[Peace-discuss] Flyer

[Stuart Levy]

Bob Illyes wrote:

> This paragraph is not what "we" think, because I am a part of the
> "we". There is not consensus to distribute this flyer with the
> AWARE name on it. It needs to be a News from Neptune flyer if it
> is distributed as is.


Well yes, but isn't this a higher standard than we've usually used
for flyers in the past?  Sometimes they've been passed around at meetings,
but mostly we've just trusted the people who were putting them together
(often Jan and Durl).  As a group, we've generally approved the theme 
of the flyer (as we did this time), but not usually the text.
So I'm glad Carl has passed the draft text around, but hope that we
don't call for this one to be released under some sort of caveat.

I do like the line from Paul M that Carl mentioned on Sunday,
that if some of the members of your coalition don't make you a little
uncomfortable, then your coalition isn't broad enough.  There are
some signs at our One Main protests that I wouldn't choose to carry,
but it's well worth it for me to ally with AWARE anyway, of course.

Bob's point about the last paragraph, which could avoid some
potential misinterpretation by referring to democratic control of
"corporations" rather than "the corporate economy", is well taken.
I'd be happy to see a change like that, but don't feel strongly
enough about this to urge Carl to change it.

For someone who would I think agree strongly with Carl's paragraph
on capitalist motivations for war, I refer the interested reader
to Lewis Lapham, who wrote a scathing article in Harper's Magazine
in September '06.  It's since been posted on line, and a google search
for "Lewis Lapham Lionhearts" turns up several copies.  Here's its
opening paragraph:

    Although the reports from Baghdad this summer might seem to
    suggest that all is not well with Operation Iraqi Freedom-the city a
    blood-smeared ruin, the American Army hiding in holes-the impression
    is misleading. Understand the war on terror as free-market capitalist
    enterprise rather than as some sort of public or government service,
    and in the nightly newscasts we see before us victory, not defeat.

cheers

   Stuart