From a Yahoo story – “High Court sides with Guantanamo detention…”

Referenced Source Yahooo Bookmark: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_guantanamo

And, a quote that makes so much sense to me today, than yesterday – my awareness level is fluctuating with the sense of justice – and, that’s okay.

A headline, an endorsement, a decision – the Supreme Court’s decision stands, until it won’t…

We read, we think, we listen – we try to balance our emotions with reason. Today, I am proud to be an American.

Within moments, I edit the post – but, my blog on this subject remains the same, at this moment in time.  It is with sorrow that injustice occurs – it is with processes that we find a way to beat the system – for fairness – justice is not blind; I think it is the best we can do – and, keep on fighting for rights that we already have been promised by our constitution in the USA – remember, terrorism is real.  So is the process.

Related Source – The Cell Tour vlog (I consider this (MA):  http://celltour.amnesty.org/?tr=y&auid=3740912

Hope this makes you think.   I know it did me – again.  Still proud t be an American.

Edited and some parts removed from Civil_Marriage_Disobedience, “Gay Marriage is a Battlefield”

My wish list;  Brew.  No mas caliente.  No more fighting.  Ban your own mind, but let mine be free – take your prejudice and shove it.

Member Note (that’s me:):  Please care about people that may not be just like you – today.

EXCERPT:

If you’ve followed me this far, you at least see the tremendous variety of ways
the detonation of the California marriage bomb will scatter shrapnel throughout
the union. For that reason, preserving the victory there ought to be priority
No. 1 for all gay rights donors and political organizations.

Gay marriage is a battlefield
Posted by: Chris

The battle over same-sex marriage is about to go nuclear. Not because it may
impact this year’s presidential race, as some have worried. But because the
skirmishes will now multiply into a multi-front struggle that will determine
whether access to civil marriage for the rest of us comes sooner or much, much
later.

Much of the early aftermath to the California marriage ruling has focused on its
possible impact on the general election contest between John McCain and Barack
Obama. Democrats remember all too well how George Bush and Karl Rove in 2004
used the Massachusettes marriage ruling as a “wedge issue” to galvanize
conservatives in swing states like Ohio.
The possibility for a repeat exists, of course, since a gay marriage ban is
already slated for the November ballot in Florida, a hugely important swing
state, and conservatives hope a similar measure in California might put that
reliably Democratic state in play. That’s unlikely, however, since Republican
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has thrown his weight against the ban, and Obama’s
candidacy is likely to draw to the polls younger voters, who a recent Field Poll
confirms back gay marriage by an almost two-to-one margin.

Those who really care about the future of marriage for same-sex couples in the
U.S. need to stop being distracted by the pretty, shiny bauble that is the
Obama-McCain contest and focus on the battle in California itself, as well as
the brush fires it’s sure to spark throughout the country.

The impact from California will dwarf that of Massachusetts because marriage
laws in the two states differ in one important aspect: A 1913 law in the Bay
State allows non-residents to marry there only if their marriage would be
accepted in their home state. Gay activists failed to convince the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court — the same one that struck down hetero-only marriage in
2003 — that the 1913 law was also unconstitutional. As a result, the landmark
2003 ruling extended marriage only to residing in Massachusetts and a few
other states — Rhode Island and New Mexico among them — that certified they
met the 1913 law’s restriction.

Not so in California. Non-resident gay couples may marry without restriction,
and then go home and ask that their marriages be recognized in any number of
contexts. New York Gov. David Paterson has already ordered state agencies there
to recognize marriage licenses issued to gay couples in California,
Massachusetts, Canada or the four other countries where it’s legal. Gay-friendly
governors elsewhere may quickly follow suit, especially after the November
election cushions the possible blowback and (hopefully) cements marriage
equality in California.

It’s long past time, for example, that D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty to fulfill his
campaign promise to make public the legal opinion of a former attorney general,
gay himself, about whether the District should  recognize gay marriages
from elsewhere. In fact, it’s long past time for the D.C. Council to adopt
marriage equality outright — a majority already supports it and the Democratic
leadership in Congress has pledged to allow marriage to be decided at the state
level.

In the other 48 states, gay newlyweds returning from California will over time
be raising recognition issues that will challenge not just the state
constitutionality of marriage bans but their federal constitutionality as well,
along with the holy grail: the constitutionality of the federal Defense of
Marriage Act. That infamous 1996 law, renounced by its own author Bob Barr now
that he’s the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president, purports to allow each
state the right to refuse recognition of gay marriages from other states.

The U.S. Constitution has something to say on that matter, however, since the
“Full Faith; Credit Clause” generally requires that states recognize the
legal papers and judicial rulings of other states — including marriages. There
are all sorts of exceptions to the rule, as it has been litigated over 200-plus
years, but that won’t save DOMA. By saying each state may unilaterally reject
gay marriages from other states under every conceivable context, DOMA is clearly
unconstitutional, since the FFC will require otherwise in at least some
situations. And if DOMA falls by judicial fiat, as it should, expect calls for a
federal constitutional amendment to ensue.

So much will depend on the unpredictable circumstances of each challenge that
the outcomes will be all over the map. Couples who travel to California from
states with marriage bans written into their constitutions will likely find
their new licenses worthless, since the FFC clause has long allowed states
to prevent citizens from escaping local marriage limits by simply crossing state
lines and wedding elsewhere.
On the other end of the spectrum, judicial rulings from California that
recognize a gay marriage in circumstances like child custody or the right to sue
for a spouse’s injury or death will most likely be accepted — perhaps even in
the most hostile anti-gay states. That’s because the federal Constitution’s
(?) clause will trump DOMA and a state’s marriage ban under the right
circumstances.

If you’ve followed me this far, you at least see the tremendous variety of ways
the detonation of the California marriage bomb will scatter shrapnel throughout
the union. For that reason, preserving the victory there ought to be priority
No. 1 for all gay rights donors and political organizations.

James Nimmo, treasurer/moderator
Bravery need not require threats to life and limb;
it requires the moral engagement of the mind.

www.okstonewall.org

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Amnesty International Online Library – USA Org site and more!

A few thoughts during my brew (See references below):

I’m reviewing (loosely) my personal observations of experiencing online concert of another independent supporter of Amensty International – Second Life Music Performer and Philanthropist, davecorbett Darwin. First thought: Hello, Avatar!

Second, Third and Fourth impressions (I try to make all the shows I can inworld):

Listening, experiencing and participating in a virtual world live performance is difficult to explain, if you haven’t been there. Neither is the message that is freely shared in song, verse, discussion and awareness presentation of basic human needs left unintended that ’shines’ as pure, true, and earnest. “At This Point of Time” (see lyrics below). Not the best songwriting effort from the Artist/Activist/Avatar – no. The best of all, in my opinion, “Wot A Lot Of Fussin” – that noted; experiencing “At This Point of Time” is a celebration of human spirit, love, and unity. Extraordinary, if you learn to listen. It took me at several looks to experience the fullness, and I hope I never tire of the message.

The downloads are free – what the hell. Love life, learn, and celebrate today with Dave Corbett and friends!

Stay informed:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/activist-toolkit/online-library/page.do?id=1101335&n1=4&n2=63&n3=130

Oodles of information, and you may be involved, on many levels…”Action for Human Rights. Hope for Humanity.” Reference Source: http://www.amnestyusa.org

Other referenced sites:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/1032775/6da7e7a1/sharin

http://davecorbettdarwin.com/default.aspx

http://davecorbettdarwin.com/sitemap.aspx

Personal Review of http://davecorbettdarwin.com/atthispointintime.aspx (All rights reserved):

AT THIS POINT IN TIME

ALL I HAVE TO DO IS WAKE TO LOVE YOU
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS RISE AND SHINE
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS STOP THINKING
ABOUT THE POWERS THAT BE
ARE DOING TO MANKIND

chorus
AT THIS POINT IN TIME THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON
AT THIS POINT IN TIME REFLECT ON THE PAST
AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS THE CHANGING OF THE SEASONS
WE COULD BUILD A LOVE TO EVERLAST

SEE THAT GUY WAITING AT THE STATION

DOESN`T REALLY KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO
SO HE CHECKS IT WITH THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK AT THE
INFORMATION
JUST LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID
I DON`T KNOW

Interesting link to an “Internet Newspaper” – Popular Quotables!

I like the Huffington Post website…and, I found a terrific blogger, and a very current item of interest – Roin Tyler blogs on a ruling from a plaintiff:

My Reaction to the California Marriage Ruling — As the Plaintiff

2 Comments | Posted May 26, 2008 | 03:56 PM (EST)

---

There is no such thing as same-sex marriage, because after marriage, sex is never the same.

Amensty International – A 20-minute video “Universal Declaration of Human Rights animation”

Special thanks to Jacob George, for posting on the below-referenced link.  Personally, I think it is great that we have a visual / audio version of the UDHR – I also recommend that you read it, of course, and decide for yourself – live, love, learn…and, perhaps you will find this a way to find a voice – it really is up to you.
Referenced Blogger:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ‘cos life is a mix of all three

http://jg69.blogspot.com/2008/05/universal-declaration-of-human-rights.html

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights in 1988, award-winning director Stephen Johnson brought together 41 of the most talented international animators, musicians and producers to produce this unique work. The 20-minute video brings to life the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in brilliant colour. Even after 20 years, the UDHR animated video continues to be a highly effective basic tool for the defence and advocacy of the UDHR and for general work on the indivisibility and universality of human rights and human rights education ==> Amnesty International 60 Years of UDHR…

My Thoughts on “Tibet Notes” and Blogging

What is it like to lose your job because of censorship?  How is this right?  When is it enough?   Who’s ‘reality’ is protected?  Where is the controller of the money or other political/social group that supports this action?

Censorship happens everyday, and it is a social disease that may effect anybody, at any given moment in time.  That’s a fact.  Below, is just an example.   Hmmmm.

Why do I ask?  Well, granted, this paragraph is taken out of context, and if you’ve been reading on current events in Tibet and the many issues facing China and Tibet – this is just yesterday’s news, by tomorrow.

“But others are less convinced, especially those censored for dissenting views. Woeser, a Tibetan blogger, lost her editing job at a literary magazine based in Lhasa after writing a 2003 book, “Tibet Notes,” that included a friendly reference to the Dalai Lama. “They wrote to the publisher and said, ‘One of your authors wrote a book with severe political mistakes,’ ” said Ms. Woeser, who, like some Tibetans, uses only one name. “Anything about the reality of Tibet is not allowed to be published.”

Referenced article from The New York Times – Asia Pacific Web Source,

By JIM YARDLEY

Published: April 17, 2008

Activist Toolkit from Amnesty International USA for 2007 – 2008

Referenced Source:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/What-You-Can-Do/Activist-Toolkit/page.do?id=1031046&n1=4&n2=63

The Activist Toolkit has something for everyone! Information to help new groups get started, useful tips on running an existing group, lots of great ideas for planning events and activities, and a calendar of significant dates that you may want to plan events around. It also provides a crash course on how Amnesty operates, how to get in contact with staff and volunteer leaders, and a variety of other useful resources.

Here’s How the Toolkit Works:

• In the left hand navigation you’ll see a listing of the main section headings
• Each section has an introductory page – that’s where you will end up when you click on a main section heading.
• Once you have clicked on a main section heading, the contents of that section will appear in the right hand column.

Throughout the toolkit, some documents (order forms, flyers, etc.) are in Adobe PDF format. PDF files are read-only files that can be opened on any computer (Mac or PC) that is equipped with Adobe® Acrobat® software. Virtually all new computers come equipped with this software. However, if you don’t have it on your computer, the installer is free and can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com.

“Second Life Musician Joins The Help” – Donations Request.

Second Life (SL) musicians and live performers are awesome at rising to a call for help. Read this excerpt:

Second Life’s Cylindrian Rutabaga, Grace Buford in real life, a well known and highly written about musician in Virtual Spaces, has just informed me she’s looking into potentially putting on an online event to help support the The Austin 80. I’ll keep everyone informed as to where it goes but I wanted to show that help can be made in many ways to help The Austin 80 get what they need, by spreading awareness, by telling and emailing your friends, ect ect. Let’s get this done people, it won’t take much.

Grace, thank you for your kindness, your generosity and your help.

For more information on the The Austin 80, please see the first post on this blog.

http://theaustin80.com/2008/03/16/hello-world/

Requests for help in Burma is not a new development, certainly not to human rights bloggers…but, the “wish list” for items is the first I’ve seen with information on how to help – and, is located on the above-referenced cite and at the bottom of this post – I’m going to put in a quoted message here, but please read more at the links given and the blogs cited – at the end of this blogging message, is an address to send items:

“Yes, there are about 81 people, all in one apartment complex on Rutland. There are also a few from the same “batch” from the refugee camp, who landed in a complex on Burton, which is off east Riverside Drive, but I don’t go there much and it is less than 20 people, including children. However, i have included their needs in this list you asked for. They are babies to elderly, and of Christian, Moslem, and Buddhist religion (the bulk are Christian).

No one has a car.

Most of them do not have a phone yet because of the expense, although some do.
NO ONE HAS A COMPUTER. If they had computers, just about any computers, they could communicate with their monk out on Hwy 71, and their refugee relatives in other countries. The kids could do their schoolwork, and the parents could do the ESL CDs I bring them from Half-Price Books, and the kids could do the learning games I have brought them against the day when they might have a computer. The kids cannot use the school computers before or after school easily at the middle or high school because they ride the bus, which gets them there just before school, and leaves right after school. IF I COULD GET THEM ANY ONE THING ON THIS WHOLE LIST, IT WOULD BE THIS.
In the group on Rutland, 37 are children under 18. None of the teenagers have a good calculator for school use. Imagine school nowadays without a calculator — I used one in high school in the 70’s (thte TI-40 — weren’t they a godsend??)!

Not everyone who needs a bike has one, and nobody has a bike patch repair kit or bike pump or tools to fix a flat.

There are several babies in diapers, which are very expensive and not covered by food stamps of course, and a lady due to deliver pretty soon. They don’t have proper carseats that I know of, and need infant and toddler. I know they don’t have cars, but when volunteers drive them, the baby has to be in a carseat.

Not everybody has socks or sufficient underwear because when I do clothing drives nobody gives these items — because they wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s!
The new people need umbrellas because they walk or ride the bus everywhere.
They need spoons, ricecookers, coffeemakers, mugs, and kitchen towels. They also need dishwashing liquid and laundry soap, bar soap, shampoo, and maybe some conditioner. And they need skin lotion if possible because they are used to living in a warmer, moister environment (I know, here are some folks who will like Austin’s summers!)
Not everybody has a toothbrush. I know in one family they share one. Others don’t have any now. Not everyone has a brush or comb, and some of the ladies and girls would like something to hold their straight black hair away from their face (like barrettes or ponytail holders or scrunchies or clips) but they are so expensive.

I have been taking them books every week, courtesy of Half-Price Books, for a couple of months now, but nobody has a bookshelf that I have seen and so these are beginning to get in the way. The reason this is bad is because they tend to be picked up and piled with the other “junk” the children have strewn on the floor and piled somewhere, making them less accessible and appealing for the next time. If anyone has any old bookshelves, telephone standa, bedside stands with a shelf, magazine rack — anything whch would help keep the books out and in easy sight and reach — I hope I can get it to them. Needless to say, the kids who look at their books the most are coming along the best in English.
Some of the apartments can use some more light, such as from a floor lamp, because a floor lamp doesn’t need to have an existing piece of furniture to be set upon.

None of the rest require any comment and I will try my best guess at the number needed to help out both the large group I see many times a week and the few at the south location. Well, okay, one comment, I have been inside each home many times and I know who is sharing bath towels, who has no toothbrushes, who is pregnant, etc.:

pitchers(8)
cookiesheets(6)
cutting boards(12)
very sharp knives for dicing(32)
bowls(40)
sponges(64)
rice(unlimited, they eat it 3 meals/day)
small mixing bowls(20)
medium mixing bowls(20)
large mixing bowls(20)
plates (200, no need to match the design)
cleaning brushes(35)
scouring powder(20)
manual can openers (20)
potholders (40)
teakettle(if one happens to come in, bring it, but don’t go buy — I know who drinks tea)

bath towels(80)
hand towels(40)
washcloths(80)
bathmats(14)
soap dishes(5)
toothbrushes(200)
toothbrush holders(12)
toilet brush set(20)
bathroom trashcans(8)
all-purpose cleaner(Lysol, Pine-sol, etc.)(20)
shower curtain liners(3)
small baby diapers(under 10 lbs.)
large baby diapers(20+ lbs.)
toothpaste(20)

pencils(many)
pens(dozens)
scissors, adult(12)
manual pencil sharpeners(8)
soccer ball, size 4*
soccer ball, size 5*
American football, small*
American football, full-size*
basketball, full-size*
tennis shoes, all sizesclothing infant – age 18, girl and boy
educational toys, birth-toddler (they have a couple already)
bicycles, teenage/youth(4)

irons(2)(most of them were lucky to receive irons a short while ago!!)
ironing board, probably small is best(5)
coffee tables(3)
end tables(3)
bicycles, adult(4)
bus passes
gift cards to Wal-mart
gift-cards to H-E-B
“Vietnamese”-style brooms from MT Supermarket (these are terrific, try one)(5)
mops(16)
buckets for use with mop(16)
vacuums(14)(they have never had to contend with carpet before and hate it!!)
telephones(10)
phone cards(10)

*NOT A NECESSARY — JUST FOR FUN

The address to ship stuff:
12411 Turtleback Lane
Austin, TX 78727

If you have specific questions for Elaine, you can contact her at: borntohelp@earthlink.net
But please do not spam her, she’s a senior citizen and can only manage so much.

Thank you Grace, for all you do – I hope this posting helps, as well.

Shirley J Rhodes, MLS