Comments on: Prisoners Are Us http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63 communications from an eco-anarcha-feminist animal Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:10:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Neva http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63#comment-282 Neva Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:53:00 +0000 http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63#comment-282 I am so troubled by stuff like this that I don't even know how to respond. Something is so deeply rotten in our infrastructure it's hard to comprehend. But the chilling lesson to all of us is that it's dangerous to speak our truth or to try to bring attention to all the injustice around us. It is dangerous to call attention to suffering, wherever we find it. And despite what some might claim, to do it with thought and compassion, with nonviolence and with love and empathy, makes our stand all the more threatening to those with power to defend. So the big boot comes down on us again. To many people in the US this is something they shrug at when it's about Thabo Thakalekoala. They think that injustice and oppression is just something that is part of "the rest of the world." Meanwhile they actively block out from their thoughts the oppression here "at home." It isn't just Josh and Andy and their incarceration and treatment. It's about US citizens disappeared in the night to prisons off of US soil where they can apparently be held for years without charges or a hearing. It's about how little people seem to care when the human beings disappeared in the night are NOT citizens, even if they have worked here, lived here, formed families here and are as connected to us as anyone. Frightening times indeed. I am so troubled by stuff like this that I don’t even know how to respond. Something is so deeply rotten in our infrastructure it’s hard to comprehend. But the chilling lesson to all of us is that it’s dangerous to speak our truth or to try to bring attention to all the injustice around us. It is dangerous to call attention to suffering, wherever we find it. And despite what some might claim, to do it with thought and compassion, with nonviolence and with love and empathy, makes our stand all the more threatening to those with power to defend. So the big boot comes down on us again. To many people in the US this is something they shrug at when it’s about Thabo Thakalekoala. They think that injustice and oppression is just something that is part of “the rest of the world.” Meanwhile they actively block out from their thoughts the oppression here “at home.” It isn’t just Josh and Andy and their incarceration and treatment. It’s about US citizens disappeared in the night to prisons off of US soil where they can apparently be held for years without charges or a hearing. It’s about how little people seem to care when the human beings disappeared in the night are NOT citizens, even if they have worked here, lived here, formed families here and are as connected to us as anyone. Frightening times indeed.

]]> By: SuperWeed » Blog Archive » My Neighbor! (Is a Terrorist) http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63#comment-281 SuperWeed » Blog Archive » My Neighbor! (Is a Terrorist) Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:52:00 +0000 http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63#comment-281 [...] Since I’ve been needing to share some punk music anyway (in order not to get kicked out of the Post Punk Kitchen fan club), let me share the old school punk tune that’s been stuck in my head ever since I wrote about Josh Harper and Andy Stepanian a couple of days ago. [...] [...] Since I’ve been needing to share some punk music anyway (in order not to get kicked out of the Post Punk Kitchen fan club), let me share the old school punk tune that’s been stuck in my head ever since I wrote about Josh Harper and Andy Stepanian a couple of days ago. [...]

]]> By: Rethabile Masilo http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63#comment-260 Rethabile Masilo Sat, 30 Jun 2007 15:54:28 +0000 http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/63#comment-260 Thank you for posting Thabo's case. He's "free" now, out on bail, and the charge of high treason has been lowered to "non disclosure of subversive activity." He's to appear in court on 25 July. What other people, Americans, French, everybody, can do, is if ever the charges aren't dropped (several international bodies have asked that they be dropped forthwith -- I think with a 'please' or something like that), then it'll be time to write to a congressman, a senator, or to a Lesotho embassy near you. It will be my duty to supply a sample letter and addresses, on both Black Looks and Sotho (http://sotho.blogsome.com). Apart from Thabo Thakalekoala's case, <a href="http://sotho.blogsome.com/2007/06/29/recent-developments-in-lesotho/" rel="nofollow">other things</a> have been happening in Lesotho. Khotso Thank you for posting Thabo’s case. He’s “free” now, out on bail, and the charge of high treason has been lowered to “non disclosure of subversive activity.” He’s to appear in court on 25 July.

What other people, Americans, French, everybody, can do, is if ever the charges aren’t dropped (several international bodies have asked that they be dropped forthwith — I think with a ‘please’ or something like that), then it’ll be time to write to a congressman, a senator, or to a Lesotho embassy near you.

It will be my duty to supply a sample letter and addresses, on both Black Looks and Sotho (http://sotho.blogsome.com). Apart from Thabo Thakalekoala’s case, other things have been happening in Lesotho.
Khotso

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