Monday, February 11, 2013

The List that the AAA did not make


I recently posted the link to this page to LinkedIn AAA forum from the NRA website only to discover that they had pulled the page after some bad publicity. So here is the page as it appeared before being pulled.

National Organizations With Anti-Gun Policies
Posted on September 17, 2012

The following organizations have lent monetary, grassroots or some other type of direct support to anti-gun organizations. In many instances, these organizations lent their name in support of specific campaigns to pass anti-gun legislation such as the March 1995 HCI "Campaign to Protect Sane Gun Laws." Many of these organizations were listed as "Campaign Partners," for having pledged to fight any efforts to repeal the Brady Act and the Clinton "assault weapons" ban.

All have officially endorsed anti-gun positions.

AARP
AFL-CIO
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Civil Liberties Union
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Medical Women`s Association
American Medical Student Association
American Medical Association
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
American Trauma Society
American Federation of Teachers
American Association of School Administrators
American Alliance for Rights and Responsibilities
American Medical Association
American Bar Association
American Counseling Association
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for World Health
American Ethical Union
American Nurses Association
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
American Firearms Association
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Jewish Committee
American Trauma Society
American Psychological Association
American Jewish Congress
American Public Health Association
Americans for Democratic Action
Anti-Defamation League

Black Mental Health Alliance
B`nai B`rith

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Children`s Defense Fund
Church of the Brethren
Coalition for Peace Action
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
College Democrats of America
Committee for the Study of Handgun Misuse & World Peace
Common Cause
Congress of National Black Churches, Inc.
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Consumer Federation of America
Council of the Great City Schools
Council of Chief State School Officers

Dehere Foundation
Disarm Educational Fund

Environmental Action Foundation
Episcopal Church-Washington Office

Florence and John Shumann Foundation
Friends Committee on National Legislation

General Federation of Women`s Clubs
George Gund Fun
Gray Panthers

H.M. Strong Foundation
Hadassah
Harris Foundation
Hechinger Foundation

Interfaith Neighbors
Int`l Ladies` Garment Workers` Union
Int`l Association of Educators for World Peace

Jewish Labor Committee
Joyce Foundation

Lauder Foundation
Lawrence Foundation
League of Women Voters of the United States*
Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Manhattan Project II
Mennonite Central Committee-Washington Office

National Safe Kids Campaign
National Association of Police Organizations
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Black Nurses` Association
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Network for Youth
National Assembly of National Voluntary Health & Social Welfare Organizations
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Counties*
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers
National Education Association
National Association of Elementary School Principals*
National Association of Public Hospitals
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Children`s Hospitals and Related Institutions
National Association of School Psychologists
National Council of La Raza
National Center to Rehabilitate Violent Youth
National Commission for Economic Conversion & Disarmament
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
National Council of Negro Women
National Association of Community Health Centers
National People`s Action
National Education Association*
National League of Cities
National Council on Family Relations
National Council of Jewish Women
National Organization for Women
National Political Congress of Black Women
National Parks and Conservation Association
National Peace Foundation
National Urban League, Inc.
National Parent, Teachers Association*
National Urban Coalition
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
National Organization on Disability
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Ortenberg Foundation

Peace Action
People for the American Way
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Police Foundation
Project on Demilitarization and Democracy
Public Citizen

SaferWorld
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Southern Christian Leadership Conference

The Council of the Great City Schools
The Synergetic Society
20/20 Vision

U.S. Catholic Conference, Dept. of Social Development
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
Unitarian Universalist Association
United States Catholic Conference
United Methodist Church, General Board & Church Society
United Church of Christ, Office for Church in Society*
United States Conference of Mayors

War and Peace Foundation
Women Strike for Peace
Women`s National Democratic Club
Women`s Action for New Directions (WAND)
Women`s Int`l League for Peace and Freedom
World Spiritual Assembly, Inc.
YWCA of the U.S.A.
*The national organization only endorses federal legislation.


Anti-Gun Individuals & Celebrities
The following celebrities and national figures have lent their name and notoriety to anti-gun causes, speaking out for anti-gun legislation and providing a voice for anti-gun organizations.
Celebrities:
Krista Allen - Actress
Suzy Amis - Actress
Louis Anderson - Comedian
Richard Dean Anderson - Actor
Maya Angelou - Poet
David Arquette - Actor
Ed Asner - Actor
Alec Baldwin - Actor
Bob Barker - TV Personality
Carol Bayer Sager - Composer
Drew Barrymore - Actress
Kevin Bacon - Actor
Lauren Bacall - Actress*
Sarah Ban Breathnach - Writer
William Baldwin - Actor
Candice Bergen - Actress
Richard Belzer - Actor
Tony Bennett - Singer
Boys II Men - Pop Group
Jon Bon Jovi - Singer
Peter Bogdonovich - Director
Peter Bonerz - Actor
Albert Brooks - Actor
Beau Bridges - Actor
Benjamin Bratt - Actor
Bonnie Bruckheimer - Movie Producer
Christie Brinkley - Model
Dr. Joyce Brothers - Psychologist/Author
James Brolin - Actor
James Brooks - TV Producer
Mel Brooks - Actor/Director
Betty Buckley - Actress
Ellen Burstyn - Actress
Steve Buscemi - Actor
David Canary - Actor
Kate Capshaw - Actress
Kim Cattrall- Actress
Josh Charles - Actor
Robert Chartloff - Producer
Stockard Channing - Actress
Jill Clayburgh - Actress
Terri Clark - Singer
George Clooney - Actor
Jennifer Connelly - Actress
Judy Collins - Singer
Kevin Costner - Actor
Sean Connery - Actor
Sheryl Crow - Singer
Billy Crystal- Actor
Julie Cypher - Director
Arlene Dahl - Actress
Clive Davis - Writer
Linda Dano - Actress
Matt Damon - Actor
Pam Dawber - Actress
Patrika Darbo - Actress
Stuart Damon - Actor
Ellen Degeneres - Actress
Gavin de Becker - Writer
Rebecca DeMornay - Actress
Danny DeVito - Actor
Michael Douglas - Actor
Phil Donahue - Talk Show Host
Richard Donner - Director
Fran Drescher - Actress
Richard Dreyfus - Actor
David Duchovny - Actor
Sandy Duncan - Actress
Christine Ebersole - Actress
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds - Singer
Missy Elliott - Singer
Nora Ephron - Director
Gloria Estefan - Singer
Melissa Etheridge - Singer
Mia Farrow - Actress
Mike Farrell - Actor
Carrie Fisher - Actress
Sally Field - Actress
Doug Flutie - NFL player
Fannie Flagg - Actress
Jane Fonda - Actress
Jodie Foster - Actress
Rick Fox - NBA Player
Andy Garcia - Actor
Art Garfunkel - Singer
Geraldo - TV personality
Richard Gere - Actor
Kathie Lee Gifford - TV personality
Paul Glaser - TV director
Brad Gooch - Writer
Elliott Gould - Actor
Louis Gossett, Jr. - Actor
Michael Gross - Actor
Nancy Lee Grahn - Actress
Bryant Gumbel - TV Personality
Deidra Hall - Actress
Ethan Hawke - Actor
Mariette Hartley - Actress
Mark Harmon - Actor
Anne Heche - Actress
Howard Hesseman - Actor
Marilu Henner - Actress
Dustin Hoffman - Actor
Hal Holbrook - Actor*
Helen Hunt - Actress
John Ingle - Actor
Francesca James - TV Producer
Norman Jewison - Director
Lainie Kazan - Actress
Richard Karn - Actor
Jeffrey Katzenberg - Producer
Barry Kemp - TV Producer
David E. Kelley - TV Producer
Diane Keaton - Actress
Margaret Kemp - Interior Designer
Chaka Khan - Singer
Kevin Kline - Actor
Michael E. Knight - Actor
Jonathan Kozol - Writer
Lenny Kravits - Singer
Lisa Kudrow - Actress
Wally Kurth - Actor
Christine Lahti - Actress
k.d. lang - Singer
Ricki Lake - TV personality
Denis Leary - Actor
John Leguizamo - Actor
Norman Lear - TV Producer
Spike Lee - Director
Hal Linden - Actor
Tara Lipinski - Former Olympian
Keyshawn Johnson - NFL player
Rob Lowe - Actor
Amanda Marshall - Singer
Barry Manilow - Singer
Camryn Manheim - Actress
Howie Mandel - Actor
Kyle MacLachlan - Actor
Madonna - Singer
Marla Maples - Actress
Marsha Mason - Actress*
Mase - Singer
Penny Marshall - Director
Prema Mathai-Davis - YWCA Official
John McDaniel - Musician
John McEnroe - Athlete
Brian McKnight - Musician
Natalie Merchant - Singer
Bette Midler - Singer
Mary Tyler Moore - Actress
Michael Moore - Film Maker
Mike Myers - Actor
N Sync - Music group
Kathy Najimy - Actress
Jack Nicholson - Actor
Leonard Nimoy - Actor
Mike Nichols - Director
Stephen Nichols - Actor
Rosie O`Donnel l- Actress/Talk Show Host
Jennifer O Neill - Actress
Julia Ormond - Actress
Jane Pauley - TV Personality
Sarah Jessica Parker - Actress
Mandy Patinkin - Actor
Richard North Patterson - Writer
Rhea Perlman- Actress
Michelle Pfieffer - Actress
Aidan Quinn - Actor
Colin Quinn - Actor
Dennis Quaid - Actor
Elizabeth Bracco Quinn - Actress
Bonnie Raitt - Singer
Debbie Reynolds - Actress
Mary Lou Retton - Former Olympian
Paul Reiser - Actor
Peter Reckell - Actor
Rob Reiner - Actor/Director
Robert Redford - Actor/Director
Anne Rice - Writer
Cathy Rigby - Actress
Julia Roberts - Actress
Marc Rosen - TV Producer
Tim Robbins - Actor
Tim Roth - Actor
Renee Russo - Actress
Robin Ruzan - Wife of Mike Myers
Meg Ryan - Actress
Susan Sarandon - Actress
Jerry Seinfeld - Actor
Kyra Sedgwick - Actress
Martin Sheen - Actor
Russell Simmons - Record Producer
Neil Simon - Playwright*
Louise Sorel - Actress
Mira Sorvino - Actress
Rena Sofer - Actress
Britney Spears - Singer
Bruce Springsteen - Singer
Kevin Spirtas - Actor
Barbra Streisand - Singer
David Steinberg - Director
Sylvester Stallone - Actor
Harry Dean Stanton - Actor
Meryl Streep - Actress
Patrick Stewart - Actor
Sharon Stone - Actress
Sting - Singer
Trudie Styler - Actress
Jonathan Taylor Thomas - Actor
The Temptations - Pop Group
Vinny Testaverde - NFL player
Marlo Thomas - Actress*
Uma Thurman - Actress
Steve Tisch - Producer
Mike Torrez - Former Baseball player
Shania Twain - Singer
Dick Van Dyke - Actor
Eli Wallach - Actor*
Harvey Weinstein - Producer
Jann Wenner - Publisher
Sigourney Weaver - Actress
Victor Webster - Actor
Andy Williams - Singer*
Kelli Williams - Actress
Henry Winkler - Actor
Oprah Winfrey - Entertainer
Rita Wilson - Actress
Vanessa Williams - Singer
Herman Wouk - Author
Joanne Woodward - Actress*
Peter Yarrow - Singer
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Actress
Ahmet Zappa -Actor
Diva Zappa -Actress
Dweezil Zappa - Musician
Gail Zappa -
Moon Zappa -Actress
* Denotes membership on
Brady Campaign`s National Committee

National Figures:
Joel J. Alpert M.D. - Pediatrician
Robert Bernstein Ph.D - Pediatrician
Robert E. Brennan - Financier
Bishop Edmond Browning - Espiscopal Leader
James E. Carter - Former President
Marion Wright Edelman - Director, Childrens Defense Fund
Michael Eisner, Former Chairman and CEO The Walt Disney Company
Amitai Etzioni - Teacher
Tom Freston - MTV President
Dr. Lorraine E. Hale - Social Worker
Della M. Hughes - Activist
Ed Koch - Former Politician
C. Everett Koop - Former Surgeon General
Rev. Wallace Ryan Kuroiwa - Clergyman
Gerald M. Levin - Chairman, Time Warner
Davis S. Liederman - Ex. Dir. Child Welfare League
Paul Rabbi Menitaff - Clergyman
Abner Mikva - Former Judge
Richard Parsons - Pres. Time Warner
Steven Rockefeller - Financier
Ellen Y. Rosenberg - Activist
Rabbi David Saperstein - Clergyman
Herb Scannell - Pres. Nickelodeon
Vincent Schiraldi - Dir. Justice Policy Institute
Lyle Elmer Strom - Federal Judge
Joe Volk - Clergyman
Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie - Clergyman

The following journalists actively
editorialize in favor of gun control laws:
Steve Benson - Cartoonist
Tony Auth - Cartoonist
Jim Borgman - Cartoonist
Jimmy Breslin - Columnist
Stuart Carlson - Cartoonist
Marie Cocco - Columnist
E.J. Dionne Jr. - Columnist
Bonnie Erbe - Columnist
Tom Fiedler - Columnist
Michael Gartner - Columnist
Mark Genrich - Columnist
James Glassman - Editor
Bob Herbert - Columnist
Bill Johnson - Columnist
Donald Kaul - Columnist
Mike Lane - Cartoonist
Leonard Larson - Columnist
Mike Luckovich - Cartoonist
Jimmy Margulies - Cartoonist
Deborah Mathis - Columnist
Colman McCarthy - Columnist
Jim Morin - Cartoonist
Tom Oliphant- Columnist
Mike Peters - Cartoonist
Robert Reno - Columnist
Frank Rich - Columnist
Cindy Richards - Columnist
Kevin Siers- Cartoonist
Ed Stein - Cartoonist
Tom Teepen - Editor
Tim Toles - Cartoonist
Garry Trudeau - Cartoonist
Cynthia Tucker - Columnist
Steve Twomey - Columnist
Steve Villano - Columnist
Adrienne Washington - Columnist
Don Wright - Cartoonist

Anti-Gun Corporations/Corporate Heads
The following listing includes the most prominent national corporations that have lent their corporate support to gun control initiatives or taken position supporting gun control.

A & M Records
Al Cafaro, Chrm. & CEO
595 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 826-0477

Record Production, Entertainment
American Century Companies
James E. Stowers, CEO
4500 Main St., 4th Floor
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 531-5575

Mutual Fund & Stock Investment Company on NYSE
American Multi Cinemas Entertainment, Inc.
Stanley H. Durwood, Co-Chairman, CEO Peter C. Brown, President, CFO
106 West 14th Street, #1700
Kansas City, MO 64141
(816) 221-4000

Movie Theater Company
Argosy Casino
H. Steven Norton, President, CEO
777 N.W. Argosy Parkway
Riverside, MO 64150
(816) 746-7711

Gambling Casino Company
Ben & Jerry`s Homemade, Inc.
Bennett R. Cohen Chrm. & CEO
Rte. 100, Box 240
Waterbury, VT 05676
(802) 244-5641

Ice cream and frozen yogurt
BJC Health Systems
Fred L. Brown, President & CEO
4444 Forest Park Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 747-9322

Healthcare Company
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Kansas City
John P. Mascotte, President
P.O. Box 419169
Kansas City, MO 64141
(816) 395-2222

Healthcare Company
Brooks Investments-Robert Brooks
Robert Brooks
45 Chesterfield Lakes Road
Chesterfield, MO 63005

Investment Company
Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Inc.
Philip M. Hawley, Chrm. & CEO
444 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 620-0150
Retail clothing and accessories stores

Crown Central Petroleum Corp.
Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr.
One North Central Street Box 1168
Baltimore, MD 21203
(301) 539-7400
Refiners and marketers of petroleum products, convenience stores

Development Specialists - Chicago
70 W. Madison Street, #2300
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 263-4141

Earthgrains - St. Louis
8400 Maryland Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 259-7000
National Bread Company

General American - St. Louis
Richard A. Liddy, CEO
P.O. Box 396
St. Louis, MO 63166
(314) 843-8700
Life Insurance

Hallmark Cards
Irvine O. Hockaday, President & CEO
P.O. Box 418307
Kansas City, MO 64141
(816) 274-5111
Greeting Card Company

Health Midwest
2316 East Meyer Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64132
(816) 751-3000
National Healthcare Company

ICN Biomedicals
Adam Jerney, Chrm. & CEO
3300 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-0113
Pharmaceutical products

James B. Nutter Co. - Kansas City
James B. Nutter
4153 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 531-2345
Investment Banker

Kansas City Chiefs
One Arrowhead Drive
Kansas City, MO 64129
(816) 924-9300
Pro Football Team

Kansas City Royals
David Glass, CEO
P.O. Box 419969
Kansas City, MO 64141
(816) 921-8000
Pro Baseball Team

Kenneth Cole
152 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
(800) 536-2653
Clothing retailer

Lamar Advertising Company
Lamar Outdoor Advertising
5551 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 2-A
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
P. O. Box 66338
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
(225) 926-1000
Fax (225) 926-1005

Levi Strauss & Co.
Robert D. Haas, Chairman
Philip Marineau, CEO
Peter A. Jacobi, President and COO
1155 Battery St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 501-6000
FAX (415) 501-3939
Clothing

Mallinckrodt, Inc. - St. Louis
C. Ray Holman, President & CEO
675 McDonnell Blvd, Box 5840
St. Louis, MO 63134
(314) 654-2000
Clothing Starch Company

Michael Douglas Foundation
3550 Wilshire
Los Angele, CA 90010

MNC Financial, Inc.
Ten Light Street Box 987
Baltimore, MD 21203
(301) 244-5000
Banking, financial services

Sara Lee Corporation
Sara Lee Foundation
Three First National Plaza
Chicago, IL 60602-4260
Phone: 312-726-2600
Fax: 312-726-3712

Silver Dollar City
Peter Herschend
One Corporate Drive
Branson, MO 65616
800 475-9370
Amusement Parks

Site Oil Company - St. Louis
Alvin J. Siteman, President
50 S. Bemiston
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 725-4321
Oil Company

Southland Corporation
Masatoshi Ito, Chrm.
2711 North Haskell Avenue
Dallas, TX 75221
www.7-eleven.com
Convenience stores

Southwestern Bell Telephone- St. Louis
One Bell Center
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 235-9800
Telecommunications Firm

Sport & Health, Inc.
Don Konz, CEO
1800 Old Meadow Rd.
McLean, Virginia 22102
(703) 556-6556
Health clubs and fitness centers

Sprint Corp PAC
William T. Esrey, Chrm., Pres. & CEO 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Westwood, KS 66205
913 624-3000
Telecommunicaitons Firm

SSM Health System - St. Louis
477 N. Lindbergh
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 994-7800
Healthcare Company

St. Louis Rams
One Rams Way
Earth City, MO 63045
(314) 982-7267
Pro Football Team

St. Louis University
Rev. Lawrence Biondi, President
221 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 977-2222
Private Catholic University

Stoneyfield Farms Yogurt
Mr. Gary Hirshberg, CEO
10 Burton Drive
Londonderry, NH 03053
(603) 437-7594
Yogurt

Sverdrup Corp.
Richard E. Beumer,
Chairman & CEO
13723 Riverport Drive
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
(314) 436-7600
Engineering Firm

Time Warner Inc.
Gerald M. Levin, Chrm. & CEO
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10019
(212) 364-8300
Publishing, film and music recordings

TMP Worldwide/Monster.Com
Andrew McKelvey, CEO
1633 Broadway, 33rd Fl.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-977-4200
Fax: 212-956-2142
online employment service

Unity Health - St. Louis
1650 Des Peres Road #301
St. Louis, MO 63131
(314) 909-3300
Healthcare Company

Working Assets
Peter Barnes, Founder
701 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 788-0777

Publication and Media Outlets
The following publications and media outlets have assisted in the attack on Second Amendment rights. The editorial policies of some of the media sources listed portray firearms in a negative manner in an attempt to generate public support for restrictions on firearms ownership. Others have refused some or all of NRA`s advertisements.

Capital Cities/ABC
Television Network
77 W. 66th Street
New York, NY 10023-6298
(212) 456-7777

Bell Atlantic-D.C.
2055 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 392-9900

Blue Chip Stamps
15801 S. Eastern Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90040
(213) 720-4600

The Christian Publishing Society
The Christian Science Monitor
One Norway Street
Boston, MA 02115
(508) 586-6200

Columbia Broadcasting Service
CBS Television Network
51 W. 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 975-4321

Corporation For Public Broadcasting/ PBS Television
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314-1698
(703) 739-5000
(703) 739-0775 - Fax

Cox Newspapers
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credibank Towers, Suite 400
2800 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 576-7678

Gannett News Service
USA Today
1000 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22229
(703) 276-5806

Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.
Ebony Magazine
820 S. Michigan avenue
Chicago, IL 60605-2190
(312) 322-9250

Knight-Ridder Newspapers
Detroit Free-Press
321 W. LaFayette Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48231
(313) 222-6400

Miami Herald
One Herald Plaza
Miami, FL 33132-1683
(305) 350-2111

Los Angeles Times
Times Mirror Square
Los Angeles, California 90053
(213) 237-4511
(213) 237-7679 - Fax

McCall`s Magazine
110 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017-5603
(212) 463-1000

Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine
Emap PLC
6420 Wilshire Blvd., Floor 17
Los Angeles, California 90048
(323) 782-2000

National Broadcasting Company
NBC Television Network
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
(212) 664-4444

Newsweek, Inc.
Newsweek Magazine
444 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022-6999
(212) 350-4000

Rolling Stone Magazine
Jann Wenner, Chrm. & CEO
745 5th, Avenue
New York, NY 10151
(212) 758-3800

The New York Times Corporation
The New York Times
229 W. 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 556-1234

Time Magazine
Time & Life Building
Rockefeller Center
New York, NY 10020
(212) 522-1212

Times-Mirror Corporation
The Los Angeles Times
Times Mirror Square
Los Angeles, CA 90053
(213) 237-3000

The Baltimore Sun
501 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21278
(301) 332-6300

The Tribune Company
Chicago Tribune
435 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 227-3000

Washington Post
1150 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20071
(202) 334-6000

Compiled by:
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Man the Toolmaker or the Tool?

 When I first began my studies in anthropology, I took a course in the introduction to archaeology. One of the assigned textbooks was Man the Toolmaker by Kenneth Page Oakley. One of the points I remember and carry with me to this day is how man's adaption to his/her environment through the emergence of technological development and evolution radically altered our evolutionary course.

About the same time I would also read Marshall McLuhan's The Media is the Message which makes a similar point. Reflecting on the recent events surrounding the pre Christmas 2012 massacre at the Sand Hook Elementary School in Newtown Ct. I could not but think back on these books and what they have to say about man and his tools. Especially that most sacred, to some, tool in American culture, the GUN.


A gun is a tool. It is a sophisticated, powerful instrument designed to throw stones -- albeit today's stones come with extra launching power, specialized shapes, configurations, etc. to improve their accuracy, lethality, and impact. Interestingly while civilians arm themselves with increasingly lethal guns -- police authorities are attempting to arm themselves with non-lethal weapons such as stun-guns, Tasers (http://www.taser.com/training/taser-training), mase, tear gas, water cannon etc. for crowd and situation control.

The problem we face with guns is that they are easy, relatively cheap, and require minimum training to operate (like a hammer or a remote control). (And very profitable for those who sell and market them). At the same time, the responsible use, proper handling, and effective application of the tool in dealing with human relations is far more complex, complicated and dangerous for both the person with the gun and the target.

It is for this reason that this particular "tool" needs to be regulated, the operator qualified and licensed, the liabilities of ownership (legal control over the tool) specifically assigned and those responsible made accountable for the results of the use and misuse of the tool. We do this for automobiles, construction equipment, airplanes, medical devices, manufacturing equipment,etc.

There is a positive side to the story. The NRA and like organizations began and still play an important part in filling this gap by addressing the training and education needs and issues. http://www.nrahq.org/history.asp. However, there is another side to the story.

In the USA, the 2nd Amendment argument is used to hide the fact that gun ownership is being used and has been since the 1970s as a wedge issue by the extremist of both right and left to justify arming themselves against civil authority. See for example: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/09/the-secret-history-of-guns/308608/

Like Grover Norquist, who would "destroy" big government by demanding a pledge of "no new Taxes" with the threat of punishment for failing to keep that pledge, the radical wing of the NRA 2nd Amendment agenda has a pledge. See: http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2012/12/19/my-personal-pledge-of-resistance-against-any-attemp-to-disarm-us-by-means-of-an-assault-weapons-ban/?cp=1

Finally, there is the 1984 Double Think marketing strategy of the NRA which seems to have as its goal to rewrite, - in the mind of the public - , Article 1 of the Constitution of the United State which states.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

They are doing this by claiming the 2nd Amendment is America's First Freedom http://www.nrapublications.org/index.php/first-freethisdom/. The Official position of the NRA would appear to add the qualifier "unless you have a gun."

We have seen this in the virulent, hate talk on the Internet and in the media against Bob Costas' and Pierce Morgan's recent statements about the official NRA reaction to Sandy Hook. The official denial of the fact that "guns" could be a proximate cause of the deaths or any of hundreds of other accidents, suicides, murders, and massacres points the disconnect between the fundamental founding purpose of the NRA and the extreme political agenda of today's leadership.

From an anthropological perspective: How and Why has this happened? Is it cultural or social evolution at the Superorganic level (e.g.Toynbee, Spencer, Kroeber, White)? Or is it just a psychological response to the forces of modernization, alienation, and isolation producing an irrational fear of our socio/cultural environment that we once held toward our physical environment? 


See also
A Modest Proposal: A Market Solution to Gun Control
Promoting change in America's Gun Culture 

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Worst College Major or A Life-style Choice

A recent article on Forbes Magazine's website is entitled "The 10 Worst College Majors". In the article Forbes found that the number 1 worst college major, from a career point of view, is anthropology and archaeology. Forbes reports

Unemployment rate for *recent grads: 10.5%
Median earnings for recent grads: $28,000

Unemployment rate for *experienced grads: 6.2%
Median earnings for experienced grads: $47,000

*Recent college graduates are ages 22 to 26, and experienced workers are ages 30 to 54

The question is often asked, "What can the profession do to demonstrate the relevance of Anthropology in today's marketplace?" This is a persistent question about a chronic problem facing the discipline and profession. Why is that so? Could it be that we are asking the wrong question or maybe starting from the wrong perspective?

The answer seems to me to be that the profession must become more open minded about what its product is and how it can be used. Who and what is an anthropologist? And we need to be realistic about what anthropology can and can not do. And then, we must address the basic question: Who and where are our customers/clients?

We need to start by realizing that anthropology offers a service product and that services require a Push marketing Strategy. That is, the profession must start first by identifying the market rather than focusing solely its product. Part of that process would be to stop asking questions such as "What can we do to demonstrate the relevance of Anthropology in today's marketplace?" and instead ask "What can we do to understand the relevance of Anthropology in today's marketplace?" The underlying reality is "Who needs anthropology or archaeology?"

At one time it was an avocation which evolved into an occupation and a career in the academy and in museums. There was a need to train people to fill those spots. Those days are over.

To begin with we should recognize that today, Anthropology has become a life style choice and not just a career choice. If Anthropology is to continue to be a career choice, we need to know as a profession, and at the anthropology departmental level where the real decisions are being made, the answers to the following questions: 1. How does today's service market work? 2. Where are the opportunities to be found for the skills and special knowledge that anthropology offers? 3. Who is our competition and where does our competition lies? And most of all, 4. What competitive advantage do we offer our students and society at each level in the training of students? That is, Is it only at the PhD level, or does this competitive advantage also exist at the BA/BS and MA/MS levels?

Applied anthropology is a very promising and potential area for graduates with an anthropology major. Yet we have not effectively exploited it.

Within anthropology, we talk only about the ideal research/academic career as the legitimate post graduation career path. Today that path is expensive for the individual. It is expensive both in terms of the financial costs of earning a PhD (required for an academic career) and the tremendous loss of potential opportunity and income deferred to carry out the PhD educational program. Yet the rewards are certainly not worth the effort when measured in the traditional standards that Forbes is employing. They may however be very value on a personal level. That is, a poor career choice but a desirable or acceptable life style choice.

For the profession and its organizations, there is a real need to market anthropology as a realistic option for solving the problems facing potential employers and their clients/customers We need to reach out to the non-academic communities, find out what training students require to fit into real areas of professional service, and adapt our curriculum to meet these needs. Here medical and educational anthropology might serve as models for such efforts. Learning the language of these professions and using it, instead of speaking in "academese" and expecting the others to understand us, would also help.

This may sound like a prescription for vocational training and not for serious liberal arts and scientific preparation. I would argue that this is not the case. It is less about changing the curriculum to dumb down the skills and knowledge and more about changing the questions and perspectives in how those skills and knowledge are to be applied in today's world. Anthropology is the only social science with a holistic perspective focused on the human species, its condition, and it role in the world. No other discipline has this, though many are beginning to realize its importance in today's global community.

After more than a half century as an applied anthropologist, it strikes me as unfathomable why the profession still has not made the corporate decision to become proactive in promoting our science and our students in the "real" world. It certainly is not for lack of effort. Over the years many of us, individuals trained in anthropology, have found and create niches for ourselves outside of the academy. Yet, when we have attempted to share our experience with our academic colleagues, we have not been recognized or accepted as 'real" anthropologists.

Further, there seems to be a cultural bias within anthropology toward the prestige of the PhD academic career, which combines with a prejudice against those anthropology students who have not sought and/or not obtained the PhD degree and employment in the academy. The latter are treated as being somehow incomplete. Maybe it is because the latter lack of traditional ritual of the "vision quest" or field experience which is part of the PhD rite of passage. Maybe it is that such preparation is considered the critical distinction between an Anthropologist and other students who happened to major in anthropology. Maybe this is why they are considered incomplete and therefore unqualified be be called "anthropologist."

It is true, especially in today's higher education economy, that undergraduates contribute significantly to the financing of departmental operations at all levels. Right now 90+% of those who take anthropology courses support the department and thereby enabling the 10 % who want go on for a PhD, to be taught and supported. For most of those undergraduates, anthropology is a life style choice and never a career one.

Unlike the 1960s and early 1970s, today's supply of PhDs far exceeds the demand. Of those who earn their PhD, only an estimated 10% will find a full time position upon completing their degree in the traditional academic or museum departments. Given these odds, is there really any question why Forbes comes up with its conclusion? We face a supple and demand problem.

Unless the profession is prepared to actively create demand and promote the discipline and its product in the wider community, "anthropology," as an academic discipline, will remain more of a live style choice than a career choice for most undergraduate and graduate students it recruits at the university level.



Thursday, October 4, 2012

What If They Began the 21st Century and Forget to Invite Anthropology


"Suppose They Began the Twenty-First Century and Forgot to Invite Anthropology"
first published October 13, 2011

In 1973, Thomas Weaver of the University of Arizona organized a symposium in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings to be held in San Francisco in February 1974. The theme/ title, "Anthropology in the 1990's: Conditions, Needs, and Prospects." with the subtitle "Suppose They Began the Twenty-First Century and Forgot to Invite Anthropology!!!" One of the people Weaver called upon was Dr. Edward H. Spicer, a fellow colleague from the University of Arizona and the President of American Anthropological Association, for his observations and thought about the future for cultural anthropology.

As reported by his widow in 1994, (Spicer, Rosamond 1994 Human Organization, Vol. 53. No. 4, pp. 388 - 395), Spicer took the assignment with the same degree of seriousness and dedication that he had displayed through out his professional career. He saw it as an opportunity to share his thoughts and impressions of the profession and in particular, to speculate on where he saw the profession going. On February 28, 1974, he presented his paper entitled, "Anthropology in the society of the 1990s".

Edward H. Spicer was a both a humanist and scientist whose work spans the traditional four field of anthropology, and who played a significant role in the formation and development of the fifth field, Applied Anthropology. Spicer taught those of us fortunate to be his student to appreciate and understand the connection between a people’s past, their present, and how these shaped their future. In his paper on that February day in 1974, he outlined 5 trends in the social and cultural environment that he felt would shape the next 20 years for professional anthropology.

Twenty years later, in 1994, the paper was republished in Human Organization with a forward by his widow, Rosamond Spicer, under the title, "Reassessing Edward Spicer's Views on Anthropology in the Society of the 1990s: How and Why This Paper by Edward H. Spicer Was Written" From her forward, we can gain an insight into Ned's thinking and approach to the future.

In 1974, Spicer envision five major societal trends that would impact the development of the profession leading toward the 1990s were the following:

(1) increasing intercommunication among the peoples of the world;

(2) increasing occupational specialization with accompanying organic differentiation within societies;

(3) increasing failure of technological solutions for the resolution of human problems in acceptable ways;

(4) increasing assertion and self-expression of ethnic groups within nation-states; and

(5) increasing reaction against centralization in political and administrative structures.

He stated "In general, continuation of these trends will, I believe, result in a society more heterogeneous than it was in the 19th or any previous century, more aware of its heterogeneity, with stronger than ever tendencies to compartmentalization, with increased awareness of and interest in non-technological and non-economic factors affecting human life, and with a growing tendency to view the nation-state in a wholly new light, especially with reference to its ethnic components and its political and administrative units." (p. 389)

Now nearly 40 years later, it might be worth considering just how prescient Ned’s predictions were for the 1990s and for the 21st Century.

Was he right? Partially right? Or, Did he miss the mark?

What are your thoughts?

Friday, September 28, 2012

Vicos - Mythical or Pragamatic Theory of Controlled Change

   In a recent article in the Anthropological News  Eric B. Ross presents an interesting analysis of one of the classic cases in applied anthropology. He places the Vicos project into its contemporary context and observes that,
"In time, the Cornell-Peru (Vicos) Project became one of anthropology’s fabled stories of how to induce change in the Third World."
He refers to Vicos as the theory of “Controlled Change” applied, in 1950s, to counterinsurgency Peru.

  The question raised here is about anthropology's involvement in national security policies and implementation. This involvement has been well documented elsewhere  e.g. Social History of Anthropology in the U.S. by Thomas C. Patterson and Threatening Anthropology: McCarthyism and the FBI’s Surveillance of Activist Anthropologists by David H. Price, among others. Applied anthropology was born in and of conflict -- the conflict of colonialism, and especially WWII. The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) for example, was born in 1941.

    As a student of the Vicos project, and a Peace Corps Volunteer who trained at Cornell and served in Peru during the early 1960s, I have found that the idea that the Vicos project was some type of Utopian anthropological experiment very idealistic.

    The events and the spirit of the period were fueled by the onset and heightening of the Cold War during the post WWII period, the wars of national liberation and anti-colonialism, the Indochina/Viet Nam War, the Sputnik threat, the Bay of Pigs invasion and subsequent the Cuban Missile Crisis. This makes the idea that an isolated pristine social science experiment could be conducted in isolation a fantasy of the time.

    Vicos represented one theory that a non-military strategy of community development and modernization might be an alternative to strategies of military counterinsurgency or civil war. The idea of winning the hearts and minds does stand in direct conflict with the idea of a military solution. However, this strategy has continued to be applied in Viet Nam and more recently in the Middle East in different forms. It is recognized that after any military action there is still the problem of nation building, political stabilization, and reconciliation. Today there is a debate about the role of anthropologists in Human Terrain Analysis, the latest attempt at developing a theory of controlled change

    The question anthropologists must answer for themselves and as a profession, "Is this something we want to be involved in; and Is there anything that we really have to contribute?"