January 4, 2004
Last night at a sold-out Austin Music Hall in Austin, Texas, Willie Nelson and an all-star group of musicians jammed for Kucinich for President. Willie Nelson, a five-time Grammy winner, performed his powerful new song, "What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth." Also performing were Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers, Tim Reynolds, Michelle Shocked, and Tish Hinojosa. Jim Hightower also addressed the crowd, which sang along when Dennis joined all the performers for the finale of the nearly three hour concert. Nelson donated a signed copy of the original lyrics of his new song, which was written on Christmas Day 2003, and Simmons donated a guitar, which was signed by each performer and Dennis. The lyrics were auctioned off at a reception following the show, and the guitar went to one of the first 20 members of the audience to contribute $1,000.
Willie Nelson says: "I am endorsing Dennis Kucinich for President because he stands up for heartland Americans who are too often overlooked and unheard. He has done that his whole political career. Big corporations are well-represented in Washington, but Dennis Kucinich is a rare Congressman of conscience and bravery who fights for the unrepresented, much like the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Dennis champions individual privacy, safe food laws and family farmers. A Kucinich Administration will put the interests of America's family farmers, consumers and environment above the greed of industrial agribusiness. I normally do not get too heavily involved in politics, but this is more about getting involved with America than with politics. I encourage people to learn more about Dennis Kucinich at his website and I will be doing all I can to raise his profile with voters. I plan to do concerts to benefit the campaign."
WooHoo! Bravo Willie! Right-on dude!
**************************
Was reading the current issue of THE NATION and found the article [America through French Eyes] by Stephen Sartarelli totally fascinating. And wanted to share bits of it with others:
"If there is anything that might be accurately termed 'anti-American' in France today, it's pretty much confined to far left critics who view the excesses of the Bush Administration as inherent in the American system and not as the radical anomaly they are. By the same token, the pro-interventionists who, like Bush himself, level indiscriminate charges of anti-Americanism at those who oppose those excesses make the similar mistake of presuming the current administration to be representative of American values. The greater sensitivity to anti-Americanism in France today may, paradoxically, be due in part to the Bush Administration, whose radicalism has made it more important than ever to distinguish the nation from its policies. This was one of the fundamental points made in another much-discussed book of the past year, 'Apres l'empire' [translated into English as 'After the Empire'], by Emmanuel Todd, a demographer and sociologist whose 1976 book, 'The Final Fall', correctly predicted the breakup of the Soviet sphere. Todd writes ... 'Thinking reasonably about America in no way means trying to get rid of it, diminish it, or undertake any other fantasy-filled violence toward it. What the world needs is not that America disappear but that it return to its true self ... democratic, liberal and productive.' It is equally important to distinguish prejudice from sincere dissent. Many of the millions who filled Europe's streets last winter wear Levi's and Nikes, watch American movies, read American authors and probably eat more hamburgers than they would like to admit. They oppose NOT America BUT the politics of force, coercion and unregulated capitalism promoted by a small handful of people at the summit of world power. Their massive turnout was as much a message to their own conservative leaders, especially in Italy and Spain, as it was a challenge to the United States."
So true Mr Sartarelli, so very true. I'd very much like to read Emmanuel Todd's book, mentioned here in this article. Add it to the list of other books I have waiting to be read or to be purchased.
No comments:
Post a Comment