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S M UCH AS I LOVE AMERICA, and I feel that A j / W y \ love this nation far more that those who feel com- in Hinduism, the deity or deities worshipped is so trivial to pelled to cover their homes and bodies with the stars the faith that they have an open theology, it is the belief that and stripes but feel equally compelled to attempt to silence what is done in one life will have a direct result on the next anyone who disagrees with his or her opinion, I must lend that is central to their ideology. Most Pagan (a word that my voice to an issue that I have considered a problem as conjures up an unfair stereotype due to the unfortunate de long as I have been able to understand it— the sanctioned facto American religious hierarchy) religions worship a male violations the separation of church and state in such areas as and female deity, at least. And then, of course there are Ag­ the Pledge of Allegiance, our currency and our courthouses. nostics who are unsure of what higher power there is, if any, Although the phrase “separation of church and state” never and Atheists who believe in no deity at all. actually appears in the Constitution, the Founding Fathers did clearly state, “Congress shall make no law respecting an Now that the brief theology lesson is over, it is clear that establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise to base the credo “In God We Trust” does not ring true for thereof...” thus creating a distinct separation between the all Americans. W hat’s more, this faith-based motto seems secular and the faith-based aspects of our society.

I had always believed that this distinct separation and guarantee of religious freedom was one of the reasons behind what I had been taught was our national mot­ to— E Pluribus Unum (out of many one). That would make sense, right? This is, after all, the Great American Melting Pot, right? Unfortunately, kiddies, as of July 30, 1956, “In God We Trust” has been our national motto. It’s also when “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. Somehow those who follow the Judeo/Christian/M uslim ideal, that constitutionally has no place in our government, got congress to adopt this unconstitutional motto.

This is not to say that the religious does not have its place. Although I am not a religious woman, I believe whole-heartedly in the right to worship whichever de­ ity, in whatever fashion each individual sees fit. That is exactly what makes the separation of church and state so crucial to our peaceful coexistence. W ithout it we would find ourselves in a situation where the differ­ ences in belief structures would oppose each other and create intense conflict as they vied for their place in the religious hierarchy.

One of the biggest problems is that too many people don’t realize that there are religions that don’t fall into the Judeo/Christian/Islamic mold. There are religions that don’t have a god the way they do. Perhaps, as is the case in Buddhism, they have no god, they follow the teachings of Buddha— a man. Or maybe, as is the case to be a law establishing religion. Yet, those with a particular religious faith. she overheard an off-color joke, her when it was challenged, it was the man He said using the pledge as written case would be taken seriously. And if who dared to bring up the minor fact amounts to having the government tell a homosexual couple felt unprotected that the motto is illegal who was vili­ his daughter “her father is wrong” be­ by the law as it stands, steps would be fied. In addition to suffering cause of what he believes. Yet, isn’t taken to correct the problem. These public ridicule, he was all that exactly what the Supreme are all part of what v\merica is about, but laughed at and ignored Court just told her? This man and I am certainly not saying that this by the Supreme Court. | is an American; he has a con­ should change. But the rights of those stitutionally guaranteed right whose spiritual paths are in the reli­ Justice Sandra Day to freedom of religion. His gious minority deserve equal protec­ O’Connor said there are choice is no religion. The Su­ tion, too. So I wait the day when I can “so many references to God” preme Court has no right to treat proudly stand up and say, “I pledge in public affairs, noting “In God We him differently than any other litigant allegiance to the flag of the United Trust” was on US currency and coins. who enters their courtroom. But they States of America, and to the republic She added that the Supreme Court clearly did. for which it stands, one nation, indi­ opens all its public sessions with the visible, with liberty and justice for all.” words, “God save the United States If an African American felt that the Because until that is how it goes, we and this honorable Court.” This is, wording of a particular law was dis­ will truly have neither liberty nor jus­ unfortunately, true. But the overuse criminating, (s)he would be heard. If tice for anyone but Christians, Catho­ of “god,” especially where it is com­ a woman felt that she were the victim lics, Jews and Muslims. pletely inappropriate and illegal is not of sexual harassment, simply because grounds to call it legal.

“Besides,” noted Justice David Sout- er, even if the words “under God” rep­ resented religion “in actual practice, it’s an affirmation in the mindset of a ■' civic exercise.” How can it be consid­ ered a “civic exercise” to be compelled to profess a belief that does not exist in order to express patriotism?

“God is so generic in this context as to be a neutral” expression of be­ lief, continued Justice Stephen Breyer. That is simply not true. As I said, not all belief structures have the same “god” concept as the one that was legislated. These ideologies need to be respected just as much as those that do, thus dis­ proving the neutrality of god.

Michael Newdow, the California father who brought a case before the Supreme Court citing that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional in June of 2004, said, “I want my belief system to be given the same weight” as

www.THI10RAILMAG.com 3 legitimate force, is in fact, an illegal group, conducting criminal activities. Yes, we believed that we were doing the right thing, but in the end, we were technically criminals and not an army. As for the idea that Washington and his band o f British crimi­ nals were fighting a conventional war— nothing could be fu r­ ther ftom the truth. In fact, had he fought by the rules or war at that time, we would still be holding tea time today in the United din. To call Bin Ladin or Arafat anything Colonies o f England. Thankfully, Washington was an intelligent TO THE EDITOR: except a terrorist is absurd and offensive enough tactician to realize that only unconventional warfare I read Requiem For Arafat (2 0 0 5 , to the thousands of civilians that died could win our rebellion for independence. Washington employed Issue 2) by Shawn Fisher with dismay at their hands. The line between terror­ the use o f snipers to fire on British officers—an act considered to and disbelief. Mr. Fisher’s compari­ ist and freedom could not be clearer, and be both unconventional and barbaric at that time in Europe. do not enjoy the same relationship with a sugar daddy as Israel son of Yassir Arafat, the late chair­ Yassir Arafat was a terrorist. H e withdrew his troops even after defeat such as in the battle o f doeslOh, and good old Osama Bin Laden? No one can have a man of the Palestinian Authority, to Brooklyn, where it was expected that he would surrender as was debate about freedom fighters these days without someone trying President George Washington is of­ practiced at the time. Washington even employed terror tactics to make a direct comparison to him. Alright, here we go, where fensive to me both as an American Leebie Mallin against his enemies, a term used in his own orders to General exactly d id this spoiled rich kid get his power from ? Oh yeah, and as a supporter of human rights. Director, Hillel at the College o f Staten Island John Sullivan: the United States back when the Soviets controlled Afghanistan. It is based on ignorance and misin­ 3A-104 Multi-Faith Center “The Expedition you are appointed to command is to be di­ The Americans supplied Al-Qaeda with weapons, training and formation. One with even a basic rected against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations of Indians, support to reclaim sovereignty o f their lands. Wait a minute, knowledge of American history m allin @ m a ii csi. cuny. edu with their associates and adherents. The immediate objects are why does that sound familiar? Oh yeah, the U.S. did the same should know that George Washington led soldiers the total destruction a nd devastation o f their settlements, and thing for Israel as I mentioned above. The only difference being in a conventional war against British soldiers in order to gain the capture o f as many prisoners o f every age and sex as possible. independence after the British would not allow the colo­ that once we won the cold war we turned our back on him and It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and nists to peacefully separate. In contrast, following the 1947 SHAWN FISHER, AUTHOR OF Al-Qaeda. Makes me wonder if the^United States ever found prevent their planting more. I would recommend, that some post United Nations decision to divide the disputed territory of REQUIEM FOR R E S P O N D S Israel unnecessary a n d we turned our back on Israel, would Is­ in the center of the Indian Country, should be occupied with all Palestine into one Jewish and one Arab state, the Arabs in rael behave in the same fashion towards the U.S. as Osama has. expedition, with a sufficient quantity o f provisions whence par­ the territory refused and declared war on the newly formed D ear Ms. Mallin Oh wait, they already have. D u ring the Six Day War between ties should be detached to lay waste all the settlements around, Jewish state of Israel. After losing that war, instead of turn­ While you are entitled to your opinion as I am mine, both Israel a nd the Arab States, the American intelligence ship USS with instructions to do it in the most effectual manner, that the ing to diplomacy and negotiations or even fighting a con­ are, in the end, subjective, a fancy of the person expressing it Liberty was attackedfor 75 minutes in international waters by country may not be merely overrun, but destroyed. But you will ventional war, Yassir Arafat directed Palestinians to hijack Therefore, no matter how different another persons opinion Israeli aircraft and motor torpedo boats. Thirty-four men died not by any means listen to any overture o f peace before the total airplanes, murder Israeli Olympians and to blow themselves may be from mine, I will never be offended by it. How could a nd 1 7 2 were wounded. Honestly, I object to war a n d to the use ruinm ent o f their settlements is effected. O ur fu ture security will up in suicide bombings with the express intention of mur­ anyone who lives in a nation built upon freedom o f expression of violence in general I understand it, however, and understand be in their inability to injure us and in the terror with which the dering innocent Israeli civilians, including children. Yassir take offense to another’s opinion unless, o f course, that person the unfortunate need fo r it at times. A n d what I realize most o f severity o f the chastisement they receive will inspire them, ’’ said Arafat and his Palestinian Liberation Organization turned was closed minded? You are, however, wrong on several points all is that in war there can be motivations and there can be goa.ls General George Washington.lt can be seen quite clearly that the to terrorism to try to gain the land they refused to share and that you would try to imply are facts. but never can there be rules. I think no one can ever describe Continental army by no means used conventional tactics as such lost in war. First, let’s look at the term “terrorist. ” It would seem that you, what war is better then 19th century U S, General Sherman in The Arab-Israeli conflict is not black or white. Both Is­ like many others, are trying to personify an action. Terrorism is your statement is wrong. As for the P 10 fighting a conventional addressing a group o f young military cadets on their graduation raelis and Palestinians have compelling claims to the same a tactic used by people, not a profession that one might aspire to. war, how would you propose they do that? Should the United day. “Cadets o f the graduating class... Boys. .. 'I’ve been where land. Instead of engaging with Israelis in negotiations, There are no union halls fo r terrorists, no W 2 ’s and there arent Sates supply them with weapons, training a n d support in the you are now and I know just how you feel It’s entirely natural however, Arafat used his leadership to encourage Palestin­ any floats fo r terrorists on Labor Day parades. Terrorism as a same way that it did for Israel to reclaim sovereignty of their that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope ians to enter peaceful venues like the Olympics, pizza par­ tactic is defined by Columbia University Press as: “the threat or lands; which the U.S. still does? What an interesting sight it and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired lors, discos and shopping malls in order to kill Jews. Even use o f violence, often against the civilian population, to achieve would be to see an Israeli and Palestinian pilot in a do^ght over here. Suppress it! You don’t know the horrible aspects o f war. I ’ve after Arafat signed the Oslo Accords with Israel to end the political or social ends, to intimidate opponents, or to publicize the M editerranean Sea both piloting the latest U.S. m an­ been through two wars and I know. I ’ve seen cities a n d homes in Arab-Israeli conflict, he continued to support Palestinian grievances. ” While the use of terrorism is not limited to the ufactured F-18. Or would it be fairer for America to ashes. I ’ve seen thousands o f men lying on the ground, their dead terrorism against Israelis. military fo r the sake o f this discussion I will stick to the mili­ take back all the military support it has given mod­ faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!” Ms. Mallin, Mr. Fisher argues that one man’s terrorist is another’s free­ tary understanding of tactics. So any military or paramili­ ern Israel and reduce their army to using blood and you can play all the semantics you want, but the truth is that dom fighter and that the line between the two is blurry. tary group can a r ^ has used the tactic o f terrorism without stone to defend against a tank? Any military tacti­ Israel and Palestine have been at war and are still at war and W ould Mr. Fisher argue the same about Osama Bin Laden? being branded a criminal by the greater civilized society. cian in the world would laugh at your complaint that there is nothing conventional about war. To follow Fisher’s reasoning, wasn’t Bin Ladin just standing This brings us to your apparently blind understanding o f that the PLO refuses to fight a conventional war. It up for his fellow Muslims against America when he mur­ the American Colonies fight fo r independence. Just by basic would just as futile for the PLO to fight a conven­ Until Then, dered innocent Americans at the World Trade Center? As logic you should realize that the original colonists were> in tional battle as it wasfo r the Continental army. They Shawn Fisher Americans in a post 9/11 world, we live in constant fear of fact, English citizens and that the formation o f any group of terrorism. We live the way Israelis have lived since Israel’s organized armed peoples outside of the government’s (The inception in 1948. Yassir v^afat was Israel’s Osama Bin La­ Monarchy) legitimate force who then acts against that t »-‘ ricsr^'

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A S is widely known, every college commencement includes a recipient of an honorary doctorate. Typically, these recipients offer little more in their speeches than stale, insincere congratulations and a laundry list of their own accomplishments (especially if this person is a politician). But something was very different at the College Of Staten Island's 2005 ceremony. For this year's graduation, the honor was bestowed on a true artist. Not only is she a novelist and poet, but also a former CUNY professor and mother who raised a novelist daughter who's own spouse is a CSI professor. This woman gave a speech full of good advice and truisms that most people ought to know. The main point of her message was the power of words and the importance of thinking for oneself when bombarded with false ideology and doublespeak. This speech, however, for the most part fell on deaf ears that seemed shocked and appalled by the thought that politicians might be lying to themi It was booed and mocked by closed minds that were in a place where they should have been the most open. But through it all, Ms. Jong made sure that her words were at least heard if unheeded. The Following is a transcription of Ms. Jong's long (more than forty minutes, including the interruptions of an incredibly rude audience) but very powerful speech. It is my hope that it will be better received in this medium than it was on the hot and hazy June morning to an audience unwilling to accept the unfortunate realities it details.

RAIL .com C o ileg e o f S ta ie n Isla n d

C offitfiteifcem eitf A d d r e s s

By Erica Jong, noted author of F ear o f F lying & Sappho's Leap

IT HAS COME TO THIS—GRADUA- W hy am I here? Well. . .not only because I graduated too, ^ I 1 TION. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU ALL a long, long, long, long time ago, but because I’m a writer TODAY. I KNOW THE SACRIFICES and I’ve spent more than 30 years worshipping the word— YOU’VE MADE TO BE HERE AND I KNOW THE putting words in the right order, and trying to make sense; JOY OF STANDING UP AND SAYING “I DID IT!” which to me means- telling the truth. For me this is a kind of homecoming. My first real job, Telling the truth has never been easy and has never really when I was in Graduate School, was teaching at the City gone out of style. But it has become harder these days be­ University and I still remember my students with great cause the language we speak has been captured by deliberate fondness. They apparently remember me too, because two liars. W ho are these liars? Advertisers, politicians, movie stars of them showed up at a reading my daughter gave for her and other celebrities who all have what they think are good second book at Barnes & Noble and they told me with great reasons to say the opposite of what they really mean. Adver­ enthusiasm that I had taught them to read; not just the lines tisers, as we’ve always known but sometimes forget, make b u t between the lines. you want products you don’t need and which also may hurt

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""'I# . winning it; which is why what you have learned here at CSI is so precious. In our time, it is broadly true that po-.^ ^ litical w ritin g is bad writing. W h e re it is not true, it will generally be found that you. Viagra which can pos­ truth, we rarely ever get it. the writer is some kind of rebel, expressing his private opinions based language, makes for a debased political life. W hen we sibly bhnd you, hormone pills which can I guess I’ve been chosen to talk to you because as a writer— and not a party line. Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to say the opposite of what we mean and tolerate others saying cause breast cancer, and plastics that can damage I’ve published nineteen books: poetry, fiction, non-fiction— I demand a lifeless, imitative style. The political dialects found the opposite of what they mean, we are well on our way to a healthy fetus. Politicians specialize in saying the have never stopped expecting it, never stopped trying my best in pamphlets, leading articles, manifestoes, white papers and totalitarianism. Language is that im portant. opposite of what they really mean in order to get your vote. to tell it and have never stopped getting mad when its not the speeches of under-secretaries, of course, vary from party to In his book, 1 9 8 4 , the Ministry of Truth, Minitrue, dis­ They say “Healthy Forests,” when they mean clear-cutting told to me. I want you to learn to get mad when you are de­ party. But they are all alike in that one almost never finds in seminates lies. The M inistry of Peace, Minipax, makes war— trees. They say “Clear Skies” when what they mean is pollu­ liberately lied to. That is one of the main things an education them a fresh, home-made turn of speech. and the Ministry of Love, Miniluv, maintains order, usually tion. They say “Pacify” when they mean killing people. They is for— learning to distinguish between lies and the truth. When one watches some tired hack on the platform me­ through violence. Surrounded by barbed war and gun turrets, say “Collateral Damage” when they mean killing foreign ci­ W hy is getting mad at lies so important? Because our sur­ chanically repeating the familiar phrases: “bestial atrocities, the Ministry of Love has no windows and is heavily guarded vilians. They say “Friendly Fire” when they mean killing our vival depends on it. Our republic depends on it. Our lives iron heel, bloodstained tyranny, free peoples of the world, at all times. The M inistry of Plenty or M iniplenty controls all own soldiers. They trum pet peace while they send our young­ depend on it, whether it is pharmaceutical companies lying stand shoulder to shoulder,” one often has a curious feeling economic life. How can there be poverty or deprivation when est Americans to war. about the side effects of drugs or chemical corporations ly­ that one isn’t watching a human being but rather some kind M iniplenty is in charge. Movie stars tell you that they’re in love when they’re just ing about pollution or politicians lying about why our young of dummy. A feeling which suddenly becomes stronger at You cannot even talk about such things. There are no words doing PR. Think of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Most people are coming home in boxes. We are in danger unless moments when the light catches the speaker’s spectacle and for them. But the people starve, for which newspeak has no people think they are in love. But they’ve pledged it on we know the truth and the truth depends on words. During turns them into blank discs, which seem to have no eyes be­ word. No wonder the three mottoes of society are: WAR Oprah, so it must be true. New Age gurus may be the worst the Vietnam War we used to say that people came hind them. And this is not altogether fanciful. A speaker who IS PEACE! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! IGNORANCE IS word corrupters of all. Do we really need wellness w h e n we h o m e in body bags but those words became uses that kind of phraseology has gone some distance towards STRENGTH! have health'^. Do we need healers rather than physicians'^. T he politicized so now the military speaks of turning himself into a machine. The appropriate You came to the City University because you didn’t believe words mean the same thing, but one sounds more alterna­ transfer tubes, transferring folks from the noises are coming out of his larynx, but his such slogans which have their own equivalents in our soci­ tive; another r^^^word). Do we need holistic, when we have battlefield to the cemetery. This happens brain is not involved as it would be if he ety, and because you were willing to open your mind and whole? Is holistic somehow cooler than whole? It certainly after the patient failed to fulfill his well­ were choosing his words for himself If let the fresh air inside. The families who supported you be­ has more syllables. People invent New Age cant in the hopes ness potential, in other words, he died. the speech he is making is one that he lieved in fresh air also. They were able to cheer you on— even of sounding very important. New Age cant often introduces At McClellan Air Force base in Sac­ is accustomed to make over and over though they did not always understand what you were study­ Latinate words where there used to be Anglo-Saxon ones. ramento, California, civilian mechanics again and over again, he or she may ing. They believed that education was a good thing, even if it The more syllables, the more important. Wrong, simplicity were placed on non-duty, non-pay sta­ be almost unconscious of what he or was not always a comfortable thing. They deserve enormous of language can contain the most profound of ideas. Wellness tus— that is, they were fired. And as for she is saying. . .as one is when one credit for that and so do you! Being able to tolerate what is is not better than health, it only sounds a little fancier. Not matters of life and death like war and utters the responses in church. This uncomfortable is the beginning of knowledge. Challenging long ago I read on a so-called “wellness website” that choco­ the death penalty Senator Orrin Hatch reduced state of consciousness, if yourself is the beginning of wisdom. I have written a whole late is good for your heart, but not when it is mixed with fat said, “capital punishment is our society’s not indispensable, is favorable to shelf full of books. But when I Google myself online (all and sugar and made into candy bars. This has not stopped recognition o f the sanctity o f human life. ” I political conformity. writers Google themselves constantly as a means of procras­ th e Mars Company from claiming the heart-healthy effects of could go on and on and on and on. This is George Orwell, writ­ tination) what do I find? This quote, again and again, “An d their chocolates. H eart healthy, by the way is another word The examples are everywhere. ing his indispensable essay. Poli­ the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more. ” that sounds like a great deal more than it is. Telling the truth Why are words so tics a n d the English L anguag And this one, “Everyone has talent, what is rare is the courage to has never been harder because our very words have been cor­ vital? Why would in 1947, just around the follow the talent to the dark place where it leads. ” rupted. But our country was founded on the truth that the someone spend her time he was starting his plain words of the people are more important than the fancy whole life indoors novel 1984, w h ic h One of these quotes is from my first novel. Fear o f Flying, words of the kings. playing with words? appeared in 1949. and one is from my second, How to Save Your Own We admire George Washington, not only for refusing to Because whoever Orwell under­ L ife. But most of the quoters probably do not be king, but also for not lying, even though the cherry tree controls the words stood better than know that. Usually, there is no attribu­ story may be a myth. We hold politicians to a much lesser controls the con­ any writer of the tion but my name. But what is in­ standard today— we expect them to lie to us. We grant them versation! Whoever Twentieth cen­ teresting to me is what I am the latitude to lie. We are lax about holding them to their controls the ’ con­ tury that a de­ quoted for—tolerat- word. We do not expect them to tell the truth about versation controls power any more than we expect Tom Cruise and its outcome— be­ Katie Holmes to tell the truth about love. cause framing And we write off many lies as th e deb ate is th e PR. Having stopped expecting beginning of V;. ■y:V>.v-;^;-V;::.-V' (3

from thinking. All College, tuition was less than minimal. these phrases are meant to instill We hear of returning heroes while VA ing risk and flizzy feelings of pride and patriotism that budgets are cut. cultivating talent. And prevent clear thinking. W hy should any­ How can we keep from getting our that is OK with me because those are one want to keep you from thinking? pockets picked? By listening to what two things I still care about alot. In fact, There are only a couple of possibilities, is said and probing deeper— by try­ they may be the most important themes to pick your pocket, to cover up some­ ing to remake the language so that it is of all my work. You had to tolerate a thing, or to put your life at risk while clear again. By questioning authority, great deal of risk to get where you are pretending to protect you. doing in short all the things you have today and you still have to go deep into Journalists are often the worst offend­ learned here at CSI. yourself and into the darkness to cul­ ers— they seem to think that something If NEW SPEAK narrows the range of tivate your talent; that will never ever is only news when some official does a thought, then clear speaking expands it change. Those things are both scary. press release about it, or that it is news again. If New Age Cant obfuscates the Fear, which we all feel when we do when two rabid screamers, one from the truth with fancy verbiage, then punc­ something new, will try to stop you. But quote right and one from the quote left, turing it shows us the hollowness at its you will feel the fear and go on anyway; do a Punch & Judy show about it. But core. If political speech is meant to lull that’s also one of the themes of many of perhaps there is another way to look you into unconsciousness with ready­ my books. I wish I could make it easier at news. Perhaps, as Bill Moyers says, made slogans, then clear speech wakes for you to tolerate the fear— I can’t, I “news is what people want to keep hidden” you up. The labels “right” and “left” can only offer inspiration. I can encour­ rather than what they do press releases are inadequate to explain what people age you, but I can’t do it for you. I can about. We just saw that with the revela­ care about. They have become new offer some simple guidelines. Check the tions of Deep Throat being rehearsed means of censorship and obfuscation. language you hear for clarity. If it’s n o t in the news. Perhaps news is the other We shut out truth by saying “right” and clear, the motivations aren’t either. M urky thing you have to go into the darkness “left”. Nobody really thinks of herself language means somebody wants to pick to find, and take risks to find. Perhaps as “right” or “left”. She thinks of herself your pocket. Phrases like “Wellness W eb­ news is neither right nor left. Perhaps as a person with complex views. But we site” and “Heart Healthy” mean that your news is only found by remaking the face a danger today from orthodoxies credit card will soon be punched. Phrases language and saying what you really with their automatic assumptions, and like “Axis of Evil!” and “9/11 Changed really mean. We are deep into Orwell’s since the politicians, journalists, adver­ Everything!” mean that your draft card NEWSPEAK in America and are en­ tisers and new age gurus divide us into may be the next thing punched. And couraged to lie at every turn! right and left, red state, blue state, we phrases like “the bravest who W e h ear No Child Left Behind are lulled into doing it ourselves even fell” and “Honor the Fall­ while education budgets are though we know our views cannot be en” mean that you may cut! Even this univer­ neatly bracketed that way. That way soon be among them. sity was once FREE leads to fiizzy thinking and having our All these phrases are and PROUD OF IT! pockets picked. meant to keep you W hen I taught at City I have fallen into the habit of blog­ ging, which can be a great time waster, but is one way to keep our language clean. I’m blogging on the Huffington r Post, Arianna’s blog along with Bill M a­ her, Larry David, Nora Ephron and a host of other ill-assorted blogomaniacs. Bill Maher remarked this morning thast it is impossible to keep a straight face in America because of all the “double­ speak”; he’s right. M emorial Day comes and goes and we are hearing all about brave fallen, while nobody seems to give a damn about the Downing Street memo that got us into the bloody Iraq mess in the first place. Stewart or Paris Hilton’s engagement or whether the vote Then Memorial Day weekend is over and we are deep into count in Ohio was fudged. GMA a n d th e Today Show are 30 year-old news. still neck-in-neck, but nobody is watching! W hy is nobody Deep Throat was Mark Felt. It’s ancient news even if focusing on this? W hat will it take to get us to focus? As Woodward and Bernstein did protect their sources. They we used to say in the 1960’s, what do you do in the case of got endless market share and moolah from that fact and a terrorist with a loose nuke? “Bend over and kiss your ass good for them. I love it when writers make money, but the g o o d b y e.” real news of the last two weeks has been mostly ignored. It is hard to think about the future and we almost always The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is dead for another get the details wrong. It’s true that most great empires are five years. Do we have another five years? And not only are surrounded by prognostications of decline and fall and there those loose nukes all over the place (even Bush and choose to do nothing about them. They seem incapable of Kerry agreed on this in the 2004 Presidential campaign) but even focusing on them. Rome didn’t fall in a day, nor did there are also several suicidal terrorists ready to lob them at Greece and Sumer. But Rome, Greece and Sumer didn’t cities like New York, LA, Chi­ have nuclear weapons and cago, Miami, London, Ma­ people ready to employ drid, Rome, Berlin, etc. them. Even in the 1950’s, Hello? Hello? Hello? I know that ancient age when I was that Condoleeza Rice couldn’t in grade school, we were bother to go to these talks but told to prepare for the nu­ Duarte said himself they set the clear holocaust by putting cause of nuclear nonprolifera­ squares of oilcloth on the tion back years and we would floor, kneeling on the floor have been better had the talks like Muslims in prayer, cov­ never occurred. And now we ering our eyes, waiting for are off and running about a the flash and then what? Vanity Fair story that recounts T im R u ssert’s M e e t The yet again the atrocities of the Press, the other day had a Nixon administration. 1950’s video clip of a 1950’s I know ! I know ! I t’s n o fu n general in charge of civil to think about nuclear incineration, in fact, it’s really de­ defense, say with a straight face, that if the A-bomb fell in pressing. I look at my sixteen month old grandson. Max, America we should all and I try to wrap my mind around a nuclear accident in a) go down into our bomb shelters New York and my mind just doesn’t want to go there. b) eat canned food and drink bottled water for a while and But let’s get real! Tim Russert did a M eet The Press p ro ­ c) be sure to shower frequently to get rid of the radiation. gram last Sunday in which gray haired, sober-sided guys - He didn’t say when we should come out of those bomb Senator Sam Nunn, Senator Richard Lugar, Senator Fred shelters. But we did come out of them and then promptly Thompson, Lee Hamilton and Tom Kean of the 9/11 com­ forgot all about the nuclear threat. mission. Basically, all agreed that we are in deep danger. The The great French sage. La Rochefoucauld said, “Neither materials are there. The terrorists are there. And the world the sun nor death can he looked at steadily. ” He was right! goes on about a 91 year old guy confessing about a 30 year- We don’t want to contemplate our own mortality let alone old event. the planet’s. The sun is blinding and it is perfectly human to I am baffled of course. I know you can’t predict the future. turn away from death. But whether we call it nuclear pro­ Nuclear Armageddon could come from an American, a Rus­ liferation or the terrorist threat or the post 9/11 malaise, it’s sian, a N orth Korean, an Israeli, an Iranian, count the coun- time to look at our priorities. Let’s tell the truth! Let’s admit .m istak e ra th e r th a n a suicid al te rro rist w ith a loosetries that danger is real but that we have the human ingenuity to nuke. The truth is, we just don’t know. W hat we do know solve it! Solving it will be much harder than it was to invent is the more materials are out there, the more the percentages the Atomic bomb. But we’re smart. We know that the only against our survival go up. Think about New York in the thing we have to fear is fear itself We won’t be manipulated case of some kind of Chernobyl happening here. Multiply by the people who want to pick our pockets and destroy the 9/11 times a million. People die, get radiation poisoning, only world we know that can sustain intelligent life. That’s children die or get cancer, the stock market tanks, the world you, intelligent life. I know you can do it. Tbank You and stops dead, nobody worries about “Deep Throat” or M artha Congratulations!

Copyright 2005, Erica Mann Jong, all rights reserved, used by permission of the author. , N a tu re, content to the ground. The /ov/ng day, the moctnf/ng sun, the frienct / am happy with. The no-form 'd st/ngs that sights, peopie, objects, sting me with. The arm o f my fn'enct hanging ict/y over my shou/cter, The hubb 'd sting o f m yseif, stinging me as much as it ever can any The hi/hs/de wh/ten V with b/ossoms o f the mounta/n ash. The same, late in autumn--the hues of red, yellow, drab, purple, and The sensitive, orbic, underlapp'd brothers, thatpnly privileged light and dark green, , \ feelers may be intimate^where they are, | The rich coverlid of the grass-animals and birds-the private The curious roamer, the hand, roaming all over the body~the bashful untrimm'd bank--the primitive apples-the pebble-stones. withdrawing of flesh where the fingers soothingly pause and Beautiful dripping fragments^~the negligent list of one after edge themselves, ^ \ .f. another, as I happen to call them to me, or think of them. The limpid liquid within jthe young man, The real poems, (what we call poenifs being merely pictures,) IThe vexed corrosion, so pensive and so painful, ^ ^ the poems of the privacy of the night, and of pnen like me. The torment~the irf^ibte tide that will not be at rest,^^^^^^^9 e||i, drooping shy and unseen, Ijiyays carry, and that all The like of the sained f^tfthe like of the same in othei^'^^^^^W The young man that Qusfies anflflushes, and the youn^f woman thatV^ R * ® I ptfce for all, avow'd on purpose Wer are men like me, are icy, lurking, masculine poems;) The young man tlii^^night, the hot hai^ seeking ioughts, love-juice, love-odor; j ielding, love-climbers. ! climbing sap. The mystic amorou^^^^^^^ahge half-welcome pang^isions,^^

Arms and hands of love-lips of love-phallic thumb of love-breasts 1 ^he pulse pounding through patios and trembling encircling fingers- of loii^rbellies press'd and glued together with love, the young man all coldHd) red, ashamed, angry; Earthiof chaste love--life that is only life after love. This'Ibuse upon me of lity lover the seia, as Hie willing and naked, The body of my love--the body of the woman I love--the body of the Thejnerriment of the twin-babes that crawl over the grass in the sun, man-the body of the earth. the mother never turning her vigilant eyes from them, Soft forenoon airs that blow from the south-west. The walnut-trunk, the wHlnut-husli^ and the ripening or ripen'd long- The haiiy wildrbee that murmurs and hankers up and down-that gripes roundwalnuts; the full-grown lady-flower, curves upon her with amorous firm The continence of vegetUKs, bi^^animals, legs, takes his will of her, and holds himself tremulous and The consequent meannes&Af me^ould I skulk or find myself indecent, tight tilj^he is satisfied, # while birds and animals nmron«skulk or find themselves ^ The wet^f woods through the 4arly hours, indeant; ^ | -Two sleepers at night lying close together as they sleep, one with an i i The great chastity of pateiro^, thatch the great chastity of Jt ;^arm slanting down across and below the waist of the other, c paternity, 40 , The smell of apples, aromas from crush'd sage-plant, mint, birch- The oath of procre^li^ I l»v^ sworn--my Adamic^^d JFresh daughters,

The boy’s /ong/ngs, the g/ow andpressure as he conf/des to me what saturate what sha/iproduce boys to fHi my place when /am he was dream mg. th rou gh . The dead lea f wh/r/ing its sp/ral wh/r/, and fa///ng st/// and The whoiesome relief, repose, content; And this bunch, piuck V atrandom from m yseif; tt has done its w ork"/ tossed it careiessiy to fa/i where it may.

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C U N Y , I n u i & Free S p e e i h G>unfer-Recruihnent Students Test The Limits of Free Speech by Neil Schuldiner

ITH AT LEAST FOUR CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (CUNY) stu­ Wdents killed in Iraq, including one from the College of Staten Island (CSI), stu­ dents across the university initiated a campaign this past Spring targeting military recruitment across CUNY cam­ puses. The campaign, dubbed “coun­ ter-recruitment,” involves the peaceful assembly of students rallying against the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the dissemi­ nation of literature to students fluttering around military recruitment tables. And while the counter-recruitment activities of students all appear to fall within the acceptable boundaries of free speech, the CUNY administration appears to have adopted a “no tolerance” policy in regards to the campaign.

O n M arch 9 th at City College’s (CCNY) semesterly job fair, approximately twenty students peacefully marched into Shepard Hall, wound their way towards the mili­ tary recruitment tables and began distrib­ uting anti-occupation flyers and chanting anti-war slogans. Despite the fact that no students were prevented from ap­ proaching the military recruitment table to enlist for military service or to inquire about the armed forces, CCNY security immediately entered the hall to end the counter-recruitment action. Confronted by CCNY security, the student protestors defended the counter-recruitment action as an exercise of their first amendments rights, but CCNY security disagreed and ejected the students from the job fair. W hat transpired next is in dispute, but what is not in contention is that three CCNY students were arrested; two, Jus- (From left-right) Nicholas Bergreen, Hadas Their & Justino tino Rodriguez and Nicholas Bergreen, R o d r ig u e z

O WWW. RAIL! ' .com for assault on a CUNY security sage that they were recruiting for officer and one, Hadas Their, for people to fight and die in Iraq, obstructing governmental admin­ that this wasn’t a job opportunity. istra tio n . We started chanting ‘U.S. out of Iraq’ and ‘Recruiters off campus.’ The following day, without Very quickly, we were surrounded conducting an investigation, or by CCNY security guards. They R £ M £ M B £ R S interviewing any of the arrested shoved us out of the career fair and students or any of the dozens of closed the doors. The police came students, faculty and staff who and we were beaten and arrested.” F r a n c i s were at the job fair, CCNY Presi­ O b a j i , dent Gregory Williams issued a The account of events as told statement defending the arrests by Their and the other two ar­ College of and the actions taken by CCNY rested students is corroborated Staten Island security. The statement reads in by other student, faculty and staff Killed in Iraq on part, “In the corridor outside the who were present at the job fair. January 17,2005 Hall, [the students] were told once Marie Nazon, a CCNY counselor again that they. . . must take their said, “The students were chanting protest outside, where they would peacefully. The situation become be free to continue to express their aggressive when the [security of­ opinions. . . .The confrontation ficers] came in. [They] looked like escalated and several of the dem­ they were ready for action.” Ac­ J i m onstrators grabbed and hit the cording to Tiffany Paul, one of the P r e v e t e , officer. At this point, the three student protestors, after security Queens students involved in the attack on officers ejected protestors from the the officer were arrested.” Specifi­ job fair, they slammed Justino Ro­ College cally, Williams contends that one driguez against a wall and pushed Killed in Iraq in student protestor jumped a guard, Nicholas Bergreen to the floor. October, 2004 another protestor grappled a guard to the ground, while a third pro­ Even CCNY students who were testor beat the head and body of not sympathetic to the counter­ another guard. recruitment protesters deny Presi­ dent Williams’ allegations. One But the student protestors deny such student who chose to remain F r e d e r i c k all of Williams’ allegations and anonymous for fear of retribution contend that it was they w h o w ere from the CUNY Administration, A k i n t a d e , assaulted by CCNY security. Ha­ told the faculty union newspaper City Tech das Their, an Israeli student dem­ The Clarion, “I’m not an activist, Killed in Iraq on onstrator who was arrested after I find activists a little crazy. But October 28,2004 she began taking photos of secu­ after I heard [President Williams] rity brutalizing her fellow student charges, I thought, truth is being protestors, maintains “20 of us turned to its opposite.” According got together to protest at the ca­ to the anti-counter-recruitment reer fair. Four different branches student, “the security guards were of the military showed up. We so aggressive. . .They were drag­ Not pictured: Min Soo Chin was wanted to put out a specific mes­ ging people across the flow. I saw killed in Iraq on February 26,2005

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a student who was lying on the floor and the three security guez was diagnosed with a left jaw contusion and student guards jumped on his back. They twisted his hands and hand­ Bergreen was diagnosed with a mild concussion. cuffed him. . . I also saw a girl taking pictures (Their) with her still camera. At least two security guards grabbed her, twist­ Further contradicting President Williams statement was ing her hands, and took the camera away. Another security Carol Lang, administrative assistant for the CCNY Theater guard was holding a handcuffed protestor’s head against the Department. Lang corroborated the account told by pro­ wall while. . .speaking on his walkie-talkie. The protester had testors of security brutalizing student demonstrators. D ur­ blood on his face.” ing the incident, Lang yelled at the security officers to “let her [Their] go” while one of the student demonstrators was Hospital records corroborate the students’ eyewitness tes­ being accosted by security. Two days after the arrest of stu­ timony. W hile only one security guard was treated at a local dents at the job fair, in a surprising move, CCNY security hospital for “high blood pressure,” student protestor Rodri­ marched into the CCNY Theater Department offices and

March 14, 2005 CSI Professor Sandi Cooper, a graduate of CCNY, Dear President Williams: writes CCNY President Williams regarding free speech.

As a graduate of the College ('57, summa), a faculty member in CUNY since 1967 and former choir of the University Faculty Senate, I hove some historical familiarity with the issue of curtailing free speech on campus.

Beyond the material displayed in the current exhibition mounted at the Graduate School about City College's parlous relationship v/ith free speech, I recall the v/illingness of the College officials during the 1950's to allow FBI agents to prowl through student records, ferreting out "commies" - defined as students belonging to certain clubs; the arrest of an English professor for "ignoring" a legislative summons (which he never received) and the general acceptance by students and faculty alike, that they could not aspire to posts in the State department and Federal government, no matter how "anti-communist" the credentials of the administration were.

It was shameful. It took many years to live that down - mainly by historical amnesia.

In the 1960's and 70's, confrontations between students and police over college as well os national issues spread and in the 1990's, the creation of "peace" officers altered the older system whereby private security guards under the control of presidents and campus regulations functioned, reasonably accurately. But even with the Reynolds "peace" officers, the central administration required certain limitations.

It seems to me that the recent events at City College have violated all those limitations. Further it seems to me that before someone is found "guilty" and locked up in prison, it behooves a mature educational institution to conduct an inquiry into fact and not believe the first presumably damaged claimant who gains the administration's ear.

As an alumna who has contributed to the Association, I intend not to send a single penny this year and plan to share this letter widely with others in the hope that they will also withhold until a full investigation is conducted by neutral outsiders AND until the right to free speech is protected. There was too much silence in the past -which meant complicity.

In sadness, Sandi E Cooper class of '57 arrested Lang for “assaulting Despite the and staff, drop all disciplinary pro­ an officer with an unknown courts releasing ceedings against those involved in the object”; she was released 36 all three student protest, and launch an investigation hours later. Lang, a 54 year protestors on their into the actions of campus security.” old grandmother who stands own recognizance, Among those who signed the petition 4’1 r called the charges “crazy” and without set­ were famed author Howard Zinn; for­ and contends that she never ting up a hearing mer U.S. Attorney General, Ramsey attacked any security guards. CCNY President to hear the student Clark; noted author, Tariq Ali; NYC O ther faculty and staff support Gregory W illiams protestors account Councilman, Charles Baron; and CSI Lang’s claims. CCNY Professor of events, Presi­ Professors Ashley Dawson of the Eng­ Seth Rosenberg of the CCNY dent Williams lish department and Saadia Toor or the School of Education and Mark Turner, banned all three students from campus Sociology, Anthropology and Social Director of the CCNY Artino Labora­ citing them as a “danger” to their fellow Work department. Also signing the tory for Computational Mathematics, students, faculty and staff In addition, petition was Jeffrey Fogel of the Cen­ both eyewitnesses to the counter-re­ Carol Lang was suspended without pay ter for Constitutional Rights, who ex­ cruitment action claim that Lang never from her duties in the Theater depart­ claimed, “If the demonstration was an attacked anyone. Lang believes her ar­ m e n t. annoyance, [CUNY] should be able to rest was punishment for defending the Students, faculty and staff stunned tolerate it, the students’ exercising their student’s right to free speech and for by the actions of President WiUiams, first amendm ent rights should take pre­ disagreeing with President W illiams ac­ sprung into action to pressure Williams ced en ce.” count of events. “This was a way of not to drop all criminal charges against the only punishing me [for contradicting student and staff and to lift the suspen­ Apparently succumbing to pressure. President W illiams’ statement] but also sions. First, on March 17th, the CCNY President Williams lifted the suspen­ a way of chilling future dissent at City Faculty Senate passed a m otion resolving sions for the students and staff on April College,.” argues Lang. “That the three students and staff who 11. Lang went back on payroll (after have been suspended as a result of the yet losing three weeks of income) and the O ther professors across CUNY agree. to be clarified encounter with the police students were able to return to their “Something about this doesn’t make on the CCNY campus be reinstated to classes. Subsequently, President W il­ sense to me. If security was at the dem­ their proper place in the academic com­ liams dropped all administrative charg­ onstration on Wednesday and if they munity, pending an open and thorough es against the students. The District saw her [Lang] assault an officer on investigation of the incident.” Attorney who would have prosecuted Wednesday, why didn’t they arrest her criminal charges against the students on the spot? W hy did they wait until The following day, over 200 students, and staff declined to prosecute and in­ Friday?” asked Professor Ken Sherrill faculty and staff rallied at CCNY dem­ stead granted an “adjournment in con­ of Hunter College’s Political Science onstrating against the actions taken by tem plation of dismissal.” If the students department. Professor Lawrence Rush­ President Williams. Among the pro­ and staff avoid getting arrested for the ing of LaGuardia Community College testors was Donna Lieberman from the following six months, all charged will added, “By creating false, trumped up New York Civil Liberties Union, who be dismissed and their records will be charges against protesters fighting for stated, “. . .the university is acting not sealed; the process is not an admission a fairer university, they are attempting as a tool of learning, but of government of guilt. . to create an atmosphere of fear and repression.” In punishing the students intimidation to stamp out completely and staff before their disciplinary hear­ Surprisingly, as of press time Carol all semblance of speech which dares to ings, “CCNY is making a mockery of Lang was suspended again without pay criticize the people in charge.” “It seems due process,” she said. Organizers also at a June 2nd hearing at CCNY. T h ird that CUNY security is out of control in began collecting signatures for a peti­ RailwlW continue to follow this story more ways than one,” added Professor tion that among other things, demands and report any additional news in fu­ Mary O ’Riordan of City Tech. Williams “defends the CCNY students ture issues. .t e r o r i; t o a e f r s u i d . C,¥H

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W ho could have expected that when a young Penn Fra­ opinion. Penn and Teller make no attempt themselves to ser Jillette, a jack of all trades entertainer happened upon hide how they feel on the subject and they express that opin­ a young Latin teacher named Raymond Joseph Teller back ion (well, Penn does anyway) throughout the program, but in the mid 1970’s, that they would become not only such a they always give equal airtime to those their argument is popular entertainment duo with their comedic magic rou­ against. tine, but would go on to be such a major political, consum­ er and life watchdog for the common man. Penn & Teller: In one such case, Penn & Teller go after alleged psychics Bullshit! hit the airwaves in 2003 debuting on the Show- who claim that they can speak to the dead and use this Time cable network and pulling no punches. The creation claimed power to earn a living from bereaved persons who of the series was based upon or inspired by the practices have lost loved ones. Tbey brought in John Edward, James of master magician Harry Houdini, who devoted the latter Von Praagh, and Rosemary AJ tea all of whom are well-known part of his life to debunking some widely accepted (as he self proclaimed mediums. “One of the weird things Houdini called it) “Humbug”. discovered is that some of these mediums actually slip into believing their own bullshit. They forget their own misses, So w h a t exactly is Bullshit, beyond the literal definition? or as John Edward, the biggest douche in the universe, does, Now in its third season the program is technically called a rewrite them as hits that were just not able to recognize,” reality show, though the reality is that it has more said Penn. “Cold reading can be done accidentally. That in common with a television news watchdog doesn’t mean the psychic is a better person. Lying program than a bunch of whiney wanna­ to themselves does not make lying to others ok. bees being voted off some island. Bullshit It can make intellectually lazy scumbags more would be any situation, belief, product convincing and dangerous. But even organization or service that is built if these fucks know they’re just upon misconceptions deliberate or making shit up and push­ otherwise by a person or group look­ ing people’s buttons, ing to take advantage of the trust and they tell themselves, ‘At ignorance of innocent people. Basically least I’m comforting Penn and Teller hunt down and expose the bereaved (Penn con artists, by using informed com­ paraphrasing the Psy­ mentary. They bring in repre­ chics).’ W ho the fuck sentatives on the issue as are they to decide well as opponents and that lying about the non-involved third universe and a dead parties— usually a sci­ loved one is what entist or an expert in the bereaved needs? some field that can That’s condescending offer facts to back up bullshit,” said Penn or debunk the during the episode. c h a l l e n g e d Not every episode deals with such admit that the water comes from a heavy-handed subjects such as death; municipal source! That is tap water, the duo has no problem going after brothers and sisters of the cult of the more laughable topics that still can bottle,” said Penn during the episode. be considered con-jobs, such as their recent episode on hair, where they go h s one might observe 30 seconds after an industry that has taken ad­ into any given episode, Penn has quite a vantage peoples vanity and insecurity. penchant for profanity so much so that ti o w a r d They’ve also challenged the bottle wa­ he could make a sailor blush. There is S tern an d ter industry; “Consumers are offered method behind this madness though. Ralph Nader. water with names conveying pure and Bullshit, has pristine water sources. Ever hear of As Penn admits the title of the show all the shock of Alaskan Falls water? That must come and the constant use of profanity is, Stern without said shock simply be­ from the crystal-clear glacial waters a “legal maneuver” since calling peo­ ing for shocks sake and all the heart of of our 49th state, right?” said Penn. ple liars, frauds, charlatans and hacks a true consumer advocate like Nader “Sorry, folks. Alaskan flows from this could be construed as slander, call­ without the whininess. Bullshit, in liqui-box corporation building in ing someone a “fucker” and say that a way has become somewhat a pro­ Worthington, Ohio. Does the brand they’re selling “bullshit” is okay. Penn phetic fulfillment, of an appearance Yosemite conjure up visions of the does, however, seems to take great joy by the two on the television series cool, pristine waters rushing through in using the phrase “and then there’s Babylon 5 in 1998 where while play­ California’s high sierras? Well, then this asshole!” Ironically during the ep­ ing characters similar to their real life the marketers have done their jobs. isode on Profanity Penn went through personas they expressed a desire to get The source of Yosemite bottled water the entire episode without swearing. more involved in society beyond en­ is actually 400 miles away in North­ tertainment to effect true and positive west Los Angeles. How about Everest There is no subject or person that change in their world. So have the real Water? Could our piddly show pos­ can be considered taboo for this dia- Penn and Teller who have now created sibly afford to send a camera crew to tribic duo and to prove it they’ve even a platform to effect positive change in Nepal? Not necessary! Everest comes gone after some major icons of the the world not by telling people what from the industrial section of Corpus twentieth century such as Gandhi, to and not to do—-rather by remind­ Cristi, Texas! In fact if you Mother Theresa and the Dali Lama. ing them that it is foolish to blindly read the fine Debunking a lot of the deification follow any person, organization or be­ print on the that has grown around the three fig­ lief and that only those willing to crit­ fucking la­ ures throughout the last several de­ ically question everything bel, they even cades, they restore them to the level of in their life can avoid human being again. Noted scholar stepping in bullshit! Noam Chomsky who has been in­ V,. t • •■!

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vwww.THIRDRAILMAG.com 8 4 1 www.TI^IP^ORAILiyiAG.com i S s i i l m d by Kara Donnelly m it for their places of start (Times sk anyone to nam e a Square being one of them), or part of the First Am endm ent to inform the NYPD of their and chances are there are predicted route. That all Agoing to be three main respons­ changed last year when es; freedom of speech, free­ the Republican National dom of the press, or freedom Convention came to of rehgion. However, recently New York and brought Critical Mass, a professed un­ with it: a week full of organized movement of bicycles speeches, major traffic jams, has challenged New York to uphold the most forgotten an increase in the already high security level of post- ing the NYI’D from cutting bikes right granted by the First Amendment— the right to 9/11 Manhattan, and of course, protestors. W hat without informing their owners. peacefully assemble. This right has been used in labor would a political gathering be w ithout protestors? However, when it came to the in­ disputes, civil rights and anti-war protests and now. junction, the judge was confused. Pauley, however, did ask the par­ police vehicles, attem pting to keep Critical Mass is using it for what should simply be a Over the eight-day span of the Convention, the New W hy was it that the police was ties to agree on a route before the them on the route. But, when b ik e rid e . York Police Departm ent arrested over 1,700 people- seeking an injunction now, when it Halloween ride began. To inform people want to have fun, nothing more than 200 of them bike riders- and detained them hadn’t had a problem with Critical the riders, the police were handing can stop them. As soon as the rid­ Critical Mass is an event that began in San Francisco in the contam inated Pier 57. The police then continued Mass prior to this event? He also out fliers with the picked route on ers saw the opportunity, they split focusing on the rights of bicyclists and of pedestrians their attack on bike riders by removing locked bikes. stated that “[T]he right to associate it. Now anyone in New York City up, creating about 10 splinter rides on streets. This movement made its way into New York This method was used during the convention, but the with others in pursuit of a wide va­ knows, if the police even have a lit­ around M idtown. The police, ag­ City in April 1993, where bicyclists and police officers most, 40, were removed that night. The owners- mostly riety of political, social, economic, tle say in som ething, they will take gravated by Critical Mass’s deter­ worked together to make the ride safe. It is an event neighborhood residents- were not informed, and they educational religious and cultural over the entire thing. The route was mination, attempted to corral the where the only reason to be there is to bike and it’s not assumed that the bikes were stolen. ends” enjoys protection under the not agreed to by Critical M ass- it bicyclists and arrested about 30 about who you are, what you make, what you do; it’s First Amendment. Translation: was an order by Police Commis­ rid e rs . just a ride. It’s a bunch of people com ing together based A case was brought before federal court judge W illiam Critical Mass is traffic and speech. sioner Ray Kelly. on this idea that you can have a ride that doesn’t have H. Pauley III in October by five bike owners whose The riders, all dressed in Hallow­ Officials say that Critical Mass a leader, doesn’t have a route, that it just goes where property was seized w ithout any charges being brought So this means participants can een costumes— and what a variety rides violate traffic laws. They prob­ people feel the inclination to go. against them - a clear violation of the Fifth v\m endm ent ride w ithout the threat of being ar­ they were!— started out on Park Av­ ably did, but a New Yorker cannot of Due Process. The city denied these allegations rested, as long as they do not vio­ enue surrounded by vari­ walk five minutes and not wit­ These rides were always un­ and countersued, asking that a court or­ late the law. R ight... This will get a o u s f o r m e d ness a traffic violation eventful. Because of this, der prevent the Halloween Critical little tricky because the mass usu­ by a vehicle in in their then eleven- Mass ride from happening. On ally ends up taking up a few blocks the five bor- year history, they the issue of bike seizures. and traffic rules are bent as a result. o u g h s . had never been Judge Pauley issued an But hell, cars and other motorized A n d required to injunction, monsters violate laws every day too g e t a p e r ­ p r e v e n t ­ and the police don’t issue a ticket for every offense. RESOLUTION REBUKING MAYOR BLOOMBERG

Keith Crandall, the author of this resolution, passed away a month ago. In September of € m ¥ s m £ 1998, he was inducted into the Greenwich Village Hall of Fame for advocating human services, writing for The Villager and BICYCLE-RIDERS FREEDOM very rarely does the NYPD pull a car over for illegal chairing the community board. He enjoyed FRONT SPEAKS OUT! lane changes, running red lights, parking in a bike lane, bike riding, and this resolution was his blocking intersections, not yielding to emergency ve­ parting gift not only to his community, but Below is the anonymous communique hicles, or honking their horns in “no horn” zones. The also to New York City as a whole sent out by Bicycle-Riders Freedom Front police never seem to m ind when cars cause traffic prob­ members in NYC about recent action; lems for bike riders and do nothing when parked cars MANHATTAN CB 2 REBUKES MAYOR continually park in the designated bike lanes on Rich­ OVER REPRESSION OF BICYCLISTS To whom it may concern: m ond Terrace, right in front of the 120 police station. The problem is that these cars are very likely to belong "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the In the early morning hours of Tuesday, to police officers working out of the 120, and cops dont Community Board No. 2, Manhattan, April 2 6 , 2005, members of the Bicycle- give cops tickets. expresses its profound concern at the City's riders Freedom Front (BFF) dismantled Administration's decision to violate many of a section of the recently installed anti- I took it upon myself to go and see what the most sacred provisions of the Constitution bike barriers on the Brooklyn side of the really happened at these rides. I heard things as enumerated in the Bill of Rights: notably, Manhattan Bridge. These barriers prevent in the newspapers, I heard accounts from freedom of speech, freedom of the press, cyclists from taking a direct exit off of friends of mine that were arrested; I wanted 6-8 blocks behind them. It seemed they had and freedom to assemble; and the bike path and force them to follow a to see w hat was real. no chance of catching the riders. There were lengthy detour to the unlit underside of the You have everyone from Latino kids and also around 30 scooter cops who turned west BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that CB2 insists Manhattan Bridge, where several cyclists their bike crew from the Lower East Side, onto 18th street, going against the right of that the City Administration halt its have reported incidents of harassment. way of traffic, in a seem ingly chaotic display of unconstitutional attacks on our fellow citizens to businessmen in suits to families on carelessness. The scooters themselves seemed as they assemble peaceably and respect These barriers are just another tandems. H onestly it’s such a relief to a much greater risk to public safety than the the rights of all our citizens to exercise the hazard of living in a city designed and be in an event where your only rea­ critical mass riders. freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and shaped by car-worshipping ideologues. For son to be there is to bike and it’s After seeing firsthand the abuse, the mis­ Bill of Rights." years, cyclists in New York City have believed not about who you are, what treatment the New York Police Department that they have had no choice but to live with you make, what you do, it’s put the riders through caused me to lose w hat­ Passed unanimously inadequate bike lanes, inconsiderate and aggressive just a ride. It’s a bunch ever respect I had for the men in blue. Yes, I 4-21-05 NYC CB2 drivers, and poorly designed and maintained bike paths of people coming to­ understand that they put their life on the line and bridges. Every day cyclists are the victims of hit and run gether based o n with their jobs, but to waste the city’s money drivers who are rarely held culpable for their actions. Every day this idea that you can have a ride that over som ething as trivial as a Critical Mass ride seems foohsh cyclists are forced to compete with car traffic because their bike paths- doesn’t have a leader, doesn’t have a In other words, it’s just fine for cars and vehicles to act however if they ore lucky enough to be on one of the few roads with a demarcated route, that it just goes where peo­ they like, but some people that w ant to get together and ride their bike path- are blocked by idling and double-parked vehicles, including police ple feel the inclination to go. It bikes, is criminal. Cars jam up the streets and they call it a traffic vehicles. Every day cyclists injure themselves and damage their bikes on bridges steers itself which is one of jam. Bikes jam the streets and it’s a crime. Yeah, the American built without any consideration for bicycle and pedestrian safety. the beautiful things about justice system makes perfect sense. It. If moderates continue to fail to win changes, we will take direct action. We want the To see people being dangerous bumps on the Williamsburg Bridge bike path removed by the city or we thrown from their bikes- in­ will remove them ourselves. We demand that lights be installed on the Willis Avenue cluding those younger than Bridge and that a stop light and crosswalk be constructed on the Bronx side of the me!- was som ething I never bridge, where pedestrians and cyclists are presently forced to cross multiple lanes of thought I would see with fast traffic. regards to bike riding.. We are pedestrians and bicyclists who refuse to submit to the tyranny of car- centrist urban planners who design and build OUR city for the convenience of the I was also witness to about automobile. We call for other walkers and riders to pick up the wrench and help us 15 vans chasing a splinter to dismantle car culture one bolt at a time. group up 8th Avenue, about

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Alihdtigh it has often been challenged. ThirdRaUvMl continue to fight for our own right to freedom of expression. ThelPefore, no mat­ V ter how many times cowards tear down our billboard display instead xil of questioning us about its content or simply writing a letter stat­ v>,: ing the reason for having issues with the billboard, we will continue to put it all right back. We do, however, eagerly await any chance to openly discuss the issue. r n m m i

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F i r e ! by Shawn Fisher HEN WRITER SAM APPLE submitted liis entry into the annual Faux Faulkner contest he probably wasn’t expecting to Wwin and he certainly wasn’t expecting all the contro­ versy stirred up by his winning piece entitled “ The Administration and the FuryP But when you parody the American President to a character Faulkner refers Benjy’s beloved sister. Just as Benjy has an olfactory memory to as the “idiot,” how you could not expect to raise a few of Caddy (she smelled like trees). eyebrows is a wonder. In their defense. Hemispheres editor Randy Johnson noted For the past six years United Airlines magazine. H em i­ that the decision was made to place the winning entry on spheres has been sponsoring the Faux Faulkner writing con­ their website exclusively in order to attract more attention to test that is organized out of the University of Mississippi in the site and that censorship was not the intention. “We are Oxford by Larry Weils and his spouse Dean Faulkner Wells’s making it available to millions of people,” said Johnson “The niece of the late W illiam Faulkner. During the previous years, number of people who are able to see the website completely Hemispheres has published the winning entry in their print stands on its head any charge of censorship.” Johnson also magazine, with those entries being a written parody of the adds the decision to withdraw sponsorship came prior to the author’s body of work. This year’s contest winner was no dif­ winning entry announcement. ferent, a spoof on Faulkner’s’ The Sound and the Fury th a t Despite Johnson’s argument to the contrary, the story revolved around the current W hite House Administration. which has been published on both the Hemispheres w eb -site Yet this year. Hemispheres has chosen not to publish the win­ an d Slate an online magazine. Apple’s parody has received a ning entry and have also announced that this would be their lot of back lash from Bush supporters who seemingly fail to last year sponsoring the contest, that has garnered accusa­ understand the concept of parody. According to The Jewish tions of censorship by the Wells “...it was parody...we felt Week an independent community newspaper Apple has been that shouldn’t be censored,” said Mr. Wells swamped with hate mail quoting one such person as saying; In his parody, Apple portrays President Bush to the role “I have an idea for a satire, me beating you upside the head of the Benjy-the mentally challenged son, with the story un­ with a two-by-four, you commie bastard!!!!!!” folding through his eyes as he is being prepared for a press Controversy, not withstanding the Wells claims not to have conference by Condoleezza Rice/Condi, Dick Cheney/Dick chosen Apples piece based on the political nature of it rather and Donald Rumsfeld/Rummy. The narration easily leads the “because it mirrors the labyrinthine language of the Nobel readers to regard Bush as an inept little child, such as when laureate.” Mr. Wells adds “it was very funny, a brilliant use Benjy makes an observation about Rice’s character; “Condi o f ‘ The Sound and the Fury... The fact that he substituted wiped some spit on her hand and patted down my hair. Her Saddam’s gun for a horseshoe Benjy liked to hold - it was hand was soft and she smelled like Xerox copies coming right hilarious.” None the less the annual contest is now minus out of the machine.” Apple states that he set about trying one major sponsor. Its entry has failed to see hard copy and to write in Faulkner’s style, he said, the same way a novice its author must now be on the look out for two by four carry­ guitarist tries to imitate a pro. Another character’s observa­ ing literary critics, possibly all because Apple picked a person tion about Benjy made him think of Bush and said it was whose main job includes defending and upholding the Bill also a lucky coincidence that “Condi” sounds like “Caddy,” o f R ights. If W illiam Faulkner w ere w riting on the Bush W hite H ouse 2 0 0 5 FAUX FAULKNER WINNER ''•’ P'® Down the hall, under the chandelier, I could see shoe, Daddy said. I was them talking. They were walking toward me and running as fast as I could. Dick's face was white, and he stopped and gave a Jeb run after him and get piece of paper to Rummy, and Rummy looked at me my horseshoe before the piece of paper and shook his head. He gave he throws another one in the paper back to Dick and Dick shook his head. the river. Daddy hollered. They disappeared and then they were standing Jeb was chasing after me right next to me. fast. Come back with that "Georgie's going to walk down to the Oval Of­ horseshoe, Georgie, Jeb fice with me," Dick said. hollered. But I was fast "I just hope you got him all good and ready this and I kept running until I time," Rummy said. got to the river. Don't you "Hush now," Dick said. "This ain't no laughing dare throw that horseshoe in the river, Jeb said. matter. He know lot more than folks think." Dick I threw the horseshoe in the river. Jeb fell on the patted me on the back good and hard. "Come on ground. Jeb kicked and cried and then I cried. now, Georgie," Dick said. "Never mind you. Rum- "He needs his makeup," Dick said. tny. "I'll do it," Condi said. She put a little brush on We walked down steps to the office. There were my check and it tickled and I laughed. paintings of old people on the walls and the room Rummy walked into the room."Jesus, what's he was round like a circle and Condi was sitting on laughing about," Rummy said. my desk. Her legs were crossed. "Don't you pay attention to him, Georgie," Dick "Did you get him ready for the press confer­ said. "They re going to be asking you all about So­ ence?" Dick said. cial Security. You just remember what we talked "Don't you worry about him. He'll be ready," about." Condi said. Condi stood up from the desk. Her legs "He cant remember anything/' Rummy said. were long and she smelled like the Xeroxed cop­ I started to holler. Dick's face was red and he ies of the information packets they give me each looked at Rummy. "I told you to hush up already/' day. Dick said. "Now look what you 've gone and "Hello Georgie," Condi said. "Did you come to done." see Condi?" Condi rubbed my hair and it tickled. "Go and get him Saddam's gun,"Condi said."You "Don't go messing up his hair/' Dick said. "He's know how he likes to hold it." got a press conference in a few minutes." Dick went to my desk drawer and took out Sad­ Condi wiped some spit on her hand and patted dam's gun. He gave it to me, and it was hot in my down my hair. Her hand was soft and she smelled hands. Rummy pulled the gun away. like Xerox copies coming right out of the machine. "Do you want him carrying a gun into the press "He looks just fine," Condi said. conference?" Rummy said. "Cant you think any Fine day, isn't it, Georgie, Daddy said. Daddy was better than he can?" pitching horseshoes. Horseshoes flew through the I was hollering and Dick was turning red and air and it was hot. Jeb looked at me. Stand back then white and the room was tilted. or one of his horseshoes is going to hit you and "You give him that gun back, right this minute," knock you down real good, Jeb said. Jeb threw Condi said. Rummy gave me Saddam's gun back the horseshoe and it went right over the stick and and I held it my hands, it was hot like a horse­ Daddy clapped. Run and get me that horseshoe, shoe. Georgie, Daddy said. I ran and picked up the horse­ "You got the gun, now you stop that hollering," shoe. The metal was hot in my hands, and I held it Rummy said. for a little bit and then I dropped it. I picked it up. Condi patted me on the back. "It sure is hot in It was hot in my hands and I started running away here," she said. She fanned herself and took off from Daddy and Jeb. Come back with that horse­ her jacket. She smelled like perfume. ^ 4 ^

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I uuas sitting on a parl^ bencin, eating a turl^ey started to notice that the daughter noticed the ac­ sanduiicin on rye, and was, generally, in a good tions of the dog too. At this point, the "pinli“ of the mood. A fatlier and son were playing catch in a dog^s penis started to come out of its sheath, en- nearby field, while the mother and daughter were tending with each subsequent licl^. The poordaugh- preparing for a picnic by a tree, which w as approHi- ter who w as watching this started to cry, and her mately fiue feet away from me. Some young ado­ brother turned his head in response, right when his lescents were riding their bihe on the asphalt path, dad was throwing the baseball at him. The base­ Coming towards me w as a man wall^ing his golden ball hit th e so n in th e h e a d , andhegotl^nocl^edout retrieuer. He loohed a little beyond me, and start­ -all of this because of a dog's penis. ed to smile at the mother and daughter - he l^new This menacing scourge, which has plagued many them. Friendly Americans in a friendly American minds, has to be dealt with immediately! Our chil­ parh, basking in the sunshine, the only way that dren are enposed to outright genitalia euerydayj red-blooded Americans l^now how - that is what I testicles bouncing as if in a dance, right in front of lil^e to see, The man wall^ed past me, and went to their faces. The question must be posed: why do we the mother and daughter. The man w as tallying to accept these testicular dances? The reason is be­ the mother, and I noticed that his dog, while at a cause liberals belieue that it is "natural" for hauing standstill w as liching his own genitalia profusely. I dogs being in this indecent mode of being. These realize that animals lich themselues to clean them- are animals that are domesticated, meaning that seluesj but, this dog w as going beyond cleaning, I they liue in a human enuironmentj thus, it would be most rational [which eueryonB course with other dogs - alle- ished forthe day, and an enema hnoujs liberals are not] to bh- uiating another social problem two hours before the horse goes pect that domesticated animals thatfaces us with ^^man's best out again. Hence, there would should also be clothed. friend." be a minimum amount of waste The fact of the matter is that A more frightening notion than that the horse can produce while dogs should wear diapers, thus a dog's penis, is a horse's pe­ being out in the public,' thus the we don't haue to see the ob­ nis. I'm an encellent model of a horse's penis could be couered scenity that dangles between law abiding American, and I haue easily with a diaper. their legs. Dn this note, it great respect for police officersj 1 l^now there is som e liberal would also be easier for ow n­ but when I see a police officer on out there thinl^ing, '■‘‘UJhat about ers, because they would not top of a horse, and the horse's pe­ thefemale counterparts ofthese haue to train them or wall^ them nis is dangling lil^e a 7 pound Kiel- male dogs and horses?" I be- to do their deed. WJhich would basa hanging from a Butcher's lieue that fem ales are different. you rather do: see the pinl^ of ceiling - I just want to hnocl^ the First of all, their genitalia are a dog's penis or change some police officer off the horse, and not as noticeable as the males, diapers? I linow what I prefer be lihe a filthy hippy protesting, Second of all, if they wore dia­ - change some diapers. Only screaming, ”No penis for safety!" pers, their uaginas would be peruerts and liberals would many New Vorhers, due to police more prone to infection. And say the former, because, let's officers being on horses, haue third of all, a penis se em s uery face the facts, all peruerts are seen a fully entended horse's pe­ homoseHual-lihe, unlihe uagi­ liber- als. Also if dogs nis - including children. nas, which are uery heterosBH- wear diapers, UJe could couer a horse with a ual-lil^e. they wouldn't diaper, but a diaper alone would America, we haue a responsi­ be able to haue not be able to deal with the hind bility to our children. UJe can not public seHu- of eHcrement that horses leauej couertheir eyes all the time from al inter­ thus, there is only one other op­ genitalia. But wb can do soma- tion if w e still want police of­ thing bsttar - we can couer the ficers that are on horses while genitalia that they ara BHposad not seeing a penis -that's right, to, BUBn if that ganitalia is of a enemas. UJe would haue to dog, or a horsB. giue the horse an enema 4

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fter the blitzkrieg, after the tanlcs rolled in, after the onslaught of right- the allies were pushed back into the sea, when w in g p ro p a g a n d a bein g silence and terror occupied the land a lone voice spewed at U.S. citizens Ain the darkness could be heard. This was the voice of French from the radical fringe resistance radio whose valiant effort during W orld War II kept groups now in control of the voice of hope alive during a time when hope could not be the Republican party and the United States Government, with seen. Now, fast forward in time sixty-seven years later and a a format featuring a liberal, left wing, progressive points of continent away. Another democracy is under attack, this time view and specializing in presentations and monologues, news, from within as a more and more corrupt Republican Party forc­ guest interviews, and calls by listeners. But much like the D- es its way into the W hite House and our houses. One by one day landing, our defenders of freedom slammed right into they strike down liberty after liberty under the guise of national the Atlantic Wall with obstacles and blockades to deter them security, until only silence and terror occupy the land. After from their course of action. Signing on initially in three ma­ the fraudulent elections, after the Patriot Act, after the Words jor venues of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles they were of Moral Destruction, alone in the darkness a voice could be quickly knocked off the air in Chicago and LA. Funding had heard as Air America Radio signed on to the airwaves. become a problem, without the same vast recourses the right held, it seemed nearly impossible to maintain a constant voice. Their journey wasn’t an easy one. Then, again if change One studio of an AAR affiliate in Warren, Ohio, WANR-AM were easy the word revolution would be an antiquated term. was briefly occupied by a group of religious extremists that “We aim to build an important new media franchise that de­ changed the locks and began broadcasting Christian program­ livers results,” Mark Walsh former CEO. W ith those words ming until the police forced them to leave. For every stumble set forth a small group of investors intent on building a liberal the fledging radio network made, the right-wing followed presence in the medium of radio equal to the conservatives. up with unrelenting salvos of propagandist diatribe. And the All would not be a simple as it sounded though, while there worst blow, less then a year after their incarnation, came when were many qualified warriors of liberty to fill the ranks of the right once again stole the executive election. But the re­ the newly formed radio network, money and respect would sistance continued on, and gained a foothold in the medium be another matter. Add to that, the constant attacks by an largely due to the internet, by streaming live broadcasts. Fi­ already established biased right-wing media. nally the executives of the network conceded their intent was good, but tactics bad. A change of command was needed so Signing on to the airwaves in March of 2004 the founders M ark Walsh left the field of battle and formerly silent partner of Air America Radio hoped to instantly provide a balance to Danny Goldberg stood up to take charge. W ith a new command in place and was even sued by the right-wing flag­ show would change it’s titled to and is new tactics set forth the network be­ ship Fox News for use of the phrase n o w The Al Franken Show. gan to grow. More and more stations “Fair and Balanced” which was part of were added. They expanded to sateUite the subtitle of one of his books. Fox Radio veteran and winner of the radio broadcast via AAR even be­ claimed that Franken infringed its reg­ American W omen in Radio and Televi­ gan beating conservative radio gohaths istered trademark rights in the phrase, sion award for Best Entertainm ent Pro­ like Rush Limbaugh, proving that their “Fair and Balanced.” The case went gramming, Randi Rhodes is a woman determination was profound so controversial she has even enough to overcome any ob­ garnered the attention of the stacle no matter how enormous Secret Service. The SS cam e it m a y be. ' down on her and Air America in the spring of 2005 when Since its inception so many a comedy sketch on her pro­ have joined this resistance, but g ra m T h e Randi Rhodes Show we need only look at a few of implied that the current Presi­ these radio warriors to un­ dent should be shot for his derstand the measure of their crimes against the peoples of resolve. Such as Chuck D re­ the United States. Ironically nowned leader of the militant this was around the same peri­ rap group Public Enemy, who od that Republican legislators has helped to reinvigorate the were outright calling for Fed­ civil rights movement for Black eral Judges to be shot because Americans with such thought they did not rule in favor of and action provoking albums the parties’ wishes. Unaffected like It take A Nation of Mil­ by the incident Rhodes con­ lions, Fear O F A Black Planet tinues to keep a critical eye on and Apocalypse '91... The E n ­ W ashington, especially W hite emy Strikes Black. His group’s House politics, and all of mass soundtrack work on Indepen­ media checking their facts and dent Film Director Spike Lee’s pointing out deception. Oscar nominated motion pic­ tu re Do The Right Thing h e lp e d The French endured a sev­ drive home the films message en-year occupation that left about the continued existence much of the nation scarred of racial tensions in modern and gutted. Our nation will America. Chuck D is now tak­ endure no less then eight ing the battle for freedom and years of equal hardship per­ equality to a new level with his haps even more. But like the sh o w On The Real. French Resistance so long ago Air America Radio is here to A1 F ra n k e n is an E m m y -A w a rd to court and it was literally laughed stay, to fight against insurmountable winning comedy writer for Saturday out by the Judge. W hen Air Ameri­ odds and one day liberate our nation Night Live who traded in his whoop­ ca signed on Franken was given the from tyranny. “Today is both an ending ee cushion for a protest sign. Franken flagship program to host. He initially and a beginning: an end to the right- went on to author such best selling titled the program The O ’Franken wing dominance of talk radio, (and) a b o o k s as Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Factor “to annoy” Bill O ’Reilly con­ beginning of a battle for truth, a battle Idiot and Other Observations a n d Lies servative host of The O’Reilly Factor. for justice, a battle indeed for America and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. H e Once he had his fun with Bill the itself...” said Al Franken. "being forced Into the Republican ideal", and "being But, with regards to school,.. Veah they taught me forced Into the Republican Party". Who would you say "Gays are bad." Family: "Don't be gay." Republican forced you? Was It your family, the schools, religion, Party: "Same-seH marriages are dangerous to fam­ society in general? ily ualues," I think that the GDP is the best spokes- MD: UUelL reljgion scared me partially because we group for Christianity out there. I mean. Bush wants f h e M isedu€ation all know that the Catholic Church-1 w as born a Cath­ to add an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution mak­ olic, I went through all the required Sacraments. ing same-en marriages unconstitutional! He can't Now I'm not really practicing anything at this time, do that because there is a separation of Church and simply because of the fact I don't know of any reli­ State. Inmyopinion, he cannot tell me that I haue to gion that accepts homoseHuality, Butgrowingupin marry a guy. I tried dating males-1 wasn't happy. I of K ara D onnelly SERIES the Catholic Church, the stressing of that marriage dated females-1 found happiness, I am not going to is between man and woman had me worried. ”Holy haue somebody down in Washington- who doesn't Fucking Shit! I might be damned to som e form of Hell euen know who I am-telling me who I can and can't Kara Donnelly is a second-year student at the College of Staten Island. She is an open lesbian if I don't marry a guy," The sam e thing goes with loue, w h o is actiu e luitli NVPIRG and h a s recen tly joined the sta ff of Third Rail m agazin e. Uihat m a k e s my family- they are Christians all aroundj my TR: Do you think you might marry In the near future? Harass story euen more interesting is the fact that she w as once president of the Moung Republi­ sister also goes to the sam e Catholic high KD: The only time I will marry is if they [the poli­ cans, Staten island chapter. She ujas gracious enough to sit doujn with me and tall^ about her school that I went to. I w as worried that ticians] change the requirements of marriage with journey and the ramifications her seHuality and politics haue hadon her life. The following is my motherwould euen attemptto disown regards to benefits. If they make a ciuil union the me- hell, she didn't euen like the guy I Part 2 of that interuiew; Part 1 w as published in our last issue [ED05::lssue 2]. more important one- and if you want to haue a re­ w as dating for her sake! She didn't like ligious ceremony, go right ahead!- then allow that him. father didn't like Third Rail (TRJ: Well, the whole point of this inter- benefits be giuen to all couples, whether sam e-sen him, my sister uiew Is to figure out how one goes from the presi­ — }f or not, then maybe. The only way I can get married hated his dent of the Voung Republicans to an openlg lesbian is if a. New Vork State makes same-seH marriages guts- I re­ member of NVPlRGj that is a radical shift. Rut you legal, orlgociuilandb.theinsuranceruleschange. S’ ally don't referto being in the Voung Republicans as a mistake; Until then, no. I am not going to marry a guyj it’s as know why, w as it? simple as that. I don't plan to, and thars the way Mara Donnelly (KDJ: Veah, I thinh it was, actually, things are. If things change, then we will see, think it was. It w as a mistahe. LUhereas TR: Vou mentioned seueral times your fami­ it did teach me things, I think it really, ly's acceptance, or lack thereof. Do they feel in the end pushed me farther and far­ # afraid to haue you around your sister? ther away from what they supposedly KD: I'm not really sure on that. They, esp e­ stood for; what they wanted euerybody cially my sister, do not want it being public so to stand forj and in the end, what it truly not to be known to her friends. I made the mis­ stands for. Simply because of the fact that take of informing a common friend of ours at the the Republican ideology isn't as correct as time- he w as actually taking her to the Junior Prom- they would like it to be, and, when push com es that I w as dating a transgendered person. She went to shoue, people are starting to shift ouerfrom and informed my mother and I got heat for that, They the Republican lines to the Democrat lines. They don't want my personal life coming in contact with are all worried-Borough Hall's worried. City Hall's my sister's, I can't blame them-1 don't need my sis­ worried. UJhy do you think fYlike Bloomberg is go­ ter's stresses coming on to me, and to be honest, ing to be spending more time here? He knows I haue enough drama in my life as it is. The least I that people are shifting in the flue boroughs, and would want from them is som e form of acceptance. he needs to defend his uoter base. People are When I brought home a picture of my last girlfriend, starting to realize the things that I realized as I went I framed it and put nent to my bed. I com e home through the Republican hierarchy. I worked in Bor­ ough Hallj I also w as able to intern in the District Attorney's office. I got to work for the Republican County Committee-1 saw a lot of things, and many of those things s c a r a d me senseless.

TR: Seueral times through this, you mentioned

www.ThH IBO RAILM'AG .com :v

I'd probably be entreme- one else thinhs, its what you ly nuts right now. She thinh of yourself. She helped me was always there for realize that I am not a horrible per­ me when my ew was \ son- I might haue som e angry ten­ being a pain. She gaue dencies, but it is who I am. If peo­ for som e reason or another, now, but 1 doubt it. me hope, taught me ple can't accept that, then that > . TR: How haue you been doing TR: Did you retain any ualues to loue myself. Thars is really too bad. It is who 1 am, I with blendiny your old friends- from yourVouny Republican days? what made the transition should not change for anybody, no the Voung Republicans- with KD: Probably not ualues, but I definite, When I w as pre­ matter what my relationship is with your new friends, who to my un- can say that 1 Hept many of the from classes tending to be bi or straight, them. If there was anything I wanted derstandiny are quite liberal? shills I learned courtesy of them. one night and I find hated myself for doing it. Hate to accomplish in my life, it w as to say KD: I am going to be bluntly hon­ Now that I am on the NVPIRG Board it missing- the entire taught me that you couldn't really that I loue myself. And I haue. est. I haue uery few friends from of Directors, I can use the things thing. Turns out my motherthrew loue anybody until you loue your­ If there was anything I wanted to accomplish that period of my life, in fact, I re­ I had to do while holding many it out because it w as in the open self- which probably enplains in my life, it was to say that I loue myself. And ally only kept three or four from positions for the Voung Repub­ when my sister had a friend ouer why none of my relationships I haue. then. They hnow and they all ac­ licans, I had to deal with giuing I' and they were using the computer neuerreally worhed out. And euen cept me for who I am. Other than speeches, going to euents, talh- TR: What would you say to other young people yo- in my room. Now I am required to though she and I aren't dating any­ iny throuyh or who might potentially go through what haue anything of herinthe open-! that, I don't haue anyone close ing to politicians, spreading the more, she w as and alw ays will be my you just came from? haueto hide pictures of heralone, to me from my pre-CSl days that ■■'Republican Ideal". Instead of teacherj I hope she will alw ays be there KD: Vou can't haue people telling you who to be, of the two of us together, which haue followed me through this, doing that, now I'm represent­ for me, I hnow when it cam e to our relationship I Vou are your own indiuidual, Vou can't be afraid of I still haue. my mother does not and it is not fair. I'm still hard­ ing CBI's students, tahing what screwed up a lot. But what I loue Kate forthe most what people are going to thinh. If they can't accept want them in the house. To haue working person who put in 15 to I learned at retreats and confer­ is the fact she wouldn't let that heep us from hau- the fact that you are transgendered, lesbian, gay or to hide who I am, just so when IB hours in the office that they ences and bring it bach to the ing a friendship, She led me through the process of biseHual, they are too narrow-minded fortheir own my sister's friends come ouer, Hnew and loued, I do that here! I campus so that the students can undoing the damage of the lies I woue around me, good. If yourfriends can't accept it, then they were I'ue done it for so long. Do hauen't changed. It hurt me a lot use it to haue their uoices heard many is the time I used her shoulder dur­ neueryourfriendsto begin with. Vourfriends are the haue to add on to the that euen my eH-boyfriend didn't up in Albany, ing the emotional stress 1 was under. accept that, I went through three ones who will stand by you, regardless of senual eight years of lies TR: So thars the only bridye you The fact that she is still with me months of hell with him call­ preference. Don't change yourself to fit the norm. because my fam­ haue? as a friend shows me that there ing me, stalhing me, e-mailing Sometimes the majority does not haue the power. ily does not want KD: UJell, I can use the politi­ is som eone out there that under­ me, nny friends here were there It tahes one person to speah out and at times, that the truth out? They cal contacts I still haue. They all stands who I am. for me, no one else w as there. I one uoice is enough. Vou shouldn't l^now, just accept it hnow mej hopefully I can usethat TR: Can you now say that you learned who my realfriends were lie about who you are, because already. So I guess, to my aduantage in some shape, loue yourself? \ yes, they are afraid during this time, if it wasn't for sometimes the lies can be­ way or form, I don't hnow how KD: Ves. During the of my life being my friends here, I probably would com e truth. much the politicians hnow, but time when I la­ around my sister. haue went completely nuts dur­ if anything, they will remember beled myself as TR: Thank you for being ing the time my en Dauid was be­ TR: How do you the worh I did forthem on their re- braue enough to share your ing a complete and total dich. "straight", 1 started think your rela­ spectiue campaigns, to belieue it and I story and to sit down TR: Do you miss any of your with us. Thank you tionship with TR: So, how would you sum up hated myself for it. friends from the Voung Republi­ for also joininy our your family will your journey from Vouny Repub­ Kate cam e into my cans? staff. 9 be when you lican, from conseruatiue, from ( life bach in Febru­ KD: Honestly, I don't miss any­ KD: Thanh you -W moue out of their euerytbiny that hates what you ary, and she helped one. They were just too uptight, for allowing r / house? are to what you'ue become? me realize that it they couldn't balance things. And me to tell my KD: I thinly they KD: I had a lot of help during doesn't matter when the jol^es would fly with re­ story. f will be ecstatic, this transition. Honestly, if it what euery- gards to homoseHuals-1 couldn't because they don't wasn't for Kate, I don't thinh the bring myselfto laugh,They would haueto deal with the transition would not haue been ash me about my being uptight, drama that is my as easy. It probably would haue I could only thinh, "Hf you only life. I'll enjoy it sim­ been a lot harder without her help knew." maybe if I said some­ ply because 1 won't and guidance. If it wasn't for her. yelled at euery day thing, things might be different Kara's struggles continue, as she has been kicked out of her home and is staying in a shelter. She does hope to maintain her status in the CSI community. All of us at Third Rail magazine wish Kara all the happiness she deserves in her future. , www.T{HI!iDRAILM/%G«com gUlTURAL DISCjlURSE

A n O pen L etter

to Tom C ru ise

Dear Tom Cruise,

Recently I have been troubled by your remarks on mental health. This includes, but is not limited to the disparaging comments towards Brooke Shields and M att Lauer. As somebody who has suffered from bipolar disorder for many years, I can say in absolute confidence that my medication helps me. And yes, I have taken vitamins and prac­ ticed yoga, neither of which has worked. Thankfully, I am no longer looking over my shoulder or hearing random voices, and I have both psychology and psychiatry to thank for that.

I do not condemn your viewpoint wholeheartedly, Tom. After all, Ritalin and Adderall are prescribed way to often and ADD is overly diagnosed. I will grant you this. However, the tone of your beliefs are way out of line, especially since you will never experi­ ence postpartum depression.

As appealing as Scientology may be from an outsider looking in, more people need to know the truth about what your peo­ ple stand for. You are a bunch of cult members who follow the teachings of a compulsive liar, and while you sleep, the layman Scientologists are being tortured and brainwashed like concen­ tration camp prisoners. Dianetics is more of a pseudoscience that psychiatry and it merely borrows aspects of psychology and scratches the surface of m ankind’s problems. One more thing I will grant you is that the multimedia on the Dianetics website is amazing. But you will just have to excuse me if the theory of extraterrestrials possessing our souls is hard to swallow. Plus, I also know that if I have a tumor, I should have it checked out by a doctor and not submit to a cockamamie personality test.

Please do not be offended by my skepticism, Mr. Cruise. I re­ spect your “religion” even though the thought of an alien named Xenu dropping an H-bomb on our planet makes me chuckle just a little bit. But keep in m ind that the ideas of retrieving divine knowledge from a stone, a burning bush, and a man claiming to be the son of God also brings me to laughter. You have crossed a fine line with your fallacious arguments and self-righ­ teousness. In summary, you are dangerous to those afflicted by mental illness and I am simply grateful to live a stable life. It’s just too bad that I can’t be more comple­ mentary of L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology, Dianetics, or “Battlefield Earth”.

Sincerely, Jack Freedman, on behalf of 20% of America

CC: John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Lisa Marie Presley, Isaac Hayes, Juliette Lewis, Giovanni Ribisi, Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, Jason Lee, and Greta Van Susteren.

.!a2iaiRAjii D o y o u a p p r o v e o f ■ ^ i'- ^ H M ......

Poll conducted by Erica IS Sbordone

BY GENDER

MALE FEMALE FEMALE

Fifty CSI students [E5 males/25 female] were ashed ou CSI students are a lot more open-minded than was preui- you approue of yay marriage and winy?"' and were ously thought, The stereotype of S.I, guys being the biggest giuen the following reasons for ^^yes'" and ‘■'no-'-': homophobes has been erased from my mind, euen though the three guys that said they were against it had some really REASONS FOR VES: Vsilly reasons forthinking so. 1] It is nobody's business/no one can say you can't loue someone - 8 girls, 8 boys fis you can see, the uarious reasons giuen for saying yestothe question couer all bases, from personal to political issues. One 2] It is a matter of freedom/happiness male stated that people always tall^ about equality, yet most - 6 girls, 4 boys people are not always willing to accept it in practice. People are 3] Eueryone should haue the legal right to get married people, no matter what seHual orientation ttiey are. - 6 girls, 2 boys I am surprised that more people did not mention the separation 4] It doesn't interfere with heterosenual marriage between church and state defense. The pilgrims left England for - 5 boys social and political freedoms that were deuoid of religious in­ fringement. Religion should of course be tolerated, but it should 5] There is supposed to be a separation of church haue no bearing ouerthe life decisions of others. and state - 3 boys Asforthe reasons for being againstgay marriage, Ifeelthatthe REASONS FOR HO; worst defense, aside from the absent defense, is that the uows 1] The uows won't mean the same thing/The and marriage cannot be the same for homosenuals. The uows marriage itself cannot be a real marriage - 3 girls can easily change from "''this man and this woman" to "ihis man and this man" or ^’’this woman and this woman." We put way 2] Procreation of humanl^ind will cease too much emphasis on words, euen though they are just arbitrary -1 boy attachments to concepts. This issue should not be about the 3] fi piece of paper [marriage certificate] has no words but the concepts behind them. People of all types get actual meaning -1 girl married euery day. Child molesters, drug addicts, and adulterers 4] Society is not ready forthis getmarried Knowing that they do notplanto follow their wedding -1 boy uows, so what giues anyone the right to say that homosenuals cannot do what we cannot always do right either? 5] No reason at all -1 boy *o you think “under Cod** should be rem oved from the Pledge o f Allegiance and why? liiAKiJLSS iji;7u)]<;u KILUOY NANIi:: p. iMI'LLSSA FLSHKR lUXK: I'UITOU-IK-CDIli:!' NAME: TJ RILEY BIO: AN AWAUl)-WI>’>’Ii\G JOURNALIST. SHIi: lUNK; ASSOCIATE EDITOR______DOIJ)S AN AA & A KA, BOTD FKON THE CSI BIO: LIKES TO READ PHILOSOPHY, M'DEIIE SHE IS (’IJKUENTLY PIJUSIJING AN JL4 POETRY, FICTION, NON-FICTION, IN ENGLISH UHETORIC. AS AN A€Tm! STUDENT, ETC. & LISTEN ID MUSIC AND SHE HAS CONTRIRUTEl) TO ALWAYS A WOitA\, & NOISE IN GENERyiL. AkSO WEARS WEEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE UAXMiU. CORPORjVITON T-SHIRTS ON >0^ OUOTE: “YOU WANT FREE SPEECH? LET’S SEE STUPID BLOODY TUESDAYS YOU ACKNOW LEDGE A MAN M HOSE WORDS MAKE CONSCIOUSLY TO TRY TO BE YOUR BLOOD BOIL, WHO IS STANDIN(J CliN IER IRONIC OR JL\YBE DEFIANT & ADVOCAHN(i AT THI< FOP OF HIS LUN(iS SOMETIMES, ICONIC.______THAI WHAT YOU M'

___a— A v u ui:pouT]i;u ^■1 NAME: DWIGHT DUNKLEY RilNK: POE IRY I’DI iOR NAME: SHAM'N FISHER BIO: A FORMER PRESIDENT OF STUDENT GOV. lUNK: BUSINESS MANA(;ER AND CSI MARKETIN(i CLUB, HE IS CURRENTLY A BIO: IS A DECORATED ^liTERAN OF THE FELLOW' IN THE CUNY PIPELINE PIKXiRilM. U.S. NAVAL RESEinii: M HO MAJORS IN QUOTE: “THOSE WHO PROFESS TO FAV(Hl COMMUNICATIONS AT THE CSI, M ITH FREEDOM AND Airi DEPRECIATE AGITAIION ARE A SPECIALI7JVT10N IN JOURNALISM. Pi;OPLE MHO WANT CROPS WITHOUT PLOIKiHINCi HE HOIJ)S AN A.A. IN LIBERAL ARTS THE GROUND; THEY WAN l RAIN MIIHOUT AND SCIENCES & HAS RECEIVED HVO THUNDER AND LIGHTNING; THEY WANT THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMENDATIONS FROM OCEAN Wn H(HJ I THE ROAR OF US MANY WAFERS. THE UNm-:RSHT for HIS ACTIVITIES ON THE STRUG(iLE MAY BE A MORAL ONE, OR IT CAMPUS.______MAY BE A PHYSICAL ONE, OR IT MAY BE BOTH. QUOTE: “THEY M HO M'OUIJ) (JHl' UP AN BUT II MUSI BE A STRIIG(iLi:. POWER CONCEDES ESSENTIAL LIBERTT FOR TEMPORARY NOi HING MU HOUT A DEMAND: IT NEVER HAS SECURI IT, DESEinii: NEITHER LIBERIT AND IT NEVER MTLL.” - FREDERICK DOUiiLVS N(Hl SECURIIT” - BENJAMIN FlUNKLIN

NAME: JEFF MCGRAHAM RANK: CANNON FODDER BIO: JEFF MCGILIHAM IS STILL ON A QUEST TO FIND NIRVANA. CONSEQUENTLY, HE IS ATTEMPTIN(J TO SUPPRESS HIS ID, EGO AND SUPERE(;0 AND SO REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN SELF PROMOTION.______QUOTE: “MTi HANG THE PETIT THIEATilS AND APPOINT THE GRliAT ONES TO PUBLIC OFFICE.” - AESOP

I"? NAME: NEIL SCHUIJ)INEB RilNK: EDITOR EMERITUS RIO: IS A HISTORY MAJOR AT CSI M HO HOLDS AN AA IN LIBERilL ARTS AND SCIENCE. HE HAS SEini^D THE CSI COMMUNITT FOR MANY, »L\NY, MANY DECADES HAVING HELD POSITIONS IN STUDENT GOMiRNMENT, COLLEtiE COUNCIL, AUXILIARY SERVICES & MOST OF THE COLLEGE’S PUBLICATIONS. UPON COMPLETION OF HIS BA HE PUNS ON CONTINUING ON AT THE COLLEGE FOR HIS (iRADUATE STUDIES. QUOTE: “NO MAN HAS A NATUIUL RIGHT TO COMMIT AGGRESSION ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS OF ANOTHER, AND THIS IS ALL FROM M'HICH THE LAM'S OU(JHT TO RESTIUIN HIM.” - THO»IAS JEFFERSON Distorting Reality Since Before You W ere B om

T ake another look at the lens on any cam era ever

m ade. It’s pointy, and only shows w hat the

photographer w ants you to see. That’s

right-the cam era lies like a rug. In

today’s w orld, this is w hat m akes

M orm w J'Jifiwpr w ars possible at all. Wct the Media Fascism fears books. Read