Gerald Ford is dead. He was 93 years old. One of the lucky ones. He died at his ranch. He had a pacemaker which did help for a bit but ultimately his body gave out. The Fords have been married for about 60 years. Mrs. Betty Ford had her own battles with addiction and with breast cancer. Richard Nixon selected Gerald Ford to be his vice-president in the midst of the Watergate Scandal. Gerald Ford later pardoned Nixon. Ford was President during a difficult unpopular war and worked very hard to improve the fiscal practices of the government. In spite of political differences and a lost presidential race, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford reconciled in later life, becoming good buddies. Ford will be missed by many Americans. Saddam Hussein won't be.
Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to die by an Iraqi court for the deaths of 148 Shias in a small town north of Baghdad whose name is Dujail. He was sentenced on November 5th. Since his appeal fell today, he must be hung within thirty days of tomorrow-- 12/27/06. The European Union and a former U.S. Attorney General-- Ramsey Clark-- and the Human Rights Watch have all accused the trial as being part of a kangaroo court and/or have protested the death sentence.
Hussein may be tried separately for the Kurdish genocides which took place in the 1980s. His death sentence can be carried out at any time within the next 30 days, whether the next trial runs to its conclusion or not.
Saddam Hussein is not a nice guy. To him, regardless of the circumstances, I say "good riddance." I wonder though if he will kill himself rather than allow himself to be hung.
radical sapphoq
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
CHANNEL PLOTTING 12/24/06
Merry Christmas to our British allies who have a significant Muslim minority (200 suspected terrorist networks and 1600 Brits are being actively monitored for same) living there. Word is out courtesy of the C.I.A. that the Channel tunnel with its swirling rush of trains is next to go. Travelers are packing the trains in record numbers due to the fogginess settling in around airports causing flights to be delayed or canceled. Perhaps Virgil Goode isn't so crazy after all with his thoughts on limiting immigration of Muslims from the Middle East to the U.S.A.
Metro Police Chief Ian Blair is in disagreement, saying only that he is unaware of any specific plot during the Christmas holidays targeting England. That puts him in notable company with Michael Moore and Dr. Rowan Williams.
It is believed that the Channel plot is being coordinated from Pakistan and possibly involves Western Europeans of Pakistani descent. A separate plot targeting a yet unnamed European country for repeated attacks by April 2007 is being coordinated from Syria and Iraq.
radical sapphoq
Metro Police Chief Ian Blair is in disagreement, saying only that he is unaware of any specific plot during the Christmas holidays targeting England. That puts him in notable company with Michael Moore and Dr. Rowan Williams.
It is believed that the Channel plot is being coordinated from Pakistan and possibly involves Western Europeans of Pakistani descent. A separate plot targeting a yet unnamed European country for repeated attacks by April 2007 is being coordinated from Syria and Iraq.
radical sapphoq
Saturday, December 23, 2006
IRAN AND NUKES CONTINUED 12/23/06
Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, rejected the U.N. Security Council's demands that Iran cease her uranium enrichment program and the threat of economic sanctions which were just voted in today. He said that the U.N. Security Council is "deteriorating in power." It was reiterated that Iran's nuclear program is related to the provision of energy rather than to the manufacturing of bombs. The sanctions fall short of any threat of military action. Russia and mainland China also agreed to uphold them even though they have economic interests in Iran.
Iran has repeatedly refused to back down on this issue, as expected.
radical sapphoq says: We need to prepare ourselves for a world where Iran does have nuclear capacity. We are fools if we believe what the Iranian government is telling us.
Iran has repeatedly refused to back down on this issue, as expected.
radical sapphoq says: We need to prepare ourselves for a world where Iran does have nuclear capacity. We are fools if we believe what the Iranian government is telling us.
Friday, December 22, 2006
GOOD FOR GOODE 12/22/06
Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., a Republican Congressman is standing by his position on immigration in spite of a fervor caused by his recent remarks regarding the plans of a Congressman from Minnesota to be sworn into office using the Koran. The congressmen are sworn in as a group. Individual congressmen may elect to also participate in a private ceremonial swearing-in.
Goode wants illegal immigration to be cut down to zero and he wants legal immigration to be cut back. He is opposed to any more immigration of Muslims from Middle Eastern countries. One pro-Muslim organization based in the U.S. sent him an English translation of the Koran. It was suggested that he read a specific verse relating that people and nations were not created to hate each other.
I suggest that all the people screaming about this read the entire Koran. Then goto http://www.outragedmoderates.org/, click on the Government Document Library, find and download the chapters from a terrorist training manual there and read them word for word. Then come back and state honestly that Islam is peace-loving and so was the founder.
For the text of the letter which Rep. Goode sent to his constituents, goto: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,237990,00.html
radical sapphoq says:
I don't care what book a member of congress uses to swear on when taking office. I do care about a future possibility of Muslims becoming a majority in the United States and/or in public office. While I remain an avid supporter of separation of church and state, I also totally support Rep. Goode on his position on immigration. Good for him for not backing down! If that makes me a bigot, then so be.
radical sapphoq
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/21/quran.congress/
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/4994466.html
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/4983096.html
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/3798
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/
chi-0612220053dec22,1,4809344.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/
articles/2006/12/22/an_open_house_for_all/
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-muslim22dec22,1,6491840.story?
coll=la-news-politics-national&track=crosspromo
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4419910.html
Goode wants illegal immigration to be cut down to zero and he wants legal immigration to be cut back. He is opposed to any more immigration of Muslims from Middle Eastern countries. One pro-Muslim organization based in the U.S. sent him an English translation of the Koran. It was suggested that he read a specific verse relating that people and nations were not created to hate each other.
I suggest that all the people screaming about this read the entire Koran. Then goto http://www.outragedmoderates.org/, click on the Government Document Library, find and download the chapters from a terrorist training manual there and read them word for word. Then come back and state honestly that Islam is peace-loving and so was the founder.
For the text of the letter which Rep. Goode sent to his constituents, goto: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,237990,00.html
radical sapphoq says:
I don't care what book a member of congress uses to swear on when taking office. I do care about a future possibility of Muslims becoming a majority in the United States and/or in public office. While I remain an avid supporter of separation of church and state, I also totally support Rep. Goode on his position on immigration. Good for him for not backing down! If that makes me a bigot, then so be.
radical sapphoq
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/21/quran.congress/
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/4994466.html
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/4983096.html
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/3798
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/
chi-0612220053dec22,1,4809344.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/
articles/2006/12/22/an_open_house_for_all/
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-muslim22dec22,1,6491840.story?
coll=la-news-politics-national&track=crosspromo
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4419910.html
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
DO I OFFEND? ONE EXPERIENCE WITH ONE MONOTHEIST 12/20/06
sapphoq wishes to thank the fine folks at Religious Tolerance of Ontario for the succinct wisdom contained in their article:
WHY RELIGIONS SOMETIMES PROMOTE HATRED, VIOLENCE, AND GENOCIDE .
I was in attendance at a somewhat public meeting this weekend where it came to pass that some of the folks in attendance were speaking about their monotheistic male christian god in rather lofty and glowing terms, additionally claiming that they "knew" or were seeking to know said god's will for their individual lives. When it came my turn to speak, I advised that I was "sitting in a room of mystics." I asked who this god was and how do we know his will? I went on briefly to mention that people are killing each other in the Middle East right now believing that it is their god's will for them to do so [a mild simplification and thus an under-truth I know]. I also brought up the idea that here in our own country some of us g.l.b.t.i.q. folks are being denied the same basic civil rights that other American citizens take for granted. The denial of our basic civil rights is based partly on what some folks perceive is their god's will for all of us. Thus, I have a problem with this whole mystic experience thing. I shut-up then and the get-together ran its course. My friends are a varied bunch of folks and I love them. My good-natured questioning is nothing new to their ears. The event ended on a rather difficult note. One woman in attendance [an acquaintance rather than a friend] made last second comments about someone violating our cohesiveness as an organization which mystified me.
This evening I had occasion to run into the woman who grandstanded the gathering over the weekend. I asked her to explain what she was talking about. She said, "I was talking about you." I suggested that it might be better for us to sit down and communicate directly with each other about this. She said she thought that the group needed to know. I told her that grandstanding does nothing to improve communication between us but sitting down and talking about our differences might. She had forgotten the word I had called them [mystics] and didn't know what grandstanding was. I told her, adding that I also had my own experience with grandstanding and that is why I recognize it. She bristled then. I tried to explain the difference between unity and uniformity-- I was guessing that her real objection to my opinion lay more in that area. She informed me that I "shouldn't share" my personal struggle. I asked her where that was in the by-laws of said club. She stuttered a bit and finally said, "You make some people feel insulted" or something along those lines indicating that her feelings were my responsibility somehow. At last, the crux of the matter. I told her that is the risk we all take in communication. [I chose not to address the idea that I could make anyone feel anything.] She turned away then, and I left as I had other matters to attend to before sleeping.
I am aware that monotheists certainly do not have the monopoly on intolerance. We Pagans, Witches, Heathens, Druids can also lay vigorous claim to that turf. Anyone who has been involved in a Witch War knows this. And yes, some of us refer to Christians as x-tians. And a few of us boycott certain businesses run by Christians just as some Christians boycott pagan-friendly or glbtiq-friendly businesses. Everyone is guilty of intolerance. No one escapes with innocence in this life.
It is mental masturbation to presume that I know the whys and wherefores of any other human being's actions. I do not totally understand how it is that what I say can provoke such a strong reaction in one individual. I do not have to know.
What I do know is that in a casual circle of human beings, I have as much of a right to put forth my doubts about what others are talking about as much as everyone else there has to speak about their monotheistic male christian god in rather lofty and glowing terms. I endeavor to accord basic human respect to the human beings that I come into contact with in my daily life. In the course of average human relations with other adults, I expect the same basic human respect. I don't care if people respect my spiritual path. And I certainly am not asking for anyone's approval. What I want is to exercise my freedom of self-expression. And I want others to exercise their freedom of self-expression too. A difference of opinion is not something that violates any principle of an honest healthy relationship between two or more human beings.
WHY RELIGIONS SOMETIMES PROMOTE HATRED, VIOLENCE, AND GENOCIDE .
I was in attendance at a somewhat public meeting this weekend where it came to pass that some of the folks in attendance were speaking about their monotheistic male christian god in rather lofty and glowing terms, additionally claiming that they "knew" or were seeking to know said god's will for their individual lives. When it came my turn to speak, I advised that I was "sitting in a room of mystics." I asked who this god was and how do we know his will? I went on briefly to mention that people are killing each other in the Middle East right now believing that it is their god's will for them to do so [a mild simplification and thus an under-truth I know]. I also brought up the idea that here in our own country some of us g.l.b.t.i.q. folks are being denied the same basic civil rights that other American citizens take for granted. The denial of our basic civil rights is based partly on what some folks perceive is their god's will for all of us. Thus, I have a problem with this whole mystic experience thing. I shut-up then and the get-together ran its course. My friends are a varied bunch of folks and I love them. My good-natured questioning is nothing new to their ears. The event ended on a rather difficult note. One woman in attendance [an acquaintance rather than a friend] made last second comments about someone violating our cohesiveness as an organization which mystified me.
This evening I had occasion to run into the woman who grandstanded the gathering over the weekend. I asked her to explain what she was talking about. She said, "I was talking about you." I suggested that it might be better for us to sit down and communicate directly with each other about this. She said she thought that the group needed to know. I told her that grandstanding does nothing to improve communication between us but sitting down and talking about our differences might. She had forgotten the word I had called them [mystics] and didn't know what grandstanding was. I told her, adding that I also had my own experience with grandstanding and that is why I recognize it. She bristled then. I tried to explain the difference between unity and uniformity-- I was guessing that her real objection to my opinion lay more in that area. She informed me that I "shouldn't share" my personal struggle. I asked her where that was in the by-laws of said club. She stuttered a bit and finally said, "You make some people feel insulted" or something along those lines indicating that her feelings were my responsibility somehow. At last, the crux of the matter. I told her that is the risk we all take in communication. [I chose not to address the idea that I could make anyone feel anything.] She turned away then, and I left as I had other matters to attend to before sleeping.
I am aware that monotheists certainly do not have the monopoly on intolerance. We Pagans, Witches, Heathens, Druids can also lay vigorous claim to that turf. Anyone who has been involved in a Witch War knows this. And yes, some of us refer to Christians as x-tians. And a few of us boycott certain businesses run by Christians just as some Christians boycott pagan-friendly or glbtiq-friendly businesses. Everyone is guilty of intolerance. No one escapes with innocence in this life.
It is mental masturbation to presume that I know the whys and wherefores of any other human being's actions. I do not totally understand how it is that what I say can provoke such a strong reaction in one individual. I do not have to know.
What I do know is that in a casual circle of human beings, I have as much of a right to put forth my doubts about what others are talking about as much as everyone else there has to speak about their monotheistic male christian god in rather lofty and glowing terms. I endeavor to accord basic human respect to the human beings that I come into contact with in my daily life. In the course of average human relations with other adults, I expect the same basic human respect. I don't care if people respect my spiritual path. And I certainly am not asking for anyone's approval. What I want is to exercise my freedom of self-expression. And I want others to exercise their freedom of self-expression too. A difference of opinion is not something that violates any principle of an honest healthy relationship between two or more human beings.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
THE GREAT CHRISTMAS DEBATE 12/14/06
It's that time of year where some folks go frantic and start rushing around in order to buy buy buy. Nowadays we have that to contend with along with the American Family Association that wants its contingency to boycott objectionable stores. Those would be the stores that have displays using the word "Holidays" instead of the word "Christmas" such as the Gap. All of this makes me wonder what a display case in a store has to do with the birth of Christ.
Actually I don't really care if employees of a store wish me a "Merry Christmas" or a "Happy Holiday." I usually smile and tell them I celebrate Solstice. Some of them know what that is and some of them don't. The blaring Christmas music-- much of it religious-- and the flashing light displays don't do much for my well-being but I know it will be over and things will get back to their secular normal in January.
Here I will insert the recent hoopla about Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky complaining about the Christmas trees over at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The airport managers ordered the removal of the trees. Some employees rebelled by bringing in their own little trees to display by their work areas. Actually, the rabbi didn't want the trees removed. He wanted an electric menorah to be included in the welcome display. The trees are back and Rabbi Bogomilsky has offered to donate a menorah. No word yet on whether or not Seattle-Tacoma Airport will take him up on the offer. I found myself saying, "Oh gee, ordering the removal of Christmas trees is going to far" but then hesitating when I read that it was a local rabbi objecting.
Then we have the whole question of religion in the public schools. Personally, I do not want my bisexual atheistic Witch tax bucks going to support a public education system where even a few teachers feel free to proselytize for Christ and to promote Intelligent Design in science classes. Right now most public school students come from homes where some form of Christianity is practiced. The argument that the majority of kids are from Christian households does not hold water with me. This is one issue where I differ with my good friend Jeremy Crow.
I still believe in my heart of hearts that the job of public schools is to provide a public education, that Intelligent Design discussions properly belong in philosophy or comparative religion classes, and that it is the parents who are responsible for instilling their own religious beliefs and traditions in their children. Teaching about religions is certainly different than promoting a specific ideology in the classroom. Of course, there are violations on both sides of the issue.
In my mind, a teacher who: forbids students to read their sacred texts during free time, downgrades homework and essays which include religious themes by virtue of their inclusion alone, or the passing out of religious material from one student to another [student who is willing to take it] is guilty of not following the rules regarding freedom of religious expression in public schools. So is the public school teacher who: prays with students, witnesses to students, or otherwise endorses any particular religious ideology during classroom time.
For several weeks, I was drinking the poisoned kool-aid which stated that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. I have since become enlightened to other facts and figures from non-Muslim sources. Whether or not the numbers of adherents to Islam will outstrip the number of Christians in our lifetime is a matter up for debate. If the United States ever was to become primarily Muslim, what would happen then? Muslims, I am told, do not celebrate Christmas. Some Pakistani Muslims celebrate the birth of Abraham though most Sharia Muslims consider that holiday to be "an add-on" rather than one that the Prophet intended. If any other religion was the religion held by the majority of American citizens in the United States, would Christians want that religion to be given endorsement by public school personnel? I think not. What ifs aside, we get all caught up in words and then the press adds to the confusion or to the fury-- depending upon how one wishes to perceive these things.
Unfortunately, many of my liberal friends have bought into the story that the president of Iran is a nice guy, that the American press is somehow distorting his views on the Holocaust [basically: it didn't happen, or, it happened but it wasn't all that bad] into something else, that we oughta give nukes to the Iranians and to the Syrians to "fix" Iraq. The president of Iran is not nice, he was one of the student-leaders-turned-terrorist during the take-over of the American Embassy 27 years ago. He denies the impact of the historical Holocaust and in fact is sponsering a two-day event regarding that. His government and the Syrian government both hold un-upstanding records of upholding human rights for all of their citizenry. Add Iraq's government to that last one, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and a few others over there.
I don't know the "answer" to all the stuff happening in the Middle East. I do know that perpetrating lies does no one any good. The lies that feed the stupid American pubic are thriving. Grown-ups know that not everyone wishes us well. And so this Christmas, this Solstice, this Kwanzaa, this Chanaukah, this whatever winter holidays I've left out, forgot, didn't know about, failed to acknowledge; my sincerest hope for all of us even overrides any hope for peace. I hope that we all remember this: Kool-aid is for kids. Adding cyanide to it can still kill off bunches of people.
radical sapphoq
Actually I don't really care if employees of a store wish me a "Merry Christmas" or a "Happy Holiday." I usually smile and tell them I celebrate Solstice. Some of them know what that is and some of them don't. The blaring Christmas music-- much of it religious-- and the flashing light displays don't do much for my well-being but I know it will be over and things will get back to their secular normal in January.
Here I will insert the recent hoopla about Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky complaining about the Christmas trees over at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The airport managers ordered the removal of the trees. Some employees rebelled by bringing in their own little trees to display by their work areas. Actually, the rabbi didn't want the trees removed. He wanted an electric menorah to be included in the welcome display. The trees are back and Rabbi Bogomilsky has offered to donate a menorah. No word yet on whether or not Seattle-Tacoma Airport will take him up on the offer. I found myself saying, "Oh gee, ordering the removal of Christmas trees is going to far" but then hesitating when I read that it was a local rabbi objecting.
Then we have the whole question of religion in the public schools. Personally, I do not want my bisexual atheistic Witch tax bucks going to support a public education system where even a few teachers feel free to proselytize for Christ and to promote Intelligent Design in science classes. Right now most public school students come from homes where some form of Christianity is practiced. The argument that the majority of kids are from Christian households does not hold water with me. This is one issue where I differ with my good friend Jeremy Crow.
I still believe in my heart of hearts that the job of public schools is to provide a public education, that Intelligent Design discussions properly belong in philosophy or comparative religion classes, and that it is the parents who are responsible for instilling their own religious beliefs and traditions in their children. Teaching about religions is certainly different than promoting a specific ideology in the classroom. Of course, there are violations on both sides of the issue.
In my mind, a teacher who: forbids students to read their sacred texts during free time, downgrades homework and essays which include religious themes by virtue of their inclusion alone, or the passing out of religious material from one student to another [student who is willing to take it] is guilty of not following the rules regarding freedom of religious expression in public schools. So is the public school teacher who: prays with students, witnesses to students, or otherwise endorses any particular religious ideology during classroom time.
For several weeks, I was drinking the poisoned kool-aid which stated that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. I have since become enlightened to other facts and figures from non-Muslim sources. Whether or not the numbers of adherents to Islam will outstrip the number of Christians in our lifetime is a matter up for debate. If the United States ever was to become primarily Muslim, what would happen then? Muslims, I am told, do not celebrate Christmas. Some Pakistani Muslims celebrate the birth of Abraham though most Sharia Muslims consider that holiday to be "an add-on" rather than one that the Prophet intended. If any other religion was the religion held by the majority of American citizens in the United States, would Christians want that religion to be given endorsement by public school personnel? I think not. What ifs aside, we get all caught up in words and then the press adds to the confusion or to the fury-- depending upon how one wishes to perceive these things.
Unfortunately, many of my liberal friends have bought into the story that the president of Iran is a nice guy, that the American press is somehow distorting his views on the Holocaust [basically: it didn't happen, or, it happened but it wasn't all that bad] into something else, that we oughta give nukes to the Iranians and to the Syrians to "fix" Iraq. The president of Iran is not nice, he was one of the student-leaders-turned-terrorist during the take-over of the American Embassy 27 years ago. He denies the impact of the historical Holocaust and in fact is sponsering a two-day event regarding that. His government and the Syrian government both hold un-upstanding records of upholding human rights for all of their citizenry. Add Iraq's government to that last one, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and a few others over there.
I don't know the "answer" to all the stuff happening in the Middle East. I do know that perpetrating lies does no one any good. The lies that feed the stupid American pubic are thriving. Grown-ups know that not everyone wishes us well. And so this Christmas, this Solstice, this Kwanzaa, this Chanaukah, this whatever winter holidays I've left out, forgot, didn't know about, failed to acknowledge; my sincerest hope for all of us even overrides any hope for peace. I hope that we all remember this: Kool-aid is for kids. Adding cyanide to it can still kill off bunches of people.
radical sapphoq
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
LEFT BEHIND ETERNAL FORCES 12/13/06
One organization has started a write-in campaign against Walmart for selling a video game which it charges is violent. Left Behind: Eternal Forces, based on the christian "Left Behind" book series written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, is sent in post-rapture New York City. Players in the video game have to witness to unsaved non-believers in an attempt to convert them to born-again type christianity. Players also participate in battles in which unbelievers are killed. "Soul Points" must be replenished by prayer after these battles.
While I do not particularly relish the plot behind Left Behind: Eternal Forces, I also recognize that a company has the right to sell a video game without my censure, that parents have a right to decide what video games their kids will play, what religion their families will practice, what ideologies their kids will be taught. People also have the right to decide where they wish to shop or not shop, support or boycott, write a protesting e-mail or not. I will choose not to purchase the video game, not to purchase any of the books-- I have read them at a bookstore or somewheres and I was not impressed,-- and to continue to shop at our local Walmart because prices are low and cheap is good. I have not actually seen or played the particular video game being targeted by DefConAmerica.
DefConAmerica is an organization that defines itself as being anti-religious right. What I found at their site was inflammatory language describing their stance on various issues. Some phrases I read were things like:
"We cannot let religious zealots turn back the clock on civil rights, privacy, scientific progress, and quality education."
and on the same page:
"breaking all the rules", "preventing scientific advancements", "proselytize or to infringe."
The emotional language cheapens their arguments concerning:
While I do not particularly relish the plot behind Left Behind: Eternal Forces, I also recognize that a company has the right to sell a video game without my censure, that parents have a right to decide what video games their kids will play, what religion their families will practice, what ideologies their kids will be taught. People also have the right to decide where they wish to shop or not shop, support or boycott, write a protesting e-mail or not. I will choose not to purchase the video game, not to purchase any of the books-- I have read them at a bookstore or somewheres and I was not impressed,-- and to continue to shop at our local Walmart because prices are low and cheap is good. I have not actually seen or played the particular video game being targeted by DefConAmerica.
DefConAmerica is an organization that defines itself as being anti-religious right. What I found at their site was inflammatory language describing their stance on various issues. Some phrases I read were things like:
"We cannot let religious zealots turn back the clock on civil rights, privacy, scientific progress, and quality education."
and on the same page:
"breaking all the rules", "preventing scientific advancements", "proselytize or to infringe."
The emotional language cheapens their arguments concerning:
Monday, December 11, 2006
NATIONAL SECURITY VS. PRIVACY 12/11/06
Ralph Mroz wrote an interesting column on distinguishing between criminal threats vs. terrorism threats; and the obligation of any government to keep its' citizens physically safe. His article included several interesting ideas in relationship to the fourth amendment. The lectures which Mroz attended at the police academy where he trained made some important distinctions and outlined the operating premises based upon those distinctions:
"I realized that these lectures were about what constitutes a free society...and what constitutes a totalitarian one. I realized that the limits on what the state-that is, a police officer-is allowed to do on the street every day determines whether we live in a free society or an oppressive one.
"I realized that these lectures were about what constitutes a free society...and what constitutes a totalitarian one. I realized that the limits on what the state-that is, a police officer-is allowed to do on the street every day determines whether we live in a free society or an oppressive one.
If the state can stop you from freely going about your business whimsically, it is a short line from there to dictatorship. If the state can search your person or belongings at will, we are well down the road to an totalitarian government."
The lectures discussed the differences between probable cause, reasonable suspicions, and getting a "hunch" or feeling that something is hinky. The role and oversight of courts in how a police officer can reasonably respond was also presented.
Mroz went on to contribute his own gems of wisdom to the present debate over how much power the government has in terms of detaining suspected terrorists vs. the expectations of privacy that the common citizen has. Our government has to consider how to uphold the standards of safety that we have become used to as a society. The real question should not be: Is the government empowered to act in certain intrusive fashions considering the serious level of harm that several individuals can now cause to an average group of citizens? The average citizen can take some measures to keep safe from the average criminal via burglar alarms, guns, pepper spray, neighborhood watch programs etc. The average citizen or even a large group of average citizens can not do much to protect themselves from suicide bombings. Thus the government, mandated by its duty to protect average citizens, has to take extraordinary measures in these extraordinary times. Because the terrorists have weapons at their disposal that we cannot defend against with our guns nor with even the average standard-issue police officer's gun, we then become responsible to ensure that our government continues to use its' power to keep us safe and alive.
radical sapphoq
Saturday, December 09, 2006
50 MILL TO TELL YOUNG ADULTS NOT TO SCREW 12/9/06
Well, the government has finally flipped its' lid. And we shoulda seen it coming. For several years now, a friend of mine who has AIDS who has been speaking to high school kids under the auspices of a local agency has not been allowed to address prevention other than through abstinence. No talk of condoms or dental dams. Definitely no talk about sterilizing needles and having your own works. She is not allowed to answer any questions about prevention. I can understand asking parents to sign permission slips granting their permission for their teens to attend a talk about AIDS and effective prevention measures. I can understand having alternative programming for teens whose parents believe that it is their parental responsibility to transmit their values to their teens and not the schools' place to do so. I can't understand not giving high school teenagers the whole story [with signed parental permission].
Beginning in the year 2007, in order for a state to receive Title 5 monies [for Welfare Reform], that state must also preach the say-no-to-sex-outside-of-marriage message to young adults up through the age of 29. That is insane. Somehow, this message of no sex before marriage [to a person of the opposite gender] is supposed to cut down on the welfare rolls. If you are poor and don't have a job, you should not get laid. And marriage just might be your ticket out of poverty. Ignoring the race card, the one that reads "Most poor people on welfare are hispanic or at least they are not white" [because I don't know whether or not that is true and who cares if it is or not and I'm dammed tired of the race card], this proposed solution to cutting back on the illegitimate birthrate just plain is not tenable. Are they going to require unmarried folks age 29 and under to attend a mustn't-have-sex lecture before approving their applications for public assistance?
Tell them instead, every last one of them, that birth control works far better than "pulling it out." And include birth control in their medical benefits. After all, even married folks on welfare can produce lots of babies who grow up on welfare and perpetuate the cycle of poverty. I'm all for fixing the broken system, getting rid of this "I am entitled" mentality or at least stop responding to it by handing out more money for each subsequent pregnancy.
But telling people in their twenties that sex outside of opposite-gendered marriage can hurt them is not a responsible position. I would like to know what the Title 5 programs are going to tell the folks in their audiences who want to have same-gendered relationships. But I digress. Our government's refusal to fund AIDS prevention programs overseas which educate married adults from other cultures about things like use of condoms to prevent spreading of HIV is another thing that makes absolutely no sense. Aw hell, no one ever said that very many of the politicians around these days possess logic or common sense.
No one told Madonna to quit screwing when she was a twenty-something young slut. No one told Madonna that sex outside of marriage can be "psychologically and physically harmful." And somebody really ought to have told her. Oh, I forgot. She is filthy rich so she gets to do whatever she wants.
radical sapphoq
http://www.georgetownnews.com/articles/
2006/11/09/opinion/opinion01.txt
http://www.thetartan.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2006/11/08/45523803b1f12
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20061117/OPINION01/611170333/1035/OPINION
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/columns/
local_story_318113247.html?keyword=topstory
Beginning in the year 2007, in order for a state to receive Title 5 monies [for Welfare Reform], that state must also preach the say-no-to-sex-outside-of-marriage message to young adults up through the age of 29. That is insane. Somehow, this message of no sex before marriage [to a person of the opposite gender] is supposed to cut down on the welfare rolls. If you are poor and don't have a job, you should not get laid. And marriage just might be your ticket out of poverty. Ignoring the race card, the one that reads "Most poor people on welfare are hispanic or at least they are not white" [because I don't know whether or not that is true and who cares if it is or not and I'm dammed tired of the race card], this proposed solution to cutting back on the illegitimate birthrate just plain is not tenable. Are they going to require unmarried folks age 29 and under to attend a mustn't-have-sex lecture before approving their applications for public assistance?
Tell them instead, every last one of them, that birth control works far better than "pulling it out." And include birth control in their medical benefits. After all, even married folks on welfare can produce lots of babies who grow up on welfare and perpetuate the cycle of poverty. I'm all for fixing the broken system, getting rid of this "I am entitled" mentality or at least stop responding to it by handing out more money for each subsequent pregnancy.
But telling people in their twenties that sex outside of opposite-gendered marriage can hurt them is not a responsible position. I would like to know what the Title 5 programs are going to tell the folks in their audiences who want to have same-gendered relationships. But I digress. Our government's refusal to fund AIDS prevention programs overseas which educate married adults from other cultures about things like use of condoms to prevent spreading of HIV is another thing that makes absolutely no sense. Aw hell, no one ever said that very many of the politicians around these days possess logic or common sense.
No one told Madonna to quit screwing when she was a twenty-something young slut. No one told Madonna that sex outside of marriage can be "psychologically and physically harmful." And somebody really ought to have told her. Oh, I forgot. She is filthy rich so she gets to do whatever she wants.
radical sapphoq
http://www.georgetownnews.com/articles/
2006/11/09/opinion/opinion01.txt
http://www.thetartan.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2006/11/08/45523803b1f12
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20061117/OPINION01/611170333/1035/OPINION
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/columns/
local_story_318113247.html?keyword=topstory
Friday, December 08, 2006
GOVERNMENT STILL PAYING RENT: KATRINA STILL LIVES 12/8/06
FEMA is back in the news today. Some activists from A.C.O.R.N. in Houston want FEMA to continue to pay rent for folks who got kicked off the rent voucher program and to pay the three months or so backrent. FEMA doesn't want to do that. The state of Louisiana is fighting a bill FEMA wants paid, whether some of it was due to fraudulent claims or not. Government investigators are saying that FEMA squandered a bunch of money. Seems to me like everyone is complaining about the wrong stuff.
I myself have ties to New Orleans and I mourn for her as I once knew her bright shining like the sun. Yes, it hard to lose everything in one fell swoop. I've been through that too with a different disaster.
How long must FEMA pay rent for the folks displaced by Katrina? It's been more than a year folks. Ya mean ya couldn't get your shit together in a year and get a job or apply for public assistance or disability in that span of time?
Meanwhile, New Orleans is being rebuilt after a fashion. The little shotgun houses and garage apartments in the poorer sections [read: closer to the water and more below sea level than the richer sections] are gone. A big fancy casino is now operational. There are tons of jobs in New Orleans and not enough people to work them.
The problems which caused the massive flooding were patched, not permanently fixed. Wetlands are nature's way of protecting against what happened. The Corp of Engineers don't want to hear that though. So structural bandaids have been applied to the levees.
The government is still being blamed for not getting people out. Does the city have an evacuation plan in place now? Do the people living their now have their own individual plan to get out, should another Katrina storm do it again?
Meanwhile, people are bitching about being cut off from FEMA's nipple. What is this crap? "I deserve the money." Unbelievable. No, wait. I do believe it. Arrrrgh.
radical sapphoq
These sources were researched in writing this post:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/us/07fema.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4384743.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/4387296.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4387623.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/
la-na-briefs7.4dec07,0,5346678.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
I myself have ties to New Orleans and I mourn for her as I once knew her bright shining like the sun. Yes, it hard to lose everything in one fell swoop. I've been through that too with a different disaster.
How long must FEMA pay rent for the folks displaced by Katrina? It's been more than a year folks. Ya mean ya couldn't get your shit together in a year and get a job or apply for public assistance or disability in that span of time?
Meanwhile, New Orleans is being rebuilt after a fashion. The little shotgun houses and garage apartments in the poorer sections [read: closer to the water and more below sea level than the richer sections] are gone. A big fancy casino is now operational. There are tons of jobs in New Orleans and not enough people to work them.
The problems which caused the massive flooding were patched, not permanently fixed. Wetlands are nature's way of protecting against what happened. The Corp of Engineers don't want to hear that though. So structural bandaids have been applied to the levees.
The government is still being blamed for not getting people out. Does the city have an evacuation plan in place now? Do the people living their now have their own individual plan to get out, should another Katrina storm do it again?
Meanwhile, people are bitching about being cut off from FEMA's nipple. What is this crap? "I deserve the money." Unbelievable. No, wait. I do believe it. Arrrrgh.
radical sapphoq
These sources were researched in writing this post:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/us/07fema.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4384743.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/4387296.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4387623.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/
la-na-briefs7.4dec07,0,5346678.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
Thursday, December 07, 2006
WILL YAHOO-ey GET LESS HOOEY? 12/7/06
Something out of the ordinary is going on at Yahoo-ey. Initial rumors, sometime after the peanut butter manifesto, were that Yahoo-ey will be laying off between fifteen and twenty percent of its y-bots. Then Dan Rosenjweig and Susan Decker were going to lead the company together temporarily after CEO Terry Semel departs, then that Semel is not departing. Maybe there will be layoffs after the holidays and maybe not.
At any rate, Yahoo-ey is going through some big-time shuffling. Focus will be on three areas-- Customers [oh but we aren't customers anymore, we are Audience]; Advertising and Publishing; and Technology. Chief Operating Officer Dan Rosenweig is splitting by the end of March. Lloyd Braun has already left. He was doing Yahoo News, Vid, and Music. A Senior Vice President of International Operations, a guy by the name of John Marcom, will be leaving after the new year.
Chief Financial Officer Susan Decker is being promoted to head up the Advertising and Publishing Sector. Project Panama, new technology which may steal back some of the advertisement profits back from Google, will be fully functional starting in March. Current chief Technology Officer Farzad Nazem will be running the Tech Group. We don't know who will manage the Audience as yet. Supposedly, the customers-turned-audience will get better search, email, and socialization experiences.
I'm from Missouri. Show me. Get rid of the stalkers on 360 and reinstate the antistalker blogger on 360 Ireland, and then maybe-- a very big maybe-- I will believe it. Till then, any so-called improvements in customer experience just plain won't matter.
radical sapphoq
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
THE ADVANCED BONEWITS' CULT DANGER EVALUATION FORM 12/5/06
This form was authored by Issac Bonewits. In light of the recent articles concerning Ravenfire, radical sapphoq has presented this stuff for your further edumacation and has enclosed the little box at the bottom as directed by Issac Bonewits. radical sapphoq
Monday, December 04, 2006
AT&T, BROKEN CONNECTION 12/4/06
I remember the days when the phone company was The Phone Company.
Times change, and whatever the politicians decide is good for business is usually what happens. Uh, well okay, that was a gross generalization and I am not sure I believe that.
Last month, for $3.oo a month extra, we made the switch. We got high-speed cable computer access, a bunch more teevee stations, AND freebie phone calls throughout the United States and Canada. For three dollars more than what we were paying for cable and computer, I thought that was a nifty bargain.
This month, I got the final AT&T bill, indicating that we had a sizeable credit on our long-distance bill-- that is to say, because we had switched. Today, I got on the phone-- via cable-- with a gentlemen from AT&T customer non-service.
"I have one more question," I said to him. "How long would yous have waited to give me my refund if I hadn't called today?"
"The refunds will be mailed out on the seventh of the month."
After repeating myself three times, I got the answer.
"Ninety days," he admitted hurriedly.
Lookit here phone home come home to AT&T, I am done with being touched by you monthly whatever the current slogan is and all of that. Sure, it is probably legal for you to keep my bisexual bucks for ninety days, and earn interest on my bisexual bucks for ninety days. But is it ethical?
Oh, I forgot. What is good for business is usually what happens.
radical sapphoq
Times change, and whatever the politicians decide is good for business is usually what happens. Uh, well okay, that was a gross generalization and I am not sure I believe that.
Last month, for $3.oo a month extra, we made the switch. We got high-speed cable computer access, a bunch more teevee stations, AND freebie phone calls throughout the United States and Canada. For three dollars more than what we were paying for cable and computer, I thought that was a nifty bargain.
This month, I got the final AT&T bill, indicating that we had a sizeable credit on our long-distance bill-- that is to say, because we had switched. Today, I got on the phone-- via cable-- with a gentlemen from AT&T customer non-service.
"I have one more question," I said to him. "How long would yous have waited to give me my refund if I hadn't called today?"
"The refunds will be mailed out on the seventh of the month."
After repeating myself three times, I got the answer.
"Ninety days," he admitted hurriedly.
Lookit here phone home come home to AT&T, I am done with being touched by you monthly whatever the current slogan is and all of that. Sure, it is probably legal for you to keep my bisexual bucks for ninety days, and earn interest on my bisexual bucks for ninety days. But is it ethical?
Oh, I forgot. What is good for business is usually what happens.
radical sapphoq
Sunday, December 03, 2006
TESTING, TESTING 12/3/06
On Thursday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department released the 144 sample civics questions of the new standardized test for citizenship. [There will be two other parts-- reading items, and writing items.] Applicants must correctly answer six out of ten questions in the civics section. Ten cities in four states, chosen for distribution of legal immigrants, will pilot the new test beginning in 2007. The revised test has been at least five years in the making and included input from various experts.
Currently, states use their own designed tests. The tests are not standardized. The twin aims of the new test is to implement the same test nationally and to provide a test which encourages the understanding of democratic concepts rather than rote memorization. On both levels, the sample test released on Thursday does admirably well.
The pilot is not without its' detractors. Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights objects. He characterized some questions as being "off the wall." He also thought that the fee for applying for citizenship [currently $400.00 USB] is too high and he is opposed to raising the fee. [Fred Tsao's organization also puts out a pamphlet detailing how "undocumented students" can get financial aid to attend state colleges in Illinois. Currently, the site has some ftp-related problems and some of the links are broken. Typing them into the browser may get you to other parts of the website or it may not.]
Who is Fred Tsao? Well, I am not really sure. He used to work for the ACLU maybe. He certainly is an outspoken guy who is currently living in soundbytes which delineate his aversion to illegal immigrants having fewer 'rights' than the rest of us, to illegal immigrants having to take responsibility for the consequences of getting caught for crossing the border illegally, to test reform which might require a civics engineer from India to know what the current minimum wage in this country is. To Fred Tsao, the code word for illegal is "undocumented." The governor of Illinois is a good guy in his camp cuz said governor wants undocumented immigrants to attend state colleges there at the state's expense. The Illinois governor may also be planning a run for the 2008 presidency. Groan.
Fred Tsao does not like the pilot test. That is abundantly clear. I don't cotton well to people of any nationality crossing our borders illegally and then whining because they are making eleven bucks an hour in a restaurant in New York City and cannot get in on their employer's sponsered healthcare plan for lack of a valid social security number. Perhaps joining the parade of the uncounteds in Massachusetts or Illinois would prove more appealing. Or military service as a path to citizenship in order to avoid taking the test. At any rate, my dad [an American son of two legal immigrants] told me "Anything worth having is worth working for." Fred, are you listening?
radical sapphoq
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16148147.htm
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/testing-times-for-those-seeking-us-citizenship/
2006/12/01/1164777791826.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/
chi-0612010087dec01,1,5333633.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-01-citizenship_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-01-citizenship-chart_x.htm
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=339442&sid=WOR
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4371296.html
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/
menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/
?vgnextoid=dcf5e1df53b2f010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD
http://www.icirr.org/
http://docket.medill.northwestern.edu/archives/003275.php
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0705/p01s03-usmi.html
Currently, states use their own designed tests. The tests are not standardized. The twin aims of the new test is to implement the same test nationally and to provide a test which encourages the understanding of democratic concepts rather than rote memorization. On both levels, the sample test released on Thursday does admirably well.
The pilot is not without its' detractors. Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights objects. He characterized some questions as being "off the wall." He also thought that the fee for applying for citizenship [currently $400.00 USB] is too high and he is opposed to raising the fee. [Fred Tsao's organization also puts out a pamphlet detailing how "undocumented students" can get financial aid to attend state colleges in Illinois. Currently, the site has some ftp-related problems and some of the links are broken. Typing them into the browser may get you to other parts of the website or it may not.]
Who is Fred Tsao? Well, I am not really sure. He used to work for the ACLU maybe. He certainly is an outspoken guy who is currently living in soundbytes which delineate his aversion to illegal immigrants having fewer 'rights' than the rest of us, to illegal immigrants having to take responsibility for the consequences of getting caught for crossing the border illegally, to test reform which might require a civics engineer from India to know what the current minimum wage in this country is. To Fred Tsao, the code word for illegal is "undocumented." The governor of Illinois is a good guy in his camp cuz said governor wants undocumented immigrants to attend state colleges there at the state's expense. The Illinois governor may also be planning a run for the 2008 presidency. Groan.
Fred Tsao does not like the pilot test. That is abundantly clear. I don't cotton well to people of any nationality crossing our borders illegally and then whining because they are making eleven bucks an hour in a restaurant in New York City and cannot get in on their employer's sponsered healthcare plan for lack of a valid social security number. Perhaps joining the parade of the uncounteds in Massachusetts or Illinois would prove more appealing. Or military service as a path to citizenship in order to avoid taking the test. At any rate, my dad [an American son of two legal immigrants] told me "Anything worth having is worth working for." Fred, are you listening?
radical sapphoq
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16148147.htm
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/testing-times-for-those-seeking-us-citizenship/
2006/12/01/1164777791826.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/
chi-0612010087dec01,1,5333633.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-01-citizenship_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-01-citizenship-chart_x.htm
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=339442&sid=WOR
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4371296.html
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/
menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/
?vgnextoid=dcf5e1df53b2f010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD
http://www.icirr.org/
http://docket.medill.northwestern.edu/archives/003275.php
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0705/p01s03-usmi.html
Saturday, December 02, 2006
THE AMERICAN SICKNESS? 12/03/06
Last night I was on a board where I noted that one Syrian individual with a PhD currently residing in Russia had vehemently cussed the rest of us out claiming that we were all inflicted with the American sickness. And what is the American sickness? The American sickness is the conviction held by certain others that we Americans think we are "better than everybody else."
Those who would be apologetics for terrorists and others of their ilk really ought to go to the Kavkaz Center website where they can be educated on exactly how Americans are perceived by some Muslims and governments in the Middle East. From the Kavkaz Center News Station, I learned such informative things as: Witch Shoppes and networking among Witches is a sign that Satanism is becoming the official religion of Western Society [that would indeed be news to my two friends over at the First Church of Satan website]; teaching kids to think for themselves leads to democracy and democracy places itself above the Sharia laws; English prisoners who professed to be Satanists were given Halloween "off" [sapphoq asks: "off" from what?]; Australian Satanists sacrificed a goat on October 13th; and Indian high school dropouts became involved in Satanism, dancing in cemetaries naked at night, and a grafitti spree.
I also hold no respect for the idea that Iranian President Ahmadinejad is a nice guy just like his blog [currently not showing an English translation but has in the past] portrays him to be. On the same board I was on last night, I encountered a well-educated American guy who denied that President Doctor Ahmadinejad wants to blow the nation of Israel off the face of the earth. Ahmadinejah's recent letter to "noble" Americans did little to nothing to persuade me to come over to his view of things. Dude was one of the student-turned-terrorist leaders who took over the American Embassy for 444 days. Evidence points to his role as a rather mean interrogator who engaged in torture. Please do not tell me he is "nice." He is not nice. He is a terrorist and the leader of a country to boot.
The folks over at Religious Tolerance in Toronto and The Battlefield Cry (a small newsletter from the folks over at Chick tracts) both recounted the July 2006 plight of one Reverend O'Neal Dozier. Apparently, he was among a group in Broward County who opposed the building of a mosque in the community of Pompano Beach. Reverend Dozier to his non-credit played the Race Card in arguing that young black men were at risk for converting to Islam. He did also speak of a terrorist plot to blow up the Miami Sears building but what he left out was the fact that terrorists in the United States do meet up at mosques.
Fellow blogger Rick Stark knows this and alluded to it in a letter he wrote to a Florida newspaper. I know it too because of a mosque in Albany, New York whose Iman and another leader were convicted of a money laundering scheme that would have supported a terrorist Pakistani organization. Reverend Dozier had acted upon his convictions by going door to door with religious tracts. Unfortunately, he also called Islam a cult on a radio talk show. For his actions, he was advised that his services were no longer needed at the Judicial Review Committee of Broward County. He was censured by the Council of American-Islamic Relations chapter in Florida. No apology was forthcoming. The Judicial Review Committee and the CAIR-Fla. exercised their rights in the matter.
Reverend Dozier also exercised his rights to freedom of speech. The CAIR Florida Chapter referenced his speaking out as inflammatory. Yet, I maintain that Reverend Dsss has every right to express an opinion regardless of who agrees or does not agree with it [N.B. He has been very outspoken against the "gay agenda." I am a supporter of GLBT civil rights.] What is interesting to note is that no other religious leaders spoke up to back the Muslim community. Reverend Dozier expressed a sentiment out in the public arena that the average American does not admit to in polite society. He struck a chord.
After 9/11, American Muslim leaders did not loudly condemn the terrorists who killed a bunch of people. Rather than disassociating themselves, they became defensive and argued loudly against having to do so. There are 24 fatwas [or fataawa] that are on-line which condemn terrorist acts and suicide bombings. Their existence did not erase the particular chill that was created by the large absense of an American Muslim leadership outcry against the terrorists of 9/11. One fatwa was issued in 2005 by the Figh Council of North America almost 4 years after. Whether or not the fatwa is worth anything can be debated.
Is Islam different in other places? Googling the words heterogeneous Islam will yield results explaining that yes, Islam in such places as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, England, and Italy has a more heterogeneous following than found in the Middle East. But I don't live in the Middle East. I am not living in Egypt or Sudan or France or any other place. I am living here in the United States. Yes, I do worry about terrorists in general and Islamic terrorists in particular. The terrorists who caused me to have nightmares after 9/11, the terrorists who rammed airplanes into buildings in my country, the terrorists who infiltrated our [non-dominantly theistic-Satanist] society and lived among us were followers of Islam. To deny this is the height of folly.
-radical sapphoq
Those who would be apologetics for terrorists and others of their ilk really ought to go to the Kavkaz Center website where they can be educated on exactly how Americans are perceived by some Muslims and governments in the Middle East. From the Kavkaz Center News Station, I learned such informative things as: Witch Shoppes and networking among Witches is a sign that Satanism is becoming the official religion of Western Society [that would indeed be news to my two friends over at the First Church of Satan website]; teaching kids to think for themselves leads to democracy and democracy places itself above the Sharia laws; English prisoners who professed to be Satanists were given Halloween "off" [sapphoq asks: "off" from what?]; Australian Satanists sacrificed a goat on October 13th; and Indian high school dropouts became involved in Satanism, dancing in cemetaries naked at night, and a grafitti spree.
I also hold no respect for the idea that Iranian President Ahmadinejad is a nice guy just like his blog [currently not showing an English translation but has in the past] portrays him to be. On the same board I was on last night, I encountered a well-educated American guy who denied that President Doctor Ahmadinejad wants to blow the nation of Israel off the face of the earth. Ahmadinejah's recent letter to "noble" Americans did little to nothing to persuade me to come over to his view of things. Dude was one of the student-turned-terrorist leaders who took over the American Embassy for 444 days. Evidence points to his role as a rather mean interrogator who engaged in torture. Please do not tell me he is "nice." He is not nice. He is a terrorist and the leader of a country to boot.
The folks over at Religious Tolerance in Toronto and The Battlefield Cry (a small newsletter from the folks over at Chick tracts) both recounted the July 2006 plight of one Reverend O'Neal Dozier. Apparently, he was among a group in Broward County who opposed the building of a mosque in the community of Pompano Beach. Reverend Dozier to his non-credit played the Race Card in arguing that young black men were at risk for converting to Islam. He did also speak of a terrorist plot to blow up the Miami Sears building but what he left out was the fact that terrorists in the United States do meet up at mosques.
Fellow blogger Rick Stark knows this and alluded to it in a letter he wrote to a Florida newspaper. I know it too because of a mosque in Albany, New York whose Iman and another leader were convicted of a money laundering scheme that would have supported a terrorist Pakistani organization. Reverend Dozier had acted upon his convictions by going door to door with religious tracts. Unfortunately, he also called Islam a cult on a radio talk show. For his actions, he was advised that his services were no longer needed at the Judicial Review Committee of Broward County. He was censured by the Council of American-Islamic Relations chapter in Florida. No apology was forthcoming. The Judicial Review Committee and the CAIR-Fla. exercised their rights in the matter.
Reverend Dozier also exercised his rights to freedom of speech. The CAIR Florida Chapter referenced his speaking out as inflammatory. Yet, I maintain that Reverend Dsss has every right to express an opinion regardless of who agrees or does not agree with it [N.B. He has been very outspoken against the "gay agenda." I am a supporter of GLBT civil rights.] What is interesting to note is that no other religious leaders spoke up to back the Muslim community. Reverend Dozier expressed a sentiment out in the public arena that the average American does not admit to in polite society. He struck a chord.
After 9/11, American Muslim leaders did not loudly condemn the terrorists who killed a bunch of people. Rather than disassociating themselves, they became defensive and argued loudly against having to do so. There are 24 fatwas [or fataawa] that are on-line which condemn terrorist acts and suicide bombings. Their existence did not erase the particular chill that was created by the large absense of an American Muslim leadership outcry against the terrorists of 9/11. One fatwa was issued in 2005 by the Figh Council of North America almost 4 years after. Whether or not the fatwa is worth anything can be debated.
Is Islam different in other places? Googling the words heterogeneous Islam will yield results explaining that yes, Islam in such places as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, England, and Italy has a more heterogeneous following than found in the Middle East. But I don't live in the Middle East. I am not living in Egypt or Sudan or France or any other place. I am living here in the United States. Yes, I do worry about terrorists in general and Islamic terrorists in particular. The terrorists who caused me to have nightmares after 9/11, the terrorists who rammed airplanes into buildings in my country, the terrorists who infiltrated our [non-dominantly theistic-Satanist] society and lived among us were followers of Islam. To deny this is the height of folly.
-radical sapphoq
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
MORE DRAMA ALA ELDER RAVENFIRE 11/29/06
Elder Ravenfire's proboard was taken down for TOS violations a couple of days after my initial review of his board. Since then, he has apparently been rather busy loudly protesting-- among other things, an e-mail he has gotten from an alleged group of witches which took it upon
themselves to "warlock" him. I have copied and pasted said e-mail and "Elder" Ravenfire's response below for your reading and edumacation. By all means, after reading his post or posts on the proboards, please scroll through all of the messages to find the truth of it.
Because "Elder" Ravenfire has taken it upon himself to litter the internet with this hoax of a letter and his response, I am reproducing it as found on a few proboards. If anyone wishes to google Elder+Ravenfire, a host of search results will indicate that this is so. Ergo, since "Elder" Ravenfire has pretty much pitched the content into electronica, I am doing my part to help him in his quest to, as he says it, spread the word of this council.
And just so y'all know, the person behind the e-mail has admitted that it was a hoax. At any rate, here it is as found on one proboard
http://evylynrose.proboards13.com/
index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1163877931&page=1
and another
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=144833
and a third
http://triplespiral.proboards83.com/
index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1163877685&page=1
in a post attributed to Elder Ravenfire:
Here it is, the end of peace, and love as we know it to be. People go around proclaiming to be protectors of the Craft, and deeming people unfit to be Witches. And spying on Forums, and on people. Is that what the Craft is now? Have we became Jedi? And need the Jedi council like this? What, and who do they think they are? Of course I’m speaking of this so called secret council of guardians of the old ways. Or whatever they call themselves. They go around spying on people and deem them unfit to be Witches because they won’t bend to there will, or believe the same as they do. It is something that needs to be dealt with. If left alone The Craft will be ruined. These people make people think they can banish them from the Craft. Make their magick not work, forever! Here this is what was sent to me
and it's an order I cannot ignore. I tried to warn you RavenFire. I
really did, but this is what you get.
Anyhow, ever obedient to the Guardians... .
We, who are the secret Guardians of the Craft of the Wise for North
America, in Council assembled, have been apprised by our agents of the
conduct of one [omitted by sapphoq], who resides on [omitted by sapphoq] and
who styles himself as "Elder Ravenfire." Having given this matter due
consideration we are now minded to render our judgment.
We find that that this man [omitted by sapphoq] aforesaid has arrogated unto himself
titles, offices, and authority which are in no way his by right or by
accomplishment. Further, we find that he has abused the intelligence,
discretion, and abilities which the Gods have seen fit to grant unto
him, and that in sum, his actions have been of such a nature as to
bring discredit and ignominy upon the Craft of the Wise, which we are
sworn to protect and uphold.
Wherefore we, the Guardians of the Craft of the Wise for North
America, in Council assembled, do hereby banish, expel, and warlock
this man [omitted by sapphoq] aforesaid from the company of all who practice the
Craft of the Wise, to wander the grey mists, alone and friendless. And
we further lay upon said [omitted by sapphoq] a binding and curse, that each and
every work of magic that he may essay from this time forth shall fail
utterly and come to naught. And these penalties both shall lie upon
him for this lifetime and for all lifetimes to come.
So say we all, who have the right, and the authority, and the power to
enforce this, our Will, in this matter. Wherefore we have set unto
this working both our sigils and our signs manual.
So Mote It Be.
This unfortunately is permanent Ravenfire. I'm so sorry.
And they really believe this! They really believe they have this power. Ending with So Mote it Be. With blasphemy. How dare they do this. And some people really think they can do this. I lost one Coven member because of this crap. I think these people need to be stopped. There is no need for liars to be running around telling people they are not Witches, and telling them that they are warlocks. This is stupid. I have the target of attack, after attack. And I have had it. I will spread the word of this council. I will do my best to end there rain of horror. And not let them destroy another person.
My email is [omitted by sapphoq]
Blessed be, Elder RavenFire
Monday, November 20, 2006
YAHOO VOODOO 11/20/06
So the vp of e-mail and instant messenging at Yahoo has written a "peanutbutter manifesto" complaining about the corporation's lack of vision, focus, and prosperity. His solution is to dump 20% of the folks who work there. Doing more with less has been the motto of human servitude agencies for quite a few years now. I suppose it was only inevitable that technology would follow suit. I suppose that computers could take over the jobs of some of the near-future missing workers though.
I've been referring to the mysterious folks in charge of censoring the Yahoo 360 bloggers as Y-bots. I wonder how many Y-bots will find their ways into the unemployment lines. And what the average Y-bot curriculum vitae looks like. "Yep, I was part of the crew that threw out such notables as Jeremy Crow and Weezie," should not be anybody's claim to fame.
Will a shake-up occur at Yahoo's famed purple and yellow corporate offices? Will Brad Garlinghouse beat up ol' Tony Semmel and toss him out before his retirement date? Will Yahoo's stock continue its' brief climb upward since the leak? Will Yahoo dump some of its' acquisitions? Will Yahoo be able to magically rejuvenate itself? Will I get my long-awaited chance to tell Yahoo to "Wave this?"
I remember some years ago when an off-hand remark by a school superintendent resulted in readers of the Amsterdam Recorder flooding his office with gifts of pencils. Maybe we should send the author of the leaked internal memo some peanut butter sandwiches. No jelly. Just gloppy peanut butter spread thickly on two slabs of Wonder-ful bread. Now that just might be something that would stick to the roof of Garlinghouse's mouth enough to get him to quit the yapping.
radical sapphoq
I've been referring to the mysterious folks in charge of censoring the Yahoo 360 bloggers as Y-bots. I wonder how many Y-bots will find their ways into the unemployment lines. And what the average Y-bot curriculum vitae looks like. "Yep, I was part of the crew that threw out such notables as Jeremy Crow and Weezie," should not be anybody's claim to fame.
Will a shake-up occur at Yahoo's famed purple and yellow corporate offices? Will Brad Garlinghouse beat up ol' Tony Semmel and toss him out before his retirement date? Will Yahoo's stock continue its' brief climb upward since the leak? Will Yahoo dump some of its' acquisitions? Will Yahoo be able to magically rejuvenate itself? Will I get my long-awaited chance to tell Yahoo to "Wave this?"
I remember some years ago when an off-hand remark by a school superintendent resulted in readers of the Amsterdam Recorder flooding his office with gifts of pencils. Maybe we should send the author of the leaked internal memo some peanut butter sandwiches. No jelly. Just gloppy peanut butter spread thickly on two slabs of Wonder-ful bread. Now that just might be something that would stick to the roof of Garlinghouse's mouth enough to get him to quit the yapping.
radical sapphoq
Sunday, November 19, 2006
EXITING THE LIFE 11/19/06
Ex-gay ministries have existed for many years. I was first aware of this through literature put out by Teen Challenge Inc. in the late 1970s which featured a man and a woman who self-identified as ex-gay. They got saved, got heterosexualized, got married. In the picture, the woman could have been mistaken for a "butch" I suppose. She had short hair. I learned better later on. I now know that some butches have long hair. And lots of women who aren't lesbian or bisexual have short hair.
There existed in Albany NY for at least one summer Sunday night Christian meetings of a sort housed in a second-floor flat near the gay juice bar. I do not know which organization they represented nor what methods they used nor their success rate. None of my friends or acquaintances disappeared from the scene during the late 80s to take up a new straight life. They must have pulled from different parts of the community than the radical in-your-face activists that I was a part of and hanging out with.
How very odd in this day and age when GLBTIQ activists are protesting the inclusion of non-heterosexuality in a Department of Defense list of defects and conditions [an improvement over being considered as a "mental disorder"?] that the ex-gay movement would remain a source of hatred by those of us who celebrate our non-heterosexuality. Yeah, I am familiar with all of the arguements.
People in ex-gay ministries and counseling outreach services do occasionally wind up in bed with each other or with a wayward staffer. A few? some? folks seeking to get out of the life may feel deep self-hatred. Most? All? ex-gay places are run by fundies and we have suffered prejuidice and discrimination at their hands for eons. And yes, the monosexuals [homosexual and heterosexual] in the population do tend to believe that sexual orientation is static rather than fluid.
The bisexuals among us [that is the tribe I fall into] tend to believe that sexual orientation is fluid and [will at least give lip service to the idea] that one's sexual orientation throughout life can change and all of them are equally valid. AIS [Androgen Insufficiency Females] statistically are 100% either attracted to women or to both women and men. A few transgendered friends going through the procedures to match their external gender to their internal gender have experienced a genuine but unplanned sexual orientation change shortly after the introduction of hormone treatment.
So if seeking to trade in my sexual orientation for another one via the path that some people have chosen is not for me, I still do not have to invalidate those who have made different choices than I have. A campus which allows gay-straight alliances and glbtiq clubs to meet needs also to allow ex-gay groups the same privilege and voice that we experience and expect. A workplace which discriminates on the basis of past sexual orientation ought to be as offensive to the civil rights activist as one which discriminates on the basis of present sexual orientation.
A pastor who has recently confessed to dealings with a hustler [male prostitute for men] deserves respect for seeking to address his failings, regardless of how he chooses to do so. Ted Haggart has admitted to despising that part of himself which engaged in male one-on-one sexual conduct and will be seeking counseling from James Dobson [Focus on the Family leader, for those of you living in a news vacuum] because he wants out. Ted Haggart is married and he has broken his marriage vows. If I broke my marriage vows-- regardless of who I broke them with-- I might hate that part of myself too.
Give the man a break people. He done wrong. He is going to fix it the best he can. If he comes out deciding that he is gay or bisexual or straight I really do not care. I hope for his wife's sake that he is able to remain married to her and faithful to her alone. The GLBTIQ community is not the real victim here. Sure, Pastor Ted Haggard has been identified as someone who has been part of the very vocal system out in Colorado which would deny us civil rights. Should we deny him his right to decide how he wishes to conduct himself in his personal life?
The fact that restorative therapy has been dissed by the American Psychological Association back in August does not mean that it should be outlawed. Other mental health bodies have come out with statements of the dangers inherent in change ministries. Dangers like increased depression and self-loathing were mentioned. Reparative therapy has many uses with varying results-- depending sometimes on who is doing the reporting. Quite frankly, Haggard does not deserve to be on exhibit as "proof" that sexual orientation cannot be changed. And yes, even if he never embraces our struggle for civil rights, I hope he is successful in "exiting the life."
-radical sapphoq
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20061118/NEWS/611180351/1116
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/529619_1
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/
nation/11/19/19haggard.html
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111506soulforce.htm
http://www.pathinfo.org/index2.htm
http://www.progressiveu.org/221844-the-ex-gay-movement
There existed in Albany NY for at least one summer Sunday night Christian meetings of a sort housed in a second-floor flat near the gay juice bar. I do not know which organization they represented nor what methods they used nor their success rate. None of my friends or acquaintances disappeared from the scene during the late 80s to take up a new straight life. They must have pulled from different parts of the community than the radical in-your-face activists that I was a part of and hanging out with.
How very odd in this day and age when GLBTIQ activists are protesting the inclusion of non-heterosexuality in a Department of Defense list of defects and conditions [an improvement over being considered as a "mental disorder"?] that the ex-gay movement would remain a source of hatred by those of us who celebrate our non-heterosexuality. Yeah, I am familiar with all of the arguements.
People in ex-gay ministries and counseling outreach services do occasionally wind up in bed with each other or with a wayward staffer. A few? some? folks seeking to get out of the life may feel deep self-hatred. Most? All? ex-gay places are run by fundies and we have suffered prejuidice and discrimination at their hands for eons. And yes, the monosexuals [homosexual and heterosexual] in the population do tend to believe that sexual orientation is static rather than fluid.
The bisexuals among us [that is the tribe I fall into] tend to believe that sexual orientation is fluid and [will at least give lip service to the idea] that one's sexual orientation throughout life can change and all of them are equally valid. AIS [Androgen Insufficiency Females] statistically are 100% either attracted to women or to both women and men. A few transgendered friends going through the procedures to match their external gender to their internal gender have experienced a genuine but unplanned sexual orientation change shortly after the introduction of hormone treatment.
So if seeking to trade in my sexual orientation for another one via the path that some people have chosen is not for me, I still do not have to invalidate those who have made different choices than I have. A campus which allows gay-straight alliances and glbtiq clubs to meet needs also to allow ex-gay groups the same privilege and voice that we experience and expect. A workplace which discriminates on the basis of past sexual orientation ought to be as offensive to the civil rights activist as one which discriminates on the basis of present sexual orientation.
A pastor who has recently confessed to dealings with a hustler [male prostitute for men] deserves respect for seeking to address his failings, regardless of how he chooses to do so. Ted Haggart has admitted to despising that part of himself which engaged in male one-on-one sexual conduct and will be seeking counseling from James Dobson [Focus on the Family leader, for those of you living in a news vacuum] because he wants out. Ted Haggart is married and he has broken his marriage vows. If I broke my marriage vows-- regardless of who I broke them with-- I might hate that part of myself too.
Give the man a break people. He done wrong. He is going to fix it the best he can. If he comes out deciding that he is gay or bisexual or straight I really do not care. I hope for his wife's sake that he is able to remain married to her and faithful to her alone. The GLBTIQ community is not the real victim here. Sure, Pastor Ted Haggard has been identified as someone who has been part of the very vocal system out in Colorado which would deny us civil rights. Should we deny him his right to decide how he wishes to conduct himself in his personal life?
The fact that restorative therapy has been dissed by the American Psychological Association back in August does not mean that it should be outlawed. Other mental health bodies have come out with statements of the dangers inherent in change ministries. Dangers like increased depression and self-loathing were mentioned. Reparative therapy has many uses with varying results-- depending sometimes on who is doing the reporting. Quite frankly, Haggard does not deserve to be on exhibit as "proof" that sexual orientation cannot be changed. And yes, even if he never embraces our struggle for civil rights, I hope he is successful in "exiting the life."
-radical sapphoq
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20061118/NEWS/611180351/1116
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/529619_1
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/
nation/11/19/19haggard.html
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111506soulforce.htm
http://www.pathinfo.org/index2.htm
http://www.progressiveu.org/221844-the-ex-gay-movement
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