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Save our "rainbow race" and other inspirations.
By mickielynn on 2018-08-23 12:35:45
[caption id="attachment_11540" align="alignleft" width="200" |i David McReynolds, photo
by Ed Hedermann of the War Resisters League[/caption] After news of the death of this long term antiwar activist who died
on August 17th, at the age of 88., this article is dedicated to the memory of David McReynolds, lifetime peace, civil rights,
and antinuclear activist, photographer, author; pioneering long term member and leader of the War Resisters League;
openly gay man who twice ran for President on the Socialist party line. David was creative and inspiring as an activist and
much beloved by so many who knew him. Since it's August, the month that holds the anniversaries of the only use of
nuclear bombs against civilians; perpetrated by the United States in August of 1945, it seems fitting to look at what our
country is currently doing about adhering to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. As well as how we're negotiating, or not
negotiating, with other nuclear powers. Mixed into this article are some musical inspirations and the further remembrance of
David McReynolds, Let's set the context with one of my favorite songs written by Pete Seeger, another lifelong peace and
environmental activist who did his work through song, the Hudson river sloop Clearwater, and many courageous public
forms of resistance to injustice, fascism, and racism. Pete died in 2014 at the age of 94.
Embedded video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxXzD0eQQBg
This first version of "My Rainbow Race" was a 1971 performance from his album of the same name. One of the most
inspiring things about Pete was his persistence, his creative collaborations, and his mentorship of others. In 2013 his voice
was almost gone but he continued to perform with others who augmented his vocals.
Embedded video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ROYKq5t5Iw
One reason that I've always loved this song is because of the continuing hope and the strong feelings of stewardship for the
Earth and all of its inhabitants. It reminds us of our need to defend humans, other living creatures, and our Planet against
greed, racism, militarism, and ruthless short term destructive behavior. Which brings us to the subject of the recently passed
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019 and the funding for a new kind of nuclear weapon. [caption
id="attachment_ 11554" align="alignnone" width="600"]
Shutterstock image from "In
Other Words" article about lack of media coverage of FY 2019 NDAAJ/caption] After a long process (that began in April of
2018) and included many votes and conferences to reconcile the House and Senate versions, The NDAA [the fiscal 2019
National Defense authorization Act, H.R. 5515 (115)]| became law after being signed by the President on August 13, 2018.
What was shocking to me and others was the huge margins of approval in both the House [359 — 54] and the Senate [87 —
10]. The fact that so few in Congress questioned this huge, budget breaking bill to provide so much for military and
weapons at the expense of urgently needed help and services to people in the US was dismaying. This could be the subject
of a different article but today I wanted to focus on the $65 million provided for developing and producing a “‘low-yield”
war head (W76-2 nuclear warheads) to be carried on a submarine launched ballistic missile (the Trident II D5). Along with
this potential nuclear disaster the bill also contained provisions to repeal a 15-year prohibition on developing and producing
low-yield nuclear warheads without congressional authorization. The one saving grace is the requirement for Congress to
authorize appropriations to develop or modify nuclear warheads. But on the other hand it also now adds many more
millions for development of other nuclear related weapons and prevents the Department of Defense from using FY 19 funds
to reduce the number of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), or reducing their level of alert for a nuclear launch.
More details can be found on pages 17 and 18 of the House Democratic markup of this bill. [caption id="attachment_11557"
align="alignnone" width="600"]
NEWS ITem:
"Nuclear Club Do Not Feed!"
from In Other Words, July 12, 2017[/caption] In a really excellent article that outlines the true risks of this "low yield"
weapon, which Trump is eager to use, we get an idea of just what the deployment of such a weapon would unleash.
To get a sense of this warhead’s power, recall that the bomb that wrecked the Oklahoma City
federal building and killed 168 people in 1995 had the power of two tons of TNT. This new “low
yield” submarine-launched warhead, by contrast, has the explosive power of five thousand tons of
TNT. Detonating one such bomb in Moscow’s Red Square could kill 15,000 people; if this bomb
exploded at the Capitol or the White House the death toll could be even worse.
These are not usable weapons to fill a gap in capabilities. These are machines for laying waste to
cities and the people who inhabit them.[...]
caption id="attachment_ 11560" align="alignnone" width="600"]
A Nuclear disarmament ICAN
won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 6, 2017, in Geneva. FABRICE COFFRINI-AFP{[/caption] To close, here's a video of
David Reynolds speaking in 2000, followed by a performance by the also recently deceased singer and civil rights activist,
Aretha Franklin.
Embedded iframe at
https://web.archive.org/web/20210000000000/https://www.democracynow.org/embed/story/2018/8/20/in_memoriam_david_mcreynolc
This is a performance by Aretha Franklin on a live Gospel recording done in 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist
Church in Los Angeles. In it she's singing Marvin Gaye's powerful song "Wholy Holy" with backing vocals by the Southern
California Community Choir. Although it's got Christian content it's the element of love and unity. I think that it resonates
with all people of faith in humanity and those wishing to protect our Earth and all people living on it.
Embedded video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/3EGcG9mMJgo?rel=0
