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Since at least 1992 we have been hearing a familiar refrain from the democrats, "we must unify in order to win." The implicit promise in this statement is "from unity comes democracy." I would suggest that that statement is backward, it should be "from democracy comes unity." How does that work? Democracy is built upon a free exchange of ideas and, it seems, a whole lot of shouting. What matters in the end, though, is that everyone gets a chance to be heard and IF everyone feels that they have been heard and their concerns given serious thought, then they are usually willing to compromise and unite with the majority for the common good. So, if democracy is truly practiced, then unity will likely be the outcome. This is part of why Bush has been so divisive. Half the country believes that he is an usurper. That could have been fixed by a good, transparent investigation by congress or a more careful examination by our legal process but we didn't get that. We allowed fear to make us rush to judgment, crown a winner and then sweep it all under the carpet. Now we are hearing that unity refrain again but I have noticed that I don't hear it from the Obama camp. Over and over again I hear that refrain from Clinton supporters. I just read a post in another forum complaining about how ungrateful some of us are for not recognizing all the Clintons have done for us and for not rallying behind Hillary. The writer went on to warn us all against the danger of another '72 convention and complained about how democrats 'eat each other.' Personally, I long for a contentious convention. If it happens, I might actually become a Democrat again. If the convention is contentious but allowed to work properly, I might have reason to believe their is room for democrats in the Democratic Party. Yet, I can't unite behind Hillary. I can't unite because I have heard that backward and anti-democratic refrain of "unity first" from that camp for far too long, for at least 16 years. If it were 'just' Hillary vs Barak, I might be able to. But it's not. It's Hillary and Bill and the Democratic Leadership Council * and all the anti-democratic policies and maneuvering caused by the New Democratic Movement. If the Clinton supporters really believed their 'unity first' mantra, they would now be shifting their support to Obama who is the frontrunner. They won't do this, of course. When I start seeing people refer 'the Clintons' and 'all they have done for us' I see the birth of monarchism in America and that makes this tired, cynical patriot's blood boil. * I have not had time to research all the claims of this article. If there are refutable facts, I'm sure you will let me know. Tags: politics
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Yesterday the Democrats handed the Republicans another victory and further alienated a growing segment of the left. For many of us questions surrounding the elections in 2000 and 2004, 9/11, and the Iraq war have less to do with conspiracy theories and much more to do with the fact that congress has repeatedly abdicated its duties. I don't believe the theories behind 'Loose Change' but neither do I believe the official story. The physical evidence left by 9/11 should have provided decades of material for scientific study. Instead it was destroyed. Was it incompetence, misfeasance or malfeasance? We'll never know because congress failed in its job and has continued to do so ever since. We have no faith in our government but our anger is directed at the Democrats because we trusted them and they failed us. In 2006, the Republicans experienced what happens when their constituents feel betrayed. It's one thing to have low expectations and be cynical, it's another thing to allow betrayal. So the Democrats have been trying to lower our expectations for the last seven years. First, they blamed Nader, then they began to chant "Anybody but Bush." Nobody wanted Kerry, but he got supported him solely because we thought we could trust him to fight if another Florida occurred. But he betrayed us in Ohio. Each year, the Democrats have chiseled away at our expectations to the point where the Dem base accepts the dogma that "impeachment is a waste of time." Now, think about this: If a burglar broke into your home or you were assaulted would it be a "waste of time" to pursue the assailant and secure his capture? Would it be a "waste of time" to go to court to testify to ensure he didn't do it again? Or would we say "Oh well, I'm busy, I've got work to do, let him go." Our expectations are so low that Hillary has been anointed more than a year before the election. The arrogance of the Democratic leadership is so profound that they think they don't have to worry about a vote splitter again. They are exactly as Conservatives betray them - they believe the know what's best for us and they will do whatever *they* feel is best for us and if we children don't tow the line we will be punished by another Republican victory. They think we haven't noticed the lack of difference. Yesterday the Republicans proved that they have far more courage and more cunning than the Democrats. Here's what happened; Dennis Kucinich brought his previous resolution to impeach Cheney as a privileged resolution. The Dem leadership wet itself and the Republicans yawned. DK finished and Stenny Hoyer raced desperately to the microphone to table the resolution. The voting began but some smart republican went "Hey, look, the Dems are wetting themselves to block this. Let's keep it alive. We can claim that we want to allow them their day in court. Then we can smash it and give our base something to cheer about." When Hoyer failed to table the motion he rushed to get it referred to committee where it can languish alongside John Conyer's own bill impeaching Bush. What Kucinich accomplished was to force the Democrats to take a position and get their votes recorded. Now the progressive wing of the party can look at that roll call and tell who was trying to address the issue and who was trying to sweep it under the rug. That part of the party is pissed. And they readily cite polls showing simple majorities of people who want Bush & Cheney impeached. In order to counter the Republicans, the Dems needed to show courage - courage that they don't have. They needed to allow it through and allow the ONE HOUR of debate it required. They could have isolated Kucinich and claimed the high road. It would have created no more delay than the challenge to Ohio's electoral count in 2004 and the resolution would have been dead - not tabled, not referred - it would be dead. So they have succeeded in alienating more of their base and entrenching those inclined to vote against any Dem candidate other than Kucinich. Meanwhile, the Reps chalk up another victory and Pat Robertson went a long toward preventing a rift in the GOP. The Democrats handed the Reps a small victory yesterday but it might become a big victory next year. If that happens, the Dems will do what the did in 2000. They will blame everybody but themselves. Tags: politics
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What happens when the only two congressman worth their seats get together? We finally get a Health Care Reform bill worthy of consideration. The Conyers-Kucinich Bill provides for Universal Health Care and coverage for all Americans including at least; (1) Primary care and prevention. (2) Inpatient care. (3) Outpatient care. (4) Emergency care. (5) Prescription drugs. (6) Durable medical equipment. (7) Long term care. (8) Mental health services. (9) The full scope of dental services (other than cosmetic dentistry). (10) Substance abuse treatment services. (11) Chiropractic services. (12) Basic vision care and vision correction (other than laser vision correction for cosmetic purposes). (13) Hearing services, including coverage of hearing aids. I am just beginning to analyze the Bill now but if you have any interest in Health Care Reform, I suggest you get on the phone (not email) to your reps and Senators and tell them to support it. I also suggest you put your support behind Kucinich. Text of the Bill< href=" http://kucinich.us/issues/universalhealth.php">Kucinich Website</a> Tags: politics
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http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=22&art_id=nw20070411115308554C449217
No one wants White House job
Washington - The White House is unable to find anyone willing to fill the high-powered job of Iraq and Afghanistan wars coordinator, with at least three retired four-star generals turning down the position, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
President George Bush is creating the job to coordinate civilian and military aspects of the two conflicts, the Post said, and whoever fills it will have the power to order other agencies to act.
But, despite the job carrying the title assistant to the president, one of the highest ranks in the White House, at least one candidate turned it down saying it would be difficult to work alongside powerful, dominating war hawk Vice President Dick Cheney.
"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," retired Marine General John Sheehan told the Post.
"So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,'" said Sheehan, a former senior Nato commander.
The Post said the White House had also contacted, and been turned down by, retired army General Jack Keane and retired Air Force General Joseph Ralston.
The inability to fill the job reflects the continuing struggle the White House has to find supporters for its war policy, over five years after leading the invasion of Afghanistan and four years from the invasion of Iraq.
Bush is currently in a tough battle over war funding and pullout schedules with Congress, controlled now by the opposition Democrats.
AFP
Published on the Web by IOL on 2007-04-11 11:53:08
Tags: politics
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Here's my list of choices for democratic party presidential candidate based on "official candidates", i.e. candidates who have file or formed an exploratory committee; Candidates I actually Support1. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio (http://kucinich.us/)Put a bag over it's head and do it for America2. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois 3. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York The Ole BoysSen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut ex-Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska ex-Gov.Tom Vilsack of Iowa Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico Damaged GoodsSen. John Edwards of North Carolina Vote Republican firstSen. John Kerry (Not official yet, just making a record Hmmm, Hillary's not last on my list. I don't know enough about the Ole Boys to really have an opionion yet but I doubt they will have my interest. To be honest, Obama and Clinton only get the place they do as a result of affirmative action on my part. All other factors being equal, they get priority. Tags: politics
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Subject: Bush visits primary school George Bush goes to a primary school to talk to the kids to get a little PR. After his talk he offers question time. One little boy puts up his hand and George asks him his name. "Stanley," responds the little boy. "And what is your question, Stanley?" "I have 4 questions: First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support of the UN? Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more votes? Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?" Fourth, why are we so worried about gay-marriage when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance? " Just then, the bell rings for recess. George Bush informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess. When they resume George says, "OK, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?" Another little boy puts up his hand. George points him out and asks him his name. "Steve," he responds. "And what is your question, Steve?" "Actually, I have 6 questions. First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support of the UN? Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more votes? Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden? Fourth, why are we so worried about gay marriage when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance? Fifth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early? And sixth, what the hell happened to Stanley?" Tags: humor, politics
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I am a third-party voter You think I am a terrorist My weapon is my vote and I wield it like a knife. With a flick of my wrist I split the vote and the other guy wins. My demands are simple But you are deaf to them While I demand integrity You beg for electability When I refuse to believe more lies You promise me it will be different now When I refuse to accept your promises You tell me there is no other choice I must follow you're lead or suffer under a worse leader When I refuse to follow you call me names. I am a third party voter I am a free patriot You think I am terrorist I think you are a slave. Your terror is not my fault It is your own. Tags: poetry, politics
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"The Only Moral Abortion is My Abortion" When the Anti-Choice Choose By Joyce Arthur (copyright © September 2000) Abortion is a highly personal decision that many women are sure they'll never have to think about until they're suddenly faced with an unexpected pregnancy. But this can happen to anyone, including women who are strongly anti-choice. So what does an anti-choice woman do when she experiences an unwanted pregnancy herself? Often, she will grin and bear it, so to speak, but frequently, she opts for the solution she would deny to other women -- abortion. In the spring of 2000, I collected the following anecdotes directly from abortion doctors and other clinic staff in North America, Australia, and Europe. The stories are presented in the providers' own words, with minor editing for grammar, clarity, and brevity. Names have been omitted to protect privacy. "I have done several abortions on women who have regularly picketed my clinics, including a 16 year old schoolgirl who came back to picket the day after her abortion, about three years ago. During her whole stay at the clinic, we felt that she was not quite right, but there were no real warning bells. She insisted that the abortion was her idea and assured us that all was OK. She went through the procedure very smoothly and was discharged with no problems. A quite routine operation. Next morning she was with her mother and several school mates in front of the clinic with the usual anti posters and chants. It appears that she got the abortion she needed and still displayed the appropriate anti views expected of her by her parents, teachers, and peers." (Physician, Australia) "I've had several cases over the years in which the anti-abortion patient had rationalized in one way or another that her case was the only exception, but the one that really made an impression was the college senior who was the president of her campus Right-to-Life organization, meaning that she had worked very hard in that organization for several years. As I was completing her procedure, I asked what she planned to do about her high office in the RTL organization. Her response was a wide-eyed, 'You're not going to tell them, are you!?' When assured that I was not, she breathed a sigh of relief, explaining how important that position was to her and how she wouldn't want this to interfere with it." (Physician, Texas) "In 1990, in the Boston area, Operation Rescue and other groups were regularly blockading the clinics, and many of us went every Saturday morning for months to help women and staff get in. As a result, we knew many of the 'antis' by face. One morning, a woman who had been a regular 'sidewalk counselor' went into the clinic with a young woman who looked like she was 16-17, and obviously her daughter. When the mother came out about an hour later, I had to go up and ask her if her daughter's situation had caused her to change her mind. 'I don't expect you to understand my daughter's situation!' she angrily replied. The following Saturday, she was back, pleading with women entering the clinic not to 'murder their babies.'" (Clinic escort, Massachusetts) "We too have seen our share of anti-choice women, ones the counselors usually grit their teeth over. Just last week a woman announced loudly enough for all to hear in the recovery room, that she thought abortion should be illegal. Amazingly, this was her second abortion within the last few months, having gotten pregnant again within a month of the first abortion. The nurse handled it by talking about all the carnage that went on before abortion was legalized and how fortunate she was to be receiving safe, professional care. However, this young woman continued to insist it was wrong and should be made illegal. Finally the nurse said, 'Well, I guess we won't be seeing you here again, not that you're not welcome.' Later on, another patient who had overheard this exchange thanked the nurse for her remarks." (Clinic Administrator, Alberta) "We saw a woman recently who after four attempts and many hours of counseling both at the hospital and our clinic, finally, calmly and uneventfully, had her abortion. Four months later, she called me on Christmas Eve to tell me that she was not and never was pro-choice and that we failed to recognize that she was clinically depressed at the time of her abortion. The purpose of her call was to chastise me for not sending her off to the psych unit instead of the procedure room." (Clinic Administrator, Alberta) "Recently, we had a patient who had given a history of being a 'pro-life' activist, but who had decided to have an abortion. She was pleasant to me and our initial discussion was mutually respectful. Later, she told someone on my staff that she thought abortion is murder, that she is a murderer, and that she is murdering her baby. So before doing her procedure, I asked her if she thought abortion is murder -- the answer was yes. I asked her if she thought I am a murderer, and if she thought I would be murdering her baby, and she said yes. But murder is a crime, and murderers are executed. Is this a crime? Well, it should be, she said. At that point, she became angry and hostile, and the summary of the conversation was that she regarded me as an abortion-dispensing machine, and how dare I ask her what she thinks. After explaining to her that I do not perform abortions for people who think I am a murderer or people who are angry at me, I declined to provide her with medical care. I do not know whether she found someone else to do her abortion." (Physician, Colorado) "In 1973, after Roe v. Wade, abortion became legal but had to be performed in a hospital. That of course was changed later. For the first 'legal abortion day' I had scheduled five procedures. While scrubbing between cases, I was accosted by the Chief of the OB/Gyn service. He asked me, 'How many children are you going to kill today?' My response, out of anger, was a familiar vulgar retort. About three months later, this born-again Christian called me to explain that he was against abortion but his daughter was only a junior in high school and was too young to have a baby and he was also afraid that if she did have a baby she would not want to put it up for adoption. I told him he did not need to explain the situation to me. 'All I need to know', I said, 'is that SHE wants an abortion.' Two years later I performed a second abortion on her during her college break. She thanked me and pleaded, 'Please don't tell my dad, he is still anti-abortion.'" (Physician, Washington State) "The sister of a Dutch bishop in Limburg once visited the abortion clinic in Beek where I used to work in the seventies. After entering the full waiting room she said to me, 'My dear Lord, what are all those young girls doing here?' 'Same as you', I replied. 'Dirty little dames,' she said." (Physician, The Netherlands) "I had a patient about ten years ago who traveled up to New York City from South Carolina for an abortion. I asked her why she went such a long way to get the procedure. Her answer was that she was a member of a church group that didn't believe in abortion and she didn't want anyone to know she was having one. She planned to return to the group when she went back to South Carolina." (Physician, New York) "I once had a German client who greatly thanked me at the door, leaving after a difficult 22-week abortion. With a gleaming smile, she added: 'Und doch sind Sie ein Mörderer.' ('And you're still a murderer.')" (Physician, The Netherlands) "My first encounter with this phenomenon came when I was doing a 2-week follow-up at a family planning clinic. The woman's anti-choice values spoke indirectly through her expression and body language. She told me that she had been offended by the other women in the abortion clinic waiting room because they were using abortion as a form of birth control, but her condom had broken so she had no choice! I had real difficulty not pointing out that she did have a choice, and she had made it! Just like the other women in the waiting room." (Physician, Ontario) "A 21 year old woman and her mother drove three hours to come to their appointment for an abortion. They were surprised to find the clinic a 'nice' place with friendly, personable staff. While going over contraceptive options, they shared that they were Pro-Life and disagreed with abortion, but that the patient could not afford to raise a child right now. Also, she wouldn't need contraception since she wasn't going to have sex until she got married, because of her religious beliefs. Rather than argue with them, I saw this as an opportunity for dialogue, and in the end, my hope was that I had planted a 'healing seed' to help resolve the conflict between their beliefs and their realities." (Physician, Washington State) "I had a 37 year old woman just yesterday who was 13 weeks. She said she and her husband had been discussing this pregnancy for 2-3 months. She was strongly opposed to abortion, 'but my husband is forcing me to do it.' Naturally, I told her that no one could force her into an abortion, and that she had to choose whether the pregnancy or her husband were more important. I told her I only wanted what was best for her, and I would not do the abortion unless she agreed that it was in her best interest. Once she was faced with actually having to voice her own choice, she said 'Well, I made the appointment and I came here, so go ahead and do it. It's what's best.' At last I think she came to grips with the fact that it really was her decision after all." (Physician, Nevada) "We have anti-choice women in for abortions all the time. Many of them are just naive and ignorant until they find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. Many of them are not malicious. They just haven't given it the proper amount of thought until it completely affects them. They can be judgmental about their friends, family, and other women. Then suddenly they become pregnant. Suddenly they see the truth. That it should only be their own choice. Unfortunately, many also think that somehow they are different than everyone else and they deserve to have an abortion, while no one else does." (Physician, Washington State) Although few studies have been made of this phenomenon, a study done in 1981[1] found that 24% of women who had abortions considered the procedure morally wrong, and 7% of women who'd had abortions disagreed with the statement, "Any woman who wants an abortion should be permitted to obtain it legally." A 1994/95 survey[2,3] of nearly 10,000 abortion patients showed 18% of women having abortions are born-again or Evangelical Christians. Many of these women are likely anti-choice. The survey also showed that Catholic women have an abortion rate 29% higher than Protestant women. A Planned Parenthood handbook on abortion notes that nearly half of all abortions are for women who describe themselves as born-again Christian, Evangelical Christian, or Catholic.[4] According to a 1987 article, Abortion Clinics' Toughest Cases,[5] "Physicians and clinics frequently terminate pregnancies for women who believe abortion is 'murder' and 'a sin' but who are not anti-abortion activists. Demonstrators, organizers, and leaders in the [anti-abortion] movement are seen less frequently, ranging from perhaps once or twice a month to a few times in the course of a professional career." The article contained the following anecdotes: An administrator at a Missouri clinic recalled a woman blurting out in the recovery room, "It should be illegal." The other women's mouths fell open, said the administrator. "They couldn't believe it." The medical director of an Indianapolis clinic recalled one prospective patient who phoned to ask whether the clinic had a back door. He said no. How, she asked, could she get inside without being seen by fellow picketers outside? Pointing out that two orthopedists practiced with him, the doctor told the woman "she could limp and say she was coming to see the orthopods." The medical director at a Dallas abortion clinic told this story: A white woman from an affluent north Dallas neighborhood brought her black maid in for an abortion and paid for it. While the maid was in a counseling session, a commotion was heard in the waiting room outside. The maid's employer was handing out anti-abortion leaflets to other women waiting for abortions. From a clinic director in a mid-western state: "One of the most remarkable cases was a woman who came [from another part of the state] and said she was the Right-to-Life president in her county. 'But,' she said, she 'had become pregnant and had to have an abortion.'" From a counselor in Virginia: "[The patient] was disturbed and upset and insisted she couldn't carry the pregnancy to term. She opposed abortion -- and in fact had picketed this very clinic -- [but] felt the abortion was something she had to do." Many anti-choice women are convinced that their need for abortion is unique -- not like those "other" women -- even though they have abortions for the same sorts of reasons. Anti-choice women often expect special treatment from clinic staff. Some demand an abortion immediately, wanting to skip important preliminaries such as taking a history or waiting for blood test results. Frequently, anti-abortion women will refuse counseling (such women are generally turned away or referred to an outside counselor because counseling at clinics is mandatory). Some women insist on sneaking in the back door and hiding in a room away from other patients. Others refuse to sit in the waiting room with women they call "sluts" and "trash." Or if they do, they get angry when other patients in the waiting room talk or laugh, because it proves to them that women get abortions casually, for "convenience". A few behave in a very hostile manner, such as calling clinic staff "murderers." Years ago, a clinic counselor in British Columbia told me that one of her patients went into the procedure room apparently fine with her decision to have an abortion. During the abortion, at a stage when it was too late to stop the procedure, the woman started screaming "You murderers!" and other invectives at everyone in the room. A few doctors actually refuse to provide abortions to anti-choice women for liability reasons. In the words of a Kansas physician: "Early in my career, I thought I was obligated to provide an abortion for every woman who arrived at my doorstep requesting an abortion. My experience in general medicine, surgery, and abortion has led me to believe differently. Not inadvertently, women give either me or my staff an uneasy feeling about their ambivalence or their anxiety about the abortion process. Since I have never been sued for an abortion I did not perform, my policy is to acknowledge my gut feeling, which is more often right than wrong." A clinic counselor from Georgia stated: "I have long felt that anti-abortionism is a psychological contraindication to the abortion procedure. And that we don't have to give everyone who asks an abortion. An anti-abortion woman is likely to be uncooperative and will probably not follow post-op instructions or instructions on how to deal with complications. There is actually a case where an anti-abortion patient failed to go as directed to Emergency for an unrelated complication. She ended up dying, and her family sued the physician and badgered him publicly. Additionally, if you have a complication that day, it will be the anti-abortionist. I'm not talking about the patient who says, 'I was against abortion until it happened to me', or 'I'm really against abortion, but I have to do this'. I'm talking about the picketer, the activist, the totally anti-creature who will come back to haunt us." In fact, an anti-abortion organization called Life Dynamics Inc., of Denton Texas, specializes in malpractice suits against abortion providers. They advertise for and exploit women who regret their abortion decision or who had complications, and try and persuade them to file suit against the doctor or clinic. Many of these women are vulnerable and suffer from emotional problems, but others are anti-abortion, or at least very ambivalent about their decision to have an abortion. The message that abortion is murder has had a profound influence on them, and it may leave them with a legacy of guilt and shame after their abortion, too often borne alone and in silence. When these women find themselves unable to cope with their abortions, they may look for somebody else to blame, and doctors become a convenient scapegoat. At times, clinic staff understandably become frustrated and angry when they have to deal with abusive, hostile, or hypocritical patients. And it is rare for anti-choice women to express appreciation for the service they've received. But most clinics perform abortions on anti-abortion women because they feel it's their obligation to help all women. They provide more thorough and specialized counseling to these women to ensure they take ownership of their decision, as far as possible. Here's a couple of examples of counseling techniques: "When a patient comes in with my 'favorite' sentiment: 'The only moral abortion is my abortion,' I try to expand her understanding that a few more of us have had and deserve a 'moral' abortion. When a woman expands her need for care beyond herself, you no longer have an 'anti'." (Clinic Administrator, Louisiana) "Sometimes I say to patients who have that 'I have no choice, I know I'll regret it, just do me' attitude: 'You may not care, but we do. We only do abortions on women who want our services. We will not knowingly contribute to any possible trauma of any woman.' They seem surprised that we care how we do our work, but they also accept it." (Counselor, New York) Some anti-choice women who have abortions do make peace with their decision and even become pro-choice, or at least more forgiving of other women seeking abortions. A Louisiana patient who was anti-choice before her abortion, wrote a warm and grateful thank-you letter to the clinic, admitting that she had been a hypocrite: "I never dreamed, in my wildest nightmares, that there would ever be a situation where I personally would choose such an act. Of course, we would each like to think that our reasons for a termination are the exception to the rule. But the bottom line is that you people spend your lives, reputations, careers and energy fighting for, maintaining, and providing an option that I needed, while I spent my energy lambasting you. Yet you still allowed me to make use of your services even though I had been one of your enemies. You treated us as kindly and warmly as you did all of your patients and never once pointed an 'I told you so' finger in our direction. I got the impression that you cared equally about each woman in the facility and what each woman was going through, regardless of her reasons for choosing the procedure. I have never met a group of purely non-judgmental people like yourselves." On occasion, an abortion turns out to be a momentous, life-affirming experience for an anti-choice woman. A doctor from a north-western state shared the following personal story with me: "I was born into a very Catholic family, and was politically pro-life during college. After dating my first real boyfriend for three years, we broke up, and the day my boyfriend moved out, I discovered I was pregnant. It was an agonizing decision, and something I never thought I would do, but I decided an abortion was the only realistic option. Thanks to Planned Parenthood counseling, I worked through some very tough conflicts within myself. I had to learn that my decision was a loving one. That 'my god' was actually a loving and supportive god. And that men don't have to make this decision, only women do. That it is a very personal, individual decision. I had to own it. I became much more compassionate towards myself and others as a result of my experience. Two years later I began medical school. When it came time to choose a practice, an abortion clinic opportunity came up. In working there, I began to feel that this was my calling. Having been in my patients' shoes, and coming from an unforgiving background, I could honestly say to patients, 'I know how you feel.' Deciding to have an abortion was THE hardest decision I've ever made in my life. Yet it has brought me the greatest transformation, fulfillment, and now joy. I am a more loving person because of it, and a better doctor for having experienced it. I love the work that I do, and the opportunity to support women seeking to end an unwanted pregnancy. My patients and my work are life's gifts to me, and I think my compassion and support are my gifts in return." Endnotes [1] Henshaw, S.K. and G. Martire. 1982. Abortion and the Public Opinion Polls: 1. Morality and Legality. Family Planning Perspectives. 14:2, pp 53-60, March/April. [2] The Alan Guttmacher Institute. 1996. Abortion Common Among All Women, Even Those Thought to Oppose Abortion. http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/archives/prabort2.html[3] Henshaw, S.K. and K. Kost. 1996. Abortion Patients in 1994-1995: Characteristics and Contraceptive Use. Family Planning Perspectives. 28:4, July/August. http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/journals/2814096.html[4] Planned Parenthood of America. Pro-Choice Debate Handbook. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/politicalarena/Pro-Choice_Debate_Handbook.html#4[5] Medical World News. 1987. Abortion Clinic's Toughest Cases. pp 55-61. March 9. Tags: politics
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If you have loved ones on the battlefield in Iraq (and even if you don't) then you have a duty to perform. It is your duty to evaluate the performance of your elected officials with regard to their voting record on Veterans Benefits and support of the VA. If you truly believe in "Supporting the troops" your duty starts now and will last the rest of their lives and here's why; ======================================== ============================== VA depleted uranium scandal Bob Nichols Project Censored Award Winner San Francisco Bay View - Jan 11, 2006 http://www.sfbayview.com/012605/headsroll012605.shtmlConsidering the tons of depleted uranium used by the U.S., the Iraq war can truly be called a nuclear war. Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter charged Monday that the reason Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi stepped down earlier this month was the growing scandal surrounding the use of uranium munitions in the Iraq War. Writing in Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter No. 169, Arthur N. Bernklau, executive director of Veterans for Constitutional Law in New York, stated, The real reason for Mr. Principis departure was really never given, however a special report published by eminent scientist Leuren Moret naming depleted uranium as the definitive cause of the Gulf War Syndrome has fed a growing scandal about the continued use of uranium munitions by the US Military. Bernklau continued, This malady (from uranium munitions), that thousands of our military have suffered and died from, has finally been identified as the cause of this sickness, eliminating the guessing. The terrible truth is now being revealed. He added, Out of the 580,400 soldiers who served in GW1 (the first Gulf
War), of them, 11,000 are now dead! By the year 2000, there were 325,000 on
Permanent Medical Disability. This astounding number of Disabled Vets means
that a decade later, 56% of those soldiers who served have some form of
permanent medical problems! The disability rate for the wars of the last
century was 5 percent; it was higher, 10 percent, in Viet Nam.The VA Secretary (Principi) was aware of this fact as far back as 2000, wrote Bernklau. He, and the Bush administration have been hiding these facts, but now, thanks to Morets report, (it) ... is far too big to hide or to cover up! Terry Jamison, Public Affairs Specialist, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, at the VA Central Office, recently reported that Gulf Era Veterans now on medical disability, since 1991, number 518,739 Veterans, said Berklau. The long-term effects have revealed that DU (uranium oxide) is a virtual death sentence, stated Berklau. Marion Fulk, a nuclear physical chemist, who retired from the Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, and was also involved with the Manhattan Project, interprets the new and rapid malignancies in the soldiers (from the 2003 Iraq War) as spectacular and a matter of concern! When asked if the main purpose of using DU was for destroying things and killing people, Fulk was more specific: I would say it is the perfect weapon for killing lots of people! Principi could not be reached for comment prior to deadline. References 1. Depleted uranium: Dirty bombs, dirty missiles, dirty bullets: A death sentence here and abroad by Leuren Moret, http://www.sfbayview.com/081804/Depleteduranium081804.shtml2. Veterans for Constitutional Law, 112 Jefferson Ave., Port Jefferson NY 11777, Arthur N. Bernklau, executive director, (516) 474-4261, fax 516-474-1968. 3. Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter. Email Gary Kohls, gkohls@cpinternet.com <mailto:gkohls@cpinternet.com>, with Subscribe in the subject line. Tags: politics
Current Mood:  angry
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Two years ago Bill Gates promised to 'solve' the spam problem. We all laughed. 'Solving' spam would require Microsoft to be innovative and, of course, Microsoft has never innovated anything, it just copies from everybody else. Well, times up and Microsoft's comment on they're failure? "Microsoft says it sees things differently. To "solve" the problem for consumers in the short run doesn't require eliminating spam entirely, said Ryan Hamlin, the general manager who oversees the company's anti-spam programs. Rather, he said, the idea is to contain it to the point that its impact on in-boxes is minor. In that way, Hamlin said, Gates' prediction has come true for people using the right tactics and advanced filtering technology." Spoken like a politician. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/256579_software23.aspTags: politics
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I love when my iPod is on random and I hear things I didn't quite hear before. Today's gem is from Neil Innes (Python/Ruttles). It's called the Idiot Song and I need someone to turn it into a video for me; How sweet to be an idiot (Show Bush) As harmless as a cloud (Mushroom cloud) Too small to hide the sun Almost poking fun At the warm but insecure untidy crowd (One of his classic canned crowds) How sweet to be an idiot And dip my brain in joy (Cocaine snort) Children laughing at my back (Children from protest) With no fear of attack "Undisclosed location" As much retaliation as a toy How sweet to be an idiot How sweet I tiptoe down the street Smile at everyone I meet But suddenly a scream smashes through my dream Fee fi fo fum, I smell the blood of an asylum (Whitehouse) Blood of an asylum? But mother, I'm playing so beautifully! Ha ha! Listen! Ha ha! Fee fi fo fum, I smell the blood of an asylum Hey you! You're such a pedant! You got as much brain as a dead ant! As much imagination as a caravan site! But I still love you, still love you, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo, how swee-ee-eet (Robertson, Dobson, etc) to be an idiot How sweet How sweeeeeeeeeeee - *t* How-ow-ow sweeeet Tags: art projects, politics
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http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17162341-13762,00.htmlTHE Vatican has issued a stout defence of Charles Darwin, voicing strong criticism of Christian fundamentalists who reject his theory of evolution and interpret the biblical account of creation literally. Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said the Genesis description of how God created the universe and Darwin's theory of evolution were "perfectly compatible" if the Bible were read correctly. His statement was a clear attack on creationist campaigners in the US, who see evolution and the Genesis account as mutually exclusive. "The fundamentalists want to give a scientific meaning to words that had no scientific aim," he said at a Vatican press conference. He said the real message in Genesis was that "the universe didn't make itself and had a creator". This idea was part of theology, Cardinal Poupard emphasised, while the precise details of how creation and the development of the species came about belonged to a different realm - science. Cardinal Poupard said that it was important for Catholic believers to know how science saw things so as to "understand things better". His statements were interpreted in Italy as a rejection of the "intelligent design" view, which says the universe is so complex that some higher being must have designed every detail. Tags: politics, science
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Went to see Good Night and Good Luck last night with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) daemonaquila and pied_piper70. It was really good in many ways. First, it was scary just how precisely it parallels the actions of today's Right Wing - the same lies, the same attacks and the same misdirection. Second, it did a nice job of maintaining a tension from beginning to end. One oddity about it was that it was too clean. It seemed too simple. I think I've decided that that is a strength of the film - some people need to believe its possible, even easy if they are going to get started. The 'cleanlineness' of the film added to its eery quality. But I really think it failed to convey the terror that McCarthy wrought. I think you had to come into the film understanding that fact. Yes, people were worried about losing their jobs but they were all so calm about it. Even the most extreme reactions were subdued - tense but calm. For example, McCarthy is shown identifying the ACLU as a subversive organization and Murrow is shown correcting that fact. The [National] Lawyers Guild is mentioned in passing. And therein lies a most important story. You have all heard of the ACLU. How many of you have heard of the NLG (other than from me). Do you know WHY that is? It's because the two organizations had significantly different reactions to McCarthy. The ACLU required its members to sign loyalty oaths and were spared from the FBI's 'sedition' list. The NLG refused to require such an oath and WAS put on the sedition list. Within 24 hours, the NLG lost 80% of its membership. And yet, it continues today. Leaner and meaner than ever before. McCarthy almost destroyed the Guild and, from the outside, it can appear that he succeeded. But in reality he only succeeded in making it stronger. McCarthy was one of the worst villains in American history and Murrow's timing was spot-on. But even Murrow is quick to point out that it is not McCarthy's fault - it is our own. Tags: politics, review, theater
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"Men whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV, a new study finds." http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Aug05/soc.gender.dea.htmlhttp://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050802_masculinity.htmlMen whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV, a new study finds. Their attitudes against gays change, too. Cornell University researcher Robb Willer used a survey to sample undergraduates. Participants were randomly assigned feedback that indicated their responses were either masculine of feminine. The women had no discernable reaction to either type of feedback in a follow-up survey. But the guys' reactions were "strongly affected," Willer said today. "I found that if you made men more insecure about their masculinity, they displayed more homophobic attitudes, tended to support the Iraq war more and would be more willing to purchase an SUV over another type of vehicle," said Willer said. "There were no increases [in desire] for other types of cars." Those who had their masculinity threatened also said they felt more ashamed, guilty, upset and hostile than those whose masculinity was confirmed, he said. *I* drive a small Mazda and have opposed the war in Iraq BOTH times.Tags: politics, science
Current Mood:  amused
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Yep, show's over but not over. As said, it has a sense of "to be continued..." More than that, it feels like I've passed through a door or over a hurdle. I want to move on but we had to get past this point.
I'm at work and that's decent because I'm not on my feet, it's cool and dry, and I get to wear different clothes. (I can't really complain about the weather though, it was really nice. I think we have Katrina to thank for that.) But, now I have to pay attention to life again - to the new cat, my own body, the NLG, the house and whatnot. But I really just want to sleep for a whole day.
I'm being reactive - the birds always do that me. I have to watch my tongue. I need to weigh in on an NLG decision but I'm not sure I trust myself to be properly diplomatic just yet. I've been carefully avoiding news about Katrina because I really needed to keep my energy positive for the show but now that I've seen that clip I am just stunned beyond words.
We are fighting a two front war and losing both fronts, we don't have enough troops to protect our own borders. Our "great" "Department of Homeland Security" can now be shown to be the catastrophic failure we predicted. (FEMA is a part of DHS now). Apparently, DHS's solution to a new Orleans catastrophe is to lock people into the superdome to die.
I spoke with a Nat'l Guardsman medic yesterday who is pissed. He is on standyby to go to Iraq but he wants to go to New Orleans. He told me what their TOP 3 training scenarios are;
1) HURRICANE in New Orleans
2) Terrorist Attack on New York
3) Earthquake in L.A.
1 & 2 have happened and the response has been a catastrophic failure. How in the hell can ANYONE support Bush?Tags: politics
Current Mood:  tired
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scared
