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The Rag Blog Digest Nov. 30, 2011 theragblog.blogspot.com ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923130/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/ ) Richard D. Jehn, founder Thorne Webb Dreyer, editor Bill Meacham : What is Truth? (In 400 Words) ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923131/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bill-meacham-what-is-truth-in-400-words.html )-- By Bill Meacham / The Rag Blog. Bill's essay on "Truth" (in 400 words or less) was a winner in Philosophy Now's essay contest and is also a big winner in our humble estimation.("Truth is useful. Does that mean that what is useful is true? That is not a useful question.") We also post another provocative (and winning)take on the subject by Bill's colleague, Robert Tables. Allen Young : Is 'Mic Check' Just 'Political Shouting?' ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923132/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/allen-young-is-mic-check-just-political.html )-- By Allen Young / The Rag Blog. The Occupy Wall Streetmovement has captured the attention and imagination of the country -- and with it's advent have come some stylistic innovations. One of those, known as "mic check," has served as a unique means of communication among demonstrators -- and has more recently been usedas a technique tointerrupt speeches, including one by Karl Rove. Our old friend and colleague Allen has serious reservations about "mic check" which he shares with us -- along with an email string reflecting some sharply differing opinions on the subject. The post includes a video of the Karl Rove disruption. Paul Rosenberg : American Deceptionalism ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923133/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/paul-rosenberg-american-deceptionalism.html )-- By Paul Rosenberg / Progressive America Rising. In an incisive and thought-provoking opinion piece, Rosenbergsays that, "Under the growing influence of the 1 per cent, American exceptionalism has become American deceptionalism." Paul says that the U.S.' "perverse refusal to learn from others who have been inspired by us in the political realm is strikingly at odds with Americans' grassroots improvisatory traditions." This piece, which originated with Al Jazeera, is a must read. Robert Jensen : Occupy Congress ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923134/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/robert-jensen-occupy-congress-with.html )-- By Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Jensen reminds us that left activists "typically argue that political change comes not from electing better politicians but building movements strong enough to force politicians to accept progressive change." But Norman Solomon has concluded that it isn't an "either/or" question. The activist, author, and media critic, who supports a "green New Deal,"is running for Congress and Jensenthinks he -- and his ideas -- deserve our attention. Marc Estrin : Who Needs Tear Gas? ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923135/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/marc-estrin-who-needs-tear-gas.html )-- By Marc Estrin / The Rag Blog. New England novelist and activist Estrin discusses the evolvingtactics being used by mayors and police chiefs against the Occupy movement.They are turning tonovel approaches which involve a "switch from blameworthy military attack to invisible counterinsurgency." One effective tactic, he tells us, is "don't given them any place to pee." Bob Feldman : Reconstruction in Texas, 1865-1876 ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923136/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bob-feldman-reconstruction-in-texas.html )-- By Bob Feldman / The Rag Blog. In the latest installment of his "hidden history of Texas," Bob tells us about the Reconstruction years which included the time of emancipation of African-Americans, and a period when many black men held office.He also recounts the fraudulent election of 1873 in which manyblacks were prevented from voting by "white supremacist Democrats who had previously supported the Confederacy." EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO! Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923137/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=info&oa_id=33 ): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin. To stream online, go here ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923138/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html ). Rag Radio features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues of progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers, artists, leading thinkers, and public figures. This Friday: Dec. 2, 2011: NewYorkTimes Columnist Robert H. Frank, Author of The Darwin Economy. Dec. 9, 2011: Nonviolent Activist Val Liveoak of Peacebuilding en las Americas. Dec. 16, 2011: Singer/Songwriter and Activist Eliza Gilkyson. Dec. 30, 2011: Environmentalist & Climate Change Activist Bruce Melton. Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923139/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=info&oa_id=33 ) Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) on WFTE, 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA. Mic check : Sounding off. Jack A. Smith : The U.S. and Irreversible Climate Change ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923140/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/jack-smith-us-and-irreversible-climate.html )-- By Jack A. Smith / The Rag Blog. Jack Smith provides a revealing and sobering wrap-up of the status of climate change and the response to it, telling us that the Obama Administration "has largely remained passive about the critical imperative to reduce greenhouse gases to limit catastrophic global warming." In fact, he says, the White House is greatly expanding U.S. access to fossil fuel energy sources even as scientific and environmental groups are intensifying their warnings about the worsening situation. Lamar W. Hankins : Ayn Rand and the Sophistry of the Libertarians ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923141/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/lamar-w-hankins-ayn-rand-and-sophistry.html )-- By Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog. Lamartells us that AynRand glorified individualists who, in her belief,succeed because of their own actions, resources, intellects, and willpower. But, Lamar says, you have to "have blinders not to see the importance of the cooperative spirit that pervades America," and not to see how "the profiteers, using libertarian justifications, help corporations dominate American life." Danny Schechter : The Media and Occupy Wall Street ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923142/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/danny-schechter-media-and-occupy-wall.html )-- By Danny Schechter / The Rag Blog. Danny discusses how the media have traditionally covered social movements: "First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they realize you are a story and fall in love. So they build you up but then... tear you down." He suggests how the Occupy demonstratorsneed to find "more creative forms of outreach and organizing to turn a community of activists into a mass movement" with demands that will resonate with the community. CARTOON / Joshua Brown : Life During Wartime: March of History ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923143/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/cartoon-joshua-brown-life-during.html )-- Political cartoon by Joshua Brown / The Rag Blog. Artist/historian Brown offers one of his inimitable quick takes on the "March of History." (The more things change, the more they...) Ted McLaughlin : Congressional Insider Trading is a Crime! Or Should Be... ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923144/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/ted-mclaughlin-congressional-insider.html )-- By Ted McLaughlin / The Rag Blog. Surprise! Members of Congress regularly do something that, if done by other Americans, would be considered a criminal act. "Insider trading" -- when inside information is used to gain an unfair advantage in the stock market --appears to be a routine occurrence among members of Congress and their aides. Ted suggests some ways this problem could be addressed. Got gas? : Big gulp. The Rag Blog is a non-profit internet newsmagazine produced by activist journalists committed to progressive social change. The Rag Blog is published by the New Journalism Project, inc., a Texas non-profit corporation that has been granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This status is retroactive to Oct. 9, 2008. If you do not wish to receive further email from The Rag Blog, please click on the "opt out" button below. If you have received this newsletter at more than one address, please "opt out" at addresses where you don't wish to receive these mailings. The New Journalism Project, inc. P.O. Box 16442 Austin, TX 78761-6442 theragblog.blogspot.com ( http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923145/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com ) Please become a Rag Blog Supporter. We take no advertising and depend entirely on your support. Please help us continue our work with a donation of $10, $20, $50 or whatever you can afford. P.O. Box 14672 | Austin, TX 78761-4672 US ___________________________________ forward this email to a friend http://e2ma.net/app/view:Forward/ID:32516.7363776793/send_to_friend/rid:1553917668ae48302791cb145c5a0238 This email was sent to sixties-l@googlegroups.com. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences: http://e2ma.net/app/view:Manage/signupId:55090/id:32516.7363776793/rid:1553917668ae48302791cb145c5a0238 opt out using TrueRemove(tm): http://e2ma.net/app/view:OptOut/ID:32516.7363776793/signupId:55090/rid:1553917668ae48302791cb145c5a0238 Got this as a forward? 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