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This week on Uprising:

* Progressives Up the Ante, Risk Arrest on Healthcare Reform
* Black Agenda Report about the Democratic Party
* Vijay Prashad: Afghanistan Needs Regional Solution
* Empire Notes on Delusions of Afghan Democracy
* Obama Signs New Hate Crimes Legislation

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Progressives Up the Ante, Risk Arrest on Healthcare Reform

After many months of wrangling over what healthcare reform should look like, House Democratic leaders introduced a bill on Thursday that did include a watered down version of a publicly funded …

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President Obama signed the military authorization bill earlier in the week, setting aside $680 billion of federal funding for the Pentagon. For months the President had been railing against waste in the defense budget and warned that he would veto any bill that included certain expensive projects such as F22 fighter jets and airborne lasers. Congress obliged for the most part, and the bills signed on Wednesday did not include several billion dollars worth of military equipment and projects. Also excluded from the budget was $11.2 billion for a fleet of presidential helicopters, and $7.5 billion for training and equipping the Afghan National Army. Not all the President’s requests were honored by Congress, and he responded by saying, “changing the culture in Washington will take time and sustained effort.” But, the …

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On Wednesday President Barack Obama also signed into law new federal hate crimes legislation attached to the Pentagon budget. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act will broaden protections to include people violently attacked on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or disability. The legislation will also strengthen existing protections for racial, religious, ethnic, color and national origin categories. Obama, upon signing the bill named for a gay college student murdered in Wyoming and a black man dragged to death from a truck in Texas more than ten years ago, said, “No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability.” Right-wing opponents of the bill cited their …

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When economic times are tough, state budget cuts almost always target public education, and when they do, arts and music education is almost always the first to be cut. It’s a sad story for young people, their parents, and teachers who are involved in arts education. But on a broader scale, it it leaves communities with a creative deficit, further narrowing vocational options. Private non-profit organizations attempt to fill that void in arts education, and locally the Silverlake Conservatory of Music is one such organization. Founded in 2001 by two musicians, Keith Barry, and Flea of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the SCM offers music lessons to people across Southern California at reasonable prices and through generous scholarships. The SCM’s annual fundraiser featuring special guest Ben Harper, will be happening tomorrow …

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Bruce Dixon is managing editor and radio commentator of The Black Agenda Report. This week’s commentary is about the Democratic Party.

Visit www.blackagendareport.com for more information.

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Mrs. Warren’s Profession

Back in the day on October 30th, 1905, George Bernard Shaw’s play “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” debuted in New York. After having been banned in Britain, the socialist playwright’s production exploring the social underpinnings of prostitution moved to the States. “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” opened in New Haven, Connecticut at the Hyperion Theater only to be shut down the very next day by the Mayor on the grounds of that something “improper” had transpired during the production. The theater company then moved to Garrick Theater in New York. Opening night was a successful sell-out, but that didn’t stop the press from slamming the play as improper the very next day. Before the curtain could rise once more, the producer and actors involved in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” were arrested on …

We’ll be joined in studio by Palestinian rights activist Omar Barghouti to discuss water politics and other issues. And, we’ll find out what the power sharing deal in Honduras really means, Plus, we’ll examine the work of the recent winner of the Nobel Economics Prize, and how it can apply to a progressive vision of the economy.

We’ll take a look at the Military budget authorization signed by the President this week where progressives are claiming two victories: in the significant reduction of waste, and in an attached provision that expands hate crimes legislation. And, we’ll speak with the Dean of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music about music education for young people in LA. Plus, this week’s Black Agenda Report.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.” — Victor Hugo

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Taliban groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan yesterday staged simultaneous attacks in both countries killing at least 100 people. A women’s clothing market was targeted in Peshawar, while across the border, UN officials were attacked in their hotels in Kabul. The Pakistan attacks came just hours after US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrived in the nation. While Taliban groups in both countries have their ethnicity and fundamentalist beliefs in common, the Pakistani version has apparently shown less concern for civilian casualties than the Afghan Taliban. Their reasons for the attacks were also distinct. The Peshawar attack is thought to have been in direct response to a recent deployment of 30,000 Pakistani troops to South Waziristan where the group is based. The Kabul attack on the other hand, was claimed by the …