In the spirit of transition that is facing the nation (see Letter from the Editor) Stand Up proudly presents the faces of the aging counterculture in Athens, Ga. These are the men and women who will pass the torch to this generation of leaders. They were involved in some of the legendary activist movements. They are living examples, right here in this community, of what the current state of America could result in if we were all to work hard to promote our own chosen movements.

By Joshua Cash

In 2000, a still controversial election, the U.S. Supreme Court inaugurated George W. Bush as president over Democratic hopeful Al Gore. Many Democrats blame Ralph Nader as a factor in “spoiling” Gore’s chances. Others, such as Democratic Leadership Council CEO Al From, dispute this assertion, citing evidence from exit pollers that had Nader not engaged in the election, more people would have voted for Bush. Regardless, as more candidates run for office, the number of votes received by any one person splits further. Third party and independent alternatives struggle to gain a stronger electorate each election year against not only the major parties but also each other. The strength for each third party wanes as issues and organization divide supporters into smaller groups. Fractionalization is a major problem facing the third parties, which they must overcome in order to reach major political success.

By Imann Gad

It is 2008, and the world of fashion is going green. Who would have imagined that organic cotton, pesticide-free cotton, and bamboo would become popular amongst fashion designers today? The “Go Green” campaign is going strong, and many are trying to get in where they can fit in. Simply put, the term “eco-fashion” is defined as any style of clothing that uses environmentally sensitive fabrics and responsible production techniques. Clothing put into the “eco-friendly” category are usually garments made from organic raw material or reusable materials.

By Zaid Jilani

In every sector of the economy, we seem to be in crisis. The Associated Press (AP) notes that “from Seattle to Athens, Ga., homeless advocacy groups and city agencies are reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.” The federal government is coughing up hundreds of billions of dollars to save failing banks, and the real wages of most people are falling as the prices of basic commodities skyrocket. Even the usually calm AP responds to the situation with a panicked headline: “Everything Seemingly Is Spinning out of Control.”

Many Georgians are asking themselves why things are spinning out of control, and maybe more importantly, what can we do to alleviate the situation? To answer that question, we must look to a tale of two capitols: Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia.

By Robin Abree

In the past, I never considered becoming a vegan. I only wanted to keep fit and in the fad-diet millennium, I tried my fair share. At one point, I was the queen of lean-mean protein. I shunned rice, ate plain deli meat and snacked on hard-boiled eggs. Never once did I consider the environmental, physical, or moral implications of my lifestyle; I just wanted to look good. I grew up in a household of semi-vegetarians, so making the South Beach switch wasn’t easy and I gave up the high-protein diet quickly. My herbivore taste buds combined with low energy from lack of carbs led me back to my beloved veggie patties and cereal snacks.

By Harper Bridgers

Marijuana is the most commonly preferred drug on Earth, according to a 2006 United Nations World Drug Report – a fact that is hard to overlook. “An estimated 162 million people used cannabis in 2004,” the report states. A federal ban on marijuana in 1937 marked the first nation-wide buzz kill in the U.S., popularly believed to have been fueled by racism and false allegations of extreme health hazards. It remains illegal for most parts of the globe, with penalties ranging from small fines to the death penalty.

An article published by Time in 2008 claims that 42 percent of Americans surveyed had tried pot at least once. With so many Americans toking up, why is marijuana still illegal?

Why the U.S. should back off of Iran.

By Cody Boisclair

The University of Georgia campus is home to an impressive collection of political memorabilia and documents in the Richard B. Russell Library, the only such collection in the entire state. To get there, one need only take a right turn upon approaching the front entrance to the Main Library and climb a short flight of stairs to find the entrance.

Easier said than done, of course, for a fair number of famous Georgians — individuals such as former Senator Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran and triple amputee; Darius Weems, a teenager with muscular dystrophy profiled in the documentary “Darius Goes West”; and Kyle Maynard, a wrestler born with no arms or legs — all of whom are unable to negotiate this entrance because they use wheelchairs.

By Stephanie Jackson

Every movement has its anthem, but a song doesn’t have to be “I am Woman, Hear Me Roar” or “We Shall Overcome,” to be progressive. From John Lennon to Against Me!, many artists use their music as an expression of their social and political views, and we here at Stand Up have chosen our favorite political songs for the progressive mind. Since there were far too many pieces to choose from, instead we have arranged these songs by the topics they cover, with suggestions for further listening if the chosen work isn’t to your particular taste.

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