William Kunstler Film in the Running for Top Honors

In WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE, filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, Kunstler fought for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. and represented the famed "Chicago 8" activists who protested the Vietnam War. When the inmates took over Attica prison, or when the American Indian Movement stood up to the federal government at Wounded Knee, they asked Kunstler to be their lawyer. This documentary brings to life a forgotten history of progressive struggles for justice and change in this country over the last half century. It communicates that the world we inherit is better because someone struggled for justice, and that those changes will survive only if we continue to fight. It is a film that needs to be seen. I recently showed it in my Introduction to Victimology class to provide examples of the unspoken dynamics of power and control that exist in our culture and underly crimes against humanity. Filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kuntsler, William's daughters, are trying to raise the profile of the film, so they can have a shot at top honors, which would help William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe reach millions. If you'd like to support them, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the Fractured Atlas website. You can see a clip from the movie above or on You Tube. This clip highlights Kunstler's powerful speech on the "Terrible Myth" on law and legality. Please share this link with your friends and colleagues and help spread the word about this important film. You can find rental copies at Netflix. Here is the text of the Terrible Myth speech: And that is the terrible myth of organized society, that everything that's done through the established system is legal - and that word has a powerful psychological impact. It makes people believe that there is an order to life, and an order to a system, and that a person that goes through this order and is convicted, has gotten all that is due him. And therefore society can turn its conscience off, and look to other things and other times. And that's the terrible thing about these past trials, is that they have this aura of legitimacy, this aura of legality. I suspect that better men than the world has known and more of them, have gone to their deaths through a legal system than through all the illegalities in the history of man. Six million people in Europe during the Third Reich? Legal. Sacco Vanzetti? Quite legal. The Haymarket defendants? Legal. The hundreds of rape trials throughout the South where black men were condemned to death? All legal. Jesus? Legal. Socrates? Legal. And that is the kaleidoscopic nature of what we live through here and in other places. Because all tyrants learn that it is far better to do this thing through some semblance of legality than to do it without that pretense.
Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin' things happen in your life. Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life? If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I'm offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about. There's nothing cool about holding back.

Wonderful People and Great Opportunities Just Keep Whizzing Right to Me

I just got back from Master Mind group and I took a look at the photos my camera has saved from the last 9 days. Let's just say my life is a whirlwind of good things.  This blog is an excuse for me to post the awesome photos that represent the past 9 days of my life and maybe to tell a little bit about each photo. This is a week I want to remember. Enough is Enough Candlelight Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 On Friday, October 22 I was asked to speak at a candlelight memorial for Omar Brown, former Long Beach City College student who was shot and killed in an allegedly gang-related fight. Although the event itself, and the need for it is a tragedy, the positive aspect is that the Long Beach City College community took quick action and pulled together an event to show support and to speak out against violence. The event was hosted by the Associated Student Body and I want to give a "shout out" to Pamela Marshall for doing a great job pulling everything together. Also great to see Anita Gibbins of the Women and Men's Resource Center and Sabrina Sanders, Interim Dean of Student Affairs. I was honored that I was asked to speak and I was proud to speak about peace and love, two topics I am passionate about. Below is a photo gallery of the event. I gave my students extra credit for attending and asked them to hold up Get Galvanized signs during my speech so I would have the courage to pull it off.  To see my speech on YouTube, click here. Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 Just less than two days later I was able to join with Cynthia Lamb at an event called Conscious Kickstart - The Future of Alternative Health. The event was organized by Blog Talk Radio host, Michelle Ann Johnson and featured a panel of leaders in the alternative healing profession. It really did give my Consciousness a Kickstart. One of the powerful points in the day was when Cynthia Lamb guided participants in a journey to Forgiveness.  She helped remind participants that we are all "spirit in a body" and we are all worthy.  Here is a video of the process that you can use to forgive and heal: Later in the day,  Sound Shrine was there with a Didgeridoo.  Evan played the instrument right next to me as I was sitting on the floor and I was definitely feelin' the vibes.

doo

I left Conscious Kickstart and headed straight to the Rave theatre in Culver City to see Ghettophysics -Will the Real Pimps and Ho's Please Stand Up. Film director E. Raymond Brown was present at the screening and answered questions from the audience.

E. Raymond Brown

After the show, I was able to speak with E. Raymond Brown privately and we posed for a few pictures. The film was very honest, entertaining and thought-provoking. You can probably expect to hear more about this film in the coming months. Last I heard, it was in the top 3rd highest grossing film at the Rave and it has been extended for theatre play one week. Click here to go to the Rave Theatre page and see if its still playing.  The more people who go, the more press and promotion the movie will receive which means more people will see it all across the nation and around the world. The message in his movie is important and timely, because it shines light on the self-destructive power dynamics that run our world.

Ghetto Physics Poster

Overall I left the theatre with this take home message: we need to wake up and realize who's really in power and we need to step into our own power if we want to survive and thrive. We cannot allow ourselves to be passive victims to the politics of corporate greed. On Wednesday, I was so galvanized by the events of the week that I took two steps of action toward things that are important and valuable to me. I went to Long Beach City College and taped a short interview with Urban Voodoo about community action and being a part of the solution. I was able to submit the video to 562CityLife in response to their call for the "10 most 'Real' people in Long Beach." To see the video interview, click on the picture below.

Immediately after taping the interview, I went to teach my Domestic Violence class and decided to give my students a little surprise that was out of the ordinary. Lately, we've been talking about the importance of esteeming yourself and not holding back because of fear of rejection or criticism. We talked about the standing true to your values and to your Self. I figured the best way to get the message across was to be real myself, to not hold back, and to lead by example. So, I took 7 minutes out of class time, put on a pink wig (to help me get in touch with my 16-year-old inner punk rocker) and told the story of how I ran away from an abusive household and why I'm proud that I did. If you'd like to see the speech on YouTube, click on the picture below.

Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010

Thursday was the day my new computer came via UPS. What this means, is that it will be even easier for me to pump out more YouTube videos and to do the work that feels like my purpose (sharing empowering information) in a faster, more efficient way.

Dell Computer

The week ended with another great meeting at Agape Toastmasters. I was the Toastmaster of the day and since it was October 28, I decided to blame it all on Halloween and go for the gusto. I chose the theme "Alter Ego Extreme" and I dressed in Galvanized gear. I did my best to act like a rockstar the entire meeting and I definitely accomplished my goal of parading my Alter Ego for all to see. I had a great reaction and I made so many people smile and laugh. It was wonderful. I definitely felt Galvanized.

Galvanized at Toastmasters

Call me crazy, (it wouldn't be the first time I heard it), but I've got to tell you something. I know the reason why I've got the guts and stamina to do the things I do. It's because I'm surrounded by people who love and support me (including my Master Mind group) and that is by design. I made that choice. I believe anyone can create the life they want but some people need a little bit of support from people outside their normal social and family circle. If you need some support, you might want to check out Master Minding.  I'm having a  sale this month as part of my 20 days to create your reality celebration. It ends on my birthday, November 20.  I will be offering the entire I Create Reality package along with the entire Start a Master Mind package for the price of one. The information and support you'll receive in this bundle of products will definitely give you the strength and courage to live your own life.  Check it out. Because there's nothing cool about holding back.

President and First Lady Speak Against Bullying and for Respect of Self and Others

I just read the following letter from Michelle Obama and something tells me she won't mind that I reprint the entire letter here, along with the accompanying video by President Obama as they both speak out about bullying and encourage an attitude of respect for self and others.
Good morning, As a mother, I can only imagine how devastating it would be to lose a child. So I was shocked and saddened when I heard that several young people had taken their own lives recently after being bullied for being gay -- or because people thought they were gay. No one should ever feel so hopeless or tormented that they take their own life. Bullying of any kind, for any reason, is unacceptable. As adults, it's our responsibility to create a safe environment for our children. That includes setting an example of respect for one another -- no matter our differences. That's why I’m writing to you today. In the wake of these terrible tragedies, thousands of Americans have come together to share messages of encouragement and hope with LGBT youth across our country who might be having a hard time in school or in their communities. And I wanted to share with you the video that Barack recorded to join his voice with all those who have told their own personal stories. Middle school and high school can be tough for any kid. But it can be especially wrenching if you’re taunted or harassed by your peers, if you are made to feel worthless or alone because you don’t look or act like everybody else. And if you’re in that situation, it can be hard to imagine that things will ever change. But they will. If you've been bullied, you need to know that this is not your fault. There are adults -- whether in your family, your school or your community -- who can help. Most importantly, you need to know how special and valuable your life is not just to your family and friends but to the entire country. You truly have a bright future ahead of you. If you’re a parent worried about your child being bullied, or a young person who’s being bullied by their peers and aren't sure where to turn, you can learn more here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ItGetsBetter Please take care of yourselves and of one another. Sincerely, Michelle Obama First Lady of the United States

“Business is Booming” for Nazi Killah’s aka ‘The Basterds’

Certain quotes from the movie Inglourious Basterds galvanize me. One of them is by Aldo the Apache, a Jewish-American, warrior-like soldier with Native-American traits. "You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business. We in the killin' Nazi's business, and cousin business is a booming," he says. Envision these words delivered by Brad Pitt with a thick Tennessee drawl just moments before "The Bear Jew" bashes in the brains of a Nazi soldier to "leave a message for Hitler." Basically this movie is a revenge fantasy about kickin' ass and standing up for what you believe in. Quentin Tarantino did a great job of delivering this message in a mind-bending way that leaves a lasting impact. Listen to the quote below: [caption id="attachment_5615" align="alignleft" width="100" caption="Buy music and movies on iTunes"][/caption] Inglourious Basterds Inglourious

What Are Your Influences?

Every musical act has influences. The Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest influenced each other. Punk bands from the U.K. influenced garage bands in Southern California and vice versa. Reggae and dub influenced each other. What are your influences? That's what we talked about in Helping and Listening Skills this week. We came up with a great list and I liked it so much I took a picture of it. I asked the students to tell me about the things that influence them. What do they value? Why do they do what they do; love what they love? This is the list they came up with: Parents Environment -Friends -Neighborhood -Peers -Religion Culture Schools Food/Nutrition Media Mental Illness Life Experience -Observation Socio-Economic Status ($$$) Books Music Relationships Friendships Family -Uncles -Aunts -Brothers -Sisters -etc. Role Model -Coach -Minister -Teacher Law Government Health Medication/Drugs Language Sleep Fashion Freedom Travel Pets Sex Arts -Pictures -Painting -Dance Entertainment Perception The point I want to make in this class is that you cannot know any of these things about yourself or anyone else unless you first learn how to listen. A great Master Mind group is one that's committed to honoring and respecting each other and that includes listening unconditionally and without judgment. It is honoring a person to trust that they know what's best for their own life. --------------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin' things happen in your life. Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life? If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I'm offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about. There's nothing cool about holding back.

The Avengers Break Free from the Zed Records Vault

Rock out to We Are the One by the Avengers. Released in 1977 copyright Vomit Music on Dangerhouse Records. From the Zed Records Vault. R.I.P. Join the Zed Records Facebook Fan Page Get The Avengers on iTunes The

Song of the Week – 6-22-10 – Kids by MGMT

Buy Kids (Soulwax Remix) - Single - MGMT on iTunes. Watch the video on YouTube Check out more on their MySpace page. The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music. Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned. Apple iTunes : : Support Get Galvanized, Visit our Sponsor page.

Song of the Week – 5-11-10 – Tear Down That Wall by Mistachuck (Chuck D/Public Enemy)

This week's song is a hip hop response to the Arizona Immigration bill SB1070 by Chuck D (Public Enemy). You can listen to the MP3 here or you can "right-click" on the link and download the MP3 to your computer or iTunes library. Below is a public statement from Chuck D (Public Enemy) and his wife Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson Professor Of Black Studies and Chicano Studies UC Santa Barbara: “Jan Brewer’s decision to sign the Arizona immigration bill into law is racist, deceitful, and reflects some of the most mean-spirited politics against immigrants that the country has ever seen. The power that this law gives to police, to detain people that they suspect to be undocumented, brings racial profiling to a new low. Brewer’s actions and those of Joe Arpaio, Russell Pearce, the Arizona State Senate are despicable, inexcusable, and endorse the all-out hate campaign that Joe Arpaio, Russell Pearce, and others have perpetrated upon immigrants for years. The people of Arizona who voted for this bill, as well as those who crafted it, demonstrate no regard for the humanity or contributions of Latino people. And for all of those who have chosen not to speak up, shame on you for silently endorsing this legislated hate. In 1991 I wrote a song criticizing Arizona officials (including John McCain and Fife Symington) for rejecting the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The same politics I wrote about in “By the Time I Get to Arizona” are alive and well in Arizona today, but this time the target is Brown people. These actions must stop. I am issuing a call to action, urging my fellow musicians, artists, athletes, performers, and production companies to refuse to work in Arizona until officials not only overturn this bill, but recognize the human rights of immigrants. This should include the NBA playoffs, revisiting the actions of the NFL in 1993, when they moved the Superbowl to Pasadena in protest against Arizona’s refusal to recognize Dr. King. We all need to speak up in defense of our brothers and sisters being victimized in Arizona, because things are only getting worse. What they’re doing to immigrants is appalling, but it will be even more damning if we remain silent.” Buy music by Public Enemy on iTunes Watch the video on YouTube Check out more on their MySpace page. The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music. Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned. Apple iTunes : : Support Get Galvanized, Visit our Sponsor page.