Imagine throwing a birthday party for your kid and using the occasion to remind him of the many ways he's failed over the past year? If you did that, you'd be a truly horrible parent.
So, as the Occupy Wall Street movement celebrates its one-year anniversary this weekend, let's resist the temptation to talk about all the things that have gone wrong and focus on the good stuff. After all, there's a reason why so many of us were inspired and saw OWS as the most promising groundswell for social change to come along in decades.
My short list of why Occupy Wall Street resonated so powerfully with so many:
- Most Americans know something is deeply wrong in our country. We know powerful corporations are a big part of the problem, and we're furious that some of the worst corporate offenders got huge taxpayer bailouts.
- Wall Street is the symbolic epicenter of corporate power and the logical target of public anger over corporate malfeasance.
- Thousands of rank-and-file Americans rallying before the gilded gates of Wall Street in peaceful protest captivated America. When law enforcement responded with an unnecessarily heavy-hand it only further rallied public support behind the protesters.
That's my short list of why Occupy Wall Street's one-year birthday anniversary deserves cake, not condemnation. What are your thoughts? Today, Monday, we'll talk about it. We also welcome the DeCoster family back to the news with the discovery of salmonella in DeCoster-owned chicken confinements in north-central Iowa. Also today, talent manager Heather Ryan joins us for an update on the bizarre child custody case in Kentucky involving a Mom who allowed her daughter to participate in a pageant.
Tuesday, Manu Martin with the Peoples Congress joins us. We also talk with Rachel Garrett about Paul Ryan's inspirational hero, Ayn Rand.
Wednesday, we talk with Bob Stone about Democracy School, and also John Brown about the controversy around so-called "smart meters."
Thursday, it's State Rep. Dan Kelley.
Friday, Libertarian Party candidate for Vice President, Judge Jim Gray, is back in Iowa and back on our program.
Among the other issues we need to address this week:
- Congressman Steve King finds a new enemy: healthy food. To make up for it, he's enlisted a new ally: overweight kids.
- The Orascom scam not only involves the biggest taxpayer handout to a corporation in Iowa's history but it appears to have been negotiated almost entirely behind closed doors.
- Rev. Sun Myung Moon, head of the so-called Unification Church, died last week. I'll share a personal story about my role years ago in England, helping de-program one of Moon's cult's many victims.
So, join the conversation live, Monday-Friday, online from 12:00-1:00 pm on the Fallon Forum website. Call in at 244-0077 or toll free (855) 244-0077. And tune-in to Bradshaw, Monday-Friday from 1:30-2:30, also on the Fallon Forum website. Video and audio podcasts are available, too.
Thanks! - Ed
EVENTS
September 13 - Drinking Liberally (Des Moines)
You don't have to be a card-carrying liberal to enjoy political conversation and excellent libations at AJ's, 419 E Court starting at 8:00 pm every Thursday. If the revolution is going to start anyplace, it's over a frosty libation. Contact desmoines@drinkingliberally.
September 14-16 - Democracy School (Fairfield)
Thomas Linzey, co-founder of Democracy School, has had success in Pennsylvania in combating encroaching CAFOs and has worked with 140 communities in eight states on CAFOs, fracking, etc. School is Friday 7:30-10:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:30-4:30. The fee is $195.
September 14-30 - World Premiere of "Sense and Sensibility" (Des Moines)
The book by Jane Austen has been adapted for the stage by Iowa's Kerry Skram. Performances are at the Des Moines Social Club's Kirkwood Theater, 4th and Walnut. For tickets, call MIDWESTIX at (515) 244-2771.
September 18 - Irish Jam at Open Sesame (Des Moines)
Discover the fusion of Lebanese and Celtic culture every third Tuesday of the month with Irish jigs and reels, Mideastern belly dancing, and Lebanese cuisine washed-down with a pint of Guinness. All musicians and patrons are welcome at 313 E. Locust St from 8:30-10:30 pm.
September 22 - Latinos Unidos Scholarship Award Ceremony Dinner (DM)
From 5:30- 8:00 pm at Grace United Methodist Cottage Church, 3700 Cottage Grove Ave. Tickets are $20 for adults, $7.50 for children under $10, and $120 for a table for eight. Businesses contact Julian Caselli at j-caselli@hotmail.com and individuals Lena Avila Robison at iowalatina12@live.com.
September 27 - Coleen Rowley 'Blowing the Whistle on War' (Des Moines)
At 7:00 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, 42nd and Ingersoll, Iowa's own Coleen Rowley talks about the need to end our permanent war economy and state of perpetual war. Coleen grew up in New Hampton Iowa and was part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation before blowing the whistle on bad intelligence work in the wake of September 11. She was Time magazine's PERSON OF THE YEAR in 2002 and is an important voice in favor of government transparency. Contact Jeff Weiss at jjwcpm@yahoo.com.
October 3 - Jim Hightower: Taking Back Our Food and Agriculture (Fairfield)
Hightower gives the keynote at the Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors annual meeting at 7:30 pm at the Arts & Convention Center, 200 N Main St. An outspoken critic of CAFO animal production, Hightower will address what is needed to turn around our environmentally destructive, nutritionally compromised system of industrial food production. Contact Diane at drosenberg@lisco.com.
October 6 - The Shrinking Middle Class (Des Moines)
At Plymouth Church, 4126 Ingersoll Avenue, 10:00-2:00. Cost is $10 and lunch is provided for this presentation and panel discussion. Income inequality, rising costs, political corruption, and economic instability threaten our global household. This seminar will explore a variety of current problems and contemplate solutions surrounding the erosion of middle class political and economic power while providing a theological context for these contemporary struggles.
October 7 - Images of Peace Interfaith Prayer Service (Des Moines)
A 7:00 pm at DMACC Auditorium, Urban Campus, 9th and University for an interfaith prayer service featuring a video by Rodger Routh, presenting images of peace from various faith traditions and a variety of perspectives. At the end of the service people will walk to the Path of Peace Sculpture nearby to scatter the soil gathered from representatives of many different faiths at last year's Interfaith Service. Sponsored by the Des Moines Area Ecumenical Committee For Peace. Contact Eloise Cranke at (515) 262-5974 or Susie Paloma at (515) 480-1872.
Contra-Indications is hosting a contra dance at Odd Fellows Hall, 2904 Kingman Blvd, 8:00-11:00 pm, with lesson at 7:30 pm. Live music by Barn Owl Band; Jill Allen as caller. $10 adults; free under 12; $25 family maximum. Visit info@contra-indications.org.
