"A Catastrophic Silence"

While I'll be back to post later today, this editorial, "A Catastrophic Silence," was in today's New York Times. Through an analysis of the aftermath of the death of Marcelo Lucero, it does an excellent job at expressing how anti-immigration rhetoric divides and wounds communities rather than addressing how the negative conversation surrounding immigration perpetuates crime, harassment, and stereotyping in our communities.

Check it out...I'll be back with further thoughts later today.

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Protesting the "School of the Assassins"

Torture, assassination, murder of innocent civilians--these practices are far from American values and ideals. However, the School of the Americas (now Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation or WHINSEC) has been teaching these practices to Latin American militaries and their leaders for years. This past weekend, Christine and I went to the 18th Annual School of the Americas Protest. Father Roy Bourgeois started the School of the Americas Watch in 1990 after the brutal murder of 6 Jesuit priests, their co-worker and her teenage daughter on November 16, 1989.

A U.S. Congressional Task Force reported that those responsible were trained at the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA. Father Roy and a small group protested outside the gates of the military base. And the protest has grown. This year, there were 20,000 people to remember the people that have been killed by School of the Americas graduates and to demand that the school be shut down!

The main event was a funeral procession where leaders sang the names of people killed by SOA graduates and after each name, the crowd would respond "presente" as we held up crosses with the names of the victims. Then we put the crosses in the fence in front of the gates of Ft. Benning. (Christine and I are standing in front of this fence in the picture.) After two hours of singing names, only a portion of the thousands killed were named.

Let's tell Obama to shut the SOA down! Sign this petition. There is great hope that 2009 will be the year the School of the Assassins is shut down for good. Let's make it happen!

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IRAQIS PEACEFULLY PROTEST US-IRAQ AGREEMENT, FIST FIGHT BREAKS OUT IN PARLIAMENT

Today, more than 20,000 Iraqis filled Firdos Square protesting the U.S.-Iraq security agreement, or so-called “status of forces agreement” that would define the U.S military’s role in Iraq for the next three years.
As the New York Times reports, “With powerful symbolism, demonstrators hanged an effigy of President Bush from the plinth that once supported the statue of Saddam Hussein that was toppled after Baghdad fell to U.S. troops on April 9, 2003.”

(On April 9th, 2003 it was the New York Times that declared “Jubilant Iraqis Swarm the Streets of Capital,” and the Boston Globe called it “Liberation Day in Baghdad”. Turns out the entire event was a “psychological operation” (i.e. a stage managed lie to manipulate Iraqis—if not the American public) put on by the Pentagon with not more than a “rent a crowd” of 200 Iraqis in the square which was cordoned off by Marines.

Liberation Day—Take Two?
“The Iraqi crowd applauded the downfall of Mr. Hussein’s regime, and also placed a black hood over the effigy of President Bush — a reference to the execution of Mr. Hussein on Dec. 30, 2006. They put a whip in the effigy’s right hand and, in its left, a briefcase on which were written the words “the security agreement is shame and dishonor.” While the protests were peaceful, “Iraqi Army snipers and machine-gunners took up positions on rooftops overlooking Firdos Square.”

And in the Iraqi parliament, a fist-fight broke out between Iraqi lawmakers.

We’re Leaving and Obama’s President—What are they complaining about?
So you’ve probably heard by now that this US-Iraq military agreement calls for the withdrawal of U.S. forces by 2011, and US troops will have to leave city centers this upcoming June. This is a far cry from the Bush administration’s preliminary attempts as of last year to complete a far more broad ranging security agreement that could lock in place a long term U.S. military occupation of Iraq.

Here’s some background for you. On New Year’s eve of this year, the UN mandate that gives legal cover to U.S. troops operating in Iraq will expire. Each year this happens, and the mandate is up for review at the UN Security Council and is extended without delay. But the very year the Bush administration is leaving office, they have been determined to pass an agreement to define the U.S. military role in Iraq after December 31st 2008 and well after Bush leaves office.

It is quite ironic that the Bush administration’s “security agreement” has become what looks like a “withdrawal agreement”. However, just a glance at Iraqi politics—from the fist fight in parliament to the streets—demonstrates that this agreement is stirring up potentially destabilizing controversy.

RED FLAGS ABOUT AGREEMENT
However, there are some deeply alarming red flags about this agreement surfaced by Representative Delahunt’s latest hearing, the 8th in a series put on by his subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee about this proposed agreement. I will name just two of them for now.

1) The Bush administration and the Maliki government says that this can be submitted to parliament for a simple majority vote. Many Iraqi parliamentarians and others argue that for this agreement to be approved, it must be approved by a two-thirds majority.

This is a pivotal controversy, since with a simple majority it could pass, but with a two-thirds majority it is highly unlikely. The Iraqi parliament—the only body directly elected by the Iraqi people—is critical of the U.S. occupation, while the Iraqi executive branch has historically been closely allied to the Bush administration and is pressing for the passage of this agreement.

2) There are two versions of the agreement—one official copy in Arabic and one official copy in English. The official copy in English was only just recently distributed to Congress, but they are not allowed to release it to the American public. The Arabic version was leaked and translated by Iraqi analyst Raed Jarrar. The language being presented to Iraqi and U.S. lawmakers is substantively different—including the language related to withdrawal. As Raed noted in his congressional testimony, usually such an agreement requires a “certificate of translation”, to verify that the Arabic and English texts are identical.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT YET ACQUIRED CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION FOR THE AGREEMENT IN THE ARABIC AND ENGLISH DRAFTS!

So the parliament is being asked to approve an agreement that may or may not be interpreted the same way by the English speaking power players, may or may not have strict deadlines for withdrawal, and may or may not be in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. Not to mention the idea of being in accordance with the will of the Iraqi people. And while the Iraqi and US administrations got more than a year to negotiate this agreement, the Iraqi parliament has a few weeks. In fact they are being pressed to have a vote on Monday.

Is it is any wonder that this is agreement is getting in the way of "national reconciliation efforts" that we always hear about in Iraq?

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Kerry to Chair Foreign Relations

Today, the Boston Globe reported that Senator Kerry would take over the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairmanship. From this news, it seems fairly certain the Senator Clinton will be the next Secretary of State for two reasons.

First, her name has been floating in the blogosphere for too long. Clinton supporters would be enraged if she didn't get the post after such a contentious primary. Second, it would seem to coincide with Senator's Obama governing philosophy - to build a cabinet of rivals. The questions on everyone's mind: Can a President Obama reign everyone in, especially the Clintons? Will Bill and Hillary upstage the young president? Won't it undercut Obama's message of change? The answers are: Maybe, undoubtedly and yes.

But back to Kerry. Senator Kerry is a moderate democrat firmly entrenched in the political establishment. He is wise, and understands the complexities of South Asia probably better than anyone in the Senate. But I have never seen the spirit I saw in the videos of him testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the Winter Soldier hearings nearly 4 decades ago.

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In the midst of our euphoria

Over the last couple of weeks, I--like most of the country--have been caught up in the whirlwind and euphoria of having a new president elect and 111th Congress. We've been tracking the transition team and trying to determine who will be chosen for the cabinet and agency positions. We've been watching the Obamas' interview on 60 Minutes and trying to determine what sort of dog they will get the girls (I personally am hoping they will rescue a dog...check out the Facebook movement built around this issue for continued updates).

On top of that, here at FCNL we've been busy with our Annual Meeting...which by all accounts was a huge success. Our network seems eager and ready to advocate for change here in Washington.

Yet in the midst of our euphoria over the election and our amazing network, we are continually reminded of why change is so greatly needed in our country at this moment.

Only days after a historic election in which the country voted against many anti-immigrant candidates in major political races nationwide and a record number of Latino and New American voters turned out to the polls, seven teenagers stabbed a Latino man to death in Suffolk, NY.

The teens, highschoolers between the ages of 16 and 17, told police that they "wanted to beat up someone who looked Hispanic." Labeled as a blatant hate crime, it is unfortunately only one of many that has taken place in Suffolk and across the nation in recent years. As America's Voice reported in their blog, "For the fourth solid year in a row, hate crimes against Latinos are on rise"....a rise which the Southern Poverty Law Center has estimated as a 40% increase since 2003.

The death of Marcello Lucero stands as a reminder that the election of a black President does not mean the end of racism. It represents progress, but is still only one (monumental) step in the path towards racial, economic, and social justice. It's time that we ask ourselves: what sort of transition team do we need in our education, welfare, and criminal justice systems to prepare our nation to combat racial hatred?

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Speeches, Priorities, and Helen Thomas

Currently, I am sitting at the back of the Annual Meeting ballroom, getting ready to hear Rep. Gilchrest and Barbara Slavin. What an Annual Meeting it has been so far! The highlight for me was the 1st year intern speeches this afternoon. Each was surprising, interesting, and some made me and certain other colleagues tear up (Christine responded to this particular occurrence as, "an achievement in my book.")

I'll leave further thoughts about the speeches for later (and I'll post the audio here), but suffice to say, Annual Meeting has gotten off to a smashing start, and I look forward to this evening and the next few days.

We'll be posting again soon.

Cheers,
Caroline

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Quakers Congregating in D.C.

A chill has settled in the air, a buzz has begun in the FCNL offices, and display boards have accumulated beside Lauren's desk. That's right everybody, Annual Meeting is upon us. The whole shebang kicks off tomorrow, with a lobby day organized by Kate and a chat with Helen Thomas, who, as the Washington Post tells us has recently returned to her chair in the White House briefing room.

My own state of mind is hovering between excited and stressed, as I look forward to seeing old friends, meeting new General Committee members, and prepare for a workshop I'm leading. Amid the hustle and bustle 0f the next four days we hope to be able to post here about our experiences. If we only get to it once or twice though forgive us -- I promise a full report after it's all over!

If you're wondering who exactly FCNL is and who's coming to Annual Meeting, here's a start.

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Guest Blogger: Jon Evans '77

My own journey since my year as an intern with Frances Neely took me into a career in international development and relief. I have been privileged to live and work in Burkina Faso, Palestine/Israel (where my family and I had Peter Kapenga (’71) and his family among our circle of friends and colleagues!), and Indonesia. Now that my family and I are based in the Philadelphia area, my involvement with FCNL has in a sense come full circle. I am excited and energized to be serving FCNL as a member of the General Committee and the Development Committee. I never cease to be amazed by the knowledge, commitment, and Spirit-filled work of the staff and nationwide volunteer network of our Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest.

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Where do you go, after being a contributor here?

I mean, what could be better than writing on this blog? Alas, though, after one or two years we must move on. What's life like after being an FCNL intern? Over the next few days and months we hope to show you that here on the blog. Some of our past interns have agreed to write guest blog posts for us. The first, from Larry Newlin (intern class '75) describes making the jump from FCNL to the federal government:

I worked as an intern during 1975-76 and worked with three giants -- directly with lobbyist, Frances Neely, with Ed Snyder as executive secretary, and occasionally assisted executive secretary emeritus Raymond Wilson when he was in the office looking to generate a quick and pithy report for a talk he was to deliver. It was an exciting year and led to five additional years in Washington in the policy arena culminating with a year as Staff Assistant to President Carter.

Although this is supposed to be nonpartisan, I want to highlight the good-natured ribbing I got from Ed for being a Carter partisan during my intern year. My wife, Lee, and I accompanied Bonnie and Ed to a Jerry Brown rally at the University of Maryland, and he came on like a rock star with a pitch that was filled with vacuous rambling. I pointed out to Ed what a hollow fellow Brown was and how much more substance Carter had -- he replied that electing Carter would be a pig in a poke.

A friend from college gave us tickets to attend the Democratic celebration at one of the downtown hotels on Election Day, and this past week as our twenty something daughters watched with excitement and electricity the returns coming in -- it was reminiscent of being young and idealistic in our early twenties with the promise of a new leader.

I followed my year at FCNL working for the National Rural Center, a new policy research center funded primarily by the estate of the late governor of Arkansas, Winthrop Rockefeller. The executive director, Jack Cornman, had been an aide to the late Phil Hart -- the office building towering over our own office is named after him -- and Jack fed names to the transition team with a well - placed former Hart aide asking for more. It turned out that five Board members were tapped for the new Administration -- two Cabinet secretaries and three assistant secretaries. Three years later after President Carter announced a Small Community and Rural Development Policy, I was asked to come aboard to help implement the policy. I had to step down from serving on FCNL's Policy Committee, but I felt a strong congruency in serving in the public arena and having served FCNL. During a period of major budget constraints, we were able to undertake some important policy initiatives which benefited the lives of hundreds of thousands of rural citizens, many of them at or near the poverty level.

Best wishes to all former interns -- I hope that you are continuing to support the great work of the FCNL and living in the Light of those who came before us -- thinking of Frances and Raymond in particular.

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Election 2008, January 2009

Spending election 2008 in Washington has been a special experience for all of us interns. Not only did we get to watch election returns in the heart of the U.S. democracy, but we had the opportunity to talk with each other about it, and to think about how the results will shape our work in the coming year. We have gathered our thoughts, emotions, hopes, and fears about the election and the future on the blog, and we hope you enjoy them.

community organizer - Emily

A Path to Politics - Maggie

Listen and Act with Humility - Trevor

Why I'm excited about 2012, and 2016, and 2020... - Christine

The Red Phone is Ringing off the Hook - Kate

Election Night in D.C. - Alex

Anything is Possible!! - Stephen

Hey rest of the world, check us (that's U.S.) out - Caroline

It's just an election -- What could happen? - Karyn

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community organizer

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I went to the University of Chicago where Obama used to teach. U of C is in Hyde Park which is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the world. There are poor people, mansions, academics and lot of working class families from every ethnic and racial background. I feel like it's an example of how people can live together in a shared, understanding community. And that's where Obama got his political roots. He was a community organizer that helped bring people together.

That's my largest hope for the Obama administration: that he will blur class and color lines to help foster community between all people. I also think an Obama administration can help broaden the middle class. I work on budget priorities and domestic human needs and we have been closely following Congress' plan for economic stimulus for Main Street. This would include more money for food stamps, an extension of unemployment insurance and money that will help create jobs. In a time when most of our nations wealth goes to 5% while millions of Americans struggle to find work and put food on the table, we need a president that will advocate for the rest of us. Obama has already been very involved in the economic stimulus discussion and I think his background as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago will help him keep the right people in mind.

Perhaps more neighborhoods in the U.S. will start looking like Hyde Park: mixed income, vast racial and ethinc diversity, a thoughtful and politically engaged diverse community.

A path to politics

I was raised by two very politically aware and involved parents. Though they never tried to impress their opinions upon me, they were open and outspoken with us, each other, and their friends about their political views. They read the paper every morning over cups of tea, releasing little murmurs of disbelief or bemusement here and there. I had to beg my mother to let me listen to music instead of NPR on drives home from school (I didn't even bother to argue with her on the way to.)

When I was younger, I sometimes tried to read their favorite sections of the paper after they did for signs of what caught their interest, but inevitably my eyes would glaze over about halfway through any article of the political persuasion. I preferred the comics, to which I pledged, at a young age, a loyal commitment. I looked each day for my favorite comic strips as others will look for their favorite op-ed columnist. I was not following in my parents' footsteps.

It was not for lack of trying that I was unable to absorb the passion for politics I observed in my parents and other acquaintances. In fact, I envied them for it. I wanted to have a political identity and I wanted it to be founded on my own true beliefs and opinions. I often turned to my father, an extremely smart man with a great talent for explaining things, to enlighten me as to his personal political preference as well as the distinctions between the two major parties. Yet despite my best efforts at paying attention, his words fell upon my ears in a manner akin to the trumpet-like voices of the adults in a Peanuts movie.

And so, I went through the motions - of course having opinions on issues I cared about, yet still unable to confidently enter into any sort of political debate. I was 18 years old and a freshman in college at the time of the last presidential election in 2004, and though I dutifully registered to vote absentee and sent in my marked ballot, I could only explain my decision on the thinnest of levels. I'm sure I stayed up late with my new friends and classmates and professed the expected fear and excitement that accompanies such monumental occasions. In truth, I felt like an impostor.

Still intent on becoming a politically aware and interested person, I tried my hand at International Relations/Political Science courses early on in college. But the dry theories and daunting economics requirements quickly turned me off. My interests soon led me to study Peace and Conflict Studies, which is sort of the more emotional, hands-on cousin of Political Science. In this, I found my passion. Studying the nature of conflicts, the complexities of their origins, and the possibilities for resolution caught and sustained my interest in a way politics never could. Ironically, it was this newfound love between Peace Studies and me that brought me here to the political capitol of the world, Washington, DC, to work for FCNL.

It must be hard at times to work for a non-partisan lobby, particularly during an election year. For me though, the process of working for peace, justice, and a healthy environment through a non-partisan lens has provided a comprehensive understanding of the complex inner workings of this country and what needs to be done to improve it. Contrary to what people might think, peace does not belong to a political party. In fact, it often seems as though politics in general is antithetical to peace. But when the hard work of our staff and constituents garners the support of even one unexpected member of Congress, it's a really good feeling, and reminds us why we do what we do.

Now, I could have learned all about the government, politics, and how actual policy-making is done in any number of professions. But through FCNL I have learned about these things that I never cared much about as the indirect result of working for things I care deeply about. If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain, so to speak. I have been both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised at just how many misconceptions I had about the world of politics and its parties before coming to work here.

This election year, I made a considered and confident decision on my ballot, and I have FCNL to thank for it. Not for the decision itself, but rather for instilling me with the ability to make my own choice for once. With a new administration, we are about to begin the exciting and challenging uphill process of repairing and improving our country, and I'm proud to be involved and even more proud to be here for it.

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Listen and Act with Humility

"Change has come to America," Barack Obama said to supporters in Grant Park last night. Similar to George W. Bush, future President Barack Obama also spoke of the need to unify this country. "We are not Red States, or Blue States, we are the United States," Obama has said many times.

But, one of the most striking things about this election, was the interest friends I have met abroad showed in the outcome. Having lived in France, the U.K., and traveled in places like South Africa, Morocco, and many parts of Europe while the Bush Administration was in power, I saw first hand the antipathy towards U.S. policies - particularly, the Bush Administration's disdain for international cooperation and diplomacy. But I also saw the desire for better a partnership with America.

Last night, Barack Obama promised "a new dawn of American leadership," further noting that "true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope." This is a powerful message in very uncertain times.

There are many things President elect Obama could do in the first 100 days to reflect this new leadership. He could close Guantanamo, begin efforts to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, pay down U.S. debt to the United Nations and bolster U.S. civilian foreign policy agencies with greater funds. But the most profound signal, would be to express a greater willingness to listen than his predecessor.

Travel and listen to what the rest of the world thinks, and the ideas they have for addressing 21st century problems. Many in the U.S. - including myself - get caught up believing U.S. influence and power can fix the entire world. We can't. And increasingly, the challenges of the 21st century are global and require international partnerships.

Rolling back climate change, fixing the global financial crisis, dealing with growing energy demands, reducing global poverty and helping to resolve the world's most entrenched conflicts would all benefit from greater, more responsible U.S. engagement. But there are times when listening, taking a back seat role and coordinating our efforts with others is the solution.

One instance was in Kenya last winter. Kofi Annan led the effort to resolve the deadly conflict after the flawed elections in Kenya. At first, the U.S. ambassador to Kenya bumbled the U.S. response by declaring Mwai Kibaki (the incumbent) the winner of the election. Later after it was more clear that the election was flawed, Kofi Annan requested greater coordination in the international communities' response to the crisis from the U.S. and other influential countries. Secretary Rice's office responded favorably. For instance, Rice's office reportedly sent press statements to Kofi Annan's aids for clearance before going to press. In the end, a coordinated multilateral response and an African led mediation process, along with opposition from civil society helped end the crisis.

Leadership isn't always taking the lead or flexing one's muscle; many times its listening, cooperating with others and recognizing the limits of one's power. Barack Obama would be wise to bring these characteristics into his approach to U.S. engagement with the world.

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Why I'm excited about 2012 and 2016 and 2020...

Around 6pm, this picture was sent to my cellphone. It was sent by my younger sister in California, who had just voted in her first presidential election. For the rest of the night, we called and text messaged each other as she kept me up to date on how some major California propositions turned out and I tried to describe the craziness that is Washington, DC on election night.

I have been incredibly proud of my sister throughout the election season as I watched her research candidates and become invested in the election by volunteering for campaigns that she believed in. I've been thinking about her a lot lately as I've watched youth and young adults in my neighborhood show more excitement, dedication and knowledge about this election than I have ever seen before.

Here is a small sample of some interactions that I had that make me particularly hopeful for the future:

• Overhearing a group of highschool students in a heated discussion over which candidate has a better economic plan.
• Seeing 13 and 14 year old kids wearing campaign buttons around my neighborhood
• Riding the metro home from work on election day and overhearing a conversation between two young adults that are seated in front of me. The woman asks the man who he voted for and he says he didn't vote. "Well, you have to!" she replies, "Let's go right now!"
• Hearing that the fish market a block from my house was packed with teenagers on the final debate night, who were all attentively watching the TV.

As I listened to my sister laugh about the election results that went her way, and cry about the ones that didn't, I knew that this election wasn't a one time event for her and that she would continue to be active in her government not just on election day, but every day. I have faith that the youth and young adults who were enchanted by this historic election have now begun a lifetime of active and informed citizenship.

And what about those teenagers that walked to the local fish shop so that they could watch the debates?

In four years, they will all be able to vote.

I cannot wait to see what they do.

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The Red Telephone is Ringing Off the Hook--in a Good Way!

"CONGRATULATIONS!"

It's President Bush calling...and President Motlanthe of South Africa and President Kibaki who was so excited he declared yesterday a national holiday. (Note: Would it be too much to ask that if Kenya can make a national holiday out of our election couldn't we have it as well?) But it's also Iran, France, Venezuela, Indonesia, Egypt and Lebanon. As ,Caroline noted, the streets of Washington D.C. last night's victory flags weren't just about Old Glory--giddy partiers danced atop a bus shelter with Kenyan flags.

Caroline called to the rest of the world to check us [U.S. of A] out.

I'm asking the U.S.--time to check the freaking REST OF THE WORLD OUT!

If Obama was elected by the rest of the world, his mandate would clearly have been to:

* End the failed "war on terror" (The vast majority of whom believe has not weakened Al Qaeda, if not having made AQ stronger.)

* Support a robust diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program and other U.S. and Israeli grievances. This would include recognizing Iran's right to enrich uranium on its own soil, and the international community's right to vigorous safeguards and transparency on the scope of its nuclear program.

* Withdraw completely from Iraq in a matter of months

*Support a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by not taking sides and instead recognizing each people's right to self-determination (That means not taking a position that "Jerusalem must remain undivided". To imply that only Israelis have a claim to Jerusalem is an alarmingly radical position in Israel--not to mention the rest of the globe. Even President Bush has maintained that Palestinians have a claim to Jerusalem. Moreover that it is an issue for Israelis and Palestinians to decide in final status negotiations--not U.S. presidential candidates pandering to certain voters.)

Of course the rest of the world could only watch, as Americans voted for Obama with one principle mandate: to fix the rapidly deteriorating economy.

Obama has made no commitments to ending the war on terror--Bush's legacy.

Obama has pledged to withdraw combat troops from Iraq in 16 months. Obama, nor any other politician or military official, has never defined what a "combat troop" is. Let's not forget that President Bush told us on May 1, 2003 that combat missions were over in Iraq. Then Paul Bremer told us on June 28th, 2004, when the U.S. handed over Iraq its "sovereignty", that combat missions were over and future troops would only be there for "force protection", "counter-terrorism", and for "training Iraqi security forces". The vast majority of the Iraqi population want ALL U.S. troops out--whether they are combat, 'force protectors', 'force trainers', or 'peace, love, and happiness bringers'. (To get a sense for this, look at Iraqi public opinion over the last 5 and a half years of this occupation.) The majority of the Iraqi parliament have spelled out its support for the withdrawal of ALL U.S. troops, contractors, and bases here.

Obama has said he is willing to meet with Iran without preconditions. This is incredibly important--and much of my work at FCNL for the next year will be about getting Congress to support this position.

HOWEVER, he has also stated that in any final deal with the Iranians, they would not be able to enrich uranium on their own soil.

SAY WHAT?!

So Bush said the U.S. wouldn't meet with Iran without suspension of its uranium enrichment program. Now Obama says that he will meet with Iran...but maintain that it not only has to suspend its nuclear program, but cease it all together...or make its very operation (the delivery of enriched uranium which is the foundation for a nuclear energy program) dependent on the international community. (The same international community that watched and uttered not even a UN resolution condemning Saddam's chemical attacks on the Iranian people in the 1980's? What country would put its energy security in the international community's hands in a case like this?)

So Obama is ready to meet with Iran--but already has determined that it will continue the Bush policies of no-compromise?

We have a lot of work to do folks to make this mandate one of peace. To tell the Obama administration that "ending the war in Iraq" doesn't mean bringing home 20,000 troops--it means bringing them all home and giving Iraqis back their country.

It doesn't just mean sitting at the table with adversarial governments--it means negotiating in good faith to resolve differences while recognizing their sovereign right to energy security.

It doesn't mean just ending Bush's 'failed war on terror'--it means ending the very notion that there can be a war on terror. Even the RAND Corporation--a think tank with close ties to the Pentagon-- concludes that war cannot defeat terror.

The rest of the world is calling out to us. The campaign season taught a lot about how red telephones can be enormously influential by playing on fears of international terrorism.

Hard for us to hear because its not news of a forthcoming attack on America--but rather a critical moment when the world is calling up. They are saying congratulations for electing a new president and Congress. Now its time to build up momentum to redefine America's relationship with the world.

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By the way, Obama: Listen to your Mama Sarah

When asked her advice to her step-grandson--the new president-elect Barack Obama--Mama Sarah replied:

"He should work very well globally, especially for global peace."

Obama--I hope you're listening.

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Election Night in DC

As I got off the metro last night to go into work (apart from my work at FCNL, I also host at Busboys and Poets--one of DC's hottest bar-restaurant-cafe-bookstore-performance spaces), I turned the corner onto 14th Street NW to find a line that extended almost the full length of the block. I pushed my way forward only to realize that it was the line to get into Busboys to watch the election returns...and we had been at full capacity inside since before 5 pm.

Crowd control would be my job for the night.

The energy of the crowd was electric both inside and out. Almost everyone present was an Obama supporter (as Caroline pointed out, this isn't much of a surprise as 93% of DC voted for Obama) and each time he won a state cheers and chants of "Yes we can!" or "Obama" echoed inside the building and onto the street. It didn't matter that it was raining or that it was cold; over a hundred people waited outside in good humor, graciously accepting the hot cider we provided them at sporadic intervals. The owner and managers of the restaurant had wisely placed TV screens in the windows, so even from outside in the line people could keep track of what was going on.

Press from all over the world hustled in and out of the building to capture the moment. From those I remember I talked to The Washington Post, the NY Times, The Guardian, Al Jazeera English, NPR, Channel 9, The Examiner, Caracol from Colombia, and other press from Denmark, Belgium, Ukraine, Spain, and France. Most of those I talked to couldn't believe the diversity of the crowd that was gathered in one space: from infants and toddlers to elders with canes and wheelchairs, blacks, whites, latinos, asians, foreigners, men, women, gay, straight, trans, and queer. Everyone gathered together to watch a historic moment.

About half-way through the night I made an announcement that as soon as the electoral votes grew close, I would open the doors, shut down food service, and allow the people in the street to fill every possible space inside. When the "Obamater" set up in the restaurant tipped over 230 votes I started letting people in from outside fifteen at a time. I tried to space it out so that the people entering would have time to pack in. But as I started to let the fourth or fifth group in, I saw California come up on the screen and the crowd go mad.

That was it. Barack Obama had just been elected president of the United States.

I quit trying to control the entry of our guests and pushed my way up to the host stand to be with my coworkers. The flood of people coming into the restaurant was so strong that I got pushed up onto a chair along with another person to make space for more people. Every possible piece of floor space and furniture was covered with people. People hugging. People crying. People laughing. People holding each other. People screaming. (To get a taste of the emotions and jubilation that ran through Busboys at that moment, check out the front page of the Washington Post.)

Then the music went on and the celebration began. The original site of the 1968 riots danced rather than looted. People took to the streets parading to the beats of drums rather than raging to the beats of bats against windows and cars. The first African-American president. A president which inspires celebration around the world from Africa to Europe to Asia to South America.

People were in a state of euphoria. People cared. The significance of the living moment was evident on every face. In their screams of victory and in their utter silence as nearly a thousand people shut up to hear John McCain and Barack Obama deliver their final election speeches to the nation.

When we finally got the restaurant put back together around 2 in the morning, I went outside to find that the celebration continued. The streets were barricaded off and nearly impassable due to the massive numbers of people outside. Drum circles and chants, dances on top of bus stops and newspaper stands. It took me almost two hours to make my way back up the eight blocks to my house.

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I come away from last night being most excited by the passions it inspired and the global message it created. The United States people are not okay with the Bush Doctrine: the pre-emptive wars, the unitary executive powers, the "with us or against us," the torture or rendition. We are not okay with running the White House by just white men.

The struggle for actual change has just begun. But it has begun. And from this day on, we must move forward. We must carry out the change for which we have had the audacity to hope. That is not to say that Obama's victory is the magical answer. I in fact very much doubt that it is. But it is the people in Busboys and on the streets last night, it is the unprecedented number of people who turned out to vote and worked against voter fraud and intimidation who are.

My hope for Obama, and my excitement to be working on the Hill at this historic moment, is not that he will implement great change, but that he will facilitate the change the people desire.

Which means, by the way, that we have a lot of work to do.

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Anything is Possible!!

We can no longer be detered! After last night, after electing the first black president of the United States of America just more than 40 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, absolutely anything is possible!

As we walked through a celebration rally last night in downtown DC, the group chanted lots of slogans, ranging from "Yes we can" to "Si se puede" to "Bring them home!" As I held up our War Is Not the Answer sign, I was really appreciative that the Obama supporters remembered that ending the war in Iraq is still a major concern.

And there are lots of other major concerns that we must not forget. I was going to use this post as an opportunity to speak out about Barack's plan to increase the size of the military and send more troops to Afganistan, but instead I am going to look toward the future with unbridaled hope and optimism. And again I say, if we can elect a black president, we can do anything!

Last night in his speech, the President Elect said, "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

It is a historic time, and we have to take advantage of this historic opportunity. The energy, the optimism, the power of this moment could help bring our troops home, to repair our relations with the world, to work toward ending global poverty, to bring about a better world!

-Stephen

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Hey rest of the world! Check us (that's U.S.) out.

As I said in my 2:15am blog post and I'm sure you are aware, we have a new President and a new Congress. The most important question now for FCNL is, what will their priorities be?

One of the major priorities for President-elect Obama seems to be re-engaging with the world, and returning the luster to the name of the United States. This was evident in his victory speech in which he took particular pains to speak to the rest of the world as well as to those here who voted for him.

That's fine and great, but not really what interests me right now, in my post-election haze. What excites me is that the people of the United States of America appear to be ready to reintroduce themselves to the rest of the world.

Last night, as I walked home from a election returns party I noticed a few things. The enthusiasm was palpable, as was no surprise. (In case you don't closely follow the results for the only non-state with electoral votes, 93% of D.C. voters supported Obama.)

What was a surprise? I first remarked on it as I rambled past an Ethiopian restaurant that caters to Ethiopian immigrants (I know, duh, but I mean instead of serving delicious-food-seeking native U.S. folks). The patrons were spilling into the sidewalk and the street, wrapped in Ethiopian flags, cheering the U.S. election. So that was one thing.

Then, as I made my way further, I came upon a section of blocked off street in which a drum circle had set up and people were dancing and shouting (notably, this was at the intersection of 14th and U Streets, were some of the worst 1968 riots took place). Some folks had even mounted a bus shelter and were continuing the dancing up there. And what flags were they waving? The stars and stripes accompanied by the Kenyan flag. (Not as surprising, since President-elect Obama's father was Kenyan, but still notable.)

The final kicker that convinced me something extraordinary was happening was when a certain chant started. It was not for Obama, or change, or any of the other exclamations I had heard on my walk home. Instead, the crowd started chanting "U.S.A. U.S.A."

This development took me aback. I realized I had never before in my adult life heard a cheer for the U.S. with such un-ironic joy and enthusiasm. Since I came of age during a time of extreme aggression towards the rest of the world I hadn't had a real chance to be proud of my country for its current actions (I've always respected our intellectual foundations of democracy and equality, despite some notable oversights in those areas).

But now, at last, it seems that my fellow citizens, as well as my fellow residents of the world are ready to re-engage with one another. At last I live in a country in which both the government and citizenry want to be good neighbors, and focus on building peace instead of starting new wars (we may have some disagreements on how to end the existing ones, but as FCNL has taught me, we can talk those out).

No matter who I supported on Election Day, I'm pretty jazzed about the general state of the world today, thanks to some African flags and a big, loud, old-fashioned shout-out for my country.

Now it's time to get to work!

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A tasty morsel while we write...

Last night a bunch of FCNL young staff gathered to watch election returns... we were interested in the presidential returns yes, but I also heard some people wondering how a certain Senate race would affect cluster bombs or native american health care.

Here's a visual for you to chew on while we collect our thoughts:

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Tonight's events

This is the latest (or earliest) I've ever posted on the blog.  But the stage has been set for FCNL's work next year.

We have a new President, we have a significantly changed Senate, and a new House of Reps. 

What will the opportunities and challenges be?  When we wearily arrive at work in a few hours we'll try to sort it all out for you.  

Until then, get some sleep.  

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It's just an election -- what could happen?

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I just wrote some of my views on a different blog (sustainablegood.org) that I thought would be just as applicable here. Here it is with a couple minor changes:

Today is a big day. Lines of people are weaving in an out of polling places. "I voted" stickers are the newest fashion accessory of the day. Radio stations, news channels, and blogs are all talking about the election non-stop. Websites like www.fivethirtyeight.com obsessively count and recount the polls and are predicting the winners of the various campaigns throughout the country. This is a pretty big deal (understatement of the year.)

I was watching the Daily Show the other night and Bill Kristol, conservative op-ed writer for the New York Times, muttered (jokingly?) “It’s just an election.” Jon Stewart looked flabbergasted and replied, “Yeah, it’s just an election, what could happen?” Truth is, the person in the White House for the next four years will have a lot of power. And yes Bill Kristol, a lot can happen.

What would I like to see happen, you ask? It would be great if the United States triple its aid to poorer nations and cancel their debts. I'd also hope for a decrease in those little foreign escapades of ours (un-fair trade, war, arms trade, etc) that come with "unintended" effects such as displacement, refugee camps, poverty, disease, civilian deaths, lack of education, lack of water, unfair labor practices, well....the list goes on. Oh, and lets just throw in justice for Native Americans as icing on the cake.

These just happen to be the issues that I live my life for -- and as I stood in line to vote the other day, I touched the name of the person on the computer screen who I thought would be more sympathetic to these issues.

The thing is -- I'm quite the realist and I doubt that whoever the next president will be, he will do enough for the poorest billion people. It would be political suicide for any U.S. politician to give so much time and effort to those who need it most.

That's why it's up to those of us who have no political aspirations to take part in the political process by making our leaders as accountable as possible. If you voted in this election, you took the first big step in the process -- but it's only one step. Keep up with us at FCNL and help us keep our leaders up to date on what we want them to do with all the power we just gave them.

And I agree with Caroline -- you HAVE to read Alex's last post. She's right on.

I voted, you should too.

Hi all, in case you didn't know, it's election day. I voted this morning, and in turn I got the right to enjoy the election returns tonight, an "I voted" sticker, and 10% off on my breakfast (coffee, bagel). You should vote too! Get to it!

Tomorrow (and maybe tonight) check back here for our reactions to the election. As Karyn astutely pointed out, once the new congress is chosen, we can really get to work!

ps- If you've already voted, take the time to read Alex's post just below this one. It's pretty great.

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The White Knights of America: Vigilantes of the 2008 Election

Tomorrow will be a historic moment in the annals of the United States. For a generation which has often been labeled apathetic, which has felt like the events of our time do not galvanize enough passion to inspire a movement, we have lived and live in a time which is a turning point in history.

We watched September 11th happen from the desks of our high school and college classrooms. We went to the funerals of our friends fighting in two wars. We saw one of our cities drown and six more kids get caught in a system of unequal justice.

Race continues to be both decisive and divisive. In watch lists. In recruitment. In evacuation. In classrooms and in justice. Tomorrow will be a historic moment.

Contrary to what you may think, I am not talking about who actually wins the election. I am talking about the election.

White privilege has little to do with the body, with the pigment of the skin. It has to do with power, and how we read the body in relation to power. It has to do with how we think, who we see as entitled, as belonging, and who we do not. It has to do with the fact that white people never have to think about being white. Their bodies are read as citizens, entitled to the rights of a nation. White people do not have to prove their belonging; it is assumed.

Tomorrow we expect to see record numbers of African-Americans, Latinos, and other people of color going to the polls. They will be exercising their citizen right to vote. Yet their citizenship is not assumed. They are read as the other: the criminal, the illegal, the fraud.

Groups like the Minutemen--which have been explicitly labeled as white supremacist and hate groups--are openly organizing "poll watches" to video people that might look "suspicious," "out of the ordinary," or "illegal." They say they are focusing on "illegal aliens"— people who don't speak English or "look" American.

Yet how do you see citizenship written on the body? How do you determine status from behind the lens of a camera?

You read the body in relation to power. Read white: innocent. Read black: guilty. Guilty until proven innocent. Assumed slave unless carrying the papers of a free man. Assumed illegal until verified documentation. The white knights of America remain vigilant in their cause.

No matter who wins tomorrow the system of racial inequality of our country will remain in tact. The historical significance of a person of color being so close to the White House should not be underestimated; it is a dent in very thick armor. But as Langston Hughes often reflected, why do we only hear talk about racism in classes on African-American history when racism is fundamentally a white issue? Why do we expect the skin tone of one man to correct a history of racial injustice?

Why would we expect it of Barack Obama any more than of John McCain?

As the polls open tomorrow, the most important question on my mind is what happens come November 5^th? Will we permit our new leader, our country, to still be led by knights and wizards?

Tomorrow will be a historic moment.

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