News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Saturday December 20th 2025
Raise Your Voice: The last martyr smiled
By PETER MOLENAAR
Peter Molenaar
Elliot Park (1000 E. 14th St.) was host on April 6 to Sudanese immigrants, friends, and families, who had come to observe a revolutionary moment. In Khartoum, a million people surrounded the armed forces. Soldiers were leaving the compound to celebrate among the people. The 30-year dictatorship of al-Bashir was about to fall”¦ and it did!
It is not too soon to begin casting the vision for a new Sudan, including the reconstruction of the historic irrigation system. Naturally, the prison gates have been breached, freeing the comrades to the democratic process.
What might we take home from the heart of Africa?
For all time, the Sudanese people have demonstrated the possibility of implementing fundamental change by nonviolent means. (Hey, why wait for some mythical Red Army to drop from the sky?)
Anything else?
We are witness to a Muslim people who have taken down an “Islamic” state. How does this square with the assertion by D. Trump and Company that our Congresswoman bears responsibility for the 9/11 event? Supposedly, all Muslims are the same. Right?
However, progressive Jewish voices are coming forward. I will cite former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich:
“The President of the United States has endangered the life of a member of Congress by creating and disseminating a propaganda video”¦ which ties her to the 9/11 tragedy because she is a Muslim”¦.… Read the rest “Raise Your Voice: The last martyr smiled”
Frank Reflections: How much more death and destruction will we endure?
by Frank Erickson
“Military interventions” are murder! They can never be trusted! How can they be trusted when the factor that puts them into motion is a smaller country”'s lack of relative defense?
There is talk of United States “military intervention” into Venezuela. Here”'s an idea: the world powers come together and attack Washington D.C. by a “military intervention” to stop the U.S. from doing all their “military interventions!”
Representative Ilhan Omar is strongly opposed to “military interventions” upon smaller defenseless countries. This is very encouraging. Rep. Omar”'s first months in office have been rough. How does a Black Muslim Congresswoman illicit more trouble than two White Christian male politicians who started the Iraq War murdering over 200,000 Muslims? White supremacy runs Washington D.C. and Minneapolis! The Iraq War and those that started it are no different than a war started by Isis! Please, let us give thought to these words:
“We, the members of the Black Alliance for Peace, uphold our political stance in the face of aggressions waged by the United States. Two of BAP”'s core principles are an unwavering commitment to self-determination for peoples and nations alike and opposition to imperialism in all its varied and brutal forms.Therefore,… Read the rest “Frank Reflections: How much more death and destruction will we endure?”
The Rand Report 2020 plan: ”˜Do what I say not what I do”' applies to city
By Rand Retterath
Rand Retterrath
The stated mission of Neighborhoods 2020 is “an opportunity to further develop and improve upon the city of Minneapolis”' neighborhood-based engagement structure”¦by the people, for the people.” However, neighborhoods all over the city are opposed to this document.
Here are my concerns:
1. Â The goals are laudable, however, execution is completely contrary to the stated goals. Neighborhoods are held to a standard that is completely disregarded within the city. The proverbial “do what I say, not what I do” applies, and is a mandate with funding as the hostage.
2. Â The stated goals of “public purpose” require neighborhoods to be inclusive, responsive and informative. Regrettably, there is no mechanism in place to hold the council and other decision makers accountable in the same way.Â
3. Â Pooling resources and forcing neighborhoods into a co-operative purchasing will restrict options and diminish localized spending.
4. Â Funding requirements reduce the neighborhood decision-making process. Â At various times MPNAI has elected to do without staff or used part time/volunteer staff in favor of additional community spending. Â The 2020 plan would mandate our actions in this regard by requiring staff.
5.  Community organization funding will be a mechanism to create “group think” across all neighborhoods. … Read the rest “The Rand Report 2020 plan: ”˜Do what I say not what I do”' applies to city”
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