F-ck the New York Times, and their editorial decisions about which middle-class stroking sociological studies to publicize.
Google: 587,000 (hits) for Iraq Residents come together to help displaced families. But no New York Times. Bumba Clots. (That's appropriately, "A-s Wipe", in the Jamaican vernacular) Religious leaders from four Baghdad neighbourhoods - Sunni-dominated Yarmouk and Mansour in western Baghdad, religiously mixed Harthiya, also in western Baghdad, and religiously mixed Arassat in the city's east - have been asking congregations during Friday prayers to participate in the project. Donations for assisting the displaced are kept in the local mosques or at the houses of organisers IRAQ: Residents come together to help displaced families <http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=71891> Photo: Afif Sarhan/IRIN Hundreds of families in six Baghdad neighbourhoods have been collecting food and other items from their neighbours to bring to displaced people living in makeshift camps in the capital BAGHDAD, 1 May 2007 (IRIN) - Some families in Baghdad have started working together to collect food and essential items for displaced people living in makeshift camps on the outskirts of the capital - an initiative that has been welcomed by local NGOs. "The idea came from a child who was missing two of his friends who were displaced. His family decided to take the child to visit them. When they got back home he asked his mother to send some food to his friends' families. His mother then spoke about it to a neighbour of theirs as the situation of the displaced was desperate," said Sa'ad Ruweidi, one of the organisers of the project. "Since then, hundreds of families have been collecting food and other items from their neighbours to send to camps for IDPs [internally displaced people]. These items have been helping the displaced survive, as NGOs are not able to cope and with the increase in violence are scared to go to such areas," Ruweidi added. Despite its extremely volatile situation, Baghdad has more displaced people living there than any other city in Iraq, with about 120,000 people displaced since February 2006, according to a recent report by the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI). It added that many of these were displaced from within Baghdad. Six neighbourhoods of the capital, with relatively less violence than others, are participating in the initiative. "Every day we collect enough to fill five cars. Some women cook and we take fresh food to the [displaced] families who are so happy to be able to eat the hot meals we bring them," said Ruweidi. Project changing face of Iraq Fatah Ahmed, spokesman for NGO Iraqi Aid Association (IAA), said the families who are helping the displaced have changed the image of present-day Iraq and have helped NGOs, which are struggling to assist so many displaced families. "Everyone should be aware of this initiative. If every neighbourhood in Baghdad does the same, we will have fewer children suffering from malnutrition and fewer men will become criminals to support their loved ones," Ahmed said. Children also participate in the project by helping their relatives carry the collected items and going to the displacement camps to help distribute them. ''It shows how Iraqis are brave not only in defending their country but also in helping their brothers in need.'' "I feel so good helping those families. The looks on their faces when we arrive are amazing - they become so happy," Muhammad Haddi, a 14-year-old resident of Mansour district, said. Local NGOs have been supporting the initiative and have been offering supplies to add to those already collected. According to Ruweidi, the project will be replicated in cities such as Kerbala, Najaf and Kirkuk. Religious leaders from four Baghdad neighbourhoods - Sunni-dominated Yarmouk and Mansour in western Baghdad, religiously mixed Harthiya, also in western Baghdad, and religiously mixed Arassat in the city's east - have been asking congregations during Friday prayers to participate in the project. Donations for assisting the displaced are kept in the local mosques or at the houses of organisers. "It shows how Iraqis are brave not only in defending their country but also in helping their brothers in need. We're having success with the daily delivery of food items, which has helped many families to survive under such terrible violence," said Sheikh Abdallah Aydan, a religious leader from a mosque in Yarmouk district. as/ar/ed Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends [with additional verse & notes] By Phil Ochs Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends. Riding down the highway, yes, my back is getting stiff Thirteen cars are piled up, they're hanging on a cliff. Maybe we should pull them back with our towing chain But we gotta move and we might get sued and it looks like it's gonna rain And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends. Sweating in the ghetto with the colored and the poor The rats have joined the babies who are sleeping on the floor Now wouldn't it be a riot if they really blew their tops? But they got too much already and besides we got the cops And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends. Oh there's a dirty paper using sex to make a sale The Supreme Court was so upset, they sent him off to jail. Maybe we should help the fiend and take away his fine. But we're busy reading Playboy and the Sunday New York Times And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer, But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends Oh look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends [ Additional verse, 1974] Down in Santiago where they took away our mines We cut off all their money so they robbed the storehouse blind Now maybe we should ask some questions, maybe shed a tear But I bet you a copper penny, it cannot happen here And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends Notes: The first verse is a commentary on the murder of Kitty Genovese. She was murdered March 14th, 1964 in NYC. Dave Marulli supplies the following about this incident: On March 13, 1964, a 28 year old New York City woman gained world-wide recognition for her role in an event which even today is remembered by people everywhere, creating a legacy still held up as an example of American values, or lack thereof. There can be no doubt, however, that Kitty Genovese would have given all her worldly possessions to have avoided the global "fame" acquired on that Friday the 13th that gave to her the ultimate horror associated with this symbol of bad luck. Even though 47,000 New York City residents have been murdered since, hers remains the most tragic because 38 "citizens" awakened by her cries for help watched as she was assaulted not once, but three times over a half hour period. Not only did they fail to come to her aid, they also failed to call the police for help. Vincent Mosely, her assailant, stabbed her several times, then left, only to return a few minutes later to cut her up a little more. During his brief absence, these "decent" New Yorkers turned off their lights and went back to sleep, only to be awakened again by this second assault, a scene repeated a third time, after which she no longer needed the assistance she failed to get the first, second or even the third, and final time. During Mosely's trial, witnesses made several statements, but one stands above the rest as a symbol of this tragic event and is the reason for its world-wide infamy: "We didn't want to get involved." No surprise to Mosely, for as he said: "I knew they wouldn't do anything - they never do." Hundreds, if not thousands, of studies were done about this event and book after book after book announced the downfall of American values because of it. One study concluded that on average, if more than 4 people witness an event, nobody will do anything. Each person will say to themselves "I don't have to get involved since there are other people here who can help." --30-- <http://www.ocap.ca/songs/smalcirc.html>
