A Gandhi Peace Brigade Thanksgiving

Dear Friends,

Leslie and I won't be coming home to the Bay Area for Thanksgiving this year. I've been charged with "unlawful conduct" for shouting,"Shame on you Senator" at Dianne Feinstein (as explained in the last email) and my court hearing is scheduled for November 27. I'll be pleading not guilty and asking for a jury trial. I accept the consequences of what I did and I'd gladly do it again. Please encourage the Democratic Party in California to censure Senator Feinstein by signing MoveOn's Courage Campaign petition: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3163&id=11668-2621263-CNfRuR&t=2

What I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving:

* I'm thankful my sons are adults (they're 28 and 31). I loved being a full time dad, but now I can devote 100% of my energy to creating a more peaceful world.

* I'm so thankful Leslie is in my life. Our love for each other gives us the courage to confront the challenges ahead.

* I'm thankful for my sabbatical from teaching. There isn't time for the children to grow up and make the change ... these are critical times and the change needs to happen now.

* I'm thankful to be free of worldly attachments. When Leslie and I returned from Iran we put everything in storage and started touring the United States. We want to clear up the misconceptions Americans have about Iranians.

* I'm thankful for the passion I feel every day ... and for "being the change I want to see in the world".

* I'm thankful for CodePink http://www.codepink4peace.org/ and the hope it offers ...

* I'm thankful to be living in a country FILLED with grassroots activists who cherish their freedom and love this country.


What concerns me:

The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This act claims to set up a Commission for a study that will "examine and report upon the facts and causes" of so called violent radicalism and extremist ideology and then make legislative recommendations for combating it. It will focus on passing additional federal criminal penalties that are sweeping and inclusive in criminalizing dissent and protest work. Further, this bi-partisan attempt can set the ground for an even more acquiescent Congress, never wanting to look weak on terrorism. On October 23 it was passed by the House (400-6) and will next go to the floor of the Senate. Click on the Democracy Now! link for more: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/20/1458214

Detention Camps inside the U.S. in preparation for a roundup after the next 9/11 for Mid-Easterners, Muslims and possibly dissenters:
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=eed74d9d44c30493706fe03f4c9b3a77

Listen to this Naomi Wolf Interview on The End of America:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0LvtQAQ6sc

What inspires me:

Pink's Dear Mr President PLEASE PLEASE click on this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oegoI80t6WE&feature=related

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their Constitutional Right of amending it or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. If the founding fathers gave us anything, they gave us that. Abraham Lincoln 1865

Peace and Freedom,

Jes & Leslie