Dear Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders Living in Fear of Death

Be strong.

If it is not safe for you, please do what you have to do to survive. The tide of opinion does not turn over night. And, as you know, there is no arguing with psychopathic and homophobic murderers like ISIS. My heart is with those of you who've lost loved ones to the menace that is homophobia.

Vale,

Monique

SCOTUS Rules on Gay Marriage

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf

Congrats to all the people who are now able to legally marry and whose marriages will have to be recognized across the 50 states. In case you're wondering what part of the Constitution came into play: Amendment XIV, section 1. 

14th Amendment

AMENDMENT XIV
Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.
Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.
Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

Bonus:

Supreme Shake to the DOMA Debate - Poem written in celebration of SCOTUS ruling on DOMA in June of 2013. Looks like I'll be writing another SCOTUS poem. :D

FE-Poetry: Not the Keeper's Plight

Check out my Ides of June poem, Not the Keeper's Plight (or, Ballad of the Bees).

6th Annual Finley Experience "International Views" Contest

Hi All!

The 6th Annual Finley Experience "International Views" Contest is underway!
It started June 1st, 2015 and ends May 31st, 2016.

Check out the rankings for previous winners:

5th Annual Winner: Israel
4th Annual Winner: Ukraine
3rd Annual Winner: Russia
2nd Annual Winner: Russia
1st Annual Winner: Russia

Pax et Poema

Winners of the 5th Annual Finley Experience "International Views" Contest

After a year of bated breath, the results are in for the 5th Annual Finley Experience "International Views" Contest.

The final scores for the top nine countries are:

Israel	7118
Ukraine	3968
Russia	3946
China	2339
Germany	2282
France	2102
United Kingdom	891
Poland	755
Netherlands	336

This year's winner is not from the Eastern Bloc, but from the Middle East. 

With 7118 views, Israel is the 5th Annual Finley Experience "International Views" winner! Israel pulled ahead in December and maintained a solid lead for the win. Congrats, Israel!

This year it was a very close run for second place. While Ukraine and Russia are both prior winners, Ukraine's second place win, places Russia at third place for the first time in the history of the contest. 

For the second year in a row China fell in the rankings, this time, to 4th place. No worries, China. There's always the 6th Annual Finley Experience "International Views" Contest. :D

Germany, France, and the United Kingdom maintained 5th, 6th, and 7th places, respectively.  

Poland hung on at 8th place. This year, Canada fell off the leaderboard to be replaced by Netherlands.

This year, I'll be writing poetry about Israel.

Who will win next year's contest? It is anybody's game. And, the game is on!