News from Bellingham: Youth Rally Against Racism
In the wake of the racist graffiti that occurred at Sehome High School on October 12, students from Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum high schools have been meeting within their respective schools and collectively to discuss how to address campus climate issues. Specifically, the lunchtime protest staged at Bellingham High School on October 26 sparked some needed dialogue among students and staff about racism. Immediately following the lunchtime protest, protest participants along with concerned students, staff and community members met with each other to discuss issues and concerns. Before the end of the day this group met with every class to debrief about what had transpired at Sehome and how racism impacts the campus climate. As a result, there seems to be a growing understanding that racism affects us all and is not a minority problem. The peace march that followed emerged from a desire to show solidarity. This exemplifies the kind of collaboration that is needed to address racism:
Students Protest Racist Graffiti
To support student efforts, local teachers and community partners have been working with students to create a venue to promote a sustainable coalition among area high school students. A meeting at Squalicum High School on October 18 brought over 40 students together to discuss recent events and to share general concerns. The feedback was powerful and the requests for a follow-up were resounding. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to take place at Bellingham High School on November 8th at 6pm. The goal of this meeting is to continue the dialogue and to begin identifying ways schools can promote student voice and empowerment.
Stay tuned for updates...
Students Protest Racist Graffiti
To support student efforts, local teachers and community partners have been working with students to create a venue to promote a sustainable coalition among area high school students. A meeting at Squalicum High School on October 18 brought over 40 students together to discuss recent events and to share general concerns. The feedback was powerful and the requests for a follow-up were resounding. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to take place at Bellingham High School on November 8th at 6pm. The goal of this meeting is to continue the dialogue and to begin identifying ways schools can promote student voice and empowerment.
Stay tuned for updates...
Reading Is FUNdamental
We may not be the most prolific writers on the internet, but I think we make up for it in quality, if not quantity. In the spirit of jumpstarting debate and conversation, about the issues we talk about and what we have to say, we've uploaded some of our writing to the site. Be sure to drop the author a line if you think the essay was terrible/great/okay. We love feedback. Or, better yet, if you think we've totally missed the point, or have some gaping omission that needs to be fixed, submit an essay of your own and we'll post it post haste. The more voices we have in a conversation the richer the dialogue.
Habeus Corpus, We Hardly Knew You
Feingold got it right when he called this a stain:
Bush Signs Military Commissions into Law
Let's clear a bit of air here. If you support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, fine; if you support detaining 'illegal combatants' in Gitmo, fine; if you support the interogation techniques used by the military that we'd previously called torture when used by other countries, fine. We can talk about those in due time, but that's not the issue here.
Today, the President signed a law that allows him to suspend habeus corpus for anyone, including American citizens, just because a review board of his choosing says that person is an 'illegal combatant.' So, a board chosen by the president gets to decide who is an illegal combatant, and then put them in jail without charge indefinitely.
What defines us is that we don't do things like this. We respect the rule of law, we uphold the rights of everyone, even the most base, despicable mass murderers who seek to kill us all. Why? Because if we didn't, well, then we're using those same base, despicable tactics, and what does that make us?
Not Americans, and you can thank Congress for that.
Bush Signs Military Commissions into Law
Let's clear a bit of air here. If you support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, fine; if you support detaining 'illegal combatants' in Gitmo, fine; if you support the interogation techniques used by the military that we'd previously called torture when used by other countries, fine. We can talk about those in due time, but that's not the issue here.
Today, the President signed a law that allows him to suspend habeus corpus for anyone, including American citizens, just because a review board of his choosing says that person is an 'illegal combatant.' So, a board chosen by the president gets to decide who is an illegal combatant, and then put them in jail without charge indefinitely.
What defines us is that we don't do things like this. We respect the rule of law, we uphold the rights of everyone, even the most base, despicable mass murderers who seek to kill us all. Why? Because if we didn't, well, then we're using those same base, despicable tactics, and what does that make us?
Not Americans, and you can thank Congress for that.
New Hosting Service
We've just switched hosting services and I just got done working out some of the kinks. I won't bore you with the details, but it was a little too easy, so I'm not convinced every problem has popped up its diabolical little head. So, dear readers, if you happen to see that things aren't loading right, or some other mischevious gremlin rears its head, please inform me at justin@project2050.org.
Welcome to the world of Project 2050
To all who have supported us, thank you! We at Project 2050 look forward to receiving your feedback on our newly redesigned website. Our webmasters have worked hard to get it up and running and, if I do say so myself, it's all that and then some! Thanks guys!
As you will see below, we will be joining the folks from Western Washington University's Ethnic Student Center (ESC) next weekend at their annual retreat. We look forward to participating in the courageous conversation that will surely take place...join us if you can.
Again, I would like to thank all those who supported us over the last couple years, in particular our efforts to obtain recognition from the IRS as a 501(C)3 tax exempt organization. Here’s to creating the future we want for ourselves, and more importantly, those still to come.
As you will see below, we will be joining the folks from Western Washington University's Ethnic Student Center (ESC) next weekend at their annual retreat. We look forward to participating in the courageous conversation that will surely take place...join us if you can.
Again, I would like to thank all those who supported us over the last couple years, in particular our efforts to obtain recognition from the IRS as a 501(C)3 tax exempt organization. Here’s to creating the future we want for ourselves, and more importantly, those still to come.
Ethnic Student Center Retreat
The Ethnic Student Center is hosting its annual retreat over the weekend of October 20 to 22. This year will be the 16th anniversary of the conference.
What started as a retreat for ESC leaders has evolved into a venue for students, faculty and community members to convene, build community, and create collaborations. Each year the retreat offers workshops and activities that address many different topics.
This year Project 2050 will facilitate an interactive dialogue about "We the People." Who is American, what does American mean, and how can we fulfill our ideals? These are the questions we will explore as we address America's ideals and examine how far America has progressed toward achieving the dream of liberty and equality of opportunity for all. We will also explore social issues and how they intersect to prevent this dream from becoming a reality. Later in the evening, Project 2050 will facilitate a discussion to revisit ideas and to discuss ways we can collaborate to create positive social change. These conversations are about active participation. We hope you will join the dialogue.
Click here for more information about this year's ESC retreat.
This year Project 2050 will facilitate an interactive dialogue about "We the People." Who is American, what does American mean, and how can we fulfill our ideals? These are the questions we will explore as we address America's ideals and examine how far America has progressed toward achieving the dream of liberty and equality of opportunity for all. We will also explore social issues and how they intersect to prevent this dream from becoming a reality. Later in the evening, Project 2050 will facilitate a discussion to revisit ideas and to discuss ways we can collaborate to create positive social change. These conversations are about active participation. We hope you will join the dialogue.
Click here for more information about this year's ESC retreat.
501(C)3!
Today the government has decided to legitimize our endeavor by granting us, in their infinite wisdom, tax exempt status. So now we don't have to pay taxes on the money we earn or are given. So if you need a tax write off, jump on over to our Contact page and throw a couple bucks at the revolution.
