Via Just a Bahai: Uganda's anti-gay laws get tougher

In this interview (http://www.aol.com/…/ugandas-anti-gay-laws-get-to…/21003022/) with a Ugandan Gay rights campaigner - one thing he said was "that we need to get religious leaders that are very progressive to also engage in Uganda" - this was in reference to the influence of conservative American Christian groups who had been hosting anti-gay conferences (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/…/Uganda_Anti-Homosexuality_Act,_20…). We are talking about human beings being murdered by mobs as David Kato was (see my blog -http://justabahai.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/we/). The 2014 Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, (it was called the "Kill the Gays bill" until the proposed death penalty clauses were removed), allows for life imprisonment for someone who is declared gay or lesbian. When it was passed, world leaders such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, various Presidents, and religious leaders voiced their protest. The Vatican legal attaché to the United Nations made this statement: "Pope Benedict is opposed to 'unjust discrimination' against gay men and lesbians" (ibid)

On 1 August 2014, the Constitutional Court of Uganda ruled the law invalid because it didn't have the required quorum, and now the interview discusses a new bill that is being promoted by the Ugandan government. I hope that the UHJ's 2010 letter urging the Bahai community to stand up for the rights of those who are oppressed one day bears fruit. I have yet to read or to hear of a single Bahai community making any form of statement in support of human rights for gays and lesbians. I am not suggesting that Bahai communities should get involved in the politics of the day, but like the Vatican statement, it could show a stand against discrimination. In Uganda, most would think the Bahais were against gays and lesbians because of their past involvement in an anti-gay coalition: to undo that, the Bahai community would need to show in deeds that it is against any form of discrimination. But Bahai communities around the world need to show this too, because the only things on the topic of homosexuality that Bahai communities to date have publicized is to diminish the rights of gays and lesbians. How hard would it be for a Bahai community in any other country in the world to make a statement against discrimination against gays and lesbians? Looking the other way, saying nothing, is .... like letting the elephant keep its foot on the tail of the mouse. I thank God for countries around the world who do something about the plight of gays and lesbians and accept them as refugees.

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/12/04/ugandas-anti-gay-laws-get-tougher/21003022/

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 24/12/2014

“Jesus é um mestre a quem muitos milagres foram atribuídos. Dizem que ele ressuscitou mortos, transformou água em vinho, multiplicou alimentos e fez cegos enxergarem. Mas isso é pequeno perto do maior milagre que ele realizou; é apenas um jogo para acordar a fé das pessoas. Às vezes somente milagres como esse (que transcendem os limites da mente) podem acabar com o sonho do ceticismo. Porém, o maior milagre de Jesus foi amar e perdoar até mesmo aqueles que o crucificaram. Esse é o verdadeiro milagre: a superação do ódio, da vingança e do medo; é compreender que o ataque, os maus tratos e o ódio do outro são, na verdade, gritos de socorro.”

Confira o satsang completo: http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/160914

“Jesús es un maestro a quien se le atribuyeron muchos milagros. Dicen que él resucitó muertos, transformó agua en vino, multiplicó alimentos e hizo a los ciegos ver. Pero esto es pequeño cerca del mayor milagro más grande que él realizó, es sólo un juego para despertar la fe de las personas. A veces solo milagros como éste (que trascienden los límites de la mente) pueden terminar con el sueño del escepticismo. Sin embargo, el mayor milagro de Jesús fue amar y perdonar incluso a aquellos que lo crucificaron. Este es el verdadero milagro: la superación del odio, de la venganza y del miedo; es comprender que el ataque, el maltrato y el odio son, en realidad, gritos de socorro.”

“Many miracles were attributed to the master Jesus. They say that he resuscitated the dead, turned water into wine, multiplied food and made the blind see. But that is nothing when compared to the greatest of all his miracles... These other miracles were just a play, meant to awaken people’s faith. Sometimes only miracles like these, which transcend the limits of the mind, can put an end to the illusion of skepticism. Jesus’ biggest miracle was loving and forgiving even the ones who crucified him. This is the true miracle: overcoming hate, revenge and fear, and understanding that the other’s attacks, abuse and hate are all merely cries for help.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

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The Psychology of Awakening | December 24, 2014

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In its ability to shine light into the hidden nooks and crannies of our conditioning, psychological inquiry can serve as a powerful ally to spiritual practice. It can help break up the hard, rocky soil of our personality patterns so that this soil becomes permeable, allowing the seeds of spiritual realization to take root and blossom there more fully.

- John Welwood, "The Psychology of Awakening"

Via JMG: SCOTUS To Consider Four More Marriage Cases At January Conference

 

 

We already know about Louisiana and now four more have been added. Via Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed:

The Supreme Court is set to consider on Jan. 9 whether it will hear appeals of same-sex couples’ marriage challenges in cases out of five states, one of the legal teams representing the couples told BuzzFeed News on Monday. “The Tanco [Tennessee case] petition will be considered at the Court’s January 9 conference, along with … petitions filed by the plaintiffs in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Louisiana,” National Center for Lesbian Rights spokesperson Erik Olvera told BuzzFeed News on Monday afternoon. The plaintiffs and marriage equality advocates alike hope the petitions will provide the Supreme Court with the chance to take a case to resolve the issue nationally with a ruling that would apply across the country.

More from SCOTUSblog:

At issue in the Sixth Circuit cases is a ruling by the appeals court for that region, upholding all of the bans on same-sex marriage licensing or recognition in the four states. At issue in the Louisiana case is a decision by a federal trial judge in New Orleans upholding that state’s ban on licensing and recognition. If the Court takes an initial vote on the cases, on the question of granting or denying review, when it returns in January from a winter recess, and ultimately grants review, the cases could be scheduled for briefing, oral argument, and a final decision in the current Term, which runs through late June or early July. The distribution of the four Sixth Circuit cases for the January 9 Conference is not yet reflected on the Court’s electronic docket, but is expected to be entered there on Tuesday. The docket does reflect that scheduling for the Louisiana case.

Labels: Kentucky, LGBT rights, Louisiana, marriage equality, Michigan, Ohio, SCOTUS, Tennessee

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Tide commercial / advertisement with a Gay Couple

Via JMG: MAP: Our Historic Year For Marriage

 

Embiggen the above map from Freedom To Marry and marvel at this year's progress. As seen in the graphic below, even more action is coming early in 2015.

Labels: 2014 In Review, marriage equality, United States

Reposted from Joe Jervis  

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 23/12/2014

"O princípio único da vida se expressa de diferentes maneiras através de cada um. Ele nos dá a chance de experimentar a matéria, e ela nos permite conhecer essa tão complexa e misteriosa criação que é o ego humano. E através dessa experiência, dessa grande aventura, amadurecemos e aprendemos a ir além da consciência humana, para alcançarmos a consciência crística.”

“El principio único de la vida se expresa de diferentes maneras a través de cada uno. Él nos da la chance de experimentar la materia, y ella nos permite conocer esa tan compleja y misteriosa creación que es el ego humano. Y a través de esa experiencia, de esa gran aventura, maduramos y aprendemos a ir más allá de la consciencia humana, para alcanzar la consciencia crística.”

“The one and only principle of life is expressed in a number of ways through each one of us. It gives us the chance to experience matter and it allows us to get to know the complex and mysterious creation of the human ego. By experiencing this great adventure, we mature until we are able to go beyond the human awareness to reach the Christ consciousness.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

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What Poetry Needs | December 23, 2014

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Poetry needs the breath. It needs the voice. It needs the body. It needs the mind.

- Anne Waldman, "Radical Presence"

Via Daily Dharma

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The Second Arrow | December 22, 2014

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Our minds are habituated to relate to suffering by resisting it through blame, bitterness, anger, resentment. That resistance is what the Buddha called 'the second arrow,' which follows the first arrow, the direct experience of pain. So much additional suffering comes from believing that 'things shouldn’t be this way'—when in fact they are that way.

- Ronna Kabatznick, "Sea of Sorrow"

Via MISS 103 / FB:

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 21/12/2014

“Se déssemos mais atenção para a educação das nossas criança e adolescentes, o tão extenso, profundo e desafiador processo de cura do eu inferior seria minimizado. Dar atenção significa perceber e compreender o que aquela alma precisa para expandir. Essa compreensão é possível quando você pode ir além de si mesmo, ou seja, ir além do papel de mãe, pai, ou educador, e simplesmente se colocar a disposição para sentir, ouvir e captar o que aquela alma está querendo dizer, por que ela está constantemente te dando sinais. Mas, estando identificado com esses papeis e com a sua ferida infantil, você se irrita e age a partir da sua própria dor. Então, a tendência é repetir a cena do passado.”

Si diéramos más atención a la educación de nuestros niños y adolescentes, el tan extenso, profundo y desafiante proceso de cura del yo inferior sería minimizado. Dar atención significa percibir y comprender lo que aquella alma necesita para expandirse. Esa comprensión es posible cuando puedes ir más allá de ti mismo, o sea, ir más allá del papel de madre, padre o educador, y simplemente colocarte a disposición para sentir, oír y captar lo que aquella alma está queriendo decir, porque ella está constantemente dándote señales. Pero estando identificado con esos papeles y con tu herida infantil, te irritas y actúas a partir de tu propio dolor. Entonces la tendencia es repetir la escena del pasado.”

“If we paid more attention to how we raise our children and teenagers, the extensive, deep and challenging healing process of the lower self would be minimized. Paying attention means noticing and understanding what that soul needs in order to grow. This understanding is possible when you are able to see beyond your self, going beyond your role as mother, father or educator. Be available to feel, hear and recognize what that soul is trying to express, as it is constantly giving you signs. As long as we are still identified with these roles and with our own wounded child, we get irritated and act out of our own pain. Then we continue to endlessly repeat scenes from the past.”

-Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

Gift-giving | December 21, 2014 Gift-giving is a basic lesson in detachment as well as an exercise in metta—lovingkindness. Irrespective of the gift, the act of giving expresses good will. - Joan Duncan Oliver, "Gifts That Keep Giving"

The Warwick Rowers Holiday Sing-A-Long

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 20/12/2014

“Como curar a relação com seus pais? Olhando de frente e com honestidade para eles. Tendo coragem de admitir aquilo que você ainda não conseguiu superar e perdoar; e expressando seus sentimentos até que possa curar as feridas emocionais, e finalmente renunciar a vítima e seus pactos de vingança. Só você pode fazer isso; só você tem esse poder.”

“¿Cómo curar la relación con tus padres? Mirando de frente y con honestidad hacia ellos. Teniendo coraje de admitir aquello que aún no lograste superar y perdonar, y expresando tus sentimientos hasta que puedas curar las heridas emocionales y finalmente renunciar a la víctima y sus pactos de venganza. Solo tú puedes hacer esto, solo tú tienes ese poder.”

“How can you heal your relationship with your parents? Start by looking directly and honestly at them. Have the courage to admit whatever you have still not overcome and forgiven, and continue expressing your feelings until your emotional wounds are healed. Finally, renounce the victim entirely, along with any pacts of revenge. You alone can do this. You alone have this power.”

Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

Motivation is Vital | December 20, 2014 If we don’t have motivation, of course we’re going to sit there feeling bored, irritated, and in pain. With motivation, we can dedicate our lives: 'I am here, fully present, and I vow to wake up fully so that all beings may be released from suffering.' It’s that simple. - Roko Sherry Chayat, "Nirvana: Three Takes"

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 19/12/2014

“É preciso haver transparência na relação com as crianças, pois através da transparência, do respeito e do exemplo poderemos ensiná-las sobre os valores da honestidade e da autorresponsabilidade. Você precisa ter coragem de admitir suas falhas e imperfeições quando elas surgem, procurando evitar que a criança se sinta errada, ou inferior, mas sem alimentar a ideia de que ela é uma vítima, pois isso aciona a ingratidão e os pactos de vingança. Ensinar autorresponsabilidade sem cair no jogo de acusações, ou seja, sem fazer a criança sentir-se culpada, é uma grande arte que pais e educadores precisam aprender.”

“Es necesario que haya transparencia en la relación con los niños, porque a través de la transparencia, del respeto y del ejemplo podremos enseñarles sobre los valores de la honestidad y de la autorresponsabilidad. Necesitas tener coraje para admitir tus fallas e imperfecciones cuando éstas surgen, buscando evitar que el niño se sienta equivocado o inferior, pero sin alimentar la idea de que es una víctima, porque eso acciona la ingratitud y los pactos de venganza. Enseñar autorresponsabilidad sin caer en el juego de acusaciones es decir, sin hacer al niño sentirse culpable, es un gran arte que padres y educadores necesitan aprender.”

“Transparency is necessary when relating to children. By being transparent and respectful, and by truly walking our talk, we can teach them about honesty and about taking responsibility for oneself. Some courage is needed to admit our own faults and imperfections as they emerge. Children should not be made to feel wrong or inferior, and any ideas of victimhood should be avoided, as this activates ungratefulness, along with various pacts of revenge. Teaching about taking responsibility for one’s own actions, without falling into blaming games or guilt, is an art that parents and educators need to learn.”

Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

Challenges Unite Us | December 19, 2014 The world is facing unprecedented challenges—environmental, economic, social, and moral—and to successfully rise to meet these challenges we must draw on the wisdom of the East and the West, of the ancient and the modern. The same challenges that imperil our very existence may help us unite in ways never before witnessed in human history. - B. Alan Wallace, "Six Questions for B. Alan Wallace"

Via Hay House Daily Meditations / FB:

Via JMG: TURKEY: US Diplomat Charles Hunter To Marry Local Musician Boyfriend

Charles Hunter, US Consul General to Turkey, has confirmed to the local press that he will marry his Turkish boyfriend with the ceremony to take place in Wisconsin.

Hunter was at an event at the Dutch consulate the previous day where he sang at an a capella choir. He responded to reporters' questions afterward. Naturally, almost all questions were about his affair with Turkish artist Ramadan Çaysever, and Hunter spoke about the affair for the first time. He said he "confirmed" all the reports in the press about his affair and planned marriage, but avoided elaborating on the matter. Çaysever, who frequently accompanies the Consul General at events, was absent at Tuesday night's event. Meanwhile, rumors made the rounds in the media about the top diplomat's affair. Some media outlets claimed Çaysever converted to Christianity for his partner. Milliyet, a Turkish daily, claimed Hunter asked for assignment of a bodyguard for Çaysever who has moved in with him, but has not been assigned one yet.

Hunter reportedly met Çaysever at one of his concerts. His music sounds quite like 80s Italo.

Labels: diplomacy, gay weddings, State Department, Turkey

Reposted from Joe Jervis