My Buddy Bill (Ayers)

I don't know Bill Ayers personally but, by association, you can call him my buddy because I attended and recorded his speech at Michigan State University on November 30, 2007.

I recommend that you listen to his 10-minute talk at the SDS reunion event -- provided below -- because his words from nearly 12 months ago resonate with new meaning.

In the ensuing months following his appearance in East Lansing, the repudiated radical right -- accompanied by a pit bull peep-squeak with lipstick -- tried to make Bill Ayers the Willie Horton of the 2008 Presidential election. The Karl Rove-like tactic did not work this time, but it is a tactic that won't go away.

Not surprisingly, you can still hear the Ayers name bantered about by radical right radio commentators, as these conservative spokespeople seem to be barking to themselves in a corner like they just suffered a nervous breakdown this week. It's nothing a little OxyContin can't fix.

Bill Ayers apparently managed throughout the election season, though he did not talk to the press during the campaign. He finally broke his silence on Tuesday and talked with the Washington Post. Ayers' post-election comments to the Post are worth reading as he talked about the radical right's attempt at turning him into a cartoon character and other issues.

Finally, one last admission about my association with my buddy Bill Ayers: We're both American taxpayers. Guilt by association.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Bill Ayers Speaking at

Michigan State University

November 30, 2007

Bert Garskof Returns to Michigan State (Pt. 1)

Bert Garskof was an Assistant Professor in the Michigan State University (MSU) Psychology Department during the 1968-1969 school year. He was also the MSU-SDS faculty advisor. He was nominated by his department for Teacher of the Year. In the spring of 1969, the MSU Administration forced Bert out of his assigned classes and put him on "full time research." When news of the action spread, the students embarked on a campaign to re-instate him to his former status. Bert was forced out of the job, regardless. November 20, 2007 he returned to the MSU campus to address the MSU-SDS Reunion and Re-Convergence.

Bernardine Dohrn: When Hope & History Rhyme

Bernardine Dohrn is a former leader of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Weather Underground. She is curently an Associate Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law and the Director of Northwestern's Children and Family Justice Center. The event took place November 30, 2007, at Michigan State University as part of the MSU-SDS Reunion and Campus Re-Convergence honoring Bert Garskof. Dohrn's speech was titled, "When Hope & History Rhyme: Changing Ourselves, Changing Our World."

Bill Ayers: Movement Building in Troubled Times

Bill Ayers is a former leader of the Students for a Deomcratic Society (SDS) and the Weather Underground. He is currently a professor of Education and a Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois. Ayers's speech was titled "Trudge Toward Freedom: Movement Building in Troubled Times." The event took place November 30, 2007, at Michigan State University as part of the MSU-SDS Reunion and Campus Re-Convergence honoring Bert Garskof.

Alan Habor's Speech at the MSU SDS Reunion & Re-Convergence

Alan Habor was the first SDS president in 1960. He currently lives in the Ann Arbor area and remains active in the Michigan peace community. I've worked with Alan on the Michigan Peace Network in the past. The event took place November 30, 2007, at Michigan State University as part of the MSU-SDS Reunion and Campus Re-Convergence honoring Bert Garskof. Here is Alan's speech titled "A Winning Plan":

Alan Habor's Speech at the MSU SDS Reunion & Re-Convergence

Alan Habor was the first SDS president in 1960. He is still a peace activist here in Michigan. Alan lives in Ann Arbor and I have worked with him on the Michigan Peace Network in the past. Here is his speech:

Quick Post: SDS Reunion Photos

This is a quick post to provide a link to some of my photos from the Michigan State University SDS reunion Friday night at Kedzie Hall. I will add more photos and captions tomorrow, along with a more detailed report on what turned out to be a very busy and fascinating day in East Lansing, Michigan.

-- RTR

Link to photos:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/9042461@N06/7HE9NC

The Radical Reunion Won't Be Televised

The television and movie writers are still on strike. I won’t cross the picket line. I fully support collective bargaining and hope the Writers Guild drives a hard bargain.

In observing the Writers Guild walk out from afar, I relish in the opportunity to see the faces of the people who write the drivel that ends up being broadcast on television or shown on the big screen. Too many times I have muttered to the screen, “Who writes this sh*t?” A number of times I have felt robbed of two hours of my life watching some stupid, worthless movie. (Remember the movie, “Mrs. King Kong”?) So now there they are – those usually-faceless script and screenplay writers – appearing on the evening news walking the picket line and pictured on the Internet.

I’ve been slowly divorcing myself from television over the past few years, progressing from the 100+ channels on cable to your bare-bones basic package today. The chance of catching worthwhile programming is the same with either package...and the same with or without a strike.

But who needs television? The good sh*t is out on the streets, where truth and reality roam and where concerned citizens struggle to write (and right) history.

Two weeks ago, for example, the Super Bowl of Activism happened in the Lansing Area. On Wednesday, November 14th, citizen activists had the choice of meeting and interacting with Anna Beltzer, Rev. Edward Pinkney, or Adrian Campbell. Also, the new Peace Over Prejudice Campaign at Michigan State University (MSU) held a panel discussion on “Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism.” And I believe Everybody Reads Bookstore was hosting a guest author that night.

If you sat home watching TV on November 14th, you’ve got to check yourself.

Tomorrow’s another big day, too, for citizen activists. The MSU Student for a Democratic Society (SDS) is holding a “reunion” in East Lansing, Michigan. SDS radicals Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn are scheduled to attend, along with former MSU professor Bert Garskof. The original SDS president, Alan Haber, will appear too. There will be some Big-Time Radical History packed into Kedzie Hall tomorrow at 7 p.m. (Nov. 30, 2007).

(Ayers and Dohrn were featured in the movie, “The Weather Underground,” at the Peace Education Center’s movie night earlier this year at Magdalena’s Tea House.)

Of course, these radicals – and their local cohorts, young and old – plan to revisit their old pals at the East Lansing Marine Recruiting Station on Grand River earlier in the day at 2 p.m.

The evening event should be electric, too. If you know your SDS and Weatherman history, you will know that the SDS had a serious riff within the organization way back when. And both sides of that riff will be on hand tomorrow, I’m sure. I’ve already heard first-hand grumblings from former SDS activists who live here in town and, apparently, there are issues that still need closure. I won’t miss it.

So cut off the TV, grab your family and friends, and let’s all meet in East Lansing to write some more history.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Note: Stop back tomorrow and Saturday for more reports, pictures, and videos.