Thursday, August 21, 2008
McCain - "I Agree" Bring Back the Millitary Draft
I am pleased that finally the Republican nominee for the Presidency, Senator John McCain, and I agree on something and that is the subject of reinstituting the Military Service Draft. In a recent Town Hall Meeting Senator McCain was advised by one of the participants that, “If we don't re-enact the draft, I don't think we'll have anyone to chase Bin Laden to the gates of Hell” (Chasing Bin Laden to the gates of hell is part of Senator McCain’s stump speech). Sen. McCain’s response: “Ma'am let me say that I don't disagree with anything you have said and thank you”. So Senator McCain and I agree on one issue, but for different reasons. Senator McCain and the current Republican War machine will need more cannon fodder for their wars, your children, to fight their wars in Iraq, Iran and goodness, now Russia. Who would have ever thought that the final words of the last great Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, would go so unheeded; “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist”. Senator McCain and I do agree that a Military Draft is important, he to supply more bodies for war, me to wake American parents and young people up to the disaster of Republican folly. Go ahead, elect McCain, then start packing your kids bags to send them off to war.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
It's the Country of Georgia, Not the State - It is important to clarify this to my Republican Friends.
John McCain criticized Senator Obama during Obama’s trip to Europe suggesting that there is only one President of the United Sates and that Obama should not present himself as such. Yet Senator McCain, in Presidential style felt the need to suggest that the United States should come to grips with the Russian invasion of Georgia. A cynic may think that John McCain’s current Foreign Relations advisor Randy Scheunemann may have had something to do with John McCain’s approach to Russia’s invasion of Georgia (It is important to be really clear to Republicans, the Russians invaded the Country of Georgia and not the State of Georgia just north of Florida). John McCain suggested that no civilized, democratic country would invade another country in the 21st Century. I guess he forgot that the United States invaded and has occupied Iraq for, hmmm, five years, in the 21st Century John McCain drew his saber, perhaps the only saber left in the US since all our other sabers are busy fighting the other phony Republican war in Iraq. Exactly how many wars do Republicans need to accomplish their goal of bringing this country to its knees? How bankrupt do they need to make our Country to satisfy their need to destroy Roosevelt’s “Great Society”? Is there no incentive to stop them? Where are the Christians when real social issues are at stake? Guess they all went shopping.
Bart
Bart
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
An Essay on Liberalism from Wayne Bensen
It is campaign season, once again, which means conservatives, will try to paint Democrats as "liberals," as if it were a dirty word. I, for one, am proud to be a liberal and believe we should stand up against these conservative smears.
One of the great fallacies in modern lore is that liberalism stands for nothing and liberals have no core beliefs. The right wing, from the Pope to the President, has impugned the left by unfairly portraying it as a valueless movement mired in moral relativism.
This could not be further from the truth. Indeed, the left is the backbone of freedom, the defender of personal liberty, the guarantor of free speech and religious worship and the nurturer of democratic movements across the globe. Far from believing in nothing, wherever liberal democratic values prevail, civilizations flourish and free people thrive.
The cornerstone of liberalism is the idea that each person is endowed with the precious gift of liberty and can freely choose his or her own path - for better or worse. We believe this is crucial to greater enlightenment, personal growth and ultimate fulfillment. It also offers the best opportunity for people to realize their dreams and achieve their spiritual promise.
Liberalism encourages exploration and education. It reveres science and celebrates the inquisitive mind. Indeed, liberal values are often superior to those held on the right, because they are tenaciously subjected to rigorous examination. Beliefs that are questioned and still prevail are the ones that stand the test of time.
Like conservatism, liberalism has very strong core principles. But unlike conservatism, liberalism is not afraid to question "the way it is." The fulcrum of this philosophy is that all ideas will be constantly examined, scrutinized, studied and debated. If new information emerges to counter the culture's prevailing values or understanding, it will be rightfully taken into account. Far from moral relativism, liberalism searches for the ultimate value in which to build a moral foundation: Truth.
Right wing movements across the globe often seem uninterested in truth if it contradicts their obdurate belief systems. Reality averse, they are woefully unable to adjust to new understandings, burgeoning ideas and cultural awakenings. For example, despite overwhelming evidence that women are the equals of men, they still can't drive or vote in some Muslim countries. In America, gay people are still treated as second-class citizens, even though mountains of science and empirical evidence suggest that homosexuality is as biologically ingrained as eye color or handedness.
Liberals believe in the power of "reason," while conservatives are often just plain reactionary. This is why the GOP is the party of the "southern strategy" and anti-gay subterfuge. Republican power is directly related to fertilizing fear and fomenting fanaticism.
Indeed, the great appeal of modern conservatism, or other forms of authoritarianism, is that people don't have to think for themselves. They can mentally "check out" of this world and place their worries in the hands of a commanding politician or a higher deity.
Modern conservatives are often discomfited by the complexities of life and demand answers to the world's many unanswerable questions. They arrogantly and disingenuously claim to have absolute truth, while liberalism boldly proclaims that it does not have such ubiquitous powers of understanding. Liberalism is for those who are unafraid to fully embrace the magnificent journey of life and tackle the great mysteries of our time.
If one looks at modern conservatism in the United States, it is easy to see that it is a movement of intellectual and spiritual atrophy. In the political realm, conservatives essentially call for judges who are "strict constructionists," which is shorthand for saying "the Constitution is a dead document."
What a monumentally ridiculous notion to put forth, that American jurisprudence has not evolved in more than two centuries! Do strict constructionists believe that women and African Americans should have their rights restricted because the nation’s founders treated women as second-class citizens and owned slaves?
Likewise, modern conservatives have also rendered the Bible (or Koran) "dead documents." In conservative houses of worship, traditionalists put forth the untenable belief that holy books are literal. They call these books "God's Plan," as if the Creator hasn’t had a new thought in a couple of thousand years.
Modern conservatives will claim that liberals are sacrilegious for holding such beliefs. To the contrary, liberals are often extraordinarily religious or spiritual people. However, they diverge with conservatives in that they believe the strongest faith is one that is subject to healthy skepticism and painstaking examination. In encouraging people to explore all faiths -- free of guilt, shame, coercion or fear - liberalism also offers people the greatest number spiritual options.
Many of my columns deal with gay themes because equality for gay men and women is the civil rights issue of the new Millennium. However, gay rights mean nearly as much to heterosexuals as they do for homosexuals. The very peace and prosperity of nations can be easily predicted by looking at how they relate to their gay citizens.
If a country treats gay people with dignity and respect and offers them equality, it signals that the country bases its decisions on sound education, rationalism and science. This inevitably leads towards success in all spheres of life.
Countries that ostracize and penalize homosexuals tend to be superstitious, authoritarian and anti-intellectual. This almost uniformly leads to poverty, war, oppression and ultimately tyranny.
A cynic might argue that the United States is not as gay friendly as other countries, yet, it is the richest country in the world. True, but nearly all of America's cities and states that are centers of profit and creativity offer acceptance for homosexuals. States most hostile to gay people are relatively backwards, with lower levels of education and income. Places that offer acceptance signal that they are open-minded and looking towards the future. Locales that reject homosexuals indicate that they are stuck in the past -- at their own peril.
In essence, gay rights are the canary in the coal mine for freedom and prosperity. Unfortunately, the bird is hacking, signaling a period of increased oppression and a dangerous erosion of freedom. It is up to us to rescue this nation from the perilous path it is now on. It is time we proudly stand up for what we believe in. If we don't defend our values, our opponents will define them.
Progressive does not mean passive. Our compassion does not mean that we lack passion. Our respect for other beliefs does not signify that we don't hold strong beliefs of our own that we are willing to fight for. Indeed, our power comes from out ability to adjust to reality. We are secure in our values, yet humble enough to adapt if our viewpoints are proven obsolete. Wherever liberal democracy takes root, a strong and proud record of economic, moral, social and political achievement follows.
One of the great fallacies in modern lore is that liberalism stands for nothing and liberals have no core beliefs. The right wing, from the Pope to the President, has impugned the left by unfairly portraying it as a valueless movement mired in moral relativism.
This could not be further from the truth. Indeed, the left is the backbone of freedom, the defender of personal liberty, the guarantor of free speech and religious worship and the nurturer of democratic movements across the globe. Far from believing in nothing, wherever liberal democratic values prevail, civilizations flourish and free people thrive.
The cornerstone of liberalism is the idea that each person is endowed with the precious gift of liberty and can freely choose his or her own path - for better or worse. We believe this is crucial to greater enlightenment, personal growth and ultimate fulfillment. It also offers the best opportunity for people to realize their dreams and achieve their spiritual promise.
Liberalism encourages exploration and education. It reveres science and celebrates the inquisitive mind. Indeed, liberal values are often superior to those held on the right, because they are tenaciously subjected to rigorous examination. Beliefs that are questioned and still prevail are the ones that stand the test of time.
Like conservatism, liberalism has very strong core principles. But unlike conservatism, liberalism is not afraid to question "the way it is." The fulcrum of this philosophy is that all ideas will be constantly examined, scrutinized, studied and debated. If new information emerges to counter the culture's prevailing values or understanding, it will be rightfully taken into account. Far from moral relativism, liberalism searches for the ultimate value in which to build a moral foundation: Truth.
Right wing movements across the globe often seem uninterested in truth if it contradicts their obdurate belief systems. Reality averse, they are woefully unable to adjust to new understandings, burgeoning ideas and cultural awakenings. For example, despite overwhelming evidence that women are the equals of men, they still can't drive or vote in some Muslim countries. In America, gay people are still treated as second-class citizens, even though mountains of science and empirical evidence suggest that homosexuality is as biologically ingrained as eye color or handedness.
Liberals believe in the power of "reason," while conservatives are often just plain reactionary. This is why the GOP is the party of the "southern strategy" and anti-gay subterfuge. Republican power is directly related to fertilizing fear and fomenting fanaticism.
Indeed, the great appeal of modern conservatism, or other forms of authoritarianism, is that people don't have to think for themselves. They can mentally "check out" of this world and place their worries in the hands of a commanding politician or a higher deity.
Modern conservatives are often discomfited by the complexities of life and demand answers to the world's many unanswerable questions. They arrogantly and disingenuously claim to have absolute truth, while liberalism boldly proclaims that it does not have such ubiquitous powers of understanding. Liberalism is for those who are unafraid to fully embrace the magnificent journey of life and tackle the great mysteries of our time.
If one looks at modern conservatism in the United States, it is easy to see that it is a movement of intellectual and spiritual atrophy. In the political realm, conservatives essentially call for judges who are "strict constructionists," which is shorthand for saying "the Constitution is a dead document."
What a monumentally ridiculous notion to put forth, that American jurisprudence has not evolved in more than two centuries! Do strict constructionists believe that women and African Americans should have their rights restricted because the nation’s founders treated women as second-class citizens and owned slaves?
Likewise, modern conservatives have also rendered the Bible (or Koran) "dead documents." In conservative houses of worship, traditionalists put forth the untenable belief that holy books are literal. They call these books "God's Plan," as if the Creator hasn’t had a new thought in a couple of thousand years.
Modern conservatives will claim that liberals are sacrilegious for holding such beliefs. To the contrary, liberals are often extraordinarily religious or spiritual people. However, they diverge with conservatives in that they believe the strongest faith is one that is subject to healthy skepticism and painstaking examination. In encouraging people to explore all faiths -- free of guilt, shame, coercion or fear - liberalism also offers people the greatest number spiritual options.
Many of my columns deal with gay themes because equality for gay men and women is the civil rights issue of the new Millennium. However, gay rights mean nearly as much to heterosexuals as they do for homosexuals. The very peace and prosperity of nations can be easily predicted by looking at how they relate to their gay citizens.
If a country treats gay people with dignity and respect and offers them equality, it signals that the country bases its decisions on sound education, rationalism and science. This inevitably leads towards success in all spheres of life.
Countries that ostracize and penalize homosexuals tend to be superstitious, authoritarian and anti-intellectual. This almost uniformly leads to poverty, war, oppression and ultimately tyranny.
A cynic might argue that the United States is not as gay friendly as other countries, yet, it is the richest country in the world. True, but nearly all of America's cities and states that are centers of profit and creativity offer acceptance for homosexuals. States most hostile to gay people are relatively backwards, with lower levels of education and income. Places that offer acceptance signal that they are open-minded and looking towards the future. Locales that reject homosexuals indicate that they are stuck in the past -- at their own peril.
In essence, gay rights are the canary in the coal mine for freedom and prosperity. Unfortunately, the bird is hacking, signaling a period of increased oppression and a dangerous erosion of freedom. It is up to us to rescue this nation from the perilous path it is now on. It is time we proudly stand up for what we believe in. If we don't defend our values, our opponents will define them.
Progressive does not mean passive. Our compassion does not mean that we lack passion. Our respect for other beliefs does not signify that we don't hold strong beliefs of our own that we are willing to fight for. Indeed, our power comes from out ability to adjust to reality. We are secure in our values, yet humble enough to adapt if our viewpoints are proven obsolete. Wherever liberal democracy takes root, a strong and proud record of economic, moral, social and political achievement follows.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Young Florida Democrats - The State's Progressive Thinkers
Several months ago, before Florida’s Amendment 2 gained enough signatures to be put on the ballot, the Brevard Young Democrats endorsed the Fairness for All Families Campaign, one of the pro-equality groups opposing the so-called “Marriage Protection Amendment.” Now that Amendment 2’s ballot placement is official, our organization has moved to explicitly oppose this discriminatory initiative. At our July 23rd general membership meeting, the Brevard Young Democrats unanimously passed the below resolution:
Resolution Regarding Florida’s Amendment 2 on the 2008 General Election Ballot
Whereas:
Florida’s Amendment 2 discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, and
Whereas:
Discrimination should never be written into the Florida Constitution, and
Whereas:
Similar amendments in other states have led to the revocation of domestic partnership rights for seniors, police, firefighters, and other public employees, and
Whereas:
The rights of both LGBT and straight individuals are threatened by this amendment
Therefore, be it resolved:
The Brevard County Young Democrats does hereby oppose Amendment 2 and encourages its membership and affiliates to vote “NO.”
This Amendment threatens to write discrimination into the Florida Constitution, and is morally reprehensible. As noted in our resolution, similar amendments in others states have stripped seniors and public employees of domestic partnership rights. Amendment 2 is a wholesale government invasion into the private relationships of citizens and must be stopped. For more information you can see this page from the Fairness for all Families Vote No on 2 campaign, or this one from Florida Red and Blue.
Below I’ve compiled a list of the local and state organizations working to oppose Amendment 2:
PFLAG Melbourne:
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through:
Support, to cope with an adverse society
Education, to enlighten an ill-informed public
Advocacy, to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Say No 2 (Florida Red and Blue):
Florida Red and Blue, the statewide bipartisan campaign fighting the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, has launched the Say No 2 campaign, urging voters to Vote No on Amendment 2, which will be on the November ballot. Amendment 2 is also known as the “same sex marriage ban” amendment, but it’s consequences and effects will harm ALL unmarried couples in Florida, whether they’re gay or not.
The message of Say No 2 is simple: Say no to taking away rights, benefits and protections from unmarried couples, especially senior citizens. Say no to eliminating shared health care and pension benefits. Say no to someone else deciding who can visit you in the hospital. And say no to more government intrusion into your private life.
Fairness for All Families (Vote No on 2):
Fairness for All Families is a growing coalition that includes seniors, business leaders, consumer groups and social justice organizations who are joining together to oppose stripping away existing employee benefits while barring the passage of future measures to help Florida families.
Florida ACLU:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is freedom’s watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Space Coast Progressive Alliance has a resource page on state and local GLBT issues and organizations.
Categories: 2008 Elections, Civil Liberties, Gay Rights, General Information
Tags: 2008 Elections, Amendment 2, Brevard Young Democrats, the Hate Amendment
Resolution Regarding Florida’s Amendment 2 on the 2008 General Election Ballot
Whereas:
Florida’s Amendment 2 discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, and
Whereas:
Discrimination should never be written into the Florida Constitution, and
Whereas:
Similar amendments in other states have led to the revocation of domestic partnership rights for seniors, police, firefighters, and other public employees, and
Whereas:
The rights of both LGBT and straight individuals are threatened by this amendment
Therefore, be it resolved:
The Brevard County Young Democrats does hereby oppose Amendment 2 and encourages its membership and affiliates to vote “NO.”
This Amendment threatens to write discrimination into the Florida Constitution, and is morally reprehensible. As noted in our resolution, similar amendments in others states have stripped seniors and public employees of domestic partnership rights. Amendment 2 is a wholesale government invasion into the private relationships of citizens and must be stopped. For more information you can see this page from the Fairness for all Families Vote No on 2 campaign, or this one from Florida Red and Blue.
Below I’ve compiled a list of the local and state organizations working to oppose Amendment 2:
PFLAG Melbourne:
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through:
Support, to cope with an adverse society
Education, to enlighten an ill-informed public
Advocacy, to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Say No 2 (Florida Red and Blue):
Florida Red and Blue, the statewide bipartisan campaign fighting the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, has launched the Say No 2 campaign, urging voters to Vote No on Amendment 2, which will be on the November ballot. Amendment 2 is also known as the “same sex marriage ban” amendment, but it’s consequences and effects will harm ALL unmarried couples in Florida, whether they’re gay or not.
The message of Say No 2 is simple: Say no to taking away rights, benefits and protections from unmarried couples, especially senior citizens. Say no to eliminating shared health care and pension benefits. Say no to someone else deciding who can visit you in the hospital. And say no to more government intrusion into your private life.
Fairness for All Families (Vote No on 2):
Fairness for All Families is a growing coalition that includes seniors, business leaders, consumer groups and social justice organizations who are joining together to oppose stripping away existing employee benefits while barring the passage of future measures to help Florida families.
Florida ACLU:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is freedom’s watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Space Coast Progressive Alliance has a resource page on state and local GLBT issues and organizations.
Categories: 2008 Elections, Civil Liberties, Gay Rights, General Information
Tags: 2008 Elections, Amendment 2, Brevard Young Democrats, the Hate Amendment
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Democrats - Wake Up
“You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things…I come to bury Caesar not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interr’d within their bones”, Shakespeare (Julius Caesar). This line from Shakespeare’ Julius Caesar can be interpreted in many ways. With the understanding of multiple interpretations of this line from the Barb I would like to give a little advice, sage that I am, to those men and women in Florida who decide to run as Democrats for public office. When you run against Republicans, as we have come to know them, having morphed into some, god only knows, greedy, unconcerned, “let them eat cake”, my God is better than your God groupies, you should not in any way think in terms of decency or integrity, and furthermore have no concern for the United States Constitution. Republicans have no regard for decency and integrity, they just want to win, and that is what your goal should be. Do not hesitate to shower the dirt that you have on your opponent, totally truthful or not. If there is any grain of truth let it rip. You should use the same underhanded, unscrupulous tactics that have given us eight years of war, economic failure, and diminished Constitutional Rights. You should consider the lies of a man running for the Presidency, John McCain, suggesting that he supports the troops but does nothing for Veterans. The evil that that these men have done, that this Republican Administration has used to gain uncontrolled power, the slime that George Bush’s handlers and supporters used to defeat an honorable Veteran, is an abomination. There will be no good “interr’d within their bones”, and this is John McCain’s party of record.
Bart
Bart
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