[HPN] Fw: ME, HH: Re: LINC: The Digital Divide and Organizing Groups

[I CAN! America]

     Our extremely small and under financed grassroots
non-profit called Hospitality House Inc, is in Maine.
With part of  a  $1,750 grant, in 1998, from the
Peoples Haymarket Fund, we bought a 150MHz used Desk
top computer.  And a new ink jet printer.  Also a
graphics program.

    The internet is an essentail tool of educating the
average person, and bringing the debate on ENDING
Poverty, into the forefront.  In Maine there is a site
which anyone from any part of the world can join.  Its
www.Portland.com.  It is the easiest Message board of
Maine newspapers, I located, at which to post.

    The many posts on the subject of poverty shows
people are interested, in the subject.  This is
contrary of what editors stubbornly believe. If we can
convince editors in Maine to have one time,
Commertaries, or guest columns on poverty. We can do
it in other states!   We can Inform The people.

    Some folks emailed  a local editor, in control of
2 out of nine of the states dailies asking someone
like myself be given a column, or that the word of the
poor be heard. This is a form of letter campaign, in
which do not need postage.

   I have a one time guest column coming. Which is
something I alone attempted to get for two years
without success.  A few letters from fine folks and I
am allowed to speak out Once.  I would love to explain
life from the bottom to many, weekly or by weekly.

   The people who helped me get this one time chance,
were people on list serves, on welfare or gayness.
They sent to Mr. Soren Neilson at
kjedit@centralmaine.com some cc myself at
janshouse@yahoo.com.  We could do this again after my
column appears Feb 15th. Asking that I or someone of
poverty be given a weekly or bi-weekly column on
aspects of poverty.  This will be like the civil
rights movement of the 1960's imploring a black
reporter cover black news.

   Once accomplished in Maine, we can use this as
leverage to accomplish this across the nation.  We can
start a movement to End Poverty.  We must convince
funders us poor telling our stories in our own words
is the only path NOT yet TRIED, THROUGH-OUT HISTORY.
and it must be attempted in 2000. We have tried Bread
baskets, and debtors prisons.  Tecnology can allow us
to speak to whom ever reads message boards, and submit
these results to the regular print and broadcast
media.

     Adult Education in our area has an open class
where people can learn to use the internet or whatever
they want, at no costs.  Before the Haymarket grant, I
was at the course every monday night.

   The instructor showed me, how to get emailat places
like Hot mail, or Yahoo.  Simply  highlight the
address box and put www. hotmail.com into the address
box.  Hit enter, go to the site.  Hit Sign-up a blank
form will appear.  Move the cursor to the box, hit
enter or click with the mouse. Then enter the required
information.  Find someone to ask questions of if it
does not go as planned.

    Once signed up at libraries across the country you
can see your e-mail. Simply put the address for the
site. Hit email place your, your email address or
name, or word you used, and a pass word If the site
needs a 5 letter word and you are using rat, you can
go a bigrat or rat12, or ratxy or icarat, or any
combination.

    Hospitalty House Inc. uses www.Portland.com to get
ideas to others who have a bleak outlook on poverty.
We tell them taxpayers are paying more today, to have
poverty hold firm; then it would cost to eliminate it.

     We speak to activist on handsnet, and list serve.
I share Ideas such as all of us working on welfare,
for the working poor- which nationally comprise 65% of
all poor.  The disabled, the Mentally ill, youths and
the elderly to WORK TOGETHER at the Root of poverty.

     That is 1) the poor speaking out, to educate the
masses. 2) Livable wages, and 3) women achieving
equality.  As its not as helpful as possible for
someone walking by a guy with his boot to the neck of
a women to blame the women, and continue to walk by.
Comforted by the idea its not their place to assist
the victim the victim deserves this.

   Its also fails in addressing the entire issue, to
have a liberal give her a drink of water and a pillow,
than place another bumper sticker on their car.   We
must address the boot of the oppressor. In this case
poverty.  We must inform not just other advodcates
that 40% at the bottom controls a mere 1/2 percent of
the USA's resources. while 62% of this nations wealth
is influenced by 5% of the population.  We have the
resources.

    Just as in bibibical times, when the 12 wandering
tribes of Israel found the promise land, they quickly
divided it by 11.  The wealth of today is not divided
well.  Economist talk about redistributing 0.02% or
2/10s of 1% of the wealth, is all it will take to wipe
out poverty.

   Would love to have others join the conversation at
www.Portland.com  (Community Forum) and am willing to
ask a selected editor near you, someone of poverty -
in your state, be given a weekly column.

    One big inprovement before this movement can
transpire is for Funders to recognize and fund Us poor
speaking on our own behalf.  We are the ones at the
bus stop who know the difficulty of lack of
transportaion we HAVE the answers.  This is the only
path historically UNTRIED.  Please fund us as if We
Have the answer.

=====
Jan Lightfoot,
HOSPITALITY HOUSE INC.
PO Box 62 Hinckley ME. 04944
1-800-438-3890 for those without funds,
207/453-2986
janshouse@yahoo.com