October 6, 2006

“There’ve been times that I’ve thought I couldn’t last for long But now I think I’m able to carry on It’s been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come” – Sam Cooke

Dear family & friends,

With Sam Cooke’s lyrics on my mind, I ran my “Marathon for Peace” Sunday October 1. I finished under my four-hour goal time (3:54:47), and raised over $2,000 (and counting) for War Times/Tiempo de Guerras special in-print issue. Big thanks to all of you who gave this effort so much encouragement and support.

It was my 21st marathon, run in good weather on a scenic double-loop course in Sacramento. I ran an even-paced race, covering the first half in 1:57:24 and the second half in 1:57:23, with the last mile my fastest of the day. (Average pace for the 26.2 miles: 8 minutes, 57 seconds per mile.) Ellen was there to greet me at the finish line, which always gives me extra motivation to hustle those last few miles.

The fall 2006 free issue of War Times/Tiempo de Guerras came off the press in mid-September. Tens of thousands of copies have already been distributed in 45 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. (The issue is available for viewing or download on the War Times website, go to http://www.war-times.org and look in the “new downloads” section on the top of the homepage.)

It’s not too late to order a bundle to give to friends, family and co-workers: e-mail distribution@war-times.org with your request (multiples of 25 copies please). It’s also not too late to make a donation to help cover the costs of the issue (and support my Marathon for Peace): you can make a tax-deductible donation on-line at http://war-times.org or send a check to War Times, c/o P.O. Box 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662.

And it is certainly not too late to raise your voice in the way you think best against military occupation, racism and war. These are difficult times – and if a change is gonna come, it will take all our efforts to bring it about.

Thanks again, all my best, peace,

Max

—— Marathon for Peace/’Revolution in the Air’ Update

“I was born by the river in a little tent And just like the river, I’ve been running ever since It’s been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come.” – Sam Cooke

Dear family & friends,

“A Change Is Gonna Come” was one of my favorite anthems back in the 1960s. Its words seem just as relevant and urgent today. None of us can sing like Sam Cooke. But we can still raise our less-melodic voices loudly against Washington’s agenda of permanent war, empire building, and racism at this urgent moment.

To amplify the call for peace and justice, the project I’ve devoted most of my activist energy to over the last few years, War Times/Tiempo de Guerras, is about to publish 100,000 copies of a special, free, bilingual print tabloid for distribution across the country (see details below).

And I’m running my next marathon to help make this project a success.

This will be my 21st marathon since I first ran the 26.2-mile distance in 1995. I’m not as fast as I was when I qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon in 2000. But I can still come in under four hours and I was 6th out of 30 runners in the 55-59-year-old-male age group in my most recent race. I hope to do as well this coming October 1 in the Sacramento Cowtown Marathon (just a few miles from where I ran my first marathon, the California International, 11 years ago).

I’ll have maximum motivation with your help and support. There are many ways you could push me on my way:

*Distribute a copy of War Times/Tiempo de Guerras for every mile I run – you can get a free bundle of 25 by writing distribution@war-times.org

*Donate a dollar (or more) for each mile of the race; you can make your tax-deductible donation on-line at http://war-times.org or send a check to War Times, c/o P.O. Box 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662.)

*Take the morning while I’m running – or any other four hours – to act for peace in whatever way you think best, or donate four hours pay to the antiwar organization or project of your choice.

I also want to let you know that after two hardcover printings, a paperback edition of my book ‘Revolution in the Air’ will come off the press this October. The paperback includes a new preface offering some thoughts on what this history looks like (and what it might imply for radical action) from the vantage point of the post-9/11 world. I hope you will find it of interest; more details will be posted at http://www.revolutionintheair.com in October.

It is a privilege and source of hope to be connected to so many wonderful people in these difficult times. I hope you are well, thanks for any support you can provide this Marathon-for-Peace effort.

Peace,

Max