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Category Archives: RagBlog
A Free Speech Graveyard at the Democratic Convention in Denver?
Free speech zones have been employed by both Democrats and Republicans at past political conventions. This year, however, Democrats face the embarrassing possibility that they will be the only party actually caging dissenters. Yet as John W. Whitehead points out … Continue reading
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Tagged Civil Liberties, Democratic Convention, Democratic Party, Freedom of Speech, Social Action, Video
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JOURNALISM : The Tragic Decline of the Printed Page
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch: ‘Will it make a profit?’ Photo by AP.Bad Days for Newsrooms—and DemocracyBy Chris Hedges / July 21, 2008 The decline of newspapers is not about the replacement of the antiquated technology of news print with the … Continue reading
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Tagged Blogosphere, Capitalism, Corporate Media, Democracy, Internet, Journalism, Mainstream Media, Media
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A Diabolical Plot by Bell Canada and Telus
Death of Free Internet is Imminent: Canada Will Become Test CaseBy Kevin Parkinson / July 21, 2008 In the last 15 years or so, as a society we have had access to more information than ever before in modern history … Continue reading
I Do Not Intend Holding My Breath While Waiting
Letter to the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal CourtBy Robert Thompson / July 21, 2008 Subject: Selection of persons to be charged To Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court Dear Mr Moreno-Ocampo, For over fifty years I … Continue reading
U.S. Sadly Lags Behind in Human Development
The sad state of American health care was strikingly depicted by Michael Moore in “Sicko”.US slips down development indexAmericans live shorter lives than citizens of almost every other developed nation, according to a report from several US charities. The report … Continue reading
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Tagged Alternative Health Care, Human Development, Poverty, Standard of Living
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ACLU : ‘Mukasey calls on Congress to subvert Constitution’
Atty. Gen. John Mukasey. Photo by Noah Berger / AP.Under Attorney General’s plan detainees could be held indefinitelyBy Stephen C. Webster / July 21, 2008 Attorney General Michael Mukasey prompted Congress Monday morning, during a speech to the conservative American … Continue reading
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Tagged ACLU, Civil Liberties, Guantanamo, Habeas Corpus, Human Rights, Terrorism, War on Terror
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JOURNALISM : Was I. F. Stone the World’s First Blogger?
In the days before the Internet, one of the great voices of independent journalism was I.F. Stone, whose simple newsletter challenged the conventional thinking of the day. Media critic Jeff Cohen recalls Stone’s contributions to the cause of journalism. It … Continue reading
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Tagged Blogging, History, Investigative Journalism, Journalism, Progressives
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Drawn and Quartered
Martin Kozlowski / inxart.comThe Rag Blog / Posted July 21, 2008
Ruling : Janet Jackson’s Breast Not Indecent
Appeals court sides with CBS, throws out fine for ‘wardrobe malfunction’By King Kaufman / July 21, 2008 A federal appeals court in Philadelphia has thrown out the $550,000 fine the FCC imposed on CBS for airing Janet Jackson’s breast for … Continue reading
McCain’s War on Women
‘To vote for McCain, a feminist would have to be insane.’By Kate Sheppard / July 21, 2008 Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) campaign and the media would have us believe that herds of disaffected women voters will be stampeding to the … Continue reading
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Tagged Abortion Rights, Feminism, Hillary, McCain, Presidential Campaign, Right Wing, Social Conservatives, Women, Women's Movement
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Amira Baraka : Avoid a Split on the Left
Amira Baraka. Photo by Lynda Koolish.Obama & The Tragic Errors of The Weimar RepublicBy Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka, formerly LeRoi Jones, was born in 1934 in Newark, New Jersey. He is the author of over 40 books of essays, poems, … Continue reading
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Tagged Depression, Fascism, Nazi Germany, Obama, Presidential Campaign, The Left
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BOOKS : ‘The Art of Political Murder’
Activist Auxiliary Bishop Juan Girardi Conederal, murdered in April, 1988. Mourners gather with can candles to mourn the murder of Bishop Juan Girardi: “Enough!”The Novelist and the Murderers By Nathaniel Popper [This article first appeared in the July 7, 2008 … Continue reading
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Tagged Books, Catholic Church, Guatemala, Latin America, Liberation Movements, Religion, Social Action
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