10,000 Black Men Named George starring Andre Braugher traces the founding of the first African-American union, the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Discussion follows the film. Saturday, February 21, 7:30p, at New Freeway Hall, Rainier Ave. S., Seattle. Door donation $3.00. Come early for a Down South Dinner served at 6:00pm for a $9.00 donation. Sponsored by the Freedom Socialist Party. For more information or childcare, call 206-722-2453 or moc.gnirpsdnim|elttaesPSF#liame. Wheelchair accessible.
Are We All Socialists Now? A Critical Look at the First 100 Days of the Obama Presidency. Activists and authors Guerry Hoddersen and Eric Chester will examine President Obama's election and policies from a leftwing perspective at a community forum on Friday, April 24, 7:30 pm at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave S., Seattle. Eric Chester, the Socialist Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1996, is a former member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and has written extensively on third party politics. Guerry Hoddersen worked for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in Mississippi, is a well-known feminist essayist and has traveled widely in Latin America on behalf of the Freedom Socialist Party. Doors open at 6:30pm. Door donation is $3.00. Snack plates served for a $6.00 donation (work exchanges available). Sponsored by Freedom Socialist Party. Wheelchair accessible. For information or childcare call 206-722-2453 or moc.gnirpsdnim|elttaesPSF#liame.
Where do I sign up so I can inform the CIA about the anti-socialist and anti-government activities my neighbors might be doing on a daily basis? I want to support Obama, and join the Stasi as soon as it forms locally.
It seems like you feel really threatened by the folks at New Freeway Hall. They're pretty up-front about their leftist inclinations, aren't they?
You've had plenty of room to speak your own truth here, BR, and if there have been any uncivil retorts, Citizens have kept them largely to themselves — to their credit.
I believe you really care about this. In this neighborhood space, it's a pity that you resort to vilifying others to advance your opinions. These sardonic barbs — they puncture your message and deflate any credibility.
No, don't go, Scott. Using your own forum to attack opinions is not professional, especially since my opinion is based in loads of research. In fact, what you pass of as mere "opinion" much of the time is an opportunity to educate people in what is really going on in the world. Ever consider researching what I post BEFORE you attack it? Seriously?
In addition, if you've ever run a public forum before (I have done so many times), you would know that "opinions" are good reading. People love to disagree with them, and mock them, because it's human nature and it "sells papers." But you, the forum owner, are not supposed to step in and mock the opinions of your own readers. That drives opinions away.
If anything, I've attracted more attention to our local pro-communist group, and their membership numbers will increase. Hence, the reason why no "reply" was required by them. These people are not interested in facts. They're interested in new members. They will never reveal their real beliefs in a public forum such as this. That takes cajones. You really think they're going to discuss why they are pro-communist Chinese in this forum? That's not going to happen, and you know it.
People talking behind my back? Big surprise there. If you really think I care, sorry to say — I don't. Not in the slightest. I will always speak my mind and I always encourage everyone to do the same. The best ideas come forth from group effort, not from fear of what others may say about you.
For the record, people are talking behind your back, too. They say you are difficult to work with and that you are stubborn, illogical, and unreasonable, in case you were wondering. They say worse things, but we all know that's more a reflection of the people saying them, than anything else.
Scott,
I just wanted to let you know that I think you are just fantastic. Thanks for setting up this site and being a thoughtful moderator—an absolute asset to the neighborhood.
So, here's a sincere "thanks" for being such an involved neighbor.
I'll second that, as much as some of you may find that unbelievable. Despite that Scott seems to disagree with me much of the time, he has earned my respect because he has the guts and integrity to lay his opinion out there for all to see, and in this extremely diverse community, that's no small thing.
A lot of people here are too scared to ever do anything like that, ever. And then there are those who do, but they'll never or rarely ever research anything or dig into factual data to prove their point, so they become argumentative and "disinformational," rather than helpful. Just like anywhere, we have both kinds.
The well-researched outspoken opinion is unique and rare. Recognize it. Then, once you see it, try to cultivate it, rather than extinguish it.
Scott,
I appreciate your and others' concern about my "abrasiveness," but I am holding you and the participants of this forum to a higher standard than the one who you hold me to.
The Op/Ed (Opinion/Editorial) section of every major community newspaper across this country uses the same standard for submitting opinion pieces — let me introduce you to the standard set by our own Seattle Times:
From http://seattletimescompany.com/editorial/submit.htm
"Do's and Don'ts for Op-ed Writers
[note that of 20 or so items, this is the FIRST on their list] DO have an opinion and state it forcefully. Many opinion pieces submitted are explanations of an issue rather than knowledgeable arguments about an issue."
The nationwide community standard for expressing an opinion has already been determined and does not need to be reinvented.
"Abrasiveness" is common and even expected when submitting an opinion piece to your local paper (I know because I used to manage the Op/Ed pages for a couple of community papers). Freedom of speech extends even to "abrasiveness" and if you don't respect freedom of speech for others, then don't expect them to respect yours, either.
Now I know you are going to likely proclaim that this forum is not a community newspaper. Well it is, and it is not. You have to determine that, ultimately. I see a strong need for that type of open dialogue here, especially in this community (Rainier Valley).
If people really don't want to exercise open opinionated discussion here, and respect this pre-existing 100-year-old process in this country, then I think you should include this in your guidelines and make a point of making sure anyone who has an opinion to state here understands this up front. There are other local forums that already exist for expressing such opinion, as you know — maybe you could direct people to those forums, instead, and steer them in the right direction.
From their web site: "THE FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY IS a revolutionary, socialist feminist organization, dedicated to the replacement of capitalist rule by a genuine workers' democracy that will guarantee full economic, social, political, and legal equality to women, people of color, gays, and all who are exploited, oppressed, and repelled by the profit system and its offshoot — imperialism."
These people are extremely opportunistic. Capitalism has worked just FINE in the US, for 200+ years. It's the pro-socialist and pro-communist international central bankers who lend our government money and who own our government that are the source of the problem! Get rid of them and let capitalism and freedom rule again!
From http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6931
The Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) is a Trotskyist political party founded in the mid-1960s as the Seattle branch of the Socialist Workers Party. Its early leaders were Richard Fraser and Clara Fraser. Still headquartered in Seattle, FSP also has branches in California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon, as well as small affiliates in Australia and Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada). Allied with Radical Women, FSP describes itself as "a revolutionary, socialist feminist organization, dedicated to the replacement of capitalist rule by a genuine workers' democracy that will guarantee full economic, social, political, and legal equality to women, people of color, gays, and all who are exploited, oppressed, and repelled by the profit system and its offshoot — imperialism." FSP strongly supports Fidel Castro's Communist Cuba today, much as it backed the People's Republic of China under Mao Zedong. Calling itself "a product of the living tradition of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky," FSP characterizes the United States as a land where women are routinely oppressed and denied basic rights and freedoms.
1973. After a trip to China, David Rockefeller praised Mao Tse-tung who had slaughtered over 40 million people. His report, "From a China Traveler," highlights the goals presented in UN reports such as "The Commission on Global Governance" and UNESCO's Our Creative Diversity. Both focus on lofty ideals such as peace, harmony and unity in the communitarian "global" village — a vision that demands absolute control and universal participation in facilitated small groups (modeled by the hierarchy of "soviets" or councils in Communist lands):
"One is impressed immediately by the sense of national harmony…. Whatever the price of the Chinese Revolution it has obviously succeeded… in fostering high morale and community purpose. General social and economic progress is no less impressive….The enormous social advances of China have benefited greatly form the singleness of ideology and purpose…. The social experiment in China under Chairman Mao's leadership is one of the most important and successful in history." New York Times, 8-10-1973.
Given that the Rockefeller family is one of the primary globalist families directly responsible for the repression of minorities such as blacks and gays in the US, I find it interesting that a pro-socialist group purportedly against elites such as the Rockefellers — is in fact 100% politically aligned with them.
I wonder where some of the funding for these socialist groups comes from?
Whoops! http://www.socialism.com/fsarticles/vol26no3/wsf.html
Now for a word from our sponsors. The World Social Forum apparatus touted this year's event as “self-supporting,” by which they meant no government money was given to underwrite it. Instead the money came from the Ford, Rockefeller and other foundations, billionaire George Soros, unions, banks and businesses.
Friday, January 29, 7:30 pm at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave S., Seattle.
Using video clips, Iranian social justice activist Kamran Sharifi and feminist journalist Monica Hill will discuss the recent uprising against the fundamentalist regime. Speakers will examine who the new generation of rebels are and also critique the U.S. role in Iran from the time of the Shah’s rule to current Obama administration policies.
Doors open at 6:30pm. Door donation is $3.00. Snack plates served for a $6.00 donation (sliding scale and work exchanges available for low income and unemployed). Sponsored by Freedom Socialist Party. Wheelchair accessible. For information or to reserve childcare call 206-722-2453 or moc.gnirpsdnim|elttaesPSF#moc.gnirpsdnim|elttaesPSF.
February 20th, 2010
The Myth of a Post-Racial Society is the topic of a community conversation led by activists Jacob Greenberg, Jennell Hicks, Alton McDonald and Annaliza Torres.
The discussion starts at 7:30pm at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle. Door donation $3.00.
Come early for a Louisiana Cajun-Creole Feast served at 6:00pm for a $9.00 donation.
Sponsored by the Freedom Socialist Party. For more information or childcare, contact us at 206-722-2453. Wheelchair accessible.
Seattle. Friday, April 23 2010
Behind the Rainbow. With the South African 2009 presidential election as a backdrop, award-winning filmmaker Jihan El-Tahri (The House of Saud, 2004) explores the evolution of the African National Congress (ANC) from liberation movement to ruling party. In interviews, ANC leaders past and present examine the divisions over ideology and economic policy that have replaced the euphoria surrounding Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1992, and analyze why harsh racial inequalities, poverty and unemployment persist.
Film shows at 7:30pm, doors open at 6:30pm. A discussion, including an update on the controversial June World Cup soccer finals to be held in South Africa, will take place after the film. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S. in Seattle. Door donation $3.00. Popcorn and snack plates $2-$6.
Sponsored by Freedom Socialist Party. Wheelchair accessible. For information or to reserve childcare call 206-722-2453 or visit Freedom Socialist Party Seattle's Facebook page.
Public workers are currently losing healthcare benefits, facing extended workloads, and are forced to accept overtime or unpaid furlough days, as corporations push for cash bailouts. Hear a panel of public workers tell their stories and offer their solutions as they lead the fight against:
·Destruction of public services and the environment
·Cutbacks in education
·Privatization of Mexico’s electric and oil industries
·Corruption and a permanent war economy
Speakers
NATHANAEL CHAPPELLE – Thirty-one-year veteran bus driver awarded Metro Operator of the Year by his peers, activist in Amalgamated Transit Union 587.
BETSY MCCONNELL-GUTIERREZ – Vice President of Washington Federation of State Employees 304 and labor educator who organized a rally against budget cuts in Olympia.
MAXINE REIGEL – Teamsters 117 member, feminist, and King County employee who testified against furloughs, layoffs and cutbacks in services.
Begin the evening at 6pm with a Blue Plate Special (vegetarian option available) served for a $9 donation. Program starts at 7:30pm, $3 door donation requested. Sliding scale and work exchanges available.
Everyone is welcome to attend. The event will be held at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118.
For more information, call 206-722-2453. For rides or childcare, call three days in advance.
The post I am replying to should be printed in every dictionary under the word "IRONY."
So we have a local pro-socialist group (and secretly pro-communist Chinese, though they don't talk about that much despite that the Chinese under communism murdered millions of innocent citizens like you and me) that is worried about worker's rights?
What did you think happened in socialism? Your rights increase? LOL! Workers rights decrease so that they are all equally reduced to the lowest common denominator. Don't think for a second that everyone gets automatically elevated in living standards under socialism, because that's not based in reality. What happens is that those with a better piece of the cheese get reduced down like the rest of us. That's socialism.
Communism is socialism in which socialism failed, since people realized they don't have to contribute to society anymore to get their small piece of cheese. So what happens is socialism is forcibly mandated under authoritarian rule, so it then becomes a dictatorship and then it becomes — like magic — communism. Socialism tends to lead to communism for these reasons.
Side note to our local Freeway Hall members: Hitler killed millions of Jews under socialism, in case you forgot. Criminal elements in society FLOURISH under socialism and communism, whereas in a capitalist society, the free market does allow individuals the freedom to at least address and attack corrupt elements. Our founding fathers escaped an authoritarian plutocracy under King George for this reason — so we could allow the free market to do what it naturally does on its own when the central bankers don't interfere with the process. The colonies flourished and the bankers in England got greedy again so they purchased the red coats for King George so they could tax us again, but we fought back.
What's so interesting about the Freeway Hall socialists is that few if any of them realize where the big funding comes from for the pro-socialist and pro-communist movement in the USA. It comes from the international central bankers, at the top of the food chain. These are the same corrupt bankers I would think that most Freeway Hall members are trying to work against. It's hard to really work against people who are funding your own movement, which is why the bankers gained the upperhand and funded the movement before you even showed up.
If that's not ironic, I don't know what is.
Different stokes for different folks, Dude. If a bunch of socialists want to get together and have a little powwow, what do you care? Your time is better spent ralling against those who actually influence local, state and federal government, rather than a group that holds less political power than the United Northwest Model RailRoad Club (http://unwclub.org/).
Welcome to America.
| Read other recent posts. |



