osie tells Cindy of her own experiences. They have much worth listening to, So please do it: use the link!
Behind the media curtain - April 18, 2010 (SOAPBOX #57) - Cindy talks with Eva Golinger, an Venezuelan-American attorney from New York living in Caracas, Venezuela since 2005 and author of The Chàvez Code: Cracking US Intervention in Venezuela, by Olive Branch Press, 2006, as well as of several other highly impressive documents. She and Cindy have both seen Venezuela from within Chavez's alleged "dictatorship." Both very much like it. It has indeed come to our attention that as Noam Chomsky famously remarked, "Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the U.S. media." Well, our tightly controlled U.S. media absolutely forbids any realistic view of life in Chavez's Venezuuela today. Only here at Cindy's web site we are NOT "uniform and obedient," just as the Venezuelan media isn't "uniform and obedient" either. Read the documentation. You'll see. Eva and Cindy both want to give you at least a tiny glimpse of the view from behind that curtained window! Perhaps you might start by reading Eva's penetrating insight into U.S. supported efforts to delegitimatize and destabilize and destroy the democracy that is Venezuela today, as noted in her most excellent capsule document. Or you could read her most revealing interview. But probably the very best idea is: listen in to our interview with Eva Golinger by clicking on the link above.
Courageous Insight - April 11, 2010 (SOAPBOX #56) - Cindy's guest is the very famous Daniel Ellsberg, affectionately remembered for his historical opposition to Richard Nixon and to the war in Vietnam. In today's current and highly disturbing times, his insight offers a brilliant perspective for analyzing current developments. Both Dr. Ellsberg and Cindy share close and personal experience of tragic destructions wrought through U.S. promotion of an imperial war. When he was asked what he thought about Western Civilization, Mohandas K. Gandhi replied "I think it would be a good idea." That is exactly the sense in which requests about their opinions of a War to promote the American Empire would promote an answer of: "A very bad idea!" So please listen to our interview with Daniel Ellsberg.
Criminalized Dissent - April 4, 2010 (SOAPBOX #55) - Cindy welcomes three friends who were "guests" of our Gubbermint for 50 chilling hours during the opening of Camp Out in protest of our ever-surging Nobel Peace Prize Lauriate's addiction to: - to surging, (thereby killing lots of our soldiers, along with innocent Af-Pak civilians.) This week's show is about criminalization of protest and dissent. Cindy's guests are three Gubbermint "guests" who got arrested with her on March 20th: Elaine Brower, Jon Gold, and Matthis Chiroux. Elaine is with the World Can't Wait (WCW) and Military Families Speak Out (MFSO). Jon is an active 9/11 Truther, from way back. Matthis is an active war resister and member of Iraq Veterans Against the the War (IVAW). All three thought that D.C. officialdom this time was starting to get much nastier in repressing dissent than "back in the good ole days" - but all felt they had clearly done the right thing, and they all were happy for having made that choice. So hey, boyz and grrls, please listen in for our show.
Temir Porras - March 28, 2010 (SOAPBOX #54) - Cindy welcomes Temir Porras, Venezuela's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of the Middle East and Asia. In today's world, Venezuela and its popularly beloved President, Hugo Chavez, are tarred as a "communist dictatorship" because of robber-class fears that his good example could give others ideas, too. (Where would the world be if we let people realize that Hugo Chavez is beloved precisely BECAUSE he takes good care of all his people - not just the wealthy and powerful few.) The National Endowment for Democracy is a Washington D.C-based non-profit, funded by the U.S. national budget to subvert real democracy wherever it threatens to stay established. In particular they spend millions of dollars of taxpayer money every year in Venezuela to delegitmatize and destabilize Chavez's democratically elected government. The U.S. media, showing all their characteristic perspicacity and integrity, faithfully all spout this same "party line" and forbid any alternative view. But not Cindy. Today, with this absolutely marvelous interview, she gives us all some deeper insight into the realities of life and viewpoint in Chavez's "communist dictatorship" - while back at home in "the freest nation on earth" our President keeps us safe by killing us - if we're suspects - and all without any namby-pamby trials. This perspective is worthwhile plus, and usually unavailable to us. Please listen.
TODOS SOMOS AMERICANOS - March 14, 2010 (SOAPBOX #53) - Those words mean "We are ALL Americans." Today is the day! Cindy says a warm "hello" to Pacifica Radio, starting with this interview with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, in honor of exactly that sentiment! Cindy's request to interview President Hugo Chavez Frias of Venezuela was finally granted on March 2nd, when Cindy and two photographers were down in Montevideo, Uruguay with President Chavez for the inauguration of the new left-ish president and freedom fighter, Jose Mujica. Eva Golinger (Venezuelan-American attorney and author) was the translator.
As Cindy explains: "We are not anti-American, we are anti-Imperialism". She just plain got tired of all the misinformation spread here in the USA about President Chavez and the people's Bolivarian Revolution. For only one example, the National Endowment for Democracy (an Orwellian named agency receiving federal money to subvert real democracy) spends millions of dollars every year in Venezuela trying to destabilize Chavez's democratically elected government. Meanwhile, back at home in "the freest nation on earth," we enjoy a President who keeps us safe by killing American citizens (anywhere in the world) who are only suspects - without trials! Somehow, I doubt this interview (or this observation) will be noticed or covered by the Mainstream Media. Anyway, please listen to Cindy, so she can tell you "the rest of the story." Listen in, and listen well!
Coleen Rowley, Whistleblower - March 7, 2010 (SOAPBOX #52) - Cindy hosts Minneapolis FBI whistleblower Coleen Rowley. Ms. Rowley unleashed a firestorm with her Congressional testimony about pre 9/11 leads to Zacarias Moussaoui that were quashed by the FBI. She had originally documented these in a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller. Every administration since Reagan's has chased after rollbacks in the civil liberties and curbs on police power wrought in the '60s and '70s by the civil rights movement, the Warren Court and post-Watergate reformers. So of course the imperial President of our National Security State chose to spin Ms. Rowley's revelations creatively: "We have to err on the side of sacrificing freedoms and empowering police agencies, however marginal the gains in domestic security. The stakes are too high to do otherwise." Now Ms. Rowley had just shown that the old powers of domestic surveillance are totally good enough - if the FBI is doing its job. But why waste a "golden opportunity" like this one? So instead of ending infighting between the FBI, the CIA and NSA - we got the Patriot Act and National Security Letters. Yet we only started there: We also got indefinite warantless detention, unprosecuted torture (by those on a high-enough level), and a President who keeps us safe by killing American citizen suspects - without trials! (It's sure good we're "the freeest nation on earth!") Ya still gotta hear this show. So please listen in.
John Pilger - February 21, 2010 (SOAPBOX #51) - Once again, Cindy still ♥s the Pacifica Network and will begin uploading her new half-hour format interview show to the Pacifica affiliate, starting with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez on March 14th. However, today Cindy hosts famous and prolific Austrailian journalist John Pilger. John has a highly relevant and informative blog at www.johnpilger.com. Cindy and John have a deep and particularly insightful conversation, touching on Barack Obama's actual rightwing orientation (contrasted with his characterization by the corporate media as a "socialist"), to the suppression of "forbidden" un-authorized viewpoints. Ya gotta hear this to get it. Please listen.
A time for changes - February 14, 2010 (SOAPBOX #50) - For this Valentine's Day, Cindy ♥s the Pacifica Network. She anounces she is going to start uploading her brand-new half-hour format interview show to the Pacifica affiliate, starting with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez on March 14th. Today marks her first new format show, and today she welcomes Glen Greenwald to discuss our President's newly revealed program of arbitrary extra-judicial killing (executions) of American citizens. Please tune in and hear the latest. This is a good one, boys and girls.
Russell Means = activism - February 7, 2010 (SOAPBOX #49) - Cindy welcomes legendary American Indiam activist Russell Means for a most illuminating conversation covering historical social systems, their matriarchal versus patriarchal organizations, today's single party rule through our entrenched and ruling unified Demopublican Party, and the ongoing attempt to preserve native American legacy today. As Cindy promised him, we offer this link to the Republic of Lakotah website. Visit it!
Cindy also hosts Debra Sweet, National Director of World Can't Wait, to discuss the guilty verdict recently returned against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Please tune in and hear the latest. This show is well worth listening to!
Blast from the Past - January 31, 2010 (SOAPBOX #48 - Cindy says farewell to beloved and revered Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 - January 27, 2010), an inspiring and influentual American historian, author, activist, playwright, intellectual and Professor of Political Science at Boston University from 1964 to 1988. He was interviewed on this show by guest-host Cynthia McKinney on September 27, 2009. His trenchant insights are especially valuable now following the attempted health care reform melt-down and the planned "budget freeze" on help for the people - but no budget freeze on help for the war industry. Cindy replays the interview.
She also hosts Betty Ann Peltier, brother of designated (and innocent) scapegoat Leonard Peltier, convected for the deaths of two FBI agents at Wounded Knee in 1975. (At one time it was widely known that the FBI never proved Leonard was even at Wounded Knee when the agents died.) Please tune in and let us inform you. It's worth checking out!
STOP the KILLING - January 24, 2010 (SOAPBOX #47 - Cindy welcomes Robert R. Bryan, defense attorney representing Mumia_Abu-Jamal. He has been described as "perhaps the best known Death-Row prisoner in the world," and his sentence is still one of the most debated today. On Friday, 1/15/10, the US Supreme Court was to hear Pennsylvania's effort to execute Mumia, so arguments are still going on. Please tune in and let Cindy and Robert update you. Listen in!
After Haiti - January 17, 2010 (SOAPBOX #46 - Cindy welcomes Matt Gonzalez and Larry Pinkney. Both have substantive and insightful viewpoints highly relevant to today's most burning issues, especially after President (Presto) Change O'Bama appointed none other than that that great expert Year of Resistance - January 10, 2010 (SOAPBOX #45 - Cindy issues it in, welcoming renowned Attorney and Writer Eva Golinger. Eva is a Venezuelan-American attorney from New York, living in Caracas, Venezuela. If you can spare the time, you might want to take a look at her blog: "Postcards from the Revolution." Wow! Does she have a spotlight to throw on the secret scurrying of the CIA in Venezuela, or what? (Sort of like cockroaches, they desperately want to escape that light!) This is yet another great Soapbox! After Oslo - December 20, 2009 (SOAPBOX #44 - Cindy welcomes David Swanson. David is a long-time peace activist, a founder of "After Downing Street", and author of a famous new book on Undoing the Imperial Presidency. They discuss the ongoing failures of current policy, alternatives and plans for 2010. Especially after the recent spate of dissapointments by Presznit (Presto) Change-O! So: say hey, people - this was a very good Soapbox. Listen up. Peaceful Sunday - December 6, 2009 (SOAPBOX #43 - Cindy welcomes Kevin Zeese, who represents both Voters for Peace AND Peace of the Action. They talk mostly about Peace of the Action. In addition, Cindy also welcomes Ralph Lopez, who brings forward a realistic, real world approach to creating peace and stability for the Afghan people. Of course, because his idea is creative, workable, and equitable - it has the profound disadvantage of not feeding the American War Industry with an endless supply of bodies and loot. (Beware of this sinister plot: it MUST be un-American!) So it will only interest wimps and wussies who hate killing and want a safe future for our children in this world! (What loosers!) OK, boys and girls - this was a very good Soapbox! Sunday came on Friday? - November 29, 2009 (SOAPBOX #42 - Sunday on Friday? Well; sort of. (This was one very special week.) Actually, the week was especially special because the Sunday show (from 11/29) actually was up and ready on Friday, November 27th - at noon. (OK folks; if Sunday can come on Friday - why can't 2:00 PM happen at noon? Remember, I already explained: "This is one very special week!") Cindy interviews, live on her microphone, awesome and sagacious, once Green Party, and once independent POTUS (President Of the United States) Candidate, our most famous National Safety Raider: the one-and-only, most honorable, Ralph Nader! All rhetoric aside, folks - Soapbox is thrilled and deeply honored to have such a distinguished guest. This too is a very special Soapbox! Woman among Warlords - November 22, 2009 (SOAPBOX #41 - Cindy caught up with Afghan Parliamentarian and Revolutionary feminist, Malalai Joya, in Berkeley when Malalai was here to promote her new book: Woman among Warlords. Cindy loves to dispel Myths, so tune in to hear that the US DOES NOT have to keep its military in Afghanistan to "protect the women". Malalai may be tiny in stature, but she has a giant courage. This is a special Soapbox, indeed. At home - with Noam! - November 15, 2009 (SOAPBOX #40 - Cindy (finally) welcomes Noam Chomsky. Cindy asks questions submitted by listeners, and Professor Chomsky provides his usual deep and profoundly meaningful insights. And then Cindy asks another listener question, and Dr. Chomsky does it again! The illumination this man sheds on our situation is so overwhelming - I can't even write a good enough description! We're lucky to have such an intellectual star sharing wisdom with us. Cindy finishes with an outstanding listener rant by Lyn Jensen of Los Angles. Listen up, folks. Two voices - November 8, 2009 (SOAPBOX #39 - Cindy has two guests: 1) Debbie DeNello. a mother whose son John was killed while in the 82nd Airborne, in January 2001. In deep mystery, the Army forced his cremation while simultaneously forbidding identification by his own mother. Equally mysteriously, further investigation showed strong possibility of a body switch. 2) Iraq Veterans Againt the War's Adam Kokesh,currently a Congressional candidaste in New Mexico. Adam offers some deep across-the-aisle insight into our nation's real problems and real solutions, spoken by a real veteran. Adam has noticed those strange "anti-ecalation" Congress Critters who are first in line to vote for increased war funding - and wonders "why?" Then Cindy finishes up by featuring a pre-recorded guest rant by General Smedley Butler! Don't miss this one, folks. INFOWARS - November 1, 2009 (SOAPBOX #38 - Cindy's guest is INFOWARS.COM talk-show host Alex Jones, who holds the unique distinction of having been arrested on the personal order of George W. Bush! (Wow! What a distinction! Talk about one impressive recommendation!) Alex offers a vitally complimenary view of today's world that provides a refreshing and complimentary overview. (Why do I Voices discussing war! - October 18, 2009 (SOAPBOX #37 - Cindy's guests are Karen Quinn-Tostado, who offers a most intriguing vision of a tax holiday as a boycot of our socity's war addiction, plus Michael Anthony, the Iraq veteran medic who told the world his own story, in his own words about A Young Medic's True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq. Michael is neither pro-war nor anti-war, but principally concerned with letting people become aware of what's really happening there. (Why do I sense that our reality-based community is drifting away from a classical left vs. right focus and groping towards a balanced, objective and factual picture?) Is this just a symptom of my growing mental derangement? Well: WAKE UP & tune in, folks! M*A*S*H Who, Igor? - October 4, 2009 (SOAPBOX #36 - Cindy's guest is Mike Farrell - Captain B.J. Hunnicutt he's not. But he is a famous actor - and a died-in-the-wool progressive activist. (He's been a fiend of Cindy's for quite a while.) Mike shows himself to be a very serious intellectual, with plenty of insight to offer on the key issues of the day - up to and including the death penalty. Yes, this was a really worthwhile discussion. It even included talking about the executed - but innocent - Cameron Todd Willingham. (Scalia says "It's OK: We gave him a fair trial before we killed him.") So WAKE UP & tune in, folks! A real Zinn-ger - September 27, 2009 (SOAPBOX #35 - After Cindy's brief (recorded) discussion with Bail Out the People's Larry Holmes (who spoke at the protests of the G20 in Pittsburgh during September 2009) Cynthia McKinney serves as Cindy's Guest Host. For a special guest Cynthia interviews Howard Zinn. Howard is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Boston University, widely respected as a Historian and activist. He's a heavy duty intellectual and well respected author, though not always always so popular in some circles. He and Cynthia have quite the conversation. Come on now: Listen in! IDPoP - September 20, 2009 (SOAPBOX #34 - Cindy revels in her new slogan: "Be a PEACEMONGER!" She introcuces the brand-new International People's Declaration of Peace (IPDoP) - written during her recent vigil on Martha's Vineyard. For a special guest, Cindy brings back the marvelous Donna Smith, star of Michael Moore's SICKO and wholly committed health care activist! Listen to our maximum cool new show! Divergent thoughts - September 13, 2009 (SOAPBOX #33 - Cindy hosts author of Mideast Dispatches Dair Jamail AND Sheila Dean, spokesperson for Beat The Chip - both of whom have plenty to say! Both are articulate intellectuals offering excitingly different viewpoints on comtemporaneous trends. Be sure to listen in: Cindy welcomes you! A different Community Organizer - September 6, 2009 (SOAPBOX #32 - Cindy's guest is former Green Party V.P. Candidate AND Hip-Hop Scholar, brilliant Rosa Clemente! Cindy and Rosa chat about everything from Mumia to Federal Electoral Politics. Some of the issues of the social justice movement are minority and immigration rights, educational access, prison reform and transportation policy. That makes Rosa such a Masterful Maven of progressive political change. Check this show out! Martha's Vineyard - August 30, 2009 (SOAPBOX #31 - Cindy hosts attorney Ellen Brown,author of Web of Debt. Ellen tracks the government's history of privatizing the creation of money and the profound implications of that approach. How has privatization worked out in US history? Quite well, for Halliburton & Blackwater (oh, excuse me; "Xe") and all the other profiteers. This is one dynamite show. Listen in! Cynthia! - August 16, 2009 (SOAPBOX #30 - Cindy welcomes former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, "kidnapped" and imprisoned by the Istraelis for seven days. Maybe she was considered dangerous for her "crime": She actually brought CRAYONS to the children of Gaza! A heinous crime indeed! Everybody knows that we should look forward and not back when it comes to trivial matters (like sytematic torture) - but intolerable evils such as distributing CRAYONS to CHILDREN (evidently) deserve the full force of (someone's) law! What a danger to humanity! Listen in! Two-fers - August 9, 2009 (SOAPBOX #29 - Cindy features two guests: Manny Badillo, who is co-ordinating NYCCAN - a ballot initiative demanding a full and private investigation into the 9-11 attacks that includes subpoena power and immunity for so-called whistle blowers, plus Francisco Torres (a member of the "SF-8") who was falsely accused of murder by confessions that were gleaned from torture: In 1971! We want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Check it out! Green! - August 2, 2009 (SOAPBOX #28 - Cindy welcomes Fariba Safai to discuss Iran's Green Revolution. Fariba is an Iranian-American living in the Bay Area, with family in Iran. Ms. Safai offers a unique and worthwhile perspective on the current situation, all the while respecting America's proud tradition of individual rights. Listen in: Cindy welcomes you! Gore Vidal Sounds Off - July 26, 2009 (SOAPBOX #27 - Cindy welcomes the trenchant insights of the famous Ametican Intellectual: Gore Vidal. They discuss life in America during the Obama era. Mr. Vidal's penetrating and cogent commentary sheds desperately needed light on the subjects of his analysis. Listen in: it's important! A Peace Mom welcomes a Peace Prize WINNER - July 19, 2009 (SOAPBOX #26 - Cindy talks with Mairead Maguire, a 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, from her home in Ireland. They discuss Mairead's recent kidnaping by the Israeli Navy in International waters, as well as other Peace related issues. Check it out! "Revolutions," Uprisings and Robber Class Piracy - July 12, 2009 (SOAPBOX #25 - Cindy again chats with former Asst. Secretary Secretary of the Treasury and author Paul Craig Roberts. Topics range from Iran, to Honduras, to the recent kidnapping of former Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney and 20 others by the Israeli Navy in international waters. You can read Dr. Roberts' articles here. He has many thoughtful and insightful ideas, well-worth considering.) Cynthia McKinney Special - July 5, 2009 (SOAPBOX #24 - Cindy's special focuses on former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, presently imprisoned in Israel for attempting to deliver humanitartian aid to the people of Gaza. Read Ms. McKinney's letter from an Israeli jail here. Also imprisoned is Nobel Prize winner Mairead Maguire. Ms. McKinney said the boat was on a humanitarian mission and was not in Israeli waters. The Israeli military said the boat was trying to enter Gaza illegally. Cindy presents a live interview with Ms. McKinney from an Israeli jail, plus other worthwhile info. You can call the White House at 202-456-1111, and the Israeli Embassy in DC at 202-364-5500. You can email the Israeli Embassy in Tel Aviv at amctelaviv@state.gov. You can throw in that you would also like the siege of Gaza to end, while you are at it.) Cindy's Really Big Show - June 21, 2009 (SOAPBOX #23 - Cindy hosts Former Governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota and anarcho-primitavist, Derrick Jensen. Governor Jesse Ventura makes a strong statement AGAINST the use of torture and FOR the use of prosecution towards those who have not only carried it out on the ground, but who formulated the policies and ordered the torture. - Are we a nation under LAW or a nation ruled by executive privelege? After chatting with the Gov, Cindy will be speaking to writer/activist, Derrick Jensen.) Injustice to one = injustice to all - June 14, 2009 (SOAPBOX #22 - Cindy interviews Khalil Meek of the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), about another travesty of justice involving the so-called Holy Land Foundation 5. Ever since the the murders of 9/11 our Nation has seen far too many travesties of justice - all rooted in fear. While it would be presemptuous to label any one of these "the worst", this is surely an outstanding contender for that title! Please visit their site, and donate anything you can to help fund the legal appeal appeal of these brothers: Muslim Legal Fund of America.) Torture as Policy, then and now - June 07, 2009 (SOAPBOX #21 - Cindy chats with San Francisco Black Panther Party member Richard Brown about the case involving torture, institutional laziness, corruption, cruelty, and ineptness and the trial for murder he is involved in, beginning tomorrow in San Francisco. We need to address society's use of Torture as Policy, whether occurring today or 38 years ago in New Orleans, conducted with help from the SF PD. See Cindy's op-ed from Friday's SF Chronicle "Drop charges in 38-year-old murder case". Her article appeared on page A - 13.) Even more PEACE talk - May 31, 2009 (SOAPBOX #20 - Cindy's guests are author David Vine (davidvine.net) and Leah Bolger. This week Cindy talks to author, David Vine about his book: Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia. Leah Bolger is Executive VP of Veterans For Peace. Leah and Cindy willl discuss Bring the National Guard Home: It's the Law.) Our raucous "Baucus Eight" Fest - May 24, 2009 (SOAPBOX #19 - Cindy chats with Kevin Zeese, Executive Director of VotersForPeace.us Kevin was one of the Baucus Eight who were arrestied in a profoundly un-democratic health care hearing before the Senate Finance Committee a few weeks ago. They chat about a whole smörgåsbord of important, timely and very pertinent topics - including torture and disbarring lawyers who wrote the torture policies.) Will She or Won't She? - May 17, 2009 (SOAPBOX #18 - Cindy answers a listener's question and reveals her future political plans. She interviews Russell Baker, author of Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, the Powerful Forces That Put It in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America.) The MYSTERY show - May 3, 2009 (SOAPBOX #17 - So named because we weren't initially sure what's in the show. Cindy, on the road, does a retrospective view of President Obama's first 100 days.) An Economic Hit Man spills the beans - April 26, 2009 (SOAPBOX #16, Cindy interviews John Perkins, who wrote Confessions of an Economic Hit Man as well as The Secret History of the American Empire. (This is one good show!) Learning from our mistakes - April 19, 2009 (SOAPBOX #15, Cindy hosts Dr. Justin Frank, who wrote BUSH ON THE COUCH. They talk about the critical importance of analyzing our mistakes - at least for the sake of personal growth) Marks-ism ("stop being marks for con-artist banks") and Militarism - April 12, 2009 (SOAPBOX #14, where Cindy chats with James Martinez, who helps people legally recover from credit and fraudulent mortgages, and with local SF activist Annie Garrison, talking about militarism in San Francisco) "You're in the Army now, so STFU!" - April 05, 2009 (SOAPBOX #13, some 'peculiarities' of military life - with former Colonel Ann Wright and Sara Rich, the mother of Suzanne Swift) Obama's Vietnam? - March 29, 2009 (SOAPBOX #12, with Ray McGovern, talking about surging more troops to Afghanistan) Our FIRST Internet-only broadcast - March 22, 2009 (SOAPBOX #11, with Jeanmarie Simpson - discussing women activists and anarchists: you know, those not so "Well Behaved" women in honor of Women's History Month) Our FINAL over-the-air broadcast - March 15, 2009 (SOAPBOX #10, with Cynthia McKinney and Country Joe McDonald) Jam up the War Machine! - March 8, 2009 (SOAPBOX #9, with super-activist David Swanson!) Addiction to War - March 1, 2009 (SOAPBOX #8, with Journalist Christopher Hedges) PROSECUTION of GEORGE W. BUSH for MURDER - February 22, 2009 (SOAPBOX #7, with courageous former Asst. D.A. Vincent Bugliosi) Single-Payer Health Care - February 15, 2009 (SOAPBOX #6. with Dr. Clark Newhall & Donna Smith from Michael Moore's Sicko.) Tortured Prisoners; Tortured Economy - February 8, 2009 (SOAPBOX #5, with Matt Daloisio from Witness Against Torture, & Economist Paul Craig Roberts) San Francisco's Dirty Little Secret - February 1, 2009 (SOAPBOX #4, with Chrisopher Muhammad.)
Motivated by her daughter's work and sacrifice, Cindy Corrie has dedicated herself to the pursuit of justice and peace in the Middle East. Today - for some reason - neither of these two are big fans of military empire - by anyone, at any time, under any name! (Why can't they just be reasonable and respectable patriots who accept that "KILLING = GLORY," just as they're taught?) My goodness; you might think they were actually offended by the military killing their children! What chutzpah! You'd think they believed in the supreme value of a single human life! How impractical: Kill one single innocent civilian - and you're guilty of murder. Rack up 100,000 corpses or a few millions, and you're a glorious hero, conducting foreign policy! Evidently, the bigger the number of victims the more glorious your "victory." (Or is it really that the more publicity you get, the more glorious your "victory" becomes?) Please use the link above, and listen in while these two bereaved mothers share what's in their hearts and in their minds.
sell war profiteering to the American public "protect the women" and rebuild a nation. Sorry, boyz and grrlz: the truth is Afghan women are steadily getting into worse and worse shape. Just as Malalai Joya told us back in November 2009, nobody can very much tell any difference between Karzai's warlords and the warlords of the Taliban. Rebuilding a nation? Spogmai tells of the rampant profiteering and corruption in the country today. She tells us of schools built but never used because of no heat, no water and no utilities - in the Afghanistan's frozen winters. Just don't miss her view from the inside!
Please use the link above to listen in to Ms. Akseer's trenchant observations.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Please use the link above to listen to Maria's interview..
He reported the Northern Ireland troubles in the 1970s, the Portuguese Revolution in 1974, the Lebanese Civil War, the Iranian revolution in 1979, the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. A vernacular Arabic speaker, he is one of few Western journalists to have interviewed Osama bin Laden, and did so three times between 1994 and 1997. His awards include being voted International Journalist of the Year seven times. Fisk has said that journalism must, "challenge authority, all authority, especially so when governments and politicians take us to war." He has quoted with approval the Israeli journalist Amira Hass: "There is a misconception that journalists can be objective. ... What journalism is really about is to monitor power and the centres of power." He has written at length on how much of contemporary conflict has its origin, in his view, in lines drawn on maps: "After the allied victory of 1918, at the end of my father's war, the victors divided up the lands of their former enemies. In the space of just seventeen months, they created the borders of Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia and most of the Middle East. And I have spent my entire career - in Belfast and Sarajevo, in Beirut and Baghdad - watching the people within those borders burn." Please use the link above to listen for today's today's fascinating discussions!
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exterminator master of disaster (relief) George W. Bush to provide a second disaster expert relief to the impoverished black nation of Haiti, in the same memorable manner in which he aided poor black residents of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina! It's another great Soapbox!
Older Soapbox Shows:
We only have a fixed amount of storage space on our Streaming audio server. To be able to continue to bring you new material, we needed to remove our older shows from it. But we wanted to make sure you could still access them. For that reason, we created a special section for all our older shows here. Since we had to remove them from our streaming media server, we cannot guarantee you can just listen to them. Thanks to the magic of modern technology, sometimes you can listen to them by just clicking on them; sometimes you cannot. Sometimes it works; sometimes it fails. Today's technology has made this a complex interaction between your ISP, your Operating System, your streaming media service, your astrological birth-sign, the phase of the moon, and your daddy's shoe size. However, you can ALWAYS listen to the shows after you've downloaded them! On a Windows machine, right-click on the link and then select "Save Link As" and use the built-in menu to specify the filename and destination. Click on OK - and you're done.
sense hope that our reality-based community is drifting away from a classical left vs. right focus and groping towards a balanced, objective and factual picture?) Is this a symptom of growing mental derangement? Well, whatever: Listen in!