The title is embedded with a link. Or you may click below to read it.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/091807R.shtml
Take all the time you need. I will be here and you can read my comments. Follow the embedded link to this story of how the military has tried to force someone to convert to christianity and supress his atheism. How he has had to sue the Pentagon to stop this blatant violation of his rights. How he has been openly discriminated against for not believing in god. Go ahead, read it all, and while your doing it, grab a tissue, and shed a tear for our fading democracy of hypocrisy! Shed a tear for the freedom your children will have to be christians and christians only. Shed a tear for our "sweet land of liberty" that is gasping its last breath. Then hike up your boot straps, and make ready to fight. We will not let this go quietly into the night, we will rage against the dying of the light!
Wake up America, the hour of your freedom is at hand! We are watching the changing of the guard the decimation of our freedoms before our very eyes, wake sleeping giant and free yourselves from your bonds! This is the hour when we can make a difference, don't let it slip into oblivion! Christians, your religious freedom will be crushed if you allow this type of thing to happen. Once they can get away with suppressing one, they can suppress a myriad of beliefs. This isn't a long post, but the premise is secure. Protect our religious freedoms, even when that is freedom from religion. Its about our future, our freedom, and our children.
Its time to open our eyes, the water is poison, and we have been drinking it.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
A Lesson in Modern Racism: The Jena 6
Imagine a world in which black teenagers had to ask permission to SIT under a tree. Imagine an America in which barber shops were for whites or blacks, segregated shops. Imagine a state that allowed a school to have segregated proms, one for whites and one for blacks. Imagine a town that would charge black teens with attempted murder for a school fight. Imagine that white kids put nooses in a tree in response to the request to sit under the tree, garnishing it with school colors. Now, fifty years ago, this wouldn't have been so uncommon. But this isn't 1950, its the year 2006, and the town is Jena Louisiana.
In September of 2006, six black kids in Jena made a request that would alter their lives forever. They asked if they could sit under a traditionally whites only tree. This was followed by nooses hung in the tree baring the school colors. Then, a school fire that white kids essentially blamed on the black kids. With the 85% white population against them, what happened next was to be expected. Six black kids got in a fight with a white kid. When he was knocked conscience, they gave him some more to remember his words, kicking him in the head a few more times. The kid escaped with some bumps and bruises, a bad school fight to be sure.
Now a quick interlude. When I was in junior high, I saw three white kids beat up another white kid. The one kid got slammed face first into the locker and knock out cold. The three other kids then kicked him for nearly five minutes until teachers got there and broke it up. If my memory servers me well, he came back to school with a broken arm and a slight concussion. What happened was that all four were suspended for four weeks. No one was charge, and all parents were called. This was a harsh penalty at the time, and those kids were watched closely for the rest of the year.
But in Jena, the prosecutor had announced to the black students that he could end their life with a stroke of the pen. This was done to prevent a violent out cry against the injustice done by those white kids hanging the nooses. As promised, he tried the six black kids who got in the fight as adults with aggravated battery and attempted murder. One has already been found guilty and will be sentence at the end of September. Attempted murder? This was presumably because the white kid was unconscious. Of course, one must ask what stopped them from killing him if he was not conscious? It was a school fight, likely started by racist remarks, the kind that ignorant ass wipe trailor park white trash are saying now in response to this. In Jena, blacks are out numbered by whites nearly 7 to 1. Segregation lives on, and racial hatred and bigotry isn't even masked in Jena.
This incident makes the news in most other large countries on a regular basis, yet I didn't hear about it until recently. How is this possible? An obviously racist town puts ridiculous charges on six sixteen year old kids and it barely makes the news. What is wrong with this country?
What normally happens today in America when race issues arise is that white people start talking about how its some how the black peoples fault, how they think theres racism everywhere and there really isn't any racism at all, or at least its very little. Us white folks like to believe that we have overcome racism, that desegregation and any other program designed to level the playing field between whites and other minorities. Its so easy to white people to think the ACLU, NAACP, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton push things to far. Its easy to say get a job to an unemployed black man who claims its harder for him to get a job. Its easy for white people to turn a deaf ear to black people in the work place that say its harder to move up if your black. After all, racism is all but dead in our country. Right?
I am white. I am not a racist. I hate and show my disdain and disgust for racists openly. So white America should listen to what I am about to say and at least ponder it. I don't know everything and I don't believe myself better. But I have believed much of what I have stated above myself at different times.
White America. There is an ever increasing problem in this country that you are allowing to happen. Racism is again rising to the top to separate those of use who call our selves Americans! The belief that white people are some how better than black people is once again becoming popular. The ignorance that is racism has not been extinguished, it has lived on to burn another day, and it now shows its self to our blind and deaf society. White America, the victims are black, but this is not a black issue, this is a white issue! This is an issue that white Americans need to stand up and address, we cannot allow this ignorance to run our society and dictate our cultures future any longer! White America should stand up, side by side with our fellow black Americans and demand justice in the small town of Jena LA! Black people can yell and scream and white people turn a deaf ear. But if white people will call white people out for their arrogance and ignorance, something can change! Do not let our legacy as a culture continue along this path of racial inequality! Do not let Jena go silently into history, do not let our legacy be shamed by the ignorant trailor park white trash would have us go. The KKK is a legacy of ignorace, we should treat it as the crust of shit it is! Don't let the story of Jena fall on deaf ears!
In September of 2006, six black kids in Jena made a request that would alter their lives forever. They asked if they could sit under a traditionally whites only tree. This was followed by nooses hung in the tree baring the school colors. Then, a school fire that white kids essentially blamed on the black kids. With the 85% white population against them, what happened next was to be expected. Six black kids got in a fight with a white kid. When he was knocked conscience, they gave him some more to remember his words, kicking him in the head a few more times. The kid escaped with some bumps and bruises, a bad school fight to be sure.
Now a quick interlude. When I was in junior high, I saw three white kids beat up another white kid. The one kid got slammed face first into the locker and knock out cold. The three other kids then kicked him for nearly five minutes until teachers got there and broke it up. If my memory servers me well, he came back to school with a broken arm and a slight concussion. What happened was that all four were suspended for four weeks. No one was charge, and all parents were called. This was a harsh penalty at the time, and those kids were watched closely for the rest of the year.
But in Jena, the prosecutor had announced to the black students that he could end their life with a stroke of the pen. This was done to prevent a violent out cry against the injustice done by those white kids hanging the nooses. As promised, he tried the six black kids who got in the fight as adults with aggravated battery and attempted murder. One has already been found guilty and will be sentence at the end of September. Attempted murder? This was presumably because the white kid was unconscious. Of course, one must ask what stopped them from killing him if he was not conscious? It was a school fight, likely started by racist remarks, the kind that ignorant ass wipe trailor park white trash are saying now in response to this. In Jena, blacks are out numbered by whites nearly 7 to 1. Segregation lives on, and racial hatred and bigotry isn't even masked in Jena.
This incident makes the news in most other large countries on a regular basis, yet I didn't hear about it until recently. How is this possible? An obviously racist town puts ridiculous charges on six sixteen year old kids and it barely makes the news. What is wrong with this country?
What normally happens today in America when race issues arise is that white people start talking about how its some how the black peoples fault, how they think theres racism everywhere and there really isn't any racism at all, or at least its very little. Us white folks like to believe that we have overcome racism, that desegregation and any other program designed to level the playing field between whites and other minorities. Its so easy to white people to think the ACLU, NAACP, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton push things to far. Its easy to say get a job to an unemployed black man who claims its harder for him to get a job. Its easy for white people to turn a deaf ear to black people in the work place that say its harder to move up if your black. After all, racism is all but dead in our country. Right?
I am white. I am not a racist. I hate and show my disdain and disgust for racists openly. So white America should listen to what I am about to say and at least ponder it. I don't know everything and I don't believe myself better. But I have believed much of what I have stated above myself at different times.
White America. There is an ever increasing problem in this country that you are allowing to happen. Racism is again rising to the top to separate those of use who call our selves Americans! The belief that white people are some how better than black people is once again becoming popular. The ignorance that is racism has not been extinguished, it has lived on to burn another day, and it now shows its self to our blind and deaf society. White America, the victims are black, but this is not a black issue, this is a white issue! This is an issue that white Americans need to stand up and address, we cannot allow this ignorance to run our society and dictate our cultures future any longer! White America should stand up, side by side with our fellow black Americans and demand justice in the small town of Jena LA! Black people can yell and scream and white people turn a deaf ear. But if white people will call white people out for their arrogance and ignorance, something can change! Do not let our legacy as a culture continue along this path of racial inequality! Do not let Jena go silently into history, do not let our legacy be shamed by the ignorant trailor park white trash would have us go. The KKK is a legacy of ignorace, we should treat it as the crust of shit it is! Don't let the story of Jena fall on deaf ears!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Joe Biden
Joe Biden, born November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator from Delaware and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, although he ceased active campaigning in 1987, before the first primaries. Biden first hinted that he might run in 2008 in a December 8, 2004, radio interview with host Don Imus, saying: "I'm going to proceed as if I'm going to run." Biden has repeatedly stated his intention to run, and did so as early as 21 March 2006. Biden's Federal Leadership PAC is "Unite Our States", which tracks Biden's public appearances and policy positions. On 7 January 2007, when asked by Tim Russert on Meet the Press "Are you running for President?" he responded, "I am running for President." He also said he plans to create an exploratory committee by the end of the month.[54][55][56] On January 31, 2007, he officially signed the papers with the FEC to run for president.
- U.S. Senator from Delaware: 1973–Present
For $10 billion a year over the next five years we could:
- screen 100 percent of cargo containers coming into our ports,
- better protect our chemical facilities,
- improve air cargo screening,
- make sure that our first responders can talk to one another in emergencies,
- hire 1,000 more FBI agents,
- hire 50,000 more local cops, and
- create local counter-terrorism units in our large cities to stop home-grown plots
The Bad
Joe Biden has voted no several times when bills where up to reduce the budget. As a Democrat, you have to learn to get past the idea of big government, especially since the Republicans have joined you in the quest for a massively inept government. Instead of rolling back tax cuts, why not cut funding to all these pet projects for lobbyists and just fund whats important to the country as a whole?
As well, Biden is wishy washy on civil rights. He has been okay with discriminating based on sexual orientation and the ACLU gives him only a 60% rating on civil rights. He also voted yes on the issues of Bankruptcy reforms that took away much of the ability of the average person to file bankruptcy.
The Ugly
Joe Biden believes life begins at concept. He follows the Catholic doctrine on this. His personal religious beliefs bring one to question whether he might vote to over turn roe vs wade. But its rather annoying to have him speak of his religious beliefs and use them as a voting plattform. What about intelligence and reason instead? Well, like most politicians, they can't seem to leave that at home and simply make informed decisions. I would be okay with him being president, but the idea of accepting the churches view just because it is the churches view makes me a little weary of him.
Sam Brownback
I will be running a piece on every single candidate running this election. I want to state the pro's and cons of each one as well as their Wiki profile. I'm biased and will not attempt to hide that I dislike things about certain candidates and like them about others. Its a free country and you are free to be wrong about your opinion regarding my opinions! LOL
Sam Brownback, born September 12, 1956, in Kansas, senior Senator from that state. In April 2005, the Associated Press reported that Brownback, who is little known outside his home state, "is using a network of social conservatives and Christian activists to raise his profile" in such battleground states as Iowa and New Hampshire. He is well known for his social and fiscal conservative record, such as opposing abortion and instituting a flat tax alternative to the current IRS Code. He was also instrumental in Congress' bestowing the Congressional Medal upon Mother Teresa. In his own words, "The core of my being is to rebuild the family and renew the culture." On December 4, 2006, Brownback announced that he would form an exploratory committee.[21] On January 20, 2007 Brownback officially announced his candidacy.[22] Of his campaign, Brownback has said, "I'm a son of a farmer from Kansas ... I still think anybody can be president. I don't think you have to show up with $100 million to do it. ... I'm the tortoise in the race. And I don't like how the race starts; I like how it ends up."
The Good
Mr. Brownback is against taxes. He has signed the Americans for tax reform pledge to oppose all tax increases. As part of middle America, I like that. Its not feasible, but I like it. You can be rest assured that he will not allow mindless spending of your tax money on new government programs.
As a Republican, its good to see him standing for energy reform in our country. He recognizes our reliance on foreign oil and understands that will only get worse. For that reason, he wants to increase research and production of non-oil products to work towards energy interdependence. It may be all talk, but hey, most politicians excel in blowing out hot air, so you get what you get.
The Bad
Sam Brownback is for a pointless and un-winnable war in Iraq. He will continue the same old schtick for years to come, ensuring the ten year mark gets reached. He is politics as usual and walks the party line on Iraq very well. He will follow it because he and Bush think very much alike.
Brownback is for human rights, so he says, but he is for torture in some cases. Since when did it become a republican, or christian value to torture someone? It doesn't work and we know that. As well, we have signed an agreement not to torture people and we have intervene militarily to stop people from torturing others in their own countries. This is completely hypocritical of someone of Mr. Brownbacks stature and beliefs to accept torture in any form.
Brown back has consistently support laws that give the government power to restrict free speech that he deems inappropriate. He says he is protecting our kids, but what is really happening is the government determining what is good and what is bad for our kids. He talks about parents rights, but then passes laws that assume the parents will make the wrong decision. Republicans used to be for small government, its shameful to call yourself a republican then fight for laws that give the government more power. Hello, this is a free country, you don't have the right to decide what is okay for my children to watch on tv Mr. Brownback.
The Ugly
Sam Brownback is one that I would call a religious extremist in politics. He doesn't believe in evolution despite the evidence. He doesn't believe in global warming, despite the evidence. He would restrict the ACLU's ability to recieve money from religious lawsuits. In other words, he wants to tie the hands of those who protect our freedom to not have religion in our lives. What Mr. Brownback doesn't realize is that there have been many people that the ACLU has won cases for, defending their religious rights. The most recent was a case in which a girl won the right in court to wear her gold cross to school. Its sad that most christians do not do their research to see what the ACLU really does. You can't oppose something on the grounds that it does not allow your religion to do what ever it wants, including impose itself on others.
But that is the ugly part of the Sam Brownback campaign. He blatantly allows his faith to interfere with common sense. Its his belief in the bible that allows him to agree with Bush, since Bush says god told him to go to Iraq. He won't believe in evolution or global warming because of his religious convictions. He won't agree with anything that the ACLU does because of his beliefs. And he is for religious "liberties" as long as it is for people who believe like him. For all the others, he has laws to enforce his biblical view of morality. I am not a christian, but I have morals, and the right to decide whats best for me and my family. Its not the governments, or Mr. Brownbacks job to tell me how to raise my kids, what to watch on TV, or how I should view the world from a moral stand point. Our forefathers would role over in their grave if they knew there were a significant amount of people pushing for the government to step in and enforce religion. What he wants is a state enforced religion, as long as its his religion.
http://www.brownback.com/s/Issues/tabid/60/Default.aspx
Sam Brownback, born September 12, 1956, in Kansas, senior Senator from that state. In April 2005, the Associated Press reported that Brownback, who is little known outside his home state, "is using a network of social conservatives and Christian activists to raise his profile" in such battleground states as Iowa and New Hampshire. He is well known for his social and fiscal conservative record, such as opposing abortion and instituting a flat tax alternative to the current IRS Code. He was also instrumental in Congress' bestowing the Congressional Medal upon Mother Teresa. In his own words, "The core of my being is to rebuild the family and renew the culture." On December 4, 2006, Brownback announced that he would form an exploratory committee.[21] On January 20, 2007 Brownback officially announced his candidacy.[22] Of his campaign, Brownback has said, "I'm a son of a farmer from Kansas ... I still think anybody can be president. I don't think you have to show up with $100 million to do it. ... I'm the tortoise in the race. And I don't like how the race starts; I like how it ends up."
The Good
Mr. Brownback is against taxes. He has signed the Americans for tax reform pledge to oppose all tax increases. As part of middle America, I like that. Its not feasible, but I like it. You can be rest assured that he will not allow mindless spending of your tax money on new government programs.
As a Republican, its good to see him standing for energy reform in our country. He recognizes our reliance on foreign oil and understands that will only get worse. For that reason, he wants to increase research and production of non-oil products to work towards energy interdependence. It may be all talk, but hey, most politicians excel in blowing out hot air, so you get what you get.
The Bad
Sam Brownback is for a pointless and un-winnable war in Iraq. He will continue the same old schtick for years to come, ensuring the ten year mark gets reached. He is politics as usual and walks the party line on Iraq very well. He will follow it because he and Bush think very much alike.
Brownback is for human rights, so he says, but he is for torture in some cases. Since when did it become a republican, or christian value to torture someone? It doesn't work and we know that. As well, we have signed an agreement not to torture people and we have intervene militarily to stop people from torturing others in their own countries. This is completely hypocritical of someone of Mr. Brownbacks stature and beliefs to accept torture in any form.
Brown back has consistently support laws that give the government power to restrict free speech that he deems inappropriate. He says he is protecting our kids, but what is really happening is the government determining what is good and what is bad for our kids. He talks about parents rights, but then passes laws that assume the parents will make the wrong decision. Republicans used to be for small government, its shameful to call yourself a republican then fight for laws that give the government more power. Hello, this is a free country, you don't have the right to decide what is okay for my children to watch on tv Mr. Brownback.
The Ugly
Sam Brownback is one that I would call a religious extremist in politics. He doesn't believe in evolution despite the evidence. He doesn't believe in global warming, despite the evidence. He would restrict the ACLU's ability to recieve money from religious lawsuits. In other words, he wants to tie the hands of those who protect our freedom to not have religion in our lives. What Mr. Brownback doesn't realize is that there have been many people that the ACLU has won cases for, defending their religious rights. The most recent was a case in which a girl won the right in court to wear her gold cross to school. Its sad that most christians do not do their research to see what the ACLU really does. You can't oppose something on the grounds that it does not allow your religion to do what ever it wants, including impose itself on others.
But that is the ugly part of the Sam Brownback campaign. He blatantly allows his faith to interfere with common sense. Its his belief in the bible that allows him to agree with Bush, since Bush says god told him to go to Iraq. He won't believe in evolution or global warming because of his religious convictions. He won't agree with anything that the ACLU does because of his beliefs. And he is for religious "liberties" as long as it is for people who believe like him. For all the others, he has laws to enforce his biblical view of morality. I am not a christian, but I have morals, and the right to decide whats best for me and my family. Its not the governments, or Mr. Brownbacks job to tell me how to raise my kids, what to watch on TV, or how I should view the world from a moral stand point. Our forefathers would role over in their grave if they knew there were a significant amount of people pushing for the government to step in and enforce religion. What he wants is a state enforced religion, as long as its his religion.
http://www.brownback.com/s/Issues/tabid/60/Default.aspx
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Presidential Insanity
Its presidential election time again, and I'm feeling all tingly inside! I find nothing more enjoyable than watching debates between the candidates. But the primary elections are the best for debate because the candidates between each party debate within their own groups. So I get to see Republican and Democratic candidates argue their parties base issues. Now, I seem very liberal to those not in the know, but I am very much an independent and refuse to vote based on party allegiances. Its disgraceful to our voting system to vote based on party.
So its only right that I would decide to start doing pieces on the candidates. But not as of yet. I have a tremendous beef to pick with the republican party. Now, its one thing to be conservative, to have your religion, and be for your parties values. But its something is completely wrong when you think you can run for office and spit in the eye of science and take pride in your foolishness. During one of the Republican debates, they were asked how many did not believe in evolution. Well three people raised their hands. Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and Tom Tecredo. Three candidates for president don't believe in the scientifically proven theory of evolution.
Whats scary about this is I understand their view. I used to be in their shoes, religion wise. The fact is that not a single one of these people, including most christians have read any serious books regarding evolution. Of course, they have read innumerable amounts of books on creation from christian scientists. How can you consider yourself informed when you read only a christian side of the arguement? How can you consider yourself the smart one when you listen to religion and will not even consider reading a science book about it? Yet all three candidates, and my parents unfortunately, use the same arguments that have been disproven time and time again since Darwin first proved them wrong! Yet they haven't read a single science book on the subject and wouldn't know the evidence for evolution if it hit them in the face.
When we elect a president, shouldn't we elect the ones that are the most informed? Yet these three essentially said they didn't believe in evolution due to gods word. This is who we want to elect, someone who only beliefs what their interpretation of the bible tells them? Nonsense, these people shouldn't be given a second look. To believe that evolution is not true based on purely christian rhetoric is completely ignorant. To deliberately not inform yourself is worse than ignorance and should be regarded as destructive behavior towards ones self.
Listen, we don't all have to agree with what evidence tells us. However, it is foolish to not at least look at all the evidence. A president that will not at least keep himself completely informed, is not worthy of running a country. Thus these three men will not get my vote, and I will not write favorably about them. There is an exception to the rule with that last statement. Mike Huckabee approves of the Fair Tax, which I fully support. For that reason, I have at least reserved some good comments for him.
So its only right that I would decide to start doing pieces on the candidates. But not as of yet. I have a tremendous beef to pick with the republican party. Now, its one thing to be conservative, to have your religion, and be for your parties values. But its something is completely wrong when you think you can run for office and spit in the eye of science and take pride in your foolishness. During one of the Republican debates, they were asked how many did not believe in evolution. Well three people raised their hands. Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and Tom Tecredo. Three candidates for president don't believe in the scientifically proven theory of evolution.
Whats scary about this is I understand their view. I used to be in their shoes, religion wise. The fact is that not a single one of these people, including most christians have read any serious books regarding evolution. Of course, they have read innumerable amounts of books on creation from christian scientists. How can you consider yourself informed when you read only a christian side of the arguement? How can you consider yourself the smart one when you listen to religion and will not even consider reading a science book about it? Yet all three candidates, and my parents unfortunately, use the same arguments that have been disproven time and time again since Darwin first proved them wrong! Yet they haven't read a single science book on the subject and wouldn't know the evidence for evolution if it hit them in the face.
When we elect a president, shouldn't we elect the ones that are the most informed? Yet these three essentially said they didn't believe in evolution due to gods word. This is who we want to elect, someone who only beliefs what their interpretation of the bible tells them? Nonsense, these people shouldn't be given a second look. To believe that evolution is not true based on purely christian rhetoric is completely ignorant. To deliberately not inform yourself is worse than ignorance and should be regarded as destructive behavior towards ones self.
Listen, we don't all have to agree with what evidence tells us. However, it is foolish to not at least look at all the evidence. A president that will not at least keep himself completely informed, is not worthy of running a country. Thus these three men will not get my vote, and I will not write favorably about them. There is an exception to the rule with that last statement. Mike Huckabee approves of the Fair Tax, which I fully support. For that reason, I have at least reserved some good comments for him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
