Dec. 26, 2014 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet on 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS APOLOGIES
PEACE ON EARTH!
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS APOLOGIES
The apologies that should be forthcoming from America’s ownership class
Edited version below. See full version by Paul Buchheit here:
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/12/22/12-days-christmas-apologies
If Christmas magic were real, America’s political and business leaders — the people with power and money — would speak on behalf of the nation they’ve debased:
- To Our Most Neglected Citizens
To Americans without a place to live, we apologize for a society that allows almost all of its new wealth to be redistributed to people who are already rich.
2. To Our Most Vulnerable Citizens
Eight years ago 2 out of every 100 children were homeless. Now it’s over 3 out of 100, a stunning 50% increase. Almost half of retirees report less than $10,000 in savings.
3. To the “Broken Windows” Victims
Bank executives don’t break windows. Their crimes are a billion times worse. Yet not a single banker was prosecuted for contributing to the mortgage collapse.
4. To Our Students, the Newest Products of Business
Pre-school funding has been drastically cut. Business leaders see profits in our children, especially if education can be automated, standardized, and commodified.
5. To Our Soldiers
We celebrate you in TV commercials, at football games, in holiday parades. But we should be saying “sorry” instead of “thank you.” —-One out of twelve Iraq/Afghanistan veterans with PTSD—-57,000 homeless vets—-Veterans much more likely than the general population to commit suicide—-Unemployment much higher among post-9/11 vets
6. To the Victims of Our “Exceptionalism”
Greed knows no boundaries. Drone strikes, torture, targeted assassinations…
7. To Those To Whom Nothing Ever “Trickled Down”
It’s a lie that lower taxes on the wealthy stimulates the economy and benefits everyone.
8. To People Who Believe in Society Over “Winner-Take-All” Greed is NOT good!
9. To the Victims of Free-Market Capitalism
Big business is largely unregulated. It prospers through its partnership with Congressional members, who have fallen out of touch with average Americans.
10. To the People Who REALLY Built the Technology Industry
11. To Those Who Have To Defend the Best Government Programs in U.S. History
Social Security and Medicare keep nearly half of our seniors out of poverty.
12. To the Most Generous, and Least Appreciated, Among Us
These are lower-income households, who give 7.6 percent of their income to charity, while those earning $100,000 or more give just 4.2 percent.
And If the Super-Greedy Refuse to Apologize and Make Amends for Their Treatment of Less Fortunate Americans? Let Visions of Occupy II Dance in Their Heads.
- Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc. 5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email:ja@malu-aina.org http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Dec. 26, 2014 – 692nd week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
