From jnaiman@acs.ryerson.ca Wed Apr 1 11:28:53 1998 Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 13:30:21 -0500 (EST) From: Joanne Naiman To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Jonesboro murders I just received the following, and couldn't help thinking about how it connects to Steve Rosenthal's earlier posting about the Jonesboro murders. Certainly the gender issue cannot be ignored, but we are dealing with a society and culture where murder is normative and encouraged (in certain circumstances) by those in high political office. Cheers, Joanne Naiman ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 12:32:45 -0500 From: bev@niagara.com To: c4ed-l@netserver.web.net Subject: C4ED-L really scarey stuff >Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 21:22:00 +0000 >From: Marjaleena Repo >Organization: Citizens Concerned About Free Trade >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: CCAFT list >CC: MAI-not >Subject: INSIDE THE SCHOOL OF THE ASSASSINS: World premiere > >... talk about forced "globalization"! > >The Global Development Network and the Centre for Social Justice is >sponsoring the world premiere of the documentary "Father Roy: Inside the >School of the Assassins" in Toronto, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, AT 7 PM. AT THE >INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CENTRE (33 St. George Street at College Street). >There will be a speaker, ASAD ISMI, who is a research associate for the >Centre for Social Justice. > >[Text of the leaflet] >Father Roy Bourgeois has been in and out of US prisons for mounting a >campaign to shut down the School of Assassins. He is currently about the >begin another six-month term in prison. > >The US Army School of Assassins, based in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA, >trains Latin American soldiers in combat, counter-insurgency and >counter-narcotics. Graduates of the School of the Assassins have been >responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. >Among SOA's 57,000 graduates are some of the most notorious dictators. >Lower-level graduates have been responsbile for the most horrendous >massacres and human rights abuses including the assassination of >Archbishop Romero, El Mozote massacre in El Salvador and the on-going >genocidal policies in Colombia and Mexico. > >NOTE FROM MARJALEENA REPO: > >If you are in the Toronto (Ontario, Canada) area, do attend and bring >others. This is clearly an important expose of how the U.S. continues to >"kill hope" (to paraphrase the title of William Blum's book, Killing >Hope, which details the role of the U.S. and the CIA in preventing >democracy around the world). From the sound of it, this documentry is a >companion piece to American filmmaker John Sayles' chilling new film, >"Men with Guns", which depicts the conditions of state terrorism in >Mexico (but does not pay enough attention to the role of the U.S./CIA in >instigating this terrorism.) > >Those of you who can't attend - and there are many of you out there! - >if you are interested in details on how to obtain a copy of the film for >a showing, please let me know, and by the time you reply, I will have >found the rental and contact information. MR > > >-- >**************CITIZENS CONCERNED ABOUT FREE TRADE************* >National chair: DAVID ORCHARD National organizer: MARJALEENA REPO > website: http://web.idirect.com/~ccaft > National office (Saskatoon) tel: (306)244-5757 fax: (306)244-3790 > Toronto office tel: (416)922-STOP fax: (416)922-7883 > Vancouver office tel: (604)683-FREE fax: (604)683-3749 From gimenez@csf.Colorado.EDU Wed Apr 1 12:18:44 1998 Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 11:38:46 -0700 (MST) From: Martha Gimenez Reply-To: Martha Gimenez To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU, Social Class in Contemporary Societies , socgrads , msection@csf.Colorado.EDU, TEACHSOC@poplar.lemoyne.edu, ASA Academic Professional Affairs Subject: Teaching Sociology from a Marxist Perspective: CALL FOR SYLLABI The Section on Marxist Sociology requests contributions for updating the ASA TEaching Resource TEACHING SOCIOLOGY FROM A MARXIST PERSPECTIVE. We seek contributions from those who teach sociology from a Marxist perspective as well as from those who teach Marxist theory. Please send us your experience with innovative ways to teach Marxist ideas plus your Syllabi, study questions, handouts, test questions, classroom exercises, reading lists, bibliographies, recommended videos and films and any other instructional materials that work for you. You can send your materials in hard copy and a disk (preferably in Wordperfect 5.1) You can also send them through email If you have your syllabi in the web, send us your URL This project will be coedited by Abigail Fuller and Martha E. Gimenez: send your contributions to both of us - but send the disk version ONLY ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ to M. Gimenez. The deadline for submissions is April 30. Abigail A. Fuller Department of Sociology MC Box 178, Manchester College 604 E. College Ave. North Manchester, IN 46962 (219)982-5009 aaf@manchester.edu Martha E. Gimenez Department of Sociology Campus Box 327 University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, CO 80309 (303) 492-7080 (o) (303) 443-1077 (h) gimenez@csf.colorado.edu From cberlet@igc.apc.org Wed Apr 1 13:50:24 1998 Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 15:37:50 -0500 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu From: Chip Berlet Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro Regarding sexist intent/male rage: Look at a drawing of the school buildings, such as in Newsweek. During the specific class period when the fire alarm was pulled, the boys were in a gym with the main exit out of the line of fire established by the shooters. A secondary gym exit was oblique and further away from the shooting position. What was in the direct line of fire was the main exit to the school building where the girls were in academic classes. They would be exiting toward, and at a slight oblique angle to, the shooters. This would make for an ideal killing shot. Sorry for the cold language--as a paralegal investigator I've worked on homicide cases for defense attorneys. -Chip Berlet From aaustin@utkux.utcc.utk.edu Wed Apr 1 12:07:01 1998 id OAA04530; Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:06:46 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:06:46 -0500 (EST) From: Andrew Wayne Austin To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro In-Reply-To: List, What has impressed me is the degree to which patriarchal relations have been obscured in the mass media. Yes, it was reported that females were the victims. But it has not been discussed very much that they were targeted, particularly in a way that would force the public to ask the larger question. And the voices who are heard are likely to be treated as on the fringe. In my conversations with students on this, I have had difficulty in explaining to them why gender is an issue. I get the same reaction from them that I suppose exists at the larger societal level: they just don't see it even if you bring it out. So I have developed a thought project that I think reveals the elusive patriarchal elements of the event. I ask students - and I ask you - to imagine the situation as it is except change one fact: the fact of gender. Substitute race for gender. Two white boys with scoped rifles, marksmen, in gun clubs, raised in the South, shot five blacks boys and a black teacher. One of the boys was overheard saying just prior to the event, "No nigger talks to me that way and gets away with it." What might be the conclusion? I have watched the posts on this matter on this and other lists. Very interesting and important contributions have been made. I was reminded of many important things that must be considered in trying to understand such dramatic events. That men are victims of violence, even if we accept the (patriarchal) definition of what constitutes violent, does not obviate sexism in society because this is also an instance of gender socialization was an outstanding point. I would just note the hidden motive in justifying violence against women with statistics concerning violence against men. This troubles me. Thanks, Andy From rwlarkin@MCIONE.com Wed Apr 1 16:17:25 1998 Wed, 1 Apr 1998 23:17:10 +0000 (GMT) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 18:15:03 -0500 From: rwlarkin Subject: Murder in Jonesboro To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Having lived through the Lisa Steinberg murder at my child's school in Greenwich Village in NYC, I saw the community go through what, for lack of a better term might be called Community Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. For those who need their memories refreshed, Lisa was killed by her father in a fit of drugged rage, while her mother looked on. After the death, recriminations were made about the inability of Lisa's teacher and the school principal to recognize pre-existing child abuse, even though there was no observable evidence. The following year, the principal was hounded out of his job by a group of parents who claimed that their children were being sexually abused by a peer. As sociologists, we might want to think about what is going to happen to Jonesboro following the grief. First, I think that there will be a group of parents who will question the judgment of the principal, since she apparently was aware of the threats made by Mitchell Johnson. I think that there will be a furore about her lack of action about those threats. Second, I think that the community will split over the issue of gun safety and children using guns. Third, the families of the perpetrators most likely will be isolated and ostracized, if not threatened or attempts made on their lives. I doubt greatly whether they will be able to continue to live in the vicinity. The town will be in turmoil over recriminations and conflict resulting from this incident for years to come. The unity we see at present will most likely break down as people seek objects on which they can vent their frustrations. Children who were privy to information but did not reveal it may be ostracized. Although the media have characterized Jonesboro as a "working class" community, it is hard for me to believe that, as a college town, it doesn't have a substantial middle class. The issue of guns may break down across social class lines with the working class defending the use of guns in the terms of the NRA and the middle class wanting increased safety mechanisms. From tod-sloan@utulsa.edu Wed Apr 1 12:10:32 1998 From: "Tod Sloan" To: , , , , , , , Subject: Fw: Call for Papers: Theoretical Psychology (ISTP) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 13:04:06 -0600 -- Please post and/or forward to colleagues-- Call for Symposia, Papers, Roundtables, and Multimedia Presentations INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THEORETICAL PSYCHOLOGY SYDNEY CONFERENCE, APRIL 25-29 1999 Deadline for proposals: November 1, 1998 Notification of acceptance by December 1, 1998 Deadline for early registration: February 1, 1999 ABOUT THE CONFERENCE: Psychological theorizing is incredibly diverse and is performed by many who work in disciplines other than psychology. The Sydney ISTP Conference will definitely exemplify this diversity. We invite proposals representing these and other approaches: feminist, poststructuralist, critical theory, artificial intelligence, organization studies, cognitive science, psychoanalysis, organization theory, aesthetics, cultural studies, technology and subjectivity, ideology critique, historical studies, political psychology, multiculturalism, ethics and policy studies, evolutionary psychology, social constructionism, etc. The conference is not a forum for the presentation of empirical research findings or practical applications but we do invite submissions that examine general theoretical and metatheoretical issues that arise in conjunction with various methods or practices, including, for example, experimentation, qualitative research, action research, discourse analysis, ethnomethodology, phenomenology, psychotherapy, organizational consultation, etc. The Program Committee is especially interested in considering proposals related to the following special themes: The Relation of Practice to Theory: Theory tends to inform practice quite extensively, but one hears less about how practice, in turn, shapes theory. How has this occurred historically and how might we reconceptualize the practice- theory relationship? How might such considerations affect teaching and training in psychology? We are happy to receive proposals which relate to all forms of practice, be they clinical, psychoanalytic, organizational, educational etc. Feminist Theory meets Psychological Theory: How might we specify this relationship? In what ways can it be productively developed? Globalization and Postcolonialism: How do the macrosocial processes of our times impinge upon psychological theorizing, upon our views of human subjectivity and society? Interdisciplinarity: The use of psychological theory in numerous other disciplines raises many questions about interdisciplinarity. What have we learned from the experience of interdisciplinarity? What are its possibilities, its pitfalls? How has psychology been appropriated and/or excluded by or from other fields and disciplines, e.g., sociology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, organizational and cultural studies? Last Lectures of the 20th Century (or the First of the 21st): A chance to discuss the big picture in theoretical psychology, to look back and look forward, chart projects, motivate a new generation to work in theoretical psychology. ABOUT THE ISTP: International Society for Theoretical Psychology is composed of members from around the world who meet every other year to share ideas and discuss ways to enhance theorizing in psychology. The ISTP publishes Theory and Psychology, one of the few journals in the world that is dedicated solely to articles dealing specifically with issues in psychological theory. Selected proceedings from ISTP conferences are routinely published in book form. Check out the ISTP Webpage at http://www.york.ca/dept/psych/orgs/istp/istp.htm. ABOUT THE CONFERENCE SITE AND COSTS: The conference is to be held at a most unique and beautiful venue--the Quarantine Station at North Head, Manly, Australia. Only a half-hour ferry ride and a five-minute taxi ride from downtown Sydney, the Quarantine Station sits in a national park boasting two private beaches and spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, as well as nature trails and landing stage for fishing or boating. A group of rustic buildings, which formerly served as a quarantine area for new immigrants, has been stocked with all the necessary conference equipment. Conference catering is reported to be excellent. There will be a social program, including swimming, surfing lessons, yoga and tai chi on the beach, volleyball and a talent show/karaoke! Full room and board on site is expected to run between US$70 and $90 per day. There are also options for lodging in the nearby town of Manly, ranging from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels. The registration fee for the four day conference will be approximately US$140, hopefully less. Airfares to Australia in late April 1999 will be at low-season rates. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Questions about program content, proposals, etc., should be addressed to Tod Sloan at tod- sloan@utulsa.edu. Questions about logistics of conference attendance (travel, lodging, meals, etc.) should be addressed to Valerie Walkerdine at v.walkerdine@nepean.uws.edu.au. The Program Committee will do all it can to help students and the unemployed make affordable alternative arrangements (backpacking, low-cost accommodations nearby, etc.) and to accommodate persons with special needs. The Program Co-Chairs for the ISTP Sydney 1999 Conference are Tod Sloan, University of Tulsa, and Valerie Walkerdine, University of Western Sydney. FORMAT OPTIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS 1. SYMPOSIUM Symposia are allotted 110 minutes, allowing time for multiple presentations around a theme. Symposium panels must reflect diversity of, for example, disciplines, nationalities, paradigms, etc. Symposium organizers might consider having participants respond to a common text, transcript, video, etc., in order to exemplify implications of different approaches. They may also choose to have a designated discussant, but they should also leave ample time for discussion by attendees. 2. PAPER Papers of 20-25 minutes are invited (followed by 5-10 minutes of discussion). Presented should consider summarizing their basic argument during their presentation and offering a longer written version to interested persons. 3. ROUNDTABLE A 90-minute session for open discussion, debate, networking, etc. around themes or issues raised by the organizer/chair of the roundtable (examples: theoretical issues in qualitative research, William James, critical psychoanalysis, developments in artificial intelligence, cyborgs, emotion theory, Foucault). Roundtables are held in small rooms holding up to 10 people. Feel free to submit a roundtable proposal as well as a symposium or paper proposal. 4. MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION, ARTISTIC PRODUCTION, ETC Submit details to program chair for consideration. To submit your proposal(s), please fill out the form below, attach additional sheets as necessary, and send by email, file attachment (MS Word), fax, or regular mail to: Tod Sloan, Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104 USA. Fax 918-631-2833. Email: tod-sloan@utulsa.edu ----------------------------------------------------------- ISTP SYDNEY 1999 PROPOSAL Name Institution Mailing Address Email Fax Phone number Which presentation format would you prefer? Check all that apply. ___ SYMPOSIUM (on separate page, provide title and 100-200 word overview plus title and 100-200 word summary for each participant's presentation; also include names, institutional affiliations, and email, fax, and addresses of all participants) ___ PAPER (on separate page, provide title and 100-200 word summary) ___ ROUNDTABLE (on separate page, provide title and 100 words describing general issues to be raised for discussion) ___ MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION, ARTISTIC PRODUCTION, ETC. (Attach description) If you would also be willing to meet with students for an informal discussion of your work, please check here:______ What general topics would you discuss? In order to schedule meeting rooms according to levels of interest in particular topics, what sorts of sessions are you most interested in attending? Is there a particular person whose work in theoretical psychology you would particularly like to learn more about if s/he were able to attend? From valeries@yorku.ca Wed Apr 1 23:16:16 1998 Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 01:16:10 -0500 (EST) From: "V. Scatamburlo" To: psn Subject: Paula Jones Case I have been following the coverage of the dismissal of the Paul Jones case for most of the day and I was curious what other PSN'ers might be thinking about it. All I am going to offer here are a few preliminary thoughts before I take off on vacation for a week. First, let me premise this by saying that I am definitely no fan of Slick Willie--not by a long shot, but I have been equally appalled by some of the women involved in this fiasco--that has gotten me into some hot water with some of my fellow feminists, so be it--I'm no essentialist!!! In any case, I have to say that I found myself laughing out loud this evening upon hearing Jone's Rutherford Institute lackey attorney claiming that their aim was to encourage women who had been sexually harassed to speak out, that they were trying, basically, to further the objectives of the women's movement. How very noble of them--puh-leeze!! If anything, institutes like Rutherford and other right-wing institutes/think-tanks have been engaged, for almost two decades now, in a sustained effort to roll back, if not obliterate, many of the gains made by the women's and civil rights movements. To hear these right-wingers express their desire to advance "the" feminist cause was at once laughable and deeply disturbing. By adopting a feminist-sounding rhetoric, these institutes and their lackeys obscure the ways in which they themselves have been complicit in fostering and sustaining the backlash against feminism. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to dismiss the seriousness of the alleged charges, nor am I suggesting that Slick Willie is innocent by any stretch of the imagination. Rather, what I am trying to do is think about this whole fiasco in much broader terms. I'm no conspiracy buff but I can't help but notice one thing in all of this--and that is how the right (at least in this case) is now attempting to position itself as a defender of women's rights and a champion of feminist issues--could this be because they know they need to capture more of the female vote? I'm just musing at this point and I've made no effort to offer a sustained "sociological" analysis, but there are just many things about this whole fiasco that "bug" me beyond belief. Like I said, just musing at this point. Anybody out there have any thoughts on this mess??? From sokol@jhu.edu Thu Apr 2 09:07:03 1998 02 Apr 1998 11:04:42 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 11:08:27 -0500 From: Wojtek Sokolowski Subject: Re: Paula Jones Case In-reply-to: To: valeries@yorku.ca, Arthur Wilke , psn@csf.colorado.edu At 01:16 AM 4/2/98 -0500, you wrote: > >I have been following the coverage of the dismissal of the Paul Jones case >for most of the day and I was curious what other PSN'ers might be thinking >about it. All I am going to offer here are a few preliminary thoughts >before I take off on vacation for a week. First, let me premise this by >saying that I am definitely no fan of Slick Willie--not by a long shot, >but I have been equally appalled by some of the women involved in this >fiasco--that has gotten me into some hot water with some of my fellow >feminists, so be it--I'm no essentialist!!! In any case, I have to say >that I found myself laughing out loud this evening upon hearing Jone's >Rutherford Institute lackey attorney claiming that their aim was to >encourage women who had been sexually harassed to speak out, that they >were trying, basically, to further the objectives of the women's >movement. How very noble of them--puh-leeze!! If anything, institutes like >Rutherford and other right-wing institutes/think-tanks have been engaged, >for almost two decades now, in a sustained effort to roll back, if not >obliterate, many of the gains made by the women's and civil rights >movements. To hear these right-wingers express their desire to advance >"the" feminist cause was at once laughable and deeply disturbing. By >adopting a feminist-sounding rhetoric, these institutes and their lackeys >obscure the ways in which they themselves have been complicit in fostering >and sustaining the backlash against feminism. Don't get me wrong, I am >not trying to dismiss the seriousness of the alleged charges, nor am I >suggesting that Slick Willie is innocent by any stretch of the >imagination. Rather, what I am trying to do is think about this whole >fiasco in much broader terms. I'm no conspiracy buff but I can't >help but notice one thing in all of this--and that is how the right (at >least in this case) is now attempting to position itself as a defender of >women's rights and a champion of feminist issues--could this be because >they know they need to capture more of the female vote? I'm just musing at >this point and I've made no effort to offer a sustained "sociological" >analysis, but there are just many things about this whole fiasco that >"bug" me beyond belief. Like I said, just musing at this point. Anybody >out there have any thoughts on this mess??? > > It is obvious that the Paula Jones case is the product of the 'claim-and-grievance-manufacturing industry" that is mushrooming in this country. The fact that this was a product of the looney-right sector of that industry should not detract us from a broader inquiry into the working of that industry. The claim-and-grievance-manufacturing industry is the plethora of various political and professional groups, as well as the media, who want to sell some solutions, invariably involving the reliance on some broadly understood technology they are controlling, and are in the dire need for problems to which those solutions apply. Thus, they are eager to manufacture those problems, usually through fear mongering and manufacturing grievances. For true Marxists on this list, this is an extension of the Baran-Sweezy "monopoly capital' argument to the production of cultural commodity. The excess productive capacity -- i.e. too many lawyers, politicos, professionals, NGO leaders, or just leaders ("too many chieftains too few Indians") -- results in the need for manufactured demand for their services. In the country that has spent trillions of dollars on several generations of nuclear missiles, not to mention mountains of lesser war equipment, to "protect" itself from a manufactured threat, the abnormalities like the Paula Jones case -no matter how improbable - are good enough to be the material for manufacturing a grievance for some wacky group. That, BTW, is not limited to the right-wing causes, although the Right has more money to pay for such commodity. The so-called Left is in the same business, although on a somewhat lesser scale due to the paucity of funders. Regards, From ncw@magi.com Thu Apr 2 10:22:59 1998 by mail.magi.com with smtp (Exim 1.80 #5) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 12:23:27 -0500 From: Joanne Roulston To: Wojtek Sokolowski psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro Wojtek Sokolowski wrote: > > At 06:30 PM 4/1/98 -0500, you wrote: > >We saw the same media obfuscation here in Canada after the murders in > >Montreal at the Ecole Polytechnique, which is the school of engineering > >at the University of Montreal. In that case, the murderer was a young > >man who was angry at women in general for having power (e.g., he blamed > >women for taking the spaces in engineering school which he believed were > >due to men -- he had been rejected, was angry that women war veterans > >got any credit, and that women were in any number of prominent > >positions), and was very, very clear about his hatred of women. He had > >written hate letters to prominent Canadian women and screamed about > >feminists as he was killing the women. Lots of other evidence came up > >afterwards (he had killed himself, too). He could not have been > >clearer. > > > >Even so, many journalists, including one very prominent woman, minimized > >the issue of misogyny. There was quite a bit of talk about feminists > >'hijacking' the tragedy . . . > > --snip -- > > Let us get facts straight. Sexism in this country is NOT manifested > predominantly by shooting women. While such shooting incidents do exist, > they are rare by any imaginable standard. Sexism is manifested in much > more pervasive yet subtle and less obvious ways, like corporate power > structures, or everyday life interaction. > > I understand that some people need a rallying point to fight sexism and > promote gender equality. I fully agree with - and wholeheartedly support > such goals. I do NOT think, however, that turning isolated incidents, like > Jonesboro or Ecole Polytechnique shootings, is a good strategy for > pursuing such goals. It actually does a disservice to the feminist cause > by directing public attention from more prevalent to rare an unlikely > instances of patriarchal aggression. The likely outcome of that campaign > is that if the congress passes the law allowing trying juvenilles like > adults (the more prisons solution) and perhaps some regulation of the fire > arms -- the public will be led to belive that the problems of gender > ineaquality has been solved. > > That is counterproductive. > > Regards, > > Wojtek Sokolowski > Institute for Policy Studies > Johns Hopkins University > Baltimore, MD 21218 > sokol@jhu.edu > voice: (410) 516-4056 > fax: (410) 516-8233 > > Opinions expressed above are those of this writer only. They do not > represent the views or policies of the Institute for Policy Studies, the > Johns Hopkins University, or anyone else affiliated with these institutions. Sexism in your country, and in mine, is, in fact, very often manifested in physical threats, abuse and murder. Ignoring the effects of this level of male violence on the enforcement of patriarchal relations is counter productive. The information about this is in fact very mainstream, but the mention of the issue is regularly treated as a fringe issue, as this reaction shows. One of the other factors in the Arkansas situation is that this was a situation of a girl leaving a boy, a remarkably young example of the violence which is so prevalent in adult relationships when women leave men. In the Arkansas case, the boy also killed the girl's female classmates and teachers, but this extension of male violence against women who reject men often extends to stalking, hurting, and even killing, the women's friends and families. I agree that introducing policies to punish youth as if they were adults is not a practical policy solution, but I believe that public education and changes to many social policies which increased women's participation in the workforce, and higher education, and that promoted public acceptance of women's place as equals in society are extremely valuable changes. American Stats: According to FBI statistics, 30% of female murder victims in 1990, the last year for which statistics are available, were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. That is approximately 3000 women.(Caroline Knapp, "A Plague of Murders: Open Season on Women, The Boston Phoenix,August 1992) In 1990, says the FBI, intimate enemies accounted for 30% of all women murder victims ("Doctors must join fight against domestic violence," USA Today, June 18, 1992, at 12-A) According to the Uniform Crime Report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 30% of women killed in the United States die at the hands of a husband or boyfriend. In 1990, more than 800 women were killed by their husbands; 400 more were killed by their boyfriends. (Antonia C. Novello, "From the Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, A Medical Response to Domestic Violence," Journal of the American Medial Association, June 17, 1992, p. 3132) One-third of all female homicide victims are killed by husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends or ex-boyfriends. (NCJA Justice Research, "States, Federal Government Increasing Focus on Violence Against Women," September/October 1990, p. 3) More than twice as many women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends as are murdered by strangers. (Arthur Kellerman, "Men, Women and Murder," The Journal of Trauma, July 17, 1992, pp. 1-5) In a study of females killed by intimate partners between 1980-1982, it was found that the majority of women killed were married (57.7%, n=2,415). Girlfriends were the next highest percentage (24.5%, n-1,041), followed by common-law wives *8%, n-332), ex-wives (4.89%, n-205) and friends (4.675, n-196). (Karen Stout, "Intimate Femicide: A National Demographic Overview," Violence Update, Vol. 1, No. 6, February 1991, p. 3) More than 90 women were murdered every week in 1991 - 9 out of 10 were murdered by men. (Violence Against Women, A Majority Staff Report, Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 102nd Congress, October 1992, p. 2) Of the 5,745 women murdered in 1991, 6 out of 10 were killed by someone they knew. Half were murdered by a spouse or someone with whom they had been intimate. ("When Violence Hits Home," Time, July 4, 1994) Among all female victims in 1992, 29% were slain by boyfriends or husbands and 4% of male victims were slain by their wives or girlfriends. (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 1993)/ Canadian Stats Women six times more likely to be killed by a spouse than by a stranger Homicides are more likely to be committed by someone known to the victim than by a stranger. Where an accused was identified, almost half (47%) of victims were killed by an acquaintance, slightly more than a third (36%) by a spouse or other family member, and 16% by a stranger (2% unknown). These proportions have remained relatively constant over the past 10 years. Spousal homicides continue to account for one out of every six solved homicides. In 1995, 90 persons were killed by either a current or former spouse --- 69 women and 21 men --- up slightly from 85 the previous year. From 1985 through 1994, an average of 110 persons were killed by a spouse each year, with women representing three-quarters of these victims. In 1995, women were six times more likely to be killed by a spouse than by a stranger. Of those women who were in a registered marriage and who were killed by their spouse, almost one in four were separated at the time of the incident. Various studies have shown that wives are particularly at risk during the first two months after separation. -- Senior Researcher and Policy Advisor/ Conseillère principale en politiques et recherche National Council of Welfare/Conseil national du bien-être social Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada 1010, rue Somerset Street West/ouest, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0J9 phone (613) 957-0679, fax/télécopieur (613) 957-0680 From sokol@jhu.edu Thu Apr 2 09:30:02 1998 02 Apr 1998 11:27:49 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 11:31:36 -0500 From: Wojtek Sokolowski Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro In-reply-to: <3522CE16.7B2C@magi.com> To: ncw@magi.com, psn-cafe@csf.colorado.edu, Arthur Wilke , psn@csf.colorado.edu At 06:30 PM 4/1/98 -0500, you wrote: >We saw the same media obfuscation here in Canada after the murders in >Montreal at the Ecole Polytechnique, which is the school of engineering >at the University of Montreal. In that case, the murderer was a young >man who was angry at women in general for having power (e.g., he blamed >women for taking the spaces in engineering school which he believed were >due to men -- he had been rejected, was angry that women war veterans >got any credit, and that women were in any number of prominent >positions), and was very, very clear about his hatred of women. He had >written hate letters to prominent Canadian women and screamed about >feminists as he was killing the women. Lots of other evidence came up >afterwards (he had killed himself, too). He could not have been >clearer. > >Even so, many journalists, including one very prominent woman, minimized >the issue of misogyny. There was quite a bit of talk about feminists >'hijacking' the tragedy . . . --snip -- Let us get facts straight. Sexism in this country is NOT manifested predominantly by shooting women. While such shooting incidents do exist, they are rare by any imaginable standard. Sexism is manifested in much more pervasive yet subtle and less obvious ways, like corporate power structures, or everyday life interaction. I understand that some people need a rallying point to fight sexism and promote gender equality. I fully agree with - and wholeheartedly support such goals. I do NOT think, however, that turning isolated incidents, like Jonesboro or Ecole Polytechnique shootings, is a good strategy for pursuing such goals. It actually does a disservice to the feminist cause by directing public attention from more prevalent to rare an unlikely instances of patriarchal aggression. The likely outcome of that campaign is that if the congress passes the law allowing trying juvenilles like adults (the more prisons solution) and perhaps some regulation of the fire arms -- the public will be led to belive that the problems of gender ineaquality has been solved. That is counterproductive. Regards, Wojtek Sokolowski Institute for Policy Studies Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 21218 sokol@jhu.edu voice: (410) 516-4056 fax: (410) 516-8233 Opinions expressed above are those of this writer only. They do not represent the views or policies of the Institute for Policy Studies, the Johns Hopkins University, or anyone else affiliated with these institutions. From sokol@jhu.edu Thu Apr 2 12:04:40 1998 02 Apr 1998 14:02:03 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 14:05:48 -0500 From: Wojtek Sokolowski Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro In-reply-to: <3523C98F.4F7C@magi.com> To: Joanne Roulston , Arthur Wilke , psn@csf.colorado.edu, psn-cafe@csf.colorado.edu <3.0.1.32.19980402113136.0073cf7c@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> Joanne: Two points in response to your posting: 1. I do NOT deny the fact that the Jonesboro or Ecole Polytechnique shootings were cases of patriarchal aggression. All I am saying is that there were rare cases of such aggression by any imaginable standards. Thus, focusing energy on such cases, just because of their "newsworthiness" is NOT the best strategy to eliminate sexism, at least in my opinion. 2. I am familiar with the stats you cited; much of which is avaialable from the Bureau of Justice Statistics Web site at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ They have all kinds of victimization analysis by sex, age, and gender, the use of weapons, relationship to the offender, etc. I also agree that the home can be a very dangerous place for a woman, and her boyfriend or hubby - her worts enemy. I would quibble, however, with a few minor points in your post: - to disprove the point I am making in item #1 above, you would need to show victimization rates per population for both sexes and demonstrate that women have higher victimization rates than men. Since you did not provide these rates, I obtained them from the BJS website and display them below: Rates of violent victimizations, by sex of victim, 1994 (adopted from document NCJ-164508) Rates per 1,000 persons age 12 or older ---------------- Female Male All violent crimes 45.5 63.6 Homicide 0.04 0.17 Non-fatal victimizations 45.5 63.5 Rape/sexual assault 3.9 .3 Robbery 4.3 8.3 Aggravated assault 8.5 16.0 Simple assault 28.8 38.8 -------------------------------------- Source: Violent victimizations were measured in the BJS National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Homicide data were derived from the FBI Crime Reporting Program's Supplemental Homicide Report (SHR). All numbers include only those homicides and violent victimizations of persons age 12 or older. -------------------------------------- These rates show that victimization rate for the male population are higher than for the female population, except one case - rape/ sexual assault where the opposite is true. The latter is hardly surprising, because rape by definition is a male-offender-only crime (the victims can be either females or other males, though). However, the homicide vicitimization rate for men (.17) is 4.25 higher than that for women (.04). Granted, these rates do not tell us about the motives for which these murders were committed (it could be that women victims were predominantly killed for noncompliance with their male killer sex stereotypes, while the male victims were killed predominantly for other reasons) -- but still the victims of violent crimes are predominantly men. So what we need to focus is the violent behavior of a rather small group of males who commit those crimes, rather than the sex of the victim. That brings us to other points you made, namely a very high percent of women victimized by men and a relatively high percent of women victimized by their "significant others". These may not necessarily imply "patriachalism" - since violent crime is almost an exclusive domain of male perpetrators, both male and female victims are likely to be victimized by men. Second, the assault by a "significant other" can be indicative of opportunity - since people spend more time with their significant others than with strangers, they have a greater chance of getting into a conflict and consequently of being attacked by a significant other than by a stranger. In fact, the child abuse statistics reveal a similar trend - children are more likely to be abused by someone close to them than by a stranger. While these points are certainly not intended to claim that sexist violence does not exist -- they support my claim in that argument, namely that criminal victimization is NOT the most prevalent form of sexism. That can be clearly demonstrated by comparing female victimization rates for different types of crime -- the female victimization rate for rape/sexual assault is lower than the rate for any other type of crime except homicide. In sum, I do not think I disagree with you on the nature of sex-related violence or the sexist nature of our society. All I am saying that the focus on "newsworthy" cases of the former is not the best strategy to combat the latter. Regards, From wilkeas@mail.auburn.edu Wed Apr 1 15:29:51 1998 Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 16:29:28 -0600 To: Jim Julian From: Arthur Wilke Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro Jim Julian: At 12:05 PM 4/1/98 -0500, you wrote: >Arthur, > You are being unfair here. You have *apparently* mapped the rhetoric of the >The Domestic Violence Project, Inc./SAFE House Did or did I not describe what was being said with fidelity? It seems I did. Could I have added more detail? Yes, though it seems this isn't a standard that is to be used on others of the eclectic school of accounts. Unfair? Did I apply the same standards to all comments? Yes. Apparently your concern of fairness belongs to the one which is, "If I don't like what you say you are being unfair." It is a part of the map that I am drawing. > 1.) What you have argued herein is quite irrelevant to the original post >shared by TR. Sharon Snow expressed concern that known facts weren't being >woven into the telling of a story about violence against women. In that post, >known facts of this sad case were mapped onto the *known patterns of homicide >and stalking linked to domestic violence.* The mapping and supportive research >citations were provided in a press release from The Domestic Violence Project, >Inc./SAFE House. You then act as if the press release and argument were about >*domestic violence generally* and use patterns reported from Strauss' research >on domestic violence to refute the validy of claims made in the press release. >*Domestic violence generally* does not equal *homicide and stalking linked to >domestic violence*. With post-modern logic in-hand, you have help up an apple >and cried "Foul, foul, Orange!" First, re: my argument. I am describing and trying to take the statements that purport to "explain" and look for some kinds of confirming or non confirming evidence. This isn't an argument. It is the application of some standards. Judgement and argument are not equivalent. Second, my logical contention was cast in terms of trends and tendencies. If violence against women is violence and if violence is generally going down and if the distribution of gender victims is constant, and therefore this makes the Jonesboro case regarding victims even more atypical, the simple point was that the Jonesboro case might not be the most advantageous thing to jump onto. However, I understand in the world of true believing contexts and political concerns are not to be considered relevant. (There is a dispute about evidence, but my claim still is, 4 deaths is not a strong case at least in the conventions with which I was subjected and see canonical sociologists promoting in the classroom. That lots of things can be read into things I don't dispute, but are there not some rules, purposes to which such an enterprise is directed? If so, what are they? Or are we simply here to promote and irrigate evocative responses? Now let's get to the post modern logic claim. The press release in question states: "Staff at a local battered women's shelter are outraged and dismayed about the coverage of the Jonesboro school shooting, saying that it obscured the true nature of the crime --- that of violence against females." I would suggest that this statement and the evidence cited is itself the exemplar of the post modern. Take an event or two through the mass media, make some quick correlations and Eureka, indignancy and "explanation." It follows the form that such responses have taken. Post modern is a descriptor, it isn't something referring to the activity of the person making the description. Indeed if you look you will see that my efforts are very conventional, indeed by contrast to the grand theorists and alike, mundane. > 2.) The logical error is masked with vilifying and red-baiting ad hominoms >such "ministers of misery." First, I am not making an argument, unless description is taken to be logical (e.g., that this is a written message) with the exception of extrapolation of violent trends. Second, when people are outraged it seems that we can describe what is going on here. Ministers of misery reports on the commitment to produce sentiment when the description (other than some people are dead and the perpetrators are known) isn't too remarkable and canons of explanation are going to be strained in a world of tragedy. Indeed, sentiment is produced. That suggests tragedy is the pretext for the subsequent production of sentiment. In the indignancies being expressed, etc. I don't gather we are (or likely can be) likely to express extreme sorrow. That's for the victims' relatives, for the perpetrators' relatives, friends. Making spectacles of such miseries is something over which I worry, but this may be small potatoes for the virtuous in our ranks. Third, and I thought "red-baiting" was dead. Fourth, I am unclear about vilification. Who did I hurt? And if I hurt someone's feelings does that constitute an evil (unless it is a post modern evil?)? Do my comments cause you suffering? How is this manifested? Has it caused people fighting for women's rights misfortune? Please let me know. I'll put such information under consideration. And while it is wasn't my intent, certainly we recognize that there can be unintended consequences. But before I consider an apology or mending my ways, show me what you know right now. Otherwise, might we consider that I am being vilified? Look at the adjectives flung about with the easy of water from a spout. I noted that there were other tragic events in which didn't occur and while I an claiming that they should per se, it reminds us how our minds and bodies are being made up. At one time I was under the impression that this might be something of interest to sociologists, but I guess like a elementary class we should "vote on it." It appears I've lost. So I'll simply have to work with the tools at hand. I'm still trying to describe, in the extent cases things that have long taken leave of Jonesboro and exemplified in this kind of activity. > 3.) You also stack the deck by examing only Strauss' research. There are >serious and scientifically significant critiques of Strauss' methodology. There >are research results contrary to those presented by Strauss that rest on sound >methodologies. Now isn't this ingenious? One notes that the information used for the claims being made isn't so hot and when some other data come up we are served up with the standard of adequacy. So I gather your position is: only people who disagree with sentimental folk are to be held to canons of careful work while those of us who have our own sentimental expressive concerns can go on indicating the "truth" and indignancy of the matter. The reason to talk about violence generally was that when the thread first started about guns and violence there was a great hew a cry about terrible things. The women's group's message was put in that context. I didn't' send it, but it was deemed by someone as relevant. I tried to figure out in the context of the messages what the significance could be. And while I will concede that the intention of the message was not for this thread per se, the message remained a wonderful exemplar of the kind of things that one sees on PSN-CAFE (where this engagement has been played out) and most of the mass media (MSNBC, network news, newspapers, etc.). (If this message wasn't for us, then take it up with the sender. If it comes across my screen in the context of messages, I am reading it as an intentional communication used by someone - possibly other than the authors. It's like dynamite. Nobel didn't invent it to kill people, but kill people it does. It's a lesson that used to be taught in sociology.) >A. classification of the homicides as a stalking homicide is based on a set of >salient features to the phenomena. Necessary and sufficient features might >include "Yes, that was present" answers for the following questions: > 1. Did the killer believe a "romantic" relation had existed or might >exist with the victim? > 2. Is there evidence that links the crime to this belief of the >killer? >To classify a murder gender-hate motivated, only the following compents ought be >present: > 1. Was the victim's gender a motivational factor in killer? >As I recall from the news I've examined in regard to this sad episode, there >more than enough evidence to legitimately make and sustain the classification of >the murder of the killer's "ex-girlfriend" as a stalking murder. As I recall, >there is also evidence in what the 13 year-old boy said to some girls, >apparently not any other boys, paraphrasing "Tomorrow you will see if you live >or die." The ratio of females to males shot collaborates the presence of gender >as a motivational factor. Well I am intrigued by a position of a sociologist who reads motives. And I am particularly impressed by people who can read motives from a distance. It is a skill of some major undertaking. I understand we can ascribe motives. Why not ascribe that the "devil made them do it?" We know why. Because that isn't "our" organizational response. I apologize. Sociology is my game. To rely on the cultural-cum-psychological based on re-presented information looks to me like a suspect practice. (We might add this to things like the suspect character of "therapeutic touch" recently studied by an 11 year old who also found that wanting.) Today (from news reports) our received information on the Jonesboro event has been reframed. It isn't simply the unsuccessful romance with a young woman (and the killing of females since boys were on the other side of the school), but now we find that one of the perpetrators was being counseled for several years. Two threads here: ne claims something about child abuse by the child and one claims that this young person was generally hostile to humanity. If we take the latter position, this has simply sliced in half the gender-victim claim. (It's for such reasons I counsel more circumspection in mobilizing around events in a hysterical fashion, unless of course that's the only resource available. I don't know. Is it?) What is intriguing is to go back and follow the public discourse (and I gather those who are responding to me are reading and observing the same mass media I am). When the tragedy began the policy was for getting more youth police in the form of counselors into the nation's schools. I questioned this. Now we find a counselor was employed and what did we get? Exactly what we were being told earlier counseling would protect our children against. Doesn't this strike folks as a wee bit strange? Meanwhile this was being touted as a way of giving "answers" to the people in Jonesboro (though it was never clear that people in Jonesboro had a question that needed this kind of answer and response.). But note, the counseling gang read the same events that a variety spinmeisters have, spun out their "expressive 'explanations'" just like others. So I document this and I am the heavy? Why not go out after the real competitors for the hearts, minds and resources if one is going to play, "exploit the misery?" So either there is some problem with the promiscuous "explaining," or this looks like poor politics. Before leaving this, note who gets the "heat." I seem to be one and then there is that big, bad, demonic media. Doesn't this tickle a bit of questioning by sociologists as to what is going on here? Or has the mass-media-cum- devil had its way with everyone except those who place Arthur Wilke in the pantheon of nefarious social activity. Of course if the program for reducing violence is being hampered by my efforts, I must say I am impressed. I have power I didn't realize I possessed. However, I won't entertain such fantasies very long. It looks like there are plenty of candidates for the fantasyland express already. I am not disputing stalking, bizarre gender-connected erotic machinations. I am questioning how one milks this Jonesboro beet of an incident for all the grandiose production that one sees and it doesn't stop, it grows and grows and grows. This mobilization of sentiment and "expressive 'explanation'" remains the focus. This is the world we live in. Or am I dealing with recent immigrants to the planet earth? With all the investment in the "expressive 'explanation,'" the question, a variant of Robert Lynd () and Alfred McLung Lee () the question is: Expression and explanation for what and whom? a) For the people in Jonesboro? Unlikely. b) For those of us who recognize tragedy? No. c) For those of us who wish to describe and understand the world we live in? No. One looks over these messages and what seems to be called argument is simply expressiveness. There is such a resistance for being bound by careful expression (those who resist this remind us that "we" are according to St. Ritzer a "multi-paradigm" science, one made up of a lot of perceptions?) that only when one describes suddenly the mantras of favorite expressions and related cliches come out. Hence my being treated with the "post modern identity" trope. An identity is not to be confused with an activity. Look at the activity. RE: The Domestic Violence Project and Stalking. If the latest news representation of one of the Jonesboro perpetrators as a person being hostile to humanity (not gender specific) is one to ride, then the stalking claims go out the window. Is it because there is no stalking? No. It is recent account doesn't provide for the stalking account. >C. There is also certainly more at work here than only gender-hate violence, >however. Identification of the relevant sets of social phenomena is worthwhile >and scientifically necessary task. Patriarchy, gun availability, gender >socialization, othering, dispute settlement / negotiation skill related >phenomena, militia imagery, and many more are certainly involved. What sets of >phenomena are relevant? I marvel at the laundry list. It leaves me breathless. The world has now be "complex." So let me look at the "expressive 'explanations'" that have bombarded me (and many of you): 1. Patriarchy. 2. Gun availability (generally not supported). 3. Gender socialization. 4. Capitalism. 5. Othering. 6. Lack of dispute settlement skills. 7. Militia imagery. 8. Militia membership. 9. Southern culture of violence. 10 Hunting Note, we have some advocates of these positions claiming that theirs is the "real" reason for the Jonesboro tragedy (pick your favorite). I am simply trying to determine which one is, could be "real" based on the available evidence. (Indeed it is the postmodern position to suggeset that: a) expressive "explanations" are real: b) therefore all these are "real," though I gather, as Orwell reminded us, we are suppose to know that some are "realer" (like equaler) than others. (If this is like the O.J. trial we should be able to add a few more because the list of exclusions are extensive and they have yet to be capitalized upon.) This looks to me like the production and reproduction of excess expressiveness. I guess it is a good job if you have one. It confuses me. This artifice of accounts is all built on two children shooting five people. Is that so "complex?." Reasonable folks would call this unnecessary confusion. On a list that keeps prattling about dealing "with the people," "with the workers," let me alert you, laundry lists of "complex" things isn't an endearing way of beginning. This doesn't suggest that many of the concerns are warranted, but as the poet Ecclesiastes reminded us, "there's a time and a place." I am counseling to be a bit more circumspect and determine the intention of one's messages. (I gather the intention I am suppose to be attentive to are those who claim to have a lock on "virtue." To that I respond: which one?) >D. I'm out of time, but if you wish to honestly explore the issues raised >rather than engage in useless diversionary exchanges, zero-sum game debates, or >other assaultive approaches I'm more than willing. First, I find it difficult to respond to the demand to honestly explore the issues. Why? I have been responding to the description and imputed accounts of the event. You shift the focus, precisely to what I have been highlighting, the production of issues. Be clear, be very clear: ISSUES ARE NOT CONDITIONS., It would be the honest thing to do to acknowledge what we know or in this case, should know. That is what occurs in a world of correctness and incorrectness. But of course we know the trick of moral discounting, an old rhetorical ploy. (It seems honesty has become another one of those postmodern free-floating signifiers that take the place of description and clear judgement.) I didn't get that one in my sociology training. You are invited to see if my degrees should be recinded for what I gather you claim, express or whatever, is a serious error. Maybe, then, we can get a handle on the rules of the game. Second, it is a nice trick to claim that I am engaging in "useless diversionary exchanges." Why? Exchange means there is something of a reciprocal nature going on. But given the creative solipsism that we encounter akin to Humpty-Dumpty addressing Alice, it is difficult to suggest much is happening. And "useless . . . exchange" does appear to be an oxymoron unless this is a part of the exchange value linked to the commodity fetishism I have been hinting at periodically. Meanwhile, why should I be the one? Are you taking the claims about the lack of counselors, the guns (the phantom guns), capitalism and the stuff that has been thrown up seriously? The answer is very clear: NO. "Seriousness" looks like another one of those free-floating signifiers. I gather you like your "issue and sense that I am hostile to it (which hasn't been established, unless if it is in the context of the talk surrounding Jonesboro). You don't like what I am waying. And if things follow true to form, our efforts will be reduced to "opinion.": This is not only not much of an achievement, it is, as I have suggested elsewhere, dangerous. In short, and this has been another thread, we are reduced to "opinion." Finally you sign off: >Sociologically Yours, >Jim Julian Describe this sociology? We take a case, through some kind of exploration proffer claim and explanation, many of which aren't borne out by what we know and continue. Is it what one teaches one's students? Do we really need this? Do people need this? What is the contribution? Simply doing an activity with another ungrounded signifier, "sociology," isn't a compelling claim. It is how we deal with describing the world. It is being attentive to when and where it is appropriate to introduce a sociological perspective. If you propose that we "let a thousand flowers blossom," it looks like sociology has even a less privileged place in the firmament than it currently has. Is this creative self-destruction the aim? And if it is, then why not welcome me, if for no other reason is that you will be one step closer to a thousand flowers? I am not holding onto this, but I gather folks who communicate on PSN have some residue of sentiment in that direction. But at the moment we may have to have a lot better reasons for sociology and other kinds of activities than have been manifested in this particular sorry circumstance. The defense of the enteprise apparently rests with you. I gather sociology is what you say it is. For me, this is wonder-filled. Arthur Wilke wilkeas@mail.auburn.edu From jnaiman@acs.ryerson.ca Fri Apr 3 11:14:28 1998 Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 13:15:57 -0500 (EST) From: Joanne Naiman To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Appeal for solidarity A bit late, but this just came my way. Cheers, Joanne Naiman Toronto _____________________________________________ Subj: FWD: Aysenur Zarakolu PC> {INTERNET:pencan@web.net}) at 3/04/98 5:40 PM PC> International PEN's International Women's Day Action PC> >MARCH 8 - WOMEN'S DAY > >CALL FOR ACTION > >The Writers in Prison Committee >protests against the censorship of >five women writers from >Burma, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Turkey. > >March 8 is Women's Day and the Writers in Prison >Committee of International PEN draws public >attention to the cases of five women who have been >made to pay a heavy price for their writings. PEN >Centres around the globe are requested to send >appeals on their behalf and alert the media in their >country to their plight. > >The women being highlighted this year are: > >Daw San San Nwe of Burma >Chris Anyanwu of Nigeria >Bertha Chacon Diaz of Peru >Alina Vitukhnovskaya of Russia > >and > >Ayte Nur Zarakolu of Turkey > >Action to Take: > >1. Appeals to governments: Centres are requested >to send at least one appeal on each of the above >cases to the addresses given. If more appeals can >be sent by your members, all the better. > >Copies of your letters should also be sent to the >embassy of the relevant countries as well as to your >own ministry of foreign affairs. Any replies from >governments should be copied to this office. > >2. Publicity: Approaches can be made to your >national media with the request that articles be >carried on these women's cases on 8 March. If there >are articles on these cases, please copy these to >the relevant embassies to show the extent of concern >about these women's situations as well as to this >office. > >> CASE PROFILES > >Ayte Nur ZARAKOLU of Turkey > >Ayte Nur Zarakolu, Turkey's only female publishing >director, is perhaps also one of its bravest. For >the last several years, she has faced a myriad of >charges for publishing books on such controversial >topics in the Turkish context as the Armenian >genocide and the Kurdish separatist movement. Her >work has caused her to go to prison more than once >and, although she is currently free, a number of >charges continue to hang over her and she risks >being reimprisoned. > Born in Antioch in 1947, she began her career >as a librarian, but in 1976 she joined with her >husband and brother in founding Belge International >publishing house, which she has directed ever since. >Belge declares its aim to be progressive: its >mission is to "strike down taboos" and "investigate >the rights of minorities." Among the titles she has >published or distributed are Thomas Paine's The >Rights of Man, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty and >Amnesty International reports. She was jailed for >five months in 1993 for publishing a book by Ismail >Besikci, a Kurdish sociologist who has spent much of >his adult life in prison. In August 1996, she went >to prison again, this time for four months, for a >book about the Kurdish uprising. Her publication of >a French book about the Armenian genocide earned her >yet another sentence, as did her publication of a >Human rights Watch report detailing weapons >transactions between the U.S. and Turkey. She faces >numerous other charges for publishing the works of >Haluk Gerger, another commentator on Kurdish issues, >and for refusing to pay the many fines with which >her publishing house has been levied. > "Today there is no freedom of thought in >Turkey, one of humanity's most basic rights," >Zarakolu has said. "We will usher in a `free' >publishing tradition by not accepting any limitation >set by taboos or the prevailing official ideology, >and we will emerge as a protector of thought, >expression, and creative freedom. By accepting no >aspect of censorship or self-censorship, our >publishing house shall continue to be open to all >writers who want to express their thoughts freely. >As long as people cannot express their identities >and their views, they are not really free." > >Please send appeals protesting against the many >cases being pressed against Ayte Nur Zarakolu and >the restrictive nature of the laws under which she >has been and continues to be prosecuted. Address >your appeal to: His Excellency Prime Minister Mesut >Yilmaz, Basbakanlik, 06573 Ankara, Turkey. Fax: +90 >312 417 0476. From tell@acsu.buffalo.edu Fri Apr 3 16:53:47 1998 Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 18:53:38 -0500 (EST) From: "Shawgi A. Tell" To: Progressive Sociologists Network Subject: Record Bankruptcies Greetings, It is no secret that capitalism does not work for the vast majority. The fact of the matter is that capitalism is decaying and in deep crisis. Growing unemployment, poverty, inequality, homelessness and hunger are just some of the serious problems plaguing our society. One of the most damning indictments of capitalism is the record level of bankruptcies. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), "Bankruptcy filings for calendar year 1997 increased by 19.1 percent to a record high of 1,404,145 filings, compared to 1,178,555 in 1996" (March 2, 1998). In fact, total filings (business and non-business) increased by tens of thousands every year between 1984-92, dipped in 1993, and continued to increase again between 1994-97. Consumer filings as a percentage of total filings have increased every year since 1984. The Northern District of Virginia experienced the greatest percentage increase among the 50 states from 1996 to 1997 - 45.9%. Only two districts, the Southern District of Alabama and the Northern Mariana Islands, reported a drop in filings in 1997. ABI executive director Samuel J. Gerdano points out that bankruptcy filings are directly linked to rising levels of household debt. He also points out that Congress, which is comprised of millionaires and wealthy lawyers, is "startled" by the record high filings. It is certain that so long as the aim of the existing crisis-ridden economic system remains the making of maximum capitalist profits, more and more people will go into deeper and deeper debt, forced to file for bankruptcy. Clearly, the direction of the economy must be changed. Needed is an economic system which serves all humanity and not one which enriches fewer and fewer people. A modern economic system must satisfy the constantly growing material and cultural needs of the people, not force them into bankruptcy, poverty, debt, etc. The key to transforming the economy is the people themselves. They, and not the capitalists, must be the ones to decide what should be the motive of production. But to do this the people must first possess real decision-making power. They must be sovereign. The first step toward changing the direction of the economy then is creating the politics of empowerment. Shawgi Tell Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo tell@acsu.buffalo.edu From mweigand@usa.net Sat Apr 4 14:59:27 1998 Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 14:56:21 -0700 (MST) From: mweigand@usa.net Subject: The Corporate Takeover of a Consumer Group To: psn@csf.colorado.edu <---- Begin Forwarded Message ----> Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 11:26:03 -0500 (EST) Reply-To: rob@essential.org From: Robert Weissman Subject: The Corporate Takeover of a Consumer Group It used to be that you could tell where big corporations were coming from because they would speak through aptly named lobbying groups. But then, about twenty years ago, corporations wised up and realized that no citizen was going to take seriously the proclamations of the Tobacco Institute or the Business Roundtable. So, big corporations decided to try new ways to delude the public. They set up or helped fund think tanks (American Enterprise Institute, Hudson Institute), they set up front groups (Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, Electric Consumers Association), and they funded public interest organizations (World Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund). But never has corporate America been so bold as to take over an existing consumer group. Until now. The National Consumers League, founded by labor and consumer activists at the turn of the century, calls itself "America's pioneer consumer advocacy organization." While the League does some good work on child labor issues, it has been saturated in recent years with financial contributions from major U.S. corporations to the point where it can no longer be considered a legitimate independent consumer or public interest group. While refusing to give specific numbers detailing how much money each corporation or industry has contributed, League officials say that 39 percent of the group's 1997 budget of $1.3 million came from corporations and industry associations. All indications are that a far greater percentage of the League's current 1998 budget is flooding in from corporate America. And the League is planning on an unprecedented shakedown of the corporate money tree for its planned upcoming 100th anniversary bash next year. Almost every current project, seminar, brochure, newsletter and fundraising dinner is sponsored in large part by major corporations or industry associations, with some supplemental money coming in from labor unions. For example, an upcoming conference, Focus on Youth: The New Consumer Power, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida May 5-8, 1998, is sponsored in large part by a coalition of major corporations that traditionally have been hostile to consumer interests, including Visa USA, the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association, the Chlorine Chemistry Council, Monsanto, General Motors, Burson- Marsteller, and the National Meat Association. An April 1997 conference titled "Health Care: How Do Consumers Manage?" was sponsored by major pharmaceutical and health care companies, including Bristol-Myers, Glaxo Wellcome, Pfizer, Wyeth-Ayerst Labs, Kaiser Permanente, Merck, PacifiCare Health Systems, SmithKline Beecham, and Pharmacia & Upjohn. Big labor unions are also listed as contributors to the conference. An Internet Fraud Watch program is being sponsored by MasterCard and NationsBank. The annual "NCL Trumpeter Award Reception and Dinner" brings in about 40 percent of the League's annual budget. Last year, the League honored Carol Tucker Foreman, a public relations executive, and Liz Claiborne Inc., a clothing manufacturer that has been tied most recently to sweatshops in China. One of three top contributors to the dinner was Liz Claiborne. The other two were Allstate Insurance and Wyeth-Ayerst. The next five top contributors were AT&T, Edison Electric Institute, Monsanto Company, Schering Plough, and Visa USA. Earlier this month, the League co-sponsored with the Electric Consumers' Alliance a conference titled "Restructuring of the Electric Industry: What is the Impact?" The Alliance is a front group for the Edison Electric Institute. The League refused to answer questions about who paid for this conference, or exactly how much money corporations are paying to sponsor the League's various conferences and programs. The League's executive director, Linda Golodner, did not return repeated phones calls over a three week period seeking comment on this article. But a walk through the League's downtown Washington, D.C. office reminds a visitor of the pervasive influence of corporate America over the League's agenda. Almost every consumer publication in the League's front office was paid for by a major corporation or industry group. A "Consumer Guide to Choosing Your Telephone Service" was paid for by Ameritech. A "Consumer Credit Series" of reports (Shopping for a Loan? How Much Is It Going to Cost?, Denied Credit? -- The Credit Report Blues) was paid for by Fleet Finance Inc, a subsidiary of Fleet Financial Group. A brochure titled "Making Sense of Your New Communications Choices" was paid for by GTE. A pamphlet titled "Take Care with Over the Counter Asthma Medicine" was paid for by Syntex, a pharmaceutical company. A newsletter, "Community Credit Link," is paid for by Visa USA. The League refused to answer specific questions about how much money corporations are giving to support these various projects, or what percentage of the League's budget comes from non-corporate funders. When asked why a consumer group is taking any money at all from corporations that fight consumer interests in Washington, D.C. and around the country, League spokesperson Cleo Manuel said "I wish we didn't have to." Any group that lives off the Chlorine Chemistry Council, Monsanto, or General Motors should be shunned. Russell Mokhiber is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter. Robert Weissman is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Multinational Monitor. (c) Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman Focus on the Corporation is a weekly column written by Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman. Please feel free to forward the column to friends or repost the column on other lists. If you would like to post the column on a web site or publish it in print format, we ask that you first contact us (russell@essential.org or rob@essential.org). Focus on the Corporation is distributed to individuals on the listserve corp-focus@essential.org. To subscribe to corp-focus, send an e-mail message to listproc@essential.org with the following all in one line: subscribe corp-focus (no period). Focus on the Corporation columns are posted on the Multinational Monitor web site . Postings on corp-focus are limited to the columns. If you would like to comment on the columns, send a message to russell@essential.org or rob@essential.org. <---- End Forwarded Message ----> From mweigand@usa.net Sat Apr 4 14:59:33 1998 Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 14:56:23 -0700 (MST) From: mweigand@usa.net Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro To: sokol@jhu.edu, PSN-CAFE You and others speak of the the pervasive "claim and grievance industry" in the U.S., using recent examples such as the Paula Jones case. Granting that there are excesses in this regard, where would you draw the line between socially manufactured grievances and legitimate grievances? For example, would you argue that the civil rights movement, women's movement, Chicano movement, anti-Vietnam war movement, or environmental movement were only "claim and grievance" cases with no empirically-based, legitimate claims? Best wishes, -=MW=- MSCD.edu From africa.bulletin@pcpostal.com Mon Apr 6 00:25:45 1998 From: africa.bulletin@pcpostal.com Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 01:24:35 +0100 Subject: Academic Travel*InfoTech Conferences|Cuba Brazil Africa To: African.Academic.Bulletin@igc.org Sender: africa.bulletin@pcpostal.com Reply-To: africa.bulletin@pcpostal.com [Please Share / Forward] Academic Travel*Conferences/Africa Cuba Brazil AFRICAN.ACADEMIC.BULLETIN Interns-Volntrs-Conferences | CUBA BRAZIL AFRICA * LIST of Opptys: Volunteer Paid Academic * Year Round & Summer * CONFERENCES: InfoTech, Dist Lrng, CyberSpace, Media Women's Health & Human Rights, Computer Literacy * Abstracts, Proposals, Papers requested for 1998 and/or 1999 _______________________________________________________________ A f r i c a n B u l l e t i n o f O p p o r t u n i t i e s __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ _/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ _/ Programs & Events for Academics, Professionals & Students __________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S - 1998 Programs, Events & Opportunities 1] AASP EduTravel-CUBA BRAZIL AFRICA; Multiple trips year round 2] CROSSROADS Africa & Brazil Travel-Study & Workcamps; Summer 3] African Dist Lrng, Comp Literacy & InfoTech CONF-GHANA May 20 4] CONF on Women's Health & Human Rights-Indianapolis, IN; Oct. 22 5] ASA CONF: CyberSpace*Media*InfoTECH in Africa-Chicago; Oct 29 6] A M N E S T Y & J U S T I C E ///\_[_/\\\ Write to Human Rights victims * Send appeals for humane treatment Please help by LINKing to your Webpage (see below) +===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+ * NON-PROFIT ACTIVITIES, EVENTS & CONFERENCES * CUBA BRAZIL AFRICA EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL * ACADEMIC CREDIT - Arrange with your campus to earn credit +===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+ Africa Brazil CUBA: INTERNS * VOLNTRS * Proj DIRS * LEADERS +===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+ CALL FOR: MODERATORS * PRESENTERS * PAPERS * ABSTRACTS * PROPOSALS _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ C U B A B R A Z I L A F R I C A 1. ** A A S P ** Select from among several programs, countries, itineraries, themes, prices, dates, departures all 4 seasons AASP Africa-Brazil-Cuba Study/Travel * Multi-Disciplinary - Multiple progs, 1 to 3 wks in duration, year round - 15-20 African countries plus Cuba and Brazil ACADEMIC CREDIT is offered at UNDERGRAD or GRAD Level For all info, Send street address to abc@starmail.com For application & details, go to both: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-disaspora/index.html http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-disaspora/journey.html Call for Descriptive Catalog: 312-443-0929 List of Programs & Organizations >>> For a LIST of orgs & progs offering VOL & PAID opptys, type "Send Prog List" in Subject field & include your FULL MAILING Address; send to: abc@starmail.com ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 2. Cossroads Africa & Brazil - Work/Travel/Study 7-wk Summer Prog * Workcamps * Internships * Field Study RainForest*Health*Medicine*Agriculture*Building*Comm Dev Participants (Interns) & Group Leaders (Proj DIRs, 26 yrs & up) Send street mailing adrs to oca@igc.org, abc@starmail.com Funds are raised in the community and on campus Go to: http://www.igc.org/oca/ application & details Phone: 212-870-2106 - Director of Prog Services ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 3. D I S T A N C E L E A R N I N G & I N F O T E C H African Computer Literacy, Distance Learning & Info Tech Ghana, May 20-22 '98 CALL FOR Proposals Abstracts Papers Presenters Moderators Exhibitors Sponsors [Note: Abstracts & Papers are now being accepted for the '99 CONF] For proposal help, guidelines, CONF goals, sub-themes, updates, help with travel & accommodations, go to: http://www.ulbobo.com/gdep/ http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/travels.html A full program of Pre- and Post-Conference activities is planned; come early, leave late! * To receive Reg Form automatically by E-mail, send a msg to the AutoResponder: gdep-reg-email@ulbobo.com Pls join the Conference Discussion List (for volunteers, attendees, organizers, and interested persons) - send a msg with "subscribe ghaclad-scope" in the body to: majordomo@igc.org For Airline & lodging discounts: dewindt@acsu.buffalo.edu Must contact BOTH Dr. Darkwa and Pharra ASAP to reserve $750 Roundtrip NY-GHANA ticket darkwa@uic.edu, dewindt@acsu.buffalo.edu Flexibility in departure and return... CONF Coordinator: Dr. Osei DARKWA, Faculty, UI-Chicago darkwa@uic.edu, dewindt@acsu.buffalo.edu, prema@ibm.net Phone: 312-996-8508 ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 4. W A A D W O M E N'S C O N F E R E N C E Prof. Obioma NNAEMEKA, Convenor Women's Human Rights & Health CONF at Indianapolis, IN/USA 2nd Int'l Conf. on WOMEN IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA OCTOBER 22-27, 1998 President, Assoc of African Women Scholars (AAWS) [Now accepting members, ALL are welcome] French & Women's Studies Program Indiana University 425 University Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46202 - USA Phone: (317) 278-2038; (317) 274-0062 (messages) Fax: (317) 274-2347 E-mail: nnaemeka@iupui.edu, ABC@STARMAIL.COM For Registration Form by E-mail, write to: abc@starmail or go to: http://www.iupui.edu/~aaws http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/women-conf.html Go to Website if you would like to help with this Conference or to download/print the Registration Form; At Website, obtain details re: CALL FOR Abstracts Proposals Papers Moderators Exhibitors Volunteers Sponsors [LIST] To join CONF List to discuss issues impacting women of African-descent and CONF organizing/planning, send the request: "SUBSCRIBE AFWOSCHO" TO: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU Join, Participate and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 5. C H I C A G O , I L l I N O I S African Studies Association: Call for Papers Submitted by: Brian Murphy Help make a difference for someone! Coordinator Family Liaison ................... Urgent Aid for a Human Rights Victim * An African Am. tourist given 18 yrs in France, with no appeal * A "Rescue Mission" is now underway - urgent help is needed with sending appeal letters to the French govt. * Individuals, groups, and even organizations and classrooms willing to lend a hand a hand would be much appreciated * This victim will pass his 5th consecutive birthday behind French bars in July * Having pen friends to write to about his ordeal will allow him a much needed outlet * For this troubling, still-evolving story; pls go to: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/justice.html Please help by linking your Webpage to our site Or write us ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Posted by EduNet Int'l Education & Internships Network _________________________________________ Get your free vanity email address at http://www.MyOwnEmail.com From aaustin@utkux.utcc.utk.edu Mon Apr 6 07:03:44 1998 Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 09:03:37 -0400 (EDT) From: Andrew Wayne Austin Reply-To: Andrew Wayne Austin To: Wojtek Sokolowski Subject: Re: Gender Violence in Jonesboro & Paula Jones In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.32.19980403163216.0073487c@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> Wojtek Sokolowski, Thanks for the continuing dialogue. Your reference to Marx and Baran and Sweezy. First, can you direct me to the places in The German Ideology and Monopoly Capital where this argument is made? I have these works in front of me here and I am eager to make the connection you have made. Second, are you arguing that the Paula Jones lawsuit is an instance of college educated symbol manipulators manufacturing demand for their commodity of grievance? Third, in this discussion, why is the elite need to figure out ways to create demand in competitive intellectual markets a more important phenomenon than the right wing ideology that motivates the Rutherford Institute? I am wondering here whether more important needs are at stake, e.g., strengthening the New Right historical bloc. You have repeated the argument I am criticizing: that the helping professions help the professionals more than they help the needy. I stipulate that there are endless examples of needs-creation (demand-creation) in capitalist society. This goes back to the Baran and Sweezy argument in Monopoly Capital (and I am supposing this is the argument you are trying to stretch to fit your polemic). But I disagree that legal services are an example of this. My feeling is that people suing people and entities are acts of resistance in an oppressive society. Women suing superiors for harassment, consumers suing corporations, and so on, are individuals and groups finding ways to address the ills that have been done to them. Sure, that there are law firms that put white males up to suing over civil rights enforcement, etc., is unfortunate, but this just more racism, not an intrinsic problem of legal industries. People have found that while legislatures are held captive by corporate interests, courts have been a way to secure rights and redress. The courts uphold the logic of the bourgeois system. However, judges have been at times compelled to make decisions in favor of ordinary people because the contradictions in the law are harder to ignore in their context. Politicians can easily ignore the contradictions. Courts have stopped and/or tied up faux-populist measures in the courts. Courts have granted women key individual freedoms. Courts have forced open segregated communities. Ordinary people have learned that although they are usually powerless politically before a false democracy, they can circumvent tyranny through the courts. This is why conservatives hate the judiciary and advocate "democratizing" it - they want to get it under the same faux-populist process they have legislatures. The legal industry has, in part, grown up around this adaptation in the pattern of agency. Later in your post you argue that people talk and do not do. But the history of people adapting state machinery to do things that benefit the lives of real people not only refutes your general argument, but goes directly to your claim about the inherent evil of the legal industry. > While we are at that, I also support the 'conservative' claim that welfare > programs should be dismantled. They are nothing but warehousing the poor > and a job bonanza for the helping professions. Recipients of AFDC are children. The highest rate of poverty is among children under the age of six. How is providing income to poor children warehousing the poor? If feeding the poor, providing for them medical care, housing, etc., is to be ended because of this "helping professions" specter then it seems that any instance of somebody doing something for somebody else that becomes institutionalized is an example of the evil you have imagined here and we should give up doing anything progressive. Moreover, the argument is close to functionalist. Here is its form: "the poor are helped so that a helping profession can help themselves." This is similar to the argument: "Termites exist so exterminators can have bugs to spray." Not quite there, but close enough to demand some specification. > Where I depart from the conservative claim is that I also belive that > instead of welfare, everyone should have a guranteed job with the living > wage. There is the ideal and the real. I think it is important to realize that people live in the real world of joblessness. Until you figure out a non-coercive way to get to full employment - and put it into practice - then we should not let children go hungry and barefoot. > I do not think that social change in this country, or elsewhere, will be > accomplished through the production of symbols, claims, grievances and what > not. Schmoozing has never produced anything else but frustration, unless > accompanied by material resources. Social change comes only from action > that involves substantial material resources. Social change comes in all forms. Small changes can have very positive effects. Just because one cannot achieve the ideal overnight is no reason to advocate nobody working towards the ideal. This has always been a false argument between reform and revolution. If you advocate reform and abandon the larger goal of total system transformation then you are a strict reformer. But this does not mean that everybody who struggles for reform has given up on the ideal. The worse choice is to advocate revolution but put off reform. This is a cruel act where people suffer for your ideals. "Let's not help the lot of people here today because we need the force of their deprived spirits tomorrow for the revolution." The moral choice is to keep both goals in mind, never sacrificing the people you stand with for the ideal, fighting the daily struggle of survival and fighting for a future free of struggle. > All major revolutions were achieved by people with guns, not by paper > pushers and smooth talking symbol manipulators. Although guns migh have > lost their significance vis a vis the earlier mentioned Abrams tanks or > helicopter gunships -- we still need material resources, perhaps of a > different kind, to bring about social changes. Again, social change comes in lots of forms. Violent revolution is necessary sometimes. But it doesn't mean we freeze until that moment. How do revolutions happen, anyway? Often through the work of "symbol manipulators." Karl Marx was one of those symbol manipulators. His revolutionary ideas had a profound impact on the 20th century. It was his ideas that guided revolutionaries. Material resources without ideas and organization and push are as empty as ideas with no material basis. > I do not think, as you seem to, that talking about injustice leads > anywhere. Talking about things leads lots of places. Doing things does too. Talking and doing are a powerful weapon for change. They must be coordinated. And they must be together. Acting without talking and planning, without raising consciousness is useless. Just as talking without acting is empty rhetoric. You have divided the world into two parts and it doesn't matter which part you choose - either half is useless. > This is precisely what the the claim-and-grievance manufacturing > industry wants us to believe: talk instead of doing. Is this true? I don't believe this. > The talk may look tough, but it completely preemepts any > effective action. Suppose that I were to agree that Jonseboro shooting was > an ultimate act of patriarchal aggression that requires an immediate > action. And what action can it lead to? Frying the two bastards? Passing > anti-gun laws? Installing a police officer in every school to 'protect' > 'our' women and children? Building more prisons? And how does that action > is supposed bring about social change that will end patriarchal oppression? Every one of your suggestions is designed to point out the futility of pointing to the gendered character of the Jonesboro shooting. This is a strawman - a setup. What might we do about violence against women? What lessons might we draw about Jonesboro? That is what we are here talking about. You say we should not even talk about it. How does any problem get solved if talking about the problem renders solving the problem impossible? You have put the people on the other side of the debate in a straitjacket. We need to raise consciousness about gender violence. You don't agree. We need to begin a dialogue, and we need to draw plans of action, and we need to act. You want to short-circuit this process from the beginning point. I don't get your motivation. It cannot be because you think it helps the situation by ignoring the situation. Ignoring lynching never made it go away. We had to raise consciousness about it, pass laws, enforce laws, change attitudes, and a host of other things that took talking at some point. One could think of endless examples of where talking about things, passing laws, and so on, have had positive outcomes. > If all those willing to condemn the Jonesboro shooting in the strongest > possible words were willing to take an equally decisive action, we would be > heading somewhere. Here you are shooting in the dark. You are assuming a priori that since nobody will do anything about gender inequality and violence then they shouldn't even talk about it. > If I knew what action needs to be taken I would not be sitting in an > academic sinecure. But at least I am not participating in collective > exhortations that produce nothing but noise and frustration. But you are participating. Andy From MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Mon Apr 6 07:32:02 1998 From: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Date: 6 Apr 1998 09:29:49 EDT To: Subject: No pasaran! Psn'rs- For your combination smile-on-your-face/lump-in-your-throat/tear-in-your-eye experience of the day, go to the following site: http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/leftover-lefties.html I hope I am the same, if luck and history permit... Morton Wenger TELEPHONE: (502) 852-6836 INTERNET: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU From kerzuc@rapidnet.com Mon Apr 6 10:26:56 1998 Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 10:30:57 -0600 From: Barbara & Ray Kerns-Zucco Reply-To: kerzuc@rapidnet.com To: Progressive Sociology Network Subject: Job Openings There are one and possibly two temporary fill-in job openings in sociology at Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Please pass this to other sociology lists and graduate departments. For more information e-mail kerzuc@rapidnet.com. Regards, Ray Kerns-Zucco From mweigand@usa.net Mon Apr 6 15:59:57 1998 Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 15:56:38 -0600 (MDT) From: mweigand@usa.net Subject: Re: grievance manufacturing (was Jonesboro) To: Wojtek Sokolowski , mweigand@usa.net, psn-cafe@csf.colorado.edu, Arthur Wilke , psn@csf.colorado.edu Regarding Gloria Steinem's article: a good article and commentary. She spoke on our campus last week and made many good points. Concerning your distinction between social movements and/or critics which advocate real social change vs. those who just spout rhetoric, I tend to agree. However, I believe that the concept of co-optation is relevant here as well. Many social activists and insightful critics are in effect stopped by co-optation. They start out demanding real social change, and the system then throws them a few crumbs. Presto--end of real social change. It is not that the social movements or critics are insincere or only interested in rhetoric, but their demands are "bought off" by those in power, sometimes in sophisticated ways. Best wishes, -=MW=- MSCD.edu From klockeb@sobek.Colorado.EDU Mon Apr 6 16:38:38 1998 Mon, 6 Apr 1998 16:38:28 -0600 (MDT) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 16:38:28 -0600 (MDT) From: Klocke Brian V To: psn@csf.colorado.edu, TEACHSOC@poplar.lemoyne.edu Subject: Reading Materials Query I am teaching "contemporary social issues and human values" this summer. the course will have a global focus. I want to pick four overarching themes for the class. If this were your class, what four themes would you pick? What books, articles, other readings, videos and group exercises would you pick? THANKS FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS! Brian Klocke University of Colorado From jashannon@davidson.edu Tue Apr 7 09:52:26 1998 07 Apr 1998 11:47:12 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 11:48:54 -0700 From: Janet Shannon Subject: job description To: IN@"psn@CSF.Colorado.edu" >Return-path: >Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 16:31:32 -0400 >From: "Grant D. Jones" >Subject: job description >X-Sender: grjones@pollux.davidson.edu >To: jashannon@POLLUX.DAVIDSON.EDU, lasabaratnam@POLLUX.DAVIDSON.EDU > >Davidson College invites applications for a 1-year sabbatical leave >replacement appointment in Sociology for the academic year 1998-99. >Appointment as Visiting Assistant Professor (PhD) preferred, but Visiting >Instructor (ABD) also possible; prior teaching experience is highly >desirable. All areas of specialization will be considered except >criminology, urban sociology, race and ethnic relations, and theory. >Teaching load is 5 courses per year (2-3 or 3-2), including one section of >Introductory Sociology each semester. Send letter, curriculum vitae, a >writing sample, and names of three references to Grant D. Jones, Chair, >Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC >28036-1719. Fax: (704) 892-2842; e-mail: grjones@davidson.edu. >Application deadline: May 1, 1998. EOE. >Grant D. Jones, Chair >Department of Anthropology and Sociology >Davidson College >Davidson, NC 28036-1719 > >Office telephone: (704) 892-2034 >Fax: (704) 892-2842 >E-mail: grjones@davidson.edu > Janet H. Shannon Associate Professor of Sociology Department of Anthropology and Sociology Davidson College Davidson, NC 28036-1719 704-892-2041 office 704-892-2842 fax jashannon@davidson.edu From dale.wimberley@vt.edu Tue Apr 7 15:36:39 1998 Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 17:39:05 +0100 To: PSN@csf.colorado.edu From: dale.wimberley@vt.edu (Dale W Wimberley) Subject: Appeal for solidarity - Nicaragua factory threatens cut-and-run An appeal for your solidarity! Please excuse cross-posting (with WSN listserv). For background information, see this website: http://www.montgomery-floyd.lib.va.us/pub/compages/cjca/sweat Dale Wimberley >Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 09:29:26 -0700 (PDT) >X-Sender: clr@pop.igc.org >Mime-Version: 1.0 >To: clr@igc.org >From: Campaign for Labor Rights >Subject: Nicaragua factory threatens cut-and-run > >Labor Alerts: a service of Campaign for Labor Rights >To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to CLR@igc.apc.org >Phone: (541) 344-5410 Web site: http://www.compugraph.com/clr >Membership/newsletter. Send $35.00 to Campaign for Labor Rights, 1247 "E" >Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Sample newsletter available on request. > >NICARAGUA FACTORY THREATENS CUT-AND-RUN >1,800 workers at recently unionized Chentex would lose jobs > >[This alert was prepared April 3, 1998 on behalf of a coalition which >for Peace (202) 544-0781 ; the National Labor Committee >(212) 242-3002 ; the U.S./Guatemala Labor Education >Solidarity Center of the AFL-CIO; and the International Textile Workers >Federation.] > >*********************************** >See ACTION REQUEST at end of alert! >*********************************** > >In recent months, we have posted alerts on the certification of a union at >the Chentex clothing factory in Nicaragua's Las Mercedes free trade zone. >This was the third union in the zone to receive official recognition from >the Nicaraguan Labor Ministry. > >Just when it seemed that the free trade zone in Nicaragua had been cracked >open to labor organizing, Chi Shing, the Taiwanese consortium which owns >Chentex and two other factories in the zone, announced that it will close >Chentex in June and shift production to Mexico. Management sought to justify >the planned move by references to unsubstantiated allegations of union >violence. > >Cut-and-run is the central strategy of transnationals. Threats to move >production are used regularly in union busting and rollback in both the >industrialized nations and the Global South. It is crucial that we mobilize >strongly in defense of the Chentex workers, to demonstrate to Chi Shing >management - and to all cut-and-run companies - that there is no place for >them to hide in the global economy. > >Two of the biggest labels produced at Chentex are Bugle Boy pants and >Arizona Jeans, both of which are sold in J.C. Penney stores. The coalition >working on Nicaraguan sweatshop issues is mounting a campaign to pressure >J.C. Penney into exerting its leverage on Chentex and Chi Shing. > >We have drafted a sign-on letter for leaders of national religious >organizations. The letter seeks a commitment from Penney's to sever ties >with Chi Shing if it moves production from Nicaragua to Mexico. In support >of that letter, we are asking local activists to sign the following letter. > >*************************** >URGENT ACTION REQUEST >*************************** > >Please sign and send the following letter today and send a copy to Campaign >for Labor Rights at 1247 "E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. It would be >especially helpful if you could collect signatures in public situations such >as tabling events, union meetings, places of faith and campuses. > >James E. Oestereicher, CEO >J.C. Penney >P.O. Box 10001 >Dallas, TX 75024 > >Dear Mr. Oestereicher: > >I am writing to express my serious concern about the recent news that one of >your contractors has threatened to close its factory in Nicaragua and move >its production to Mexico. The Chentex factory produces Bugle Boy pants and >Arizona Jeans, both of which are sold in your stores. > >I understand that this announcement comes just one month after a union >received legal recognition at the Chentex factory and is widely seen as an >attempt to suppress the right of the union to bargain collectively. This is >the latest in a series of anti-union tactics by the company, including >efforts to discredit union leaders by disseminating reckless and >unsubstantiated allegations. I also understand that five workers recently >have been fired from the factory, in what appears to be yet another >union-busting tactic. > >Abandoning some 1,800 workers simply for exercising their right to join a >union, as guaranteed under Nicaraguan law and internationally-recognized >conventions, hardly seems consistent with the moral standards to which your >company has publicly committed itself. > >We urge you to make a public commitment that J.C. Penney will sever all of >its business relations with Chi Shing if that consortium closes its Chentex >factory in Nicaragua, and to communicate your concerns directly to Chi Shing >and inform its management of your decision to sever relations if the >consortium does shift operations from the Chentex factory to Mexico. > >As a consumer, I take a personal interest in the conditions under which >products are made. The rights of working people matter to me. You can >demonstrate to me the seriousness with which you regard these concerns, not >by writing back that you have "looked into the matter," but by informing me >that you have made an arrangement to meet with the religious and human >rights representatives who have written to you. > >I eagerly await your response. > >Sincerely, > >NAME: > >ADDRESS: > Dale W. Wimberley Department of Sociology Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University From cdfupdate@cdfig.childrensdefense.org Tue Apr 7 23:45:32 1998 Date: Tue, 07 Apr 98 14:10:42 EST From: "CDFupdate" To: CDFupdate@automailer.com Subject: Special Alert 4-6-98 Sender: owner-cdfupdate@automailer.com Children's Defense Fund Update April 6, 1998 Special Alert In This Issue: --- Child Welfare and Mental Health *** Child Welfare and Mental Health *** --- OPPOSE FURTHER CUTS IN THE TITLE XX SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT --- The Title XX Social Services Block Grant is a mainstay of critical support for child care, child abuse prevention and treatment, and many other children's services in communities across the county, yet it has been a target for repeated cuts these past several years. President Clinton's FY99 Budget proposes an additional 17% cut for FY99 which would reduce its current funding level to $1.9754 billion. ** There are two steps you can take to urge Congress to fund the Title XX Social Services Block Grant for FY99 at least at its current funding level of $2.38 billion. 1- Contact your Senators and Representatives during the April Recess and urge them to fund the Title XX Social Services Block Grant at least at $2.38 billion for FY 1999. Explain how children and families in your community already have been hurt by cuts in the block grant. 2 - Add your organization's name to the letter below to Congress on funding for the Social Services Block Grant being circulated by Family Service America (FSA). Contact Jamila Larson at: , if your organization can sign on and she will forward your names to Family Service America. Please include your organization, city and state as you want it listed on the letter and your name and phone number for follow-up. -- SAMPLE LETTER -- March 3, 1998 Senator XX United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Senator XX: We, the undersigned organizations, strongly oppose the Administration's proposal to decrease the Social Service Block Grant (SSBG), Title XX of the Social Security Act, by $471 million. We ask that Congress restore this program to its authorized level of $2.38 billion. Over recent decades, the Social Service Block Grant has allowed states the flexibility to provide vital services for families, children, older persons and persons with disabilities. These services have already been jeopardized by previous cuts in the last three years of over one-half billion dollars. The proposed budget plan represents an additional cut $471 million below the authorization level included in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and would result in close to a billion dollar cut in the program since FY96. In reviewing the SSBG, we ask you to look at the positive impact the funding has had on programs and people throughout the country. In fiscal year 1995, close to 93,000 Pennsylvanians received adult protective services and another 16,000 benefited from case management services. It also made possible more than 23,000 home delivered meals in Utah, Arizona and Arkansas, and an additional $1 million was provided for these meals in Mississippi. Special Services for persons with disabilities reached 191,000 Californians and nearly 13,000 citizens of Connecticut. Also, $1 million was used in Connecticut for family planning and preventative health services. In Rhode Island, $250,000 of SSBG funds provided transportation to people with disabilities. Community living support services assisted over 44,000 people in Wisconsin. In addition, foster care, protective or at-risk youth services benefited over 43,000 children in the states of Hawaii and Michigan alone. Cuts to the Social Service Block Grant over the past three years clearly have had a negative impact on communities. For example, due to recent Title XX cuts, an agency serving the homeless in Chattanooga, Tennessee is being forced to close the city's only shelter for families at a time when this type of shelter is a scarce, but needed resource. In Akron, Ohio a counseling program for spousal and child abuse, as well as a Teen Parent Program are being forced to close due to SSBG cuts. In Indiana, fewer families needing support services to deal with child abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse can now be served. The block grant dollars provided by Title XX result in services. These services are often the only support families, children, older persons, and person with disabilities receive in order to reduce risk and overcome challenges that face them. The individuals in all of these groups rely on the case management, respite care, transportation and counseling services that Title XX supports. The half a billion dollar cut to Title XX included in welfare reform did not allow for HHS to propose additional cuts if TANF caseloads went down. In fact, the programs funded by this block grant represent vital support services to these same families. These services are more important today due to the fact the new welfare law places such a heavy emphasis on moving families off assistance and into the job market. Our organizations urge you to demonstrate strong support for the Title XX, Social Service Block Grant in the fiscal year 1999 budget by funding it at the authorized level of $2.38 billion. Sincerely, American Association of Children's Residential Centers American Association on Mental Retardation American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) American Humane Association American Psychological Association American Public Welfare Association The American Society on Aging The Arc The Association of Gerontology and Higher Education Association of Jewish Aging Services The California State Association of Counties Catholic Charities USA The Center for Women Policy Studies Child Welfare League of America Children's Defense Fund Council for Exceptional Children County Welfare Directors Association of California Epilepsy Foundation of America Family Service America Generations United Idaho Youth Ranch *after 3/3 International/National Association of Business, Industry, and Rehabilitation Legal Action Center Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America National Association of Developmental Disabilities Council National Association of Homes and Services for Children National Association of Social Workers *after 3/3 National Association of State Units on Aging National Association of Meal Programs National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems National Association of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Directors National Association of Senior Companion Project Directors National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare National Council on Senior Citizens National Council on the Aging *after 3/3 National Conference of State Legislatures National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association National Network for Youth National Organization for Women National Puerto Rican Coalition National Senior Citizens Law Center Northeast Parent and Child Society The Older Women's League Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. Salvation Army Union of American Hebrew Congregations United Way of America United Church of Christ, Office for Church in Society Volunteers of America ********************************************************************** -- OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS -- SHARE THIS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!! Our typical email is about a page or two long and generally comes once a week. To join our legislative update email list, sign-up on our website or send an email to: and write in the body of the message: subscribe cdfupdate PLEASE NOTE: WHEN SUBSCRIBING OR CANCELING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, PLEASE DO NOT SURROUND YOUR ADDRESS WITH BRACKETS. Kimberly Taylor Children's Defense Fund 25 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202/662-3540 (fax) CDFupdate@childrensdefense.org "What is done to children, they will do to society." --Karl Menninger From chriscd@jhu.edu Wed Apr 8 07:43:57 1998 Date: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 09:41:39 -0400 From: christopher chase-dunn Subject: [Fwd: Personal appeal for solidarity with Nicaraguan maquila workers] To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Reply-to: chriscd@jhu.edu 07 Apr 1998 17:40:24 -0400 (EDT) 07 Apr 1998 15:39:40 -0600 (MDT) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 17:39:00 +0100 From: dale.wimberley@vt.edu (Dale W Wimberley) Subject: Personal appeal for solidarity with Nicaraguan maquila workers Sender: owner-wsn@csf.colorado.edu To: WORLD SYSTEMS NETWORK Reply-to: dale.wimberley@vt.edu Some of you know that I have been closely involved in cross-border solidarity supporting unionization efforts of garment workers in the Nicaraguan free trade zone. Over the past year and a half I've followed the Nicaraguan maquila situation closely. Last summer I was part of a Witness for Peace labor delegation to Nicaragua and stayed in the home of one of the union members. This is my personal plea for your solidarity with these workers. I urge you to send a letter to the JC Penney CEO as described at the end of this message. Also, please forward this message to other likely sympathizers. BACKGROUND: Since 1996 there have been several "urgent action" appeals from the Campaign for Labor Rights and related organizations to support these workers' efforts to organize - generally fax campaigns to corporate and government officials. The determination of the workers, spurred on by the empowerment they experienced during the revolutionary period of 1979-1990 and assisted by international solidarity, has paid off. There are now 5 legally recognized unions in the Nicaraguan maquilas (out of fewer than 20 maquilas), one of which has gotten a contract with its employer. Earlier this year nearly all the 1800 workers at Nicaragua's Chentex plant (a jeans-making maquila) held sitdown strikes (and they received cross-border solidarity) to get legal recognition. Their success prompted some activists to surmise that - with the lowest garment worker wages in the Western hemisphere - Nicaragua's maquila unionization could well become a foundation on which garment maquila workers elsewhere in the region could build their unions. Now comes a potentially pivotal point in the Nicaragua maquila struggle. for the first time, a company has threatened to move its plant out of the country due to union activity. Chentex has threatened to move operations to Mexico. Perhaps this is merely a bargaining ploy; perhaps not. Cross-border solidarity is urgently needed to put pressure on Chentex owners via their major customers - US retailers. See below for action to take. For more background information, see this website: http://www.montgomery-floyd.lib.va.us/pub/compages/cjca/sweat Thanks for your solidarity! Dale Wimberley >Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 09:29:26 -0700 (PDT) >X-Sender: clr@pop.igc.org >Mime-Version: 1.0 >To: clr@igc.org >From: Campaign for Labor Rights >Subject: Nicaragua factory threatens cut-and-run > >Labor Alerts: a service of Campaign for Labor Rights >To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to CLR@igc.apc.org >Phone: (541) 344-5410 Web site: http://www.compugraph.com/clr >Membership/newsletter. Send $35.00 to Campaign for Labor Rights, 1247 "E" >Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Sample newsletter available on request. > >NICARAGUA FACTORY THREATENS CUT-AND-RUN >1,800 workers at recently unionized Chentex would lose jobs > >[This alert was prepared April 3, 1998 on behalf of a coalition which >for Peace (202) 544-0781 ; the National Labor Committee >(212) 242-3002 ; the U.S./Guatemala Labor Education >Solidarity Center of the AFL-CIO; and the International Textile Workers >Federation.] > >*********************************** >See ACTION REQUEST at end of alert! >*********************************** > >In recent months, we have posted alerts on the certification of a union at >the Chentex clothing factory in Nicaragua's Las Mercedes free trade zone. >This was the third union in the zone to receive official recognition from >the Nicaraguan Labor Ministry. > >Just when it seemed that the free trade zone in Nicaragua had been cracked >open to labor organizing, Chi Shing, the Taiwanese consortium which owns >Chentex and two other factories in the zone, announced that it will close >Chentex in June and shift production to Mexico. Management sought to justify >the planned move by references to unsubstantiated allegations of union >violence. > >Cut-and-run is the central strategy of transnationals. Threats to move >production are used regularly in union busting and rollback in both the >industrialized nations and the Global South. It is crucial that we mobilize >strongly in defense of the Chentex workers, to demonstrate to Chi Shing >management - and to all cut-and-run companies - that there is no place for >them to hide in the global economy. > >Two of the biggest labels produced at Chentex are Bugle Boy pants and >Arizona Jeans, both of which are sold in J.C. Penney stores. The coalition >working on Nicaraguan sweatshop issues is mounting a campaign to pressure >J.C. Penney into exerting its leverage on Chentex and Chi Shing. > >We have drafted a sign-on letter for leaders of national religious >organizations. The letter seeks a commitment from Penney's to sever ties >with Chi Shing if it moves production from Nicaragua to Mexico. In support >of that letter, we are asking local activists to sign the following letter. > >*************************** >URGENT ACTION REQUEST >*************************** > >Please sign and send the following letter today and send a copy to Campaign >for Labor Rights at 1247 "E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. It would be >especially helpful if you could collect signatures in public situations such >as tabling events, union meetings, places of faith and campuses. > >James E. Oestereicher, CEO >J.C. Penney >P.O. Box 10001 >Dallas, TX 75024 > >Dear Mr. Oestereicher: > >I am writing to express my serious concern about the recent news that one of >your contractors has threatened to close its factory in Nicaragua and move >its production to Mexico. The Chentex factory produces Bugle Boy pants and >Arizona Jeans, both of which are sold in your stores. > >I understand that this announcement comes just one month after a union >received legal recognition at the Chentex factory and is widely seen as an >attempt to suppress the right of the union to bargain collectively. This is >the latest in a series of anti-union tactics by the company, including >efforts to discredit union leaders by disseminating reckless and >unsubstantiated allegations. I also understand that five workers recently >have been fired from the factory, in what appears to be yet another >union-busting tactic. > >Abandoning some 1,800 workers simply for exercising their right to join a >union, as guaranteed under Nicaraguan law and internationally-recognized >conventions, hardly seems consistent with the moral standards to which your >company has publicly committed itself. > >We urge you to make a public commitment that J.C. Penney will sever all of >its business relations with Chi Shing if that consortium closes its Chentex >factory in Nicaragua, and to communicate your concerns directly to Chi Shing >and inform its management of your decision to sever relations if the >consortium does shift operations from the Chentex factory to Mexico. > >As a consumer, I take a personal interest in the conditions under which >products are made. The rights of working people matter to me. You can >demonstrate to me the seriousness with which you regard these concerns, not >by writing back that you have "looked into the matter," but by informing me >that you have made an arrangement to meet with the religious and human >rights representatives who have written to you. > >I eagerly await your response. > >Sincerely, > >NAME: > >ADDRESS: > Dale W. Wimberley Department of Sociology Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University From ncesa1@igc.apc.org Wed Apr 8 11:03:47 1998 Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 09:43:20 -0700 (PDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: Alex Campbell Subject: New Publication: _What Comes Next? Proposals for a Different Society_ The National Center for Economic and Security Alternatives announces the publication of "What Comes Next? Proposals For a Different Society", a 190 page annotated bibliography which assembles and critically assesses over 75 recently proposed alternatives to the current political-economic regime. Authored by NCESA research associate Thad Williamson, the book discusses contemporary American liberalism and the response to "globalization"; proposals for market socialism, participatory planning, and semi-planned economies; ecological visions; utopian fiction writers; as well as proposals to reform or reconstruct society from political theorists, theologians, feminist thinkers, and independent writers. The book will serve as a valuable guide and introduction to current discussions of long-term political and economic alternatives, and is suitable for classroom use. "What Comes Next?" is available at $15 a copy (plus $3 for postage); to order write to Alex Campbell ; or write to: The National Center for Economic and Security Alternatives 2000 P Street, NW Suite 330 Washington, DC 20010 Review copies are available upon request; discounted rates for bulk orders are also available. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alex Campbell Assistant to the President, National Center for Economic and Security Alternatives ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2317 Ashmead Place, NW Washington, DC 20009 202 986 1373 (voice)/ 202 986 7938 (fax) ncesa1@igc.apc.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From dicwc@omen.net.au Wed Apr 8 20:42:14 1998 From: "Deaths In Custody Watch Commitee (WA) Inc." To: "AMA" , "Black Deaths Interest" , "DICWC Members" , "Oz Media" , "Pollies - Democrats" , "Pollies - Labor" , "Pollies - LibNats" , "Pollies - Other" , "Prison Watchers" Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 10:25:31 +0800 X-Distribution: Moderate Subject: WA Prison Death Reply-to: dicwc@omen.net.au media release DEATHS IN CUSTODY WATCH COMMITTEE (WA) Inc. Wednesday, 8 April 1998 8th WA PRISON DEATH: (Just another blip in the statistics, MrJamieson??) A prisoner found hanging in his Casuarina Prison cell this morning is the eighth death to occur in WA prisons this year. It is believed that he was a long-term prisoner who may have been refused parole yesterday. He was not Aboriginal. "If his parole application was refused yesterday, then he should have been identified as being at high-risk of suicide or self-harm and he should have been counselled and monitored." Said Kath Mallott, Executive Officer of the Watch Committee. "It is yet another example of professionals within the prison system failing to recognise when a prisoner is at risk." "We state again that the prisons are in chaos and the Ministry of Justice is in a state of paralysis." "The Ministry's Director of Offender Management, Athol Jamieson, stated on a recent 'ABC TV Four Corners' program, that the shocking increase in WA prison deaths was not due to problems within the prison system but was merely " a blip in the statistics" "! "His statement is indicative of the fact that the highest levels of the Ministry are not only incapable of addressing the problems, they are not even prepared to acknowledge that problems exist." "This organisation once again questions the lack of appropriate counselling and monitoring of "at risk prisoners". Media contact: Kath Mallott, Executive Officer. Phone: 0419930375(m) Glen Shaw, Chairperson, (08) 9265 6960 From mmessina@maxwell.syr.edu Wed Apr 8 21:39:37 1998 Date: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 23:39:29 -0400 To: TEACHSOC@poplar.lemoyne.edu, PSN@csf.colorado.edu From: Michael Messina-Yauchzy Subject: Cite on Race Discrimination? Several years ago I recall reading a moving account by a middle-class Black man of a racist incident which happened to him in a bank. He was getting ready to leave on vacation and had his son with him while attempting to use his credit card to get cash. First the teller took his card and called a manager. Then the manager, presuming that the card was stolen, proceeded to destroy it, over the writer's protests that it was his own legitimate card. He wrote of feeling humiliated in front of his young son and of the anger which he had to control in order to avoid making matters even worse. It was a striking example. Unfortunately, I've lost track of it and been unable to locate it so far. Can anyone identify the author and source? Thanks in advance, Michael Michael Messina-Yauchzy Ph.D. candidate, Interdisciplinary Social Science M.A., Sociology 413 Maxwell Hall Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244 Home page: http://web.syr.edu/~mmessina/Index.html E-mail: mailto:mmessina@mailbox.syr.edu From cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu Fri Apr 10 09:28:36 1998 From: cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu To: abslst-l@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu, Psn@csf.colorado.edu Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:40:16 +0000 Subject: Is America Racist to its Core? This Sunday the Hartford Courant plans to run a debate commentary entitled "Is America Racist?" I take the Pro position and argue that "America is Racist to its Core." Laurence Cohen, a conservative Hartford Courant columinist wrote the opposing commentary. Cohen is a very interesting character. During the hoopla over my white racism course proposal two years ago, Cohen wrote a column titled " 'White Racism' Professsor Has His Own Racial Agenda." In that column he stated that "He does deserve to be beat up a bit, not only for the fun of it but, but also on the merits of the case." He also made reference to what his "sources at the university" had to say about me. In a later column Cohen (who is affiliated with the Connecituct based , conservative Yankee Instititute for Public Policies Studies--continued his personal attacks by stating --shortly after the re-release of "the Nutty Professor" starring Eddie Murphy-- that "one professor who said he knew Cazenave called to suggest he was even nuttier than I made him out to be." While we should not assume guilt by association, the institute Cohen is affiliated with lists the chair of the curriculum committee that reviewed the white racism course proposal and a member of my department as members of its Academic Avisory Board. In a nut shell, the Cohen essay should be very interesting. Since I had Hartford Courant officials speak to him about his violent suggestions as to what might be done with me, I suspect that this essay will be much less personal. He will probably confuse systemic white racism with racial bigotry and try to make the case that People of Color are as racist or more racist than "white" people. That is, racism is is personal not sytemic. In any case the debate commentary should be both interesting and a potentially useful teaching tool. The Courant's web-site is http://www.courant.com If by chance they don't run it this Sunday or you can't access it by that website I would be happy to snail mail you a print copy. Just sent me your name and mailing address (in a form that I can cut out and use as a label) and I will send you a copy of both essays as soon as they appear. A gradaute student and I have just completed a paper about the opposition to the course. Looking back on it now, I can see that certain comments made by the opponents of the course are hilarious. Maybe I should send a copy to Chris Rock for him to use in one of his stand-up comedy routines. If you do read the essays, please let me know what you think. Noel A. Cazenave Department of Sociology The University of Connecticut U-Box 68, Manchester Hall Storrs, CT 06269-2068 Phone 860-486-4190 FAX 860-486-6356 Liberation Sociology--The use of knowledge from the study of society to challenge structures which deny equal rights and opportunities to members of socially oppressed groups. From cdfupdate@cdfig.childrensdefense.org Fri Apr 10 16:13:25 1998 Date: Fri, 10 Apr 98 14:59:10 EST From: "CDFupdate" To: cdfupdate@automailer.com Subject: CDF Update 4-10-98 Sender: owner-cdfupdate@automailer.com Children's Defense Fund Update April 10, 1998 In This Issue: -- Child Care -- Children's Health -- Family Income -- Message from CDF Update *** Child Care *** --- APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE YOUNG CHILD! --- Please make sure your Members of Congress hear from you during the month of April. Over the next week, Members are in their home districts for the Spring Congressional recess. Please call the local offices of your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and tell them that you want them to care about quality child care. Your Members of Congress should hear from parents, providers, grandparents, friends, and more. It is very important that Members hear first-hand from their constituents that child care is an important issue in their community. If you have the opportunity, please visit with your Members of Congress in person or invite them to visit a local child care program. Also, just a reminder that a free Child Care Now! Organizer's Kit and other campaign materials are available from CDF. To order, please send an email to: . *** Children's Health *** -- CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP) SIX MONTH PROGRESS REPORT -- April 1, 1998 marked the six-month anniversary of the start of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which provides $4 billion a year in grants to states to cover uninsured children , either through Medicaid expansions, separate state programs, or a combination of these approaches. As of this writing, there are 9 states whose plans have been approved by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the federal agency in charge of the implementing the new legislation. The states are: Alabama, Colorado, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, California, New York, Michigan, and Illinois. For several states, this is the first phase of their expansion, so it is likely they will cover even more children in the future. Another 16 states have submitted their CHIP plans for approval. These states are: Missouri, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Puerto Rico. Twelve of the states plan to expand children's health insurance coverage through Medicaid, 7 through a separate state program, and 6 states plan to expand through a combination of a Medicaid and separate program. For updated information regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program, see the CDF web site at: , or contact Jeannette O'Connor at: 202/662-3653. *** Family Income *** --- INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE TO BRING FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY --- After Congress returns from the current recess, Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) will be looking for opportunities to bring up an increase in the minimum wage. He and Democratic Whip David Bonior (D-MI) have co-sponsored legislation (S. 1805/H.R. 3510) calling for raising the minimum wage to $5.65 an hour in 1999 and $6.15 an hour in 2000. * YOU CAN HELP: Let your U.S. Senators and House of Representative Member know that a minimum wage increase would help families with children struggling to rise out of poverty (U.S. Capitol Switchboard # is 202/224-3121). Facts: The Minimum Wage and Family Poverty: The proposed increase in the minimum wage is modest, but does represent progress. While 50 cents a year in 1999 and again in 2000 would still leave a mother with two children below the federal poverty level (assuming a 2 percent increase in inflation for each year between now and 2000), combining the raised minimum wage with the Earned Income Tax Credit and/or other components like child support can really help families make ends meet. Today's full-time year-round minimum wage of $5.15 leaves a family of three at 82 percent of the projected 1998 poverty line. Increasing the minimum wage to $6.15 in the year 2000 would bring families of three to 90 percent of the projected poverty line. If we fail to increase the minimum wage during that period, its value will drop to only 75 percent of the federal poverty level. In the 1960s and 1970s, full-time, year-round work at the minimum wage lifted a three-person family out of poverty. Few increases in the minimum wage over time have allowed it to sink far below the value it had in earlier decades. This bill simply takes some needed catch-up steps. Why the Minimum Wage is Important to Children: Most poor children live in families where someone works. Census data show that 69 percent of poor children lived in working families in 1996, a startling increase from 61 percent just three years earlier. For the vast majority of poor children, work alone is not enough to lift their families out of poverty. Steady increases in the minimum wage are a very important part of a multifaceted strategy to reduce child poverty. Other steps are necessary as well, including subsidized child care and health coverage, other services to tear down barriers to employment, and strengthened child support enforcement. But an increased minimum wage is an essential component of a partnership between the public and private sectors to develop a work-based anti-poverty system. Will a Rise in the Minimum Wage Cost Jobs?: The previous increase did not result in job loss. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) studied the first installment of the recent increases (to $4.75 an hour) and found that the increase had no significant effect on the employment of the two most vulnerable groups--teens and young adults. (See the EPI study, The Sky Hasn't Fallen by Jared Bernstein and John Schmitt, ). Further, a report released in January 1997 by economists David Card and Alan Krueger showed that after a minimum wage increase in Pennsylvania, employment in the fast-food industry in the state rose. If a further increase will have any effect on jobs, it is likely to be minimal, and outweighed by the benefits to low-income workers. Who is Helped by an Increase in the Minimum Wage?: According to the Economic Policy Institute, the increase to $5.15 that took effect in September 1997 benefited close to 10 million workers, 58 percent of whom are female and 71 percent of whom are adults. 57 percent of the gains from the increase go to working families in the bottom 40 percent of the income scale. The Public Supports Raising the Minimum Wage: Several recent polls show massive support for increasing the minimum wage. A Los Angeles Times poll from February 1998 month shows 78 percent favoring an increase. A January 21st Washington Post-ABC poll pegged support at 76 percent. --- DAY OF ACTION TO SUPPORT INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE --- Advocates around the country are gearing up for a Day of Action to support increasing the minimum wage on Thursday, April 16. Sponsored by the national organization ACORN, there are activities planned in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington state, and Wisconsin. For contact names in these states, please call T'Wana Lucas at the CDF Family Income division, 202/ 662-3542, or e-mail her at: . *** Message *** Due to some technical difficulties we experienced this week, some of you may have received the Special Alert dated 4-6-98 several times. We have corrected the problem and would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your continued support. ********************************************************************** -- OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS -- SHARE THIS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!! Our typical email is about a page or two long and generally comes once a week. To join our legislative update email list, sign-up on our website or send an email to: and write in the body of the message: subscribe cdfupdate PLEASE NOTE: WHEN SUBSCRIBING OR CANCELING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, PLEASE DO NOT SURROUND YOUR ADDRESS WITH BRACKETS. Kimberly Taylor Children's Defense Fund 25 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202/662-3540 (fax) CDFupdate@childrensdefense.org "What is done to children, they will do to society." --Karl Menninger From phillipP@SONOMA.EDU Fri Apr 10 17:58:31 1998 Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 17:02:06 -0800 From: phillipP@SONOMA.EDU (Peter Phillips) Subject: Project Censored To: psn@csf.colorado.edu U.S. Arms Sales Lead Project Censored's 1998 Top 10 Censored Stories ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- The Clinton Administration's aggressive promotion of U.S. arms sales throughout the world leads this year's list of the Top 10 censored or underreported news stories identified by Project Censored, Sonoma State University's award-winning, student-faculty media watch program. Researchers for Project Censored, now in its 22nd year, contend the mainstream media in the U.S. has failed to report that America's share of the global arms market in the last 10 years has grown from 16 percent to 63 percent in spite of congressional resolutions prohibiting sales of military aid and training to governments that are undemocratic, abuse human rights or engage in aggression against neighboring states. Worse, according to a story, "Guns 'R' Us," by Martha Honey and published in In These Times, the nation's arms sales policies are used to justify increased weapons spending and development to achieve superiority over forces U.S. arms merchants have equipped and trained. Honey's story quotes Lawrence Kolb, a Brookings Institute fellow and former assistant secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan who said: "It's a money game: an absurd spiral in which we export arms only to have to develop more sophisticated ones to counter those spread all over the world." Prof. Peter Phillips, director of Project Censored, said the In These Times article is the kind of journalism Americans need from mainstream media but increasingly seldom get. Phillips stated, "Investigative Journalists are writing and printing hundreds of important news stories annually that are ignored by a major media too interested in celebrity news, infomercials, and titillation". The arms merchants story and other censored or underreported news stories are published in the newly released Project Censored yearbook, "Censored 1998: The News that Didn't Make the News." In addition to top stories missed by mainstream media in 1997, the yearbook contains timely articles and reviews on the media, the continuing conglomerization of news and information industries in the U.S., a review of the status of previously cited underreported stories, and resource guides to mainstream and alternative media. Project Censored is based at Sonoma State University in Northern California. It identifies stories about significant issues that are not widely publicized by the national mainstream news media. The annual project is conducted by more than 125 faculty, student researchers and interns, and community experts. The final 25 censored stories are ranked in order of significance by a panel of national judges including members of the media, authors and educators. Here are the top ten underreported stories of 1997: 1. Clinton Administration Promotes U.S. Arms Sales Worldwide. The U.S. is now the principal arms merchant for the world, despite congressional intent to prohibit such practices, and is creating a continuing arms race. 2. Personal Care and Cosmetic Products May Be Carcinogenic. Personal care products American consumers believe are safe are often contaminated with carcinogenics. 3. Big Business Seeks to Control and Influence U.S. Universities. Academia is being auctioned off to highest bidders as industry creates endowed professorships, funds think tanks and research centers, sponsors grants and contracts for research. 4. Exposing the Global Surveillance System. U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand continue to operate secret Cold War-era intelligence system to monitor telephone, e-mail and telex communications throughout the world. 5. U.S. Companies Are World Leaders in the Manufacture of Torture Devices for Internal Use and Export. Forty-two of 100 firms worldwide that produce and sell instruments of torture are based in the U.S. 6. Russian Plutonium Lost Over Chile and Bolivia. Four canisters of deadly plutonium aboard the ill-fated Russia Mars 96 space probe remain lost after the spacecraft plunged back to earth and crashed into Bolivia. 7. Norplant and Human Lab Experiments in Third World Lead to Forced Use in the United States. Low-income women in the U.S. and in Third World countries have been targets of U.S. policies to control birth rates, often injected with contraceptive implants that lead to painful and costly complications. 8. Little Known Federal Law Paves the Way for National ID Card. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996 contains the framework for establishing a national ID card for the American public. 9. Mattel Cuts U.S. Jobs to Open Sweat Shops in Other Countries. Thanks to NAFTA and GATT, the U.S. toy industry has cut a one-time American workforce of 56,000 in half and sent many of the jobs to countries where workers lack basic rights. 10. Army's Plan to Burn Nerve Gas and Toxins in Oregon Threatens Columbia River Basin. Despite evidence that incineration is the worst option for destroying the nation's obsolete chemical weapons stockpile, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission has authorized the Army and Raytheon Corp. to build five incinerators at the Umatilla Army Depot. The annual yearbook "Censored 1998: The News That Didn't Make the News" ($16.95) was released nationally in March. For additional information contact Project Censored 707-664-2500 or e-mail censored@sonoma.edu Visit Project Censored's Web site at http://www.sonoma.edu/ProjectCensored/ Peter Phillips Ph.D. Sociology Department/Project Censored Sonoma State University 1801 East Cotati Ave. Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-664-2588 From eric@stewards.net Sun Apr 12 03:30:15 1998 Sun, 12 Apr 1998 04:23:38 -0500 (EST) (envelope-from eric@stewards.net) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 04:23:38 -0500 (EST) To: : PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer) Subject: NEW TERRIBLE RAID IN CHIAPAS mcburke@unixg.ubc.ca (Collen) Please Forward to list. Thanks. Eric >TRANSLATION TO ENGLISH BY: N.A.P-USA > >COMMUNIQUE FROM FRAY BARTOLOME' HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER,CHIAPAS,MEXICO-APRIL >11,1998. > >NEW RAID IN CHIAPAS > >Today, police from Public Security, personnel from the Mexican Federal Army, >Immigration agents and Federal Judicial Police carried on a new raid, >similar to the one carried out last Wednesday April 8th, (this new raid >took place)*in the community of Taniperlas, municipality of Ocosingo. > >In the raid, that started at 4:30 in the morning, the following illegal >detentions >took place: Tomas Sanchez Gomez, Luis >Menendez Medina member of the "fray Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada Human Rights >Center", >Nicolas Lopez Gomez, Antonio Lopez Vazquez, >Mateo Gonzalez (Gutierrez)Lopez, Nicolas >Mazarriegos Perez, Sergio Valdez Rubalcaba, >Antonio Lopez Vazquez y Sebastian Chulin Gonzalez. Mr.Sergio Valdez >Rubalcaba was beaten by police at the time of his arrest. > >In the same way, the following international observers were also arrested: >Julie Marquette (CANADA), Sarah Mireille Baillargen (CANADA), John Sabato >Michael (USA), MIchael Zap (USA), Jeffrey Wright Conant(USA), Travis Blaize >Loller(USA), >Marta Sanchez Zaragoza (CANADA), Lambot Gautier (BELGICA), Berger Dominique >Jean Guillaume (BELGICA), Olga Claveria Iranzo (ESPANHA),Ana Lopez >(ESPANHA), Juan Cobos (ESPANHA) Y Marion Landich (ALEMANIA). > >The military encircled the community impeding free movement on the outside >of the community as well as the inside while the raid took place. Public >Security Police carried out searches of private homes using violence. The >houses to be searched were pointed out from a list one of the policeman was >carrying and the actions took place without search warrants. > >A construction of 10 meters by 30 meters in the center of the community, >was destroyed and burned by persons from the same community who were >members of the PRI party aided by the police. > >The group of national and foreign observers >that were in the community were harassed, >video taped and threatened verbally, even >threatened with death and like the rest of the community, they were >forbidden to >move about. > >Federal Judicial Police encouraged members >of the community who are members of the PRI party to assault the observers. >Children and women were being paid to harassed the observers. > >This Human Rights Center demands freedom for those arrested since their >individual human rights were violated, and calls for the reparation of the >damage caused during the raid. > >This Human Rights Center considers indispensable that the Rule of Law be >established in Chiapas, but that does >not justify new actions that violate >the human rights of any individual, as >took place in this case. > >-------- > >We just moved. We are on the same street but in a new address: >Fray Bartolome Human Rights Center >Francisco Leon 5 >Barrio Santa Lucia >San Cristobal de las Casas >Chiapas,C.P. 29250 >Mexico > >tel: (967)8 35 48 >fax:(967) 8 35 51 >Email: cdhbcasas@laneta.apc.org >http:www.laneta.apc.org/cdhbcasas/ > > > From cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu Sun Apr 12 05:40:46 1998 From: cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu To: abslst-l@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu, Psn@csf.colorado.edu Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 06:55:59 +0000 Subject: America Racist to its Core Commentary Not on Website Today the Hartford Courant published the commentary debate I mentioned in a previous posting. The Debate question is "Is America Racist ? The title of my Response is "Yes> America is Racist To Its Core? The Title of Laurence D. Cohen's Response is "No. Society Measures by Money, Not Race." My essay is organized into sections which focus on : the nation's racist historical foundations and legacy; its white supremacist beliefs ; and the organization and operation of its racist institutions. Cohen argues that "To theorize that America is inherently racist may be fashionalbe among university scholars who revel in victimization, but shabby generalization does no favors to those of us who value clarity of logic and common sense." If you are interested in receiving a printed copy just send me an E-Mail with you name and address typed as a mailing label. Noel A. Cazenave Department of Sociology The University of Connecticut U-Box 68, Manchester Hall Storrs, CT 06269-2068 Phone 860-486-4190 FAX 860-486-6356 Liberation Sociology--The use of knowledge from the study of society to challenge structures which deny equal rights and opportunities to members of socially oppressed groups. From ncesa1@igc.apc.org Mon Apr 13 09:05:31 1998 Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 07:37:37 -0700 (PDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: Alex Campbell Subject: The Coming Race War?... I'm sure many of you are familiar with Carl Rowan's book by the above title. As part of a larger project, I am trying to track down various scenarios in recent press / literature out-lining potential scenarios for increasing racial and / or class conflict, leading to an authoritarian crack-down. Cites / leads welcome. Thanks in advance, Alex Campbell ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alex Campbell Assistant to the President, National Center for Economic and Security Alternatives ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2317 Ashmead Place, NW Washington, DC 20009 202 986 1373 (voice)/ 202 986 7938 (fax) ncesa1@igc.apc.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From ARIFIANTOA@Acad.Ripon.EDU Mon Apr 13 14:28:55 1998 From: ARIFIANTOA@Acad.Ripon.EDU Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 15:29:01 -0600 (CST) Subject: Citicorp's Uncivil Corporate Disobedience (FWD) To: psn@csf.colorado.edu, socgrad@csf.colorado.edu, acts-l@rascal.messiah.edu Return-path: Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 13:45:17 -0500 From: John Bowen Subject: Citicorp's Uncivil Corporate Disobedience (fwd) To: AllenC@dial120a.vbe.com, ArifiantoA@dial120a.vbe.com, DBehrean@mail.wiscnet.net, DrewaJ@dial120a.vbe.com, HalyburtonB@dial120a.vbe.com, HannemannB@dial120a.vbe.com, HannemannJ@dial120a.vbe.com, LarcoC@dial120a.vbe.com, MidthunA@dial120a.vbe.com, PatelS@dial120a.vbe.com, RathP@dial120a.vbe.com, SatzerJ@dial120a.vbe.com, ShamdasaniA@dial120a.vbe.com, WilderspinK@dial120a.vbe.com >Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 11:36:03 -0400 (EDT) >From: Robert Weissman >Subject: Citicorp's Uncivil Corporate Disobedience >Sender: corp-focus@essential.org >Reply-to: rob@essential.org >Originator: corp-focus@essential.org >X-Comment: To unsubscribe from this list, > send the one line message "unsubscribe corp-focus" to > "listproc@essential.org". Leave the "Subject:" line of your message > blank.archive corp-focus /home/listproc6.0c/archives/corp-focus %y%m%d > corp-focus > >The Big Boys play by different rules than the rest of us. > >If major corporations don't like a law, they can invest millions in >campaign contributions, lobbyists and political advertisements. > >If those efforts don't result in a change in the law, the corporations can >just ignore it. > >Case in point: the just-proposed Citicorp-Travelers Group merger. The >merger is flatly prohibited by federal law that prevents banks, securities >firms and insurance companies from owning each other. > >For years, the financial services industry has sought to tear down the >regulatory walls between banking, insurance and investment banking that >are mandated by the Glass-Steagall Act and the Bank Holding Company Act. >Earlier this month, the House of Representatives abandoned its latest >attempt to roll back the acts. > >Now, in a strange kind of corporate uncivil disobedience, banking Goliath >Citicorp and megainsurer Travelers announced a merger that all parties >agree the law forbids. The two financial giants intend to exploit a >loophole that will let them proceed with the marriage while undergoing a >two-year "review" by the Federal Reserve -- a review that can be extended >for up to three years. The new "Citigroup" plans to use this two-to-five >year window to lobby to erase the federal prohibition on bank and >insurance company mergers. > >Citicorp, Travelers and other financial services companies maintain the >50-year-old separation between banking, insurance and investment banking >is an anachronism. Rallying around the cry of "financial modernization," >they say giant financial conglomerates would benefit consumers by >providing them with "one-stop shopping" for withdrawing cash, buying >insurance policies and trading in the stock market. > >This is not exactly the same convenience as being able to buy milk and >bread in the same supermarket, however. Even the hypothetical benefits to >consumers are incidental at best. > >By contrast, the new Citigroup and other giant financial houses would pose >enormous risks to consumers, taxpayers and democracy. > >For consumers, the risk is that more concentration in the financial >services sector will result in less competition, higher charges (for >everything from use of ATMs to stock trades) and diminished choice. > >There is also a danger that banks will allocate credit on preferential >terms to allied companies, and deny it to competitor companies. That will >both raise the cost of loans to borrowers who do not have special ties to >banks and distort the proper functioning of the economy. > >For taxpayers, the risks are even more grave. There will be a strong >tendency in down times for banks to infuse cash into affiliated investment >banks and insurance companies and the companies in which they invest. >(Insurance companies are major players in the stock and real estate >markets.) In the best case scenario, that will make credit relatively more >scarce for other borrowers. In the worst case, an insurance company's >insolvency will spread to its banking partner. > >Here's where taxpayers get hit: Since bank deposits are guaranteed with >federal insurance -- as they should be -- if a bank goes bad trying to >bail out an affiliated insurance company, taxpayers will foot the bill. >Deposit insurance will actually encourage banks to engage in more risky >behavior, because it shifts the cost of failure away from the bank and to >taxpayers. > >The recent South Korean financial debacle can be traced in large part to >banks making bad loan after bad loan to affiliated industrial enterprises. >Most analysts in the United States criticized the close relationship >between the Korean banks and industrial companies -- but now U.S. banks >want to follow the flawed Korean model. > >The most worrisome element of a Citigroup or similar financial behemoth is >the threat it poses to democracy. Corporate power already dwarfs people >power on Capitol Hill. When corporations reach the size of a combined >Citigroup, their sheer size gives them the ability to roll over opponents. > >Citicorp and Travelers have implicitly acknowledged the political control >they expect to be able to exercise after their merger. In announcing a >merger that is plainly prohibited under current law, they are saying, >"After we merge, we're sure we can force a change in the law." The dollar >and ego costs of undoing a merger are substantial. The parties would not >have announced their marriage if they did not expect it to be consummated >successfully. > >This kind of concentrated economic power poses grave perils for a >democracy already enfeebled by excessive corporate influence. > >Federal and state regulators should quickly veto the merger proposal. The >message to Citicorp and Travelers should be: "Follow the laws like the >rest of us." > >Russell Mokhiber is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime >Reporter. Robert Weissman is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based >Multinational Monitor. > >(c) Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman > >Focus on the Corporation is a weekly column written by Russell Mokhiber >and Robert Weissman. Please feel free to forward the column to friends or >repost the column on other lists. If you would like to post the column on >a web site or publish it in print format, we ask that you first contact us >(russell@essential.org or rob@essential.org). > >Focus on the Corporation is distributed to individuals on the listserve >corp-focus@essential.org. To subscribe to corp-focus, send an e-mail >message to listproc@essential.org with the following all in one line: > >subscribe corp-focus (no period). > >Focus on the Corporation columns are posted on the Multinational Monitor >web site . > >Postings on corp-focus are limited to the columns. If you would like to >comment on the columns, send a message to russell@essential.org or >rob@essential.org. > > > > ******************************************************************************* Alexander R. Arifianto, Ripon College (class of 1999) 600 Campus Drive, Unit # 21, Ripon, WI 54971, USA Phone: 1-920-745-7617 E-mail: arifiantoa@acad.ripon.edu A Quote that Captures My Academic Interests (Economists and Sociology): "If you are a good, virtuous economist, you are reborn as a physicist. But if you are an evil, wicked economist, you are reborn as a sociologist." -Paul Krugman ******************************************************************************* From Spectors@mail.netnitco.net Mon Apr 13 18:15:15 1998 Mon, 13 Apr 1998 19:19:00 -0500 (CDT) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 19:10:18 -0700 From: Spectors Reply-To: Spectors@mail.netnitco.net To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: Political Economy I'm working with some people in a study group here in Chicago on political economy. We are operating within the framework that capitalism/imperialism has been in a general systemic crisis since about 1900, but that the crisis has, at various points, intensified, displaced the most intense parts of the crisis to different parts of the globe, and "blew off some steam" via the creation of new (artificial) markets from the massive destruction of World War I and World War II. Within this general process, the relative position of the U.S. capitalist class reached its high point in the late 1950's/early 1960's. Some would argue that it is stronger now than ever, given the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. I'd argue that while the U.S. appears to be the strongest militarily, its economic position is not as strong as it was in the early 1960's. Without getting into a debate about that right now, I am aware of some literature explaining major changes in the world capitalist system since World War II, some of which had a negative effect on the the U.S. capitalist class' relative position world wide. I'd appreciate it if any of you out there with information, literature, arguments, insights, etc. would contact me about these questions and/or direct me to resources. Thanks, Alan Spector. From mweigand@usa.net Mon Apr 13 15:58:54 1998 Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 15:55:45 -0600 (MDT) From: mweigand@usa.net Subject: Citicorp's Uncivil Corporate Disobedience To: psn@csf.colorado.edu CITICORP'S UNCIVIL CORPORATE DISOBEDIENCE (c) by Russell Mokiber and Robert Weissman The Big Boys play by different rules than the rest of us. If major corporations don't like a law, they can invest millions in campaign contributions, lobbyists and political advertisements. If those efforts don't result in a change in the law, the corporations can just ignore it. Case in point: the just-proposed Citicorp-Travelers Group merger. The merger is flatly prohibited by federal law that prevents banks, securities firms and insurance companies from owning each other. For years, the financial services industry has sought to tear down the regulatory walls between banking, insurance and investment banking that are mandated by the Glass-Steagall Act and the Bank Holding Company Act. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives abandoned its latest attempt to roll back the acts. Now, in a strange kind of corporate uncivil disobedience, banking Goliath Citicorp and megainsurer Travelers announced a merger that all parties agree the law forbids. The two financial giants intend to exploit a loophole that will let them proceed with the marriage while undergoing a two-year "review" by the Federal Reserve -- a review that can be extended for up to three years. The new "Citigroup" plans to use this two-to-five year window to lobby to erase the federal prohibition on bank and insurance company mergers. Citicorp, Travelers and other financial services companies maintain the 50-year-old separation between banking, insurance and investment banking is an anachronism. Rallying around the cry of "financial modernization," they say giant financial conglomerates would benefit consumers by providing them with "one-stop shopping" for withdrawing cash, buying insurance policies and trading in the stock market. This is not exactly the same convenience as being able to buy milk and bread in the same supermarket, however. Even the hypothetical benefits to consumers are incidental at best. By contrast, the new Citigroup and other giant financial houses would pose enormous risks to consumers, taxpayers and democracy. For consumers, the risk is that more concentration in the financial services sector will result in less competition, higher charges (for everything from use of ATMs to stock trades) and diminished choice. There is also a danger that banks will allocate credit on preferential terms to allied companies, and deny it to competitor companies. That will both raise the cost of loans to borrowers who do not have special ties to banks and distort the proper functioning of the economy. For taxpayers, the risks are even more grave. There will be a strong tendency in down times for banks to infuse cash into affiliated investment banks and insurance companies and the companies in which they invest. (Insurance companies are major players in the stock and real estate markets.) In the best case scenario, that will make credit relatively more scarce for other borrowers. In the worst case, an insurance company's insolvency will spread to its banking partner. Here's where taxpayers get hit: Since bank deposits are guaranteed with federal insurance -- as they should be -- if a bank goes bad trying to bail out an affiliated insurance company, taxpayers will foot the bill. Deposit insurance will actually encourage banks to engage in more risky behavior, because it shifts the cost of failure away from the bank and to taxpayers. The recent South Korean financial debacle can be traced in large part to banks making bad loan after bad loan to affiliated industrial enterprises. Most analysts in the United States criticized the close relationship between the Korean banks and industrial companies -- but now U.S. banks want to follow the flawed Korean model. The most worrisome element of a Citigroup or similar financial behemoth is the threat it poses to democracy. Corporate power already dwarfs people power on Capitol Hill. When corporations reach the size of a combined Citigroup, their sheer size gives them the ability to roll over opponents. Citicorp and Travelers have implicitly acknowledged the political control they expect to be able to exercise after their merger. In announcing a merger that is plainly prohibited under current law, they are saying, "After we merge, we're sure we can force a change in the law." The dollar and ego costs of undoing a merger are substantial. The parties would not have announced their marriage if they did not expect it to be consummated successfully. This kind of concentrated economic power poses grave perils for a democracy already enfeebled by excessive corporate influence. Federal and state regulators should quickly veto the merger proposal. The message to Citicorp and Travelers should be: "Follow the laws like the rest of us." Russell Mokhiber is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter. Robert Weissman is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Multinational Monitor. (c) Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman Focus on the Corporation is a weekly column written by Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman. Please feel free to forward the column to friends or repost the column on other lists. If you would like to post the column on a web site or publish it in print format, we ask that you first contact us (russell@essential.org or rob@essential.org). Focus on the Corporation is distributed to individuals on the listserve corp-focus@essential.org. To subscribe to corp-focus, send an e-mail message to listproc@essential.org with the following all in one line: subscribe corp-focus (no period). Focus on the Corporation columns are posted on the Multinational Monitor web site . Postings on corp-focus are limited to the columns. If you would like to comment on the columns, send a message to russell@essential.org or rob@essential.org. <---- End Forwarded Message ----> From chadk@yourinter.net Mon Apr 13 19:02:18 1998 (Post.Office MTA v3.1.2 release (PO205-101c) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 21:01:55 -0700 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu From: chadk@yourinter.net (Chad Kimmel) CHAD KIMMEL has been appointed Editor of the Summer Issue of the Graduate Student Journal of the Red Feather Institute. Chad is grad student at IUP; he does work in both quantitative analysis and in social change. He has set, as a theme, explorations in social change in everyday life; thus, articles geared toward population, family, work, environment, technology, religion, recreational sports, etc, would be fine. You may contact Chad directly at: ckimmel@yourinter.net Vol. 2: Summer: Exploring Social Change in Everyday Life : Send Disks to: Chad Kimmel, Indiana University of Pennsylvania 102 McElhaney Hall,Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705-1087 TR Young, PS: Grad Students wishing to Edit Special Issues or future Quarterly Issues may preview the Journal at: http://www.tryoung.com/journals/journalindex/journalindex.html TR Young, 8085 Essex Weidman, Mi., 48893 Email: tr@tryoung.com ***************************************************** Chad M. Kimmel Graduate Assistant/Data Manager Mid-Atlantic Addiction Training Institute (MAATI) Indiana University of Pennsylvania 102 McElhaney Hall Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705-1087 ckimmel@yourinter.net http://www.yourinter.net/~ckimmel 724-463-7010 **************************************************** From dgrammen@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 13 21:51:37 1998 Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 22:51:32 -0500 (CDT) From: Dennis Grammenos To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: AJC: From El Salvador to Colombia... I am forwarding to you the following interesting story. Anyone interested in keeping update with the rapidly deteriorating situation in Colombia can contact me and I will subscribe you to the listserve CSN-L which I manage. Solidarity, Dennis Grammenos ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 11:32:39 -0500 From: Dennis Grammenos Subject: AJC: From El Salvador to Colombia... ========================================= "The same kinds of atrocities committed by death squads in El Salvador are being committed by death squads in Colombia today," said Eduardo Gamarra, an expert on Latin America at Florida International University. ________________________________========================================= THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION Saturday, 11 April 1998 Salvadoran killers say regime had role in 1980 crimes Activists note that the U.S. backed El Salvador, and they see the same problem in Colombia. ----------------------------------------------------- By Shelley Emling MIAMI -- More than 17 years after the crime, four Salvadoran national guardsmen accused of raping and killing four church women from the United States in 1980 have publicly confessed that they were not acting alone but carrying out orders from higher-ups in the military. The revelation has reopened debate over the U.S. government's decade-long, $ 7 billion role in backing an often brutal military in El Salvador's civil war of the 1980s. But it also has given new impetus to a bitter foreign policy dispute over the government's expanding role in backing another military force in Latin America, this one in Colombia. "Like in El Salvador, the United States is now in bed with a military known for its atrocities against civilians," said Carlos Salinas, Amnesty International's director for Latin America. "And, like in El Salvador, the public doesn't understand the extent to which we are getting involved in Colombia." The slayings of the women, Ursuline nun Dorothy Kazel, 41, and lay worker Jean Donovan, 27, both of Cleveland, and Maryknoll nuns Ita Ford, 40, and Maura Clark, 49, both of New York, came at the forefront of a 12-year civil war launched by leftist rebels. Both the Salvadoran and U.S. governments have maintained that five guardsmen convicted of the killings in 1984 and sentenced to 30 years in prison acted on their own, despite a U.N. report of official Salvadoran complicity in the acts. For the last several years, the families of the church women have been trying to interview the national guardsmen in prison. Last month, lawyers finally spoke with four of the five men. The four said they had not acted alone. For years, opponents of U.S. policy in El Salvador accused President Ronald Reagan's administration of ignoring evidence in the case, as well as condoning widespread human rights abuses, in its zeal to fight communism. Now, opponents of U.S. policy in Colombia accuse the Clinton administration of ignoring the same kinds of abuses in its zeal to fight drug trafficking. An estimated 80 percent of the world's cocaine is produced in Colombia. "The nature and extent of U.S. security assistance to Colombia is extremely troubling in light of Colombia's abysmal human rights record," said Coletta Youngers, an expert on Colombia at the Washington Office on Latin America, a liberal think tank. She said violence in Colombia --- where 3,000 to 4,000 political killings occur each year --- is comparable to that in El Salvador during the 1980s. Colombia's two largest guerrilla groups --the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army-- are Latin America's largest and oldest insurgencies. They have waged war for three decades. "The same kinds of atrocities committed by death squads in El Salvador are being committed by death squads in Colombia today," said Eduardo Gamarra, an expert on Latin America at Florida International University. State Department officials said this week that the U.S. government won't make apologies for its role in Cold War-era wars fought under previous administrations but that it is mindful of growing concerns over U.S. support for the Colombian military. For years, U.S. aid to Colombia's military was virtually nonexistent because the Colombian army, as well as the growing number of right-wing paramilitary groups that operate with its blessing, had been implicated in human rights abuses such as the widespread torture and massacre of civilians. But the U.S. military has stepped up its involvement in Colombia in recent months, alarmed by the strength of a growing leftist insurgency that has clear links to drug traffickers. The State Department admits that it expects to increase military aid to Colombia this year for anti-narcotics operations, but it has denied that the equipment or training would be used to pursue leftist rebel groups, who have de facto political and military control over nearly 50 percent of the nation. ''We don't give assistance indiscriminately,'' said Michael Hahn, a State Department spokesman. ''We make sure the units we give aid to have not been accused of human rights abuses.'' U.S. security assistance to Colombia is expected to top more than $100 million this year, or more than three times as much as it totaled two years ago, while the number of U.S. military advisers in Colombia has grown steadily to more than 200 today. U.S. officials also are mulling over the Colombian army's request to buy 12 sophisticated and lethal Cobra attack helicopters that are, unlike the troop transport helicopters now employed by the army, designed to mount offensives. Regarding the case of the church women, the U.N. Truth Commission for El Salvador said in 1993 that high Salvadoran officers, including the defense minister and the commander of the national guard at the time, were involved in covering up the murders. But State Department officials maintain that evidence never has been conclusive. ''The commission never concluded anything but simply left open the possibility that there may have been a coverup,'' Hahn said, adding that the commission's evidence was based solely on hearsay. He said the U.S. government is not investigating the case, nor is it searching for former Defense Minister Gen. Jose Guillermo Garcia and the former national guard commander, Col. Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova, both of whom live in Florida. Copyright 1998 The Atlanta Constitution _____________________________________________________________________ ************************************************************************ * COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK: To subscribe to CSN-L send request to * * listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu SUB CSN-L Firstname Lastname * * (Direct questions or comments about CSN-L to csncu@prairienet.org) * * VISIT THE COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK WEBSITE AT http://www.igc.org/csn * * For more info contact CSN at P.O. Box 1505, Madison WI 53701 * * (608) 257-8753 fax: (608) 255-6621 csn@igc.apc.org * ************************************************************************ From dgrammen@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 13 21:52:59 1998 Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 22:52:54 -0500 (CDT) From: Dennis Grammenos To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: DMN: Good Morning, Vietnam... er... Colombia! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 14:00:47 -0500 From: Dennis Grammenos Subject: DMN: Good Morning, Colombia!:-) ===================================== "In Vietnam, you had 600,000 men, and Vietnam is only one-fifth the size of Colombia," he said. "In El Salvador, which is one-fiftieth the size of Colombia, the United States had many more troops and helicopters than what it has in Colombia." _______________________ ====================================== THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS Wednesday, 8 April 1998 Rebels threaten elections in Bogota Colombian officials say they are ill-prepared for a possible conflict --------------------------------------------- By Tod Robberson BOGOTA, Colombia - Former Colombian army intelligence officer Jose Luis Cadena Montenegro pointed eastward from his downtown Bogota office to explain why the nation's deteriorating security situation is generating so much concern in Washington these days. "See those mountains over there?" he said, motioning toward a set of heavily wooded slopes barely a mile away. "The guerrillas are right on the other side." Then he pointed in rapid succession to the north, west and south, listing off the names of nearby towns, parks and busy highways on the outskirts of the Colombian capital. "And they're there, and there and there," he said. Mr. Cadena, a retired major and 23-year veteran of the army, is far from alone in offering a bleak assessment. According to senior Colombian military commanders and Clinton administration officials, Colombia is facing an unprecedented onslaught by up to 20,000 heavily armed leftist guerrillas in the leadup to presidential elections next month. "The guerrillas are intent on knocking off a democratically elected government," an informed diplomatic source said. Officials say the rebels have virtually surrounded the Colombian capital and are positioned to block virtually every major highway out of the city. They have so heavily infiltrated the nation's third-largest city, Cali, that the U.S. State Department is telling Americans to get out altogether. And there is little that the Colombian military has been able do about it, the officials say, citing poorly trained and ill-equipped forces, underfunding, mismanagement and rapidly diminishing troop morale as only some of the myriad problems confronting the nation's 120,000 men and women in uniform. "Can you believe that the army has only 17 helicopters to control this entire country?" the armed forces commander, Gen. Manuel Jose Bonett, said. Though he insisted he is not appealing for U.S. military aid, Gen. Bonett warned that U.S. strategic and economic interests are being threatened by the rebels, while the U.S. response so far has been minimal. "In Vietnam, you had 600,000 men, and Vietnam is only one-fifth the size of Colombia," he said. "In El Salvador, which is one-fiftieth the size of Colombia, the United States had many more troops and helicopters than what it has in Colombia." "I believe that the United States has abandoned us, and it's very bad to abandon friends," Gen. Bonett said. Although there is talk in Washington of sending sophisticated Cobra and Blackhawk helicopters to assist Colombian forces in counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations, the Clinton administration has balked at the high purchase, maintenance and training costs associated with such equipment. Republicans on Capitol Hill charged last week that the administration's slow response in sending aid to Colombia is hampering the war on drugs, while Colombian military officials warn that the guerrillas are rapidly gaining a tactical advantage. "This is one of the best-financed and sophisticated guerrilla movements in the world," the Colombian National Police commander, Gen. Rosso Jose Serrano, said at a hearing on Capitol Hill last week. The rebels' ranks, which last year were estimated at around 15,000, now have swollen to as many as 20,000 fighters, Gen. Serrano said. "They have modern arms. We had information that they are working to obtain missiles, clandestinely. They have M-60s, 50-caliber guns , AK- 47s. They have rockets. This is a guerrilla force that is extremely well-armed and financed by money from narcotics trafficking," he added. While cringing at comparisons to Vietnam and El Salvador, U.S. officials say they want to take immediate steps to raise the level of military aid and counterinsurgency training. "It may mean more U.S. military personnel on the ground," an informed diplomatic source said, referring to Clinton administration efforts to send more U.S. trainers to Colombia. "Clearly it is not in our interest to let it keep going in this direction." The urgent scope of Colombia's security problem was never more obvious, officials say, than two weeks ago, when scores of guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the nation's largest rebel group, seized a four-lane highway less than 30 miles southeast of Bogota. For seven hours, they held up more than 500 cars and detained an estimated 2,000 people before the army arrived. Before departing, the rebels took four Americans and about 25 Colombians hostage. One of the Americans was able to escape late last week. But the other three - including a Houston resident, Todd Marks - remain in captivity. "We're talking about high mountain terrain. We don't have the helicopters, and all of our movements have to be on foot," Gen. Bonett said in explaining the army's response. "You can imagine how the highways are in the mountains, the confusion that there is, children crying. The army can't just go there with guns blazing and killing everyone in site. It's impossible, and because of that, civilians were taken away," he said. When the army finally arrived, the general added, it managed to kill 17 fleeing guerrillas. With the army unable or unwilling to counterattack on a rural highway, Mr. Cadena, the former army intelligence officer, questioned how it would respond to a guerrilla attack on the capital. "Undoubtedly, there is fear of the guerrillas getting closer to the city. They are on all four sides of the capital," he said. "There's concern because you can't drive 20 minutes outside Bogota without the risk of encountering a guerrilla roadblock." As May 31 presidential elections approach, the U.S. Embassy is warning Americans to stay off most highways around the capital. During congressional elections last month and municipal elections in October, rebels staged a nationwide campaign of kidnappings and death threats to keep voters away from the polls. Now they have added Americans to their list of potential targets. On Monday, the private Free Country Foundation issued a list of highways where motorists might encounter guerrilla roadblocks during Holy Week travel this week. The list included almost every major artery leading outside Bogota. Meanwhile, over the last week, American oil companies have placed their personnel on alert inside the Colombian capital because of rumored threats by the rebels to kidnap a prominent American in the same hillside neighborhood where U.S. Ambassador Curtis Kamman lives. Gen. Bonett acknowledged that his options to fend off the rebels are limited. "One thing is certain: The armed forces of Colombia need more strength," he said. "First, we lack mobility on the rivers. Second, we lack mobility in the air, and third, we are failing to quickly boost our combat power, our manpower, that is, our human potential." Although the armed forces number less than 120,000 men and women, Gen. Bonett said only around 40,000 troops are trained and equipped for combat. Mr. Cadena, who is finishing a book-length study of weaknesses in the armed forces, said the actual number of combat-ready troops is closer to 20,000. "That leaves you with a guerrilla-to-soldier fighting ratio of 1 to 1," he said. U.S. military analysts say the minimum ratio necessary to fight a guerrilla war is around 10 soldiers for every insurgent.Mr. Cadena noted that because the long-standing U.S. emphasis has been on fighting drug traffickers in Colombia, U.S. aid has tended to focus on bolstering the 90,000--member Colombian National Police, while the army has languished under U.S. restrictions blocking aid to units linked to human-rights abuses. The result has been to reverse the traditional roles performed by the police and army. "We have troops on the streets of Bogota conducting foot patrols. They shouldn't be there. That's a police job, not an army job," he said. "There are thousands of troops doing things that have nothing to do with their mission, like guarding farms and ranches, protecting oil pipelines and patrolling banana plantations. Isn't this what the police are for?" Copyright 1998 The Dallas Morning News ______________________________________________________________________ ************************************************************************ * COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK: To subscribe to CSN-L send request to * * listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu SUB CSN-L Firstname Lastname * * (Direct questions or comments about CSN-L to csncu@prairienet.org) * * VISIT THE COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK WEBSITE AT http://www.igc.org/csn * * For more info contact CSN at P.O. Box 1505, Madison WI 53701 * * (608) 257-8753 fax: (608) 255-6621 csn@igc.apc.org * ************************************************************************ From YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu Mon Apr 13 22:47:53 1998 Date: Mon, 13 Apr 98 23:47 CDT From: YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu To: psn@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Bankrupt Capital comes to PSN for ideas By now most of the regular crowd, chatterboxes and lurkers, have seen the request for info from this Alex Campell guy from the White House. He is worried about race war/right wing movements. I know our, or should I say my temptation is say, hey buddy, Bill is doing what Ronny Raygun only dreamed of. But I would suggest that we avoid that critique and consider that if we are right in our kinds of analyses, then even the White House will come to us for understand ing. So those that choose to answer, should be polite and not call a capitalist pig a capitalist pig. It won't endear the left to him and he may turn to imperialist lackeys and their running dogs for misinformation. I made some suggestions, many will have others. This said, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any woman on this, or any other list accept invitations to the White house-especially the Oval Room !!* Lauren Langman Well actually I shouldn't be suggesting to any woman what she should or shouldn't do. From dredmond@gladstone.uoregon.edu Tue Apr 14 02:32:58 1998 Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 01:32:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Dennis R Redmond To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: Re: Citicorp's Uncivil Corporate Disobedience In-Reply-To: <199804132155.PAA08668@mail.iex.net> On Mon, 13 Apr 1998 mweigand@usa.net cross-posted an article by Russell Mokiber, editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter, and Robert Weissman, editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Multinational Monitor, titled: > CITICORP'S UNCIVIL CORPORATE DISOBEDIENCE > > By contrast, the new Citigroup and other giant financial houses would pose > enormous risks to consumers, taxpayers and democracy. > For consumers, the risk is that more concentration in the financial > services sector will result in less competition, higher charges (for > everything from use of ATMs to stock trades) and diminished choice. > There is also a danger that banks will allocate credit on preferential > terms to allied companies, and deny it to competitor companies. That will > both raise the cost of loans to borrowers who do not have special ties to > banks and distort the proper functioning of the economy. I hate to nitpick, especially because M-Monitor and CC Watch do such a good job of covering issues our corporate press mostly ignores, but I can't help but see the whole rollover of the Glass-Steagle bill as a pretty minor issue. All the American financial companies are doing is catching up to where the giant, integrated house banks of Europe and Japan were in the Sixties, which own shares in industry, insurance firms, bonds, and of course other banks. And what exactly is this mythical "proper functioning of the economy"? Homegrown populisms tend to bog down in this very American nostalgia for small, tiny economic units -- never mind that the settler farms of the American West would've gotten nowhere without the railroad system built by the giant trusts, or that the small-is-beautiful mantra has been re-appropriated by the Right as a way of rationalizing downsizing, attacks on real wages, and a general war on the welfare state ("Big Government"). The examples of financial combines such as Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank, Deutsche Bank, and UBS ought to show that integrated financial firms aren't necessarily bad for the economy; Deutsche Bank owns big chunks of prominent German firms, stabilizing shareholdings and giving IG Metall and other German unions lots of leverage in negotiations with management. The Japanese keiretsu similarly put a premium on successful cooperation and long-term industrial investment, instead of the short-term, greed-headed slash-and-burn financial racketeering of Wall Street. > The recent South Korean financial debacle can be traced in large part to > banks making bad loan after bad loan to affiliated industrial enterprises. > Most analysts in the United States criticized the close relationship > between the Korean banks and industrial companies -- but now U.S. banks > want to follow the flawed Korean model. Now this is *really* objectionable. South Korea was a struggling, dirt-poor Third World country in 1952, wrecked by WW II Japanese occupation and a savage civil war; in order to industrialize, the country created an authoritarian but amazingly successful and well-run developmental state. The banks were nationalized and forced to lend at low interest rates to industry; industry was then mandated to get into export markets and produce -- or find their lines of credit cut off by Government bureaucrats. The Korean miracle had NOTHING to do with the free market or heroic entrepreneurs, and everything to do with canny export-platform markets, Government subsidies, and hefty investments in education and other forms of human capital. The Korean model ran into trouble only when liberal elites began to tinker with the system, liberalizing banks and credit institutions from Government control in the early 1990s; these banks and institutions then went on a gargantuan credit spree, creating a financial bubble which melted down in 1997, with horrific consequences. So what's Wall Street's diagnosis of the problem? Obviously, those markets just weren't deregulated enough! In fact, the US could learn a thing or two about industral finance from the Koreans. And from the Japanese. And from the Danes, and the Swedes, and the Swiss... heck, a lot of countries have extremely integrated financial-industrial linkages and combines, which doesn't necessarily mean they're worse off than we are, or have less democratic economies. In fact, some of these economies offer much better average wages and benefits than the American model. > The most worrisome element of a Citigroup or similar financial behemoth is > the threat it poses to democracy. Corporate power already dwarfs people > power on Capitol Hill. When corporations reach the size of a combined > Citigroup, their sheer size gives them the ability to roll over opponents. > Federal and state regulators should quickly veto the merger proposal. The > message to Citicorp and Travelers should be: "Follow the laws like the > rest of us." Again, while I applaud the sentiment -- giant corporations ought to be under public control or held accountable for their actions to their workers, consumers and suppliers -- the naive assumption here is that national laws are enough to combat the influence of giant multinationals. As a political strategy, this is a lot like crying "wolf" when Godzilla is about to stomp your apartment complex, i.e. a massive understatement of the problem. Alas, in America nowadays, corporations do not *influence* the government, corporations effectively ARE the government. Look no further than our indistinguishably despicable Republocrat/Demublican one-party state, which continues to pour $300 billion annually into the military-industrial complex while cutting capital gains for Wall Street punters and continuing the rape of the welfare state; our corporatized mass media and consumer culture, answerable mostly to the top echelons of Time-Warner and Disneycrats; or our socio-economic elite's penchant for secretive, undemocratic free trade agreements and vile IMF austerity crackdowns on Africa, Latin America and latest of all Southeast Asia. Rather than criticizing capital's penchant for aggregating itself into larger and larger units -- something it does precisely because markets do NOT work, and crash and burn all the time, thus necessitating larger and larger units as a means of ensuring the firm's survival -- we need to be criticizing global capitalist accumulation and coming up with counter-models on an equally large scale. How about North American welfare state, for example, similar to that which the EU may yet develop; or debt write-offs and fresh lending by Japanese banks for Southeast Asia? How about a public investment program which would buy up 20% of Citi-Travelers stock, say, and give workers and consumers a codetermination-style voice in the proceedings of the boardroom? -- Dennis From tell@acsu.buffalo.edu Tue Apr 14 11:52:00 1998 Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 13:51:50 -0400 (EDT) From: "Shawgi A. Tell" To: Progressive Sociologists Network Subject: Elderly Spending More On Health Care Greetings, Americans are living longer, but this does not necessarily mean that they are living healthier or spending less on health care. Despite technological advances of all sorts millions of American seniors are plagued by one or more serious and chronic ailments. They are frequently in and out of hospitals, and it is not uncommon for many of them to consume a variety of pills and other medications every day for one problem or another. A November 1997 U.S. Department of Labor report entitled "Health Expenditures and the Aging Population" points out that persons 65 and over "account for a significant portion of consumer spending. In 1984, this group accounted for $1 in every $8 spent. By 1995, for every $7 spent, $1 came from" a senior citizen. The report also points out, however, that "a major component of spending among the elderly is for health care." Obviously, constantly rising health care costs of various sorts in no way help the elderly. They only make a bad situation worse. Equally obvious is the fact that it is the pharmaceutical companies in particular, the capitalists, which gain the most from the steady rise in the cost of drugs. Between 1984-95, for example, expenditures for prescription drugs for those aged 65-74 increased from $402 to $536. For those aged 75 and over expenditures rose from $420 to $556. This represents an increase of over 30% for each of these groups ["Health Expenditures and the Aging Population"]. None of this can be considered positive. A modern society must recognize health care as a human right. What does this mean? It means guaranteeing free and comprehensive health care for all. Our society already possesses more than enough resources, facilities and wherewithal to guarantee this human right. Health care in our society, however, remains based on ability to pay. In other words, health care in the U.S. remains a privilege. Shawgi Tell Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo tell@acsu.buffalo.edu From tell@acsu.buffalo.edu Tue Apr 14 12:01:07 1998 Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 14:00:43 -0400 (EDT) From: "Shawgi A. Tell" To: Progressive Sociologists Network Subject: Reject Bourgeois Politics, Create Politics Of Empowerment Greetings, Bourgeois politics, or the politics of the rich, stands for all that is degenerate and anti-human. Bourgeois politics is not about politics at all. It is about avoiding the essence of matters, sowing maximum confusion and lowering the level of culture. Bourgeois politics means not investigating and discussing issues in their profundity and seriousness. It means ignoring the facts and putting forward non-solutions. It also means hostility toward democracy and marginalizing people to the extreme. Basically, the main function of the politics of the rich is to block change for the better. What is needed at this time is the exact opposite of bourgeois politics. This is the politics of empowerment, a New sort of politics, a humane politics. The politics of empowerment aims to raise the prestige of politics and to bring forth all that is fresh, modern and progressive. The politics of empowerment means collectively analyzing concrete conditions in a calm, rational and sober way. It means interrogating issues in a civilized way, without inflaming passions. Only when this is done, only when people go to the heart of the matter, can real solutions be developed. Rejecting bourgeois politics, creating politics of empowerment is the way to open the path of progress to the society. It is the way to begin things anew and with optimism. Bourgeois politics cannot assist the people when it comes to moving society forward, it can only obstruct and dishearten them. The people themselves must therefore create the sort of forums and arrangements which empower them. People themselves must create space for real politics to develop. The way things are done by the rich and those who agree with them cannot be called progressive. They are ways which actually prevent people from dealing with matters the way matters deserve and need to be dealt with. It is this reality which gives rise to the need for creating alternative approaches to life. The illegitimate political and economic set-up of the rich will certainly continue to stifle progress so long as people continue to lend credence to it. For example, voting like cattle for one of the rich or their representatives every four years is entirely unhelpful from the standpoint of the working class and people. It is like committing suicide. On the other hand, not wasting one's vote on the rich or one of their servants while also not working to create the New is equally unhelpful. By rejecting bourgeois politics people can start to imagine and develop aims and plans which will benefit them and not the wealthy few. They can begin to create genuine democracy and fulfill their role as the supreme decision-makers in society. They can begin to actually realize more and more fully that they themselves are the alternative to the present-day society. If this is not done, if mechanisms are not created by the people and for the people, then the direction of society will not change. Problems will remain unsolved if power continues to reside with the rich. People are bound to feel more and more disillusioned and defeated so long as they operate within the framework of the politics of the rich. The privileged few want people to think and believe that they should not go directly for power and that instead they should rely on the so-called "experts" and politicians. The rich say that people should put all their faith in one of their corrupt parties, but as real life shows this only disempowers people further. This is precisely what the politics of the rich is designed to do. In fact, to expect change for the better by taking up what the rich consider politics is a recipe for more disaster and dissatisfaction. Ultimately people must take up the struggle to consciously and decisively break with this treacherous approach to life, with the bourgeois approach to reality, and instead build real discussion, investigation and solutions. People must do away with the Old and develop enlightened positions and stands. The break with the Old is inseparable from the affirmation of all. Shawgi Tell Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo tell@acsu.buffalo.edu From gimenez@csf.Colorado.EDU Wed Apr 15 13:48:18 1998 Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 13:48:13 -0600 (MDT) From: Martha Gimenez To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY (FWD) ******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ******* PLEASE FORWARD TO LIST AND/OR PUBLISH CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY: Effective immediately, all new submissions to "Critical Sociology" should be sent to the new editor at the new editorial office: Morton G. Wenger, Editor CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY Department of Sociology University of Louisville Louisville, KY 40292 USA (502) 228-6279 CRITSOC@ulkyvm.louisville.edu All correspondence regarding current subscriptions should be sent to the former offices at the University of Oregon. The editorial policies of the journal will remain unchanged: masked review of submissions by three or more competent readers prior to a decision regarding publication. The goals of the journal will also remain unchanged: the publication of the highest quality scholarship working within the parameters of a broadly defined critical sociology, emphasizing that work which deploys, builds upon, and/or subjects to critical evaluation the contributions of the various Marxist traditions. Morton G. Wenger, Editor e-mail: CRITSOC@ulkyvm.louisville.edu Telephone: (502) 228-6279 FAX: (502) 852-0099 From ncesa1@igc.apc.org Wed Apr 15 09:32:27 1998 Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 08:19:44 -0700 (PDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: Alex Campbell Subject: Re: The Coming Race War?... Just wanted to say thanks for some of the responses I got and share a little bit with the list: First Joe Feagin sent me a very interesting paper on "THE FUTURE OF U.S. SOCIETY IN AN ERA OF RACISM, GROUP SEGREGATION, AND DEMOGRAPHIC REVOLUTION" which explores the broad scope (but little discussion) of white domination and the potential for the "balkanization" of the U.S. Wojtek Sokolowski suggested: >>>>I suggest Rueschemeyer, Stephens & Stephens, _Capitalist Development and Democracy_ It is a comparative study explaining the emergence of different typrs of regimes (fasicst, democratic, communist) based on the class structure/conflict. In essence they argue that the alliance of working and professional classes are the backbone of social democracy, whereas the allinace of upper classes plus a centralised state is a recipe for fascism. Earlier works on the same subject include: Barrington Moore, _Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy_ -- in essence, Rueschemeyer at a;.'s work is a continuation of Moore's theory; it is worth noticing that Moore introduces another variable into the explanation: social integration i.e. how eell th elower classes are integrated into the existying social structures (integradtion, in his view, prevented upheaval in Japan); Jeffery Paige, _Agrarian Revolotion..._ while his work deals primarily with the developing cointries, I cite it because it adds a couple of interesting variables, patterns of property relations, and the effect of the relationship between haves and have nots on the type of social movement Charles Tilly, _From Mobilization to Revolution_ - a theory outlining the relationship between social movements and and the government/power structure In essence, these are empirical studies of the past conflicts focusing on th eissue of class rather than race (please note that 'race' is the code word for 'underclass' in the US -- it makes good headlines but has little explanatory power).<<<< Mr. Lauren Langman suggested I try Chip Berlet at the Southern Poverty Law Center (incidentally, his work in _Covert Action Quarterly_ we've found very useful, breaking down the larger mechanisms of repression). He also wrote: >>>>I am doubtful as to a race war, the level >of organization required would be beyond lunatic fringes, and as Weber >noted, the State has the monopoly on violence. (Are you a sociologist, >if not, I might explain a bit more). But today, and the pomos capture >the spirit of our age, if not understand it theoretically, there is >a migration of subjectivity away from politics. Just note that Rush >Limbaugh is losing audience share to Howard Stern. In our last primary >(and I vote despite having no representation in the bourgeois parties) >the turnout was an all time low...just as Clinton was first elected by >just under 1/2 the voters. So about 1/4 of the folks actually elect >the pres....thus as I previously noted, the mass production of human >surplus of advanced capital, located in a carnival culture that valor- >izes boundary transgressions, portends a more violent society, but of >a more sporadic expressive form. See Thurow's latest on American >Capitalism, toward the end he sees a new dark ages, this I have called >cyberfeudalism. <<<< I agree that a organized "race war" is unlikely, but it does seem possible that increased violence in general, has a potential to be "media"ated into something more sinister (witness the immediate response to Oklahoma city: it MUST be the Arabs). Wojtek Sokolowski wrote to me on this subject: >>race (please note that 'race' is the code word for 'underclass' in the US -- it makes good headlines but has little explanatory power).<< While I think he has a point -- race has a nasty fluidity -- there is a reason that it is the code-word that is attached. The baggage attached to 'race' is conducive to fear, "otherness", etc. A scenario that does not seem impossible to me is greater levels of violence (especially in the next economic down-turn) -- "darker" perpetrators being "highlighted" in the media -- at the same time a potentially MORE divisive debate over affirmative action, etc., especially in the context of the "browning" of America and potentially even greater economic inequality. Possibly futher militia / para-military development, possibly more large-scale outbreaks of urban violence a la LA in 1992, greater U.S. vulnerability to international terrorism. All leading to further erosions of civil liberties (with the strong approval of the American public, as in the crime bill). Now, I know that is not a race war in the classic sense, but the larger work we are putting together sketches a more positive vision for the future. What we want to do is lay out some of the more common and / or credible "dark scenarios" from Grossman to Wallerstein (argues potential for a (re)emergence of apartheid in the North in the face of growing immigration from the Global South), and others... Indeed, the "dark ages" discussion in Thurow's _The Future of Capitalism_ is exactly the kind of stuff we're looking for. Alex PS. RE: Weber and the monopoly on state violence. No, I'm not a sociologist, but I have read some Weber. I think that the "erosion of the nation state" suggested by prophets of globalization certainly has been over-stated, but it is interesting to note the militias seem to be particularly concerned with, and derive some of their own self-legitimacy from, their perception that a growing world government is taking hold. (And with MAI coming down the track, it is becoming harder to dispute...) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alex Campbell Assistant to the President, National Center for Economic and Security Alternatives ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2317 Ashmead Place, NW Washington, DC 20009 202 986 1373 (voice)/ 202 986 7938 (fax) ncesa1@igc.apc.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From tell@acsu.buffalo.edu Wed Apr 15 17:07:44 1998 Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 19:07:37 -0400 (EDT) From: "Shawgi A. Tell" To: Progressive Sociologists Network Subject: Racist Foundation Of Multiculturalist Education Greetings, Future teachers are now required to complete one or more courses in multiculturalist education. In this post I lay bare the racist foundation of multiculturalist education. By racism I mean a policy of diversion and disunity based on skin color or national origin. In chapter one of their 1994 book, "Making Choices for Multicultural Education: Five Approaches to Race, Class, and Gender," 2nd ed., Christine Sleeter and Carl Grant discuss the "Illusions of Progress" (p. 1). They rightly indicate that while some things in society may suggest that progress is being made, closer attention to the actual state of affairs shows that much remains "Business as Usual" (p. 1). Indeed, the authors remind us of the obvious when they say "African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are still distinctly subordinate economically and politically" (p. 4). But here is where the racism inherent in multiculturalist education becomes apparent. After supplying a brief description of the racial and ethnic composition of our society (p. 3), Sleeter and Grant state: "This diversity certainly enlarges the pool of diverse cultural resources that exists in the United states, at the same time as it provides for a good deal of misunderstanding and resentment.... non-Europeans continue to be visibly distinct from Euro-Americans and thus experience American racism" (p. 3). In other words, according to Sleeter and Grant, it is diversity, in and of itself, that is the actual cause of "a good deal of misunderstanding and resentment." That is, differences per se are the real source of "a good deal of misunderstanding and resentment." Because "non-Europeans" are "visibly distinct from Euro-Americans" they therefore "experience American racism." The whole emphasis here is on diversity itself. The impression is created that racism emerges from differences themselves and not from the specific sort of society we actually live in. The two words which specifically reveal the racist thrust here are "it" (in the third line of the quote), and "thus" (in the last line of the quote). Here, "it" refers to diversity, and "thus" refers to Sleeter and Grant's reasoning that being "visibly distinct" is itself the actual cause of "American racism." But why, it may be asked, would diversity, in and of itself, give rise to "a good deal of misunderstanding and resentment"? How can just being "visibly distinct" lead one to "experience American racism"? How can differences alone cause racism? What exactly is it about differences themselves that supposedly give rise to racism and "a good deal of misunderstanding and resentment"? Basically, Sleeter and Grant, like so many multiculturalists, take for granted the very thing that needs to be explained. Most, perhaps all, multiculturalists do not pose the elementary question: which one of the two main classes in our class-divided society, the exploiter class or the exploited class, gains politically and economically from a diverted and split polity? The key word here is "gains." The bourgeoisie practices the policy of divide and rule - inherited from the Romans (divide et impera) - using linguistic, religious, racial or national differences to set people at each other's throats. They do this in order to divert attention away from themselves, away from the fundamental divide in society, the divide between capital and labor. The monopoly capitalist class can preserve its political and economic supremacy only by splitting the diverse working class and people along various lines. A united, independent, conscious and organized working class means an end to capitalist rule and bourgeois society. Basically, then, "a good deal of misunderstanding and resentment" is actually rooted in the oppressive social relations between exploiters and exploited, between capitalists and workers, and not in diversity itself - as multiculturalists would have us believe. This conclusion is extremely important in terms of setting aims and plans that will actually move society forward. Clearly, "official" multiculturalist education cannot be considered a progressive trend. It does not even take real life as the starting-point for analysis and action. In order to bring about change for the better it is imperative to target the system of the rich. This system is the root-cause of the extreme and ongoing marginalization and ghettoization of the broad masses of the people in general and national minorities in particular. It is the very basis of inequality, violence, unemployment and poverty. But the political and economic set-up of the rich is precisely what multiculturalists leave in the shade. It is impossible to create the New by ignoring the need for overthrowing capitalism and by succumbing to the cruel hoax that change for the better can be brought about within the framework of capitalism. The real starting-point for change is the conscious and decisive rejection of the system of the rich. Only when this is done will peoples' minds and energies be freed up to envision and create the New and the modern. People cannot conceptualize what is missing and devise a plan to bring it into being if their consciousness is tied to the present illegitimate system and the forms of thought which emerge from this crisis-ridden system. In other words, the affirmation of the people is inseparable from the creation of an alternative system - something which multiculturalists never discuss in earnest. Shawgi Tell Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo tell@acsu.buffalo.edu From sokol@jhu.edu Wed Apr 15 15:32:15 1998 15 Apr 1998 17:30:03 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 17:33:31 -0400 From: Wojtek Sokolowski Subject: skipping classes (was: The Coming Race War?...) In-reply-to: <2.2.16.19980415111957.5e6f8efa@pop.igc.org> To: psn-cafe@csf.colorado.edu, psn@csf.colorado.edu At 08:19 AM 4/15/98 -0700, Alex Campbell wrote, inter alia: >I agree that a organized "race war" is unlikely, but it does seem possible >that increased violence in general, has a potential to be "media"ated into >something more sinister (witness the immediate response to Oklahoma city: it >MUST be the Arabs). ---sinp--- >While I think he has a point [that 'race' is a code word for 'underclass'-- race has a nasty fluidity -- there is a >reason that it is the code-word that is attached. The baggage attached to >'race' is conducive to fear, "otherness", etc. That raises the question about the class politics in the US and the role of 'race' [or rather its perception] in it. It should be noted that the US is perhaps the only industrialized country that has no left wing/labour political representation whatsoever (even Japan has symbolic presence of socialists in their parliament). The question then arises what accounts for that absence of class-based politics in the US. A frequently held belief is that ethnic diversity of the US society (especially white-black division) divides the working class and makes it politically weak. That argument is quite peculiar, beacuse in other national contexts the opposite is usually argued, that ethnic diversity stimulates political mobilisation and organizing, and that helps the political mobilisation of the working class. Brazil and Argentina might be good cases in point -- immigrant labour was the major force behind both the growth of civic associations and class-based politics. My hunch is that two usually ignored factors account for that. First is the larger than anywhere else presence of petty bourgeoisie in the US; both numerically and ideologically (in fact, the so-called American dream is in fact a petty bourgeois dream). This prevalence of petty bourgeois interests and values makes the Amereical public much less sympathetic to the plight of the workers and the appeals for working-class solidarity and movement. The second factor is the en masse desertion of the intellectual/professional class to the petty bourgeois camps and its institutions. Unlike in many European countries where the intelelctual/professional class is divided into 'organic intellectuals" (to use Gramsci's term) who side with the working class and the 'bourgeois intelelctuals' -- the US intelectuals and professional are almost without excpetions bourgeois or petty bourgeois. Since the alliance of the working and professional classes is often cited as the backbone of a social democractic regime, the absence of that alliance may explain the conservative/upper class skew in American politics. I furthermore believe that 'race' is used as a somoke screen by the intelelctual/professional class to cover up their antipathy toward labor and labor related issues. Please note that all proposed 'solutions' to the 'race problem' involve a petty bourgeois motley from bullshit charity (like donations for the poor on the Turkey Day - I want to puke on the mere thought of it) to various programs including society ladies err... helping professionals teaching 'those people' err... the disadvantaged 'useful' skills. Not a single of these petty-bourgeois, professionally administered programs addresses the issue of right to work (in the European, not the Southern sense), empowerment in the workplace, or living wage. In other words, petty bourgeois American professionals feel much more comofortable to phrase the question of disempowerment and poverty in system-neutral terms of race, than in the terms of class that might be offensive to bourgeois and petty bourgeois sensibilities. Regards, Wojtek Sokolowski From RPlatkin@aol.com Thu Apr 16 00:42:16 1998 Thu, 16 Apr 1998 02:41:17 -0400 (EDT) From: R Platkin Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 02:41:17 EDT To: tell@acsu.buffalo.edu, psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Re: Racist Foundation Of Multiculturalist Education PSN: Shawgi Tell makes some excellent criticisms of multiculturalism, in terms of its assertion that racism is based on the visible difference of some minorities. I wish to underscore his point with several pieces of evidence. First, racism fosters prejudice, and not vice-versa. Structural inequality and separation -- the main components of racism -- are maintained by prejudiced attitudes. It is a common, but mistaken bourgeois belief that the process unfolds in reverse, that prejudiced feelings aggregate into racist practices and patterns. Causality simply works the other way. A good example is presented in Lerone Bennet's book, Before the Mayflower, in which he discusses how during the earliest phases of American slavery slaveowners had to forcibly teach slaves -- who were initially white and black indentured servants and Native Americans -- to perceive "color" and then assign cultural attributes to it. There was nothing innate, in his view, in the perception of "obvious physical differences." Second, racism can exist, even thrive, with clearly discernible differences. English racism against the Irish, the mother lode for most other racism, is not based on obvious physical differences. Can't we make the same case for Japanese racism against Koreans? How about Israeli racism against Palestinians (In the new Benetton catalog of Israeli Jewish - Palestinian Arab social cooperation, the photographers and editors commented on how difficult it was to know -- from pictures alone -- who was Jewish and who was Palestinian!). How about the need for the Nazis to put gold stars on Jews so non-Jews would know who to hate. Third, visible differences are not necessarily perceived and do not necessarily create racist patterns or prejudiced perceptions and behaviors. Examples: On one hand, we see visible differences all the time which we are nearly oblivious to, such as eye color, hair color, height, weight, complexion, and which we do not use as a basis of prejudiced attitudes or discriminatory behavior. An the other hand, there are example of visible differences which seem to have few social consequences. For example, about 2/3 of third and fourth generation Japanese-Americans have high educational achievement and marry out of their ethnic group -- despite a perceivble difference. In England the rate of black-white friendships and intermarriages in substantially higher than the U.S., despite perceptions of differences. . . I am sure that PSN members can supply many other examples. Several questions remain, however, and that it is whether the views Shawgi Tell rebuts reflect multiculturalism in general, or just one variant? Dick Platkin rplatkin@aol.com 213-473-3932 From coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu Thu Apr 16 10:34:23 1998 Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:35:03 -0700 From: "Rodney D. Coates" Reply-To: coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu To: sokol@jhu.edu, PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: No one is skipping classes they are just asserting reality(was: The Coming Race War?...) Wojtek Sokolowski wrote inter alia: I furthermore believe that 'race' is used as a somoke screen by the > intelelctual/professional class to cover up their antipathy toward labor > and labor related issues. Please note that all proposed 'solutions' to the > 'race problem' involve a petty bourgeois motley from bullshit charity > (like donations for the poor on the Turkey Day - I want to puke on the mere > thought of it) to various programs including society ladies err... helping > professionals teaching 'those people' err... the disadvantaged 'useful' > skills. Not a single of these petty-bourgeois, professionally administered > programs addresses the issue of right to work (in the European, not the > Southern sense), empowerment in the workplace, or living wage. In other > words, petty bourgeois American professionals feel much more comofortable > to phrase the question of disempowerment and poverty in system-neutral > terms of race, than in the terms of class that might be offensive to > bourgeois and petty bourgeois sensibilities. Unfortunately our lerned collegue has not apparently read Mary Bethune, Oliver Cox, Cornel West, W.E.B. Dubois, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Molefe Asante, Kwahme Nkrumah, Malcolm SX, Frantz Fanon, Cheikh Anta Diop, Kwame Anthony Appian and etc. While I cannot hope to enlighten himn regarding all of these scholers, I shall attempt to point him in the right direction. Race, by any serious scholar, has never been described as an isolated entity, but has has always been viewed as a dynamic part of several interacting structures. These interacting structures, at the very least, would include class, gender (sex) and race. More specifically, racial designations (as I point out in a recently published paper) interact with historical, social, economic, political, and cultural factors which serve to further promote the development of racial identity, racially ascribed socialcultural products (which typically include music, art, lifestyles, grou-p membership, and language patterns, etc) and invariably racism. Also as observed by Bennett (The Shapping of Black America) "In the beginning as we have seen, there was no race problem in America. The rqace problem in America was a deliberate invention of men who systematically separated blacks in order to make money." Economic manipulation has been at the heart of our race problems throughout America's history. The lack of economic power has plagued blacks throughout the 18th and 19th centuryies. Economics not only served to create a system of slavery, but it also lay at the toot of the problems facing blacks. Tautologically economic factors were both a cause and a consequence of racism. Du Bois, and other scholars have consitently noted: "Dispite political power and legal defense and whatever might be accomplished by migration, it was evident from the first that economic power must underlie all efforts of the American (Black) to establish (themselves)." (du Bois 1936) But what has happened, Piere van den Berghe has informed us that sociologists have historically ignored the wisdom of people like Du Bois. van den Berghe points out that coinsistently sociologists have followed Myrdal's lead and interpreted race relations "as a moral dilemma in the hearts and minds of men rather than a complex dynamic of group conflict resulting from the differential distribution of power, wealth, prestige, and other social rewards". Again, I find it strange that sociologists in general, and progressive particular choose to be blind, choosing invariably to define race as somehow "system neutral", psychological, and somehow devoid of considerations of power, wealth, prestige, and privelege. This then lies at the heart of our delima, our failure to see that racism is intricatly related to systems of power. Consider Osofsky's Harlem: The Making of a Ghetto whrethis clearly demonstrates this primise. Again to Du Bois, If the problem for the world was the problem of the color-line. The economic problem should be the questions of questions for the Blacks in the oppening years of the 20th century" (Du Bois 1900). Du bois was concerned with a far reaching changes. Modern democracies, Du Bois reasoned, could not function adequately under an economic system that promoted selfishness, exploitation, and greed. An effective democracy required cooperative efforts, centralized coordination, and sacrifice. He notes: "As the disinherited both of labor and capital; as those discriminated against by employer and employee, we are forced to a most careful and thouroughgoing probram of ...planing...(we must) exercise control over the production and distrubution of goods ...(1938) More recently, Kelly in Yo Mama's Disfunctional observes that the socalled progressives and liberals in academia continue the process of discrimination in a high tech, or higher level of what we call playing the dozens...We have gone, asserts Kelly, from a period where Blacks, presumed to be inadequate, were referred to as jungle bunny, darky, coon, sapphire, jezebel, and mammy to more sophisticated, politically correct terms implied by the underclass, matriarchy, welfare queens, criminals. Kelly argues, that regardless of period, all of these terms, suggests that blacks are lazy, inferior, ineffectual, and basically dysfunctional. Whether genetically inferior or sociopathologically maladaptive, the net result for Kelly, is that social scientists continually have attacked, maligned, and abused black mothers and families. Kelly, with a virulent style that would make Howard Stern proud, deftly and methodically shocks his reader into the reality of the pain that many blacks have felt reading, experiencing, or being lectured to by the likes of Moynihan, D'Souza, Thomas, Sowel, Murray and Herrnstein. The psychic damage caused by more than 20 years of conservative agendas, Anglo-centered textbooks, and the corporate centered society ushered in by the Reagan/Bush revolution screams through page after torturous page. Interspersed with an often caustic assault upon conservatives of all persuasions (both old and new), Kelly also superbly criticizes what we can only call today's illiberal liberals. Illiberal liberals are those academics, polemics, theorists, and members of what remains of the white left who desperately have attempted to regain legitimacy all too often at the expense of Black, gender and other cultural identities. Much of his critique in this regards centers on the works of such progressives as Todd Gitlin, Michael Tomasky, and Eric Hobsbawm. These modern day "Lilliputians," often masquerading as progressive, takes great pains in blaming the Black Liberation movement, along with other liberation movements, for destroying the left. As explained by Kelly, such a position ignores the universalistic and radical humanistic roots of the Enlightenment. Consequently, so-called progressives fail to realize the essential power of race, gender or sexuality in any emancipatory struggle. Specifically, class essentialism is a one way street. Any grassroots movement aimed at empowering or aiding our crisis-ridden cities must be multidimensional in nature. hey this is alre3ady long enough...more latter..rodneycoates From S.Peters@surrey.ac.uk Thu Apr 16 18:52:35 1998 Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 18:40:53 +0100 To: scrol-list@surrey.ac.uk From: Stuart Peters Subject: Sociological Research Online issue 3:1 Sociological Research Online http://www.socresonline.org.uk/socresonline Dear Colleagues, Volume 3 number 1 of Sociological Research Online was published on 31 March 1998. The contents are listed below for your interest. There are also a number of aspects of the new issue I would like to draw to your attention. Following the call for papers on the broad theme of 'Social Transformation' in the last issue of the journal, this issue sees the publication of our first set of contributions around this theme. Further articles in this area of sociological work are welcomed from readers. In conjunction with this, in this issue we are launching another thematic collection, also entitled 'Social Transformation'. As with our other thematic collections, this brings together all the papers, reviews and research resources we have previously published in this area. There are also a set of brief essays or 'think-pieces' that consider the 'Future of Sociology'. We look forward to publishing more such pieces reflecting on the future of the dscipline world-wide in the next issue and I would like to encourage readers to submit any further pieces in this area. Another 'first' in this issue is our first article that exploits the medium of video to illustrate its argument - Timothy McGettigan's 'Reflections in an Unblinking Eye'. Although this article is complete as a text-based discussion, a series of linked video clips enhance the argument. Information on how to view these, and how to download 'plug-in' software if you don't already have this, is included in a 'help' page attached to the article. I hope that you continue to enjoy Sociological Research Online and of course that you will continue to consider the journal as a possible outlet for your own research - simply post articles on disk to the address in the signature below, or email them to . I look forward to hearing from you. With best wishes, Liz Stanley, Editor ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 3: Number 1 - Contents SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION Gerard Delanty 'Social Theory and European Transformation: Is there a European Society?' Anna Triandafyllidou and Anastasios Fotiou 'Sustainability and Modernity in the European Union: A Frame Theory Approach to Policy-Making' THE FUTURE OF SOCIOLOGY Irwin Deutscher 'Sociological Practice: The Politics of Identities and Futures' Tony Tam 'The Industrial Organization of Sociology' Bogusia Temple 'Whose Future? Whose Sociology? A Response to Tam and Deutscher' OTHER ARTICLES Kenneth Prandy and Wendy Bottero 'The Use of Marriage Data to Measure the Social Order in Nineteenth-Century Britain' Timothy McGettigan 'Reflections in an Unblinking Eye: Negotiating Identity in the Production of a Documentary' [includes video clips] Wendy Cealey Harrison and John Hood-Williams 'More Varieties than Heinz: Social Categories and Sociality in Humphries, Hammersley and Beyond' Beth Humphries 'The Baby and the Bath Water: Hammersley, Cealey Harrison and Hood-Williams and the Emancipatory Research Debate' Jane Pilcher 'Gender Matters? Three Cohorts of Women Talking about Role Reversal' R. David Smith 'Social Structures and Chaos Theory' Peter Lynn 'The British Crime Survey Sample: A response to Elliott and Ellingworth' REVIEWS Greg Philo (editor): Media and Mental Distress Reviewed by Meryl Aldridge Alberto Melucci: Challenging Codes: Collective Action in the Information Age Reviewed by David Gilbert Timo Piirainen: Towards a New Social Order in Russia: Transforming Structures and Everyday Life Vladimir Shlapentokh, Roman Levita and Mikhail Loiberg: From Submission to Rebellion: The Provinces versus the Center in Russia Reviewed by Nick Manning Bridget Fowler: Pierre Bourdieu and Cultural Theory: Critical Investigations Reviewed by Patricia M. McDonough and Barbara Tobolowsky Andy Merrifield and Erik Swyngedouw (editors): The Urbanization of Injustice Reviewed by Rosemary Mellor Pat Mahony and Christine Zmroczek (editors): 'Working-Class' Women's Perspectives on Social Class Reviewed by Marilyn Porter Sylvia Walby: Gender Transformations Reviewed by Teresa Rees Werner Sollors, Henry B. Cabot and Anne M. Cabot (editors): Theories of Ethnicity: A Classical Reader Reviewed by John Solomos Jacki Gordon and Gillian Grant (editors): How We Feel: An Insight into the Emotional World of Teenagers Reviewed by Johanna Wyn RESEARCH RESOURCE Helen Pickering Scottish Collaborative On-demand Publishing Enterprise (SCOPE) ____________________________________________________________________________ SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ONLINE Editor: Liz Stanley Book Review Editors: Sue Heath and Nina Wakeford Editorial and IT Officer: Stuart Peters Department of Sociology http://www.socresonline.org.uk/socresonline/ University of Surrey mailto:socres@soc.surrey.ac.uk Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH tel: (+44) (0)1483 259292 United Kingdom fax: (+44) (0)1483 259551 From edu011@coventry.ac.uk Thu Apr 16 03:20:59 1998 Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 10:20:32 +1 From: John Selby Reply-To: j.selby@coventry.ac.uk Subject: Re: skipping classes (was: The Coming Race War?...) To: sokol@jhu.edu On Wed, 15 Apr 1998 17:33:31 -0400 Wojtek Sokolowski wrote: > The question then arises what accounts > for that absence of class-based politics in the US. > I am not up to date on this but I remember Lipset, among others, arguing that VOTING in the US was more highly class-based than anywhere else. This clearly changed with the so called "Reagan Democrats" and one presumes that the recent results for Clinton and for the Congress reflect a swing back to class based voting. I would be grateful if someone could supply the data on this. Of course, many would argue that this is not class-based POLITICS but, though it is clearly not socialist in any recognisable sense, some, at least, of the political rhetoric is class-based. John Selby ********************************************************** * John Selby * * Educational Development Unit * * Coventry University Tel: + 44 (0)1203 838149 * * Priory Street Fax: + 44 (0)1203 838138 * * Coventry CV1 5FB, UK E-mail: j.selby@cov.ac.uk * ********************************************************** From j9470388@wlv.ac.uk Thu Apr 16 08:39:27 1998 by ccug.wlv.ac.uk with smtp (Exim 1.80 #3) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 15:38:54 -0700 From: Alan Harrison To: sokol@jhu.edu Subject: Re: Media and the Left Wojtek Sokolowski wrote: > > At 07:12 PM 4/11/98 -0600, you wrote: > >Thanks for the reply. It's interesting that both the Left and Right view the > >media as opposed to their own interests: the Right claims that the mass > media is > >a mouthpiece of the Left, and vice versa. > > If we were to rely on claims only then, of course, it would be their word > against ours. But there are more objectiove criteria, such as the > corporate ownership of the media and their market share (over 80%). I would also suggest that critical linguistics enables the informed reader to conclude that the media incline to a right-wing rather than a left-wing perspective. Fowler, Fairclough, Hodge, Kress and others have demonstrated conclusively that there is no such thing as "neutral" language, but that power relations are encoded in the structures of English (and, presumably, of any language). This goes beyond the selection of lexical items such as "freedom fighter" or "terrorist", and reaches into the syntactic structures. For example, in industry (my area of academic interest) it will be rare to read: ABC Limited today decided to dismiss 500 employees. The dismissals will be presented as "job losses", or maybe directly as: 500 workers at ABC Ltd are to lose their jobs. In this case, the syntactic structure makes the fired workers the subject, removing the management from responsibility for the decision. This usage is the norm not only in corporate communication, but also in "mainstream" press reporting of industry. The issue of warfare is also one in which the news media's bias is linguistically very obvious - from the euphemism "defence" applied to "our" side's prepartions for war, through the reluctance to write a sentence of the form: Our airmen killed 2000 civilians. Alan Harrison From tk0kxa1@corn.cso.niu.edu Thu Apr 16 21:13:14 1998 Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 22:21:48 -0600 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu From: tk0kxa1@corn.cso.niu.edu (Kevin Anderson) Subject: Article on Whiteness (fwd) >>Forwarded message: >>> Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 08:37:31 -0700 >>> >>> Blinded by the white: We Caucasians would prefer to ignore our >>> preferences >>> >>> By Roy Hartmann >>> The Riverfront Times >>> >>> The U.S. Supreme Court, which is 89 at percent white, declined Monday to >>> consider a challenge to California's anti-affirmative action Proposition >>> 209. >>> >>> Voters in California, which is 81 percent white, last year passed the >>> measure, which bans "preferential treatment" on the basis of race or gender >>> in state and local government programs. >>> >>> Supporters of the measure praised the justices for letting stand an April >>> ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit), which is 89 percent >>> white, which found Proposition 209 was not unconstitutional. >>> >>> "This decision takes California another step closer to achieving a true, >>> color-blind equal-opportunity society," said Gov. Pete Wilson, who, like >>> 100 percent of the nation's governors, is white. Perhaps the most >>> controversial aspect of the proposition is its ban on race-based admission >>> policies in California's state university system, which is overseen by a >>> Board of Regents, which is 82 percent white. >>> >>> As of 1994, an estimated 82 percent of America's resident college students >>> were white, surprisingly low in a country that is 80 percent white, and it >>> is believed that race-based admission policies have kept the number down. >>> Just 16 years earlier, the college population was 87 percent white. >>> >>> At the college-faculty level, where race-conscious programs are also now >>> forbidden by Proposition 209, whites nationally held 86.8 percent of the >>> positions in 1992 (according to the American Association of University >>> Professors). This, too, reflects a drop in white representation because of >>> affirmative-action programs of recent decades. Whites have fared better in >>> other professional categories, however, where the color-blind, >>> equal-opportunity society has not been affected by race-conscious programs: >>> Of the nation's airplane pilots, 98.3 percent are white. >>> Of the nation's geologists, 95.9 percent are white. >>> Of the nation's dentists, 95.6 percent are white. >>> Of the nation's authors, 93.9 percent are white. >>> >>> Of the nations lawyers, 93.8 percent are white. >>> Of the nation's aerospace engineers, 93.8 percent are white. >>> Of the nation's economists, 91.9 percent are white. >>> Of the nation's architects, 90.6 percent are white. >>> >>> These statistics were cobbled together from federal Bureau of Labor >>> Statistics information, and they are presented here in a form not normally >>> seen. Customarily, the bureau breaks out only categories such as "female, >>> "black" and "Hispanic," whereas figures for whites are not specified. >>> >>> This is not unlike the reporting of affirmative-action issues, wherein the >>> major newspapers, all of which are primarily owned by whites, and the major >>> TV networks and cable companies, all of which are primarily owned by >>> whites, debate the merits of "preferences" for blacks and women. >>> >>> Even if the subject were, say, the scarcity of black airplane pilots, the >>> experts discussing the numbers and the media reporting them -- even those >>> supportive of affirmative action -- would come at the subject from the >>> vantage point of how few blacks were pilots. >>> >>> They would never characterize as a "preference" the fact that 98.3 percent >>> of pilots are white. I discussed twisted perspective about all this with a >>> friend who, like me, is white. She partly irritated but mainly puzzled: >>> >>> "What's your point?" >>> >>> Here's my point: >>> >>> We live in a largely white country. The white majority enjoys a >>> disproportionate share of its wealth and comfort and an even greater share >>> of control over its most institutions. But white power is so pervasive that >>> it's never perceived, or even considered, white power. It's just the way >>> things are. >>> >>> Racial percentages aren't tallied from the white side, only from the >>> "minority" point of view. Thus, when 20 percent of public contracts on a >>> building project are "set aside" for minority contractors, it is a "racial" >>> or "gender-based" issue, but when 100 percent goes to firms owned by white >>> males, it's just, well, reality. >>> >>> Even many sympathetic to blacks and other people of color will find it >>> quite reasonable that whites have 80-something or 90-something percent >>> dominance of important institutions. After all, the country is 80 percent >>> white, so the statistics are always going to seem racially tilted toward >>> Caucasians, right? >>> >>> Well, not exactly. >>> >>> Only 37 percent of the nation's jail inmates were white in 1994 (as >>> compared with 56 percent in 1978), and only 46 percent of the prisoners >>> executed in the past six decades were white. Only 60 percent of the >>> children living below the poverty line are white. In the same way that >>> numbers ca swing disproportionately white, so it is possible for whites to >>> be under-represented statistically. >>> >>> But it never seems to happen when it's a good statistic. >>> >>> Now consider the happy words of Rep Charles Canady (R-Fla.), a white guy >>> who has authored a federal bill that would eliminate affirmative action at >>> the federal level the way Proposition 209 has in California. >>> >>> Celebrating the Supreme Court's "inaction" on Monday, Canady proclaimed: >>> "The people of California rightly decided to end the divisive race and >>> gender preferences in their state, and it's, time Congress to do the same >>> thing for the whole nation." >>> >>> We're going to end race "preferences" as a nation, eh? >>> >>> By a "nonracial" vote of the 90 percent white House of Representatives >>> and the 97 percent white Senate, who will then (presumably) have to mount >>> enough "color-blind" votes to override our 42nd consecutive Caucasian >>> president? >>> >>> Yes, we're a color-blind society when it comes to "preferences," all >>> right. >>> >>> We can't see the white. >>> >>> >> > From j9470388@wlv.ac.uk Fri Apr 17 04:02:53 1998 by ccug.wlv.ac.uk with smtp (Exim 1.80 #3) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 11:02:30 -0700 From: Alan Harrison To: coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu Subject: Re: No one is skipping classes they are just asserting reality(was: The Coming Race War?...) <3.0.1.32.19980416132551.00c9b2a4@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> <3.0.1.32.19980416161455.00c9b2a4@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> <3536942B.B0E3AC2B@casmail.muohio.edu> Rodney D. Coates wrote, inter alia: > > we are not the only developed country that does not have even a symbolic political > representation of the working class..if you want symbolism..then we do > qualify...if you want reality..no such country exists...anywhere in the world..and > who is asking for charity..none of the cites i provided call for charity..please > reread.. I understood the post from Wojtek to which Rodney is replying to mean that the USA, alone among developed nations, has no social democratic party like, say, the Labo(u)r Parties of the UK and Australia, the SPD in Germany, etc. On the face of it, this seems a reasonable assertion. Again, I understood Wojtek's use of the word "symbolic" to be general, rather than technical, acknowledging that in practice such parties do compromise with capital to a greater or lesser extent, and cannot genuinely claim to be representative of the proletariat. So, I wonder which party or organization in the USA Rodney considers to be a symbolic representation of the working class? Referring to another of Rodney's posts, I notice that he includes Hobsbawm among "illiberal liberals". Hobsbawm has ceratinly been criticised in Britain for his drift to the right and (in particular) his support for the Labour Party's rightward move under Kinnock. However, I don't think that I have previously seen Hobsbawm's position described as "liberal" rather than socialist or social democractic. Could Rodney again please elaborate? Alan Harrison From cdfupdate@cdfig.childrensdefense.org Fri Apr 17 18:43:59 1998 Date: Fri, 17 Apr 98 17:33:55 EST From: "CDFupdate" To: cdfupdate@automailer.com Subject: CDF Update 4-17-98 Sender: owner-cdfupdate@automailer.com Children's Defense Fund Update April 17, 1998 In This Issue: -- Juvenile Justice -- Family Income -- Child Care *** Juvenile Justice *** ---PREVENTION AND LIMITS ON GUNS A MUST IN ANY YOUTH VIOLENCE BILL --- Just before the recess began, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) indicated that he wants the Senate to consider a juvenile crime bill. And Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced legislation to ban the high capacity clips used in assault weapons, while Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and John Chafee (R-RI) introduced a bill that would require gun owners to limit children's access to their guns. Because of the strong interest in moving a youth violence bill, heightened since the tragic Jonesboro, AR killings several weeks ago of 4 school children and a teacher by two boys, we need to continue to urge Senators to oppose S. 10. We need to tell them to oppose S.10 and any other bill that destroys the core protections for children (such as keeping them separate from adult inmates), fails to invest in prevention, and does not limit children's access to guns. * Contact your Senators now, as they return to Washington. There could be a vote on a youth violence bill at any time. Tell your Senators not to support any youth violence bill that doesn't include significant investments in prevention and strong limits on children's access to guns. Note: There has been some confusion about a statement the President made earlier this week. In announcing the release of a study on school crime, the President said, "Congress can help lead the way by passing the anti-gang and youth violence strategy that I sent to them more than a year ago..." Some reports have suggested he called for passage of S. 10. This is wrong, as reflected in his statement. The President did not call for passage of S.10, but rather, the bill he sent to Congress last year. *** Family Income *** --- CDF STUDY FINDS $130 BILLION COST OF CHILD POVERTY --- For every year that America allows 14.5 million children to experience poverty, their future productive capacity will decline by an estimated $130 billion, according to a new CDF study titled POVERTY MATTERS. The study also finds that: * Poor children score lower on reading and math tests, suffer more mental and physical disabilities, and earn 25 percent lower wages as young adults. * A baby born to a poor mother in America is more likely to die before its first birthday than a baby born to a high school dropout, an unwed mother, or a mother who smoked during pregnancy. * Poverty puts children at greater risk of falling behind in school than does living in a single parent home or being born to teenage parents, according to findings from the U.S. Department of Education during the Reagan Administration. The report traces poor children's problems back to countless poverty-related disadvantages, such as high rates of iron deficiency, lead poisoning, and frequent moving from home to home. The emotional strains of poverty also have been found to interfere with proper parenting and to weaken many families. While many Americans are tempted to blame poor children's worse educational and job trajectories not on poverty but on character flaws ingrained in poor parents, POVERTY MATTERS cites major new academic studies that contradict such scapegoating -- including studies of siblings born several years apart who experience different amounts of poverty. The finding that poverty matters even for these siblings -- who are raised by the same parents -- shows that parental traits are not the cause of the poor outcomes. POVERTY MATTERS concludes with a "pro-work, pro-family" plan for ending child poverty. *** Child Care *** --- STAND FOR CHILDREN DAY '98: STAND FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE HAPPENING ON JUNE 1 IN YOUR HOMETOWN! --- Stand For Children helps grassroots activists organize to improve the lives of children in their communities through successful policy change, awareness-raising and service initiatives. This year's Stand For Children Day will highlight the need for quality, affordable child care and after-school activities. Already, there are hundreds of events planned around the country. Stand For Children Day is 6 weeks away, but there is still time to get involved. The Stand For Children staff is here to help you organize or get in involved with an activity in your community to improve the quality and affordability of child care and after-school activities. To find out about Stand For Children Day activities being planned in your community, visit the Stand For Children web site at: , email , or call (202) 234-0095. ********************************************************************** -- OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS -- SHARE THIS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!! Our typical email is about a page or two long and generally comes once a week. To join our legislative update email list, sign-up on our website or send an email to: and write in the body of the message: subscribe cdfupdate PLEASE NOTE: WHEN SUBSCRIBING OR CANCELING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, PLEASE DO NOT SURROUND YOUR ADDRESS WITH BRACKETS. Kimberly Taylor Children's Defense Fund 25 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202/662-3540 (fax) CDFupdate@childrensdefense.org From african.bulletin@pcpostal.com Sun Apr 19 11:01:24 1998 From: african.bulletin@pcpostal.com Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 12:01:56 +0100 Subject: Study-Travel*Women's Health/InfoTech CONFs*HumRights*Abstracts To: African.Bulletin@igc.org (14) Sender: african.bulletin@pcpostal.com Reply-To: african.bulletin@pcpostal.com "Rainbow" Academic Events & Programs / All are WELCOME! * LIST of Opptys: Volunteer Paid Academic * Year Round & Summer * CONFERENCES: InfoTech, Dist Lrng, CyberSpace, Media Women's Health & Human Rights, Computer Literacy * Abstracts, Proposals, Papers requested for 1998 and/or 1999 Go to Websites or contact convenors for guidelines and timelines _______________________________________________________________ A f r i c a n B u l l e t i n o f O p p o r t u n i t i e s __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ _/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ _/ Programs & Events for Academics, Professionals & Students __________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S - 1998 Programs, Events & Opportunities PART A: STUDY-TRAVEL OPPTYS & CONFERENCES 1] AASP EduTravel-CUBA BRAZIL AFRICA; Multiple trips year round 2] CROSSROADS Africa & Brazil Travel-Study & Workcamps; Summer 3] African Dist Lrng, Comp Literacy & InfoTech CONF-GHANA May 20 4] CONF on Women's Health & Human Rights-Indianapolis, IN; Oct. 22 5] ASA CONF: CyberSpace*Media*InfoTECH in Africa-Chicago; Oct 29 PART B A M N E S T Y & J U S T I C E ///\_[_/\\\ Write to Human Rights victims * Send appeals for humane treatment Please help by linking our JUSTICE Webpage to your page http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/justice.html "Rescue" effort: CALL FOR ACTION TO HELP AN AMERICAN TOURIST WRONGLY JAILED IN FRANCE, SENTENCED TO 18 YRS WITH NO RIGHT TO APPEAL For the Le Monde Article of March 26, 1998 and for Amnesty Reports on the disturbing pattern of police abuse in France against Africans, Arabs & foreigners, go to the above JUSTICE site +===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+ * NON-PROFIT ACTIVITIES, EVENTS & CONFERENCES * CUBA BRAZIL AFRICA EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL * ACADEMIC CREDIT - Arrange with your campus to earn credit Africa Brazil CUBA: INTERNS * VOLNTRS * Proj DIRS * LEADERS CALL FOR: MODERATORS * PRESENTERS * PAPERS * ABSTRACTS * PROPOSALS _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ C U B A B R A Z I L A F R I C A I. Select from among several programs, countries, itineraries, themes, prices, dates, departures all 4 seasons AASP Africa-Brazil-Cuba Study/Travel * Multi-Disciplinary - Multiple progs, 1 to 3 wks in duration, year round - The least expensive prog of this type and scope - 15-20 African countries plus Cuba and Brazil ACADEMIC CREDIT is offered at UNDERGRAD or GRAD Level For all info, Send street address to abc@starmail.com For application & details, go to both: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/index.html http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/journey.html Call for Descriptive Catalog: 312-443-0929 List of Progs & Orgs with Volunteer & Paid positions >>> For a LIST, type "Send Prog List" in Subject field & E-mail your FULL MAILING Address to: abc@starmail.com ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 2. Cossroads Africa & Brazil - Work/Travel/Study 7-wk Summer Prog * Workcamps * Internships * Field Study RainForest*Health*Medicine*Agriculture*Building*Comm Dev Participants (Interns) & Group Leaders (Proj DIRs, 26 yrs & up) Send street mailing adrs to abc@starmail.com Funds are raised in the community and on campus Go to: http://www.igc.org/oca/ application & details Phone: 212-870-2106 ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 3. D I S T A N C E L E A R N I N G & I N F O T E C H African Computer Literacy, Distance Learning & Info Tech Ghana, May 20-22 '98 CALL FOR Proposals Abstracts Papers Presenters Moderators Exhibitors Sponsors [Note: Abstracts & Papers are now being accepted for the '99 CONF] For proposal help, guidelines, CONF goals, sub-themes, updates, help with travel & accommodations, go to: http://www.ulbobo.com/gdep/ http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/travels.html A full program of Pre- and Post-Conference activities is planned; come early, leave late! * To receive Reg Form automatically by E-mail, send a msg to the AutoResponder: gdep-reg-email@ulbobo.com Pls join the Conference Discussion List (for volunteers, attendees, organizers, and interested persons) - send a msg with "subscribe ghaclad-scope" in the body to: majordomo@igc.org For Airline & lodging discounts: dewindt@acsu.buffalo.edu Must contact BOTH Dr. Darkwa and Pharra ASAP to reserve $750 Roundtrip NY-GHANA ticket darkwa@uic.edu, dewindt@acsu.buffalo.edu Flexibility in departure and return... CONF Coordinator: Dr. Osei DARKWA, Faculty, UI-Chicago darkwa@uic.edu, dewindt@acsu.buffalo.edu Phone: 312-996-8508 ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 4. W A A D W O M E N'S C O N F E R E N C E Prof. Obioma NNAEMEKA, Convenor Women's Human Rights & Health CONF at Indianapolis, IN/USA 2nd Int'l Conf. on WOMEN IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA OCTOBER 22-27, 1998 President, Assoc of African Women Scholars (AAWS) [Now accepting members, ALL are welcome] French & Women's Studies Program Indiana University 425 University Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46202 - USA Phone: (317) 278-2038; (317) 274-0062 (messages) Fax: (317) 274-2347 E-mail: nnaemeka@iupui.edu, ABC@STARMAIL.COM For Registration Form by E-mail, write to: abc@starmail or go to: http://www.iupui.edu/~aaws http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/women-conf.html Go to Website if you would like to help with this Conference or to download/print the Registration Form; At Website, obtain details re: CALL FOR Abstracts Proposals Papers Moderators Exhibitors Volunteers Sponsors [LIST] To join CONF List to discuss issues impacting women of African-descent and CONF organizing/planning, send the request: "SUBSCRIBE AFWOSCHO" TO: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU Join, Participate and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 5. C H I C A G O , I L l I N O I S African Studies Association: Call for Papers Submitted by: Brian Murphy Help make a difference for someone! Coordinator Family Liaison ................... Urgent Aid for a Human Rights Victim * An African Am. tourist given 18 yrs in France, with no appeal * A "Rescue Mission" is now underway - urgent help is needed with sending appeal letters to the French govt. * Individuals, groups, and even organizations and classrooms willing to lend a hand would be welcome! * This victim will pass his 5th consecutive birthday behind French bars in July * Having pen friends to write to about his ordeal will allow him a much needed outlet; the more contact a prisoner has with the outside, the better authorities will treat him Write to: Barry BRAIMAH Ecrou 875158 -Div. 3/208 Allee des Thuyas 94261 Fresnes, FRANCE JUSTICE SITE For this troubling, still-evolving story; pls go to: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/african-diaspora/justice.html PLEASE LINK OUR SITE TO YOURS Please help by linking your Webpage to our site Or write us: Humanity@iname.com ....Help save a life, for the price of a stamp ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ University Consortium Publications African Bulletin of Opportunities & Issues _________________________________________ Get your free vanity email address at http://www.MyOwnEmail.com From brbgc@ix.netcom.com Sun Apr 19 18:19:49 1998 by dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4) id rma000846; Sun Apr 19 19:19:05 1998 Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 20:20:49 -0400 From: Ric Brown Reply-To: brbgc@ix.netcom.com To: psn-cafe , cultstud-l , PSN , Spoon Collective , Stanley Aronowitz Subject: Seeing Multiculturalism---Pratt Institute Greetings, Just a reminder that Seeing Multi-Culturalism, Pratt Institute's yearly film, music, and lecture series will be held April 20. This year, the theme is "Inside/Outside: Dystopian Views of the Urban Landscape". We are featuring two films, _Brazil_ and _Safe_ and a panel discussion. Please see the announcement below for details. All are welcome. And of course, Sorry for any cross-postings. -- _________________________________________________ Ric Brown Assistant Professor of Cultural Studies Department of Social Science & Management Dekalb Hall, 3rd fl. Pratt Institute Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205 _________________________________________________ Email: brbgc@ix.netcom.com URL: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7364 Phone: 1.718.636.3600 ext.2709 Fax: 1.718.636.3573 _________________________________________________ SEEING MULTICULTURALISM April 20, 1998 INSIDE/OUTSIDE Dystopian Views of the Urban Landscape in Film .. . BRAZIL/SAFE _______________________________________ 9:30 - 12 Noon BRAZIL (1985) “Somewhere on the Los Angeles-Belfast border.” The theme is latter-day Orwell, similar totalitarian slogans: DON'T SUSPECT A FRIEND—REPORT HIM, in keeping with the modernistic society that is socially and scientifically bureaucratic. In a future where citizens of the regime live subterranean existences in a world crowded with a huge snakelike ductwork, a mundane bureaucrat in the Ministry of Information Tom Lowrey (Jonathan Pryce) escapes through his daydreams. Disaster strikes Toms world when bug) in the computer system alters the arrest record for a terrorist named Tuttle (Robert De Niro) to read Buttle. _______________________________________ 12:30 - 2:00 SAFE (1995) Like Eraserhead, many scenes in SAFE feature a low-level hum on the sound track, suggesting malevolent machines in a quietly menacing environment. Carol (Julianne Moore), who may be allergic to her environment, which is an affluent, antiseptic, luxurious Southern California home. She's being attacked by plastics, ozone, chemicals, high-energy wires, pollution, additives, preservatives, hamburger gases—everything. Debilitated by the allergies, Carol escapes to a desert spa, where she find ambiguous solutions, including a completely sterile igloo, to her physical and psychological problems. _______________________________________ 2:30-3:30 Discussion Panel Moderator: Randy Martin, Chair, Social Science Sameetha Agha, History Ric Brown, Cultural Studies Kate Peterson, Cultural Studies Doug Robbins, Psychology _______________________________________ April 20, 1998 Schedule 9:30-12 Brazil 12:30-2 Safe 2-3:30 Panel Discussion 3:30 Refreshments 4:30-6:30 Brazil Place Engineering 371 Pratt Institute Willoughby Ave Brooklyn, New York 1.718.636.3567 or http://www.pratt.edu for directions Organized by Ric Brown and the Department of Social Science Sponsored by a grant from the Mellon Fund From dicwc@omen.net.au Mon Apr 20 03:10:23 1998 From: "Deaths In Custody Watch Commitee (WA) Inc." To: "Black Deaths Interest" , "DICWC Members" , "Oz Media" , "Pollies - Democrats" , "Pollies - Labor" , "Pollies - LibNats" , "Pollies - Other" , "Prison Watchers" Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 16:54:42 +0800 X-Distribution: Moderate Subject: Aboriginal man dies in police custody: 20 April, 1998 Reply-to: dicwc@omen.net.au media release DEATHS IN CUSTODY WATCH COMMITTEE (WA) Inc. Aboriginal man dies in police custody: 20 April, 1998 Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody (Recommendation 81): That legislation decriminalising drunkenness should place a statutory duty upon police to consider and utilise alternatives to the detention of intoxicated persons in police cells. Alternatives should include the options of taking the intoxicated person home or to a facility established for the care of intoxicated persons. The Deaths In Custody Watch Committee will be questioning why police detained an Aboriginal man and held him in the Kalgoorlie Police Lock-up on Friday night and did not take him straight to the Sobering-Up Shelter in Kalgoorlie. "The man was not charged or arrested by police. Under such circumstances there was no reason to incarcerate him in a cell' Said Glenn Shaw, Chairperson of the Watch Committee. "We have been advised that the man was detained at 5pm on Friday evening and this is the same time that the Sobering-Up Shelter opens its doors. I am advised that there would have been ample beds and people to care for him at the Shelter." "It is also our understanding that police did not contact any family or community member to inform them of the man's whereabouts, This again breaches the recommendations of the Royal Commission." "Since last August this is the second Aboriginal man to die after being detained in a police cell whilst suffering the effects of alcohol." "Clearly the police have not yet learned the most basic lessons about their legal duty of care and their responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of any person who is locked in a police cell." "The Watch Committee will be scrutinising, in detail, all police actions surrounding this death". Media contact: Glenn Shaw, Chairperson, Phone: (08) 9265 6960 "To monitor and work to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody" From coatesrd@muohio.edu Mon Apr 20 11:41:48 1998 Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 13:41:19 -0400 From: Rodney Coates To: j9470388@wlv.ac.uk Subject: Re: No one is skipping classes they are just asserting reality(was: The Coming Race War?...) <3.0.1.32.19980416132551.00c9b2a4@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> <3.0.1.32.19980416161455.00c9b2a4@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> <3536942B.B0E3AC2B@casmail.muohio.edu> <35379936.4A87@wlv.ac.uk> Sorry Alan, but my system died..and its just now back on line..now to your questions ....you ask: Alan Harrison wrote: > So, I wonder which party or organization in the USA Rodney considers to > be a symbolic representation of the working class? > Well we do have a Democratic Socialist of America party..while small and mostly symbolic it does represent the working class..also please note, that in 1991, Tony Mazzocchi of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Worke3rs (OCAW) organized the Labor Party Advocates. While it is early, it should be noted that this party's platform took a storn stand in defense of affirmative action, supported several women's issues (from reproductive rights and child care). And as observed by Kelly "it attacked Clinton for signing the welfare reform bill." Other symbolic groups would have to include coalition of Labor Union Women, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and Black Workers for Justice...You might want to see Jane Slaughter's "The Labor Party-Pressure on to Act Like One" in New Politics 6, no 2 (winter 1997). Again, while these are can only be called fledging, they exists none the less. And if we, academics, would support them..then they would be more than symbolic. > Referring to another of Rodney's posts, I notice that he includes > Hobsbawm among "illiberal liberals". Hobsbawm has ceratinly been > criticised in Britain for his drift to the right and (in particular) his > support for the Labour Party's rightward move under Kinnock. However, I > don't think that I have previously seen Hobsbawm's position described as > "liberal" rather than socialist or social democractic. Could Rodney > again please elaborate? shall we banter words...in this country..we typically refer to those on the left as Liberal..this would include socialists or social democrats..if you perfer these then..no problem...the meaning of my comments remain the same... > > > Alan Harrison rodneycoates From eric@stewards.net Mon Apr 20 12:52:30 1998 (envelope-from eric@stewards.net) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 14:44:37 -0400 (EDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer) Subject: STOP THE GENOCIDE IN CHIAPAS. (fwd) April 20, 1998. Please forward to all relevant listserves, media outlets, and organizations. Issued by: The Chiapas Alert Network, an organization working to end the paramilitary and military violence and intimidation aimed at the Indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. Phone: 604-221-6426 Website: http://www.stewards.net/10.htm email: staff@stewards.net STOP THE GENOCIDE IN CHIAPAS: AN OPEN LETTER TO KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Appeal to the World For Chiapas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis: The International community failed to act in a timely and decisive fashion to prevent massive genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia. Now, massive violence and intimidation is being directed at Indigenous people in Chiapas, Mexico. We call on the UN to act IMMEDIATELY, with armed intervention if necessary, to end the repression and prevent genocide in Chiapas. We also call on all Mexican soldiers and police to refuse to obey any illegal order which contravenes Mexican law or which violates International standards regarding human rights and genocide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an urgent appeal to the United Nations, and the world community, to stop the growing violence, intimidation, and repression now directed against the millions of Indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. President Clinton has publicly acknowledged the failure of the world community to act in a timely and decisive manner to halt the genocide in Rwanda. "(We) did not fully appreciate the depth and the speed with which (Rwandans) were being engulfed by this unimaginable horror," he has said. "We did not act quickly enough after the killing began. We did not immediately call these crimes by their rightful name: genocide." The world failed in Rwanda. In Bosnia, the genocide against Moslems was also allowed to proceed relatively unhindered for years, and as a result massive numbers of people were killed. The world failed in Bosnia. Now, in Chiapas, massive numbers of civilians are again at risk of genocidal action - this time by civilian paramilitary groups, and by elements of the Mexican military itself, who are targeting the 4-5 million Indigenous peoples of the southernmost state of Mexico. The most horrific single incident to date took place last December 22 at the little town of Acteal, where forty-five unarmed Indigenous civilians - most of them women and children - were systematically hunted down like animals and murdered by paramilitary forces. It must be made clear that Acteal is not an isolated incident. It is emblematic of a much broader pattern of escalating violence and intimidation aimed at the Indigenous people of Chiapas. In the past 18 months, there has been a growing pattern of paramilitary violence, and more recently growing military violence, which has: claimed hundreds of lives; converted thousands of Indigenous people into homeless refugees; destroyed Indigenous crops by vandalism, theft, and burning; and produced in recent months a major repressive buildup of Mexican military forces in the region. Most recently, raids by massed bodies of hundreds and even thousands of government troops and police have unlawfully descended on peaceful Indigenous communities. These raids have brutalized and arrested dozens of members of peaceful Indigenous cooperative economic and political associations. These raids have also illegally arrested dozens of International peace observers, whose presence had been requested by the Indigenous people and their organizations to insure the safety of the Indigenous. These peace observers have been summarily deported from the country without due process of law, thereby depriving the Indigenous people of outside witnesses should further acts of violence and intimidation occur. On the basis of these developments, the UN, Amnesty International, and many other respected international human rights organizations have found very serious violations of both Mexican legality and Human rights. In addition, an all-out assault on various civilian Indigenous communities, and on the Zapatista Indigenous Army, which has engaged in no warfare activities for 3 1/2 years, appears to be under preparation. (See appendix on `Indicators of war'.) The cost of such an assault in lives is incalculable. In light of all these developments, we want to issue a challenge to all the governments of the Americas, to the United Nations, and to all world leaders: Let us not fail again. Another slaughter has already begun, and a still more massive slaughter looms. There is no time to waste. Timely and decisive action must be taken immediately to avert further repression and genocide directed at Indigenous people, people who have historically been subjected to the greatest genocide and have been the most oppressed in the Americas. In particular, we wish to put forward the following urgent appeal: 1) We appeal to the United Nations for immediate intervention, armed if necessary, in order to prevent further genocide in Chiapas. Any armed intervention should be contingent on being properly mandated by the UN, and should not include troops from the United States due their present involvement in training and arming the Mexican military, and due to the political and economic interests of the U.S. in Mexico. We call on the United Nations to IMMEDIATELY begin discussion of active measures to halt the genocide in Chiapas. As part of this investigation, we urge that representatives from the peace and reconciliation body chaired by Bishop Samuel Ruiz of Chiapas, and from the peaceful Indigenous cooperative economic and political associations of Chiapas, be called to UN headquarters as witnesses to the violence and intimidation currently directed by both paramilitary and military forces against the Indigenous people and their organizations in Chiapas. 2) We also appeal to all members of the Mexican army, police forces, and government to IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO REFUSE TO OBEY ANY ORDER WHICH IS ILLEGAL EITHER UNDER MEXICAN LAW OR FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENOCIDE. The time has come for all of us to remember - and for the world to remember - the Nuremberg war crimes tribunals - which found that obedience to orders, or to national law, cannot morally or legally justify human rights violations such as those perpetrated in Chiapas today. At Nuremberg, as today, perpetrators and intellectual authors of such crimes are guilty of crimes against humanity, and subject to both moral and legal condemnation and punishment by International bodies. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix - Indicators of War The Chiapas Alert Network has identified a series of `indicators' which, taken together, point to the possibility of an imminent or `near-imminent' military assault by the Mexican army on the Zapatista enclave in Southern Chiapas. At the very least, these indicators point to the possibility of greatly intensified repression against Indigenous civilians and their cooperative associations in the region. Here are the `indicators of war' to which we are referring: 1. The first indicator is a build-up of Mexican military equipment and personnel in Chiapas over the past several months. 2. The second `indicator of war' is a stepped-up effort to deport and otherwise silence international human rights observers in Chiapas. Many of these deportations are clearly illegal, and frequently involve severe intimidation and denial of due process under Mexican law. 3. The third `indicator of war' is recent statements by Mexican officials, some at high levels, to the effect that foreign `interference' in Mexican political affairs will not be tolerated. Such statements were made just before the massacre at Acteal, when Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations warned that paramilitary violence and intimidation were growing in the region and that further deaths could be expected. At that time Amnesty International and similar groups were told to `stay out' of `internal Mexican politics'. Since the Acteal massacre the Mexican government had not dared to say such things. But now, again, they are singing the song of `we will settle our own affairs'. 4. The fourth `indicator of war' is a reported build-up of paramilitary activity in various areas of Chiapas, including - unbelievably - the reappearance at Acteal, the site of the infamous massacre of 45 people on Dec. 22, of people associated with paramilitary activity. 5. The fifth `indicator of war' is the use of massive numbers of soldiers and police in raids on peaceful Indigenous communities in recent days. One purpose of these raids would appear to be that of terrorizing the civilian population through an overwhelming use of force. Viewed together, these indicators suggest that the Mexican government may well be gearing up for war and/or intensified repression in Chiapas. From adairs@ccsu.edu Mon Apr 20 14:18:13 1998 Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 15:44:05 -0400 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu From: Stephen Adair Subject: Job opening Notice of job opening. A search for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Sociology at Central Connecticut State University beginning in September 1998 has recently been opened. For more information see the Employment Bulletin of the ASA, which is available on-line at http://www.asanet.org Feel free to e-mail or phone me for more information as well. Stephen Adair Assistant Professor Department of Sociology Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT 09050 (860)832-2979 adairs@ccsu.edu From johnny.williams@mail.cc.trincoll.edu Mon Apr 20 14:58:43 1998 From: "Johnny Williams" To: "PSN" , "Afam-l" , "ABS-L" Subject: Fw: Position Vacancy - Assistant/Associate Dean of Students Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 16:59:42 -0700 Johnny E. Williams phone: (860)297-2370 Assistant Professor fax: (860)297-2538 Trinity College Department of Sociology Hartford, Connecticut 06106-3100 e-mail: johnny.williams@mail.trincoll.edu ---------- > From: sandra.magee@exchange.trincoll.edu > To: QP.faculty.admin_staff.web > Subject: QP: Position Vacancy - Assistant/Associate Dean of Students > Date: Monday, April 20, 1998 8:21 AM > > PLEASE POST!!! > > > DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES > TRINITY COLLEGE > HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106 > > > Assistant/Associate Dean of Students > > Trinity College, a highly selective, coeducational liberal arts college > of 2,000 students, invites applications for the position of > Assistant/Associate Dean of Students. > > Reporting to the Vice President for Student Services, the Office of the > Dean of Students supports students by creating an environment in which > they can pursue academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular interests > responsibly and freely. Under the direction of the Dean, the > Assistant/Associate will share responsibility for planning, developing, > and administering policies relating to the undergraduate experience. > The candidate will recommend and implement practices that will > contribute to the development of good relations among students and > between students and faculty, and strategies that will lead to superior > academic achievement. > > Responsibilities include assisting the Dean in the administration of > College policies which apply to individuals and to organizations, > providing advice and counseling to students for academic and > non-academic matters, and undertaking research on various aspects of > undergraduate life. The Assistant/Associate will work closely with > members of other offices in the division of Student Services, including > Residential Life, Student Activities, the First-Year Program, the > Medical Office, and the Counseling Center. He/she will serve on the > schedule of Student Services administrators available after office hours > and on weekends to assist with emergencies and to monitor campus > activities. Residence on campus is required, and housing is provided. > > Qualifications: Master's Degree. Three to five years of administrative > experience in student services or a combination of college teaching and > administration. The applicant must have strong communication skills, > the ability to work under pressure, to initiate and shift tasks quickly > and gracefully, and to be sensitive yet objective. He/she must be > comfortable working both independently and in a collaborative > environment. > > Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Review of > applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is > filled. Please submit a cover letter, resume and the names of three > professional references to: > > Search Committee > Dean of Students Office > Trinity College > 300 Summit Street > Hartford, CT 06106-3100 > > Trinity College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. > Woman and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with > disabilities should request any needed accommodation in order to fully > participate in the application process. > > April 20, 1998 > From johnny.williams@mail.cc.trincoll.edu Mon Apr 20 14:59:08 1998 From: "Johnny Williams" To: "PSN" , "Afam-l" , "ABS-L" Subject: Fw: Position Vacancy - Director of Residential Life Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:00:10 -0700 Johnny E. Williams phone: (860)297-2370 Assistant Professor fax: (860)297-2538 Trinity College Department of Sociology Hartford, Connecticut 06106-3100 e-mail: johnny.williams@mail.trincoll.edu ---------- > From: sandra.magee@exchange.trincoll.edu > To: QP.faculty.admin_staff.web > Subject: QP: Position Vacancy - Director of Residential Life > Date: Monday, April 20, 1998 9:00 AM > > PLEASE POST !!! > > DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES > TRINITY COLLEGE > HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106 > > > Director of Residential Life > > Reporting to the Vice President for Student Services, the Director > provides vision and leadership for a comprehensive residential life > program for 1700 students in 26 residences and will play a key role in > promoting a residential environment that complements and extends > Trinity's academic mission. The Director selects, trains, supervises > and evaluates eight staff members, including an Associate Director, four > full-time live-in staff, an office assistant and two graduate > assistants. The Director provides leadership development for all > residential student staff members and other student leaders, > participates regularly in college-wide strategic planning efforts, and > collaborates with the First-Year Program, Counseling Center, Campus > Safety and other administrative offices to implement comprehensive > services to the student body. The Director also participates in a > rotating on-call schedule with members of the Dean of Students staff. > This is a 12-month, full-time, live-in position. > > Position requires a Master's degree, 5-7 years of full-time residential > life or related experience, demonstrable commitment to, and experience > establishing, residential learning communities. Must have strong oral > communication and writing ability and significant managerial experience. > Experience working with faculty desired. > > Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Review of > applications will commence immediately and continue until the position > is filled. Please submit a cover letter, resume and the names of three > professional references to: > > Search Committee - Director of Residential Life > c/o Human Resources > Trinity College > 300 Summit Street > Hartford, CT 06106-3100 > > Trinity College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. > Woman and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with > disabilities should request any needed accommodation in order to fully > participate in the application process. > > April 20, 1998 > From eric@stewards.net Mon Apr 20 18:50:54 1998 (envelope-from eric@stewards.net) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 20:51:44 -0400 (EDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer) Subject: STOP THE GENOCIDE IN CHIAPAS - CORRECTED VERSION. Our website address was mis-stated in the original release of this document. Here's the corrected version. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 20, 1998. Please forward to all relevant listserves, media outlets, and organizations. Issued by: The Chiapas Alert Network, an organization working to end the paramilitary and military violence and intimidation aimed at the Indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. Phone: 604-221-6426 Website: http://www.stewards.net/chiapas/10.htm email: staff@stewards.net STOP THE GENOCIDE IN CHIAPAS: AN OPEN LETTER TO KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Appeal to the World For Chiapas --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis: The International community failed to act in a timely and decisive fashion to prevent massive genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia. Now, massive violence and intimidation is being directed at Indigenous people in Chiapas, Mexico. We call on the UN to act IMMEDIATELY, with armed intervention if necessary, to end the repression and prevent genocide in Chiapas. We also call on all Mexican soldiers and police to refuse to obey any illegal order which contravenes Mexican law or which violates International standards regarding human rights and genocide. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an urgent appeal to the United Nations, and the world community, to stop the growing violence, intimidation, and repression now directed against the millions of Indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. President Clinton has publicly acknowledged the failure of the world community to act in a timely and decisive manner to halt the genocide in Rwanda. "(We) did not fully appreciate the depth and the speed with which (Rwandans) were being engulfed by this unimaginable horror," he has said. "We did not act quickly enough after the killing began. We did not immediately call these crimes by their rightful name: genocide." The world failed in Rwanda. In Bosnia, the genocide against Moslems was also allowed to proceed relatively unhindered for years, and as a result massive numbers of people were killed. The world failed in Bosnia. Now, in Chiapas, massive numbers of civilians are again at risk of genocidal action - this time by civilian paramilitary groups, and by elements of the Mexican military itself, who are targeting the 4-5 million Indigenous peoples of the southernmost state of Mexico. The most horrific single incident to date took place last December 22 at the little town of Acteal, where forty-five unarmed Indigenous civilians - most of them women and children - were systematically hunted down like animals and murdered by paramilitary forces. It must be made clear that Acteal is not an isolated incident. It is emblematic of a much broader pattern of escalating violence and intimidation aimed at the Indigenous people of Chiapas. In the past 18 months, there has been a growing pattern of paramilitary violence, and more recently growing military violence, which has: claimed hundreds of lives; converted thousands of Indigenous people into homeless refugees; destroyed Indigenous crops by vandalism, theft, and burning; and produced in recent months a major repressive buildup of Mexican military forces in the region. Most recently, raids by massed bodies of hundreds and even thousands of government troops and police have unlawfully descended on peaceful Indigenous communities. These raids have brutalized and arrested dozens of members of peaceful Indigenous cooperative economic and political associations. These raids have also illegally arrested dozens of International peace observers, whose presence had been requested by the Indigenous people and their organizations to insure the safety of the Indigenous. These peace observers have been summarily deported from the country without due process of law, thereby depriving the Indigenous people of outside witnesses should further acts of violence and intimidation occur. On the basis of these developments, the UN, Amnesty International, and many other respected international human rights organizations have found very serious violations of both Mexican legality and Human rights. In addition, an all-out assault on various civilian Indigenous communities, and on the Zapatista Indigenous Army, which has engaged in no warfare activities for 3 1/2 years, appears to be under preparation. (See appendix on `Indicators of war'.) The cost of such an assault in lives is incalculable. In light of all these developments, we want to issue a challenge to all the governments of the Americas, to the United Nations, and to all world leaders: Let us not fail again. Another slaughter has already begun, and a still more massive slaughter looms. There is no time to waste. Timely and decisive action must be taken immediately to avert further repression and genocide directed at Indigenous people, people who have historically been subjected to the greatest genocide and have been the most oppressed in the Americas. In particular, we wish to put forward the following urgent appeal: 1) We appeal to the United Nations for immediate intervention, armed if necessary, in order to prevent further genocide in Chiapas. Any armed intervention should be contingent on being properly mandated by the UN, and should not include troops from the United States due their present involvement in training and arming the Mexican military, and due to the political and economic interests of the U.S. in Mexico. We call on the United Nations to IMMEDIATELY begin discussion of active measures to halt the genocide in Chiapas. As part of this investigation, we urge that representatives from the peace and reconciliation body chaired by Bishop Samuel Ruiz of Chiapas, and from the peaceful Indigenous cooperative economic and political associations of Chiapas, be called to UN headquarters as witnesses to the violence and intimidation currently directed by both paramilitary and military forces against the Indigenous people and their organizations in Chiapas. 2) We also appeal to all members of the Mexican army, police forces, and government to IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO REFUSE TO OBEY ANY ORDER WHICH IS ILLEGAL EITHER UNDER MEXICAN LAW OR FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENOCIDE. The time has come for all of us to remember - and for the world to remember - the Nuremberg war crimes tribunals - which found that obedience to orders, or to national law, cannot morally or legally justify human rights violations such as those perpetrated in Chiapas today. At Nuremberg, as today, perpetrators and intellectual authors of such crimes are guilty of crimes against humanity, and subject to both moral and legal condemnation and punishment by International bodies. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix - Indicators of War The Chiapas Alert Network has identified a series of `indicators' which, taken together, point to the possibility of an imminent or `near-imminent' military assault by the Mexican army on the Zapatista enclave in Southern Chiapas. At the very least, these indicators point to the possibility of greatly intensified repression against Indigenous civilians and their cooperative associations in the region. Here are the `indicators of war' to which we are referring: 1. The first indicator is a build-up of Mexican military equipment and personnel in Chiapas over the past several months. 2. The second `indicator of war' is a stepped-up effort to deport and otherwise silence international human rights observers in Chiapas. Many of these deportations are clearly illegal, and frequently involve severe intimidation and denial of due process under Mexican law. 3. The third `indicator of war' is recent statements by Mexican officials, some at high levels, to the effect that foreign `interference' in Mexican political affairs will not be tolerated. Such statements were made just before the massacre at Acteal, when Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations warned that paramilitary violence and intimidation were growing in the region and that further deaths could be expected. At that time Amnesty International and similar groups were told to `stay out' of `internal Mexican politics'. Since the Acteal massacre the Mexican government had not dared to say such things. But now, again, they are singing the song of `we will settle our own affairs'. 4. The fourth `indicator of war' is a reported build-up of paramilitary activity in various areas of Chiapas, including - unbelievably - the reappearance at Acteal, the site of the infamous massacre of 45 people on Dec. 22, of people associated with paramilitary activity. 5. The fifth `indicator of war' is the use of massive numbers of soldiers and police in raids on peaceful Indigenous communities in recent days. One purpose of these raids would appear to be that of terrorizing the civilian population through an overwhelming use of force. Viewed together, these indicators suggest that the Mexican government may well be gearing up for war and/or intensified repression in Chiapas. From LLang944@aol.com Mon Apr 20 20:29:33 1998 From: LLang944 Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 22:29:00 EDT To: psn@csf.colorado.EDU Subject: Fwd: PBS FUNDING PETITION boundary="part0_893125741_boundary" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --part0_893125741_boundary Dear PSNers....I am well aware of the extent to which NPR/PBS has become the site of corporate funding of highbrow news and entertainment and a moment of capitalist hegemony. That said, and I do not disagree, I still support it on my own and some of you may sign petition. If not, just delete. And if you forward, you can cut this out. Best, Lauren Langman << >Please keep this petition rolling. Do not reply to me. Please sign and >forward to others to sign. If you prefer not to sign please send to >the >e-mail address indicated. Thanks. >This petition is being passed around the Internet. Please add your >name >to it so that funding can be maintained for the NEA, NPR & PBS. >Here goes: >This is being forwarded to several people at once to add their names >to >the petition. It won't matter if many people receive the same list as >the names are being managed. >This is for anyone who thinks NPR/PBS is a worthwhile expenditure of >$1.12/year of their taxes, a petition follows. If you sign, please >forward on to others (not back to me). If not, please don't kill it - >send it to the email address listed here: >wein2688@blue.univnorthco.edu> >PBS, NPR (National Public Radio), and the arts are facing major >cutbacks >in funding. In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce >spending >costs and streamline their services, some government officials believe >that the funding currently going to these programs is too large a >portion of funding for something which is seen as not worthwhile. >Currently, taxes from the general public for PBS equal $1.12 per >person >per year, and the National Endowment for the Arts equals $.64 a year. >A January 1995 CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll indicated that 76% of >Americans >wish to keep funding for PBS, third only to national defense and law >enforcement as the most valuable programs for federal funding. >Each year, the Senate and House Appropriations committees each have 13 >subcommittees with jurisdiction over many programs and agencies. >Each subcommittee passes its own appropriation bill. The goal each >year >is to have each bill signed by the beginning of the fiscal year, which >is October 1. >The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of >support for PBS and funding for these types of programs is by making >our >voices heard. >Please add your name to this list and forward it to friends if you >believe in what we stand for. This list will be forwarded to the >President of the United States, the Vice President of the United >States, >and Representative Newt Gingrich, who is the instigator of the action >to >cut funding to these worthwhile programs. >*If you happen to be the 150th, 200th, 250th, >etc. signer of this petition, please forward a >copy to: >. >This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them. Forward >this >to everyone you know, and help us to keep these programs alive. >Thank you. >NOTE: It is preferable that you SELECT the entirety of this letter >and >then COPY it into a new outgoing message rather than simply forwarding >it. >530. Veronika Kish Boyd, Charlotte, NC 28205-7128 >531. Chuck Heidel, Charlotte, NC 28205 >532. Elise Fisher, Charlotte, NC 28211 >533. Laure Bell, Charlotte, NC 28205 >534. Peter C. Slosson, Charlotte, NC 28205 >535. Thomas Ashe Lockhart, Jr., Raleigh, NC 27608 >536. Kimberly Reed, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 >537. Michael Dabbs, Chapel HIl, NC 27514 >538. Kristin Moore, Alexandria, VA 22314 >540. Lynn Umemoto, Bethesda, MD 20814 >541. Marianne Nebel, New York, NY 10014 >542. Gwen M. Gautsch, Princeton, NJ 08540 >543. Jay Warshaw, New York, NY 10012 >544. Jonas W. Kant, San Francisco, CA 94114 >545. Anthony M. Kant, Reno, NV 89511 >546 Joanne M. Gibson, Arlington, Va 22201 >547 Robert E. Gibson, Arlington, VA 22201 >548 Trudy Glucksberg, Princeton, NJ 08540 >549 Dick Blofson, Princeton, NJ 08540 >550 Dorothy Potter, New York, NY 10025 >551: Carene Lydia Lopez, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 >552: B. Caroline Estrada, Flushing, NY 11365 >553. Susan Freeman, New York, NY 10023 >554. Judith Kiersky, New York, NY 10023 >555. Sandra Kiersky, New York, New York 10011 556. Elsa First, New York, NY 10024 557. Jessica Benjamin, Upper Montclair NJ 07043 558 Lauren Langman, Chicago, IL 60614 >> --part0_893125741_boundary From: Jess Benja Return-path: To: Vgoldner@aol.com, MDimen@psychoanalysis.net, AHarris@psychoanalysis.net, lewaron@psychoanalysis.net, DanHill@psybc.com, Swcoates@aol.com eyoungbr.@haverford.edu, LLang944@aol.com Subject: Re: PBS FUNDING PETITION Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 18:39:31 EST Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) In a message dated 98-03-19 20:20:07 EST, you write: << Subj: PBS FUNDING PETITION From: Elsa_First@psychoanalysis.net (Elsa First) To: levywrrn@is3.nyu.edu CC: kmt@bnkl.bnkst.edu, fredericj@aol.com, 102547.547@compuserv.com, JessBenja@aol.com, hblevine@_aol.com, gfarber@childrens-seashore.org Sandra Kiersky writes: >From: JEK160 >Subject: Fwd: PBS Petition >Please keep this petition rolling. Do not reply to me. Please sign and >forward to others to sign. If you prefer not to sign please send to >the >e-mail address indicated. Thanks. >This petition is being passed around the Internet. Please add your >name >to it so that funding can be maintained for the NEA, NPR & PBS. >Here goes: >This is being forwarded to several people at once to add their names >to >the petition. It won't matter if many people receive the same list as >the names are being managed. >This is for anyone who thinks NPR/PBS is a worthwhile expenditure of >$1.12/year of their taxes, a petition follows. If you sign, please >forward on to others (not back to me). If not, please don't kill it - >send it to the email address listed here: >wein2688@blue.univnorthco.edu> >PBS, NPR (National Public Radio), and the arts are facing major >cutbacks >in funding. In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce >spending >costs and streamline their services, some government officials believe >that the funding currently going to these programs is too large a >portion of funding for something which is seen as not worthwhile. >Currently, taxes from the general public for PBS equal $1.12 per >person >per year, and the National Endowment for the Arts equals $.64 a year. >A January 1995 CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll indicated that 76% of >Americans >wish to keep funding for PBS, third only to national defense and law >enforcement as the most valuable programs for federal funding. >Each year, the Senate and House Appropriations committees each have 13 >subcommittees with jurisdiction over many programs and agencies. >Each subcommittee passes its own appropriation bill. The goal each >year >is to have each bill signed by the beginning of the fiscal year, which >is October 1. >The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of >support for PBS and funding for these types of programs is by making >our >voices heard. >Please add your name to this list and forward it to friends if you >believe in what we stand for. This list will be forwarded to the >President of the United States, the Vice President of the United >States, >and Representative Newt Gingrich, who is the instigator of the action >to >cut funding to these worthwhile programs. >*If you happen to be the 150th, 200th, 250th, >etc. signer of this petition, please forward a >copy to: >. >This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them. Forward >this >to everyone you know, and help us to keep these programs alive. >Thank you. >NOTE: It is preferable that you SELECT the entirety of this letter >and >then COPY it into a new outgoing message rather than simply forwarding >it. >530. Veronika Kish Boyd, Charlotte, NC 28205-7128 >531. Chuck Heidel, Charlotte, NC 28205 >532. Elise Fisher, Charlotte, NC 28211 >533. Laure Bell, Charlotte, NC 28205 >534. Peter C. Slosson, Charlotte, NC 28205 >535. Thomas Ashe Lockhart, Jr., Raleigh, NC 27608 >536. Kimberly Reed, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 >537. Michael Dabbs, Chapel HIl, NC 27514 >538. Kristin Moore, Alexandria, VA 22314 >540. Lynn Umemoto, Bethesda, MD 20814 >541. Marianne Nebel, New York, NY 10014 >542. Gwen M. Gautsch, Princeton, NJ 08540 >543. Jay Warshaw, New York, NY 10012 >544. Jonas W. Kant, San Francisco, CA 94114 >545. Anthony M. Kant, Reno, NV 89511 >546 Joanne M. Gibson, Arlington, Va 22201 >547 Robert E. Gibson, Arlington, VA 22201 >548 Trudy Glucksberg, Princeton, NJ 08540 >549 Dick Blofson, Princeton, NJ 08540 >550 Dorothy Potter, New York, NY 10025 >551: Carene Lydia Lopez, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 >552: B. Caroline Estrada, Flushing, NY 11365 >553. Susan Freeman, New York, NY 10023 >554. Judith Kiersky, New York, NY 10023 >555. Sandra Kiersky, New York, New York 10011 556. Elsa First, New York, NY 10024 557. Jessica Benjamin, Upper Montclair NJ 07043 --part0_893125741_boundary-- From tell@acsu.buffalo.edu Tue Apr 21 11:09:12 1998 Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 13:09:03 -0400 (EDT) From: "Shawgi A. Tell" To: Progressive Sociologists Network Subject: H. RES. 300 Racist Greetings, On October 31, 1997 the following resolution (H. RES. 300) "Expressing Support for a National Week of Reflection and Tolerance" was introduced in the House of Representatives: "Whereas America is a pluralistic country comprised of different races, genders, ethnic groups, religions, and creeds; Whereas our Nation, founded on the principles of tolerance, diversity, justice, and equality, should affirm these common values and principles; and Whereas Americans should reflect on the importance of understanding and tolerance in our pluralistic country; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That a national Week of Reflection and Tolerance should be established encouraging communities and institutions around the Nation to engage in events and activities that are reflective, educational, celebratory, and healing as they relate to diversity among Americans." The entire resolution is inherently racist. Failing to move beyond "reflection" and "understanding," the very existence of such a resolution - and only a week long to boot - is proof that inequality actually prevails in our society. Why would such a resolution be needed if complete equality really existed? H. RES. 300 only makes sense in the context of a society based on privilege distribution systems and not on imprescriptible human rights. The Eurocentric notion of "tolerance" actually presumes and takes for granted relations of superiority and inferiority. If all were really equal, then there would be no need for one to "tolerate" another. "Tolerance" presumes that one is in a position of power over another. It implies that one is willing to "put up" with another. But in the context of full equality for all, there would be no need for one to "tolerate" another. Besides other things, this is an extremely insulting notion, particularly in today's context. So why promote "tolerance?" Why not promote real equality? Why not guarantee the inviolable rights of all? Also implicit in the racist notion "tolerance" is the existence of a single dominant majority culture which "tolerates" many subordinate minority cultures. In bourgeois society all cultures are not on equal footing. Typically, there is one dominant culture which accommodates some cultures and suppresses others. National minorities, for example, remain economically, politically and socially marginalized in our crisis-ridden society. And so long as capital is in power national minorities will remain oppressed. "Tolerance," then, presumes a hierarchy of rights, not real equality. Ultimately, "tolerance" only makes sense if some members of society stand in an unequal relation to other members of society. What is needed at this time, therefore, is not "tolerance" of "different races, genders, ethnic groups, religions, and creeds," but recognition and affirmation of the equality of all languages, cultures and peoples. All humans have inviolable rights by dint of being human. Cultural and linguistic rights are human rights. Only a society that enables all languages and cultures to flourish freely can be called modern, democratic and humane. The logic and outlook of H. RES 300 must be rejected. This resolution, far from being about creating new and modern arrangements, is about preserving anachronistic arrangements. Shawgi Tell Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo tell@acsu.buffalo.edu From cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu Wed Apr 22 14:38:55 1998 From: cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu X-Comment: UCONNVM.UConn.Edu: Mail was sent by s01p20.ppp.uconn.edu To: abslst-l@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu, Psn@csf.colorado.edu Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 15:55:11 +0000 Subject: Joe Feagin for ASA President Dear Colleagues: As many of you know, Joe Feagin--a candidate for the presidency of ASA--has devoted his sociological career to fighting racial, class, gender and other forms of social and economic oppression. For example, specifically in reference to his work on racial oppression, he is one of only a few prominent sociologists to explicitly use "white racism" as a focus of study. For recent examples, see Feagin and Vera's WHITE RACISM; Feagin and Sikes' LIVING WITH RACISM; and Feagin, Vera and Imani's THE AGONY OF EDUCATION: BLACK STUDENTS AT WHITE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. Based on this impressive record of anti-racist and other liberatory sociology activity, I plan to vote for Joe Feagin for President of the American Sociological Association. I hope that members of the ABS and PSN Listservs will give his candidacy the serious consideration it deserves. Noel A. Cazenave Department of Sociology The University of Connecticut U-Box 68, Manchester Hall Storrs, CT 06269-2068 Phone 860-486-4190 FAX 860-486-6356 Liberation Sociology--The use of knowledge from the study of society to challenge structures which deny equal rights and opportunities to members of socially oppressed groups. From RLEVINE@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU Wed Apr 22 15:40:38 1998 From: RLEVINE@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:42:45 -0500 (EST) Subject: ASA elections To: psn@csf.colorado.edu I agree with neal regarding Joe Feagin for presdient of ASA. there has been much discussion on other lists of proposed changes of the committee structure of ASA with most folks opposed to these changes since they tend not only to be elitist but turn back progressive changes made over the past 20 years., I belive that the president of the ASA is a very important position at this time, in particular, and I want to urge all PSN folks to vote this year and vite for Joe. The ASA only has about a 20% to 25% voter turn out so if PSN folks actually vote, we may have an impact. We have a real chance to have a progressive, anti-racist and anti-sexist anfd anti-elitist president-elect....please vote this year for Joe and send a messageto the profession. Rhonda Levine From smrose@exis.net Wed Apr 22 20:15:30 1998 From: "Steve Rosenthal" To: TEACHSOC@MAPLE.LEMOYNE.EDU, PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 22:13:29 +0000 Subject: ASA Structural Adjustment The leadership of the ASA is strengthening its control and down sizing rank and file participation at the same time that it has openly moved into a tighter embrace with the leadership of the Democratic Party and the main sector of the ruling class. I think these two developments are not unrelated. Every recent president of the ASA has been a close consultant to the ruling class. Moreover, they have extolled this relationship at every opportunity and urged us to follow their example. Indeed, the very same mainstream ASA leadership which used to proclaim that we must keep sociology separate from politics now warns us that we must abandon such foolish ivory tower attitudes. Earlier this month in Atlanta at the Southern Sociological Society meeting, all of the plenaries were devoted to exhorting us to learn how to influence public policy. Bill Wilson, Donna Gaines, and others spoke as role models of public intellectuals. The effect of streamlining the ASA structure will be to make it easier for the ASA leadership to bring the entire organization into line behind the policies of the main section of the ruling class. Next week a hand-picked group of 35 sociologist will convene in Washington D.C. to write up a report on race, race relations, and racism on behalf of the ASA in response to the request this past winter from the White House Initiative on Race. No list of invited participants has been released, but even Joe Feagin, ASA Council member, candidate for ASA president, and surely a leading anti-racist sociologist of the first rank, was apparently not invited! The international corporate bosses and bankers who own the Clinton Administration (and most of their Republican adversaries as well) would like for the ASA leadership to provide some ideological cover for their racist and imperialist policies. The Clinton Administration took the unprecendented step of abolishing a key segment of the New Deal social contract by repealing the right to welfare. This has already driven hundreds of thousands of women and children into greater social and economic desperation, into slave labor workfare programs and minimum wage jobs. Internationally, Clinton ordered members of his administration not to use the word genocide in 1994 and blocked UN action in Rwanda, after the CIA warned him that half a million Tutsis would be killed if the US or the UN did not intervene. And this same Clinton Administration continues to enforce sanctions against Iraq that kill some 5000 Iraqi children each month. (Note: For those about to hit the delete key--All of these facts have been in the New York Times during the past month--these are not unsubstantiated Marxist ravings.) Yet the ASA leadership utters not a word of public criticism of this administration and aimiably sits down to offer up advice, so that these open minded, good hearted politicians can more effectively bring us together. We should be outraged by this collaboration, and we should certainly be outraged that the ASA leadership is proposing organizational changes that will enable them to carry on this way with less interference from the rest of us. The main internationalist section of the ruling class is working to consolidate its dominance, to subdue its rivals, and to bring mass organizations of academics, labor, environmentalists, feminists, and other traditional liberal constituencies solidly under its control. This will provide a popular base for fascism and for the coming imperialist war for control of global oil, markets, and cheap labor. Carl Dassbach was right when he condemned the ASA as an organization allied with the capitalist class, but he was wrong to suggest that we should not be in such organizations. We can only build an anti-racist and anti-imperialist movement for a better world by being deeply involved with our friends, colleagues, students, and fellow workers. Steve Rosenthal From cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu Wed Apr 22 20:27:51 1998 From: cazenave@uconnvm.uconn.edu X-Warning: UCONNVM.UConn.Edu: Host cazenave.soci.uconn.edu claimed to be cazenave To: abslst-l@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu, Psn@csf.colorado.edu Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 22:26:35 +0000 Subject: Joe Feagin Biographical Statement Dear Colleagues: Enclosed is a biographical statement I asked Joe Feagan to E-Mail me. It should be of help to those who are planning to vote in the upcoming ASA election. Noel A. Cazenave BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT Joe R. Feagin, graduate research professor of sociology at the University of Florida, has done extensive research on racism and sexism issues. His research can be seen in three dozen books, which include Racial and Ethnic Relations (Sixth edition; Prentice-Hall, forthcoming); Living with Racism: The Black Middle Class Experience (Beacon, 1994); White Racism: The Basics (Routledge, 1995); Double Burden: Black Women and Everyday Racism (ME Sharpe, 1998); and The Agony of Education: Black Students at White Colleges and Universities (Routledge, 1996) (all with minority/female co-authors). He is currently working on four books, one on liberation sociology, another on the costs of racism, another on how African American students fight back against racism, and a fourth that is a general theory of racism and racial oppression. He has served as Scholar-in-Residence at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1974-1975). His book Ghetto Revolts (Macmillan, 1973) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and Living with Racism and White Racism have won the Gustavus Myers Center's Outstanding Human Rights Book Award. Noel A. Cazenave Department of Sociology University of Connecticut Phone # 860-486-4190 FAX # 860-486-6356 E-Mail Cazenave@Uconnvm.Uconn.Edu From hvera@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu Thu Apr 23 07:30:30 1998 Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 09:29:47 -0400 From: "=?iso-8859-1?Q?Hern=E1n?= Vera" Reply-To: hvera@nervm.ufl.edu To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: ASA Constitution I have just received this letter that I would like to share (signatures and all) with PSN. The proposed changes would turn the ASA into a very undemocratic organization. They are a mistake. The ASA Council has proposed quite major changes in the organizational structure of our professional organization. We summarize them below, but we urge you to read the current issue of Footnotes very carefully. The proposals include killing the now-elected Committee on Committees entirely, with the responsibility for appointing committees falling then to the President, with the advice of Council. The proposals also include the elected Publications Committee's being abolished and replaced with a committee appointed by Council. Another policy change is to remove the journal editors from their nonvoting membership on the Publications Committee. The final major organizational change would be to reduce the number of elected members on the Nominations Committee and remove regional representation. We believe these are quite radical organizational changes, and they deserve considerable debate and thoughtful responses. Given that the ballot you will receive shortly allows no time for a debate either in Footnotes or at the national meetings, we urge you to vote NO on all the by-law changes. Rebecca Adams, University of North Carolina, Greensboro Maxine Atkinson, North Carolina State University Dan Clawson, University of Massachusetts Scott Coltrane, University of California, Riverside Jay Demerath, University of Massachusetts Joe Feagin, University of Florida Myra Marx Ferree, University of Connecticut Kathleen Gerson, New York University Elizabeth Higginbotham, Memphis State University Judith Howard, University of Washington Arne Kalleberg, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Michael Kimmel, SUNY, Stonybrook Jodi O'Brien, Seattle University Charles Perrow, Yale University Richard Ratcliff, Syracuse University Barbara Risman, North Carolina State University Mary Romero, Arizona State University Rachel Rosenfeld, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Michael Schwartz, SUNY Stonybrook Lynn Smith-Lovin, University of Arizona Joey Sprague, University of Kansas Barrie Thorne, University of California, Berkeley Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, North Carolina State University Erik Olin Wright, University of Wisconsin _____________________________________________ Barbara Risman and Donald Tomaskovic-Devey Co-Editors, Martha M. Dimes, Managing Editor, Contemporary Sociology Contemporary_Soc@ncsu.edu Department of Sociology Box 8107 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695-8107 FAX 919-515-2610 -- Hernan Vera, Professor of Sociology Box 11730, University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 Phone (352) 392 0251, ext. 232 From hvera@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu Thu Apr 23 07:43:14 1998 Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 09:42:31 -0400 From: "=?iso-8859-1?Q?Hern=E1n?= Vera" Reply-To: hvera@nervm.ufl.edu To: RLEVINE@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU Subject: Re: ASA elections Rhonda Levine, Noel Cazeneueve and others have endorsed Joe Feagin for the ASA presidency, based on his progressive credentials. I agree with them and wish to add, what is perhaps well known to all, that Joe is a gifted, first rate sociologist, a committed and brilliant teacher. Crucially, all who know him well are happy to admire him as a wonderful human being. I am among them. Best! -- Hernan Vera, Professor of Sociology Box 11730, University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 Phone (352) 392 0251, ext. 232 From chadk@yourinter.net Thu Apr 23 08:31:23 1998 (Post.Office MTA v3.1.2 release (PO205-101c) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:30:06 -0700 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu From: chadk@yourinter.net (Chad Kimmel) Subject: Graduate Student Call For Papers Graduate Student CALL FOR PAPERS The Electronic Graduate Student Journal of the Red Feather Institute is still taking submissions for its summer 1998 issue. Theme: "Exploring Social Change in Everyday Life" (Thus, articles geared toward population, family, work, crime/deviance, technology, religion, etc. would be applicable) Send Submissions On Disc To: Editor, Chad M. Kimmel 255 Elkin Avenue Apartment H Indiana, PA 15701 CONTACT DIRECTLY AT: Ckimmel@yourinter.net (724) 463-7010 Visit the Journal at: http://www.tryoung.com/journals/journalindex/journalindex.html ***************************************************** Chad M. Kimmel Graduate Assistant/Data Manager Mid-Atlantic Addiction Training Institute (MAATI) Indiana University of Pennsylvania 102 McElhaney Hall Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705-1087 ckimmel@yourinter.net http://www.yourinter.net/~ckimmel 724-463-7010 **************************************************** From MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Thu Apr 23 10:57:40 1998 From: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Date: 23 Apr 1998 12:55:21 EDT To: Subject: By-laws/Feagin At the risk of preaching to the already-converted, I wish to endorse the call for the election of Joe Feagin as ASA President, as well as to endorse the call for the defeat of the odious, self-disenfranchising amendments. As Steve Rosenthal suggests, these are not unrelated issues. The fear of one, two, many Joe Feagins is part of what drives the desire for a "streamlined" ASA structure. We should not consent to our own muzzling and othering, nor should we allow the opportunity to elect a genuinely humane person like Joe to a position of institutional leadership to go by unrealized. Resist apathy as well as resisting the call for the trains to run on time... TELEPHONE: (502) 852-6836 INTERNET: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU From feagin@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu Thu Apr 23 06:55:03 1998 Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 08:50:03 -0400 From: Joe Feagin Reply-To: Feagin2@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu To: PSN Subject: ASA changes - Vote NO Here is the letter signed by lots of folks. Please distribute it widely to your local colleagues and by e-mail listservers. The ASA Council has proposed quite major changes in the organizational structure of our professional organization. We summarize them below, but we urge you to read the current issue of Footnotes very carefully. The proposals include killing the now-elected Committee on Committees entirely, with the responsibility for appointing committees falling then to the President, with the advice of Council. The proposals also include the elected Publications Committee's being abolished and replaced with a committee appointed by Council. Another policy change is to remove the journal editors from their nonvoting membership on the Publications Committee. The final major organizational change would be to reduce the number of elected members on the Nominations Committee and remove regional representation. We believe these are quite radical organizational changes, and they deserve considerable debate and thoughtful responses. Given that the ballot you will receive shortly allows no time for a debate either in Footnotes or at the national meetings, we urge you to vote NO on all the by-law changes. Rebecca Adams, University of North Carolina, Greensboro Maxine Atkinson, North Carolina State University Dan Clawson, University of Massachusetts Scott Coltrane, University of California, Riverside Jay Demerath, University of Massachusetts Joe Feagin, University of Florida Myra Marx Ferree, University of Connecticut Kathleen Gerson, New York University Elizabeth Higginbotham, Memphis State University Judith Howard, University of Washington Arne Kalleberg, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Michael Kimmel, SUNY, Stonybrook Jodi O'Brien, Seattle University Charles Perrow, Yale University Richard Ratcliff, Syracuse University Barbara Risman, North Carolina State University Mary Romero, Arizona State University Rachel Rosenfeld, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Michael Schwartz, SUNY Stonybrook Lynn Smith-Lovin, University of Arizona Joey Sprague, University of Kansas Barrie Thorne, University of California, Berkeley Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, North Carolina State University Erik Olin Wright, University of Wisconsin _____________________________________________ Barbara Risman and Donald Tomaskovic-Devey Co-Editors, Martha M. Dimes, Managing Editor, Contemporary Sociology Contemporary_Soc@ncsu.edu Department of Sociology Box 8107 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695-8107 FAX 919-515-2610 From ap828@freenet.toronto.on.ca Wed Apr 22 22:23:34 1998 by queen.torfree.net (Smail-3.2.0.97 1997-Aug-19 #9; 1998-Jan-28) (954 bytes) via sendmail with /P:stdio/R:inet_hosts/T:smtp id (sender ) for psn@csf.colorado.edu; Thu, 23 Apr 1998 00:23:48 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 00:23:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Lesley Wood Subject: Comparing Departments To: psn@csf.colorado.edu I hope this isn't too obnoxious of me to ask, but... I'm choosing between the PhD programmes at the New School for Social Research and Columbia for the autumn and I wonder if anyone has any input. I'm particularly interested in examining the impact of globalization on grassroots social movements through a micro perspective. Funding is an issue, but first I really need to know if people have had relevant experiences with either school that they would be able to share (confidentially of course). Thanks for any help you can give. Lesley Wood ap828@torfree.net From romualdo@usp.br Thu Apr 23 18:38:13 1998 Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 21:39:49 -0300 (GRNLNDST) From: Romualdo Luiz Portela de Oliveira To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Strike in Brazilian Universities (fwd) PSNers, I'm sending you an open letter made by Brazilian Faculties on Strike and sharing with you our concerns about the neoliberal approach to education in Brazil. Best Romualdo Portela de Oliveira College of Education University of Education - Sao Paulo - Brazil ________________________________________________ CARTA DOS PROFESSORES BRASILEIROS À COMUNIDADE INTERNACIONAL A Universidade Pública Brasileira vive uma de suas piores crises. As políticas governamentais de privatização e desmonte dos serviços públicos atingem esse patrimônio construído ao longo de décadas pelo povo brasileiro. As instituições públicas desempenham importante papel no desenvolvimento do país. Respondem por cerca de 90% da produção científica brasileira e pela formação de profissionais nas diversas áreas do conhecimento, tanto na graduação quanto na pós-graduação. O Brasil detém, portanto, um sistema público completo de formação profissional, o que, por si só, constitui um fator importante, em se tratando de um país em desenvolvimento. A política do governo Fernando Henrique Cardoso, para as universidades, tem se traduzido em cortes de bolsas para a pós-graduação e de recursos de custeio e investimento para ciência e tecnologia. A carência de verbas tem comprometido até a manutenção básica, como abastecimento de água, luz e telefone. A falta de condições de trabalho, os baixos salários (congelados há três anos ante uma inflação de aproximadamente 50%) e a ameaça de retirada de direitos trabalhistas têm levado os professores a abandonarem a carreira ou a se aposentarem (cerca de 8 mil nos últimos 4 anos). Mesmo com essas dificuldades, graças à atuação de seus docentes e pesquisadores, as universidades públicas brasileiras são reconhecidas pela sociedade como os melhores centros de formação profissional do país e pela comunidade internacional pela sua produção intelectual, técnica e cultural. Tem-se, também, com muita luta, buscado aproximar o trabalho desenvolvido nas universidade dos interesses e das necessidades do povo brasileiro, propondo soluções para os problemas mais urgentes e influindo na construção de seu futuro. Por essas razões, os professores do sistema federal de ensino superior do país deflagraram greve no dia 31 de março de 1998. Nesse momento de crise, os professores solicitam o apoio da comunidade internacional, buscando sensibilizar as autoridades do país para que a referida crise seja resolvida, as reivindicações atendidas e para que possam exercer com dignidade sua profissão. Para tanto, enviam os endereços eletrônicos do Presidente da República Fernando Henrique Cardoso, do Ministro da Educação Paulo Renato e de alguns jornais de circulação nacional, a fim de que sejam remetidas mensagens de solidariedade ao movimento. Presidente da República: PR@PLANALTO.GOV.BR PR@CR-DF.RNP.BR Ministério da Educação SESU@SESU.MEC.GOV.BR Jornal de Brasília : JBRREDA@BR.HOMESHOPPING.COM.BR Correio Brasiliense : EDUCACAO@CBDATA.COM.BR Jornal do Brasil : CARTAS@JB.COM.BR Estado de SP : OESPBSB@BRNET.COM.BR Folha de SP : FOLHA@UOL.COM.BR GazetaMercantil : FLAMBACH@GAZETAMERCANTIL.COM.BR O Globo : LEANDROF@BSB.OGLOBO.COM.BR LETTRE SIGNÉE PAR LES PROFESSEURS BRÉSILIENS, ADRESSÉE À LA COMMUNAUTE INTERNATIONALE L'Université publique brésilienne subit une des crises les plus difficiles de son histoire. Les politiques gouvernementales de privatisation et de démantèlement des services publics touchent directement ce patrimoine construit depuis des années par la société brésilienne. Les universités publiques ont un rôle fondamental dans le développement du pays. Elles sont responsables pour 90% de la production scientifique brésilienne et de la formation professionnelle dans les domaines les plus diversifiées ainsi que par les cours de troisième cycle. Le Brésil a donc un système national d'éducation publique assez complet, ce qui est très important dans un pays en développement. Le gouvernement Fernando Henrique Cardoso a adopté une politique pour les universités qui est en train de produire la réduction des bourses destinées aux cours de "mestrado" et de doctorat ainsi qu'aux ressources d'investissements dans les recherches scientifiques et technologiques. L'insuffisance de ressources rend difficile même le payement des factures d'électricité, d'eau et de téléphone. Le manque des conditions de travail, les bas salaires (gelés depuis trois ans avec une inflation d'environ 50%) et les menaces de supprimer des droits du travail sont en train de entratner la démission et le départ en retraite d'un grand nombre de professeurs (environ 8.000 dans les quatre dernières années). Malgré ces difficultés, et grâce à l'engagement de ses professeurs et chercheurs, les universités publiques sont reconnues par la société brésilienne comme les meilleurs centres de formation professionnelle du pays et également par la communauté internationale grâce à son importante production intellectuelle, technique et culturelle. On cherche aussi, avec beaucoup d'efforts, de rapprocher les activités développées dans les Universités des intérêts et des nécessités de la société brésilienne, en proposant des solutions pour les problèmes les plus urgents qui concernent la population. Devant cette situation et en défense de la qualité de l'enseignement supérieur les professeurs des Universités publiques fédérales ont commencé une grève le 31 mars 1998. Dans ce moment de crise, les professeurs demandent l'appui de la communauté internationale, avec l'intention de sensibiliser les autorités du pays, pour que cette crise soit résolue les plus rapidement, pour que les revendications ayent une reponse et pour que les professeurs puissent exercer leur profession avec dignité. Ainsi, nous vous envoyons les e-mails du Président de la République Fernando Henrique Cardoso, du Ministre de l'Education Paulo Renato et de quelques journaux nationaux et nous vous demandons d'envoyer des messages de solidarités à notre mouvement. Président de la République : PR@PLANALTO.GOV.BR PR@CR-DF.RNP.BR Ministère de l'Education : SESU@SESU.MEC.GOV.BR Journal de Brasília : JBRREDA@BR.HOMESHOPPING.COM.BR Journal "Correio Brasiliense" : EDUCAÇÃO@CBDATA.COM.BR "Jornal do Brasil" : CARTAS@JB.COM.BR Journal "Estado de São Paulo" : OESPBSB@BRNET.COM.BR Journal "Folha de São Paulo" : FOLHA@UOL.COM.BR Journal "Gazeta Mercantil" : FLAMBACH@GAZETAMERCANTIL.COM.BR journal "O Globo" : LEANDROF@BSB.OGLOBO.COM.BR A LETTER FROM BRAZILIAN PROFESSORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY The Brazilian Public University has been under its worst crisis lately. Governamental policies aiming at turning public universities into private ones and at worsening public services have handicapped this patrimony, which was slowly and carefully built, decade after decade, by Brazilians. Public institutions play an important role in the development of this country. They are responsibe for 90% Brazilian scientific production and for professionals formation in different fields, at graduate and undergraduate levels. Morevover Brazil has a complete public system of professional formation, without which there would be no developing country at all. Fernando Henrique Cardoso's governamental policies concerning public universities could be fully apprehended when Master's and Doctorate scholarships were cut off ; likewise resources for investment in science and technology were abolished. Low budgets have affected even basic maintenance such as payment of water, electricity and telephone bills. There has been no proper condition for University work and low salaries have not been raised for the last three years, in spite of about 50% inflation .About 8,000 (eight thousand ) professors have retired or quit their teaching careers due to threats at the withdrawal of labour rights. In spite of all these hazardous problems and thanks to professors' and researchers'intellectual, technical and cultural production,, Brazilian Public Universities have been recognized as the best centers of professional formation by Brazilian society and by the international community . Brazilians'needs and Universities interests have been joined as one , so as to find solution for very urgent problems and to construct Brazil's future. Hence, Brazilian Federal University Professors went on strike last March 31st. At this sorrowful crisis moment , Brazilian professors are requesting the international community support, which will surely help convince Brazilian authorities sensitive to solutions of the above referred crisis, and to give Brazilian Public University servants - salary raise, without which no professor can do his/her job with dignity. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso 's and the Minister of Education Paulo Renato e-mails are as follows: The President of Brazilian Republic: PR@PLANALTO.GOV.BR PR@CR-DF.RNP.BR Ministery of Education: SESU@SESU.MEC.GOV.BR The e-mail of some national newspapers are also included: Jornal de Brasilia: JBRREDA@BR.HOMESHOPPING.COM.BR Correio Braziliense: EDUCACAO@CBDATA.COM.BR Jornal do Brasil: CARTAS@JB.COM.BR Estado de SP: OESPBSB@BRNET.COM.BR Folha de SP FOLHA@UOL.COM.BR Gazeta Mercantil FLAMBACH@GAZETAMERCANTIL.COM.BR O Globo : LEANDROF@BSB.OGLOBO.COM.BR From ARIFIANTOA@Acad.Ripon.EDU Thu Apr 23 13:55:15 1998 From: ARIFIANTOA@Acad.Ripon.EDU Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 14:54:54 -0600 (CST) Subject: ASA Committee Changes (FWD) To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Return-path: 23 Apr 1998 11:53:42 -0600 (MDT) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 13:51:24 -0400 (EDT) From: James Cassell Subject: ASA Committee Changes (fwd) Sender: owner-socgrad@csf.colorado.edu To: Sociology Graduate Students -- International Teaching Sociology Reply-to: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu Here is a reply from Jil Quadagno regarding the committee changes. Jim ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James Cassell cassell@irss.unc.edu Institute for Research in Social Science http://www.irss.unc.edu/cassell/ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Phone: 919/962-0782 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 13:49:36 -0400 (EDT) From: James Cassell To: Southern Sociological Society Network Subject: ASA Committee Changes (fwd) I'm forwarding this for Jim Orcutt. Jim ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James Cassell cassell@irss.unc.edu Institute for Research in Social Science http://www.irss.unc.edu/cassell/ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Phone: 919/962-0782 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 13:36:16 -0400 From: Jim Orcutt To: James Cassell Subject: ASA Committee Changes Jill Quadagno asked me to forward the following message to Southern Sociological Society members on her behalf. Could you please send it out to the listserves you manage. Many thanks... Jim Orcutt _________________________________________________________________ Over the past few weeks, I have been following the comments on various list serves regarding the proposed ASA committee restructuring with both interest and concern. I have spoken with many members who have written or called me directly but have hesitated to provide a generic response by e-mail because I was not sure that e-mail was the most effective way to address these concerns and because I thought that members might interpret any response from me as an effort to impose my views when they are capable of reading the subcommittee report and making their own judgment. I still do not believe that e-mail is the best format for addressing each particular issue that has been raised and do not intend to do so. Nonetheless, I would like to briefly discuss the broader rationale that led the ASA Council to make these recommendations. I have served on the ASA Council for 8 of the past 9 years. Almost every year at the Council meeting concerns about the ASA committee structure have been raised, as committees were created to respond to a given issue and then often by default became standing committees. Although some committees performed vital tasks, others had no agenda and searched for meaningful activities. Some committees never met. It is understandably frustrating for ASA members to work on a committee where Council has no knowledge of or interest in what is being done or where the committee members do not know what they should be doing. Although proposals for reorganizing the committee system were made periodically, Council could never reach consensus on how to proceed. Last August President Neil Smelser appointed a subcommittee to recommend a framework for reorganizing the current structure. To initiate the process advice and recommendations was solicited from all committee chairs who were asked to prepare a brief report by mid-September. Many committee chairs did respond, and many of their comments and views were integrated into the recommendations. ASA Council members then spent more than half of the January council meeting discussing each the recommendations made by the subcommittee, item by item. Council members were clearly committed to making some decisions and moving forward on these issues, and most but not all of the subcommittee recommendations were passed. As a result of decisions made by ASA Council, a new committee structure is now in place. The new structure includes five types of committees: Constitutional Committees, Awards Selection Committees, Status Committees, Advisory Panels, and Task Forces. The committees that were formerly standing committees are now preparing reports on their mission and activities for the ASA Council to evaluate as its January meeting. When the election ballots come out in a few days, ASA members will be asked to vote on other changes recommended by the ASA Council that involve changes to the By-Laws. Most of the controversy circulating on e-mail involves these changes. Council's objective was to solve a problem that had been a concern for a decade and to provide a framework so that members who are volunteering their time could participate in the organization in a meaningful way. Reasonable people may disagree about the best way to reach these goals, and it is quite clear that members would like to have more opportunity to discuss the recommendations. Regardless of the outcome of the election, I would like to invite all ASA members to attend the Open Business meeting at the annual ASA meeting for a general discussion and debate. Jill Quadagno President, American Sociological Association ******************************************************************************* Alexander R. Arifianto, Ripon College (class of 1999) 600 Campus Drive, Unit # 21, Ripon, WI 54971, USA Phone: 1-920-745-7617 E-mail: arifiantoa@acad.ripon.edu A Quote that Captures My Academic Interests (Economists and Sociology): "If you are a good, virtuous economist, you are reborn as a physicist. But if you are an evil, wicked economist, you are reborn as a sociologist." -Paul Krugman ******************************************************************************* From YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu Thu Apr 23 22:16:26 1998 Date: Thu, 23 Apr 98 23:16 CDT From: YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu To: psn@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Block voting As many of us know...the vote turnout for ASA elections is lower than any govt in the world. We violate that notion that education means likelyhood of voting. AS many of us know, one of the reasons that women have been sucessful in getting elected is that they have supported women en masse. We on psn can learn from them. Given our membership, and most of us can get a few colleagues to support a candidate/issue, if psn can muster about 150 votes, and get 450 of our buddies, grad students or whatever, we can elect anyone. So since we all seem to support Joe Feigan, let us go on record as doing so, and start hitting on colleagues. If we distinguish ours selves by having a political stance, there is no reason why we can't use psn for blatant reasons. If asa gets its revisions, then members will have to goose step and salute the president, or will s/he be called tsar, commander?? So let us all act together and support Joe, oppose ASA. Lauren From Spectors@mail.netnitco.net Thu Apr 23 22:26:04 1998 Thu, 23 Apr 1998 23:30:15 -0500 (CDT) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 23:20:44 -0700 From: Spectors Reply-To: Spectors@mail.netnitco.net To: feagin@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu Subject: Re: ASA changes - Vote NO I'd like to add my voice of concern to that of Joe Feagin and other signatories of the recent statement on PSN, as well as to Steve Rosenthal's comments about the changes in the ASA. As some of you may or may not know, the ASA Council SEEMS to be composed of "more liberal" members, but have put through a number of reforms that concentrate power into the hands of the top leadership. They are tightening up the membership requirements for a group to be considered a section. WHY? Why couldn't there be a section of 75? They fear the "Balkanization" of the ASA into smaller interest groups that might think for themselves? Along with this was a policy change that BARS SECTIONS FROM ISSUING PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN THE NAME OF THE SECTION! Now, along with others, I would be disturbed if, for example, a section of the ASA (or the American Psychological Association) called a press conference and issued a public statement declaring that "black" people were genetically inferior to "white" people. I can see how liberals and humanists might complain: "How dare they pretend that they speak for all social scientists. They should not be allowed to do that!" But in reality, if they passed themselves off as the majority of the whole parent organization, there is a way to criticize sections from carrying out that kind of deception. On the other hand, this means that the Section on Marxist Sociology, or the Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities, is NO LONGER FREE to issue a statement (Even in the name of the section only) criticizing the Clinton-Gingrich-Shalala Destruction of Welfare Bill, or criticizing the genocidal sanctions against the Iraqi people, or even, critiquing a racist book like "The Bell Curve." From now on, all statements can only come from the ASA central office. That is a major structural adjustment in ASA policy, and it is not coming by accident. I don't want to over-reach with an analysis that sounds like something out of X-Files, but I do believe that various forces in the "intellectuals-who-can-be-bought-by politicians" community are working more vigorously to tighten control over the academic community, and that means, reigning in those who would publicly criticize the moves towards fascism and the attempts to give a respectable, academic veneer to policies which distort social science research and misuse those distorted findings to help the capitalist politicians tighten their control over the working class and its allies. In particular, the Clinton-Chase Manhattan wing of the capitalist class is worried about dissent both from within the capitalist class and also from the working class and its allies. We should make a fight over all these proposals. Alan Spector Chair, Section on Marxist Sociology From gimenez@csf.Colorado.EDU Fri Apr 24 12:29:36 1998 Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 12:29:28 -0600 (MDT) From: Martha Gimenez Reply-To: Martha Gimenez To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Teaching Sociology from a Marxist Perspective: CALL FOR SYLLABI Dear PSNers: This is a reminder: we need your syllabi for the updating of the current ASA TEaching Resource TEACHING SOCIOLOGY FROM A MARXIST PERSPECTIVE. PLEASE NOTICE: WE DO NOT SEEK SYLLABI OF COURSES IN MARXIST THEORY ONLY. WE SEEK SYLLABI OF COURSES -- WHATEVER THE CONTENT -- TAUGHT FROM A MARXIST PERSPECTIVE, MEANING THE ENTIRE COURSE OR PART OF THE COURSE INCLUDE A MARXIST COMPONENT. WE ALSO SEEK, BESIDES SYLLABI, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT WORK FOR YOU. We seek contributions from those who teach sociology from a Marxist perspective as well as from those who teach Marxist theory. Please send us your experience with innovative ways to teach Marxist ideas plus your Syllabi, study questions, handouts, test questions, classroom exercises, reading lists, bibliographies, recommended videos and films and any other instructional materials that work for you. You can send your materials in hard copy and a disk (preferably in Wordperfect 5.1) You can also send them through email If you have your syllabi in the web, send us your URL This project will be coedited by Abigail Fuller and Martha E. Gimenez: send your contributions to both of us - but send the disk version ONLY ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ to M. Gimenez. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS APRIL 30 BUT WE ARE WILLING TO EXTEND IT FOR TEN DAYS MORE. Abigail A. Fuller Department of Sociology MC Box 178, Manchester College 604 E. College Ave. North Manchester, IN 46962 (219)982-5009 aaf@manchester.edu Martha E. Gimenez Department of Sociology Campus Box 327 University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, CO 80309 (303) 492-7080 (o) (303) 443-1077 (h) gimenez@csf.colorado.edu From T.R.Young@csf.Colorado.EDU Sat Apr 25 05:02:59 1998 by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) by HPUX.sensible-net.com (Post.Office MTA v3.1.2 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 06:59:28 -0400 To: PSN@csf.Colorado.EDU From: T.R.Young@csf.Colorado.EDU Subject: Black Radical Caucus in Chicago teachsoc@csf.Colorado.EDU The Black Radical Congress will be held June 19 - 21, 1998 in Chicago, Illinois. For more information as well as lively essays by This Week's contributors, go to: http://www.blackradicalcongress.com/ This week's contributors include: Dave Crockett | Ron Daniels | Lynette Jackson | Minkah Makalani & Sundiata Cha-Jua | Rubin Patterson *************      PRINCIPLES OF UNITY of the BRC include: The Black Radical Congress will convene to establish a "center without walls" for transformative politics that will focus on the conditions of Black working and poor people. Recognizing contributions from diverse tendencies within Black Radicalism-- including socialism, revolutionary nationalism and feminism--we are united in opposition to all forms of oppression, including class exploitation, racism, patriarchy, homophobia, anti-immigration prejudice and imperialism. We will begin with a gathering on June 19-21, 1998. From there we will identify proposals for action and establish paths forward. The Black Radical Congress does not intend to replace or displace existing organizations, parties or campaigns but will contribute to mobilizing unaffiliated individuals, as well as organizations, around common concerns. 1. We recognize the diverse historical tendencies in the Black radical tradition including revolutionary nationalism, feminism and socialism. 2. The technological revolution and capitalist globalization have changed the economy, labor force and class formations that need to inform our analysis and strategies. The increased class polarization created by these developments demands that we, as Black radicals, ally ourselves with the most oppressed sectors of our communities and society. 3. Gender and sexuality can no longer be viewed solely as personal issues but must be a basic part of our analyses, politics and struggles. 4. We reject racial and biological determinism, Black patriarchy and Black capitalism as solutions to problems facing Black people. 5. We must see the struggle in global terms. 6. We need to meet people where they are, taking seriously identity politics and single issue reform groups, at the same time that we push for a larger vision that links these struggles. 7. We must be democratic and inclusive in our dealings with one another, making room for constructive criticism and honest dissent within our ranks. There must be open venues for civil and comradely debates to occur. 8. Our discussions should be informed not only by a critique of what now exists, but by serious efforts to forge a creative vision of a new society. 9. We cannot limit ourselves to electoral politics--we must identify multiple sites of struggles. 10. We must overcome divisions within the Black radical forces, such as those of generation, region, and occupation. We must forge a common language that is accessible and relevant. 11. Black radicals must build a national congress of radical forces in the Black community to strengthen radicalism as the legitimate voice of Black working and poor people, and to build organized resistance. TR Young, Editor FROM THE LEFT TR Young, 8085 Essex Weidman, Mi., 48893 Email: tr@tryoung.com From T.R.Young@csf.Colorado.EDU Sat Apr 25 05:32:58 1998 by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) by HPUX.sensible-net.com (Post.Office MTA v3.1.2 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 07:29:35 -0400 To: PSN@csf.Colorado.EDU From: T.R.Young@csf.Colorado.EDU Subject: Graduate Student Call For Papers ahs-talk@ncsu.edu Graduate Student Call for Papers! The Electronic Graduate Student Journal of the Red Feather Institute is still taking submissions for its Spring 1998 issue. This is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students to publish their work! Papers must be between 10-20 pages in length. The theme is open. Send Submissions on disc To: Editor, David Redman Texas Woman's University Dept. of Sociology Denton, TX 76201 You can contact David: G_Redman@twu.edu or 1-940-898-2069 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com From tell@acsu.buffalo.edu Sat Apr 25 09:00:29 1998 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 11:00:21 -0400 (EDT) From: "Shawgi A. Tell" To: Progressive Sociologists Network Subject: Education Must Serve The People, Not The Bourgeoisie Greetings, Education is an inviolable human right, but under capitalism it is treated as a privilege, as a service based on ability to pay. It goes without saying that the well-being of any society depends on all members of society receiving an education commensurate with the level of development of society. No society can be called democratic and modern when millions of its members are denied an education, as is the case in the U.S., Britain and Canada, for example. Vigorous privatization efforts in all spheres of society are only making a bad situation worse. Such efforts de-recognize the rights of humans and put the privileges of private property in first place. They harm the general interests of society. The fact that the agenda in education is increasingly being set by the rich, here and worldwide, is revealed in the following data: - Children in New Zealand now write exams on corporate letterhead. - The European Community has directed that all 300,000 schools, 4 million teachers, and 67 million pupils in the European Community be placed in "partnerships" with transnational corporations within the decade. [Source: Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians]. Here is a short list of the private companies that have their hand in one aspect of education or another in the United States: - Procter & Gamble - Dairy Queen - Louisiana Pacific - Pizza Hut - NBC - Sylvan Learning Systems - Mobil - Nobel Education Dynamics - Burger King - Education Alternatives Inc. - McDonald's - EduVentures Inc. - Dunkin Donuts - Edison Group - Taco Bell - Whittel Communications - Marriott International Inc. - Ombudsman Education Services [Source: Council of Canadians; New York Times] These corporations are not involved only in service aspects of education, such as lunch programs, transportation, maintenance and security. They are heavily involved in setting "standards" and developing curricula and educational programs too. "Nobel Education now operates under 132 schools in 14 states with a capacity to educate in excess of 20,000 students. Nobel has curriculum based programs from preschool through eighth grade" [Nobel Education Dynamics, Inc., Company Press Release, March 31, 1998]. The Edison Group operates dozens of schools. The Education Industry Report, supplied by the Education Industry Group headed by John M. McLaughlin, "tracks the performance of 30 publicly traded education companies" [EIR homepage]. McLaughlin believes that "It's time for education to roll up its sleeves and play hardball on capitalism's new frontier" [Erika Shaker]. The fact of the matter is that more and more schools are entering some sort of "partnership" with private companies, particularly as public spending on education continues to decline. Clearly, an agenda set by the bourgeoisie is an agenda that will benefit them and not society as a whole. The agenda of the capitalists is self-serving and anti-social to say the least. The aim of the capitalist class is making maximum capitalist profits. The aim of a modern society is satisfying the constantly growing material and cultural needs of the broad masses of the people. These aims are incongruent. All the elementary needs of humans cannot be satisfied by reducing everything to the profit motive. "Free enterprise" dogma is not in the interests of the polity. The "markets know best" is simply the formal justification for the rule of monopoly capitalism and the disempowerment of the immense majority. What does all this mean for teachers? Among other things it means that teachers will have even less decision-making power than they have today. More and more decisions will be based on what is profitable and not on what is actually needed. School boards will become even more unrepresentative than they have been. What does the privatization of education mean for the students and youth? Can it be concluded that the aim of making maximum capitalist profits is in the objective interests of the students and youth? The pursuit of maximum capitalist profits is the basis of a system which relentlessly leads to the rich getting richer and the poor poorer. Obviously, if the students and youth are to have a bright future then they must reject and defeat this anti-social offensive. Their future can be bright only in a society which puts the claims of the people, not the privileges of private property, in the first place. What is needed as we enter the 21st century is greater social responsibility for education. The decisive way to affirm education as an inalienable human right is by taking up the struggle for democratic renewal of the political process. This is the only way to vest sovereignty in the people and not the rich. No other way can enable the people themselves to set the agenda in society. The present political and economic set-up is not legitimate. It favors the owners of bourgeois property. And so long as the monopoly capitalists make all the major decisions in society and cram these decisions down everyone else's throats, the renewal and renovation of the society will remain blocked. But once it is the people themselves and not the wealthy few deciding what is needed then society will begin to move forward again. Shawgi Tell Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo tell@acsu.buffalo.edu From pkraft@binghamton.edu Sat Apr 25 08:55:14 1998 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 11:00:15 -0400 From: Phil Kraft To: pen-l , PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK , Forum on Labor in the Global Economy Subject: CONFERENCE: Binghamton, May 8-10 --------------6864AED88E701C26C80C6881 All, Again, apologies for multiple postings. Last minute announcements about the Work, Difference and Social Change conference at Binghamton, May 8-10: The official conference hotels are officially sold out at the conference rate, but after some negotiation the Holiday Inn-SUNY and the Marriott Residence Inn agreed to make additional rooms available at the discounted rates. These must be booked by May 1, although it is unlikely they will last that long. You have to ask specifically for the special conference rates. Unfortunately these are the most expensive of the hotels. If you want something cheaper, contact us and we'll offer suggestions. (A car will help). We also have few requests from people who have booked rooms and are looking for roommates. Again, contact us for info. We regret that registrations received after May 1st, including those made at the door, will not include meals or the 512 page Proceedings. We will take orders for the Proceedings for later shipment ($25 plus shipping). It is also unlikely that banquet tickets for Saturday evening will be available, although there may be no-shows and cancellations available. For those unsure where Binghamton University (also known as the State University of New York at Binghamton) is, please note we are *not* a stop on the New York City subway (yes, we've been asked). Detailed travel information -- along with the complete conference schedule, list of presenters, and a link to AutoMap -- is available on our webpage: http://sociology.adm.binghamton.edu/work You can also call us at +1-607-777-6844 or email us at work@binghamton.edu See you in May! For the Conference Committee, Phil Kraft --------------6864AED88E701C26C80C6881 All,

Again, apologies for multiple postings.

Last minute announcements about the Work, Difference and Social Change conference at Binghamton, May 8-10:

The official conference hotels are officially sold out at the conference rate, but after some negotiation the Holiday Inn-SUNY and the Marriott Residence Inn agreed to make additional rooms available at the discounted rates.  These must be booked by May 1, although it is unlikely they will last that long. You have to ask specifically for the special conference rates.  Unfortunately these are the most expensive of the hotels.  If you want something cheaper, contact us and we'll offer suggestions.  (A car will help).

We also have few requests  from people who have booked rooms and are looking for roommates. Again, contact us for info.

We regret that registrations received after May 1st, including those made at the door, will not include meals or the 512 page Proceedings.  We will take orders for the Proceedings for later shipment ($25 plus shipping). It is also unlikely that banquet tickets for Saturday evening will be available, although there may be no-shows and cancellations available.

For those unsure where Binghamton University (also known as the State University of New York at Binghamton) is, please note we are *not* a stop on the New York City subway (yes, we've been asked).  Detailed travel information -- along with the complete conference schedule, list of  presenters, and a link to AutoMap -- is available on our webpage:

  http://sociology.adm.binghamton.edu/work

You can also call us at +1-607-777-6844 or email us at work@binghamton.edu

See you in May!

For the Conference Committee,

Phil Kraft
 
 
  --------------6864AED88E701C26C80C6881-- From dgrammen@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Sat Apr 25 10:38:34 1998 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 11:38:28 -0500 (CDT) From: Dennis Grammenos To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: ECONOMIST: Colombia. Human rights? You're dead Below you will find an article on the "Dirty War" in Colombia from "The Economist" magazine. Labor is under incessant attack in Colombia. The "dirty war" is escalating with the support of U.S. intelligence and military. The presence of U.S. military personnel in Colombia has nearly tripled over the past three months. All this is done in the name of sonething called the "War on Drugs". In reality, it turns out to be a war on the poor and the workers of Colombia. Progressive people and labor activists throughout the world should start paying attention to what is happening in Colombia and to organize in order to protect the human rights of Colombian unionists and other victims of this "dirty war". You can keep updated with develpments in the deteriorating situation in Colombia by signing onto the list CSN-L sponsored by the Colombia Support Network. To join CSN-L send a request to listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu Do not type in a heading. Just go to the main text and type in SUB CSN-L YourFirstName YourLastName Also, visit the Colombia Support Network's website at http://www.igc.org/csn I highly recommend CSN's quarterly publication COLOMBIA BULLETIN. You can order a free sample from CSN. Either call (608) 257-8753 or email CSN at csn@igc.apc.org ALSO... The current issue of the journal "NACLA Report on the Americas" has several articles on the deteriorating situation in Colombia. Find it in quality bookstores. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, Dennis Grammenos, at dgrammen@uiuc.edu Solidarity, Dennis Grammenos Urbana, Illinois ===================================== Who killed Mr Umana? One colleague says the lawyer blamed earlier death threats, bungled kidnaps and attempts on his life on state agencies. ________________________ ===================================== THE ECONOMIST (London) Saturday, 25 April 1998 [U.S. Edition] Colombia. Human rights? You're dead ----------------------------------- BOGOTA -- Two months back, Colombia's government and its second-largest guerrilla group, the ELN, agreed, tentatively, to begin peace talks later this year. Last month the ELN backed out. Now, announced President Ernesto Samper at the Santiago summit, the talks are on again, to be aided by an international commission investigating atrocities committed by both sides. On the same day in Bogota, two men and a woman posing as a television crew entered the office of Eduardo Umana Mendoza, Colombia's leading human-rights lawyer, and fired six bullets into his head. Hours later, Mr Samper's leading peace negotiator, Jose Noe Rios, left Colombia --for Spain, on holiday, the interior minister said, and then to do some work in Europe. A long-planned trip, said Mr Noe Rios from Spain, and he would be back in two weeks or so. But close friends say he went to save his life: he had begun to get death threats, probably from right-wing thugs, after he brokered February's deal with the ELN. Who killed Mr Umana? One colleague says the lawyer blamed earlier death threats, bungled kidnaps and attempts on his life on state agencies. But, though Colombia's best-known paramilitary leader, Carlos Castano, denies any involvement, most blame the far right. Mr Umana was a famous defender of the under-dog. His reputation sprang from a grim event in 1985, when left-wing M-19 rebels seized the Palace of Justice, planning to stage a televised trial of the Supreme Court in its own chambers. After a 27-hour siege, troops used tanks and helicopter gunships to retake the building. Even officially it was admitted that some 100 people died, including 11 judges. Mr Umana persistently claimed that the toll was far higher, and that the army, not the guerrillas, was mostly to blame. Two months ago he won permission to exhume bodies from a mass grave. His murder brought angry demonstrations in Bogota. The oil-workers' union called a one-day strike; Mr Umana was acting for some of its members jailed in 1996 on charges of collaboration with the ELN in sabotaging pipelines. Under a large mural of Che Guevara at Bogota's National University, 5,000 people gathered for the funeral on Monday. ELN members laid flowers. As the cortege left the university, the respectful mood turned ugly, and petrol bombs were thrown. Riot police moved in. At least nine human-rights activists have been murdered in the past year. In February, Jesus Maria Valle Jaramillo, who had accused the army and senior politicians of sponsoring death squads, was shot dead in Medellin. In Bogota the day before Mr Umana died, gunmen burst into the office of Maria Arango, an ex-Communist anthropologist and fierce campaigner for social justice, and killed her. The ELN must recall the 1980s, when its larger rival, the FARC, tried its hand at politics. Its Patriotic Union threatened to make inroads into mainstream politics, and was subjected to a manhunt that killed over 3,000 members and supporters within a decade. The FARC returned to arms, and has repeatedly said it will never make the same mistake again. The Colombian state has altered since then. But if political opponents of the establishment can still be shot dead with impunity, an end to 34 years of guerrilla war looks a distant dream. Copyright 1998 The Economist Newspaper Ltd. ______________________________________________________________________ ************************************************************************ * COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK: To subscribe to CSN-L send request to * * listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu SUB CSN-L Firstname Lastname * * (Direct questions or comments about CSN-L to csncu@prairienet.org) * * VISIT THE COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK WEBSITE AT http://www.igc.org/csn * * For more info contact CSN at P.O. Box 1505, Madison WI 53701 * * (608) 257-8753 fax: (608) 255-6621 csn@igc.apc.org * ************************************************************************ From Spectors@mail.netnitco.net Sat Apr 25 11:46:23 1998 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 12:40:58 -0700 From: Spectors Reply-To: Spectors@mail.netnitco.net To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Marxist Section Book Awards Note: Please forward this message to other relevant sociology/social science lists. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 1998 Distinguished Scholarship Award Committee for the Section on Marxist Sociology has been constituted. The chair of the committee for this year is Steven Rosenthal Department of Sociology Hampton University Hampton, Virginia Book nominations, including self-nominations, are welcome and encouraged. Nominated books need not be confined strictly to Marxist Theory. (After all, Marx didn't have any Marxism to read, and he didn't do too badly. He must have found some valuable insights in works that were not explicitly Marxist.) Any work that contributes substantially to the loose body of thought encompassed by Marxist Sociology is welcome. Books need not have publication dates of 1997 or 1998 to be considered. Make arrangements to have a copy of the book sent to Dr. Rosenthal at the above address. He can be contacted via e-mail at: smrose@mailhub.exis.net Since the awards will be presented in August at the ASA convention, nominators are encouraged to send in nominations & books as soon as possible to give the committee ample time to review the books. Alan Spector Chair, Section on Marxist Sociology From jnaiman@acs.ryerson.ca Mon Apr 27 12:20:16 1998 Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:22:21 -0400 (EDT) From: Joanne Naiman To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Media censorship of CPA Poll on Canadians and Nuclear Weapons (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:10:46 -0400 (EDT) From: John Sakeris To: Joanne Naiman Subject: Media censorship of CPA Poll on Canadians and Nuclear Weapons (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 19:00:04 -0400 From: Eric Fawcett To: s4p all lists , s4pont@physics.utoronto.ca, s4potht@physics.utoronto.ca, s4ptor@physics.utoronto.ca Subject: Media censorship of CPA Poll on Canadians and Nuclear Weapons From: Bev Delong, Lawyers for Social Responsibility The results of the CPA poll are spectacular: 93% of Canadians supporting a ban on nuclear weapons and 92% supporting Canada taking a leading role in negotiating the convention. Despite a well-attended press conference in the Parliamentary Press Room in Ottawa on March 26, there seems to be a total media blackout except for a misleading report in the Globe&Mail, which emphasized only the least interesting finding that 55% of Canadians support NATO : in fact the only interesting thing about this is that it is a 15% drop from usual rates of support - not mentioned of course. Please phone your local media and simply ask where their report on the CPA poll and the press conference can be found in their paper? "Have I missed something...?" Knowledge of this high level of support is critical to encouraging Canadians to speak out. And the time is critical as the report on nuclear weapons policy for the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is in the process of being drafted. Pressure now may bring us huge results... It would be helpful to spread the results of the poll through every form of alternative media - local music magazines, local presses of every type, university publications, etc. Finally, please e-mail or fax it to your MP and ask for their position on nuclear weapons. Go while the going is good! POSTSCRIPT If you need a copy of the CPA poll results, please e-mail me at: fawcett@physics.utoronto.ca or Tryna Booth at the CPA address in the header. From eric@stewards.net Mon Apr 27 14:56:24 1998 (envelope-from eric@stewards.net) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:56:56 -0400 (EDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer) Subject: STOP CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN CHIAPAS - ORGANIZATION SIGS NEEDED! ORGANIZATIONS: YOU CAN ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS LETTER BEFORE SUBMISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON MAY 8, 1998. SEND YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL NAME AND DETAILS TO staff@stewards.net ============================================================================ ========== April 20, 1998. Please forward to all relevant listserves, media outlets, and organizations. Issued by: The Chiapas Alert Network, an organization working to end the paramilitary and military violence and intimidation aimed at the Indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. Phone: 604-221-6426 Website: http://www.stewards.net/chiapas/10.htm email: staff@stewards.net STOP THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN CHIAPAS: AN OPEN LETTER TO KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Appeal to the World For Chiapas --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis: The International community failed to act in a timely and decisive fashion to prevent massive genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia. Now, massive violence and intimidation is being directed at Indigenous people in Chiapas, Mexico. We call on the UN to act IMMEDIATELY, with armed intervention if necessary, to end the repression and prevent further crimes against humanity in Chiapas. We also call on all Mexican soldiers and police to refuse to obey any illegal order which contravenes Mexican law or which violates International standards regarding human rights and genocide. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an urgent appeal to the United Nations, and the world community, to stop the growing violence, intimidation, and repression now directed against the millions of Indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, who led the United Nations forces in Rwanda, warned U.N. headquarters of the Rwandan preparations for mass killings almost three months before they occurred. General Dallaire later testified that his forces could have prevented the massacre. The international community, however, failed to step in to avert the genocide. The world failed in Rwanda. In Bosnia, the genocide against Moslems was also allowed to proceed relatively unhindered for years, and as a result massive numbers of people were killed. The world failed in Bosnia. Now, in Chiapas, massive numbers of civilians are again subject to crimes against humanity, and there is a risk of further escallation to massive violence - this time by civilian paramilitary groups, and by elements of the Mexican military itself, who are targeting the 4-5 million Indigenous peoples of the southernmost state of Mexico. The most horrific single incident to date took place last December 22 at the little town of Acteal, where forty-five unarmed Indigenous civilians - most of them women and children - were systematically hunted down like animals and murdered by paramilitary forces. It must be made clear that Acteal is not an isolated incident. It is emblematic of a much broader pattern of escalating violence and intimidation aimed at the Indigenous people of Chiapas. In the past 18 months, there has been a growing pattern of paramilitary violence, and more recently growing military violence, which has: claimed hundreds of lives; converted thousands of Indigenous people into homeless refugees; destroyed Indigenous crops by vandalism, theft, and burning; and produced in recent months a major repressive buildup of Mexican military forces in the region. Most recently, raids by massed bodies of hundreds and even thousands of government troops and police have unlawfully descended on peaceful Indigenous communities. These raids have brutalized and arrested dozens of members of peaceful Indigenous cooperative economic and political associations. These raids have also illegally arrested dozens of International peace observers, whose presence had been requested by the Indigenous people and their organizations to insure the safety of the Indigenous. These peace observers have been summarily deported from the country without due process of law, thereby depriving the Indigenous people of outside witnesses should further acts of violence and intimidation occur. On the basis of these developments, the UN, Amnesty International, and many other respected international human rights organizations have found very serious violations of both Mexican legality and Human rights. In addition, an all-out assault on various civilian Indigenous communities, and on the Zapatista Indigenous Army, which has engaged in no warfare activities for 3 1/2 years, appears to be under preparation. (See appendix on `Indicators of war'.) The cost of such an assault in lives is incalculable. In light of all these developments, we want to issue a challenge to all the governments of the Americas, to the United Nations, and to all world leaders: Let us not fail again. Another slaughter has already begun, and a still more massive slaughter looms. There is no time to waste. Timely and decisive action must be taken immediately to avert further repression and genocide directed at Indigenous people, people who have historically been subjected to the greatest genocide and have been the most oppressed in the Americas. In particular, we wish to put forward the following urgent appeal: 1) We appeal to the United Nations for immediate intervention, armed if necessary, in order to prevent further crimes against humanity in Chiapas. Any armed intervention should be contingent on being properly mandated by the UN, and should not include troops from the United States due their present involvement in training and arming the Mexican military, and due to the political and economic interests of the U.S. in Mexico. We call on the United Nations to IMMEDIATELY begin discussion of active measures to halt the crimes against humanity in Chiapas. As part of this investigation, we urge that representatives from the peace and reconciliation body chaired by Bishop Samuel Ruiz of Chiapas, and from the peaceful Indigenous cooperative economic and political associations of Chiapas, be called to UN headquarters as witnesses to the violence and intimidation currently directed by both paramilitary and military forces against the Indigenous people and their organizations in Chiapas. 2) We also appeal to all members of the Mexican army, police forces, and government to IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO REFUSE TO OBEY ANY ORDER WHICH IS ILLEGAL EITHER UNDER MEXICAN LAW OR FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. The time has come for all of us to remember - and for the world to remember - the Nuremberg war crimes tribunals - which found that obedience to orders, or to national law, cannot morally or legally justify human rights violations such as those perpetrated in Chiapas today. At Nuremberg, as today, perpetrators and intellectual authors of such crimes are guilty of crimes against humanity, and subject to both moral and legal condemnation and punishment by International bodies. FROM: CHIAPAS ALERT NETWORK. STEWARDS CORPORATION MOVEMENT ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix - Indicators of War The Chiapas Alert Network has identified a series of `indicators' which, taken together, point to the possibility of an imminent or `near-imminent' military assault by the Mexican army on the Zapatista enclave in Southern Chiapas. At the very least, these indicators point to the possibility of greatly intensified repression against Indigenous civilians and their cooperative associations in the region. Here are the `indicators of war' to which we are referring: 1. The first indicator is a build-up of Mexican military equipment and personnel in Chiapas over the past several months. 2. The second `indicator of war' is a stepped-up effort to deport and otherwise silence international human rights observers in Chiapas. Many of these deportations are clearly illegal, and frequently involve severe intimidation and denial of due process under Mexican law. 3. The third `indicator of war' is recent statements by Mexican officials, some at high levels, to the effect that foreign `interference' in Mexican political affairs will not be tolerated. Such statements were made just before the massacre at Acteal, when Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations warned that paramilitary violence and intimidation were growing in the region and that further deaths could be expected. At that time Amnesty International and similar groups were told to `stay out' of `internal Mexican politics'. Since the Acteal massacre the Mexican government had not dared to say such things. But now, again, they are singing the song of `we will settle our own affairs'. 4. The fourth `indicator of war' is a reported build-up of paramilitary activity in various areas of Chiapas, including - unbelievably - the reappearance at Acteal, the site of the infamous massacre of 45 people on Dec. 22, of people associated with paramilitary activity. 5. The fifth `indicator of war' is the use of massive numbers of soldiers and police in raids on peaceful Indigenous communities in recent days. One purpose of these raids would appear to be that of terrorizing the civilian population through an overwhelming use of force. Viewed together, these indicators suggest that the Mexican government may well be gearing up for war and/or intensified repression in Chiapas. From eric@stewards.net Mon Apr 27 01:36:43 1998 (envelope-from eric@stewards.net) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 03:37:33 -0400 (EDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer) Subject: Myth of Mondragon. Hi there, Does anyone know anything about the book `Myth of Mondragon'? It is about the Mondragon workers coop in Basque, Spain, which is frequently sited as the world's most succeful, and perhaps the biggest, worker owned cooperative complex. The book in question is part of a Sony Press series, and evidently purports to show: 1) significant conflict between shop floor workers and manager's interests at Mondragon, and 2) that an `idealized' notion of Mondragon serves a new `corporatist' poltics of labour-management collaboration. I've only seen a summary of the work, and am frankly somewhat skeptical of these claims. However, I would like to inquire further, so would appreciate hearing from anyone who has read the book or possess further information. Thanks, Eric From bobp@nevada.edu Tue Apr 28 05:05:11 1998 Tue, 28 Apr 1998 04:05:05 -0700 (PDT) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 04:05:04 -0700 (PDT) From: ROBERT E PARKER To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Feagin's nomination Dear Fellow PSNer's, I have known Joe Feagin for two decades and am writing to add my voice to those endorsing his candidacy for the presidency of the American Sociological Association. Beyond his widely known and appreciated top-notch scholarship, Joe has also long served as an important mentor for younger social scientists now making significant contributions in a number of distinct sub-disciplines of sociology. Joe's students, as evidenced by their own high quality productivity, are effectively continuing Feagin's commitment to achieving social justice through their professional activity. Joe Feagin's contribution to his profession in preparing a new generation of teachers and scholars is of great consequence and deserves highlighting in the context of the ASA election. Sincerely, bob ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert E. Parker E-mail : bobp@nevada.edu University of Nevada, Las Vegas Associate Professor Office : CBC B241 Dept of Sociology : (702) 895-0263 4505 Maryland Pkwy Soc Dept: (702) 895-3322 Box 5033 Las Vegas, NV 89154 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Tue Apr 28 07:19:00 1998 From: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Date: 28 Apr 1998 09:16:42 EDT To: Subject: ASA Ballot Before antone fills out their ASA ballotm perhaps there are two things we need to know: 1) Has this preferential voting system been used in the past? Offhand, I don't remember... If it hasn't, is it permitted under ASA By-laws??? 2) What are the consequences of "bullet ballots;" i.e., yhose on which only one candidate is endorsed? Will such ballots be treated as valid? In multi-candidate elections where rank-ordering is PERMITTED, but not REQUIRED, such ballotys are of great significance. So, TR and others, let us establish this before filling out our ballots (for Joe, of course). Tney are not due until May 26, I believe. I would guess, if bullet ballots ARE permitted, that a hegemonic candidate has already been selected for such treatment vy the organized Shalala-Clinton class collaborators who undoubtedly are, alas, some of our colleagues past and present... Does anyone know the facts on this crucial procedural matter??? Joe??? TELEPHONE: (502) 852-6836 INTERNET: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU From dassbach@mtu.edu Tue Apr 28 08:09:22 1998 From: "Carl H.A. Dassbach" To: "PSN" Subject: No endorsements Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 10:09:07 -0400 charset="iso-8859-1" I do not think that the endorsements of candidates is an appropriate posting on PSN. Moreover, I doubt that anyone - and I don't mean to single out the person who posted this phrase - shows a "commitment to achieving social justice through ... professional activity." A nice sounding phrase - good for a job letter - but something that is, and will always be, a contradiction. Social justice requires social change and therefore "professionals," i.e., individuals firmly entrenched in the system and with a stake in the system, can not, in any real sense, be committed to social change. Revolutionaries are committed to social change, professionals are committed to the status quo. But who wants a revolutionary as president of the ASA - why those "professionals" couldn't and wouldn't elect Immanuel Wallerstein as president and he certainly has far better qualifications than anyone I have seen running for the office in the last ten years. --------------------------- Carl H.A. Dassbach DASSBACH@MTU.EDU Dept. of Social Sciences (906)487-2115 - Phone Michigan Technological Univ. (906)487-2468 - Fax Houghton, MI 49931 (906)482-8405 - Private From YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu Tue Apr 28 10:17:18 1998 Date: Tue, 28 Apr 98 11:16 CDT From: YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu To: psn@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: VOTE FOR JOE-AND TELL YOU FRIENDS It is obvious that psn has taken a position to support Joe for president and while there are a few questions, such as Carl's wondering if a professional association has become the universal class, most of us that know Joe will support him and encourage others on this list to do so as well. But we must do more, tell the folks in you departments who may be members of ASA. Note, there are 12,000 members, about 1/4 vote and there are several candidates. If the 200 or so members of asa that are on psn can each get 4 colleagues to VOTE FOR JOE then "happy days are here again". While I don't think he can then put highways in our districts, or even books in our school libraries, the president for a short time can shape an agenda that will make progressive social change a "core" theme of the meeting rather than an isolated "periphery". Lauren Langman From susabc@unixg.ubc.ca Tue Apr 28 14:15:59 1998 by mail.unixg.ubc.ca with smtp (Exim 1.71 #1) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 13:15:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Susan Carpenter To: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Subject: Re: Hofstede info In-Reply-To: <19980428.091642.MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU> Hi, I'm new to this listserv & hoping for some info. I'm a grad student in Vancouver (UBC) & finishing off my thesis looking for critiques of Hofstede's (1980) "Culture's consequences". I am using his work for my conceptual framework. I KNOW some anthropologists would consider his categorizing cultural dimensions (4: individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity/femininity) as reductionist, yet all the articles I've found that mention his work praise it since they are using it, as I am. Yet, criticism would make my lit. review well-rounded & informative. Can anyone alert me to articles that have criticized Hofstede? Triandis has done a lot of work on "individualism" & mentioned Hofstede, but not critically. I would REALLY appreciate any advice or info. I'm just a lowly grad student, but I'm really hoping to do a thorough job on this lit. review and struggling at the moment. Any advice greatly appreciated, :) SUSAN CARPENTER From coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu Tue Apr 28 11:51:13 1998 Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 13:50:41 -0400 From: Rodney Coates To: YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu Subject: Joe is a great friend but so is James Blackwell.. Wow, this has been a tough one..Joe is a friend of mine but also is James Blackwell. So let me remind the list that Please consider the fact that James Blackwell is also running for President..he has served the discipline well for over 30 years..I would hope that his candidacy will also be given full consideration..rodneycoates YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu wrote: > It is obvious that psn has taken a position to support Joe for president > and while there are a few questions, such as Carl's wondering if a > professional association has become the universal class, most of us > that know Joe will support him and encourage others on this list to > do so as well. But we must do more, tell the folks in you departments > who may be members of ASA. Note, there are 12,000 members, about 1/4 > vote and there are several candidates. If the 200 or so members of asa > that are on psn can each get 4 colleagues to VOTE FOR JOE > then "happy days are here again". While I don't think he can then > put highways in our districts, or even books in our school libraries, > the president for a short time can shape an agenda that will make > progressive social change a "core" theme of the meeting rather than > an isolated "periphery". Lauren Langman -- -- umoja (unity through love, peace, understanding and respect) "Only when lions have historians will hunters cease being heroes." -- African Proverb "Without struggle there is no progress." --Frederick Douglass "The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." --Steven Biko yours in the struggle, Rodney D. Coates, http://www.ulbobo.com/umoja/ From MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Tue Apr 28 11:50:18 1998 From: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Date: 28 Apr 1998 13:47:56 EDT To: Subject: "Endorsement?" Perhaps Carl would inform us when and where "psn" "endorsed" anyone for anything. If unable to do so, perhaps he would inform us why a discussion of the ASA elections and candidates is not appropriate on psn, including preferences of correspondents for particular candidates and urgings for support thereof. By the logic of the professional/revolutionary dichotomy as he chooses to express it, perhaps we should nominate and vote for up-front fascists for offices in professional associations... right, Carl? TELEPHONE: (502) 852-6836 INTERNET: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU From marcellom@sri.soc.purdue.edu Tue Apr 28 10:42:39 1998 28 Apr 98 11:42:14 From: "Melissa Marcello" To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 11:42:07 EST Subject: Re: No endorsements In-reply-to: <001101bd72af$368b8b40$2029db8d@dassbach.aux.mtu.edu> I cannot help but respond to Carl Dassbach's posting in which he argues that the PSN is not the appropriate forum to discuss the candidates for ASA presidency. Initially I had the same response, yet have since changed my opinion on the matter. If we cannot talk here about who would make a good president then where? Where should we "voice" our concerns if not amongst our peers--those who share (and are sensitized by) similiar issues in the discipline and beyond. Perhaps this is one of the problems with civic engagement at large. We partition our relationships (be they professional, personal, etc.) from our political concerns. We have become so accustomed to not discussing issues of real import (the agendas of candidates, their concomitant values and stance), as we've yet to determine an "appropriate forum." Frankly, I do not know of a more appropriate place to engage in this dialogue. Regards, Melissa Katherine Marcello Department of Sociology and Anthropology Purdue University Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 10:09:07 -0400 Send reply to: dassbach@mtu.edu From: "Carl H.A. Dassbach" To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: No endorsements Originally to: "PSN" I do not think that the endorsements of candidates is an appropriate posting on PSN. Moreover, I doubt that anyone - and I don't mean to single out the person who posted this phrase - shows a "commitment to achieving social justice through ... professional activity." A nice sounding phrase - good for a job letter - but something that is, and will always be, a contradiction. Social justice requires social change and therefore "professionals," i.e., individuals firmly entrenched in the system and with a stake in the system, can not, in any real sense, be committed to social change. Revolutionaries are committed to social change, professionals are committed to the status quo. But who wants a revolutionary as president of the ASA - why those "professionals" couldn't and wouldn't elect Immanuel Wallerstein as president and he certainly has far better qualifications than anyone I have seen running for the office in the last ten years. --------------------------- Carl H.A. Dassbach DASSBACH@MTU.EDU Dept. of Social Sciences (906)487-2115 - Phone Michigan Technological Univ. (906)487-2468 - Fax Houghton, MI 49931 (906)482-8405 - Private From smrose@exis.net Tue Apr 28 19:22:58 1998 From: "Steve Rosenthal" To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 21:20:29 +0000 Subject: ASA election I will vote for Joe Feagin for ASA president, because Joe will continue to fight racism in the ASA, in Sociology, at his university, and in the society as a whole. But, if Joe is elected, it is certainly unfair to him to expect him to be able to end the cozy relationship between the ASA and the Democratic Party. It might be useful to review the fate of the last leftist anti-racist president of the ASA--Al Lee--who was ASA president in 1975-76. Al was--like Joe--a lifelong anti-racist activist. The defining issue of his presidency were his efforts to combat the highly publicized efforts of James Coleman to legitimize the violently racist opposition to school busing. Coleman provided sociological justification to racist politicians and neighborhood groups in Boston who had organized mobs to stone black children on school buses. Coleman addressed a special session of the Massachusetts state legislature and condemned busing as the cause of "white flight." Al Lee courageously stated that Coleman was perverting social science to serve the political goals of a violently racist movement, and he urged the ASA to dissociate itself publicly and explicitly from Coleman's views. Nearly all of the rest of the ASA leadership viciously attacked Lee, accusing him of threatening Coleman's "freedom of speech." I collected 130 signatures on a letter of support for Al Lee at the ASA meeting and sent it into Footnotes, which refused to print it. Today, the leadership of the ASA--as it convenes its meeting of hand-picked "experts" on racism--is more and more closely allied with a racist administration whose assaults on minorities are the most fascist of any administration since the New Deal. The ruling class needs the collaboration of professional associations like the ASA to provide ideological cover for the growth of fascism and preparations for imperialist war. That trend will continue, regardless of who is elected president of the ASA. But if anti-racist sociologists build a mass movement within the ASA, we can undercut and undermine the value to the ruling class of its political control over the ASA. Then Joe will not be a solo crusader against the ASA establishment, but a soldier in a growing army that is organizing an anti-racist, pro-working class, anti-imperialist movement in the ASA and everywhere else. Steve Rosenthal From MUIRK@gbms01.uwgb.edu Tue Apr 28 11:45:58 1998 From: MUIRK@gbms01.uwgb.edu Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 12:46:21 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Vote for who? To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU I must have been away from my computer for awhile ... exactly when was it that the PSN officially endorsed Joe for president of the ASA? Was this a unilateral decision or one based on the five or six endorsements I have seen over the past few weeks? A question for the owner of the list: Does the PSN endorse Joe for president? If so, was there a vote? Does the PSN have election-endorsement by-laws that the rank and file may peruse? I don't mind the personal endorsements going out over the net; I do happen to agree with Carl Dassbach's comments regarding the usefulness of the ASA, however. I do mind the presumption that the PSN supports one candidate over another based on a handful of endorsements. Kind of kills the idea of a free and open democratic election (whatever the hell that means). Ken Muir University of Wisconsin-Green Bay From gimenez@csf.Colorado.EDU Tue Apr 28 22:15:21 1998 Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 22:15:16 -0600 (MDT) From: Martha Gimenez To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Vote for who? (fwd) Dear PSNers, I am writing to respond to Ken Muir's questions. PSN has not endorsed any of the candidates for president of the ASA. I, personally, support Joe Feagin but I do so as an individual, not as a representative of PSN's views. All members of PSN have a right to express their support for whoever they like in an election that matters to us. in solidarity, Martha From YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu Tue Apr 28 22:54:08 1998 Date: Tue, 28 Apr 98 23:53 CDT From: YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu To: psn@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Usenet vs constituency PSN as bloc One day in class I used the figure of speach, like "herding cats". One of the students asked why anyone would hurt cats. The point is that psn is a forum for debate and dialogue, a virtual cafe as Martha first described it. No one, or no group, including and perhaps especially moderators speak for psn, to organize folks in cyberspace would be like "herding cats". I am not denying that some can and do organize in cyberspace, and we have reports from Chiapas, CDF etc, and I have sent petititions to psn. But there is no official line or any official to voice it. While Martha and I for example support Joe, and would urge others to do so and encourage friends, this is not an "official" psn endorsement. Now under different conditions we could become a majority political party and then take official positions, but till then, some of us support Joe, others Jim Blackwell and some like Carl say we should not support a candidate in a professional org. These are the ranges of individual opinions and we can never do or be anything more than a forum for individuals to proffer their own commentaries. Lauren Langman (And I prefer dogs to cats.) From eric@stewards.net Wed Apr 29 00:52:21 1998 (envelope-from eric@stewards.net) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 02:56:09 -0400 (EDT) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK From: eric@stewards.net (Eric Sommer) Subject: Bishop of Guatemala was murdered Hi there, It is with heavy heart that I forward the following report to PSN. Eric Sommer, Chiarman, Chiapas Alert Network website: http://www.stewards.net/10.htm information, listserve signup, and automated letter writing campaign at the site. Please write me for `Stop the Crimes Against Humanity in Chiapas: An Open letter to Kofi Annan' for your group or organization to endorse. > > > >> >IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOMINABLE ASSASSINATION OF > >MONSIGNOR JUAN JOSE GERARDI CONEDERA > >THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE > >OF THE ARCHBISHOPRIC OF GUATEMALA > >TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION > >EXPRESSES: > > > >Its profound pain and indignation at the cowardly and brutal assassination >of which Monsignor Gerardi, founder and General Coordinator of this Office >was victim. > >On Sunday, April 26 at about 10 p.m., when he was entering his home, after >conducting a routine family visit, Monsignor Gerardi was attacked by an >unidentified individual. The assassin beat Monsignor Gerardi's brain with a >chunk of cement and then smashed him in the face with the same object, >disfiguring him. The individual returned ten minutes later near the place >where he committed the crime, after changing his clothes which had been >splattered with Monsignor's blood. Nothing of value from his home, from the >vehicle he was getting out of in his garage or any of his personal >belongings were touched by the assassin. > >Just 48 hours earlier, in the Metropolitan Cathedral, Monsignor Gerardi, >together with other bishops from the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala, had >presided over the public presentation of the report entitled: "Guatemala: >Never Again", which documented and analyzed tens of thousands of cases of >human rights violations which occurred during the internal armed conflict. >Monsignor Gerardi was the bishop coordinating the Interdiocesan Project >"Recovery of Historical Memory" (REMHI). > >Monsignor Gerardi was, since 1984, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of >Guatemala; from 1967 to 1974 he was Bishop of Las Verapaces, where he was a >precursor of the Indigenous Pastoral; later he was named Bishop of El >Quiche, where he had to confront the period of greatest violence against the >population: massacres; forced disappearances of civilians; the assassination >of several priests and catechists; and the military's severe harrassment >against the Church which forced the closure of the El Quiche Dioceses in >June of 1980. Just weeks before, Monsignor Gerardi had escaped an ambush. >As President of the Episcopal Conference, the authorities denied Monsignor >Gerardi entry into the country, and he had to remain in exile for two years, >until 1984. In the early 1990's he was chosen by the Episcopal Conference >to accompany the peace process, along with Monsignor Quezada Torun~o. > >The assassination of Monsignor Gerardi is a savage aggression against the >Church of Guatemala, which for the first time has lost a Bishop in this >violent manner, and against the entire Guatemalan people, especially >Catholics, and represents a strong blow to the peace process. > >We demand that this tragedy be solved by the proper authorities within a >time period that should not exceed 72 hours, since if the pattern of >impunity is extended to this case, a grave cost will fall upon the >Government of the Republic. > >Of the Guatemalan people and the international community we ask your firm >support and solidarity at this difficult time. This premeditated crime has >shaken us all, but in this test we must remain firm and united, to prevent >the barbarity and terror from which the Guatemalan people have suffered from >again taking power over Guatemala and making us lose more lives, as well as >the democratic spaces that have been achieved with so much sacrifice. As >Monsignor Gerardi said in his April 24 speech, on the occasion of the >presentation of the REMHI report: "We want to contribute to the >construction of a different country. That is why we are recovering the >people's memory. This path was and continues to be full of risks, but the >building of God's kingdom entails risks, and it is only its builders who >have the strength to face them." > >"Blessed are those who work for peace > >those who are persecuted for the sake of justice > >for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" > > >Matthew 5: 9-10 > > >Guatemala de la Asuncio'n, April 27, 1998 > >HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GUATEMALA > > >>___________________________________________________ >>NUEVO AMANECER PRESS- N.A.P. >>_________________________________ >>Non Profit news agency-translating and distributing information >>in support of the work in defense of human rights. >>Registered as Non Profit Corporation in USA. >>Advisory team: Mexico. General Director:Roger Maldonado-Mexico >>Darrin Wood- Director NAP-Spain office >>Susana Saravia-Director: NAP-USA office >>our address: amanecer@aa.net >> >> >> > >___________________________________________________ >NUEVO AMANECER PRESS- N.A.P. >_________________________________ >Non Profit news agency-translating and distributing information >in support of the work in defense of human rights. >Registered as Non Profit Corporation in USA. >Advisory team: Mexico. General Director:Roger Maldonado-Mexico >Darrin Wood- Director NAP-Spain office >Susana Saravia-Director: NAP-USA office >our address: amanecer@aa.net > > > From T.R.Young@csf.Colorado.EDU Wed Apr 29 05:51:01 1998 by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) by HPUX.sensible-net.com (Post.Office MTA v3.1.2 Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 07:47:40 -0400 To: PSN@csf.Colorado.EDU From: T.R.Young@csf.Colorado.EDU Subject: A Poor Second Choice I would like to second Melissa Marcello's views on the use of www networks; we have a marvelous forum with which to exchange views, clarify issues, argue and critique each other in helpful manner. Limiting discussion to scholarly q's is inimical to the basic orientation of radical, transforming social science. And, if the ASA is not our idea of a perfect professional organization, here is the best forun to critique it...we have no other national organization for sociology per se. I personally perfer AHS and/or SSSP to ASA but given the history of American Sociology, it is likely to be around a good long time and, like it or not, speak for the discipline. Until we have a much more democratic, much more praxical, much more holistic association, we'll have to make do with the ASA as a poor second choice. Good work, Melissa, TRYoung TR Young, 8085 Essex Weidman, Mi., 48893 Email: tr@tryoung.com From hvera@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu Wed Apr 29 07:58:49 1998 Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 09:57:56 -0400 From: "=?iso-8859-1?Q?Hern=E1n?= Vera" Reply-To: hvera@nervm.ufl.edu To: MGWENG01@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU Subject: Re: ASA Ballot In response to Morton Wenger's question about the curious ASA ballot, I do not know if this constitutional. However, his concern is well placed because this ballot is certainly unwise: A candidate voted "1" by 51% of the votes would not get elected if 64% vote "2" for another candidate who gets no "1" choices (assuming that the 1- 5 choices are not weighted; the letter by Felice Levine mentions no such weighting and only says that this is the Hare system of voting). Thus, I have taken the ballot to be an invitation to "rank order your choices for candidates" (See Felice Levine April 17, 1998 cover letter to the voting package). Since I only had one choice, I ranked ordered that candidate "1" and left the rest blank. Best! -- Hernan Vera, Professor of Sociology Box 11730, University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 Phone (352) 392 0251, ext. 232 From feagin@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu Wed Apr 29 08:46:14 1998 Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:41:21 -0400 From: Joe Feagin Reply-To: Feagin2@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu To: PSN Subject: Several matters I am somewhat uncomfortable commenting on this thread because I am one of the presidential candidates, but I do want to make several points that I think are important in this regard. The PSN discussion on "professional" matters seems quite legitimate to me, and we need more of this. Clearly, many of us are very uncomfortable with the desire of some sociologists to make us a "profession" that is very cozy with the federal government, mainly because we seek grants the government is willing to award, of course, only for research that is more or less in the ruling elite's interest. This does not include deep, critical research on race, class, or gender issues. We need to press the ASA constantly for discussion and action on such matters. We pay the dues that support it, after all. I agree with Rodney Coates that Jim Blackwell is a fine candidate for president, with an outstanding record as a sociologist. He has been heavily involved in the struggle against discrimination and racism in U.S. society. I have been privileged to work under Jim in connection with an affirmative action court case, where he led the team of expert witnesses. He is a progressive sociologist who has put his outstanding abilities to work for social change. On the presidency and nominations, I might add that when the ASA secretary/treasurer calls to ask if a candidate will accept the nomination from the nominations committee, she or he is not told who the other candidates are. And some who are nominated may (do) in fact decline at that point. Petition candidates have not been common in the last few elections, but we have seen them before. By the way, I strongly oppose the ASA council decisions to do away with the committee on committees and to make the publications committee non-elected. These changes are in my view anti-democratic, and will reduce active participation in the ASA. The nominations committee was nearly, by one vote, made an non- elected committee that would be appointed by president and council. A near-majority of the ASA council now favors making it appointed. That is why your votes on the ASA council positions and constitutional changes are very important. The council meets in January and in August to make decisions on items like this. We need to get as many progressives elected each year as we can. I encourage all of you, who are not now active , to become more active in the ASA which your money creates, such as by seeking nominations for council and going to business meetings, etc. In solidarity, Joe Feagin From hcline@warrior.mgc.peachnet.edu Wed Apr 29 14:57:24 1998 Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 16:52:56 -0400 To: PSN@CSF.COLORADO.EDU From: Harold Cline Subject: Call for Papers and Proposals Please distribute this announcement to PSN. Open to all scholars. CALL FOR PAPERS AND PROPOSALS GEORGIA POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION MEETING DESOTO HILTON, SAVANNAH GA USA FEBRUARY 19 and 20, 1999 The Theme of the 1999 GPSA meeting will be "Culture and Politics: The Reciprocal Influences." All scholars wishing to submit proposals for papers and/or panels should send requests by June 15, 1998, to Lois Duke Whitaker Department of Political Science Post Office Box 8101 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA 30460 USA Email: dlois@gsvms2.cc.gasou.edu All scholars wishing to serve as discussants or panel chairs should also send their requests. Please distribute this message to your colleagues. From Spectors@mail.netnitco.net Wed Apr 29 22:52:19 1998 Received: from mail1.nitco.com (mail1.nitco.com [205.216.12.230]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with ESMTP id WAA14400 for ; Wed, 29 Apr 1998 22:52:13 -0600 (MDT) Received: from mail.netnitco.net (dervish7.nitco.com [205.217.16.171]) by mail1.nitco.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id XAA22124 for ; Wed, 29 Apr 1998 23:56:30 -0500 (CDT) Message-ID: <35481E2F.2D8A7DFF@mail.netnitco.net> Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 23:46:07 -0700 From: Spectors Reply-To: Spectors@mail.netnitco.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.02 [en] (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Did you sign up? Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Please forward this to other relevant lists: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For those of you who are planning to join the ASA, and especially the Section on Marxist Sociology, I would like to remind you to sign up soon. If you are opposed to joining the ASA and/or can't afford it, I can respect that. The main value I find in the ASA is that the conventions are SO LARGE that I am able to meet up with the few dozen or so friends that I don't otherwise see, and I do meet some interesting new people every year. The ASA is undoubtedly a proud part of the capitalist class structure, from its defense of sociologists' research to aid war crimes during the Vietnam War to its attempt to provide a justification for Clinton-Shalala's murderous welfare reforms. So if you don't want to join, I don't blame you. I see it analogous (on a much, much more modest scale, of course--this is just to demonstrate a concept) to Bolshevik organizing in the Tsar's army during World War I (or the U.S. military today). One joined the army not to support the army, but to expose the Tsar/capitalists and the liberal opposition and to organize for revolution among potential allies. If you are one of those people who are planning to join the Section on Marxist Sociology, I encourage you to do so now, rather than at the end of the summer. We currently have two sessions, accomodating something like 8-10 presenters/discussants, as well as a session of roundtable discussions. Our sessions are very well attended, considerably more than the average ASA session. If we can get our membership up to 400, we'd get another regular session. The Section on Marxist Sociology performs a very valuable function for many individuals and for leftist sociology in general. It is a medium by which many people have been able to meet others with similar interests. The anti-elitist standpoints of most SMxS members also provides for a way that younger sociologists can get more experience presenting papers. The SMxS is distinctive from other sections which have overlapping memberships, such as Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Political Economy of World Systems, Political Soc., Race, Class, & Gender and others. It is distinctive in the comprehensive approach that Marxism takes to many issues, including an understanding of the central important of class, but class as understood as a relation, and not just a one dimensional category on some kind of wage chart--in other words, class relations/class struggle, class as a process as well as a property. Okay, this is getting too abstract. The SMxS also retains something of an "edge"---a more sharply critical stance with respect to capitalism in general and sociology in particular, whereas some of the other liberal-humanist sections are a bit more accomodationist. In any cases, it does provide a distinctive contribution to the struggle. So, if you are thinking about joining, do it now, before you get caught up in the chaos of final exams, papers, and summer. It would be terrific if we could get to the 400 number before August, so that we could use a final push after the ASA to get the membership solidly above 400 for many years to come. Grad students do get special rates for joining the ASA and for new members, the first year's membership in the SMxS can be paid for by the section. If you want more information, contact the ASA at ASA.org or contact me and I'll get you info on joining the SMxS. Alan Spector, Chair, Section on Marxist Sociology From edu011@coventry.ac.uk Thu Apr 30 01:52:00 1998 Received: from coventry.ac.uk (mercury.coventry.ac.uk [193.61.107.16]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with ESMTP id BAA18184 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 01:51:55 -0600 (MDT) Received: from bh412 ([20.19.21.12]) by coventry.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.6.11) with SMTP id IAA08298 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 08:51:53 +0100 (BST) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 08:51:51 +1 From: John Selby Reply-To: j.selby@coventry.ac.uk Subject: Math History To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII A friedn of mine sent me this American joke. It clearly has international resonance. John Selby > >The History of Teaching Math >=- > >Teaching Math in 1950: >A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production >is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit? > >Teaching Math in 1960: >A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production >is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit? > >Teaching Math in 1970: >A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" of money. The >cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element is worth one dollar. Make >100 dots representing the elements of the set "M". The set "C", the >cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set "M". Represent >the set "C" as a subset of set "M" and answer the following question: >What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits? > >Teaching Math in 1980: >A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production >is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number >20. > >Teaching Math in 1990: > >By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20. What >do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class >participation after answering the question? How did the forest birds >and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees? There are no >wrong answers. > >Teaching Math in 1996: > >By laying off 402 of its loggers, a company improves its stock price >from $80 to $100. How much capital gain per share does the CEO make >by exercising his stock options at $80. Assume capital gains are no >longer taxed, because this encourages investment. > >Teaching Math in 1997: > >A company outsources all of its loggers. They save on benefits and >when demand for their product is down the logging work force can >easily be cut back. The average logger employed by the company earned >$50,000, had 3 weeks vacation, received a nice retirement plan and >medical insurance. The contracted logger charges $50 an hour. Was >outsourcing a good move? > >Teaching Math in 1997b: > >A logging company exports its wood-finishing jobs to its Indonesian >subsidiary and lays off the corresponding half of its US workers (the >higher-paid half). It clear-cuts 95% of the forest, leaving the rest >for the spotted owl, and lays off all its remaining US workers. It >tells the workers that the spotted owl is responsible for the absence >of fellable trees and lobbies Congress for exemption from the >Endangered Species Act. Congress instead exempts the company from all >federal regulation. What is the return on investment of the lobbying >costs? ********************************************************** * John Selby * * Educational Development Unit * * Coventry University Tel: + 44 (0)1203 838149 * * Priory Street Fax: + 44 (0)1203 838138 * * Coventry CV1 5FB, UK E-mail: j.selby@cov.ac.uk * ********************************************************** From YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu Thu Apr 30 07:27:24 1998 Received: from cpua.it.luc.edu (cpua.it.luc.edu [147.126.240.20]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with SMTP id HAA25661 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 07:27:17 -0600 (MDT) Message-Id: <199804301327.HAA25661@csf.Colorado.EDU> Received: from CPUA.IT.LUC.EDU by cpua.it.luc.edu (IBM MVS SMTP V3R1) with BSMTP id 5161; Thu, 30 Apr 98 08:27:06 LCL Date: Thu, 30 Apr 98 08:26 CDT From: YLPSLL0@cpua.it.luc.edu To: psn@CSF.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Help Superbowl vs Carnival I am currently writing a paper on consumption/globalization/localization comparing Brazil's carnival to our Superbowl, eg collective celebrations of the erotic body vs private gatherings to view the aggressive body in teams, the ludic vs instrumental, etc. Any folks, especially those who might be football fans-I am not- have any ideas, references, comments. While each is different, both are now located within a globalized consumer capitalism that segments and localizes to gain profit. Thanks in advance, Lauren Langman From spector@calumet.purdue.edu Thu Apr 30 14:15:00 1998 Received: from nwi.calumet.purdue.edu (nwi.calumet.purdue.edu [205.215.64.9]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with SMTP id OAA14602 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 14:14:55 -0600 (MDT) Received: from calumet.purdue.edu (e01-07b-175.calumet.purdue.edu [205.215.78.175]) by nwi.calumet.purdue.edu (8.6.5/8.6.5) with ESMTP id PAA25816 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:17:00 -0500 Message-ID: <3548DC25.BDE50341@calumet.purdue.edu> Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:16:37 -0500 From: Alan Spector Reply-To: spector@calumet.purdue.edu X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Subject: I hate to sound conspriatorial, but.... Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit By the way, has it occured to anyone that the positioning of Jim Blackwell and Joe Feagin as opponents for the ASA presidency might not have been a random act. It certainly wouldn't be the first time an electoral body sought to maintain the impression of inclusiveness while actually splitting an opposition. It is, in fact, a rather common tactic. I understand the argument that says that a nominating committee often seeks the best candidates, and that this often means that one of the fine candidates must lose to another fine candidate. But it does seem a bit odd that two candidates were proposed who have such similar academic interests, and such a record of advocacy on behalf of the oppressed that is rare among ASA presidential candidates.......... Alan S. -- From m.hoover@csu-e.csuohio.edu Thu Apr 30 09:40:58 1998 Received: from csu-e.csuohio.edu (csu-e.csuohio.edu [137.148.5.27]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with SMTP id JAA01941 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 09:40:50 -0600 (MDT) Received: from Dept. of Sociol.csuohio.edu. (artsfac207-2.dhcp.csuohio.edu [137.148.207.2]) by csu-e.csuohio.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id LAA23459; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 11:40:42 -0400 Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 11:40:42 -0400 Message-Id: <199804301540.LAA23459@csu-e.csuohio.edu> X-Sender: m.hoover@popmail.csuohio.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 1.5.2 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: psn@csf.colorado.edu From: Matthew Hoover Subject: Marx gets marketed There is a very interesting piece in todays Salon Magazine (http://www.salonmagazine.com). I will cut and paste it below if anyone is interested: BY BARBARA EHRENREICH | Ah, Karl! You thought those frantic scratchings and snortings were the sounds of capitalism digging its own grave, but all it was doing was preparing a nice niche for you -- a market niche, in fact. The leftish British press Verso has seized upon the 150th anniversary of "The Communist Manifesto" to re-issue that rousing old tract in an upscale version, suitable for display at the cash register. "It's very chic and looks like something for the sybaritic classes," Verso's PR person observes proudly, adding that it should "get us some great displays in the book chains." Adding impenetrable levels of irony, the cover has been designed by those playful ex-Soviet artists Komar and Melamid, whose gorgeously rippling red banner against a black background should be readily accessorizable with the cashmeres in primary tones coming to us for fall. Why didn't Marx, or his co-author, Friedrich Engels, who knew a thing or two about running a business himself, think of this long ago? As Eric Hobsbawm tells us in his introduction to the Verso edition, sales of the original manifesto were pathetically sub-mid-list for decades after it was written. As for foreign rights, forget about it until well into the 1860s, when the International Working Men's Association began to take off. One can imagine their editor taking the authors to lunch and saying, "Karl, Fred, you've got some great stuff in here. That part about 'nothing to lose but your chains' just blew me away. I mean, the prose rocks. But we have to think packaging too. Like what about a pop-up version? A collectible bourgeois-piggie figures tie-in with Taco Bell? Or the movie version with Kate Winslet as the factory gal and Anthony Hopkins as the specter-that-is-haunting-Europe?" But of course back in those days it would have been at least unwise for members of the "sybaritic classes" to go mincing about with their designer copies of "The Communist Manifesto" in hand. In the mid-19th century, fat cats could still recall the whistle of the guillotine blade as it headed for an overprivileged neck; they had seen the delirious, underfed masses rise up -- in Germany, Italy, France and the Austrian Empire -- in 1848. So there's no use blaming Karl and Fred for their lack of entrepreneurial initiative. One hundred fifty years ago, the conditions -- both "objective" and "subjective," as they would have put it -- were not yet ripe for the commodification of revolution itself. First the world had to be made safe for irony on this scale and complexity. Communism -- or at least something superficially resembling the manifesto's prescription -- had to be attempted, road-tested and rejected worldwide. "Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State": Been there, done that. "Centralization of credit in the hands of the State": No danger that that's going to catch on among America's gun-bearing blue-collar class. In its naive faith that "the State" could be commandeered overnight to serve the workers as loyally as it normally serves the rich, "The Communist Manifesto" is as much an antique as those darling little Lenin pins that are available by the fistful at the flea markets in Berlin today. Post 1989, the manifesto bears the implicit warning label: Fun as it may sound, you don't want to try this at home. But it was not enough for communism to fail. Before it could contemplate marketing Marx, capitalism itself had to change: It had to evolve to the point where it fully conformed to its own description in the manifesto. For a sizable stretch of the 20th century, in at least the "advanced" parts of the globe, only crackpots and subscribers to Monthly Review believed that the workers were being ground down to pauperdom. Anyone could see that machinists and truck drivers were buying houses in Levittown, second cars and college educations for their kids. "In rapidly changing modern urban America," a 1964 sociology text triumphantly declared, "traditional social classes are nonexistent." As for the destruction of "all old-established national industries," as predicted in the manifesto, and their replacement by a global system of production and consumption: Sure, but you had to wait until the 1990s to find Benneton in Beijing or Kentucky Fried Chicken in New Delhi. So for a while there, in the golden age after World War II, capitalism sought to spite communism by treating the workers as if they might be useful as consumers too, and hence worthy of a living wage. It was not until some time in the 1970s that capitalism decided to take "The Communist Manifesto" as its personal self-improvement guide -- going global with a vengeance, treating the workers (including increasing numbers of doctors, teachers, scientists and writers as well as the old-fashioned heavy-lifting and lug-turning proles) like so many disposable "factors of production." The Great Polarization between rich and poor, predicted so long ago in the manifesto, now dominates the social contours of the world, from Los Angeles to Johannesburg, from London to Santiago. And it is of course this deepening polarization and "immiserization" that gives the up-market new manifesto its delightfully up-to-date frisson and leads book dealers to believe that stockbrokers will want to display it in their corner offices as a sign of terminal cockiness. They can buy it on their lunch hour just a few blocks from Wall Street, at the World Trade Center Borders, for example, which is planning a colorful window display, and where the workers ($7 an hour) exist in what one of them described to me as a "culture of absolute hopelessness," thanks to management's obsessive wage-busting campaign. Or they can take it home to the coffee table and insist that the maid ($8 an hour and zero benefits) dust it daily so that the red banner on the cover maintains its high gleam. Commie chic is no end of fun once the commies are dead and the workers of the world have been beaten into submission. So, thanks to the inner Hegelian workings of capitalism, "The Communist Manifesto" finally works as an accessory, a stocking-stuffer, a badge of consummate capitalist cool. But what about its "use value," as Karl himself might have asked? Does it work, in other words, as a manifesto? Well, there are a few problems, and not just the obvious one that real-and-existing communism let Marx and Engels down so unkindly. The other disappointment is capitalism. There is not and has never been a social system as brilliantly dynamic and relentlessly all-consuming as the capitalism of "The Communist Manifesto." It was, according to its authors, slated to destroy every vestige of the feudal and patriarchal past and, with one big steam-powered whoosh, propel humankind into the bleak cold world of the Modern, where our true options -- socialism or barbarism -- would finally be disclosed: "All fixed, fast-frozen relations, with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions, are swept away, all new-formed ones become antiquated before they can ossify. All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind." Faced with the capitalist leviathan, religion was supposed to wither away, gender differences disappear and nationalism -- the most successful religion of all -- was supposed to be smashed by globalization, along with its peculiar object of worship, the nation-state. Then and only then, without the distractions of jingoism, superstition and patriarchy, would the working class be ready to address itself full time to the business of class war. So we must note with sorrow that the manifesto greatly overestimated the power and brilliance of capitalism. As we near 2000, religions are as febrile as ever, patriarchy lingers on and nationalism -- well, it was nationalism that blew the infant socialist-international movement out of the water at the outbreak of World War I in 1914, clearing the way for the hideously un-Marxist possibility of socialism-in-one-nation, that being the Soviet Union. As for the nation-state, it continues to do what it has done best since Carthage and Rome, which is not feeding the hungry or running the steel mills, but mustering the troops for war. Still, "The Communist Manifesto" is well worth the $12 that Verso is asking. Despite the hype, its message is a timeless one that bears repeating every century or so: The meek shall triumph and the mighty shall fall; the hungry and exhausted will get restless and someday -- someday! -- rise up against their oppressors. The prophet Isaiah said something like this, and so, a little more recently, did Jesus. At a mere 96 pages, you can think of it as a greeting card, or even a kind of wake-up call, for that special person in your life -- such as, for example, your boss. SALON | April 30, 1998 From john@wiredstrategies.com Thu Apr 30 17:51:44 1998 Received: from purple (purple.tmn.com [205.177.137.5]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with SMTP id RAA22578 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 17:51:39 -0600 (MDT) Received: from uymfdlvk (ip207.tmn.com [205.177.137.207]) by purple (SMI-8.6/SMI-8.6) with SMTP id TAA01556; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 19:35:28 -0400 Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980430194114.00866570@[199.2.107.82]> X-Sender: johna@[199.2.107.82] X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.5 (32) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 19:41:14 -0400 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: John Aravosis Subject: Alert on Prop226 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> PROP 226 - BAD FOR CALIFORNIA NON-PROFITS * Briefings in L.A. and San Francisco, May 4-5 * <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> BACKGROUND If you are in California, or have contacts in the state, then you need to know about the potentially devastating consequences Proposition 226 (a California ballot initiative up for a vote on June 2) could have on friends of children in the non-profit community. The measure, supported by a number of conservative leaders such as Gary Bauer, Dan Quayle, Grover Norquist, and California Governor Pete Wilson, is an attempt to defund unions by limiting use of member dues. Yet, the text of the initiative is so broad and so poorly written that the California Association of Nonprofits and legal experts are now warning non-profits that they too may come under the law's oppressive mandates. (Coincidentally, some of the supporters of Proposition 226 were also supporters of the Istook amendment to silence the advocacy voice of nonprofits.) Under the initiative, organizations would be prohibited from deducting funds from employees' wages if the employer "knows or has reason know" that the funds will be used in whole or in part for "political purposes," unless the employer receives explicit permission from each employee to have his or her money used for political purposes. Political purposes not only includes support or opposition for a candidate up for election -- which 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations (charities) cannot do -- but also support or opposition for ballot measures at the local or state level, which charities do engage in. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> LIMITS NONPROFIT ADVOCACY AND FUNDING SOURCES Proposition 226 will result in one of two things: * It will limit nonprofit children's groups from engaging in ballot measures if they receive contributions through employee payroll deductions. The employee deductions might be through United Way campaigns, alternative workplace giving programs, the state's federated campaign, or other similar efforts. * It may result in less money being contributed to children's groups from these types of federated funds. At its worst, employers may not want to face the potential of civil (and possibly criminal) fines associated with noncompliance -- so they may simply discontinue these voluntary giving programs. Moreover, employees may be circumspect about giving to a charity that engages in "political purposes." But that's not all. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> UNFUNDED MANDATE ON NONPROFITS On top of this terrible choice between engaging in potentially important policy matters or losing charitable contributions, Proposition 226 creates massive new paperwork burdens for employers, including nonprofis. Nonprofits that have virtually any type of payroll deduction programs, such as for health care, will need to get verification that the recipient organization (e.g., health care provider) will not use any portion of these funds for political purposes. If they do use a portion of the funds for political purposes then they will need to provide a form (as prescribed by Proposition 226) to employees for their signature. Employers will need to keep records of these forms and report to the CA Fair Political Practices Commission if requested. Employers may also need to get information from the recipient of the funds about their political purposes activities for past years in order to protect themselves from claims of not complying with the initiative -- and significant fines. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> JOIN US FOR A BRIEFING, MONDAY AND TUESDAY MAY 4 & 5 IN LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO We urge you to tell your friends and colleagues about this dangerous and ill-conceived initiative that is coming to the ballot in California on June 2, 1998 - and we urge you to attend an emergency briefing that will be held in San Francisco and Los Angeles next week: Convened by the Tides Foundation (with assistance from the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN)) in San Francisco on Monday, May 4, 1998, from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Tides Center, Presidio Building 1014, Lincoln Blvd & Torney Ave. Contact: Stephen Stein at CAN 213/347-2070 or Tides Center at 415/561-6300. Convened by the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 5, 1998, sponsored from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., at the Regal Biltmore Hotel (Roman Room, Mezzanine Level), 506 South Grand Avenue. Contact: Stephen Stein at CAN 213/347-2070 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> FOR MORE INFORMATION For an analysis of Proposition 226 and similar initiatives at the federal level and in other states, visit . And please feel free to share this message with friends and colleagues in California and other states. Join the Proposition 226 email list by sending an email to . -------------------------------------------------------- Name: Gary D. Bass OMB Watch 1742 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009 TEL: (202) 234-8494 FAX: (202) 234-8584 Web: E-mail: Gary D. Bass Date: 04/30/98 Time: 18:49:07 -------------------------------------------------------- From RLEVINE@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU Thu Apr 30 18:52:01 1998 Received: from center.colgate.edu (center.colgate.edu [149.43.1.2]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with ESMTP id SAA23925 for ; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 18:51:56 -0600 (MDT) From: RLEVINE@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU Received: from CENTER.COLGATE.EDU by CENTER.COLGATE.EDU (PMDF V5.1-9 #29263) id <01IWHSB1OS3Q9BVHOM@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU> for psn@csf.colorado.edu; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 20:53:43 EST Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 20:53:43 -0500 (EST) Subject: conspiracy? To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Message-id: <01IWHSB1OT209BVHOM@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU> X-VMS-To: IN%"psn@csf.colorado.edu" MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Just a breif comment on Alan Spector's musing about a conspiracy setting up Feagin against Blackwell for preseident of ASA. The way Nominations Committee works is that the committee comes up with a list of candidates for a particular position, and then rank orders them, and then the secretary I belive of ASA phones starting from the top asking if they agree to run. The nominations committee has no idea of who the actually candidates will be, since it is unknown who will refuse to run. So, no Alan, I can assure you there is no conspiracy. I know this for a fact, since I was on the Nominations Committee last year. Spending an entire day in a meeting with the Committee, I must say that the committee was extremely diverse, (in fact, I think there may have only been one white male in the room!), not only in terms of race, gender, but also area and yes, even political orientation. Great care is taken who best can represent the discipline, which is one reason why I get frustrated when there are petition candidates. Hope this clears the process up for some. And a last reminder and urging to PSN folk: vote your choice, and as I have said before, I urge you to vote for Joe feagin. Rhonda Levine