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Progressive Values Stories: Ahjamu Makalani on Justice
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Ahjamu Makalani is Vice Chair for the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus. I asked him about the whole progressive values discussion and how he compares progressive and conservative values. For Ahjamu, justice is personally the most important progressive value.
"If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us." Francis Bacon
Progressive Values Stories: Ahjamu Makalani on Justice
I’m the Vice Chair for the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus and also the Vice Chair for the California Democratic Party San Bernardino Central Committee, and also an executive member of the Upland Progressive Democratic Club as well.
This is what I say progressive values are. Progressivism in itself has a long historically evolution in this country, as well. In its fundamental core, Progressivism is to ameliorate the class divide. When we look historically at Progressivism, Progressivism dealt with social and economic reform, but particularly in the area of social and economic justice.
We have reforms in government with the Teddy Roosevelt Administration, later with Roosevelt, we had real social reforms that allow working people to lift themselves out of poverty and have access to education and to improve and better their lives.
That’s what we mean by progressives. In terms of what we believe in, beliefs come out of those historical developments. When we believe that people should live decent, so therefore we call for single payer health care program. We also do not believe in preemptive war. We also believe in support of the first four amendment and all the amendments in the Constitution.
Most of my personal and social consciousness as a young adolescent when I studied the civil rights movement of Dr. King. I later began to listen to Malcolm X. Then I began to have a deeper understanding of the social and economic structures of our country, how it’s structured. Who benefits? And so on.
Then when I became a college student I began to understand a study of how our country and the world is structured. At that point I began to have a deeper understanding of my relationship to the rest of humanity. And then my sense of what is called social justice began to evolve.
I would say an epiphany for me is when I was a student at community college, and one of my professors really set me down. One night we were on our way home, and he was engaged in real deep conversation with me about self awareness, about consciousness of who you are. And he was able to point to my hair – at the time I did have hair. I realized that the impression of black people can be seen through how we wear our hair, and we had this long conversation.
When I got home, I went to the bathroom, and I saw myself in the mirror. At that point I realized that I’m oppressed. As long as I wear my hair in this manner, I’m signifying and agreeing to my oppression. So at that point I took a pair of scissors and got my hair. And I said from this day forward there are certain things I would never do to my hair again.
Once I took that step, a type of self-awareness began to take shape. I began to read more, to take history and literature more seriously. I began to look at social events politically. Who has more resources? Why we don’t have resources. Why certain people are rich and certain people are not. That was the epiphany that sparked me to really take a look the world around me.
"Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right." Isaac Asimov
Progressive Values? Ahjamu Makalani - On Values
Lakeoff does make the interesting point in terms of how you may want to structure or discuss progressivism. The reality is that most people tend to think and feel and react based upon your feelings. Not so much your being cerebral, but for the most part, that part of your brain that’s emotional.
So you have to be able to construct a dialogue in a language and platform that will speak to that emotional side. For the most part we appeal to emotions. That’s part of our genetics. So, when we talk about values, we must talk about them from a standpoint of belief, of conviction, but how that feels in terms of – when a man and woman know they get up in the morning – how does that make you feel when you know that if you’re sick, you can go to the doctor, that you don’t have to worry about that. How does that make you feel to know that you go to a job, get paid what for you earn? Does that make you feel that you have an investment in your community?
We have to talk in terms of values. Values must connect to one’s sense of feelings. Because it’s real. And that’s what sometimes progressives tend to forget. What’s interesting is that Dr. King, and even Rev. Jesse Jackson as well, too, have been able to talk about progressive values and politics from a standpoint of emotions through religion. Because religion tends to move you.
Edwin: What do progressive values feel like for you.
Answer: It makes me feel hopeful, that what I’m doing is important, that humanity is moving forward. And it’s a struggle. I always end my comments with “la lucha continua” -- the struggle continues. That’s what we do when we engage in political dialogue and political movements. It’s moving the issues forward.
In terms of progressive values, what I’m doing is moving progressive issues forward. I’m just another person. It makes me feel that I’m contributing, it makes me feel good about myself, that I’m contributing, and that I have a stake. It’s important. It’s difficult at times to kind of put a real label on feelings. Because feelings are what they are. It’s something that you feel. You can only describe. It’s not something that you can’t associate with love, but I remember when Che Guevara had made this dictum that to be a revolutionary, you must love people.
Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both." Eleanor Roosevelt
Progressive v Conservative Values? Ahjamu MakalaniA conservative value would be those social conservatives that at one point supported segregation, that supported. That value is steeped in their understanding of the Bible. It's extremely sexist, patriarchal, in terms of their social values.
On the other hand Progressive values is a liberation of how we value ourselves in the forward progress of humanity. We believe it is beneficial for humanity for everyone to have health care because if one is healthy one can be productive, one can contribute, contribute in terms of thinking, physically contribute. Also we believe that preemptive war is destructive to the progress of humanity. And a woman's right to have of her reproductive system.
More on Justice
Definition:
- The quality of being just; fairness.
- The principle of moral rightness; equity.
- Conformity to moral rightness in action or attitude; righteousness.
- The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law.
- Law The administration and procedure of law.
- Conformity to truth, fact, or sound reason: The overcharged customer was angry, and with justice.
Discussion:
Justice is a collective term that can be divided into two broad categories: just behavior, the treatment of others with genuine respect and in an equitable manner, and the administration of law, in which a judge or panel of judges, a magistrate, or a jury enforce legislation, with the objectives of protecting victims and lawfully punishing perpetrators. ....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice
General Questions:
- What is personally the most important progressive value to you?
- Do you have a personal story or anecdote of how you learned some insight into this value?
- Do you have any thoughts about justice?
- How does the progressive value of justice differ from conservative values?
- How have conservative values failed?
More Progressive Values Stories:
I am working on a documentary to answer the question, What are Progressive Values? So far, I have interviewed over 100 progressives and have placed over 350 video clips on YouTube with the various replies. This is part of a continuing series of interviews of progressives telling their personal stories about their progressive values. More Stories at:
http://progressivespirit.com/InterviewStories/ProgressiveValuesStories.htm
Edwin Rutsch
What Are Progressive Values? Documentary Project
http://ProgressiveSpirit.com
and Study Group
http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=2285
The New Republic: Labor's Love Lost: Will Andy Stern save unions, or destroy them? : http://www.seiuvoice.org/2008/04/new-rep...
(VIDEO) UHW local members picket parent union SEIU in Washington, D.C. : http://www.seiuvoice.org/2008/04/uhw-loc...
electrical sensitivity wrecks lives
Symptoms include include headaches, fatigue, tinnitus and internal bleeding - Written by Robert Blincoe
In this day and age of always-on connectivity, spare a thought for those people who cannot even bear to have any electrical device at all in the same room as themselves.
This is the fate of those who suffer from 'electrical sensitivity', or who believe they suffer from the condition.
The health effects reported by sufferers include headaches, fatigue, tinnitus and skin problems.
But on top of feeling terrible, they are accused of being mistaken, or misled, about the causes of their condition.
Brian Stein, managing director of the £600m chilled food business Samworth Brothers, said: "I am electrically sensitive, a condition which does not exist.
"It is the first time in my life I have not been a credible witness to something. When you are told it doesn't exist and it's psychosomatic it is quite difficult."...
Stein was an early adopter of mobile phones in the late 1980s. Seven years ago he started having "weird sensations" and feeling pains in his ear, but kept on using his phones.
"One day I felt a very severe pain, like my eardrum was bursting. I couldn't tolerate putting the mobile phone to my head from then on," he said....
"I can't watch television, can't go on electric trains, can't fly long haul. I can't stay in most hotels in London because they've installed Wi-Fi. I can detect it, and in the morning if I go to the toilet I'm bleeding.
"Then, as soon as you go to the doctor and say you're bleeding internally they treat you seriously. If you mention electrical sensitivity, you're mad." ...
Stein took part in a study at Essex University investigating whether people who are electro-sensitive could tell whether a phone mast, a source of electromagnetic waves, was switched on or not.
The research found that sufferers couldn't tell. More than 30 studies have found the same thing.
Stein said that he had told the researchers he wouldn't be able to tell at the time whether the mast was on or not, and it would only be later that he would feel any effects.
After his session he says he bled internally for 10 days. He was unable to return to complete his tests, and couldn't contribute to the study's results....
A pair of Israeli scientists, Joseph Friedman and Rony Seger, found that radiation emitted from cellphones can trigger cellular changes that could interfere with the process of cell division, which in turn could lead to the growth of tumours....
"People who've been using mobile phones for 20 years are dying of brain tumours. They are sales directors and managing directors. I'm seeing my friends dying."
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2213221/electrical-sensitivity-analysis?page=1
Reducing Electromagnetic Frequency Exposure May Improve Your Health
(NaturalNews) In September 2007, the EU's European Environment Agency (EEA)1 and the country of Germany2 both issued warnings to their citizens advising them to avoid the use of WiFi and cell phones until further long term studies are conducted, citing fears that the ubiquitous use of wireless technology has the potential to become the next public health disaster on the level of tobacco smoking, asbestos, and lead in automobile gas (as reported by The BioInitiative Working Group3). Israel’s Knesset recently banned the placement of cellular antennas on residential buildings4. According to Canadian Underwriter, Lloyd’s of London is already "preparing for the next big liability action — for personal injury damages based on the use of cell phone technology."5
Referred to as "electro-smog" by some, the danger of magnetic, electric, radio (microwave), ground current, and high frequency radiation is that it is mostly invisible until great damage is done - like the increased risk of...
Don't know about cell phones, but I'm getting rid of my microwave. Google "microwaved food" and have fun.
5:35 PM EDT
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080405/ap_on_el_pr/obama_talk_radio_host_3
Obama campaign: McCain not a 'warmonger'
1 hour, 13 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign on Saturday repudiated a liberal talk show host's description of Sen. John McCain as a warmonger, a comment made to an audience that Obama later addressed.
...
Obama was not in the room when Schultz spoke. The candidate spoke after a series of introductions by the state's three Democrats in Congress.
...
blog sure is dead today - almost makes you miss Oler - LOL
i've posted chapter four of my ancient opus on hannah
Perhaps best saved for sleepless nights.
Well, McCain may not be a warmonger, but anyone who thinks dropping bombs is fun or something to sing about has gone 'round the bend, as they used to say.
Erratic Jack is not fit to be president; that some Republicans think he is, is very distressing.
5:57 PM EDT
http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html
...
Democratic Convention Watch
Superdelegate Endorsement List
...
CandidateDCWCNNCBSAPClinton245243249251Obama217215218
...
...
4-5-08 - Removed DNC Helen Langan (UT) from Clinton and put her on the uncommitted list.
Added Missouri add-on Susan Montee (MO)# for Obama.
Stay tuned... we'll update this list as we find out more.
...
vis a vis foux's argument on the last thread: Nah. Republicans don't want to control a thing except who can make money by using up the community's natural resources, and who you marry, and what you can do with whom and how in your own bedroom. . . . To keep public schools underfunded so they can only educate to the level of walmart workers. (Gosh, is *that* why the Walton sibs are so gung-ho on school vouchers? duh)
Fred:
From my perspective, the blog activity has declined because of the incompetent manner in which it is managed.
Posts are scrambled to the point where you have to be as diligent as Sitka or Tom to respond.
I lurk on 5 or 6 blogs, and all but this one manage to include a time stamp and put posts in order.
Were it not for the interesting personalities, a few of whom persist despite the chaos, I would kiss this baby goodbye--sayonara, tata, hasta la vista baby!
On another topic, I've been meaning to tell you that during my career with the US Geological Survey, I drilled a geothermal test well in a granitic body near Ashland--what a lovely town!
That hole was part of a geothermal reconaissance of the Klamath Mountains, not so much for geothermal energy, but to provide a context for geologic-tectonic studies of the West coast.
I'm ashamed to say that I never published that study prior to (or after) my retirement. I dis transfer the data and a draft manuscript to my colleagues with the USGS. I hope it sees the light of day.
6:23pm
So I wonder who is was that put little children to work in coal mines, because they *could* ~~ and then them nasty ol' unions came along and stopped them from making good munny off of the lives of the children of the poor. . . . Oh, right: the grandpas of the dudes that is bizzy removing the tops of mountains . . . . Why is it that I don't recall these dudes as Democrats?
I will admit we're getting close on this one though:
You know, maybe there is a way to recover those mountaintops once they have been stripped of the coal. You know, I think we've got to look at this from a practical perspective. (Hillary Clinton on WV NPR)
. . . .
Thirdly, Hillary Clinton has sat in on Senate Committee hearings on mountaintop removal since 2002, so she SHOULD NOT be able to get away with playing dumb. She promised to take a flyover of the affected region, but has failed to follow-through on that commitment.
6:28 PM EDT
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080405/wl_africa_afp/sleonewarpeace_080405200801
Sierra Leone ex-combatants make peace with victims
2 hours, 20 minutes ago
KAILAHUN, Sierra Leone (AFP) - Dozens of ex-combatants in Sierra Leone's 10 year civil war gathered Saturday for "healing ceremonies" to make peace with victims of the brutal conflict that left thousands dead.
...
The project uses the traditional justice system to heal the wounds and hatred caused by the conflict in towns such as this one, which bears the same name as the surrounding district.
"The response has been overwhelming and does not have the trappings of modern courts like the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone where judges in robes and lawyers and other legal minds presides," Allie told AFP.
"Here, perpetrators are put before village elders, surrounded by a familiar environment where they ask for forgiveness," she added.
Dubbed the community healing ceremony, it was started by a local non-government group, Forum of Conscience.
"The choice of Kailahun District is significant," said the project's director, John Caulker.
"This was where the war began on March 23, 1991 when rebels of the Revolutionary United Front crossed into Sierra Leone from Liberia," he explained.
"It is the first time perpetrators are meeting face-to-face with victims as well as friends and relatives... to apologise for offences they committed during the conflict."
From the dense jungle, where wild grasshoppers and wild deer roam, dozens of men emerged, some with long unkempt beards, some in rumpled faded T-shirts, and looked around hesitantly before coming forward with halting steps to look their victims in the eyes.
Their victims stood listlessly as if daydreaming at first, while a few cried.
Abdul Sowa, a one-time farmer who now uses crutches donated by the local Red Cross, could not hold back tears.
"At last, they (the ex-combatants) have acknowledged their crimes," he said.
...
BETRAYUS IS GOING TO URGE AN ATTACK ON IRAN
And the Dems will be Cheerleaders
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts04052008.html
The neocon lacky Petraeus has had his script written for him by Cheney, and Petraeus together with neocon warmonger Ryan Crocker, the US governor of the Green Zone in Baghdad, will present Congress next Tuesday and Wednesday with the lies, for which the road has been well paved by neocon propagandists such as Kimberly Kagan, that "the US must recognize that Iran is engaged in a full-up proxy war against it in Iraq."
Don't expect Congress to do anything except to egg on the attack. On April 3 the International Herald Tribune reported that senators and representatives have made millions of dollars from their investments in defense companies totaling $196 million. Rep. Ike Skelton, the Democrat chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is already on board with the attack on Iran.
Reporting from Tehran on April 4, Reuters quotes Mohsen Hakim, whose father, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leads the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, an ally of the Maliki US puppetgovernment in Iraq: "Tehran, by using its positive influence on the Iraqi nation, paved the way for the return of peace to Iraq and the new situation is the result of Iran's efforts."
Instead of thanking Iran and working with Iran diplomatically to restore stability to Iraq, the Bush regime intends to expand the nightmare with a military attack on Iran. Ryan Crocker was quick to dispute Hakim's report that Iran had used its influence to end the fighting in Basra. Crocker alleged that Iran had started the fighting. The absurdity of Crocker's claim is obvious as even the neocon US media reported that the fighting in Basra was started by the US and Maliki in an effort to clear out the Shi'ite al-Sadr militias. Most experts saw the attack on al-Sadr for what it was: an effort to remove a potential threat to the US supply line from Kuwait in the event of a US attack on Iran.
By next Thursday we will know from how the Petraeus-Crocker dog and pony show plays in the US Congress and media whether the Bush Regime will commit yet another war crime by attacking Iran.
And we know that, alas, both Clinton and Obama will support and applaud this newest travesty.
Huron John
Sat, 04/05/08
Reply to this
Fred:
From my perspective, the blog activity has declined because of the incompetent manner in which it is managed.
===============
I think it contributes but there are quite a few reasons the blog has dwindled, some good some bad, some neither good nor bad, but this happens to be a slow day in particular, which is not typical, even for our regular faithfuls.
I actually see the blog improving. There were some cyber-tyrants that have alleviated or dissapeared altogether IMO.
Most of the Hillary supporters have toned down or left. This is unfortunate but their prerogative. Some Jewish bloggers have left, feeling insulted by our criticism of Israel and sypathy for the Arabs. This is also unfortunate, since this is one area that suffers severely because of lack of dialogue. But no servant can serve two master and one is hard-pressed to be a liberal and then stand next Pat Robertson and Bush supporting Israel, as if she can do no wrong.
There are not that many trolls, except for Fox, who is more pathetic than annoying.
Then there is the fact that there are so many political blogs run by the candidates that are very interesting and do have better technology I admit.
Ashland is a very nice culture and cute town, lots of hippies and very liberal, but it is going in the wrong directions. In the last ten years I have seen the explosion of Plastic, "Truman Story" style houses. In the older neighborhoods the city is encouraging "in fill" which is high-density building in backyards, with wall-to-wall bungalows, etc. It is starting to look like a rural white ghetto. The yuppies being courted from the Bay Area are really materialisic elitist types, and are buying houses in the hills. The air pollution in winter from oxygen-choked wood-burning stoves, which usually includes polymers, plastics, heavy metals, and chemicals from packaging, print, and other garbage, is herrendous.
The climate here sucks too. 7-8 months of the year is 90% rain and clouds. It seldom snows in the valley but if it does it turns to slush and ice at night. The consistenly dry clear summers are invariably sunny but very dry and can get very hot, like a desert. At times it does not cool at night either.
Nice to know I was missed lol, We were working on the platform today and now I have to farm instead of watching basketball (sigh).
not to worry, like the You memo which we covered a year and a half ahead of the media here, we are still one step ahead of most of the blogs with out insightful comment
after talking to a National Rules person I will continue to maintain that Michigan and Florida will be seated (as long as they don't have the deciding vote)
Fred you sound like me, I love this part of the country so much I badmouth the weather just to keep it from being overun by people who don't have near the quality of life we have here
Phil Specht
Sat, 04/05/08
Reply to this
Fred you sound like me, I love this part of the country so much I badmouth the weather just to keep it from being overun by people who don't have near the quality of life we have here
===============
Well I must admit, no place is perfect, and coming from Newark, NJ this is like Shangra-Li. Same thing with this funky old apartment. It could be a lot worse, especially for person with MCS, at least it's not moldy or totally toxic, exept that we're downwind from the laundry room.
There is a niche down the CA coast that is perfect in many ways, but the real estate is pretty high. We might camp there this summer. For now it is a secret, not too near any major urban areas.
its that time...
http://blogforamerica.com/view/24771#com...
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