[Col. Writ. 10/31/01] Copyright Mumia Abu-Jamal

 

One of the great attractions of patriotism - it fulfills

our worst wishes.  In the person of our nation we

are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat.  Bully and

cheat, what's more, with a feeling that we are

profoundly virtuous.

-- Aldous Huxley, British Writer [1894-1963]

 

    In times of government and media-declared war,

elite pressures combine to compel people to express

or reflect one's patriotism.

 

    The question immediately arises:  what *is* patriotism?

 

    Love of country? Love of one's people?  Or, blind,

yielding obedience to government dictates?

 

    Is it the supine surrender of one's will to that of those in

political power?  Or is it the conviction that one must speak

truth to power -- yea, even unpopular, unheralded truth?

 

    Questions such as these are not easily answered, for

there is no one, single response.  They are answered

individually, in the silence of the soul.  How one answers

depends where one is in national life, or where one comes

from.

 

    An American citizen, elected to a high place of Congress,

dares to refuse to surrender her political independence to

the nation's chief executive, urging caution as she casts a

lone vote.  She is threatened with death, not from foreign

terrorists, but from domestic ones!

 

    A nationally known broadcaster announces that he is at

the disposal of his Commander-in-Chief, "just tell me where

to go, Mr. President, and I'm there" (or words to that effect),

tears welling up over his stage make-up.

 

    Consider, shall we say, these two extremes of public

behavior.  Which is more, well, patriotic?

 

    One retains her political independence, saying, in effect,

"I was not elected to surrender my powers to legislate to

the executive, but to represent my constituency, and the

principle of separation of powers, without which, democracy

is illusory."

 

    The other publicly surrenders, saying, in effect, "I will not

pretend to objectivity.  You are my Commander; I am the

commanded.  My journalism is at your service, Sire."

 

    The one is Congresswoman Barbara Jackson Lee,

member of the House of Representatives, 9th Congressional

district, a Democrat from California.  The other is CBS

network anchor Dan Rather, the multi-million dollar, unelected

corporate journalist.

 

    Which is more popular?

 

    Which is more American?

 

    The U.S. Constitution has no provision (to this writer's

knowledge) for a national legislator to surrender her

independence to the executive - even in times of war.

 

    As for the "Commander in Chief" reference, despite

Dan's journalistic genuflection, the Constitution's

Article II states that the President is Commander in

Chief of "the Army and Navy of the United States,"

and, under certain conditions, "the Militia."  Unless

Dan enlists, anchors aren't included.

 

    A free person is not patriotic because he surrenders

his freedom.  He is either free, or he ain't.  Which are you?

 

Copyright 2001 MAJ

==============================

 

THEY ARE PLANNING TO MURDER MUMIA!!

SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 8TH - FOR MUMIA!
PLEASE PASS THE WORD!

"We are fighting the last battle to Free Mumia, and need support now
more than ever.  We need donations of money, calling cards, copy cards,
etc. and we really need manpower.  We need people to be in the streets
every day putting out information, demonstrating, raising money, and doing
whatever you can to help."

"Tell judge pamela dembe to hold an evidentiary hearing and a new
post-conviction relief appeal, to hear the confession of Arnold Beverly
and to let Mumia be at the hearings in his "trial".  Tell mayor john
street to keep his promise and do what he can to help Mumia receive a
fair trial and to hold an independent investigation into the case.  (you
can get a sample of both of these letters at http://www.freemumia.com)

pamela dembe: 1417 criminal justice center 1301 Filbert St. philadelphia
pa, 19107 Phone 215 683-7148 Fax 215 683-7150

john street: room 215 city hall philadelphia pa 19107
Phone 215 686-3000 Fax 215 686-2170"

PLEASE CONTACT:
International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ
 P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143
 Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180/
 E-mail - icffmaj@aol.com /www.mumia.org
AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES!

Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
    Mumia Abu-Jamal
    AM 8335
    SCI-Greene
    175 Progress Drive
    Waynesburg, PA  15370

  !! PEOPLE GET READY !!