Más derechos, menos derecha

Thursday, June 26, 2008

This is about Fairness in Reporting

Dear Friends,

Right now, Fox News is trying to paint Barack Obama as foreign, un-American, suspicious, and scary. They're trying to send Americans the message that our country's first viable Black candidate for President is not "one of us."

I've joined on to ColorOfChange.org's campaign to push back on Fox, publicly demanding they stop their race-baiting and fear mongering. If that doesn't work, then we'll go to their advertisers and the FCC. I wanted to invite you to sign on as well. It takes only a moment:

http://www.colorofchange.org/foxobama/?id=1927-513854

Here's what happened recently:

After Senator Obama won the nomination, he and his wife gave each other a "pound" in front of the cameras. Fox anchor E.D. Hill called the act of celebration a "terrorist fist jab." Then last week, a Fox News on-screen graphic referred to Michelle Obama as "Obama's baby mama"--slang used to describe the unmarried mother of a man's child. It was a clear attempt to associate the Obamas with negative cultural stereotypes about Black people, an insult not only to Michelle Obama
but to women and Black people everywhere.

After each of the incidents mentioned, Fox issued some form of weak apology. But what does it mean when you slap someone in the face, apologize the next day, then slap them again on the third? It means
the apology is meaningless.

These aren't one-time incidents--they're part of a pattern that continues no matter how often Fox is forced to apologize. Fox has a clear record of attacking and undermining Black institutions, Black
leaders, and Black people in general.

If we don't push back now, we will see more of the same from now until November. Please join me in helping to bring an end to Fox's behavior.

http://www.colorofchange.org/foxobama/?id=1927-513854

Thanks.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

C.S. Lewis, Ben Joseph, and McSweeney's

Here is an excerpt from a short but hilarious piece called "Lit 101 Class in Three Lines or Less" from McSweeney's online. Read the full text by Ben Joseph here.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

C.S. LEWIS: Finally, a utopia ruled by children and populated by talking animals.

THE WITCH: Hi, I'm a sexually mature woman of power and confidence.

C.S. LEWIS: Ah! Kill it, lion Jesus!

Ron Paul? Really?

Things I like about Ron Paul:

- supports home schooling
- opposes NAFTA, the WTO
- opposes Federal Reserve spending which indebts us to China and Saudi Arabia
- opposes the Iraq War
- opposes corporate interference in the FDA
- opposes mandatory vaccinations
- supports paying soldiers more
- supports fully investigating the causes of Gulf War illness and related problems
- wants to bring the troops home now (or yesterday)
- opposes government and corporate data mining of normal citizens
- strongly opposes the Patriot Act
- opposes imminent domain
- understands that there is a connection between corporate profits and the health care crisis
- supports tax deductions for education, including higher education
- supports solar and wind energy development, opposes subsidies for logging
- wants to move beyond hawkish rhetoric in order to begin to understand the national security issues faced by the US

Reasons I will never support Ron Paul, even if he were a viable candidate:

- opposes our possible involvment in/recognition of the ICJ (International Criminal Court) (btw: we haven't, as a country, recognized the authority of the ICJ as of yet. needless to say, the US won't recognize an international legal body which could indict many former--and present--presidents and cabinet members on war crimes charges)
- opposes listening to the UN on matters of war
- is an OB/GYN who opposes a woman's right to choose (defender of liberty, indeed!) and has, in fact, introduced legislation to the House to NEGATE Roe v. Wade. Read his full statement here.
- opposes any support (including amnesty) for undocumented people and even wants to END automatic citizenship for children born in the US to undocumented parents
- misunderstands the reasons we are in a health care crisis. thinks LESS regulation is BETTER.
- supports nuclear energy development
- thinks immigration is a threat to national security
- opposes military intervention abroad--is isolationist in military terms

Yay for taxpayers; they're very stimulating

I just received this email from a friend. It's funny 'cause it's true...

Subject: Economic Stimulus Checks Explained

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

US can't be critical of Israel... or else

http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/87882

An interesting anecdote illustrating this fact, written by a former US senator.

My eternal problem

You are being called on to take action in many realms today. People may be tugging at you on all angles to be with them and participate in their world of fun and excitement. It could also be that there are many projects that are catching your attention today and you are experiencing conflict over which ones to put your energy into. Friction may arise as you find yourself tearing away from one situation to participate in another.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Right to Choose NOT to Consume

I just tried this new service, Catalog Choice, which is a go-between for the consumer to reject catalogs she doesn't want in the mail. It's a great way to cut down on junk mail and save some trees while you're at it! It's completely free, and hundreds of catalog titles are listed. You can browse them and decline whichever you don't want. For myself, I am def looking forward to getting fewer of these horrible catalogs in the mail, which depress me and make me feel guilty for wasting trees at the same time that they make me feel inadequate for not buying/wanting to buy/being able to buy all these products they shove in my face. Ahhhh... I'm already breathing easier.

Click here to set up your own free account.

News from A Reader's Corner Bookstore

This coming Saturday, June 28 from 1:00 - 3:00 P. M. Jeffrey Scott Holland will sign his new book:

Weird Kentucky: Your Travel Guide to Kentucky's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets.

Who knew My Old Kentucky Home could be so weird? As all Kentuckians know, there's more to this state than derbies, bourbon, and a certain fried poultry. We're nearly busting at the seams with local legends and unusual sights. Yes, the Bluegrass State is a lot weirder than you ever imagined, and it's all here in these pages. Come and see for yourself. Join us at the booksigning.

Also, now is the time to get your summer reading!!

Enjoy coffee in our Coffee Corner and browse our overflowing shelves of great books!

We also have purses, handmade jewelry, pretty book covers and recent DVDs.

Wireless Internet is available throughout the store and we have plenty of SOFT DRINKS, JUICE AND WATER.

word of the day: CHOLER

choler \KOLL-ur; KOLE-ur\, noun:

Irritation of the passions; anger; wrath.

Good news!

"Las autoridades chinas han aprovechado el paso de la antorcha olímpica por Lhasa, la capital de Tíbet, para anunciar la liberación de 1.157 tibetanos que fueron detenidos durante las protestas del mes de marzo contra la dominación china, según ha informado la agencia oficial china, Xinhua. La noticia se produce, además, dos días después de que Amnistía Internacional preguntara por ellos. No obstante, los responsables chinos de Tíbet han aprovechado la ocasión también para cargar contra el Dalai Lama y defender su dominio sobre el país de las montañas y los lamas."

Leer más en El País en la red.

Dear Leo, please be gentle

A selfish attitude on your part will not be tolerated today, regardless of the circumstances, Clare. Don't make it worse for yourself by pretending that you don't notice the hurt feelings of those around you. People are likely to be extra sensitive today, so be careful of trying to impose your will on someone who really just wants nothing more than an ear to talk to and a shoulder to cry on.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Libraries ruin lives

toothpastefordinner.com

Bil'in resists Israel's violence

F.F.J June 20 2008-The Israeli Army has used almost every weapon in their arsenal to impose their Apartheid on the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. In many cases these weapons, which are often lethal, are used on the whole of the Palestinian population regardless of whether they are simply trying to lead a private family life or if they are resisting the occupation.

The Village of Bilin in particular has been struggling against the Apartheid Wall and the occupation for three consecutive years using peaceful resistance. Bilin has been holding weekly demonstrations with the participation of local villagers, internationals, and Israeli supporters. In return, the Israeli Army has used all manner of violent methods and weapons to silence the Bilin Resistance, even though Bilin's approach has been non-violent.

This use of disproportionate and sometimes lethal force against peaceful resistance has been perpetuated by the Israeli High Courts decision to "legally" allow the use of live ammunition on peaceful Palestinian protestors, only barring the use of live ammunition when foreign nationals and Israeli Activists are present at these protests. The Israeli Army has now used live ammunition against Palestinian protestors in Bilin with the presence of Internationals and Israeli activists there, even in violating its own racist laws. This has lead to many serious injuries to the Bilin Villagers, such as Ibrahim Burnat, who was shot with three bullets in his thigh at last weeks protest.

The action of the Israeli Army against the whole of Palestinian Society betrays their rhetoric about security as the purpose of their occupation and instead shines light on what seems to be their true aim; the slow removal of the Palestinian people from their land by any means possible. This includes terrorizing the population through forced transfers, economic starvation, house demolitions, unwarranted arrests, and unchecked killing of the civilian population. This ethnic cleansing is cemented as a reality through the Israeli policies of land confiscation, settlement expansion, and the control of water resources which are the true aims of the Apartheid wall and system of occupation.

This week as part of Bilin's ongoing weekly resistance, the villagers and their international supporters organized a protest against the Apartheid Wall. The protestors carried signs and banners denouncing the use of live ammunition against peaceful protestors. They also raised pictures of some of the villagers who had been wounded by Israeli Forces while participating in the protests. Below the pictures of the victims was written "Despite the hatred of your bullets, we will uproot your wall". Israeli Troops responded by showering the protest with tear gas and flash bombs and dozens were treated for tear gas inhalation.

Today, the people of Bilin sent the message that they will not be bullied by Israel's use of deadly force and their peaceful struggle will continue its effort to bring about the end of the settlements, the destruction of the Apartheid Wall, and the end of the occupation as a whole.

To read more or veiw photos from the protest please visit our new website at Friends of Freedom and Justice: Bil'in.

"Disortion"

A quote from John McCain's 2002 address to AIPAC:

"If we are serious about the values we in America and Israel live by... we must work to spread our values in the Middle East, first by opposing tyranny in the Arab world. The celebration of freedom in the streets of liberated Baghdad will serve as a counterpoint to the state-directed Arab media's distortion of the Palestinian conflict. It will be a reminder to other Arab tyrants that the United States is a natural ally of Arab people who aspire to freedom... [B]ringing liberty's blessings to Arab peoples will do much more to improve their lives than will their jihad against Israel."

from Ahram Weekly

Thursday, June 19, 2008

World Refugee Day

EXCERPTS FROM THE UNHCR:
The United Nations General Assembly designated June 20 as World Refugee Day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world. Since then, World Refugee Day has become an annual commemoration marked by a variety of events in over a hundred countries.

This year's theme: Protecting Refugees: Refugee Rights are Human Rights

Forced to flee their homes and having lost everything, refugees have clear needs – shelter, food, safety, protection. But refugees also have rights, the right to seek asylum, the right not to be returned to a country where they fear persecution, the right to work and to send their children to school.

This year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will commemorate World Refugee Day for the eighth time in Washington, DC, and San Francisco in order to draw the public’s attention to the millions of refugees world-wide who are forced to flee their homes. In Washington, UNHCR has again partnered with well-respected institutions to broaden our outreach and encourage even greater public participation in the celebration of World Refugee Day. Together with the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall, World Affairs Council of Northern California and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage, UNHCR will sponsor musical performances, discussion panels and a film screening.

IF YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE: Kentucky Refugee Ministries invites you to come eat, dance, and play games with members of Louisville's refugee community on Friday June 20th from 1:00-3:00pm at Tyler Park. Participate in the KRM staff and client soccer game!

Further explore refugee issues with these recommended books: Left to Tell, From the Land of Green Ghosts, and Sarajevo Marlboro.

Then join us to discuss your impressions and reactions to these books with a panel of experts and former refugees on Sunday July 27th from 3:00-5:00pm in the Chao Auditorium.

Please visit the Kentucky Refugee Ministries website or call the KRM office at (502)479-9180 for more information.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Vote for my friend, David

The dad of a sweet girl I know was entered into Velocity's "Hottest Dad" contest by his woman. She sent me an email asking me to vote for him, which I have no qualms about because David is a really loving father of a beautiful girl, not to mention a devoted partner, and he definitely deserves the recognition. Plus, it is really sweet of his woman to put him up for the prize, which is a sweet gift certificate package to win, place, or show. So, if you feel like it, it would mean a lot to me if you would click on David's name below and vote for him! His number is #1205. You click 1205 from the list and then enter your email address and submit it. You can vote once per day per email. Only 3 more days to vote! Thanks, friends!

David McDonley!

votevotevotevote.