Cynthia McKinney recipient of the 'Peace through Conscience' award from Munich

[bigtree]

Thursday, February 4, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulated former US Representative Cynthia McKinney after an announcement that she will receive the 'Peace through Conscience' award from the Munich American Peace Committee (MAPC / http://www.mapc-web.de). Ms. McKinney was the Green Party's 2008 nominee for President of the United States.

"I am humbled to be so recognized," said Cynthia McKinney. "Clearly, the MAPC gave more thought to the significance of those whose struggle for peace is based on principle and an unshakeable commitment, despite the personal sacrificies required, than did the Nobel Peace Committee that rewarded our President for war."

"We are very proud of Cynthia McKinney's work for peace and human rights in the US and internationally," said Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl). "Ms. McKinney has led the demand for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and strongly criticized President Obama's announcement of a troop surge in Afghanistan. She has challenged NATO's global expansion of military operations and demanded its abolition. Last June, after President Obama urged humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, Ms. McKinney and other Free Gaza activists tried to deliver medical and construction supplies and other relief. They were illegally intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters and jailed, while the White House remained silent. Unlike our President, Cynthia McKinney deserves a peace prize . . ."*

In a presentation at the 8. Internationale Muenchner Friedenskonferenz (Eighth Munich International Peace Conference), Ms. McKinney will discuss chances for a civil and nonviolent US foreign policy, the need to end the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, US policies regarding Colombia and its neighbours, and efforts toward a nuclear-free world. She will pose the question "What should governments and the politicians at the Security Conference do to promote peace and justice?"


read more: http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=294

*edit

[peace13]

1. This brings tears to my eyes.

Cynthia's own country shows no respect for this woman's gift. Thank you Cynthia for never giving up. The people of the world thank you. I love a woman who speaks her mind! Peace, kim

[G_j]

2. congratulations Cynthia!

:applause:

[LWolf]

3. Good to see her get the appreciation she deserves. nt

[timtom]

4. Hah! Excellent!

Thank God people of integrity get some recognition, even if they are "prophets without honor" in their own land.

[SoxFan]

5. Charming. She's still an anti-semitic peckerhead.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SoxFan]

7. RW? HA!

The Democratic voters in her own district saw through her act and sent her packing. That's why she's a Green, not a Democrat.

[me b zola]

13. You mean like those Democratic voters in MA who voted in Brown?

Cynthia switched from Dem to Green when the Democratic party leadership sabotaged her for speaking the truth. Cynthia is no anti-Semite, but that is a convenient label to put on someone working for peace and justice.

Just in case you are interested about Cynthia and the work that she has been vilified for here's a link to a wonderful documentary, American Blackout:
http://www.americanblackout.com/

Here is an excellent editorial about Cynthia:

THE BELOVED CYNTHIA McKINNEY

A White Ex Cop Speaks Out About a Georgia Congresswoman

by
Michael C. Ruppert

~snip~
I have walked the halls of Congress with Cynthia McKinney maybe eight to ten times. I have walked into and out of the Cannon and Longworth house office buildings with her. I have walked to hearings in the Rayburn house office building with her. I have walked the underground tunnels from one of those office buildings directly to the edge of the House floor and its anteroom with her. I can tell you one thing for certain because I have seen it and I have felt it. Cynthia McKinney and her staff get treated differently from just about anyone else on the Hill. It’s subtle, but so is the taste of dirt when it’s in your mouth.

~snip~
There are millions of Americans who still have major unanswered questions about the attacks of September 11th. Some are wives, husbands, and children of the victims. Some, like me, are investigative journalists. Many are just average people who could never swallow the galactic inconsistencies of the government account and who have refused to succumb to pressure for conformity. Cynthia McKinney was the one to ask “What did the Bush administration know and when did it know it?” about the scores of detailed warnings received by the administration in the months before the attacks. Contrary to one account from a black commentator recently, she has never retracted that question.

For that question, she was tarred and feathered in the press. From her long-standing support of Palestinian rights and objections to Israeli strong-arm tactics in the occupied territories emerged a new double-edged motive to remove her from congress at all costs. Cynthia McKinney was an un-American, anti-Semitic supporter of terrorists!

~more @ link:
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/041106_beloved_mckinney.shtml

I was there when Cynthia was the only member of congress to speak/be present at the Sept 24, 2005 march on DC. Where were you?

[conscious evolution]

14. She was diebolded.

Pukes crossing over in the election also contributed to her defeat.Puke candidates have a snowballs chaance in hell of winning elections in her district so they vote against the best dem in the primaries to screw the system.
Cynthia is held in high regards by the Dem voters in her district.

[EFerrari]

27. Yep. The trouble reports started coming in almost immediately that day. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. She has yet to denounce the anti-Semitic remarks of a prominent supporter made at

one of her campaign events.

[EFerrari]

26. Untrue. Has been shown to be untrue many times here. Go search it. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Keep on spreading that lie

It says far more about you than about Cynthia McKinney.

[SoxFan]

23. "Lie"?

Let's see. She personally delivered cash and vehicles to embers of the terrorist group Hamas.

She met with leaders of terrorist group Hezbollah at a conference in Beirut.

She granted an interview to a right-wing conspiracy theorist and radio talk show host who babbles about "Jewish bankers" and the like.

She has approvingly quoted the writings of neo-facist Mathias Chang.

Let's also remember her support for murderous kleptomaniac Robert Mugabe. That speaks volumes about her character, too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. You must believe that supporting Hamas and Hezbollah makes one anti-Semitic

I don't.

[SoxFan]

29. Well, the car bombs and such do give that impression

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Cynthia McKinney is now responsible for car bombs?

[G_j]

31. yep, all that slander & not a single link

very typical

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. Some here operate on rumors

:)

[proteus_lives]

37. Well, that's dumb.

Hamas has "Wipe-out Israel" in the charter and they host children's show that teach children that Jews are pigs and demons.

They're anti-semitic to the core.

[proteus_lives]

38. People don't want to hear that.

It ruins the illusion.

[Luminous Animal]

48. Her so-called support of Mugabe...

Thursday, 14 May 2009
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY on ZDERA.
SPEECH OF HON.
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY OF GEORGIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, December 4, 2001

* Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, at the international Relations Committee meeting of November 28, 2001, which considered the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, I asked a question of my colleagues who were vociferously supporting this misdirected piece of legislation: ``Can anyone explain how the people in question who now have the land in question in Zimbabwe got title to the land?''

* My query was met with a deafening silence. Those who knew did not want to admit the truth and those who didn't know should have known--that the land was stolen from its indigenous peoples through the British South Africa Company and any ``titles'' to it were illegal and invalid. Whatever the reason for their silence, the answer to this question is the unspoken but real reason for why the United States Congress is now concentrating its time and resources on squeezing an economically-devastated African state under the hypocritical guise of providing a ``transition to democracy.''

* Zimbabwe is Africa's second-longest stable democracy. It is multi-party. It had elections last year where the opposition, Movement for Democratic Change, won over 50 seats in the parliament. It has an opposition press which vigorously criticizes the government and governing party. It has an independent judiciary which issues decisions contrary to the wishes of the governing party. Zimbabwe is not without troubles, but neither is the United States. I have not heard anyone proposing a United States Democracy Act following last year's Presidential electoral debacle. And if a foreign country were to pass legislation calling for a United States Democracy Act which provided funding for United States opposition parties under the fig leaf of ``Voter Education,'' this body and this country would not stand for it.

* There are many de jure and de facto one-party states in the world which are the recipients of support of the United States government. They are not the subject of Congressional legislative sanctions. To any honest observer, Zimbabwe's sin is that it has taken the position to right a wrong, whose resolution has been too long overdue--to return its land to its people. The Zimbabwean government has said that a situation where 2 percent of the population owns 85 percent of the best land is untenable. Those who presently own more than one farm will no longer be able to do so.

* When we get right down to it, this legislation is nothing more than a formal declaration of United States complicity in a program to maintain white-skin privilege. We can call it an ``incentives'' bill, but that does not change its essential ``sanctions'' nature. It is racist and against the interests of the masses of Zimbabweans. In the long-run the Zimbabwe Democracy Act will work against the United States having a mutually beneficial relationship with Africa.* Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, at the international Relations Committee meeting of November 28, 2001, which considered the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, I asked a question of my colleagues who were vociferously supporting this misdirected piece of legislation: ``Can anyone explain how the people in question who now have the land in question in Zimbabwe got title to the land?''

* My query was met with a deafening silence. Those who knew did not want to admit the truth and those who didn't know should have known--that the land was stolen from its indigenous peoples through the British South Africa Company and any ``titles'' to it were illegal and invalid. Whatever the reason for their silence, the answer to this question is the unspoken but real reason for why the United States Congress is now concentrating its time and resources on squeezing an economically-devastated African state under the hypocritical guise of providing a ``transition to democracy.''

* Zimbabwe is Africa's second-longest stable democracy. It is multi-party. It had elections last year where the opposition, Movement for Democratic Change, won over 50 seats in the parliament. It has an opposition press which vigorously criticizes the government and governing party. It has an independent judiciary which issues decisions contrary to the wishes of the governing party. Zimbabwe is not without troubles, but neither is the United States. I have not heard anyone proposing a United States Democracy Act following last year's Presidential electoral debacle. And if a foreign country were to pass legislation calling for a United States Democracy Act which provided funding for United States opposition parties under the fig leaf of ``Voter Education,'' this body and this country would not stand for it.

* There are many de jure and de facto one-party states in the world which are the recipients of support of the United States government. They are not the subject of Congressional legislative sanctions. To any honest observer, Zimbabwe's sin is that it has taken the position to right a wrong, whose resolution has been too long overdue--to return its land to its people. The Zimbabwean government has said that a situation where 2 percent of the population owns 85 percent of the best land is untenable. Those who presently own more than one farm will no longer be able to do so.

* When we get right down to it, this legislation is nothing more than a formal declaration of United States complicity in a program to maintain white-skin privilege. We can call it an ``incentives'' bill, but that does not change its essential ``sanctions'' nature. It is racist and against the interests of the masses of Zimbabweans. In the long-run the Zimbabwe Democracy Act will work against the United States having a mutually beneficial relationship with Africa.* Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, at the international Relations Committee meeting of November 28, 2001, which considered the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, I asked a question of my colleagues who were vociferously supporting this misdirected piece of legislation: ``Can anyone explain how the people in question who now have the land in question in Zimbabwe got title to the land?''

* My query was met with a deafening silence. Those who knew did not want to admit the truth and those who didn't know should have known--that the land was stolen from its indigenous peoples through the British South Africa Company and any ``titles'' to it were illegal and invalid. Whatever the reason for their silence, the answer to this question is the unspoken but real reason for why the United States Congress is now concentrating its time and resources on squeezing an economically-devastated African state under the hypocritical guise of providing a ``transition to democracy.''

* Zimbabwe is Africa's second-longest stable democracy. It is multi-party. It had elections last year where the opposition, Movement for Democratic Change, won over 50 seats in the parliament. It has an opposition press which vigorously criticizes the government and governing party. It has an independent judiciary which issues decisions contrary to the wishes of the governing party. Zimbabwe is not without troubles, but neither is the United States. I have not heard anyone proposing a United States Democracy Act following last year's Presidential electoral debacle. And if a foreign country were to pass legislation calling for a United States Democracy Act which provided funding for United States opposition parties under the fig leaf of ``Voter Education,'' this body and this country would not stand for it.

* There are many de jure and de facto one-party states in the world which are the recipients of support of the United States government. They are not the subject of Congressional legislative sanctions. To any honest observer, Zimbabwe's sin is that it has taken the position to right a wrong, whose resolution has been too long overdue--to return its land to its people. The Zimbabwean government has said that a situation where 2 percent of the population owns 85 percent of the best land is untenable. Those who presently own more than one farm will no longer be able to do so.

* When we get right down to it, this legislation is nothing more than a formal declaration of United States complicity in a program to maintain white-skin privilege. We can call it an ``incentives'' bill, but that does not change its essential ``sanctions'' nature. It is racist and against the interests of the masses of Zimbabweans. In the long-run the Zimbabwe Democracy Act will work against the United States having a mutually beneficial relationship with Africa.

[SoxFan]

63. Guess who wasn't buying her argument

194 out of the 211 Democrats in the House voted against McKinney on this bill, as did independent Bernie Sanders.

Blue Dogs, right? Nope. Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Mike Capuano, Jim McGovern, Jerry Nadler, and Lloyd Doggett, all very liberal Democrats representing liberal districts, voted against McKinney.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2001-468

[Luminous Animal]

69. You claimed that she supported Mugambi.

Well, actually she didn't. Barbara Lee was the lone vote AUMF. Will you claim the rest of them were right?

[fascisthunter]

33. self delete

[fascisthunter]

34. that's a lie used to attack her character

[proteus_lives]

39. +1000

She can go to hell.

[CatWoman]

43. curious slur

why, exactly, do you say that?

[KonaKane]

46. Proof?

.

[malaise]

8. Congrats Cynthia

Excellent

[ensho]

9. super! glad to see she got it

nt

[bigtree]

10. I tried to edit out the crack about the president's Nobel peace prize

. . . but I flubbed it. I don't agree that the president doesn't deserve the prize, although I took issue with remarks in his acceptance speech.

[DoBotherMe]

11. Well deserved for a fine, fine person

Her sweet face and sensible rhetoric got me through the horror of Bush. Congratulations Cynthia! Dana ; )

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Congratulations Cynthia!

Well done! :applause: I appreciate her vocie and all the work she does on behalf of peace and justice.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. The Democratic party made a huge mistake when they let this woman go

Congratulations, Cynthia!

[LWolf]

47. Yes, they did. nt

[KoKo]

62. Absolutely...remember Pelosi wouldn't even reinstate her committe assignments

..they all felt she was such a threat. Unlike in the Senate, where Joe Lieberman got back his Perks when he ran as an Indie.

House Rules, stricter....or predjudice?

[me b zola]

17. Congratulations, Ms McKinney!

So well deserved, this recognition by others committed to peace and justice.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Bravo for Cynthia. K&R

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. I didn't know much about her till the Republicans recruited someone to run against her

but what I have learned has been overwhelmingly positive.

There was a triple whammy against her--She is black, female, and too smart and outspoken to let crooks off the hook. I saw film footage of her questioning witnesses in the BCCE case, and she was right on top of all the details and honing in the most embarrassing points.

It won't do to have someone like that in Congress, not when the aim is to have a bunch of lapdogs who will obediently sit up and roll over for bribes.

[cali]

21. Dear Cynthia critics: this isn't a thread about something controversial

it's just a thread about a prize she won. why not let those DUers who hold affection for her, post in peace?

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. +1

[SoxFan]

45. She doesn't deserve a peace prize of any sort

Not so long as she openly supports organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which are committed to the violent slaughter of the Jewish people.

[CatWoman]

51. Fortunately

most here disagree with you.

[varelse]

72. Most here put progressive values first

fortunately.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

52. But on the other hand, as one who is neither Jewish nor Arab, I can

look at it objectively and say that there's plenty of wrong on BOTH sides. BOTH sides.

And Cynthia's "support" consisted of a humanitarian mission to Gaza, which suffered horribly under Israeli bombardment, according to CHRISTIAN sources in the area.

It's not anti-Semitic to acknowledge that there are war-mongering, crazy-violent types on BOTH SIDES, and that BOTH SIDES have demagogues who thrive on keeping the violence going.

[Tailormyst]

75. So how do you feel about the slaughter of Lebonese and Palesstinians by Israelis?

Is that just as bad or do you give them a walk?

People seem so polarized on this issue that they will refuse to admit their "side" has done anything wrong. The result is the continued circle of violence.

[me b zola]

22. .

:kick:

[deaniac21]

24. Peace in our time!!

[fascisthunter]

35. Good for Her!!!! (nt)

[shondradawson]

36. Cynthia McKinney is an example for all of us

Her career and reputation is not flawless, but bears strong and sure testimony to a citizen trying her best to do the right thing by the people, for the people...

Her outspoken views and bold actions make her a target for criticism and slander. True, she does not always choose the best words to state her points of view, nor does she always choose the best course of action. Do any of us? The truth is, one may stumble onto the right path as well as the wrong one. I believe she stumbles on the right path, so I forgive her mistakes, as long she continues to move forward on it.

I can think of very few to better represent our nation and its people at the International Peace Conference. The real reward that we'll take home is knowing McKinney will persuade the global community that there is cause to hope for America and a reason to trust to its better nature...

[G_j]

40. well said nt

thank you.

I agree with you 100%.
Just an aside, I've written hundreds of letters to politicians over the years, and Cynthia's is the only
hand written response (a thank you) I have ever received. It was very touching actually.

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. I have a similar story

I contacted someone I knew who knew Cynthia to ask if she had contact info for Cynthia. I got a personal reply via email the next day from Cynthia, answering my question and thanking me for my work in the peace movement. And she included her phone number if I needed any more info.

I still have that email and really treasure it. :)

[G_j]

44. awesome

she has always been accessible to people

:thumbsup:

[proteus_lives]

41. Sure. She loves peace, as long as that peace is anti-Israel.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

53. Sometimes Israel deserves condemnation, as do the Palestinian

It's not angels versus devils here. It's more like shirts versus skins.

Part of being an adult is recognizing that the side you favor isn't always right.

[proteus_lives]

54. I agree that both sides often deserve condemnation.

But CK was kissing the ass of Hamas and making claims without proof about Israel, just like she does in the US.

She's a flim-flam woman and I don't support anyone that supports Hamas.

Too many anti-Jewish flags with her.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

56. Some of her claims have been corroborated by other sources

The bombardment and blockade of Gaza was a humanitarian disaster. Israel has a tendency to overreact to provocations, such as trashing southern Lebanon (which was just recovering from its civil war) because Hezbollah had captured two soldiers and trashing all of Gaza because of a few rocket attacks.

I suppose the Israeli government portrays this as being "tough on terrorism," but that has been their policy for over 40 years, and as Dr. Phil would say, "How that workin' for them?" (I'm not a Dr. Phil fan, but I do think that it's an appropriate question in many cases.)

That kind of policy just guarantees more violence in a region where the culture is based on revenge, because every Palestinian killed will have a huge clan bent on avenging his or her death.

[proteus_lives]

57. There it is.

"Israel has a tendency to overreact to provocations, such as trashing southern Lebanon (which was just recovering from its civil war) because Hezbollah had captured two soldiers and trashing all of Gaza because of a few rocket attacks."

You seem to think that Israel is less worthy of defense then other nations and Hezbollah and Hamas don't deserve blowback for their constant attacks.

Israel is tough on terrorism because they need to be in order to survive, they been attacked since day 1.

Maybe the Palestinians wouldn't be so interested in revenge if their leaders (and the Arab nations/groups that control them) weren't so invested in keeping the conflict going.

Israel needs to change a lot of things but it's a two-way street and they shouldn't be forced into a unequal peace or position.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

59. I see you've swallowed the official line

The Palestinians do have legitimate grievances, and the Israelis seem to be tone-deaf in that respect.

Things get too quiet, and their rightwingers do something dumb.

Like the settlements. When those first started in the 1980s, things had been quiet for a few years, and then Begin had to go encourage settlements on the West Bank and in Gaza.

Even at the time I thought, "That's really stupid. You're going to send Iaraelis to live in one of the most crowded places on earth among people who hate them?"

There are fanatics on both sides who LIKE the violence because it allows them to unite their respective sides, which would otherwise start squabbling among themselves.

[proteus_lives]

65. You're swallowing a line yourself.

There been a line of thought running through the left for 40-50 years, they only like Israel when they're small, weak and confined to suicide-borders.

The Palestinians do have legitimate grievances but so do the Israelis. I've always thought Israel should remove the settlements from the WB. That would go a long way to restoring peace. But it's foolish to believe that the attacks on Israel started after the settlements.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

71. But the settlements aggravated the problem

It was like, "Oh, the hornets are bothering me. I think I'll go stick my hand in their nest."

Look, I was a teenager in 1967 and in graduate school in 1973. I was genuinely delighted when Israel beat back the Arab attacks. I'm fine with the existence of the state of Israel.

But fear can make you stupid. I'm opposed to the settlements, the attacks on Gaza, the attacks on Lebanon, and so on not only because they're humanitarian disasters but because ultimately, they're bad for Israel.

[timtom]

66. I'm always dismayed when

people conflate Zionism with Israel. There are plenty of Jews and Israelis who disagree with the whole Zionist movement.

[proteus_lives]

67. Yeah there are.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

But they don't kiss the ass of Hamas like CK did.

[SidDithers]

49. Cynthia "5000 executed after Katrina" McKinney?...

sorry, award or no, her credibility disappeared when she repeated, and then said she had verified, that claim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vVIhyWsa10

Sid

[CatWoman]

55. well just string her ass up then!!

pelt her with eggs!!!

make her write bad checks!!!

unscrew the lid of her salt shaker!!

by god - she must PAY!!!

[SidDithers]

74. Or, consider her ridiculous gullibility...

when determining if she's worth the deification you see in this thread.

Sid

[CatWoman]

76. to hell with that

MAKE HER PAY!!!!!!

that's the one and ONLY solution to your objections.

[SidDithers]

77. I guess I prefer that politicians live in the real world...

Not the fantasy world that Mckinney inhabits.

What I think about her, however, doesn't really matter. She's a largely irrelevant, bit player in American politics. She's good at getting her name repeated, but apart from her fanboys and fangirls, she isn't taken seriously and has no influence. She's entertainment, not substance.

Sid

[KonaKane]

50. She is anti-Zionist. That does not automatically make one an antisemite

Also, it looks like she has had two major run ins with the Israeli government when she was involved in a humanitarian shipment to Gaza. One of them resulted in her detention. I can see why there wouldn't be much love lost between her and the government of Israel.

Not a good idea to confuse anti-zionism with antisemitism. Very different creatures.

[SoxFan]

58. "I'm anti-Zionist" is the "some of my best friends are black" of the far left

[KonaKane]

60. Absolute bullsquish.

That attitude is why adults can rarely have a positive discussion of Israeli government policy. Shame on you.

[proteus_lives]

64. +1000

[apocalypsehow]

70. True, that. n/t.

[KoKo]

61. Congrats Cynthia....You deserve more than even this! K&R!

[KoKo]

78. K&R

[bigwillq]

68. Congrats, Cynthia.

:bounce: :toast:

[varelse]

73. Congratulations to Cynthia

I look forward to her presentation at the conference. :)