Ho! Ho! Ho! And a Merry Christmas to you all!
It's that time of year again and I've been so busy making Xboxes and E-readers and blankets with arms in them that I sometimes forget there are others like me doing good works but who are in need of some help.
These other "Santas" operate on a shoestring and need money to do their kind deeds. Unfortunately they can't do what I do to cover the cost of my operations. (I rent out my North Pole facilities to Superman eleven months of the year for him to use as his Fortress of Solitude.)
So Mrs. Claus, the elves, the reindeer and I are asking if you could make a last minute donation to one of the six worthy organizations I've listed below. Or do it as a gift in someone else's name and make that their Christmas present (thus fewer chimneys for me to go down. I know, I know, stop with the burgers in a donut bun.) These Santas will then turn around and use your money to create gifts greater than anything I could ever make in my workshop.
Here they are:
** The Innocence Project. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans sit in prison tonight having been wrongly convicted of a crime. They are 100 percent innocent and the system has the DNA samples to prove it. The Innocence Project is an amazing group that provides free attorneys and researchers who devote their time to freeing these innocent men and women. It's no mistake that human rights groups place the United States on their list of countries who throw the innocent behind bars. No country on earth (including China, with four times the population of the United States) has more people in prison than America. Please give to the Innocence Project so that those who've committed no crime do not spend another night in jail -- and so I don't have to spend so much time on Christmas Eve going through security when I make deliveries to them.
** The Bradley Manning Defense Fund. If I witness a crime while making my rounds on Christmas Eve, and I report it, I'm considered a hero. (Sometimes there's reward money!) Private Bradley Manning of the United States Army allegedly came across video of his fellow soldiers gunning down and killing in cold blood two reporters from Reuters and a group of Iraqis who were civilians. He apparently decided to report this crime to the American people. For this, he has been arrested and thrown into the brig -- where he has sat in tortuous solitary confinement for seven months. He is also believed to be the source of thousands of documents obtained by WikiLeaks which show the disgusting and immoral behavior of your government and Pentagon as they've prosecuted two illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a true travesty taking place and it's being done in your name. Please contribute to his legal defense fund and please send him a holiday card at:
Bradley Manning
c/o Courage to Resist
484 Lake Park Ave #41
Oakland CA 94610
USA
(See BradleyManning.org for how to mail things to him directly.)
** WikiLeaks. What more needs to be said? Frankly, in retrospect I'm GLAD they leaked my 2009 Naughty & Nice list -- especially the parts about the U.S. government. I know that may hurt a bit for those of you who are Americans, but trust me, it's good for you in the long run. What I do foresee in the coming year, though, is a battle for who controls the internet -- and those in power are going to find ways to clamp down and not make it so easy for all of us to share with each other so freely. (Another good group to give to that is helping to keep the internet free is Save the Internet.) From the Iraq War video to the proof that you're backing a corrupt government in Afghanistan to the fabricated cables sent to the Bush State Department from Havana about Mike's movie, WikiLeaks has performed an invaluable service. As long as they don't dig into what my elves do in the 11 months they're on vacation, I'm solidly behind WikiLeaks.
** The Water Project. Over a billion people on this planet have no access to clean drinking water. Approximately 2 million children under age 5 are killed each year worldwide by a water-related disease. This is insane considering we have the technology and the people power to fix this in a very short time period -- if we wanted. The money from just one year of the Iraq War would pretty much take care of it. Sad, isn't it, how we're capable of so much more, of being so much better. The Water Project is a hands-on, boots on the ground organization that's digging wells and getting clean drinking water to the Third World. This is one delivery -- water for a billion people -- that just doesn't fit in my sleigh.
** Park 51 Islamic Community Center ("The Ground Zero Mosque"). Here's a tip: if there's anything that will get you a lump of coal in your stocking, it's hating people based on their race or religion. And I'm sorry to say, folks like that were out in full force this year. They even won themselves an election. Soon they will hold congressional hearings to out America's Kenyan-born Muslim president. (My team's already getting extra coal ready for Christmas 2011.)
Meanwhile in lower Manhattan, a group of people who happen to be Muslim want to build a community center. They asked the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan for help. They helped them. It was so nice it made me think I should branch out into Hanukkah and Ramadan. Then the haters showed up. But I believe Park 51 will win this fight. Please help them.
** Democracy Now. This great daily show presents the news we never get to hear on mainstream radio or TV -- especially at the North Pole, where for some reason the cable system only runs the Hallmark channel and Spike. Amy Goodman and Co. do an incredible job bringing the truth to the American public every morning. I listen to them and I support them. (And I support all efforts for non-profit, community-based radio stations. You can learn more about that movement at Radio for All.)
So give if you can. I know these are tight times for most people and you've got yourselves and your families to take care of. I hope this time of the year is going well for you and if not, then please know that there are many -- including me -- who care about you and yours. Working together, it will get better for everyone.
Finally... those of you who don't have chimneys, could you possibly leave the door open this year? I don't like it any more than you do when I have to break in through your bathroom window.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night,
Santa (c/o Michael Moore)
Follow Michael Moore on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MMFlint
As a mother of a wrongful convicted son, I hope and pray that you will keep within the meaning of your Christmas message by knowing that thousands of Americans sit in prison tonight having been wrongly convicted of a crime. They are 100 percent innocent, documented facts, yet the Justice System is looking the other way instead for justice to prevail. USA is one of the worst countries who throw the innocent behind bars and has the most people in prison. No more the land of the free. Unfortunately it isn't any longer about truth and justice, instead it has become a lucerative money making business. Our prisoners are warehoused and no humanity shown.
What I would like for Christmas is for you to at least review the petition which we started and asked you to please document the injustice system. People need to be made aware of it. Please have the courage to step up, look at all the different cases, and then report the truth, the link is: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ask-michael-moore-to-document-the-injustice-system/
We need your help. So please, for so many wrongfully incarcerated men and women, and we are their feet and voices, would you please look at our petition?
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Sincerely,
Ursula B. Armijo
www.Justice4Dan.org
Director of the Michigan Freedom March for the Wrongfully Convicted.
Each of the causes you mentioned above are worthy of donations and I for one have made donations to the Innocence Projects. What we would like for Christmas is for you to at least review the petition we started for you asking you to document the injustice system. I am an advocate for the wrongfully convicted and there are thousands of innocent men and women in our country. It's a money game and win at all costs game. Why do you think we need so many Innocence Projects? We need someone to help us since the justice system does not . So please, for so many innocently incarcerated this Christmas, will you please at least look at our petition? It is:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ask-michael-moore-to-document-the-injustice-system/
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Sincerely,
MaryAnn Lubas
www.justiceformike.net
Director of the Pennsylvania Freedom March for the Wrongfully Convicted.
Wow, just wow...
Thank you, again, sir.
probably more like hundreds of thousands are unjustly convicted.
http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2010/11/27/infographic-the-cold-hard-facts-about-incarceration/
I see plenty of that within the HuffPo community...but it's usually directed at Christians and Catholics. They are, apparently, the approved religion to mock here.
I am in full agreement with you...w/ accolades to the folks at the Salvation Army,
but don't "dis" another assistance organization like the Red Cross (medical supplies and personnel are a whole lot more expensive and scarce than logistics, staples and tarps) in order to make your point.
If you want to rant about an organization, I suggest Goldman Sachs, where the CEO, Blankfein, could conduct an entire rescue operation with one (ill-gotten) paycheck!
That outfit does more with a dollar to help people than any other organization I am aware of, and they do it without shoving religion down anyones throat. They are the first ones in at disasters, they have the things needed immediately by the people there, and they do it all with unbelievable efficiency and economy. remember the earthquake in 1989 in SF/Oakland/Watsonville? While the red Cross was still making ads to beg for money, and the government was running in circles: the Salvation Army had already begun distributing tarps for shelter, blankets, food and water to the victims. In two days they had organized private truckers into huge convoys to get the donated goods to the people of Watsonville. At the same time the red Cross was still begging fro millions of dollars and had handed out some WalMart flashlights and set up a few cots in a couple of inconveniently located gymnasiums.
JUST DONATE TO THE SALVATION ARMY!
I am in full agreement with you...w/ accolades to the folks at the Salvation Army,
but don't "dis" another assistance organizatiÂon like the Red Cross (medical supplies and personnel are a whole lot more expensive and scarce than logistics, staples and tarps) in order to make your point.
If you want to rant about an organizatiÂon, I suggest Goldman Sachs, where the CEO, Blankfein, could conduct an entire rescue operation with one (ill-gotteÂn) paycheck!
Sorry I won't donate to them for their anti-gay agenda.
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That may be. Yet I have personally witnessed drag queens in SF being helped by the salvation Army. They have many wrong-headed ideas, but the one thing they practice that almost no other religion does is the command to help others. ALL others.
Again I point out that no one is more antagonistic to religion than I am, but sometimes what is done far outweighs what is said...and in this instance what is done is GOOD!
There's one thing though I suppose none of us ever has enough of. But, just so you don't think it's any kind of weird stalker thing, I'm married to the same wonderful women for almost 33 years and you're a personal hero to us both. So, for all you're ALWAYS doing for others to fight against industries of corruption, and giving of yourself to make everyone else's life better; WE LOVE YOU, Mr. Mike, and hope your holidays are as happy and fulfilling - as what you're wishing for others. The very best of the season to you and yours, it's greatly deserved.
Assist International
The Bridge Church, Atlanta (great name:)) Cause and Humanitarian efforts
I grew up in what used to be called the third world. Hence, I am cynical about non-profit organizations claiming to have discovered solutions to end world hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Heifer International is an organization I connected with the first time I read their mission statement. It’s a simple idea that involves, metaphorically speaking, giving a cow versus a cup. While a cup will only give a quick fix, a cow empowers and gives both self-reliance and long term hope. Now comes the tricky part.
How do you inspire people to give a Heifer gift this holiday season?
My question was also asked as part of a film contest organized by Heifer International. A young Columbia University freshman, Nicole Bleuel, sent me the video she produced and asked what I thought. This was my response:
The Ingredients for a great Ad?
A great Product I LIKE: Heifer International.
A great Idea I LIKE: Give the Heifer experience with an imaginative new twist.
An ‘Aha’ moment I LIKE: No, don’t give an entire Heifer – give what you can afford to give, because whether you can only give a little or you can give a lot, every person in our global community can play some role in giving in the Heifer experience.
Read more at: http://www.networkedblogs.com/search?q=cmrubin or
http://www.cmrubinworld.tumblr.com
WikiLeaks. What more needs to be said?
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How about that Rove's dirty tricks are at work regarding the Assange Swedish prosecution:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/rove-connection-prosecution-julian-assange/
Just another milestone in his career as a shameless sociopathic right-wing political operative (but I repeat myself):
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/08/28/moore_rove_swift_boat
- Tom