america

Happy Independence Day

07/04/2007 by Debra

On this day in 1776 America declared it’s independence from Britain. No doubt great things were imagined. Indeed some grand things have been done.

On this fourth of July, I wish for my friends and neighbours to the south another Independence Day. One that sees them declare their independence from their current government.

A government that is finding all manner of means to corrupt the very institution’s and regulations put in place to ensure a government for and by the people.

To be a woman in America today must be frightening, as rights and freedoms thought to be “self evident” are rolled back at an appalling rate. Daily we hear stories of reproductive freedoms being attacked. From attacks on abortion rights to refusal to fill or cover birth control prescriptions to refusal to allow suit on unfair and unequal payment practises. The war on women in America proceeds apace even as the government pretends to be fighting for the rights of women in the middle east.
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Immigration Equality

06/26/2007 by Debra

Womens Enews has an article today on lesbians and the immigration system.

Some things I didn’t know, gay couples are not allowed to sponser each other in the same way that hetrosexual couples are.

One major barrier is U.S. refusal to recognize same-sex relationships for immigration purposes, which means that U.S. lesbians are unable to sponsor foreign partners as hundreds of thousands of heterosexuals do. In 2006 about 27 percent of the total grants of permanent residency were awarded to members of a heterosexual couple.
“If someone is straight and in a relationship, boom-boom-boom and they’re done,” says private attorney Noemi Masliah in New York. “Same-sex partners have to jump through the hoops and find different ways. Or some just give up . . . It’s not fair that a lesbian’s status is employment-based and the other (straight) piece is family-based. I think it’s very sad and very dismal and very unfair.”

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Wishing on Facebook

06/23/2007 by Debra

The Great Canadian Wish List on Facebook has been taken over by the So Cons.

It seems to some, a silly thing that pro choicers care about this endeavour.
I would ask those people to consider the situation to the south of us.

Media regularly gives the crazies the floor. Christianity is no longer associated with love and charity, but with hatred, bombs and people who actually deride other christians for caring about the poor.

In a country facing mounting military deaths from an illegal and unneeded war, poverty, domestic terrorism, declining standard of living, the main election platform issue is whether or not you are pro choice. [Read more…] about Wishing on Facebook

Freedom from Religion

05/28/2007 by Debra

True story: man kills wife, stabbing her in the neck 19 times with a steak knife, is convicted of first-degree murder and appeals on basis that she was unfaithful and, as a devout Muslim, he was protecting family honour.
Nice try, and maybe elsewhere in the world Adi Abdul Humaid might have been acquitted. But the United Arab Emirates citizen made the mistake of murdering Aysar Abbas in Ottawa in 1999 and, ultimately, the Ontario Court of Appeal rejected his appeal.
Superior Court Justice J.A. Doherty said that had Humaid killed his wife for religious beliefs, that alone would have been “a motive for murder.” But it was a moot point because Doherty didn’t buy Humaid’s new religious devotion and, in his 2006 ruling, concluded the story lacked credibility.
Nevertheless, the judge was concerned enough about the nature of the defence argument to write: “The alleged beliefs are premised on the notion that women are inferior to men and that violence against women is in some circumstances accepted, if not encouraged. These beliefs are antithetical to fundamental Canadian values, including gender equality.”

Texas wanna be bomber indicted

05/17/2007 by Debra

Paul Ross Evans, 27, was indicted Tuesday for attempting to use an explosive incendiary bomb on the Austin’s Women’s Health Clinic.
Evans faces one count each of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, malicious attempt to damage a building, and possession of a destructive device by a convicted felon. He’s also facing two other counts related to the incident.

Interesting take on the story at LifeNews.com [and by interesting I mean OH PLEASE!! What do you think you’re over the top rhetoric is going to come to?]

The charges against Evans include malicious attempt to damage a building and property by means of explosive and fire, possession of a destructive device by a convicted felon and two counts of use and carrying of a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence.
Abortion advocates attempted to turn the isolated incident involving someone unaffiliated with the pro-life movement into a political statement.
“We live in fear of anti-choice extremism,” local Planned Parenthood CEO Ken Lambrecht told News 8 in response to the incident. “We perform routine quarterly drills for bomb threats. We had one this very week, and our clinic is constantly aware of a potential threat.”
But Texas Alliance for Life director Joe Pojman said that pro-life advocates are peaceful people and that any political movement has individual vigilantes that act on their own wrongheaded ideas.
“We get painted with the same brush as someone who is a criminal. We only condone peaceful legal activities,” he said.

Got Bullets?

05/16/2007 by Debra

So you’re a grandpa of a 10 month old. What do you buy the little tyke? A nice stuffy for his room, a baseball glove for catching practise when he’s older, a savings bond for college. Great ideas all but not as special as a 12-gauge Beretta shotgun.

What 10 month old wouldn’t appreciate that? I’m sure Stewie would.
Little Bubba ( did not make it up ) might not be able to pop off a couple of rounds yet but I’m guessing he has a future in firearms.

Dad even sent in for a firearm owner’s identification card, and the police issued it;

Bubba Ludwig can’t walk, talk or open the refrigerator door – but he does have his very own Illinois gun permit.
The 10-month-old, whose given name is Howard David Ludwig, was issued a firearm owner’s identification card after his father, Howard Ludwig, paid the US$5 fee and filled out the application, not expecting to actually receive one.
The card lists the baby’s height (2 feet, 3 inches), weight (20 pounds) and has a scribble where the signature should be.
With some exceptions, the cards are required of any Illinois residents purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition within the state. There are no age restrictions on the cards, an official said.

CBC

You might want to give this kids stroller a wide berth.