Dear Progressive Reader,
This weekend I am in Houston, Texas, for the twentieth anniversary IndyMedia Encuentro—a conference, exhibit, and celebration of a radical media movement that began in the streets of Seattle during protests against the World Trade Organization. To mark the tenth anniversary in 2009 for Madison’s Capital Times newspaper, I wrote, “Using the tools of corporate globalization (inexpensive recording equipment and high-speed Internet), with a few easy lessons in how to format and post audio, video, and text, these ‘citizen journalists’ were able to create a ‘globalization from below,’ distributing news to a worldwide audience by and about the people being most affected.” Events this week are taking place in several cities across the country (from Houston to New York to Seattle) as well as globally. As I concluded my piece ten years ago, “The elements of participatory journalism -- people given voice to help shape how their stories are told - this is truly what democracy looks like. Be the media!”
“It is the end of November and Thanksgiving is upon us,” writes Sarah Lahm. “But recent headlines have been poking holes in any feelings of joy or gratitude I’ve had regarding the holiday.” Lahm goes on to look at the urgent climate crisis as it impacts her home state of Minnesota. But, with some hope, she adds, “I’ve been taking note of some of the small ways people here are trying to change course before it’s too late.” Jeremy Kuzmarov also finds some hope this week as he remembers the story of the meeting between U.S. and Russian troops and their pledge for peace at the Elbe River in 1945. He writes, “the story of the linkup reminds us of the common humanity and capacity for friendship between the American and Russian people, and how the two great nations once cooperated to defeat the greatest evil the world has ever known.” It is this sort of global cooperation we will need to conquer the two biggest threats to our planet today—the climate and nuclear weapons.
As the race toward the 2020 Democratic nomination continues, it seems many voices are calling for “centrism” and “incrementalism”—even though recent elections, plus the demands of the moment, seem to advocate for more radical approaches to change. Leland Nally this week takes former-President Barack Obama to task for his recent statements. And Roger Bybee calls out the “barrage of false narratives being fired from influential Democrats [that are] obscuring Medicare for All’s unique programmatic strength and broad political support in rhetorical smoke.” Finally, Kevin Powell writes on the reasons that we don’t need one more billionaire businessman (former-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg) jumping into the race. “What Bloomberg represents,” he says, “is how blind the wealthy become due to their privilege.”
Reese Erlich this week gives a good background on the current political crisis in Bolivia, following an early November coup that ousted President Evo Morales, and looks to what might happen next. Megan Giovannetti examines how international media supports one side of the narrative in Palestine. And retired Department of Labor attorney Michael Felsen explains that the deportation of immigrant workers hurts all working people, especially those in unsafe workplaces.
Finally, if you are in the Madison area, mark your Progressive calendars to “save the date” for a special event. Legendary actor and television star Ed Asner will be in town for two performances of his new political comedy for the stage, God Help Us!, on December 12 and 13 at the Bartell Theater as a benefit for The Progressive. I hope you can join us.
Keep reading, and we will keep bringing you important articles on these and other issues of our time.
Sincerely,
Norman Stockwell
Publisher
P.S. – We have begun our annual “Fall Harvest” fundraising drive, where we seek to reap the harvest of all the seeds we have planted during the past year with hard-hitting, independent reporting on issues that matter to you. Your donation today will help keep us on solid ground and help us continue to grow in the coming years. Please use the wallet envelope in the current issue of the magazine, or click on the “Donate” button below to join your fellow progressives in helping sustain The Progressive as a voice for peace, social justice, and the common good.
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