18 hours this semester, and a shit ton of work. I knew it wasn't going to be a cake walk, but Hades knows, I could do without some of the extracurricular bovine excrement. Just saying.
(By the way, don't act surprised, you were warned!)
28 September 2010
12 September 2010
Fw: Judge strikes down DADT: Now Lt. Dan Choi needs your help...
(The following is an email came to me from the Courage Campaign. I thought I would share! So, here you go, the following is the entire email, minus the donation links at the bottom of the original email which I erased for this blog.)
Judge strikes down DADT: Now Lt. Dan Choi needs your help...
Bulletin from the cause: Stop Prop 8!
Posted By: Andy Kelley
To: Members in Stop Prop 8!
Judge strikes down DADT: Now Lt. Dan Choi needs your help...
Last night, federal district court Judge Virginia Phillips declared that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is unconstitutional. Following federal court rulings on Proposition 8 in August and the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) in July, Judge Phillips' decision is the third federal court ruling in as many months to find statutory limitations on the rights of LGBT Americans unconstitutional.
However, the fate of DADT is still in doubt. It's very possible that the DADT decision will be stayed, which means President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid must take the lead to finally repeal this discriminatory policy. As Lt. Dan Choi writes below, we need to push them to take action now -- before the November election.
Since 2009, the Courage Campaign has collected 491,197 signatures on behalf of Lt. Dan Choi and other LGBT service members, and delivered them to members of Congress, the U.S. Army and the Obama Administration. Now we need you to do it again -- sign here to tell Sen. Harry Reid to follow through on his promise to Lt. Choi:
Keep the Promise
------
Dear Friend --
The ruling by Judge Virginia Phillips potentially striking down DADT is a huge victory for our movement. But it is not the end. Not by a long-shot.
In July, Senator Harry Reid took the stage at Netroots Nation in Las Vegas for a panel discussion. Joan McCarter, the moderator, handed him my West Point ring and told Reid that I wanted him to keep it.
At first, Sen. Reid declined, but then agreed to keep it until DADT is actually repealed. Upon his acceptance, I lept onto the stage to briefly meet Reid. Holding the ring, Reid asked me: "When we get it passed, you'll take it back, right?" I responded:
"I sure will, but I'm going to hold you accountable."
The time for accountability has come. Now Sen. Reid needs to follow the leadership of Judge Phillips and take immediate action to support the men and women serving in our nation's military.
Please help me hold Sen. Reid to his promise by asking him to bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote the week of September 20 -- the last opportunity the Senate will have to repeal DADT before the November election. Click here now to watch the video of my brief discussion with Sen. Reid and sign my letter asking him to keep his promise to repeal DADT:
Keep the Promise
I commend Judge Virginia Phillips, Alex Nicholson and the Log Cabin Republicans for their firm stance in defense of the First Amendment and their unwavering support of our national security. Judge Phillips has forthrightly exercised her unquestionable moral authority and lived up to her mandate to defend our constitution.
Sen. Reid is not the only elected official who needs to follow the leadership of Judge Phillips. So does President Obama.
I implore President Obama and his Justice Department NOT to appeal the ruling by Judge Phillips. Like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown did by refusing to defend Prop 8 in California, the President and the DoJ can refuse to appeal this DADT ruling. They can refuse to lift a finger and not waste any energy, statements, or money defending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the courts.
No matter what President Obama does, we need to keep up the pressure on Sen. Reid to keep his promise to repeal DADT in the legislative branch. Please click here to sign my letter asking Sen. Reid to bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote the week of September 20 -- the last opportunity the Senate will have to repeal DADT before the November election:
Keep the Promise
Thank you for everything you have done to help end DADT in the last few years. Our road has not been easy but our struggle continues to prove that love is still worth it.
Lt. Dan Choi
Already sign the letter? Click here to share it on Facebook and ask your friends to join you: Share "Keep the Promise" on Facebook
Judge strikes down DADT: Now Lt. Dan Choi needs your help...
Bulletin from the cause: Stop Prop 8!
Posted By: Andy Kelley
To: Members in Stop Prop 8!
Judge strikes down DADT: Now Lt. Dan Choi needs your help...
Last night, federal district court Judge Virginia Phillips declared that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is unconstitutional. Following federal court rulings on Proposition 8 in August and the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) in July, Judge Phillips' decision is the third federal court ruling in as many months to find statutory limitations on the rights of LGBT Americans unconstitutional.
However, the fate of DADT is still in doubt. It's very possible that the DADT decision will be stayed, which means President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid must take the lead to finally repeal this discriminatory policy. As Lt. Dan Choi writes below, we need to push them to take action now -- before the November election.
Since 2009, the Courage Campaign has collected 491,197 signatures on behalf of Lt. Dan Choi and other LGBT service members, and delivered them to members of Congress, the U.S. Army and the Obama Administration. Now we need you to do it again -- sign here to tell Sen. Harry Reid to follow through on his promise to Lt. Choi:
Keep the Promise
------
Dear Friend --
The ruling by Judge Virginia Phillips potentially striking down DADT is a huge victory for our movement. But it is not the end. Not by a long-shot.
In July, Senator Harry Reid took the stage at Netroots Nation in Las Vegas for a panel discussion. Joan McCarter, the moderator, handed him my West Point ring and told Reid that I wanted him to keep it.
At first, Sen. Reid declined, but then agreed to keep it until DADT is actually repealed. Upon his acceptance, I lept onto the stage to briefly meet Reid. Holding the ring, Reid asked me: "When we get it passed, you'll take it back, right?" I responded:
"I sure will, but I'm going to hold you accountable."
The time for accountability has come. Now Sen. Reid needs to follow the leadership of Judge Phillips and take immediate action to support the men and women serving in our nation's military.
Please help me hold Sen. Reid to his promise by asking him to bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote the week of September 20 -- the last opportunity the Senate will have to repeal DADT before the November election. Click here now to watch the video of my brief discussion with Sen. Reid and sign my letter asking him to keep his promise to repeal DADT:
Keep the Promise
I commend Judge Virginia Phillips, Alex Nicholson and the Log Cabin Republicans for their firm stance in defense of the First Amendment and their unwavering support of our national security. Judge Phillips has forthrightly exercised her unquestionable moral authority and lived up to her mandate to defend our constitution.
Sen. Reid is not the only elected official who needs to follow the leadership of Judge Phillips. So does President Obama.
I implore President Obama and his Justice Department NOT to appeal the ruling by Judge Phillips. Like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown did by refusing to defend Prop 8 in California, the President and the DoJ can refuse to appeal this DADT ruling. They can refuse to lift a finger and not waste any energy, statements, or money defending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the courts.
No matter what President Obama does, we need to keep up the pressure on Sen. Reid to keep his promise to repeal DADT in the legislative branch. Please click here to sign my letter asking Sen. Reid to bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote the week of September 20 -- the last opportunity the Senate will have to repeal DADT before the November election:
Keep the Promise
Thank you for everything you have done to help end DADT in the last few years. Our road has not been easy but our struggle continues to prove that love is still worth it.
Lt. Dan Choi
Already sign the letter? Click here to share it on Facebook and ask your friends to join you: Share "Keep the Promise" on Facebook
09 September 2010
Book Bazaar Friday and Saturday (9/10 & 9/11)
This makes me happy. Hello. My name is Monique Finley and I am a book addict. Okay, actually, I'm a book slut. I know. I know. I shouldn't be so hard on myself. But, it's true. Any other book sluts I see at the book bazaar, well, I wont judge you.
Centenary Book Bazaar information
Centenary Book Bazaar information
07 September 2010
Pherophone App Created by Peeps at Centenary
Shreveport Times news article titled "Centenary Students and Teacher Go App"
Do you have an Android phone? Then, this article is totally for you! If, you don't, well, you should check out the link because the potentiality for usefulness rates high in my book. You be the judge.
This is just too cool.
Do you have an Android phone? Then, this article is totally for you! If, you don't, well, you should check out the link because the potentiality for usefulness rates high in my book. You be the judge.
This is just too cool.
04 September 2010
The White House Wrote Back
This email was sent to me on Wed, September 1, 2010 2:22:06 PM. This is the government response to a gay rights petition I signed. Whenever I sign petitions, I make sure to add information about myself and to question the stance of politicians being addressed. Occasionally, I receive return correspondence--usually from an office flackey--I make no qualms about not "ranking high enough" to receive actual correspondence. I asked for a run down on the President's stance on LGBT rights and received this letter:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. We must stand united to protect
liberty and justice for all our citizens, and I appreciate your
perspective on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.
My Administration has taken a number of steps to address
issues affecting the LGBT community. Leading by example, I
extended benefits to same-sex partners of Federal employees in the
Civil and Foreign Services. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum
directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give all
patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of
need, including the ability to choose who can visit them and make
medical decisions. To help take on discrimination in all its forms, we
are working to ensure that core Federal housing programs are open to all, and I signed landmark legislation that strengthens protections
against hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
We also ended the ban on entry to the United States for people living
with HIV/AIDS, and we issued the first comprehensive National
HIV/AIDS Strategy.
While we have made great strides, much work remains to
achieve full equality for LGBT individuals. I stand by my
commitment to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and Pentagon leaders
are ensuring we can change this in a way that strengthens our Armed
Forces and national security. I have urged Congress to pass the
bipartisan Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and I
support extending the over 1,100 Federal marital rights and benefits to same-sex couples. I support the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act, as well as legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Adoption rights must also be secured for LGBT families, and we need
to ensure our children are free to learn in supportive environments in school.
To learn more information about my Administration's efforts
to create a more open and tolerant society, please visit:
www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Civil-Rights.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
To be a part of our agenda for change, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/"
End of letter, beginning of head scratching: this letter is beautifully written, wonderfully rhetorical, designed to brighten and enlighten the modern progressive mind, and meant as testimony to the efforts of the current administration (though, you'll shortly see the futility). I do applaud both the quick response time (approx. 6-8 weeks) and the direct response to the question of a single citizen (unfortunately, I can't find the copy of petition letter I sent). It must be noted that Presidential Memorandum is not permanent law, the very next president could choose to write their own Presidential Memorandum removing/revoking great strides as desired. That said, I'll give props for rhetoric regarding what more needs to be done for the LGBT communities, while I actively observe whether these needs are met, or continued to be denied.
On another note:
I think of the Police song "Every Breath You Take" and I think of the illustrious Department of Homeland Security, thank the goddess I'm not that creepy. Do you think the Police song was predictive of Homeland Security (our own little Gestapo)? Or, is it just a stalker song?
Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. We must stand united to protect
liberty and justice for all our citizens, and I appreciate your
perspective on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.
My Administration has taken a number of steps to address
issues affecting the LGBT community. Leading by example, I
extended benefits to same-sex partners of Federal employees in the
Civil and Foreign Services. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum
directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give all
patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of
need, including the ability to choose who can visit them and make
medical decisions. To help take on discrimination in all its forms, we
are working to ensure that core Federal housing programs are open to all, and I signed landmark legislation that strengthens protections
against hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
We also ended the ban on entry to the United States for people living
with HIV/AIDS, and we issued the first comprehensive National
HIV/AIDS Strategy.
While we have made great strides, much work remains to
achieve full equality for LGBT individuals. I stand by my
commitment to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and Pentagon leaders
are ensuring we can change this in a way that strengthens our Armed
Forces and national security. I have urged Congress to pass the
bipartisan Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and I
support extending the over 1,100 Federal marital rights and benefits to same-sex couples. I support the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act, as well as legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Adoption rights must also be secured for LGBT families, and we need
to ensure our children are free to learn in supportive environments in school.
To learn more information about my Administration's efforts
to create a more open and tolerant society, please visit:
www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Civil-Rights.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
To be a part of our agenda for change, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/"
End of letter, beginning of head scratching: this letter is beautifully written, wonderfully rhetorical, designed to brighten and enlighten the modern progressive mind, and meant as testimony to the efforts of the current administration (though, you'll shortly see the futility). I do applaud both the quick response time (approx. 6-8 weeks) and the direct response to the question of a single citizen (unfortunately, I can't find the copy of petition letter I sent). It must be noted that Presidential Memorandum is not permanent law, the very next president could choose to write their own Presidential Memorandum removing/revoking great strides as desired. That said, I'll give props for rhetoric regarding what more needs to be done for the LGBT communities, while I actively observe whether these needs are met, or continued to be denied.
On another note:
I think of the Police song "Every Breath You Take" and I think of the illustrious Department of Homeland Security, thank the goddess I'm not that creepy. Do you think the Police song was predictive of Homeland Security (our own little Gestapo)? Or, is it just a stalker song?
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