New England Activist Alert - Military Recruiters in Worcester, MA

[Dystopian]

Received via email. Please PM me for details if you're interested/plan to attend:

Dear Friend,

Four years ago, the US Army multimedia show, “Spirit of America”, a glitzy recruiting extravaganza came to Worcester's DCU Center and the School Department as well as parochial schools bused children to attend that propaganda event. Later the Worcester School Department reneged on an earlier promise to bus children to an alternative show about the history of peace movements in the US which we had produced with considerable effort and expense.

Now the same show is returning to Worcester on September 19 and 20th.

We are writing to the schools to exact a promise not to send any children to this shows that glorifies war and lures children to the military life. We are prepared to be vocal in our opposition to this show and to government propaganda glorifying the military life.

We are also planning to mount major demonstrations outside the event on Friday, Sept 19th at 9:30 and again on Saturday at 1:30.

We are writing to supporters of peace around New England to support us in this opposition to the “Spirit of America.” Worcester supporters of peace have regularly attended events and demonstrations in Boston and other locations in New England. Now we hope that others will be able to come to our support.

We are asking you to help us in any way you can to make these into large demonstrations.

For Worcester Peace Works and other Worcester supporters of peace.

peace~

[aspergris]

1. r there any links

to online version of this "spirit of america" show so can i get a sense of what it actually is?

[Dystopian]

2. oh well....

I see now that I'm replying to one who is no longer with us...
So replying to myself, in case the post is deleted along with the poster...

Thank you for asking. As soon as I received it, posted without research....
http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2004/09/289.php
(2004 article regarding demonstration)
I could not access the Worcester Indymedia calendar for September 2008.

I will contact the organizers directly, but from the site that I just found, it appears that this is a 'military humanitarian' organization. Because of the peace groups' stance, it appears to be a major recruiting tool glorifying war/military service:
http://www.spiritofamerica.net/site/inthenews


Mission and Objectives
Spirit of America's mission is to extend the goodwill of the American people to assist those advancing freedom, democracy and peace abroad. We provide support to those on the front lines: American military and civilian personnel and people who call to Americans for help in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

Our objectives include:


Increase the reach, scale and impact of the informal humanitarian activities that take place on the front lines in troubled regions.
Contribute charitable goods that can have a positive, practical and timely impact in the local communities where American personnel are involved.
Establish connections and strengthen bonds between the American people and those in countries struggling for freedom and democracy.
Spirit of America is a 501c3 nonprofit supported solely through private-sector contributions. Our Federal Tax ID number is 20-1687786. Donations to Spirit of America and the projects we feature are tax deductible.

Some of our supporters see Spirit of America as a way to help people who have suffered from repression, terrorism and war. Others see us as a way to support our troops by helping them succeed with their mission. And others see Spirit of America as a way to help win the war on terror and advance freedom, democracy and peace. We are all of those things.
http://www.mdw.army.mil/content/anmviewer.asp?a=1953&z=1


**************************************************
From attendees:
http://www.metaphoria.org/ac4t0410.html
http://cltg.org/cltg/barbara/2004/04-09-16_Spirit_of_America.htm


2004 Indymedia:
http://nhindymedia.org/newswire/display/1356/index.php


Hope this hastily put together Google search helped.....
peace~