We're going to highlight the second part of A Winding Road's blog entry Wednesday. We cited it in the AW Review (Alternative Weekly) that just went up. But maybe you didn't get the e-mail?
I didn't get it. And maybe you want to pass it on but aren't sure that it will register among the alternative weekly links?
For that reason, we're going to highlight it as a stand alone. Here's Folding Star of A Winding Road on "Not One Damn Dime Day."
The second thing I wanted to note for you all was forwarded to me by a dear friend. It's a boycott of all consumer spending on January 20th, the day on which Bush will be sworn in for a second term. It's a silent form of protest for those who will be unable to be there in person to protest the idea of four more years of hell. I'll let the forward speak for itself:
>> Subject: Don't spend on Jan. 20th
>>>> Inauguration Day, Silent Protest
>>>>>>>>> Since our religious leaders will not speak out against the war in
>>> Iraq, since our political leaders don't have the moral courage to
>>> oppose it, Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20th, 2005 is "Not
>>> One Damn
>>> Dime Day" in America.
>>>>> On "Not One Damn Dime Day," those who oppose what is happening in
>>> our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of
>>> all forms of consumer spending.
>>>>>> During "Not One Damn Dime Day" please don't spend money. Not one
>>> damn dime for gasoline. Not one damn dime for necessities or for
>>> impulse
>>> purchases. Not one damn dime for anything for 24 hours.
>>>>>>>>> On "Not One Damn Dime Day," please boycott Walmart, KMart and
>>> Target. Please don't go to the mall or the local convenience store.
>>> Please don't buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that
>>> matter).
>>>>>>>>> For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy
>>> down.
>>>>> The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in
>>> Iraq is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting
>>> it and
>>> that it is their responsibility to stop it.
>>>>>> "Not One Damn Dime Day" is to remind them, too, that they work for
>>> the people of the United States of America, not for the international
>>> corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations
>>> and funnel cash into American politics.
>>>>>> "Not One Damn Dime Day" is about supporting the troops. The
>>> politicians put the troops in harm's way. Now 1,200 brave young
>>> Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis have died. The
>>> politicians owe our troops a plan -- a way to come home.
>>>>>> There's no rally to attend. No marching to do. No left or right
>>> wing
>>> agenda to rant about. On "Not One Damn Dime Day" you take action by
>>> doing nothing.
>>>>>> You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed. For 24 hours
>>> nothing gets spent, not one damn dime, to remind our religious
>>> leaders and our politicians of their moral responsibility to end
>>> the war in Iraq and give America back to the people.
Considering that Bush urged people, in the days after 9/11, to go out and spend money, I think it's safe to say that hitting them in the economy is hitting them where it hurts.
Please consider joining this boycott.
(http://awindingroad.blogspot.com/2005/01/letter-from-howard-dean-and-silent.html)
Remember what Erika says about the power of "yes" and the power of "no?" This is a very simple way to register your "no." Please consider joining this boycott this coming Thursday, January 20, 2005.
If you have any ideas of ways to boycott, rallies or other peaceful means to register your protest on January 20, 2005, please e-mail common_ills@yahoo.com and we'll note them. We already have one member who has. If there are enough ideas, we'll try to highlight one each day in the lead up to four more years of Bullies Without Borders.