This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leopold Sedar Senghor, poet, cultural thinker, and first President of independent Senegal. At a time when the dialogue among civilizations as well as a possible clash among civilizations is on the world political agenda, it is useful to look at the lasting contribution of Senghor in an article devoted to Senghor as a poet and cultural thinker.
Dear Toward Freedom Friends:
If you've visited the website recently you know that I am writing you from a federal prison camp in Danbury, Connecticut. No, I did not abscond with TF funds, or get caught trafficking drugs. I'm here, along with 31 other protesters who self reported to federal prisons across the country on April 11, for trespassing at a military base in Colombus, Georgia, where the School of Americas is located; the school that trains Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency and state terrorism.
On a sun scorched May 1st, three members of the Thurainayagam family are rushing home from a temple after receiving blessings for Thulasithasan, who is supposed to be leaving for Europe in two day's time to meet up with his brothers. Thulasithasan, along with his mother and sister, are jammed tight in the back of a motor rickshaw, speeding through a residential area of Trincomalee. They pass by a navy patrol-a common site on the streets of Trincomalee-and then, no more than a couple of seconds later, there is an explosion.
This month, a highly controversial European law came into effect that raises concerns about our fundamental right to privacy.
Republicans are reaching into the God, Guns and Country bag of tricks once again to molest the most ignorant and prejudice of American minds. In an effort led by zealots on the religious right along with Republicans desperate to survive President Bush's plunge at the polls, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist hopes to satisfy and ignite the party's Christian conservative base by beginning debate on an amendment to ban gay marriage on Monday, June 5th.
"Who will come to our town when the smokestack is making its toxic clouds, when the fish die off from the water pollution? How will we make our living then?" -- Gualeguaychú taxi driver
In the stillness of an autumn afternoon in Argentina, Anna and Oscar Bargas launch into their story across the table in an off-season hotel lobby. Organizers with the Gualeguaychú Citizens Environmental Assembly (ACAG), they had never been activists before, just regular participants in small town civic life.
Copyright Toward Freedom 2019