If what your country is doing seems to you practically and morally wrong, dissent is the highest form of patriotism.
31 December 2009
RIP, Marie Renee
REST IN PEACE, MARIE RENEE -- French National, Peace Activist, Member of the GAZA FREEDOM MARCH died in Egypt while protesting for peace in GAZA. Some report Marie Renee died due to injuries sustained at the hands of Egyptian police, others say Marie Renee passed of a heart attack. Either way, Marie Renee will not see the new year or a FREE PALESTINE for which this promoter of peace so desired.
30 December 2009
A year on from conflict, caring for Gaza's orphans
Israels last offensive in Gaza claimed more than 1,400 lives. Many children lost both their parents. In normal times, relatives care for the orphans. But the precarious financial situation of many Gaza residents has forced the children into the care of territory's sole orphanage, which is stretched well beyond capacity. Duration: 01:48
Jeff Jacoby (Boston Globe) writes:
Does the new decade really start only in 2011, rather than in 2010?
Well, it all depends on which decade you’re speaking of. Let’s begin with centuries. We’ve set up our BC and AD dating system so there’s no year zero, presumably because back when they were set up, the concept of “zero” as a number was not well-established in Europe. Therefore, the first hundred years of AD time were 1 to 100, the next 101 to 200, and so on. That’s why the 20th century is conventionally understood as going from 1901 to 2000, though I’m sure the term hasn’t always been used entirely consistently.
But of course any consecutive sequence of 100 years can constitute a century. By convention we don’t label 1937 to 2036, for instance, a century. But we do conventionally use another sort of century — centuries labeled things like the 1800s or the 1900s. As I have seen the term used, the 1900s are a century that goes from 1900 to 1999, probably because it would seem quite odd to treat 2000 as part of the 1900s but to exclude 1900 itself from the 1900s. So the “turn of the century” was 2000 if you’re talking about the turn from the 1900s to the 2000s, and 2001 if you’re talking about the turn from the 20th century to the 21st century.
Now as to decades. Indeed, the first decade of the 21st century would logically be 2001 to 2010, and it may be that this term is indeed conventionally used to describe those ten years, though I’m not at all positive that it is. But in any event the usage gets rare past the first few decades of a century. The more common usage, especially past the first few decades, is something like “the 1980s” or “the ‘60s.” (As to the first decade, “the first decade” seems to be more common, since “the 1900s” could be understood as either the decade or the century.) And both by logic and by convention (as I understand the convention), “the 1980s” means 1980–89, even if “the ninth decade of the twentieth century” means 1981–1990.
So the second decade of the twenty-first century, if you want to use the term “second decade,” might begin either in the 2010 or 2011; my sense is that actual usage is mixed on this. But the decade that we will call the 2010s (or “the tens” or “the teens,” whichever the preferred term ends up being) will pretty certainly begin a few days from now, on Jan. 1, 2010, and will run until the end of 2019.
The first decade of the 1st century ran from Year 1 through Year 10. The first decade of the 21st century, therefore, consists of the years 2001 through 2010, no matter how many “Decade in Review” essays, roundups, recaps, and slideshows you’re being bombarded with as 2009 comes to an end. All this premature enumeration reminds me of a lapel button the late David Brudnoy took to wearing in the last weeks of 1999, amid the frenzied countdown to Y2K and the “end” of the 20th century. “The century will end on December 31, 2000,” it read. “Please be patient.”
Does the new decade really start only in 2011, rather than in 2010?
Well, it all depends on which decade you’re speaking of. Let’s begin with centuries. We’ve set up our BC and AD dating system so there’s no year zero, presumably because back when they were set up, the concept of “zero” as a number was not well-established in Europe. Therefore, the first hundred years of AD time were 1 to 100, the next 101 to 200, and so on. That’s why the 20th century is conventionally understood as going from 1901 to 2000, though I’m sure the term hasn’t always been used entirely consistently.
But of course any consecutive sequence of 100 years can constitute a century. By convention we don’t label 1937 to 2036, for instance, a century. But we do conventionally use another sort of century — centuries labeled things like the 1800s or the 1900s. As I have seen the term used, the 1900s are a century that goes from 1900 to 1999, probably because it would seem quite odd to treat 2000 as part of the 1900s but to exclude 1900 itself from the 1900s. So the “turn of the century” was 2000 if you’re talking about the turn from the 1900s to the 2000s, and 2001 if you’re talking about the turn from the 20th century to the 21st century.
Now as to decades. Indeed, the first decade of the 21st century would logically be 2001 to 2010, and it may be that this term is indeed conventionally used to describe those ten years, though I’m not at all positive that it is. But in any event the usage gets rare past the first few decades of a century. The more common usage, especially past the first few decades, is something like “the 1980s” or “the ‘60s.” (As to the first decade, “the first decade” seems to be more common, since “the 1900s” could be understood as either the decade or the century.) And both by logic and by convention (as I understand the convention), “the 1980s” means 1980–89, even if “the ninth decade of the twentieth century” means 1981–1990.
So the second decade of the twenty-first century, if you want to use the term “second decade,” might begin either in the 2010 or 2011; my sense is that actual usage is mixed on this. But the decade that we will call the 2010s (or “the tens” or “the teens,” whichever the preferred term ends up being) will pretty certainly begin a few days from now, on Jan. 1, 2010, and will run until the end of 2019.
26 December 2009
25 December 2009
Merry Mithramas
The following is from comedian, talk show host and atheist, Bill Maher's twitter account: http://twitter.com/billmaher
For Xmas fun, let's review the bios of some of the gods who came before Jesus - Dec 25 is a popular birthday!
~Mithra - born 12/25, 12 disciples, died-rose on 3rd day, performed miracles, known as Lamb, "the way the truth the light" 600 yrs before JC
~Krishna:virgin birth, baptized in river,raised dead,carpenter son,persecuted,crucified,ascended to heaven. 1,000 yrs before u-know-who
~Buddha: 12 disciples, walked on water, fed 500 from 'small basket of cakes',healed the sick...his mom? A virgin
~Horus: announced by star in east on Dec 25, attended by 3 wise men , died, resurrected, mom a virgin...do you see a pattern here?
For Xmas fun, let's review the bios of some of the gods who came before Jesus - Dec 25 is a popular birthday!
~Mithra - born 12/25, 12 disciples, died-rose on 3rd day, performed miracles, known as Lamb, "the way the truth the light" 600 yrs before JC
~Krishna:virgin birth, baptized in river,raised dead,carpenter son,persecuted,crucified,ascended to heaven. 1,000 yrs before u-know-who
~Buddha: 12 disciples, walked on water, fed 500 from 'small basket of cakes',healed the sick...his mom? A virgin
~Horus: announced by star in east on Dec 25, attended by 3 wise men , died, resurrected, mom a virgin...do you see a pattern here?
24 December 2009
Bah Procrastination Bug
It is Christmas Eve and i've not yet bought one present. Getting ready to start this year's xmas shopping today. Hoping to have it all done within four hours. Otherwise, some people will be SOL. If all goes as planned, this will be my record for xmas shopping procrastination and the shortest time for holiday shopping. The only way to top it next year will be do wait till xmas day and do all my shopping in one hour at Rite-Aid. I can hardly wait for the holiday to pass. I need a drink.
17 December 2009
06 December 2009
CRISIS IN COPENHAGEN?
Denmark set to ENCAGE unlawful protesters. Inhumane action plan or a reasonable response to blatant unruliness and anarchy? How should one be allowed to express protest in a "free country?" Where does free expression end? Denmark passes quick legislation in reaction to conference. Is that right?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/science/earth/07security.html?_r=2&hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/science/earth/07security.html?_r=2&hp
05 December 2009
Thoughts of the Day v. 2
What if you were born without a country; lived your entire life in oppression, watching half your loved ones murdered and you died--still without a country? What if the whole of the world watched it happen--and did nothing? What if YOU were Palestinian?
04 December 2009
Lamb of the Media
Ryan Nelson
http://media.nbcmiami.com/images/410*410/Psalm+t-shirts.jpg
Is This T-Shirt Praying for Obama's Assassination?
from: www.nbcmiami.com
The shirt is yellow with the following printed:
“Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8”
and an image of two hands clasped in prayer
which is interpreted as hastening president's demise.
Dusted off my Bible (cough, cough).
Psalm 109:8 reads, "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."
If you stop here, the message on the shirt might seem somewhat innocuous. In a literal sense then, there is not much wrong with the shirt. What if you continue reading?
Psalm 109:9, Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
109:10, Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desperate places.
109:11, Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
109:12, Let their be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
109:13 Let his prosperity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
I presume that the further verses refer to the same "his"/"him." Now the message on the shirt may be interpreted as problematic. What if the message on the shirt read, "Pray for Bush?" Would people who bought the Obama shirt be outraged?
Religion and its documents are problematic. I quoted from the King James version of the Bible which contains archaic grammar, syntax and words. When interpreting from Early Modern English into Modern English, one may come across problems. Now take into account that before King James, there were other versions of English, which were translated from Latin, of which some translations came through versions of ancient Greek, which may have been translated from any number of dialects as the Bible is a collection of stories by many authors spread over countless years. To know the original meaning or intent is quite problematic.
So should we then, just keep our religion to ourselves and interpret it as we see fit without pushing it on others? Is the shirt even really pushing it on others? No. Probably not. It certainly falls under freedom of religion and expression. Does it advocate hate or homicidal demise? Again, up for interpretation. Is it distasteful? Probably--if you are an Obama supporter.
My conclusion, then, is that the shirt has a right to exist and people the right to wear it. I have a right to dislike it.
I wish religion were kept private. I wish religion could just be kept between like-minded people: the congregation, the preacher-type person and one's god(s). Religion is too vulnerable for it may be interpreted in a myriad of ways so as to support both good and evil. It is problematic. Use it for yourself, but golly, i wish it were not used to spread hate or war.
Post Conclusion and warning: This is what i wrote in an initial response to the post and visiting the associated link:
"Fucking outrageous, but not surprising. How many of these fucks do you think also say that Islam is an evil religion? If the shirt read, "Pray for Bush," you'd bet they'd be crying terrorism and deriding the twisting of the Word of the Bible! Hypocrites! The human race is despicable! What would Jesus do concerning Obama? Would they follow Jesus' advice on Obama? Or would they rather grab Obama, a rope and find the nearest bough??! Won't the yellow shirt clash with their white hoods? Or their black souls?"
Which just leads me to say how dumb i was to have a knee-jerk reaction to a subject that was puffed up and skewed. I didn't even consult my own Bible first. Don't let yourself be blindly brainwashed and lead astray from logic, responsibility and reason. Research your incoming information as much as possible. Don't get it all from KTLA 5 or CNN or FoxNews or MSNBC or what-have-you. Don't get it all from American outlets. Follow the BBC, The National, Al Jazeera, DeutscheWelle, Univision. See how the same story is told through Ha'aretz and the Electronic Intifada; HuffPo and Fox; the LA Times and the Daily News.
Don't let one media outlet or network of outlets lead you as so much cattle. Cattle eventually get slaughtered and served to the status quo. Be responsible denizens of the internet and television land. Get a second opinion! Or research yourself. Don't be led astray. That's how they keep you complacent and mask the truth!
OK, now i sound like some crazy conspiracy theorist. Let me stop. Just be careful out there people. No one is altruistic. Not even the Pope or Obama or Bush or FoxNews.
http://media.nbcmiami.com/images/410*410/Psalm+t-shirts.jpg
Is This T-Shirt Praying for Obama's Assassination?
from: www.nbcmiami.com
The shirt is yellow with the following printed:
“Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8”
and an image of two hands clasped in prayer
which is interpreted as hastening president's demise.
Dusted off my Bible (cough, cough).
Psalm 109:8 reads, "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."
If you stop here, the message on the shirt might seem somewhat innocuous. In a literal sense then, there is not much wrong with the shirt. What if you continue reading?
Psalm 109:9, Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
109:10, Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desperate places.
109:11, Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
109:12, Let their be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
109:13 Let his prosperity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
I presume that the further verses refer to the same "his"/"him." Now the message on the shirt may be interpreted as problematic. What if the message on the shirt read, "Pray for Bush?" Would people who bought the Obama shirt be outraged?
Religion and its documents are problematic. I quoted from the King James version of the Bible which contains archaic grammar, syntax and words. When interpreting from Early Modern English into Modern English, one may come across problems. Now take into account that before King James, there were other versions of English, which were translated from Latin, of which some translations came through versions of ancient Greek, which may have been translated from any number of dialects as the Bible is a collection of stories by many authors spread over countless years. To know the original meaning or intent is quite problematic.
So should we then, just keep our religion to ourselves and interpret it as we see fit without pushing it on others? Is the shirt even really pushing it on others? No. Probably not. It certainly falls under freedom of religion and expression. Does it advocate hate or homicidal demise? Again, up for interpretation. Is it distasteful? Probably--if you are an Obama supporter.
My conclusion, then, is that the shirt has a right to exist and people the right to wear it. I have a right to dislike it.
I wish religion were kept private. I wish religion could just be kept between like-minded people: the congregation, the preacher-type person and one's god(s). Religion is too vulnerable for it may be interpreted in a myriad of ways so as to support both good and evil. It is problematic. Use it for yourself, but golly, i wish it were not used to spread hate or war.
Post Conclusion and warning: This is what i wrote in an initial response to the post and visiting the associated link:
"Fucking outrageous, but not surprising. How many of these fucks do you think also say that Islam is an evil religion? If the shirt read, "Pray for Bush," you'd bet they'd be crying terrorism and deriding the twisting of the Word of the Bible! Hypocrites! The human race is despicable! What would Jesus do concerning Obama? Would they follow Jesus' advice on Obama? Or would they rather grab Obama, a rope and find the nearest bough??! Won't the yellow shirt clash with their white hoods? Or their black souls?"
Which just leads me to say how dumb i was to have a knee-jerk reaction to a subject that was puffed up and skewed. I didn't even consult my own Bible first. Don't let yourself be blindly brainwashed and lead astray from logic, responsibility and reason. Research your incoming information as much as possible. Don't get it all from KTLA 5 or CNN or FoxNews or MSNBC or what-have-you. Don't get it all from American outlets. Follow the BBC, The National, Al Jazeera, DeutscheWelle, Univision. See how the same story is told through Ha'aretz and the Electronic Intifada; HuffPo and Fox; the LA Times and the Daily News.
Don't let one media outlet or network of outlets lead you as so much cattle. Cattle eventually get slaughtered and served to the status quo. Be responsible denizens of the internet and television land. Get a second opinion! Or research yourself. Don't be led astray. That's how they keep you complacent and mask the truth!
OK, now i sound like some crazy conspiracy theorist. Let me stop. Just be careful out there people. No one is altruistic. Not even the Pope or Obama or Bush or FoxNews.
03 December 2009
My Thoughts for the Day
[Reprinted from my facebook account.]
Wish i could bottle happiness and drink it at my leisure so i could be a happyholic instead of an alcoholic.
Ryan Nelson: Pure fantasy in an un-pure world. :(
2 hours ago · Delete
Isaac: nice. Im a happy go lucky junkie worse then shooting smack in my viens
2 hours ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: Your means leave a more desirable end though.
All the best to you, my friend!
about an hour ago · Delete
Isaac: HOldn on to the hope that I was born with. Years they burn my heart but they cant effect my soul
about an hour ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: You are strong. I hope you always remain as such. I am looking for strength. I know not if i'll find it. I wonder how i shall end.
You are strong, and therefore a great asset to your loved ones. May you always remain such!
Much luv to you,
ry
about an hour ago · Delete
Isaac: its already inside of you. just look at is inside of you
about an hour ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: Methinks it is buried under much guilt and sorrow. Both by proxy and self-induced.
57 minutes ago · Delete
Isaac: here is a a shovel get to dign. It wont happen unless you want it to
54 minutes ago · Delete
I dislike Humans. I really wish we would all just cease to exsit. This world is shit. the race does not deserve to continue. I kinda wish "God" were real, so He could just end it all. :(
Cast your stones at me; just know that you too shall be pummeled. And when it's all over, I care not.
What if one could spread an pandemic like love through hugs? What if love was something that had no cure? What, then, if we hugged our neighbors instead of bombing them; shooting them; running them over in our oil-mobiles; raping them; denigrating them with our words; devaluing them with our politics? Why are you not crying at the impossibility of the initial statement?
Is there a Theistic to Atheistic translation for, "God bless you?" Like, "God damnit" = "Gosh darn it," "pray" = "wish; hope," "thank God" = "thank goodness" ... sometimes i wish to convey the SAME sentiment and love contained in "bless you" or "have a blessed day," but i know not what words to say. :(
(I don't mean "God bless you" as a response to a sneeze--that is easy enough: i can just say "gesundheit" or "salut" or "salud" or "eww--don't sneeze on me!")
Where does evil lie? Can other animals be evil? I think not. Humans are the worst plague ever set upon this poor planet. SHIT, THE HORRORS SOME PEOPLE COMMIT!!! THE EASE WITH WHICH HUMANS ARE BRAINWASHED!!! WEAK, SINFUL RACE!!!
Jose: Someone once said that you don’t need pride and honor to simply live. Life is cheapened to the extent that it is taken for the most trivial of things. But for those who have values and cherish the sanctity of life, there is hope. And while you may not be able to protect life around the world, you can live your life with honor and dignity. And that’s how You can contribute to making this world a little better.
59 minutes ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: I appreciate your words. Thank you. Yet, somehow, i'm not sure that living my life in a bubble of honesty, love and dignity is enough. Lately, i've been thinking i need to give my life in some greater cause and then--shit! ONE puny life?!?! I wish i had a million lives to give to the cause of humanity, though i fear such a cause is now lost. I wish i could let a hundred tanks run me over to free Tibet; i wish i could take a hundred bullets for a hundred Palestinian children, i wish i could leave a million of my corpses in the lobbies of the buildings of pharmaceutical companies who charge for AIDS meds. I fear the world is shit and we are past the breaking point. I now await our self-inflicted impending doom. :(
47 minutes ago · Delete
Jose: well, you can't do all those things. so it's best to stop obsessing over them. it's good to care about others. but you shouldn't let it get you down to a point where you are condemning all of humanity.
30 minutes ago · Delete
Wish i could bottle happiness and drink it at my leisure so i could be a happyholic instead of an alcoholic.
Ryan Nelson: Pure fantasy in an un-pure world. :(
2 hours ago · Delete
Isaac: nice. Im a happy go lucky junkie worse then shooting smack in my viens
2 hours ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: Your means leave a more desirable end though.
All the best to you, my friend!
about an hour ago · Delete
Isaac: HOldn on to the hope that I was born with. Years they burn my heart but they cant effect my soul
about an hour ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: You are strong. I hope you always remain as such. I am looking for strength. I know not if i'll find it. I wonder how i shall end.
You are strong, and therefore a great asset to your loved ones. May you always remain such!
Much luv to you,
ry
about an hour ago · Delete
Isaac: its already inside of you. just look at is inside of you
about an hour ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: Methinks it is buried under much guilt and sorrow. Both by proxy and self-induced.
57 minutes ago · Delete
Isaac: here is a a shovel get to dign. It wont happen unless you want it to
54 minutes ago · Delete
I dislike Humans. I really wish we would all just cease to exsit. This world is shit. the race does not deserve to continue. I kinda wish "God" were real, so He could just end it all. :(
Cast your stones at me; just know that you too shall be pummeled. And when it's all over, I care not.
What if one could spread an pandemic like love through hugs? What if love was something that had no cure? What, then, if we hugged our neighbors instead of bombing them; shooting them; running them over in our oil-mobiles; raping them; denigrating them with our words; devaluing them with our politics? Why are you not crying at the impossibility of the initial statement?
Is there a Theistic to Atheistic translation for, "God bless you?" Like, "God damnit" = "Gosh darn it," "pray" = "wish; hope," "thank God" = "thank goodness" ... sometimes i wish to convey the SAME sentiment and love contained in "bless you" or "have a blessed day," but i know not what words to say. :(
(I don't mean "God bless you" as a response to a sneeze--that is easy enough: i can just say "gesundheit" or "salut" or "salud" or "eww--don't sneeze on me!")
Where does evil lie? Can other animals be evil? I think not. Humans are the worst plague ever set upon this poor planet. SHIT, THE HORRORS SOME PEOPLE COMMIT!!! THE EASE WITH WHICH HUMANS ARE BRAINWASHED!!! WEAK, SINFUL RACE!!!
Jose: Someone once said that you don’t need pride and honor to simply live. Life is cheapened to the extent that it is taken for the most trivial of things. But for those who have values and cherish the sanctity of life, there is hope. And while you may not be able to protect life around the world, you can live your life with honor and dignity. And that’s how You can contribute to making this world a little better.
59 minutes ago · Delete
Ryan Nelson: I appreciate your words. Thank you. Yet, somehow, i'm not sure that living my life in a bubble of honesty, love and dignity is enough. Lately, i've been thinking i need to give my life in some greater cause and then--shit! ONE puny life?!?! I wish i had a million lives to give to the cause of humanity, though i fear such a cause is now lost. I wish i could let a hundred tanks run me over to free Tibet; i wish i could take a hundred bullets for a hundred Palestinian children, i wish i could leave a million of my corpses in the lobbies of the buildings of pharmaceutical companies who charge for AIDS meds. I fear the world is shit and we are past the breaking point. I now await our self-inflicted impending doom. :(
47 minutes ago · Delete
Jose: well, you can't do all those things. so it's best to stop obsessing over them. it's good to care about others. but you shouldn't let it get you down to a point where you are condemning all of humanity.
30 minutes ago · Delete
Regarding Tiger Woods and his recent adutlery:
Fuck that shit! I'm fucking tired of this Tiger shit! It is not for the public. I don't care if he is a public figure. He is famous for golf. Adultery has nothing to do with golf. He is not a preacher or a politician who left his post to fuck some bitch in S. America. People: he is not your friend, nor you his. This is a private matter between him and his family and others affected. This shit happens. It is sad and unfortunate and don't act like you've never sinned, people! I'm not saying he is right, but fuck, mind your own fucking business, people. There are bigger things in this world. Why is Dafur not in the news. Did everything just suddenly become hunky-dory there? What about apartheid in Palestine/Israel? What about death to gays in Uganda? What about Uighurs? Is Tibet free? What about Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, South Central, Detroit, Paris, Switzerland, the Philippines et al.?
PRIORITIES!!!
Quit fucking laughing and making jokes on the goshdamn morning news; on the evening news. Is nothing sacred anymore? What the fuck has happened to journalistic integrity in this country? Why is the news a fucking laugh-fest now? Why must evening news compete with Jay Leno? Reality TV? Entertainment Tonight? TMmotherfuckingZ?!!!
PRIORITIES!!!
Quit fucking laughing and making jokes on the goshdamn morning news; on the evening news. Is nothing sacred anymore? What the fuck has happened to journalistic integrity in this country? Why is the news a fucking laugh-fest now? Why must evening news compete with Jay Leno? Reality TV? Entertainment Tonight? TMmotherfuckingZ?!!!
02 December 2009
World AIDS Day
December 1st was WORLD AIDS DAY.
33mm people in world have HIV. 22mm live in Africa. Today’s World AIDS Day. Help fight AIDS in Africa. Help turn Facebook (RED)! [ via @(RED) ]
About 14.1m children in Africa have been orphaned because of AIDS. Yet it’s preventable & treatable. [ via @(RED) ]
More than 1,000 children are infected with HIV every day in Africa. Yet it’s preventable & treatable. [ via @(RED) ]
1 out of every 4 Americans living with HIV doesn't know it. [ via @OMGFacts on twitter ]
12-15k Angelenos are living with HIV and don't know it. Let's continue the LA initiative - 1 mil tested by 2011! [ via @villaraigosa on twitter ]
http://bit.ly/5lM7YO
http://bit.ly/5lM7YO
Positive? Negative? Don't Know? Enter your zip code to find a testing center near you: http://www.hivtest.org/-- KNOW!
Today is World AIDS Day. Let's take a moment to remember the 25,000,000+ people who have died of HIV/AIDS since the discovery in 1981.
In Africa, more than 40 Million children have been orphaned due to HIV. [ via @OMGFacts on twitter ]
African Americans, who make up only 12 percent of the U.S. population, now make up more than 49 percent of new infections and nearly 40 percent of all HIV/AIDS deaths in the U.S. [ via glaad blog @ http://glaadblog.org/2009/..12/01/december-1st-is-worl..d-aids-day/ ]
Women represent half of all the people living with AIDS / HIV. [ via @OMGFacts on twitter ]
01 December 2009
Healthy Hawk Shits on Uninsured America
Gosh, it sure must be nice for Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) not to have to worry about his health care situation, ya know the one us tax payers are providing him. That fucking hawk wants President Obama to delay the health care legislation to focus on the war in Afghanistan.
"Jobs and our economy are terribly important. So this may be an audacious suggestion, but I would suggest we put aside the health care debate until next year, the same way we put cap and trade and climate change, and talk now about the essentials: the war and money."[1]
It’s sad to hear a federally elected official describe war as “essential.” It’s pretty pathetic to think that Congress, with its 475 senators & representatives and all their thousands of pages, interns and staffers cannot handle more than on issue at a time. We’ve come so far with the health care legislation it would be sheer stupidity to drop it now. I don’t think the majority of the 45.7 uninsured people (including me) would be happy to turn on the news to find that their government prefers war mongering to the care of its own citizens.[2] Thank goodness, Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) is a voice of reason:
"Absolutely not," said the Rhode Island Democrat. "I think we're in the midst of probably the most significant debate and conclusion with legislation that we've ever had. And the health care debate is essential to our economic future. There are businesses and individuals each year pay more and more for health care, it's become unaffordable. We have to go ahead and conclude this debate. To stop now would be stopping on the edge, I think, of significant reform, which is so important for the country. And frankly, I think, it's ironic. Under the Bush administration, there was no serious debate about Afghanistan. That was relegated to the sidelines. There was no attempt to pay for it. And suddenly, now, that becomes a critical need that we put aside health care. I don't think so. I think we have to push forward."[3]
Let’s get health care done and dealt with. The war will still be there. I guarantee it.
[1] FOXNews.com, “Senator Proposes Delaying Health Care Reform to Pay for Afghanistan War” www.foxnews.com http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/29/senator-proposes-delaying-health-care-pay-afghanistan-war/ updated 29 November 2009.
[2] 45.7 people is a US Census Bureau figure. “People” includes foreigners living in the US and those who wish to not purchase health insurance coverage among others. Some put the actual figure of uninsured Americans around 10 million. See, Philip Klein, “The Myth of the 46 Million,” www.spectator.org http://spectator.org/archives/2009/03/20/the-myth-of-the-46-million 20 March and Keith Hennessey, “How Many Uninsured People Nedd Additional Help From Taxpayers” www.keithhennessey.com http://keithhennessey.com/2009/04/09/how-many-uninsured-people-need-additional-help-from-taxpayers/ 9 April 2009.
[3] Sam Stein, “Lugar: Let’s Put Health Care On Hold To Deal With Afghanistan” www.huffingtonpost.com http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/29/lugar-lets-put-health-car_n_373019.html 29 November 2009.
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