Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Via Occupy Democrats / FB:
Opponents of same-sex marriage like to play the "religious freedom" card, as if anyone is suggesting that churches be FORCED to conduct such marriages. In reality, it is they who are infringing on the religious liberties of others by pushing these outright bans on legal same-sex marriage. If a church wants to bless a legal marriage between two consenting adults -- same-sex or otherwise -- why shouldn't they be allowed? We strongly support the United Church of Christ in their fight for justice for sexual minorities.
Image by Occupy Democrats
JMG Headline Of The Day
Great piece on Politico. An excerpt:
Reposted from Joe Jervis
Negative national headlines on religious freedom continue to fuel a negative image of the entire party. Both in my private conversations with and in public (and private) polling, conservatives are moving ever closer to supporting full equity for LGBT Americans. Gallup’s Values and Beliefs poll released last month showed a more than 20 percentage-point increase since 2001 in Americans (63 percent) who believe “gay and lesbian relations” are “morally acceptable”. You don’t get to a supermajority like that without Republicans. Even Texas conservatives support protecting gay and transgender folks from employment discrimination.Hit the link. It's worth a full read.
Republicans, like the rest of Americans, support nondiscrimination laws because most of us have gay family members, friends and co-workers and want to treat them as we would want to be treated. And having heard from moms and dads who want this great country to treat their gay child just like their straight child has been a powerful narrative. It really is all about family standing up for one another. Most people believe equality under the law can and does work well alongside protecting religious freedom — which must be and is protected, even cherished, in our Constitution.
UN Says Gays Are Victims Of Violent Abuse All Over The World
High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein said actions by some countries to reduce violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity since the last report in 2011 have been overshadowed by continuing human rights violations against these groups, too often perpetrated with impunity.
The report to the U.N. Human Rights Council that was circulated Monday cites the murder of transsexual women in Uruguay and of black lesbian women in South Africa and the killing of a gay man in Chile by neo-Nazis who carved swastikas into his body.
http://floridaagenda.com/news/international/un-says-gays-are-victims-of-violent-abuse-all-over-the-world
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 02/06/2015
“Dedique cinco minutos do seu dia para o cultivo do silêncio. Essa é
uma prática muito simples que está ao alcance de todos. Cinco minutos
divididos em cinco períodos de um único minuto. Escolha os períodos e
silencie sempre no mesmo momento. Por exemplo: quando acorda, antes do
almoço, no final do dia de trabalho, antes ou depois de uma aula e antes
de dormir. Nesse instante de recolhimento você se desliga do mundo lá fora
e volta-se para dentro. Seja uma testemunha que observa o que se passa
sem se prender a nada. Não se prenda nem mesmo à necessidade de cumprir
sessenta segundos. Pode mais ou menos tempo, o importante é lembrar do
silêncio.”
“Dedica cinco
minutos de tu día al cultivo del silencio. Ésta es una práctica muy
simple que está al alcance de todos. Cinco minutos divididos en cinco
periodos de un único minuto. Elije los períodos y silencia siempre en el
mismo momento. Por ejemplo: cuando te despiertas, antes del almuerzo,
al final del día de trabajo, antes o después de una clase y antes de
acostarte. En este instante de recogimiento te desconectas del mundo
allá afuera y te vuelves hacia adentro. Sé un testigo que observa lo que
pasa sin prenderse a nada. No te prendas ni siquiera a la necesidad de
cumplir sesenta segundos. Puedes más o menos tiempo, lo importante es
recordar el silencio.”
“Dedicate five minutes of your day to cultivating silence. This is a very simple practice that anyone can do. Five minutes divided into five periods of a single minute. Choose when you are going to be in silence and always do this at the same time. For example, when you wake up, before lunch, at the end of your workday, before or after a class, and before you go to sleep. At this time of withdrawal, you detach from the world outside and return within. Be a witness who observes what is happening without holding on to anything. Do not even hold on to the need to get through sixty seconds – it can be more or less than a minute. The key is to remember silence.”
“Dedicate five minutes of your day to cultivating silence. This is a very simple practice that anyone can do. Five minutes divided into five periods of a single minute. Choose when you are going to be in silence and always do this at the same time. For example, when you wake up, before lunch, at the end of your workday, before or after a class, and before you go to sleep. At this time of withdrawal, you detach from the world outside and return within. Be a witness who observes what is happening without holding on to anything. Do not even hold on to the need to get through sixty seconds – it can be more or less than a minute. The key is to remember silence.”
Today's Daily Dharma: Impossible to Compare.
Impossible to Compare
To what shall I compare
this life of ours?
Even before I can say
it is like a lightning flash
or a dewdrop
it is no more.
|
Monday, June 1, 2015
Via JMG: Debbie Wasserman Shultz: Celebrate Pride With An Eye On Work Still To Be Done
"These Republican candidates want to take us backwards, undoing the
progress we’ve fought so hard to secure. Jeb Bush has said that, 'the
institution of marriage is under attack in our society.' Marco Rubio
said one would need to have a 'ridiculous and absurd reading of the U.S.
Constitution' to think same-sex couples have the right to marry. Rand
Paul, the candidate who supposedly wants to broaden the GOP’s appeal and
outreach to young voters, said that same-sex marriage 'offends' him.
Others, including Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Rick
Santorum and Bobby Jindal, all oppose marriage equality.
There are many places around the world where people are still subjected to violence and discrimination based on who they are or who they love, particularly for the transgender community. Even here at home, we’ve failed to enact protections like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In just a few weeks, the Supreme Court will issue a decision on whether same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide. This June, as we celebrate LGBT Pride Month, the LGBT community and its allies are proud to look back on the victories we’ve achieved, and rededicate ourselves to the fights still ahead." - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, writing for the Washington Blade.
Reposted from Joe Jervis
There are many places around the world where people are still subjected to violence and discrimination based on who they are or who they love, particularly for the transgender community. Even here at home, we’ve failed to enact protections like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In just a few weeks, the Supreme Court will issue a decision on whether same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide. This June, as we celebrate LGBT Pride Month, the LGBT community and its allies are proud to look back on the victories we’ve achieved, and rededicate ourselves to the fights still ahead." - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, writing for the Washington Blade.
The Baha'i Faith is Homophobic
May 18, 2015
To all Local Spiritual Assemblies
and registered Bahá'í groups
Dearest Bahá'í Friends,
A four-page letter from the Universal House of Justice on the subject of homosexuality has recently been receiving wide circulation via the Internet and through personal email lists, and we are increasingly being asked to comment on its authenticity.
The letter—dated May 9, 2014, to an individual believer in response to a personal inquiry—was indeed issued by the Supreme Body through its Department of the Secretariat. We enclose it here for your reference.
We hope that you will find this letter helpful to your work and in strengthening the friends’ understanding.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary
National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States
Enclosure
-------------------------------------------------------
The enclosure referred to in the letter, a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated May 9, 2014, can be accessed using the following hyperlink:
May 9, 2014 from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer: https://app.box.com/s/g8mghbjmii8vabu1mlt9bmaom45lkzdt
The two enclosures to the May 9 letter, dated April 19 and April 23, have been available on the member services website for some time, but hyperlinks to those letters are also provided here for the friends’ ease of reference:
April 19, 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to individual believers: https://app.box.com/s/7o5p64siz6zw9qw9cckrspp00iumgigj
April 23, 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly: https://app.box.com/s/w6hrimjehc5n6u6w12h87wz9rfejshs1
Should you encounter any difficulty accessing the files, please contact Bahai_National_Center@usbnc.org for assistance. These letters are also provided, per usual, in the Guidance Library of our member services website, http://american.bahai.us/, under the 2015 communications of the Universal House of Justice. This email is being sent only to Local Spiritual Assembly secretaries and group correspondents.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Office of the Secretary
National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States
To all Local Spiritual Assemblies
and registered Bahá'í groups
Dearest Bahá'í Friends,
A four-page letter from the Universal House of Justice on the subject of homosexuality has recently been receiving wide circulation via the Internet and through personal email lists, and we are increasingly being asked to comment on its authenticity.
The letter—dated May 9, 2014, to an individual believer in response to a personal inquiry—was indeed issued by the Supreme Body through its Department of the Secretariat. We enclose it here for your reference.
We hope that you will find this letter helpful to your work and in strengthening the friends’ understanding.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary
National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States
Enclosure
-------------------------------------------------------
The enclosure referred to in the letter, a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated May 9, 2014, can be accessed using the following hyperlink:
May 9, 2014 from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer: https://app.box.com/s/g8mghbjmii8vabu1mlt9bmaom45lkzdt
The two enclosures to the May 9 letter, dated April 19 and April 23, have been available on the member services website for some time, but hyperlinks to those letters are also provided here for the friends’ ease of reference:
April 19, 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to individual believers: https://app.box.com/s/7o5p64siz6zw9qw9cckrspp00iumgigj
April 23, 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly: https://app.box.com/s/w6hrimjehc5n6u6w12h87wz9rfejshs1
Should you encounter any difficulty accessing the files, please contact Bahai_National_Center@usbnc.org for assistance. These letters are also provided, per usual, in the Guidance Library of our member services website, http://american.bahai.us/, under the 2015 communications of the Universal House of Justice. This email is being sent only to Local Spiritual Assembly secretaries and group correspondents.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Office of the Secretary
National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States
Via WGB: PROFILES IN PRIDE :: June 1st - Aaron Copland
Classical composer/Conductor
(1900 –1990)
With a distinctive ability to blend classical, folk, and jazz styles into his music, Aaron Copland broke away from “European” sensibilities to become one of the most vibrant composers of the 20thCentury. Premiering his first symphony at the age of 24, he went on to earn countless awards and accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Appalachian Spring; an Academy Award for his film score to “The Heiress;” and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among his other well know works are El Salon Mexico, A Lincoln Portrait, Rodeo, and Fanfare for the Common Man.
. "If it's in the music, it's in the man."
-- Aaron Copland
Via JMG: Maytag Celebrates Pride Month
Memo to Brian Brown: Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool Corporation in
2006. The largest home appliance maker in the world, Whirlpool is
currently ranked at #154 on the Fortune 500 and has annual sales of $20
billion. Other Whirlpool brands include Amana, KitchenAid, and Jenn-Air.
Reposted from Joe Jervis
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