Emergency Iran Forum Los Angeles
June 25, 2008
World Can’t Wait-Los Angeles and the Westside Progressives co-sponsored an
emergency Iran Forum at a community center in West Hollywood. Out Against
the War-LA, Topanga Peace Alliance, LGBT Greens, and the Union of Progressive
Iranians endorsed and participated in the event.
Close to ninety people filled the room as the evening unfolded. The first
speaker, Gareth Porter, author of “Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and
the Road to War in Vietnam” laid out similarities of historical significance
between the deceptive framework that this government used to justify the war in
Vietnam and the more current unjustified invasion of Iraq. He drew attention to
the similarities of dogmatic language used by government officials and the
media as the question of Iran’s nuclear capabilities has been nationally
discussed, and a case is built for the justification for an attack on Iran.
Porter emphasized the need for civil dissent and debate around these issues throughout
society, not discounting the effectiveness of petitioning and lobbying, but in
conjunction with these things.
Larry Everest, author of “Oil Power and Empire-Iraq and the US Global Agenda”,
devoted much of his presentation to explaining what the necessity is that those
in the halls of power, and in the interests of imperialism and global empire,
have for expansion of military invasion and pre-emptive war into Iran. He
continually underlined that this was not an electoral or a particular thrust of
a particular political party in the US, but that all are part of a
capitalist-imperialist system of government that is pushing its oppressive
agenda on the people of the United States and hence, the world. Everest
also outlined clearly the role of the US/Israel relationship, and how the media
and the government portrays this, and colors public perception incorrectly;
that perceived verbal threats or attacks on Israel are dangerous to the right
of Israel to exist, and the US must stand by them. He starkly outlined
how the US and Israel work together to push forward US empire and hegemony
in the Middle East.
The audience received both speakers with serious attentiveness. There was
enthusiastic applause from the Iranian Progressives that caught many others up
into hoots and hollers of approval when Larry Everest spoke out strongly that
matters of state politics and religious fundamentalism would be best addressed
by the Iranian people, and not by US invasion. He alluded to the uprising
of the people of Iran against the Shah in the 80's.
The forum moved into the question and answer period of the program, and a
moderator from the Westside Progressives read questions from the audience that
had been collected on note cards throughout the speakers' presentations. The
most often asked question was a general one of what can we do to stop this, and
what are some ways to break out of the usual processes to do this?
Both speakers emphasized the need for informing others of the challenge we all
face of the possibility of a terrible invasion of Iran, and the need for
protest and civil dissent to avert the current trajectory. Everest
pointed out the examples as outlined in the four point plans presented by
the World Can’t Wait speaker earlier in the program.
The evening ended with a smaller group discussion, after the speakers had left,
and as others broke away and left, or visited materials tables and had quieter
conversations there. There was discussion about how to get the Iran
Pledge, written by the WP’s and an agreement to participate in massive acts of
civil resistance, out to people for signing and thus building an emergency
response network to mobilize people now to stop an attack on Iran.
An organizer with the Westside Progressives offered that she
was very interested in learning more about World Can’t Wait, and that even
though she did not have much hope of being able to stop an attack, or even in
being successful in making a dent in or stopping the Bush Program, that she
would not stop resisting and acting, because she would not go down in history
as being complicit in crimes.
Arrangements for a follow up strategizing meeting were made, co-sponsored by
World Can’t Wait-LA and the Westside Progressives, and will take place on July
12th, Noon - 3:30 PM, in Community Room A (near 3rd Floor food court) at the
Westside Pavilion, 10800 W Pico Blvd, LA 90064.
It should also be noted that a few hours before the event, Ron Kovic connected
with one our organizers over the phone. He apologized for not being able
to attend, but dictated a phone message, culled from some of his writings, to
the attendees, that was read to them at the beginning of the evening. It was
warmly received and applauded.
Text follows:
Message to those attending
the Emergency Forum on Iran in Los Angeles
Ron Kovic, Author; Born on the Fourth of July, Vietnam Veteran
June 25, 2008
"Have we become so complacent, so cowered and intimidated by this
government that we have forgotten our own revolutionary birthright of rebellion
and dissent? Have we become so paralyzed by the 11th of September
that we would give up our own liberty and freedom for the promise of a security
that does not exist, by a government that now threatens our very lives?
What will it take before we finally realize the true reality of the
crisis? How many more pre-emptive invasions, terrorist attacks, senseless
wars, flag draped caskets, grieving mothers, paraplegics, amputees, stressed
out sons and daughters, before we finally begin to break the silence of this
shameful night?
Let us open our hearts and speak in a way that we have never spoken before,
knowing that lives now depend on it, and the very survival of our nation and
the world is at stake. Let not our silence in this crucial moment betray
us from our destiny.
"There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so
odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even
passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon
the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it
stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who
own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at
all!" Mario Savio
It is time to stop the war machine. It is time for bold and daring
actions on the part of us all. Precious lives are at stake. And this
government and its policies must be confronted at every turn. In every town and
city across America. The days of deceiving, manipulating and victimizing the American
people are over. We have had enough!
And I strongly encourage all of you to use every means of creative non-violent
civil disobedience to stop deeply immoral, illegal and reckless policy.
I stand with you in this important and courageous fight. And I am confident
your actions in the days ahead will inspire countless others across our country
and around the world to end this deeply illegal and immoral war."
E-mail:
worldcantwait_la@yahoo.com
Phone: (323)
462-4771
Address: Los
Angeles World Can't Wait
5507 Santa Monica Blvd., #207
Los Angeles, CA 90038
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