Sunday, March 23, 2014
Via Daily Dharma
Good News | March 23, 2014
To be able to suffer with is good news
because it means you can share power with, share joy with, exchange love
with. Let your pain tell you that you are not alone. What we thought
might have been sealing us off can become connective tissue.
—Joanna Macy, “Schooling Our Intention”
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Via Daily Dharma
Two Different Ways Of Experiencing | March 22, 2014
Nirvana is not another realm or
dimension but rather the clarity and peace that arise when our mental
turmoil ends, because the objects with which we have been identifying
are realized to be shunya [empty]. Things have no reality of
their own that we can cling to, since they arise and pass away according
to conditions. Nor can we cling to this truth.
—David Loy, “The Second Buddha”
Friday, March 21, 2014
Via JMG: BREAKING: Michigan Judge Strikes Down Marriage Ban, It Is Unconstitutional
Michigan's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, a federal judge said Friday as he struck down a law that was widely embraced by voters a decade ago - the latest in a recent series of decisions overturning similar laws across the country. U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman announced his ruling after a rare two-week trial that mostly focused on the impact of same-sex parenting on children.UPDATE: Read the ruling here.
There was no indication that the judge was suspending his decision. Attorney General Bill Schuette said he was immediately filing a request with a federal appeals court to suspend Friedman's decision and prevent same-sex couples from immediately marrying. The decision was released shortly after 5 p.m., when most county clerk offices in Michigan were closed. Clerks issue marriage licenses.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia issue licenses for same-sex marriage. Since December, bans on gay marriage have been overturned in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia, but appeals have put those cases on hold.
Rising to the Challenge | March 21, 2014
People are afraid that if they let go
of their anger and righteousness and wrath, and look at their own
feelings—and even see the good in a bad person—they're going to lose the
energy they need to do something about the problem. But actually you
get more strength and energy by operating from a place of love and
concern. You can be just as tough, but more effectively tough.
—Robert Thurman, "Rising to the Challenge"
The Yogyakarta Principles
In 2006, in response to well-documented patterns of abuse, a distinguished group of international human rights experts met in Yogyakarta, Indonesia to outline a set of international principles relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. The result was the Yogyakarta Principles: a universal guide to human rights which affirm binding international legal standards with which all States must comply. They promise a different future where all people born free and equal in dignity and rights can fulfil that precious birthright.
The Principles are presented here in all six United Nations languages.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Via JMG: Judy Shepard On Death Of Fred Phelps
Via JMG: Westboro Founder Fred Phelps Has Died
Kansas television station KSN reports that Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps has died.
The Rev. Fred Phelps Sr., who founded a Kansas church widely known for its protests at military funerals and anti-gay sentiments, has died according to his son Tim Phelps. Phelps, 84, was being cared for in a Shawnee County facility, Westboro Baptist Church spokesman Steve Drain said Sunday. Members of the Westboro church, based in Topeka, frequently protest at funerals of soldiers with signs containing messages such as “Thank God for dead soldiers,” and “Thank God for 9/11,” claiming the deaths are God’s punishment for American immorality and tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.Updates to follow shortly. (Tipped by JMG reader TJ)
Via Daily Dharma
Bursting the Bubble of Fear | March 20, 2014
To willingly reside in our distress, no
longer resisting what is, is the real key to transformation. As painful
as it may be to face our deepest fears, we do reach the point where
it's more painful not to face them. This is a pivotal point in the
practice life.
—Ezra Bayda, “Bursting the Bubble of Fear”
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Via JMG: Oregon AG Files Brief: Ban Serves No Rational Purpose And Harms Citizens
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum tonight filed a response brief
in the same-sex marriage case, declaring, "The state defendants in this
case recognize that the ban on same-sex marriage serves no rational
purpose and harms Oregon citizens. This case presents that rare case in
which there simply is no legal argument to be made in support of a state
law." Last month Rosenblum announced that she would not defend the lawsuit.
Oregon United For Marriage reacts via press release: "We are literally counting down the days until all loving and committed couples in Oregon have the freedom to marry, and we are thrilled that the attorney general is on the right side of history. No one should be told it is illegal to marry the person they love. Freedom means freedom for everyone."
Later in the brief, Rosenblum says this: "Other state attorneys general and governors have reached similar conclusions about the defensibility of state laws, and responded by simply declining to appear in defense or withdrawing and joining forces with those challenging the laws. The Oregon state defendants believe it is more appropriate to remain as parties to this litigation to ensure that this Court has the benefit of the careful legal analysis that the state defendants have undertaken."
The lawsuit was filed in October 2013 by local attorneys on behalf of one unmarried Oregon couple and another couple who married in Canada. The suit is separate from the petition drive to place a repeal of the marriage ban on the ballot. That campaign has been put on hold pending the ruling in the lawsuit. Oral arguments in the lawsuit are scheduled for April 23rd.
Read today's brief in full at my Scribd account.
Reposted from Joe Jervis
Oregon United For Marriage reacts via press release: "We are literally counting down the days until all loving and committed couples in Oregon have the freedom to marry, and we are thrilled that the attorney general is on the right side of history. No one should be told it is illegal to marry the person they love. Freedom means freedom for everyone."
Later in the brief, Rosenblum says this: "Other state attorneys general and governors have reached similar conclusions about the defensibility of state laws, and responded by simply declining to appear in defense or withdrawing and joining forces with those challenging the laws. The Oregon state defendants believe it is more appropriate to remain as parties to this litigation to ensure that this Court has the benefit of the careful legal analysis that the state defendants have undertaken."
The lawsuit was filed in October 2013 by local attorneys on behalf of one unmarried Oregon couple and another couple who married in Canada. The suit is separate from the petition drive to place a repeal of the marriage ban on the ballot. That campaign has been put on hold pending the ruling in the lawsuit. Oral arguments in the lawsuit are scheduled for April 23rd.
Read today's brief in full at my Scribd account.
Via http://purpleunions.com: USA, Oregon: AG Says Marriage Equality Ban Unconstitutional, State Ready to Marry Same Sex Couples
In a strongly-worded 35 page brief, Oregon Attorney general Ellen Rosenblum indicated the state is ready for marriage equality.
Edge Boston reports:
Find more articles and gay wedding resources in Oregon.
Edge Boston reports:
Oregon’s attorney general told a federal court Tuesday why she believes the state’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriages violates the federal constitutional rights of homosexual couples. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum added that Oregon is prepared to implement gay marriages if a federal judge strikes down the ban. Rosenblum announced last month that she would not defend the state’s same-sex marriage ban in court…. Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry is not a redefinition of marriage, the attorney general wrote. Instead, she said the plaintiffs in this case “seek the same right to marry that the state offers opposite-sex couples and not a right to any newly invented form of marriage.”Oral arguments in the case are due in mid-April, so we could have a ruling by May
Find more articles and gay wedding resources in Oregon.
Via Daily Dharma
Resting Meditation | March 19, 2014
Many people are doing shamata
meditation. This is a kind of resting meditation, also called 'calm
abiding.' This is good, but in Buddhist training you must go deeper than
this. It is important to go deeper into emptiness—not nothingness, but
into understanding emptiness as the nature of mind. This is where wisdom
and compassion come from.
—Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, "Trust Through Reason”
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Via JMG: PERU: Evangelist Michael Brown Exports Anti-Gay Hatred To South America
Jeremy Hooper reports for GLAAD:
The sad trend of American anti-LGBT activists traveling across the globe in order to "warn" them from making the pro-LGBT "mistakes" of America continues. The latest example comes from Peru, where vehemently anti-LGBT activist Michael Brown recently spoke to local members of congress, as well as passed out copies of his propaganda book, A Queer Thing Happened to America. This new trend is chilling, frankly. From Jamaica to France to Russia, and many map stops in between, a who's who of American anti-LGBT activists, feeling defeated and increasingly marginalized here at home, are seizing the chance to stir the pot in any nation that might be willing to see them as soothsayers. It is, to the letter, the strategy we saw in Uganda a handful of years ago, when Scott Lively and other Americans started dropping into the nation and telling locals how downright awful we LGBT Americans are. We all know how that one played out.
PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Michael Brown claims gay activists want Christians thrown into prison. Michael Brown claims that Hillary Clinton is controlled by Satanic homosexuals. Michael Brown claims that the Bible is 100% true except for the parts he doesn't like. Michael Brown leads a hate march of hundreds of Christians to disrupt Charlotte's gay pride parade. Michael Brown debuts his book with a video using small children to ridicule gay families. Michael Brown claims he's "honored" to be featured on the SPLC's "hit list." Michael Brown claims he's "outraged" to be featured on the SPLC's "hit list." Michael Brown denounces the "vulgar" post labels on JMG.
posted by Joe Jervis
Monday, March 17, 2014
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