Weiss's Lincoln post this morning was about an incredible radical American political movement that began operating on the mainstream over six years in the 1850s in response to an outrage, slavery. The same political movement is required today, over Palestine, as Anna Baltzer writes in her latest email [emphases mine]:
As I receive more invitations to
speak than I can even accept, as I receive requests to join the
movement all day long, I am increasingly aware that times are changing
in the United States. It may not be perceptible from any one town or
city, but as someone who travels from place to place, the overall
trend is clear: Americans are more and more skeptical of US foreign
policy in the Middle East and increasingly sympathetic towards the
plight of the Palestinians. It's not just in the big liberal
cities–it's in the smallest Midwestern towns, it's on conservative
southern ranches–it' s everywhere. In every corner of the country,
there is a middle-aged couple who just came back from Bethlehem or a
soldier who just came back from Iraq who is outraged. We have reached
a critical mass.
The significance of Obama's campaign and subsequent victory cannot be
overstated. Obama tapped into the critical mass of disillusioned
citizens who were either passive or separately active, and focused
them all into one powerful voice that could not be ignored.
I believe the same can be said about the US movement for justice in
Palestine today. People are anxious to see change, but many take no
action and those who do often act separately. The middle-aged couple
does a presentation for their church; the Iraq veteran talks to
whoever will listen; the musicians make hip-hop; the artists paint
murals; the labor unions put out joint statements; the ordinary
citizen writes a letter to the editor or to congress; the community
groups demonstrate or vigil; the organizers put on educational events;
the mosques host fundraisers; the teachers talk to their students; the
college students work on divestment resolutions; the high school
students join facebook clubs…
I found my answer in the Five for Palestine campaign organized by the
American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (AAPER)… Learn about AAPER at www.americansforpalestine.org
You've already started by reading this email. Now visit the website….Sign up for the campaign at www.fiveforpalestine.org
