On Feb. 5, he was the guest of the University of Central Oklahoma, and his speech at the Nigh University Center, attended by over 100 students and local residents, was entitled “We Need Not be Enemies: Iran the the U.S. in the 21st Century.”

The talk was followed by a lively question and answer period. The talk was filmed by UCO and is provided here courtesy on the school’s Youtube channel.

On Wednesday, Feb. 6 Col. Wilkerson joined members of Americans Against the Next War for a morning press conference at the Oklahoma State Capitol, emceed by AANW’s Nathaniel Batchelder of the Oklahoma City Peace House. His remarks about U. S. foreign policy in the Middle East and around the world serve as a call for a new perspective by Americans, whose spirits and coffers are drained by more than 10 years of ceaseless war. A different future is possible, if we heed that call.

The following photo montage and audio recording of the press conference was produced by AANW member Rena Guay, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Center for Conscience and Peace Research.

At noon on Wednesday, he made visit to the OU campus for a lunchtime discussion with students, and locals yet more of his experience on the world scene and hard-earned wisdom of politics and diplomacy. That event was sponsored by the College of International Studies and the OU Iranian Studied Program.

Col. Wilkerson jokingly remarked during his visit that Oklahomans sure know how to get their money’s worth out of a speaker. But throughout the visit to our area, the Colonel was forthcoming — seeming to be more than happy to tell his story and share his opinions. Those of us who attended any of his events learned a good deal, and were heartened that his strong voice calling for peace and mutual cooperation, instead of war and threats, was so widely available to us.

Col. Wilkerson is part of The Iran Project, and invites those interested to use the reports and other resources on the project’s web site.

Originally posted at AANW site.

In October, the Norman City Council passed a routine proclamation recognizing bullying awareness month to help combat a serious social problem. Amazingly, there was a dissenting vote. The council member during remarks section said that bullying is part of the gay agenda. Excuse me; where does that come from? The gay agenda is equal rights, no more and no less. Otherwise known as the American agenda, the Fourteenth Amendment to the constitution. The anti-gay cabal says gays seek superior rights; they say that because oppression has no reason except the grasping for power or fear.

Seek to deny rights. No, sir. I served 30 years in the army defending that and will stop any suppression of freedom with my body. Even theirs.

As my teacher, Elva Paige Lewis, told me in 7th grade history: your rights end where my nose begins. There are no unlimited rights and certainly not anything that denies that of others.

Besides trying to wrap themselves in the American flag, they pervert the words of the prince of peace. I believe what the founder of my faith said: let the children come to me and do not hinder them for of such is the kingdom of god. The command to love others is the core of his teaching. He loved children who were third class citizens in his time. He almost certainly had one chance to scold a gay man and didn’t do it. One could only imagine what he would do to those he saw bullying his own precious little ones.

In politics and in religion, you need to ask: who benefits? Who profits? Someone has an agenda; they want something. Slavery was part of the culture but no one cited the bible until abolitionists started challenging it. Homophobia was part of American culture, but no one cited the good book until people started challenging hatred of gays and people saw power to be had. An us and a them could be created and used for political purposes and ends.

In the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, there is a sign once posted in a white neighborhood warning parents not to leave their children unattended, lest black pedophiles kidnap and harm them. Historically, the crime never changes, only the target so yet another group can be the “them.” In Oklahoma, during Prohibition, this same group tried to prohibit the use of wine during catholic sacred liturgy. It wasn’t about alcoholism and the corruption of society. The priest only drank a little; the laity nothing. It was about fear, hate and power, just as it is today.

This is xenophobia, fear of the stranger. But the fear truly is the lack of confidence in self. For no one sees things are they are, we all see things as we are. The reminder that they might be wrong -the stranger, the gay, must be killed.

I was talking to a man about bullying. I noted that while 30% of teen suicides are gay kids, that still meant 70% were straight and I cared about the seven as much as the three. The man said that he was willing to see the seven die if that meant three less gay kids alive. I was so shocked that I could only say: may god have mercy on your soul.

It is the duty of adults to protect children. Let no cheap political scam divert us from that.

Henry Roberson

Henry Roberson is a native of Oklahoma and a ’67 graduate of Oklahoma. In 1954, at age 8, his family was dismayed that he had no problem going to newly integrated schools with a black student. He spent 30 years in the Army and keeps fighting for justice in retirement.

The event was held October 30th at the Norman Public Library. Casey Holcomb recorded the event. Running time of the audio is about 2 hours.

Listen:

“Climate of Doubt” by PBS Frontline

Steve Coll: How Exxon Shaped the Climate Debate

Open Carry goes into effect Nov. 1

U.S. Supreme Court declines to allow Oklahoma ‘personhood’ initiative to move forward

You can vote early at the County Election Board office in the county where you are registered to vote from 8 AM to 6 PM on Friday and Monday before all elections.  For state and federal elections only, you also can vote early from 8 AM to 1 PM on Saturday before the election.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND–8a.m.-6p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD– 8a.m.-1p.m.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH–8a.m.-6p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH–ELECTION DAY FROM 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

If you would like this info as a handout, download it and freely distribute. See Bill Moyers address clean elections here.
1) Participation is voluntary – wealthy candidates may spend own $$$. Others who choose not to participate in Clean Elections may use fund-raising methods as allowed by current law.

2) Candidates must prove they are ‘viable’ with 2 -3 % of voter signatures from constituents withinthecandidate’sdistrict on a petition-to-run and petitionmustbecirculatedbythecandidateandnon-paidvolunteersonly.

3) Voter signatures on candidate petition must be accompanied by a $10 check payable to the Oklahoma Clean Elections Fund (OCE Fund) – not to the candidate.

4) Collection of signatures & donations made from 6/1/11 – 6/1/12 (duration of one year) for candidates for Statewide offices and 12/1/11 – 6/1/12 (duration of six months) for candidates for the Legislature remitted on a weekly basis. (House districts usually have about 35,000 registered voters, 3% is 1050 signatures accompanied by 1050 checks of at least $10, or minimum of $10,500.)

5) Participants must maintain records and file with Ethics Commission as current law requires.

6) Once qualified, Clean Elections candidates are immediately allowed to tap into the OCE funds, but must abide by strict spending limits and EC rules. (One of the biggest problems in other states has been the slow release of funds – early funding is critical to one’s campaign.)

7) Candidates may contribute his or her personal/private funds to up to a maximum amount of  100 times the Minimum Wage for candidates for the legislature ($725) and 300 times the Min wage for Statewide offices ($2175). The personal contribution limit includes contributions received from certain family members. Contributions from political action committees (PACs), businesses, corporations, political parties and labor unions to an individual candidate areprohibited. But they may contribute as much as they want to the OK Clean Elections Fund. Contributors to OCE Fund do not know to whom their money will go – hence no power or influence over any candidate.

8) A Clean Elections Commission shall be established by the Judiciary – five Commissioners appointed by the Chief Justice of the OK Supreme Court and five by the Presiding Judge of the OK Court of Criminal Appeals. These ten Commissioners shall unanimously select an eleventh Commissioner as Chair. (Or perhaps we need to somehow connect this with the existing Ethics Commission. The LWV says only one authority should govern elections. However, any increase in EC powers would never fly with Dems or Repubs.)

9) A participating candidate is required to attend a Clean Elections Commission’s training workshop andaCleanElectionsCommissionsponsoreddebate on pain of disqualification.

10) After establishing viability, donations to CE candidates are allowed up to $200, provided the donor has not reached the $200 per candidate limit. Full disclosure of Name, address,   occupation, employer required else donation must be returned. Anonymous donations go to Ethics Commission coffers. Individual donations are matched six to one from the OCE fund (like the NYC law.) Contributions allowed from in-districtonly.

11) Violations of the Clean Elections regulations will void the candidacy or (if elected) make the office immediately vacant and may be punishable by one (1) year in jail and up to $10,000 fine.

12) Funding. See suggestions from document sent by Brennan Center:  http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/23, which includes the following and many more:

• Punitive Damage Surcharges and Proportional Awards from Legal judgments over $100,000
• Criminal and Civil Fines and Civil Filing fees
• “Good citizen” donations – all voluntary and no limit on amount by supporters of Clean Elections.
• “Sin” Taxes on Alcohol, cigarettes and Gambling
• Voluntary Attorney Fees or Corporate Contributions
• Refundable Deposits on Containers
• State Funded Tax Check-Off Programs
• Voluntary Taxpayer-Funded Tax Add-On Programs
• Penalties for Public Campaign Finance Law Violations
• Public Campaign Finance Bonds

See a description of these funding methods and many others at the Brennan Center link:

http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/23

Report: Court Rulings Fray Maine’s Pioneering Clean Election Law
“The great thing about the Clean Election system is that someone like me, who is a convenience store worker, could actually become a politician in this state,” Russell says.

“Russell says the system has had a leveling effect on Maine politics and has encouraged people from all walks of life to run for the Legislature. She says she will support all efforts to strengthen the system, as she seeks her third term in the Maine House of Representatives.”

More information available from:

Mary Francis

mary.francis111@gmail.com
405 474-0695

On Wednesday October 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy will host “Oklahoma’s Future: Your Voice Matters,” a policy luncheon, at the Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City.

The luncheon will feature a point/counterpoint debate about tax reform with Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Policy Impact Director Tina Korbe and Oklahoma Policy Institute Director David Blatt. The debate will be moderated by Dr. Keith Gaddie, political science professor at the University of Oklahoma and well-known Oklahoma political pundit.

The tax cut debate dominated the 2012 legislative session, with lawmakers unable to reach an agreement on the issue before the gavel fell to adjourn the annual four-month work period for the Oklahoma Legislature. Throughout the summer and fall election season, tax reform has continued to dominate conversations across the state and is expected to once again take center stage when a new legislature is seated and begins its work in the 2013 legislative session.

“Every October, The Institute hosts a policy event that helps share our work during legislative session,” Linda Terrell, Executive Director at the Institute said. “The event format is getting a makeover this year, but our goal remains the same which is to educate Oklahomans about important policies that matter to the future of our state. We know the debate about tax reform has the potential to impact so much of our work moving forward and that is why we’ve decided to spotlight this issue during our October event. ”

Terrell said following the debate there will be a time built in for attendees to ask questions of the tax reform debate participants as well as an opportunity for attendees to use their own voice to guide the work of the Institute in the future. Terrell will also walk attendees through an important advocacy training that will include data from the latest Annie E. Casey Kids Count report–an important snapshot of the overall well-being of Oklahoma’s children.

The Institute’s Policy Director Amber England will provide an analysis of the 2012 legislative session highlighting key victories of the work of the Institute and important votes by Oklahoma lawmakers expected to impact Oklahoma families and children.

Online registration is open to anyone and can be found here:

https://support.oica.org/advocacy-tools/advocacy-events/OklahomasFutureYourVoiceMatters

The cost to register is $45 and increases to $60 after October 19th. On-site registration will be provided on a space-available basis.

Facebook users can join the official event page from the OICA Facebook page and  easily invite their friends and share with their networks. Join the conversation on Twitter by following @OklaChildAdv and @OklaKIDSCOUNT and using the hashtag #OKFuture

Centennial Celebration

Woody Guthrie

1912 – 2012

For his commitment to and influence on

Oklahoma’s working class.

Schedule:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
The Blue Door
2805 North McKinley, OKC
7:00 p.m.
Scheduled Readings and Open Mic
(Bring your own drinks – water, soft drinks, wine,
beer)

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY
AUGUST 23, 24 & 25
Oklahoma State AFL-CIO
501 N.E. 27th Street, OKC
AFL-CIO Organizing Institute
Organizing Seminar
Registration Required

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
The Plaza Theater
1727 N.W. 16th Street, OKC
Display: Woody Guthrie: This is the Hand in theater lobby
12:00 noon Showing of Roll on Columbia
1:30 p.m. Showing of Bound for Glory
4:00 p.m. Reception & Entertainment featuring K.C. Mathey
Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres ! Cash Bar
6:00 p.m. Oklahoma Speaks
Readings and music featuring Stewart Acuff, The Red Dirt Rangers, Buffalo
Fitz, Greg Jacobs and Monica Taylor
For more information visit www.OklahomaLaborFest.org

by Mary Francis, Board Member – UUs and Allies: A Nationwide Community Radio Network

UUs and Allies: Nationwide Community Radio Network has recently been established in order to take full advantage of the approaching historic opportunity for establishing a network of progressive Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations owned by non-profits such as unions, food banks, progressive churches, free clinics, and social justice groups. In January, the Low Power Community Radio Act was signed into law. UUs and Allies mission is to get the word out and to assist non-profit organizations with the legal and technical aspects of successfully launching an LPFM station. The FCC is now in the process of setting the rules, and will open an application window for 2,000 to 3,000 LPFM frequencies some time in the next year.

Non-commercial, educational frequencies (NCE), which reside on the FM dial between 88.1 and 91.9, are granted to American citizens by the federal government, at no cost, as a public trust.  Currently, 80% of the non-commercial, educational (NCE) broadcast spectrum is owned by the right-wing. Less than 10% of the Talk Shows are moderate or progressive. This initiative offers a strategy to prevent the hate-talkers and religious fundamentalists from capturing the rest of the airwaves, and to provide a more positive and empowering voice in our communities. We merely have to seize this opportunity by reaching out to friendly non-profits in order to file as many applications with the FCC as possible – in the hundreds, if not thousands.

The beauty of this plan is that establishing an LPFM is both relatively inexpensive ($5k-$8k) and even if you cannot build, there is NO penalty if you don’t build once you are awarded a frequency. Furthermore, there are several organizations that are willing to help you build and get on the air.

Indeed, the key to success is teamwork, and there are numerous existing organizations which serve as the backbone of Community Radio in the nation. For example, when it comes to accessing quality programming to put on the air, Pacifica Radio provides access to quality programming the likes of Democracy Now!, Free Speech Radio News, WINGS, Sprouts, Youth Radio, etc. Like-minded radio engineers and broadcast attorneys, and organizations such as Prometheus Radio Project, Common Frequency, Radio For People, and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) are prepared to help any organization dedicated to the Common Good apply for a radio frequency and even help you build and get OnAir. These good people provide webinars, how-to manuals, policy guidance, and personal assistance and advice, all for the cause of strengthening the Community Radio Movement.

By establishing an LPFM station, you will provide your community with a place for independent rational voices at a local level. LPFM Community Radio is Democracy In Action. For those who value democracy, who truly understand what the word means, this is one of today’s most significant causes. Creating our own media, turning off the corporate talking heads, and creating a conversation with one another, will make us more focused, more confident, and generate a stronger and more forward-thinking culture.  An LPFM network is a cooperative mechanism for cooperative engagement that reaches out into the larger community to make our aspirations a reality.

Join us. Investigate this wonderful opportunity, and explore these groups and their websites.

http://prometheusradio.org/
http://pacifica.org/about/
http://beta.commonfrequency.org/
http://radio4people.org/
http://www.nfcb.org/index.jsp

A community of wonderful advocates are offering to stand with us in bringing civil discourse to the airwaves and advance issues of social justice and peace. The fundamentalists learned the power of controlling the airwaves two decades ago. Now, we have been handed this chance to take some of the radio spectrum back! This opportunity may never come again. Spread the word, share with those in your community organizations, and please contact us.

UUs and Allies: A Nationwide Community Radio Network

Board Members:

UU Mary Francis, OK (has 2 CPs from 2007 window + possibly another to be awarded)

UU Rev. Chuck Freeman, TX (Host of ‘Soul Talk’ radio & activist minister Live Oak Unitarian Universalist)

Ally Sue Wilson, CA (Emmy Award winning Writer/Producer of Documentaries -see “Broadcast Blues”)

Ally Matt Joplin, OK (Founder of Food for Thought-food and learning site for the homeless)

Ally Todd Urick, CA (Common Frequency Radio Engineer and author of a definitive study on LPFM)

UU Tom Killorin, WA (Board Member of KSER & also Eliot Institute, a UUA camp)

UU David Barbour, NM (has 2 full-power radio stations in NM)

UU Teresa Allen, TX (Member of Pacifica Board and KPFT board in Houston)

Ally Al Davis, NY (Radio Engineer at WGXC community radio, Hudson, NY & WXPI in PA)

UU Kindra Muntz, FL (Activist for Election Reform & author of successful 2011 AIW re: Citizens United)

Watch the Prometheus Radio Project Video: Our Cities, Our Airwaves and read about the principle of Localism.