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Rise Up Times publishes thoughtful analyses of those issues that affect our lives daily and serve as a basis for action.
U.S. Cognitive Warfare: the Battle to Capture Our Minds, by Todd E. Pierce
Cognitive war is waged against the U.S. population to capture our minds and assimilate us thoroughly into a militaristic 'weltanschauung' or worldview.
James O’Keefe Doesn’t Care About Free Speech, by Ben Burgis
The consequence for controversial speech ordinary people often do have to worry about is getting fired from their jobs. Most Americans have “at-will” employment arrangements at nonunionized workplaces where the boss can fire them at any time with little recourse or due process.
Save the First Amendment!: Free Julian Assange! by Mike Madden
Update: On June 17, the British court ordered the extradition to the United States of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange, who exposed war crimes. Assange is an Australian citizen. Take action.
Watch: “America’s Gun Fetish, ” with Chris Hedges
There are nearly 400 million guns in the U.S., some 120 guns for every 100 Americans. Half of the privately-owned guns are owned by 3 percent of the population.
Where is the War in Ukraine Going and What Should be the Response of the Peace Movement, by UNAC
This war is about U.S. corporate domination and U.S. global hegemony to destroy Russian trade with its many resources (not just oil, but food and other resources) with the EU and China. Why is Russia targeted? Not a military or economic threat, but favorable trade with EU and China threatens U.S. corporate hegmony. The effect of this trade war is worldwide, in some cases severely limiting essential food sources for many countries, with Ukraine and Russia both being major bread baskets. for growing food that is then traded to other countries..
Hedges: The Israeli Execution of Al Jazeera Reporter Shireen Abu Akleh
"The killing of Abu Akleh would have been treated very differently if she was killed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. ...The 55-year-long fight for Palestinian freedom is no less just, no less worthy of our support. But Palestinians are occupied by our Israeli ally. They are not white. Most are not Christian, although Abu Akleh was Christian. They are not deemed worthy. They suffer and die alone."
Down in the River to Pray, Honor the Earth
RENOWNED SINGERS AND ACTIVISTS ADAPT 19TH CENTURY AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL TO 21ST CENTURY SOCIAL JUSTICE PLEA FOR A FOSSIL FUEL-FREE FUTURE WITH “DOWN IN THE RIVER TO PRAY”
Chris Hedges: Alice Walker and the Price of Conscience
“Whenever I come out with a book, or anything that will take me before the public, the world, I am assailed as this person I don’t recognize,” she said when I reached her by phone. “If I tried to keep track of all the attacks over the decades, I wouldn’t be able to keep working. I am happy people are standing up. It is all of us. Not just me. They are trying to shut us down, shut us up, erase us. That reality is what is important.”
Michael Brenner: American Dissent on Ukraine Is Dying in Darkness
"Wait a minute, you're getting this war wrong." "We have been betrayed by our ruling elites."
Matt Taibbi: Meet the Censored — Chris Hedges
"Biden is a classic example of the traditional elites, who now are completely out of touch. Remember, he’s built an alliance with the traditional establishment of the Republican party, the old Liz Cheneys, and Bill Kristol, and all these people, who are appalled by the kind of cult-like Republican party that’s built up around Trump."
My Life with Maus, Or How I Was Banned… by Tom Englehardt
"Tennessee school board banned Spiegelman’s book on the grounds, at least nominally, that it contained naked cartoon mice — Jewish victims in a concentration camp and Spiegelman’s mother, who committed suicide, in a bathtub — and profanity as well (like that word “damn!”)."