Ian David
Ian David's JournalNo Investigation Into Anchorage Gay Ordinance Vote
No Investigation Into Anchorage Gay Ordinance Vote
The battle to win LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination laws in Anchorage, Alaska, has come to an end. Well, maybe.
Local NBC affiliate KTUU reports that the Anchorage Assembly voted Tuesday evening 7-4 not to launch an independent investigation into allegations that conservatives committed voter fraud by telling supporters they could register on the same day as the vote and separate claims that ballot shortages unfairly cost equality activists a winning vote.
But not all the Assembly members, even those who voted against an investigation, are convinced there weren't some shenanigans at play in the vote.
More:
http://www.towleroad.com/2012/04/no-investigation-into-anchorage-gay-ordinance-vote.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Daily++#gay+news%29
Rationalist under threat of arrest for exposing the “Jesus Water Miracle”
Immediate Release-Rationalist under threat of arrest for exposing the “miracle” #FOE
‘FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UNDER ATTACK’
Sanal Edamaruku, well known rationalist, under threat of arrest for exposing the “miracle”
On 10th March, Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Rationalist International, flew to Mumbai. The TV channel , TV-9 had invited him to investigate a “miracle” that caused local excitement. He went with the TV team to Irla in Vile Parle to inspect the crucifix standing there in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. This crucifix had become the centre of attraction for an ever growing crowd of believers coming from far and wide. The news of the miracle spread like wild fire. For some days, there were little droplets of water trickling from Jesus’ feet. Hundreds of people came every day to pray and collect some of the “holy water” in bottles and vessels.
Sanal Edamaruku identified the source of the water (a drainage near a washing room) and the mechanism how it reached Jesus feet (capillary action). The local church leaders, present during his investigation, appeared to be displeased.
See the investigation in detail on YouTube.hours later, in a live program on TV-9, Sanal explained his findings and accused the
concerned Catholic Church officials of miracle mongering, as they were beating the big drum for the dripping Jesus statue with aggressive PR measures and by distributing photographs certifying the “miracle”
A heated debate began, in which the five church people, among them Fr. Augustine Palett, the priest of Our Lady of Velankanni church, and representatives of the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) demanded that Sanal apologize. But Sanal refused and argued against them. {The whole TV program is recorded. You can watch an abridged version of it on
YouTube.}
When they saw Sanal refused to bow to their demands, they threatened to file a blasphemy case against him. And they did. On (10th April,2012, Sanal received a phone call from a Police official of Juhu Police Station in Mumbai directing him to come to the said police station to face the charges and get arrested. He also said that FIRs have also been filed in Andheri and some other police stations u/s 295 of Indian Penal Code on the allegations of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community.
Mumbai police has announced that they were out to arrest him. It is apprehended that he can be arrested any moment.
The filing of FIRs by Mumbai police and threatening to arrest a well known rationalist who has been exposing miracles and superstitious beliefs for more than three decades is a serious attack on the freedom of expression.
Clause (h) of Article 51-A of Constitution of India states that :‘It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.’In exposing the said miracle, Sanal was performing his fundamental duty enshrined in our constitution.It is distressing that the Mumbai police has chosen to harass and victimize him for doing his fundamental duty.
‘Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee’ appeals to all progressive individuals and organizations to protest and oppose the reprehensible steps of the Maharashtra police in filing FIRs against Sanal and stand behind him in solidarity for the cause of scientific thinking and freedom of expression.
N.D.Pancholi 11 April, 2012
Convenor, Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee, ”www.rationalistinternational.net.”
More:
http://kractivist.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/immediate-release-rationalist-under-threat-of-arrest-for-exposing-the-miracle-foe/
Army allows for sectarian prayer at mandatory events
Army allows for sectarian prayer at mandatory events
Last month, MAAF received two reports of sectarian Christian prayer at mandatory military events. At Ft Campbell, a battalion chaplain was leading his unit in prayer during regular morning formations. At Ft Benning, at senior NCO reported mandatory graduation ceremonies often include prayer “in Jesus’s Name”. An Army spokesperson declared these practices entirely within Army policy. These issues arise not due to individuals taking offense at prayer, but rather due to officers using their authority to promote religion. Non-Christians are made to feel like lesser members of the unit who need to hide their beliefs or pretend to be Christian in order to have the full support of the command.
The 1st Amendment provides for free exercise of religion for individuals and prohibits establishment of religion in government. This has created great legal difficulty for government officials wishing to use their official duties for prayers. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of limited, optional nonsectarian prayer (Marsh v Chambers, 463 US 783 (1983)). There is a dizzying array of legal precedent regarding government-sponsored prayer and religious activity, but the core concept is clear – that the government should be neutral toward religion.
MAAF contacted the Army regarding their policy on sectarian prayer, especially at mandatory events such as graduations and if the Army had a policy regarding “nonsectarian” prayer. Army spokesman George Wright provided only the following response:
The Army doesn’t mandate how a chaplain ought to pray.
More:
http://blog.militaryatheists.org/2012/04/army-chief-of-chaplains-approves-sectarian-prayer-at-mandatory-events/
Graphic Evidence Of The Racism Of Fox News: Racial Photoshopping
Graphic Evidence Of The Racism Of Fox News: Racial Photoshopping
Posted by Mark on April 11, 2012 at 2:39 pm.
News reports are suggesting that later today the authorities in Florida will announce charges against Trayvon Martin’s shooter, George Zimmerman. Coverage of this story was handled by Fox News in a manner that is revealing and offensive – and wholly unique to Fox News:
This is a journalistic lynching. And note, this is not Fox Nation. It is the mothership, Fox News. The editors at this alleged “news” network are demonstrating their overt hostility to both African-Americans and journalistic ethics. If this picture doesn’t finally establish the overarching prejudice of Fox, it’s hard to know what will. Their bias is so clearly being exercised with a zealotry that the Klan would shrink from. How do they get away with this?
More:
http://networkedblogs.com/wjbhh
New Atheist Banner in Streator, Illinois Goes Up… with a Message to Potential Vandals
New Atheist Banner in Streator, Illinois Goes Up… with a Message to Potential Vandals
Posted on April 11, 2012 by Hemant Mehta
Over the weekend, an atheist sign was stolen in Streator, IL:
The Freedom From Religion Foundation offered a $1,500 reward for the capture of the perpetrators, but no one has been caught just yet…
In the meantime, FFRF has put up another sign in the same location. This time, though, there’s a message for anyone thinking of taking it:
More:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/04/11/new-atheist-banner-in-streator-illinois-goes-up-with-a-message-to-potential-vandals/
Small adjustment needed in how DU parses YouTube links
If you try to share a YouTube link like this:
It's supposed to start the video at the 18 second mark.
But you'll note that DU doesn't parse the link correctly, because it doesn't include anything after the "?".
Note the "?t=18s"
National Organization For Marriage’s Twitter Account Hacked! Happy Wednesday!
National Organization For Marriage’s Twitter Account Hacked! Happy Wednesday!
If you have seen this yet, please immediately go to Twitter and look at the feed for @NOMtweets. It is too delicious for words 
https://twitter.com/#!/NOMTweets
HAPPY WEDNESDAY!
More:
http://www.back2stonewall.com/2012/04/nomtweets-hacked-website.html
Wisconsin Democrats May Sacrifice Primary Election to Oust Gov. Walker Early
Wisconsin Democrats May Sacrifice Primary Election to Oust Gov. Walker Early
In a huge twist, Wisconsin Democrats now have the potential to remove Scott Walker before he even has a chance to face off with a Democratic challenger. With the out-of-nowhere candidacy of progressive activist Arthur Kohl-Riggs on the Republican ticket Democrats could now vote out Walker in the Republican primary. Wisconsin law allows an open primary in which Democrats can vote in the Republican primary, or vice versa.
In recent weeks Democrats have come under fire for not unanimously endorsing a single Walker challenger. That coupled with weeks of speculation that Republicans would vote in the Democratic primary in an attempt to sway the endorsement to the least electable candidate had until Mr. Kohl-Riggs’ candidacy today left Democrats very vulnerable and without many options. With the introduction of this activist candidate Democrats are again back on the offensive.
A large enough show of force by Democrats during the primary could eliminate the Governor from the ballot altogether and secure an instant victory. All four Democrats fighting for the party’s nomination are all veteran Democratic leaders. Assuming there is no question amongst Democrats that any of their candidates are better than Walker they would be acting in their own best interest to choose to let their own primary play out like a roll of the dice and secure the win early.
More:
http://youthrevolutionarycouncil.org/?p=1316
NOM admits it used racial wedge strategies, has unfairly stifled free speech! (*Or was hacked)
HOLY CRAP: NOM admits it used racial wedge strategies, has unfairly stifled free speech! (*Or was hacked)
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/04/holy-crap-nom-admits-it-used-racial-wedge-strategies-has-unfairly-stifled-free-speech.html
Exclusive Boston Premier of "Bully," Sunday, April 15th
BBYO is the exclusive partner with The Bully Project in bringing the film to Jewish teen audiences
Committed to respect and inclusion of all Jewish teenagers, BBYO is proud to sponsor screenings of “BULLY,” afeature-length documentary that depicts “a year in the life” of North America’s bullying crisis. All Boston-area Jewish youth and their families are invited to see the film with BBYO before its worldwide release. At the conclusion of the film, participants are invited to engage in an anti-bullying training session and unique discussion on how they can make their communities a safe place.
Boston Premiere Info:
Date: Sunday, April 15
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: Landmark Kendall Square, 355 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Cost: $5/teen and $8/adult
In Partnership With
More:
http://bbyo.org/bully/boston/
Register in advance: https://paniminstitute.wufoo.com/forms/boston-bbyo-bully-premiere/
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