Prolonged Detention - Rachel Maddow's Comments

Barton Creek Mall Christmas Arrest

CodePink Austin, along with allies from Veteran's for Peace and Women in Black staged a Don't Buy War "freeze" at Barton Creek Mall on Saturday, December 3rd. 

The group was between the Santa photo station and the Gamestop store, which prominently advertises the 'Modern Warfare 3' video game. 

The goals were to raise awareness about the continuing wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, to educate shoppers about the costs (both human and economic) of the wars, and to dissuade parents from purchasing war toys. An APD officer assaulted/arrested a young woman (Nicole Mann) who had joined the group spontaneously. 

*Update*


First reports are that she sustained 4 broken ribs!  Also, from people associated with the arrest.  She has been charged with 1 felony and 2 charges that were lowered to a class "B" and class "C" misdemeanor.

Searches to find information within mainstream news have turned up no information.

**I've often wondered when it became policy for security/police to surround people being arrested so that they can be brutalized while unthinking corporate servants run about telling people to stop filming.  It is not illegal to film public officers in public spaces!!!

83rd Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival (2011)

I was very excited about attending the 2011 Zilker Park Kite Festival.  I prepared our kite the night before, charged 4 backup batteries for my cameras, polished the lenses, oiled my bike chain and formatted my flash drives.   The next morning, I packed oranges and cashews into my pre-packed photo-bag, strapped it to my back and headed out for a day of kite and photo fun.  
(click on any picture to enlarge)

I expected to see a scene like last year:

(photo credit to somethingtocelebrateblog)

However, this is the scene I was greeted with: 

Let me begin by saying I truly appreciate and respect the men and women of the Military,  National Guard and the Texas State Guard.  These amazing individuals have dedicated their lives to the idea of protecting me, my family, my community, state and nation.  

My deepest gratitude for your service.

"The Texas State Guard (TXSG) mission as a branch of the Texas Military Forces is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist State and local authorities in times of state emergencies, with homeland security and community service through Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). To augment the other two branches of the Texas Military Forces, the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as force multipliers"







I asked numerous soldiers why they were there.  Each responded in the same manner: "We are here to aid with security."  

 




After numerous such responses, I went to the "Command Tent" and the officers gave me their attention as I asked why they were there.  The gentleman who addressed me advised me that his troops had been working hard all year and this was their reward.

Wouldn't it be  a better reward to give them the day off and let them enjoy Kite Day with their families?  



Would they be any less vigilant in watching over their community if they volunteered without the uniforms?






I don't think so.
 

Rather than inculcating a military presence into the consciousness of our community, maybe we could focus on continuing to strengthen the bonds our community is famous for.

The command center was the recruiting center, located between the restrooms and the primary drop-off/pick-up points for the school buses that shuttled families in - supervised by the Guard.

There must be other venues more appropriate for a military recruiting tent.

 If organizers believe that a recruiting tent for a branch of the Texas Military Forces is necessary at the family (children's) kite festival, maybe they would consider a proximity away from arriving families and an agreement to maintain conformity with other vendors and organizations. 

I respectfully request that uniformed soldiers not be involved in ANY security or policing duties.

In retrospect, can we agree there are better ideas than setting a military perimeter around a children's festival? 

Although most of the TXSG was courteous and respectful, a good number appeared to find the presence of a long-haired guy on a bicycle with a camera in South Austin to be a concern.

 

 



 






























This is a family kite festival and there is no need for a military presence or this level of security.

After contacting the organizers of the festival with my concerns, Billie McCulley contacted me let me know that "...Amazingly enough we have fewer than 20 members who are able to work the fest..."  "...we rely heavily on volunteers, usually numbering in the 800s." 
          "...This year we asked the Texas Guard to volunteer and to set up a recruiting booth."  

"...The Guard is a gallant and patriotic organization that sounded like a group of volunteers who could help us take care of 30,000 attendees."    

I let her know I am thrilled that the TXSG wants to volunteer their talents in security and logistics, but that it's a concern when done by the same people in uniform. The children that attended this function looked at generous volunteers offering up their time and saw military uniforms instructing them where to go and running security.  From my "Keep Austin Weird and America Free" perspective, I view this as a potential slippery slope for our community culture.

Ms. McCulluey asked me to come to one of the Kite Festival Planning Meetings to voice my concerns and to share some of the ideas I have to let more people know about the festival and how they can contribute.  You know I'll be there!

The ‘Kite Tournament’ was created by The Exchange Club of Austin in 1929 with a mission to encourage creativity in children. It is still owned and run by the club.

I've attended the  Zilker Park Kite Festival for years before we became residents of Barton Hills. We love our neighborhood, our park and our community.  We look forward to attending again...When my backyard is military uniform-free and filled with children flying kites in a creative, care-free environment.

Please help get the word out!  This is not a city event.  This is an organization that needs inspired, creative, committed help.  It doesn't cost anything to volunteer.  

They are struggling to accommodate crowds attracted and inspired by a great idea.  


 If you or your organization would like to volunteer  talents & resources to help with the festival, please click here.


My hope is that others would:  Share their point of view with the sponsors of the event with respect, love, reason and ideas with an intention of positive change.  Let's continue the tradition of non-uniformed community volunteers at the Zilker Park Kite festival.

I truly believe that there is a better way.

I love you, I'm sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you. ~ Hoʻoponopono

Meet Ken

We met him in our travels and found him to be a delightful gent. He served in the Black Watch and has shared so much of Canada's history with me.

Between Need to Know, Kinda Funny and Downright Sad

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- More than one-third of all weapons the United States has procured for Afghanistan's government are missing, according to a government report released Thursday.

The U.S. military failed to "maintain complete inventory records for an estimated 87,000 weapons -- or about 36 percent -- of the 242,000 weapons that the United States procured and shipped to Afghanistan from December 2004 through June 2008," a U.S. Government Accountability Office report states.

Read entire article here.

Manila is Bracing for More?

Here's an international story that I first heard about this from a friend in the blogosphere, Charity. It's been a devastating couple of days in Manila with the impact from the latest typhoon. The more concerning part is that there is another on the way.

You can find these clips and more information on her blog. She has been blogging whenever she is able to get signal to do so. You can check out her blog here.

Charity said that the American military has been instrumental in saving lives in the area.

It's always good to hear when our military is used for commendable purposes.

Military Police at Kentucky Derby

I retrieved these shots while surfing through new AP photos of the Kentucky Derby on Yahoo and Google, respectively.  I suppose that posse comitatus does not apply in Kentucky?

20,000 Troops Inside U.S. by 2011

I have not been blogging on political or economic issues intentionally.  I felt this story was important enough to share.  I will try to post some art soon.

From MSNBC on November 30th:

(Photo courtesy of Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

"The U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials."

Read the entire article here. 

The article, initially entitled, "20,000 Troops Iside U.S. by 2011" has been retitled (I don't know if MSNBC or the Washington Post is responsible).  The new, kinder, gentler propagandistic spin on the title is "Pentagon to Detail Troops to Bolster Domestic Security".

 

I find it interesting that the military has a different view of their duties. I spoke of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team taking their place on American soil in this  article.  

McKinney/Clemente in 2008

Think that no presidential candidate cares about trillions of dollars missing each year?   Think no presidential candidate is asking real questions about 9/11?  Think again.  Think Cynthia McKinney.

This is the 1st all-women-of-color presidential ticket in US history! 

I am still amazed that hardly anyone knows about Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente. You would think that it might get a mention on the news. Somehow ABC, NBC, CBS and (fair and balanced) Fox News seemed to have missed it. 

Do you want to vote for someone who has not supported the dissolution of the Bill of Rights as Barack Obama and John McCain have? Cynthia is an option. She is running on the Green Party ticket. Rather than choosing between the lesser of two evils, how about not voting for evil at all?

What happened to Posse Comitatus?

Are you getting used to habeas corpus being gone? 

Posse Comitatus is joining it in the dark space between the Democrats and Republicans that is reality.  Don't believe me.  Read it for yourself at the Army Times!!!

"The 3rd Infantry’s 1st BCT trains for a new dwell-time mission. Helping ‘people at home’ may become a permanent part of the active Army.  ... Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home."

"They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control..."

Read about it here!  Or check it out the Democracy Now video below:

I figured I would check with the HomelandSecurity.org.  I found an article by Major Craig T. Trebilcock entitled, "The Myth of Posse Comitatus".  You can read the article here.

Even if we accept that they are stomping all over Posse Comitatus, we should ask why they expect a need to use the military against U.S. citizens in civil unrest and crowd control.  Is there something they are expecting?

Police Threaten to Gas Veterans at DNC.

I wonder if they were granted access to speak at the convention or if they attempted to approach the convention again. I wonder if they would claim victory and leave so quickly if someone wearing a suit says something reassuring again.

I hope that both campaigns speak to veterans and citizens about important issues. I also hope that both camps become defenders of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Peace of Mind 5K for Injured Veterans

I am getting up early on Saturday morning (June 14th) to photograph the "Peace of Mind 5k". It will be the first-ever rally/walk/run saluting Americans with combat-related brain injuries. It begins at 8am.

According to a PRN Newswire release,

"A recent RAND Corp. report states that 320,000 U.S. military veterans have
sustained combat-related brain injuries. Some estimates indicate 20,000
servicemembers have sustained combat-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a
result of the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war's so-called
"signature injury." "

A thousand American flags will be distributed to wave. (I can't say I support jingoism in any form.)

The event is sponsored by and proceeds from the Peace of Mind 5K will benefit the Defense/Veterans Brain Injury Centers, the Helping a Hero Organization, the Brain Injury Association of Texas and Easter Seals Central Texas.

I ask all in attendence to evaluate what it means to support our troops. These brave men and women have committed their lives to defending our freedoms and are being USED for other purposes. The resulting injuries and deaths are unconscionable, especially in light of the facts regarding how the public and their representatives were lied to by those sworn to uphold the constitution.

Support the troops. Show up, participate, donate, get to know these veterans and see how you can help. The best way to prevent TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) in battle is not to have a battle.

McCain Opposes Expanding GI Bill?!?

With the politics I have followed for all these years, I keep thinking I won't be surprised. McCain caught me off guard again. Read the article from ABC News where Senator John McCain (the Republican candidate for president) is opposing the current version of the bill because it would likely "lead more members to get out of the service". I am left with more questions than answers.

Expanding educational benefits for those who put their lives on the line (the ones he would send to fight and/or die around the world) would be a bad thing? It would make them leave the military?

Does he think education makes you less patriotic? Is he implying that if we educate our young people, they will think that military service is a bad thing? Does he feel that they would no longer feel the need to protect their country or fellow soldiers? Is he concerned that they might discover there are other ways of protecting "The Homeland", protecting allies and serving the needs of the United States? Maybe even better ways?

Is it that if people remain poor, uneducated and fear what they are told to fear; they will do anything (including die for) an opportunity to have a better life for their families? It almost makes it sound like we, as a country, prey on the poor and uneducated and he wants to make certain to keep them uneducated.

I think this is a good time to share the "john.he.is" video again. It is a video put together from different speeches Senator McCain has given.

Q: "President Bush talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years..."
Senator McCain butts in and says, "

"Maybe a hundred, that's fine with me! I don't think Americans are concerned if we're there for a hundred years, or a thousand years, or ten thousand years."

Have you met one of these Americans he speaks of?

If you are one...I'd love to hear from you.

Rogue Spy Satellite Blast

The danger of the rogue spy satellite falling from the sky and hitting the U.S. has been neutralized. The following is video of a Navy SM-3 Missile being launched and finding it's target. This activity has upset many others around the world who question the U.S. government's intentions.

"Robert Gates, the defence secretary, last night acknowledged that the technology used in the mission proved that America’s missile defence shield worked. The missile deployed, an SM3, was designed to hit other missiles as part of the shield." (1)

Wired chimes in on it here.

Kosovo Declares Independence

Think things have been getting too quiet in Europe? The victory of incumbent Boris Tadic in Serbia's presidential elections at the beginning of February was foreshadowing for yesterday's events. Forbes has an article addressing the newly declared independent Kosovo. It is, of course, accepted and backed by the US and the European Union and is, of course, opposed by Serbia and Russia.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the more pro-Russian candidates over the next few years.

The quote from the article that made me look twice was this line:

'Kosovo is a democratic, secular and multi-ethnic society,' which would welcome the EU's 'international civilian and (NATO) military presence in Kosovo.'

John McCain Speech Music Video

By now, most of you have seen the Obama campaign music video of his speech, "Yes We Can". Someone created a video of McCain (john.he.is) giving one of his speeches in a similar style.

The guys from Election '08 on YouTube (Andy Cobb, Josh Funk, Nyima Funk, Marc Evan Jackson, Mark Kienlen, David Pompeii, Marc Warzecha) put this one out:

The video below is the original campaign music video released in support of Obama.


If anyone is wondering, I have not decided to endorse any particular candidate. However, I will gladly oppose John McCain. I believe it was Pat Buchanan who said, " John McCain will make Cheney look like Ghandi."

Goodbye Andrew Olmsted, RIP

Major Andrew Olmsted, Iraq Blogger, Killed in Ambush

(Picture courtesy of Rocky Mountain News)

I am going to miss his insights, his intellect, his experiences and the impact he had on myself and many others who had the opportunity to read his blog. You can read his final blog post here. He had a fellow blogger, hilzoy (a philosophy professor who specializes in ethics), published his farewell post. The following is an excerpt:

"This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits. And so, like G'Kar, I must say here what I would much prefer to say in person. I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It's not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn't hesitate to accept the charge. As with many bloggers, I have a disgustingly large ego, and so I just couldn't bear the thought of not being able to have the last word if the need arose. Perhaps I take that further than most, I don't know. I hope so. It's frightening to think there are many people as neurotic as I am in the world. In any case, since I won't get another chance to say what I think, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Such as it is."

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

Missile System From Russia to Iran

Someone please send me some really cool local art I can post or something that will bring a smile to people's faces.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Russia has agreed to sell an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Iran. You can read the article for yourself here.

(picture courtesy of Reuters)

"S-300 missiles are longer-ranging than the TOR-M1 surface-to-air missiles which Russia, in a deal criticized by the West, earlier this year said it had delivered to the Islamic Republic under a $1 billion contract."

Militarization of our Police

Let me begin by saying, there are respectful,honorable,reasonable, caring men and women who wear the badge and do the thankless, low-paid job for the betterment of their society and their fellow man. However, there has been a steady progression toward militarization and an frightening increase in the acceptance by citizens to be treated as "civilians".

I am a citizen, not a civilian!!!

The video points out some observable shifts in the way police are armed and how they interact with the public they serve (not rule). What happened to serve and protect? When did the police become intimidators, tax-collectors aggressors, and our militarily armed keepers, rather than public servants?



Write your city council members to let them know what you think of the police in your area. If you have a wonderful police force, write a letter to let them know how wonderful you think they are and encourage them to continue to interact with the public in a respectful, reasonable and empathetic manner.

Forgive Me

This is a letter to my friends, family, peers and readers:

Please forgive me for having so many posts that illuminate destructive forces and quiet injustices. I keep logging on to research and write about art & photography OR produce art & photographic works. I end up writing about some corrupt "representative" or injustice. I want to tell the world to just chill out for a while so we can all have some fun, create & share art and breathe deeply again.

In my research, all that I have learned and all I wish I could un-learn; I discovered there is beauty, wonder and miracles that balance the destruction and chaos that have become so evident in the world we live in. It can be quite challenging to recognize these qualities still exist. I assure you (and myself)...They are there.

I promise to continue to bring you interesting art, events, photography, music and videos to temper all of the other stuff that can make a person feel as if they have just returned from an aerobics class. Thank you for all of your support, feedback and patience as this project has evolved.

I wish you all love, longevity and boundless happiness,

Erik