Hi. I've also gotten many responses to the speech, none noting the religiosity Rabbi Waskow here aptly addresses. But I myself was startled by his opening of what otherwise was a powerful analysis and series of proposals put out for consideration. As a showman, I understand completely the attention value of what he did, but also anticipated the rest being conveniently ignored by those who oppose the meat of his address, allowing a crucial debate to be sidetracked, lots of people to be intimidated and opinions stiffled. Major media in the U.S. almost uniformly treated the speech in this way. On the other hand, we're now talking about it and Comsky's book sales are going through the roof. We shall see. Ed
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 6:37 PM Subject: Readers' Responses to Hugo Chavez' Speech at UN Readers' Responses - Hugo Chavez's Address to the UN President Chavez made a terrible error in his speech at the UN yesterday. Here in North America we know that Bush is not the Devil; Cheney is the Devil. Any stink of sulfur that Chavez detected at the podium may well have remained from Bush's appearance, but it must have rubbed off on Bush during his many sessions sitting on Cheney's knee, learning to transmit his Master's voice... I am concerned about the sudden prominence of All-or-Nothing charges of religious EVIL against the Other, whether it's Chavez attacking Bush as the Devil, or the Pope's quotation of attacks on the Quran and on the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or born-again Christian Bush's demonization of the Evil Axis, or President Ahmedinajad's linking of his Muslim piety to "Death to Israel," or the recent "ruling" by a bunch of rabbis that "enemy" civilians are owed no protection when the Jewish state is waging war. When did Black-and-White become the favored gown of priests and rabbis, presidents and rebels? What happened to those most religious forms of color, the rainbow and the gray-scale? And what happened to the religious precept to look inward to correct our own sins, as well as outward to correct those of others? Shalom, - Arthur (Rabbi Arthur Waskow) Rabbi Arthur Waskow, co-author, The Tent of Abraham; director, The Shalom Center www.shalomctr.org, which voices a new prophetic agenda in Jewish, multireligious, and American life. = = = Thank you Arthur. - Joseph Gerson American Friends Service Committee = = = Wow, if you read this, what a different impression than what was on the 10 p.m. news last night [Sept 21 - mod.] (big surprise . . . ). - Deb Mailander = = = Dear Friends, Having heard Chavez' speech in its entirety ( in translation for me,unfortunately) I think Chavez reference to the Devil must be taken as what it was, a use of humor for its eye- opening effect. I wish I could see the video but just reading the text, which I include below, you can see that he is very specific in his concern about American empire -- which is what it is -- and what needs to be done to turn it back. I don't think it was an All-or-Nothing charge of Religious EVIL against the Other, or comparable to the Pope's quotation or Bush's Axis of Evil, or Ahmedinajad's Death to Israel of the rabbis' ruling re enemy civilians. Chavez stated quite clearly that he knew the American people want peace. Many scholars have noted the way the United Nations has been misused for US purposes. Chavez challenges the UN to act as a real agent for peace.Perhaps the means are present but the will is lacking in the General Assembly.He quite clearly wants Venezuela to have a seat on the Security Councilnext year. That would be a good thing. Perhaps a Security Council with a stronger countervailing voice would have not been quick to ratify the US occupation of Iraq by passing resolutions recognizing US rule there and turningover the Oil for Food resources to the CPA. Just a single instance of the need for a voice of challenge in the UNSC. Perhaps the UNSC can move at such time as when the US throws up a naval blockade at Iran's ports -- Phillis Bennis suggests this possiblity, with the scenario that if Iran responds to this move of aggression, as it is, with an attack on the US ships as permitted under article 51 of the UN Charter, the US would take that as justification for an all out bombing assault on Iran. - Carolyn Scarr Sept 21, 2006 --- portside (the left side in nautical parlance) is a news, discussion and debate service of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. It aims to provide varied material of interest to people on the left. To subscribe to the list: http://www.portside.org/subscribe To search the portside archive: http://www.portside.org/archive *** ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Munk Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 11:36 PM Subject: Pelosi calls Chavez a "thug"; Rangel also upset Charlie Rangel has joined Pelosi: he doesn't like Chavez dissing "my president." You can send Nancy your views through http://www.housedemocrats.gov/contact/index.cfm; Charlie only by phone: (202) 225-4365 or Fax: (202) 225-0816 Pelosi calls Chavez a "thug" Reuters, Sept 21, 2006 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of President George W. Bush's fiercest political opponents at home took his side on Thursday, calling Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez a "thug" for his remark that Bush is like the devil. "Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern day Simon Bolivar but all he is an everyday thug," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference, referring to Chavez' comments in a U.N. General Assembly speech on Wednesday. "Hugo Chavez abused the privilege that he had, speaking at the United Nations," said Pelosi, a frequent Bush critic. "He demeaned himself and he demeaned Venezuela." Simon Bolivar led the fight for independence against Spanish rule in several South American countries in the early 19th century and is cited by Chavez as a political model. Chavez, a vociferous critic of Bush and the United States, has allied himself with U.S. opponents Cuba and Iran and has led a resurgence of left-wing populism in Latin America. "The devil himself is right in the house. And the devil came here yesterday. Right here," Chavez said as he stood at the U.N. podium where Bush spoke the day before. "It smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of," Chavez said. His remarks drew applause from many of the delegates. Bush administration officials have not responded directly to Chavez's remarks. "I am not going to dignify a comment by the Venezuelan president to the president of the United States. I think it is not becoming for a head of state," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday. *** ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 7:53 PM Subject: Help Make Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival the # 1 Bestseller The day after Hugo Chavez UN speech urging all Americans to read Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival the Book is a Major Bestseller! At 7:30 PM EST Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival is at: # 2 on Amazon's Bestsellers List http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/books/all/ref=pd_dp_ts_b_1/002-6219290-6012034 # 3 on Barnes and Noble's Bestseller list on-line. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bestsellers/top100.asp (both lists are updated hourly) HELP MAKE IT #1! ORDER IT ON-LINE NOW (it's great gift to give your friends) The most popular items on Amazon.com. Updated hourly. # 2. Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance (The American Empire Project) by Noam Chomsky average customer review: Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks Price: $13.00 $7.80 You Save: $5.20 (40%) 51 used & new from $7.80 ### --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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