Our Rights: A New Patriotism
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- goldenways
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On a weekend where many opted for moments of silence to commemorate the seventh anniversary of 9/11, 2008 Now or Never sought to bring justice to the victims, first responders and the American public by demanding answers to what some left-wing watchdog groups see as suspicious questions surrounding the attacks.
The star-studded concert was a benefit for first responders, a group of 9/11 rescue workers who've been largely ignored by the government. They include firefighters, police officers, port authority workers and volunteers who searched for victims in contaminated debris at and around ground zero in the weeks following the attacks. Now, many suffer from life-threatening respiratory illnesses.
The concert, however, was only a portion of the four-day affair, which also included demonstrations, speeches, movie screenings and a barbeque.
The weekend also represented the convergence of activist groups like We Are Change, the 9/11 Truth Movement, and the FealGood Foundation, all of whom advocate for an independent investigation of the 9/11 attacks and aid first responders.
The night featured artists includingTiye Phoenix, Mr Green of Channel Live, the Beatminerz, surprise guest KRS-One, and the headliners, Immortal Technique and Talib Kweli.
While many benefit concerts are lost in the divide between the politics of the events and the subject matter of the artists, Now or Never was refreshingly consistent since most of the artists took time out to discuss the importance of helping first responders and demanding an independent investigation of the 9/11 attacks.
Immortal Technique voiced his distrust of the government’s handling of the attacks on his track with Mos Def called “Bin Laden” and the militant “Homicide Harlem.” Mr. Green relayed his memories of the attacks and spoke to the importance of holding our leaders accountable. Talib Kweli, who brought his kids out to the event, finished the evening by blazing thorough tracks from his latest album Eardrum, including the incendiary “Hostile Gospel.”
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mookster_07
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We need to educate ourselves while we still have the right. Before they take away our right to assemble, our right to free speech, and our right to learn... we should be doing as much as we can.
The power still lies within us, we just need to fight for it back.
- 3 years ago
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mookster_07
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Nephwrack
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post the constitution and the bill of rights everywhere you can on myspace, youtube, facebook, blogs, etc, just post it, we must preserve our nation from tyranny! drown opression in a tsunami of real patriotism and freedom of speech, long live the ideals of the founding fathers!
oh and look up deism (sp, the founding fathers werent christians...) nothing against Jesus, he's my homie but i dont think Siddartha was very off base either.
to quote a modern day prophet: "All you need is Love! Love is all you need!"
- 3 years ago
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Nephwrack
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Earthwalker
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we're not stupid ...just too busy trying to pay bills that keep snowballing ....everyone stop work!!!stay home till its done stay home till he's executed by the same measure which he judged others! STAY HOME 10/4...which means message understood or affirmative till 10/8...which stands for back in service...do it for 9/11 do it for your country do it for your kids.Take sick leave ..leave of absence..whatever you have to ...show the power is in the people...not the fed.
- 3 years ago
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Earthwalker
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alicynx
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Earthwalker:
Awesome idea! Will you pay my rent and feed my family for me while I stop working in protest of The Man? For those of us living paycheck to paycheck not out of greed but out of necessity, taking 4 eight-hour days off from work is $320 at $10 an hour; and that is almost a month of groceries in my house of four people. And that is before taxes!
Some powers lie within the hands of the people, and some simply do not. Four days off work is not within my power, but I back your cause in spirit ^_^ - 3 years ago
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alicynx
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bishopobispo
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The idea that conservatives are the party of patriotism baffles me. There is nothing patriotic about a government denying its populace an accessible healthcare industry. There is nothing patriotic about watching our public schools in the inner-city crumble due to lack of funds and resources. There is nothing patriotic about sending Americans to die in the unjust war occuring in Iraq.
With each passing day, the idea of a Patriotic Republican is becoming more and more of an oxymoron.
- 3 years ago
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bishopobispo
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nufsenuf
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huntre, I guess that just might do it- let's hope that we can change it in Nov., cause if we don't, I see that as a real possibility - war seems to be the only strategy these guys are aware of - or care to embrace! Hey, war is pretty straight-forward -here's your weapon - use it! Dialog, on the other hand, now that's a little trickier, you actually have to listen!
- 3 years ago
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nufsenuf
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bishopobispo
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nufsenuf:
"To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
-Mark Twain
Sounds familiar eh?
- 3 years ago
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bishopobispo
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alicynx
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nufsenuf:
Citation needed.
- 3 years ago
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alicynx
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huntre
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I promise you, nufsenuf, that there would be masses in the streets if the Draft were reinstated...
...or, may yet be.
- 3 years ago
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huntre
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nufsenuf
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I've been wondering for awhile why we aren't in the streets - I think most of us are so busy just trying to keep our heads above water, that there's no time or energy left for the full-on, kick-ass kind of mass demonstrations that actually empower others and send the message, loud and clear -ENOUGH! And this is part of their plan-keep us so broke and exhausted that we simply don't have the energy to mobilize. How's that for a conspiracy theory!!?? Anyway, it's nice to know that I'm not alone in my full-blown skepticism about who did what to who on 9/11. Wish I'd been there, too.
- 3 years ago
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nufsenuf
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alicynx
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nufsenuf:
Preach that. I go to a college that is non-traditional - more families, older students, etc - and we're so stressed about the cost of books, tuition and having to work two jobs in addition to our loans to feel our families that at the end of the day we just don't have the energy or motivation to get political. It sucks! We need a change, and soon!
- 3 years ago
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alicynx
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asherp
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nufsenuf:
There's also no real tactical plan.
You want to go shut down the ABC news HQ in NYC through non-violent direct action?
I'm down.
"Turning out in the streets" isn't really effective unless you've got a goal and a tactic.
- 3 years ago
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asherp
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GrandKnow2
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See Real Hip-Hop is doing big things regardless of notoriety and money. I'm not really familiar with the We Are Change movement but now I definitely have to check it out.
***Damn I wish I was at that concert.
- 3 years ago
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GrandKnow2
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goldenways
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via:wearechange.com
I sit down and have a chat with hip-hop legend KRS-One on 9/12/2008 during SMT Studios' Now or Never 2008 benefit concert for dying September 11th first responders. KRS discusses the plight of the rescue workers, what happened on 9/11, and his attitude towards Hip-Hop and social consciousness.The interview ends somewhat abruptly, as my tape ran out. When I turned around, there were about 4 or 5 other cameras behind me filming, so I'm sure you can find the rest of this somewhere online if you look.
- 3 years ago
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goldenways
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goldenways
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The evening also featured speeches by We Are Change founder Luke Rudkowsky, the FealGood Fondation’s John Feal and Green Party Presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney. Although one would think that Talib Kweli would be the man of the hour, these three activists received the loudest applauses of the night, proof that the message of the night was not lost in the hoopla. Rudkowsky in particular stood out as a folk hero of sorts among those in attendance, as they frequently rose their collective voices in chants of “Luke! Luke! Luke!”
An event that many will no doubt write off as the product of a radical leftist movement was in fact a rousing demonstration of patriotism. While many liberals seem to have conceded the American flag and a fierce love of country to the conservative movement, Now or Never sought to reframe the issue. “We are fearless, we are patriots, we are change!” declared Rudkowsky wearing an American flag bandanna around his neck. In a time in our history so driven by fear, many have stopped questioning the decisions and events that drive this country forward. As Immortal Technique put it, “The people should not be afraid of the government, the government should be afraid of the people.”
Although the weekend’s events were very much focused on the controversy surrounding 9/11, the underlying hope is that such events will set an example for citizens mobilizing around other issues of justice and progress. As host and performer Mr. Green put it after the show, “The power is at the grassroots level. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it, the power is in the people, so stop waiting for someone to fall out of the sky.”
- 3 years ago
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goldenways
