Amy Goodman at The U of Us Museum of Fine Arts
by Ben Trentelman [bdkt0@yahoo.com]
Online Exclusive / Posted April 30, 2008 More Exclusives
You Too Can Make a Difference. Yea, You.
4.21.08
Many have uttered the phrase "I’m only one person, how can I make any difference?" We are living in a place and time in which this can feel very true. There are a number of factors our government has playing out that are beyond anyone’s control, and seem more menacing than anything else. We are stuck in a war with no apparent way out, our economy is tanking, and I still can’t buy a bottle of whiskey on Sunday.
Amy Goodman
Amy Goodman and her brother David Goodman can tell you one hundred other things that are going on beyond any means of control, but they don’t seem hopeless at all. If anything they feel one person can make a world of difference.
The two spoke at The University of Utah’s Museum of Fine Arts and read from their new book Standing Up To The Madness, Ordinary Heroes In Extraordinary Times.
The Goodmans' book tells the stories of ordinary people who have chosen to take a stand against our own governments oppressive rule. Some make grand gestures while others simply say that they will not do as they are told when their rights seem to be in jeopardy.
Amy Goodman, host of the T.V. and radio show Democracy Now, spoke a great deal about the importance of challenging what doesn’t seem right and making sure that your voice is heard. "We need a serious forum to discuss these issues. Independent media does that," Goodman said calmly as she spoke about mainstream media’s failure to bring serious issues to the surface. "As we enter the sixth year of this war, more time than we spent in WWII, we should honor soldiers in Iraq and the Iraqi people by listening to their stories. This is the importance of independent media."
David Goodman shared one compelling story about a group of Connecticut librarians who challenged the FBI’s efforts to demand records of all books checked out by patrons. The feds arrived with no warrant and a letter from the NSA stating that the librarians needed to comply in surrendering the information or they would be brought up on federal charges. The letter also contained a gag order stating that no one was to know about the investigation. The first librarian to receive the letter, George Christian, felt it was his duty to protect the privacy of the library patrons and told the feds no.
After several months of being "locked down, gagged, and on the run," the librarians charges were dropped. Conveniently, the patriot act was renewed during this judicial process. Congress was unaware that any blatant right violations were taking place due to the fact that if the librarians violated their gag order, they would be committing a federal offense.
The two had similar stories to share that were terrifying to say the least. An estimated 150 thousand NSA letters have been issued to people just like you and me in the last few years alone. So while you still have a chance, I suggest you speak up.
David and Amy Goodman have one simple message, "Now more than ever, we must stand up to this madness." Speak your mind; they’ll be listening, because you can make a difference.
If you want to know more about what your government is doing you can catch Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, Monday thru Friday from 6 – 7 p.m. on KRCL, 90.9 FM.
4.21.08
Many have uttered the phrase "I’m only one person, how can I make any difference?" We are living in a place and time in which this can feel very true. There are a number of factors our government has playing out that are beyond anyone’s control, and seem more menacing than anything else. We are stuck in a war with no apparent way out, our economy is tanking, and I still can’t buy a bottle of whiskey on Sunday.
Amy Goodman
Amy Goodman and her brother David Goodman can tell you one hundred other things that are going on beyond any means of control, but they don’t seem hopeless at all. If anything they feel one person can make a world of difference.
The two spoke at The University of Utah’s Museum of Fine Arts and read from their new book Standing Up To The Madness, Ordinary Heroes In Extraordinary Times.
The Goodmans' book tells the stories of ordinary people who have chosen to take a stand against our own governments oppressive rule. Some make grand gestures while others simply say that they will not do as they are told when their rights seem to be in jeopardy.
Amy Goodman, host of the T.V. and radio show Democracy Now, spoke a great deal about the importance of challenging what doesn’t seem right and making sure that your voice is heard. "We need a serious forum to discuss these issues. Independent media does that," Goodman said calmly as she spoke about mainstream media’s failure to bring serious issues to the surface. "As we enter the sixth year of this war, more time than we spent in WWII, we should honor soldiers in Iraq and the Iraqi people by listening to their stories. This is the importance of independent media."
David Goodman shared one compelling story about a group of Connecticut librarians who challenged the FBI’s efforts to demand records of all books checked out by patrons. The feds arrived with no warrant and a letter from the NSA stating that the librarians needed to comply in surrendering the information or they would be brought up on federal charges. The letter also contained a gag order stating that no one was to know about the investigation. The first librarian to receive the letter, George Christian, felt it was his duty to protect the privacy of the library patrons and told the feds no.
After several months of being "locked down, gagged, and on the run," the librarians charges were dropped. Conveniently, the patriot act was renewed during this judicial process. Congress was unaware that any blatant right violations were taking place due to the fact that if the librarians violated their gag order, they would be committing a federal offense.
The two had similar stories to share that were terrifying to say the least. An estimated 150 thousand NSA letters have been issued to people just like you and me in the last few years alone. So while you still have a chance, I suggest you speak up.
David and Amy Goodman have one simple message, "Now more than ever, we must stand up to this madness." Speak your mind; they’ll be listening, because you can make a difference.
If you want to know more about what your government is doing you can catch Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, Monday thru Friday from 6 – 7 p.m. on KRCL, 90.9 FM.
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