Politics

America the Traumatized

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

This Alternet post by Adele Stan points to thirteen events that shaped the millennial decade and traumatized the nation. Whether or not you agree with every point, it gives us a lot to think about as we enter the new year.

It’s been one helluva decade, even though we’ve reached the end without knowing what to call it. Some have tried “the aughts,” others the “double-Os.” I’m content to simply call it over. To mark its location in the great march of history, I’ve taken to calling it the millennial decade, after the great numerological transition it heralded. Yet for describing its character, nothing comes closer than the Decade of Trauma — American trauma,

… Read more

Politics

2020 Vision

Written by Rev. David L. Ostendorf

Hard to believe that as millions gathered worldwide ten years ago to usher in the new millennium the biggest worry was whether the computers would work after midnight.

This year millions worldwide simply wonder if they will ever work again; it has been a hellacious decade.

This is the week of reflection on the gasping 00’s, a ten year stretch that cannot end soon enough. The decade-long litany of socioeconomic and political disasters is filling chattering class columns ad nauseum, reminding us why, once again, most Americans believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction. The bloom is off the rose of the new Administration, and the grim reality of a very long-term… Read more

Politics

Let’s Give Our Sisters a Hand

Written by Jessica Acee

As misogyny continues to take a toll on our communities through violence and rising inequality, it’s important to remember the amazing work done on the feminist front in 2009. To that end I offer you ten short vignettes that have inspired and challenged me to think bigger about change. These are small, often personal, steps forward that should motivate us towards equality and justice in the years to come.

I’m proud to be a woman and proud to have witnessed the following women (and men) take a stand in 2009.
(In no particular order)

1. Rosie the Riveter High School opened in Long Beach, CA to help young women train for careers in… Read more

Immigration

Holiday Cheer and a New Year

Written by James E. Johnson Jr.

I just love this time of the year. It’s not just the beautiful lights, or the great food, not even the gifts. For me it has always been the time we most celebrated family. On Christmas Eve and Christmas our family was all together and the ones who were not there physically were close by phone. My father’s birthday is Dec. 26 which was always a celebration and is now a remembrance. My baby sister, who is not only the youngest but also the only girl, was born on Dec. 28, today. Happy Birthday Muffet. Yes it is all about family.

This year my fiancé, Lisa and I are blessed by the fact it is… Read more

News Corp’s Racist History

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Media Matters for America takes a close looks at News Corps biggest stars, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, etc., as well as the head honcho Rupert Murdoch, and paints a scary picture of continually racially-charged broadcasting.

Glenn Beck’s comment that President Obama is a “racist” with a “deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture” justifiably garnered a great deal of attention, but that remark was by no means an isolated incident at News Corp., owner of Fox News. Indeed, Beck’s comments are indicative of a corporate culture in which racially charged commentary is frequent, goes all the way to the top, and is too often tolerated.

Rupert Murdoch

News Corp.’s race problem starts at

… Read more

Crosspost: ICE’s Secret Holding Pens

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

This article was originally posted on El Diario NY and in English on New America Media.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is disappearing immigrants. ICE must immediately end its dark practice of hiding people in off the radar facilities.

Throughout the country, 186 subfield offices are used for shuttling immigrants. They operate as staging locations or holding areas for detainees, as an internal review commissioned by ICE describes, and are used for the vast majority of “book-ins.”

The shocking problem, as a report by The Nation illuminates, is that these sites have not been made known to the public—they are unlisted. They are

… Read more

Immigration

Norwegian Christmas Cookies

Written by Joan Flanagan

My great-great-grandfather grew up near Fortun, in Norway. Three families owned the entire valley, so he would have been a tenant farmer, a day-laborer, or a servant. Since he could not marry into one of the three land-owning families, he had no way to raise his station in life or make more money. In the 1850’s he came to Vernon County, Wisconsin, where he worked hard as a laborer on dairy farms, starting his days at 4 am milking the cows by hand. He saved his money, so that my great-grandfather could own his own farm. They ran the farm, said their prayers, and sang their hymns in Norwegian.

By the time of my grandmother,… Read more

Holiday Memories and Unexpected Changes

Written by Amy Mehta

Growing up in NY, the holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years- meant getting together with my parents, brother, paternal uncles, aunts, cousins and other extended family who all lived in the tri-state area. Family get-togethers included anywhere from 20-40 family members depending on who joined us. Different families would take turn hosting holiday get-togethers at their homes. On Thanksgiving, my cousins and I would ask the adults and children to go around the room and express what they were thankful for. This was a beautiful exercise. On Christmas, no matter where we were, we had a huge celebration. As a young child, I remember that no matter where Christmas was, we had a big tree… Read more

Steven Camarota Anti-immigrant Scrooge of the Year

Written by Jill Garvey

It looks like Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies is going to win this year’s anti-immigrant scrooge award! Congratulations to Steven, he’s beaten out dozens of other candidates within the anti-immigrant movement to take home this year’s big honor.

Not only does Camarota like to bash immigrants, he also likes to deny Christmas gifts to poor children. Mr. Camarota has represented his organization well. To clinch the prize he managed to trample the holiday spirit and the American spirit at the same time! Let’s take a look back at Camarota’s five scroogiest moments.

5.    Along with his colleagues, Mark Krikorian… Read more

Politics

Good Will Towards All Men

Written by Amy Spicer

Walter Orlando Trochez was just 27 years old when he was gunned down in the Honduran city of Tegucigalpa. An HIV/AIDS outreach worker who had been active both in the LGBT movement and in political activity opposing the coup, Trochez had recently reported to the Attorney General’s Office that four armed men in civilian clothes attempted to kidnap him and that there had been a series of threats against his life because of his sexual orientation and participation in the resistance movement.

He made that report on December 5th. He was killed on December 14th.