It is not enough for us to engage in critiquing of systems. In fact, it becomes more like academic masturbation that real social constructive thinking. Anyone can critique ad naseum the systems under which we are oppressed.

It is much more constructive to after such a critique, engage in the creation of a system or systems that will serve us. If we do not create things that serve us, we will continue the cycle of oppression, thereby continuing our deterioration of a species, because nothing remains constant; it either improves or gets worse. Maintenance only applies to artificial machines. Our very physical nature dictates this. We will either improve our health or co-opt it by how we treat it.

It is quite easy to regurgitate our scholars, intellectuals and leaders, but at the end of the day it is rigorous action that will propel us into the dimensions of freedom and justice that we all claim to crave. If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. simply preached, we would never come to know the greatness of the man. What would we say about Malcolm X if he only preached within the Nation of Islam structure and did not transform himself into El Hajj Malik El Shabazz? What if Gandhi relegated himself to just being an attorney?

If your academic education does not propel you into action, then you become an engine without a spark. You are merely a good piece of entertainment, geared toward tickling the senses, but nothing more. We can listen to the books, CDs and lectures of intellectuals such as Cornell West, Noam Chompsky, Michael Eric Dyson, Howard Zinn, and so on, but it is their actions that affirm their intellectual prowess. They must back up their oration with practical application to have any sort of relevancy.

And who truly has relevancy in this era of complacency? Who has the ability to awaken our civil slumber? Or are we in effect done with the idea of one or a few leaders to give us what we need to speak the engine of a movement, and are finally ready for multiple voices?

Perhaps cynically, but our words have simply become useless. They are no longer the catalyst to the rush on the battlefield. Forty years removed from the great civil right struggles, we engage in more rhetoric than we do revolution, and more miasma than we do movement.

The era of leaders who not only spoke truth about the status quo, but actively engaged the masses in direct action are over. The era of the SNCC and the Black Panther Party – through COINTELPRO and other means – are over. The places where massive struggle and revolutionary continuance occur on other shores, in other lands such as Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and others. Though perhaps flawed at times, they are still actively engaged, whereas we in the United States organize and operate at a very micro level, with communication so fragmented there is no hope of massive movements at this time.

Now we have libraries of books, of nostalgia, of memorabilia. We often talk and reflect back to the sixties, because we have created nothing of the modern era that is substantive. In fact, we have become more reactionary than anything else. For example, there are no more nationwide movements to provide free clinics, schools, breakfast programs to provide underserved communities alternatives to failing health care, education and nutrition.

Now many of us so-called intellectuals and activists organize endless conferences on what the contemporary societal problems are – which never went away such as poverty – with no workable solutions or assignments at the end of each upon which we can build. We wear the T-shirts of the Black Panthers, Che Guevara, Malcolm, but where are we within our own context?

So here we are, decades after W.E.B. Dubois, James Baldwin and others, of great leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, Ella Baker, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks and Marcus Garvey, spinning in this hamster wheel, more afraid than ever to not only challenge the status quo – beyond Katrina, the Iraq occupation and George Bush which is now sanctioned by the Democratic Party in light of a so-called left party controlled Congress and the possibility of Obama as the first black president  – but to create systems that would offer sustainable alternatives to the current degradation, thereby giving people a chance to breathe and live with decency and dignity for once in their lives. Perhaps the real conversation now must be about authenticity. 

What better way to transition your recession laden lifestyle than to accept the growing economic resolution of Staycations? What better way to maintain your complacency about the curent state of affairs, while being socially accepted! Why spend beyond your means competing with the Joneses on those fabulous vacation packages, when you can walk right next door to their homes and see the possibilities for the Staycation of your dreams!

Hey, who wants to fuss about those naughty gas and food prices? Everybody has to tighten their belts. Only those repugnant radical fringes of society incessantly blog and protest and march on how corrupt they think our government is. After all, corporate profits are as American as apple pie. They are shining examples of what we all in America aspire to be. Our country was built on freedom and democracy. Think how proud our forefathers would be today of our great oil companies Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP, Shell and Conoco Phillips!

It’s time for you, the great all American family, once again to to show your patriotism and the love of your country by going with the flow and doing your duty. It’s time to explore the confines of your own home in a way you never did before. Take a wild trip around your town and explore sights you normally would take for granted. Take the Staycation pledge!

Just think. You will no longer to return to your 55 hour work week feeling like you need yet another vacation. Yo will no longer have to take that extra day, just so you can transition back to your normal routine. Think about how much productivitiy is being saved because America put that day back into the workforce!

Leave those long arduous itinerary filled, exotic hot spot vacations to the celebrities and the corporate brokers. Live the vacation you’ve truly wanted all along! Plan the Staycation of your dreams now! You will be glad you did!

Don’t give into the hype about gas and food prices. We live in the greatest country in the world with a robust economy that is changing so rapidly that it takes outsourcing to keep up. We as Americans have the power to create the kind of life we want without ever leaving our home towns. People worldwide are jealous of our Staycation status. Take advantage and proudly wave your red, white and blue flag!

Think about all the time and money you will save when you are on your incredible Staycation! Think about all the endless possbilities! Who knows? Maybe the Joneses will be looking at you and your family!

Everybody’s doing it. Join in on the fun! It’s wild! It’s crazy! It’s fun for the entire family! It’s All American! It’s Staycations!

(All Staycations are subject to the rules and regulations of the Patriot Act. There is a 9/11 tax added to each Staycation package. Staycations not officially sanctioned by the Department of Homeland Security may be subject to investigation.) 

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer  

WASHINGTON - Saved by Senate Republicans, big oil companies dodged an attempt Tuesday to slap them with a windfall profits tax and take away billions of dollars in tax breaks in response to the record gasoline prices that have the nation fuming.

GOP senators shoved aside the Democratic proposal, arguing that punishing Big Oil won’t do a thing to lower the $4-a-gallon-price of gasoline that is sending economic waves across the country. High prices at the pump are threatening everything from summer vacations to Meals on Wheels deliveries to the elderly.

The Democratic energy package would have imposed a 25 percent tax on any “unreasonable” profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies, which together made $36 billion during the first three months of the year. It also would have given the government more power to address oil market speculation, opened the way for antitrust actions against countries belonging to the OPEC oil cartel, and made energy price gouging a federal crime.

“Americans are furious about what’s going on,” declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. He said they want Congress to do something about oil company profits and the “orgy of speculation” on oil markets.

But Republican leaders said the Democrats’ plan would do harm rather than good — and they kept the legislation from being brought up for debate and amendments.

On world markets, oil prices retreated a bit Tuesday but remained above $131 a barrel. Gasoline prices edged even higher to a nationwide record average of $4.04 a gallon.

At the Capitol, Democratic leaders needed 60 votes and they got only 51 senators’ support, including seven Republicans who bucked their party leaders. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a state tied closely to the oil industry, was the only Democrat opposing the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid voted in favor of the measure, but for procedural reasons changed his vote to “no” so that he could bring it up again.

“We are hurting as a country. We’re hurting individually as Americans … and the other side says, `Do nothing. Don’t even debate the issue,’” complained Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

“Average citizens are scratching their heads and saying, what’s wrong with Washington,” said Schumer.

GOP opponents argued that little was to be gained by imposing new taxes on the five U.S. oil giants: Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Shell Oil Co., BP America Inc. and ConocoPhillips Co.

While these companies may be huge, they don’t set world oil prices and raising their taxes would discourage domestic oil production, the Republicans said of the Democrats’ plan.

“In the middle of what some are calling the biggest energy shock in a generation … they proposed as a solution, of all things, a windfall profits tax,” Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky chided the Democrats. He called their proposal “a gimmick” that would not lower gasoline prices and only hold back domestic oil production.

“The American people are clamoring for relief at the pump,” agreed Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., but “they will get exactly what they don’t want” under the Democrats’ plan — higher prices and an increase in oil imports.

The bill’s supporters argued that their proposal was different from the windfall profits taxes of the early 1980s that thwarted domestic production and led to a rise in imports. The oil companies could avoid the tax by using their “windfall” to push alternative energy programs or refinery expansions, they said.

Shortly after the oil tax vote, Republicans blocked a second proposal that would extend tax breaks that have either expired or are scheduled to end this year for wind, solar and other alternative energy development, and for the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation. Again Democrats couldn’t get the 60 votes to overcome a GOP filibuster.

Neither Republican presidential candidate John McCain nor his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, were in Washington to cast votes on the energy issue on Tuesday.

Obama, in a statement, said Republicans had “turned a blind eye to the plight of America’s working families” by refusing to take up the energy legislation. Obama has supported additional taxes on the oil companies. McCain is opposed to such taxes and has proposed across-the-aboard tax reductions for industry as a way to help the economy.

Election-year politics hung over the debate. Democrats know their energy package has no chance of becoming law. Even it were to overcome a Senate GOP filibuster — a longshot at best — and the House acted, President Bush has made clear he would veto it.

But there was nothing to lose by taking on Big Oil when people are paying $60 to $100 to fill up their gas tanks.

The oil companies have been frequent targets of Congress. Twice this year, top executives of the largest U.S. oil producers have been brought before congressional committees to explain their huge profits. And each time the executives urged lawmakers to resist punitive tax measures, blaming high costs on global supply and demand.

In addition to the proposed windfall profits tax, the Democrats’ bill also would have rescinded tax breaks that are expected to save the oil companies $17 billion over the next 10 years. The money would have been used to provide tax incentives for producers of wind, solar and other alternative energy sources as well as for energy conservation.

In an attempt to dampen oil market speculation, the legislation would require traders to put up more collateral in the energy futures markets and would provide authority to regulate U.S.-based trading in foreign markets. And it would make oil and gas price gouging a federal crime, with stiff penalties of up to $5 million during a presidentially declared energy emergency.

After Tuesday’s defeat, Democrats did not rule out pushing the issue again.

“This was politics at its worst,” complained Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. “This was a refusal to debate the biggest problem confronting the American people. … That takes nerve.”

More than 3,500 people gathered this weekend in Minneapolis for the fourth annual National Conference for Media Reform. The thousands of participants took part in panel discussions and strategized about efforts to fight media consolidation and democratize the airwaves. The three-day event was organized by the media reform group Free Press.

The highlight of the weekend was the keynote address by legendary broadcaster, Bill Moyers, host of the weekly PBS program Bill Moyers Journal. Moyers was one of the founding organizers of the Peace Corps, press secretary for President Lyndon Johnson, publisher of Newsday, senior correspondent for CBS News and a producer of many groundbreaking series on public television. He won more than thirty Emmys and is the author of four bestselling books. His latest, just out, is called Moyers on Democracy. On Saturday morning, Bill Moyers took to the stage and addressed the packed convention auditorium.

As a good will gesture and out of concern for each other’s health, the Hungry 13 decided as a collective whole to suspend their Hunger Strike until all negotiations are done with Mayor Dixon. These negotiations are scheduled for June 4, at City Hall, 5:00 p.m.

No further course of action will be taken as long as the negotiations between Peer-to-Peer and the mayor are satisfactory.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MAYOR, THERE WILL BE A
PRESS CONFERENCE: June 4, 2008–6:30 p.m.—City Hall

We continue to demand that 3 million dollars be added to the City’s budget to fund Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises.

Please note that we will only accept money from the Rainy Day Fund or sources not previously designated to youth.

Groups like Baltimore Urban Debate League, Kids on the Hill, Youth as Resources, Wide Angle Youth Media, Youth Dreamers, Algebra Project, Hip Hop Congress, Liberty Learning Center, Chesapeake Center for Youth Development and more are all a part of this Peer to Peer movement.

About Peer-to Peer-Youth Enterprises:

1. In Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises, young people are paid to share knowledge and skills with other peers. This means peers teaching/training peers and using their knowledge to help peers reach goals.

2. Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises can be community based, and school based. Peers can be paid to teach/share skills regarding academics, art, and a variety of other skills.

3. Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises are youth led. Adults are there to teach specific skills, and guide the work – but the young people participating in these enterprises lead each group.

4. Paid peers learn time management, responsibility, problem solving, while they gain expertise about the knowledge they impart to other youth.

5. Paid peers transfer knowledge or teach their technical or academic skill, and are also role models and mentors to other youth.

6. Paid peers earn up to $10-$15 per hour. Paid peers range from ages 10-13 (who earn stipends) and 14-24 (who earn stipends or formal wages). Peers served are anyone under 24 years old

7. This money will be leveraged with other investments from foundations, corporations, individuals, and the school system into the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Investment Fund

The Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprise groups have come together to form this Peer-to-Peer Movement to accomplish four (4) main things:

1. Change the way Baltimore thinks of youth, from trouble makers to part of the knowledge based economy and positive contributors.

2. Work to build an Investment Fund that will ensure a steady stream of funding in order to pay the young people involved.

3. Design a fair and unique process for distribution of these funds and reporting success

4. Bring the young people in these groups together to learn from each other, publicize the Peer-to-Peer efforts to their respective audiences, and be involved in the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Movement.