The group he leads was meeting on Thursdays Noon to 1PM at Building 20, room 315. I don't know if they actually still meet, or if that information is last semester's data. He lives in Tumwater. His contact information is on the web page at SPSCC CSU Home Page

Of course, the fact that these pro-Empire folks have descended to poking fun at us means they're losing the argument...

"Disrupt the Anti-Military Protest

When: Saturday, May 27, 2006
Where: Exit 119 off I-5 (DuPont Gate Entrance to Fort Lewis)
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
"Let's round 'em up and come on out to offset and/or disrupt the anti-military/pro-terrorist supporters as they assemble once again each fourth Saturday of the month. Let's try to outnumber them as they attempt to distribute their anti-military/anti-war literature outside the entrance to the base in Dupont at Exit 119.
Come early to secure the overpass before they arrive. Bring your friends, flags and signs to show your support for our military heroes!"

So much for respecting free speech and supporting the Constitution. These folks are hardcore Imperialists.

One thing most of us can agree on is that our representatives have failed us in a variety of way.
I am looking forward to seeing people out on the overpass to support Kevin Benderman and to continue engaging in dialogue with those who support the war.

Some brief notes on how our representative have failed us

Veterans
Extreme cuts in health and other benefits for veterans PTSD, alcoholism and depression often go untreated and fester, causing a rise in homelessness and dependency. Illnesses such as gulf war syndrome and those resulting from the use of depleted uranium, questionable vaccines and experimental drugs are unacknowledged. Our government is not admitting fault for the resulting diseases. These veterans deserve our support.

Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence
Cuts in programs assisting women trying to get out of domestic violence relationships
Military wives bare the brunt of the abuse from returning soldiers who have been scarred and battered by serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. How many women have died at the hands of their boyfriends and partners just for being the one who is closest to him? How many have died on military bases alone? These women deserve our support.

The Service Men and Women
What American can better know the brutalities of this war then those who see it first hand?
We are sending service men and women into a war for big corporations to profit off of working class suffering. Silencing dissent amongst those that may question this war through a media blitz focusing on the great sacrifices made by our soldier (read martyrs) for a greater cause (read profit) is not supporting our troops. By supporting this war unquestioningly, we are not supporting our service men and women. Our service men and women deserve our support.

The Hungry and Homeless
Cuts in housing and food stamps The adverse affects on the working class and underemployed become more and more apparent. Many veterans become homeless because of their experiences in the war. Women and children escaping abusive relationships end up homeless and hungry. The hungry and homeless deserve our support.

Students
Cuts in students loans and scholarships Higher education is becoming harder to obtain due to the rising financial burden. Potential students who are the first member of a family to attend college are finding limited resources. At a time when we are at war, this is a thinly masked attempt to get more working class people signed up in the military, as the only means to receive financial aid for education. How do we expect students to react to a war that is robbing them of their future? Of course students will resist. Students deserve our support.

Tax Payers
Tax cuts for the rich and cutting the inheritance tax
The shift of the tax burden from the rich to the rest of us, while so much of our tax dollars goes to corporate welfare. This is accompanied by a widening margin between the rich and the poor. Increased national debt lays this burden on our children. Tax payers deserve our support.

The rest of the world
We know how the rest of the world feels about us
A little research into our history demonstrates our support for military interventions to overthrow democratically elected governments (i.e. Chile, Guatemala, Venezuela, Iran, Palestine, Pakistan and so many more) and our support of oppressive dictatorships (Iraq, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Israel, Nicaragua, Indonesia, and so many more). We are not seen as a supporter of freedom and democracy by the rest of the world. Our government’s isolation and arrogance about our history and current actions is not helping us as a people. The rest of the world deserves our support.

Corporations
Our representatives pay more attention to corporations then they do to their constituents
Corporations, like Caterpillar Inc. profit off of complacency and human rights violations, as does Bechtel, Halliburton and others who are supported by our tax dollars. They are responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians, the world's poor, and our service men and women. As we have seen with the recent corruption revealed in both major parties, we are forced to wonder if we are actually represented. Corporations do not deserve our support.

When you say I do not support our troops, please consider who and what you are supporting.

Ok, so the beady eyed little bastard and his bunch of neocon thugs spun reality enuf and now we are there. My take on this is from What I Learned in Kindergarten - namely remember to flush the toliet.

At that stage, I had a dim idea about responsibility. Iraq kinda puts all that into perspective. There is a lot of sh*t going on over there, which we (yes as in we the people - next time there's a chance to vote, make sure 10 others do) as a country helped to make happen (not without help from our buddy Osama - btw who's paying for 9/11??).

So maybe the real question is, does the US step up to the plate and accept responsibility for things and clean up that toliet? Or do we leave the mess to take care of itself (and maybe come back to haunt us in a few years).

Make no mistake, it takes a lot of vigilance, prodding and poking and losing more than a few lives to fix up the mess we're in now. Is it worth even one life? If everyone thought NO!,then we wouldn't have this mess. Unfortunately, there are more than a few people out there would would really like to cut your throat.

Personally, I don't think the people of this country have the guts to make the kind of sacrifices which will be necessary. Beyond fixing Iraq, it also means fixing the sorry state of our government.

Spend your time more productively - think and learn, pushing down fences does very,very,very little in the whole scheme of things.

Jeff,

I agree with Tsch, you should have appologized for what you have said about Rachel Corrie.  As a person, I know she was a very nice gal.  I don't believe anyone should delight in someone's death, no matter how much you disagree with their politics. 

"I de-clutch, you know." Juan Manuel Fangio when asked how he avoids flat-spotting his tires when he spins the car.

...just curious?

My knowledge of Christianity from  former association and participation would tell me that God blesses no one celebrating the death of another human being.

I don't know that there is an apology for such behavior.

The steps of the program are there for the benefit of the recovered.  In other words, we ask forgiveness without expectation of acceptance.  We also understand that there are some things that we must live with. The asking is a part of he humbling process that we recognize is essential to recovery.

I'm having a hard time thinking that there was no malice and forethought behind dozens of cases of carrying that sign for a prescribed reaction.  The sign bearer may just have to live with his indescretion.

I should also add that the amends making process requires more than asking for forgiveness in many cases.  Financial restitution is sometimes required if damages are done.

Since others decided to stir this pot again, I will attempt to explain the reasons behind my use of this sign. At this time I’ll avoid getting into the deeds or misdeeds of Rachel Corrie. We could probably discuss that for the next thousand years and never come together on it.

I really don’t like that sign myself. On most occasions I do not bring that sign out. The last time that I had that sign out was during the troubles at the Port of Olympia last November. I had that sign out in direct response to a group of Oly PMR “protesters” who came over to the corner where the Pro-Troop people were standing and deliberately tried to obstruct our signs and intimidate our people. They did the same thing on the previous two nights. I used peaceful, non-violent methods to fight against their harassing tactics. When they departed that corner and left our people alone, I left their area and put the sign away.

On Saturday, one lady from the “Oly PMR side” came over and we talked about the sign. I explained to her that I would gladly put the sign away if we were not harassed. We came to an understanding that I would put the sign away and she, and others, would do their best to persuade/convince people from their side to not come over and harass us. I immediately put the sign away. This worked very well on that Saturday. On Sunday, a number of the PMR “protesters” came over to our side pulling the same crap again. I spoke with several of them to try and come to the same accommodation. None of them were interested in the slightest. Once again, their goal was not peace but rather harassment and intimidation.

I will say this to Oly PMR and others on their “side of the issues”: Anytime in the future when you and Pro-Troop people are at a location presenting opposing points of view, if you will refrain from such direct harassment of us, I will not bring that sign out.

Jeff Brigham

I read correctly, Jeff is still pointing at others and whining, "But Da-a-a-ad, they're making me do it!"

And he still seems to miss the main point that the sign is hateful and a form of hate speech.

And Jeff, are you really unable to see why the statement "God bless the bulldozer that ran over her and God bless the driver for the good work he did!" is offensive and unacceptable to the rest of us, no matter what our political belief?

But don't tell me to "give it up" on my dead-on description. I have free speech too. Is there a problem with that?

I'm curious what you think about your fellow conservatives asking you to apologize for the sign? 

...turn away from the dark side, you must.

...'till then

------------------------------------------shun----------------------------------

carry a sign in Olympia that said "Jeff Bingham is a horse's ass".

Now, it would not emit good taste on my part, but I'm sure that I'd get the attention I was seeking.

Forest Gump said it best.

 
SECTION 5 FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right.

I may not like what he said, but I will always defend his right to say that.  That being said it's tacky and poor tactics.   

"si vis pacem, para bellum"

 We must move to quickly shut down any exercise of unpopular rights or viewpoints.  What's next?  Peope protesting moving military equipment through the port?

Seriously though, how would you limit this?  Would you support the limitation of rights?  I can find people who are offended by just about everything. 

I just finished watching an episode of Futurama that might be instructive...  "A Taste of Freedom"  Watch it sometime...

How is JB violating your rights?  He was exercising free speech in a public setting.  I'm sorry his message made you feel as if your rights were infringed, but there is a balance.  He has the right to be offensive and you have the right to be offended.  Since what offends and is offensive is so varied that is why there are careful protection on free speech.  If you can show that JB caused you some sort of measurable, quantifiable harm you could seek redress in the courts...

Personally I cherish the more offensive display of rights, they serve as a reminder of what many take for granted.

"si vis pacem, para bellum"

"Personally I cherish the more offensive display of rights, they serve as a reminder of what many take for granted."

Still what Jeff says about RC is wrong. Everyone here knows, JB and I likely agree with RC on her politics. But there is no reason to delight in her death. Bottom line it is wrong!!

"I de-clutch, you know." Juan Manuel Fangio when asked how he avoids flat-spotting his tires when he spins the car.

If you care to, please resume this conversation on another thread.