Franklintennial Kickoff Market & Showcase

Details about event

Saturday, November 27, 3-7pm
Franklinton Arts District

Elitism is Not the Answer to Populism: On ‘Anti-Vaxxers’ and Mistrust in Government

While “anti-vaxxers” continue to clash with police in various European cities, a whole media discourse has been formulated around the political leanings of these angry crowds, describing them in matter-of-fact terms as conspiracy theorists, populists and right-wing fanatics. 

Fun, entertaining, and thoughtful: Bill Cohen's Gratitude Concert Online

Bill Cohen

Friday, November 26, 2021, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

The Diplomatic Experience, My Week as an International Elections Companion In Venezuela

In my blog I usually only use one photo per article, they say a picture is worth 1000 words, I think it is better fitting to use a few images for this article, which you will see below. This article will be longer than most, so will put them in sections. It is fitting I write this article on the day both Fidel Castro died, and when his friend and defender of the Chavistas, football legend Maradona also died, as a way to honor their legacies. It also happens to be Thanksgiving in the US, but I do not celebrate it, as its used to cover up crimes against Native peoples. Yesterday I was too exhausted from the trip to start the article. When I was given the accreditation in Venezuela the translation of the title of my status was “International Elections Companion” which I think is better than observer. As observers, like some from the bourgeois countries from official organizations, not coming independently, like the US or EU, it implies that we can meddle.

CINDERELLA aka LA CENERENTOLA: Opera Review

 

LA Opera’s version of Gioachino Rossini’s 1817 Cinderella (or, in Italian, La Cenerentola) is by far my favorite production of this season. Indeed, La Cenerentola is one of the most enchanting, charming operas I’ve ever seen mounted at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, full of the joie de vivre of Mozart’s ebullient works, notably The Marriage of Figaro. La Cenerentola is absolutely the perfect choice for the holiday and is ideal for bringing children to share in the enchantment, especially to the matinee performances.

There are17th century written versions of Cinderella and by 1812 the renowned Brothers Grimm wrote their own iteration of the fairy tale. In essence, Rossini and librettist Jacopo Ferretti adapted French author Charles Perrault’s folk tale published in 1697, Cendrillon, which means “The Glass Slipper.” However, La Cenerentola doesn’t have any glassy footwear or pumpkin carriages per se, although Rossini’s opera does follow most of the other conventions of this age-old, beloved children’s fable, which can also be read as a parable of class struggle.

Reclaiming a Lost Sense of Community

The first time it happened was bad enough.

“It” amounted to this: It was Wednesday afternoon, I had finished my column early and walked out to my car, parked in the alley behind my house. I was on my way to an art show — very excited. I got in the car — hmmm, why is it so cold in here? — began backing out, what’s that? It looked like there was something on my rear window. I got out, walked around back. Oh my God! My rear window has been smashed in! What I saw was a fragment of broken glass dangling in a corner.

Was this a robbery? I had two umbrellas in the back seat; they were still there. Nothing had been taken. Apparently it was plain old idiotic vandalism.

I almost drove down to the art show anyway, but soon enough realized I needed to get this fixed, so I swung back, drove over to my car-repair place. “What year is your car?” I almost couldn’t remember. Oh yeah, 2009, Toyota Corolla. They ordered a rear window, which arrived a day later. And the window was installed. Problem solved, life goes on.

We Do Exist: Why the Palestinian Voice Should Take Center Stage

At a recent New York event, the President of the Foreign Press Association Ian Williams declared, before an approving audience, that it is time “to reclaim the narrative on Palestine”.

This phrase - ‘reclaiming the narrative’ - is relatively new to the Palestinian discourse. Years ago, the concept, let alone its implementation, were quite alien: the pro-Israel crowd refused, and still refuses, to acknowledge that Palestinians, their history and political discourse matter; some in the pro-Palestinian movement relegated Palestinian voices as if they were simply incapable of articulating a coherent narrative. 

For many years, I, along with other Palestinian intellectuals, raged against the misrepresentation and marginalization of Palestine and the Palestinians, not only by Israel and its allies in mainstream media, but also against the elitism that existed within the Palestinian movement itself. 

#73 Grassroots Election Protection Nov. 22, 2021



A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO WIN THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTS & STOP FASCISM
 
We’re joined at session #73 of the Grassroots Emergency Election Protection zooms by ANDREA MILLER of the Center for Common Ground and RAY MCCLENDON of the Atlanta NAACP.
 
We face a crisis in the rise of fascism that can only be defeated with the restoration of voting rights and the defeat of Gerrymandering, facilitated by two major bills now before Congress.
 
Long-term victory demands establishing DEMOCRACY CENTERS and meaningful, sustainable pro-democracy campaigns wherever possible.
 
That means moving the millions of donor dollars that are wasted on TV ads into on-the-ground organizing that can restore our democracy.
 
Thus the slogan NO MORE TERRY MCAULIFFEs as a reminder that boring, mid-road campaigners clog the arteries needed to deliver real public input.  
 
As JOEL SEGAL makes clear, these voting rights bills MUST be made law either by passing Congress, which will require defeating the filibuster, or by Executive Order.
 

My young heroes

Part of website page

For a brighter Thanksgiving in our troubled times, I share my carefully chosen, over a number of months, roster of diverse age and origins Young Heroes. They give me hope and cheer. I hope they will do that for you and your families too . Enjoy.

Zaila Avant-garde, 14 year old first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She also holds three Guinness World Records for basketball dribbling.  Zaila Avant-garde Talks About How She Came To Her Spelling Success : NPR

Tani Adewumi, 10 year old Nigerian immigrant to New York City, youngest in history chess master. Meet America's Newest Chess Master. He's 10 : NPR

Hia Ced and Tohono O’odham Water Protector Amber Lee Ortega and Traditional O’odham Community Denounce Rejection of Native American Rights & Religious Protections

Protestors holding signs

Tucson, Arizona (AZ) — On the morning of November 23, 2021, Hia Ced, Tohono, and Akimel O’odham peoples and local community members held a press conference in front of the AZ State Office Building in support of Hia Ced and Tohono O’odham land and water protector, Amber Lee Ortega. The community denounced the recent ruling by Judge Leslie A. Bowman to not allow the federal Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA) as a defense for Amber Ortega.

Ms. Ortega is currently facing federal misdemeanor charges for the action she took on September 9, 2020 to stop border wall construction near the O’odham sacred site of A’al Vappia- Quitobaquito Springs. Last Thursday’s ruling will not permit the testimony of Ms. Ortega and the expert testimony of O’odham elder, Lorraine Eiler to be used in the case. They both testified on the immense religious significance of Hia Ced O’odham sacred sites and burial grounds destroyed by border wall construction, which also threatens the springs.

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