A SOUL IN WONDER
NEWSLETTER MAY 24, 2021
Note: Links are in underlined text
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This month’s events have a common theme: Working for a more just and humane world AND doing this non-violently AND, YES, music is part of our revolution
“You say you want a revolution, well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution, well, you know
We all want to change the world”
“But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out”
“But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait”
“You tell me, it's the institution, well, you know
You better free your mind instead”
--Beatles – “Revolution”
This last line resonates with Bob Marley’s lines from “Redemption Song”: (Live version)
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds”
And these from Paul’s letter to the Romans:
“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” (Rom. 12:2 Phillips translation-my emphasis)
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION: Judgment triumphed over mercy
Before reading further, please pause with me for a moment to remember the family and other loved ones of Quintin Jones who was executed by lethal injection on Wed. May 19 @ 6 PM CDT in Texas. I posted about this on Facebook prior to his death:
“EXECUTION TO GO AHEAD unless Governor intervenes.
Reminds me of the line ‘Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate...’ - Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones” (Live version here – previous one was a lyrical version)
I wrote a blog post about it: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: Could you throw the switch...give the injection or turn on the gas...Why? (6-minute read)
EVENTS: SUMMARIES
5/24/21
Poor People’s Campaign Moral Monday: Call for a 3rd Reconstruction 3:30 PM Livestream
Join me and others TODAY - Monday - @ 3:30 PM ET as the leaders of the Poor People's Campaign and members of Congress call to us to work together to rebuild our society FROM THE BOTTOM UP. "When we lift from the bottom, everyone rises." More below...
Related: See 6/7/21 event at Rep.Suozzi’s Huntington, LI office
5/27/21
The 2021 Susman Lecture: The Art of Ralph Fasanella with Professor of Art and Architecture Dr. Marc Fasanella 7 PM ET on Zoom Register here for free tickets.
“His paintings electrified the west gallery of the (Michigan State University) Museum, filling all who saw them with awe and a deep reverence for the working people, labor actions and the vibrancy that lives in workplaces, neighborhoods, union halls and family kitchens.” More below...
6/7/21
Long Island Poor People's Campaign: Rally and Press Conference 12 Noon ET outside Rep. Suozzi’s office at 478A Park Avenue in Huntington, NY – to demand that US House Members Sign onto the Resolution: “Realizing a Third Reconstruction: A Moral and Political Commitment to Fully Address Poverty and Low-Wealth in America by Building Up from the Bottom.” More below...
6/7/21
Long Island Poor People’s Campaign (LIPPC) Monthly Meeting 7-9 PM ET
Our next monthly meeting, also on MONDAY, JUNE 7th, from 7:00-9:00 pm, will feature guest speakers Dr. Mac Bica, head of the LI chapter of Veterans for Peace, and Margaret Melkonian of the LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. They will speak about militarism, the war economy, and the Long Island Move the Money Campaign. See below for more info & to register.
6/12/21
Rockinghams Band – dining, dancing, fun. 7-11 pm ET @ Memorare Caterers Seaford, NY
Facebook Fan Club page More below...
Small World: I met founding member Paul Stango through one of my LIPPC friends - Janie.
6/26/21
Town of Hempstead’s annual Free Neighborhood Concert Series begins (full schedule) with
The Commodores: The Annual Independence Salute with Fireworks and a “Salute to Veterans” at Town Park at Point Lookout, 7:30 p.m. ET Rain date, June 27.
6/27/21
Vintage Antique Fun Car Show 9 AM – 3 PM ET @ Rock Hall Museum 199 Broadway Lawrence, NY – Sponsored by the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, Queens County Region FREE for spectators. For more info, see pages 6-7 in this TOH brochure.
7/21/21
LI Grateful Dead tribute band HALF STEP will be performing at Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford @ 7:30 PM ET – part of the Town of Hempstead’s Free summer concerts. Saw them in 2019 - GRATE [sic]!!!
8/20/21
Dead & Company Aug. 20 @ Citi Field Tix now available at your favorite authorized ticket scalper (full US schedule/tickets link here)
8/27/21
“Get Back” release date – New Peter Jackson documentary about the boys from Liverpool.
Info here....there...and everywhere (sorry, got carried away : )))
Action Item: Let me know if you’re interested in doing an opening night extravaganza (costumes, party, music,,,).
I did one for LOTR with my family and some church friends and it was a blast!!!
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EVENTS: MORE INFO
5/24/21
Poor People’s Campaign Moral Monday: 3RD RECONSTRUCTION
IT’S TIME TO FULLY ADDRESS POVERTY AND LOW WAGES FROM THE BOTTOM UP!
“Emerging from the pain and organizing power of the 140 million people living in poverty or with low wages in this nation, the congressional resolution for a Third Reconstruction reflects an omnibus vision for a fundamental restructuring of society that lifts from the bottom. The non-partisan resolution comes as a response to years of movement-building to create the collective resolve necessary to implement real and transformational legislative action.
This resolution recognizes that in order to build a true Third Reconstruction we must simultaneously deal with the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation and the denial of health care, militarism and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism that blames the poor instead of the systems that cause poverty.”
5/27/21
The 2021 Susman Lecture: The Art of Ralph Fasanella with Professor of Art and Architecture Dr. Marc Fasanella 7 PM ET on Zoom. Register here for free tickets.
More info at: fasanella.org
Throughout his artistic evolution, self-taught working-class artist, Ralph Fasanella visually chronicled the political history of his time (1914-1997).
About this event
“As part of our Susman Lecture Series we are happy to host a talk on and exhibition of the art of Ralph Fasanella with Ralph’s son, Professor of Art and Architecture Dr. Marc Fasanella.
A visual survey of Ralph Fasanella’s most powerful political art - this exhibit and lecture explores the enduring relevance of the seminal 20th Century events Fasanella depicted and their continued importance.
Throughout his artistic evolution, self-taught working-class artist, Ralph Fasanella visually chronicled the political history of his time. From the advent of the military-industrial complex, the growth of multinational corporations and the activist struggles against exploitation and cultural supremacy - Fasanella created encyclopedic pictorial narratives and simple portraits capturing the culture and identity of the American populace caught up in a market driven fantasy of social evolution through perpetual economic growth, and the attendant civil unrest.
Please join us as we explore his work and legacy in this very special lecture in our storied Susman Lecture Series.
Attendance is free but registration is required to join the lecture and discussion.
After registering you, will receive an email with the login information for the Zoom Lecture.”
Selections from the fasanella.org website
“His paintings electrified the west gallery of the (Michigan State University) Museum, filling all who saw them with awe and a deep reverence for the working people, labor actions and the vibrancy that lives in workplaces, neighborhoods, union halls and family kitchens. Ralph Fasanella was truly an American original and is not only a great worker/labor artist, but one of America’s greatest 20th century artists – period.”
“Worker culture is created every day when a man or woman crosses the threshold of their workplace. It is created in the languages and customs we share on the job, the stories and music in the break rooms or in our heads, and the ways that we deal with the joys, stresses, tragedies and events that make up our days. Worker culture is dynamic. Worker culture is historic. Ralph Fasanella has served, and continues to serve, as the ambassador into the world of worker culture for people across the globe.”
“Fasanella took up painting in 1945, working in the garment industry, as a truck driver, ice delivery man, union organizer and gas station owner before devoting himself to painting full-time in the 1970s. Untrained as an artist, Fasanella developed an astute and accessible style that reflected his affiliation with and commitment to the working class. He viewed painting as an extension of his union activity and his alternately subtle and brash paintings functioned simultaneously as memorial documents, didactic tools, and rallying cries, making the possibility of a better society palpable to his own community and others like it. These paintings, often large in scale and laden with symbolic imagery, deal with themes of struggle, endurance, social justice, family and community. He felt strongly about the need to remember the sacrifices of previous generations, inscribing the phrase ‘Lest We Forget’ on several of his paintings.”
6/7/21
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Long Island Poor People's Campaign - MONDAY, JUNE 7th at NOON
Rally and Press Conference outside Rep. Suozzi’s office at 478A Park Avenue in Huntington. (Walk up the driveway past 478.) This will be one of hundreds of coordinated press conferences across the country planned by the Poor People’s Campaign to demand that US House Members Sign onto the Resolution: “Realizing a Third Reconstruction: A Moral and Political Commitment to Fully Address Poverty and Low-Wealth in America by Building Up from the Bottom.” The resolution is to be introduced in the House on May 24th; we will receive the document at that time. Photos of the local June 7th events will be sent to the National PPC during or right after our rally and will be shown on their 3:00 pm Moral Monday broadcast. If you want more information or want an invitation to join our next Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 25th at 3:30 pm, please contact me. Tom: 516-850-2493 or ttittmann@icloud.com
6/7/21
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Long Island Poor People's Campaign Monthly Meeting MONDAY, JUNE 7th from 7-9 PM ET
Our next monthly meeting, also on MONDAY, JUNE 7th, from 7:00-9:00 pm, will feature guest speakers Dr. Mac Bica, head of the LI chapter of Veterans for Peace, and Margaret Melkonian of the LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. They will speak about militarism, the war economy, and the Long Island Move the Money Campaign.
Zoom link to register for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsdeivrj0tGtNCSTDAur6y1CQ1q-tPYpAx
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. (A reminder will be sent in our next newsletter, closer to the meeting date.)
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6/12/21
Rockinghams Band – dining, dancing, fun 7-11 PM ET
ACTION ITEM: If you’re interested in getting a table together, call or text me (516-850-2493).
The Rockinghams will be very happily returning to the "stage" for a special Dinner Show at Memorare Caterers in Seaford (2183 Jackson Ave.) on Saturday, June 12th, 7-11pm
We're grateful they reached out to us to set up this fan-friendly event. The $25 per person at-the-door admission will get you a complete hot buffet and free soda, and a very reasonably-priced cash bar.
Those of you who have attended our NYE celebrations there know about the quality of the food and size of the ballroom. Of course, all NYS safety rules regarding Covid-19 compliance will be followed. Tables will be spread out and you can sit with your "pod", and dancing will be allowed!
We do hope you can make it down for our Dinner Show. If you are going, please respond to the event/invite on our Facebook Fan Club page. Thank you and stay safe!
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