Friends,
As part of the annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemorations this year, the Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility promoted the idea that activists should be working on legislation aimed at the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. If interested in getting involved in this work, contact me at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.
The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance will engage in direct action to promote Healthcare Not Warfare sometime in the fall. The aim is to promote Improved Medicare for All. Contact me if interested in the direct action.
Senator Ben Cardin [D-MD] is Challenged at Town Hall held at BYKOTA Senior Center, 611 Central Ave., Towson on August 21 from 12:30 to 2 PM.
In advance of Senator Ben Cardin’s Town Hall meeting, Charlie Cooper and I arrived early to place leaflets on the chairs set up in the basketball auditorium at the BYKOTA Senior Center . His leaflet was excerpted from a Veterans for Peace call `for the U.S. to sign a peace treaty with North Korea. On the back side was Sen. Ed Markey's bill S. 200 which would prohibit a first-use nuclear strike. My leaflet called for severe cuts to military spending.
However, Laura Riley of the Department of Aging, which was hosting the Town Hall, objected to the distribution of the leaflets. I objected to her infringement on our right to freedom of speech. Eventually, a table was set up for literature.
Another women wanted to know what question I was going to ask the senator. I explained it was none of her business. I later discovered that she was an aide to the senator. She and Laura emphasized that a person could only ask one question, and it had to deal with a federal issue. I told them I hoped that anyone interested will be able to query the senator.
Around 12:30 PM, Cardin came in glad-handing many of us. I informed him that I appreciated that he was holding a Town Hall meeting.
Riley introduced him, and Cardin limited his remarks so that there would be ample time for questions. He did tell us to visit the Harriet Tubman Historical Park, that he would protect the middle class families, that he was strongly in support of the ACA and that he believed in an open legislative process.
Charlie was first in line, and brought up the situation in North Korea and his fear that Trump might use nuclear weapons. He asked if Cardin would co-sponsor the Markey bill. The senator favored diplomacy and was against a first strike, but made no mention of co-sponsoring the legislation. This was vintage Cardin.
A University of Maryland student indicated he had many Palestinian friends and was very disappointed that Cardin introduced legislation to derail the BDS movement. Our liberal senator informed him that he was uninformed about the facts. Legislation had passed 40 years ago regarding the Arab boycott of Israel, and the courts affirmed its constitutionality. So it was wrong to develop a blacklist or to participate in a foreign country boycott. He never explained the need for more legislation.
David Cole and Faiz Shakir of the American Civil Liberties Union wrote this in the July 24, 2017 WASHINGTON POST: “The Israel Anti-Boycott Act, legislation introduced in the Senate by Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and in the House by Peter J. Roskam (R-Ill.), would make it a crime to support or even furnish information about a boycott directed at Israel or its businesses called by the United Nations, the European Union or any other “international governmental organization.” Violations would be punishable by civil and criminal penalties of up to $1 million and 20 years in prison. The American Civil Liberties Union, where we both work, takes no position for or against campaigns to boycott Israel or any other foreign country. But since our organization’s founding in 1920, the ACLU has defended the right to collective action. This bill threatens that right.”
The student also brought up the Leahy Law, which prohibits the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense [sic] from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human righ-ts with impunity. Of course, the U.S. government never sanctions Israel for its rampant abuse of Palestinians. Cardin simply said we need a two-state solution.
Several members of Indivisible asked questions. One issue was the belief in non-cooperation with ICE. Cardin indicated he opposes Trump policies which are punitive in nature toward immigrants.
D.C. passed a Death with Dignity Act, but Andy Harris was trying to repudiate it. The senator supports D.C. rights.
A professor at Goucher informed us that 67% of the students there depend on federal aid. Our senator is in favor of a free four-year degree.
As an aside, I informed the audience that I taught Peace Studies for several years at Goucher, and I support the teacher’s concerns. I then explained that there were two elephants in the room which have not been discussed. One is the fact that 50 % of the discretionary budget goes to warmongering. The other pachyderm would be the poor. The senator supports the middle class, but like most politicians ignores the poor and their tribulations. In my opinion, the bloated military budget is a theft from the poor.
Then I chastised Cardin for supporting the launch of 59 cruise missiles into Syria. That was $59 million that we could have used right here in Baltimore. “I could take you through the streets of Baltimore, but you know the situation.” I advocated that he should call for severe cuts in military spending.
He thanked me for the many years that I have been beating the drum for peace with justice, but then told the crowd he favors a “strong military.” He tried to defend his support for Trump’s military strike by stating that Assad has used chemical weapons. Dick Ochs yelled out, not true. Cardin said come up to the microphone.
A man in wheelchair expressed concern that Trump would pack the Supreme Court. The response was that the Democrats would fight such a move.
Myles Hoenig of Jewish Voice for Peace thanked him for his support of the immigrants. But soon spared no language in criticizing Cardin’s blind support for Israel and his unwillingness to criticize its gross human rights violations. He pointed out that the senator was silent after the Israeli Defense Force boarded a Turkish ship and killed nine activists, including a U.S. citizen. He asked if Israel’s Man in Washington would take his blinders off.
While the senator kept his cool, he indicated he would not dignify the last comment with a response. He has been to the West Bank many times, and always speaks with the Palestinians. Again he support a two-state solution, but has never provided any information that he has challenged the Israeli government to pursue a path to peace. And of course, he has not been to the Gaza Strip which is in effect an Israeli prison. He closed by telling Myles you have blinders on.
Myles asked if he has ever vote d against military aid to Israel. But Ms. Riley hustled to get the next speaker to the microphone, who expressed concern about Citizens United. Cardin opposes Citizen United.
Then two mothers, joined by others including their children and families cried out for help. The group waved Little Lobbyists signs. One of the ill children visited every senator’s office in Washington. This group was very worried that cuts would be made to health care and Medicaid. One child in a wheelchair had just had brain surgery at Hopkins. Can we count on you for help?
The answer was “Absolutely.” A better answer would have been to call for cuts in Pentagon spending so that tax dollars would go to humanitarian projects. Cardin urged all to protest, lobby and attend town halls.
A Town Hall participant asked if he supported a carbon tax. Yes.
Another member of Indivisible sought help for the people of Kenya. Our senator from Maryland indicated that Trump has no policy and that many positions remain unfilled. So who would indicate a concern for human rights violations in Kenya?
Dick asked Cardin to Goggle Seymour Hersh’s article about chemical weapons in Syria. The response was “I will. ”
A questioner wanted to know what to do with a president who lies. Cardin indicated several members of Congress have tried to challenge the president, but failed. There is no 9/11 Commission.
What about getting corporations to pay for an employee’s education? The former member of the House of Representatives said many do.
Another person in wheelchair expressed concern that Betsy DeVos is sectioning off disabled children. Yes, Cardin has the same concern, but it is difficult to stop her.
Betsy Cunningham from Women In Black said the budget is upside down. There should be a pie chart showing that the overwhelming amount of tax dollars is going to the military. Also the government does surveillance of citizens. Most recently there was a hunt for people who may have logged into the J20 Disrupt web site. She closed by noting that the children of Gaza can’t get a visa to come to the USA. Cardin, probably tired of the complaints about his unwillingness to challenge Israel, got a bit feisty with Betsy.
The next questioner said he disagreed with Cardin’s anti-BDS position, but his question was about wolves being taken off the Endangered Species list. Cardin is a supporter of the Endangered Species law.
The last question came from a man who lost a sister to cancer. Can Trump kill the ACA? Yes, he can, but there will be a lengthy battle in the court.
He closed by telling us to stay passionate and engaged. He acknowledged me again for my concerns about military spending. Some of us then went out to see the eclipse, but others went to chat with Cardin one-on-one.
Ben Cardin is a mildly liberal senator and a stance believer in capitalism. To the detriment of the Democratic Party, he expressed no sympathy for the poor. During the Town Hall, our senator expressed his support for the Iran Deal. Naturally, he did not tell the attendees he voted against the Deal. While he favors a carbon tax, climate chaos was not on the Town Hall agenda. And perhaps he is not aware that the Pentagon is committing ecocide.
As Myles accurately pointed out, he is wearing blinders and refuses to see the suffering of the Palestinian people. While he claims to support No First Use, he would not co-sponsor the legislation. Does that mean he wants to preserve the right of a Democratic president to use nuclear weapons unilaterally? Or is it because co-sponsoring the legislation would upset Israel who wants to retain the opportunity to use its nuclear arsenal unilaterally?
Many of the issues raised at the Town Hall were concerns that social welfare funding will be cut. However, major cuts in the Pentagon budget would free up tax dollars for needed social services. But Cardin favors a “strong military,” which means tax dollars will continue to be wasted on endless wars and destruction in countries like Yemen.
While he urged us to protest and lobby, he failed to point out that we have the Best Congress Money Can Buy. Progressive activists must keep the pressure on Cardin, though I have low expectations that we will see many results. Cardin has never been an agent of change.
Max Obuszewski is with the Baltimore Nonviolence Center
Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/
"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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