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A Chicano activist celebrates anniversary

by Edward Barrios Acevedo

Edward Barrios AcevedoEdward Barrios Acevedo

He could have been one heck of an auto mechanic. But the prevailing forces of the civil rights movement, a raging war overseas, and a leap of faith in education, rewrote the destiny of Armando Vázquez-Ramos.

Beginning in March and extending throughout the year, countless events will celebrate the 40th anniversary of what Armando and many others of his generation hail as the birth of the Chicano Movement. Theyconnect it with the March 1968 walkouts involving hundreds of East Los Angeles high school students.

Led by a passionate young teacher named Sal Castro, Mexican-American kids defied their instructors and in many instances their parents to protest institutional racism and inequitable education conditions on their campuses. Their actions lit a fire that engulfed young, brown teens throughout the whole Southwest.

This year Armando celebrates a parallel 40-year stretch at California State University at Long Beach that began as a student leader and continues as an activist professor. He doesn’t appear ready to slow down any time soon.

“Much has happened since then,” the burly, bespeckled professor reflects. “But we still see a similarity to the conditions we faced 40 years ago — unpopular war abroad, attacks on civil liberties, and a continuous dehumanization of immigrants and Latinos.”

There has been tremendous progress, he admits, but challenges are everywhere, including raging dropout rates, poorly prepared college entrants, unacceptable retention statistics, and unequal representation at almost every level of business and government.

Today, the Chicano Studies professor says, he is offering tune-ups not of automobiles, but of the lives of underserved young people in this beachside town 20 miles south of Los Angeles.

At an early morning breakfast, I caught up with the professor to press him on the environment he fi­nds himself in 2008.

“My mission is the same today as it was 40 years ago — to improve the educational level of my community,” he insists. He’s juggling a dozen projects, including writing a detailed account on the history of Mexican Americans in Long Beach for generations that follow to read.

Over the years, Vázquez-Ramos has assisted thousands of students. Many return to him as elected offi cials, educators and business leaders, some seeking his counsel on issues, others just to absorb an old fashioned pep talk from a trusted adviser.

“Seeing students succeed as professionals and do things of value in their own communities is the greatest glory of teaching,” he insists.

Against a backdrop of poverty and lack of role models, Armando came to the United States from Mexico City when he was 12 years old. Life as a skilled laborer was a hopeful goal.

Then, when he graduated from Lincoln High School, where the walkouts were incubated the following year, he was accepted at California State University at Long Beach as part of the first Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) class in 1967-1968.

Today, the EOP program continues to identify promising students who need enrollment and education assistance.

“It really changed my life,” he reflects. “It has inspired me to do the same for others just like me.”

He argues that there is a direct correlation between the success of students and curricula that refl ect the cultural and ethnic content the Latino students demanded during those walkouts four decades ago. He recalls leading some fellow college freshman to visit Lincoln High and encourage the rebels to pursue their reform mission.

“It’s a constant struggle to eliminate ignorance and hate through education,” he says as he drives home his fi nal point: “We all benefit from the investment. We owe our kids the same effort and opportunities that gave us our chance.” Hispanic Link.

(Edward Barrios Acevedo is a teacher and freelance writer in Los Angeles. He can be reached Edwardfactor@yahoo.com). ©2008

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How real is the Mayor’s cause for the sanctuary?

by Marvin J Ramirez

Marvin J. RamirezMarvin J. Ramirez

Many of you who are fanatics of the only newscasts in the nation monopolized by a few that transmit ‘the news’ for the [North] American people, might have heard that Gavin Newsom is the favorite of the Democratic Party to run for governor of California.

And many of you who faithfully read El Reportero every week, might have read in the past, that the San Francisco Mayor did not showed up in two of the most important marches held by mostly Latino immigrants yesteryear.

But now that he is planning to run for governor, we hear and read that he is one way or another, supporting the City’s Sanctuary, which, “symbolically,” protects undocumented immigrants’ rights from the persecution of ICE (the federal immigration service).

Newsom and Sup. Tom Ammiano recently launched a public awareness campaign to promote the San Francisco Sanctuary announcing that “accessing city services does not make an individual vulnerable to federal authorities.”

But how about making them vulnerable to city authorities?

What the campaign is saying, is that city employees (the police) will not report individuals or their immigration status to federal immigration agents, but it doesn’t say that its agents will go like the feds after their cars, because is profitable for the city’s coffers.

However, I question the sincerity of these two democratic politicians, who for years, have ignored requests from this writer, to extend that protection to the undocumented’s vehicles, which everyday the city’s employees (the police) keep confiscating their cars.

“As much as I want to help him,” said a police officer who had just stopped a vehicle driven by an unlicensed driver, “I don’t want lose my job. I have to impound the car,” he told El Reportero.

The officer opened the vehicle’s trunk and found it filled of carpentry tools, while his 6-year-old daughter was in the car waiting for the mother to pick her up. It happened on 24th Street.

The brother of the unlicensed driver arrived and started helping him unload the tools.

The red, compact, car, would not sleep at home that and possibly many nights, or ever again. It will end up at the City’s towing garage, where it probably will cost the humble worker, a few thousands if it is impounded for 30 days.

If you don’t know, the San Francisco Municipality, as every one in the country, when they over spend beyond their fi scal budget, they go after the citizenry, increasing the fi nes or creating new ones and new excuses to tax the people, regardless if they are taking the money for their medicines and food or if they already are unemployed.

And the money they collect now from its citizens, is not to pay for this year’s city services and salaries, but for the future, since the Federal Reserve Bank already paid or loaned the money for this year’s. I know, you’re probably thinking while scratching your head: “how can this happen? Only a few politicians know the truth.

Remember, there is not real money in circulation, only debt certifi cates called: Federal Reserve Notes. Look at one dollar bill. Finally, I feel pain in my heart for that humble man who got his car confiscated.

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Ex-Secretary of State George P. Shultz urges Schwarzenegger to save electric car

by Plug In America board members

An electric car receives chargeAn electric car receives charge

Shultz’s 11­th-Hour Plea, One Day Before Key Car Vote, Calls for More Plug In Electric Hybrids Instead of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.

SACRAMENTO – On the eve of a vote that could kill the electric car all over again, former Secretary of State George P. Shultz has asked California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to “intervene” by urging state air regulators to require significant production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles instead of favoring the hydrogen fuel cell technology that Shultz termed “an R&D project.”’

To read George Shultz’ letter go to www.PlugInAmerica.org.

Shultz, who served under President Ronald Reagan, made the pleain an 11th-hour letter to Schwarzenegger delivered Wednesday as Plug In America voiced similar concerns during a press conference (video available here www.pluginamerica.org) in Sacramento.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is slated to vote on Thursday (3/27) on a revision to its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program that prioritizes hydrogen fuel cell production over battery electric vehicles.

“With due respect to the long-term prospects of hydrogen, it is not a near term technology,” wrote Shultz, who sent a copy of his letter to CARB chairwoman Mary Nichols. “We must implement alternatives that are viable today instead of putting so much emphasis on an R&D project.”

“The rest of the country is looking to California for leadership on this issue by making a variety of vehicles available to consumers,” wrote Shultz, adding his conviction that electric vehicle technology can free the nation of its reliance on foreign oil. “Choice in the market means a more secure America.” lug In America board members and supporters, including former Central Intelligence Agency chief R. James Woolsey, have discussed the CARB proposal with Shultz. The clean-car advocacy organization delivered a letter of its own to the Governor last week, urging him to ask CARB to require tens of thousands of fully electric vehicles instead of one tenth of that, as the board’s staff proposal does now.

Another former Reagan Administration official, Deputy Under Secretary of Education Dr. Peter R. Greer, sent yet another plea to Gov. Schwarzenegger last week. Voicing his concerns about climate change as well as national security, he “all but begged” the Governor to “direct CARB to put electric vehicles back on the road again by adopting the changes to the ZEV Program proposed by Plug In America.”

Individual citizens from all 50 U.S. states and 20 other countries have sent similar messages to Schwarzenegger and CARB over the past two weeks.

A large crowd, including more than a dozen drivers with their fully electric vehicles, cheered during Plug In America’s press conference, which was covered by national and state media.

Woolsey, among the event’s speakers, also addressed the need for America’s independence from foreign oil. Both he and Plug In America executive director Chelsea Sexton will testify in support of electric vehicles on Thursday(3/27) before the CARB vote.

Woolsey, Sexton and other Plug In America board members will be available for media interviews on Thursday. Please call Zan Dubin Scott at (310) 383-0956.

For more information on Plug In America’s recommendations for the CARB vote, please go to www.pluginamerica.org/press-room.shtm.

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San Francisco’s hosting of the Olympic Torch turns chaotic

by Juliana Birnbaum Fox

Decenas marcha contra el régimen chino durante el paso por SF de la Antorcha Olímpica antes de salir hacia Argentina.: (photo by Jose Corado)Dozens march against China during the stop of the Olympic Torch in SF before heading for Argentina. (photo by Jose Corado)

Amid thousands of protestors against Chinese policy, the Olympic torch procession through San Francisco last Wednesday descended into a farce. The city was chosen as the only U.S. stop for the ceremonial display, called, ironically, the “Journey of Harmony,” partly because it is home to the largest Chinese population in an urban area outside of China.

Through rerouting suggested by Chinese officials and approved by Mayor Newsom, they managed to run the torch through some of San Francisco’s streets, if not the streets along the Embarcadero as originally planned. The torch was lit at a park outside at AT&T Park at 1:17, briefly held aloft by Chinese Olympic offi cials and run into a large waterfront warehouse.

Around 2 p.m., the torch resurfaced about two miles away from the stadium along Van Ness Avenue, where it had been smuggled by bus. Television reports, which through helicopters and various feeds were able to keep track of the fl ame, showed runners surrounded by motorcycles and uniformed police offi cers as surprised people along the improvised route took photos. From there it was bused to SFO where a closing ceremony was held on the tarmac, rather than as planned at Justin Herman Plaza, and the fl ame was fl own to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The protestors took advantage of the Olympic spotlight to rally against various aspects of Chinese policy: its human rights abuses and colonial rule in Tibet, its support of brutal regimes in Darfur and Burma-Myanmar, as well as its record on environmental, labor, and animal rights issues.

One of the most unique moments of the bizarre event arrived when one of the torchbearers, environmental activist Majora Carter, pulled a Tibetan fl ag from her sleeve and waved it for about fi ve seconds until she was tackled by security.

“I really felt a total, complete sense of oneness with the people of Tibet,” she told the New York Times. She added that as “a civil rights activist in this country,” she could not stand in support of China.

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Penobscots lead opposition to Venezuela ‘terrorism’ resolutionthe

INDIAN ISLAND, Maine – Members of the Penobscot Indian Nation are spearheading opposition to a congressional resolution that would designate Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism.

James Sappier, former Penobscot Indian Nation chief, and Erlene Paul, the head of Penobscot’s Human Services Department, said House Resolution 1049 threatens not only a program in which the South American country has provided free heating oil to hundreds of American Indian and low-income communities for the past three winters, but would also jeopardize the good relationships tribal members have developed with Venezuelans and could impact oil imports for the entire U.S. Sappier said he has alerted the tribes involved to contact their congressional representatives to vote against the resolution.

‘’It’s the least we can do. Why would Congress do this? The program has provided a donation to the U.S. low-income and poor people of almost a billion dollars over the years when domestic oil companies did nothing.

‘’We’re worried sick that we’re going to lose the program because of this kind of frivolous attitude of some congressmen. But it wouldn’t be just the tribes that would be affected; it would be everyone. If you think your oil prices are high now, imagine what they’d be if we stopped getting oil from Venezuela – that’s 14 to 16 percent of our imports,’’ Sappier said.

Venezuela provides the U.S. with about 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day. Indian Country Today.

International mediation arrives in Bolivia

by the El Reportero news services

On 3 April Argentina, Brazil and Colombia agreed to mediate in Bolivia’s political crisis.

The announcement follows the admission by the Roman Catholic Church that its mediation effort had failed, because dialogue between the government and
opposition was “impossible” given the current climate of “mutual distrust, pressure and violence”.

The three new mediators are likely to back the central government of President Evo Morales, as the Organization of American States and the European Union, are doing.

The danger of this is that Santa Cruz which wants more autonomy, will be increasingly isolated. The choice the autonomists have is either to back down or to secede.

Argentine agricultural protest exposes political difficulties for Fernández

The agricultural protest in Argentina is providing President Cristina Fernández with a serious test, although her government gained some breathing space on 2 April when the country’s four farming unions announced a 30-day truce.

The problem for Fernández is that the protests go beyond criticism of her government’s economic policy, and raise pressing questions about her style of governance and the political alliances forged by her husband and predecessor Néstor Kirchner.

The protest action is also inspiring similar shows of force by farmers in other countries across the region: Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Paraguay.

Court expert smacks Chevron with up to $16 billion in damages

LAGO AGRIO, Ecuador– In a long-awaited court report submitted as part of the final phase of a trial, an independent expert has proposed that Chevron pay a minimum of $7 billion and up to $16 billion to compensate for environmental contamination caused to Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest during a 26-year period when the oil giant operated a large concession in the country.

If the assessment is accepted by the court, the subsequent judgment likely would be the largest civil damages awards in an environmental case. The higher $16 billion figure could result if the court accepts an “unjust enrichment” penalty tied to Chevron’s actual cost savings over several decades for failing to use appropriate operational practices.

­The lower figure represents actual costs to remediate soils around all 378 of Chevron’s former Ecuador production facilities, plus compensation for health care costs, a water system, loss of indigenous land, ecosystem impacts, infrastructure improvements, and other categories of damages.

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The incomplete Latino vote: Puerto Rico & the Presidential Election

by Angelo Falcón

NEWS ANALYSIS – The increasing interest in the role of the Latino vote in the Democratic primaries for United States president has opened up an important opportunity to educate resolutionthe U.S. public about the Latino community.

We have, hopefully, dispelled the myth that Latinos will not vote for a black for president. We have, in the process, also demonstrated that the Latino vote should not be taken for granted by the Democratic Party establishment, as the Clinton campaign now apparently view Latinos as her last best hope to revive her failing campaign.

When talking about the Latino vote, reference is made to the fact that the Latino population in the United States now stands at 44 million. This figure is incorrect. There are actually 48 million Latinos in this country, if you include the 4 million living in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and others.

These are all U.S. citizens, mostly Puerto Ricans, with a significant number of Dominicans.

One could argue that they should not be included in the Latino population count when discussing the presidential election because, although U.S. citizens, these 4 million do not have the right to vote for president.

But, it turns out, they do vote in the nominations process of the two major parties, so they are relevant to a discussion of the role of the Latino vote in selecting the next President of the United States.

Take the case of Puerto Rico:

Island Puerto Ricans will be holding their caucus and convention on June 7, making it the very last race for the nomination before the party conventions this summer. In the Democratic Party, Puerto Rico has a delegation of 63, which is larger than that of 24 states. If the party upholds its sanctions against Florida and Michigan for violating party rules in the scheduling of their primaries, Puerto Rico’s delegation to convention will be larger than that of the 26 states.

In the past, Puerto Rico’s was a winnertake-all system, but party rules have changed so that it is now supposed to be proportional.

While the smart money had been that Clinton could count on all of these delegates, recent events are reflecting the Obama tsunami, and the presumed solidity of the Puerto Rican delegation in this regard is crumbling.

Most recently, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, has endorsed Barack Obama, and it appears that Obama has raised more contributions than Clinton in Puerto Rico. The notion, advanced by Michael Barone and other analysts, that Puerto Rico would deliver all of as I like to call it, colony) like Puerto Rico even has the possibility of determining who would be the candidate for president of a major U.S. political for failing to use appropriate operational practices.

The lower figure represents actual costs to remediate soils around all 378 of Chevron’s former Ecuador production facilities, plus compensation for health care costs, a water system, loss of indigenous land, ecosystem impacts, infrastructure improvements, and other categories of damages.its delegates to one candidate and could be decisive being that it would be the last contest in a long nominations battle, is not panning out.

Despite this, the very idea that a territory (or, party is deliciously ironic, given that its residents, all U.S. citizens, do not have the right to vote for U.S. president.

In this inequity, they are joined by another million U.S. citizens in the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and other smaller islands, as well as the District of Columbia.

Some will note that it is perhaps no coincidence that these are areas populated overwhelmingly by people of color.

So in this very exciting presidential election where it is important that we also understand there are over 5 million U.S. citizens in the territories (colonies) and the District of Columbia who continue to be disenfranchised by not having the right to vote for President or for voting members of Congress. The so-called “Latino vote” is dilute by this inequality, as is its potential impact. Of course, none of the presidential candidates are raising this issue. Hispanic Link.

(Angelo Falcón is founder and president of the National Institute for Latino Policy, based in New York City. E-mail him at afalcon@latinopolicy.org).

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Famous Peruvian artist tours the U.S.A.

by Margine Quintanilla

Susana BacaSusana Baca

Famous Afro-Peruvian singer Susana Baca, winner of the Latino Grammy, will be visiting the United States in an artistic tour that will include only two presentations in San Francisco.

During this tour, Baca will present her most recent CD produced by Greg Landau and Ricardo Pereira, as well as songs not recorded by the great Peruvian composer Chabuca Granda. This new album, it received good critiques from the national press and music experts.

Baca will offer two concerts in San Francisco on April 3 and 4 in the Brava Theater, 2789 24th St. (and York St.), San Francisco, from 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost 25 $ in advance and $30 at the door. For more information call 415/647-2822 or visit www.ticketweb.com.

You, and your family and friends are invited to a special seminar on the law by Zeke

You will learn about the legal process and how to defend yourselves and your families from the corrupt judicial system.

Excerpt from Zeke’s Website à http://www.powerpolitics.com/about.php.

“In 1997 we started this site in an effort to help people learn about the legal process so they could help themselves solve the problems they were running into in the Courts.

“We found that most people don’t care and of those who do, very few are willing to put in the time and energy to understand how to wield the Judicial Power of the Constitution as envisioned by some of the forefathers of this great nation.

“So, if you want to put forth the effort, get technical, read a lot, study, and learn to assert and defend your rights, then you can begin your journey to Sovereignty by learning about the three Powers that were established and delegated by the Constitution.

“This concept is new to the 21st century legal theories and is an exercise of power by the individual, which has been unheard of for over 100 years.”

Saturday 1710 South Amphlett Blvd. Conference Room No. 126, San Mateo, CA 94402. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for Registration. For more info visit: http://www.powerpolitics.com/.

SFWFF will present movies only for women

A series of educational movies dedicated especially for women of all ages, will be the main attraction during the San Francisco Women Film Festival (SFWFF).

During the shooting, the women of San Francisco and especially young adolescents, will have the opportunity to submerge in the experience lived by other women.

During the SFWFF there will be offered the possibility of protecting the movies of young filmmakers as it is the case of the film Of the Next Generation: Movie done by the youth for the youth.

Another movie which they will be able to enjoy is Passion and Power: the Technology of the Orgasm, by Wendy Slick and Emiko Omori, which will be exhibited from April 11, in select theaters and social centers across the Bay Area.

The closing film The Women will appear on April 13, a documentary produced by Alexis Krasilovsky, who behind the camera, explores the lives in countries like China, India, and Iran.

So much as the opening films as those closing ones, will be presented at the Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street, San Francisco, from 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be $10. For more information call 510.235.0709. http://sfwff.com.

Outstanding journalist analyzes effects of conservatism in America

Peter Scoblic, Executive Publisher of the New Republic, will expose an analysis on The effects conservatism has caused in America since the last century.

Also Scoblic will explain the ideology of the Bush Administration Bush in foreing policy, as well as the topic with how the political decisions taken during this government have threatened our future, and also will detail the different forms in as these damages might be invested. This event will be held on Thursday, April 23 of April at the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information call 415-597-6712 or 415-597-6734. guestservices@commonwealthclub.org.

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Mambo creator dies

by Antonio Mejías-Rentas

Israel López CachaoIsrael López Cachao

‘CACHAO’ DIES: Cuban musician Israel “Cachao” López, a co-creator of the mambo whose career flourished as an exile in the United States, died last week. He was 89. According to the musician’s manager, Omer Pardillo, Cachao died early in the morning of March 22 in a Coral Gables, Fla., hospital, of renal failure.

Born in Havana in 1918 to a family of musicians, he was a classically trained bassist who began perfomming as a teenager. He also composed songs for popular bands and orchestras and in the 1 930s he and his brother Orestes created the mambo as a variation of the danzón, a slow, danceable style.

Cachao left Communist Cuba in 1962 and after a short period in Spain moved to New York, where he soon began performing with the top Latin jazz musicians of the era. He moved to Miami in the 1 980s and in spite of his talent and popularity, fell into near obscurity until he caught the attention of actor Andy García. The 1993 documentary Cachao… Como su ritmo no hay dos, produced by García, sparked new interest in the then septuagenarian musician.

Cachao went on to release several Grammy winning albums – produced by Garcia and fellow Cuban-American booster, Emilio Estefan, Jr.—and continued performing well into his late 80’s. Last year he performed at a Miami tribute following the death of Cuban trombonist Generoso Jiménez.

In 2000 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“Cachao is our musical father. He is revered by all who have come in contact with him and his music, Garcia said in a statement. “Maestro… you have been my teacher, and you took me in like a son. So l will continue to rejoice with your music and carry our traditions wherever I go, in your honor”.

Details of the funeral to take place this week are to be announced at a press conference scheduled for March 24 in Miami.

BABIES DEBUT: Marc Anthony changes diapers and Jennifer López has lost most of the gained weight, according to an interview accompanying a twelve-page photo spread in this week’s issue of People, with exclusive pictures of the couple’s newborn twins.

Max and Emme, along with their famous mom, are on the cover of the magazine ­which hit newsstands March 21.The couple employs two nurses and two 4assistants to help out with the children, according to the magazine, which has not said how much it paid for the exclusive photo session. According to published reporls, the record-breaking figure could be as high as $6 million.

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Developers compete for contract to develop Oakland Army Base

by the El Reportero’s staff

OAKLAND — Thirteen developers from across the nation are now competing for the opportunity to develop a 108-acre site within the former Oakland Army Base. On March 10, the City of Oakland concluded a two month “Request for Qualifications” (RFQ) process to identify potential developers for the Army Base. The city received responses from 13 development teams.

“We are extremely pleased by the strong response,” said Mayor Ron Dellums. “This is a tremendous vote of confi dence for Oakland’s economy. It also shows what a unique opportunity we have to revitalize the area, taking advantage of the central Bay Area location, prominent waterfront, and direct visibility and access from the freeways. With its large, open areas of land, the site can attract large-scale developments that can provide signifi cant high-quality jobs, support and enhance Port activities, provide a place for new industries, create new access to open space along the Waterfront, and generate other community benefi ts for Oakland.”

The city has provided a special section on its Web site to provide information to the public on the planning and redevelopment of the Oakland Army Base site, which is available at: http://www.business2oakland.com/main/redevelopment.htm.

Marine Recruiting Center leaving Berkeley agreement

The protest group CODEPINK was delighted to hear the news. “While we still don’t know the details, we are have happy to hear that the Marines will be closing their doors and respecting the anti-war values of the residents of Berkeley,” said CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin.

“The situation was becoming untenable,” says Mr. Shamszad. “The presence of the Marines sparking daily protests have had a negative impact on local businesses.

The city has been forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in police overtime. And some groups have been calling for a national boycott of our city. So I sat down with representatives of the Marines and we worked out a solution.”

“We just came out with a national productivity study by offi ce, and the Recruiting Center in Berkeley was in the bottom ten percentile,” says Michael Applegate, Director of the Marine Manpower Plans and Policy Division. “It’s a three-person office in a high-rent district bringing in an average of only 1.4 recruits per month. This is just not a good use of taxpayer money. So we were happy to work out an agreement with Mr. Shamszad. For us, this has nothing to do with protests outside the station, but is simply an issue of strategic redeployment.”

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A note from Michel Moore

Friends,

Michael MooreMichael Moore

It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn’t it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?

4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.

And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, “two-thirds of Americans say it’s not worth fighting.”

Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: “So?”

“So?” As in, “So what?” As in, “F*** you. I could care less.”

I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven’t risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.

The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months — and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?

Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman’s royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.

The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, “God Bless America.” That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn’t command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.

I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called “Bush’s War.” That’s what I’ve been calling it for a long time. It’s not the “Iraq War.” Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn’t plan 9/11. It didn’t have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.

But that’s all gone now. Show a movie and you’ll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I’m happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we’ve brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?

God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush’s War. God help America. Please.

Michael Moore Monday, March 24th, 2008 MMFlint@aol.com, MichaelMoore.com.

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