Fall 2003

MW voice FEATURE

Letters to the Editor

War

Editor's Tidbits

Mothers news from around the world

victories

Mama's health news

did you know?

Corporate war on the people

youth / disability / gay news

Resistance in the War
Against the Poor

other fall 2003 articles

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Anti-Poverty Groups Anti-Poor?

Dear Welfare Warriors,

This is what has been happening to the issues of Mother Warriors Voice lately: I have one for myself. Though I am no longer on welfare I am still a mother and still in poverty. I then pass that one on to a friend who used to be a single mother on welfare. My friend George gives two copies to a woman who works at a local thrift store—one for herself and one for her sister—they are mothers living in poverty.

I give one to my friend, who is not a mother, but who is a poor woman in her sixties who expressed intense interest in the Voice. I also sometimes give a copy to another friend who raised her kids on welfare and is now a grandmother living in poverty—she is learning Spanish and finds the Spanish language portion of the Voice very helpful (she and her native friend would like to do a cultural exchange between the natives here and the gypsies in Spain, an exchange involving dance and song). The Voice gets around in our little community. So, I hope you will continue to send me the four or five copies even if I am inconsistent abut sending either money or info.

The “official” anti-poverty movement here in Canada is, perhaps, different than it is in the States.  It has been funded either by government grants or by the trade union movement (needless to say, as our governments swing to the right the government funding tends to be cut).

 For these reasons people in what I call the “mainstream” anti-poverty groups are very cautious (particularly if they have paid jobs) not to offend “important” people. This often means that those who push for more radical change are ostracized and that poor people themselves are considered, by those involved in the anti-poverty organizations, to be lower status than government people or people in the union movement—this is speculation based on the way we ourselves have been treated by them and by how others have reported being treated. Some of us became embittered when we found this out and that is why we are no longer part of these groups.

Anne Miles
Gibsons, BC, Canada

Social Services Cause More 
Harm than Good

Dear Editor,  

Send us a regular subscription. I feel your Mother Warriors Voice is the only place I see our story. I tried so hard to get out of poverty. They system here is set up to keep mothers and children impoverished. They screen you out of any service to help your family. I used to hear the words “black balled,” and “black listed.” Now I’ve experienced it. No, don’t refer me to those traditional agencies for the above. The damage we endure only God’s will can help.

Grandmother C.
Louisville, KY

Greetings, Warrior Women

Warrior Women,

A man who wants me to write for San Diego City Life.com said he saw my article in your paper. (The one on Tyisha Miller) He wants me to be regular contributor. I also saw the lady who makes the quilts. As soon as finances allow, I’d like to sponsor some papers for more women in prison. I just participated on a panel, and have one coming up next week on PIC Prison Industrial Complex. I thoroughly enjoyed your last issue. Your paper is like no other. Love,

Minister Masada
San Diego, CA

Moms, Don’t Give up Your Child!

I just read the story about the mother in danger of losing her son. (MWV Spring 2003) I agree with so much of what this article said. It’s scary.

I have been through very similar circumstances. Please tell her to pray. (Unfortunately, she will need a miracle.) Pray to any god (or goddess) who will listen! And NEVER give up. That is what they are hoping you will do. Remember that it is ALWAYS darkest before the dawn!!!!

When things look the most hopeless, it is important to keep on keepin’ on. In my darkest moment, I even began to believe the lies they were saying about me! I went through 4 (court appointed) lawyers, and the last one finally was a godsend. She actually fought for me while the others just went through the motions.

Social Services tried to say that I couldn’t be a good parent because I *might* have ADHD, and have ‘ passive aggressive personality disorder’ and that no treatment or drug or therapy would help! They wouldn’t even try. They sent me to a “counselor” who was no more than a spy! I had to fight for the right to see a therapist who would keep my sessions confidential and who I felt comfortable with (and trusted). But I got it. Oh, the games they played!!!!! One thing that really helped is my now best friend who had been through it all with the same people.

I had people in my family back-biting and working against me. Luckily I had ONE person who was on my side--an independent contractor through, of all places, the department of social services. She alone WANTED my son to come home to me.

After my lawyer convinced the judge to let my son come home (after I moved in with my parents!) the caseworker actually refused to comply! We had to go back into court and he almost got jailed for contempt. Then they extended the court-ordered schedule for his return. On the day he was supposed to come home, he was LATE. It was “hard on his foster family!!!!!” Meanwhile nobody called us to reassure us that he was ok.

Social Services even tried to get the judge thrown off the case because he didn’t do what they wanted. They actually succeeded in this! Things just seemed to get worse and worse. But my son finally came home. And another year after that, court jurisdiction was ended!

Like I said, don’t give up, no matter how bad things seem. At least you will always know that you fought till the end! That is what kept me going sometimes, If I lost him and he came to me someday I could tell him that I NEVER GAVE UP ON HIM.

They will do anything legal or not, but their main tactic is to get you to give up. Also tell everybody every chance you get that you want your baby. (They told me that “someone” told them that I said that I would give him up!) Tell them you love your baby and you want him. Tell them that you will never give up. Good luck!!!! And if you would like to write to me, my email is snpetite@yahoo.com

I am very interested in Welfare Warriors. I would really like to see your group continue to bring attention to the problems of mothers in poverty. I would like to know if there is a local group that I can get involved with -- I am in Lansing, Michigan--or a way that I could possibly start one. Carry on Welfare Warriors!!!!

Amanda
Lansing, Michigan

Editor Responds:

Sad news..... We just learned that Marietta "voluntarily" gave up Jesus 2 weeks before her upcoming trial. She was scared by the upcoming trial. And the Child Welfare worker from La Causa, Courtney Chavez, had escalated attacks: She began random urine testing of Marietta during visits (no prior issue re drug or alcohol). She terminated visits one month before trial. She required yet one more parenting class. She repeated threats to take the baby too, if Marietta didn’t give up Jesus. And she kept telling Marietta how much better the foster family is. To avoid the possibility of them taking the baby, she gave up Jesus. He is nearly 4 years old and will surely always wonder what he did wrong to lose both mom and nana.

If you want us to send you a bundle of the VOICE to distribute, we will be happy to send 50, 100 etc. for free. Let us know. To start a group, just put a flyer inside the VOICE asking moms to get together to start up something and give your phone number for them to contact you. Or, handwrite a note with your number on the paper itself. That's how we started up. Once a group of you begin meeting, you will all decide what issues you want to work on and what tactics you will use.

Should the US Be an Empire to
Dominate the World?
____Yes____No

Dear Editor,

They fired Donahue. Why? Because if he would have Oliver North on his program calling for war, he might also have— horrors! —somebody like the British anti-war journalist Greg Palast calling for peace. Brace yourselves from now on for the unchallenged messages of North, G. Gordon Liddy, Rush Limbaugh and George W. Bush. They want only one side to be heard.

The Bush doctrine is that (a) the Iraqis wanted to attack us, so we had to hit them first; (b) Saddam is connected to the 9-11 terrorists, so he must be punished; and (c) Saddam is an evil, brutal dictator who must be ousted so that Iraq—and subsequently, the whole Middle East— can enjoy democracy.

There is no credible evidence at all for (a) and (b). So when we justify bombing raids with such brazen lies, we infuriate millions of people all over the world. As for the third point about spreading democracy, pay attention to what follows.  It is a record they don’t want Donahue to reveal. 

In 1953 the CIA sent an agent with $10 million to Iran to organize a rebellion against the legally-elected Prime Minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. They installed in his place the dictatorial king, Shah Pahlavi. Pahlavi had been overthrown and sent into exile after Mossadegh had nationalized the Iranian oil industry. The Shah gave Iranian oil back to the foreign corporations.

In 1954 the CIA engineered the overthrow of the legally-elected president of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz. Arbenz had announced a seizure of lands of the United Fruit Company of Boston. And he planned to distribute the property to poor peasants. The CIA installed dictator Castillo Armas in his place and Arbenz fled to Cuba.

In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson sent the Marines to the Dominican Republic to overthrow the legally-elected president, Juan Bosch. Johnson said he feared that Bosch would be a second Castro. Castro had nationalized millions of dollars worth of American businesses in Cuba.

In 1973 the CIA organized the overthrow and murder of the legally-elected president of Chile, Salvador Allende. Allende had nationalized American-owned copper mines in his country. In his place the CIA installed military dictator, Augusto Pinochet. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al have made it clear that they want to continue such international police work. And they have made it clear that they want to create a new American Empire, which would dominate the world. That’s a big change!

I recommend that we all vote on it. Do you want the US to be an empire that would dominate the world? Yes__? Or No__?

I also recommend that all of our national leaders read my book, All Empires Die. 

Sydney Spiegel
Casper, WY

Does Lithium Cause 
Kidney Disease?

Are you or do you know someone with kidney disease from lithium? I have heard of other people besides myself but no one with a name. I remember reading about someone who died in NYC of lithium toxicity from prescribed use a few years back. I’m interested in people who would like to help push for either a complete ban or, short of that, a black box warning label. And we could fight for what they call a “dear doctor” letter from the FDA for lithium. I have three at the inside and 10 at the outside years before complete kidney failure. As per my kidney doctor, this is completely attributable to the lithium I took as prescribed for 12 years.  I know there are others like me out there.

Alison

In Israel’s Defense

Dear Ladies,

I want to defend Israel.  Arabs surround them on all sides. They have all attacked one time or another in Israel’s short fifty-odd year history.

Israel is under attack right now by the Palestinians. They are constantly blowing up 10-12 Israelis in any and all parts of the country Israel .  If Israel goes into where the Palestinians are to bulldoze houses or what not, it is completely because of an attack on Israel ’s civilians.

Israel is only acting to defend itself.  They have never been the aggressors. Thanks, but please take your hatred out at the republicans, not poor little Israel constantly under siege.

Joel Furst
Stanford, CT
abhymes@cstone.net

 

Game To Help Parents 
And Kids

Hello,

My husband and I (with some help from the kids), have recently developed an upbeat, fun, and totally unique approach to behavior modification ...that actually works! 

Called the Wheel of Dreaded Consequences, it has been generating excitement from parents and educators everywhere.

Families who use the Wheel report dramatic changes in their households. Homework gets done, clothes get picked up, arguing stops...in short, the Wheel produces great kids and a stress free environment!   Consequences are administered without anger and without violence.

While the wheel has been created to deal with common situations that occur within the home, teachers are also using it in the classroom, with many of them having the students come up with appropriate consequences as a classroom assignment.

People who would benefit from having the Wheel include single mothers, mothers on social assistance, foster parents, step parents, grandparents raising kids, and anyone else struggling with child behavior management.

To view the Wheel, or download a complimentary please visit our website at http://www.consequences.ca/.

If your position brings you in contact with those who might benefit from our product, we'd be pleased to send you a Wheel, along with brochures, to demonstrate.  Please e-mail me.  

Julie Butler
New Attitude Designs

 

Clean And Unclean Food
In Old Testament

My Letter to the Editor appeared in Racine's Journal-Times, and I was awakened early that morning by a Christian wanting to save my soul! He found my name in the phone book and took it upon himself to set me "straight"? Fornicators, who choose to cheat, can repent and seek salvation. (Apparently homosexuals, who are born that way, cannot).

Now that the official word is in on the downward destination of gay souls, I wonder how the "mixed fiber" folks are planning to save THEIR souls? On a more serious note, according to Leviticus, eating rock badgers is abhorrant to God (Lev 11:5), while devouring grasshoppers and crickets (Lev 11:22) is a sure ticket to heaven. Moles and lizards (Lev 11:29) are definitely on the "no no" list;   to be tempted by such vexing vittles will lead to eternal damnation.

(Lev 11:4) Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews the cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. (Lev 11:5) Likewise the rock badger, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you.

(Lev 11:20) All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. (Lev11:21) Yet you may eat among all the winged insects which walk on all fours those which have above their feet jointed legs with which to jump on the earth. (Lev11:22) These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, and the devastating locust in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds, and grasshopper in its kinds.

(Lev 11:29) Know there are of you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the great lizard in its kinds, and the gecko, and the crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand reptile, and the chameleon. (Lev 11:30) There are too unclean among all the swarming things; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening.