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My letter to the editor, Concord Monitor, Sep 23, 2010:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/...
America is the world standard for equality and opportunity. Our actions are watched by all as examples of what is right, just and guaranteed by our dynamic Constitution. It is these principles that American soldiers have fought for and died to protect - for centuries. It is within this context that the actions of all 41 Republican senators on Sept. 21 are distinctly un-American.
The GOP unanimously voted to block debate on a bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which denies gay and lesbian American citizens the opportunity to serve their country openly, as they are able to do in many other industrialized nations with honor, and without incident. What message do the actions of these Republican senators, including Judd Gregg, send to the rest of the world?
I have not and will not vote Republican, precisely because the GOP seems to think denying equal rights to minorities is acceptable.
"Close your eyes, it can't happen here..." (California Uber Alles, Dead Kennedys)
Genocide is the boomerang crime: as hard as we try to throw it away, it just keeps coming back.
Anyone who thinks the Second Amendment is a frontier anachronism best swept under the rug or apologized for at smart cocktail parties need look no further than recent actions by elected U.S. senators and congressmen to see why the Second Amendment is now and always will remain relevant for the defense of life and liberty:
In his recent book "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power," journalist Jeff Sharlet exposed ties between "The Family," a lobbying organization disguised as a prayer support group, and currently elected members of Congress. He went further and also showed links between The Family and new legislation in Uganda that would make homosexual behavior a crime punishable by death.
In short, the Ugandan law is nothing short of genocide, a genocide backed and enabled by The Family and those members of Congress who belong to it.
According to The Raw Story:
"Sharlet reveals that David Bahati, the Uganda legislator backing the bill, reportedly first floated the idea of executing gays during The Family's Uganda National Prayer Breakfast in 2008."
Worse, U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) appears to have been there in person when the plans for genocide were hatched-at a "prayer breakfast," no less.
Rachel Maddow's December 9th interview (embedded below) with James Sharlet details the strong ties between the U.S.-based Family, the Ugandan branch of The Family, and the kill-the-gays legislation. As Maddow implies, even for members of The Family (and Congress!) not actively supporting this, silence implies more than consent:
"We have talked to the offices of a number of elected officials, conservative politicians here in the U.S. associated with The Family, and while a number of them have told us they're against this bill none has said they will do anything publicly to stop it," says Maddow.
In addition to Inhofe's involvement, some members of Congress apparently live at reduced rent rates or free in The Family's compound in D.C. It's impossible to see how you could live rent-free with an organization and then claim not to be supporting its goals, or to claim you aren't in any way responsible for its actions. Members of The Family are NOT restricted to far right Republicans-Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has lived in the shadowy group's house for seven years.
Despite the The Family's links to genocide in Uganda, at this writing President Obama himself is scheduled to speak before The Family's National Prayer Breakfast in February 2010. Such is the influence of money and power in Washington that the president himself-an alleged friend of gays and gay rights-will be speaking before a group actively engaged in rounding them up and murdering them in plain view of the world.
Which brings us to the Second Amendment. If you think Senator Inhofe and other elected American leaders working for genocide in African wouldn't do the same thing in America if they could, you are deluded. If you think Americans couldn't be cowed into going along, or turning a blind eye, the lessons of history-even in our own country-strongly indicate otherwise.
The Second Amendment is not about hunting; it's not really even about protecting yourself from burglars or assault. The Second Amendment is about never having to worry about the midnight knock at the door when they come for you, your loved ones or your neighbors. It's best we remember that, especially when we see our elected officials working to create death camps right before our eyes.
Molon labe.
P.S. Uganda established gun control in 1970, one year before the reign of terror began under Idi Amin. The terror continues in 2009 with the help of American congressmen.
"It is not enough to look back in wonder at how far we have come; those who came before us did not strike a blow against injustice only so that we would allow injustice to fester in our time. That means removing the barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding that still exist in America."
- Democratic Party Platform, 2008
On Monday, November 9, 2009, on Americablog and Americablog Gay, John Aravosis & Joe Sudbay, launched a boycott (temporary hopefully) against the Democratic National Commitee, Organizing For America, and the Obama re-election campaign. They have been joined by:
Daily Kos
Jane Hamsher (FireDogLake)
Dan Savage (The Stranger & Slog)
Michelangelo Signorile (Sirius OutQ & Gist)
David Mixner
Andy Towle & Michael Goff (TowleRoad)
Paul Sousa (Founder, Equal Rep)
Pam Spaulding (Pam's House Blend)
Robin Tyler (ED, Equality Campaign, Inc.)
Bill Browning (Bilerico Project)
Their reasoning:
President Obama promised to be a "fierce advocate" for LGBT Americans. But while making modest progress on a scant few issues, on the major campaign promises made to our community, the President and the Democratic party have failed to keep their commitments.
There has been little, if any, pressure from the White House for votes on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The administration continues to send mixed signals on the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT). And we've been told not to expect the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to even be considered until President Obama's second term. In the last two weeks alone, we were angered that the Obama administration continued to defend DOMA in the courts -- last June, the administration's lawyers even compared loving gay relationships to incest and pedophilia -- and we were saddened that the White House and the Democratic party refused to help us defeat anti-gay ballot initiatives in Maine and Washington state. LGBT Americans, our families, and our friends kept our promise at the ballot box, we now expect President Obama to keep his in the White House.
Until the Democratic Congress passes, and President Obama signs, legislation enacting ENDA, repealing DADT, and repealing DOMA, we ask you to join us in pledging to postpone contributions to the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America, and the Obama campaign.
I don't usually do this kind of thing, join boycotts or promote them, yet I have been feeling such frustration over the national Dems and the Obama administration's handling of gay issues (beginning with the inauguration) I just had to do something.
Last Friday I posted on my blog, Dubious MindBomb Internet Radio, my feelings and concerns over the boycott being called for by Americablog's John Aravosis and Joe Sudbay. John and Joe (who was raised in Maine) worked tirelessly on Maine's No on 1 campaign! They have blogged about it constantly and raised thousands in support of "No on 1" (through Americablog and Americablog Gay). They even live-blogged from Portland on election night
The failure of Obama (or his administration) to even mention support for the civil rights effort in Maine and the DNC's failure to support it financially or to even it mention it in get out the vote e-mails (sent out on election day), were the final straws for them and should be for us! Unfortunately, there is much, much more...
I would love for you all to take a look at it, follow the links & weigh it carefully, and then join me in signing the pledge not to support (temporarily) the DNC, OFA, or the Obama campaign financially.
Turn off the gAyTM? I say, "Yes"!
This was a hard step for me to take...My blog is there, primarily, in support of my Internet Radio Station, "Dubious MindBomb", and not political action.
So please give it a read and let's stop the national politicians from taking our money with one hand and slapping us in the face with the other!
Read my full post at:
http://dubiousmindbomb.blogspo...
Sign the Pledge here: http://www.dontaskdontgive.com
Read the boycott FAQ:
http://gay.americablog.com/200...
The New Hampshire Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill today 13 to 11. Governor Lynch hasn't said whether or not he will allow the bill to become law without his signature or veto the bill. While the New Hampshire House still needs to vote on the Senate bill it had previously approved a same-sex marriage bill so there is almost no doubt that it will be passed and so it'll all be up to Governor Lynch about whether or not to permit same-sex marriage.
Blue Hampshire has Lynch's statement regarding the passage of the bill and they think it might be a veto. In anticipation of this, we, progressives, would like New Hampshire Citizens to write, call or fax the Governor in support of same-sex marriage. You can do that by:
Office of the Governor
State House
25 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603)271-2121 - phone
(603)271-7680 - fax
I'm guessing that if Governor Lynch doesn't sign the bill he won't be the Democrats top pick in 2010. But, that's just my opinion.
Currently "forty-two percent of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. That's up nine points from last month, when 33 percent supported legalizing same sex marriage."
And that support is showing progress in the Northeast. The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted 11-2-1 today in support of a bill to allow gay marriage in Maine...Eleven members voted in favor of the bill, two voted against it, and one voted to send it to referendum."
It is starting to look more and more like the Northeast (New England + New York) will be a bastion for same-sex marriage by 2010. That's bound to bring the issue up in the 2012 Presidential Election. Of course, California is still the site of the most contentious fight over same-sex marriage. Amidst todays revelations the National Organization for Marriage announced that Miss California would star in their new ad against same-sex marriage.
While Conservative Groups fighting against same-sex marriage think California is the be all end all it's pretty clear that the best they can do now is delay the inevitable. We could see 5 or 6 states supporting Gay Marriage by the 2010 midterms.
I think that Nate Silver's timeline didn't factor in the possibility of a tipping point. Considering that a majority of New Yorkers support Governor Patterson's same-sex marriage bill its certainly time to start talking about whether or not same-sex marriage is at a tipping point.
Today while i watched Chuck and Larry teh Movie, i remembered why i'm voting for Obama. So many years of fighting for what? So that we can be free and be consider humans and be treaty with dignity is this too much to ask. Sometimes i ask myself why Republicans have to act like this with so much hatred or unjuste to the gay community did we ever did something bad to them? What ever it is Im proud to be a Democrat, and not jsut a democrat also a Gay American. The reason i speak with so much pride and write with so much pride is ebcause Obama remind me that no matter whta the Republicans say there is still Hopa in the USA. If you haven't watch this movie. Please do is funny and also great and inspiring.
Obama will give us what we need to be again THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA!
