Description: Nate read the highly influential but now largely forgotten 1888 utopian futurism novel “Looking Backward” by Edward Bellamy, and he discusses it with Bill.
Links and notes for Ep. 337 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/AFD-Ep-337-Links-and-Notes-Edward-Bellamy’s-“Looking-Backward”.pdf
Theme music by Stunt Bird.
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Description: The US criminal justice system depends heavily on the presumed credibility of police testimony. Prosecutors not only regularly fail to tell defendants an officer witness has a credibility problem but often don’t keep track themselves. Bill and Rachel discuss.
Links and notes for Ep. 336 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/AFD-Ep-336-Links-and-Notes-Brady-Lists.pdf
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Description: William B. Wilson, the first U.S. Secretary of Labor, began union organizing at age 12. He went on to serve in Congress before leading the department he helped create to aid the interests of workers. Bill and Rachel discuss.
Links and notes for Ep. 335 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AFD-Ep-335-Links-and-Notes-William-B-Wilson.pdf
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Description: On November 19, 1915, legendary IWW songwriter and migrant worker Joe Hill was executed by firing squad in Utah for a murder he did not commit. Bill and Rachel discuss.
Theme music by Stunt Bird. End music by the subject of today’s episode.
Links and notes for Ep. 334 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AFD-Ep-334-Links-and-Notes-The-Execution-of-the-Singer-Joe-Hill-by-the-Murderous-Capitalist-Class.pdf
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Description: In 1902 and 1919, US coal miners undertook huge strikes and both times they won. In one case, the intervention of a US President sealed the win. But what happened in the other? Bill and Rachel discuss.
Links and notes for Ep. 333 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AFD-Ep-333-Links-and-Notes-The-Coal-Strikes-of-1902-and-1919.pdf
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WVUD in Delaware has been my broadcasting home for 10 years now and I’m so grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me. But “Arsenal For Democracy” will be departing the station in January to re-launch in a podcast-only format, including a bonus episode each week.
More details to come as we get closer to the end of 2021 and finish our last 6 episodes with WVUD, but we think current listeners will be pleased with the new format. We’ll be keeping what has been working and improving upon that further. We also think new listeners will love it!
We will continue our focus of the past two years on American history – especially the homegrown history of labor, the left, and radicals as it relates to our present – featuring the same four or five co-hosts on a rotating basis, but we will also be adding more guest interviews and book reviews. We’re expecting typical episodes to be under 40 minutes long, unless they’re double-length at around an hour and 15 minutes for a longer topic or interview.
It’s Armistice Day once again. In 1920 General John H. Sherburne of Brookline MA testified to Congress that US commanders had refused to cancel orders sending thousands of men to die on November 11 1918, hours before the 11 AM ceasefire was agreed to begin
The Nov 11 1918 Armistice terms imposed on Germany, which was less able to maintain troops in the field by the hour as revolution swept through the cities and the ranks, allowed the Allies to occupy territory from the front line to the Rhine River, distances of often over 200 miles. Yet Allied commanders pushed that day to take as much territory as possible under fire instead of waiting to take it bloodlessly.
The Armistice that concluded WWI should remind us each year not to wage wars for billionaires, aristocrats, or the nationalist henchmen of either. Peace comes from their removal from power & from worldwide solidarity among all who do not profit idly on the backs of others’ work.
Related Essay:
“Afterwar: The Armistice That Didn’t End Europe’s War” – Nov 14 2014
