Human Rights
Every year or so, some right-winger in America lets fly in public with a ripe salvo of racism, and the liberal watchdogs come tearing out of their kennels, and the neighborhood echoes with the barks and shouts. The right-winger says he didn't mean it, the president "distances himself," and the liberals claim they're shocked beyond all measure. Then, everyday life in racist America resumes its even course.
This past week it's been the turn of that conservative public moraliser, William Bennett. He should have known better than to loose off a hypothetical on his radio show. Announce publicly that "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down," and many Americans reckon that's no hypothesis, that's a plan waiting to happen.
This past week it's been the turn of that conservative public moraliser, William Bennett. He should have known better than to loose off a hypothetical on his radio show. Announce publicly that "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down," and many Americans reckon that's no hypothesis, that's a plan waiting to happen.
Aho My Relations,
On August 15, 2005 I was transferred to USP Lewisburg in Pennsylvania. Life has been extra difficult for me since I was transferred from Leavenworth. This system is designed to make one feel very powerless, and what they are doing with me now is definitely aimed to erode my body and spirit even more. My loved ones, and all of you, my friends and allies who continue to support me, keep me sane and hopeful.
Lee Gatwood surprised Kevin Bayles, his partner of four years, with a ring right before the ceremony. Another lesbian couple, not pictured, who are African American, decided to leave right after the ceremony when they learned that they would be turned down for a marriage license. It is surprising but many Ohio citizens still do not know that gays can’t legally marry here in the “land of the free.” These six couples, accompanied by Rev. Hawk, went into the Courthouse and applied for licenses. When refused, they thanked the clerk and said. “We’ll be back next year and every year until we get equal rights!” A couple of women passing by while the ceremony was being performed, were heard to say, as if scripted in a grade B movie, “It was Adam and Eve!” and “They must be praying to a different God.” Rev. Creech commented later, “Maybe we ARE praying to a different God; ours loves and accepts everybody, regardless of orientation!”
The military spent over $200 million to recruit and train personnel to replace service members discharged over the last decade for being openly gay, according to a Congressional report that was just released. The report found that over 10,000 troops were discharged for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that was instituted in 1993 under President Clinton. The policy allows military personnel to serve only if they do not disclose their homosexuality to anyone, including family members.
The estimate of $200 million was conservative, at best. The report only reviewed enlisted personnel who were discharged, and did not include the figures for replacing officers. Additionally, the report only contained the estimates of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. The Marines declined to participate in the study. The report also did not consider the costs of investigating and discharging the personnel, nor did it contain the costs of processing legal challenges and reviews of the dismissals.
The estimate of $200 million was conservative, at best. The report only reviewed enlisted personnel who were discharged, and did not include the figures for replacing officers. Additionally, the report only contained the estimates of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. The Marines declined to participate in the study. The report also did not consider the costs of investigating and discharging the personnel, nor did it contain the costs of processing legal challenges and reviews of the dismissals.
Beacon Fellowship Columbus has learned that the Simon Kenton Council of the Boy Scouts of America signed a required non-discrimination statement with the United Way of Central Ohio (UWCO) in order to receive funding from the agency. But the Council also sent a "clarification" letter saying that the organization "will not unlawfully discriminate against anyone". The BSA maintains that it has the right to select its own volunteers based upon its own policies.
Some BSA Councils will say they won't discriminate out of one side of their mouth in order to secure funding, get reduced city owned/taxpayer building space, use of public schools and government lands." says Scott Cozza, President of Scouting for All, a national organization working to end the polices of bigotry and discrimination from the BSA. "There is absolutely NO BSA Council that has defied the BSA's national policy of discrimination. That means that no gay or atheist child or adult can feel safe as a member of the BSA, nor can they join this youth outdoor program" Cozza says.
Some BSA Councils will say they won't discriminate out of one side of their mouth in order to secure funding, get reduced city owned/taxpayer building space, use of public schools and government lands." says Scott Cozza, President of Scouting for All, a national organization working to end the polices of bigotry and discrimination from the BSA. "There is absolutely NO BSA Council that has defied the BSA's national policy of discrimination. That means that no gay or atheist child or adult can feel safe as a member of the BSA, nor can they join this youth outdoor program" Cozza says.
At the gay rights rally on January 15, 2005, held in front of the Ohio Statehouse, Lynn Bowman, speaking for the Human Rights Campaign, told 80 Ohio gays to “get over it.”
Bowman knows of what she speaks when she conveys HRC views on the 11 states that passed anti-gay legislation last November. She serves on HRC’s Board of Governors, as the Regional Co-Chair for the Northern Region of the US, and on HRC’s Steering Committee. She relayed the apparent sentiments of HRC leadership with shockingly direct abuse.
Had I made some quantum leap into a parallel universe? Was I listening to the rhetoric of the rabid right, “I have three words for you: Get over it. Two more: You lost.” being heaped on us by our gay “leaders”? Does HRC think abuse will win new donors? Apparently so.
Single-Issue Politics Is Dead
Bowman knows of what she speaks when she conveys HRC views on the 11 states that passed anti-gay legislation last November. She serves on HRC’s Board of Governors, as the Regional Co-Chair for the Northern Region of the US, and on HRC’s Steering Committee. She relayed the apparent sentiments of HRC leadership with shockingly direct abuse.
Had I made some quantum leap into a parallel universe? Was I listening to the rhetoric of the rabid right, “I have three words for you: Get over it. Two more: You lost.” being heaped on us by our gay “leaders”? Does HRC think abuse will win new donors? Apparently so.
Single-Issue Politics Is Dead
A recent obituary in the New York Times told about Frank Smith, "who
as an inmate leader at Attica prison was tortured by officers in the
aftermath of the prisoner uprising of 1971 and then spent a quarter century
successfully fighting for legal damages." Working as a paralegal after his
release, Smith was a pivotal force behind a 26-year civil action lawsuit
that won a $12 million settlement.
Smith's life changed forever on Sept. 13, 1971 -- the day when New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller ordered 500 state troopers to attack the upstate Attica Correctional Facility, killing 29 inmates and 10 guards held as hostages. The raid wounded at least 86 other people.
The media coverage was atrocious. Outright lies were front-page news, "informing" the public that prisoners had slit the throats of hostages when the troopers' assault began. Corrective facts came later, with much smaller headlines, after autopsies revealed that no throats had been cut. Only when their claims were exposed as deceptions did top state officials admit the truth.
Smith's life changed forever on Sept. 13, 1971 -- the day when New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller ordered 500 state troopers to attack the upstate Attica Correctional Facility, killing 29 inmates and 10 guards held as hostages. The raid wounded at least 86 other people.
The media coverage was atrocious. Outright lies were front-page news, "informing" the public that prisoners had slit the throats of hostages when the troopers' assault began. Corrective facts came later, with much smaller headlines, after autopsies revealed that no throats had been cut. Only when their claims were exposed as deceptions did top state officials admit the truth.
Happy Gay Pride. I look over the
years and I see so much hate
for the gay lifestyle, but does that make me ashamed? The answer, short and sweet ... No.
People hide behind religion with gay and non-gay reasoning. At the age of 10, while I was a camper at a Salvation Army camp here in the central Ohio area, I was molested by the camp counselor. When the leadership of the Salvation Army found out this happened, they fired him and had him leave the camp without informing the police or seeking help for the many campers he had sex with. The simple reason they didn’t want to turn him in was they knew he was going to be a minister and didn’t want to hurt his lifelong dream, and with him being gone nobody would be hurt. But what I found out during the following year was not only did he have sex with me at the camp but he also had sex with several other children all under the age of 12.
People hide behind religion with gay and non-gay reasoning. At the age of 10, while I was a camper at a Salvation Army camp here in the central Ohio area, I was molested by the camp counselor. When the leadership of the Salvation Army found out this happened, they fired him and had him leave the camp without informing the police or seeking help for the many campers he had sex with. The simple reason they didn’t want to turn him in was they knew he was going to be a minister and didn’t want to hurt his lifelong dream, and with him being gone nobody would be hurt. But what I found out during the following year was not only did he have sex with me at the camp but he also had sex with several other children all under the age of 12.
Dear Sir
The Palestinian Christian is an endangered species. When the modern state of Israel was established there were about 400000 of us. Two years ago the number was down to 80000. Now it's down to 60000. At that rate, in a few years there will be none of us left.
Palestinian Christians within Israel fare little better. On the face of it, their number has grown by 20000 since 1991. But this is misleading, for the census classification 'Christian' includes some 20000 recent non-Arab migrants from the former Soviet Union.
So why are Palestinian Christians abandoning their homeland?
We have lost hope, that's why. We are treated as non-people. Few outside the Middle East even know we exist, and those who do, conveniently forget.
I refer, of course, to the American Religious Right. They see the modern Israel as a harbinger of the Second Coming, at which time Christians will go to Paradise, and all others (presumably including Jews) to Hell. To this end they lend military and moral support to Israel.
We have lost hope, that's why. We are treated as non-people. Few outside the Middle East even know we exist, and those who do, conveniently forget.
I refer, of course, to the American Religious Right. They see the modern Israel as a harbinger of the Second Coming, at which time Christians will go to Paradise, and all others (presumably including Jews) to Hell. To this end they lend military and moral support to Israel.
President Bush today called for passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that if ratified, would define marriage as a union only between one man and one woman.
"What this president has done is appalling and is not in defense of anything, instead its a promotion of hate and bigotry against taxpaying American citizens solely on the basis of their sexual orientation" says Perry Slone, Director of Ohio Citizens for Social Justice (OCSJ), an organization working to create social change and address social justice issues.
"This man is only interested in getting himself re-elected, and those of us who support diversity and freedom must do everything we can do to defeat him and also work to defeat this hateful Amendment" says Slone.
Democratic Presidential candidates John Kerry and John Edwards, are opposed to same-sex marriage, but they also oppose a constitutional amendment, saying that its an issue that should be decided by the states and not the federal government.
"What this president has done is appalling and is not in defense of anything, instead its a promotion of hate and bigotry against taxpaying American citizens solely on the basis of their sexual orientation" says Perry Slone, Director of Ohio Citizens for Social Justice (OCSJ), an organization working to create social change and address social justice issues.
"This man is only interested in getting himself re-elected, and those of us who support diversity and freedom must do everything we can do to defeat him and also work to defeat this hateful Amendment" says Slone.
Democratic Presidential candidates John Kerry and John Edwards, are opposed to same-sex marriage, but they also oppose a constitutional amendment, saying that its an issue that should be decided by the states and not the federal government.