AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH

[Jcrowley]

Rachel Carson Biography
Biologist, Writer, Ecologist, 1907-1964

“The ‘control of nature’ is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology and the convenience of man.”



Rosa Parks Biography
Seamstress, Civil Rights Leader, 1913 –

“The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”



Mother Jones Biography
Labor leader, organizer, 1830—1930

“Goodbye, boys; I’m under arrest. I may have to go to jail. I may not see you for a long time. Keep up the fight! Don’t surrender! Pay no attention to the injunction machine at Parkersburg. The Federal judge is a scab anyhow. While you starve he plays golf. While you serve humanity, he serves injunctions for the money powers.”



Martin Luther King, Jr. Biography
Clergyman, Civil Rights Leader 1929-1968

“Non-violence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”



Cesar Estrada Chavez Biography
Farm Workers’ Union Founder, Human Rights Activist, 1927-1993

“It’s amazing how people can get so excited about a rocket to the moon and not give a damn about smog, oil leaks, the devastation of the environment with pesticides, hunger, disease. When the poor share some of the power that the affluent now monopolize, we will give a damn.”



Chief Joseph Hinmton Yalektit Biography
Native American Leader, c1840—1904

“I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please.”



Emma Goldman Biography
Anarchist, Feminist, Labor Advocate, 1869-1940

“…The greatest bulwark of capitalism is militarism.”



Frederick Douglass Biography
Anti-slavery Orator and Writer, 1818-1895

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe” (Speech on the 24th anniversary of Emancipation, Washington, D.C.).



Doris Haddock (“Granny D”)
Activist 1910-

“Just as an unbalanced mind can accumulate stresses that can grow and take on a life of their own, so little decisions of our modern life can accumulate to the point where our society finds itself bombing other people for their oil, or supporting dictators who torture whole populations—all so that our unbalanced interests might be served.”



Mark Twain Biography
Writer, Humorist, Social Critic, 1835-1910

“It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”



Noam Chomsky Biography
Linguist, Political Activist, Writer, 1928 –

“…jingoism, racism, fear, religious fundamentalism: these are the ways of appealing to people if you’re trying to organize a mass base of support for policies that are really intended to crush them.”



Walt Whitman Biography
American Poet, 1819-1892

“This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone who asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown.” (Preface to the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass)



W.E.B. DuBOIS Biography
Writer, Teacher, Civil Rights Spokesman, 1868-1963

"Back of the problem of race and color lies a greater problem and that is the fact that so many civilized person's are willing to live in comfort even if the price of this is poverty, ignorance, and disease of the majority of their fellowmen, that to maintain this privilege men have waged war until today war tends to become universal and continuous."



Wendell Berry Biography
Farmer, Essayist, Conservationist, Novelist, Teacher, Poet, 1934 -

“The most alarming sign of the state of our society now is that our leaders have the courage to sacrifice the lives of young people in war but have not the courage to tell us that we must be less greedy and wasteful.”



Sojourner Truth Biography
Abolitionist, evangelist, and feminist, 1797?—1883

"Now I hears talkin about de Constitution and de rights of man. I comes up and I takes hold of dis Constitution. It looks mighty big, and I feels for my rights, but der aint any dare. Den I says, God, what ails dis Constitution? He says to me, “Sojourner, dere is a little weasel in it.”



Helen Keller Biography
Writer, lecturer, advocate for the disabled, 1880—1968

“When one comes to think of it, there are no such things as divine, immutable, or inalienable rights. Rights are things we get when we are strong enough to make good our claim on them.”



Malcolm X Biography
Black Nationalist, Muslim Leader
1925 – 1965

“We’re not Americans, we’re Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock --- that rock landed on us.”



Fannie Lou Hamer Biography
Sharecropper, Civil Rights Activist
1917 - 1977

”Sometimes it seem like to tell the truth today is to run the risk of being killed. But if I fall, I'll fall five feet four inches forward in the fight for freedom. I'm not backing off.

[StClone]

1. Kicking off 007

We need more smart and caring people to run things.

[Jcrowley]

6. And that person

could be you. Or maybe we need none to run things and we can operate more gracefully amongst ourselves in an entirely different operating system. I believe we can. And it's up to you, noone else. Except me. And everyone else.

We are at a turning point. There are no systems available to deal with this. Let's go.

"Great nations are simply the operating fronts of behind-the-scenes, vastly ambitious individuals who had become so effectively powerful because of their ability to remain invisible while operating behind the national scenery."

R. Buckminster Fuller

"If humanity does not opt for integrity we are through completely. It is absolutely touch and go. Each one of us could make the difference."

R. Buckminster Fuller

[stillcool]

2. really nice...

and hope inspiring....nice pics too!

[countingbluecars]

3. Very nice.

This is a keeper. Thanks.

[jwirr]

4. A beautiful statement of activism. We are their descendents and

I wish we always had their wisdom. Thank you for posting it.

[WiseButAngrySara]

5. Another thread of yours bookmarked! My first for 2007!

:kick: and R! and Happy New Year!

[me b zola]

7. k&r

:thumbsup:

[Ms. Clio]

8. thank you

Outstanding.

[Jcrowley]

9. Ms. Clio

I have to say two things to you:

1) Your thoughts and real-truth reality get me goin' every time I read your words. Don't think it's not noticed;

B) That damn dog of yours staring up with those wild eyes and desperate tongue brings much laughter to moi asse' as a reluctant dog lubber and co-habitater'.

Meaningful New Year..

:toast: to U

[Ms. Clio]

10. Jcrowley

1) So very kind -- my deepest thanks. Of course I read everything of yours that I see -- you bring so much depth to GD.

2) Gracias! So why reluctant? And do you have a photograph of your dog cohabitant???

May it be a meaningful new year for us all.

:toast:

[Jcrowley]

13. Not at this moment

Pretty well avoid photos and am a reluctant technologist. Old Ways you know.

He's a 60 pound Aussie as beautiful and free as can be given what we've got.

Reluctant as per doggie? Well I wonder that myself. In-depth it has to do with civilization-industrialism and domesticity.

Keep at it Clio

[Ms. Clio]

14. gotta say, it's no surprise you have an Aussie

so is the girl in my photo, of course. And my other dog, too.

I won't hijack your wonderful thread with more photos or canine conversation -- but I am mightily intrigued by your reasons for reluctance.

You keep on keepin on, Jc.

[emmadoggy]

18. Just want to quick tag on that I too

can't help smiling every time I see that adorable, lovable, smiling doggy face. Dogs are just so great - I love that wonderful exuberance and enthusiasm they have that reminds me so much of children. I miss seeing that happy, smiling face from my dog (God rest her soul). She was a Sheltie (my username comes from her :) ). Aussie's are great too (had one or what was a mix of one when I was a kid). Herding dogs are so unbelievably smart and loyal.

[Ms. Clio]

21. Hi, Emma, I think we chatted about our wonderful herding dogs previously!

So sorry for your loss. :(

[WillyT]

11. Beautiful !!! - K & R !!!

:kick::yourock::kick:

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

12. K & R. Nice post...

I think this one belongs in there as well...

[H2O Man]

15. Great post!

Thank you.

[emmadoggy]

16. Wonderful post. Love the art.

:)

[anitar1]

17. Thank you so much for posting

the pics and quotes. Very inspiring. Another one to save !

[lonestarnot]

19. You left out Murrow and Olbermann, but I like your list

[Imagevision]

20. AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH like Sibel Edmunds are gag-ordered

to not allow the truth to be known under the guise of national security time and time again!! Perhaps in 2007 we may finally know the truth! (Now I understand why Pelosi doesn't want bush impeached, at least not right away!

[noamnety]

22. a few more

Stan Goff: "The physical reality is that "sustainable growth" is an oxymoron. A soft energy landing from the last two hundred years of development will require massive conservation, especially by the overdeveloped countries, and that can only happen in a nongrowth ( and therefore noncapitalist ) society. The choice is now becoming either capitalism or humanity."



Shirley Chisholm: First Black Congresswoman, 1924-2005

“… Prejudice and hatred built the nation’s slums, maintains them and profits by them…. Unless we start to fight and defeat the enemies in our own country, poverty and racism, and make our talk of equality and opportunity ring true, we are exposed in the eyes of the world as hypocrites when we talk about making people free.”



Robert Jensen

Professor, Author, Feminist, Activist, 1958 -

"This is the simple discovery which we must confront. We were given a place in the creation, with a beauty beyond telling, and we have failed to care for it. And as our collective contempt for the non-human world has intensified, so has our contempt for each other. We have failed to care for each other."

----------------------------------------------------
The artist is Robert Shetterly, website is: http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/

At least one of our DUers is in the series.

[bobbolink]

40. Thank you soooo much for including Shirley Chisholm!

"Unbought and unbossed!"

I'm proud to say, I voted for her in '72!

Thanks. :applause:

[OneBlueSky]

23. if you're not familiar with Wendell Berry's work, you should be . . .

described by Matthew Fox as a "geologian" and by himself as "a farmer of sorts and an artist of sorts," Wendell Berry makes you think . . . many worthwhile (and readable) books are available, e.g. . .

The Way of Ignorance: And Other Essays
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Ignorance-Other-Essays/dp/1593760779/sr=1-2/qid=1167734961/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-4659789-9822058?ie=UTF8&s=books

Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Christ's Teachings of Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness
http://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Are-Peacemakers-Compassion-Forgiveness/dp/1593761007/sr=1-3/qid=1167734961/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/105-4659789-9822058?ie=UTF8&s=books

The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Commonplace-Agrarian-Essays-Wendell/dp/1593760078/sr=1-5/qid=1167734961/ref=sr_1_5/105-4659789-9822058?ie=UTF8&s=books

The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture
http://www.amazon.com/Unsettling-America-Culture-Agriculture/dp/0871568772/sr=1-8/qid=1167734961/ref=sr_1_8/105-4659789-9822058?ie=UTF8&s=books

Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community: Eight Essays
http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Economy-Freedom-Community-Essays/dp/0679756515/sr=1-12/qid=1167734961/ref=sr_1_12/105-4659789-9822058?ie=UTF8&s=books

What Are People For?
http://www.amazon.com/What-Are-People-Wendell-Berry/dp/0865474370/sr=1-13/qid=1167735299/ref=sr_1_13/105-4659789-9822058?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Jcrowley]

31. Excellent list

The Unsettling of America is required reading for us all. Along the same lines though not American is the work of Masanobu Fukuouka.


Here's another masterpiece by Berry:


"If economy means 'management of a household,' then we have a system of national accounting that bears no resemblance to the national economy whatsoever, for it is not the record of our life at home but the fever chart of our consumption. national economy--the health of which might be indicated by our net national product, derived by subtracting our real losses from our real gains--is perhaps a top secret, the existence of which even the government has not yet suspected.

"One reason for this is the geographical separation that frequently exists between losses and gains. Agricultural losses occur on the farm and in farming communities, whereas the great gains of agriculture all occur in cities, just as the profits from coal are realized mainly in cities far from where the coal is mined. Almost always the profit is realized by people who are under no pressure or obligation to realize the losses-- people, that is, who are so positioned by wealth and power that they need assign no value at all to what is lost. The cost of soil erosion is not deducted from the profit on a packaged beefsteak, just as the loss of forest, topsoil, and human homes on a Kentucky mountainside does not reduce the profit on a ton of coal."

"If in the human economy, a squash in the field is worth more than a bushel of soil, that does not mean that food is more valuable than soil; it means simply that we do not know how to value the soil. In its complexity and its potential longevity, the soil exceeds our comprehension; we do not know how to place a just market value on it, and we will never learn how. Its value is inestimable; we must value it, beyond whatever price we put on it, by respecting it."

"But when nothing is valued for what it is, everything is destined to be wasted. Once the values of things refer only to their future usefulness, then an infinite withdrawal of value from the living present has begun. Nothing (and nobody) can then exist that is not theoretically replaceable by something (or somebody) more valuable. The country that we (or some of us) had thought to make our home becomes instead 'a nation rich in natural resources'; the good bounty of the land begins its mechanical metamorphosis into junk, garbage, silt, poison, and other forms of 'waste.'

"The inevitable result of such an economy is that no farm or any other usable property can safely be regarded by anyone as a home, no home is ultimately worthy of our loyalty, nothing is ultimately worth doing, and no place or task or person is worth a lifetime's devotion. 'Waste,' in such an economy, must eventually include several categories of humans--the unborn, the old, 'disinvested' farmers, the unemployed, the 'unemployable.' Indeed, once our homeland, our source, is regarded as a resource, we are all sliding downward toward the ashheap or the dump."

[LuckyLib]

32. Berry's quote is stunning and very timely:

"The most alarming sign of the state of our society now is that our leaders have the courage to sacrifice the lives of young people in war but have not the courage to tell us that we must be less greedy and wasteful.”

[malaise]

24. An absolutely beautiful post

Get up Stand up, Stand up for our rights.

[DemReadingDU]

25. Great thread, bookmarked!

very nice portraits, where did they come from?

[Jcrowley]

26. You can see the whole collection here

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/

[DemReadingDU]

27. Thank you, very nice portraits

I will be checking out the site for others.

[femrap]

28. Thank you.

I now have a bit of inspiration to get me started in '07.

[Lars39]

29. Will Pitt has also been added to the artist's list.

http://americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/portraits/william_rivers_pitt.html

[mzmolly]

35. Here he is, in all his glory.

William Rivers Pitt Biography

"Why so much war? Because war is a profitable enterprise. George W. Bush and his people can hold forth about the wonders of democracy and peace, and can condemn worldwide violence in solemn tones. Until the United States stops being the world's largest arms dealer, these words from our government absolutely reek of hypocrisy."

Congrats to Mr. Pitt! :toast:

[jaksavage]

30. I grieve

That I can't show this to everyone I know. What a powerful piece. Thank you.

[mnhtnbb]

33. Thanks for bringing to our attention.

[nam78_two]

34. K&R.nt

[sonias]

36. What a wonderful recap of these great Americans

Bravo to them!

Looks like the exhibit is available for travel as well
http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/traveling_exhibit.php

It would make a wonderful exhibit in anyone's city or town.

:applause::applause::applause:

Sonia

[emlev]

37. Rosa Parks 1913-...she died in 2005

Thanks for posting this.

[truedelphi]

38. Grand COllection - Would love to see Helen Thomas' portrait

Included with Rachel Carson's

It was years of being against pesticides before I realized Rachel Carson held a Master's
Degree - the pesticide industry testimony against her in Congress was so vitriolic that you would have thought she was an uneducated attention grabber who made up her statistics without any real research being done
And she was constantly up on The Hill informing Congress on what they needed to know while fighting breast cancer.

[bobbolink]

39. I agree with all of them--just hoped to see Dorothy Day included.

"The Catholic Church is a whore, but she's my mother."
Dorothy Day

OK, so that's not her most famous quotation, but... it's one that I currently am stuck on. :hi:

I'm also currently reading an article by Wendell Berry, so was glad to see him included.

Now, about Dorothy Day...... :)

[Jcrowley]

41. A few more

Winona LaDuke Biography
Native American Activist, Environmentalist, Writer 1959-

“The essence of the problem is about consumption, recognizing that a society that consumes one third of the world’s resources is unsustainable. This level of consumption requires constant intervention into other people’s lands. That’s what’s going on.”





Bruce “Utah” Phillips Biography
Songwriter, Storyteller, Humorist, Philosopher, 1935–

“Kids don’t have a little brother working in the coal mine, they don’t have a little sister coughing her lungs out in the looms of the big mill towns of the Northeast. Why? Because we organized; we broke the back of the sweatshops in this country; we have child labor laws. Those were not benevolent gifts from enlightened management. They were fought for, they were bled for, they were died for by working people, by people like us. Kids ought to know that. That’s why I sing these songs. That’s why I tell these stories, dammit. No root, no fruit!”





Edward Abbey biography
Writer, ‘desert anarchist’, 1927—1989

"The most common form of terrorism in the U.S.A. is that carried on by bulldozers and chainsaws. It is not enough to understand the natural world; the point is to defend and preserve it. Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul."





Dahr Jamail Biography
Independent Journalist, War Reporter, 1968–

“It was a failure of citizenship of the American people that the Bush cabal was allowed to invade Iraq. Thus, every U.S. citizen who is not doing everything in their power to end this illegal and immoral occupation as quickly as possible is complicit with the war crimes being committed in Iraq on a daily basis.”





Ella Baker Biography
Activist, Civil Rights Organizer, 1903–1986

“In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become a part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed. It means facing a system that does not lend itself to your needs and devising means by which you can change that system. That is easier said than done.”

:hi: bobbo

A year for action. Don't ask. Demand.

[bobbolink]

42. "Don't ask. Demand."

That's what it's coming to.

And, I'm here to tell ya....I've been frightened.

I see it coming.

This will be the test.

Thanks, Jcrowley! You are often there to dispense the strength to keep on keeping on..... :applause:

Dorothy Day icon:

http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/icon.cfm

[Jcrowley]

44. Which way did up go after she found down

Away in a society that just can't see?

Responsibility.



"The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us?"

I'm not talking about you unless I am, right?

Her last jailing was in 1969 at the age of 76 while protesting with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers in California.

I have a few Catholic Worker friends down the road, less than a block. As an atheist let me say how much we share. They are the real deal.

"From Union Square To Rome"

[bobbolink]

45. Her last jailing..... I was thinking of her protest in Nevada

Protesting the atomic tests there.

But, she might not have ended in jail at that time.

That's where the famous picture of her as a little old lady, looking up at the big person with the badge comes from. It's a classic.

I agree with you about Catholic Worker folk. "Read deal" is right.

And, doesn't matter whether you were "talking about" me. I feel the pressure. ~~chortle~~ Cereally, it's where I am right now.

[bobbolink]

43. Get These Beautiful Faces Back To The Top!

:applause: