Posts with the tag Human rights

Burmese Karen refugees seek human rights in Pittsburgh

Pat from Pittsburgh, PA — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:09:37 EST

Today is International Human Rights Day. It marks the 61st anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948. The declaration recognizes that all people – including you – possess certain absolute human rights and that we all must protect those rights. Every nation in the world has since accepted its principles of justice and equality for each of us. Unfortunately, fifty Burmese Karen refugee families in Pittsburgh feel that those rights have eluded them.

CONTINUE . . . . http://www.examiner.com/x-14931-Pittsburgh-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Burmese-Karen-refugees-seek-human-rights-in-Pittsburgh

1 Year

Susie Keeney Edwards — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:32:47 EST

Wow,
I can't believe that only one year ago, we began our new journey of continuing the real work of America: creating a society in which everyone has the same opportunities and rights, as well as becoming a good world neighbor once again.

We still have a long way to go, but we have a really good start, thanks to the hard work of Barack Obama & his staff.

My belief is that everyone in the world has a human right to food, shelter, clothing, education & healthcare. When those essential human rights are achieved by working together for everyone's good, we shall see an end to violence & crime against each other.

We are all from the same family...the human family. Let's keep up the good work!

Human Rights & Health Care Reform

Dr. Julien Arbor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:35:27 EDT

Hello:

My name is Dr. Julien Arbor and I have an Acquired Brain Injury that was the result of such over-the-top medical malpractice and human rights violations that it is inconceivable to me that such a thing would occur in the United States!

A bit about my background:

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in Health Psychology, experience in evaluating and working with patients with TBI, a Wellness Counselor, a Natural Healing Consultant, a Researcher, an Author, and a 7 year Volunteer Health Educator & Moderator for one of the largest natural health websites on the internet.

I am also currently disabled and dealing with the challenges of a form of TBI known as an Acquired Brain Injury. The circumstances surrounding the development of my ABI have provided a tremendous opportunity to conduct extensive research that indicates that the psychiatric diagnosis of PTSD is actually a form of an Acquired Brain Injury that results from an acute and severe metabolic disruption that is brought about purely by extreme and traumatic stress. I have done an extensive review of the scientific literature and also gathered data for the past year and will be completing a single case research study as soon as I have undergone my own treatment and rehabilitation that will allow me return to work.

There is already considerable research that demonstrates changes in brain structure in those who have been diagnosed with PTSD. However, this will be the first study that provides quantitative evidence that suggests that it is an underlying metabolic disruption following extreme and traumatic stress that results in damage to the brain. Furthermore, this research also points to treatments that will successfully address the symptoms, halt their progression and also suggests a means of preventing this condition from developing.

This research will also suggest an explanation for connections between a diagnosis of PTSD &/or TBI and a growing number of life-altering, chronic and costly health conditions that are highly correlated later in life such as depression, emotional challenges, hypoglycemia, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, epilepsy, headaches, migraines, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, debilitating fatigue, sensory changes, aggressive behavior, weight problems, skin conditions, hormonal imbalances, sexual dysfunction, respiratory problems, cognitive and memory impairments, substance abuse, skin conditions, balance and gait disturbances, increased susceptibility to infection and cancer. This will point to a large number of additional areas for research as a follow up to this study.

I am also devising a safe, natural, effective and cost-efficient treatment protocol that is a truly holistic integration of mind-body medicine in order to address the underlying metabolic dysfunction as well as address the resulting brain damage.

Yes we can be inspired!

Unknown user — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:07:56 EDT

About The new Quebec ethic and religious culture issue.

Going against the will of the people and parents concerned, the government of Quebec requires all children in Quebec to follow a new religious and moral state curriculum! This is called the new compulsory " Ethics and religious culture curriculum"

We believe this violates the law and international agreements. Parents are currently before the courts to enforce their rights. Thousands of parents are demanding respect for their rights, universal rights!

«Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.» (art. 26.3 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

«The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.» (art 18.4 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)

Things must change here too!

We can help parents by donation through the Canadian Constitution Foundation Make sure to select the cause: Religious Freedom/Liberté religieuse - challenging Quebec's mandatory ERC/ÉCR course

Quebecers must be inspired by the will and the hope represented by Barack Obama to change things about the tyranny of the Quebec government to impose this new religion state course.

THE ONGOING SUFFER OF WOMEN IN THE WORLD... ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN IRAN

Alp Icoz, M.A. @ JOURNALTA — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:53:37 EDT

"In religiously conservative countries, the situation of women is really bad. In fact, most of the women are in similar conditions and suffer from the torturing life style that the men enforce in their countries. It is really sad to see how the men-created regimes based on religion affect the lives of women, children and youth... Why do women as the creatures of a secondary gender (!) need rights and equality that men have? There are millions of dangerously narrow minded men and ignorantly victimized women who still ask this question and cannot understand the concept of 'female' who has mutual rights of co-existing genders that were divinely created. What a double standard of an egoist mentality!!! The problems of women in the conservatively governed and male-centered countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey (partially), and more ---no matter what religion their demagogy, narrow mindedness and poor judgment is serving ... The suffer of women and children all around the world is still the bleeding wound of mankind in the 21st century..."

Alp Icoz, M.A.

Obama's Congo and Sudan Foreign Policy Still Challenged

Franklin Katunda — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:36:35 EDT

We begin with an email letter from a friend=advocate for the DR Congo to web-editor Franklin Katunda:

Hi Franklin,

I saw that you are advocating for the Congo and enjoyed reading what you wrote. I lived in Goma, DRC, and worked with HEAL Africa (www.healafrica.org) for two years. It is an organization started by a Congolese orthopedic surgeon and has over 200 Congolese on staff. There are four of us here in the States now working for HEAL Africa and getting the word out about what our Congolese colleagues are doing amidst war. I also saw that you mentioned Friends of the Congo and they are one of our partners here in the States. I will actually be moderating a panel at their event this Sunday after the performance of the play "Ruined" in NYC. You can find more info here:http://www.friendsofthecong...

Anyways, just wanted to make the connection. Hope that you are doing well and continuing to spread the word about the hope and potential in the Congo.

Take Care,

Harper

harper@healafrica.org

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Response from Franklin

Thank you so much Harper for what you are doing in the DR Congo, helping with the Congolese surgeons.

I will be publishing more and will share it with Organizing for America" members of my group. President Obama said during the campaign: " We are the change we have been waiting for", and I strongly believe it is as we move forward with the foreign policy agenda of our country towards Africa in general and the DR Congo in particular. The US-Africa foreign policy was too long tainted while dealing with the conflicts in Sudan and the DR Congo. We were not able to help resolve these conflicts for too long.

President Bush supported for the past 4 years term, a Rwandan president whose troops invaded a sovereign country (the Democratic Republic of Congo). Kagame spoke at a DC press conference, called by "Voice of America" government radio that " it was necessary" for Rwanda (his troops) to go into (invade) the Congo", because he believed his own people, "Hutu tribe members" who found refuge in the eastern province of Kivu (DR Congo). According to him, the hutu were preparing attacks in Rwandan territory (which never happened).

Since the invasion of the DR Congo, Rwanda curiousely produces and sells minerals such the 3 T's and other gold, diamonds they don't produce(officially). Most of their shipments started their journey from the Congo's cities (where the war takes place) in route these convoys head to Kigali International Airport, Rwanda where they are cargoed overseas to Asia, Europe and US corporations. Supplies from the Congo's war zones help manufacturers make electronics components, jewelry and weapons...

Kagame = Saddam Hussein as far as being a terrorist; he is also a war criminal and a sponsor of terrorism in DR Congo. The only difference in between the two is that the later invaded Kuwait, was punished by the US, and removed by force. The first one has been a friend of the Bush administration. He is still in power even after he invaded the DR Congo, he always had a free pass from the US, even after a UN account established his troops raped and killed many and caused the mass killings of thousands of inoncent civilians in Congo's cities.

Madam Secretary Clinton and President Obama should be held accountable in the way they will enforce the senate-enacted policy in regard to the DR Congo; i'm talking about the S-2125 Senate Bill on Security, Devevelopment and Governance in DR Congo; Activists have to push a pressure and checks, as far as to see if they (the administration) will be diligently helping to stop this humanitarian disaster, the violation of human rights and human dignity.

We, supporters of the campaign that elected President Obama have a solemn obligation to establish a "check-and-balance" on the current administration and Congress in order to change our foreign policy towards Congo and Sudan. I said it before: the appointment of Johnnie Carson at the State department's african affairs, the appointment of a new US ambassador to China, was, to my sense a key to enleash a new strategy in dealing with instability in these two countries in which China has strenghten diplomatic and economic relationships. Sudan welcomed chinese businesses at an increasing level, while the chinese entrepreneurs are road and infrastructure builders in the DR Congo. Where is the United States "economically" and "strategically" in these countries?

How would the Obama administration through its State Department engage China in regards to Sudan and Congo? How would Clinton deal with strong-tied US corporations that are playing the same role as China in these countries economies? What is the fine line between opening business deals with governments of Sudan and Congo that are violating human rights?

The Sudan's region of darfur and the Eastern Congo's conflicts have been out there for too long. It's time to end them by obtaining a firm commitment from China to play a crucial role to substantiate our cooperation and aid to sound governance, and observance of human rights.... America needs to turn the page on its past mistakes dealing with Africa. Secretary Clinton should really take advantage of her trip to Africa and really come back with a clear differentiation between the Continent as a whole and its Respective Nations (52 countries) , its economic realities, our interests within each one of them, and the geopolitics and various cultures Africa has. Those who committed crimes should not be in power, they should be prosecuted in court, and the Obama administration should acknowledge the ICC (International Court) for its role in doing just that in Africa.

We are watching this 11 days trip to 7 African countries: (KENYA, SOUTH AFRICA, ANGOLA, DR CONGO, NIGERIA, LIBERIA AND CAPE VERDE)....Not a mention about RWANDA and SUDAN amazingly...but happily Cape Verde long time ignored, Cape Cerde has been on the growth's path and has observed sound democracy... This small African island-country with powerful lobbying immigrant networks in most American cities. Nigeria and Angola's economies deserve support from the US and conflicts in Kenya and DR Congo should appaul the world and South Africa should be teamed up with to help prevent HIV/AIDS and apply some better application models in prevention in other African nations as well.

I'm Franklin Katunda, an Obama surrogate and I approve this message.

Check my latest news article on the DR Congo news at www.congoboston.com

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN’S PERSECUTION OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES - ISLAMIC APARTHEID

Unknown user — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:37:34 EDT

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN’S PERSECUTION OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES - ISLAMIC APARTHEID

In General, Christians, Baha’i, Kurds, Jews, Azeris, Baluchis, Ahwazi Arabs

Again, religious persecution in Iran
February 20, 2009
Ethel C. Fenig
As Thomas Lifson noted yesterday Iranian authorities destroyed a Sufi holy site, continuing their practice of pressuring and discriminating against religions that do not strictly follow the Shi’ite form of Islam. But the Sufis are not the only religious minority suffering discrimination in Iran.

The 2500 year old Jewish community, which numbered over 80,000 thirty years ago at the time of the Khoemeni Revolution which overthrew the Shah, has dwindled to about 20,000. Those remaining Jews live restricted personal and religious lives, always under suspicion of being traitors for pro “Zionist” activities.
Despite the official distinction between “Jews,” “Zionists,” and “Israel,” the most common accusation the Jews encounter is that of maintaining contacts with Zionists. The Jewish community does enjoy a measure of religious freedom but is faced with constant suspicion of cooperating with the Zionist state and with “imperialistic America” — both such activities are punishable by death. Jews who apply for a passport to travel abroad must do so in a special bureau and are immediately put under surveillance. The government does not generally allow all members of a family to travel abroad at the same time to prevent Jewish emigration. Again, the Jews live under the status of dhimmi, with the restrictions im posed on religious minorities. Jewish leaders fear government reprisals if they draw attention to official mistreatment of their community.

Iran’s official government-controlled media often issues anti-Semitic propaganda. A prime example is the government’s publishing of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a notorious Czarist forgery, in 1994 and 1999.2 Jews also suffer varying degrees of officially sanctioned discrimination, particularly in the areas of employment, education, and public accommodations.The Islamization of the country has brought about strict control over Jewish educational institutions. Before the revolution, there were some 20 Jewish schools functioning throughout the country. In recent years, most of these have been closed down. In the remaining schools, Jewish principals have been replaced by Muslims. In Teheran there are still three schools in which Jewish pupils constitute a majority. The curriculum is Islamic, and Persian is forbidden as the language of instruction for Jewish studies. Special Hebrew lessons are conducted on Fridays by the Orthodox Otzar ha-Torah organization, which is responsible for Jewish religious education. Saturday is no longer officially recognized as the Jewish sabbath, and Jewish pupils are compelled to attend school on that day. There are three synagogues in Teheran, but since 1994, there has been no rabbi in Iran, and the bet din does not function.At least 13 Jews have been executed in Iran since the Islamic revolution 30 years ago, most of them for either religious reasons or their connection to Israel. For example, in May 1998, Jewish businessman Ruhollah Kakhodah-Zadeh was hanged in prison without a public charge or legal proceeding, apparently for assisting Jews to emigrate.Other religious groups are persecuted too. This week Iran admitted that seven Bahai leaders arrested and detained more than eight months ago would be charged with spying for Israel. The Bahai faith, which began in the 19th century in what is now Iran, claims their founder, Baha’a'llah, is the last Moslem prophet, not Mohammed. Bahai’s international headquarters are located in Haifa, Israel where Bahais, along with Moslems and Christians of various backgrounds, plus other religions in addition to Jews can practice freely.This is not true in Iran.Bahais claim 300,000 followers in Iran, but there are no independent statistics on the denomination’s size in the country. The Islamic republic allows Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, who are regarded as members of monotheistic religions, to hold religious gatherings. Bahais are forbidden to hold such meetings, and those who make their faith public are banned from studying at universities serving in the army and working in government offices. The Iranian prosecutors claim“All evidence points to the fact that the Bahai organization is in direct contact with the foreign enemies of Iran,” Dorri-Najafabadi wrote in the letter, (snip) “The ghastly Bahai organization is illegal on all levels, their dependence on Israel has been documented, their antagonism with Islam and the Islamic System is obvious, their danger for national security is proven and any replacement organization must also be dealt with according to the law,”This charge is part of the latest prosecution against Iranian Bahais. The Bahai International Community, which represents members of the faith worldwide, says hundreds of followers have been jailed and some executed in the years since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/again_religious_persecution_in.html

Religious minorities in Iran: Information from Answers.com http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521770734

Iran Minority News
http://iranminoritynews.org/

Middle East Minorities Unite! by Joseph … Iran ’s Islamic republic has created serious problems for the large communities of non-Persian minorities, including the Azeri’s and the Baluchis and is … http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=24209

Q&A: Iran’s Waning Human Rights - New York Times, Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affords legal rights to minorities and minors. Persecution of religious minorities …http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/world/slot1_081006.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Support the Basic Human Right and Need for Privacy

Citizen Greg — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:36:02 EDT

I just got done contacting my senators and congressmen/women and I'd like to know Barack's answer to this question and problem:

"As a citizen, I am glad to see that Government is attempting once again to act in the interest of The People. This would seem a good time to address one of the most inhuman aspects or American government: it's failure to recognize the basic human right to Privacy. At this time, under pressure of threats variously real, imagined, and fabricated, the government is becoming more invasive of citizen's privacy than ever before. And yet, any competant psycholigist or psychiatrist will confirm the basic need for privacy for maintainence of mental health.

What will YOU do to recognize this basic human right and act to make this basic human right and need a major factor in your future work as a representative of The People?"

- Citizen Greg

Peace and Justice: A Choice

StephenD — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:44:55 EDT

Peace and Justice! Boy! Could we use a ladle or two of that!

I am from the United States and contrary to popular belief abroad, I do not espouse to the claims of superiority and world domination. In fact, I think my government is spending an excessive amount on war, not only in terms of money, but also in terms of lives. War is such big business! Gimmee! Gimmee! Gimmee! If it isn't the dominating nation trying to get their hands on what another country has, it's the oppressed nation wanting to be compensated for the injustices perpetrated on their people, or so it would seem. What do you think? I think money and the power of those who have the resources to "save" a nation from themselves would be better spent through peaceful means by promoting the very ideals of equality and human rights they espouse.

God is Love and surely, it is present in all things just misdirected in some. Love is the "Prime Directive" of all of Creation and yes, destruction IS an integral part of the whole. Ideally, you would expect the two to find equilibrium at a natural rate. For every action in Creation, there is an equal reaction. Right? It is the law of equilibrium. The scales will balance out. However, if you try to tip those scales in your favor, you will create a false sense of prosperity. After a period of time you will reap the repercussions as the scales spring back, and they will spring back. Those who play this balancing act are gambling they will come out on top. If only all the people of this world were allowed the same rights and privileges, Peace and Justice would be the norm instead of the brass ring dangling at the end of a stick.

Peace and Harmony is your natural birthright no matter whom or where you are. It is your choice to accept it as part of your lifestyle. You did NOT come into this world wanting to be a bully. THAT is a learned behavior; a choice. You always have a choice. Please! Choose to direct the Love you were created with in a manner that will come back to you at an even more stable rate. By helping others, you are helping yourself. As they say, "What comes around, goes around” BE PATIENT!

Please, take the time to respond no matter how short or long it is. If there is ever to be Peace and Justice in this world, we must interact in a civil and respectful manner. Honoring the opinions and ideals of another is part of bringing about Peace and Justice. Express yourself and allow others to do the same. We are not always going to agree, but through dialogue, we can reach some sort of equilibrium, naturally.

Bagram Prison - Who is in Charge?

Ned Hamson — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:55:14 EDT

If you are in charge Mr. President, why is Department of Justice arguing that things going on at Bagram prison should be kept secret and that those detained there have no rights to anything? If story is wrong, please tell us so. You said things were going to be different. This does not sound different - it has a Bush/Cheney sound to it!

I certainly hope that Amnesty International is exagerating - if not, then what's going on - please?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

LLJ — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:04:00 EST

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed and adopted by the UN General Assembly sixty years ago. Regardless of race, religion, or nationality, all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled to the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in it's thirty articles. Since it's adoption in 1948 the declaration has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Build community by promoting the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...to promote cultural diversity as well as the desire for global cooperation and dialogue between different cultures; Unity and Diversity.

http://www.unesco-club-vienna.org/ ...The UNESCO Clubs movement has developed hand-in-hand with UNESCO since the establishment of the first club in Sendai, Japan, on 19 July 1947.

How the media can help to defend democracy

Andreas Klamm — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:40:52 EST

How the media can help to defend democracy

By Andreas Klamm

New York / London. Since 1984 I am working as a journalist, broadcast journalist and author. Already in the early age of 16 years of age in 1984 I have noticed writing for the paper Daily Mail (Tagespost, Speyer am Rhein, Germany) that the media national and international has a very important role in concern to defend democracy.

Some people in the United States of America know what happened in Germany. In the years 1933 to 1945 people in Germany have suffered a lot because of the tyranny of the Nazi regime and the aftermath of World War II. The time of sorrow was not over in Germany in 1945. From 1945 to 1990 many people in Eastern Germany have suffered until 1989 / 1990 because in Eastern Germany has come to power another dictatorship regime.

Since about 20 years people in Germany and Eastern Germany have a real change to learn what a good democracy could stand for. However as we are all effected by the global financial crisis, global food crisis and many other serious threats we should be aware of the situation not to loose the freedoms and liberties such as granted by the Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the United States of America or as provided in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights proclaimed three years after World War II in New York City by the United Nations (UN, www.un.org ) .

Because of the very special situation that my grandfather, a former FRENCH ARMY OFFICER Haedi Sabaot a FRENCH citizen is missing since 1945 after World War II I have been forced to think different. Already as a teenager I have been concernd about the threat, that France and Germany may could be at war each other again, as it has taken place in World War I and World War II.

For which country should I fight? Against the country where my grandmother Mrs. Martha Kolcaz was born - against Germany? or against the my grandfathers country which is France.

Already in early age I am came to the conclusion that best we can do is to avoid a new war between France and Germany because I could not make a serious decision on which side or which country I should fight for. So I became after serving for 15 months for the "enemy forces" the German airforce a pacifist. Therefore I got in trouble with the German Military Court.

Because the German Military Officers have been not willing to understand, that I am by no means willing to fight against my grandfather, the former FRENCH ARMY OFFICER and French citizen, Mr. Haedi Sabaot or his friends.

Working for democracy, peace and liberty is not always this is and it required that we are willing to work and labor hard to defend democracy, peacce and liberty.

The United States of America (U.S.A.) is known in all the world as the defender of democracy and therefore I do believe that it is important to support "our" U.S. President Barack H. Obama and his wife and even other people such as the journalist, broadcast journalist and author Amy Goodman which can be called a "true voice for peace."

There is no doubt, when the first Afro-American U.S. President of the United States of America got elected in 2008 Barack H. Obama became since he is in office also the most powerful man on this earth. Imagine if only our U.S. President Barack H. Obama would work for democracy, peace, joy, liberty, social welfare and other elementary and important issue. Certainly he would be able to move something but not enough.

Therefore I do believe it is very important that many other people, precious women and men will get involved in the American and international mission to work for democracy, liberty, peace, health care, social welfare and other important issues and will work together for something good.

Amy Goodman a relative of Holocaust victims and a precious journalist and author is one these precious American woman working hard for the freedom of the press, democracy, liberty and peace.

Amy Goodman has received recently in December 2008 the Right Livelihood Award, which is also known as Alternative Nobel Prize.

Producing media or even an independent radio and television news hour is hard labor. However Amy Goodman has seen as some other journalists, broadcast journalists and authors including me, that there must be another answer then war.

Because I have been looking for a way how to avoid war between two or more nations already in 1986 I came to the conclusion that by supporting international understanding we could perhaps contribute a very important work for peace, liberty and democracy.

To work together for something good, for peace, liberty and democracy is a duty to all people even in their own interest.

In these serious and some times in very difficult times there is a job to do for everyone. Every one not only U.S. citizen can get involved in working for democracy, liberty, peace and the recovery of the United States of American and its people and many other people in many different places in this world.

In 1986 I have founded in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom and in the German city of Speyer am Rhein, the international media network IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty, Radio IBS Liberty and IBS Television Liberty.

Radio IBS Liberty
IBS Independent Broadcasting Serivce Liberty

Radio IBS Liberty is an alternative public radio network which has been founded in 1986 in the English city of Leeds in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom and in the German City of Speyer am Rhein, Germany, as as part of IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty. It is an international and inter-cultural media network with about 12 affiliated other television and radio programs and other journalists, broadcast journalists and authors.

Radio IBS Liberty and IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty are independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations in the United Kingdom and in Germany that is known for its liberal political orientation. The public radio network in the United Kingdom, Germany and even other countries; it is operated by the IBS Independent Broadcasting Service media network with support from a small company based in London, Grace MedCare Ltd., United Kingdom and others.

Radio IBS Liberty has its own radio archives, housed in France, United Kingdom, Germany and other countries.

History

Early history

Radio IBS Liberty and IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty which is also known as Radio IBS Leeds, IBS Television Leeds (because of the place of its foundation) was founded in 1986 by the journalist and author of five books Andreas Klamm. He is also known as a pacifist. After the completion of his entire military service with the German Air Force in 1988-1989 for 15 months he filed for conscientious objector status, which was denied by German Military authories. The grandfather of Andreas Klamm is the former FRENCH ARMY OFFICER Haedi Sabaot and a French citizen, which brought the journalist, broadcast journalist and author in a serious conflict and caused him to start to think about the situation what could happen if there would be another war between France and Germany. The French Army Officer Haedi Sabaot is missing since 1945 after World War II. The founder of IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty has joined other conscientious-objectors. Andreas Klamm is working since 1984 as a journalist, broadcast journalist, radio and television producer and author. His grandmother has left in 1950 Germany for ever and became a citizen of AUSTRALIA in the city of Melbourne, State of Victoria.

He believes that international understanding could help to avoid wars and other conflicts.

Recent history, 2000s

Radio IBS Liberty has aired its own television productions from New York City in 2001 / 2002 related to the attacks on the World Trade Center during a special coverage.

Director of IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty and Radio IBS Liberty is since 1986 Andreas Klamm.

In 2000 new radio and television productions called "XXL-info.Compact", "XXL-info. Gesundheit", "XXL-info.Culture" and other programs have been launched and got international attention even in countries such as Japan.

Radio IBS Liberty is also producing educational radio and television programs for an inter-religious understanding such as faith programs about the Jewish, Muslim, Christian faith and religion and others. The idea to produce such programs in the German language and in the English language came through an inspiration through another radio program produced by BBC London (Britsh Broadcasting Cooperation)

In 2006 the co-operation with the international independent media project Libery and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters has been launched and Radio IBS Liberty providing news stories and radio programs in association with Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters.

As in the year of the foundation Radio IBS Liberty is still operating under NO- and even LOW-Budget conditions.

* Radio IBS Liberty, (http://www.radioibsliberty.blogspot.com )
* Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters (www.humanrightsreporters.wordpress.com )

The radio programs have been heard by listeners from about 40 different countries.

Although the situation is quite difficult for the independent radio network during times of a global financial crisis Radio IBS Liberty and IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty are continuing to expand its international services in the English, French and German language.

Programs

Since 1986 Radio IBS Liberty is producing news and information programs which do support international understanding.

In 2000 several new radio and television programs have been launced such as "XXL-info. Compact", "XXL-info. Culture", "XXL-info. Pflege und Soziales", "XXL-info. News", "XXL-info. Special" and others

Since 2006 the radio and television program "Libery and Peace Now!" Human Rights Reporters is produced in co-operation with the international media network "Liberty and Peace Now! Human Rights Reporters"

Most of the radio and television programs a are produced as an independent talk show or program that covers democracy, human rights and justice issues. In many cases the television and radio programs produced on the Radio IBS Liberty / IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty media network are a compilation of news, interviews, and documentaries.

Some of the programs produced by the staff of Radio IBS Liberty and IBS Television Liberty has been aired on different public-access television stations.

Productions in London: Since 2006 many of the radio and television productions by Radio IBS Liberty, IBS Television Liberty, the IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty are produced in London, United Kingdom, Paris (France) and close to the city of Ludwigshafen (Germany).

All radio productions are available as mp3-files /wav-files for people which want to order the productions (the fees for DVD´s and delivery have to be paid), as Radio IBS Liberty is operating its international radio and television productions under NO- and / or LOW-Budget conditions.

Stations

Radio IBS Liberty, IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty
Station Dial Number Location

Radio IBS Liberty (EN) London, United Kingdom
Radio IBS Liberty (DE) Speyer, Ludwigshafen,Germany
Radio IBS Liberty (DE) until 1990 105,4 FM Public Access Ludwigshafen,Germany

Board of directors, Radio IBS Liberty, international service

* Radio IBS Liberty Andreas Klamm

See also

* Radio4all.net (www.radio4all.net )

Further reading

* Klamm, Andreas, Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters, Edition 2008, No. 1, Human Rights, abuses and violations of Human Rights, international understanding: Books on Demand Gmbh (Germany); Edition 1 (October / November 2008), Language: English / German, bi-lingual, ISBN-10: 3-8370-7243-6 , ISBN-13: 978-3-8370-7243-3 The
* Klamm, Andreas, Liberty, Peace and Media: Amy Goodman And The Freedom Of The Press - Excellent journalists in extraordinary times, Books on Demand Gmbh; Paris, (France); (February 2009), Language: English / German, bi-lingual, ISBN-10: 2-8106-0269-7 , ISBN-13: 978-2-8106-0269-8

References

* IBS Liberty, IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty
( http://ibsliberty.wordpress.com )
* Radio IBS Liberty (www.radioibsliberty.blogspot.com)
* IBS TV Liberty (CH 1)- ( www.ibstvliberty.blogspot.com )
* IBS TV Liberty (CH 2) - ( www.ibstvliberty.wordpress.com )
* IBS TV and Radio Productions by journalist, broadcast journalist and author Andreas Klamm on You Tube.com ( www.youtube.com/andreasklamm )
* / Radio IBS Liberty, Productions on Radio 4 all ( http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/contributor/3628 )
* IBS Television Liberty, IBS Indpendent Broadcasting Service Liberty (www.ibstelevision.com )
* IBS Television Liberty on indieTV.tv ( http://35sm.0816studios.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29116&Itemid=0 )

External links

* Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters (www.menschenrechtsreporter.blogspot.com )
* 3mnewswire.org sharing programs with Radio IBS Liberty (www.3mnewswire.org )
* IBS TV Liberty on Twitter.com (www.twitter.com/IBSTVLiberty )
* Radio Indy Media (http://radio.indymedia.org/en/node/17034)
* Pressemitteilung Right Livelihood Award - Radio IBS Liberty Interview
(http://pressemitteilung.ws/node/140533 )
* Amy Goodman - Videos ( http://www.livevideo.com/media/tag/amy-goodman.aspx )
* Christian Radio Stations ( http://www.webring.com/hub?ring=christianinterne )
* Programs on Podbean ( http://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail?pid=22823 )

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_IBS_Liberty

With additional information provided.

Radio IBS Liberty
IBS Independent Broadcasting Service Liberty
Februar 2009
London, United Kingdom

Two journalists laboring hard for democracy: The award winning, journalist brodcast journalist and author Amy Goodman from Democracy NOW! on www.democracynow.org (right) which has received in December 2008 in the city of Stockholm in Sweden the Right Livelihood Award as known as the alternative Nobel Prize and the journalist, broadcast journalist and author Andreas Klamm (left) from Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters on www.humanrightsreporters.wordpress.com.

Amy Goodman is the first journalist which has received the alternative Nobel Prize, the Right Livelihood Award which is given by the Right Livelihood Foundation and Mr. Jakob von Uxekuell which used to be member of the European parliament.

I do believe that Amy Goodman is one of the world best journalists, broadcast journalist and authors and a good American citizen which is laboring hard for a good democracy. The television and radio program Democracy NOW! which Amy Goodman presents with Juan Gonzalez is excellent. In December 2008 we had a chance to meet in Stockholm in Sweden. It is a great honor to meet a precious woman and journalist like Amy Goodman is one.

Andreas Klamm, Journalist, broadcast journalist and author

Human Rights and our Partner in Trade - China

Tom Awtry — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:43:40 EST

We as a developed nation must recognize, along with adhere to the absolute enforcement of international treaties and agreements and above all only engage in business practices with countries subscribing to UN recognized policies regarding the issue of Human Rights in all countries.

China is one of our strongest “trading” partners and will become stronger in the coming years, but it is my feeling during these unforeseen and unfortunate economic times this is a good time for us as Americans to recalibrate our relationship of trade with China and demand a stronger adherence to the human rights issues, which we dismiss so easily.

China, as noted in my blog here, doesn’t seem to mind letting its intentions known as far as becoming a stronger more active player in the world’s economic scheme of conferences and policies. Also, they don’t seem to concerned amount manipulating its currency, again as noted in a blog posted here.

Furthermore, we as a country have to careful being extremely astute in these economic times since we depend on China as one of our biggest creditor’s as authored here.

We have clearly seen the outcomes of nations and regions that have not recognized the basic needs of human rights; in the continent Africa, the countries of Burma, Sri Lanka, East Timor and more. These aforementioned have suffered the pains of civil wars, unstable governments, oppression and genocide.

A video produced by The Center for American Progress and available on YouTube presents a panel discussion of leading notables and academics discussing the Human Rights issues in China and how America implement new guidelines for trade involvement with the most populous nation in the world.

The US & China: The Human Rights Issue

The relationship between the United States and China may well be the most important bilateral relationship in the world. In recognition of that fact, the Center for American Progress is releasing a new report entitled, “Strategic Persistence: How the United States Can Help Improve Human Rights in China.” The report provides both fundamental principles that should guide U.S. policymakers in their efforts to effect positive change in China’s human rights practices and concrete recommendations to advance those efforts.

China remains responsible for profound violations of its people’s civil and political rights. In its foreign policy, China has often backed repressive regimes around the world and watered down international sanctions against these regimes. None of this is in the United States’ best interests. Given the high degree of economic interdependence between the United States and China, as well as China’s growing military reach, American interests are best served by a stable China with a robust commitment to the rule of law—conditions that are undermined by a failure to respect human rights.

U.S. approaches to human rights in China have ranged from confrontation to passivity and have rarely reflected a coordinated strategy across government entities. The key to U.S. efforts to promote human rights in China is to take a coherent, pragmatic, non-ideological approach that goes beyond easy rhetoric, takes advantage of strategic openings, and recognizes the value of persistence. Ultimately, China must be persuaded that greater democracy and human rights are in its own best interests and are integral to its becoming the highly respected global leader it aspires to be.

Distinguished Speakers:

Harry Harding, Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University
Louisa Coan Greve, Program Director for East Asia at the National Endowment for Democracy

Additional blog postings by Tom Awtry may also be found here.

Breaking News: Three Israeli soldiers pirate on a civilian aid “brotherhood boat”

Unknown user — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:20:26 EST

Al-Jazeera reporter, Salam Khoder, said Thursday morning to Al-Jazeera broadcast, that about three Israeli soldiers stormed into the medical aid boat “brotherhood” attacking civilians on board.

The aid boat was shipping medical aid, children toys, cloths and blankets to civilians in Gaza suffering inhuman condition due to the blockade and the last war on Gaza. Israeli forces endeavoured to prevent the boat from reaching Gaza, trying, in vain, to compel the boat to return back to Lebanon.

Before the phone line was disconnected, Salam Koder, in a phone call to al-Jazeera, was entirely terrified saying: ‘they stormed into the boat, three…. Three soldiers pointing their weapons toward us… they climbed the back of the boat… they are attacking us… they…. Kicking the passengers… beating us.. they are beating us.. they…”.

All contacts with the boat are disjointed.

The boat is carrying reporters, doctors, Christian priests, Muslim clerics and human rights activists.

Israeli army announced that their soldiers led the boat to Ashdod harbour to investigate passengers and inspect the boat.

International media did not mention a word about this incident till this moment.

A film shot in the poorest place in the world (Payatas mountains of trash) seeks your ideas.

Gerry — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:07:00 EST

Hi! My name is Gerry a New York filmmaker. I recently shot a narrative film called THE MOUNTAIN THIEF in Payatas, a dumpsite community and possibly the poorest place in the world.

Please take 2 minutes of your time to view the trailer, this will give you an idea:

http://www.mountainthief.com/Site_/Trailer.html

A place where people live on top of mountains of trash. I held an acting workshop in the town for the scavenger residents and the graduates acted out the parts in the film. I hope to get a discussion on how to build an audience for the film, inspire change and touch the lives of the scavengers who acted in the film.

Our website above gives more info about the film and please add our page to your facebook account:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mountain-Thief/25443474407

Human Rights in the United States

Jeffrey from Carrollton, GA — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:05:25 EST

I wish to begin this entry with the last sentence of my previous entry: I do believe...that our nation needed to stand before the community of nations and make a clean break with the regime responsible for our human rights abuses and loss of credibility over the last eight years, and we took the first step on Election Day.

The New York Times has reported that Bush may grant pardons to Rumsfeld and other identified as sanctioning torture and other human rights abuses. It is nothing new for a departing President to grant pardons to members of his administration, especially those who might otherwise be legally culpable for carrying out the President's policies and instructions. Seen through that lens, it can make some sense as a general practice. In this case, however, it pardons those who gave or passed along orders to the military and intelligence agencies which they knew or should have known to be unlawful and therefore invalid.

The lower-ranking enlisted soldiers, and particularly the ill-trained (for this mission) reservists, who received and carried out these orderscould not, unlike their officers, be expected to know that the orders were invalid because they were unlawful. I would be very surprised to see them receive Presidential pardons.

Regardless, the chain of responsibility stops with one man: President Bush. I fervently hope that President-elect Obama will refrain from pardonning Bush and that the new Attorney-General will investigate the legality of Bush's actions and orders.

I hope that we as a nation the degree to which we take seriously human rights and the rule of law, and that the actions of the Bush administration were not done in the name of the American people.

Good guy Israel's good will vs dangerous "modereate palestinian" - Israel's plan to free Palestinian prisoners is foolish – and illegal

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:14:06 EST

Good guy Israel's good will vs dangerous "modereate palestinian" - Israel's plan to free Palestinian prisoners is foolish – and illegal

Christian Science Monitor, MA - Dec 14, 2008

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert intends to free 230 Palestinian prisoners Monday – a "gesture of goodwill" toward the Mahmoud Abbas-led Palestinians. We shouldn't worry, we're told, because the men belong to the "moderate" Fatah, not Hamas or Islamic Jihad, are "without blood on their hands," and must sign a commitment not to return to violence.

Make no mistake: These outlaws are, to all intents and purposes, terrorists bent on Israel's destruction. And, if past is prologue, Israel can expect more terror as a result of this appeasement.

A formal agreement from terrorists not to terrorize is a silly document. Likewise, the presumption that a Fatah-led "Palestine" would be better for Israel is plainly wrong. Fatah's present statements may be moderate, but its past and its hoped-for future tell a different story. In its bloody history of violence against Israelis, Fatah is essentially indistinguishable from Hamas. And a glance at official Palestinian maps of "Palestine," which encompass all of Israel, shows what it really thinks of the "two-state solution."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1215/p09s01-coop.html

International Human Rights Day

Phoenix — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:10:30 EST

Yay for Human Rights! While the day is dedicated to the respect of all human rights, there is one that I tend to focus on more than others. This is gay rights. I'm not gay myself, but I don't think that should matter. I think that as a human being, it is my duty to look out for and aid in the pursuit of equality for my fellow human beings. Regardless of religion, race, political affilitation, or sexual orientation.

Thus, I would like to encourage everyone to participate in A Day Without a Gay. This is a protest that calls for supporters to "call in gay" by not attending work or by shutting down their businesses. The goal is to raise awareness to the gay community and the many ways that their rights are being violated and taken from them.

Thirty states have a ban on gay marriage. Thirty states allow for a person to be fired from work based on their sexual orientation. The Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996 by congress denied civil unions over 1000 benifits allowed in marriage including taxation, Social Security, and veterans benefits. Also, there are many states who have already or are in the process of banning gays from adopting or fostering children.

This madness has to stop! One of the goals of A Day Without a Gay is to raise awareness that marriage is a "basic human right" as recognized by the U. S. Supreme Court. Denial of rights to gays is wrong and in violation of the 14th Amendment. I'd like to encourage everyone to show their support for our gay brothers and sisters this December 10th for Human Rights Day.

I hope that everyone enjoys their time, and keep in mind that Change is Coming. Thanks to steps taken by ourselves and our fellow Americans, we can Hope to see a day where all people are treated equally and with respect and love.

Don't Replace The Old Guantánamo with a New One

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:38:03 EST

Don't Replace The Old Guantánamo with a New One

by Jameel Jaffer and Ben Wizner @ commondreams.org

On Monday, the circus known as "Guantánamo justice" devolved once again into chaos, with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed raising the possibility that he and other prisoners once held by the CIA would plead guilty to involvement in the 9/11 attacks. The anarchic proceedings only served to underscore the makeshift nature of the military tribunals, and to remind the world of the reasons the prison should be closed.

But even as President-elect Obama repeats his oft-made promise to shutter the prison that has so besmirched the nation's reputation, some legal experts, and not just those on the right, are talking about giving him the right to open a new Gitmo here at home. An extraordinary debate is under way about whether Congress should expressly authorize the new president to do what the outgoing president did on his own claimed authority: imprison alleged terrorists without charge or trial.......

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/09-3

the start item.

Anna from Washington, DC — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:00:43 EST

hello reader.

well, let´s say, I´m also QUITE, really happy, that a) it´s done, the elections, that b) everything is fine so far. but c) please do not be too upset with reading that actually the shield question will be the first one to be posted.

in my opinion, shields like that are only stuff, that "catches" rackets, but in another sense of the sentence.

actually, in my opinion,

"shields" only provoke something, they do not "prevent" something.

in my eyes, this "shield" stuff "only wakes the bear up",

and you may know, what I mean (not the wall street),

when i tell you, that in our language (PL) people are talking about the history of their families with sentences like "my grandma has been a white polar bear - sitter" which means not a baby sitter, but has been in a quite cold white surrounding. history of east europe / polish part of it.

"i do not know why", but i quite good remember this and that from your last visit in this city here, I am writing from a part of this ex-wall-city :] let´s call it like this now.

and.

there has been - later i will have to say also other sentences about "forbidding people to have own transparents", but I said, this will come later.

first.

there has been a quite good discussion after your visit, someone has been there who´s writing for a newspaper, a daily one, which i choosed to be one of a few that I will allow to print this and that from my hands.

and.

the person was - in this discussion - a bit surprised about a young female person (not me), taking part in this talk. and you know what? in this case - see: i like the newspaper, really. but in this case I´m on her side. actually, critical points, critical point of view, ability to put it in words, even words "not only the ones everyone is used to" has a kind of a young, 40 years old young literal tradition.

so.

what she said, was: c´mon, i´m also like "i would never even think about voting someone else. but i´m trying to speak it out: ok change, but let´s slowly come to the details."

so i am on her side. and - if you would ask ME, i would HAVE to answer: NO. this letter. where there is WRITTEN, that "well we are tryig to start with coming back with all this strange steps of my former call-it-whatever" - this letter is NOT on my writing desk. this letter is NOT here. i have NOTHING black on white, that you are preparing to take this STUPID IDEA back, this stupid idea, because shields directly lead to a bit more than only "problems".

i do NOT have it in the newspaper BECAUSE i do NOT have it on my desk / writing table.

so what now? how long will / do you want to wait with this? some of us here in eastern europe have a bit of a feeling like sitting on a powder box, and i do NOT mean "make-up", ya know what I mean.

ehm - all I want to say, is that it would be nice to hear a bit more than "we are working on the problem."

I´ll come back and see if I`ll find some comments or write on soon. bye.

ph.... does anyone there know, when they are going to pack their stuff? in our tradition in europe we do not wait until the last day when we start to pack our stuff into. boxes. cages. suitcases. when are they going to move out there? there in this white cottage? it´s getting boring. really. i´m happy that the .... guantanamo .... desisions ..... begun....... that it is starting to work a bit, move a bit. but this "call-it-whatever" there. your readers still-"plesidwnt" :] your joke, honeys, americans, really. we europeans will remember this last years period as the "US middle ages". we will make a joke history of it. like we´ve done so far, we know why. and ONE good journalist I heard here. an american one. was :] brilliant enough some years ago. in the middle of his sentence he just smiled bride and said it oud loud, normally: "well, I know i should not say anything here. I mean, I´m actually from a country whose president is not even elected :] and that´s through with his "colleagues" "helping him" to "make forget" about those "elections mistakes". i am also reading a bit more than only short messages, shortest news, so - in your case, as you as an american reader - i really would not try to make like "are you sure?" in this case.

so. i am happy to write on a bloq page, freshly created, looking like belonging to a country, whose ("whatever") is legally elected again. with normal votings.

let´s see how this one will develop.

let´s switch ("zipp") shortly to a culture channel. rumours are going around, that in germany somewhere deep deep there far far away in "cultured" ( :] very. oh very. "cultured." ) europe there is a marcel reich-ranicki and whatever the story is about: marcel made a good performance. why? because he is a a) reader. b) literature 'unofficial' scientist. c) a clever, ... - no, a really brilliant thinker and talker, so good, that really, here in "cultured" country, you can ask every one of the street, everyone recognizes marcels slang. not even this: everyone here has a fun about really knowing how to talk a bit like him :] and THIS - in my eyes - also is a - 'reputation'. you can ask around: this is really a tip. and: someone thought: ok, it´s a good friend of mine, i will ak him if he wants to take part in a tv show. to get a tv prize. well. and marcel took a chance and made a performance. he said what - something - there - something, that has been to be said. :] a lot of people were on tv. and later a lot of other people tried to save the "HM." the honour of the persons, that he said he has nothing to do with them.

but actually: his speech had a good reason. he took the tv-show-chance (he had done a lot of better with more tv viewers before, so it was not "complicated" to take this chance.) ... he took the chance and said some things about tv quality. the rest...later.

why i´m writing this one here. on a bloq site in washington DC, like standing in front of a white cottage. and :] waiting for those bunny-uncles too move out there. the reason I will tell you as soon as the bunny uncle - your former "whatever" - (your former "pwesilent" :] as soon as he moved out.

the story is interesting, but he takes too much time for moving out of a white cottage, it´s not so complicated to organize an. an umzug. a moving out. let´s now switch back to DC another channel now, 'cause see above, this was a guest visit in the culture channel.

[later i´ll write this here on, now i have to come back to my work place. see you.]

----- Original Message -----
From: ...
To: ...@barackobama.com [To the sender of the letter down there] - [Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 7:13 AM]
To: <...@spiegel.de>; <...@spiegel.de>; <...@timesonline.co.uk>; <...@polityka.com.pl>
Cc: <...@barackobama.com>
Bcc: more newspapers
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 7:31 AM
Subject: [some questions] Fw: Major announcement from Barack

> google doesn´t catch the user´s blogs. why is it?
>
>
>
> when do the last guantanamo-people come free?
> http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=BI_HX811RSo >
>
>
> we do not want a security shield over europe. do you still force on this or
> do we have a hope that barack soon says something about the stupidity (and
> too high costs) of those old plans.
>
>
>
> (sent as an answer to)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Plouffe, BarackObama.com
> To: apk
> Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 8:34 PM
> Subject: Major announcement from Barack
>
>
> anna --
>
> Today and yesterday, ...
>

Elegant nature: Why election bliss went global

Angel Garet — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:37:20 EST

No matter for whom or if you voted, a new rung in the ladder of human evolution is beneath your feet. For Americans who have lived long enough, election night 2008 may have produced the first palpable change felt in forty years. The monumental sense of loss that seemed to last forever after the passing of Dr. Martin Luther King has suddenly waned, allowing us to reflect on how we changed during a time when changes were too insignificant to feel or we were too numb to feel them.

In the interim, and not by coincidence, science has observed in nature a self-correcting mechanism responsible for the evolution of all that we know. Breakthroughs in cell biology and fractal geometry and mathematics have revealed a universal pattern of branching toward balance and perfection in a nonlinear yet persistent manner. It is present in galaxies as well as the systems of every living thing, and it tells us we are born stewards of the planet, wired to be receptors and processors of nature’s input.

THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

Dimples02 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:09:21 EST

I RECALL HAVING LEARNED THE ENTIRE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS IN JR. HIGH SCHOOL. THE WORDS ARE, TO ME, VERY SIGNIFICANT TO THIS HISTORIC ERA ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

REGARDS, DIMPLES02

The Gettysburg Address .. Abraham Lincoln

President of the United States of America

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

If you believe all humans are equal

Ed from Fort Lauderdale, FL — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:54:32 EST

Friday November 14 at 6 pm in every city in the US anyone who feels that all humans have the same rights and are equal, should march with us... friends family anyone you know... please turn out at either you city hall or gay community ...this is a grass roots call to anyone who feel discrimination is unfair... Barack said: "there are no first class citizens there are no second class citizens there are only American citizens" If you believe this then help us have the same rights as everyone in America.....
PLEaSE email... blog.... call..... text or whatever this to anyone you can think of.... If you have a conscious even if u do not understand, we are people too

Enthusiasm

Elizabeth — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:24:26 EST

I am interested in the environment, trees and saving wildlife. I work for a commercial general contractor and developer. I think that there are many builders who will not learn techniques of green building and build to LEED standards until it is mandated by the government, specified by owners and architects, and there are incentives put in place like those some other countries have. I wish that we could all enthusiastically invest in our alternative energy industry. I believe that President Elect Obama will help save our small planet.

Anti Human 'Palestinian' Arabs use of 'Human rights' organizations - the "human rights" propaganda

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:01:17 EDT

The Anti Human 'Palestinian' Arabs use of 'Human rights' organizations

One of the propaganda tools the Arab "Palestinians" have been using to further its goals of eradicating the mostly non-Muslim / non-Arab entity Israel, was/is the use of international "human rights" organizations.The "human rights" propaganda.The demoization of Israel that dares to fight for its survival as a 'bad guy' has been since the 1970's well oil-ed by Saudi Arabia and other filthy rich Arab tycoons that never seem to have an iota of sympathy for the Arab 'Palestinian' brethren and their situation, instead they rather shed its billions to destructive anti Israel propaganda.Using the image of a "weak" people vs a "mighty" Israel, they have psychologically gained the upper hand, as it looks pretty convincing and even more convenient for an Amnesty or HRW personnel to side with the supposed "victim".Even though the real source of Arab 'Palestinian' misery, which was always largely due to its 1) mass corruption, 2) oppression, stepping all over human rights of its people & 3) culture of hatred of Israel substituting for all "love" for its own population.HRW does not disclose its private donors identity, one can only imagine the Arab oil lobby connection here.

Israel as a whole and Israelis are always edgy from Arab attackers, ever since 1920's massacres on the Jews in Israel/Palestine.As Israel is and always was under threat upon its existence, it mobilizes force, understandably, to the gullible eye it might look like the goliath is Israel, when it's never the case in reality.An inhumane Arab bomber hiding under its kids' shoulders presents a far greater danger than the restrained Israeli hesitating to fire if a non-combatant is able to get hurt, this explains why the casualties are not in the thousands each time humane Israel conducts an anti terror-war operation.The famous fact of terrorizing journalists by Arab "Palestinians" have forced all that are in [or all those wishing to gain access to] their area to be biased.And so, Arabs, as the real Goliath, masked as poor-poor people have been managing the HRW organizations to report in a total Arabist way, condemning Israel based on unreliable sources, hardly condemning the Arabs for their constant real human rights abuse upon it's kids and on Israeli victims of Arab terror.

Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch 2005 Annual Report Israeli-Palestinian Section Lacks Credibility and Reflects Political Bias By NGO Monitor January 15, 2005 ...
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258

NGO Monitor’s 2007 Report on HRW: Bias and Double Standards Continue
April 29, 2008The following analysis demonstrates that HRW's own activities related to Israel continue to fall short of this basic standard of universalitySummary:* Analysis of Human Rights Watch's use of the rhetoric of international law and other terminology shows continued double standards and misleading or false claims.
* HRW accuses Israel of “collective punishment” of Palestinians in a way that is inconsistent with both international law and past and present usage of the term by HRW itself.
* HRW’s focus on Israel in 2007 dropped to 2005 levels after 2006 marked a return to the extreme bias of the 2000-2004 period. The change in 2007 allowed more resources to be focused on countries committing major human rights violations.
* However, disproportionate emphasis on Israel continued, with major reports covering 400 pages in 2007, using the same methodologies as in 2006 that lack credibility.
* This contrasts with the limited attention on human rights violations in Libya, Syria, and other countries in the region.
* Israel was the focus of more multimedia items (audio, video, graphics) than any other country in the region.
* Reports on Israel continue to be based on unverifiable evidence provided by “eyewitnesses,” selected journalists, and other inappropriate sources. In some cases hard evidence has shown this testimony to be blatantly untrue.
* HRW mentioned one or more of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers in a total of only 6 publications. Of these, only two refer to them by name; the other references are in passing.
http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/ngo_monitor_s_report_on_hrw_bias_and_double_standards_continue

Terrorists: Amnesty shamnesty! We prefer human slaughterTerrorists: Amnesty shamnesty! We prefer human slaughter ... Today, Palestinian Information Minister Riyad al-Maliki told Israel's Haaretz daily Olmert ...
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57234

Amnesty International and the Red Cross? With their selective, disgustingly political "commitment" to human rights, Higgins somehow wasn't worthy of their ...
http://www.wnd.com/index.php/index.php/index.php?pageId=12559

Amnesty is a Travesty
One would have thought that after so many heinous acts, Amnesty International, which claims to be "Protecting Human Rights Around the World", would have issued 16 reports condemning each and every one of these terrible acts of Palestinian terrorism. In fact, AI issued only one report and even though it pertained to the Park Hotel slaughter, the heading "Deliberate Killing of Civilians is Never Justified" was pretty benign and totally belied the atrocity of this appalling act. The three short paragraphs was almost non-committal. While apparently recognizing the massacre as "a grave breach of the fundamental principle of international humanitarian law", Amnesty then refuse to call Hamas a terrorist organization, but made a pathetic plea to "armed Palestinian groups" to cease killing civilians.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/4025

The only "human rights" the Palestinians want are for their fellow terrorists. ... After all, Bush was pushing for the amnesty of three million Mexicans who ...
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/2582

Human Rights Watch's Credibility
http://volokh.com/posts/1210943742.shtmlA

mnesty International's Reporting of Human Rights
The report does not make use of the latest research on what happened in Jenin (accepted by the UN, the vast majority of the international press and governments) and does not define its terms when talking about international law. Amnesty secretary-general Irene Khan has been quoted on numerous occasions talking of 'war crimes'... To sprinkle the vocabulary of 'war crimes' in reports is misleading and reveals an ideological bias...
Moreover, there is a disturbing amount of inaccurate and anecdotal evidence used in the report...
http://www.jcpa.org/ngo/ngo-4-AI.html

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WITH HRW (IN WSJ-E): HRW AGENDA CLOUDS RESPONSE
http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=253

UPDATE to The Red Cross Ambulance Incident:
The Human Rights Watch Report
A Point-by-Point Examination of the Document Titled "The 'Hoax' That Wasn't"
On December 19, 2006, the international advocacy organization Human Rights Watch issued a detailed, intensively researched report unequivocally affirming the factuality of an intentional Israeli attack on Red Cross ambulances at Qana on July 23. The report (titled "The 'Hoax' That Wasn't") by Human Rights Watch was created specifically to counter the claims made in my original essay titled "The Red Cross Ambulance Incident."
This commentary is a response to Human Rights Watch's new allegations.
http://www.zombietime.com/fraud/ambulance/hrw/

Amnesty International's Reporting of Human Rights
The report does not make use of the latest research on what happened in Jenin (accepted by the UN, the vast majority of the international press and governments) and does not define its terms when talking about international law. Amnesty secretary-general Irene Khan has been quoted on numerous occasions talking of 'war crimes'... To sprinkle the vocabulary of 'war crimes' in reports is misleading and reveals an ideological bias...
Moreover, there is a disturbing amount of inaccurate and anecdotal evidence used in the report...
http://www.jcpa.org/ngo/ngo-4-AI.html

Human Rights Watch, Watched | Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International both jumped the shark a long time ... claims are blatantly untrue and indicative of a strong anti-Israel bias.
August 21, 2006
Human Rights Watch, Watched "Who will guard the guardians?" asked Roman satirist Juvenal. Now we must ask, who is watching Human Rights Watch, one of the world's best-financed and most influential human rights organizations? It turns out that they cook the books about facts, cheat on interviews, and put out pre-determined conclusions that are driven more by their ideology than by evidence. These are serious accusations, and they are demonstrably true.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/the-human-rights-watch-_b_27701.html

Human Rights Watch - Conservapedia Its annual budget is 22 million, ten million behind Amnesty ... with the Palestinians and Hezbollah has brought about serious questions of HRW objectivity. ...
http://www.conservapedia.com/Human_Rights_Watch

WATCH OUT for 'Human Rights Watch' and 'Amnesty' !
Copy of a letter to the New York Sun
from Maurice Ostroff: A critic's first duty is to get his facts right
To The Editor September 3, 2006
http://www.takeapen.org/Takeapen/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=84&FID=851

There couldn't be a more perfect time
Dec 10, 2006 3:18Today, December 10, marks International Human Rights Day, and the presence in Israel of Irene Khan, head of Amnesty International, highlights the demise of once-lofty goals. Amnesty International is a superpower with an annual budget of almost $200 million, used to promote radical political agendas and photo-ops for its leaders. Amnesty International Secretary-General Irene Khan, right, tours a house damaged last month by IAF shelling during a visit to Beit Hanun, in the northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. Khan is leading a mission to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza to discuss human rights issues.
Photo: AP , AP
As a result, little remains of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in the shadow of the Holocaust. Officials of Amnesty and other non-governmental organizations focus their attacks on democracies attempting to defend against terror, with far fewer resources to oppose totalitarian and genocidal regimes such as Sudan and Iran. The silence of Khan and other officials regarding the human rights of the Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Palestinians and by Hizbullah, and the human rights of Ron Arad, is damning. Amnesty and HRW (founded as Helsinki Watch) gained their legitimacy by campaigning on behalf of political prisoners, including Natan (then Anatoly) Sharansky. Genuine human rights groups would be leading the campaigns to win the freedom of Israeli prisoners held by terrorists. THE HYPOCRISY and political bias of these NGOs, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Rights Council, is particularly blatant in the case of Israel. Amnesty, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Christian Aid (UK), and pro-Palestinian partners actively implement the 2001 Durban agenda using the rhetoric of human rights to demonize Israel. Adopting the version of history starting with "Israeli occupation," these groups advance an ideology that presents Arabs as victims and Israelis as aggressors. The war between Hizbullah and Israel produced another wave in which defensive actions were automatically condemned as "war crimes," "collective punishment" or violations of international law. Amnesty and HRW together issued dozens of press releases, almost all of which focused on allegations against Israel. Without providing criteria, Amnesty statements declared that the Israeli strikes in Beirut were "grossly disproportionate," while acknowledging this was where "Hizbullah had its headquarters," directing the firing of thousands of rockets against Israel. No one seemed to notice the logical disconnect.

THE "DISCOVERY" of Hizbullah's cluster bombs and human shields came weeks or months later. In another surreal statement demonstrating their detachment from reality, Amnesty officials observed that "No investigation into violations of international humanitarian law by Hizbullah is known to have been conducted by Hizbullah commanders...." The NGOs that dominate the human rights discourse also feed journalists and diplomats with false or unverifiable claims. Their reports are based on "eyewitness testimony," such as by Palestinians in Gaza and Lebanese in areas controlled by Hizbullah. During the recent war, HRW and Amnesty claimed to have found no evidence of Hizbullah activities in the areas struck by Israel. There is no reason to conclude that these "researchers" and "military experts" bothered to check the allegiance and credibility of their sources. But HRW's 49-page report - the largest PR effort during the war - enntitled "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon," was headlined without question by journalists around the world.

IN ADDITION, the European Union and its member states fund many groups that also use the language of human rights to promote conflict and demonization of Israel. The grandly named Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) issued a torrent of political statements and one-sided condemnations during the Lebanon War. Other EU-supported "human rights" groups campaign against Israel's security barrier, with terms such as "apartheid wall" and call for boycotts, sanctions and other measures that are part of the political war. Some of these NGOs refer to "resistance" and "martyrdom" operations against "Israel Occupation Forces," meaning terror attacks and suicide bombers that have killed hundreds of Israeli civilians. In this way, European governments, including Switzerland and Norway, are contributing to the destruction of human rights based on universal principles, and undermining peace efforts they claim to promote. This moral decay is also evident in the activities of the newly reformed United Nations Human Rights Council, which has focused on gratuitous Israel-bashing. The pseudo-reform process was strongly supported by the NGO network, which criticized the US and Israel for warning that the new UNHRC was no better than the old, discredited version.

IT WAS ONLY after the activities of the new UNHRC brought the use of double-standards to record levels that these human rights NGOs finally began speaking out against the abuse. (HRW's recent criticism of the Palestinian use of human shields to protect terrorists was attacked by fringe groups seeking to paint this illegal practice as non-violent protest.) To reverse course, and restore the credibility, universality and substance of human rights the credibility and accountability of groups like Amnesty and Human Rights Watch must also be restored. Ideology and political preferences can no longer dominate their agendas and publications, and human rights cannot use double standards which punish democracies and reward dictatorships. Ethical norms must be freed from political and ideological agendas, particularly when these are used by those who declare the goal of "wiping Israel off the map." International Human Rights Day is an appropriate time to start.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1164881857754

Gaza Anomalies Blow PCP’s Circuits: Result - The Sounds of Silence

August 4, 2008
A few friends of mine went to a party in Jerusalem that was primarily made up Anglophone reporters, people who work for NGOs and UN agencies. What amazed them was the pervasive sense of the people they met and spoke with that Israel was the greatest human rights violator in the world and that the dismantling of Israel would be a great step forward for global human rights.

Now the idiocy of this position, the suicidal nature of this strategy to advance human rights is nothing short of breathtaking. Take Israel out of the Middle East and the region becomes nothing but Hama rules… especially when the nastiest people — those who want to destroy Israel — would feel empowered by such a victory. But try and tell that to people who are smart enough to believe they can’t be wrong, and credulous enough to believe the demopaths who pull their chains on a daily basis. And as a result, they are prime targets for a hate campaign against Israel.

The latest news from Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank illustrates all the anomalies involved in this fundamental failure of the “human rights” community to understand what’s going on: black hearts and red spades galore. Melanie Phillips has a superb column which analyzes the current, mind-boggling situation in the Arab-Israeli conflict, with the Fatah “refugees” from Gaza seeking asylum in Israel.

Refugees From Whom?
The Spectator MONDAY, 4TH AUGUST 2008
Melanie Phillips
Extraordinary developments in Gaza have given a new meaning to the term ‘Palestinian refugees’. As the Jerusalem Post reports, fierce fighting in Gaza between Fatah and Hamas over the weekend, in which 11 people died and dozens more were wounded, resulted in 180 Fatah refugees fleeing from what they called a ‘war of genocide’ by Hamas against Fatah supporters. And where did they flee to? Why, to Israel, of course — which allowed them in and proceeded to treat 23 of them (some of whom were wounded by the Israeli army after they approached the crossing into Israel) in Israeli hospitals.

This is one of the most important anomalies for those who follow the current PCP narrative about the Middle East in which Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people explain the ferocious hatred of the Palestinians for the Israelis. According to that version of events — largely the one that liberals have taken over by adopting the Palestinian narrative of suffering — the last place these Palestinian “warriors” would go was Israel, their mortal enemy who is trying to commit genocide against their people. If the Israelis want to wipe out Palestinian civilians, how much the more would they want to kill Palestinian “militants”?

And yet, this is not a new story. When King Hussein, “the moderate,” found himself dealing with a restive Palestinian population in 1970, he slaughtered some 10,000 of them — men, women and children — in “Black September.” The Palestinians fled his tender mercies across the Jordan to Israel where the Israelis, obligingly, shipped them over to Lebanon, where, within five years, they plunged that unhappy land into a seven-year war that killed over 100,000 civilians. When Israel finally put an end to that civil war by invading in 1982, and the Phalanage took advantage of their upper hand to slaughter several hundred Palestinians at Sabra and Shatilla in revenge for Damur, the terrified inhabitants of the camps ran immediately to the Israeli positions outside the camp for protection. Why? Because they knew, despite all the “narratives” that when the chips are down, you can expect more mercy from the Jews than your fellow Arabs.

These are revelatory moments, when you see not the “public transcript” but what people really think. In honor-shame cultures they can be deeply embarrassing, since the public transcript is the “honorable” one, and the revelations that reverse that — like in the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes — are almost by definition shameful. Participants might prefer not to remember these, might even seek to reverse them by insisting still more shrilly on the original “narrative.” But outsiders need to pay close attention, because these rare moments are infinitely more revealing than the “public transcript.”

These refugees say they cannot return to Gaza because they will be killed. How fortunate, therefore, that their own Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, can give them sanctuary in the West Bank!
But hang on – Abbas won’t let them in. Yup, with the exception of five individuals whom he did allow in, he’s denied them all sanctuary. He says they should go back to Gaza.

Before we get into the explanations proferred, let me make a medievalist’s remark. This is a staggering act of cowardice. Any warlord has to protect his men above all. If he fails to do so, he loses their loyalty. To refuse safety to men who have suffered from their adherence to your banner — unless it was their fault — shows your weakness.

And the invaluable Khaled abu Toameh tells us the reason why:
PA officials explained that the reason behind their refusal to absorb the new ‘refugees’ was their desire not to encourage other residents of the Gaza Strip to leave. ‘Everyone knows that if we allow people to leave the Gaza Strip, almost all the residents living there would try to cross the border into Israel,’ said a senior PA official.

More... http://www.theaugeanstables.com/2008/08/04/gaza-anomalies-blow-pcps-circuits-result-the-sounds-of-silence/

Healthcare is not a RIGHT!

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:54:04 EDT

http://www.afcm.org/hcinar_video.html

Notice: The following article is Copyright 1993 by Leonard Peikoff and is being distributed by permission. This article may be distributed electronically provided that it not be altered in any manner whatsoever. All notices including this notice must remain affixed to this article. Health Care Is Not A Right by Leonard Peikoff, Ph.D. Delivered at a Town Hall Meeting on the Clinton Health Plan. Red Lion Hotel, Costa Mesa CA. December 11, 1993 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen: Most people who oppose socialized medicine do so on the grounds that it is moral and well-intentioned, but impractical; i.e., it is a noble idea -- which just somehow does not work. I do not agree that socialized medicine is moral and well-intentioned, but impractical. Of course, it is impractical -- it does not work -- but I hold that it is impractical because it is immoral. This is not a case of noble in theory but a failure in practice; it is a case of vicious in theory and therefore a disaster in practice. So I'm going to leave it to other speakers to concentrate on the practical flaws in the Clinton health plan. I want to focus on the moral issue at stake. So long as people believe that socialized medicine is a noble plan, there is no way to fight it. You cannot stop a noble plan -- not if it really is noble. The only way you can defeat it is to unmask it -- to show that it is the very opposite of noble. Then at least you have a fighting chance.

From the view of ONE USA 39 year old female: a political lesson, 2008 (pass it or trash it)

Kimberly Smith — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:13:41 EDT

(from the journal of Kimberly Smith, Sept. 20, 2008)

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I am sending this to MOST of the people in my email list because:
I feel so strongly about it, and I am expressing myself and my personal views, exposing my thoughts and making myself vulnerable, I realize that.
I am not doing it to provoke angry thoughts towards myself.
I am doing it so that I am sure that I have done my part to make people THINK about their decisions. (Some of us have still NOT done that)

If you feel you want to respond, PLEASE DO. I INVITE THAT.
I am looking for answers to questions that bother me so.
I am not looking for an argument. Just a discussion and gathering of thoughts.

I know some of you vote Republican. This is NOT a letter made just to piss you off.
These are my true, sincere and heartfelt thoughts.
So give me a break, K?

*************************************************************************************

Black File 7001

Lee from Beaverton, OR — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:56:40 EDT

Black File 7001 Following my leaving the FBI after a five year long assignment, I discovered a black projected shrouded beneath the Federal Witness Protection Program that was sired by the CIA's MK-ULTRA Program. For the past eight years the Bush-Cheney administration has subjected me to actionable offences of psyops terrorism, "no-touch" invisible physical torture and threatened me with their "invention" of a criminal charge if I publish my book. I have black listed by the mainstream press and only Senator Obama and Congressman Kucinich have responded. My covert status has been commingled and outed multiple times in violation of Title 18 of the United States Code and I am seeking asylum in Canada through the U.N. Please feel free to communicate with me at BlackFile7001[AT]gmail[DOT]com.

Adults with Down Syndrome deserve to be seen and heard

Just One in the PNW — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:10:18 EDT

I would appreciate seeing photographs of Senator Obama or Senator Biden shaking hands and listening to adults who have Down syndrome, posted on the internet and in news stories across the USA.

The nation should know that young adults with Down syndrome like my son are participating in supported employment programs trying to find jobs in their communities and many are on waiting lists. We are encouraged by others with Down syndrome who hold jobs, attend programs in community colleges, volunteer in their communities, or are just out and about in their neighborhoods living ordinary lives.

Babies with Down syndrome born to Democrats are even cuter than babies with Down syndrome born to Republicans and I'd like to see more babies and children from Democrats' families featured on the internet and in news stories, too. Individuals with Down syndrome like my son have grown up included in their neighborhood schools with high expectations. What they have achieved with just the small supports and accommodations needed to show us what they can make of their lives has inspired everyone in our families and circles of friends.

:-)

My son told his girlfriend's parents he is voting for Barack Obama because we need hope for the future. Truer words were never spoken. Anyone who has a snapshot of a beautiful baby, child, youth or teen with Down syndrome who has met Senator Obama or Senator Biden, please submit them to the website below and post them at the Obama/Biden website.

People with Down syndrome must be represented in this election. If you are an adult with Down syndrome reading this blog, please submit your own picture of yourself with our Democratic candidates.

Thank you!

Patricia E. Bauer wrote at patriciaebauer.com: "Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com.

We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin. Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication."

Mostly Lies vs. Mostly Facts

SpottedDog — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:32:19 EDT

The McCain campaign continues to tell lies about obama as well as about their own people. Just look at factcheck.org to see how much of the truth they distort or even trie to unmake and how little Obama is told off by this organization.

Looking at Obama's and McCain's plans on healthcare, the economy and education, it seems to me that Obama is by far the better candidate, working really for the American People whereas McCain may have some good ideas but they are always disturbed by some corporate interests of his donating lobbyists.

Being not a citizen of the United States, the subjects that matter most to me are: the environment, human rights and foreign politics.

Open Letter to Senator Obama - close SOA/WHINSEC

Alice from Aiken, SC — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:45:20 EDT

7 September 2008

Senator Obama:

I recommend that you take a stand for Human Rights and help the people of Central and South America, and have an impact on immigration from these areas by supporting the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2009. WHINSEC made a curriculum change by adding human rights info, but they have not removed their tactic training and WHINSEC needs to be closed down.The U.S. House of Representatives approved the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop (GA) amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2009. The amendment forces the public release of names, rank, country of origin, courses and dates of attendance of WHINSEC's graduates and instructors to the public.

Partial List of SOA/WHINSEC GRADUATES: (Excerpts from http://www.soaw.org)

Peru - Sauni, a self confessed member of the Colina Group, a team of select army intelligence operatives accused of killing 25 people in two massacres in 1991 and 1992, said the strategy used against the leftist Shining Path and Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement came directly from teachings and manuals of the "School of the Americas.

Columbia - Lt. Byron Carvajal, together with fourteen other Colombian soldiers, face up to 60 years in prison for the murder of ten elite counternarcotics police agents. Byron Carvajal attended the School of the Americas for Weapons Orientation as a cadet in 1985.

Columbia - A director of Colombian military intelligence and another officer implicated in a series of false attacks and a bombing that killed a civilian and injured 19 soldiers in Bogotá in 2006, attended the US Army School of the Americas, an examination of records shows.

The Colombian Public Ministry is investigating Colonel Horacio Arbelaez, former director of the Army’s Joint Intelligence Center; Major Javier Efrén Hermida Benavides; and Captain Luis Eduardo Barrero for orchestrating placement of bombs in a Bogota shopping mall and other sites in July 2006, on the eve of President Uribe’s inauguration for his second term. At the time of the bombing and false attacks, they were attributed to guerrillas of the FARC. In most cases, the bombs were not detonated, but were denounced by the accused officers and deactivated to demonstrate the FARC threat and show military intelligence was doing its work.

Columbia - A recent criminal investigation into the Colombian Army’s Third Brigade, has prompted the arrest of thirteen high ranking officers accused of providing security and mobilizing troops for Diego Montoya (alias “Don Diego”), the leader of the Norte del Valle Cartel and one of the FBI’s 10 most-wanted criminals.

Two former instructors of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC) are among the thirteen. Colonel Quijano, a former commander of Colombia’s Special Forces, and Major Mora Daza, taught “peacekeeping operations” and “democratic sustainment” at WHINSEC in 2003-2004.

Over HALF of the thirteen military officials implicated in the drug cartel protection ring attended the U.S. Army School of the Americas and/or its successor institute, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

Colonel Javier Escobar Matinez, Major Javier Isaza Muñoz, Major William E. Ortegon, General Hernando Perez Molina and retired Major Juan Carlos Agudelo received training at the U.S. Army School of the Americas as part of a U.S. funded assistance program to Colombia in the fight against outlaw paramilitaries and drug cartels. All five are now under arrest for collaborating with the drug cartels they were trained to fight against

Chile - General Iturriaga Neumann attended the School of the Americas in Panama in 1965 for a Basic Airborne Course before participating in the 1973 military coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende. He then become one of the founding members of the notorious DINA(Direccion Nacional de Inteligencia), General Pinochet's military inteligence unit which carried out the assassinations, kidnappings and disappearances of key political dissidents of the military regime.Iturriaga Neumann was arrested on August 2nd, 2007 in the coastal city of Vina del Mar in Chile. He is currently serving a five year sentence in prison

Peru.- Retired Peruvian military officers Telmo Hurtado and Juan Rivera Rondon were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in Florida and Baltimore respectively, in violation of U.S. immigration laws this past week.

Hurtado and Rivera stand accused for the August 14, 1985 massacre of 69 children, women and men in the village of Accomarca, in the southeastern region of Ayacucho, Peru. Both are facing a 2006 extradition order by a Peruvian court for leading the four military brigades which executed the 69 civilians.

Telmo Hurtado and Juan Rivera Rondon attended Arms Orientation courses at the U.S. Army School of the Americas from 1981-1982 during the height of military repression. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that investigated the political violence in Peru during the 1980's, the armed forces killed and "disappeared" more than 7,250 civilians who were not involved in the conflict.

I would really like to see you bring this issue up during your campaign for President. Our country should be the shining star of Human Rights.

I wish you and your family peace and safety. Sincerely, Alice Sullivan

Palin's speech and torture

Greg from Calabasas, CA — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:52:01 EDT

Palin's speech was snarky and at times downright silly, but it was also disturbing. Her snide reference to Obama's strong stance against torture as worrying about whether or not terrorists have been "read their rights" shows her utter contempt for America's most basic principles. The fact that she would snipe at this as if being against torture is funny or foolish shows us just how little she understands the legal and moral foundations of our nation. If she's going to try to get political mileage out of the fact that her running-mate was tortured, she should at least have the decency and common sense not to implicitly condone torture in the same speech.

I would have hoped that the media would focus more on this than on the silliness of the whole "hockey mom" schtick. What we are seeing here is the emergence of her views on the nature of liberal democracy, the suggestion that our constitutional protections, domestic statutes and international treaty obligations can simply be set aside and mocked when it suits our immediate needs or responds to our current fears. Sarah Palin has revealed her contempt for the basic principle of rule of law. While it provides no end of fun to ridicule her feeble jokes about the decor at the Democratic Convention and, even better, her deliciously absurd self-comparison with a viscious breed of dog outlawed in many states for mauling children, the stupidity of these things speaks for itself. Her contempt for the basic principles of our legal system is what should be headline news.

From the Washington Blade; Biden is a great choice.

jeffrey — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:09:40 EDT

NATIONAL

Obama ends suspense, picks Biden
Del. senator called ‘proven advocate’ for gay rights

LOU CHIBBARO JR
Saturday, August 23, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s decision to pick Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his vice presidential running mate drew immediate praise from gay activists in Delaware, who called Biden a strong and reliable friend of the gay community.

After more than two months of deliberation over selecting a vice presidential nominee, Obama announced Biden’s selection shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday in text messages and e-mails sent to his campaign supporters.

Although Biden, 65, has not signed on as a co-sponsor for as many gay-related bills as activists would have liked, he has voted for gay-supportive legislation and against anti-gay measures nearly every time such legislation came before the Senate during his 35-year tenure as a senator, according to Delaware activists.

“You won’t see him taking the lead on gay issues, but whenever there is a vote, he’s always with us,” said Peter Schott, president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Delaware, a gay rights group.

“He’s a great choice for vice president,” said Steve Elkins, executive director of Camp Rehoboth, a gay social and community service organization in Rehoboth Beach, a Delaware resort town with a large gay community.

“Biden has always been very supportive of everything we’ve done,” Elkins said.

Last year, after announcing his candidacy for president, Biden joined other Democratic presidential candidates, including Obama, in expressing support for an employment non-discrimination bill that includes both gays and transgender persons.

"We have reason to think he's very positive on all LGBT issues," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

In a questionnaire sent to all presidential candidates by the Human Rights Campaign, Biden also indicated, similar to Obama, that he supports civil unions for same-sex couples rather than marriage rights. Like Obama, Biden said he favors providing couples joined in civil unions with all of the rights and benefits of marriage.

Biden dropped out of the presidential race earlier this year after losing to Obama and other candidates in the early primaries.

In his role as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden has been credited with shepherding through the Senate earlier this year a sweeping global AIDS relief bill that includes a provision repealing the U.S. ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants.

HRC gave Biden a rating of 78 out of a possible 100 in its most recent congressional scorecard on gay- and AIDS-related issues, which covered the years 2005-2006. Biden lost points in the rating, according to HRC, because he didn’t sign on as a co-sponsor to the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow same-sex partners of U.S. citizens who are foreign nationals to obtain the same immigration benefits as foreigners who are married spouses of U.S. citizens. Delaware activists have said they believe Biden would vote for the bill if it reaches the Senate floor. The measure has been stalled in Congress for more than four years.

Over the past 20 years, Biden’s HRC scorecard rating varied from a perfect 100 to a 63.

In recent years, Biden has voted for hate crimes legislation and against a constitutional amendment calling for banning same-sex marriage. As a candidate for president earlier this year, Biden said he favors repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which bans gays from serving openly in the U.S. military.

In 1994, Biden broke ranks with many of his Republican and Democratic colleagues by voting for an amendment to prevent the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy from being enacted into law. The amendment, which lost, came at a time when President Bill Clinton backed the policy as a compromise after Congress refused to support Clinton’s original plan for allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

Biden’s only significant vote against the interests of gay rights came in 1996, when he joined many of his Democratic colleagues in voting for the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage under federal law as a union only between one man and one woman.

Information compiled by HRC shows that between 1990 and 2000, Biden voted for three separate versions of hate crimes bills that included protections for gays. In 1992, Biden voted for a procedural motion to stop an attempt by Congress to bar the D.C. government from implementing its local domestic partners law. The motion failed. “In selecting Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, Sen. Obama has chosen a proven and effective advocate for fairness and equality that our entire community can be proud of,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Sen. Biden’s record in the United States Senate is one of support and understanding that has been unwavering throughout his career.”

How do anti-humanity 'Palestinian' leaders manage to talk abou "human rights"?

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:48:29 EDT

How do anti-humanity 'Palestinian' leaders manage to talk [in the UN, or infiltrating "peace" & "socialists" movements] about "human rights"?

The wonder isn't just about the Islamic Hamas butchers but even when it comes to the "moderate" Fatah that still glorifies mass murderers as "heroes/martyrs" and hosts those hate sermons that justifies the killing of the infidels on its official TV.

What's "human rights" or "human" about a cult that worships death for its children and for its adversary?

How can one talk about "human rights" when the basic right of surviving of Israelis is in question by most 'Palestinians' (polled) or by its leadership?

Then you have (almost) the entire bigoted Islamo Arab world that again wouldn't give a hood if an Arab 'Palestinian' is OK or not, but the intolerance against the "other", the Israel, never loses its steam.

Never underestimate the power of 'anti Israel bigotry'! That galvanizes so many that couldn't care less what happens to (any) Arabs, but found one more venue where to hit at innocent Israel and add to it's battered image.

Which explains why you never hear praise, for all amazing and unbelievable efforts by humane Israelis to keep highest respect for human rights [from harsh court and enforcement for any abuse, to easing restrictions in terror infested neighborhoods] of those that seek to harm them, all while despite imperative security of its people who's at cost.

On Abortion - Updated With Answer to When Does A Baby Have Human Rights

Al Pao in San Francisco — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:25:31 EDT

A baby has human rights when the spirit merges with the flesh. Therefore, it is not humanly possible to determine when that occurs. Therefore, Barack Obama's answer to the question on when a baby has human rights was correct. It was, and should still be, above his pay grade.

This was my previous posting on abortion:

On AbortionBy Al Pao in San Francisco - Mar 31st, 2008 at 5:37 am EDT

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content

Senator Obama ought to talk to Pennsylvanians about the gift of life and the love for his two children, how they have brought him fulfillment and happiness. He must also speak on his position on free choice, which is not the equivalent of pro-abortion.

William E. May, Professor of Moral Theology at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. said, "[a] central truth of divine revelation is that human persons, created in the image and likeness of God, have the power of free choice." http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/may/free-choice.htm He also said, "[f]ree choice makes morality possible and renders us responsible for our actions and our lives (see The Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1734)." Ibid. In other words, while the government, be it federal or state, can criminalize abortion, it is not the passage of a law against abortion but a person’s individual choice and responsibility whether to ultimately abort a fetus that defines one’s morality.

Even when the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade upholding a woman’s right to choose could be considered as a communal choice rather than an individual one, the individual who decides to abort a fetus holds the responsibility for that decision. Professor May said, "[b]ecause some choices are communal, social sin is a reality. The sinful choices of individuals, when tolerated and then accepted by the society in which they live, become the practices of the society." Ibid. He continued to say that " [i]t is in this way that a ‘culture of death’ can develop and indeed has developed. Pope John Paul II clearly recognized the reality of ‘social sin’ in his Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Poenitentia. But he rightly emphasized that all social sin is, ultimately, rooted in the sinful choices of particular persons: ‘the real responsibility…lies with individuals’ (no. 16) (emphasis added)." Ibid.

In short, it is irrelevant whether Senator Obama is against abortion personally as a parent or for the ruling in Roe v. Wade publicly as a potential presidential nominee. This matter is not political but personal: an individual can choose freely and will own the real responsibility of every free and sinful choice.

Human Trafficking

Hope4Unity — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:07:51 EDT

Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy
by John Bowe

Most Americans would be shocked to discover that slavery still exists in the United States. Yet most of us buy goods made by people who aren't paid for their labor - people who are trapped financially, and often physically. In Nobodies, award-winning journalist John Bowe exposes the outsourcing, corporate chicanery, immigration fraud, and sleights of hand that allow forced labor to continue in the United States while the rest of us notice nothing but the everyday low price at the checkout counter.

Nobodies is a vivid and powerful work of investigative reporting, but it is also a lively examination of the eternal struggle for power between free people and unfree people. Against the American landscape of shopping mall, outlet stores, and Happy Meals, Bowe reveals how humankind's darker urges remain alive and well, lingering in the background of every transaction and how understanding them may lead to overcoming them.

Based on thorough and often dangerous research, exclusive interviews, and eyewitness accounts, Nobodies takes you inside three illegal workplaces where employees are virtually or literally enslaved.

When I lost respect for John McCain

John Mouracade — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:52:46 EDT

I am not a party line kind of person. I have recognized that there is stupidity and corruption, as well as intelligence and integrity on both sides of the aisle. I rooted for John McCain in the 2000 primary and would have voted for him in the general election. I respected McCain's willingness to think for himself, break with party leadership and be concerned with important issues.

A couple of years ago, I started doing some volunteer work with Amnesty International. I found that long time Amnesty people had a lot of respect for John McCain because of his willingness to stand for human rights. Leaders like this would be invaluable as the war on terror took questionable turns. So, as President Bush was pushing the Military Commissions Act of 2006, I lobbied my senators with phone calls in vain, knowing that Stevens and Murkowski would vote party line. But I held out hope as McCain and a couple of other Republicans threatened to break ranks and vote against this bill.

McCain and 2 other senators had a closed door meeting with President Bush resulting in superficial changes to the act, which essentially suspended such basic rights as habeas corpus and openly flouted Article 3 of the Geneva Convention. I don't know what happened in that meeting, but I know that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, made a political deal that resulted in the loss of basic rights and reneged on historic agreements. As a result of the shift of these senators, important amendments, such as that sponsored by Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to preserve habeas corpus would be defeated by a narrow margin, as would Ted Kennedy’s amendment to ban specific interrogation techniques such as water boarding. I don't know what happened in that meeting, but I know that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, made a political deal that resulted in the loss of basic rights and reneged on historic agreements.

Consequently, I was not that surprised when I saw McCain, historically a moderate and a maverick, making the rounds to the Chuck Dobsons of the political scene seeking to cozy up to the religious right. It is too bad that none of those religious leaders asked McCain one of the best questions in history, "What good is it if a man gains the whole world and yet forfeits his soul?"

What Would Barack Advise Us To Do?

Ken — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:31:58 EDT

Regarding my blog post of 08/08/08,

People Exacting Revenge on Obama Supporters

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/kenshain/gG5K5J

what do you suppose Barack Obama would advise us to do about managers that punish their employees for supporting Barack in their free time?

1) Keep our mouths shut and put up with the abuse?

2) Notify the Lauder family that owns the business that some of the members of their management team in Minnesota are violating their very principles... to the core (read "camps")?

3) Organize an office workers' resistance and out the scoundrels?

4) Try to raise awareness of the injustices being commited daily so that they can be brought to light and justice?

5) Just vote for him and he'll make everything better?

For the record, my fiancee already went to HR and they said to her, "And lying is bad, why?"

Seriously, how are others handling management abuse of Obama supporters on the job?

100,000,000 people will unite in the world's Greatest Light protest.

Elizabeth — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:42:17 EDT

The world's greatest LIGHT PROTEST will take place on August 7th 2008 - one day before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. At least 100 million people from all over the world will light a candle and say YES for freedom in Tibet!

The Campaign started on facebook from the desktop of David Califa, 52, a retired private individual with an investment banking background, from Ramat Hasharon, Israel. Mr. Califa has been financing it with his own private funds. "Candle for Tibet" has quickly developed into a global movement which operates from a multilingual (25 languages, all translated by volunteers) web site with its own social network alongside.

Mr. Califa has now joined forces with members of Unity Network, a global movement acting to unite and promote love between human beings regardless of their color, nationality, sex, religion or politics. Tibetan diva, Yungchen Lhamo, has recently joined "Candle for Tibet". Miss Lhamo, who is recognized as the "Voice of Tibet", will lead the campaign with her divine voice, music and spirit.

To date more than 500,000 people from well over a hundred countries signed in.

"Candle for Tibet" asks people to put the candle in their windows, desks, or anywhere else where other people will see it and hopefully do the same. Many will participate in candle vigils throughout the world. The light protest is expected to be seen by billions on TV screens all over the world on the day the Beijing Olympics open.

On the following day letters will be issued to every head of state in the world reporting how many people from his country wish Tibet to be free, and demanding that each one of them will act for the freedom of Tibet.

Reasons why Candle for Tibet's light protest is unique:

A light protest is a new global medium which enhances the power of one person to make a stand for a noble cause. It unites millions of people around the world, given a chance to act on a specific moment in time, for a single goal. It is by no means a virtual protest.

It heralds breaking down country boundaries in terms of democracy, and one's ability to 'vote' on an idea. And it brings hope.

It tells individuals, regardless of their nationality, sex, race, political views and religion, that if they unite behind an idea in today's age, they can change their reality.

It is the more significant and effective a poll to which world leaders can refer. (Angela Merkel and Gordon Brown were surely aware of public opinion in their countries regarding the Tibetan issue).

It was never done before (at least not on such a scale)

It is non violent and also non profit.

The message is simple: Every human being who cares about freedom has a responsibility of lighting a candle. The act of lighting a candle, being personal and spiritual, is also viewed as a vote. Such massive vote that world leaders will not be able to ignore.

Web Site: http://www.candle4tibet.org/

Social Network: http://candle4tibet.ning.com/

Contact: David Califa

Email: info@candle4tibet.org

WHY TIBET. Tibet today, has become a symbol of freedom. It is a symbol that represents the natural right of any human being for self determination, freedom of thought, conscience, belief and religion.

THE OPPORTUNITY. . The Olympic Games in Beijing which will open on August 8th 2008 are a unique opportunity to focus the world's attention on the annulment of those rights in Tibet and in many other places in the world. This is especially a unique opportunity, in a time when China is sensitive to worldwide public opinion. We are not against the Olympics or anything else for that matter; we stand for Freedom, Period. The Olympic Games in Beijing is why we feel it's the right time and place to make our stand.

THE POINT. . The aim of it all is to give the people of the world a real chance to unite in a way that sends an active and creative message of love and freedom. We believe in the power of the people when uniting together to make a true change in the world. This time it is for Tibet and for freedom, but the next step could be any other goal the people choose. We aim to reflect that there is a way for people to unite as one and make a difference. Right after the CANDLE FOR TIBET campaign we will announce the next campaign.

What about Israel and Palestinians? He doesn't propose any change.

Kristine from Grosse Pointe, MI — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:43:08 EDT

I have been very disappointed by Mr Obama's public statements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever since he formally declared his candidacy. Given what I had read about his pre-candidacy comments about the conflict I was encouraged. But I have observed a steadily accelerating pace of backing away from his pre-candidacy fair statements and sprinting toward Israel's side. I was horrified by his kowtowing speech at the recent AIPAC event. It was nauseating to hear his comments. It was even worse than his speech to the Chicago area Jewish Federation Council about a year ago, when he talked about Israeli neighborhoods living under threat of terrorism. Clearly he continues to feel a need to appease the Israel-firsters in and neutralize his “no one has suffered like the Palestinians have” statement at the dawn of his campaign.

I keep hoping that he is saying these things to get elected, but am concerned he is starting to believe it. Senator Obama, please return to speaking more openly as you once did.

The bipartisan "Baker Hamilton Report" to President Bush hit the nail on the head regarding US standing in the world community and the conflicts in the Middle East: The failure of the US to faithfully, morally stand as the intermediary between Israel and the Palestinians and negotiate in good faith a permanent peace between the two peoples. Unfortunately what little the US has done can be characterized as acting as Israel's defense attorney.

My family, with no ethnic nor religious ties to the region (other than Christian faith) used to live there. My husband was a water well designer/builder working on a US AID funded project for the Palestinians. We were living in Gaza City when the second Intifada started. While I was decided more favorably inclined toward the Israelis when I first moved there. After 2 years living there and later in Israel proper, my views took a U-turn. The problem there is not terrorism. IT'S THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION - AND - THE UNITED STATES SLAVISH SUPPORT OF ISRAEL. Sorry for shouting here, but after 8 years of being immersed in the issues since moving there in 2000, well, I get a bit frustrated at times.

I am appalled that in the list of foreign policy issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not rate. Just Israel. Further, in the bullet points regarding “Israel” Senator Obama ignores the internationally recognized violations of Palestinian human rights by Israel:

1. The separation barrier located not on the Green Line, but inside and often right in the middle of Palestinian communities, (didn't he see it when there???)

2. The checkpoints. The majority are located not between Palestinian Territories and Israel, but inside the territories, and impeding natural and traditional connections between Palestinian communities thereby weakening the social, cultural and economic health of the Palestinian society.

3. The Jewish only settlements (many US citizens live in these) in the occupied territories. Built on illegally obtained land, and constituting a land grab and an openly acknowledged (by Ariel Sharon in many interviews I read in the Ha’aretz while living there) strategy to change the facts on the ground and render a contiguous, viable Palestinian state impossible. The Geneva conventions very clearly state that no occupying power shall settle its civilian population in the territories it occupies.

4. Home demolitions (talk to Jeff Halper at the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions (www.icahad.org) I raised over $6,000 for the group’s work rebuilding Palestinian homes destroyed by the Israeli civil administration in the Jerusalem municipal zone. My family worked one summer rebuilding a home – called Beit Arabia in Anata. Home demolitions are, like settlements building, a strategy to weaken Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

Senator Obama, please, if you can’t speak out more fairly regarding the conflict and the need for a substantive change in US policy regarding it (try reading President Carter’s writings on the subject) at least tone down your slavish, obsequious language regarding support for Israel.

Thank you for reading and giving consideration to my comments.

Sincerely,

Kristine

Just in case you missed it, I thought it was important to revisit

Jen H — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:08:00 EDT

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Red Cross investigators concluded last year in a secret report that the Central Intelligence Agency’s interrogation methods for high-level Qaeda prisoners constituted torture and could make the Bush administration officials who approved them guilty of war crimes, according to a new book on counterterrorism efforts since 2001.

The book says that the International Committee of the Red Cross declared in the report, given to the C.I.A. last year, that the methods used on Abu Zubaydah, the first major Qaeda figure the United States captured, were “categorically” torture, which is illegal under both American and international law.

The book says Abu Zubaydah was confined in a box “so small he said he had to double up his limbs in the fetal position” and was one of several prisoners to be “slammed against the walls,” according to the Red Cross report. The C.I.A. has admitted that Abu Zubaydah and two other prisoners were waterboarded, a practice in which water is poured on the nose and mouth to create the sensation of suffocation and drowning.

The book, “The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals,” by Jane Mayer, who writes about counterterrorism for The New Yorker, offers new details of the agency’s secret detention program, as well as the bitter debates in the administration over interrogation methods and other tactics in the campaign against Al Qaeda.

The book is scheduled for publication next week by Doubleday. The New York Times obtained an advance copy.

Citing unnamed “sources familiar with the report,” Ms. Mayer wrote that the Red Cross document “warned that the abuse constituted war crimes, placing the highest officials in the U.S. government in jeopardy of being prosecuted.” Red Cross representatives were not permitted access to the secret prisons where the C.I.A. conducted interrogations, but were permitted to interview Abu Zubaydah and other high-level detainees in late 2006, after they were moved to the military detention center in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

The book says the C.I.A. shared the report, which Ms. Mayer first described last year in less detail in The New Yorker, with President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Bernard Barrett of the International Committee of the Red Cross declined to comment on the book except to say that the committee “regrets that any information has been attributed to us” because it believes its work is more effective when confidential.

He did confirm that committee personnel “are regularly visiting” the high-level Qaeda prisoners, now at Guantánamo Bay. “We have an ongoing confidential dialogue with members of the U.S. intelligence community, and we would share any observations or recommendations with them.”

The book says Abu Zubaydah told the Red Cross that he had been waterboarded at least 10 times in a single week and as many as three times in a day.

The book also reports that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the chief planner of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, told the Red Cross that he had been kept naked for more than a month and claimed that he had been “kept alternately in suffocating heat and in a painfully cold room.”

The report says the prisoners considered the “most excruciating” of the methods being shackled to the ceiling and being forced to stand for as long as eight hours. Eleven of the 14 prisoners reported prolonged sleep deprivation, the book says, including “bright lights and eardrum-shattering sounds 24 hours a day.”

Ms. Mayer acknowledges that Red Cross investigators based their account largely on interviews with the prisoners. But she writes that several C.I.A. officers she spoke with confirmed parts of the Red Cross description.

A C.I.A. spokesman, Paul Gimigliano, confirmed that Red Cross workers had been “granted access to the detained terrorists at Guantánamo and heard their claims.” He said the agency’s interrogations were based on “detailed legal guidance from the Department of Justice” and had “produced solid information that has contributed directly to the disruption of terrorist activities.”

“The Dark Side” also describes a frightening false alarm at the White House on Oct. 18, 2001, when, it says, an alarm went off on a machine designed to detect biological, chemical or radiological attacks. Among those who believed they might have been exposed to a pathogen was Vice President Dick Cheney.

Ms. Mayer quotes an unnamed “former administration official” as saying, “They thought that Cheney was already lethally infected.”

A spokeswoman for Mr. Cheney, Lea Anne McBride, said his office had not seen the book and could not comment. An administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to comment on the issue said aides had investigated the book’s account at Ms. Mayer’s request and that “no one recalls such an incident.”

Obama in Berlin; McCain at Schmidt's Fudge Haus.

Melanie — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:38:49 EDT

I awoke this morning to an email from my alert, funny, and whip-smart friend Ed Huddleston, a graduate student at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Ed wrote: "Barack Obama near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, standing before a throng of 200,000 Germans listening with rapt attention...and John McCain in German Village in Columbus OH, standing in front of a sign that says, in faux-German Gothic script, ‘Schmidt's Fudge Haus.' And no, I'm not making this up. So let's see..which man do you think has the stuff of a world leader?"

On BBC 1 last night in London, I watched Obama speaking in Berlin. His mere presence there is an indication of his commitment to reaching out, and restoring dialogue in the world. I don't think Europeans have been as excited and grateful for a US politician, truly, since Kennedy. It's electrifying and deeply moving to witness here.

At the same time, however, in sober reality of the election, it's vital to remember that the folks at Schmidt’s Fudge Haus can vote for him, unlike the citizens of Berlin.

As an American voter, I believe that we have a responsibility to contemplate how our choices impact those who cannot vote in US elections—such as the people whose lives have been marred forever by the US practice of water-boarding. The same day as Obama’s Berlin speech, the Bush Administration's 2002 top secret torture memo was released, with 10 out of 18 pages blacked out. The remaining text reveals how semantics were manipulated to create a safety clause for torturing with impunity.

CNN reports: “The Bush administration told the CIA in 2002 that its interrogators working abroad would not violate U.S. prohibitions against torture unless they ‘have the specific intent to inflict severe pain or suffering,’ according to a previously secret Justice Department memo released Thursday. The interrogator's "good faith" and "honest belief" that the interrogation will not cause such suffering protects the interrogator, the memo adds.”

In weeks and months after 9/11, I felt a pang of alarm that the Bush Administration might use the country's terrible period of numbness, anger, and grief to justify rolling back the mid-1970s reforms of US intelligence practices. The release of this top secret torture memo has confirmed that this is exactly what ensued. It will be a tough feat for the next president to put such practices back into the box, and to dismantle the reasserted culture of laxity and tolerance for torture once more. If McCain is elected, chances are good that it simply won't occur.

Yet human rights cannot be doled out selectively—as if the portion to which an individual is entitled depends upon his/her passport.

The Bush Administration has operated as if Americans are somehow "more human" than the rest of the world—entitled to a more rigorous standard of protection and honor. When we fail to acknowledge the fundamental humanity of others, we make possible the most egregious abuses.

If we do not vigilantly uphold equality of protection, regardless of nationality, religion or race, then the term “human rights” itself is degraded into a grotesque farce.

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio—much closer to the German Village in Columbus, than to Berlin. And today, I yearn to ask the people at Schmidt’s Fudge House to consider how they would vote if one of their sons, brothers, or husbands had been subjected to waterboarding, or disappeared, to be held for years without charges.

When John F. Kennedy exclaimed at the peak of the Cold War: “Ich bin ein Berliner,” he was declaring himself in solidarity with other human beings. That solidarity is the basis of human rights—and it the very basis for compassion, the capacity for which distinguishes what it is to be human.

Obama’s appearance in Berlin—on the same day as the torture memo’s release—brings us back to the premise at the heart of the US Declaration of Independence. It is worth inserting here, because these are among the most thrilling words I know in the English language:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

When Americans wish to talk about patriotism, these rebellious lines are the finest place to start. Thank you, Barack Obama, for reminding us with your speech in Berlin.

Why McCain is wrong for the world

Joshua Schroeder — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:50:54 EDT

John McCain seems trapped in an ideology rooted firmly in a Cold War era Domino Theory foreign policy while espousing an anti-New Deal domestic policy that makes him look so out-dated and old-fashioned as to be almost absurd. To hear John McCain describe the world, the United States is the paragon of righteousness and protector of all that is good, wholesome, and real. There are two problems with this sentiment: one) the last eight years have ruined the modicum of credibility the US had on the world stage in terms of standing up for basic rights and freedoms. Now we have the spectres of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis and Afghans that loom large in the eyes of the global community. two) there are approaches and ideas that we need to respect in the rest of the world rather than impose our own designs.

John McCain wants it to be 1946 without the Soviet Union or the United Nations. It simply isn't that way. We need a president who will be respectful of the world and work to strengthen internationalism while at the same time standing up for human rights, fair wages, health care, and an end to the deplorable evils of bigotry and intolerance domestically and the world over. John McCain just wants America to "win". We are living in a post-"America First" era. We are living in a place where what happens in India affects me and what happens in Kansas affects someone in Afghanistan. Realizing the responsibility of ourselves to all of humanity is a big task after decades of self-serving rhetoric being adopted by all political parties in this country, but I am confident we can move beyond this narrow-mindedness and enter into a global society without the ideological baggage of anachronistic Republicans.

Barack Obama is demonstrating this new and better way to look at the world right now as he visits the Middle East and Europe. America should elect him as president and follow his lead.

McCain - No Friend to Climate Change, the Earth, or Human Rights

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:45:50 EDT

McCain is UNFIT to hold public office!

Native Americans: Navajo Indians targeted for brutal genocide, in Arizona, USA ...by Sen. John McCain & a few greedy Senators, which brutally displaced thousands of Navajo farmers onto a Nuclear Waste Dump to live after brutalizing them for two decades in peaceful resistance.

Not long ago, the United Nations performed a Human Rights Investigation of the forced Navajo resettlement from Arizona to Nevada, under Special Rapporteur A. Amor. A law revised and submitted to Congress by Senator John McCain and others before him was determined to be the root cause of violations, which after ratification by President Clinton in 1999 during a globally publicized sit in by Songstress Julia Butterfly Hill at Big Mountain, Arizona. The enactment led to the removal of the Dineh band of Navajo from the Black Mesa to free the lands up to mining, and could lead to relocation of the Dineh-Navaho from Big Mountain, all based on a tissue of deceit, false claims of prior ownership by a small group of paid Arizona locals of Indian descent led by one Wayne Taylor, working for McCain, Bechtel and Peabody.

The ACSA challenges Senator McCain on his legislative history of Human Rights Violations: "a Skeleton in his closet: UNFIT to hold public office!

(Public Law 93-531 as amended in 1996 (Partition), 1999 (Settlement), 2001 (Enforcement of Resettlement) and 2005 (Expansion of Resettlement) by bills introduced by Senator McCain - has led to the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Hon Abdeltalif Amor's condemnation of human rights violations inside the US, over the stripping of rights and forced resettlement of these gentle and deeply spiritual band of Dineh-Navajo Indians from Arizona, swept off of lands they'd owned since 1500 A.D. so that Peabody Western Coal could mine the Coal from beneath their farmlands and tap their wells to slurry pipe it to a power station in Nevada).

ACSA study reveals that after assembling a team of "pro-Peabody Western Coal" Indians and obtaining a false "Hopi-Navajo" Tribal Counsel designation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for these paid Tribal representatives, in the period 1974-1996, Senator McCain was able to get large bands of the Dineh-Navajo relocated off their lands, so that Peabody Western could mine the coal under their farms at nominal expense. Common Cause has suggested McCain was indirectly compensated by street name cash contributions to his Federal Election Fund during three Presidential runs, and through family business with Las Vegas Casinos who benefited from the coal driven power he supplied.

Happy 90th Birthday Mr Mandela

Nicky — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:10:05 EDT

It's Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday today!

Nelson Mandela's life is a beautiful example of forgiveness in action and the ability to communicate effectively with people who have different ideologies. Today is a good day to turn our attention to civil liberties, the concept of freedom and what that means exactly and what it means to be a humanitarian.

If you don't know very much about this great man I encourage you to read his biography, A Long Walk To Freedom. There is also a beautiful coffee table book on Mandela which includes comments on and letters to Mr Mandela from celebrities, past presidents from various countries and peace makers like Desmund Tutuu and includes some great photographs.

And while we are considering this great man we can notice the similarities between Mandela and our soon to be President Barak Obama.

Mandela was labelled a terrorist by his adversaries.

Mandela spoke about peaceful negotiations.

Mandela was told he was idealistic and not realistic and could never give "the people" what he was promising.

Mandela was accused of not being christian enough.

Mandela was told that he didn't have enough experience at running a country.

I was born in South Africa and lived there until 5 years ago. I was there during the times when white people only had the vote. I was there when millions of people stood for 6-8 hours waiting for their opportunity to vote for the first time...some who were 70, 80 and even 90 years old. I was there when Steve Biko was murdered and I was there when the Truth and Reconcilliation Committee listened to and forgave hundreds of people for the torture, murder and terrorising of people that opposed the apartheid government. I have seen what one man can do and I've seen what one man can inspire the people of a country to do.

"Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world - indeed it's the only thing that ever did." Margaret Meade

Yes, we can.

p.s If you are looking for a humanitarian organization to support or are interested in google the following:

Invisible Children (I highly recomend you watch the original movie of Invisible Children. One of those life changing moments when you watch this one!)

Help Haiti Now A local Sarasota lady is sending money directly to contacts in Haiti to build schools and provide basic needs like shoes, food and school supplies. Would be grateful for anything you can spare. Her name is Michelle.

Unicefusa.org Sign up to join the Fight for Child Survival...

Get involved with the homeless/working poor in your local community. In Sarasota there are a few of us that meet 6pm on Friday evenings at the park outside Selby Library. Bring a meal to share with those who don't have any. Everyone welcome.

US and the International Criminal Court

Chinni — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:24:22 EDT

The US and the International Criminal Court Then and Now

by David Scheffer, July 16 2008

One decade ago, on July 17th, 1998, I sat in a crowded room in Rome with diplomats from 148 other nations knowing that I failed my country and the world. As head of the United States delegation to the talks creating the International Criminal Court, I rejected the final text of the treaty for the court. Since then, 106 countries, including almost all of our allies, have joined the court while Washington remains outside it...
..As the American negotiator I argued that the court would need the United States to function effectively on the global stage. But following years of misconduct under the Bush administration, one might ponder whether it is the United States that needs the International Criminal Court to help restore its credibility and reassert fundamental principles of humanity.

Obama vs. McCain on the ICC

by Josh Rovenger, July 1, 2008

..Obama has stated , “Now that it’s operational, we are learning more and more about how the ICC functions. The court has pursued charges only in cases of the most serious and systematic crimes and it is in America’s interests that these most heinous of criminals, like the perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur, are held accountable. These actions are a credit to the cause of justice and deserve full American support and cooperation.” This has led to his commitment that “the United States should cooperate with the ICC investigation in a way that reflects American sovereignty and promotes our national security interests.”
Although Obama holds this outlook on the ICC, and would have a better relationship with the Court than the current president, the probability that the U.S. would sign the Rome Treaty shortly after he takes office is slim. As his former advisor, Samantha Power remarked, “Until we’ve closed Guantanamo, gotten out of Iraq, renounced torture and rendition, and shown a different face for America, American membership in the ICC is going to make countries around the world think the ICC is a tool of American hegemony.” She concludes, “If Barack Obama ratified the ICC or announced support for it on day one, two things would happen. One, it would have the chance of discrediting the ICC in the short term, and two, he would so strain his relations with the U.S. military that it would actually be really hard to recover.” However, Obama does promise to “consult thoroughly with our military commanders and also examine the track record of the court before reaching a decision on whether the U.S. should become a party to the ICC.”..

Court of First Resort

By SAMANTHA POWER, February 10, 2005

Supporting the Constitution is not a Radical position!

Morgaine Swann — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:35:37 EDT

I've been very disturbed by the way the corporate media is portraying people who were against the recent FISA vote. Supporting the Constitution is traditionally a Conservative value. Since the Reagan administration, our country has moved so far to the Right that the people who call themselves Conservative are really fascists and the people who are supposed to be Liberals are what we used to call Conservative. The Progressive movement, which is portrayed as radical and Far Left, seem to be the ones that are concerned with Constitutional Rights. Our political system is so changed that the hippies and the miitias are finding themselves on the same side more and more often.

The Constitution is the social contract that empowers our representatives to act for us. It doesn't give us our rights - those are innate, endowed upon us by Nature. Our founders declared our rights to be self-evident and unalienable. The Constitution enumerates some of those rights, reserving others not mentioned to the people, but it doesn't create them. That's why foreigners have to be treated as well as Americans - we aren't special in any way except that our government is supposed to respect our innate human rights.

People think only terrorists are being held without rights to habeas corpus. There are US citizens being held both as potential terrorists and as illegal immigrants. The media doesn't talk about the detention camps filled by Homeland Security raids on immigrants. A lot of the people in those camps are citizens who aren't being given access to legal counsel. The government is reading our emails and listening to our phone calls. They're torturing prisoners who haven't been charged with any crime. The war in Iraq is illegal, because only Congress can declare war and they never did. Karl Rove outed a covert operative working in WMDs and he's still walking around free while 1 in every 10 Americans is in jail. Our government is out of control.

I'm praying that we can count on Senator Obama, a Constitutional scholar, to do what he can to restore this country to the rule of law. The recent FISA vote was a mistake, and one I hope won't be repeated. In my perfect world, Senator Obama would start backing the articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Kucinich, and he'd start pushing for prosecution of Karl Rove in the Plame case. I would hope that a President Obama and his newly minted Justice Department would start by investigating the illegal activities of the Bush administration. That's a big project, but I think it's a vital one. We can't just sweep these crimes under the rug as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid seem determined to do. If we're going to be a nation of laws again, and not some evil oligarchy that only benefits the elite class, then criminal prosecution of the crimes is essential.

Keeping Focussed: Don't let the good become the enemy of the perfect

DGM — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:02:31 EDT

Chip Pitts writes:(http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/chippitts/gGxfxK)

"Today was a dark day indeed. Our candidate, the candidate of change “we can believe in,” certainly changed his position on filibustering a terrible FISA bill."

First, he did exactly what he told us he was going to do and the reason he was going to do it.

He is OUR candidate. Not yours. OUR job is to get him elected.

You say "The members of this group are only the tip of the iceberg." Let's look at what the iceberg might look like.

Suppose

one-third of Obama's registered supporters favor your position,

one third think that his decision was correct, balancing real security threats, the need to get legislation in place and political consideration one the one hand against providing immunity for PAST civil (but not criminal) misdeeds on the other.

And suppose one-third don't care and are happy to leave it to Obama.

Now suppose 10 percent of your supporters are active and noisy, 2 percent of the supporters Obama's compromise are, and everyone else is quiet.

Neither you nor I know exactly what the iceburg is like. My bet is that Obama has a much better sense. Seems like to me he did the right thing.

We are talking about support, not agreement; and an entire program, not a single issue.

You state, "an immunity deal that will in all likelihood forever prevent the public from learning the full truth behind Bush’s illegal domestic spying."

Really? Why? And if so, it that worth "chipping" away at winning the election? Don't Nader us.

DGM

A Dark Day for FISA and the campaign -- and a path toward the light?

Chip Pitts — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:05:12 EDT

Today was a dark day indeed. Our candidate, the candidate of change “we can believe in,” certainly changed his position on filibustering a terrible FISA bill that added new categories of warrantless surveillance and granted immunity to the big telecom companies complicit in the Bush administration’s warrantless spying.

Instead of offering strong, principled leadership on this issue, and using his power as the Democratic nominee to bring along the minority of Democratic Senators who supported this atrocious legislation, he and they joined the solid Republican bloc to ratify the most egregious aspects of the Bush administration’s approach to warrantless surveillance and enable an immunity deal that will in all likelihood forever prevent the public from learning the full truth behind Bush’s illegal domestic spying. We’re talking about a Democratic Congress here – facing a Republican president and a Republican party experiencing historically low public approval ratings!

Today’s vote was a body blow to the rule of law, good government, transparency, accountability, due process of law, equal justice without regard to special interests, and core constitutional rights of privacy, free expression, assembly, free press, free religion (and the list goes on). All of these rights and values are interrelated and act together to protect us and make us stronger. When key strands unravel, all the rights and values are affected to a lesser or greater degree. Such issues truly transcend partisan politics or loyalty to any one candidate to implicate the future not just of a political campaign but that of the nation and the world.

Today’s vote was also a personal blow to millions who believed that Sen. Obama was a different kind of politician. The members of this group are only the tip of the iceberg.

I have said and would like to believe that Sen. Obama’s error of judgment likely resulted from bad advice given by consultants oblivious to the crucial importance of the candidate’s “brand” as a uniquely principled and constitutionally literate candidate. Not realizing the different conditions presented by a public newly empowered by the internet and democratic social networking and other technologies, these consultants advised a candidate too busy to read the full bill himself to make the classic post-primary move to the supposed “center” in order to attract Republicans and independents in swing states. But this isn’t a shift toward the center; fundamental constitutional issues like this aren’t of the left or right (or middle), but provide the foundation for all sides of the structure. We know from his history, biography, and writings that Sen. Obama deeply understands this – which is all the more reason that his u-turn is so unexpected and jarring.

Obama’s politics were supposed to be less ideological, less partisan, less tied to special interests (like powerful telecommunications companies), and more sensitive to the basic American values of constitutional rights and principled pragmatism that, above all else, bind this diverse nation one to all. The politics thus envisioned is “pragmatic” in the best sense of the word (focused on principled solutions that work), not in the worst sense (compromising on fundamental principle). The difference between the two is precisely why Republicans, independents, and libertarians flocked to the candidate along with activist Democrats, progressives, young people, the elderly, and all sorts of new entrants into the political process.

The FISA/immunity issue more than most epitomized all this, representing an opportunity to transcend the politics of fear, misinformation, and ideological division -- an opportunity to affirm fact-based surveillance based on constitutionally required individual suspicion instead of deceptive, overbroad, counterproductive, wasteful, and dangerous dragnet surveillance, datamining, and unchecked executive power. (Will this FISA bill's overbroad surveillance infrastructure really help capture real terrorists, or does it more closely resemble the inefficient, labyrinthine, and counterproductive Homeland Security Department? Isn’t it much more likely that such a mammoth dragnet of everyone's communications can be avoided by terrorists as easily as they might avoid the stupid but feel-good requirement that we all remove our shoes every time we board an airplane?)

The McCain camp was always going to accuse Sen. Obama of being “soft on terror.” His new brand of politics raised the hope of finally getting past such ridiculous and misleading false dichotomies. At his best, he has proven himself to be singularly capable of doing this (e.g in his red state/blue state speech at the last Democratic convention, race speech in Philadelphia, etc). Our country urgently needs such a return to practical reason if there’s to be any “hope” of tackling the tremendous problems faced.

There is a possible path to heal this breach of trust with his disenchanted supporters, difficult as that may be to conceive at this point. This group’s members have drafted an open letter at www.getFISAright.com which you’re all invited to sign. That letter asks Sen. Obama to take three concrete and specific actions aimed at reaffirming, despite this vote, his commitment to the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and preserving the Constitution and Bill of Rights. He has, after all, asked his supporters to hold him accountable, which is exactly the point of this letter and this group in the run-up to the November elections.

Bob Herbert of the New York Times yesterday quoted Obama’s pledge to be someone “who will listen to you and learn from you, even when we disagree.” In the Wiki Age, this need not be – cannot be -- mere campaign rhetoric. A new politics is still possible. And it is up to us as much as is up to Senator Obama to make it so.

repost: Obama and gays in the military

Duane Kuehn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:28:33 EDT

Hi All,

We should all learn from history. When the very far right Republican Party that was his creation elected George Bush the father, he turned on them, he voted "Yes" to Civil Rights.

The result was a Republican Party of close-minded bigots who turned on him. This turning included many death threats, and death threats in Texas are promises in a land where people keep their promises.

Rather than run, George Bush gave what some consider the most amazing speech of his political career, and that man could give a speech. He called the Party Big-Wigs and Big Money to a meeting and talked to the outraged and angry mob.

The gist of his speech was that when he was in the armed service, he watched black men fight and die next to him. That if these black people could fight and die for this country, they deserved Civil Rights in this country. George Bush walked away from that meeting to thunderous applause.

John McCain is no fool. He must attack Obama's stance of allowing gays to serve openly in the military. He must because these are his trump cards with the huge voting block of the Religious Right.

Bill Clinton tried to allow gays to serve openly in the military. One of his generals had a hissy-fit about it and it changed to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy". It was a little better than the days of Vietnam when our troops were spied followed and spied upon in attempt to catch and criminalize anyone who was gay. A time when some of our most honored and highly decorated soldiers were thrown out of the service, not for sexual misconduct but for the mere fact that they were bisexual or gay.

Strange when one considers that the most famous of military leaders, Alexander the Great, was a homosexual. The homosexuality of Alexander of Mesopotamia is a documented fact, which proves that gays can be the best of soldiers and military leaders. That the Spartans were often homosexual couples because they would fight harder when fighting beside someone they loved.

The point being that gay men and women do not join the army to get a date.

Being gay is not a behavior; it is a natural part of life. It is not a "choice" for most anyway, most hate themselves for being gay and nobody would choose to live life in a closet of self-hatred. I do not think the marines have to worry about being raped by a gay soldier.

Sexuality should not really enter into the picture but as a man has the right to say, "I have a girlfriend back home", or a woman has the right to say, "I have a husband back home", and so does the gay soldier have the right to share his life back home with his comrades in arms. Gay soldiers should not be forced to tell lies to their friends in the service for fear of court martial.

If a gay person chooses to fight for the United States of America, the United States of America should recognize that person's human rights; and the armed services are no exception.

repost: Obama and Gays in the Military

Duane Kuehn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:26:34 EDT

Obama and gays in the military

Duane Kuehn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:24:36 EDT

The Practical Relevance of the FISA/Immunity Issue

Chip Pitts — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:40:08 EDT

One of our fellow Obama supporters asked whether this FISA/immunity issue matters at all. "Is anybody going to die?" "What does this have to do with my bills, gas, healthcare?"

As a rough and quick response, I offer two preliminary answers – one short (and more short term) and one a bit more distant/long-term:

The short/short-term answer: I've visited a number of dictatorships, both before and after the fall of the Berlin wall. Ubiquitous spying can cause lots of people and entire societies serious, depressing, meaningful psychological harm; it tends to result in arbitrary, conflict-producing, brittle governments resorting to unfair practices including political repression, stifled dissent, and discrimination against vulnerable groups or dissenters/creative types/artists/intellectuals. Societies that take that approach (e.g. East Germany, where a significant portion of the populace were employed by or informants for the Stasi secret police) tend not to do very well in terms of achieving the economic prosperity that allows them to pay bills, buy gas, get health care, etc. Beyond that, the individuals affected often have no way to challenge the justness of the actions taken against them -- just ask those trying to get off the terrorist watch or no-fly lists -- and some often even suffer physical harm (including arbitrary imprisonment). Again, this isn't speculation: US citizens and many others have already been imprisoned for years without due process or rights to contest the (secret) evidence against them. In the USA (!) as well as at Gitmo and other prisons, secret and overt, abroad.

Illusory measures like this FISA Amendments Bill, which like the “shoes off” routine at the airport give you the false comfort of feeling secure (while being easily evaded by genuine terrorists), and that avoid the truly effective fact-based, hard, detailed intelligence gathering that's proved empirically successful against terrorists, will also mean that you, yours, and the nation are more (not less) vulnerable to risk of a terror attack, because of the inevitable mission creep and diversion of resources involved and the false feeling that we've taken effective action when we've actually taken only the easy, false-comfort, self-defeating route that actually alienates the populations most able to provide actionable intelligence.

Such spying is also is of a piece with the same theory of untrammeled executive power that underlies other arbitrary and unfair, counterproductive actions we've seen in recent years from the Bush administration: it renews a precedent for, and encourages the slippery slope of e.g. torture, indefinite detention, secret and lawless prisons, kidnapping, and extraordinary rendition. These actions have indisputably left us less powerful and less safe in the world -- despite the fatuous, illogical, and self-serving Bush/McCain rhetoric that "well, at least there's been no attack since 9/11!" [It's another subject, but in addition to confusing correlation with causation, that argument reveals ignorance of al Qaeda and its modus operandi (multi-years between attacks, striving for the spectacular, etc), of memos from al Qaeda that have been captured and say that the strategy is not to attack the US right now, and of the adversary’s morphing (according to Rand Corporation and other sources) into a stronger, more decentralized, global franchise.]

An answer more for the long-term: if these FISA amendments pass, with or without the telecom immunity envisaged, the amended law enshrining the hi-tech Bush surveillance and datamining approach will change America in subtle but profound and enduring ways, to the point that we simply won't be the same country we've been or share many of the vital, core principles that we've shared essentially since the founding (although it's those principles more than anything else that bind us together). Recall that on that other July 4th, in 1776, a major reason for the revolution was King George's assertions of arbitrary, unchecked power, including the "general" (unspecified) warrants that resulted in searches of the colonists' homes without any sort of notice, specific fact-based warrant or probable cause/individualized suspicion.

That arbitrary, unfair, and tyrannical practice without checks and balances tore the social fabric then, and today’s updated techno-version will just as surely tear the social fabric in insidious ways now and in the future. This effect won't be immediately apparent or visible, but it will matter tremendously for your long-term future and that of any children, grandchildren, or those of relatives you may have. At least that's my grave concern.

Re-read Orwell.

FISA/Immunity Not "Just Another Issue"

Chip Pitts — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:21:17 EDT

The top US and global issues all have significant, if underappreciated, interrelationships -- e.g. the current financial volatility is related to food/commodity/oil price increases which in turn are influenced by and influencing global warming (affecting weather systems and droughts like that in Australia at present). The increased demand from globalization and urbanization (as, e.g. China paves over agricultural fields to make new parking lots and office parks) is part of this picture, and that too influences and is influenced by energy policy, which in turn influences and is influenced by wars such as those in Iraq/Afghanistan and elsewhere, other conflict, disease, refugee flows, terrorism, etc . . . I won't go on . . . but none of these issues can be effectively addressed without US leadership and action in coordination with that of other actors, official and unofficial (including the people in various countries). (My own view is that all of them -- at home or abroad -- are best addressed with "rights-based" approaches that recognize the pragmatic values of rights such as those at issue in the FISA/immunity debate.)The FISA/telecom immunity issue may seem to be a stand-alone topic, unrelated to education, health care, global warming, energy policy, electoral reform, national security, economics, social justice generally, etc. It is said to relate to merely one right (privacy) or one big idea (uncorrupt good governance and accountability under the rule of law). But those concepts are also importantly interrelated to each other and to rich notions of what I would call the "rights infrastructure" that (despite all our national ills and flaws) has distinguished this country and undergirded the substantial success we've enjoyed. Privacy creates the space for free expression, religious freedom, nondiscrimination, free assembly, free press, etc. Due process of law involving objective standards, no favorable treatment of special interests, etc similarly relates in important ways to respect for the dignity and autonomy of the individual, nondiscrimination, and the values underlying rights and good societies. Without privacy, for example, you lose the critical room for meaningful information gathering, independent creative thought, freedom of conscience and expression, and entrepreneurial activity of all kinds . .. you take a notable step toward the sorts of failing and repressive societies that the US opposed during the Cold War. We won that conflict in large part because of our "soft power" as a country that had a Bill of Rights, opportunity for immigrants and ordinary people, and concern for others in the world as represented by US leadership in creating the United Nations and that of Eleanor Roosevelt and others in advocating for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But if the Bush theory of executive power as manifest in this horrendous FISA bill prevails, and telecoms are granted retroactive immunity, what happens to that national essence? What is the next corporate action that will be expected to be forgiven later? A new round of discriminatory internment by private prison companies after the next terrorist attack? Domestic martial law enforced in part by private military contractors like Blackwater (as we also saw after Katrina)? Surely that sort of "new normal" is intolerable.So . . . protecting those interrelated rights and freedoms is essential, in my view, to reaching high quality decisions, avoiding terrible mistakes like the Iraq war, and generally avoiding further regression/repression and preserving our social capacity to successfully address all the major issues on which we want and desparately need Sen. Obama's leadership. It's that simple. (Or complex.) My point is just that for this and many other reasons (that the candidate has previously seemed to appreciate even if some of his current handlers do not), this is not a "niche" issue as some have characterized it. It cuts across and relates directly to the kind of society, politics, capacity, and soft power that we absolute must have both domestically and globally in order to solve our most pressing problems.Chip Pitts

A Response to Sen. Obama's Response on FISA

Chip Pitts — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:21:05 EDT

Despite my ardent admiration and respect and strong support for Sen. Obama, I must say that I found his response tonight on the FISA concerns wholly inadequate. The response turned on two main points, namely that reasserting FISA as the exclusive route for surveillance was a significant improvement over prior law, and that the added accountability mechanisms represented e.g. by the post-hoc Inspector General investigations and reports fall into the same category. Yet FISA already established that it was the exclusive route for foreign intelligence surveillance -- the key provision that President Bush ignored. And while valuable, the investigations by Inspector Generals after the fact hardly amount to meaningful accountability of the sort needed. Neither of these relatively minor reforms is adequate to counterbalance the damage done by essentially ratifying the Bush approach to executive power as represented by the bulk of this horrible bill. It's highly unlikely that Sen. Obama has had time to read this bill himself, for if he did, as another constitutional law scholar, he would undoubtedly see the serious constitutional and policy issues that remain. The more likely result is that as a time-limited Democratic nominee, he is being "managed" to a greater extent than ever, and the perceived political imperative to capture the "center" and not expose himself to appearing "soft on terrorism" explain this position. The sad reality is that the managers narrow the space to consider what's "right" and attempt to maximize the positions that are considered politically "safe" and expedient -- without realizing the irony that, at least to me, this is a recipe not only for compromising his principles, but for electoral defeat in November. At this point, he seriously risks jeopardizing what made him a special candidate. I keep saying that whatever the results on this specific issue, it's thus clear that recovering our rights and preserving them long-term will require much broader citizen action of the sort represented by dissenting voices such as those represented in the MyBarackObama.com group "Please Vote No on Telecom Immunity - Get FISA Right" group, and by opportunities for action such as the new Peoples Campaign for the Constitution, the broad-based nonpartisan project launched by the NYT ad today. Please take the pledge to respect the rule of law and recover the Bill of Rights located at the ConstitutionCampaign -- www.constitutioncampaign.org -- and use the tools located there for events this July 4th week (prior to the expected FISA bill vote on July 8th) and beyond. I know that I'll be out at my community picnic tomorrow with a sign reading "NO to warrantless wiretaps; NO to telecom immunity"! We can and must turn this around. Best, Chip Pitts (Lecturer, Stanford Law School; President, Bill of Rights Defense Committee www.bordc.org)

Consistent Ethic of LIfe? It Seems Right to Me!

Greg M — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:13:29 EDT

Consistent Ethic of Life? It Seems Right to Me!
Rev. Gregory M. McCaw, 08/06/2007

I find it nearly impossible to comprehend how large numbers of confessing Christian people allow themselves to be lured, actually frightened, into very narrow and selfish thinking. When considering how to address humanity's most difficult social problems it seems that many Christians are inconsistent in their application of Jesus' teachings. It seems that the goal of these Christians is more to preserve a particular narrow worldview and/or their own perceived feeling of security rather than to consistently, and when necessary, sacrificially apply Jesus' teachings. One of the highly held beliefs of all Christians is the "sanctity of life." It has been my personal goal as a Christ follower to be in a constant growing and learning process of broadening my worldview, recognizing my areas of selfishness and consistently applying my belief in the "sanctity of life." As challenged by Rev. Jim Wallis, I'm developing a "consistent ethic of life."

It does not make sense to me for persons trying to live what Jesus taught to fight and demonstrate against abortion, euthanasia and equal treatment under the law for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons while at the same time they continue to deny the substantial work yet to be done in bringing about true equal treatment under the law for non-white persons and women; to demand enactment of capital punishment (the death penalty); to support unjust wars to "protect national interests"; to support the inhumane treatment and/or torture of prisoners/captives; to ignore the ongoing genocide in Darfur and the homeless and starving and dying masses all over the world; to demand that persons in the US illegally be treated in all kinds of inhumane ways; to insist upon our own personal comfort over the stewardship of the universe! Some have even allowed themselves to become so frightened that not only do they willing surrender the rights of other human beings but they have surrendered their own rights so that they can "feel" safer.

It seems right to me, the more I deeply embrace the unswerving grace demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, that a "consistent ethic of life" would be to apply the same measure of "sanctity" to ALL life and not just the unborn, the elderly and white heterosexual men. Is it so strange for us to actually apply our little catchy marketing phrase, "What Would Jesus Do?" to all of these extremely import issues of life? Rather than simply picking and choosing those issues that most advance our own particular worldview or personal comfort?

Hear the words of Jesus Himself: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again - it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!' The disciples were astounded. 'Then who in the world can be saved?' they asked." (Matthew 19:23-25 NLT)

Most of my life, I'll admit that I mistranslated this passage in two significant ways. First, I never saw myself as "a rich person." The truth is that I am the "rich person" to whom Jesus was referring. Secondly, as I was taught, I believed that to "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven or of God" meant to go to "Heaven" after my life on this earth had ended. By "enter into the Kingdom Heaven or of God," Jesus means becoming a citizen of His kingdom of peace here and now, in the present, on the earth, while in my flesh; joining myself into the active Body of Jesus Christ; becoming an active participant with Christ in His mission to reconcile the entire universe to God.

It is so difficult for me to think and act and live as Christ taught and demonstrated. Honestly it is quite nearly impossible sometimes. What makes it so difficult is that I am indeed rich in so many ways and I want to remain so. I love my position of power as a white man. I am embarrassed to say so, but I do. I love the access I have to so much of the earth's resources. It is quite natural, human, for me to hate anything or anyone who comes between me and my power, my access, my comfort, my feeling of safety and security; even my nice, neat and tidy worldview.

"To hell with most everyone else!" Why should I feel guilty for what the idiot white people did to non-white persons up through the middle of the 20th century? I wasn't even alive then! I don't owe those people anything! They have to work hard for theirs just like I have for mine! That goes for women too! Murderers? Rapists? Horse Thieves? Death to all of them so that I don't have to be concerned about them anymore! I don't want my tax dollars spent on housing murderers for life! In the "war on terror" they can do whatever to whomever, whether spying or torture, so that I can feel safe at home! I was all for bombing in Eastern Europe when so many white people were being routinely exterminated, and war with Iraq was justified in order to prevent further disturbance of the US economy, not to mention the issue of justified retaliation. Darfur, however, is a territorial dispute; they should handle their internal issues internally, and if we're being honest, there is no economic value to Darfur. I don't even like to be reminded of homeless and starving children and people dying of AIDS all over Africa, I'm just one guy, what can I do anyway? All illegal ALIENS should be rounded up and deported back to their countries of origin without delay! They are using up all of my social security dollars and driving up the costs of health care, not to mention taxes, and taking jobs from honest legal citizens! And please, build that wall! Global warming is a hoax! And even if it's not, real effects won't be of any major concern for a very long time. Let people deal with it when the time comes! I want what I want when I want it because I can!

Now, I wish I could say I was just playing "devil's advocate" in that last paragraph, but that would not be true. Being completely authentic, these are actual voices that sound off in my mind regularly. As much as and for as long as I have labored to purposely remove or replace these horrid and hidden and sinful demons from deep within, they are still there seeking any and every possible expression. In fact, if I were not homosexual myself, I could add my deep fear of and disdain for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Ah, the ultimate position of power, which was held away from me, just out of the grasp of my fingertips. If only I were a rich, white, STRAIGHT man! Then I would truly own the world!

I have found but only one balm for this kind of woundedness that tears at my soul. The Balm in Gilead. "Jeremiah, say to the people, 'This is what the Lord says: When people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don't hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, 'What a terrible thing I have done'? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! How can you say, 'We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,' when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all? They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions? Not at all - they don't even know how to blush! We hoped for peace, but no peace came. We hoped for a time of healing, but found only terror. My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. 'The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,' the people cry, 'yet we are not saved!' I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. Is there no medicine (balm) in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?'" (Jeremiah 8:4-22, selected, NLT)

Of course, those who hold to fundamental interpretations of scripture will claim that this very scripture actually supports their narrow worldview. However, I would remind all reading this that Jeremiah was directly addressing the religious elite. I pray daily for more of our respected Christian leaders to help stop the madness! Each Christ Follower must revisit her or his own application of the belief in the "sanctity of life." It is not that difficult, really, to know when we're hearing teachings that are not in keeping with Jesus' teachings. Listen for messages of fear, alarm, hate, rejection, oppression and exclusion and turn away from those who deliver them. Turn toward messages of faith, hope, love, forgiveness, inclusion and embrace, and begin to practice the same!

As I actually reflect on that little Christian marketing phrase, "WWJD?" in relation to a consistent ethic of life, I must first make a very serious adjustment to it. I prefer to consider the question, concerning every life issue: What IS Jesus DOING? rather than What Would Jesus Do? Because whatever I find Jesus DOING in scriptural history as well as in the NOW, I have decided to make every possible effort to join Him in His reconciling mission!

Therefore I purpose to grow increasingly toward the following:

1. I still hate the very idea of abortion and I believe Jesus does too, but pregnant women are living humans too and Jesus cares about them just as much. Although I believe them to be very rare, there are occasions where this line is very difficult to draw boldly. Rather than be militant in demonstrating against abortion, I will put my efforts and my resources toward causes that will hopefully eventually almost eliminate any need for the practice of abortion, such as care for young mothers, legal adoption reform and recruitment of adoptive parents, and eventually adopting parentless children myself.

2. Jesus demonstrated ONLY unconditional love and acceptance to every living human being and treated them with complete equality. He taught explicitly against any kind of pecking order or hierarchy or levels of sin or righteousness. The early Church demonstrated Jesus' ethic of equal treatment and the commonality of all persons. In fact, Jesus went so far as to turn what is common for us upside-down in teaching preference for the "other", the outsider, the poor, and the marginalized. This was in keeping with His Jewishness, the ideal of hospitality, of welcoming and protecting and covering the stranger, the "other." The only human members of society that Jesus regularly chastised and showed a personal disdain for were the religious elite, precisely because they were conspiring to exclude persons from the Kingdom of God in direct opposition to Jesus' mission of reconciling persons into the Kingdom of God. I must never usurp the role of the Holy Spirit, taking upon myself the privilege of determining who is "in" and who is "out." My role is always and only to be a reconciling agent of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the love, forgiveness and peace of Christ to every human I come in contact with. Agreement with another must never be required for my embrace, and disagreement with another must never exclude that "other" from my embrace.

3. There is no mistaking Jesus' teaching against retaliation of any kind. Jesus' revolutionary and "in your face" demonstration of defiance by turning the other cheek and thereby correcting the "eye for an eye" ethic must take precedence. The 10 commandments are the rule, "Thou shalt not kill!" What is true for the unborn and the elderly is also true for every human being. Capital punishment is not a policy that can be soundly supported by Christ followers. Imprisonment for life is an unfortunate necessary public burden. Further, I will work toward reform that covers the entire corrections system. We must work toward a sustainable way of dealing with justice and corrections rather than unnecessarily jailing so many human beings! For the same reasons, war is never just. It may in rare situations be humanly justified as unavoidable. In such cases, however, war must then be conducted as justly and humanely as possible. War must never be utilized to prevent war. Violence always begets violence, and even though peace does not always beget peace immediately, it is the way of Christ.

4. Matthew 25 is very, very clear as to the responsibility of Christ followers to see to the care, the rescue, the feeding, the protection, the welcoming, the health, the company and companionship of the stranger. Hospitality is a basic Christian Value. God made it clear indeed that each of us is her or his brother's or sister's keeper. "I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (Matthew 25: 40 NLT) The state of the US economy, "national interests", my personal comfort and feeling of security, must never be factors in determining whether I should act on behalf of Christ. This truth must be applied to all issues surrounding immigration and general human rights.

5. When the Genesis account says, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals." (Genesis 1:28 NLT), it does not mean that God wanted us to rape the earth in whatever manner best suited us and the perceived "needs" of western humanity. Rather Jesus' Kingdom teaching and demonstration requires excellent stewardship of all Christ followers. We are to be the stewards of the earth. I am to be in active participation with Christ in His mission to reconcile all creation to God.

The standard of St. Francis will be my banner; "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace!" To me, this seems right. What say you, friends?

By Rev. Gregory M. McCaw
Wilmington, NC

Why Barack must prosecute the Bush Administration

Michael J. O'Connell - Sammamish, WA — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:11:59 EDT

The United States has traditionally stood for human rights and fairness, even in the face of war. The Bush administration, with its approval of torture has made a mockery of this long-standing tradition. Not only have our leaders stained our record on human rights, but they have opened the door for our enemies, and all countries to legitimize torture.

We have prosecuted criminal actions committed by our citizens during time of war. The My Lai Massacre is a notorious example of this.

In order to clean the stain, President Obama must prosecute individuals in the Bush administration who authored, orchestrated or explicitly or implicitly approved the torture in Guantanamo. As a nation, we must regain the respect of the world and once again earn the human rights high moral ground.

Of course, there is another solution. In 2001, Spain extradited from Mexico a former Argentinean naval officer, Ricardo Cavallo who helped run a torture chamber under Argentina's military junt, between 1976 and 1983. This was an amazing precedent in that it opened all human rights crimes to prosecution by any nation regardless of where the crime was committed and the nationality of the perpetrator or victims. Should this occur instead of the US prosecuting these criminals, it will indicate to the world that our country is not serious about human rights and is willing to abrogate that role to others.

This is an extremely serious issue, and one that McCain is likely to sweep under the rug. This is just one more reason why we must help Barack become the next President of the United States.

Michael J. O'Connell

The Continent of Africa for Obama

Leslye J Allen of Atlanta, GA — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:57:13 EDT

A worthy piece of news from The Nation of Nairobi. Enjoy!

Obama's Victory in Democratic Party Poll Has Continent in a Spin

The Nation (Nairobi)
ANALYSIS
6 June 2008

Nairobi

Barack Obama's nomination as the presidential candidate of a major political party in the US has caused a great deal of excitement in Africa. Nation correspondents ARGAW ASHINE in Ethiopia, ANGELO IZAMA in Uganda, CHRISTOPHER KIDANKA in Tanzania, and TONY ELUEMUNOR sample the reactions in a few countries. Africans clearly seem ecstatic and the American with Kenyan roots has a huge fan club.

Until he started making news as a possible contender for the US presidency, Barack Obama, who this week won the Democratic ticket in the White House race, was almost unknown in Ethiopia. Now, he has a huge fan club in the country, with one of his greatest fans being Ms Birtukan Mideksa, former deputy chair of Ethiopia's opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party.

Mideksa, who was jailed by the government of Meles Zenawi for two years for 'treason and inciting genocide' said that George W. Bush's administration backed the Zenawi government despite its 'betrayal of Ethiopia's democratisation effort in 2005'.

Mideksa is inspired by Obama's promise of change and hopes that, if Obama becomes president, the US will be more willing to nudge Mr Zenawi in a more liberal political direction.

'Senator Obama is an agent of change. I am sure he would restore basic civil rights, which many are being denied in the name of war on terror all over the world,' she said. 'I am highly impressed by his determination, courage and wisdom. He is my role model and I have fallen in love with his philosophy of change.'

She said she hoped African leaders would learn from Obama how to win the hearts of their people and also respect their rivals instead of fomenting hatred and confrontation.

Meanwhile, Abreham Kumela, a young NGO worker, has been nicknamed 'Obama' because of his strong support for the Illinois senator.

'He is not a politician; he advocates tolerance. He teaches us all how to effect change,' Kumela said, explaining his admiration for Obama.
He pointed out that, although Ethiopians at home will not vote in the American elections, he is campaigning among the thousands of Ethiopians in the US, who are also raising funds for Obama, to vote for Obama.

'Obama is bigger than just an politician with African roots; he is a symbol of tolerance and multiculturalism,' Kumela said.

Equally hopeful, but on for different reasons, was Dr Costentinos Berhe, former UN adviser to Nigeria. He believes that, if elected president, Obama might just solve the complex situation in the Horn of Africa.

'The war on terror should not just be a military project,' said Berhe. 'It should also address the cultural, social and political changes in this part of the world. 'I hope that, because of his African heritage, Senator Obama realises that this change is necessary.'

Human rights
When Obama spent a day in Ethiopia during his African tour in 2006, many Ethiopians realised that he did not support the actions of the current Ethiopian regime. His support for the Bill accusing Ethiopia of having a poor human rights record and proposing serious sanctions, including aid cuts, helped strengthen that view.

Indeed, Dr Rewodros Kiros, an Ethiopian lecturer at Harvard University, US, argues that Obama's victory might be disastrous for régimes like Ethiopia's, which do not respect human rights.

Evne in Uganda, where the British Premier football league is a must-watch for many, Obama is as recognisable as the premiership superstars.

'I support Obama for ethnic reasons,' said a university lecturer. He is a black man doing something extraordinary.

In the capital, Kampala, Obama merchandise is highly visible, from locally made T-shirts bearing the senator's picture and the words 'Change you can believe in', to bumper stickers.

Masaka town, 130 kilometres Kampala, has even named a road after the US Presidential candidate.

'Obama Boulevard', though not a boulevard in the ordinary sense of the word, was the brainchild of a local businessman, Frank Gashumba, who together with his neighbours, decided to bestow the honour on the Illinois senator.

'Obama has shown us all that you can come from a humble background and give the entire world hope. He makes you proud [to be] black,' the businessman said.

Meteoric rise
Younger educated Ugandans have formed an Obama fan club. And their name, Ugandans for Obama, gives a notable ring to the senator's meteoric rise in American politics. The founder, Bernard Sabiti, said he was inspired to form the group when he found people in a bar asking, 'How is a Kenyan going to rule America?' The group mainly comprises university students with access to the Internet, where they campaign for him.

Another group, the Obama Support Group, says it admires Obama because of his oratorical skills and inspiration. Their aim is to lobby Ugandan-Americans as well as US citizens in Uganda to vote for Obama. Excitement about Obama's candidature is also evident in neighbouring Tanzania, where many people view him as one of their own. After all, his father was a Luo from Kenya, but Luos are also found in Tanzania, some argue. The Obama-mania cuts across the different sectors of society, with many city commuter taxis now having the name 'Obama' emblazoned on them.

As news of Obama's victory in the Democratic party nomination spread in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, a local fan, Ave-Maria given remarked: 'At least America can have a president who is one of our own!'
Peter Tumaini-Mungu, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, gave a somewhat philosophical explanation for his support for Obama.

'Being a person of African origin might not be that important,' he said. 'Obama's policies towards Africa are ambitious, and he has a keen interest in the continent. That is something a person of any origin can have.'

The lecturer, who has attended several Obama campaign in the US, says Obama is a passionate and visionary whom the world needs to make it a better place.

'Obama articulates his policies in favour of the poor and the marginalised, something both Africa and Tanzania need,' he said.
And in West Africa, The Lagos State House of Assembly in Nigeria in April this year launched a website to popularise the Illinois senator and campaign for his White House bid.

During the launch, Lagos was turned into an 'Obama state', with taxis draped with banners bearing the senator's pictures. Their Vote Obama Initiative website explains their stand thus: 'Though without a voting right in the ongoing party primaries of the Democrats in the USA, like everybody around the world, we are very much involved because of the global implications the outcome of the elections would have on the world.

'We are particularly thrilled by Obama's feat because, for the very first time in the history of the US, he has successfully broken the colour bar. We are even more thrilled that white voters can rally forcefully behind this charismatic black man in his quest to become the first black president in the most powerful nation on earth.

Like Martin Luther King Jr said, today he is no longer being judged by the colour of his skin, but by the content of his character, which has propelled him from near obscurity to international limelight.

In Barack Obama, the agitations of early black nationalists such as Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and so many others found concrete expressions as he attains leverage in the political calculation of the US that would no longer ignore Afro-Americans and their electoral strength. To us, this is a feat worthy of celebration as the dawn of a new era.'

Obama spell
So potent is the Obama spell that a group of militant youths in Nigeria's Niger Delta were taken in by the tricks of a creative-minded security agent who, left with no answer to the fire power of the militiamen, decided to send them a message they could not ignore. He simply sent an e-mail purportedly from Obama, in which he asked that the militants stop the war in the area.

Surprisingly, the militants agreed and announced to the world that Obama had been requested to observe a ceasefire by a person they could not defy!

World oil prices were just starting to fall when the real Obama denied that he was the one who asked for a ceasefire. The young men of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta returned to their trenches immediately.

Obama also enjoys huge support in Ghana, where Godwin Yaw Agboka, a columnist, tried to explain his appeal thus: 'Obama appears to have a magic wand that appeals to the youth, independents, and liberals. For the first tim, in many decades, the expectations among voters, are reaching boiling point - call it a crescendo. Voters seem to want things to change in Washington. Obama represents the change they want. Forget about the fact that he is black. Obama has transcended race. He talks about hope, and believes that 'there is nothing false about hope'. He knows how to say the right things at the right time'.

African initiative
With Obama now the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, one can expect the African Initiative for Obama group to swing into action - selling posters, caps, and other merchandise, all to support him.
The group has affiliates across West Africa, and plans to spread throughout the continent.

On Tuesday, its chairman and continental coordinator, Elvis Agukwe, told Daily Nation in Abuja that in about a week, they will approach church leaders and Imams to ask their congregations to begin special prayers for God to guide Americans in their choice of president.

Beyond the buzz, however, Obama has clearly touched something profound among many Africans. As Patricia Jebbah Wesley, a Liberian poet, puts it, 'It is a good thing that I am alive to see all of this, and it is a good thing that you are reading this ,and you too, are alive to record this for your children'.

Africa Insight is an initiative of the Nation Media Group's Africa Media Network Project

Copyright © 2008 The Nation

Israel's message to the U.S.

John Navarra — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:18:04 EDT

I was watching this weekend an A&E biography of Ariel Sharon. In the story the narrator described how in 1982 the Israeli public protested the massacre of Palestinian refugee camps in Shatila and Sabra. The narrator said that these protests showed the moral fiber of citizens of Israel who would actually protest actions of their own government that they thought were wrong. Senator Obama I think would change the Bush unofficial policy in which American citizens are not patriotic if they "question" or "disagree" with Republican policies. Apparently questioning Clinton's policies were fair game. Even though it may make a President Obama's work more difficult I think he would later appreciate the American people disagreeing with him form time to time, especially on human rights.

I would not condemn Senator McCain for this or some other Republicans like Richard Lugar who have supported human rights, but how have the Republicans invaded Iraq and sold the high road on human rights. President Carter was a proponent of human rights and when I took my first political science course in 1982 my professor said that the only reason human rights was in the textbook was because of President Carter and the Democratic Party. He said the Republicans in general only sided with the national interest.

Of course I am only speaking for what policies I think a President Obama would put in place, but Obama has spoken about getting America to be a more popular world leader. A poll was taken during the Gulf War, I honestly cannot attest to its accuracy, but America was chosen as the most feared country in the world. In Iraq, a war that I intially supported but Senator Obama more wisely opposed, soldiers like some of my former students have been building hospitals, schools and basically a society, however, we have been viewed by the world I think as imperialists and not humanitarians. Oddly this has been a disservice to our brave soldiers being given a job.

So Obama has the job of gatting our country back to the country that can criticize itself and force its leaders to a high world standard. I really believe he has the American people behind him because we are a much better country than we have been perceived to be the last eight years. One policy that may help is Obama's having the government pay for some college costs in exchange for two years of public service. I would have been honored to serve in the Peace Corps for help with my college degree. President Kennedy wisely showed that you can protect the national interest and help citizens of the world. They are not mutually exclusive.

John Navarra

First Post...

NavyDocVet — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:14:12 EDT

As a physician who was in the U.S. Navy for 12 years, and as third generation Navy sailor, I know what it mean to work hard, to hold high ideals, and to contribute to something much larger than myself.

I have become concerned with the direction the nation is heading in regards to human rights. My grandfather (a Naval Officer in World War II) would find it inconceivable if I tried to explain 'extraordinary rendition', 'secret prisons', 'justifiable uses of torture', or 'U.S. Prison Ships' to him. In my mind, the uses of all of the above are UN-American, and an affront to everything he fought for 60+ years ago.

It makes me very happy that we finally have a leader who acknowledges that 'all men are created equal', and is not beholden to our military industrial complex. It is my most fervent hope that Senator Obama will reaffirm the necessity of the Geneva convention protections for POW's and civilians (and I would like to help to craft a point paper, if needed). These significant protections, brought about after World War I, ensure that we will agree to treat civilians and Prisoners of War at an internationally acceptable standard, irregardless of how 'the enemy' treats our POW's or civilians. In my mind, this is what America, and especially the US military is all about. In the military, we strive to adhere to the highest ideals in our conduct on and off duty. Our U.S. human rights policy, should also adhere to the highest ideals, both in public and in private.

I believe that Americans are ready to embrace the kind of change that Senator Obama would bring to Washington. I hope that he will be given the chance to initiate it. He certainly has my vote.

Human rights and impunity and Plan Columbia

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:04:51 EDT

It's about the Washington, Alabama and Texas based military industrial complex, it's about oil and fossil fuels.

And THAT'S WHAT PLAN COLUMBIA IS ABOUT.

They NEED the drug war as an excuse. So they don't WANT reform.

More results of Plan Columbia

Human rights and impunity:
“Arbitrary arrests” documented by Colombian human-rights groups 1996-2002: 2,869

“Arbitrary arrests” documented by Colombian human-rights groups between August 2002 and August 2004: 6,332

Maximum amount of time, in years, that top paramilitary leaders responsible for massacres might spend in a special jail once negotiations conclude: 6 ½

Percentage of Colombia’s cultivable land believed to be in the hands of paramilitaries and narcotraffickers, according to the government comptroller’s office: nearly 50%

Number of houses and farms that top paramilitary leader (and wanted narcotrafficker) Diego Fernando Murillo (“Don Berna”) claims to own, as he prepares to report his illegally obtained holdings to prosecutors in exchange for near-amnesty: 1 of each

According to the State Department, number of Colombian military and police personnel under detention while being investigated for human-rights abuse, as of August 2005: 23

According to the State Department, number of Colombian military and police personnel under indictment for human-rights abuse, as of August 2005: 26

Of the above 49 individuals, number above the rank of sergeant: 19
Number above the rank of major: 1

Percentage of murders in Colombia that end in a sentencing: 4%

U.S. assistance to Colombia for judicial reform, 2000-2006: $43 million (0.9% of total)

U.S. assistance to Colombia for human-rights protection, 2000-2006: $81 million (1.7% of total)

Humanitarian crisis:
Rank of Colombia among the world’s most serious cases of forced displacement: 2nd, after Sudan

Colombians forcibly displaced from their homes by violence, January 2000-September 2005: 1.8 million

Increase in number of newly displaced persons, first three quarters of 2004 to first three quarters of 2005: 23%

Of the displaced population, percentage who are women and children 72%

U.S. assistance to Colombia for internally displaced persons, 2000-2006: $214.5 million (4.5% of total)

In The Name of Secuity

smffy — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:13:06 EDT

In the name of Homeland Security, the Bush administration has wiretapped citizens without approval from a judge, denied prisoners due process of law, and sanctioned torture. Because of Bush policy, Abu Gray happened. This utter disregard for human rights has effected a violation of our constitutional right to privacy and crime against humanity.

McCain has gone along with all this and is expecting to continue these policies. There should be a widespread hue and a cry about the damage this has done to our country and loss of trust by other nations around the world. Only Obama has promised to do something about the prisoner of war camp in Cuba.

The violations of the Constitution and The Geneva Convention are indications of an authoritarian government without regard to civil and human rights. I am afraid of four more years of this. I plan to speak up at every opportunity. Wrong prevails when good men do nothing.

I urge you to be active in your protest against this kind of government.

Hillary not square on torture ...

Martin Edwin "Mick" from Churchton, MD — Sat, 03 May 2008 05:23:40 EDT

Hillary Clinton has lately been loudly proclaiming her fealty to the Democratic Party's best traditions on human rights.

However, just two years ago, Hillary--the purported "expert" on international relations--said there should be "lawful authority" for torture in some cases.

(See, for example, www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0907/Hillary_... )

Her immoral stand was opposite to that of every other major Democratic presidential candidate in 2007-2008, and the heat she took for it caused her to make one of her famous "flip flops."

So much for her being "ready to go on Day 1."

More like not ready for prime time ...

McCain pressed on 'Islamic' terror label

funkfresh01 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:28:53 EDT

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080421/NATION/438135169/1001

By Rowan Scarborough

A coalition of American Muslim groups is demanding that Sen. John McCain stop using the adjective "Islamic" to describe terrorists and extremist enemies of the United States.

Muneer Fareed, who heads the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), told The Washington Times that his group is beginning a campaign to persuade Mr. McCain to rephrase his descriptions of the enemy.

"We've tried to contact his office, contact his spokesperson to have them rethink word usage that is more acceptable to the Muslim community," Mr. Fareed said. "If it's not our intent to paint everyone with the same brush, then certainly we should think seriously about just characterizing them as criminals, because that is what they are."

An aide to Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who is counting on his pro-Iraq war stance to attract conservative voters, said the senator from Arizona will not drop the word.

The Muslim myth still dogging Obama

funkfresh01 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:24:38 EDT

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19501048&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6

BY ROJA HEYDARPOUR, STAFF WRITER

Source: Times Tribune

It’s been said many times: this is an election year of firsts. The first viable woman presidential candidate. The first viable black presidential candidate.

But the first Muslim presidential candidate?

One in 10 Americans believes that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to a Pew Research Center News Interest Index survey taken in March.

Mr. Obama is, in fact, a practicing Christian, as underscored by the debate over the controversial sermon delivered by his pastor after Sept. 11, 2001.

The same survey found that 79 percent of the general public had heard rumors that Mr. Obama is Muslim, while 38 percent had heard “a lot” about it.

Indeed, rumors have circulated on blogs and comment boards since the fall, spurred by pictures of Mr. Obama in a turban, by talk of childhood time spent in Indonesia — a Muslim country — and by his middle name, Hussein, among other things.

A More Perfect Union: A Beautiful New Video/Music from Kemite Sound

Hope4Unity — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:53:04 EDT

This is a beautiful tribute to Barack Obama and We The People:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ojuupmnvmw

You've Got to Have Love

You've Got to Have Hope

Stand Together!

OBAMA'08

Thank you to everyone who participated in the creation of this inspiration!

Obama Campaigns for Human Rights

Mason Dixon — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:27:46 EDT

"Obama in Geneva campaigning for Human Rights." I called it first yall. Released at the right time, there are at least 7 solid news cycles there.
Galvanize the base around China. Europe will love it; they want Obama anyway. Careful with the Olympics; they are not to blame. (and Chicago is on the bid)
What we need is not a new 'New Deal' but a new Geneva Convention.
If we cant abide by basic rules of human dignity; how can we ever garner the respect of the other nations on this planet?

Kansas Muslim Attacked with 'Molotov Cocktail'

funkfresh01 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:38:06 EDT

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/17/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked local and national law enforcement authorities to bring appropriate hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator of a March "Molotov cocktail" attack on a Kansas Muslim.

A clerk at a Lenexa, Kan., gas station told police that a man came into the store and asked the clerk if he was Muslim. When the clerk replied in the affirmative, the man reportedly started harassing him.

Soon after the man left the store, a Molotov cocktail incendiary device was thrown through the front window of the store. A similar incident occurred at another store in area. A 26-year-old man was later charged with two counts of criminal use of explosives and one count of criminal damage.

SEE: Molotov Cocktail Hurled At Gas Station (KCTV)

http://www.kctv5.com/news/15721008/detail.html

"We ask that local authorities and the FBI file any appropriate hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator in this case," said CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman. "The additional charges would send a clear message that bias-related attacks will not be tolerated in Kansas or anywhere in America."

Earlier this week, CAIR's Minnesota chapter asked the FBI to investigate reported threats against the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy charter school in that state as possible hate crimes.

SEE: Muslim Civil Liberties Group Seeks FBI Probe of School Threats (Star Tribune)

http://www.startribune.com/local/17673284.html

The Kansas assault and the threats to the Minnesota school came following other recent incidents such as a fire-bomb attack on a Minnesota Muslim-owned business and an arson attack on a Tennessee mosque by three members of the white-supremacist "Christian Identity" movement.

SEE: MN: Investigators Say Fire Could Be Hate Crime

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24208&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

SEE ALSO: CAIR Applauds Arrests in TN Mosque Arson

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24197&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

CAIR is urging Muslim individuals and institutions nationwide to review security procedures using advice contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit."

SEE: CAIR Muslim Community Safety Kit

http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Strategic Communications Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

Dr. Kamran Mofid, VIDEO: "Be Global Citizens..."

Hope4Unity — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:43:45 EDT

Kamran Mofid, PhD (ECON) Founder, Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative has been featured on this blog several times recently.

His work, along with numerous international colleagues, is extremely important, in harmony with "The Audacity of Hope," and an inspiration to those who understand that "we are the ones we've been waiting for."

Dr. Kamran Mofid recently delivered a keynote address entitled, "Be Global Citizens: Promote the Common Good Regionally and Globally" at Australian Catholic University, Sydney. The video, courtesy of the univesity, is now available for online viewing at:

http://www.globalisationforthecommongood.info/2008/04/10/dr-mofid-speaks/#more-110

Dr. Mofid's keynote address was in preparation for The Seventh Annual Globalisation for The Common Good: An Inter-faith Perspective in Melbourne, Australia, June 30 - July, 4, 2008.

The Vision Project

Hope4Unity — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:58:54 EDT

The Vision Project is a gathering of the visions of people from many walks of life, nations and races, some well-known and some not.

The visions are shared along with links to visionary web sites.

"Something Wonderful Is Trying to Happen"

http://www.thevisionproject.org/

IMPUNITY -- Human Rights Abuses -- Casting the First Stone

Hope4Unity — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:12:18 EDT

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Impunity is the exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss. Human rights abuses, frequently committed with impunity, happen in every corner of the world.

The stories of atrocities may come and go from our daily awareness while genocide, torture, "disappearances," rape, poverty, enslavement, starvation, "displacement," and poisoning of the environment continues, spiraling out of control to the point that there seems no end to the insanity.

A review of Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/ and Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org/ illustrate the scope of human rights abuses.

Where do we begin? How do we decide where to focus our attention? What actions can we take?

IRAQ AWAITS CRITICAL FATWA

funkfresh01 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:04:00 EDT

Date Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Posted By The Media Line Staff

IRAQ (The Media Line) April 8, 2008 — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki announced on Monday he would ban a powerful Shi'ite parliamentary bloc from running in the next local elections unless it disarmed its 60,000-strong armed force.

The 'Sadri parliamentary bloc, led by Muqtada A-'Sadr, responded by saying it would disarm its armed force, known as the Mahdi Army, only if the Shi'ite religious authorities ordered them to do so.

"The Mahdi Army does not accept its orders from anyone except A-'Sadr and the religious authorities with whom he consults. If the religious authorities would ask him to disarm the Mahdi Army, he will definitely execute their demand," spokesman for the 'Sadri bloc, 'Salah A-'Ubeidi told reporters.

Jobs Not Jails

Kathy & Shannon — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:37:07 EDT

Hoping you all can contribute to this, so we can begon to understand who in our community deserves a job.

So, what exactly do I mean when I say "Jobs not Jails?"

It seems to me that if one graduates from school, and one cannot fine a job, one becomes a burdon because one cannot support ones-self. And more than that, one becomes dis-heartened.

How do children become members of the community? They have listened to their parent/s, gone to school, passed and failed exams, and avoided teen pregnancy, hopefully. Now, they have that High Schoiol diploma, and they need a job. What's out there.

Now I know some will say, "You need a college education to get a good job." gee, when did that happen? In the 1950s, before the Viet Nam war, only 20% of High School grads went on to college. Did everyone else go to Burger King? Or end up in jail? Most of my high school classmates are now managers, and they didn't have to have a college degree to get to where they are now.

Here is another slant on this issue, how much does it cost to create good paying jobs vs cost to support jails? It seems to me, from an econ point of view there is a double cost to having unemployed folks end up in jail, first the cost of the criminal justics system, then the loss of a tax payer paying into social security.

Why are our taxes so high? Is it because of the democrats? Tax and spend? Is it that simple? Or is it the HUGE number of folks who are not employed????

70% of People With Disabilities who want work, cannot find work. What is the unemployment rate for kids growing up in blighted urban and rural areas where manufacturing plants have closed? How about the unemployment rate for seniors, folks over 60, who get laid off, or downsized, and can't find another position. Are they competing with teens now, for a job selling hamburgers at macDonalds? What is happening to our economy?

When so many folks are unemployed, on SSI, or in jail, the rest of us must support them all!! How many are you working for, today?

We used to have candy factories, right down the street, now closed, all who worked there unskilled, and out of work. Who will actually pick up the tab for these companies to continue to compete and be profitable? When so many in a community become unemployed, how does it affect the local mom and pops, the ability to pay rent and taxes?

For some folks, jail will provide the 3 meals per day they can't afford at home anymore. In the Boston area, max SSI is less than $9200 per year.

In my opinion we need to make sure there are jobs for all people who live in our community. It is not just a moral, or human rights issue, but good economics.

Justice? Truth?

Cynthia from Temple, TX — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:51:55 EDT

I have taken a stance on matters of justice, truth, accountablilty since my son, Joshua, was found dead in Amsler Park/McGregor, TX on February 16, 2006.

McGregor Police did NOT investigate, citing, "we don't begin an investigation until something suspicious is found." So naturally, once I viewed the statements from the four officers, I realized it was full of lies and inconsistencies, I knew I had no choice but to learn basic forensics, blood, cadaveric spasm, rigor mortis, manner and cause of death, digestive processes (time of death), hangings, homicidal strangulation, corruption, civil rights violations, coverups.

www.JusticeForUs.org, click on Internet Links, #558723957 Petition attached

www.realcrimes.com, scroll to Joshua Robinson, click on name, document will open. The highlighted areas are excerpts from the files, including a crime scene photo. Warning: Graphic!

Four of the five officers on scene, were asked to resign in June, 2006. Former Chief, Ron Wadkins, "suggested" I relocate out of McGregor. I sent a complaint letter to Internal Affairs via McGregor's city manager, Mr. Dennis McDuffie. He advised me to contact McLennan County or Texas Rangers. I sent a copy to both. Ten days later, a retired Texas Ranger is Interim Chief in McGregor!!!!!!1

Ten things to know about Senator John McCain

funkfresh01 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:54:51 EDT

For all the coverage this week of Senator John McCain's background, you will not learn some important things about him from the TV networks. His carefully crafted positive image relies on people not knowing this stuff—and some of it might surprise you.

Please check out the list below, and then forward it to your friends, family, and coworkers. We cannot rely on the media to tell folks about the real John McCain—but if we all pass this along, we can reach as many people as CNN Headline News does on a good night.

Click here to tell us how many people you can pass it on to—and to see our progress nationally:

http://pol.moveon.org/mccain10/?id=12407-5077189-XKR_ot&t=231

Ten things you should know about John McCain.

1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he has continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban Waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4

5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5

6. He is one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.6

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he is too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than McCain has any of the other presidential candidates.8

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a zero—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10

John McCain is not who the Washington press corps make him out to be. Please help get the word out—forward this email to your personal network. And if you want us to keep you posted on MoveOn's work to get the truth out about John McCain, sign up here:

http://pol.moveon.org/mccaintruth/?id=12407-5077189-XKR_ot&t=232

Thank you for all you do.

–Eli, Justin, Noah, Laura, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Sources:

1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html

"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008

http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/

2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us

"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/

3. "McCain Sides with Bush on Torture Again, Supports Veto of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/

4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/

5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008

http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007

"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/

6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80

"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home

7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022

"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/

8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What the Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/

"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251

9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/

"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/

10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/

Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, and no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you would like to support our work, you can give now at:

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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP EQUALS HUMAN RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT

miriam777 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:23:34 EDT

I am personally intrigued with this crusade because I believe this campaign, and ultimately President Obama's presidency, will transform our democracy in communities across the country via the below key areas: Deepening the role of faith in American life, Enforcing education, goals, objectives and mandating enhanced results, Leading the fight for open and honest government, Strengthening Civil Rights Enforcement in multifaceted capacities, Combating Employment Discrimination, Strengthening federal hate crimes legislation, Reinvigorating enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section, Ending the exploitation of people’s differences, Unifying the nation based on similarities and common interests, Ensuring the middle class is thriving and growing, Dismantling corruption in high places, Building strong families, raising successful children and keeping communities together,

Finally, it is without a doubt that Barack Obama will be the next President of The United States of America and will restore the leadership, love, and unity this country so desperately needs! Join me and forward this to a friend to join us! Let's do this together because, WE CAN! Thank you.

Obama and the Olympics: What should he do?

EMK — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:23:48 EDT

In this MSNBC article, Obama says he "is of two minds about this." Here is the full article, and if you have a strong opinion one way or the other, what should he do?

----BEGIN ARTICLE----

Obama says he's conflicted on Olympics: U.S. participation questioned because of China's human rights record

updated 9:27 a.m. ET, Wed., April. 2, 2008

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama said he is conflicted about whether the U.S. should be a full participant in this summer's Olympics in Beijing because of China's human rights record.

"I am of two minds about this," the Democratic presidential hopeful said in an interview aired Wednesday on CBS' "The Early Show." "On the one hand, I think that what has happened in Tibet, China's support for the Sudanese government in Darfur, is a real problem."

Still, Obama said, "I am hesitant to make the Olympics a site of political protest because I think it's partly about bringing the world together."

Obama also expressed concern about Chinese trade practices.

"I am a strong believer in free trade, but I think that we have not been very savvy negotiators when it comes to China," Obama said. "I think they've played us. They definitely are stealing our intellectual property, and that has direct consequences in terms of the bottom lines for businesses here in the United States."

Tibetans frustrated with Chinese rule rioted in the streets of Lhasa on March 14, and protests then spread to other parts of China. The Chinese government says 22 people died in violence; Tibetan exiles say the violence and a harsh crackdown afterward left nearly 140 people dead.

The events called attention to Beijing's human rights record in the Himalayan region at a time when Chinese leaders had hoped for a peaceful run-up to the Olympics.

On Tuesday, 15 House members urged President Bush to reconsider his decision to attend the Beijing Olympics. Their letter cited the crackdown in Tibet, the Beijing government's close economic ties with the government of Sudan and recent suppression of religious and human rights advocates.

In February, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg withdrew as an artistic adviser to the Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies over China's support for the Sudan government.

----END ARTICLE----

This is an important issue, as this is one that can direct the human rights issue.

Until later,

EMK

US ELECTION DIARY - THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT

funkfresh01 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:07:56 EDT

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E4C51233-2D21-4FBB-85FD-7D7F5AF173D9.htm

By Rob Reynolds in Columbus, Ohio

On the road to clinching the Republican Party nomination for president, John McCain worked hard for the endorsement of influential Evangelical Christian ministers.

The ministers are helping shore up McCain's support on the party's right wing, which has always been skeptical about whether the Arizona senator is a true-blue conservative.

But one of those minister's beliefs about Islam and Muslims raise disturbing questions.

Rod Parsley, the pastor of a large and profitable Ohio mega-church, calls Islam a false religion. He says Allah is a demon spirit and that Muslims are bent on world conquest.

Parsley endorsed McCain in February, praising him as a "strong, true, consistent conservative".

Sharing a Cincinnati, Ohio, stage with Parsley, McCain said: "I am very honored today to have one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide, Pastor Rod Parsley. Thank you for your leadership and your guidance. I am very grateful you are here."

He certainly had reason for gratitude - a week later, Parsley's support helped McCain win the important Ohio primary.

Evangelist

Reverend Parsley, who often holds services in which people are supposedly cured of disease by divine intervention, runs the sprawling World Harvest church near Columbus, Ohio.

World Harvest has a 12,000 member congregation, a bible college, and a television studio, which broadcasts his sermons.

A frequent theme of those homilies is the threat to Christian values posed by gays, liberals, and Muslims.

In his book, Silent no More, Parsley says the United States was ordained by God to defeat Islam.

In one chapter, titled The Deception of Allah he writes: "I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfil its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore."

We asked Parsley for an interview, but through a church spokesman, he declined. We also sent him written questions, but he did not respond to those either.

Dividing communities

Abukar Arman, a Muslim community leader, says Parsley's remarks are threatening.

"It has a psychological toll on Muslims in central Ohio and beyond, that you are not part of the society that America was founded, in his words, to obliterate Islam," says Arman, president of the Central Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

McCain and other politicians should "distance themselves from the politics of hate and polarization", Arman said, noting that rhetoric that marginalizes American Muslims only contributes to poor relations between communities.

"In the grand scale of things," he says, "it hurts even the national security of this country because it fuels anti-Americanism."

Media interest

Interestingly enough, Parsley has been largely ignored by the US media, in sharp contrast to the intensive scrutiny given to sermons by Jeremiah Wright, Democrat Barack Obama's pastor.

Wright's homilies were widely criticized as unpatriotic and racially inflammatory, and have been replayed over and over on cable TV news channels.

Obama rejected Wright's remarks, but McCain has not denounced Parsley's comments about Islam, nor has he sought to distance himself from the minister.

In fact, some of McCain's campaign rhetoric virtually echoes Parsley's sermons. McCain, too, talks about a threat - although he focuses on extremism in Islam, not the religion as a whole.

"I'd like to talk to you for a minute about why I'm running, primarily," McCain told a Wisconsin rally on February 19.

"We face the transcendent challenge of the 21st century. That is the threat of radical Islamic extremism. My friends, I know you know that this is an evil of transcendent and unbelievable magnitude. You can see other times when our nation and our way of life were threatened, but this ranks among the greatest."

McCain's campaign told Al Jazeera that "... he [McCain] rejects politics that degrade our civics, and will be running a respectful campaign".

However, in seeking a path to the White House, it seems McCain is counting on the politics of fear and relying on a disturbingly belligerent spiritual guide.

Oklahoma Conference to Examine Islamic Perspective on Terrorism

funkfresh01 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:42:03 EDT

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 3/25/08) - On Saturday, April 5th, the Institute of Interfaith Dialog will host a day-long conference, "Denouncing Violence in the Name of God: The Case of Islam." Participants at the event will have an opportunity to hear Islamic scholars, academics, law enforcement officials, and journalists discuss the "Islamic perspectives on terror, especially terror that is associated with Islam."

WHAT: Institute of Interfaith Dialog's "Denouncing Violence in the Name of God: The Case of Islam"

WHEN: Saturday April 5, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Oklahoma City University, The Henry Freede Center (Southwest corner of 27th and Florida)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Cherif Bassiouni - Professor of Law at DePaul University College of Law and President Emeritus of the International Human Rights Law Institute

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS: Robert Pape - University of Chicago; Muhammad Abu Laylah - Al-Azhar University, Egypt; Fred Von Der Mehden - Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University; Greg Barton - Monash University, Australia; Dr. Robin Myers - Oklahoma City University; Ekrem Dumanli - Editor of Zaman newspaper, Turkey; John Coyle - Special Agent of FBI, Oklahoma; Andrew Tevington - Daily Oklahoman; and Dr. Imad Enchassi – Imam of Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City (ISGOC)

CONTACT: Orhan Kucukosman, Phone: (405) 426 5425, E-Mail: osmanokc@gmail.com

The conference is free of charge and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

Orhan Kucukosman, from the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, stated the reason for holding the conference in Oklahoma: "In the early days of Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, there were speculations on individuals associated with a religion who might be responsible for the bombing.

As the truth was revealed, the bombing had no connection with any religion, but was a consequence of mentally challenged personality."

Sponsors include Wimberly School of Religion at Oklahoma City University, OU Religious Studies, Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism Texas, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City and Mainstream Baptists, and the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK).

For more information goto:

http://www.interfaithdialog.org/

Separate But Equal Returns: Marriage For All

Mark from Brooklyn, NY — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:58:32 EDT

Dear Mr. Obama,

I have listened to your speeches with the "audacity to hope." I've been on the edge of my seat awaiting profound words from someone who truly believes in a united America, yet each time I listen, my hope turns to sadness, disappointment, and ultimately, anger.

You claim to support full and equal rights for the LGBT community. You claim that LGBT people are entitled to the same rights as straight couples, EXCEPT when it comes to marriage. How can you not see that this is another, perverse example of separate but equal? How can you possibly say that marriage should be left to religious institutions? The last time I checked, a heterosexual couple can march themselves down to their local town hall and obtain a marriage license, without stopping off at their church first.

I know that you are doing your best to unite Americans on a variety of issues. I know that it might be difficult to win a presidential election if you unconditionally supported equal rights for LGBT people. However, when I hear you double talk on this issue, it makes me cringe, but worse than that, it makes me sad for this country. Although I disagree, I respect that your religious views do not allow you to embrace gay marriage, but what I cannot fathom is how you allow your religious views to interfere with what is just. I know you know that marriage is a legal right, not a religious one. If a couple, gay or straight, desires to have their legal marriage endorsed, blessed, consecrated, or whatever the term, let them do so. It's one thing for a religious institution to deny marriage, but the government? Mr. Obama, please examine your position on this issue, and do the right thing, the just thing.

I know you are sensitive and dedicated to human rights issues. This is why it angers me so much to witness your shortcomings on gay marriage. I've come to expect the best from you, and unfortunately, on this issue, you have disappointed me. If a man like you, of such strong ethical and intellectual integrity cannot see how insulting it is to live without unqualified equal rights, what about the rest of America? Please, Mr. Obama, win my vote and respect and lead our great country by example.

Sincerely, Mark Klecan

Conservative Media Trivialities Obscure Real Election Issues

Fight Injustice — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:57:17 EDT

Conservative Media Trivialities Obscure Real Election Issues

In the last few weeks, the general public has seen the same clips from Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ replayed so many times, you’d think the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. was running for US President instead of Barack Obama.

Conservative bobble-heads that grace talk radio and cable television faux news programs and then ask how Barack Obama could remain a member of the Trinity church after hearing 20 years of Rev. Wright’s sermons. They neglect to ask, however, the far greater question: What was contained in 20 years of Rev. Wright’s sermons that motivated a young Barack Obama to strive for the highest position of responsibility in our country?

While Rev. Wright’s brand of "fire and brimstone" continues to spark public debate, the fact that not-so-lame-duck President Bush recently vetoed a bill that would prohibit torture of foreign prisoners held in custody by the CIA, escaped the much needed media attention. However, most Americans would be shocked to know that in America, a torture or rape victim is nearly powerless when that attacker is an employee of the state, specifically an employee of a jail or prison.

Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) makes it nearly impossible for US citizens that are victims of violence while detained or incarcerated to file for civil protection and redress in federal court. The actions presently required to dot the "i"s and cross the "t"s often result in a "Catch 22" that can result in devastating punishments, additional abuse, and quite often – death.

This morning on faux news, the "torture" debate raged forward with the commentator’s heartfelt concern as to whether "nutaloaf," essentially dogfood for humans used of recent as prison punishment, constituted torture? The attorney-guest scoffed at the dish, citing his expertise as in prison visitation, and discounted the "healthy alternative" to prison meals as inappropriate.

While Martha Stewart’s approval of the nutaloaf recipe was not brought into the discussion, the trivialization of inmate torture on a national news show was sickening, at best. Since the expert had apparently never witnessed any inmate "torture" worse than nutaloaf in his visits, nothing more significant could occur.

A 2007 request to Amnesty International in Washington, DC requested an investigation into the torture and beatings of restrained inmates in Georgia prisons, documenting numerous forms of "behavior control" commonly used in Georgia jails and prisons (well beyond dietary restrictions). The serial beatings and torture of restrained inmates in Georgia prisons of US citizens is far worse than any alleged atrocities in Iraq or Cuba against foreign nationals.

In many Georgia prisons, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and their supervisors deal out severe summary punishment of brutal physical beatings of inmates while inmates are helplessly restrained handcuffed behind their backs. Not only are the beatings a form of torture, but torture devices are also used as summary punishment.

Inmates are stripped and totally immobilized strapped in four or five point restraints on an iron bed or in a chair for 24 or more hours often without food, water, or bathroom breaks. A football helmet is put on their heads to keep them from beating their unrestrained heads in frustration which has caused this torture devise to become know as the "Georgia Motorcycle."

Another is called the "Georgia G-string" where inmates are stripped and a chain is very tightly run through their butt cheeks under their crotches, and tightly cinched up to a chain around their waists crushing their testicles and then the helpless prisoners are left for many hours in excruciating pain as their bruised testicles swell enormously while restrained against the cinched up chain.

The concentration of physical power over incarcerated inmates has attracted sadistic orientated CERT Team members and supervisors to gravitate to these exclusive positions de facto empowering them to inflect serial physical abuse and brutal summary punishment in Georgia prisons with virtual impunity. The CERT Teams maliciously beat and punish inmates while helplessly restrained which is practically unchecked.

The CERT Teams and their supervisors are issued by the Georgia Department of Corrections special black uniforms with hard toe black combat boots for kicking and black leather gloves specially padded only on the outside of the knuckles specially designed for hitting. The pattern and practice of beating and kicking restrained inmates with their special boots and knuckle padded leather gloves serves no penological purpose.

There are many, many cases of CERT Team members and supervisors beating and torturing restrained inmates as summary punishment. They beat Charles "Chad" Clarke three times which resulted in his death at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. Jonathan Haynes died the next day as the result of being beaten unconscious at Autry State Prison.

They beat Lancaster Graham six times in one day at Rogers State Prison where the prison psychiatrist who saw him several days later stated that his face was not even recognizable as a face. The hundreds of serial beatings at Rogers State Prison in Reidsville of prisoners with their hands handcuffed behind their backs became a blood sport to be enjoyed several times a week by CERT Team members and their supervisors.

Tommy Cardell who was a guard at Rogers State Prison testified that he took videos of approximately eighty beatings with the video camera in the control room overlooking the shower area of the lockdown isolation area where the beatings normally took place and that he observed at least thirty other beatings some of which were watched by the warden and deputy warden.

Women prisoners are not immune from beatings dealt out by CERT Teams and their supervisors. Tammy Beets was savagely beaten at Pulaski State Prison by the CERT Team supervisor who not only beat her all over her body with a broom stick but pulled her pants down and rammed the broom handle up her rectum rupturing her descending rectum.

Like all the other beatings and torture of inmates in Georgia prisons, it was covered up by institutionalized layers of denials in spite of graphic photos and emergency room medical evidence of the attack. The CERT Team officers even at the Georgia medical prison in Augusta administer beatings to inmates including mental health inmates who act out by taking them for a "ride" beating them while stopping the elevator on the way to medical.

In order for brutal beatings of inmates to continue with the pattern and practice that regularly occur in Georgia prisons, it takes five entitles to participate as well as cover up the beatings. It takes the officers to engage in beating of the inmates often encouraged by the supervision and officials at the prison. It takes the supervision to condone the beatings and who often initiate and participate in the beatings.

It takes medical personnel to intentionally cover up the injuries that result from the injuries. It takes the wardens and deputy wardens to condone and intentionally cover up the beatings. And it takes Internal Affairs to intentionally whitewash the investigations of the many, many beatings as well as the office of the District Attorney, State Attorney General, and the Georgia Governor himself, stonewalling any culpability of the offending officers and officials.

In one graphic example that made its way to the Net, an un-edited police videotape shows 31-year-old Deacon Frederick Williams being struck with a TASER five times in 43 seconds, just 4 minutes after being led into a Gwinnett, Georgia Jail. He was handcuffed behind his back and in leg restraints, following an epileptic seizure at his home; an ambulance was called by his wife and son, but the police arrived first. His last words were: "Don't kill me, man. Don't kill me."

No charges were ever filed in the torture death; the County DA refused to show this video to a Grand Jury, even though another inmate in the same jail was killed 4 months earlier after being tortured with a TASER by sheriff’s deputies. Georgia’s State Attorney General refused to even investigate. A lawsuit involving the first death was settled out-of-court and behind closed doors for $100,000.00; the second has not been settled to date.

Ironically, some two years prior, the Department of Justice learned in detail that such torture and abuse was a regular and ongoing event, complete with witnessed and affidavits. There was no apparent investigation, and two innocent lives were needlessly lost. The FBI did view the tape, thereafter, and determined no one to be at fault. The County Coroner ruled that the 5 repeated shocks to Williams heart did not contribute to his death; he merely suffered a stroke while being torture to death.

Two more young men have been beaten to death since then. Their lives just might have been saved if forthright action had been taken initially to manage into the obvious facts of the brutal beatings of retrained inmates in Georgia prisons rather than pretend that they never happen and defend to the hilt officers and officials who have beaten and still are sadistically beating restrained prisoners with no penological justification.

The brutal beatings of inmates are a cancer spreading within Georgia’s prisons. The serial beatings of restrained citizens at Georgia prisons may be one of the most massive violent civil right violations of our times and reminiscent of the serial lynchings that motivated the passage of the civil rights acts. The time for change is now, and Barack Obama is the candidate to make it happen, YES WE CAN!

US deaths in Iraq approach 4,000

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:40:48 EDT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080322/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed three American soldiers north of Baghdad on Saturday, pushing the U.S. death toll in the five-year conflict to nearly 4,000.

Also Saturday, Iraqi authorities reported that a U.S. airstrike north of the capital killed six members of a U.S.-backed Sunni group — straining relations with America's new allies in the fight against al-Qaida.

Two Iraqi civilians also died in the roadside bombing, which occurred as the Americans were patrolling an area northwest of the capital, the U.S. military said in a statement.

Two of the soldiers were killed in the blast and the third died of wounds, the statement said. The soldiers were assigned to Multinational Division-Baghdad, the statement said, but gave no further details.

The latest deaths brought to 3,996 the number of U.S. service members and Pentagon civilians who have died since the war began on March 20, 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Rocket or mortar fire killed one U.S. soldier and wounded four others Friday south of Baghdad, the military said.

Army Vet Speaks Against Mistreatment of Guantanamo Bay Detainees

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:52:54 EDT

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/03/21/University/Army-Vet.Speaks.Against.Mistreatment.Of.Detainees-3278241.shtml

Author: Lee Ann Holman

James Yee went from being a decorated U.S. Army soldier serving in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to being accused of espionage, spying and aiding the facility's detainees.

He spoke to students about his experiences Thursday night at the UT Law School Auditorium.

When returning to the U.S. for vacation after serving 10 months as chaplain, Yee was arrested in secret and accused of having classified documents in his backpack. While being transferred to prison Yee was subject to sensory deprivation, a torture tactic. He was held in solitary confinement for 76 days without being charged.

He was exonerated and honorably discharged after deciding to quit the army.

Yee converted to Islam shortly after graduating from West Point. He said it was a way to solidify his monotheistic faith in one God. Yee was hand-picked to serve as a Muslim minister to facility detainees.

While ministering detainees, Yee said he advised commanders on proper religious practices. He made suggestions on treatment of the detainees and spoke out against soldiers violating prisoners' human rights. Yee said that though he never participated in interrogation tactics, he counseled prisoners on their treatment.

Yee said he witnessed the desecration of the Quran. Prisoners also spoke of sexual harassment by female interferometers and being put in a pentagram while being forced to renounce Allah.

This treatment will not win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world, he said.

"People in the military have a gross lack of misunderstanding of the Muslim culture, which is counterproductive," Yee said.

Kristine Huskey, a clinical law professor, has been representing Guantanamo detainees since 2002. She said she believes any new presidential administration will shut down Guantanamo Bay, because it is not helping the U.S. fight terrorism and is breeding more people who hate America.

Muslim Leader Has Opposed War

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:31:54 EDT

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/sblow/stories/032008dnmetblowcolumn.6a03f9a.html

Author: Steve Blow

We first sat and talked in those numb days right after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.We mourned together, and Mohamed Elmougy helped me understand a little more about what had befallen us.

I returned several times over the years to visit with the local Muslim community leader. And this week's fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq seemed a good time to once again glimpse the world through his eyes.

Mohamed, 49, owns the Pyramids Hotel in Allen. He's Egyptian by birth and American by choice.

He opposed the war from the start. "You will remember that I said getting out won't be nearly as easy as going in," he said.

I remembered, particularly since I had bought the argument that Iraqis would welcome us.

"We were fools to think we were going to be seen as liberators," Mohamed said. "We are seen as occupiers, and we always will be."

Mohamed agreed that Saddam Hussein needed to go but says he should have been captured in a surgical strike and put on trial in an international court, like Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Of course, hindsight is of little help at this point. I was most eager to hear his thoughts on what we should do now. And since the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates offer such divergent strategies, I asked the question in that context.

"Six months ago I had every intention of voting for John McCain," he said. "I felt he was very sincere, that he was speaking his mind, and I respected him as someone who really understands war.

"But after seeing how he has changed his tone to cater to the evangelical right, I just can't support him anymore. It would just be more of the same," he said.

He believes Hillary Rodham Clinton would be seen overseas as simply the return of the Bill Clinton administration, with whatever lingering baggage that involves.

After 5 Years, the Tragedy Continues

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:29:49 EDT

http://www.masnet.org/views.asp?id=4959

From the Desk of Ibrahim-Abdil-Mu'id Ramey, MAS Freedom Civil and Human Rights Directo

WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) March 18, 2008 — The conundrum of American primary politics, American Idol worship, and the fall from grace of the former Governor of New York, may have shifted the market-based media focus from the story, but for those who may otherwise be unaware, March 19, 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq - yet another tragic date in U.S. history that will live in infamy.

What, exactly, has been the cost of the U.S. adventure in Iraq? We are now careening to the number of 4,000 American combat deaths and 40,000 seriously wounded troops. Many of the wounded have been abandoned by their government to a fate of permanent disability and mental distress from the psychological wounds of combat. But this number is dwarfed by the devastation suffered by the Iraqis themselves: 650,000 to one million dead; 400,000 persons displaced from their homes; and the bitter reality of a raging sectarian civil war that has left the nation terrorized and divided.

The recent U.S. troop "surge" has been a useful diversion for the proponents of the war, who now claim some hollow "victory" because of ephemeral military gains in the combat operations against Al-Qaeda and other assorted armed insurgents. But the fundamental contradictions and divisions in the country remain. And Iraq, for all the horrors of it's own history of dictatorship and war, is a far more dangerous and oppressive place that it was under the rule of Saddam.

In the meanwhile, the Iraq war has not only divided U.S. citizens, it has also consolidated world opinion against this nation in a way that no one could have anticipated five years ago. Blatant torture of Iraqi captives, attacks on the civil liberties of Muslim individuals, institutions, and charities in America, and countless violations of both domestic and international law have become the hallmark of the arrogant and recalcitrant regime in Washington that continues the prosecution of the war.

But the conflict in Iraq has also resulted in countless casualties at home, measured in increased domestic violence, family disintegration, alcoholism, and drug abuse suffered by returning U.S. combatants.

War, in every case, results in the massive transfer of wealth from one social class to another. The war in Iraq is no different.

But what is different is the reality of the naked ambition of the global energy and arms oligarchies that have feasted on the $1.2 trillion dollars spent by American taxpayers on the war to date. This violence continues, despite the deepening economic crisis in the nation and the devastation of the national social infrastructure.

In Washington, DC, activists from 40 states plan to gather to mark this tragic anniversary, and in some cases, to engage in non-violent direct action in opposition of the war in Iraq. We must continue to press for the demand to end the war, even if the Democratic Congress lacks the will to oppose the Bush regime's war machine.

The popular tide of resistance to the war will—and must—continue, until the war is ended, and the massive damage to both the United States and to the people of Iraq is fully repaired.

For more information about upcoming events and gatherings, please visit:

www.5YearsTooMany.org

McCain's ‘Spiritual Guide’ Says Destroy Islam

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:19:31 EDT

McCain's ‘Spiritual Guide’ Says Destroy Islam

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

Author: David Corn

Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a "war" against the "false religion" of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, a supersize Pentecostal institution that features a 5,200-seat sanctuary, a television studio (where Parsley tapes a weekly show), and a 122,000-square-foot Ministry Activity Center. That day, a week before the Ohio primary, Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a "strong, true, consistent conservative."

The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. A politically influential figure in Ohio, Parsley could also play a key role in McCain's effort to win this bellwether state in the general election. McCain, with Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

Students Stage Die-In to Protest War

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:15:21 EDT

Students Stage Die-In to Protest War

http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2008/03/14/News/Students.Stage.DieIn.On.Quad-3269402.shtml

Author: Paolo Cisneros

Thursday morning was an unusual one for Karen Medina, graduate student in library and information sciences. Instead of studying for exams or sitting in class, she was chalking body outlines on the Quad.

Medina and dozens of other anti-war activists took to the streets Thursday morning to stage a march and "die-in" protest as a way of demonstrating their discontent with the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

"We're calling it a 'condemoration' because we're both condemning and commemorating the war," Medina said.

The two-hour event was organized primarily by the Campus Greens and University chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Students for Justice in Palestine, Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice and the College Democrats co-sponsored the event.

The cooperation of the groups was a large part of the morning's success, said Jeremy Polacek, senior in LAS. "We (Campus Antiwar Network) don't have a monopoly on the anti-war effort by any means," he said. "The collaboration of these groups was really important."

The demonstration began at roughly 11 a.m. Activists gathered to chant anti-war slogans before marching down Green Street to Fifth Street and then back around the Quad.

Many held signs condemning the war as others provided vocal support for the cause.

"This war has been going on for five years now, and, at this point, most people are against it," said Mark Mallon, junior in LAS. "We need to stop spending billions of dollars on this illegal and immoral war."

War's Costs Will Be Felt for Years

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:10:50 EDT

War's Costs Will Be Felt for Years

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_8620269

Author: George Watson

The cost of five years of the war in Iraq can be seen in almost any community in the United States.

Families whose loved ones were killed or wounded struggle to put their lives back together. The economy teeters, thanks partly to what a renowned economist projects will ultimately be a $3trillion war bill. Gas prices soar. A political landscape that cost many Republicans their seats in Congress continues to fuel anti-American sentiment outside the nation's borders.

Despite substantial political and infrastructure improvements directly attributable to U.S. involvement in Iraq, few observers believe that as of today - the fifth anniversary of U.S. bombs first falling on Baghdad - an end to America's presence there is in sight.

The consequences of a continued stay, they say, will be felt in Americans' bank accounts and in politicians' ability to govern. . .

From the perspective of Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Los Angeles chapter, the war's cost has been multifaceted.

Ayloush is an American with school-age children, and he worries about the state of their education, given California's budget crisis, cuts to education funding and teacher layoffs.

He, too, worries about the economy, the cost of gasoline, and the future of health care.

The war has other, less tangible costs, he noted.

"The biggest nonfinancial, nonmaterial casualty is the damage to our credibility and moral standing in the world today," Ayloush said. "When we issue reports on human rights, which the State Department does, people laugh at it now. They say, `Be quiet."'

Ayloush, who visited Syria and Jordan recently, said he was struck by how angry people are at the United States. The war in Iraq has displaced 2.4million people and induced another 2million to live abroad, primarily in the two countries he visited. Before the war, 500,000 Iraqis lived outside the nation's borders.

"We have caused misery to thousands of their lives and we haven't accepted responsibility," Ayloush said. "We expect neighboring countries to carry that burden without any financial help."

CAIR-LA Rep Speaks at Anti-War Protest

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:05:55 EDT

CAIR-LA Rep Speaks at Anti-War Protest

Author: Mike O'Sullivan

Protesters in several US cities held anti-war rallies Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, March 20th. More rallies are planned in coming days in other U.S. cities. Mike O'Sullivan reports, several thousand joined an anti-war protest in Los Angeles.

Marchers chanted and some carried flag-draped coffins as speakers demanded that U.S. troops come home.

Sharaf Mowjood of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says the continued presence of American troops is worsening conditions in Iraq, and diverting attention from domestic U.S. problems, including rebuilding New Orleans. The city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“We need to pull out immediately. That's the main thing right now we need to do. It's a conundrum as it is," he said. "So it's in a situation where the best viable option is to pull out because you have a lot of these internal problems you have to deal with, health care, sub-prime mortgage crisis, Katrina, all that. We need to work on those issues first."

Members of religious, labor and community groups joined the Los Angeles demonstration. Madelyn MacKay, a Quaker, says the protests are sending a message to the candidates in the November 4 presidential election.

United States Mosque Used by Iraqi Refugees Vandalized

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:58:46 EDT

United States Mosque Used by Iraqi Refugees Vandalized

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/NEWS01/803180345

Author: Cheryl Wittenauer

Neighbors in the tidy, middle-class Southampton neighborhood in south St. Louis said Monday they barely noticed the comings and goings of one of their enclave's newest arrivals.

Nothing out of the ordinary anyway, aside from a steady stream of Iraqi cab drivers and other workers, and women and children, arriving for evening prayer services at the Islamic mosque.

The Islamic religious and community center, housed in a nondescript storefront building, was vandalized over the weekend. It was the second such incident since the Imam Hussin Foundation building opened last April.

"If someone is trying to send us a message," with this act, "we receive it," said Salah Ajmi, the mosque's imam and a businessman. "But we do everything right and legal. This is wrong."

Vandals damaged seven large glass windows with a blunt object sometime between midnight and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. Vandals struck the first time last summer, and Ajmi said he suspected teenagers. This time the damage was more extensive.

Police took fingerprints and are investigating. They wouldn't say whether they consider it a hate crime. The FBI declined to comment.

We need a leader who believes in diplomacy

Eilleen — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:31:49 EDT

Wait a minute! What is it that I am not getting here? Don’t we, Americans, want a distinct candidate to run for office as the President of the United States who will lead us to fight for a good government? Someone who will be our leader who will not shame us to the world like we are shamed right now? I want a different kind of leader – someone who is cultivated. I want a leader who is enlightened and humane, who will not just go off bombing other countries and killing and torturing people when it is very clear that there other alternatives to foreign policy, like diplomacy and peaceful negotiations. Don’t we want an open government where the people have the power instead of bureaucracy? As a foreign immigrant who became a United States citizen, you people should know what you authentically have that I don’t. I have served in the United States Navy to serve our country. Now, it is your turn to serve your country and fight for your freedom.Let us all put a leader in Washington who makes sense! I want a leader who is consistent and one who will not give me mixed messages. Are we for bombing or are we for peace? Are we going to be logical and rational about important issues and still have compassion in our hearts? Senator Barack Obama will make us proud one day to say “YES, I AM AN AMERICAN!”

reaction to advocate article: obama dominating LGBT endorsements

jonathan | cvg — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:12:01 EDT

there is not doubt that obama offers the honest, CONSISTENT, more progressive record of leadership as well as policy toward LGBT issues. in fact, i have three blogs saying so!

what i doubt is no targeted activity or reinforcement of prior messaging to capture LGBT votes in ohio, considering the dense population in franklin county. clinton, technically weaker on the issues, acted quickly in a targeted message which is one of the stark differences in support of obama. (point #2 of my last blog)

late january, clinton distributed an open letter and it was quickly disseminated among individual voters via social networks and email distribution lists.

lead like sheep into the slaughter house. in turn, i published my rebuttal in blog form on february 6, and then scripted an abridged version which i sent to my personal contacts and OHIO HQ.

however, i did not see an open letter from OBAMA FOR AMERICA until just before the ohio/texas primaries. yes, obama has given many speeches and made better proposals... but this time, somehow, clinton was beating obama via peer contact and new media. how can this be... or more importantly, why are lesbians and homos quick to fall in line under clinton? it's a misitake by gays, and i am only human to speculate that a significant percentage of lesbians are also feminists and that a significant percentage of homos are associate with a mother-figure.

holy freudian slip-up batman! but, before anyone sends me hate mail, let it be known i've heard many rebuttals in favor of clinton resorting to her gender and the idea of wanting a woman in office... all logic be damned.

fortunately, obama won franklin county... home of columbus (dense LGBT population). yet, i am not convinced he won the gay vote. obama faired well in each metropolitan area, winning three of ohio's largest counties such as franklin.

furthermore, i'm pretty disappointed in the official obama LGBT myspace. there's been no activity since before super tuesday. no one has approved comments or circulated the open letter among the thousands of people listed with the site. tragic oversight. that's how clinton set off a domino effect among gay-friendly ears.

i get it. bigger fish to fry? but alas, perhaps this advocate article signifies better targeting in the future.

~ j

OBAMA is stronger on LGBT issues

jonathan | cvg — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:57:48 EDT

i sent this summary of my earlier blog to OHIO HQ and my contacts in february:

CLINTON = political calculation to meet the popular opinion
OBAMA = moral calculation to meet the consistent greater good

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

presumably, you sympathize with equal rights, punishable hate crimes, and no discrimination.

barack obama is your candidate!

1 . . . Defense of Marriage Act was signed by bill clinton and supported by the first lady. today, obama and clinton oppose federally sanctioned "gay marriage" but both support federally sanctioned "civil unions" providing identical rights. in fact, only obama attends a christian denomination that recognizes gay marriages!

DOMA stands as the most significant legislative obstacle to achieving marriage equality. hillary still defends most of DOMA with a "states' rights" argument, allowing state discrimination.

hillary clinton is on record for only supporting repeal of section 3 of DOMA. however, barack obama has been a leader in civil rights and fully supports a complete repeal of the DOMA.

2 . . . obama speaks about civil rights and equality for the LGBT community in many highly visible speeches. these include obama's first presidential speech as well as the eloquent speech to thousands at ebenezer church on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

hillary has not brought LGBT issues to the forefront, waiting for gay-friendly ears.

3 . . . it's true clinton co-sponsored bills like Early Treatment of HIV Act and increased funding for Ryan White Care Act. but, it's also true that obama lead on these and many others hillary could list.

4 . . . hillary counts 8yrs as first lady towards "experience." she cherry-picks/disassociates with compromises or positions not popular today. they leveraged LGBT compromises to build christian support.

5 . . . obama wants to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." while clinton now agrees with obama, she supported it when her husband signed the law.

hillary still asserts it was progress. bill clinton sanctioned as long as we are in the closet, we can serve. thus, bill and hillary's promises proved empty during the 90s.

like barack says, it's important to be right on day one.

6 . . . when hillary speaks of marching in gay pride parades, let's remember that obama has marched in his fair share also. after all, his state is home of "boys town."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

barack obama is clearly honest, CONSISTENT, and more progressive with the change he proposes for us.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

trust the below list of LGBT organizations and leaders who endorsed barack obama even before super tuesday!

* Eric Stern, former political adviser to the John Edwards for President campaign, former National Stonewall Democrats executive director, former director of LGBT outreach for the Democratic National Committee (California)
* David Mixner, writer, Democratic Party activist (New York)
* Gloria Nieto, Former Vice Chair of DNC LGBT Caucus
* Linda Elliott, member of the board of directors for the Human Rights Campaign (Arizona)
* Evan Low, council member for the city of Campbell, Calif.
* David Garrity, vice chair of the Maine Democratic Party; former DNC Member
* Andy Szekeres, former Colorado Stonewall Democrats cochair, former Wisconsin LGBT field director, Kerry-Edwards (Colorado)
* Kyle Bailey, former board member, National Stonewall Democrats, LGBT Caucus vice chair of Young Democrats of America, Chair of Atlanta Stonewall Democrats (Georgia)
* Pam Cooke, National Stonewall Democrats board member; past president, Stonewall Democratic Club of Los Angeles (California)
* Bill Hedrick, president of Central Ohio Stonewall Democrats
* David Mariner, former Out for Howard Dean cochair (Maryland)
* Jason Lansdale, past president of Central Ohio Stonewall Democrats
* Daniel Hinkley, Nevada Stonewall Democratic Caucus president
* Misty York, communications director for the Kentucky Fairness Alliance
* Christopher Prevatt, chair of Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (Orange County, Calif. )
* Jim Maynard, president of Memphis Stonewall Democrats (Tennessee)
* Daniel Graney, past president of Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio (Texas)
* Arthur Nunn, former Missouri for Edwards volunteer organizer and founder of LGBT for Edwards MySpace Group
* Brad Reichard, public pelations executive (Massachusetts)
* Michael Shannon, national security expert (D. C. )
* Les Krambeal, board member for the National Stonewall Democrats, cochair, Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats
* Robert D. Horvath Jr. , member of the board of directors for the Mautner Project (D. C. )
* Patrick J. Lyden, LGBT community activist (D. C. )
* Jeff Prang,West Hollywood City Council
* Tom Ammiano, San Fran board of Supervisors
* Rich Tafel, Formerly of National Log Cabin Republicans
* Jeff Soukup, Board Member of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, former President and COO, PlanetOut Inc. , and former Co-Chair National Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
* Jeff Anderson, former Co-Chair of John Kerry for President National LGBT Finance Committee
* Bill Rosendahl, LA City Council
* Susan Belinda Christian, Co-Chair of Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
* Patrick Shepherd, former President of Cleveland Stonewall Democrats; Board Member for the National Stonewall Democrats
* Joseph LaMonica, former board member of the San Antonio Stonewall Democrats.
* Brian Polejes,Vice President For Organizing Pride At Work

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Urgent, Clear Choice For Gay Voters: Obama
Andrew Sullivan
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"An interesting moment came when he was asked a question about LGBT
rights and delivered an answer that seemed to suit the questioner,
listing the various attributes -- race, gender, etc. -- that shouldn't
trigger discrimination, to successive cheers. When he came to saying
that gays and lesbians deserve equality, though, the crowd fell
silent."

So he took a different tack: "Now I'm a Christian, and I praise Jesus
every Sunday," he said, to a sudden wave of noisy applause and cheers.

"I hear people saying things that I don't think are very Christian
with respect to people who are gay and lesbian," he said, and the
crowd seemed to come along with him this time.

To hear someone defend gay and lesbian dignity and equality from a
Christian perspective and to do so in the context of a largely
African-American crowd, is much, much more than any candidate for the
presidency has ever done. It's a break through. If it were just words,
it would be one thing. But he has now done this repeatedly in front of
black crowds, when he didn't have to. And he has put his specific
commitments in writing in an open letter.

It's time to be candid about this - because gay voters, in my
judgment, could make the difference in Ohio and Texas and Vermont and
Rhode Island. There are very large gay communities in Texas' cities,
and Ohio has the sixth largest gay community in the country. A plea:
Do not sleep-walk into that voting booth with vague good feelings
about the Clintons. Walk into that booth with eyes open and see what
gay people have in front of them.

Now you may have many reasons not to vote for Obama, and no gay voter
should vote on one issue. But solely with respect to gay matters,
there is simply no choice here. Obama's positions, candor, courage,
generation and religious embrace of us are dispositive.

What Obama is doing on the gay issue has the potential transform it
and help us as a society to move past it. No, he's not a savior. No,
we shouldn't expect miracles. No, we should never delegate the work of
our equality to anyone else. We, after all, are the ones we've been
waiting for. But within the Democratic contest, the case for backing
Obama at this point in time is, to my mind, urgent, vital, historic.

Gay Americans must not throw this chance away.

CAIR Co-Sponsors Letter to Congress on Wiretapping

funkfresh01 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:02:26 EST

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/6/08) - On March 5, 2008, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined other individuals and institutions who work to preserve civil liberties in sponsoring a letter to members of Congress commending them for refusing to pass the FISA Amendments Act of 2007 and urging them to allow it to expire.

The letter is as follows:

March 5, 2008

Dear Representative,

We the undersigned organizations commend the House for refusing to yield to administration fearmongering by passing the worst possible surveillance legislation - S. 2248, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act of 2007. This bill would grant the administration unfettered access to all communications coming into or out of the United States without any meaningful court review or finding of wrongdoing and grant complete immunity to companies that cooperated with illegal wiretapping over the last several years.

As you go forward with negotiations, we ask that you leave the Protect America Act exactly as it is -- sunsetted. As House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and the Cato Institute noted, America is in no danger from the expiration of this unconstitutional law. Orders issued since last August remain in effect until their internal cease date, up to a year after issuance, ensuring that current surveillance programs will continue, in some cases, into 2009. These programmatic orders are not limited to individuals or facilities so that new targets can be tapped under existing orders. Of course, the government always has the option of tapping targets immediately and returning to court within 72 hours to obtain a court order under the FISA procedures that have served our intelligence community for nearly 30 years.

Eating, er, Meeting Raoul

Patrick — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:45:20 EST

President George Bush doesn't approve of Senator Obama's ideas of meeting foreign leaders such as the new President Raoul Castro of Cuba without "preconditions" such as improvements in human rights, democratic moves and so on. Bush Raps Obama Pledge to Meet Hostile Leaders But one can argue that in our foreign policy we have maintained the same Fidel-ity to hypocrisy as the Castro brothers have maintained their political hold in Cuba.

In 1972 Republican President Richard Nixon raised the so-called "bamboo curtain" with the Peoples' Republic of China, a nation, like Cuba, under a Communist one-party governmental system. 2008 and the PRC is one of our biggest trading partners, there have been diplomatic visits between our two countries and what? China is still under a Communist one-party governmental system.

So I would contend that as Cuba transitions toward a post-Castro era, we become more flexible, open to new ways and new ideas of diplomacy. The last thiry-six years may have improved the economic engine of China, but their record for human rights, moving toward free expression and opinion without being fearful of "dissent" still leave much to be desired. Nevermind becoming intent on becoming American materialists at the expense of the environment. Oh yeah, I almost forgot - put enough money into it and we can turn a blind eye to just about anything.

What Do Smears Against Obama Say About Society?

funkfresh01 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:31:18 EST

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-obamamuslim_thinkfeb24,0,6345949.story

Author: Ahmed M. Rehab

OK, we get the point. Barack Obama is not a Muslim. He has made that clear, time and again.

As well he should: The rumors are baseless, maliciously spun by political adversaries with the intention of taking votes away from Obama's promising presidential campaign run.

Obama is entitled to set the record straight. But that's not the end of the story.

The broader issue is: What does this attempt to smear Obama say about our society?

More personally, what does it say about my newborn nephew's standing in society? Is he entitled to the dreams of his Muslim father that the boy could grow up to be president if he works as hard as Obama and is as ambitious?

Obama has not gone far enough to challenge the notion that religious affiliation could disqualify Americans from serving their nation. Nor has Mitt Romney, a Mormon, Mike Huckabee, a Baptist, or any other candidate.

It's time for all of them to be quizzed on the meaning of citizenship as preached and practiced in this great democracy. As a voter, I would much rather know their stance on equal employment policies than which church they attend.

Whenever I address young Muslim audiences that may be struggling with identity issues, I remind them that this is their country, too. I tell them they should observe their civic duties, vote and, if it behooves them, run for public office and help bring about the positive reform they often passively expect of others.

Day One

Woolley — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:59:00 EST

Today, it all begins.

I've unpacked the British and French cheese from my luggage, contacted the people I need (one of whom commented, "I've missed these offbeat conversations... welcome back"), and unloaded my travel companion, Lester (a stuffed monkey), from my bags.

The last 3 days have proven useful. After reading Madam President: Is America Ready to Send Hillary Clinton to the White House?, I am convinced that the answer is still, simply, "no."

It was interesting contrasting this book with the Audacity of Hope, as the case for Clinton was very strongly a case for feminism. To be fair, Madam President is written by a pundit, whereas Audacity of Hope is in Obama's own words. However, Clinton is portrayed as a lifelong feminist: despite living in her husband's shadow she has created positive, long lasting relationships that helped her establish her own political career. Thus, a vote for her is an endorsement of this progressive practice. Obama, on the other hand, specifically discusses his governing philosophy and the changes he'd like to see in the US. For him, being part of a minority provides a perspective to build a broad reaching coalition rather than providing a special interest for him to challenge. In his words, "I reject a politics that is based solely on racial identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or victimhood generally," but "I can't help but view the American experience through the lens of a black man of mixed heritage."

Thus, Hillary argues that feminism would make her a great first female president, whereas Obama argues that being black would make him a great president.

The difference is significant considering the current debate over torture. Viewed from the narrow lens of a feminist movement, this torture can be viewed as macho culture, and from a racial perspective, this can be viewed as dominant aggression. However, from a broader scope, the issue lies in the ideals we live by... that we are committed to preserving individual freedoms and to curbing the government's natural disposure to compromise human rights for bureaucratic, political, or short-term national interests. Only from this "lens" can we justify systematic checks on the government's leeway into human rights.

Urge Congress to Halt Humanitarian Disaster in Gaza

funkfresh01 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:37:38 EST

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 01/21/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to urge their elected officials to immediately intervene to put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The crisis was triggered by an Israeli-imposed blockade Sunday evening, which forced the closure of the only electric plant that serves Gaza City's 400,000 residents and one third of the Gaza Strip's 1.5 millions residents. The blockade prevents the entry of fuel that is essential to the operation of the plant.

SEE: Gaza Dark Amid Israeli Blockade (LA times)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaza21jan21,1,576321.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true

Gaza is already suffering from economic hardship, which according to the World Bank, is primarily a result of being cut off from the rest of the world by Israel. Without power, hospitals, water facilities and other crucial lifelines may completely shut off and homes may be left without heat, plunging Gaza into disarray.

Stark differences b'tween Barack/Hillary foreign policies; Shah's son drumming for war?

julieannayoga — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:54:07 EST

Barack / Hillary foreign policy:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/opedne_paul_rog_080211_hillary_heeds_hawks_3a.htm

and of special interest--son of Shah being "used" to drum up war on Iran?Some Iranians to whom I've spoken or about whom I've read (and who are safe in this or other countries) - want war--for unearthing the present Iranian Islamist Regime and its Human Rights abuses... Indeed the Human Rights abuses must be somehow stopped; but again, "is war the answer"? (of course not, in my book! -- the lives of the Iranian people are at risk...espeically the poor who may not be able to exit that easily; and in this case such warring feeds the ulterior imperialistic motives of the American Neo-Cons whom we wish to vote out of office -- and impeach hopefully!)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_soraya_080210_reza_pahlavi_3a_a_neo_.htm

IMPEACHMENT: plse sign/circulate

www.PledgeToImpeach.org

www.AskNadler2Impeach.com

www.WexlerWantsHearings.com

regarding 2 issues gays hold against barack

jonathan | cvg — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:32:04 EST

someone sent me a message regarding my previous blog, "voters who support LGBT equality should vote OBAMA."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

"I am kind of leaning toward Obama. But I'm disturbed by the Gavin Newsom thing and by Obama's previous reaching out for support from some very anti-gay evangelicals.

Have you addressed those things directly? Other gay men I know tend to lean toward Hillary because she is perceived as more gay friendly, DOMA or not."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

dimwits, they are. oops... did i go on the record with that?

as far i know, there has only been one "evangelist" figure who in addition to being a well-known award-winning gospel singer popular in the religious black south... he is also a reformed homosexual and is active in one of the organizations that try to reform homos. obama's camp asked him to entertain and assure fans that obama was a man of faith last year when there were rumors thanks to racism and narrow minds... and fox news... that obama was not christian and went to a muslim school.

the "reformed homo" was not there to talk about gays, but before the rally LGBT activists made obama's camp aware of this man's past and present anti-gay rhetoric. yet, the decision was not to divide based on opposing paradigms. and, as a man who enjoys laying with other men, i admire obama for his courageous stance. you don't have to agree with everything i believe, as long as you support obama and his platform, given that his platform is progressively in support of civil equality of LGBT people in comparison to clinton who has a history of comprising on matters specifically impacting us... in spite of the successes she might point to in funding research and prevention.

so yes, obama discovered that the guest speaker/entertainer was also one of the guys that reforms homos. however, i stand behind obama in his decision. yes, his organizers made an error by not thoroughly conducting a background check. you wouldn't think you would need a background check on an evangelist or popular gospel singer.. right?

again for anyone living under a rock: obama's movement is about bringing together people of all backgrounds and beliefs to unite for positive change based on the platform obama has outlined. obama's platform is more progressive on behalf of LGBT equality than clinton. i am more than happy to work along side the KKK or a homophobe if it means that the platform obama has outlined will finally change our country on civil equality, health care, the environment, foreign diplomacy, etc.

keep in mind, homos are just as guilty when they ask for obama to exclude a homophobe who speaks in his area of expertise and offers necessary credibility to obama's religion. in fact, not only is obama and his family christian and have attended the same church for (i think) for more than a decade... unlike clinton's denomination, obama's church does recognize gay marriage. if the homophobe will speak in favor of my candidate knowing that my candidate is the most progressive on LGBT civil rights... i welcome him.

if you would like to fact check me, refer to the advocate issue from early fall.

your friends are wrong to think clinton is more progressive or has a record that suggests she will fight harder for them without compromising her convictions... only one candidate has a track record of leadership like that...

and obama brings us to the forefront in his speeches in front of all listeners... not only those with a gay-friendly ear.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

REGARDING GARY NEWSOM: newsom numbnutts story is nothing more than a community rumor given that the story is circumstantial and NOT collaborated by obama or his spokespeople. the articles printed in the alternative press and mainstream media in california are editorially-written and quote people whom "think" they know what obama was thinking. most dub that unsubstantiated opinion and hearsay.

shame on any "news" organization that would put paper sales or internet hits above our community and its best chance for uncompromising change.

the articles i have seen each point to an alleged snub and the only credibility they offer are interviews with people connected to the mayor's office who think they know what obama was thinking... notice those articles do not interview or quote obama's team in the matter.

remember when obama supposedly snubbed clinton after the state of the union? she reached out, but he had his back turned to her because he was talking to someone on the other side of ted kennedy. not a snub. but fun to talk about for a week.

newsom numbnutts is nothing more. if it were a snub, which i allege is unlikely, we can rest assured the reaction has nothing to do with sexual preference. obama is too progressive and outspoken on our behalf to decide to disrespect or hate one homo based on the homo liking cock.

i'm not connected to obama's camp, but i would like to suggest that perhaps the lack of picture has something to do with newsom numbnutts having bad B-O. it could be that simple.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

i guess your friends believe "don't ask, don't tell" was progress as hillary still asserts. the truth is that bill clinton sanctioned something that was already happening. as long as we are in the closet, we can serve. with that and things like the DOMA, bill and hillary clinton's promises proved empty.

sure, bill and hillary have been great advocates for things like AIDS... etc... but let's be mindful that AIDS is not a "gay-problem" and, while an issue that does impact the LGBT community, AIDS also impacts communities around the world.

~ j