Category Archives: Uncategorized

Anti-circumcision campaign cut short

Posted on June 9, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Male circumcision dates back to a deal that Abraham made with God, as far as I know; most Jewish and Muslim parents still circumcise their sons to show that they’re keeping their end of the bargain.  Of course, in many … Continue reading →

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How Repression Works, American-style

Posted on June 1, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Scott Crow (right), an anarchist who has organized anti-corporate and animal rights events, used the Freedom of Information Act to get his FBI file; he received 440 pages, with much of the material blacked out (NY Times report). Crow reports … Continue reading →

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More on the Tepid TEA (Party)

Posted on May 29, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Every time I log on to the world, there’s more evidence that the Tea Party movement’s moment is passing. We see the strength of American social movements in their organizations, their ideas, and their activities.  (We’ve covered much of this … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Count on the Courts to ________ Social Change

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David S. Meyer

“Scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question.” This is a tag from Alexis de Tocqueville’s monumental Democracy in America, published well over 150 years ago. This is … Continue reading →

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The Movement Veto and Medicare

Posted on May 25, 2011 by David S. Meyer

When Democrat Kathy Hochshul won a normally Republican Congressional seat in special election in upstate New York, all of the party regulars weighed in with their distinctive spins on what this means or doesn’t mean for the elections coming up … Continue reading →

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Divining Authority (Religious Endorsements)

Posted on May 20, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Many many many Christians, readers have pointed out, are not worried about the Rapture tomorrow–despite the confident predictions of some committed co-religionists.  While some of the faithful have quit jobs to prepare–and to alert others of the coming judgment, other … Continue reading →

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Celebrity politics: Eva Longoria and immigration

Posted on May 17, 2011 by David S. Meyer

When Arizona adopted SB 1070, a bill that would mandate police investigation of people suspected of being in the country illegally, Eva Longoria announced the bill was unconstitutional.  With MALDEF’s (Mexican American Legal Defense Fund) Executive Director Thomas A. Saenz, … Continue reading →

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Freedom Rides, 50 years on

Posted on May 16, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Fifty years ago this month, the Freedom Riders put their bodies on the line to test their right to integrated interstate travel and accommodations. Starting tonight, PBS is running a compelling documentary of the events, featuring interviews with many of … Continue reading →

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The Fractious Politics of Education (III): Local Funding

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Today, we start with the story of Tanya McDowell, a homeless woman charged with larceny and conspiracy in defrauding the Norwalk, Connecticut, public schools.  Ms. McDowell, facing conspiracy for possessing marijuana and crack cocaine in another case, allegedly used a … Continue reading →

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A Recurrent DREAM (Social movement effects)

Posted on May 12, 2011 by David S. Meyer

For the courageous young people who willingly disclosed their undocumented status last year, Congress’s failure to pass the DREAM Act was a devastating blow.   They had an overly optimistic view, as activists often do, that the justice of their cause, … Continue reading →

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