Posts with the tag justice

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Worship from Aiea, HI — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:36:38 EDT

How do you post a blog?

Right or Wrong

Nathalie — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:47:38 EDT

The big debate those days, all over the news is about health care, which I understand, it is a big issue for this country, but there is another Big Issue, that sounds to be totally forgotten: the way Justice work in America.

You people, do you realize that Justice is not about right or wrong anymore, the all system is based on making money to lawyers, courts etc...Generating FEES!!!!

Do you realize that you used to be innocent until proven guilty and now you are guilty until proven that you are innocent, which means that no matter what you have to pay an attorney to defend yourself and it is all about the interpretation of the law he will be able to make.

That is why you can see innocent people caught in the judicial system, with enormous amount of $$$ to pay, even for minor cases, just to prove they are innocent and on the other hand you can see murderers, rapists, pedophiles walking free just because they had a great lawyer and enough money to pay for him!!!

Is there any thing that can be done about this????

No Conditions for 2-state system

Maria — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:36:23 EDT

I say this since I am an Indigenous person and know what can happen when conditions are stated before talks will happen as with the creation of the BIA. It is where control will always be a part of it and no real equality will happen and it is wrong. Just as it is wrong for us in the USA, it is wrong of Netanyahu to demand it too.

He is 100% in the wrong about this. While he, himself, may not have ordered the mass killing of innocents, it happened and it was wrong. When you are in the wrong you do not get to set the conditions for setting things right since your judgment is not as sound as those who had to defend themselves against your tyranny and greed. No abuser wants to hear the truth about themselves but it must happen for real change to occur.

No one denies the Holocaust was a horrible thing to have happened but it happened to many races and peoples and many around the world are living in occupied countries. For real Justice to occur we must begin with being Just ourselves. It may not be easy to take a good look at yourself but it must be done. The world is changing and we must do all we can to make sure it is to a more enlightened world instead of a falsely good one.

Maria

What About The Black Holocaust President?

Da Goodess — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:59:49 EDT

"The events which transpired five thousand years ago;
Five years ago or five minutes ago, have determined
what will happen five minutes from now; five years
From now or five thousand years from now.
All history is a current event."

- Dr John Henrik Clarke -

BLACK:
(black), adj. 3a. of, pertaining to the various populations characterized by dark skin pigmentation, specifically the dark-skinned peoples of Africa, Oceania, and Australia.
HOLOCAUST:
(hol e kost), n. 1a. a great or complete slaughter or reckless destruction of life.
The Black Holocaust is one of the more underreported events in the annals of human history. The Black Holocaust makes reference to the millions of African lives which have been lost during the centuries to slavery, colonization and oppression. The Black Holocaust makes reference to the horrors endured by millions of men, women, and children throughout the African Diaspora. In sheer numbers, depth and brutality, it is a testimony to the worst elements of human behavior and the strongest elements of survival.
Yet no monuments have been made and apologies have been few. Worse still, most of the descendants of those who suffered, struggled and died, are unaware of this Holocaust while others seek to ignore it. One can only imagine the terrible damage placed upon the psyche of a people who seek to ignore or forget the tragedies of their past.

Must watch Documentary Flow - For Love of Water Directed by Irena Salina

Peter from Carrollton, TX — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:38:18 EDT

Must watch Documentary Flow - For Love of Water Directed by Irena Salina “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” –W.H.Auden

Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.

Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question “CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?”

Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround. (Excerpt from main website)

Please visit the official website for more information:
http://www.flowthefilm.com

Click the Fullscreen Button for a larger version.

http://politicalpete.com/forum/index.php

http://politicalpete.com/

The world's equilibrium has been upset

Noni — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:36:02 EDT

The time for change has come. The equality of men and women and the races, and social and economic justice, are the requisites for world peace. And world peace is inevitable.

A step towards achieving those goals is making quality health care available and affordable to all Americans.

The world's greatest philosphers and thinkers agree and have taught that the resources of this planet are abundant enough to distribute equitably. The old world order institutions were built on monopolizing by and distributing resources to a few wealthy elite and exploiting the underclasses.

Every culture had its ruling class, middle class, and lower class -- which was always made up of exploited indigenous peoples and ethnic groups who were without power and prestige.

Some politicians and their constituents want to maintain the status quo, they are fearful that changing to an equitable distribution system will jepordize their wealthy, priviledged positions. In simple terms, they haven't learned to share.

I am optimistic despite our history, firmly believing that the time has come when people's hearts and minds will change voluntarily, because it is the right thing to do.

Revolution

ReX — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:59:29 EDT

If the government is so very corrupt and perverted ,with a prejudice agenda. Why should "We The People" continue to support Our own oppression?!?!?!?I am sick and tired of people saying "there is nothing we can do".We are stronger than you may think and smarter than thay give us credit for .The modern court system is more business than justice . Why do we let it go on???!!!!I think it is time for REVOLUTION to get a little more active ,we all need to sacrafice something butNever Our Freedom.

LE COMBAT D'UNE MERE COURAGEUSE : Extract from the book "Les Piliers de la traîtrise" d'Elisabeth SILVA

MARQUEZ SILVA Marie-Jos� — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:12:12 EDT

LE COMBAT D’UNE MERE COURAGEUSE DIEU a dit « Vos fils et vos filles prophétiseront, Vos vieillards auront des songes, Et vos jeunes gens des visions. Même sur les serviteurs et sur les servantes, Dans ces jours-là, je répandrai mon Esprit » - Joël 2-28. « Elisabeth et Marc mes enfants chéris, mes anges ont été meurtris pour avoir défendu la cause des enfants disparus.Ma blessure est profonde, ma plaie est à vif, je suis ivre de douleur.Trouverai-je un mot pour crier ma détresse ? Des traîtres ont transpercé mon âme de leurs flèches meurtrières. Ces misérables veulent détruire et hypothéquer l’avenir de mon sang.Les pervers ont brisé mon cœur, consumé mes jours, égratigné la prunelle de mes yeux, crucifié mon être quand le fruit de mes entrailles, la chair de ma chair a été enchaînée et privée de sa liberté. Mais l’agneau immolé essuiera toute larme de nos yeux, il pansera nos plaies et nous redonnera la vie en abondance.Avec mes armes, celles de Dieu, je combattrai, je résisterai et tiendrai ferme jusqu’au bout. Je prendrai la vérité pour ceinture, je revêtirai la cuirasse de la justice et je mettrai pour chaussures à mes pieds, la paix. Avec toute la force de mon amour, je protégerai ma famille en brandissant le bouclier de la foi et me battrai avec l’épée de l’esprit qui est la parole de Dieu. Le Tout-Puissant, le juste juge qui règne éternellement anéantira la muraille de leur iniquité et pierre après pierre les piliers de la traîtrise s’effondreront. Il a éprouvé ma foi comme on éprouve l’or.J’aime l’Eternel, ma force, mon libérateur.Avec Dieu nous ferons des exploits. » Message d’une Maman déchirée, dont ses enfants font sa fierté.Marie-José MARQUEZ

My blog is at http://mark.baland.net/blog .

markbaland — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:51:31 EDT

My blog is at http://mark.baland.net/blog .

NEWS BULLETIN OF OCTOBER 1st, 2006, Editor Elisabeth SILVA

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:58:41 EDT

News bulletin of October 1st, 2006

Addressees : French and foreign Authorities

Subject : Follow-up of the management of the SILVA-MARQUEZ family file heard on rogatory commission in the Léo BALLEY Affair classified SECRET DEFENCE by the French Authorities. REF.: " Les Piliers de la Traîtrise" from Miss Elisabeth SILVA, published by Les Editions La Lanterne- Paris in March, 2005. " Open letter to the French and foreign Authorities " from Mr. Marc SILVA of April 15th, 2006 (174 pages)

P.J. :

- Copy of the mail of the Home Office sent in June 22nd, 2006 to Miss Elisabeth SILVA.- Copy of the mail of the order of the Lawyers of Paris of September 06th, 2006 sent to Mr. Marc SILVA. (copies available on www.scandale-france.org)

EDITORIAL - THE NECESSITY OF THE DUTY OF INTERFERENCE AGAINST THE STATE OF EXCEPTION-

Dear Sir, Dear Madam,

Instar of the Dreyfus affair, we became victims of an unprecedented situation within the History of the French Vth Republic. Wall of Omerta set up by the builders of the current French Government against the SILVA-MARQUEZ family should collapse at the end of three long years of Resistance. The spirit of Emile ZOLA, author of the famous open letter to the President of the Republic “I ACCUSE” published in the “Aurore” Newspaper, at the end of the XIXth century, unfortunately died and buried. Consequently, to reach this noble objective and to howl our pain, we need the support of the national and international community. If only a large number of voices rose to scream their indignation then and then only, our family would regain her rights, her freedom and peace of mind. The current events, of French politics, as everyone, knows, emphasizes a quite particular conception of the functioning of the Institutions of the Vth Republic. Regrettably, we obviously notice, that French Institutions are taken hostage by the shock of the personal ambitions of individuals' nucleus, which prevail over quite other consideration, including over application of law. These Manichean methods are at least disturbing. Obviously, an oligarchical regime has been established. This one seems to hold the rudder of a Republic, entangled in the Affairs, if we refer to the successive crises of the unprecedented riots of districts of 2005 in the History of France, to the intestine quarrels of the Clearstream affair or better still the sulphurous SILVA-MARQUEZ affair of State, for a long time hush up by lax ruling classes. On both sides, a monolithic right is being outlined whereas the diffuse outlines of an alliance of the left beats the reminder, ready to defend all lost causes, exception made by a dramatic affair of State into which, we had been plundged, in spite of us. Let us not lose sight that, the brain and the decision-making organs of this Machiavellian machine undertook to crush our existence. But nobody seems to be moved or to take adapted protective measures. In front of this scandalous affair, the politics any merged cleavages, and the press so-called free, keep silent, instead of acting, preferring evasion and blindness to the demonstration of the truth. In this horrifying affair, where obscurantism always of current events reigns in boss, please allow me to use the questioning, to make the light on darkness into which, our family is still plunged. What does the dumbness of the public Authorities hide? Doesn’t courage consist in fighting on all the fronts, to look for the truth, to say it loud and clear and to close this Pandora’s box, before all the troubles threaten to spread? Does it means the cowardice have become a contemporary virtue? Is it normal to hush up deliberately a politico-judicial scandal brooding a State Crime? Is it conceivable in a democratic country, to prefer the dictatorship of silence to the transparency among miscellaneous politico-judicial-military-police and media interpenetrations? Is it acceptable to put obstacle to the Justice upon the SILVA-MARQUEZ’ affair, by reducing three isolated humans beings in the state of exception, hostages in their own country, because of an unavowable REASON OF STATE? May both models of Democracy as well France as the United States of America longer order the world, and especially mine, the choice of silence, by taking refuge behind their inviolable sovereignty while these two States already dig our grave, with complete impunity and in the most perfect indifference? The necessity of the duty of interference has to apply urgently, in response to the decreed state of exception. Extraordinarily, as far as we are concerned, no voice rises to denounce the inadmissible. I do not hear and neither do you, you do not hear, the expression of the indignation of the Prime Minister, Mister Dominique De Villepin, so usually grandiloquent or even the howls pushed by The Home secretary, Nicolas SARKOZY, nevertheless so quick to catch a microphone, in any occasion. So thus, as you are powerful or miserable, in Justice, two weights and two measures make tilt the balance either on one side or on the other one to serve the interests of a cause, which we ignore. I bring the following proof: For instance, the journalist Xavier TERNISIEN of “Le Monde” titled, to my big bewilderment, in his article of September 29th, 2006, without even using the conditional " A professor of philosophy threatened with death for a column".In introduction, the reader learns that: " Robert REDEKER, professor of philosophy and essayist is the target of threats of death since the publishing of a column in the Figaro of September 19th, in which he criticized Islam and the seer MAHOMET … He receives daily hostile messages on his e-mail box. The Direction of the surveillance of the territory (DST) tracked down pages of Islamist jihadists forums, in English, on which are his photo, address and a street plan to go to his place of residence. He is there qualified as pig. " Immediately, Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin rises to the crenel and judges, I quote "unacceptable" this "fatwa" whereas the Minister of National Education, Gilles de Robien declares himself "to stand by" the professor of philosophy. In fine: " Mr Redeker, who teaches philosophy at the secondary school of Saint-Orens-de-Gameville ( Haute-Garonne), was placed under police protection. He had to leave his place of residence and does not teach any more, since September 20th. Paradoxically, if we hold the main part of the papers of Piotr SMOLAR in the newspaper “Le Monde” of November 04th, 2003, which at the appropriate time raised a real indictment against a policeman by titling " A policeman and his sister medium shout in the plot and run away in London ", it emerges from this sensational article an evident will to damage the honour and the reputation of a Servant of the State, a police officer in exercise, within an operational group of a specialized service of Criminal Investigation Department, the Central Bureau for Repression of Banditism, not to quote it. But let us return upon arrows poisoned, shot by this mediocre journalist, of whom my brother, Marc SILVA had been the quite appointed target, to better restore the climate of this State affair classified SECRET DEFENCE. I quote: " … It has been nine months since the girl Estelle Mouzin disappeared … This summer, just before the scorching heat, he finds himself a mission, a cause: identify the kidnapper of Estelle. How? Thanks to his sister, Elisabeth … The sister of the Sergeant is proud of possessing extra-sensory perceptions. They are threatened. Marc S. had to return to work at the beginning of September; nobody saw him again at the OCRB. " The hostile and threatening pursuits obliged us to leave the French territory to gain England in perilous conditions ", as he explains it on the web site that he specially created to deal with the "scandal" of the missing child Estelle Mouzin … On August 7th, Hervé Lafranque, boss of the OCRB, is informed about the behavior of his civil servant. He had never had to complain about the work of Marc S., which even participated in two big successes of the Office in 2003: the arrests of the escapees Joseph Menconi and Antonio Ferrara. On August 9th, Elisabeth S. sends a mail to Nicolas Sarkozy and to Dominique Perben to transmit them the result of her investigations, either 71 pages … Marc S., for his part, believes that he is trailed. He imagines policemen behind every passer-by … Repeatedly, he asks for a protection moved closer to his hierarchy which worries about his mental balance and removes him his weapon … In the last resort, he sends a long narrative of his investigations to Roger Marion, the prefect delegated to the Security in Marseille, former leader mayor of the Criminal Investigation Department. He develops the thesis of a plot implying senior officials executives of the State and the outside intervenes, who by means of physical and technical surveillances, try to harm–them-.” Piotr Smolar Also, please note that the clairvoyance and so-called depression or paranoia of a policeman served as smoke screen, in others lenient newspaper articles (Le Parisien of 17/10/2003 "A runaway policeman"; Le Nouveau Détective of 22/10/2003 "The Strange disappearance of a policeman"). Every reader can learn, among other things, that a policeman of the Central Bureau for Repression of Banditism, under the cover of anonymity, quoted name, first name, rank of the police officer, Marc SILVA to make reference to the very famous arrests of two also named criminals, Antonio Ferrara and Joseph Menconi, violating, by this mean, the texts of law by revealing the identity of a police officer, - without any necessity. - Extracted from N °1101 of the sensational Magazine – Le Nouveau détective - " The Strange disappearance of a policeman " signed by the big reporter, Michel Mary, and analyzed in my book " Les Piliers de la Traîtrise " pages 202 - 203: " he is the object of mysterious threats of death, we are in the heart of the summer, what doubtless explains the slowness of both concerned Ministers. But next Monday, August 18th, the Police Sergeant, Silva spends borders. Stating of these repeated " threats of death " against his person, he asks downright " a moved closer protection " to his superior of the OCRB. But the conclusion is imperative: the Police Sergeant Marc Silva became crazy. Nevertheless, the young policeman had until now good service records. And recently even, he had distinguished himself by participating to the arrest of Joseph Menconi and Antonio Ferrara, two dangerous hooligans, who had escaped from prison. He cracked lead, summarizes one of his colleagues of the OCRB which prefers to remain anonymous … Embarrassed, the central Direction of the Criminal Investigation Department (DCPJ) eventually spread a research index card in the name of " Marc Silva, police officer, roll 343180 ". All the border posts and the airports are on the alert … ". Keep back mostly, that these silent weapons used, as a last resort, were only a supplementary stratagem to mask better the true reason of a real killing, with for motive a hazy SECRET DEFENCE linked to the Léo Balley’ Affair conducted in Grenoble. Nevertheless Piotr SMOLAR and others will not breathe a word on the child Léo BALLEY, eternal forgotten, nor a word on the Secret Defence, to kill better in the egg any embryo of reflection. On the other hand, the evocation of the participation of my brother Mr. Marc SILVA, in the arrest of two figures of the organized crime duly named, appears at the right place in the columns of press. In this affair, the non-compliance with the anonymity of a police officer seems to be the order to be followed by editorial staffs. The puppeteer of this cabal remains to be unmasked. If I refer to the comparative study of the cases REDEKER and SILVA, I can only yell my indignation in front of the execrable treatment of the SILVA-MARQUEZ Affair and wonder about the moral and political justification of such a disparity of the rights in front of the law. Why Mister Marc SILVA, and the members of his family were not fulfilled in the official demand of police protection in spite of all elements of proofs brought to the knowledge of the French police and political authorities? From August 20th, 2003 till this day, we are always exposed to a denial of justice and to a continuous moral harassment, (cf Page 65 of the " Open letter to the French and foreign Authorities “ of Marc SILVA of April 15th, 2006.). The denial of justice is proved in the SILVA-MARQUEZ affair and the legal system persists with stubbornness in blocking it, even intend to bury it. If Emile Zola could hear us, no doubt that this high man would turn around in its grave and would vituperate, as he made it, so splendidly in 1898, in the same terms, which have taken really, no wrinkle: " I denounce to the consciousness of fair people this pressure of authorities on the justice of the country. There are abominable political customs which dishonour a free Nation ". Peace to his greatness of soul. This STATE OF EXCEPTION not only has to hold attention of French and foreign Authorities called to the rescue but also to incite them to intervene because, obviously we were the epicenter of a real earthquake. Although, I am careful not to make any judgment upon the affair of the professor of philosophy, above mentioned, I rebel against the so cruel fate, that black sheep of the police Institution imposed on us, despite legal rules and in defiance of our lives. A fringe of the Home Office, made up the truth to deceive Justice by pushing aside a rigorous and honourable policeman, who put himself across the reason of State, to protect the life of his family. Is not it the essence of policeman's profession to protect the persons against dangers of all kinds? The police hierarchy had rather sacrifice a healthy member instead of attacking the gangrene, which eats away at the Institution. Here is the reward of the sacrificial consecration of a Man of honour, dedicated body and soul to his Homeland, insuring, during 17 years the protection of his fellow countrymen, 17 years of good and loyal services swept by a lapel of sleeve, only because he has thought, one day, to defend a noble cause, that of miscellaneous affairs of unresolved missing chidren cases, among which, one remains classified Secret Defence: Léo Balley affair in Grenoble. Thus, I deduct a lesson of life, from this unspeakable event, this affair will remain a hammered splinter for ever into the depths of my flesh. Ungratefulness is so striking in the questions of interest. That is why, the cowardly policy of three monkeys " NOT TO SEE ANYTHING, NOT TO SAY ANYTHING, NOT TO HEAR ANYTHING " unworthy of the human race has to stop immediately. I shall never enough emphasize it. As far as we are concerned, we, SILVA-MARQUEZ family, French citizens, have for our part, chosen the participative consultation, by placing in the heart of our fight for the survival, the Sovereign States, solemnly called to exercise their duty of interference. The cheaters of any edges will be put defeat and checkmate, my family commits to it. It is still time to act, and we count upon the reach of the universal voice, guarantor for the respect of the human rights as well as those of the Citizen to press on arbitrary power and raise the veto on this classified Secret Defence Affair.

NEWS It is so in a constant concern of transparency and stimulated by the same spirit of Resistance, strengths of the fight of the SILVA-MARQUEZ family for the protection of her life in the dignity, that the undersigned applies to inform the French and foreign Authorities, of the follow-up of this file transmitted, as a last resort for the second time, to the President of the French Republic, Mr Jacques Chirac. Because the communication remains our only antidote against the oversight, and the French and foreign Powers, our best rampart to resist against havoc, we send to you enclosed, in addition to documents put on-line on our website www.scandale-france.org, on one hand, ® The mail of Home secretary, represented by Nicolas SARKOZY, dated June 22nd, 2006, in answer to my personal letter of last May 18th, sent to the President of the French Republic, Mr Jacques Chirac. And on the other hand, the answer of last September 06th from the order of the Lawyers of Paris (Mr Bernard BOUSSAGEON, in his quality of Former member of council of the Order), following Mr. Marc SILVA's appeal against the professional misconduct of the lawyer automatically appointed, Mr Guy PECHEU. (Marc SILVA affair, against the Home Office in front of the Administrative Court of Paris). Thus, we want to make sure of the loyal execution of the commitments taken by the required authorities. After reading the mail sent by the Home Office, we were delighted of the wholesome ability to react of the Head of State, aware of his kingly responsibilities, towards three of his irreproachable fellow countrymen, and nevertheless victims of the diversion of the French state Government (as well as American), as widely testified in my book "Les Piliers de la Traîtrise " completed by the " Open letter to the French and foreign Authorities " written by my brother, Mr. Marc SILVA on April 15th, 2006, and sent to your attention. We hope that the detailed examination of this official referral by the aforementioned services, concerning a denunciation of a STATE CRIME against the SILVA-MARQUEZ family, will mean the end of a merciless hunting and will put a definitive term in the obvious denial of Justice, which continues now for three long years. I renew my trust to the President of the Republic and expect that " the appropriate examination of the concerned service " will be diligently executed by the Home Office managed by Nicolas SARKOZY, according to the requirements of the first Magistrate of France, Mister Jacques Chirac and his attachment to the constitutional principles of the strict observation of the separation of powers. In the near future, I shall not miss to inform all the French and foreign Authorities of suites reserved to this complex criminal affair. At the conclusion, each one will be able to judge, according to his inmost conviction, if the orders ordered by the services of the Presidency of the French Republic will have been executed, within the strict respect of the laws and settlements. In any logic, the common sense should want that Truth and Efficiency remain the essential concerns of the seized services of inquiry. Besides, it is not a luxury to remind, that by virtue of the principles expressed in the Charter of the United Nations, States linked to the international Pact concerning the civil and political rights, have bond to contribute to the universal and actual respect of the equals and inalienable rights to all of the members of the human family, which constitute the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. The international protection of the rights of the Man must mobilize the attention of every member of the human family, every nation and in particular the supranational Authority of the Security Council of the United Nations, so as to prevent the execution of a State crime, insidiously prepared, since three years. If, despite my exhortations, the French and foreign Authorities chose to keep silent, because of principles, how much odd, such as the neutrality or still the duty of non-interference, it would, ipso facto, mean signing the death sentence of three defenseless French citizens. So, I call of my wishes the sovereign States to follow, not only the good progress of this classified SECRET DEFENCE affair, but also and especially to weigh of all their weight, which is far from being unimportant, with the same attentiveness as the President of the French Republic, Mister Jacques Chirac. We invite you to note the official referral of Mister Jacques Chirac, ordering to the Home secretary, Nicolas SARKOZY the opening of inquiries sought by Mister Marc SILVA, crossed off, as everyone knows, wrongly, from the National police force executives, by decision of the same administration, because of post desertion. This decision is always unacceptable, in the sense of a fair justice given that the public Authorities had duly been informed, in due course, about the case of major force, which manifestly blocked the road to a normal resumption of his professional activities. Very fortunately, the post desertion of the professor of philosophy, Mr REDEKER was not taken into account, by the Ministry of Education, the honour is saved. The Ministry of Education has not fallen into the trap of turpitude, contrary to the Home Office which one rejected, arbitrarily the case of major force. The lowness sublimates and marries all the forms even the most insidious. Thus, you will agree and I weigh my words on the fact that the zero degree of Democracy is reached. Finally, I shall remind the dominating role of the chancellery which owes to fill its kingly functions with strength, plenitude and independence. An absence of condemnation would be dangerous in a Democracy, in so far as, it would let think that criminals are not answerable, nor even to the President of the French Republic, in person. The flame of the Resistance must not and shall not die. That is why, I am counting on your mediation and cooperation, within the strict respect of the national and international law, to knock down the state of exception, imposed on us, with conceitedly and contempt, by High political representatives, apparently affected by political smallness. Yours faithfully,

Mrs Marie-José MARQUEZ "Read and approved" M Marc SILVA "Read and approved" Mle Elisabeth SILVA Editor

www.scandale-france.org e-mail : elisa_silva@hotmail.fr

Contact : Mle Elisabeth SILVA Maison Oyhanburu - 700 chemin oihanbehere 64122 URRUGNE

FRANCE

To President Barak and Michelle Obama.

JohnB — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:04:45 EDT

To President Barak and Michelle Obama.

50+ years of coverup of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy across the globe. 7 years since the global acknowledgement of a coverup in a number of countries. In those 7 years the problem has been found to extend to every country on the planet where the church exists. The numbers of abused is estimated to be in the millions.

What happens to a country and a world which has been deceived for more than 50 years by those who supposedly lead the way. The country suffers from the problems which come from and continue to come from the activities undertaken during those past 50 years by the church in its covering up of the abuses.

The response of our government appears to have been to increase its involvements and workings with this socially dysfunctional church and appears to wish to continue in that way without seeking from the church a definitive point in time for the church to respond in an appropriate manner or to give the people of Australia their democratic right to sayif they wish to continue to trade with a broken Catholic church.

Without proper intervention each American becomes disadvantaged as there is no policy set down as to how our country should deal with the fact that the Church is unable to provide a policy itself while we all understand that is the most basic of things we need from this church so that every American child will not have to find a path through the hypocritical life we provide to them whilst this matter remains unaddressed in our society.

When both Church and State fail us on this scale it is the children who suffer first and suffer the most.

The Church and the Government must take positive and appropriate action. Itis both inappropriate and dysfunctional for Governments right across the world to continue to trade with this church until we have a clear understanding of how both your Government and the Catholic Church make it clear to us all just how they are going to resolve the matter of the sexual abuse of our children by so many priests of the worlds' leading Christian Church.

We obviously see both Church and State repeatedly fail to act in the light of this understanding and in the knowledge of the harm this causes our world and the lives of each of us living it.

Set aside September 1st 2009 as the last day we get to hear any leader inthe world utter the words "This is a matter for the Church" when he speaks of the children sexually abused by clergy.

Set aside September 1st 2009 as the day your Government and the Catholic Church provide us all with a clear and appropriate set of policies making it clear to us how we can live our lives without these aberrant behaviours from both Church and Government.

Barak, as the President of The United States we simply take your support for granted.

rgds

John Brown

Pimjkpo

Unknown user — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:36:25 EDT

sidney kimmel comprehensive cancer cente bleeder screw flabby butt sidereal clock flannery o connor wise blood stainless steal grills fitzer streetrod faux monnayeurs flypast shrug knitting patterns abcpdf .net south west arilines sokoke endowment surrenders something upstairs avi fertilizing apple trees blue hawaiians emma shaplin flathead screwdriver fogging machine skills training manual for treating bord squirrel pos system stationary printables epson emp 732 spyder imagine 04 fifties slang st james infirmary blues female masturbations spectacled bear essex county probate court favart hotel paris simply saline nasal spray esserman sisco systems acoba sl 1210mk2 sinus 1054 dsl simulacra and simulations flaggs blaton farmhouse fraternity softest socks in the world eurostile font boar tusks studio dentistico ack dc10 straighten teeth without braces fine lady bakeries sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore fhmphilippines boatyard inn standartnews flashman papers finding neverland script facts on harriet tubman snowtrooper steidler epiphany crm southwark rose hotel london esp viper 400 f u c k u exelmans hotel steriods baseball fcbga steinberger guitar simmons shotgun scope abacus pda watch stena line ferries ireland sloppy firsts flic barcode scanner bmw cpo eugene nida finding george orwell in burma fixable cars sky1 staner bmw 735il skeg skocpol theda fineliner pen epson perfection 1660 bmw e30 rims fabienne de vries accorder sa guitare 99705 sir john fortescue songbirds cd

I AM THE WALRUS, OR, THIS IS NONSENSE

caring_independent — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:52:44 EDT

i couldn't feel the Sun
its warmth evaded me
and beheld me to shun
my life, eternity

i couldn't gaze on Moon
to comfort in her face
while in dark i attuned
my death, a lonely place

here i found my prison
uncomfortably cold
if fallen or felon
spirit without parole

i am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together BEATLES

At yearend 2001 over 5.6 million U.S. adults had ever served time in State or Federal prison. If incarceration rates remain unchanged, 6.6% of U.S. residents born in 2001 will go to prison at some time during their lifetime (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics / Special Report - Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population,1974-2001 - August 2003, NCJ 197976)

".........the effect of unequal incarceration on individuals is the most obvious in terms of its negative impact. Regardless of race or ethnicity, incarceration can be a painful, debilitating, and ultimately counterproductive experience. Prison inmates are vulnerable to prisonization (sometimes called institutionalization). Prisonization involves adopting...in greater or lesser degree the folkways, mores, customs, and general culture of the penitentiary. Clemmer 1958,1940,8 Prisoner reactions to institutional life can include a dependence on the institutional structure, hypervigilance, interpersonal distrust, psychological distancing, exploitive behavior, a diminished sense of self-worth, and post-traumatic stress. Haney 2001, 7-12 Prison inmates also may be exposed to violent environments. Byrne, Hummer & Taxman, 2008; Johnson, 2002; Sykes,1958 Those who fall victim to prison violence suffer psychologically by experiencing depression, anger, and other negative emotional states. Wooldredge 1999 One universal feature of incarcerated life is that prisoners are constantly surrounded by other criminals. This predicament makes inmates highly vulnerable to internalizing (or more deeply internalizing) pro-criminal motives, values, and techniques. Akers 1997; Cullen & Gilbert 1982; Sutherland 1939 Further, incarceration causes separation from family members, friends, and other positive social supports. This social separation may lead a prisoner to feel disconnected from the outside world. In extreme cases, suicide becomes the final solution for coping with all the trauma of imprisonment. Liebling 1999 The impact of incarceration extends well beyond the prison gates. As Austin and Irwin 2001: 136 noted, prisoners confront extreme difficulties in adjusting to outside life and achieving basic viability, and most of their problems stem from having been a prisoner.

When inmates are released, they may be confronted with a number of mental and emotional challenges, including post-release disorientation, difficulty adjusting to change, fear of failure, anxiety, and mistrust of and withdrawal from other people. Rollo,1988 Adding to these psychological impediments, prisoners usually go home with little money McMurray 1993; Travis, Solomon & Waul 2001 and dim employment prospects. Holzer, Raphael & Stoll 2001; Sabol & Lynch 2003 Many of the employment opportunities that do exist for convicted felons lie in unskilled jobs with low wages and abysmal-to-nonexistent benefit packages. Taxman, Young & Byrne 2002 Relationships with family, which can facilitate social readjustment Nelson, Deess & Allen 1999; OBrien 2001; Petersilia 2003; Richie 2001, may be strained or dissolved due to the offenders absence. Petersilia 2003; Reentry National Media Outreach Campaign n.d.a. If family members are not willing to take in a released prisoner, suitable housing can be quite difficult to obtain. Travis et al. 2001 Finally, government assistance for housing, financial needs, and physical and mental health services is usually limited due to long waiting lists and offender-specific restrictions. Reentry National Media Outreach Campaign n.d.b; Rubinstein & Mukamal 2002; Taxman et al. 2002; Travis et al. 2001 It is abundantly clear that prison reduces the human capital and darkens the future of those confined behind its walls. Clear & Rose 2003 Very simply, individuals are likely to leave prison in worse shape than when they entered. Foucault 1977 Consequently, any disproportional imprisonment due to discriminatory practices or policies can have grave implications for the afflicted individuals. (Justice Policy Journal, Volume 5, No. 2, Fall 2008 By, Brett E. Garland, Cassia Spohn, Eric J. Wodahl / Racial Disproportionality in the American Prison Population: Using the Blumstein Method to Address the Critical Race and Justice Issue of the 21st Century, "The Impact of Incarceration on Individuals")

copyright Mar 20, 2009, by ME Wilson

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.

1 in 31 adults in American in Justice System

Don — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:47:31 EST

This is the news I read recently. I suppose I should feel better since Utah has 1 in 68. These numbers are astounding and should cause alarm. Perhaps we should forgo the budget summits and gather the best minds together on the issue and hammer out the why's, how's, who's, and what's. Perhaps even consenus on how to tackle the problems. You can bet these social issues are very connected to the meltdown in the financial system. The financial crisis is not measured in billions or trillions. It is measured in people. When so many people are failing it has to make you wonder what are the building blocks to this failure. Are we going to move forward in this 21st century putting our priorities in order? There needs to be some social respondsibility by our government and industries that effect the lives of so many people. These problems need to be hammered out by professionals not politicians. Unfortuately are political system is built on dependancy. That is depending on the next election and issues that need not be so divisive. Is it possible for the best man or woman to win? With all the winners in the Congress then perhaps we could put aside are petty differences.

To be an Obamacrat

2morrowKnight — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:50:24 EST

I was asked recently why I refer to myself as an “Obamacrat” when I’m a registered Democrat. And it’s a very good question. From 2000 to 2007, I was a registered independent. During that period, I continued voting for Democrats because I liked their agenda and issues, but I scoffed at the notion of belonging to a party. After all, “issue identification” has always been more important to me than “party affiliation”.

But President Obama really inspired me to change my party affiliation…and ultimately, to believe again. My belief in the concept of the politics of hope has always been strong, but now it's bigger than the boundaries of this planet we inhabit. It was just a matter of time before I knew the word Obamacrat fully applied to me. But it's more than a word, it's a bonafide movement.

Allow me to explain.

To be an Obamacrat is to acknowledge (not dismiss) the color-specific differences that make us unique, while also embracing the color-blind commonalities that bring us together. If you see it this way, then you’re happy that President Obama has assembled a rich, cosmopolitan group of smart people that will advance, improve, and transform lives while "visually reflecting" the diversity of America. In a country of shifting demographics, this is necessary. In fact, Obamacrats will be cheering loudly when President Obama names a Latino and an Asian American to The Supreme Court.

To be an Obamacrat is recognize that nothing, but nothing, trumps grass roots organizing. President Obama beat Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Primary season last year because of his simple community organizing philosophy: city-by-city; block-by-block; person-by-person. But he became the most popular person in the world when he grew his profile using the tools of The New Media: the MySpacing-YouTubing-Facebooking-texting-Twittering component. Obamacrats see this as the smartest way to market your message for a mass audience. And we appreciate how Barack Obama continues to use New Media tools to promote his presidential message.

Obamacrats crave diplomacy, you know, where our country talks to both its friends (like Great Britain and Israel) and its enemies (like North Korea and Iran). In a world that is more connected and inter-dependent than ever before, nations working together can reduce, if not obliterate, the child sex trade; female inequality; global warming; the AIDS epidemic; famine; and never-ending war.

Furthermore, Obamacrats also want a president who can bridge the cultural divide in this country, you know, someone with both BLUE STATE credentials and RED STATE credibility. Indeed, regardless of who voted for him on November 4th, President Obama now represents the evangelical farmer in Montana and the supply-side economist in Mississippi (who probably didn’t support him) as well as the small business owner in California and the union worker in Connecticut (who probably did).

To be an Obamacrat is to believe you can build something as majestic as The Great Pyramids or The Great Wall of China; to believe you can be as historic and life-affirming as P.B.S. Pinchback or Shirley Chisholm; or to believe that regardless of your cultural name (Gupta, Nguyen, Garcia, Omar or, Obama) you can be President of the United States. You know there are limits, but your strong, overpowering belief in the possibilities pushes you, and drives you.

Labeling myself an Obamacrat is a profoundly impressive honor that I take very seriously. I love the fact that President Obama is not only a great communicator, but also an intellectual stud. The Obama Family living in The White House, a building built by African-American slaves, is compelling. Truly earth shattering. But, even more compelling is the fact that slaves also dug foundations, hauled limestone, baked bricks, and cleared timber for The Capitol, where Obama was inaugurated, and for the massive area known as The National Mall, where 2 million people were packed in to witness his swearing in.

Like President Obama, we walk in the spirit of people who championed our rights, who spoke truth to power, and, who even envisioned this great moment in history. Let us all make the most of it.

To be an Obamacrat? Man, right now, nothing even compares to the feeling.

2morrowknight is an internet strategist and community organizer who blogs at 2morrowknight.blogspot.com, and is author of a forthcoming children's book. You can follow him at Twitter.com/2morrowknight and friend him at Myspace.com/2morrowknight.

My Introduction

rickftcco — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:17:10 EST

I work with the Hope Now Project for free voluntary global birth control. You can find out more about this at: www.mundomio.org/hopenow.html. This incredible program can dramatically reduce environmental pressure in ONE DECADE, while simultaneously transferring wealth from the "haves" to the "have-nots" in a voluntary and managed way.

I seek to get rid of the "soft corruption" that is ubiquitous in the U.S.: cronyism, partiality to wealth and influence, bureacratic fear to engage politically powerful perpetrators.

I also seek a society that is high-tech/low-consumption/low-waste/low-exploitation (see: www.mundomio.org).

Lastly, I have an amazing sensing technology that promises to revolutionize how we interact with each other...think the next generation of the Internet, immersion virtual travel (see: www.prv.com).

V is for Vision

coralights — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:41:34 EST

I have always thought of myself as a visionary. Often future events I've anticipated but didn't share with others have come to pass.

But at age 63 - I can look back and see that my vision was obstructed.

We all live with these obstructions. What we are taught, what we hear, feel and see - and most of all what we don't learn about ourselves and others until it's too late

This blog is dedicated to me, you, our President, and truth, hope, and justice for all.

Say it with me. President Obama.

Jedidiah Palosaari — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:58:24 EST

George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
William Harrison
James Polk
Zachary Taylor
Millard Fillmore
Franklin Pierce
James Buchanan
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
Ulysses Grant
Rutherford Hayes
James Garfield
Chester Arthur
Grover Cleveland
Benjamin Harrison
Grover Cleveland
William McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
William Taft
Woodrow Wilson
Warren Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover
Franklin Roosevelt
Harry Truman
Dwight Eisenhower
John Kennedy
Lyndon Johnson
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
George Herbert Bush
Bill Clinton
George Walker Bush
Barack Obama

Praise God, that I now live in a country with a black man as President. Who would have thought it possible, 100 years ago, 50 years ago, or even 5 years ago? I had thought I'd be old and gray before I'd live to see this day. I'd have thought we'd have to wait till we are a minority-white nation in 2055. Instead, we may be the first majority-white nation in modern history to elect a person of colour.

Truly now, all things are made new. We will now speak of President Obama, a President with an African and Arab name. We will now look to our leader as a person of colour, one with connections for the first time with the 2/3rds World. Children of colour across this country will now look up and see that they can do anything. Other nations will look on us and realize this is a nation they can relate to. They will realize that, now, we truly are the land of the free, the home of the brave.

Oh brave new world, that has such people in it.

CRY AMERICA

Citizens for Change in America! — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:35:42 EST

What is going on…is anybody really listening…

We have seen it all…more dollars for more scams, bonus, buyouts, bailouts, hoops, loops, etc.!

What is this anyway…

Is this the USA…

Are we American…

Is anybody listening…

Is anyone really there…HELLO

Please tell me you didn’t hang up…

You didn’t turn into a switchboard …

You didn’t put me on hold…

Let me know you still HEAR MY VOICE…

You know I am there…

You are

You care

You

Oh, please tell me you are still there America…any comment

...tell me, at the very least, you hear my cry!

Worst Desaster in U.S. History!!!

tori — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:17:27 EST

This is one of many stories coming out of Harriman,TN. You can view videos of this disaster on YouTube. Tags:coal ash spell / Friends of mine have been there helping anyway they can from delivering clean water, providing information to the residents, reporting on this,etc. Also can find more at www.mountainjustice.com They are an organization that has been fighting to save these beautiful mountains from being "literally !" blown away. TVA, the EPA, & our present goverment is trying to sweep this under the rug. I know for a fact they are lying to us all !!! Just check out these videos & see for yourselves. We need help from these greedy coal companies. Rick Cantrell For Immediate Release: January 15, 2009 (865)376-1040 RECThe1@aol.com First, let me give you a few facts that are not being relayed to any of us. TVA told a Senate committee that this “spill” covered about 275 acres. Other estimates say 300 to 400 acres. If not for the hills and coves of the river, there was enough contamination to cover 3000 acres with a foot of sludge. We are continually told that there is no danger to the public “at this time”. If that is the truth, then why is it that residence from the most affected areas now being evacuated and given places to live? I was there the morning after this tragedy happened. I could not even have imagined what I was looking at. I was there again this morning to look at what TVA says is "cleaning it up". What I saw was a joke. First of all, the straw that they air-dropped only covered about 25% of the mess. And, in the cove that I visited, they are dredging the center of it to let a natural spring flow. I know this area as well as anyone. I have spent many hours fishing there. There are many springs that flow underground and come to surface in the coves when the water is at summer levels. Right now the area is covered up with 10 to 12 feet of mud, sludge, and trash. TVA does not plan on digging the coves out. So, these springs will eventually find a way to flow to the surface. Then they make their way to the river. Covering it up will never take away the contamination. Let me say that again. COVERING IT UP WILL NEVER TAKE AWAY THE CONTAMINATION!! When TVA tells us it isn't contaminated and will be cleaned up, they are severely misleading you. If you do the research you will find that arsenic cannot be changed or diluted. Its molecular structure always remains the same. It is in the water from this disaster. It will remain there until TVA cleans it out. In the Swan Pond area, the arsenic levels were extremely elevated. It is in the mud and trash. And the only way to remove the arsenic is to remove all, and I mean ALL, of the mud it is mixed in, even in the coves. Smaller, but just as tragic levee breaks have happened in Kentucky , and Pennsylvania . The people that live in these areas are still trying to cope with it. Did TVA clean it up? No! they covered it up. In Kentucky there are coves that once had water in them that are now fields. The contamination is still there. In Pennsylvania , some homes have the dried sludge in the crawl spaces of their homes. So why should Roane County , Tennessee expect any different approach? I listened to Mr. Kilgore tell this community that it was not a time that TVA could hold its head high, but he promised to make it right. Well, TVA and its officials should hide their heads because of the way they are planning to handle this. They are doing whatever will cost them the least. How about taking some of your unearned bonuses to help pay to clean this up right? What I cannot understand is why our elected officials, both local state, and national, are staying quiet. The mayors of each town should have their city councils pass resolutions demanding that the clean-up be done right. Our State Representative and State Senator should be on the floor in Nashville demanding that TVA get it right. Our US Representatives and our US Senators should be on the floor in Washington demanding that Congress hold TVA accountable and make them clean it up, not just cover it up. Even the news media has gone silent. This cover up should have the media speaking loudly. It is not the time for silence. Even if you do not live in this area, it’s time to show the entire nation what is really going on. There are retention ponds like the one that gave way here, all over the nation. You think it will not happen to your community? Maybe it will not. But the risk is there. So please, wake up. We need your voice in this area. And we need your voice all over the nation. There is no regulation on how to store the ash from coal burning plants. The EPA has suggested on three occasions that this stuff is contaminated. But, for some reason, they changed their mind on each occasion. But you have to realize one fact. The coal companies contribute more money to candidates than even the oil companies do. Now allow me to go back to this community. I have heard people say that this is the largest natural disaster of its kind in US history. I would like to correct that statement. It is the worst national disaster in our history. The levee was manmade. So, it cannot be a natural disaster. This will affect the local economy in the months and years to come. Much of our economy is based on our rivers and lakes. I will mention just two events. During the Fourth of July weekend, people from all over the Southeast come here to let their families enjoy the water and watch our fireworks. They are some of the best in the US. Professional bass fishermen hold tournaments here. Are they still going to show up if they even think the rivers and lakes are contaminated? I wouldn’t. I will be the first to say that my children and granddaughter will not even get close to this water as it is. Mayor Beets, Mayor Miller, Mayor Mason, it’s time to stop standing by the side of TVA officials and start standing up for the community. Representative Ferguson and State Senator Yeager, it’s time to take charge and represent the people here. US Senators Alexander and Corker, Washington needs to make sure this is cleaned up right and that it never happens again. Governor Bredeson, this sludge is not safe as you said in public. TVA can explain things in their terms that make it sound good. But, if you take them for their word, it helps to cover this disaster up. We as a community, a state, and a nation need to not only speak out, but shout out, enough is enough! The sad thing is that TVA does not realize this is a time in which they could shine. They could dig this all out. Yes, it would take time and money. However, they could make this devastated area look even better than it did. They could remove the contamination and restore this area; make it even more beautiful than before. Then they could hold their heads high and be proud. But if they think the direction they are taking is something to be proud of, then they are not only trying to fool us, but themselves as well. I am no reporter, journalist, environmentalist, or anyone that is “important”. I am no public speaker or professional writer. I am just a man who loves his community. I am a man who has many wonderful memories provided in the area that has been destroyed. And I am a man who would love to be able to have the opportunity to enjoy more memories. Please, do not allow this to be covered up. Please speak out. News media please help keep this alive. I am but one voice. But as long as I have a voice, I will keep it alive. And if just one paper prints this for others to read, it is one small step to fixing our community, and keeping it from happening to others. We have a long way to go, and a long and rough road to travel. But, the journey is easier when you have the company. Rick CantrellKingston, Tennessee

For more information please contact Rick Cantrell (865) 376-1040 or RECThe1@aol.com

Sacred Cow Tipping - Reclaiming Trust

Rheanni — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:46:32 EST

Everyone can make mistakes. However, if someone has abused your trust repeatedly, do you just keep trusting them? Do you follow their lead blindly without questioning their authority? Once you discover you've been misled, do you let them get away with it?

The Status Quo would like for you to do just that when it comes to the mismanagement and downright dishonesty that they have repeatedly perpetrated on our economy and our nation. After all, they are too big to fail, so that automatically excuses everything. Right?

Yes, the old guard is pretty fearful of the prospect of really going in a new direction. Yet, because of the progress that has been made by many dedicated hearts, the beast is losing it’s balance and getting pretty bossy in its attempts to regain control.

One of the tactics it is likely to try is to push the use of this Sacred Cow:

"Excuse people in positions of authority, regardless of whether or not they have abused our trust."

Above and Below...Out of Balance

Jill Oserowsky Stanevich — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:06:05 EST

These are legitimate questions. Is the cocky, dominant, top-gun attitude the best for making ethical decisions? In war should we be "removed" from our targets? What numbers are acceptable "collateral" casualties? Where is the leadership? Where is the humanity in war? Where's empathy? When is a response too much?

I taught high school students at the American International School in Israel for one year in the late '80s. [I had previously spent my junior year in Jerusalem at Hebrew University.] We had kids from around the globe. In one senior English class, I had an Israeli (born Canadian) student who had just been chosen to join a pilots program in the Israeli Air Force. He was a blonde, blue-eyed Tom Cruise type. He was also the son of a Jew for Jesus, a Christian convert. His mother objected when I assigned "Native Son" to the class. She didn't want her son to have to read about such a bleak situation. I explained that it was an important work of literature. She didn't want him becoming depressed by it, she countered. I asked how reading a book and discussing issues was more dangerous than choosing to be a pilot and making life and death situations for those people living on the ground. I never got an answer.

You might say it's easy for me to prattle on; after all, I'm not living through bombardment as are the Israelis and, more so, the Palestinians in Gaza. Sitting in a safe place in the states leaves me in a different emotional situation than if I were over there. So, I can only imagine how people's judgments are affected by the stress on all sides.

As Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshusa wrote in a recent articles, Hamas can be blamed for launching the attacks, but there needs to be a cease fire.

The way forward has to be one of eventually coming together--or at least balancing the seesaw. Like the yin and yang or the two halves of the kabbalistic star...the one on top is not superior, it is merely the one above. The half on the bottom--this is very important--is not inferior. It is the root. The two halves make one. Like in the creation story where the first human was made in the Creator's image with both male AND female parts (Adam/Adamah), they complete each other. (It wasn't until much later that the superiority/inferiority tale emerged.)

People don't have to love or even like one another, but they can respectfully work for a more just future for all the people living in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The way forward is not more bombs and rockets.

I love much about Israel--I have friends who live there; I'm hopeful about a Palestinian state.

Meeting your "enemy" and walking through their world for a day is one way to start. Let's refuse to be enemies and make a better future. Taking risks for what is right is strength, too. Peace.

The Greatest Patriotism of All – Simply Believing – There is Justice for All!

S.G from Shawnee, OK — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:11:57 EST

Mastering What Have believed we are – The Founding Fathers – Had People from many beliefs – So simply when they wrote the constitution – They simply put in – All men – Women and Child – Is created equal – Brings about the saying – The Lion shall lay down with the sheep – A acceptance – That has been beyond our Comprehension – The Lion accepts what the sheep – believes it is – and the Sheep accepts what the Lion believes it is. The Founding Fathers put forth this protection for all – The simple word of the old man – Accept who you are – live within these simple laws – and accept who your neighbor is - for what he or she believes they are – Then you shall know - The peace - for the world. To change the world – we simply have to change ourselves – Right or wrong – WE all have believed what - we have lead ourselves to become we are – But is that belief within the 10 simple laws of God? – Or is that belief within the Laws of this Constitution? Do we believe in the simple law - Justice for all?

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Abandon the Retirees and save todays workers ?

Richard Owl Mirror — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:28:41 EST

The Rationale for allowing the US Auto Industry to fail ~ Can it be applied the US Federal Government?

Republicans Kill $14B Rescue Plan in effort to dismantle UAW Union

Within the above article is a discussion and a point of view I find interesting and wish to explore how people feel about it and it's implications.

Stu P., "The only way the Big 3 can compete with Toyota, etc. would be to get out from under the massive pension and related obligations to retired and soon-to-be-retired UAW workers."

Richard, Given the plight of the economy and the Debt incurred by the American Taxpayer, should the US Government rescind the benefits of US Service men and women? Revoke the health benefits and retirement of the millions of individuals in order to make the Federal Government a more financially viable entity ?

Let's start with those costly Survivor benefits
http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/family_resources/online_hbml06_payandbenefits_otherbenefits1/

Then we can move on to money for housing and Education benefits.
http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/

Imagine a leaner Federal Government without Military Veteran OBLIGATIONS to burden them.
http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/health/

~@~

Given the tremendous debt out government is carrying and which the American citizen is libel to repay w/interest, I'm wondering if these Senate Republicans would be prepared to rescind the benefits to each and every Military veteran in an effort to trim the wasteful spending by our Government?

If it works for GM, Ford and Chrysler, wouldn't it also translate into a cost-savings effort by the Federal Government?

I really think these Senate Republicans are on to something, throw out any promises of care for services rendered and allow the former employees to fend for themselves.

After all those 300,000+ Auto Retirees are most likely service members from WWII, Korea, Veitnam who are drawing these Federal Benefits as well as Pensions from working their entire lives in the factories. If America is willing to toss them under the bus, why not go the whole way and assist the Federal Government in relieving itself of this burden?

Tad W. said, That's brilliant! When can we start?!

I'm afraid this measure would be met with resistance, calling it unjust because they earned the rewards of Health and Retirement benefits by their service.
I just wonder why those same people can't apply this measure to the Retirement costs burdening the Big 3?

I don't know the financial answers to these problems but, our entire social fabric was paved by people such as these 300,000+ retirees. People who fought in World War Two, returned and went to work creating the US Middle Class. Others remained behind and worked in those factories building the needed equipment for the war Effort, then continued working their whole life, retiring with dignity and financial security.
They were the pioneers of citizen involvement of the Stock Market. Their pension funds built the vast wealth which makes up the majority of investments.

Why are some so willing to throw them under the bus ?

I find it shameful and appalling. Republicans Kill $14B Rescue Plan in effort to dismantle UAW Union

Failed Bailout Batters Asian Stock Markets
Auto Bailout Bust Fuels Wall St. Anxiety
New Unemployment Claims Reach 26-Year High
White House May Ride To Detroit's Rescue

"The current weakened state of the economy is such that it could not withstand a body blow like a disorderly bankruptcy in the auto industry," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

The Senate's rejection of the $14 billion rescue plan and further evidence of a deepening global recession made world stock markets plunge. U.S. stock index futures pointed to a big sell-off later on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average was projected to drop 278 points, or 3.2 percent, to 8,292, while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index was forecast to fall 33.80 points, or 3.9 percent, to 840.70.

"This is a colossal failure in leadership," Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said on The Early Show. "It puts the economy closer to the cliff and I think we see that already in the reaction."

"I find it highly ironic to have Congress people lecturing the UAW about cutting their wages," Bernero told the The Early Show. "Why don't we put Congress people and senators on merit pay and see what they would be making. What has their productivity been? Give me a break."
Am I to understand that the approximate "332,000 retirees whose health care is covered by generous benefits negotiated since the end of World War II. " should simply lose those benefits in order to afford the current workers retain their jobs? Eliminating those benefits, would GM be competitive? Is that the solution. Kick all 332,000 retirees to the curb and tell them the promises made are null and void ? Imagine the effect on our economy when these 81,000 active UAW workers and 332,000 retirees default on their mortgages and file bankruptcy ? Add to that all the small businesses that depend on the local economy that these 81,000 active UAW workers and 332,000 retirees and their extended families frequent?
Those who believe they will be untouched by the failure of these three companies are in for a rude awakening. When the supply chain fails, those companies also supply Toyota, Honda and the others. Will Toyota, Honda have a supply problem leading to worker lay-offs in Alabama too ? Given the plight of the economy and the Debt incurred by the American Taxpayer, should the US Government recind the benefits of US Service men and women? Revoke the health benefits and retirement of the millions of individuals in order to make the Federal Government a more financially viable entity ?

Let's start with those costly Survivor benefits

Then we can move on to More money for housing and Education benefits.
http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/

Imagine a leaner Federal Government without Military Veteran OBLIGATIONS to burden them.
http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/health/ I think we need to cut off all benefits for every veteran.
After all, they got paid while they were employed, why should the Federal Gov. continue paying them after they quit or retired ?The Federal Government is the largest employer in this Nation, it too operates in a huge and ever expanding deficit. If We, the people were to eliminate this OBLIGATION, wouldn't OUR Company function better? Do US autoworkers really make $70 or more per hour in wages and benefits ?

Contrary to an often-repeated myth, UAW members at GM, Ford and Chrysler are not paid $73 an hour. The truth is, wages for UAW members range from about $14 per hour for newly hired workers to $28 per hour for assemblers. The $73 an hour figure is outdated and inaccurate. It includes not only the costs of health care, pensions and other compensation for current workers, but also includes the costs of pensions and health care for all of the retired workers, spread out over the active workforce. Obviously, active workers do not receive any of this compensation, so it is simply not accurate to describe it as part of their "earnings." Here's a very Partial list of media e-mail addresses.
Use it to contact the media.
http://www.opednews.com/mediacontact.htm

Families United for Change

GranPa Chuck — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:09:16 EST

“We are joining forces with all persons affected by Parens Patriae to include parents, extended family, foster parents and father's and mother's rights groups. While this is a difficult endeavor due to various divisions, the focus will be on challenging the system with the unified goals and commonalities that each is suffering under in family courts and through CPS.”

May YOU find Strength in YOUR Higher Power, GranPa Chuck
Visit our NFPCAR Site

Harvey Milk

Miles — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:27:06 EST

I grew up in the bay area in Berkeley. I didn't know at the time what an open place the bay area was compared to other cities. I was on the tale end of the Free Speech Movement and I witnessed the students rioting and protesting the war in Vietnam. I was also one of the first students in the country to participate in full school integration. I remember feeling very privileged to be a part of this effort in 1969. Black Panther Headquarters, Black Power, Brothers, Students, War, King, B. Kennedy, Malcom X and so much more going on in my childhood. To me, it was all NORMAL.

9 years later, I was a student at Berkeley. Times had changed a bit in Berkeley, and the university was not such a hotspot, or at least, it didn't feel that way. And then, on a day in November 1978 word spread quickly of the Moscone and Milk assassinations. I lived on the Greek side of campus in a house that was converted to a boarding house just down the street from the sorority where 2 Moscone daughters lived. The students were all sympathetic and dismayed that this could happen in San Francisco.

I did not know much about Harvey Milk then. A high school friend of mine had come out to me earlier in the year. I was 20 and we had been friends for 10 years or half my life back then. He was from a prominent family and I knew them all quite well. At the time, all I could think about were the dumb things I said growing up and not understanding how much pain he had been through. We were kids and it was really the best of times, really!

I saw Milk last night. Wow! A true Martin Luther King fighting for the civil rights and constitutional protections that all Americans deserve. That day in 1978, I did not realize that it was 1968 all over again. I now realize how numb I had become. Shortly, our nation would turn away from issues of substance and slowly let the Religious Right take control of our country. Ron Reagan launched himself here in California and led most of us to believe in trickle down economics. Thirty years later we are just realizing the damage caused by in the name of GOD politics and the false Hopes created by a very good actor.

Not many people got rich during the last 30 years, but almost all got numb to values and true morals that should guide this great nation. In my mind, the only Patriots in this country are those that would fight for equal life, equal liberty and equal right to the pursuit of happiness. How did we get so far from this most important set of values that we all are entitled to, not as a race, religion or creed, but as Americans.

This movie about Milk and PE Obama's election remind us that we all know the truth about Freedom. As a people, we would be well served to accept the great diversity of our country and get back to working together to demonstrate the full value of Freedom. See the movie and stay away from the hate within us.

Magnetic generation of power.

Janiece from Saint Louis, MO — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:25:46 EST

I am wondering why no one is taking this technology serious and why we aren't hearing about this ready to go technology that would provide 100% clean energy to the world in a very short time. Of course it will render all other methods useless but why not do that. They have failed and why waste any more time on them. This is an answer to the auto industry, pollution and affordable energy for everyone. This one technology could turn this ecomomy around in a heart beat. It's the most simple and efficient way to go and we need to implement it before we start with wind, tidal, solar and the rest because it will render the all obsolite before they are finished. If you pick up on this and turn your back on big oil and nuclear and clean coal that doesn't even exist you will be a world hero and go down in history as the one guy who really changed the world for the better. Please investigate this and make it happen. It's a bold move to diss the big guys and it will turn the world on it's ear but it is for the good of the people.

OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS

WEBMASTER — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:26:49 EST

Addison * Algonquin * Alsip * Alton * Antioch * Arlington Heights * Aurora * Barrington * Bartlett * Bartonville * Batavia * Beach Park * Belleville * Bellwood * Belvidere * Bensenville * Benton * Berwyn * Bethalto * Bloomingdale * Bloomington * Blue Island * Bolingbrook * Boulder Hill * Bourbonnais * Bradley * Bridgeview * Broadview * Brookfield * Buffalo Grove * Burbank * Burr Ridge * Cahokia * Calumet City * Calumet Park * Canton * Carbondale * Carol Stream * Carpentersville * Cary * Centralia * Champaign * Channahon * Charleston * Chatham * Chicago * Chicago Heights * Chicago Ridge * Cicero * Clarendon Hills * Clinton * Collinsville * Columbia * Country Club Hills * Crest Hill * Crestwood * Crete * Crystal Lake * Danville * Darien * DeKalb * Decatur * Deerfield * Des Plaines * Dixon * Dolton * Downers Grove * Du Quoin * East Alton * East Moline * East Peoria * East St Louis * Edwardsville * Effingham * Elgin * Elk Grove Village * Elmhurst * Elmwood Park * Evanston * Evergreen Park * Fairview Heights * Flossmoor * Forest Park * Fox Lake * Frankfort * Frankfort Square * Franklin Park * Freeport * Gages Lake * Galesburg * Geneseo * Geneva * Glen Carbon * Glen Ellyn * Glencoe * Glendale Heights * Glenview * Glenwood * Godfrey * Goodings Grove * Granite City * Grayslake * Greenville * Gurnee * Hanover Park * Harrisburg * Harvard * Harvey * Harwood Heights * Hawthorn Woods * Hazel Crest * Herrin * Hickory Hills * Highland * Highland Park * Hillside * Hinsdale * Hoffman Estates * Homewood * Inverness * Island Lake * Itasca * Jacksonville * Jerseyville * Joliet * Justice * Kankakee * Kewanee * La Grange * La Grange Park * La Salle * Lake Bluff * Lake Forest * Lake Zurich * Lake in the Hills * Lansing * Lemont * Libertyville * Lincoln * Lincolnshire * Lincolnwood * Lindenhurst

We have to know what went wrong........

John from Waukegan, IL — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:57:32 EST

during the prev. Admin. We need laws to make sure it does not happen again. More damage has been done to this country in the past 8 years than all previous admins. What can we do to prevent this from happening again?

I think if Bill Clinton would have been diligent and investigated THAT Bush Admin. we would not be in this mess today.

OBSERVAÇÕES DO PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA

Samuel from Heath, MA — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:37:57 EST

Se há qualquer um para fora lá quem ainda dúvidas que América é um lugar onde todas as coisas sejam possíveis; quem ainda quer saber se o sonho de nossos fundadores está vivo em nosso tempo; quem ainda questiona o poder de nossa democracia, é hoje à noite sua resposta. É a resposta dita pelas linhas que esticaram em torno das escolas e as igrejas nos números esta nação nunca viram; nos povos que esperaram três horas e as quatro horas, muitas por muito a primeira vez em suas vidas, porque acreditaram que esta vez deve ser diferente; que sua voz poderia ser essa diferença. É a resposta falada por novo e por velho, por rico e por pobre, Democrat e republicano, preto, branco, Latino, asiático, nativo americano, homossexual, reto, incapacitou e não incapacitou - os americanos que emitiram uma mensagem ao mundo que nós nunca fomos uma coleção de estados vermelhos e estados azuis: nós somos, e sempre seremos, os Estados Unidos da América. É a resposta que aquele conduziu aqueles que foram ditas durante tanto tempo por tão muitos para ser cínicos, e temível, e duvidoso do que nós podemos conseguir para põr suas mãos sobre o arco da história e para as dobrar uma vez mais para a esperança de um dia melhor. Tem sido uma época longa que vem, mas hoje à noite, por causa do que nós fizéssemos neste dia, nesta eleição, neste momento de definição, a mudança veio a América. Eu apenas recebi uma chamada muito gracioso do Senator McCain. Lutou longo e duro nesta campanha, e lutou mesmo mais por muito tempo e mais duramente pelo país que ama. Resistiu sacrifícios para América que a maioria de nós não podem começar a imaginar, e nós somos mais em melhor situação para o serviço rendido por este líder bravo e altruísta. Eu felicito-o e regulador Palin para tudo que conseguiram, e eu olho para a frente ao trabalho com ele para renovar nos próximos meses a promessa desta nação. Eu quero agradecer a meu sócio nesta viagem, um homem que faça campanha de seus coração e raio para os homens e as mulheres que cresceu acima com nas ruas de Scranton e monte com nesse repouso do trem a Delaware, o vício - presidente - elejo dos Estados Unidos, Joe Biden. Eu não estaria estando aqui hoje à noite sem a sustentação inflexível de meu melhor amigo por os últimos dezesseis anos, a rocha de nossa família e o amor de minha vida, senhora seguinte da nossa nação primeira, Michelle Obama. Sasha e Malia, eu te amo ambos tanto, e você ganharam o filhote de cachorro novo que está vindo connosco à casa branca. E quando for já não connosco, eu sei que minha avó está prestando atenção, junto com a família que me fêz que eu sou. Eu falto-os hoje à noite, e sei-o que meu débito a eles é além da medida. A meu responsável por a campanha David Plouffe, a minha estratega principal David Axelrod, e à melhor equipe de campanha montada nunca na história da política - você fêz este acontecer, e eu sou para sempre grato para o que você sacrificou para lhe começ feito. Mas sobretudo, eu nunca esquecerei quem esta vitória pertence verdadeiramente - pertence-lhe. Eu era nunca o candidato o mais provável para este escritório. Nós não começamos com muito dinheiro ou muitos endossos. Nossa campanha não foi chocada nos salões de Washington - começou nos pátios traseiros de Des Moines e das salas de visitas da concórdia e nos pátios de entrada cobertos de Charleston. Foi construído pelos homens e as mulheres de funcionamento que escavaram em que economias pequenas tiveram que dar a cinco dólares e dez dólares e vinte dólares a esta causa. Cresceu a força dos jovens que rejeitaram o mito da apatia da sua geração; quem deixou seus repousos e suas famílias para os trabalhos que ofereceram a pouco o pagamento e o menos sono; dos povos não-assim-novos que braved o frio amargo e o calor abrasador para bater nas portas de desconhecido perfeitos; dos milhões dos americanos que se ofereceram, e se organizaram, e se provaram esse mais de dois séculos mais tarde, um governo dos povos, pelos povos e para os povos não pereceu desta terra. Esta é sua vitória. Eu sei você não fêz este apenas para ganhar uma eleição e eu sei que você não a fêz para mim. Você f-la porque você compreende a enormidade da tarefa que se encontra adiante. Para mesmo enquanto nós comemoramos hoje à noite, nós sabemos que os desafios que amanhã trarão são as grandes de nossa vida - duas guerras, um planeta no perigo, a crise financeira a mais má em um século. Mesmo enquanto nós estamos aqui hoje à noite, nós sabemos que há americanos bravos que acordam nos desertos de Iraque e nas montanhas de Afeganistão para arriscar suas vidas para nós. Há as mães e os pais que se encontrarão acordado depois que suas crianças caem adormecido e querem saber como farão a hipoteca, ou pagam contas do seu doutor, ou excepto bastante pela faculdade. Há uma energia nova a aproveitarar e uns trabalhos novos ser criado; escolas novas a construir e ameaças a encontrar-se e alianças a reparar. A estrada adiante será longa. Nossa escalada será íngreme. Nós não podemos começ lá em um ano ou mesmo em um termo, mas em América - eu nunca fui mais esperançoso do que eu sou hoje à noite que nós começ lá. Eu prometo-lhe -nos - porque um pessoa começ lá. Haverá uns recuos e umas falsas partidas. Há muitos que não concordarão com cada decisão ou política que eu faço como o presidente, e nós sabemos que o governo não pode resolver cada problema. Mas eu serei sempre honesto com você sobre os desafios que nós enfrentamos. Eu escutar-lhe-ei, especial quando nós discordamos. E sobretudo, eu perguntar-lhe-ei que se junte no trabalho de refazer a esta nação a única maneira que foi feita em América por two-hundred e vinte e um anos - bloco pelo bloco, tijolo pelo tijolo, mão calloused por mão calloused. O que começou vinte e um meses há nas profundidades de inverno não deve terminar nesta noite do outono. Esta vitória sozinho não é a mudança que nós procuramos - é somente a possibilidade para que nós façam essa mudança. E isso não pode acontecer se nós vamos para trás à maneira que as coisas eram. Não pode acontecer sem você. Deixe-nos assim chamam um espírito novo do patriotismo; do serviço e da responsabilidade onde cada um de nós resoluções lanç dentro e trabalhar mais duramente e se ocupar não somente nós, mas. Deixe-nos recordar que se esta crise financeira nos ensinou qualquer coisa, é que nós não podemos ter um Wall Street de prosperidade quando a rua principal sofrer - neste país, nós levantamo-nos ou caímo-nos como uma nação; como um pessoa. Deixe-nos resistir a tentação cair para trás no mesmos facciosismo e pettiness e imaturidade que envenenou nossa política durante tanto tempo. Deixe-nos recordar que era um homem deste estado que carreg primeiramente a bandeira do Partido Republicano à casa branca - um partido fundado nos valores da confiança, da liberdade individual, e da unidade nacional. Aqueles são valores nós toda a parte, e quando o partido Democratic ganhar uma grande vitória hoje à noite, nós fazemos assim com uma medida da humildade e da determinação curar as partilhas que retiveram nosso progresso. Porque Lincoln disse a uma nação distante mais dividida do que nossas, “nós não somos inimigos, mas os amigos… embora a paixão pode a ter esticado não devem quebrar nossas ligações da afeição.” E à sustentação daqueles americanos cuja eu tenho para ganhar ainda - eu não posso ter ganhado seu voto, mas eu ouço suas vozes, eu preciso sua ajuda, e eu serei seu presidente demasiado. E todos os àqueles que prestam atenção hoje à noite além de nossas costas, dos parlamentos e dos palácios àqueles que huddled em torno dos rádios nos cantos esquecidos de nosso mundo - nossas histórias é singulares, mas nosso destino é compartilhado, e um alvorecer novo da liderança americana é à mão. Àqueles que rasgariam este mundo para baixo - nós derrotá-lo-emos. Àqueles que procuram a paz e a segurança - nós suportamo-lo. E a todos os aqueles que quiseram saber se a baliza de América ainda se queima como brilhante - hoje à noite nós provamos uma vez mais que a força verdadeira de nossa nação vem não do nosso o poder de nossos braços ou da escala de nossa riqueza, mas do poder de resistência de nossos ideais: democracia, liberdade, oportunidade, e esperança inflexível. Para isso é o gênio verdadeiro de América - que América pode mudar. Nossa união pode ser aperfeiçoada. E o que nós temos conseguido já damos nos a esperança para o que nós podemos e devemos conseguir amanhã. Esta eleição teve muitos primeiros e muitas histórias que serão ditos para gerações. Mas um que está em minha mente hoje à noite é sobre uma mulher que molde sua cédula em Atlanta. É muito como os milhões de outro que estiveram na linha para fazer sua voz ouvida nesta eleição à exceção de uma coisa - o tanoeiro de Ann Nixon tem 106 anos velho. Era nascida apenas uma geração após a escravidão; uma época em que não houver nenhum carro na estrada ou nos planos no céu; quando alguém como ela não poderia votar para duas razões - porque era uma mulher e por causa da cor de sua pele. E hoje à noite, eu penso sobre tudo que viu ao longo de seu século em América - a mágoa e a esperança; o esforço e o progresso; os tempos que nós fomos ditos que nós não podemos, e os povos que pressionaram sobre com esse credo americano: Sim nós podemos. Numa altura em que as vozes das mulheres foram silenciadas e suas esperanças foram demitidas, viveu para vê-las de pé e para falar para fora e alcangá-las para a cédula. Sim nós podemos. Quando havia um desespero na bacia e na depressão de poeira através da terra, viu uma nação conquistar o medo próprio com um novo contrato, uns trabalhos novos e um sentido novo da finalidade comum. Sim nós podemos. Quando as bombas caíram em nosso porto e a tirania ameaçou o mundo, estava lá testemunhar uma ascensão da geração à grandeza e uma democracia foi conservada. Sim nós podemos. Era lá para as barras-ônibus em Montgomery, as mangueiras em Birmingham, uma ponte em Selma, e um pregador de Atlanta que disse um pessoa que “nós superássemos.” Sim nós podemos. Um homem tocado para baixo na lua, uma parede veio para baixo em Berlim, um mundo foi conectado por nossas próprias ciência e imaginação. E este ano, nesta eleição, tocou em seu dedo a uma tela, e moldou seu voto, porque após 106 anos em América, com o melhor das épocas e o mais escuro das horas, sabe América pode mudar. Sim nós podemos. América, nós temos vindo até agora. Nós vimos tanto. Mas há tanto mais a fazer. Tão hoje à noite, deixe-nos perguntam-se - se nossas crianças viverem para ver o próximo século; se minhas filhas forem tão afortunadas viver contanto que tanoeiro de Ann Nixon, que mudança elas vêem? Que progresso nós temos feitos? Esta é nossa possibilidade responder a essa chamada. Este é nosso momento. Esta é nossa hora - de põr nossos povos de volta ao trabalho e aos estares abertos da oportunidade para nossos miúdos; para restaurar a prosperidade e promover a causa de paz; para recuperar o sonho americano e reafirmar essa verdade fundamental - que fora de muitos, nós somos um; isso quando nós respirarmos, nós esperamos, e onde nós somos encontrados com cinismo, e dúvida, e aqueles que nos dizem que nós não podemos, nós responderemos com esse credo intemporal que resume o espírito de um pessoa: Sim nós podemos. Obrigado, o Deus abençoa-o, e pode-o Deus abençoar os Estados Unidos da América.

End Now the Failed Drug War

Robert from Davenport, IA — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:10:43 EST

The drug war has failed. It’s Victims come from all walks of life with one thing in common: the drugs they chose to use are illegal. We need to shift our "attack" from Persecution to Education & Treatment.

There has been NO Significant Decrease in drug use since this miserable program was enacted in 1971. And the cost… $50 billion a year (Prevention + Enforcement + Legal Adjudication + Correctional Facilities) For 36 year we have been punishing our citizens, sending them away from their loved ones; their families, their support groups. I ask to what end?

Law Enforcement’s View = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc

We need to start an honest discussion with ourselves and most importantly the young people in this country. “If you do this drug, this will happen” “If you get behind the wheel when drunk/high, this will happen” “If you take too many prescription pills, this will happen” “If you drink too much, this will happen” and most importantly “Yes, marijuana is a drug, but it’s effect is much less that other

Is full decriminalization the answer? I’m not sure, but lumping marijuana in with Heroin and other harder drugs doesn’t make sense to me. Also, Mandatory Minimum sentencing has proved to be a bad policy… go ask any Judge.

Here is one idea of mine: Take the Hard drugs off the street and make them available at drug stores. In order to purchase you will have to take a course to educate yourself on the dangers of drug use. Once you have completed the course you will get a stamp on your driver license’s permitting you to purchase drugs. The license will only be valid for a set number of years at which time you must take a refresher course…. (Politicians; think of the Tax money you can make)

I ask you to please give this issue a new Fresh, Honest, Look.

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.

Signs getting more bright

Unknown user — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:35:50 EST

wow, Obama is getting closer

Obama

Long time ago in this place I expected that American people

will accept the great challenge and Obama will be the one who

can unite all Americans to repair the wounds of the society.

Now most events are in favor of Obama, gaining more votes of

people and more votes of the super-delegates, and I think

that Obama should think right now about the battle against

the old republican candidate. America should be ready for the

coming President Obama despite the fact that some Americans

will not be happy with this great possibility. However I

think the sequences are out of imagination, and out of

expectation, but I hope that Obama will be safe and secured,

and I hope he will stick to morals, ethical basics, and

justice in all his future decisions. I stand with him because

believe in change to better world. This blog dated 11/05/2008

A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

Dimples02 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:12:19 EST

CHECK OUT THIS LOVELY TRIBUTE TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, NEW ON YOU TUBE,

WHICH HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY A YOUNG MICHIGANDER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duhraMOW-80

OR, TYPE IN THE SEARCH FIELD: "truthbetolddotcom" and then, "President-Elect Barack Obama Tribute".

Enjoy, AND PASS IT ON!

Obama's First Great Mistake

Jedidiah Palosaari — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:32:30 EST

It is with such great sadness that I write this. Obama has inspired such hope, and we are so excited to actually see him elected. But I must speak for justice. And with the appointment of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff, Obama has made his first great mistake.

Congressman Emanuel's father was a member of the terrorist Irgun Gang in the 1940s. I realize that some right-wing groups don't consider Irgun as terrorists, but the British Mandate considered the wanton killings and bombings of civilians to be terrorist acts, and so designated the Irgun Gang a terrorist organization. I affirm that a son should not be judged by the acts of his father, but Rahm Emanuel has not only not condemned his father's actions, but Rahm's subsequent actions continue a disturbing trend.

Congressman Emanuel was a member of a foreign military, the IDF, and has come out strongly against the Palestinian leaders. While rightly speaking against the violence of Palestinians, he has been unwilling to equally condemn Israeli violence. While speaking against Palestinian terrorism, he has been unwilling to even mention Israeli state-sponsored terrorism. His support for Israel is unequivocal.

I ask you, how can Obama hope to engage in dialogue with the Arab people and the Palestinians, who can he appear to be balanced and in pursuit of justice, if his very Chief of Staff so strongly supports one side? The hope of Obama is that he would dialogue with enemies. Now he has taken as co-counsel someone who utterly rejects common ground with his enemies. No American President can achieve a successful resolution to Israel-Palestine, unless they are willing to see that both sides have made grievous errors, and both sides have engaged in terrorism and violence. The Palestinians won't come to the table and be willing to come to resolution on the Right of Return and Jerusalem, if those at the table don't see the current apartheid regime they suffer under.

I fear with this step, Obama has now sabotaged his hope of enduring Mid-East peace, the greatest foreign policy issue we face today.

CHANGE WE NEED TOO!

Francesco Errante — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:31:55 EST

Heart felt congratulations to Mr. Barack Hussain Obama the 44th President of the United States of America.

In the hope that his presidency will help making this planet a better place!

Francesco Errante

www.Radiondistics.com

A coming together that enriches our world

Seth from Saint Paul, MN — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:25:39 EST

In light of all that is going on in the socio-economic and political life of the USA, and the ripple effects through out the world, it is of vital importance for people to be reminded of being civil and being encouraged to engage one another with respect and understanding. It is a difficult time for people to be understanding of each other, when their ideologies, philosophies and theologies are so vastly different, as is noted between committed Republican Party and Democratic Party supporters.

I was blessed with the opportunity of meeting and hearing the testimony of South African Anglican priest and social activist Father Michael Lapsley. Father Lapsley has been hailed and celebrated as an icon of the 21st century regarding possibilities of forgiveness and healing in action. Father Lapsley told of his experiences as an anti-Apartheid activist within South Africa, which led to his horrific experience of being a target of the Apartheid government and its cronies. Father Lapsley received two religious magazines which were rigged with explosives, and upon opening his package he lost both his hands, his right eye and suffered major burns. In light of all that Father Lapsley has faced, he continues to pursue a path passionately committed to serving people, and bringing a message of hope and healing through his understanding of the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Father Lapsley has chosen to live for a common good that will benefit all of humanity. In a world that is rigged with explosive realities of degrees of separation and difference, people must be reminded of exemplars like Father Lapsley, and many others who have laid done their rights to be angry, who have laid down their rights to take revenge, and who have chosen to pursue the dream of a world where peace reigns over war.

As November 4th, 2008 is upon us, the USA is under the watchful eyes of the world, as the result of this election will affect the US, but equally has major ramifications on the socio-economic and political systems of our 21st century world. It is my hope that people from different sides of the political spectrum, people who have different ideologies, philosophies and theologies, about how governments and societies should develop, will choose above all else to be active agents of coming together for a worthy cause of seeing a hopeful future for the USA, for my beloved South Africa and our world.

A coming together, must not driven by a melting pot assimilation notion of unity, rather a coming together that is propelled by our rich diversity of ideology, race, class gender, religion, and sexual orientation. May we be people who live for a world where our difference is embraced, accepted and revered, and not merely tolerated!

Blessings and 'alutta continua', "la lucha continua," the struggle continues.
Shalom, Shanti, La Paz sea contigo, As-Salamu'Alaykum - Peace be upon you!

Yours sincerely
Seth Naicker

indiAfrique - Training and Development
smnaick@hotmail.com http://sethnaicker.myblogsite.com/

IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN, STUPID!

Bernice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:34:12 EST

Fourteen years ago “It’s the economy, stupid!” reverberated in the consciousness and pocketbooks of millions of Americans as they went to the polls. In these few days before this historic election, I believe all of the rhetoric, lies and half-lies can be clarified through the lens of a slight variation of that slogan: This time around, “It’s for the CHILDREN, Stupid,” We hear so often that “children are our future.” For many, this is a mere platitude, but to me and millions of parents, teachers, school counselors and others whose lives revolve around children, we DO think of the future in terms of how well-prepared all of them must be to continue the dream and promise of America. And so to anyone still not sure whether to vote for Senator Obama, we would say: Please review the news of the past few weeks and months, or just open a comprehensive national newspaper today, and ask yourself: Does this describe the country you want for your children, or must we vote for change? Don’t automatically take my words for truth or lies--cross-check my statements against unbiased sources.

In today’s America:·

1. We spend Billions of dollars every month in the Iraq War Senator McCain supports, while our schools, bridges and highways here are crumbling. Working people put off important medical procedures because they have no insurance or can’t afford the co-pays. ·

2. When the Republican Majority and then Bush took office, the cost of a gallon of gas was $1.40. Major businesses in our towns are now closing. Retirement funds have dwindled because of unregulated risky stock market transactions and unethical, immoral mortgage practices targeting primarily middle and lower-income people. We who are “working class” know too many people who have lost their homes, been evicted, and are searching for help with food, car, medical payments and other basic needs. As a school counselor, I see this every day among our school population—including students, school staff and administrators. ·

3. Because of President Bush’s NCLB “reforms”, our students spend at least 7 weeks of every school year in preparation for and taking standardized tests. Right-wingers constantly insult us teachers and Teacher Union Members, but we are fighting to bring back our children’s freedom to learn.·

4. Senator McCain voted with President Bush to provide tax incentives to multi-billion dollar companies who move their operations OUT OF THE U.S., thus taking away the jobs of our middle-class. Why did even V.P. Cheney’s company, Halliburton move their headquarters to Dubai?

5. Most support jobs in our Military are managed by private companies. The shameful conditions for our wounded troops at Walter Reed were due to little or no oversight of private companies hired with our tax dollars to supposedly take care of them, and Blackwater and others in Iraq have created many of the controversial situations our Military personnel have had to deal with and for which they’ve had to pay a steep price.·

6. Do you remember the devastation of New Orleans because of the ineptness of what SHOULD have been massive, immediate Federal intervention before and after Hurricane Katrina? Do you remember the PDB memo read to President Bush on August 6, 2001 entitled “Bin Laden Determined to Attack inside the United States” and reports as far back as 1998 and ’99 about the possibility of using airplanes as weapons? Compare these glaring, tragic INACTIONS to the MASSIVE Republican Congressional and Presidential efforts to force continued care of the brain-dead Terri Schiavo. ·

7. Even though he has been in Congress for the 7 years since 9-11, 5 of which were completely under Republican control--Senator McCain did not sponsor nor pass any bills to make sure our docks, trains, and cargo are checked to avoid attack. Non-partisan safety experts have sounded the warning that it is largely due to good luck that we have not had further domestic terrorist attacks, but Bush and McCain, although they’ve had total Legislative control, have made no efforts to change this.·

8. Many religious Americans have sifted down all of Christ’s teachings to two areas: being anti-abortion and anti-gay rights. They believe that these are the only two issues that should determine who is a good Christian and for whom they should vote. I won’t press the usual arguments we’ve heard thousands of times that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is NOT an easy choice, and that being gay is NOT a choice at all. I’ll just ask that you realize this: NEVER in his 26-year career did Senator McCain nor any other Republican for that matter, despite, again remember, having complete Legislative control, NEVER DID ANYONE pass federal anti-abortion and anti-gay laws. President Bush NEVER presented such legislation; his party NEVER presented it. Why didn’t they, when they had every opportunity to do so?? I believe they would rather have this as an issue to DIVIDE US than to actually pass these laws. Isn’t it time that we look back to the real intent of our Gods as to what is important about our religions? ·

9. There are hundreds of other dire issues I could raise, time and space allowing, but the final point I will make has to do with the mind- and heart-numbing topic that for some reason we’ve heard very little of for several months: More than 4,000 of our children, parents, sisters and brothers have been killed in a war that has accomplished…WHAT? Really, WHAT? An estimated 100,000 have returned to Walter Reed, Bethesda, and other military hospitals, therapy centers and nursing homes—broken, battered, brain injured, and suffering from intense PTSD from the hell they lived. For WHAT?

I know many right-wing newscasters and talk show hosts regularly berate those of us who consider these statistics tragic. They call us unpatriotic; they call us un-American. But they did not hold my daughter as she wept at her husband’s bedside at Walter Reed for 4 months. They did not accompany us as we visited these broken men and women in the other intensive care units and V.A. nursing homes for 2 years. They did not help us wipe the saliva that dripped from their frozen faces; did not suction their breathing tubes as they choked; did not massage and move their paralyzed limbs. My children’s and thousands of others’ lives are forever damaged. The pain caused directly and indirectly by Bush’s and McCain’s policies is overwhelming; it is one of the biggest reasons why I could never vote for McCain-Palin: under them, the Bush preemptive-war philosophy would not only be continued, but would increase. I cannot bear the thought of my beautiful students, nephews or niece having to participate in future illegal, unnecessary wars.

Is this the world we want for our children?

Senator McCain would have us believe that HE and his perplexing VP choice are the change agents we need. He--the Republican Senator of 26 years, who by his own admission has “voted with President Bush at least 90% of the time” has tried to co-opt the message of the real, obvious symbol of United States’ Political Change—Barack Obama. To believe that McCain would suddenly do all the things he could have easily done in the last 26 years is to not be grounded in reality. McCain as Change-Agent is Delusion.

Barack Obama in every aspect of his personality, experience, and being is the personification of change. The Hope he offers is real. The good judgment and intelligence surrounding every move of his long campaign and career foreshadow the care and prudence that will be invaluable in the process of trying to reclaim the greatness of America that our children have the right to experience. Please vote for Obama-Biden. It’s for the children, stupid! --Bernice García Baca is with the Santa Fe Public Schools and has been a Teacher, Counselor and Child Advocate for 32-years.

My Obama Book is Titled: The Audacity of Integrity

SRG_Legal — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:56:31 EST

Why Obama will win this election:

America is thirsting and starving for integrity and truth and justice and to restore theoretical American values.

Every time the Republicans do something dumb his numbers go through the roof because people are getting sick of the BS. As an attorney working in the United States of America, Barack Obama knows that if someone accuses him of something, the burden of proof is on them to prove it out. He doesn't have to do anything or say a word. So, he sat back and watched those Republican piranha eat themselves alive. It's classic textbook legal courtroom know-how and savvy, true American-style.

I wish I had enough money to pay him to represent me in my own court case. I'd pay him a million-dollar retainer just from having watched him work in real life. Classic. Helluva lawyer.

He's even got trained volunteers all over the country (including Florida) positioned to watch the polls on Tuesday, along with the sheriff's, cops and lawyers in each polling precinct that were already assigned there. He was Ready on Day One.
If that's not a man who would have been prepared to go into Afghanistan and kick bin Laden's asz and get the hell out without very much loss of life, I don't know who is.

Preparedness always matters -- and so does an exit plan.

He had this campaign mapped out when he threw his hat in the ring. I can tell it by the way he's run it and kept people inspired through two whole LONG years of one hellacious battle after another. He already knew what was coming, he prepared himself, his family, and his supporters, and argued his case before the people like a true American lawyer, betting on the fact that there are more people out here with a little money than the few who have a ton of money. He was right. Even that Andy Martin nutcase backwoods lawyer who challenged him on his Hawaiian birth certificate has GOT to know my now that Obama would knock him cold out in a courtroom, if he ever had the privilege. I mean McCain wasn't even born on US soil and not once has Obama asked for his LONG FORM birth certificate with a raised seal on it.

They've thrown everything at Obama's character and integrity BUT the kitchen sink and he's not even feeling it, at least not in public. He doesn't even have smoke billowing from the coals they tried to burn him with. Looks like America has finally gotten the message that racism doesn't work for ANY OF US, but our thanks go out to McCain, Palin, and especially to Hillary Clinton, for trying it out this election year, and to Obama for addressing it before it went too far with the only people who count. Those who are voting for him.

While the Rethuglicans were busy acting the asz over petty personal crap just because they could find no fault with him politically, he stayed fresh, low-key, focused and on-target...and he didn't let anyone or anything slip out of his razor-sharp aim while he was at it.

He's got the same staff he started off with--nearly zero fallouts, if any. He told people to vote early and vote absentee (basically, because they can choose where they want to vote AND because sheriff's, lawyers, law students, and policeman watch the count on the absentee ballots and "vote counters" are sequestered like jurors on an OJ Simpson trial during the entire process -- LOL!!! Theoretically, I could guess any number of reasons Obama told us to vote early and vote absentee, but that's another book for another time.)

In the meantime, McCain has had to start over with a new staff every 2-3 months. Nobody trusts him and his own people don't like him -OR- Sarah Palin. The people on McCain's OWN campaign call him a nutcase and called her a moose-killing "diva."

The man Obama did not go to law school for nothing and he's been as cool as a cucumber in spite of all the attacks. Whoever paid for his law degree, it was obviously worth every dime.

He just smiles and keeps rolling because he knows he's above reproach and has nothing to hide. What he is "hiding" someone made up just like those people who threw tainted evidence in OJ's trial in California and ended up killing their own case just for trying to be sneaky about it.

If Obama was hiding something, like Sarah Palin did with those governmental Yahoo emails, no one would be able to find it so easily. Yet, his record is right out there for anyone who has internet access and a newspaper or even an old dialer radio to see. That's why he doesn't respond to the attacks unless he has no choice: His whole attitude is 'check the record for your damn self, I've got a campaign to run'.

Funny how people use christianity to manipulate people, then don't act like christians after they get what they want form the idiots who are being played. That's proof positive that America wasn't a christian nation from Day One. However, getting back to my point here:

Not once did Mr. Obama ask to see John-boy's birth certificate, though McCain wasn't even born on American soil, period. Obama has worked in America all of his adult life, and has always paid his taxes here as a citizen, as well. He had to have his birth certificate and social security card to get a driver's license and do anything and everything else he has done as a US citizen, but that wasn't enough for them. He passed their OWN system of checks and balances; then just because he did, they had the audacity to challenge the crap THEY invented. His integrity in attacking McCain on issues ONLY speaks volumes.

The fact that he never once attacked McCain's personal character or his integrity as a man and a citizen of the USA has sent a long and wide viable and visible message to the people who support him, as well as those who weren't supporting him before who have now bailed on McCain.

It says a lot about a man's character when he can stay focused and on point and on message, with a few minor adjustments here or there--because Obama is 'finally' starting to sound like a broken record--which means he is at the closing stages of his argument that not only can America get back on track and fix this Republican-made mess; but yes, we can get past our racial and ethnic and religious differences and be the One America that we should always have been from the start. It's a good thing he sounds like a broken record these days: It means he never lost sight and never lost track of his original goals and intentions. In two years, he never once allowed himself to be side-tracked by the BS. True textbook application of legal theory. Argue your case directly to the jury and to hell with the judges--in the end, the people, the jury of peers, are the ones who get to decide. If OJ WAS guilty, Obama is the man who could have put him behind bars for life.

McCain on the other hand, changes his message depending on who he is talking to and what mood they are in at the moment. Obama stays on message and on point no matter who's yelling "terrorist" and McCain shifts his message depending ON who's yelling "terrorist."

Now, let's see McCain and Palin keep themselves above reproach like that at least until Tuesday: (my guess is, they can't. They started a hailstorm of racist activity by not addressing it from Day One and they have to stay with it or risk some more troublesome news in the next two days).

From what I, Ye Olde American Citizen, have seen so far and for the past two years, the only way they were GOING to take Obama down was if they had managed to rattle enough skeleton bones, dunk enough Klan-type boogey men, slam enough Netherworld coffin lids, and roll out enough short-sheeted ghosts to scare the hell out of everybody. Apparently, they didn't have enough money to buy all of their costumes, props and equipment for the season because they were too busy spending it on Sarah Palin's clothes.

Halloween's over.
It's been real.

Time to move on and get down to the REAL business of electing a president.

Obama 08

Voting for Justice

Margie P. — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:08:28 EDT

Justice

That Justice is a blind goddess
Is a thing to which we black are wise:
Her bandage hides two festering sores
That once perhaps were eyes.

–Langston Hughes

Americans Must Rule the United States

MoorAmerican — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:58:13 EDT

In the midst of all calamities there are lessons to be learned. If those impacted most do not learn the lessons taught by calamities, they will suffer the most.

The economic collapse of 2008 is a calamity that could have been avoided. Investigations are on going to find out how. So, the question for the American people must be whom do you trust?

The body politic of our republic is comprised of 513,000 or more offices… There are three branches – executive, legislative, and judicial… There are three jurisdictions – federal, state, and local. The electorate is comprised of citizens who elect fellow citizens to be our trusted agents. They are elected to serve the public good. They take an oath – they swear to uphold the Constitution. It’s criminal if they break that oath or betray the trust of the republic.

After further examination of the May 3, 2008 interview of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia by the late Tim Russert, I realized that the Change We Need must be real change that’s revolutionary!

For this cause I advocate that Election Day be a national holiday… Have you looked at the long lines and really plan to spend a whole day to cast your vote?

There are more plausible arguments that reside with each citizen, but, I think it is important just to have a day set aside for the express purpose of voting. Choosing who it is that will be or not be the agents running American government is very serious business.

It is the responsibility of the American electorate to eradicate the rampant criminal corruption in our body politic. We the people must purge all 513,000 offices, by any means necessary… We must simply vote for the most trust worthy people, fellow citizens to be our government agents.

For starters they must be American. The candidates must conduct themselves respectfully on the field of battle. All deceptive, divisive, disruptive, distractions to a lively spirited debate over the major issues of the day should not be tolerated. Federal Election Commission should be authorized to remove candidates from the ballot in the most vulgar cases.

That’s a revolutionary change from what we have already experienced in the 2008 general election. It’s not over yet. What will the October surprise be?

How about making a wish list? What kind of body politic do you want to see? Congresswoman Bachmann thinks a penetrating investigation should be conducted to find out who is “un-American” or who subscribes to “anti-American” views. I agree.

Let’s find out how far reaching the criminal corruption goes in the 513,000 offices of the American body politic.

Let’s start with the Republican Party… Who are the War Criminals? Who violated Common Article 3 of the Third Geneva Convention? Who are the Republicans that attempted to aid and abet war criminals by Section 7 of the Military Commission Act of 2006?

The Republican congressional senate and house attempted to provide retroactive immunity to the Bush Administration and the infamous secret War Council against criminal indictment for violations of Common Article 3 of the Third Geneva Convention. Karl Rove & Company are directing the Republican candidates in the general election.

Which congressional members are accessory’s after the fact; aiding and abetting war criminals? What does the voting record of John McCain say about his judgment?

I think the press media should question McCain’s judgment – he voted for the MCA. I think he is in cahoots with war criminals – he went along with the Presidential Order on November 13, 2001. George Bush signed the Presidential order giving him the authority to both detain prisoners indefinitely and establish military commissions to try them. They tortured civilian British nationals and civilian nationals of our European allies.

Irrefutable evidence has already been made public – www.torturingdemocracy.org

McCain is one of 53 Republican Senators that is accessory after the fact; aiding and abetting war criminals of the Bush Administration.

Congresswoman Bachmann implicated Senator John McCain, the standard bearer of the GOP Republicans, and they pulled all support for her re-election campaign.

Bachmann is also implicating 218 Republicans in the House of Representatives that are possibly accessory’s after the fact; aiding and abetting war criminals of the Bush Administration.

The Not-See Republican Clue-Cluck-Clan of the Bush Administration must be removed from office on Election Day – November 4, 2008. They have TERRORIZED DEMOCRACY enough. We should all understand what Senator Barack Obama means by “fierce sense of urgency!”

I think term limits for the U.S. Congress should be explored. It’s become a net negative for anyone that has been in Washington, D.C. for more than one term any way… Frankly, the Change We Need is more transformational politicians like Obama to inspire more Americans to serve the government of the United States of America. Yes we can have real change that’s revolutionary and transformational!

Politics of Deception and Hypocrisy has become a "campaign of misinformation and rhetoric"

Richard Owl Mirror — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:50:14 EDT

Hello Folks, this morning I was listening to a local radio show, the Frank Beckmann on WJR NEWS AM 760

Two individuals were on air discussing the Michigan Proposal 1 which is about legalizing Medical Marijuana in our state.

Dianne Byrum is an advocate for the passage of Proposal 1 and Bill Schuette is opposed to passage of Proposal 1

The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (MCCC) is a grassroots organization devoted to passing Proposal 1, the medical marijuana initiative on the November 2008 ballot. Proposal 1 will protect seriously ill Michiganders suffering from illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis from the threat of arrest and jail for simply trying to alleviate their pain.

During the conversation, Bill Schuette made the age old claim that Marijuana use is a Gateway drug which leads to use of much harder drug use. Dianne Byrum, who has never smoked Marijuana asked Bill Schuette if he had ever smoked Marijuana. He responded YES, when he was in High School. He graduated in 1972 which places him in High School during 1968-1972, the height of the Youth movement in America.

She then commented that his previous use didn't appear to lead him to using hard drugs as he suggests with his argument that marijuana is a Gateway drug.

Bill Schuette became furious at the revealing of his obvious hypocrisy and said the conversation shouldn't be about him but, about what danger this Proposal 1 presents to the youth of Michigan.

We know that ridiculous claims have always been made by opponents of legalization of Marijuana. What bothers me is not that some people are opposed to this well-written Proposal but, that they can not conduct a discussion on the merits of their opposition. They feel they must spread falsehood and rumors in an effort to defeat this Proposal.

Before I continue, I would like to present the actual language which Michagan voters will be presented with. Please refer back to this as this conversation progresses.

STATE PROPOSAL - 08-1

A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL CONDITIONS:

The proposed law would:

Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health.

Permit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility.

Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana.

Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.

Should this proposal be adopted? YES □ NO □

~@~

Medical Marijuana In The News

When Dr. George Wagoner, a retired obstetrician/gynecologist from Manistee, saw the suffering his wife of 51 years was enduring from her battle with ovarian cancer last year, he turned to marijuana to ease her pain. "During her chemotherapy she experienced intense nausea, and conventional anti-nausea drugs didn't help much. One drug cost $46.20 a pill and didn't help," said Dr. Wagoner. "Another made her hallucinate, so she refused to take it. Basically, pharmaceutical drugs were ineffective and the marijuana -- just a very small dose -- was most effective."
Dr. Wagoner and his wife are among many who have taken the path of using marijuana for medical purposes. However, in Michigan, they are breaking the law. On November 4, Ballot Proposal 1 will give Michigan voters the opportunity to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Currently, 12 other states have laws allowing the use of medical marijuana.

The above article goes on to describe the issues being brought up by the opposition.

One of the criticisms launched by those that oppose the legalization of medical marijuana is that it is simply just a step in the process for the outright legalization of marijuana.
Those in opposition also point to a pharmaceutical drug, Marinol, that accomplishes the same result. They point to the fact that Marinol is prescribed in doses, whereas smoking marijuana is not a controlled dose.

The Citizens Protecting Michigan's Kids point to their concerns if the proposal passes:

Allow use of marijuana without a doctor's prescription.
Allow a person arrested on any marijuana offense to use a "medical marijuana" defense in court.
Allow a flood of lawsuits over things such as whether doctors and hospitals must allow patients to smoke marijuana in a doctor's office or hospital room, despite every other law banning smoking.
Allow the opening of pot shops and smoking clubs in neighborhood strip malls, like has happened in California under a similar proposal.

Again, I ask you to refer to the Legislation above and compare it's language to the outragious claims being promoted by the opposition.

"I am not sure they have read the legislation, but everything they are suggesting has been addressed and they are taking half truths to scare the public,"

The use of medical marijuana under the proposed legislation would be only allowed for certain medical conditions and patients would have to receive authorization from their doctor to grow and smoke marijuana for their condition. The conditions covered, as well as some of the concerns from the opposition, are detailed in the legislation including the stiff penalties for violating marijuana laws.

Will pot be OK in workplace? ~ Foes say Prop 1 may allow use

LANSING - Newly organized opponents to Michigan's medical marijuana ballot proposal are raising red flags about the proposal, citing negative workplace implications if the measure passes.
A memo issued last week says the proposed law permits marijuana use in the workplace and warns of potential consequences such as increased employer liability and the inability to discipline employees who use marijuana in accordance with the act's medical treatment purposes.
But backers of Proposal 1 say the law clearly states that it does not require an employer to accommodate the ingestion of marijuana in the workplace or to accommodate any employee who is working under the influence of the drug.
"We don't believe it has any workplace impact," said Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care and partner at Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications in East Lansing.

PAID FOR WITH REGULATED FUNDS BY CITIZENS PROTECTING MICHIGAN'S KIDS

Police chief critical of marijuana measure

Howell Police Chief George Basar, president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said Proposal 1 would make it easy for people to grow and use marijuana, and the lack of regulations would lead to more people, including children, using the drug.
He said the message is, "If you feel bad, let's sit around and smoke marijuana and get high."
Basar said there are associations of doctors, law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys opposed to this ballot issue.
He also said this measure is really aimed at a more sweeping change.
"This is the nose under the tent to the general legalization of marijuana," Basar said.
Supporters of the measure said that's not true.
Former state lawmaker Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, said a community-based effort pushed for the statewide referendum to provide an option for patients who are experiencing pain due to disease or illness.
She said legalization is not the goal. She said other states have approved similar measures allowing for medical use of marijuana, and those states have not legalized marijuana.
Byrum said she met with numerous law enforcement officials this year to explain the ballot question, and she said many called the proposal "well-written." She said these officials knew about the issue for seven months and questioned why they would suddenly organize a "campaign of misinformation and rhetoric" to oppose the proposal.

Pot bill would bring chaos to Michigan
California shows why medical marijuana is dangerous
By Bill Schuette and Daniel Michael • October 10, 2008

A decade ago, voters in California approved a proposal to legalize marijuana smoking for so-called "medical" purposes. Today, even the proposal's most vocal supporters admit the California law has resulted in "chaos," "pot dealers in storefronts" and millions of dollars being dumped "into the criminal black market."
Proposal 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot in Michigan is just like the California law. While its stated intent, to help people in serious pain, is well meaning, Proposal 1's vague language, careless loopholes and dangerous consequences place Michigan communities and kids at risk. Michigan voters should reject it.
For doctors and hospitals, those on the front lines of medical care, Proposal 1 is "bad medicine." For one thing, Proposal 1 doesn't require a prescription.
Judge Bill Schuette is a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Dr. Daniel Michael is a Detroit neurosurgeon and speaker of the Michigan State Medical Society's House of Delegates.

OK, I realize it's a lot of reading but, I hope you have taken the time to review all the misinformation and rhetoric, deception and hypocrisy being perpetrated by those opposed to passage of Proposal 1.

Now, my simply presenting this information might be useful to a few readers of this article but, my hope is that you will take the information presented here and spread it around to others who care about this issue. We must combat this effort, each one of us so that their lies do not take root and serve to defeat this noble and compassionate legislation. Please send this article to anyone and everyone you know who can have an impact upon getting the word out on these tactics.

If you need truthful and honest information regarding this Proposal, please visit http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/

Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Lansing State Journal, Battle Creek Enquirer, Jackson City Patriot, and Detroit Metro Times Endorse Proposal 1

This is an issue of simple compassion and common sense, and is overwhelmingly supported by residents across the state - 67%, according to a September 2008 poll. And in each of five citywide medical marijuana votes - in Flint in 2007, Traverse City and Ferndale in 2005, and Ann Arbor and Detroit in 2004 - medical marijuana won in a landslide. To get involved today, please visit our Take Action page

Most importantly, please vote Yes on Proposal 1 on November 4, and encourage everyone you know to do the same!

~@~

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a patient who will benefit from passage of Proposal 1. Yesterday I had to go to the Social Security office and take a number. I spent over 5 hours at the office and I had to make the decision not to take the synthetic morphine because I had to drive myself. That meant I spent over 8 hours in pain because I have no alternative. See I can't handle doing much of anything when I'm drugged up on the pain medication I'm given. When I do take the pain medication I'm given, the most I can do is sit in a chair and nod out off and on throughout the day. If I want to go grocery shopping, I have to skip taking my medication because I wouldn't be able to walk around the store.

Medical marijuana is not a miracle drug that is going to solve all our problems and, of course there are other drugs which patients will need to take but, mandating patients to taking only those drugs that are profitable to the Pharmacuticle Industry and the stock portfolio the doctors profit from isn't the answer.

This legislation is well-written and would allow me or, if needed, a caregiver I legally designate to grow my own Marijuana for my personal use. That means I won't be giving criminal enterprises money.

Please read the Legislation and do all you can to get the word out to vote YES on Proposal 1.

http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/files/sap/L300-MILit-FINAL.pdf

http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/videos

Out of the ashes - America rising

Carolyn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:26:38 EDT

I will be the first to confess that I was never much for memorizing names and dates. Those requirements were what made me dislike history classes. I am more of a historian in taking in, absorbing, what happened, what was the cause, what were the effects.

I start out this way so those of you who do have the facts can correct me if I am mistaken, after all, that is what blogs are all about - communications and discussions about opinions, perceptions, facts, events and such. Open, civil discussion and debate enlightens all involved.

This country began a bit of a downward turn, morally, ethically, many years before the attack on 9-11. That attack did many things. The one thing it did for me was shock me into realizing how some people, radical as they are, perceive the capitalistic culture of America to be an evil thing.

I have grown up under this culture, so to me capitalism just seemed like opportunity for anyone who cared to pursue it. I can no longer say that is true. After discovering how naive we have all been, not seeing the blatant greed that was driving the top echelon of so many huge companies. The first I noticed was the greed that reared it's ugly head with Enron. But, then kept on, with one company after another.

I had only slightly perceived there was something not right that seemed to be going on, the

Voting Fraud--Who's Mocking Whom?

AndyA — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:10:12 EDT

Recent incidents in Alabama and elsewhere alleging 'fixing' of voting machines to register the Republican candidate, even when the lever for the Democratic candidate is pulled, should not be tolerated in these United States of America. We all should be shocked that this could happen in our country! There should be an Independent Prosecutor appointed by the Justice Department with full investigative and prosecutoral powers to find the miscreants and their bosses and bring them to justice.

In national elections in foreign countries the US sends a delegation to oversee the voting to ensure fairness and equity in the election process. With our situation, the world is mocking us and charging us with hypocricy and worse. We are becoming a laughing stock to others who used to look to us for leadership in such matters. Our good image in the world has truly deteriorated lately.

The other mocking that is going on is the 'scape-goating' of illegal voter registrations uncovered by ACORN, a non-profit organization, perpetrated by hired voter registering people. When the obviously illegal names were discovered by ACORN, they correctly brought it to the attention of authorities. These incidents were never cases of voter fraud because these illegal voter names were never registered, and those people could never have voted.

Besides the immediate fix that is needed regarding the voting machines, a glaring long term problem remains. The election process, including the voting machines and the activities at the polling places, should be managed by a coalition of non-profit, non-partisan organizations (like the League of Women Voters). There should always be the opportunity for poll watching by interested parties, as long as they do not interfere with the orderly flow of voters doing their civic duty. Only after such even handed processes are assured here at home, can we then look to improve the elections in other countries.

Attention: Time for action! "Obama" and "Michelle" HELP!

catarina2k2009 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:33:40 EDT

Hi! Mr."President"

This blog i'm writing is a matter of life and death, mines or my sons life can be saved if someone take the matter serious. Back in 2002,when my son was sixteen, he was out there like the rest of his generation stealing cars.

But was caught, his father had just became a sherriff, we both was notified of this crime.

His father and I went directly too the police department in which he was being held, officers spoke with us and stated, your son doesn't seem like the type of child who would steal a car.

Officials, his father and I talked with our son, his reply was, all he wanted was his mother and father together, that's why he took too triing too steal a car. It may be a little truth in what our son said but, also I believe it was from a lot of bad influence from people of his generation.

So that matter was handled by his father and the "Police" department.

Concerning what went on with the other safety issues my son and I start having from 2005 up until now , I believe from one of the issues when my son got locked up from visiting a School mate of his by the name of Shawn whom lived at the time two doors down from us 55 14th Avenue before going too work, in which he had just got employed at "I HOP", located on Bergen Sreet not too far from where he resided 51 14Th Avenue. That day May 1, 2006, Newark Police officers did an illegal drug bust ,puting my son and his two friends in jail, at the time his friend wife or babies mother was also present upon drug bust but her they did not lock up.

My son, Robert A. Swepson did a year in jail for nothing, his public defender: Johnathan Kessous, handled his case and proved him innocent June 26, 2007 of last year.

I have all documents too prove my sons case, even his first pay stub in which he would of been recieving that day. After recieving a certified letter from the courts stating my sons 'civil" rights was violated, nothing was ever done about it. Not that we didn't try but, was kept from doing so, by officials. Police officers whom did this terrible thing against my son Robert, was pursuing him and my self for all that had gone wrong on their part. Arresting him on phony charges including the real one he had commit in 2002 at the age sixteen. He is also being made too pay bail money out and threaten too be put back in jail if he don't. We both are under the protection program, so if any thing should happen this will be a lead too follow up on. While i'm at it, I mightest well tell of the recent inccident. Oct 7th 2008. I call my self taking in a friend of my sons in my home off of the streets, she became very violent, calling me out my name and causing injury too my thighs, arms, and back, theres a case number for that as well exsplaining the circumstances, involving, police officers again.

So like I said where is our "Justice"

We need your help "President 'Obama"

Here are some case numbers concerning each matter, along with a phone number:

phone number: 1-973-733-4311

case #4418,4677,4465,4541 These are all case numbers and is being looked into hopefully.

In the mean time i'm working with Mr. Livingston once again! whom is witness too one of the safety issue that occured by officers, last year, April 18Th 2007. "Police Misconduct"

The Presumption of Ignorance

Brian Normoyle — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:34:49 EDT

Brian 1:2 So spake the Fool in prayer before the angry masses on that 11th Day of October 2008, the year of our Lord: "there are millions of people around this world praying to their god—whether it's Hindu, Buddha, Allah—that [Barack Obama] wins, for a variety of reasons. And Lord, I pray that you will guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their God is bigger than you if that happens."

Brian 1:3 And lo, the huddled mob—rabid with loathing and stricken, like others before them, with a fear of change and leaders of color—praised the Fool with applause. And both were pleased in their ignorance.

The fool in question of course is Arnold Conrad, former pastor of Grace Evangelical Free Church, pleading with God at a John McCain rally in Iowa. However, unlike the shrewd fools in literature from Socrates to Shakespeare, this one is anything but wise.

For the sake of argument, let's ignore the fact he's a pastor and alleged scholar of religion and give the Fool the benefit of the doubt. After all, an imbecile can't reasonably be expected to know that Hindu is not a god (or even a proper noun for that matter), Buddha isn't a deity either, and neither are prayed to by anyone. Anywhere.

And of course, while any average idiot—except this one apparently—knows Allah is the same God prayed to and worshiped by Christians and Jews, we needn't require Pastor Arnie to understand these or other religions and cultures. Why? Because, despite his Doctor of Ministry degree, that brand of cultural sensitivity and theological understanding is anathema to a myopic and intellectually incurious fundamentalist.

The pomposity of this self-righteous dolt notwithstanding, I'm always amazed by proselytizers who pray, prattle and pontificate with the arrogant assumption they know who God is rooting for—as if God has a stake or interest in a particular candidate.

Prayers like Pastor Arnie's are futile of course and as patently absurd as asking the almighty to intervene in the Superbowl. But the obvious silliness doesn't stop so many evangelicals from so frequently contending Republicans are the party of God and John McCain (R-Nazareth) is Christ's personally vetted nominee for President. Their presumption is as comical as their worldview is provincial.

My personal hunch is that God doesn't much care about American electoral politics but, if s/he does, I doubt s/he'd be categorically opposed to a Democrat. Barack Obama is a Christian. He was "saved," he was baptized, and he was a regular congregant in a Church of Christ for over 20 years.

Besides—from the right to universal health care, nondiscrimination, and racial/gender equality to the eradication of poverty, earning of a living wage, dealing with AIDS and tax relief for those who actually need it—Democrats and their standard-bearers have traditionally favored policies uniquely more suited for and geared towards the middle and working classes and the poor/disenfranchised. In other words, Obama's policies tend to support the very people that the foolish pastor's God named "the Salt of the Earth" in the best-selling book s/he "authored" thousands of years ago.

Christ didn't say much in favor of the free market, unprovoked war, assault weapons for "hunting," or tax-cuts for the rich and he was completely silent on those "cardinal sins" of abortion and gay marriage. But he did have an abundance of opinions about equality, justice, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness and love, as well as leaving judgment of others to God and taking care of our neediest brothers and sisters.

So frankly, Pastor Arnie, I still don't think God is rooting for either candidate, but if s/he is, given their agreement on the issues, my money's on Obama. I'll give you 5:1 odds on your money for McCain, but I'd call that a Fool's Bet.

Matthew 25:40 "And the King answering shall say to them, 'Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.'"

The speech I wish Barack would make

ProgToddinOregon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:20:58 EDT

[read the following with Barack's voice and cadence in your head]

While you were listening to the speeches at this summer’s Democratic Convention couldn’t you feel that sense of relief in the air that Republican control over Washington was finally coming to an end? Did you like me get a tangible glimpse of what our future looks like when partisan agendas no longer limit us? Did you like me imagine a government that is finally allowed to pursue things like acquiring living stem cells, currently thrown away by the tens of thousands as bio waste during the in-vitro fertilization process, and instead using them to discover new ways to treat Alzheimer's, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal chord injuries? Aren’t we here to help people?

As Democrats we embrace science. The Republicans under the Bush regime have avoided and even refuted science when the results impinge on the profits of their corporate donors. To Bush global warming didn’t exist because it would cost his friends in big oil profits. Just how much would that change under a McCain/Palin regime? These are the kinds of questions you have to ask yourself this November.

In the areas of government regulation of industries, President Bush has put a fox in every hen house. The EPA and other agencies crucial to the health of individual Americans have had as their primary goal to insure the highest possible profits for Republican corporate allies, while the needs and rights of American citizens are barely a priority at all. Bush even has a mining lobbyist in charge of regulating mine safety with predictable results: more die but profits stay high. Just how much would this change under a McCain/Palin administration when McCain surrounds himself with Washington’s biggest lobbyists who have paid allegiances to big oil, pharmaceutical companies, no-bid war contractor Halliburton, and foreign nations such as Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Georgia?

As always with the Republicans, you must ask yourself “Just who are they looking out for, big business or me?” And in every one of their actions, votes, filibusters and vetoes, the answer is constantly the former, not the latter.

Ending that twisted priority is the kind of change that we’ve been talking about. America has to put the needs of individual Americans first again. I’m not saying that all corporations are bad. What I’m saying is that in our new America corporations will thrive the old fashioned way, being innovative, being good to their employees and host communities, reaping the rewards of producing the best products and services while creating the goodwill that their recognized integrity deserves. In the Republican world, corporations thrive by turning millions in lobbying money into billions in additional profits, gaming the system to their advantage, and through deregulation creating monopolies that squash healthy competition. Which of those two models do you think will benefit your wallet, your community, and your country more? An Obama/Biden administration would try to bring back the former, while a McCain/Palin regime would fight for the latter, where corporations write their own rules, squeeze out the Mom and Pop stores on Main Street, and reduce America’s options for its future.

America in the hands of Bush and Cheney has consciously allowed our government to languish, preferring profits for their corporate friends and cronyism over efficiency and service to its people. Why would George Bush put a completely inexperienced man in charge of FEMA? Because above all he could count on Brownie’s loyalty. That choice was not made in consideration of the best interests of Americans in crisis.

These are the ways Republicans have created and maintained power and provided evidence that they hope will persuade Americans that our government can’t really help us. Maybe their government can’t. But ours will. In the next four years you’ll see the benefits through an Obama/Biden administration of a government that again puts the needs of individual Americans as its top priority. You’ll see a judicial branch that seeks to end corruption and restore oversight to every part of government from the national stage on down to your own communities. You’ll see the notion of fairness return.

Republicans have been great on talk but have always eluded having to back that up with actions. With their influence in the media, Republicans have always been able to get away with murder because they’ve been able to suppress the kind of journalism that would unearth the truth in their motives. I’m pretty sure I won’t be so lucky. I’m just going to have to come through for you. I’m just going to have to make your lives better, our country stronger, restore the trust of our allies, and provide an economic environment where integrity and innovation triumph over corruption and self-interest. My colleague Hillary Clinton once said that it takes a village. The path that Democrats long to take you on leads to that village, where the water is cleaner, the skies bluer, and opportunity is not for the few but the many.

You must ask yourself, does the path that Republicans seek to lead you down look as bright? Or does this path lead right into their pockets? Those that have influenced George W. Bush throughout the last eight years will be the same ones that influence John McCain and Sarah Palin. How can that possibly result in change?

The relief we all got a taste of at the convention will soon be at hand. Think what a victory it will be for individual Americans when Democrats control the White House and Congress, the future of our Supreme Court, and all the regulatory agencies that keep us safe, keep our economy down a steady path, and mandate integrity in corporations. On November 5th, the nightmare of continuing Republican control will be over, and through the strengths of Democratic goals our new America will slowly emerge. It’s not going to be easy. It’s not going to be pretty. The wealthy few, the benefactors of the old ways, will fight to cling to their intrenched advantages. But our new America will no longer fall prey to the voices of the very few. Our new America will hold as its ideal the success of the many, and in time even those that have benefited most from Bush’s corporatist allegiance will realize that they can still turn a healthy profit and benefit from a new stability that unregulated capitalism could never enjoy.

Top to bottom. Left wing and right wing. All of us will prosper, although for Bush’s chosen few not to the extent they’ve enjoyed recently. Playing fair, playing by the rules, doesn’t allow for greed to be paid off so astronomically while the rest of us are held down, bound by the limited opportunities that monopolies insure. But in our America the rising tide will indeed lift all boats, not just the ones that Bush has positioned in water spouts. With the end of the Bush/Cheney era, and the control from the far right corporate wing of the Republican party, prosperity will be found in so many more faces.

Relief. It arrives November 5th. The hard work starts January 20th. But from the first days of my administration, you’ll find that the goals and dreams I’ve talked about will be brought to life, not buried forever, their political usefulness achieved once the votes have been counted.

Results. You’ll see them next year. My words will not be proven hollow, as has been the case with the administration that will have preceded mine.

Resurrection. With new incentives and proper regulation the foundation of our economy will be restored. No more will corporations receive tax breaks for sending American jobs overseas. No longer will corporations be able to dodge paying their share of American taxes by putting a mailbox in the Cayman Islands. The partisan cronyism of the past years will be gone forever, and a new standard for those working within government will be established. Our government will again see its primary goal as to serve its people, not enrich the ruling party’s friends. Our roads, our bridges, our schools will again be a priority, and your tax dollars will be focused there instead of on maintaining a perpetual occupation in Iraq. Don’t get me wrong. Ending a significant presence in Iraq doesn’t mean giving up on the war against religious extremists whose only goal is power through terrorism. But under Bush we have not fought smart. We need to go after Al Qaida where their influence is strongest, fighting them directly in Afghanistan and indirectly through our ally Pakistan. And part of fighting smart is ending the privatization rampant in Bush’s model of our fighting forces. No longer will companies make a profit providing our soldiers with food and water. No longer will the promise of profit be part of deciding where our soldiers go, what bases need to be built, and how our wars are fought. Without these payments to war profits, we can spend less than half of what we are now and with redirected efficiency achieve far more against our enemies in Afghanistan than we could ever hope to in Iraq. Remember, even though Bush has labeled our enemies in Iraq as insurgents, our own military lists the number of foreigners fighting against us on Iraqi soil as consistently under three thousand. Foreign insurgents? They are hardly a factor in a Sunni/Shiia civil war where we have armed and trained both sides.

But even in this quagmire, shifting strategies could make a difference. Right now Bush is fighting our war against terrorism like a quarterback who keeps on calling the same play: halfback over right guard. Sure, slow progress can be made if we’re strong enough. But why not play smart, throw some passes, adjust the approach? And bear in mind that in this model that right guard is paying Bush’s friends hundreds of billions to make sure the same play is always called. I guess he wants to be on camera.

What if American forces were to put as their top priority to secure Iraq’s power grid and water supply? What if Iraqi citizens were to see the tangible result in their daily lives of clean water and electricity available to them around the clock for the first time since the war began almost five and a half years ago? Wouldn’t that make them finally feel a benefit to our presence, give them confidence again in the notion that we do indeed want to see a better future for them? And wouldn’t a return to normal life be the first step in their taking over, standing up while we stand down? So many Iraqi people have decided to fight beside us in their own country. Isn’t it time that they saw the benefit of that alliance? That’s what fighting smart should deliver.

But overseas and within our own shores, George Bush doesn’t mind squandering our strength. In the way we fight our wars, the way we run our government, the way we safeguard our people, profit always trumps efficiency, even logic. But those days are about to end.

America will be better because the way America works will be better. And by being inclusive rather than exclusive, more Americans will have a slice of the pie. More Americans will have a say in the direction our economy and society take, so our future will more reflect our diversity. This is the future I can promise you. Can McCain and Palin claim the same? What about their pasts would indicate that?

And part of returning America to her former glory means insuring that her foundation, the US Constitution, retains all the power, freedom, fairness, and balance that our founders put into it. They had the wisdom to know that a country of laws and not men was the only insurance against tyranny. But where is that insurance now, when President Bush openly spies on his own citizens, with a history of defying the FISA law statutes? Where is that insurance now when in the wake of anthrax attacks, Bush pressures Congress into the Patriot Act where anyone can be detained as an “enemy combatant” without charge or due process? Where is that balance now when Bush’s own Attorney Generals refuse to enforce Contempt of Congress citations for members of the presidential staff? Democrats like Representative Henry Waxman and Senator John Conyers have led hearings to unearth the web of corruption spread throughout Bush’s White House. Bush and Cheney have put up road blocks every step of the way. They have failed to comply with requests for documents, even destroyed emails that by law must be preserved. This is why Republicans are trying every trick they can to preserve their power, to prevent their can of worms from being exposed to history. Do you expect that John McCain will be willing to open that can or just bury it?

I’ll open it. America deserves to see it opened. The deeds, deceptions, manipulations, and board room promises of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney need to be exposed if we are to keep calling ourselves America. Without justice, without truth, without pinning down the abuses of power, America will be less than she once was, and all the world will know it. And our new America will not stand for that. We will not stand for the very few to manipulate the fortunes, freedoms, and livelihoods of so many. We will not let these chosen few choke our American dream. Without a level playing field, prosperity cannot be universal. And a level playing field is the enemy of Republican power.

While I can truly provide change, McCain and Palin cry out that they can as well. The only thing they are trying to alter, though, is the responsibility for what eight years of Republican crony capitalism, corruption, and neglect have done to our country. Can we let them? NO WE CAN’T.

Can we replace Republican corporatist dreams for America’s future with our own? YES WE CAN. Can we resurrect the promise of America given to us by our founders, where integrity trumps greed? YES WE CAN. Can we return America to a nation that seeks peace rather than seeks out war? YES WE CAN. You see it in the eyes around you. You feel it in your heart. Yes we can. Yes we can. Yes we can.

"Civil Rights", and " Police Misconduct" in Newark N.J.

catarina2k2009 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:51:32 EDT

Hi! My real name is Francine Sanderson

I live 51 14Th Avenue Newark N.J. 07103

New Community Corp. Last year, Feb, 2007. I was sexually assulted by a maintenance man his name is Eon. I was injuried by a "White" or "Hispanic" officer him and other officials keep grabbing on me pushing me around in my bed room snatching my phone cord out the wall shoving a ambalance paper in my face too sign while all this was going on a Mr. Livingston from Al Sharpton network was on the phone asking me, why was cops in my house, get them out! you no you can't trust them. First of all a Mrs. Carpenter from 1 Lincoln Avenue sent officers out too make a sexual assult report which they did not do. My son civil rights was violated, we both were threaten and harass by police and drug dealers, My son was beaten up by 8 or 9 blood members.

All I'm asking is for a chance too be heard and show proof, but by this one noing another person in high authorities, I'm being prevented from doing so. "Obama" and "Michelle" I need your help! my son is locked up again by cops on phony charges. Please don't turn us away either. Help bring "Justice"

My story must be told, I even went too abc 7 on your side, I was told my story wasn't iimportant enough too air and that since it was owned by them they get too chose what news too air.

Iwas told by one female detective Barbara Gilbert, all I needed was a man and drop the matter. It's been a year going on two and no "Justice"!

I'm writing all whom I seek help and was made fun of yelled at, and turned away.

Internal Affairs Det Webber whom took the report: 1-973-733-6171

Dana Rone, Council woman at the time for my district

Attorney General: 1-202-353-1555

Investigation unit:1-877-695-8477

FBI: 1 973 792-3000

Corey Booker: 1 973 733-6400

Ronald Rice: 1 973-371-5665

Senator: 1-609-292-4840

CCRBI: 1 212-442-8833

Lautenberg: 1 202-224-3224

Naacp Gorden Sunkett: Home phone 1 856-513-0681, cell 1-856-340-5255

Star Ledger Bruno Tedeschi: 1 973-392-1727

Governer John Corozine: 1 609-292-6000

Civil Rights in New York: 1-212-306-5070, 1-212-306-7450

Charles Mayor Corey Bookers Handy man located on South Orange Avenue: 1-973-733-6280

Detectives Anthony Roberts Jr. and Det. Barbara Gilbert: 1-973-733-6280

Al Sharpton Network in New York: 1-212-690-3070.

Steve Young: 1-856-513-0647

Is the G.O.P. Illegally Purging Voter Registration Rolls?

RB — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:40:25 EDT

Looks like the G.O.P. is really trying to play dirty in order to win this election. Word is they are now subtlety encouraging some States to illegally purge Voter Registration Polls. In addition they are attempting to violate the LEGAL Voting Rights of many citizens who are ready to help bring about C-H-A-N-G-E in this nation. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, Section Two defines how Election Boards are required to be conducted: Section 2 of the Act, is a nationwide prohibition against voting practices and procedures, including redistricting plans and at-large election systems, poll worker hiring, and voter registration procedures, that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group. It prohibits not only election-related practices and procedures that are intended to be racially discriminatory, but also those that are shown to have a racially discriminatory impact. The Attorney General, as well as affected private citizens, may bring lawsuits under Section 2 to obtain court-ordered remedies for violations of Section 2. However State of Board of Elections employees in certain States are simply REFUSING to comply with Federal Laws that establish the Voter Eligibility rules and which limit the circumstances in which a Voter's Registration can be cancelled. Questionable Voting Rights practices in Ohio, Nevada, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, Virginia, Georgia, Texas and perhaps South Carolina could possibly try to sway results in the G.O.P.'s favor by intentionally disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of Voters thus affecting Ballot results. How? For example: 1) Cancelling the Registrations of Felons whose rights have been restored. Convicted Felons who have served their time, are NOT on Probation and have paid all of their Restitution or Fines are Legally Eligible to Vote in a U.S. General Election. 2) Cancelling the Registrations of people who have lost their homes to Foreclosure. (The Obama campaign recently filed a lawsuit against within the Michigan Federal court system to challenge the G.O.P. from purging Voter Registrations of citizens who have lost their homes to Foreclosure.) (The McCain campaign pulled out of Michigan last week.) 3) Deciding to use the U.S. Mail as a method for Voters to verify their Registration Status, thus when forms or letters are returned unopened or with no response, those citizens will NOT be allowed to Vote on Nov. 4Th. 4) Trying to nullify the ballots of Deployed Soldiers. 5) Attempting to also nullify or disqualify the Registrations of College Students due to them being claimed as Dependents on their Parents Income Tax Forms. 6) Denying citizens the rights to cast their ballots if they can't meet certain Voter I.D. criteria. NOTE: The U.S. Supreme Court has since ruled to uphold the Voter I.D. Law. In essence the State Board of Elections in some of those states may try to use any little challenge as a means of cancelling Votes intended for the Democratic Party. How can this be avoided? a) If you as a citizen feel as though or believe your Voting Rights are being violated in any way and your State Board of Elections refuses to assist you, feel free to contact the U.S. Dept. of Justice division, Civil Rights Division. b) If you as a citizen and a Registered Voter believe feel that you are being FORCED to vote for a certain Candidate such as being told to cast your ballot for Incumbent Politicians or Candidates of a certain Ethic group, in exchange for Jobs, Money, etc., or if your being intimidated into voting for certain Candidates contact your State Board of Elections. If they refuse to assist you contact the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Civil Rights Division. c) If you are a Convicted Felon who has fulfilled your sentence, are NOT on Probation, owe no Fines but your being told you CAN'T Vote, contact your State Board of Elections. If they refuse to assist you contact the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Civil Rights Division. d) If you are a citizen who has lost their home due to Foreclosure and are being told you CAN'T Vote, contact your State Board of Elections. If they refuse to assist you contact the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Civil Rights Division. According to the Federal Voting Standards and Procedures Act ALL states are required to streamline Registration, Voting and other Election Procedures. In layman's terms: ALL states and provinces within the U.S. MUST practice or enforce the SAME Voting Policies to avoid illegally swaying votes for a particular Political party. This Election is one of the most important events in United States History. Please don't allow anyone or anything to deter you from being able to exercise your LEGAL right to cast your ballot for YOUR Political Candidate of choice. Register and take action because EVERY VOTE COUNTS! Peace Chief, Voting Section Civil Rights Division Room 7254 - NWB Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20530 Chief, Voting Section Civil Rights Division Room 7254 - NWB Department of Justice 1800 G St., N.W. Washington, DC 20006 You may call the Voting Section toll-free at (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.

Sources: Huffington Post, NY Times, Progessive Politics, Politico, FederalElectionReform.com, USDOJ, cnewmark.com, Southernstudies.org, Cornell Law School, thestate.com, VoteMeCool

E-Verify program @ the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security and it's effects on immigrants and refugees

Richard Owl Mirror — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:35:09 EDT

~@~ National Security Debate ~@~

There are many facets which make up National Security and Immigration, I would like to focus on the E-Verify program @ the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security and it's effects on immigrants and refugees.

E-Verify (formerly the Basic Pilot/Employment Eligibility Verification Program) is an online system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Participating employers can check the work status of new hires online by comparing information from an employee's I-9 form against SSA and Department of Homeland Security databases. More than 69,000 employers are enrolled in the program, with over 4 million queries run so far in fiscal year 2008.

E-Verify is free and voluntary, and is the best means available for determining employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

~@~

Employment Eligibility Verification and Antidiscrimination Protections

NILC Advocacy and Services
Since 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has been dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of low income immigrants and their family members. In the past 20 years, NILC has earned a national reputation as a leading expert on immigration, public benefits, and employment laws affecting immigrants and refugees. Our extensive knowledge of the complex interplay between immigrants' legal status and their rights under U.S. laws is an essential resource for legal aid programs, community groups, and social service agencies across the country.

WHAT WE DO
Policy Analysis & Advocacy.
Impact Litigation.
Building Coalitions & Capacity.
Technical Assistance.
Trainings and Conferences.
Publications.

NILC's Website.
Our website contains NILC memos and analyses, articles from our newsletters indexed by topic, community education materials, and links to key organizational and government web sites.

http://www.nilc.org/immsemplymnt/ircaempverif/

~@~

http://www.cato.org/videohighlights/index.php?highlight_id=84

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10X7BO6uvPo
Fact-checking Glenn Beck

~@~

Immigration of individual human-beings across imaginary borders has occurred throughout mankind's existence. Hunters and Gatherers crosses into competitors fields and farms. Industrious human-beings create commerce opportunities, which in turn demands the employ of a workforce. I believe my description is an example of a basic human right.

This function within any society should not be impeded yet, it must be managed due to National Security concerns. It is obvious that the one requirement necessary to manage such a function is the ability to identify all individuals who are within our National borders. With the advent of technology, this task has become easier. The core problem with implementing such a program so it functions efficiently is cooperation by all parties.

I do not believe the millions of people who cross over our border, under extremely dangerous conditions are all criminals. It's simply the method of least resistance due to the rules for application of entry to our country is impossible for most to comply.

I have advocated that using technology such as an Identification card which can be produced as easily as we obtain our drivers licenses, preferably one-day service which would be valid for a 6-month employment stay could relieve this problem.

This identification card could also be used as the holders Employment ID card at their place of employment. As easily as an ATM card, the user slides it when they are clocking in and again when clocking out at the end of the day. This way, the government can verify constant employment and be alerted if the individual is not complying with the agreement for obtaining the entry card.

Most immigrants come to America to work as seasonal workers, therefore I believe a 6 month time-frame would be an agreement those seeking entry would voluntarily comply with. Cooperation is the key to success.

I believe granting honest, hard-working people the opportunity to purchase this entry card for $183 plus a background check, would relieve much of the problem of illegal immigration. Employers would be more able to be in 100% compliance with the Immigration laws because they need only opt-in to using the Immigration Time Clock system. Naturally there would be penalties for non-compliance yet, I believe companies would welcome such a solution as a safeguard against improperly being accused for hiring illegal workers. Perhaps we could also collect $1.00 for every hour worked by a migrant worker rather than them paying into Social Security. This money could be designated towards a specified program or budgetary need.

~@~

What have the candidates said about resolving the National Security implications of Immigration ?

http://www.barackobama.com/ vs. http://www.johnmccain.com

Let's be clear: John McCain is offering nothing of substance

Richard Owl Mirror — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:16:15 EDT

Senator Obama will strive to provide tax cuts for the middle class, affordable health care, and a new energy economy that creates millions of jobs. He will seek to end the war in Iraq responsibly, focus on defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban, and restore America's standing in the world.

Senator John McCain offered no solutions for the challenges Americans are facing in their daily lives. Nothing but more of the same failed Bush policies at home and abroad that he has supported more than 90% of the time in the Senate.

An example of how failed a Leadership role John McCain would bring to the Presidency is Obama's assertion that McCain "said the other day that he would not meet potentially with the prime minister of Spain, because he -- you know, he wasn't sure whether they were aligned with us," a reference to McCain's repeated refusal -- during an interview with Radio Caracol WSUA 1260 AM in Miami -- to say that as president, he would refuse to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. As evidence of the truth for this claim, McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann reportedly wrote that "there is no doubt Senator McCain knew exactly to whom the question referred" and that McCain in fact "refused to commit to a White House meeting with President Zapatero in this interview." Indeed, during the debate, McCain did not assert that he "misspoke" during the Radio Caracol interview, but rather responded to Obama by saying, "I'm not going to set the White House visitors schedule before I'm president of the United States."

Questions exist, whether McCain forgot which country Zapatero leads, got confused about Spain's geographic relationship to Latin America, or confused Zapatero with the Zapatista rebels from Mexico. In either instance, this incident reveals a danger of possible confrontation could explode due to his complete lack of understanding World Leaders and events.

During the debate Obama said, "Senator McCain mentioned Henry Kissinger, who's one of his advisers, who, along with five recent secretaries of state, just said that we should meet with Iran -- guess what -- without precondition. This is one of your own advisers," and, "When we talk about preconditions -- and Henry Kissinger did say we should have contacts without preconditions -- the idea is that we do not expect to solve every problem before we initiate talks." During the debate, McCain repeatedly purported to correct Obama by saying Kissinger would not support presidential-level talks with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Each time, Obama made clear that was not his contention -- that, instead, he was accurately saying Kissenger supported talks between the United States and Iran at levels below the president.

Was John McCain simply confused or was he attempting to provide a misdirection because Senator Obama clearly showed how Senator McCain doesn't even understand what his own Advisors are advising ?

Obama's comments during the debate accurately reflected Kissinger's comments during a September 15 forum. Kissinger said, "Well, I am in favor of negotiating with Iran. And one utility of negotiation is to put before Iran our vision of a Middle East, of a stable Middle East, and our notion on nuclear proliferation at a high enough level so that they have to study it. And, therefore, I actually preferred doing it at the secretary of state level so that we -- we know we're dealing with authentic -- with authentic proposals." Asked by CNN's Frank Sesno, "To put at a very high level right out of the box?" Kissinger responded:

Initially, yes. And I always believed that the best way to begin a negotiation is to tell the other side exactly what you have in mind and what you are -- what the outcome is that you're trying to achieve so that they have something that they can react to.
Now, the permanent members of the Security Council, plus Japan and Germany, have all said nuclear weapons in Iran are unacceptable. They've never explained what they mean by this. So if we go into a negotiation, we ought to have a clear understanding of what is it we're trying to prevent. What is it going to do if we can't achieve what we're talking about?
But I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations. We ought, however, to be very clear about the content of negotiations and work it out with other countries and with our own government.

One final observation I have regarding John McCain

McCain Suspends Campaign to Work on Wall St Plan

The Arizona senator announced he would suspend his campaign, pull television advertising, halt fundraising and return to Washington on Thursday to try to help negotiations over a stalled $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street.

"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved," McCain said, urging Obama to join him.

~@~

I believe Senator John McCain made a strategic blunder in his forcefully and public move in going to Washington DC for discussions on the Financial crisis. John McCain used Bluster to place his actions into the limelight and boxed himself in to a retraction. I believe if he had true concerns as a servant of the people, he could have silently traveled of his own accord to Washington DC and offer his assistance toward solving a problem, then not having acheived his objective, simply call and cancel his participation in the debate at the last moment.

This shows me a lack of thoughtful planning and leads me to view his actions as reckless. It's akin to someone going out publically and making sure their neighbors see them praying to God or announcing they have performed good works, all the while seeking the approval of those witnesses alone.

A senior McCain adviser made clear McCain would not attend a Friday debate unless a congressional rescue deal was sealed.

"If the package is reached and the country is saved, there will be a debate," the aide said. "But if there's no deal, how can you get on a plane . . . for a debate?"

Is this the type of Leadership America wants or deserves ? I think not !

Let's be clear: John McCain is offering nothing of substance in his political rhetoric, same as his running to Washington even though he had nothing of substance to add in resolving the crisis.

He is what my Grandfather would call a Flim-Flam Man

LEHRER: Afghanistan, Senator McCain?

MCCAIN: First of all, I won't repeat the mistake that I regret enormously, and that is, after we were able to help the Afghan freedom fighters and drive the Russians out of Afghanistan, we basically washed our hands of the region.

And the result over time was the Taliban, al Qaeda, and a lot of the difficulties we are facing today. So we can't ignore those lessons of history.

The Geneva accords of 1988, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of the Soviet forces in early 1989, left the Afghan government in ruins.

Senator John McCain said he would not repeat the mistake made by Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush ? I thought both of these Leaders were his Hero's and mentors ?

Have you folks heard the latest news out of Alaska ?

September 26, 2008
Palin should step down, conservative commentator says

(CNN) – Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party.

The criticism in Parker's Friday column is the latest in a recent string of negative assessments toward the McCain-Palin candidacy from prominent conservatives.

It was fun while it lasted," Parker writes. "Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who is clearly out of her league."

~@~

McCains claim of taking out Bin Ladin

**Senator McCain said it most concisely in June.***

"Look," he said. "I know the area. I've been there. I know wars. I know how to win wars. And I know how to improve our capabilities so that we will capture Osama bin Laden. Or put it this way, bring him to justice. We will do it. I know how to do it." Sen. McCain seems to be quite serious, that he and he alone, not the CIA, nor the U.S. Military, nor the current President can capture bin Laden. Thus we must take him at his word that this is no mere ludicrous campaign boast. We must assume Sen. McCain truly believes he is capable of doing this, and has been capable of doing this, since last January. "We will capture Osama bin Laden. We will do it. I know how to do it."

If John McCain knows how to accomplish this task, why hasn't he told anyone how to implement his plan of action NOW rather than waiting until he is elected Commander in Chief ?
Does he simply want all the Glory and Praise for himself ?

In Search for the Truth and Justice for All

Eva — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:28:12 EDT

Dear fellow Americans,

Election day is coming up and with that a ton of e-mails in my box. Some of these are really bad...As a Christian who carries the love of Christ in her heart (but human and faligable, fragile and in much need of the Lord's Grace) I just wanted to share some of my thoughts with you. Many of you are not Christians but bear with me...Being a Christian does not make me better nor perfect nor with a right to judge others, it is just a gift of Grace that we accept. God gave us freedom, a mind, a heart and a conscience. We must carefully consider the candidates and not the propaganda of ANYONE. I am what you would call a Christian Conservative and in order to learn the truth I decided to go to the source of rumors seeking the answer from the person themselves in this case Barack Obama, I am reading his book and following the candidates closely. Many, many times his words have been taken out of context. Gosh being a Christian during these past years has been very hard. Not because my faith in the Lord wavers but because of the aggression, lack of love and judgement among some so called "Christians". (I believe the name of the Lord is used in vain and is actually repelling those who do not know what true Christianity stands for) No one should use the name of the Lord to win the election, no one should instill fear in the hearts of many so that you vote for either candidate. Jesus walked with sinners, He ate with sinners, He visited sinners, He rejected aggression (remember the incident of the apostle cutting off right ear of the priest?), He rejected the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. When we loose that example and perspective we become very ugly. The Bible teaches us that we will know them by their love, their actions. It is only by love and in Peace that we can share our faith, if we are rejected so what, the Lord knows the hearts of people. We cannot and should not impose our faith on others and likewise we should have the freedom and respect from others as well. This Country of mine I share with those who also Love this Country and we need to work together for each other and our beloved Country. (My 2 grandfathers served, one was a WWII veteran, the other served in the Army, my uncle was a Vietnam veteran, my father served in the Army, my brother in the Air Force and I served in PHS, my little cousin- 19 year old joined the Air Force, many friends are serving). It is everyone's Country. I believe that Christians, Muslims, Jews and people of all faith or lack thereof need to start working together, and with respect, for a common good. I got so much hate mail about Barack Obama that I started reading his book to learn what he actually says and this is what he talks about. He is a Christian who cares about people, believes in justice and wants to work together. He is bi-racial like many of us in the US, he is more than the color of his skin, more than his name, he is compassionate and knowledgeable. Please be informed and look it up for yourselves, do not believe RUMORS nor opinions, not even mine. We live in a world that is diverse, my Lord said, My Peace I leave you, My Peace I give to you, do not be troubled and do not be afraid. Beloved friends whatever you decision is when you vote please make sure that you have the facts.
The Christian right could have easily said, Obama is born again (true by definition), he is a good man (true), Biden is a Christian. Let's give them a chance to talk. Lets not judge based on our fears. Falsehood and fear are not the Christian way my friends, Jesus changed it all.I regret to say that in the past I just followed hearsay, my intuition and my heart. This time I will make sure I add political knowledge to that. Can you believe that a young physician would lack that type of knowledge? I did...because that was me. You could be struggling with the same matters of concience. Be informed and seek the truth. Think of our candidates as if you were interviewing someone for the most important position you could think of, look at their resume, education, knowledge, experience, direction and yes, compassion. If you love this Country it is YOUR responsability to make that choice and live with it. Sincerely,Eva

Quote of the Election

Esther — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:13:12 EDT

"Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph."

Haile Selassie 1st.

P.S. love your new commercial however mabye you can get real people in your next one.

Hello from a new contributor

Rev. Christopher D Charles — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:21:17 EDT

Let me start by saying hello to everyone. I know I may end up preaching to the choir in this blog, but I really needed a place to put down my thoughts on our current situation, and what better place than where you can find the man I think could make some changes for the better. I'm 35 years old, married with 4 children, and put my pants on one leg at a time like everyone else. I don't claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do feel I have a little bit of common sense.

My rant for today: economic inequality

A person gets a chance to go to college. That's not easy these days. They work hard, buckle down, and graduate. They find a good job with high pay and good benefits. They plan well, save, don't make stupid mistakes with their money, and avoid the many temptations offered in a consumer society like ours. They do well for themselves, amassing a small fortune through their discipline and hard work. When election time comes around, they complain that they are having to foot the bill for those who did not make such good decisions. Why, afterall, should they have to pay higher taxes just because they have done better in life? Though they may consider themselves independent, they typically vote Republican because that is where their interests lie. What is wrong with that?

Enhancing the Voter Registration Drives

Bugsy Bucco Polemicist — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:25:32 EDT

Re: Voter Registration

Though, for just being a civic duty, as well as a campaign necessity, voter registration would be facilitated in its "dragging the reluctant kicking and screaming to the polls" if the campaign appealed to the righteous and justifiable indignation of its partisan base (which WERE and ARE the sui generis of this campaign and the 2006 election results) rather than fretting over the "Republican Palintology Surge" and, **most certainly** the pandering for the reluctantly and SKEPTICALLY ambivalent towards "Barry Hussein".

Would the Nazis have gone to Stalingrad to get recruits and volunteers for the Western Front??!!!!

Junya

Beyond Change. Revolution.

Q Manning — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:55:34 EDT

John McCain and his campaign have decided to wrestle the mantle of Change from the Obama campaign.

So the question is - what do we do? What do we, those of us who pushed change for months, who made the concept of change strong, and powerful, and so very clearly inevitable, do to grab our fire back?

It's simple. We differentiate. Because if what McCain is offering change, do we really want to be associated with that? Do we want our movement to really be swirled in with the muck and gunk of the Republican party platform that's lead us to be hated around the world? Despised by our allies and enemies alike. The party that's destroyed our economy, who has stretched our military so thin, made our dollar and strength dissipate so far that we can no longer stand up to countries like Bolivia or Venezuela.

McCain augmented the concept of change with a word - a word that had some cache associated with it - and was a great marketing ploy: reform

But reform just means to change things slightly. To keep things the same, but make a few modifications. Is that what we want? Is that what we want our agent, our ambassador Barack Obama, to bring to Washington? That sort of mindset? No, we want more. And the words change and reform are too weak.

What we want, what we need, what we desire is something more powerful. Something that's been coming a long time. Something that is necessary for America to turn the corner into the future, and turn back the tide of the massive the wealth transfer to China, Russia and the Middle East, leaving our own workers and our own country in the gutter.

We demand REVOLUTION.

Let that sink in for a second, let it grow on you. I'll wait.

Done? Good. Because we don't have a lot of time to waste. There's more to this whole thing than just some election, some "silly" game as Barack Obama has called it. What's going on here is the absolute fate of our great nation, and we're facing a ruling class that doesn't care about the people. No longer is America a country "For the People and By the People" as it was originally established. Instead it's a country where the people work to make the corporations stronger, even as they take our jobs away, remove our manufacturing, squash ingenuity in the small business sector, and stifle the innovation that's always made America that shining beacon just over the horizon.

We need REVOLUTION.

Not the kind where we raise up arms against our brothers. Our country is stable, strong, and though recent information may be hinting at fraudulent voter practices rearing their ugly heads once again, our peaceful nation can enact a revolution using nothing more than a chad pushed all the way through a piece of paper. Because if enough of us want it, if enough of us push and strive for it, if enough of us hit the pavement and demand it, no amount of voter fraud or slanderous ads full of lies and deceit will be able to stop the the coming maelstrom.

Our upcoming election is larger than one issue. Or two issues. Or even a dozen issues. It's about every issue, every facet of our lives, every person in our country, and the roads we're going down. We have an American spirit, a love for freedom that goes beyond anything the world can imagine. We rose against the British when it seemed impossible. We fought our own brothers over land and slavery when it was necessary for true change to take place.

Revolution is nothing new for America. Revolution is America. Barack Obama, I ask you to take on this mantle of Revolution. To send a message to the cheap seats, the high dollar seats, the valleys, the mountains, the suburbs, the urban areas, and the farms of America.

If you're unhappy with your lot in life, you must embrace someone who will act on your behalf. Who will work to be your agent of change. Who will be your Ambassador of Revolution.

Freedom and Justice

Kimberly from Palo Alto, CA — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:54:07 EDT

Dear Senators Obama and Biden,

I’ve become very concerned, watching the increasingly bald-faced lies and disgusting sleaziness of the Republican smear campaign against you (and, by extension, all Americans), that your important and inspiring message is getting lost under the mud being slung at you. With the media focusing on “lipstick” and Palin among other irrelevancies, the voters risk being distracted from what really matters in this election. So please forgive my presumptuousness, but I wanted to share with you what I hope to hear you focus on in the few days remaining before the election.

Telling the Truth NOW Campaign

For 8 years, the Bush administration has plied Americans with deceptions, smokescreens, and outright lies. They have repeatedly talked publicly about one thing while doing something else entirely. I am sure that I am not alone in this: I AM SICK OF THE LIES!!!

You have been honorable in your campaign, and you have led us toward a positive future by expressing your vision of America’s greatness. I was impressed by your refusal to attack even Sarah Palin’s hypocrisy in advocating abstinence-only sex education while her unmarried minor daughter is pregnant – while an easy target, the primary damage would have been to a child who has enough else to deal with, and I see your recognition of this as a hallmark of integrity, wisdom, and true leadership.

This is why I wish to suggest to you an approach that would greatly appeal to me and, I’m sure, many other Americans who are disgusted with dirty politics as currently practiced by the Republican party and its supporters. Please consider launching a “Telling the Truth NOW” campaign.

What is the truth now? What does America stand for now?

¨ Under the Bush Administration

¨ Under a McCain Administration

¨ Under an Obama Administration

I want to hear from you that under an Obama Administration, America will once again stand for freedom and justice.

Not, as under the Bush Administration:

¨ Corruption (“Scooter” Libby, Alberto Gonzalez…)

¨ Incompetence (bin Laden still free at large, Katrina response…)

¨ Unprovoked aggression (Iraq)

¨ Greed (coziness with oil companies, sub-prime mortgage crisis…)

¨ Torture (Abu Ghraib, Bush veto of waterboarding ban…)

¨ Jailing anyone without trial (Guantanamo Bay…)

Senator Obama, I urge you to resist all distractions, ignore Sarah Palin, and focus your messages on clearly linking McCain to Bush (voted for Bush policies 90% of the time = NO CHANGE) and stressing that under an Obama Administration, America will once again stand for freedom and justice. These are the values that have made America great, and elicited the respect and admiration of people across the globe. These are the values that speak to who we are as a nation, as a people. Unfortunately, the truth now is that these are not the values that America has stood for under the Bush Administration, and they are not the values that the rest of the world sees us demonstrating. You have the historic opportunity to change that and, in so doing, restore America to greatness not only in fact, but also in the eyes of the rest of the world.

I want to hear you say that an Obama Administration will roll back the Bush Administration’s unprecedented attack on America’s civil liberties and our Constitution. Tell me that the United States will no longer detain and indefinitely imprison people, including American citizens, on the presumption that they are guilty (as “enemy combatants” or otherwise) until they manage to prove themselves innocent – particularly when denied legal representation or even the right to be confronted with the charges against them! Tell me that the United States will not, unequivocally will NOT, use torture. Tell me that Americans will NOT be subject to wiretapping and surveillance without a warrant. Tell me that you will stand up for our Constitution, and that under your leadership America will once again stand for freedom and justice.

Please, Senators Obama and Biden, tell me that!

America, America, what do you see?

W for Obama — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:38:07 EDT

You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14, 16

Election season is always a difficult period for me as a Christian because I am greatly distressed by the church that America sees.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
- Micah 6:8

America sees a church which champions the rights of the unborn child, but stays silent when the same child is born into poverty, when the child and his family lack health insurance, when he attends sub-standard schools, when his neighborhood is ridden with crime. Why does life only matter when it’s in the womb?

America sees a church that rails against gay marriage, but stays silent when marriages are put under tremendous strain because parents hold multiple jobs and yet cannot bring home a living wage. Are marriages threatened more by gays or by an economic system that leaves the working class an illness away from poverty, and an underfunded education system that leaves our workers unprepared for the jobs of the new century?

For the sake of abortion and gay marriage, the church has aligned itself with politicians and policies which cut billions from programs for the poor (including food stamps, Medicaid, welfare benefits and early childhood programs) in order to make up for tax cuts to the wealthiest. Can we choose to ignore the effects of our support for these politicians and call it justice and mercy?

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is
—his good, pleasing and perfect will.- Romans 12:2

I am distressed by the church’s fixation on abortion and gay marriage as the be-all and end-all of what Jesus stands for, such that millions of Christians feel compelled to vote for politicians and policies that are diametrically opposite to our duty to love our neighbor and care for the least of our brothers and sisters. It is time to renew our minds and put the actions and priorities of those in office to the test. Let us not let Jesus be hijacked by the politicians, and let us speak up for what truly is the Christian agenda – justice and mercy and walking humbly with God. Let us be the light that we want America and the world to see!

Not since John F. Kennedy...

Grace — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:46:18 EDT

I've never been one to delve much into politics. I've never felt strongly about any candidate during my voting years, although I adored President Kennedy when I was in grade school. Charisma was not a word I knew then, but I loved watching him play with his children. At age 11, I was in tears at the news of his death. I recall his spirit and how hopeful people were about him. I have that same feeling with Barack Obama. One day I tuned into Oprah and he was there. I had no idea who he was except that he was well spoken, impeccably dressed, and I couldn't stop listening to him or take my eyes off of him. Possibly he wasn't a presidential candidate at the time, although I do recall thinking he would be wonderful as president with his eloquence and what felt to me like charisma.

Because I rarely pay attention to politics, issues were not relevant to me. I mean I didn't have the time or energy to research and figure out who was telling the truth. I sense truth and justice (sounds like Superman) in Obama simply in his presence. I've taken time to listen to his views and am comfortable that he would be doing the right thing even on some things I might not have felt entirely positive about. I sense he approaches every issue from a place of objectivity and knows how to tacklel it for it to be right. I want justice and what's right from a person with integrity.

Since seeing him on Oprah, each time I see him again on television or online, I feel hopeful and excited about the change he could bring to the country. I do know I've been frustrated and angry and even embarrassed about the current "reign". I've gone from cringing to wanting to embrace all that Obama represents.

This morning I was browsing other blogs and reading of hope and seeing where others had "charisma" as defining Obama too. Some days I am fearful that the minority somehow rules the majority. I sense a huge tide out there helping Obama become a tidal wave. My significant other, Brian, wasn't sure about Obama in the very beginning when I was already excited about him. When Obama visited Harrisburg, Brian decided to trek downtown to take photos. He was easily swept up in the atmosphere and was very proud and excited at two great photos he captured, one of which was published in his daughter's blog. She does have strong political views and was thrilled to have a great photo from her father.

I've rarely voted in primary elections because of my lack of knowledge of candidates and the issues. I have voted in nearly every presidential election except where it just didn't matter to me who won. This year I made sure my new address was recorded for voting and just received my new voter registration card. I will be very proud to vote this year. And, while late in the season, I love the idea of $8 on the 8th for each month. Count me as a strong supporter of Obama.

A Plain Brown Man

LitGriot — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:36:11 EDT

4 April 2008

40 years ago today a plain brown man was shot and killed. The forces that killed him were massive, yet not nearly as grand as his heart. His courage is unimaginable to me, but a courage by which I measure my own; I want to measure up to his tall legacy, for I, too, am a plain brown man. So are we all, and that is what he said.

Dr. King was shot while supporting sanitation workers in Memphis. And Elvis Presley is racist, white and died rich despite his humble upbringing. Rarely did Elvis ever use his glory for the good of the people. Yet, Elvis’s home in Memphis and cities like it around the country mourn over the superficial affectations of pop stars; stardom simply reproduces itself. These stars inform our everyday lives as we hear their words, see their images and imitate their style. Elvis exploited the images of plain brown men like Jackie Wilson and Little Richard, whose courage informs my own. And Dr. King likely heard the wails and calls of these brothers and instigated some calls of his own: He ran to the aid of the common man (very different from selling the common man an image of wealth and austerity). But unlike the glimmer of Elvis and his Memphis home, Graceland, I am a plain brown man, and all I want is peace.

Arrr, there's gold in them thar coffers, and we'll be takin it all fer ourselves, ARRR!

Clint Pickney — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:28:01 EDT

When the current cabinet convenes, I see them in my mind's eye as pirates gloating over their booty. Lustful in their pride at having pulled off the greatest coup in the history of political power, having turned the most powerful, respected nation on earth into a cash cow for a very few individuals and corporations (read Haliburton), they are the scourge of humanity. They have stolen the sovereignty of our nation; they leave ignorance and shameful lawlessness in their wake. They are the barbarian hoarde, looting and pillaging; they are the Inquisition, punishing heartfelt truth and rewarding adherence to the bold lie.

That they stole the Office in the first place, that they have broken thousands of laws and turned the constitution into a mere piece of paper, that they have ignored the domestic economy and general well-being of the citizens of this nation while spending hundreds of billions of dollars on a war that was initiated on false pretenses... that none of these things have been seriously investigated in the media leaves me cold and angry and heartbroken. I grieve for the lost dignity of the Office of the President. I grieve for the rampant, aggressive ignorance that has cropped up in the media and now dominates "newscasts." I grieve for the millions of Americans who believe what they hear on Fox News, who are blind to the farcity, feeding the voracious fire of fear with their ignorance.

I ask myself, "How can anyone sincerely believe someone like Rush Limbaugh, or Donald Rumsfeld, or Dick Cheney, or his mouthpiece, George W. Bush... or John McCain?" How can anyone identify with these people? Where is their reason, thier self-respect? How can so many people be blind to their own active ignorance of the injustice that is being perpetuated behind the glossy, seamless narrative of popular culture? How did this situation become status quo?

We can't afford to stand by any longer, allowing this to be. It's time to honor the soul of America, to disenfranchise the marauding pirates, to restore Honesty and Integrity to their rightful places at the fore of the American psyche.

Just as one must transcend ego in order to become fully human, we must let go the carcass of fear, security blanket though it seems; in every I am recognize me, embracing the fact that we are all in this life experience together.

Barak Obama provides us with the viable means of dissolving the false pretenses that have come to define government in America. I hold a vision of prosperity under his leadership, and I hope that anyone reading these words will join me.

How to approach conservative Christians

Jon from Atlanta, GA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:59:05 EDT

Although abortion is a sticking point for me, it's still possible to persuade right-wing Christians (like yours truly---but I'm already persuaded--- ;;) NOT to vote for Sen. McCain in November. The following will show an effective, sincere strategem for doing so. (There's a lot of quoting of the Bible here, so if you hate that book, you probably won't appreciate what I have to say). My suggestion is that whenever you're talking to conservatives who revere the Bible, you should gently ask "Haven't you read what God said to us in [this or that passage]?" But if your interlocutor is belligerent or hostile to you, try upping the ante a tad with "Haven't you read what God said to you in....?" OR try this, if he or she is VERY hostile: "The Bible is an important book, isn't it? [Wait for her answer] "It has a lot to say about morals/justice/honesty/etc, wouldn't you say? [Wait for answer] "Say, have you read.....?"

Here's a letter I composed which could be helpful. If pressed for time, please read the first five paragraphs and the last one to get a feel for my theme. Feel free to use it during the campaign, provided proper attribution is made if you quote the few, mercifully very brief ;; passages from my book, Some Parades Need Rain: A Road Map to Reconciliation in Strife-torn Times (available from amazon).

Choices for a Rising Generation | Teaching Tolerance

Curtis — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:44:00 EDT

Essay by the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Nominee

by Senator Barack Obama

http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/features.jsp?p=0&is=43&ar=945&splcnewsletter=newsgen-090408

We are in a defining moment in our history. We're fighting two wars. Our planet is in peril. Our economy is in turmoil. And the dream that so many generations fought for feels as if it's slowly slipping away.

Now, I know that the easiest thing in the world for young people to do is nothing at all. To turn off the TV, put down the newspaper, and walk away from the stories about Iraq or Darfur or the rising levels of joblessness and hopelessness in our own communities. To go about their busy lives, wishing these problems away, expecting someone else to solve them. To remain detached and indifferent.

But I hope they don't do what is easy — because sometimes, there are moments when what's truly risky is not to act. What's truly risky is to accept things as they are instead of working for what could be.

Taking action can mean getting involved politically. We've seen huge numbers of young people taking part in our campaign. They're knocking on doors and making phone calls and helping fight to bring about real change in this country.

But action can also happen outside the political arena. I was born the year that John F. Kennedy called a generation of Americans to ask their country what they could do. And I came of age at a time when they did it. They were the Peace Corps volunteers who won a generation of goodwill toward America. They were the teenagers and college students who knew it was probably safer to stay at home, but still decided to take the Freedom Rides down South. And because they did, they changed the world. And they inspired me, just out of college, to move to Chicago to help lift up neighborhoods that were devastated when the local steel plants closed.

So at this historic moment, we must ask our rising generation to serve their country as Americans always have — by working on a political campaign or joining the military, by doing community service or relief work abroad. Because that's how real change has always come — from ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things; from all those, young and old, black, white, and brown, who were willing to do what was risky and what was hard and put their shoulders to the wheel of history, and turn it towards opportunity and equality and justice for all.

Failure To Investigate: DaProcess Of Public Corruption

Mr. Reynolds — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:10:43 EDT

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 1 > § 4
§ 4 Misprision of felony

Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

I have been pursuing several complaints against the U.S. Marshals Service. The former Chief of the U.S. Marshals Service Office of Inspection (Internal Affairs) Yvonne Bonner stated to me in writing that they would conduct an official investigation but “Due to privacy issues you are not entitled to know the outcome of the investigation” which is "obstruction" & violates U.S. Department of Justice polices.

(Yvonne Bonner is currently under an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General for possible ethics violations involving an unrelated incident).

An Open Letter to Senators Obama & Clinton

Unknown user — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:14:37 EDT

PROFESSOR HOVHANNESS I. PILIKIAN, B.A. in Eng. Lit. (American Uni of Beirut),

B.Sc. Hons. in Psych. (Open Uni), M.A. in Soc. Anth. (Sch of Oriental & African Studies),

Gulbenkian Foundation Scholar in Econ. (LSE) (London Uni),D.A.A.D-Fellow (Uni of Munich),

D.G.G.B, Dip. Th. Pr. (R A D A), Cert. Hum (Open),

Adamian Award (Ministry of Culture – Armenian S.S.R.), F.R.A.I.,

Contributor to Encyclopaedia Britannica

10th August 2008

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

Dear Senators Clinton and Obama,

You may like to know that my personal letter (dated 1st July, copy below) to your good selves is now an Open Letter published on the Web on

http://www.gibrahayer.com/index.php5?&page_id=21&path=29,21

My letter contains (1) A new Theory of History – that History advances by mindset-shifts,

(2) A radical historical interpretation of Warmongering – that it manifests masculinist obsessions contingent on the rape of women and the murder of ‘their’ children, and finally

(3) A proposition for a new socio-economic paradigm – universal CHILD-WELFARE, for all, to achieve global peace... with the sound-bite;

All For Child-Welfare and Child-Welfare For All

Yours truly

Professor Hovhanness Israel Pilikian.

***

Initially Exclusive to the Addressees 1st July 2008

Entirely Private and Totally Confidential

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)

713 Hart Senate Office Building

District of Columbia 20510-1305, Washington DC

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

780 Third Avenue Suite 2601

New York, NY 10017

Dear Senators Clinton and Obama,

If only the two of you would join hands, there can be no reasonable doubt that you two shall win the forthcoming presidential election, from that moment onwards ... and assuming that you shall resist all electoral fraud from the Republicans – for the very good reason that, with baited breath, the whole world expects America to change. The horrendous neo-Cons succeeded not only destroying Iraq, with Depleted Uranium bomb-winds blowing towards the Israeli nation they pretended to defend ... the inhuman neo-Cons destroyed as much America’s good name, dragging it into the sewage of History. The American people deserve desperately your healing powers to pull them out of History’s murderous mires of genocidal sludge.

Senator Obama is absolutely right that America is ready for change – and Senator Clinton has the right idea for that change – hence this letter to provide the clinching philosophical argument and deep conceptual grounding of your cause to make it irresistible for the whole world to adopt.

I think Human civilization evolves by paradigmatic shifts in Mindset – by which I mean that a nation’s mind – meaning the communitarian-brain – is re-wired through the processes of social relations and modern communications-media into certain ways and patterns of communal thinking.

Mankind’s History hitherto, alas, has manifested the Primates’ barbaric survivalist mindset of crude brutal power for its own sake. It took millennia for the parochial Italian Renaissance humanism to follow, and several centuries for the French Revolution to reflect and universalize by then the re-wired mindset of the Renaissance humanism. The American Revolution earlier for the first time in history had affected an ethical mindset shift by exemplifying the concept of Power-To-do-Good, and not for its own crude sake. Unfortunately the neo-Con Bushites wished to revert to the Malthusean-Hobbsean Jungle Law, demeaning the principles of the American Revolution. Thus, overall, human history hitherto (even at its best with the American Revolution, never mind now in the genocidal dumps with the Bushists) has manifested the humanoid Darwinist mindset of the proto-fascist (and Nazi) masculinist brain-wiring, set on the oppression and rape of women and children, and the elimination of ‘useless people’...

I shall propose to you a new paradigm to wire-up a new mindset to evolve in our post-modern human brain, if only the United States of America, as the dominant world-power, would agree through yourselves to pioneer its globalization ... Like a panacea, it shall solve all socio-economic problems, including all dangers from Climate change, which must be turned into the single most important issue of international politics. And it is this, and where Mrs Clinton already possesses the inkling by virtue of her maternal instinct – CHILD-WELFARE – pure and simple, it must be made the single slogan, the cornerstone of ALL complex policies held together in consistency. In the immortal words of Britain’s Silver Poet, Alexander Pope – “The Child is the Father of Man”.

History hitherto has been the ruthless product of bi-gender competitiveness, the male always oppressing, dominating and ultimately raping the female – well-proven by antique myths – females, be they divine or mortal, are always ‘ravished’ against their will – and endless modern warfare – even today, now, women are being raped in ... Zimbabwe, and everywhere else where genocidal wars are active, stretching back in time to Herodotus – the first Historian who lived in the 5th c. BC, and whose very first paragraphs record the gang-bang by Phoenician sailors of the free ‘feminist’ women of Argos – thus, according to the Herodotusean historical record, the very first of the countless series of world wars have begun with a ... gang-bang, literally, a group rape by foolish men of a group of innocent women!

The only way this awful bi-polar human stupidity can be eliminated once and for all from the disturbed human psyche and sexualized Freudian mindset is by creating a focus on a deeper perspectival third-dimension ; the child-and-its-welfare.

Both genders must focus all life-force on tending a healthy child, literally and metaphorically, in a healthy geophysical and social environment – it can become the measuring stick and guideline for all ethical human behaviour and action, individually, on the micro-, and politically on the macro-levels.

Marriage throughout history and in all cultures is played out as a power-game for the benefit of the adults in the game – Divorce in the West consequently, has been riddled with adult partners’ power-obsessive narcissism – their children as mere inconvenient extensions of their egos. In Britain, child-welfare is a byword for corrupt legal practices, and serving equally as political football for governmental publicity stunts.

A new categorical imperative in the style of Emmanuel Kant, one of the great thinkers of all time, in my proposed new paradigm would be – Do nothing that will shame your children, and you in their eyes - Adopting this as the cornerstone of all social and couple relations – it may reduce Divorce, one of the great Western social ills hitherto based on parental narcissism and gratification rather than the needs of child-welfare. And Hollywood film-industry shall produce less public nudity, if actors considered the shame of their children felt at their parental pornographic exposure.

Thou shalt not do anything that harms a child – which ensures that paedophilia for example, never takes hold of society – there are serious high-powered post-modern attempts in Anglo-America to render it acceptable ... And the British American Tobacco (BAT) company would be stopped immediately from the crime of selling tobacco to African children!

Thou shalt not kill children, or their mothers, can serve as grounds for all wars all over the world to be stopped – a good reason to dismantle globally the military-industrial complexes, against the inhuman dangers of which President Eisenhower first of all so wisely warned the American nation back in the 1950’s. A very simple undeniable post-modern historical fact is that America is armed to its teeth and ... toes with thousands of nuclear bombs - it simply does not need more of any ordenance! You need not waste a cent more on further armaments - instead, release all those trillions onto societal health and well-being!!! According to the Bible, Peacemakers are the children of God – I can never understand how and why an American Christian can ever be a warmonger.

Child-welfare must force the realization of Mrs Clinton’s humanitarian policies of universal health-insurance for the people of America – the first and only one of its kind (overdue) in American History. And according to the new paradigm I am proposing, Thou shalt not kill children and their mothers, now add to it – and their fathers, and grandparents – We all are the children of God!

And now to the ultimate problem of all global problems – Climate Change, which is a deceptive turn of phrase to camouflage the horrendous evil truth of destroying the very Oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere we need to breathe second-by-second ... Never mind polar ice-caps melting, oceans rising, we are (like the foolish individuals who smoke cigarettes on the micro-level) as nations destroying on the macro-level by-the-second the very Oxygen we need to survive and live by! Such destruction is evidence of sheer human cultural stupidity – dumping each year 7 billion tonnes of pollutants in the atmosphere of this sweet little child-planet.

Even the Nobel-prize winning Mr. Al Gore won’t dare speak the truth – the global car and aviation industries are satanic evils that need be controlled, transformed and absolutely rationalized, not-expanded. There can be no stupid glee and Big Business hand-rubbing in the lunatic economic predictions that China shall be helped to have ... 900 million cars in the next decade.

Hitherto, the planet Earth was conceived as a ‘mature woman’ – Mother Earth/ Mother Nature – and messed about, abused and finally ‘proudly’ raped by the Macho-male-warmonger-idiot. At the odd occasion in history when a Woman had acquired such power – Queen Elizabeth the First of Britain, and Catherine the Great of Russia – they have strangely morphed into the macho-male paradigm – with Ms Madeleine Albright, the elder Bushite lacking any female nurturing instincts, declaring infamously to the world that the death of half a million Iraqi ... children is a price worth paying for the discomfiture of one male idiot – the banana-tyrant Saddam Hussein, ex CIA operative and ordained murderer of Abdul Karim Kassem, his predecessor.

If one conceives of this planet – a grain of dust in the vastness of the universe – as yet another little child of the great Creator – then the politicians must do EVERYTHING to save it from the violent stupidities of bi-gender power-obsessed politics, as my noble wife Clarice puts it, “child-planet is precious, in need of care and protection, like all children”.

All for child-welfare – and Child-welfare for all should be the hub of the new neural network out of which the new mindset of the future mankind can and must be wired before we destroy ourselves through sheer stupidity – narcissistic greed and waste of our planet’s resources.

Only thus, dear ... President Obama, and Vice-President Clinton, can you change America, and the rest of the world, into a new order and Pax Americana, not by genocidal warmongering all over the world that is reducing day-by-day the very Oxygen we need to breathe merely to live as God’s little children!

Yours truly

Professor Hovhanness Israel Pilikian.

8th July 2008.

P.S. Please forgive me for the awkward lay-out, as I do not know enough computers to have done a better job ...

Things We Don't Want to Talk About

ActivistForChange — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:55:06 EDT

Among the most egregious things happening in America today is using the sex offender umbrella to label many people that are not child molesters or rapist, or pushers of child porn, or purvayers of child porn, or who have never solicited a child or underage teen on the Internet for sex.

As everyone who has ever heard the phrase "sex offender" knows is that the phrase or word combination "Sex Offender" means child molester, and thus thousands of innocent people, innocent of child molestion, and who were not arrested or convicted for child molestation are nevertheless forced to were the label of a child molester, the label "Sex Offender".

This is a wrong that must be corrected starting in 2009, and it must start with the Adam Walsh Act that ignores ex post facto by legal games to continue injuring thousands of individuals including children.

The Adam Walsh Act also ignores double jeopardy by placing criminal requirements upon people who have long since served their sentences only to be re-criminalized by the federal statue, the Adam Walsh Act.

In 2009 the taking of homes or the banishment of people from their homes must stop. If a person was not convicted of child molestation or rape, or not convicted of child porn, or not convicted of soliciting the underage on the Internet for sex, then the sanctions placed upon those who actually did those things must come to a stop.

This indifference shown by Republicans and Demoncrats, Independants and Libertarians must come to a halt. The Adam Walsh Act must be changed, and the states instructed to discontinue the labeling of people as sex offenders who did nothing sexual to incur that label.

This indifference must stop giving the sex offender label to any one who is not a child molester, or rapist, or predator, nor having any involvement in child porngraphy.

To this date of August 27, 2008 people are still forced to wear the label of sex offender when they have committed no act to warrent the label of sex offender, which has the common understanding of child molester.

If Obama is for change then he must be for changing all these unjust, unconstitutional laws that have opened thousands to identity theft, loss of jobs for having that label, and the actions of vigilantes and the beating and killing of people who are not child molesters or rapists.

You Democrats if you are for change then be for change to make these sex offender laws equitable, and based in due process of law. If you call yourself a Democrat and you believe in equity in the laws and in the courts, then you will tell your Senators and Representatives, enough of this unjust unbalanced, unfair laws (without due process in the laws), make these falsely labeled whole again.

Why I will vote for Barack in '08

mandie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:13:41 EDT

“John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench.”
“This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion.”
“As President, John McCain will nominate judges who understand that their role is to faithfully apply the law as written, not impose their opinions through judicial fiat.”
“John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect.”
“In 1993, John McCain and his wife, Cindy, adopted a little girl from Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh.”
“The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman. It is only this definition that sufficiently recognizes the vital and unique role played by mothers and fathers in the raising of children, and the role of the family in shaping, stabilizing, and strengthening communities and our nation.”

All of the above quotes are from John McCain’s website. Now I would like to give you my feelings on the subject and I will gladly listen (or read, it is a blog after all) to every argument that is brought forth.

McCain feels Roe v. Wade is flawed, but the courts said abortion fell under the 14th Amendment "right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or, as the District Court determined, in the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy" as stated by Justice Douglas in the sister case of Doe v. Bolton. So if the constitution says “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” and it also says “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” then who is John McCain to say that the decision was flawed. The justices made their decision. But I can see what direction McCain is coming from when he later states that judges should faithfully apply the laws that are passed. As if to say they should not perform their most fundamental role of checks and balances, not interpreting laws and deciding if they are even legal according to the great Constitution of the United States of America. They should faithfully apply the law as written. But the word faithfully. I associate faithfully with trust without question. Who wants judges in place that will not question? I guess John McCain does. He also wants RvW reversed so he can find ways to strengthen the armies of compassion. Is that like the Army of God, who set off bombs at the Olympics in Atlanta, the same army that hid Eric Rudolph afterwards for years? Huh, talk about domestic terrorism. But has anyone thought if judges were put into place that ruled this way, how many other things might get overturned? Civil rights? Women’s rights? But John McCain fully stands behind the second amendment. I agree with that amendment as well, but how can you agree with part of the constitution and not the rest?

I applaud McCain and his wife for their adoption, and from the future Saint, Mother Teresa herself. What a wonderful thing to do, but why not adopt one of the thousand of children in America who need homes? Why not provide for a child in need in his home town- which ever home out of the 6 he chooses to call his home town. Why are those kids not good enough for him? But what about the people in America who are trying to provide for those kids? They want to provide loving homes with everything the child needs to grow up and succeed in life. Who cares if those people are of the same gender? We can not dictate to those people how to live their life (read the amendments above). If two people can provide the essentials for a happy home, who are we as a society to say they can not. Who are we to say that those people do not deserve all the benefits of being together? If they are viable members of society, they pay taxes, put money back into the economy, are involved in the community, why can we not afford them joint healthcare at no additional “partner” premium? Who are we or better yet who is John McCain to say that people of the same sex are not worthy of the descriptions of parents in raising children, or even a “married couple”? A parent is a person who chooses a stake in a young persons life to help ensure that child will grow up appreciative of what they have, of what their forefathers achieved for them, not just a man and a woman. I believe a married couple to be two people who have decided to live the remainder of their years together, through whatever may come, while loving one another and the people the cherish most. Not just a man and a woman.

I believe Barack Obama believes the same way. I believe he will champion the good fight. The just fight. The right fight. I believe he wants a better world for my children, his children, your children. I believe that he wants a world of tolerance, acceptance, and peace no matter what your walk of life. No matter who raised you. He champions a cause of choice. Choice of freedom that was fought for by our forefathers and that John McCain still clinches to for his answer for everything. Freedom to think, debate, provide, and mentor those around us who may not have the same rights being afforded to them. I appreciate John McCain for what he did for our country and I regret he had to suffer in a POW camp doing it, but I do not automatically think that his captivity makes him the best choice to lead us into a time of acceptance. A time of economic stability. A time of conservation. A time of education. A time of change.

U.S. "Losing" Afghanistan? ~ The difference between Obama and McCain

Richard Owl Mirror — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:38:02 EDT

101 GIs Killed; U.S. "Losing" Afghanistan?

Taliban insurgents once derided as a ragtag rabble unable to match U.S. troops have transformed into a fighting force - one advanced enough to mount massive conventional attacks and claim American lives at a record pace.

The U.S. military suffered its 101st death of the year in Afghanistan last week when Sgt. 1st Class David J. Todd Jr., a 36-year-old from Marrero, La., died of gunfire wounds while helping train Afghan police in the northwest. The total number of U.S. dead last year - 111 - was a record itself and is likely to be surpassed.

Top U.S. generals, European presidents and analysts say the blame lies to the east, in militant sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan. As long as those areas remain havens where fighters arm, train, recruit and plot increasingly sophisticated ambushes, the Afghan war will continue to sour.

"The U.S. is now losing the war against the Taliban," Anthony Cordesman, of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote in a report Thursday. A resurgent al Qaeda, which was harbored by the Taliban in the years before the Sept. 11 attacks, could soon follow, Cordesman warned.

Continued . . .

Afghanistan ~ Pakistan

~@~

Afghan/Pakistan is central front war on terror

~@~

Joe Biden on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan (Part 1)

Joe Biden on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan (Part 2)

~@~

McCain = War

McCain "Bush on steroids"

Pat Buchanan:"McCain will make Cheney look like Gandhi"

McCain Thinks Iraq Borders Pakistan

McCain: Bringing Troops Home "Not Too Important"

Countdown: McCain-"Not too Important" when Troops Come Home

John McCain on Pakistan and Iran

John McCain Iraq War Argument ~@~ In this video, Sen McCain says the majority of citizens are wrong to be demanding an end to the war in Iraq. Then goes on to say, a President doesn't need to follow those wishes, opting to weather the wrath until voted out of office.

That is an important statement when broken down and comprehended outside the flow of his speech.

Primary responsibility @ .45 second mark thru 1.45

He has told the American people beforehand, that he will do as he sees fit regardless if that matches the will of the people.

McCain's POW Defense: Devaluing Our Service and His Own

A vote for Senator John McCain is a vote for sustained and expanding conflict from the moment he becomes President and Commander in Chief until the day, four years later he vacates the office. Make no mistake, Sen McCain is not seeking the Presidency of the United States! He is seeking the role of Commander in Chief.

McCain: A History of Being Wrong About Al Qaeda, Iraq and Iran

John McCain Has Consistently Neglected Afghanistan

The American people must ask themselves, do they truly intend to elect an eager War time Commander in Chief ? A War time Commander in Chief who doesn't fully comprehend any of the facts yet, rules by gut instinct and a spine of steel once a decision is made ? The American electorate must be aware of the awesome responsibility their vote has on this nations future.

Personally, I prefer to elect a President who, when necessary, wields the power of the Commander in Chief. I want a full time President who is willing and able to lead this nation, not a Commander in Chief who delegates the running of this nation into the hands of his friends.

Senator John McCain is a One Trick Pony, he desires, even covets the position and authority of the Commander in Chief.

Foreign Policy expert Brzezinski discusses his support of Barack Obama

Al Gore Endorses Barack Obama in Detroit, MI

Kennedy Endorsements of Barack Obama

Barack Obama: Judgement to Lead

~@~

Vote wisely and propose the same to your friends and families.

Why retired Generals and Admirals support Barack Obama

It's a matter of temperament !

In the Month of August

Sheri Bailey — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:02:50 EDT

August 21, 1831 an enslaved man named Nat Turner marched into history when he led an insurrection that resulted in the violent deaths of almost 60 white men, women and children who were residents of Southampton County, Virginia. Nat Turner was called "the Prophet". Unlike most other Blacks he could read. No one knows how he learned to read but from the age of four he could and he traveled from plantation to plantation sharing his visions which called to him to lead his people out of enslavement. One hundred and seventy-seven years after Nat Turner served as a general leading an army into a battle in the War Against Slavery his legacy is one of a madman who rates brief mention in American History books because his was the first slave uprising in North America that resulted in the deaths of whites. The physical history connected to Nat Turner is mostly being allowed to disintegrate and eventually it will be gone or controlled by those who are biased against the truth of what Nat Turner represents. And what he represents is the fact that unjust and oppressive laws can never suppress the human pursuit of freedom and happiness. In 2015 the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War will be observed across America. The Nat Turner Insurrection was the first unofficial battle of the Civil War; John Brown's 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry was the second battle with the official war fought from 1861 - 1865. The significance of what started on August 21, 1831 must be acknowledged so that we can take from the past what we need to move into a better future.

August 28, 1963 over 200,000 people marched on the nation's capitol demanding jobs and equality. One hundred years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation a young Baptist minister named Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about his dream of living in a country that would not judge a person by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. August 28, 2008, forty-five years later to the day Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination to be President of the United States and he will have earned this honor because of the content of his character along with his ability to inspire the weak to try harder and the strong to share more.

In the month of August an enslaved man with no resources and a small band of followers threw down the gauntlet and challenged an immoral slave system. In the month of August a Baptist minister gave voice to the Modern Civil Rights Movement, picked up an olive branch and challenged America to live up to its founding principles. In the month of August Barack Obama will become the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States. He will do so with a vision tempered not with what is wrong with our nation, but with what is good and a plan on how we can all come to together to improve on access to the American Dream for all.

Peace in the Vision of a Nu World,

Solicitud para abolir Ley (AETA) contra la libertad de expresión proanimal

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:43:38 EDT

Estimado Senador Barack Obama

Como ciudadanos que siempre hemos gozado de las virtudes de la libertad de expresión como un derecho humano contenido en la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos de 1948 y amparada en los tratados internacionales de Derechos Humanos, sentimos una gran preocupación por la tendencia a eliminar las libertades civiles de una nación que, históricamente, representó un ejemplo de esperanza en todos los pueblos del mundo. Respetuosamente nos dirijos a ustedes para exponer lo siguiente:

El 27 de noviembre del 2006 la propuesta de Ley titulada: Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act S. 1926 y HR 4239 (AETA) fue aprobada a pesar de que el Diputado Dennis Kucinich la cuestionó porque violaba la Primera Enmienda Constitucional que prohíbe la creación de cualquier ley que atente contra la libertad de expresión. 160 Grupos (National Lawyers Guiad, American Civil Liberties Union, New York City Bar Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Humane Society of the US, American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, entre otros) y miles de electores también se opusieron, por cuanto esta Ley define cualquier actividad proanimal (protestas pacíficas, boicots, campañas, investigaciones encubiertas para exponer la crueldad animal, publicaciones en la Web, entre otros) como acto terrorista.

Como defensores de los derechos comprometidos con esta causa, vemos con preocupación la imposibilitad de nuestros activistas aliados , para participar en protestas o campañas pacíficas , por temor a ser enjuiciados como terroristas Considerar por ejemplo una manifestación a favor de la protección animal como un acto terrorista en un país que supuestamente apoya la libertad de expresión, resultaría contradictorio e inconstitucional con los derechos civiles de un pueblo. Si esta Ley se amplía para otras luchas sociales, terminaríamos considerando a todos los líderes de derechos como terroristas. Una gran deshonra para luchadores como Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, y Mahatma Gandhi que también serían considerados como terroristas.

La legislación aprobada en virtud de que la actual administración está muy sesgada a favor de proteger a las empresas que abusan de los animales, ha puesto en tela de juicio la moralidad del pueblo americano al otorgar a los promotores de esta Ley (empresas biomédicas) beneficios, a sabiendas de que estas de manera reiterada violan constantemente las leyes federales en América. Así mismo ha deslegitimado las leyes de justicia al pisotear la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos (Derechos Civiles) y los Derechos Animales, violar acuerdos y tratados en Derechos internacionales, atentar legalmente contra la Primera Enmienda Constitucional y todo tipos de legislación animal vigente.

Por último, nos preocupa el lugar de Estados Unidos en materia política-económica ante la comunidad internacional por cuanto es un hecho ampliamente conocido , que la intervención en conflictos bélicos en otros países, ha venido debilitando, el emblema de justicia y libertad de expresión que caracterizó al pueblo americano .Desde el punto de vista económico los ciudadanos de otros países vemos con temor la legalidad de expandir una Ley represiva contra la libertad de expresión con las grandes empresas biomédicas en el mercado internacional

Al mirar hacia la elección de un nuevo presidente, aspiramos que el nuevo líder americano , reflejé un modelo de gestión, donde la libertad de expresión sea el mejor aliado de confianza en las relaciones internacionales con otros países del mundo

Agradeciéndole de antemano su reconsideración para restituir la libertad de expresión en las luchas sociales proanimales

Atentamente,

Activistas por la libertad de expresión proanimal

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1oGvzTUuXc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqT1FR1XxPo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_31ryvOTH_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkft4j4iRvQ

Petition online

http://www.gopetition.com/online/21319.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/Stop4239/petition.html

Web site:

http://terrorismoestadoanimal.blogspot.com/

Tar Baby McCain

FRED4JUSTICE — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:22:09 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNGXB_qx0xk&feature=related

Tar Baby is not only a racist slur, and a euphamism regarding a sticky situation, but also regarded a most reprehensible inference to an unwanted child [of color].

Senator McCain quickly apologized for his racist remarks, but never apologized to parents for dismissing the legitimate question of Parental Rights [asked by a black man] that he responded to with this slur. Apparently, TarBaby McCain thinks that it is OK for corrupt courts and government agencies to steal children away from fit parents.

Parents, if you don't think that corrupt Government can take YOUR CHILDREN away anytime, for whatever reason they choose to fabricate, you are living a delusion. And the ghoulish child snatchers are paid hefty rewards from your TAX DOLLARS for destroying families and stealing children.

Dr. Shabaz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i53aehOT-dA&feature=related

Judge Libscomb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAvNvMcUPlY

Pastor Ron Smith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QHZWxOYqRw

Father's 4 Justice March in DC this weekend

FRED4JUSTICE — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:52:17 EDT

DC FESTIVAL 2008Having recently attended the 2008 DC festival, including the F4J march to the White House, I am full of vision and inspired to send this message to parents and the critics of our cause.

The most obvios factor that many critics of parent's rights fail to recognize is that other civil rights movements, such as those for blacks, women, gays, etc. represented a distinct social group who were fighting against discrimination in society, and thier success was achieved in large degree through valient efforts of the legal communtiy in securing those rights across our nations courts.

http://www.familycourtreports.com/serendipity/archives/525-DCFESTIVAL2008.COM-Fathers-4-Justice-March-Its-not-about-the-choir-anymore!.html

DC2008 included representation from a variety of groups from non- custodial mothers, to parents and victems of DCF/CPS, survivors of parental alienation, and in no small measure F4J and a variety of father's rights orgainzations.

What outsiders fail to recognize is that we are united under the same goal of parental rights, and our representation includes all class and groups of people working together under the same cause to uphold parental rights. People of all ages, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, social, economic and educational diversity are counted amoung our membership.

What the legal community fails to realize is that they themselves are the problem that we are trying to redress. Parental Advocates of all variety are not seeking the courts to resolve
discrimination in society as in notable civil rights movements in the past. It is the courts themselves that are the problem. We are parents who have been criminalized by corrupt courts and scheming shysters and other fiendish ghouls in the child custody industry who trample our rights in order to feed off of the carnaged of destroyed families and parents desperate to see thier own children.

We are parents who have been harassed and harried, scorned and villified, bankrupted and inflicted the worst of legal harassment and deliberate emotional distress by lawyers and judges who deny even the existance of the most fundamental liberty interest, which is the custody, care and
companionship with one's own child.

Despite decades of repeated pleas in the most humble and revert respect, we are still without rights in the courts of our nation which was built upon the principals of liberty that we profess.

We are the victems of endless fraud without redress, as the court itself conducts the orchestra of fraud in thier despotic fiefdoms of child custody industries. We are the victems of extrinsic fraud not on, but by, the courts, with endless pointless hearings that serve only to line the pockets of the actors in this absurd kabuki circus.

Despite the relentless efforts of the vampires and vultures of custody courts to shame and denegrate us, we stand in defiance, and have never submited to thier tyranny and oppression. Despite the demogoguery, and hysteria of thier witch hunts which they conceal behind the viel of tattered mantras such as 'best interests' we are greater than our oppressors. Despite thier efforts to impoverish and bankrupt us with daunting legal and visitation fees, extortionate child support fees based on a fantasy of imputed income and pointless mandatory expert, counseling and evaluation fees which line the pockets of our oppressors - we are more noble than our bloated and
villanous masters.

Jesus, who's mercy is without limit and who's justice flows as rivers, who loved all people, and above all the innocent children, Jesus who was also persecuted, shamed and taunted, striped naked and beaten and suffered the torment, ridicule and scorn of wicked judges of his time, I pray that you will now give courage to all parents that suffer the loss of children by cruel courts, and mean and vile scoundrals who torment our people. Take courage all parents and rise up now together, united and take back what is ours already, it only having been stolen by the corrupt and unjust.

When ordinary law abiding citizens are criminalized, victemized and relentlessly harassed by a fundamentally dysfunctional child custody system we represent the small tip of the iceberg exposing the fundamentally corrupt judiciary and legal system which has lost the last shred of any integrity that it pretends to retain when it denies parents the absolute, inviolate, sacred, and God given rights to the care of thier children over the destructive interference of corrupt and dysfuntional government. And we are also the tip of the spear that will take down that corrupt system.

To the corrupt scheming lawyers and judges, counselors, and quacks who bargain and sell ou children like animals, grubbing for thier extortionate fees and fraudulent funding. To those traitors of liberty who bully and bribe, in thier slick suits, and new cars and posh offices bought by
mangling vague laws to steal our children from us, for greed and profit, I say: Beware. Beware the thing that is coming. Beware the risen people who will take what you would not give.

YES WE CAN. CHANGE.

Motivational Note

Friends of President Barack Obama — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:19:02 EDT

Even though it may not look like it or feel like it, you are making progress.

Continue working towards progress instead of perfection.

Nothing or no no one is perfect.

Just keep taking steps.

Keep making those phone calls.

Continue following your plan.

Remain focused on your goal.

Do what you have to do right now to get to the next level.

Complete every task.

Keep every promise and commitment.

Don't look back.

Stay on track.

Let no one weaken your walk of faith and determination.

Remain teachable.

Place yourself in a blessing position by associating with people on-the-grow.

Talk with teachers.

Walk with winners.

Climb with champions.

Study successful people.

Something great is about to happen for you!

Start giving thanks right now before you can even see the outward manisfestation of your prayers and desires.

Everything you do from this day forward will take you further away or closer to your potential for successful living.

-by Dr. Jewel Diamond Taylor, Motivational Speaker & Author

Quote of the Week: "...even in the absence of justice..."

Gordon — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:13:21 EDT

...There were some Americans, however, who knew better. They were the ones who had seen the heavens fall: the slaves and their descendants...These Americans understood that there is an outcome even worse than the destruction of the world with justice, and it is the destruction of the world without justice. And they fortified themselves against that outcome with a joyful insistence upon the perpetuation of the world even in the absence of justice. The proximity of joy to injustice, of idealism to suffering, is the most affecting, and the most humbling, of human scenes. There are no greater inner resources than these. And so "yes, we can" is more forceful coming from a black man, even if this black man is not a sufferer.
-Let Justice Be Done, by Leon Weiseltier, The New Republic

Full column availalbe at:

http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=4d796374-f929-41ce-81f8-30b67892b714

What is at stake...

Bluesmachine at PeaceResource.org — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:45:04 EDT

Drilling is not the issue. Special Focus on the Issues from The Wordsmith Collection: OIL Friday, September 12, 2008 04:36 PMThe right keeps chanting, "drill, drill, drill." The left keeps chanting, "no, no, no." What will drilling accomplish in regard to relief of current high gasoline prices? Are we, as a nation, so naive as to believe that the drilling of new oil sources of U.S. crude will be sold to refineries at a much lower cost than the world market price and as a result we will see gasoline prices plummet- especially with the continued threat of the left's windfall profit tax on the oil companies? No, the oil produced in the U.S. will end up on the world market, then it will be at the mercy of speculators and the U.S. dollar to determine its price, then it will be bought by refinery plants at the going rate. That is the system we have allowed to evolve. The supply side would have a negligible effect on the world price of oil because of the absurd prospect of our government implementing something so simple as this, and done at a high enough volume to have a more than token effect on the market. The speculators have already shown what they will do with a modest increase in supply anyway. Saudi Arabia announced that it would increase production by 300,000 barrels per day with an additional 200,000 to be added later. This would, in a free market, be the perfect scenario to drive the price of oil down. But the speculators disregarded the increase in supply and they drove the price of oil up after the announcement. So much for a free market. Consider also that the world consumes approximately 90 million barrels of oil per day, but the speculator markets are trading in excess of a billion barrels per day. Free trade works off of a balance: too much product, lower prices, too little product, higher prices. Again, the oil market is not a free market.

Another way speculators inflate oil prices is when they short trade oil by betting on the price to fall, and when the prices actually rise, the speculators are forced to cover their positions. This drives the price of oil up. It's a no win situation with speculators in the market. Economically, the price of a barrel of oil is trading at double the price the free market equation would dictate. There is only one part of the economic equation that cannot justify, but can explain, why oil is $150 per barrel rather than $70. That is the speculation part of the equation.

The second scenario in which the dollar plays into the equation, and has an effect on the free market is as follows: When the dollar, which is also speculated on, starts dropping in value against other currencies, especially the Euro, speculators will short the dollar and buy oil futures long. When capital floods into a market at this high of a rate, it drive the price artificially up--then that same oil has to be purchased with a very weak dollar.

What does the free market dictate that the price of oil should be? Between $70-$80 per barrel, currently. OPEC countries will speak about the causes of high oil prices, but never will they try and justify the prices. You will not hear OPEC defend the global price of a barrel of oil. They cannot, because it is indefensible, and they are not responsible for the price. They control the majority of the supply side, but have not cut production to drive the price to its current level, nor have they refused to keep up with demand. There has not been any credible evidence, other than conjecture, that demand is out weighing supply by a large enough margin to justify the price of oil being over $70-$80 per barrel. Other than increasing production by 10%-25%, or decreasing productions by as much, OPEC has no control over the oil prices.

The trouble with speculators, other than taking oil off the free market, and doubling its value on the market, is that they can do this with as little as a 5% investment. Fifteen million dollars of oil can be controlled with $750,000. The speculator never takes possession of the oil, doesn't use it, and only trades pieces of paper for 5% of the oil's value. In 2007, when oil was $60 per barrel, speculators owned around 35% of oil, and all end users owned the rest. Today, speculators own over 70% of oil, and the end users own less than 30%. This incontestably summarizes why oil is trading around $150 per barrel, and thusly is poised to have a devastating effect on the world economy. The prospect will only get worse as long as oil is allowed to be priced on speculation.

Ed Forman had a quote that sums up what would be OPEC's worst nightmare: We change when the pain to change is less than the pain to remain as we are.

Has the world crossed the threshold of pain to change?

Oil prices that are sustained at the current prices are something that OPEC would rather not see perpetuated. Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi stated, "We are concerned about high prices. The market has no shortage of physical crude." Each county has a vested interest in reasonable oil prices and subsequently cheaper gasoline prices. Alternative sources of energy are starting to achieve the type of momentum that is sustainable and will only pick up speed and garner a solid foot hold, if oil prices stay at their current levels. The consequences of a mass produced, viable alternative energy source would be a dramatic drop in demand for oil, and the subsequent drop in the price per barrel. Once enough capital, energy, and success have been demonstrated in alternate energy sources, the process will not be reversed, and OPEC is acutely aware of this.

What is the solution? Drilling is not the answer, it is merely a band-aid for the underlying problem of the need for an alternative to oil for sustainable and affordable energy, but drilling is necessary for the very short term. We need to drill where oil is available, but only with a relatively short duration of time. Drilling is the typical way for the government to address the symptoms rather than the problems: weak dollar, out of control speculation, and an anemic attempt at a non petroleum source of energy. The control of oil speculation is imperative to the short term mitigation of the financial havoc high oil prices are having on the world economy. If speculators are going to continue to invest in oil futures, then raise the actual cash investment from a nominal 5% to a true investment of 100%. To phrase it with colloquial flair--they need to have some skin in the game. This would have to be a concerted effort of the countries that regulate the exchanges for oil futures, as not all of them are regulated within the U.S. If this is not plausible, and is met with overwhelming resistance from speculators and exchanges, then flood the market with oil.

There is almost, worldwide, two billion barrels of oil in strategic reserves, with the U. S. having 750 million barrels stored. If the speculators cannot be reined in, then flood the market with oil from the reserves, and bankrupt the speculators. This will shock oil back into a free market. It would work on the same principle as rebooting a computer--by rebooting, hopefully most of the bugs are eliminated and it will run smoothly, on its own.

The value of the dollar must be increased. This must be done by systematically contracting the supply of dollars, and decreasing the National debt. There would be consequences to this, but done in a methodical method, and over a determined period of time, it can be achieved. This would take the commitment of politicians over a period of time to make some unpopular decisions. One of the most biggest mistakes in the Bush administration was his unwillingness to balance the budget and attempt to eradicate the bloating national debt with what should have been surplus revenues, his tax cuts provided, and the vetoing of out of control spending by Congress.

If the above methods were applied to some degree and oil again drops to under $100 per barrel, and a deep breath is taken, the tendency of the U.S has always been to relax its ambitious quest for alternative energy. This must not be allowed to happen--because cheap gas leads to more consumption--and the cycle starts over again. The pursuit of alternative energy should be pushed until it gains enough momentum to cross the threshold of consummation.

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/33265.html

The War in Iraq: Corporate Occupation and Exploitation The Case against Offshore Oil
http://www.culturechange.org/caoe.html

l A steady stream of pollution from offshore rigs causes a wide range of health and reproductive problems for fish and other marine life.
l Offshore drilling exposes wildlife to the threat of oil spills that would devastate their populations.
l Offshore drilling activities destroy kelp beds, reefs and coastal wetlands.

Over its lifetime, a single oil rig can:
l Dump more than 90,000 metric tons of drilling fluid and metal cuttings into the ocean;
l Drill between 50-100 wells, each dumping 25,000 pounds of toxic metals, such as lead, chromium and mercury, and potent carcinogens like toluene, benzene, and xylene into the ocean, and
l Pollute the air as much as 7,000 cars driving 50 miles a day.Oil War?

Hard to Deny: Iraq is All About the Oil

By Michael Schwartz,
Tomdispatch.com
How the U.S. is working to secure Iraq's oil -- one of the most important sources of petrochemical energy on the planet -- and how the Iraqis are resisting.Is the Iraq war about oil?    Oil Pricing and the Price of Oil    The short answer is yes.
       "This war, say analysts, is about power and oil. It's about control of the Gulf states by means of strategic Iraq and, by extension, a final post-Cold War shakeout to give the U.S. more economic clout over China and Russia by controlling the oil spigot." http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0309-04.html

Environmental Danger
E nvironmental Resource

Let's Get Serious: Can Obama Really Win?

SRG_Legal — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:56:33 EDT

How many of you out there actually believe Obama is GOING TO BE President?

Between our beliefs that America can belong to The People again, and Kim Clement's prophecy, Obama is slated to become President on November 4 or sometime shortly thereafter, and to be inaugurated in January of 2009.

However, The Repugs have stolen elections before...what's to stop them from doing in this one?

Why not think ahead...to the IMF, the World Bank, even the Illuminati ... the "real owners" of this nation that George Carlin often said spend all of their time f-ing everyone else for their own profit, and killing other people's children while keeping their own children safe from harm.

There was a time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had more people listening to him than did the President of the United States. Right now, Obama is doing the same. Obama has more listeners and a broader outreach than the President himself, the vice-president, who has been industriously silent on the frontlines (who's watching Cheney right now and what is he up to? why has he sorta kinda 'disappeared' from view?), AND the world is definitely paying more attention to Obama than to McCain, which is why they keep calling him The One and The Celebrity. BUT, we all know that if Obama weren't running for office no one would be listening to McCain at all beause he really has nothing of worth to say.

Problem is, Mr. Average Joe Citizen has sat on his duff and let "Big Government" run our lives for so long, how much as actually spun out of control over the years? Who are the 'powers-that-be' that will only let Obama go so far before snatching the chair from under him?

I'm not preaching about the politics of fear or engaging in the semantics of conspiracy theories, I'm talking about reality.

Reality, meaning everything from two-faced people who smile about Obama to your face, but who would never vote for him simply because, though he is the best candidate, he is still a shamelessly professed "Black" man, with a black wife, and black children who have no business at Camp David during vacations unless they're serving lunch, cleaning toilets, takig notes, or sweeping the fireplace chimney. To them, that's all he will ever be - popularity or no popularity.

I am hoping Obama is taking a "working vacation" in Hawaii, and I am glad he is pacing himself and taking time out to breathe and relax before jumping back in the frying pan again, but some folk will even take his "breathers" for granted and call him out his name for needing a time out here or there.

And IF this is a legitimate election, rather than one that will be set up in the Supreme Court again, what about "the experience factor?" McCain does have 18 years government experience over Obama, though more of it is because of familial connections than actual self-achievement. I know white women 20 years my junior who have 10 years more experience than me simply because they were afforded opportunities in the span of my 35-year long career that never came my way.

But "experience" is the very reason McCain ought to be retired. President is a job he is much too old to handle. He is not ready, nor is he prepared to preside over all the people of all races and all nationalities -- he is only ready and prepared to preside over his own little special interest group of Caucasian power elite, just as many presidents before him did and with the exception of very few, while continuing to push the rest of us aside.

Of course, McCain's constituents either don't see what everyone else does, or at least they don't want to see it for obvious reasons. Obama is a Life Manager by his actions -- one who understands balance and equality in all things, and how to budget and manage money, as no other president-elect ever has before.

Today, Obama is wielding the same political sphere of influence and power as did Dr. King, just before the Poor People's Campaign was to take place -- and, in a sense, he is truly taking up the mantle and the gauntlet where Dr. King left off. King was a man who was in position to march and demonstrate for the rights of ALL workers and people in The Beloved Community who were being played, used, abused, ignored, and had their industry and hard work and hard-won gains (those of ALL races) taken for granted while the mob and the power elite and the corporate elite ran ramshod over this nation and turned it into a den of thieves and illicit gain.

However, when the power elite and corporate upper crust were threatened by the power King was earning by the truckloads, they had him snuffed out as they then credited racism and viral hatred (the politics of individual emotions run amuck) for a death that was actually endorsed and co-signed by the federal government, just as were the deaths of the Kennedys and several others who were assasinated. Hillary Clinton knows that, or is aware of it, or she wouldn't have said what she said about Robert Kennedy at The Ambassador in L.A. during the time that she was campaiging.

I realize Obama is not worried about it, or least that's what he and Michelle say and want us to believe, to help us 'be not afraid,' BUT the bottom line is that IF Obama is going to succeed, then the ENTIRE NATION of those outside of those power elite circles are going to have to rally around him day and night -- not just now, but even after he's elected; even if it has to be done in shifts around the nation, yeah -- around the globe.

We've got to do everything that we can to let these controlling b-words know that this is OUR country, too; not just theirs -- and that we want our nation and our lives and our right to privacy back and our children back home -- and that they can't just arbitrarily manipulate The Constitution to force people to do their will for their own personal profit and gain at the expense of our children while simultaneously keeping their own children out of harm's way.

Now is the time to end this once and for all. One nation, indivisible.

And even more than that, if this is truly the good and just nation that its patriot-citizens say it is, and Obama actually wins come November, will it be business as usual between blacks and whites -- or will true racial equality, on all sides, finally be within our reach? Will The Beloved Community be actualized, realized, and manifested at last?

Prior to this time, many thought black people were plain ignorant when the truth is that they had nothing to vote for and nothing to hope for before now, not even in the Clintons (who were still white at the end of the day). If America needs to be ONE NATION, it is past time to give its citizens who didn't believe there was any hope the hope that things can and will get better in the future. {Remember: Some people thought blacks don't read either, until they discovered that black people weren't reading because most of the stuff that was written had nothing to do with them and wasn't having any real impact on their lives one way or the other.}

Yet and at the same, many black Americans think Obama has some duty outside of serving ALL the people that is strictly theirs, and this, too, is untrue. Just because he IS Black doesn't mean he owes black people anything. If black folk don't/can't/won't stand up for themselves, no one has to do it for us--not even Obama, whether we like his Cosby-esque "blame the victim" motif or not.

Kapish?

Can Obama really win? It depends on how willing we all are to see to it that Big Government knows we're damn sick and tired of their crap and aren't taking it any more.

Obama isn't 'The One,' but he is the right one to lead us, and right now his wisdom is certainly comparable to that of King Solomon's. He is abundantly blessed with it, as is spoken of in the Book of Proverbs. Maybe he (Obama) humbly and graciously asked God for wisdom in his quiet prayer time, and God granted his prayer, because he certainly has it.

Obama 08

Biden Leads with Justice Integrity Act

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:03:08 EDT

BIDEN Introduces JUSTICE INTEGRITY ACT

Establishes Pilot Program to Study Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

July 10, 2008

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, along with Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and John F. Kerry (D-MA), today introduced the Justice Integrity Act, legislation designed to increase public confidence in the justice system and address any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal process. The Justice Integrity Act will establish advisory groups in ten federal districts, under the supervision of the United States Attorney General, to study and determine the extent of racial and ethnic disparity in the various stages of the criminal justice system; make public reports on the results of their findings; and make specific recommendations to help to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and unjustified racial and ethnic disparities.

“Nowhere is the guarantee of equal protection more important than in our criminal justice system,” said Sen. Biden, former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The reality is that despite the best efforts and intentions of policymakers, racial and ethnic disparities continue to plague our justice system. We need to step up our efforts in order to root these disparities out.”

Studies, reports, and case law from the last several years have documented racial disparities during many of the stages of the criminal justice system—law enforcement contact with a suspect, arrest, charging, plea bargaining, jury selection, and sentencing. Nowhere is this more evident than in our prisons, according to data compiled by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. Minorities now make up more than two-thirds of persons convicted of offenses in State and Federal courts. At least 60 percent and, by some estimates, nearly three-quarters of prisoners in the United States are either African American or Hispanic. One of every three African American men born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime. Disparities in the criminal justice process like these engender a crisis of public trust in the integrity of our criminal justice system and raise the possibility that we are failing to make good on the Constitutional promise of equal protection.

“I came to the Senate 35 years ago because of the civil rights movement and because I wanted to help end injustices everywhere,” added Sen. Biden.
"America has come a long way in the fight for civil rights, but new and more subtle forms of prejudice still endure. For Americans to respect the rule of law, they must have faith that justice is attainable for everyone. The Justice Integrity Act will help us continue to fulfill the Constitution’s promise that every American will enjoy the equal protection of the laws."
The Justice Integrity Act establishes a pilot program within the Justice Department to identify and eliminate unjustified disparities in the administration of justice. The program calls for:

Ten U.S. Attorneys, designated by the Attorney General, are directed to appoint and chair an advisory group, composed of federal and state prosecutors and defenders, private defense counsel, federal and state judges, correctional officers, victims’ rights representatives, civil rights organizations, business representatives and faith-based organizations engaged in criminal justice work.

Each advisory group to systematically gather and examine data regarding the criminal process in its district and seek to determine the causes of any racial or ethnic disparity.

Produce a report on key findings and recommend a plan to reduce any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities, and thereby increase public confidence in the criminal justice system.

At the end of the pilot program, the Attorney General will produce a comprehensive report to Congress on the results in all ten districts and recommend best-practices going forward.

Numerous law enforcement and civil rights organizations have expressed their support for Sen. Biden’s legislation, including the American Bar Association, the National Criminal Justice Association, and The Sentencing Project.

Thomas M. Susman, Director of the American Bar Association, said: “Growing racial disparities work to erode confidence among minorities in the fairness of the criminal justice system. All of us have a stake in the rule of law in our justice system, and we must continually aspire to achieve both the perception and reality that our criminal justice system is fair, unbiased and just. The ABA stands ready to work with you toward timely enactment of the Justice Integrity Act.”

Cabell C. Cropper, Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Association, said: “NCJA members applaud your commitment to analyzing the root causes of disparity, regionally and nationally. The Justice Integrity Act will provide tools for gathering and analyzing data and exploring the root causes of inequity. Only by learning what triggers and enables the disparity can we, as a society, work to reverse it. The American judicial system is known as a beacon for countries around the world. We must look unflinchingly at weaknesses where they exist and work together at the federal, state and local levels to ensure the administration of justice is fair, ethical and unbiased.”

July 18, 2008

Senator Biden proposes "Justice Integrity Act" to study federal criminal justice disparities

Perhaps because the bill he introduced last week has gotten no press coverage, I only recently learned about Senator Joe Biden's encouraging efforts to examine racial and ethnic disparities in the federal criminal justice system. The basics of the bill are explained in this press release from Biden's office, which starts this way:

U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, along with Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and John F. Kerry (D-MA), today introduced the Justice Integrity Act, legislation designed to increase public confidence in the justice system and address any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal process. The Justice Integrity Act will establish advisory groups in ten federal districts, under the supervision of the United States Attorney General, to study and determine the extent of racial and ethnic disparity in the various stages of the criminal justice system; make public reports on the results of their findings; and make specific recommendations to help to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and unjustified racial and ethnic disparities.

Thanks to a link from the Sentencing Project, the full text of the Biden bill is available here. Also, a Google search led me to this short letter from the ABA, which expressed strong support for the bill. The ABA letter starts this way:

[The American Bar Association and its members] express our strong support for the Justice Integrity Act, legislation to examine the cause and extent of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system and to facilitate the development of proposals for reducing or eliminating racial and ethnic bias where it is found. We applaud your leadership in introducing the Justice Integrity Act. It provides a thoughtful approach to addressing this issue of great importance to our justice system through supporting the gathering of facts and generation of proposals for reform at the federal district level.

No Compromise ! No Such Thing as Clean Offshore Drilling!

Tom Pearce Palm Beach Community Organizer — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:11:56 EDT

Senator Obama please remember there is no clean compromise on offshore oil drilling!

After Katrina: Oil Spill First Responders
Megan Sever
When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August, no one was immune from its rage. The hurricane hit oil and gas infrastructure particularly hard. More than 100 platforms were destroyed or lost, major pipelines were shut down, and refineries and oil storage sites lost power and were flooded and heavily damaged. While thousands of people rushed out of the area, struggling to avoid rising flood waters, some folks were rushing in. They were hoping to prevent — or at least quickly clean up — what would become America’s largest oil spill since the 11-million-gallon Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989

The Truth

D. Conley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:45:21 EDT

I am the author and the audience for this blog which is desired because a real audience or another might just provoke me to write or receive something other than the truth. And what, dear audience, is better than the truth? Perhaps, justice, freedom, eqality, peace. But I would argue that these things are byproducts of truth. Mere outcomes, endings, returns on the investment. I believe that Barrack stands for truth. We have been lied to, misled, victimized, vandalized, and broken down as a society, once united for truth. In fact, this nation was breed on truth, even if though it was one man's version. So I say to demand one thing before you vote. Demand honesty, integrity, passion, and most importantly, truth. Jesus was the truth and still is. That is why I pray for this nation. Because I cherish American dreams. I cherish opportunity. And the only paved road to those destinations is one of truth. That that is change that you can trust.

The Department Of Injustice

Kyle Clifford — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:44:47 EDT

The Department Of Injustice
Current mood: aggravated
Category: News and Politics

The next time someone tells me that the justice system is a failed system, I'll agree with them. Today we have found out what most liberals and advocates of constitutional law and the justice system have long known to be true. This being the fact that the Department of Justice have been hiring governmental lawyers, prosecutors, and immigration judges, based on the individual's political preference. The main question during the interview process being, "what is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him". Which not only sounds like George W. Bush is a pharaoh or a dictator of some sorts that you have to adhere to, but there's also one minor detail that Mrs. Monica Goodling, the woman conducting most of the interviews, inherently forgot to commit to memory.

And this of course being the fact that employees that belong to the Justice Department do not work for the president, rather they work for justice. Hence the name Justice Department. Mrs. Goodling was the counselor for Alberto Gonzales, who was the second Attorney General for this current administration. So if we extrapolate from the fact that Goodling was directly under Gonzales, that we could infer that Gonzales supported and perhaps even approved of this method in conducting these interviews. Even though he has commented that he had absolutely no involvement in this scandal, which I'm sure we can take a man who approved of water boarding as a means of getting information out of terrorist suspects (notice that last word) and in addition thought habeas corpus was irrelevant in these specific cases.

Now we are talking about hundreds of positions that were filled during the last couple of years, all appointed on that basis that the applicants were right leaning conservatives who shared a common interest with the president. This hiring process is completely illegal and the saddest part of this whole story is the fact that neither Kyle Sampson (who was chief of staff for Gonzales and is also involved in these illegal hires) or Monica Goodling will be prosecuted on counts of perjury. Which is yet another blow to the entire legal system as we know it to be now. And if Goodling and Sampson and any of the other probably numerous aides that assisted in the hiring process aren't at least indicted for perjury or using discriminatory methods in a federal workplace then it is definitely this Congress's fault for not taking the initiative.

Because this is the time to stop the roll back of so many laws that the Bush administration have accomplished over the years and make a step forward in reversing all of the immoral and illegal things that the current administration has had the audacity to commit. This is the pivotal moment to step up and fight for rule of law and abide by something that obviously many in the Bush cabinet have yet to finish reading; the constitution. If this actually does dissolve and no one is criminally investigated, then maybe there is no hope for the Americans that actually believe that rule of law can work. That you can hire people that are completely the opposite of your political beliefs and the country would still be the same and perhaps better than it already is.

What really baffles me is the fact that the president took an oath to obey the constitution. So in turn that would also mean that any member of his cabinet were to do the exact same as their employer. And also in turn to that, that any aide or staff member to that cabinet member would do the same. At the end of the day I really would like to see some sort of justice served (oh the irony), but that's really just my extreme optimism seeping through the cracks. And then my realistic side pops up and reminds me that in this case that will not occur and that there's only approximately 180 days or so more until this administration has subsided. And that hopefully an Obama administration will be in place ready to move forward all legislation that will promote constitutional rights and rule of law. Thank you for reading.

-Kyle

Social Sculpturing of America's Future

Social Entrepreneur - Supporter Indigenous People — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:26:24 EDT

Social Cognitive Science and the emerging conversations of deep-rooted biological paradigms are pointing to the fundamental social loving nature that constitutes, sustains and maintains human beings. This new conversation is offering an exploration of grounded understanding of human beings as social loving animals and opens an exploration into the 'plasticity' for the dynamic temporal architecture of our living system that is capable of opening possibilities beyond our current imaginations.

We experience social relations everyday in the domain of friendship! Friends are social relations where the standard practice is to presence ethical legitimacy-in-coexistence with another! All of us at heart desire to be accepted and valued enacting care, feeding and nurturing one another. Humanity has the capability now to make a quantum leap into designing a world together and for future generations!

This blog focuses on Native American, First Nations, Cognitive Science, and Integral Movements developing worldwide.

Thanks

Patric

Ridiculous RNC Poll. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Margotb822 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:04:42 EDT

It’s unfortunate that the GOP is so scared of true debate. Why must they always ignore the facts, spin the truth, and point fingers at their opponents? It’s tiring, and more importantly, it’s hurting America. The GOP’s smoke and mirrors act is hindering effective debate on important issues and keeps America from making true progress for all.

Objection! Leading the Voter!

Presidential Powers

Shammy — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:52:48 EDT

I'm intrested in hearing from BOTH candidates what their positions are on presidential powers. What is their position on signing statements? On war powers? On executive privilege?

What changes do they intend to make, if any, regarding the Dept of Justice?

How "open" will the new administration be?

This would be just a start. I'm really frustrated that to date, the candidates have not discussed this issue.

Don't Fall into the Trap of Perfectionism

Prof. Susan L. Smith — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:44:03 EDT

There are many issues where I have some difference of opinion with Obama. I have a slightly different position on immigration, on FISA, etc. But, I still believe he is different.

I've watched him speak, read his articles in Foreign Affairs and elsewhere, read his books, kept up with the news. Based upon what I see and hear, I believe he is different.

I believe he is a genuine, authentic human being who cares about people, who cares about justice, who cares about peace, and who does not value wealth or prestige or material consumption or corporate power.

He has taken a unique path to seek the power of the presidency -- one that relies upon each of us being willing to put aside our differences and work toward a greater good.

I believe he seeks power to make the world a better place. He has been willing to enter the lion's den of Washington,D.C. and speak truth not only to power, but to all of us who try to simplify life into one or two or three big issues.

I know for sure that I'd rather have a U.S. Supreme Court considering the constitutionality of FISA that has Obama appointees than Republican appointees. And that goes double for the rest of the federal courts. Believe me, federal court appointments may well be the most enduring legacy of the King Bush II administration. A Supreme Court that believes the Constitutional Convention imagined individual rights to AK-47s, submachine guns, and bazookas. A Supreme Court that thinks a punitive damage award of a few million dollars will change the reckless conduct of Exxon Mobil in using drunks to pilot oil tankers. Dozens of cases would have been decided differently if Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II had not been presidents -- and America would be a different place.

This is a time for being honest about our differences...and our disappointments... but being realistic about how drastic a change Obama would be compared to McCain. We need that change. We desparately need that change!

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

The War in Iraq (EE-rock) or Know Before You Go

William from San Francisco, CA — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:43:54 EDT

As a general rule, and I may have wanted to include it in the Foreign Policy post, I think the United States should not attack any country unless more than 50% of the American people know how to find it on a globe, how to spell and pronounce its name and why we are attacking (we are still 0 for 3- five years later).
I think, under those rules, that the United States could never start an aggressive war (I think that would be a good thing!). How can people be afraid of a place they know nothing about? Answer: propaganda, apathy and fear.
We need to leave Iraq. I have heard figures of over 100,000 dead Iraqis since the invasion. There is dispute on this number- but lets be clear why there is dispute: the US forces do not bother to keep track. Do we owe the Iraqi people for all that death and destruction? Of course we do. Can we give them justice by maintaining military bases on their lands indefinitely? Of course not. Do we need 140,000 troops in Iraq to build a school? No.
Besides the thousands of dead Iraqis (who go largely un-remarked and un-mourned in this country) 4113 American service men and women have died (go to http://icasualties.org/oif/BY_DOD.aspx).
This war was a terrible mistake. I would love it if I could just blame Bush. I cannot, if I am going to be honest, do that. I guess if I wanted to feel better about it I would say it is the fault of Congress. Again I feel like I have to be honest.
I have thought about this for some time and I am left with the conclusion that the only innocent people are the Iraqis and the non-comm. soldiers who either go and fight or get a pretty crumby vacation at Ft. Leavenworth (I assume military prison is not fun).
I, as a citizen, did nothing to oppose the war prior to its start (although it is my responsibility in a representative democracy to be active and vocal in the political process). I did not call my representatives nor did I join in protest. So, in some respects, I bear as much responsibility as my poor, foolish and incompetent congress people. I would also suggest that anyone who opposes the war now, but has not done anything, also shares some responsibility.
If you disagree with that all I can say is that if we live a country where the people have absolutely no control over policies then we, in fact, do not live in a democratic nation. If citizens have no responsibilities then this is just another totalitarian nation.
Share your thoughts and opinions.

Criminal Justice

William from San Francisco, CA — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:33:23 EDT

I am, again, fairly 'left' (sensible, fair) on this issue.
Prison, in my opinion, should be left for violent criminals. Crimes against property should not be prisonable offenses. I do not believe that people commit crime for fun- I think they do it for survival and/or because that is the easiest way to make a living.
I believe that drug crimes are not real. If a person chooses to hurt themselves they should be given their freedom to do so. I do not believe children should have access to drugs.
I believe I heard a statistic that said 1% (one out of every one hundred) adults is in prison or has been in prison. Are all of these people evil? Of course not.
I think that the end- goal of our criminal justice system should be to protect society- not punish people. Reforming criminals should be our primary concern.
I also do not believe that felons should lose the right to vote. It is very suspicious to me that African-American men are disproportionately incarcerates (and disproportionately disenfranchised).
I also oppose the death penalty. If you had to choose someone to give the power of life and death who would you want to give that right too? If you can name one trustworthy person ask yourself if you can name fifty? Then ask yourself who you would want to decide if your children would live. It is too messy and dangerous to give people the authority to kill others. lets do the safe thing and just stop the practice all together.
Mental health is a major issue in our prisons as well. (Please see 'Frontline: The New Asylums' at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/view/. I think we can do a better job for the people of the United States. These 'criminals' are a part of our society (a forgotten and neglected part) and we should not throw-them away.
Finally- it is well known that people in prison are raped and abused (both by other inmates and by guards). These are, also, crimes. That we do not care about these people is very disturbing. After we take these people freedoms we insure that their lives will be miserable. We make it harder for them to get jobs and services.
We can reform our prison and we can lower the rate of recidivism.
Please post your ideas.

A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE; Pentagon vs EPA

Nick Danger — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:40:16 EDT

The Defense Department is the nation's biggest polluter and they are resisting orders from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean
up Fort Meade and two other military bases where the EPA says dumped chemicals pose "imminent and substantial" dangers to public health and the environment.

The actions are part of a standoff between the Pentagon and environmental regulators that has been building during the Bush administration, leaving the EPA in a legal limbo as it addresses growing concerns about contaminants on military bases that are seeping into drinking water aquifers and soil.

Under executive branch policy, the EPA will not sue the Pentagon, as it would a private polluter. Although the law gives final say to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in cleanup disputes with other federal agencies, the Pentagon refuses to recognize that provision. Military officials wrote to the Justice Department last month to challenge EPA's authority to issue the orders and asked the Office of Management and Budget to intervene.

Experts in environmental law said the Pentagon's stand is unprecedented.

It appears we have another Bush administration travesty of justice and that it's going nearly unreported in the mainstream media. Why is this story not front and center? Shouldn't we bring this story front and center? The editorial department of your local paper is but a mouseclick away...Let's stand up for our rights and those of all americans as we paint Washington blue in Novemeber!

An Open Letter on the impending FISA vote

Michael — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:06:15 EDT

http://baltimorechronicle.com/2008/063008Laskin.shtml

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