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!*Between ACORNs and Blackwater" by Mumia Abu-Jamal
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nattyreb
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Oct 13, 2009 09:26 PDT
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Between ACORNs and Blackwater
[col. writ. 10/4/09] (c) '09 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Nothing says as much about the nature of the American media as =20
its latest frenzy.
What seizes it is often the seemingly trivial, the symbolic and, =20=
yes, the silly; that most designed to not only tug at the =20
heartstrings, but to cement our certainties, play to our prejudices =20
and support the status quo.
For months, right wing shout-show hosts have been harping on =20
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). In =20
their world, they were the 2009 version of the 1950's Communist Party, =20=
and as such, they were painted as enemies of the state.
It took a while, but before long the corporate media jumped into =20=
the pit, and, assisted by the amateur film set-ups by a right wing =20
couple posing as a pimp and his mini-skirted accomplice, ACORN became =20=
the big news.
The group, which has several hundred thousand members, was harmed =20=
by the actions of perhaps half a dozen, who, rather breezily, advised =20=
the supposed 'couple' in ways to avoid taxes and still ply their trade.
Almost overnight state and federal governments cut contracts with =20=
the group, which has organized many grassroots communities around =20
housing issues, foreclosures, labor issues and voting rights.
Politicians couldn't find a mike fast enough to distance =20
themselves, and denounce the group.
Consider the difference between that response and the silence =20
which greeted news of the long record of carnage and mayhem committed =20=
at the trigger-happy hands of Blackwater. The private, corporate army =20=
has lucrative contracts with the State Dept., and many government =20
agencies.
In 2007 Blackwater hires launched a massacre in the heart of =20
Baghdad, turning a crossroads of traffic into a bucket of blood.
The incident fueled anti- U.S. insurgency and splashed egg on the =20=
face of US puppet and Iraqi Prime Minister, Nur al-Malid, who demanded =20=
that the company be expelled from Iraq. They're still there.
Any lost contracts? Nope. Indeed, the Obama administration just =20=
announced new contracts with Blackwater (under its new corporate name, =20=
XE)
Employees of Blackwater kill and wound dozens of Iraqi with =20
immunity (and impunity), no contracts lost.
Employees of ACORN get caught on tape trying to assist a fake =20
pimp and prostitute. They get fired, ACORN loses a slew of government =20=
contracts.
Guess which group is tied to wealth and right wing groups around =20=
the world?
Guess which group supports efforts of the urban poor to navigate =20=
their lives amidst economic chaos?
Guess which group gets its contracts cut?
--(c) -09 maj
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
URGENT Need for Petition Signatures at: =
http://www.iacenter.org/mumiapetition/
Audio of most of Mumia's essays are at: http://www.prisonradio.org
http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/
Mumia's got a podcast! Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Essays - Subscribe at =20
the website or on iTunes and get Mumia's radio commentaries online.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING =20
PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- =20=
has been released! It is available from City Lights Books: =
http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=3D87286100448090
If you are planning to organize an event or would like to order in =20
bulk, you can also receive a 45% discount on any bulk orders of 20 =20
copies or more. The book retails for $16.95, for orders of 20 copies =20
or more the discounted price would be $9.32 per book, plus shipping =20
and handling. Prepayment would be required and books are =20
nonreturnable. If you or your organization would like to place a bulk =20=
order, please contact Stacey Lewis at 415.362.1901 or =
sta-@citylights.com
Let's use the opportunity of the publication of this brilliant, =20
moving, vintage Mumia book to build the momentum for his case, to =20
raise the money we desperately need in these challenging economic =20
times, to get the word out =96 to produce literature, flyers, posters, =20=
videos, DVD's; to send organizers out to help build new chapters and =20=
strengthen old ones, TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS =85 all the =20=
work that we must do in order to FREE MUMIA as he faces LIFE IN PRISON =20=
WITHOUT PAROLE OR EXECUTION!
Please make a contribution to help free Mumia. Donations to the =20
grassroots work will go to both INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND =20
FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC).
WWW.FREEMUMIA.COM
Please mail donations/ checks to:
FREE MUMIA ABU JAMAL COALITION
PO BOX 16, NEW YORK,
NY 10030
(CHECKS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PAYABLE TO: FMAJC/IFCO)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
215 476-8812
212-330-8029
Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal
AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!!
Subscribe: mumiacolumn-@topica.com
Read: http://topica.com/lists/mumiacolumns/read
Subscribe ICFFMAJ email updates list by e-mailing
icff-@aol.com!
=20
=20=
--Apple-Mail-133-118571212
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-family: 'Calligraph421 BT'; font-size: large; "><div =
align=3D"center"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4"><strong><u>Between =
ACORNs and Blackwater</u></strong></font></div><div align=3D"center"><font=
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4"><strong><u>[col. writ. 10/4/09] (c) '09 Mumia =
Abu-Jamal</u></strong></font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div><font =
face=3D"Arial"> <font size=3D"4">Nothing says as =
much about the nature of the American media as its latest =
frenzy.</font></font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div><font =
face=3D"Arial"> <font size=3D"4">What seizes it =
is often the seemingly trivial, the symbolic and, yes, the silly; that =
most designed to not only tug at the heartstrings, but to cement our =
certainties, play to our prejudices and support the status =
quo.</font></font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">For months, right wing shout-show hosts have =
been harping on ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform =
Now). In their world, they were the 2009 version of the 1950's Communist =
Party, and as such, they were painted as enemies of the =
state.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">It took a while, but before long the =
corporate media jumped into the pit, and, assisted by the amateur film =
set-ups by a right wing couple posing as a pimp and his mini-skirted =
accomplice, ACORN became the big news.</font></div><div><font =
face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">The group, which has several hundred thousand =
members, was harmed by the actions of perhaps half a dozen, who, rather =
breezily, advised the supposed 'couple' in ways to avoid taxes and still =
ply their trade.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Almost overnight state and federal governments =
cut contracts with the group, which has organized many grassroots =
communities around housing issues, foreclosures, labor issues and voting =
rights.</font></div><div> </div><div> &n=
bsp; <font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Politicians couldn't find a =
mike fast enough to distance themselves, and denounce the =
group.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Consider the difference between that response =
and the silence which greeted news of the long record of carnage and =
mayhem committed at the trigger-happy hands of Blackwater. The =
private, corporate army has lucrative contracts with the State Dept., =
and many government agencies.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">In 2007 Blackwater hires launched a massacre =
in the heart of Baghdad, turning a crossroads of traffic into a bucket =
of blood.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">The incident fueled anti- U.S. insurgency and =
splashed egg on the face of US puppet and Iraqi Prime Minister, Nur =
al-Malid, who demanded that the company be expelled from =
Iraq. They're still there.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Any lost contracts? Nope. Indeed, the =
Obama administration just announced new contracts with Blackwater (under =
its new corporate name, XE)</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Employees of Blackwater kill and wound dozens =
of Iraqi with immunity (and impunity), no contracts =
lost.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Employees of ACORN get caught on tape trying =
to assist a fake pimp and prostitute. They get fired, ACORN loses =
a slew of government contracts.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Guess which group is tied to wealth and right =
wing groups around the world?</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Guess which group supports efforts of the =
urban poor to navigate their lives amidst economic =
chaos?</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> <font =
face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">Guess which group gets its contracts =
cut?</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4">--(c) =
-09 maj</font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"Arial">=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</font></div><div><f=
ont class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><br></font></div><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span"=
style=3D"font-size: small; "><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; ">The Power of Truth =
is Final -- Free Mumia! </span></div><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span"=
style=3D"font-size: small; "><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: small; =
"><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: 'Calligraph421 BT'; =
font-size: large; "><div align=3D"left"><div><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 19px; "><font =
id=3D"role_document" face=3D"Calligraph421 BT" color=3D"#000000" =
size=3D"4"><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: =
Helvetica; font-size: 12px; "><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 14px; "><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 16px; "><div =
class=3D"aol_ad_footer" id=3D"89d550bcb085616cdb9189febcde8a"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><div align=3D"left"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span"=
style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; "><div align=3D"left"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span"=
style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; "><div align=3D"left"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span"=
style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; "><div align=3D"left"><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; "><div =
class=3D"aol_ad_footer" id=3D"c9e701c8891791faa29329ceef2d0751"><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; "><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: 'Calligraph421 BT'; =
"><div align=3D"left"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; "><div align=3D"left"><div =
align=3D"left"><div><div align=3D"left"><div><div align=3D"left"><div><div=
id=3D"57422c453a98c70098a0d9c44af34d29"><div align=3D"left"><div =
align=3D"left"><div align=3D"left"><div><div><div align=3D"left"><div =
align=3D"left"><div align=3D"left"><div align=3D"left"><div =
align=3D"left"><div align=3D"left"><div><div><div align=3D"left"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><br></span></font></div><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"><b>URGENT</b><b> Need for Petition Signatures =
at:</b> <a =
href=3D"http://www.iacenter.org/mumiapetition/">http://www.iacenter.org/mu=
miapetition/</a></span></font></div><div align=3D"left"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><br></span></font></div><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Audio of most of =
Mumia's essays are at: </span></font><a =
href=3D"http://www.prisonradio.org/"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">http://www.prisonradio.org</span></font></a></div><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"><br></span></font></div><div align=3D"left"><a =
href=3D"http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/</span></font></a></div><div =
align=3D"left"><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Mumia's got a =
podcast! Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Essays - Subscribe at the website =
or on iTunes and get Mumia's radio commentaries =
online.</span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"><br></span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING =
PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- =
has been released! It is available from City Lights =
Books: </span></font><a =
href=3D"http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=3D87286100448090"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=3D87286100448090</span></font></a><=
/div></div><div align=3D"left"><div align=3D"left"><p align=3D""><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">If you are planning to organize an event or =
would like to order in bulk, you can also receive a 45% discount on any =
bulk orders of 20 copies or more. The book retails for $16.95, for =
orders of 20 copies or more the discounted price would be $9.32 per =
book, plus shipping and handling. Prepayment would be =
required and books are nonreturnable. If you or your organization =
would like to place a bulk order, please contact Stacey Lewis =
at 415.362.1901 or </span></font><a =
href=3D"mailto:sta-@citylights.com"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">sta-@citylights.com</span></font></a></p><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Let's use the opportunity of the publication =
of this brilliant, moving, vintage Mumia book to build the momentum for =
his case, to raise the money we desperately need in these challenging =
economic times, to get the word out =96 to produce literature, flyers, =
posters, videos, DVD's; to send organizers out to help build new =
chapters and strengthen old ones, TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS =85=
all the work that we must do in order to FREE MUMIA as he faces LIFE IN =
PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE OR EXECUTION!</span></font></div><p align=3D""><font=
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Please make a contribution to help free =
Mumia. Donations to the grassroots work will go to both =
INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and =
the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC).</span></font></p><p =
align=3D""><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">WWW.FREEMUMIA.COM</span></font></p><p align=3D""><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Please mail donations/ checks to:<br>FREE =
MUMIA ABU JAMAL COALITION<br>PO BOX 16, NEW YORK, <br>NY =
10030<br>(CHECKS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PAYABLE TO: =
FMAJC/IFCO)</span></font></p><p align=3D""><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: <br>215 =
476-8812<br>212-330-8029</span></font></p><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT =
at: </span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"><br class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></span></font></div><div =
align=3D"left"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">Mumia =
Abu-Jamal <br>AM 8335 <br>SCI-Greene <br>175 Progress =
Drive <br>Waynesburg, PA 15370 <br><br>WE WHO BELIEVE IN =
FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!! <br><br>Subscribe: </span></font><a =
href=3D"mailto:mumiacolumn-@topica.com"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">mumiacolumn-@topica.com</span></font></a><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; "> <br>Read: </span></font><a =
href=3D"http://topica.com/lists/mumiacolumns/read"><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">http://topica.com/lists/mumiacolumns/read</span></font></a><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px; "> <br>Subscribe ICFFMAJ email updates =
list by e-mailing <br></span></font><a =
href=3D"mailto:icff-@aol.com"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">icff-@aol.com</span></font></a><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">! </span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></d=
iv></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div=
| | </div></div></div></span></div></span></font></div></span></font></div></=
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div></span></font></div></div></span></font></div></span></font></div></sp=
an></font></div></span></span></font></div></span></span></font></div></sp=
an></span></font></div></span></div></font></span></div></div></span></spa=
n></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
"> </span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div></span></span></font></div></span></font></=
div></span></font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"></font> </div><div> =
</div></span></body></html>=
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