SyracuseZest

Families of Iraq War Veterans Host Screening of The Ground Truth

Syracuse, NY - Thursday, May 31, 7:30 pm at the Palace Theater, 2384 James St. The community is invited to a free showing of The Ground Truth sponsored by families of Iraq war veterans.

Hear and witness the lives of our soldiers in this penetrating film. The shocking ground conflict is only a prelude to even more challenging battles these reluctant heroes face upon their return home.

Following the film (1 hour 18 minutes) there will be a panel discussion with audience participation. Panel members include:

* Veterans that have had experience with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and their families
* Joyce and Kevin Lucey whose son is featured in the film
* Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson, the co-founders of Military Families Speak Out.
Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) represents nearly 3,500 military families across the country, and is leading the fight to support our troops.

After the attacks on our country of September 11, 2001, young men and women across this country answered the call to serve, and they have done so valiantly and courageously.

As the father of two young men that took part in answering that call in Iraq and Afghanistan I am especially proud of their service.And I, like all Americans, wish to see our troops supported in every way possible, while they serve abroad, and when they return.

Unfortunately, far too many of our soldiers, are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to receive appropriate medical treatment once they are back home. My son who was a veteran of Iraq failed to receive appropriate care which led to his death after his return to Oswego.

A private reception for panel members, invited guests and the press will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Pres - If possible, please RSVP to Joe Godfrey, godfrey@twcny.rr.com

The Ground Truth is one of only 15 films on the Oscar “short list” for 2007, and has been hailed by critics across America (ie: “…the best film I’ve seen to emerge out of the 9/11 attacks.” according to Time magazine).

"4 stars. The Ground Truth' is the documentary any American with an opinion on our involvement in Iraq owes it to his or her conscience to see."
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

"This is undeniably one of the year's most compelling films. Unflinching, disturbing, and fascinating."
Claudia Puig, USA TODAY

For more information visit www.thegroundtruth.org

Admission is free. Donations accepted with profits going to MFSO.

Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the First Univeralist Society of Central Square and Military Families Speak Out.

Onondaga Land Rights & Our Common Future

This is announcement of the final two events in Onondaga Land Rights & Our Common Future Series.

Monday November 27
Why Native American Sovereignty Makes Sense for Us All
7 pm, Syracuse Stage

Presenters:
Tonya Gonella Frichner (Onondaga), President of the American Indian Law Alliance in New York City, Richard Loder (Delaware), director of the Native American studies program at SU and Scott Lyons (Ojibwe), Director of the Center for Indigenous Studies at St. John Fisher College in Rochester.

Wednesday December 6

Haudenosaunee Music & Dance: A Participatory EventHaudenosaunee Singers and Dancers
7 pm at the SU Women's Building Gym, Comstock Ave. and Euclid Ave.

Come dance with our Onondaga neighbors and celebrate the completion of this year of sharing and education.

Both programs are free and followed by a reception.

For further information, click here.

What's Next for America's Troubled Politics - Lecture

The 2006-2007 University Neighbors Lecture Series presents
What's Next for America's Troubled Politics

December 3 - Sunday 3:00 PM: The Westcott Community Center and the University Neighbors Lecture Series presents Rogan Kersh, associate dean and professor at NYU's Wagner School of Public Affairs.

His talk, After the 2006 election: What's Next for America's Troubled Politics will be of interest to everyone who follows the American political scene.

The WCC is located at the corner of Euclid Ave. and Westcott St. in Syracuse.

For more information about this event, continue reading this post.

Novel Idea: Talk to Folks With Whom You Don't Agree

Donna Zajonc's recent Politics of Hope newsletter wrote of an organization attempting to bring folks holding different positions on issues into a safe space for dialogue. The RedBlue website wrote of it this way.

Recognizing that opinions differ, and then creating the means for people to engage in constructive rather than destructive conversations, can reduce invective debate and set the stage for the deeper dialogue so necessary to democracy, negotiation, and solving the problems our nation faces.

RedBlue will be an interactive Internet application that will provide an exciting yet safe way to engage directly with someone on “the other side” of the political spectrum. This new approach to civic engagement is designed to leave behind the confrontational and polarizing forms of discourse that dominate today’s Red vs. Blue debates and reintroduce Americans to the old-fashioned notion that in matters of public policy, there can be room for reasonable people to disagree.

RedBlue will create a private, one-on-one online dialogue process by matching participants with contrasting views. "Counterparts" will learn about the ground rules of productive dialogue, then engage on a difficult issue by viewing or reading a fictional narrative scenario that frames a front-page issue in personal, rather than theoretical, terms. Their email-style discussion will be monitored by a "virtual facilitator" that will make suggestions, provide feedback, and offer to step in when the heat of the moment threatens to derail the civility of the dialogue.

I couldn't agree more with the importance of breaking out of the Red versus Blue mentality. For me, it isn't about coming to a middle ground, it's about coming to experience the full humanity of the person on the other side, to come to an understanding of how that person came to view life in that way, and to achieve a measure of respect. We will never move forward by beating each other down within a model based on domination.

Syracuse Community Choir Concert - A Call For Peace

The Syracuse Community Choir, presents a Call for Peace, a concert inviting the community to envision and work for peace in hearts, homes, and nation. The performance is scheduled for Saturday, December 16th at Plymouth Congregational Church.

Last year the choir celebrated its’ twentieth anniversary, marking two decades of voices raised in solidarity and steadfast commitment to social justice and peace. In this, their 21st annual Winter Solstice concert the choral members reaffirm this goal and dedicate their collective energies and hearts to honoring and acknowledging our connection to the earth and each other.

Joining the choir are special guests the Raging Grannies, an international group of mamaws, grandmas and nanas that tackle the call to peace with a sense of outrage, a sense of humor and an unwavering commitment to non-violence. The miffed members are over 3000 strong, with granny groups in the U.S., Canada and parts of Japan and Israel. Their rage campaign is a worldwide mission for peace, social and political justice, and environmental preservation. Their ultimate purpose, create a better world for our children and grandchildren.

The Specifics
www.myspace.com/syracusecommunitychoir
Date: Saturday, December 16, 2006
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Plymouth Congregational Church
232 East Onondaga Street Syracuse, NY 13202
Price: $10 -$25 Adult Sliding Scale Children Free
General Admission

For more information Call (315) 428-8151

Or to read more about the Choir...

Energy Fair at the Landmark - Sept. 14th

On Thursday September 14th, the Global Warming Action Network (GWAN), the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY/ESF) Environmental Studies program, Syracuse University's Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems, and the SUNY/ESF and SU EnSpire Program will be presenting a set of exhibits and interative displays at the Museum of Science and Technology.

The Energy Fair precedes Al Gore's talk on Global Warming that evening at the Landmark Theater. The theme of the Fair is "what the average homeowner can do to reduce their carbon footprint, reduce energy consumption and save money".

For more information, including a list of presenters, click here.

Bikes Stolen

According to this article at Newsradio 570 WSYR Syracuse, nearly 20 bikes were stolen from Bike Syracuse, a 2-month old organization that serves inner-city kids. Call 428-BIKE for more information or to offer a decent bike to the organization.

Sustainability Conference Tomorrow

Just a reminder that the Sustainability Conference and CNY Innovation Expo will be happening tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26, from 8am to 7pm at the ONCENTER. You can find a downloadable (pdf) program of the day's events here.

Supporting Our Leaders

Have you ever disagreed with a politician? Well, sure... who hasn't? Have you ever disagreed with a politician who has been a good public servant? One who has been honest, open, forthright, sensitive, embued with integrity.... and just plain "wrong" on an issue?

Did you continue supporting him or her, or did you say, "This guy's not on my side. I'm through with him!"?

We have this tendency to set up our leaders to fail. We put people into office (and this applies to any office, not just in politics), and then we leave them out there to make it or fail. And if they "fail," we call for them to be ousted. When we support our leaders when they only do what we want them to do, we run the risk of losing good public servants.

I've been getting acquainted with Richard Harwood. He just wrote about this in his blog.

Onondaga Land Rights and Our Common Future

A collaborative education series has been going on since 2/27/06 and extending through November. It is looking at Onondaga Land Rights, with the intention of bringing together the Central New York community.

The next "installment" is tonight, 4/18. It is entitled: "Discovering" the US: Haudenosaunee Influences on U.S. Culture and Democracy. The speaker is John Mohawk.

For more information check out the Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation's website.