Immigration Outrage - Has Our Society Really Become This Low?
Category: News and Politics
Image this scenario. It's 1991 and the Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. The resulting turmoil and independence movements in the Soviet Republics becomes very dangerous, especially if you happen to work for the Soviet government. One young family, a husband, who was a police officer, his wife and infant son are forced to flee the Soviet Republic of Armenia in fear for their lives shortly after protesters burn their home to the ground. The husband goes to America and applies for asylum, and is joined a couple of years later by his wife and son, who had been forced to seek refuge in Russia.
Fast forward to 2008. The infant is about to graduate from high school in Fresno, California. However, he is not just graduating - he has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian of his high school. He has been accepted to the University of California, Davis where he plans to major in chemistry with a career goal of either being a dentist or pharmacist. That is, unless the U.S. Government deports him, his parents, and, for all practical purposes, his 12 year old brother who is a natural born citizen of the United States. Having exhausted their final appeals, the family has been ordered out of the United States on June 20.
It boggles the mind the level of callousness and sheer stupidity on the part of the government that decides it is in the best interest of our society to evict a family that is working, paying taxes and raising model children. Can someone explain how our economy is assisted by booting out future medical professionals? How are we made safer by sending a family back to a hostile society? How can the government justify forcing an American Citizen out of this nation by evicting his entire family?
In New York Harbor a rather large, green statue stands. This statue is holding a tablet that reads, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." For those of you unfamiliar with what should be basic knowledge, that big green statue is the Statue of Liberty. The Golden Door, however, has been slammed shut with a "Go Away" sign firmly attached.
The kid in this drama is named Arthur Mkoyan. Arthur and his family's last chance is for a Private Bill to be passed in the Congress granting them the right to stay in the United States. His family has been in contact with California Senator Diane Feinstein's office to do just that. Private bills, however, are rare, and don't usually pass. As such, it is vital that concerned citizens express their views to Congress in this matter.
If you are in California, please take the time to contact Sen. Feinstein and Sen. Boxer. Fresno area residents should also contact their Representative, which would be Rep. George Radanovich or Rep. Jim Costa. Contact information is at the end of the blog. Emails would be great - phone calls would be even better - both would be fantastic. Make sure these individuals understand that the voters of their district expect them to do the right thing in this matter. If you live outside of California, it would still be helpful to contact your Congressional delegation, as this private bill will come up for a vote.
Senator Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-3841 Fax: (202) 228-3954 Email Link
Senator Barbara Boxer 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3553 (202) 224-0454 fax Email Link
Rep. George Radanovich 2367 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202.225.4540 Fax: 202.225.3402 Email Link
Rep. Jim Costa 1314 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone:202-225-3341 Fax: 202-225-9308 Email Link
Gay Marriage Opponents Rapidly Becomming A Minority
Category: News and Politics
On June 3rd USA Today released the results of a Gallup Poll on marriage attitudes in the United States. The results of this poll are very encouraging for the supporters of freedom and equality, and are sure to cause despair to those who seek to re-establish the Dark Ages in America.
When asked if same sex marriage was a private matter between two people or if the government should have the right to pass legislation regarding it 63% of respondents stated that it was a private matter, with only 33% saying the government should have the right to regulate marriage in this area.
Why the major change in public opinion? Simple. Gay marriage opponents made all sorts of dire predictions of massive harm to society and families should gay marriage be legalized. After 4 years of legal gay marriage in Massachusetts, as well as legal gay marriage in our northern neighbor Canada exactly ZERO of these dire predictions have come true. In other words, the religious right, as usual, was full of shit.
As Andrew Sullivan in his June 5th column writes regarding gay marriage, "It is becoming a non-issue. Which means: we win."
Another Victory in California - Gay Marriages Begin June 17th.
Category: News and Politics
"The request to stay the effective date of the decision of the court filed on May 15, 2008, until after the November 2008 election is denied.
The decision filed on May 15, 2008 will become final on June 16, 2008 at 5 PM"
In another important decision the California Supreme Court declined to deny gay couples their rights under the Constitution of the State of California pending the uncertain outcome of the ballot initiative that out of state religious groups managed to buy ballot space for.
This was a vitally important victory for freedom. Moderate voters who may have been inclined to oppose gay marriage on theoretical grounds are not going to be as likely to cast a ballot that directly impacts the happy couples they are going to see this summer on their televisions. Only the most hard hearted person would cast a ballot to destroy another person's marriage.
Enemies of Gay Marriage Reveal Their Strategy
Category: News and Politics
Sun Tsu wrote, "Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories." With that in mind, I have found it is best if our community keeps tabs on what the opposition is up to, and, as such, I read all manner of email newsletters and websites spit out by our opponents.
One organization, the "Campaign for Children and Families" has been encouraging people to call various public officials to try and pressure them into ignoring the rule of law and refusing to carry out the California Supreme Court ruling. Their plan can be found here: http://www.savecalifornia.com/getactive/alertmain.php?alid=201.
It is important that those of us on the other side counter this tactic by using it ourselves. I would encourage everyone to contact the officials listed on that page and, in the case of the Governor, thank him for his support, and in the case of the others, remind them that you expect them to uphold the rule of law and carry out the Court's ruling. It is also vital that letters be written to the members of the California Supreme Court to ensure that they do not stay this ruling.
"Thirty-one states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible."
--Jonathan Rauch, Salon Magazine, March 13, 2000
The issue of hate crimes has been on my mind of late. Given the desperation of the lunatic fringe of the Christian church, it is very likely that some in that camp will turn the political fight over gay marriage into their own personal jihad. As Pascal said, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."
With this in mind, to not prepare for an increase in violent hate crimes against the gay community would be, in my mind, foolish. Perhaps Mr. Rauch is on the right track - arming the gay community most definitely would give a moment of pause to those who wish to do us harm.
Victory in California
Current mood: hopeful
Category: News and Politics
"Accordingly, in light of the conclusions we reach concerning the constitutional questions brought to us for resolution, we determine that the language of section 300 limiting the designation of marriage to a union 'between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples." - From the California Supreme Court ruling handed down today.
Wow... Just Wow... These people have no shame and no respect for the ideals of liberty and justice this nation was based on. Mr. Sprigg, homosexuality isn’t destructive to society - rabid fundamentalism is.
In an unclassified report released by the U.S. Government detailing data mining activities of U.S. intelligence services, an interesting program appeared. This program, called Reynard, is designed to investigate and try to weed out "suspicious behavior" in online gaming worlds.
Personally, I am all in favor of this. I, for one, am sick of the constant spamming of the chat channels of people looking for groups to commit terrorism. Hell, just the other day some night elf rogue was spamming Shattrath for 30 minutes with "LF2M for heroic Mana Tombs followed by a suicide bombing of Orgrimmar" To top it off, we also have the problem of the gnomish intifada in Ironforge. Honestly, why cant those hyperactive little midgets just clean out the lepers from their own hometown and move back?
This new program is going to have it's greatest effect on PvP (player vs. player) worlds, however, where I expect a sudden outbreak of civility and an end to noob ganking. Because of this, most people will take a moment of pause to decide if ganking that lowbe in Stranglethorn Vale is really worth it. After all, he could be CIA and your ass could wind up in Gitmo.
In all seriousness, I can't figure out whether this is the brain child of some would be big brother bent on watching every move every one of us makes, or a cleaver scheme by government employees to play computer games on the taxpayer's dime...
Currently
playing
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World of Warcraft Release date: 23 November, 2004
hopeful
