ProgressOhio

...until you consider the origins of Mother's Day.

Julia Ward Howe, who penned The Battle Hymn of the Republic, also authored a mothers' Declaration calling on women to oppose war, and worked to get recognition of a Mother’s Day for Peace. Says Code Pink: "Were she alive today, Julia probably would have told her kids to dispense with the roses and chocolates, and instead join her in an anti-war rally. Yes, Julia Ward Howe was a peacenik."

[Howe] saw some of the worst effects of the [civil] war -- not only the death and disease which killed and maimed the soldiers. She worked with the widows and orphans of soldiers on both sides of the war, and realized that the effects of the war go beyond the killing of soldiers in battle. She also saw the economic devastation of the Civil War, the economic crises that followed the war, the restructuring of the economies of both North and South.

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe took on a new issue and a new cause….She called in 1870 for women to rise up and oppose war in all its forms. She wanted women to come together across national lines, to recognize what we hold in common above what divides us, and commit to finding peaceful resolutions to conflicts. She issued a Declaration, hoping to gather together women in a congress of action.

Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace, but her effort was carried on by Anna Jarvis, who had organized women during the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and then toward reconciliation of Union and Confederate neighbors.

Jarvis’ daughter, of the same name, then took up the campaign for Mother’s Day. After the custom spread to 45 states, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day in 1914.

Julia Ward Howe's Mothers' Declaration:

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Maybe Pryce, Schmidt, Tiberi, Chabot, Boehner, Regula, LaTourette, Hobson, and Turner have a thing against moms. But YOU can make this Mother's Day a Mother's Day For Peace.

Help CodePink help Iraqi refugee moms here.

Send a MomsRising Mother's Day card and tell the presidential candidates to fight for family-friendly policies. here.

Oh and don't forget to call the Congressional Switchboard at 1-800-839-5276 to give the above members of Congress a piece of your mind about H.R. 1113.

Do you have another suggestion for honoring Julia Ward Howe's Mothers' Declaration? Are you a mom working for peace? Leave a comment below.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER.

David Robinson ran an amazing campaign, in the face of an endorsement of Russ Goodwin by Franklin County's Democratic Party, and last minute Ohio Democratic Party funding for Goodwin slate cards, to come out victorious.  David Robinson has run a clean and positive campaign from day one, and it is now time to rally behind Mr. Robinson as we head towards our ultimate goal of removing Pat Tiberi from office. David Robinson has shown that he is our party's best shot in November.

I want to thank all of the wonderful people that I have encountered along this long journey that begun back in October. To all of the volunteers and contributors that dedicated their time and funds to this campaign, I am forever indebted to you. I am truly proud of the hard work that so many people have put into seeing this campaign through.

I urge you all to throw your full support behind our candidate for the OH-12, and our next Congressman from Ohio's 12th congressional district, DAVID ROBINSON.

www.robinson2008.com

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO WORK POLLS ON ELECTION DAY!

We are down to the nitty gritty! The time is now to affect change for tomorrow! Together WE CAN DO THIS!

I thank you all for your support thus far, but the mission is not over just yet. We are in the final days of this tight race, and every minute counts. "The Call For Change!" needs you to get us through March 4th.

We are currently scheduling volunteers to work polling sites on election day! The task is easy and makes a large difference in the race. Your dedication for change has got us this far and now to get us over the hump we need volunteers to stand at polling sites handing out literature on March 4th!

If you are interested in volunteering please e-mail the campaign at:

 dagres4congress@yahoo.com

Thank you so much for your help and dedication to seeing this through to the finish!

UPDATE

The Campaign has been rolling on with multiple events daily.
Thank you Utica for your wonderful meet the candidates night on the 26th!
Thank you Delaware Democratic Womens Club for your wonderful event night on the 25th.
Thank you Mike Cole for the WVKO 1580 radio interview on the 26th.
Thank you LICOPAC for the Pataskala meet and great feb 24th.

Thank you Worthington area Dem Club for the candidate night on the 20th.
Thank you Newark Advocate for your unbiased coverage this election cycle.
Thanks you everyone that attended the Rally at VFW 4719 on feb 17th!
Thank you Delaware Gazette for your unbiased coverage.
Thank you Senator Barack Obama's campaign staff for all of your help along the way!
Thank you Congressman Tim Ryan for your guidance
Thank you Councilman Kevin Boyce for your advice as well.
Special Thanks to the League of Women Voters for all of your wonderful events and coverage.
Special Thanks to the endorsements that have come rolling in.
MOST OF ALL thanks to all of you out there whom individually endorsed me on your early voting ballots and that are yet to endorse me on March 4th!

With your support we will achieve greatness in the 12th, in Ohio, and in this Great Nation! I can not do this alone, this is not about me. Instead this is our campaign, our "Call For Change"! Join up, unite, and together we can make a difference.

Thanks again for your support!

Victory does not come until the votes are counted on March 4th and then again on November 4th.

 Your small contribution goes along way!

TONIGHT 2-26-08 RADIO INTERVIEW 1580 AM

I had the pleasure of working with Staff at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH for Senator Barack Obama's rally. It was a privilege to be a part of this great moment in history. I also was blessed to be seated 15ft from the stage for the speech which was breath taking as always.

The lines were hundreds of people deep by 10 A.M. and by 1 P.M. when doors opened they wrapped around the campus out on to Fifth ave. The building was filled well beyond normal capacity for the event. It truly was amazing. The city of Youngstown and the university only scheduled this 72 hours prior and the turnout at the University I once called home in one of the hardest hit cities in the Country that I once called home, showed up in droves for CHANGE.

People came from across the country to hear the Senator. People from the 12th congressional district were also present in numbers. I was shocked and honored to have people from Columbus come up to me and ask me about how the campaign was going and tell me that I have their support.


Enjoy the pictures at my website! LINK BELOW TO IMAGES

The time has come for CHANGE!
Cast your votes today at your board of elections!

CLICK BELOW FOR IMAGES OF EVENT!

Join us for the DAGRES FOR CONGRESS 2008 Kickoff Celebration!

WHERE: VFW POST 4719

75 W. JOHNSTOWN RD. GAHANNA, OH

WHEN: FEBRUARY 17TH 6 PM

Aaron J. Dagres is your Democratic Candidate bound for  Washington D.C. representing Ohio's 12th Congressional District!

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS SCHEDULED

Come at  6 P.M. for PASTA AND POLITICS

Together we can change the landscape of politics in Washington D.C.

The time has come for sensible, accountable, and honorable leadership in Washington.

Join "The Call For Change!"

Together we can rebuild this great country for all of our children.

Join us for the DAGRES FOR CONGRESS 2008 Kickoff Celebration!

WHERE: VFW POST 4719

75 W. JOHNSTOWN RD. GAHANNA, OH

WHEN: FEBRUARY 17TH 6 PM

Aaron J. Dagres is your Democratic Candidate bound for  Washington D.C. representing Ohio's 12th Congressional District!

Come at  6 P.M. for PASTA AND POLITICS

Together we can change the landscape of politics in Washington D.C.

The time has come for sensible, accountable, and honorable leadership in Washington.

Join "The Call For Change!"

Together we can rebuild this great country for all of our children.

Volunteers Needed!

We are currently recruiting Volunteers in preparation for Election Day March 4th, 2008!

Join "The Call For Change!" This is your opportunity to make a difference in politics. Your assistance will help spread the word about our change mission. With your help we can change the scope of politics!

We are looking for dedicated individuals to work polling sites distributing literature (Local and OBAMA!)as well as to assist in phonebanking! If interested please contact the campaign at dagres4congress@yahoo.com to learn more.

As always we appreciate your assistance on our road to victory!

BLUE DUBLIN CANDIDATES NIGHT SUMMARY.

Another wonderful event hosted this time by Blue Dublin and specifically Al Gabel. It went off without a hitch. There were probably 30 candidates present in a crowd of about 130. Everyone whom attended had the opportunity to see candidates that will be running in several races affecting the Dublin area.

Candidates were given each 3 min to talk to the crowd, and then after all candidates spoke questions were asked from the audience. The bulk of the questions at the conclusion of the evening were geared towards the 12th congressional candidates and ranged from No Child Left Behind to Social Security and Global Climate Change.

Great questions and the answers varied from the candidates for the seat. Mr. Goodwin felt that movement towards bio fuels (corn ethanol) would lead to global hunger, and his proposal to combat global climate change focused around changing light bulbs and buying energy efficient appliances, he also spoke about the solar panels he found on Japanese roofs while living in Japan. Robinson had wonderful answers focusing in on specifics of research and development, carbon emissions and on down the line. I took this question to focus on freeing our country of dependency on foreign oil. It is time we pull billion dollar subsidies from big oil and move them towards the American farmer in pursuit of bio fuels, and alternative energy sources like wind power. I also addressed the coal to fuel oil production legislation introduced by congressman Space of OH-18. That legislation provides assistance to Ohio companies taking part in coal conversion programs.

On the Topic of social security both Mr. Robinson and Mr. Goodwin felt that the social security structure in place was sufficient, and opposed privatization. I addressed this issue with a legislative plan for change. Not only do I oppose privatization of the system, but the unfair tax base that it represents is also a problem. It was true as Mr. Goodwin points out that the current plan may be solvent until 2042, but my plan of putting a bubble in the cap would increase solvency beyond 2100. The basis which I discussed is that the current structure has every American being taxed on their first $97,000 of income. If you make over $97,000 none of that income is taxed. The proposal I plan to pursue would restart the tax on all earnings above $250,000. This would not increase taxation on the middle class but apply the tax again on those individuals earning over $250,000. This plan would not only extend social security's solvency beyond 2100 but also allow better payments and a decrease in the retirement age over time, instead of our steady increase.

Thanks again Blue Dublin for hosting the wonderful event! A special thanks must also go out to all of the concerned and active citizens of the Dublin area that showed up to this event in an attempt to become more informed on the issues and their candidates. With your help we truly can achieve a BLUE Dublin!

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CANDIDATES NIGHT QUESTION AND ANSWER

I want to start this summary by saying thank you! Thank you to the League of Women Voters, The Delaware Gazette. Andrews House, the American Association of University Women, the Delaware Area Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware County Farm Bureau, and The Sunbury News, for sponsoring this wonderful event.

Also a special thanks needs to go out to all of the wonderful candidates whom showed up to the event and spoke to the crowd. Delaware County citizens should be very proud of the candidates they have before them this election cycle!

As always it was a pleasure meeting so many people last night. The Auditorium was virtually packed for this great event. The debate was spirited and to the point, and the audience was cordial and respectful of all of the candidates, Democrats and Republicans alike.

I was very pleased with the well informed questions that were taken from the audience last night, and the great responses from the candidates as well. It truly was an honor to speak in front of that crowd last night.

Now to the meat …. Pat Tiberi learned a lesson last night. He learned that this is not 2000, 2002, 2004, or 2006. That this is 2008 and that this district is ready for change. His seat is not secure. With your support I will replace Pat Tiberi with an new sense of Direction. Focus, Understanding, and Accountability that this district is ready for.

With your support we will achieve greatness in the 12th, in Ohio, and in this Great Nation! I can not do this alone, this is not about me. Instead this is our campaign, our "Call For Change"! Join up, unite, and together we can make a difference!

Thanks again for your support and thank you to everyone that came up to me after the event to congratulate me on what they were calling an impressive victory. It is much appreciated. Victory however, does not come until the votes are counted on March 4th and then again on November 4th.

The march towards November continues.  Over the past week the campaign has been knocking on doors from Newark, to Sunbury and up through Ostrander.

It as always is a great experience meeting more and more people daily. The conversations we have vary, some of which are simple 3 minute meetings on issues like the economy and health care, and then there are others that are much more personal.

These other conversations might be the most important ones we can have. They give this campaign its momentum and direction. These are the conversations with people who welcome me into their home and are eager to tell me about their experiences with our broken health care system. The ones whom take the time to tell me about their wife with cancer whom can't afford the chemo and radiation treatments. Or the lovely woman in Ostrander who told me of her 40 year old daughter who is unable to obtain insurance, because her medical condition has put her out of work for the past three years, and no insurance company will accept her because of her condition. How the treatment she is getting will allow her to see again, but it takes constant cortisone injections into her eye which continue to put a financial burden on the family. People like this are why we are in this race. It is these people whom need our help. We can not continue to allow these situations to develop in this country.

Then there are the wonderful WWII veterans that I get the chance to sit down and talk to. They tell me of what it was like to serve in the Great War and how they were wounded serving in various areas of the world. They then share how this experience of combat will forever be with them. They look at me as a former veteran and they ask me to fight to fund things like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for our new veterans returning home from Iraq. Then they discuss their frustration with this current war and how they want and end brought to it.

All I can say to all of you is I HEAR YOU! I will fight to bring an end to this war, and I will fight to make sure that the words uninsured and under insured become things of the past. This I promise to the wonderful people of Ohio, and this great Nation.

THE LATEST STOPS!

The campaign has been hitting location after location as we move forward towards March nad November. It has been a pleasure meeting the people in the areas of Bexley, Pataskala and Newark over the past week. Unlike in the past updates on the trail we have begun to focus on several different areas in smaller doses, hopefully reaching out to more and more people with our approach.

WE shall continue to also focus on entire city's and precincts again in the near future, because I tend to enjoy reaching out to the smaller towns over the coarse of a few days. These smaller towns are often overlooked by candidates and the party and that has got to change!

The economy continues to be the focus of the people I speak with. It is time that WE turn this economy around!

WE must vehemently pursue FAIR TRADE, repealing NAFTA and DR-CAFTA.

WE must focus back on what benefits OHIO and The United States not China and Mexico!

WE must keep good paying manufacturing jobs here in Ohio!

WE must repeal the Bush Tax cuts and redirect them towards the struggling middle class!

With your help and your vote WE can achieve this change. It starts on March 4th and continues onward and upward to November 4th and January 1st, 2009!

Thanks again to everyone whom continues to open their doors and their minds to our movement. It is a pleasure meeting with each and every one of you. Thanks again for the continued support as we march towards change in 2008.

www.dagresforcongress.com

www.thecallforchange.com

Yesterday, Progress Ohio sent out a call to action - we asked you to write Letters To The Editor using our "Speak Out" tool.

The topic: The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The message: Urge Ohio Congressional Representatives Steve Chabot (OH-1), Jean Schmidt (OH-2), Jim Jordan (OH-4), Bob Latta (OH-5) and John Boehner (OH-8) to stand with Ohio's families and vote to override Bush's veto of SCHIP reauthorization.

In just 24 hours, the Progress Ohio community has generated almost 1,000 Letters To The Editor to 64 different Ohio newspapers.

Top 10 newspaper recipients: Columbus Dispatch, Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cincinnati Enquirer, Mansfield News Journal, Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository, Newark Advocate, and the Lorain Chronicle-Telegram.

On behalf of the 122,000 Ohio kids whose health care coverage hangs in the balance, Progress Ohio staff extends a HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who have taken action on this issue!

Progress Ohio--powered by YOU.

Our original call to action:

The health care coverage of 122,000 Ohio kids hangs in the balance. Can you spare a minute to help?

Click Here To Take Action

Next week, Congress will vote to override Bush's veto of the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). We need each and every one of the 18 Congressional Representatives from Ohio to stand with Ohio's families, and vote to override Bush's veto.

13 of them, including 6 republicans, are with us on this. Four are not.

At least not yet.

This week, as part of our ongoing multi-pronged effort to bring Steve Chabot(OH-1), John Boehner (OH-8), Jean Schmidt (OH-2), and Jim Jordan (OH-4) into the fold, Progress Ohio is spearheading a Letter To The Editor (LTE) campaign.

Our partner organizations in other key states are targeting their Representatives with LTE's as well. We need active members of the Progress Ohio community (that's you) to help us do our part here in Ohio.

Click Here To Take Action

Why Write A Letter To The Editor?

Legislators and their staffs do read LTE's to get a sense of public opinion. Also, LTE's can help generate overall media buzz on an issue.

About Progress Ohio's Speak Out tool

The email addresses for the newspapers' editorial boards are already in there, sample letters are there too.  In just a couple of clicks, you'll be done.

Click Here To Take Action

You ARE public opinion. Write a Letter To The Editor to make your voice heard. 

Progress Ohio, America Votes, and the Ohio Progressive Leadership Network are pleased to announce our 9:30 AM welcome speaker: 

First Lady of Ohio, Frances Strickland

Mrs. Strickland will speak about sustaining Ohio's progressive movement through 2008 and beyond.

First Lady Frances Strickland has shared Ted's vision for a better future for Ohio with thousands of people across the state. Often seen brandishing her guitar and leading the crowd in a sing-along, Frances brings an irreplaceable creativity and enthusiasm to her work for Ohio.

Our lunch speaker:

Robert Creamer of Progress Ohio's national partner, Americans United For Change. Creamer's recently released book is entitled Listen to Your Mother: Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, with a foreword by Tom Matzzie of MoveOn.

Says Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio): 

"If every activist in America read Listen to Your Mother: Stand Up Straight, we could change our country. This book will help bring on the New Progressive Era. It's that good."

Find out more about RootsCamp here. 

RootsCamp is Sunday, January 13, 9-5 at the Riffe Center, 31st Floor, corner of State & High Streets, Columbus, OH 43215

RootsCamp: Come. Talk. Learn. RootsCamp is a conference for organizers, leaders, tech, fundraisers, bloggers and anyone else who is working for change. It's an opportunity for open dialogue about leading the way in '08 and beyond.

RootsCamp is participant-driven. Want to lead a session? Write your topic on a card and tape it to the wall. Add more sessions throughout the day as ideas are generated. YOU set the agenda.

RootsCamp: Ohio jobs for Ohioans. Organizations who are hiring in '08, bring your job descriptions; job-seekers bring your résumés - we're going to have a jobs fair.

RootsCamp is FREE. Breakfast/lunch provided, and plentiful coffee.

It was an absolute pleasure meeting so many people in Johnstown over the weekend (Fri-Sun). I had a great time and enjoyed the new faces, ideas, and stories. Your support was wonderful and I know that with your votes we can make some major differences in Washington D.C.

WE will correct the problems of limited or unaffordable HEALTH CARE coverage.

WE will bring our men and women serving in IRAQ home, ending this war!

WE will remove free trade agreements like N.A.F.T.A. and D.R. C.A.F.T.A. making sure that the American worker benefits from FAIR TRADE, and American industries keep their jobs here at home!

WE will expand the federal pell grant to offer more of Americas youth the opportunity to pursue a higher EDUCATION!

And WE will show the special interests controlling Washington D.C. the door!

Thank you Johnstown for your time, for opening your door to me on Friday in the snow, Saturday in the rain, and Sunday in the balmy rainy spring like day.

WE will make a difference!

WE will CHANGE Washington D.C.!

WE will rebuild this great nation!

Day One and Two of a three day tour of Johnstown

I have been traveling the Johnstown area for the past 48 hours and enjoying the lively debate and well informed conversations with the Voters of this wonderful small town in western Licking County.

Once again the support has been tremendous and with every new contact the end goal of CHANGE becomes much more of a reality.

It is clear that this district is ready to turn the corner:

Ready to take steps back towards FAIR TRADE, that benefits the American worker and sparks industry here in Ohio.

They are ready to make sure that all of our Senior Citizens have Adequate Health Care coverage and prescription drug plans.

They are ready to improve the scope of our federal pell grant to increase the number of children able to pursue a Higher Education.

And they are ready to bring our men and women serving honorably in Iraq back home.

I am ready to fight to make sure this happens!

SCHOOLS

Johnstown there is a problem. 80% of the people I have spoken to are worried about your schools. They are completely dilapidated. Water is running through the deteriorated ceiling, mold is forming throughout the building; parts of the building are completely falling apart. Yet the levy continues to fail. The children are the only ones whom suffer from this. You need new schools. Please get together and support your school levy in March. The children of your community need you. They are this country's future and they must have adequate schools.

Johnstown I will see you again tomorrow! Thanks for your support. Thank you for opening your doors to me in the rainy and cold weather, and Happy New Year of Change to all of you.

www.thecallforchange.com