Monthly Archives: January 2011

Korematsu Day: The Politics of Vindication

Posted on January 31, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Today Californians celebrate the first Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution.  Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, Korematsu challenged the constitutionality of relocating and interning Japanese Americans during World War II.  Three Supreme Court Justices agreed … Continue reading →

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Tunisia, Egypt, and Revolutions

Posted on January 30, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Like most everyone else, I’ve been transfixed by the historic revolutionary efforts that may be sweeping the Arab world.  Most of the little I know about Tunisia and Egypt, I’ve learned in the past few days, but there are general … Continue reading →

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Beck and Piven, II

Posted on January 27, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The ballad of the pundit and the professor continues to add verses as the story of Glenn Beck’s demonization of Frances Fox Piven hit the blogs, professional and activist networks and mass media.  It raises interesting questions about what a … Continue reading →

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Roe v. Wade commemorations

Posted on January 25, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Visitors to Washington, DC can choose either an anti-abortion or abortion rights demonstration this week. The March for Life started with a rally on the National Mall, then activists marched to the Supreme Court to protest Roe v. Wade, praying … Continue reading →

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Beck and Piven

Posted on January 23, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Glenn Beck has spent a lot of air time over the past year attacking Frances Fox Piven, a distinguished professor of political science at the City University of New York.  Beck’s spotlight has brought Piven to the attention of a … Continue reading →

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House Repeals Health Care (Symbolically)

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives voted to repeal President Obama’s health care reforms, which have just begun to come into effect.  It was a big victory for the Republicans and the Tea Party, but it’s unlikely … Continue reading →

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Dead Heroes, Martin Luther King, and Original Intent

Posted on January 19, 2011 by David S. Meyer

In the fall of 2001 I sat on a committee charged with planning the program for Martin Luther King Day here at UC Irvine.  American armed forces were then just entering Afghanistan, seeking Osama Bin Laden, and fighting to oust … Continue reading →

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Martin Luther King Day and Dead Heroes

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Martin Luther King died young enough and dramatically enough to be turned into an American hero, but it was neither his youth nor his death that made him heroic. In his rather brief public life, beginning in Montgomery at 26, … Continue reading →

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Where’s the Peace Movement?

Posted on January 17, 2011 by David S. Meyer

On the fiftieth anniversary of President Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex speech (his farewell address), it’s worth asking just where the peace movement is these days.  Eisenhower, a vigorous cold warrior and internationalist, sounded an alarm about making decisions about foreign and … Continue reading →

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Words and Deeds

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The spotlight on the grief and mourning following Jared Loughner’s attack in Arizona creates an opportunity for people who want attention.    What they do with the opportunity depends upon who they are and what they want.  And the subsequent reactions … Continue reading →

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