Monday, February 29, 2016

Via JMG: Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick Revive The Producers In Anti-Trump Skit On Jimmy Kimmel Show [VIDEO]

trumped

Mediaite recaps the highlight of Jimmy Kimmel’s post-Oscars special:
Perhaps the greatest moment of the night occurred when he had Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick reprise their legendary roles from The Producers to poke fun at Donald Trump in a big way. The original musical focuses on two Broadway producing con-artists who plot to create a show guaranteed to fail so that they can present it as the next big hit and abscond with the profits. In Kimmel’s take, Lane and Broderick are political consultants with a similar plan to profit off the fundraising for a doomed candidate, and they realize that Trump is exactly the kind of “train-wreck, gold-plated nincompoop,” they’re looking for.

 Make the jump here to  see the video and more at JMG

Via Toweleroad: Justin Trudeau to Grant Posthumous Pardon to Man Imprisoned for Being Gay


justin trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will posthumously pardon a man imprisoned in 1966 for being gay who is largely credited for bringing about a change in Canada’s laws on homosexuality.

klippe01 

Everett George Klippert (right) was deemed a dangerous sexual offender by the Canadian government after he told police that he’d had consensual sex with four men. Klippert volunteered the information during an arson investigation. Klippert was charged with gross indecency and was determined to be a dangerous sexual offender because a government-appointed psychiatrist concluded that Klippert’s homosexuality was “incurable.” Kilppert was sentenced to “preventative detention” which was the equivalent of an indefinite term in prison.

CBC reports: 
The sentence was backed up by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1967, although Chief Justice John Cartwright suggested the laws regarding homosexuality be clarified, and that incarceration of harmless homosexuals was not their intention.
The Klippert case stoked considerable media and political interest. Just six weeks later, Pierre Trudeau, the Liberal government’s justice minister (who would later become prime minister) introduced a bill that, among other things, called for the decriminalization of private, consensual homosexual acts between people over the age of 21.

Pierre Trudeau was of course Justin Trudeau’s father. One gay rights advocate commented, “It’s great that the young Trudeau is finishing the work that his father started.” More on the announcement of the pardon from CBC:

“The prime minister intends to recommend that a pardon under the authority of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy be granted posthumously to Mr. Klippert,” Trudeau’s office said in a media release.
The move was cheered Sunday by gay-rights advocates.
“It’s fantastic that he’ll get a posthumous pardon,” lawyer Doug Elliott told CBC News.
As well, the statement said the Liberal government will also look to see whether pardons are “warranted” after reviewing the cases of other individuals who in the past were convicted on charges such as gross indecency and buggery.
“As Canadians, we know that protecting and promoting fundamental human rights must be an imperative for governments and individuals alike, and this includes gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation,” the weekend statement said.
Trudeau’s office credited Klippert’s case for being “instrumental” in Canada’s decision to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults.

Klippert was released from prison in 1971, 5 years after being convicted. He died in 1996 at age 69.
Lawyer Doug Elliot criticized Trudeau’s father for not pardoning him during his lifetime:

“I never understood: Why didn’t Pierre Trudeau let him out in 1969 when they decriminalized gay sex?” Elliott said. “They kept the poor guy who was responsible for shining a light on this issue in jail for another couple of years.”

Earlier this month, Justin Trudeau announced that he would become the first sitting Canadian prime minister to attend a gay pride parade. 

Make the jump here to read the original and more

Via Project Happiness / FB:


 
Be selective in your battles; choose to forgive others, not necessarily because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace...

#FridayFreedom

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 29/02/2016

“Matemática básica: se o coração está fechado, existe acusação. Se existe acusação, você não está podendo assumir responsabilidade pelo seu próprio fechamento. Existe aí uma vítima, uma ideia de que você tem inimigos. Eu chamo isso de distração. E é através da distração que o ser humano se perde - ele se perde na mente.”

“Matemática básica: si el corazón está cerrado, existe acusación. Si existe acusación, no estás pudiendo asumir responsabilidad por tu propio bloqueo. Existe ahí una víctima, una idea de que tienes enemigos. A esto lo llamo distracción. Y es a través de esta distracción que el ser humano se pierde, se pierde en la mente.”

"This is basic math: if the heart is closed, there is an accusation being made. If there is an accusation, you are not being able to assume responsibility for closing up your heart. In this case, there is a victim holding onto the idea that you have enemies. This is a distraction, and distraction only makes human beings get lost in the mind.”

Via Daily Dharma: Trust Doubt

Referring to the dharma, the Buddha said, “ehi passiko,” which means “come and see,” or “come and investigate,” not “come and believe.” An open, questioning mind is not regarded as a drawback to followers of the Buddha-dharma.

—Ani Tenzin Palmo, "Necessary Doubt"

Via Occupy Democrats / FB: