On Wednesday, April 12, a small but not too small group of people gathered at Portland's Downtown Chapel for an interdenominational memorial service in remembrance of the individuals who died, be it from exposure, brutality or overdose, on the streets of Portland.
It was an emotionally difficult hour of poetry, testimony and music for the dead, yet as my eyes stung with tears held back, I felt another emotion than that of grief. I noticed so many other teary eyes gazing towards the ceiling so as not to spill out the guilt yet also the empathy that was lit in the crowd along with every candle that was lit for the dead. We gazed up at the ceiling and remained quiet until the last name had been read and together we sang "Amazing Grace." The tears became real, in my eyes and in many others, and I was able to identify that other than grief emotion I felt. I felt grateful. I was so grateful to have a heart, the same kind of heart as the rest of the room. Tears aren't a bad thing if their underlying emotions provoke change, and to see my community crying over the homeless gave me hope.
Some people cry over the victims of abortion, others over those of war. However, as much as we may like to pick our causes, we need to realize that a world crying over the victims of social injustice is a world that is in need of change.
To look at the streets is to look at every hole in American society: racism, sexism, ableism, education, minimum wage, health care, etc. The people who are most hurt by these isms which have incorporated themselves into capitalism and democracy are the people whose names I heard read last Wednesday. I hear fellow university students crying out against these "isms" every day, but I think if the world could take a silent minute from crying out, and start crying for the victims who are already too far gone, then perhaps we might come to a new solution based on the unity of tears.
Sarah Gerke
Portland
A few weeks ago, Portland welcomed investigative journalist Amy Goodman and the National Federation of Community Broadcasting conference. Recently, KBOO added to their daily program schedule "Democracy Now!" Here in Portland we have access to monthly columns by Norman Solomon, daily commentary by Jim Hightower, frequent prestigious speakers such as Greg Palast, Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian and others. We have publications that print the truth, such as The Portland Alliance, Street Roots, The Skanner and more. Indeed, if one wants to hear the news they don't want us to hear, it is available in Portland. We also get the news from those who are sometimes guilty of errors and omission, thus we hear it from a variety of viewpoints.
Howard Zinn said in a People's History lecture, that all historians (which include journalists) should express a personal bias. There are millions of facts that can be reported, but one needs to sort out which facts are most important. The bias or viewpoint of the journalist will select issues to report which somehow support their personal viewpoint. It results in their writing with a bias. However, the extent this bias is presented in their writing varies. Some present objective news reports of events the corporate media have omitted from their agenda. The viewpoint, or bias if you prefer to call it that, is revealed simply by the selection of events. It is up to the concerned activist to take advantage of the research done by these journalists and form a group willing to take action on related issues.
For instance, the news facts about Border and Immigration Enforcement Act (H.R. 4437), also known as the Sensenbrenner bill, certainly motivated communities all over the U.S. to take action on the issue of immigrants. The protesters proclaimed that "no human is illegal" and the bill is racist and loaded with threats to civil liberties. This movement has documented backup that was introduced to many of us by investigative journalists. As time went on, journalists who provided a critical analysis of the implications of Bill 4437 presented the issues. If we had counted on the corporate media for information, we would not have learned much about the issue. The Oregonian, KOIN TV, CBS, etc. told us about hundreds in one march, which had thousands, and thousands across the nation although actually well over a million protesters have been in the streets to date. They told us how many arrests were or were not made, and how the demonstrators behaved. Of course, the message of the anti-protest groups was presented. Even the careful wording of a headline that stated, "Immigrants aim to fill the streets of America" implied that maybe they would and maybe not. Compare this to a KBOO announcement the day before one of the demonstrations that "Thousands will take to the streets to protest the Sensenbrenner bill."
We consumers of news must often listen with careful ears to glean information from multiple sources that will properly connect the dots. We then must put our energy and action on issues that we not only support emotionally, but also understand based on a real knowledge of the facts.
Amy Goodman is an investigative journalist. She presents news and guests who indicate a bias that criticizes our present administration and honors truth in the media with a passion. We never hear Amy say, "I believe this event shows us injustice here or there." She leaves that to the listeners. She leaves it to her audience to connect the dots and instigate calls to action. Her professional position as a journalist maintains the respect needed for her to have access to events and guests that we would never hear or read from the corporate media.
Jim Hightower gets angry and sarcastic. He adds a bit of humor and in a few minutes highlights an issue that slipped through corporate media. Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky write books and provide speaking events that offer a critical analysis of current issues.
We need them all. We need the facts. We sometimes need help with the analysis. We need bursts of emotion to motivate us into taking action. What is my point? Listen! Listen carefully. React. Be a part of doing the work that needs to be done. Be thankful that you live in a time when technology can provide all of these sources. Years ago, it was far more difficult to learn the truth. It took 10 years for the nation to demand that we get out of Vietnam. The streets were full before the invasion of Iraq.
Ruth Kovacs
Portland