Op-Ed
As a registered voter and citizen of Ohio, I no longer have to wonder why we can't get animal abuse laws passed? During House Session-December 5, 2012-Part 2, our legislators can be heard joking and laughing about raping animals while they discuss a bestiality bill against raping dogs which I am unhappy to inform you is legal in OHIO, other than being charged with a misdemeanor Animal Abuse. They talked about how sheep don't have enough protection in Ohio; following by open laughter (65:38 time), not chuckles or snickers, out right belly laughing. There were even a couple comments by a business man about his personal relationship with his sheep. Again laughter, not chuckles or snickers, out right belly laughing. For our lawmakers out rightly joke and laugh out loud about animal abuse shows there is a bigger problem than most citizens and voters realize. This is such unprofessional and immoral, uncompassionate behavior for elected officials. Governor Kasich, VOTERS AND CITIZENS OF OHIO, you should be totally and utterly disgusted to have these kinds of people representing our state. I’M DISGUSTED and I want something done about this. How about you?
A few thoughts in praise of backwardness.
"We don't look backward," says President Obama in reference to imposing justice on powerful large-scale criminal suspects. Of course, as we don't prosecute future crimes but only crimes of the past, "not looking backward" is a euphemism for immunity -- an immunity not granted to those accused of small-scale crimes or crimes with no victims at all.
"Forward!" says President Obama, making that seemingly vacuous word his slogan. But the word has meaning; it means continuing thoughtlessly in the current direction, without seeking guidance from the mistakes or accomplishments or untested inspirations of the past.
The secrecy of the Obama White House, including record levels of classification, ground-breaking legal claims to secrecy, and record-level prosecutions of whistleblowers, moves us in practice to the position of rolling "forward" without a clear idea where we are or where we've just been. This is nearly as fatal to good public policy as "looking forward" is to law enforcement.
"We don't look backward," says President Obama in reference to imposing justice on powerful large-scale criminal suspects. Of course, as we don't prosecute future crimes but only crimes of the past, "not looking backward" is a euphemism for immunity -- an immunity not granted to those accused of small-scale crimes or crimes with no victims at all.
"Forward!" says President Obama, making that seemingly vacuous word his slogan. But the word has meaning; it means continuing thoughtlessly in the current direction, without seeking guidance from the mistakes or accomplishments or untested inspirations of the past.
The secrecy of the Obama White House, including record levels of classification, ground-breaking legal claims to secrecy, and record-level prosecutions of whistleblowers, moves us in practice to the position of rolling "forward" without a clear idea where we are or where we've just been. This is nearly as fatal to good public policy as "looking forward" is to law enforcement.
History is filled with examples of brave individuals who have broken the law to serve the greater good of humanity. In other words, whistleblowers expose crimes, even if they break a law in the process, and like a jaywalker who crosses street to stop a murder- they should be given medal for their heroism and pardoned the jaywalking ticket. Bradley Manning, who is alleged to have shared information with WikiLeaks that exposed spying, corruption, war crimes, among other tools of repression used by the global elite – is a shining example of one such individual who deserves to a ticker tape parade befitting a hero, not the over 900 odd days of imprisonment and torture that have lead up to his current hearing at Fort Meade.
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Fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS has been an uphill battle for over 30 years. This disease has disproportionally affected our community. 1 in 16 African American men and 1 in 32 African American women will be diagnosed with HIV during their lifetime. If Black America were its own country, it would rank 16th in the world for people living with HIV.
Earlier this year, the NAACP Health Department launched a HIV and AIDS awareness campaign and created a faith and social justice manual with faith leaders titled The Black Church and HIV: the Social Justice Imperative. For more information about this Initiative and the manual, please visit Initiative
We are committed to stopping the spread of the disease so we encourage you, your family and the community to get tested. Free testing is available in your area — go here for further information:
HIV Testing site locator
Earlier this year, the NAACP Health Department launched a HIV and AIDS awareness campaign and created a faith and social justice manual with faith leaders titled The Black Church and HIV: the Social Justice Imperative. For more information about this Initiative and the manual, please visit Initiative
We are committed to stopping the spread of the disease so we encourage you, your family and the community to get tested. Free testing is available in your area — go here for further information:
HIV Testing site locator
Heroes, parades, and much more for the men and women that serve in our Armed Forces as they first return. There is a neglected percentage that is swept under the rug and never is seen as they once were when we first returned. The men and women where the silent demons of years past come to haunt and destroy, as the faded glory once recognized by others gone. The commanding attitude with the suspicious survival instincts that civilized society sees as dominance and miss trust to justify under safety issues to ignore or isolate you. Incarceration rather than treatment for the medical conditions of war no one wants to see as the cause and effect of what happens. Combat fatigue, PTSD depending on the war how civilized society rates us for the useless life we have become. Homeless on the street because this nation will not recognize medical conditions that are not recorded in the time limit established by those that never serve. Politician’s refusal to listen and hear the bums sleeping under bridges in filth and shame because our uniforms are now dirty and the sins of our history clean citizens can and will not accept.
In Cook County jails, prisoners are charged as much as $15 a call to be in touch with their relatives. The exploitive rates can force families — already struggling with the burdens of having a loved one locked up — to choose between supporting their loved one or paying for heat or food. An Illinois study found that the price of phone calls from prison was one of the two most significant barriers to family contact during incarceration.
Why are the most captive and vulnerable being charged such brutal rates for a phone call? Because they can be. They have no choice in provider. The prison system cuts a deal with a telephone company that pays the state a “commission” — what the New York Times calls a “legalized kickback” — that ranges from 15 to 60 percent of the revenue. Thus, as a report by the Prison Policy Initiative details, state prison systems have no incentive to select the company with the lowest rates. Instead, the correctional departments gain the most by selecting the company that provides the highest commissions.
Why are the most captive and vulnerable being charged such brutal rates for a phone call? Because they can be. They have no choice in provider. The prison system cuts a deal with a telephone company that pays the state a “commission” — what the New York Times calls a “legalized kickback” — that ranges from 15 to 60 percent of the revenue. Thus, as a report by the Prison Policy Initiative details, state prison systems have no incentive to select the company with the lowest rates. Instead, the correctional departments gain the most by selecting the company that provides the highest commissions.
Dear Editor:
Women’s rights are a quintessential part of political decisions,which could not have been more clear in the recent presidential election. Women all over the country voiced theiropinion in support of reproductive health care.
Why is it that Ohio politicians are interested in eliminating thisprogress? Each woman is capable of making her appropriate health care decisionand should not be limited by legislation from a large group of malepoliticians. The voters spoke, but too many of our representatives in Columbusare not listening. What will it take for our message to be heard?
I am an Ohio college student and I personallyrely on Planned Parenthood for my own reproductive health care. As an aspiring medical student I spend mytime in the classroom, the lab, and on campus studying, leaving no time for ajob on the side. Therefore, I rely onthe services provided at the local Planned Parenthood to maintain properhealth. In addition, I have many peers withsimilar lifestyles and share the same concerns regarding the defunding ofwomen’s health care.
Women’s rights are a quintessential part of political decisions,which could not have been more clear in the recent presidential election. Women all over the country voiced theiropinion in support of reproductive health care.
Why is it that Ohio politicians are interested in eliminating thisprogress? Each woman is capable of making her appropriate health care decisionand should not be limited by legislation from a large group of malepoliticians. The voters spoke, but too many of our representatives in Columbusare not listening. What will it take for our message to be heard?
I am an Ohio college student and I personallyrely on Planned Parenthood for my own reproductive health care. As an aspiring medical student I spend mytime in the classroom, the lab, and on campus studying, leaving no time for ajob on the side. Therefore, I rely onthe services provided at the local Planned Parenthood to maintain properhealth. In addition, I have many peers withsimilar lifestyles and share the same concerns regarding the defunding ofwomen’s health care.
Here’s one take on U.S. militarism and the culture of domination:
“Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight.
“. . . Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. . . . That’s why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American.”
Here’s another:
“I can’t sleep without drugs. But even then, I often wake up in the middle of the night, crying, my mind racing. And I lie there awake in the dark, reliving the rape, looking for a second chance for it to end with a different outcome, but he always wins.”
“Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight.
“. . . Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. . . . That’s why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American.”
Here’s another:
“I can’t sleep without drugs. But even then, I often wake up in the middle of the night, crying, my mind racing. And I lie there awake in the dark, reliving the rape, looking for a second chance for it to end with a different outcome, but he always wins.”
Henry Kissinger's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize didn't, in the end, eliminate satire from the earth (or peace prizes for war-makers, for that matter). Conceivably, the impeachment of Bill Clinton and the lack of impeachment of George W. Bush haven't eliminated presidential impeachment from the Constitution.
I'll grant you, it looks pretty grim. Congress is dominated by the two real branches of the U.S. government: the Democratic and the Republican. Democrats obey Democratic presidents and fear Republican ones. Republicans obey Republican presidents and attack Democratic ones for imaginary nonsense rather than their real abuses. These patterns seem firmly established and locked into escalating feedback loops, as does the unending career of Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi.
I'll grant you, it looks pretty grim. Congress is dominated by the two real branches of the U.S. government: the Democratic and the Republican. Democrats obey Democratic presidents and fear Republican ones. Republicans obey Republican presidents and attack Democratic ones for imaginary nonsense rather than their real abuses. These patterns seem firmly established and locked into escalating feedback loops, as does the unending career of Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi.
The Free Press is saddened by the death of our friend and Free Press “Libby” Award honoree Nommo X. We will miss him and the community work he performed and inspired on the Near East side of Columbus. However he celebrate his life, which was a life well-lived, as is documented in this biography from his memorial service:
James Edward Brown (Nommo X) was born March 14, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee . He was the oldest of three children born to Otis and Julia Brown. He departed life on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at Mount Carmel East Hospital.
Nommo was a community activist, counselor at the Africentric Personal Development Shop, entrepreneur, historian, Ironworker (Local 172), lecturer, operations manager for various community food co-ops, radio and television host, soldier in theAfro-Set, and a member of the indigenious Washitaw people. He was recognized as a War Chief in the TAWI Family along with other members, promoted Kwanzaa, Queen Mother Moore Day, FESTAC and brought many world renowned scholars to Columbus.
James Edward Brown (Nommo X) was born March 14, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee . He was the oldest of three children born to Otis and Julia Brown. He departed life on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at Mount Carmel East Hospital.
Nommo was a community activist, counselor at the Africentric Personal Development Shop, entrepreneur, historian, Ironworker (Local 172), lecturer, operations manager for various community food co-ops, radio and television host, soldier in theAfro-Set, and a member of the indigenious Washitaw people. He was recognized as a War Chief in the TAWI Family along with other members, promoted Kwanzaa, Queen Mother Moore Day, FESTAC and brought many world renowned scholars to Columbus.