The Real Threat

Written by: Tom Burns on Feb 6, 2006 11:39 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Tennessee

Here is the text of a letter I sent to The Oak Ridger. They haven't yet printed it, and I doubt they will.

It is time for every patriotic American to be vigilant in defense of the liberties and freedoms embodied in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Our right to be free from unwarranted search and seizures (and wiretaps) and state-sponsored religion, our freedom of speech and to dissent, our right to vote and have it counted, our freedom of movement and our right to bear arms are not threatened by Al-Qaida. Radical Islamic fundamentalists will never physically occupy our country.

Our fundamental freedoms are threatened more by the Bush Administration's abuse of power, disregard for the law, and attempts to eliminate the checks and balances among the three branches of government. It is the Republican-controlled Congress's willingness to sacrifice our freedoms in order to gain and hold power and its “in-beddedness� with big corporations, as evidenced by the Abramoff-lobbying-corruption scandal, that threaten our nation with totalitarianism and fascism - at which point the terrorists and enemies of freedom will have won.

Local Premier of Wal-Mart Documentary

Written by: Tom Burns on Nov 13, 2005 11:52 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy For East Tennessee

Democracy for East Tennessee (DFET) hosted the local premier of Robert Greenwald's documentary film, “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price� this past Sunday, Nov. 13, at Kern United Methodist Church. About 60 people attended the viewing and brief panel discussion following the film. The event was organized by DFET member Joan Cassens.

Thank you, Joan. You did great. Thanks to the fine folks at KUMC and thier minister, M. Flynn, for allowing us to use their facility.

The audience expressed concern about several issues not limited to Wal-Mart: the power and legal rights of corporations, which were once local, temporary entities governed by revocable charters bestowed on them by the people of the community; the decline of the Judeo-Christian ethic demanding just wages and the human right of workers to unionize; accepting charitable support from corporations and not abrogating our obligation to demand corporations respect their workers, communities, and the environment; and the need for and appropriate governmental role in the regulation of corporations and enforcement of existing labor and environmental laws.

To avoid a race to the bottom, we all need to support efforts to force large corporations to provide a living wage, affordable health insurance, and workplace free of discrimination and anti-union intimidation.

DFET Leads Peace March in Oak Ridge Nov. 2.

Written by: Tom Burns on Nov 8, 2005 9:04 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Tennessee

A half dozen DFET members were joined by two Catholic priests and several peace-loving citizens in a anti-war march around the Oak Ridge city center last Wednesday, Nov. 2. The event was planned to coincide with the national Not In Our Name and World Can't Wait events. The event was covered by two Knoxville TV stations and it made the front page of The Oak Ridger. The response from passing cars was overwhelmingly positive.

DFET Leads Peace March in Oak Ridge Nov. 2

Written by: Tom Burns on Nov 8, 2005 9:03 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy For East Tennessee

A half dozen DFET members were joined by two Catholic priests and several peace-loving citizens in a anti-war march around the Oak Ridge city center last Wednesday, Nov. 2. The event was planned to coincide with the national Not In Our Name and World Can't Wait events. The event was covered by two Knoxville TV stations and it made the front page of The Oak Ridger. The response from passing cars was overwhelmingly positive.

DFET Sponsored Bell Ringing Makes TV News

Written by: Tom Burns on Nov 8, 2005 8:53 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Tennessee

A week ago Sunday pm/Monday am, about 12-15 people showed up at the Oak Ridge Peace and Friendship Bell in Bissell Park on Oct. 30 to remember the US soldiers fallen in Iraq the previous week (as DFET members do every Sunday at 12:30 pm) and to mark with sadness the death in Iraq of the 2000th soldier. A terrible milestone.

WBIR-Knoxville News was there and covered the event. I saw only the 11:00 pm news report, but I heard the coverage was a bit longer on the 6:00 pm Sunday and 5:00 am Monday news programs.

Please join us next Sunday.

Bell Ringing Makes Knoxville News

Written by: Tom Burns on Nov 8, 2005 8:51 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy For East Tennessee

In case you didn't see the WBIR news a week ago Sunday pm/Monday am, about 12-15 people showed up at the Oak Ridge Peace and Friendship Bell in Bissell Park on Oct. 30 to remember the US soldiers fallen in Iraq the previous week (as DFET members do every Sunday at 12:30 pm) and to mark with sadness the death in Iraq of the 2000th soldier. A terrible milestone. I saw only the 11:00 pm news report, but I heard the coverage was a bit longer on the 6:00 pm Sunday and 5:00 am Monday news programs.

Please join us next Sunday.