Rights and Democracy
Echoes of Fascism
As the saying goes, Franco’s still dead. But fascism isn’t. Its basic tenet is what Mussolini called “supercapitalism,” a system where governments and corporations work hand-in-glove. Some modern business moguls might like to give it a shot. In Mussolini’s day, that meant government needed to take over companies. Today, the companies just take over the government.
From Libya to Wisconsin, with Love
Sidelining Egyptian Women after the Uprising
A century ago, more than a million people marched in streets across Europe on the first International Women’s Day. They called for an end to discrimination and for women to have the same rights as men to work, vote, and shape their countries’ futures.
House Hearings Shouldn’t Demonize the Muslim-American Community
In March, the House of Representatives will begin hearings on preventing domestic terrorist attacks. Rep. Peter King, the lawmaker leading the hearings, unfortunately has made it clear he intends to use his post to stoke fear and suspicion about American Muslims rather than explore critical homeland security issues.
House Un-Christian Activities Committee
Al-Jazeera English: TV You Can’t Watch on TV
All of this gets to the heart of one big problem with cable television–something that’s rarely talked about. In most areas of the country you can’t watch Al-Jazeera English. But you do get Fox News Channel. And if you’re like most people, you don’t watch it–and don’t plan on starting anytime soon. It’s a good bet that the actual viewing audience for Fox News is smaller than the number of folks who are disgusted by Fox’s far-right bloviating and fear-mongering.
Silencing Human Trafficking Victims in America
Thanks to a wave of anti-immigrant proposals in state legislatures across the nation, fear of deportation and family separation has forced many immigrant women to stay silent rather than report workplace abuse and exploitation to authorities. The courts have weakened some of these laws and the most controversial pieces of Arizona’s SB 1070 law have been suspended. Unfortunately, America’s anti-immigrant fervor continues to boil.
American History Requires Study, not Plastic Surgery
The N-word is perhaps the most powerful word in the English language. It carries 400 years of brutal American history that can strike with the force of a lash.
Elections You Can’t Count On
You may believe that on Election Day all of officialdom momentarily unites in urging us to vote. Leaders–rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, business and labor–want us to do our patriotic duty, preferably for their side.
There Goes the Neighborhood
