Take Action For The Children of Newtown: The Time for Gun Control is NOW!
-by Tommy "News" Thomas
Do you hear what I hear?
Today, I don’t hear Walt Whitman's America Singing, I don't hear Christmas music or love songs. Instead, I hear Wild West shooting and killing. I hear the sounds of hatred and violence and the wails of grief. When a gunman takes out twenty innocent children and their teachers in a sleepy Connecticut suburb, three days after a gunman shot up a mall in Oregon, in the same year as fatal mass shootings in Minneapolis, in Tulsa, in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, in a theater in Colorado, in a coffee bar in Seattle and in a college in California, I hear a chorus of people asking "Why?".
The answer is guns. Guns are made to kill, and that is what they do. Gun violence continues to escalate. The USA ranks among the worst countries of the world in the high number of shootings and murders by firearms. The NRA and the gun lobby promotes a gun culture for "self-protection" and "sport" but it is really about greed and profit fueled by fear. Now they suggest that we arm our teachers. It is time to act. There is only one solution. The NRA and the gun lobby must be disbanded and outlawed, and guns must be eliminated gradually.
The Second Amendment applies to the militias of 230 years ago. Those militias no longer exist, nor does the need for protection from invading British troops, Native Americans, wild animals, or hunting for food. It is time to disband the NRA, Repeal the Second Amendment, and gradually eliminate the guns.
People own and stockpile guns and ammunition because they fear others with guns. All the propaganda concerning 'self defense' and gun ownership is based upon lies and fear. The way to eliminate that fear is to gradually eliminate all the guns.
The question we must ask is how did we allow our country to descend into the ranks of countries ruled by chaos and dog-eat-dog survival, and why don’t we change this? We can. We must. Let us avenge these needless deaths by preventing future ones. The time for change is NOW!
Gun owners are three times more likely to be shot than those who do not own guns. The only solution to the gun violence problem is eliminating the guns,
gradually.
The Congress must act.
Start by ending the manufacture of new guns and ammunition.
Ban all assault weapons.
Restrict gun sales and double down on background checks, screening, and waiting periods.
Close the gun show loopholes.
Gradually end all gun shows and all gun sales.
Outlaw concealed handguns.
Limit and register gun ownership to ONE gun per hunter
Tax existing and new guns and ammunition, and begin turn in programs.
Limit gun permits to the lifetime of the permit holder.
Give most police batons, as in England.
Bore out and disable old "heirloom guns".
Start safe gun storage "museums" where owners can store and visit their gun.
Only military members and some select police should have restricted access to guns.
Repeal the Second Amendment and disband the NRA!
People will no longer "need" their guns after they die.
It is time to pry the gun from Charlton Heston's cold, dead fingers!
I urge you to write to your Representative in Congress, your two Senators, President Obama, sign the petitions, and urge then to take action on strict gradual gun control and elimination today.
-Tommy
Get contact information at www.congress.org
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
ACTION ALERT: Tuesday is May Day: Directory Occupy General Strike In Over 125 Cities
ACTION ALERT: Tuesday is May Day: Directory Occupy General Strike In Over 125 Cities
May Day Directory: Occupy General Strike In Over 125 CitiesWhile American corporate media has focused on yet another stale
election between Wall Street-financed candidates, Occupy has been
organizing something extraordinary: the first truly nationwide General
Strike in U.S. history. Building on the international celebration of
May Day, past General Strikes in U.S. cities like Seattle and Oakland,
the recent May 1st Day Without An Immigrant demonstrations, the
national general strikes in Spain this year, and the on-going student
strike in Quebec, the Occupy Movement has called for A Day Without the
99% on May 1st, 2012. This in and of itself is a tremendous victory.
For the first time, workers, students, immigrants, and the unemployed
from over 125 U.S. cities will stand together for economic justice.
See below for what we believe to be the most comprehensive list yet
compiled of cities where Occupy May Day events are being planned, as
well as other resources. Note: This is a living document. Check back
for updates! If you have any additional events, please let us know in
the comment section of this article. You are encouraged to share this
page in as many ways as possible!
General Resources
6 Ways to Get Ready for the May 1st GENERAL STRIKE
Why And How To Strike On May Day
Global Facebook Event
Follow on Twitter: @OWSMayDay | @OccupyGenStrk | @StrikeEverywher |
@OccupyGenStrike | #M1GS | #GeneralStrike | #MayDay
MayDaySolidarity2012
StrikeEverywhere.net
May Day Legal Fund
May Day Fund NYC
WhyIStrike.tumblr.com
HowIStrike.tumblr.com
MayDayGallery.tumblr.com
Key City-wide May Day Sites
New York City - MayDayNYC.org
Bay Area, California - StrikeMay1st.com
Chicago - ChicagoSpring.org/May1
Southern California - OccupyMay1st.org
Seattle - May1stSeattle.org
Find a nearby city with planned actions:
http://occupywallst.org/
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Irish Queers and LGBT Community Protest Homophobic NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade
Irish Queers and LGBT Community Protest Homophobic NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade
-by Tommy News Thomas
The US Supreme Court decided that gays cannot march in the St.
Patrick's Day Parades in Boston or New York because they are "Private
Events", yet they are not private events at all. Thousands of Public
employess on and off duty, including Police, Firefighters, Military,
sanitation workers, government officials, etc. march on public
property in a public parade, sanctioning homophobic bigotry and
discrimination against the LGBT community. This is not a "Private
Event", it is government funded and sanctioned discrimination. This
sends a message of hatred and intolerance and must be loudly
condemned. Gays march proudly and openly in the Dublin, Ireland
Parade. The cities of New York and Boston, and all Americans, should
be deeply ashamed. "Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade represents homophobic discrimination!
The group "Irish Queers" again took up the call to arms this year in
another annual New York City protest, and I had the honor of
participating. Sidelined by the parade organizers, The Ancient Order
of Hibernians, "St. Patrick's Day Parade, Inc" and by police, we
organized gathered and spoke out in protest.
Protest signs were provided by Irish Queers. I selected wisely and
chose to hold a sign aloft that read:
"Who is the Patron Saint of BIGOTRY?"
I held a rainbow flag with the sign, which garnered alot of
attention and was photographed by many. One female marcher screamed in
reply to my sign: "YOU ARE!" One male Marcher shouted "I AM!" and we
booed him. Many others applauded us and gave the thumbs up. We
chanted "Let Us
March! Let Us March!" Some looked and reacted in disgust and muttered
"Fags", etc. Others looked away. A group of young male thugs grabbed
many of our signs and ran off with them, but we chased them down the
street and recovered
most. Later cops tried to remove our signs, but I implored them to
please give them back to me, and they did.
We had a good turnout, and our parade protest was featured on the NBC
11 PM evening news. Our message was heard loud and clear.
I left near the end of the Parade, exhausted, and had a corned beef
and cabbage dinner and a well deserved cold Guinesss Stout beer
with a friend in on my way home.
Shame upon the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Cities of New York and Boston.
Please join in the protest and take action:
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint
against city funded bigotry and exclusion.
Call, Email, Fax, and Write The Parade Organizers Here:
"Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade represents homophobic discrimination!
NYC SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
St Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration Committee
P.O. Box 295 Woodlawn Station,
Bronx, NY 10470
Phone Number: 718-231-4400 718-231-4400
Fax: 718-231-4401
Web Site: NYCStPatricksParade.Org
Web Site Information: HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org
General Info:Information@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Chairman: Chairman-NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Scholarship: Scholarship@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Chairman of Bands: Band@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
FAQ or Information requests
please contact
Hilary Beirne
HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg here and register a
complaint against city funded bigotry and exclusion.
http://www.mikebloomberg.com/
Phone: (212) 639-9675
Fax: (212) 788-2460
City of New York City
1 Centre Street
New York City, NY 10007-1200
Contact New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo here:
http://www.congress.org/
Albany Office:
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 486-4623
Fax: (518) 486-4170
Contact NBC and other Media here:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=org_pages&org_id=559
Website: www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112
Contact the Ancient Order of Hibernians Here:
Greater Gospel Temple Aoh
2408 E 83rd St
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 231-6068
http://www.aoh.com/officers.html
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact and Boycott the Parade Sponsors register a complaint against
sponsoring bigotry and exclusion:
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
Telephone 203-582-8200 203-582-8200
Admissions and Financial Aid: 800-462-1944 800-462-1944
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/
Manhattan College
Visa
Irish Connections Visa
Empire City Yonkers Raceway
http://www.yonkersraceway.com/
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
MANHATTAN COLLEGE
Group Photos, Inc.
Ireland Calls Radio Show
Pride of Irish Heritage
The Irish Examiner
Tourism Ireland
Turtle Wax
Budweiser
Sponsor links here:
http://nyc-st-patrick-day-parade.org/links.aspx
-by Tommy News Thomas
The US Supreme Court decided that gays cannot march in the St.
Patrick's Day Parades in Boston or New York because they are "Private
Events", yet they are not private events at all. Thousands of Public
employess on and off duty, including Police, Firefighters, Military,
sanitation workers, government officials, etc. march on public
property in a public parade, sanctioning homophobic bigotry and
discrimination against the LGBT community. This is not a "Private
Event", it is government funded and sanctioned discrimination. This
sends a message of hatred and intolerance and must be loudly
condemned. Gays march proudly and openly in the Dublin, Ireland
Parade. The cities of New York and Boston, and all Americans, should
be deeply ashamed. "Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade represents homophobic discrimination!
The group "Irish Queers" again took up the call to arms this year in
another annual New York City protest, and I had the honor of
participating. Sidelined by the parade organizers, The Ancient Order
of Hibernians, "St. Patrick's Day Parade, Inc" and by police, we
organized gathered and spoke out in protest.
Protest signs were provided by Irish Queers. I selected wisely and
chose to hold a sign aloft that read:
"Who is the Patron Saint of BIGOTRY?"
I held a rainbow flag with the sign, which garnered alot of
attention and was photographed by many. One female marcher screamed in
reply to my sign: "YOU ARE!" One male Marcher shouted "I AM!" and we
booed him. Many others applauded us and gave the thumbs up. We
chanted "Let Us
March! Let Us March!" Some looked and reacted in disgust and muttered
"Fags", etc. Others looked away. A group of young male thugs grabbed
many of our signs and ran off with them, but we chased them down the
street and recovered
most. Later cops tried to remove our signs, but I implored them to
please give them back to me, and they did.
We had a good turnout, and our parade protest was featured on the NBC
11 PM evening news. Our message was heard loud and clear.
I left near the end of the Parade, exhausted, and had a corned beef
and cabbage dinner and a well deserved cold Guinesss Stout beer
with a friend in on my way home.
Shame upon the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Cities of New York and Boston.
Please join in the protest and take action:
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint
against city funded bigotry and exclusion.
Call, Email, Fax, and Write The Parade Organizers Here:
"Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade represents homophobic discrimination!
NYC SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
St Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration Committee
P.O. Box 295 Woodlawn Station,
Bronx, NY 10470
Phone Number: 718-231-4400 718-231-4400
Fax: 718-231-4401
Web Site: NYCStPatricksParade.Org
Web Site Information: HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.
General Info:Information@NYC-St-
Chairman: Chairman-NYC-St-Patrick-Day-
Scholarship: Scholarship@NYC-St-Patrick-
Chairman of Bands: Band@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-
FAQ or Information requests
please contact
Hilary Beirne
HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg here and register a
complaint against city funded bigotry and exclusion.
http://www.mikebloomberg.com/
Phone: (212) 639-9675
Fax: (212) 788-2460
City of New York City
1 Centre Street
New York City, NY 10007-1200
Contact New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo here:
http://www.congress.org/
Albany Office:
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 486-4623
Fax: (518) 486-4170
Contact NBC and other Media here:
http://www.congress.org/
http://www.congress.org/
Website: www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112
Contact the Ancient Order of Hibernians Here:
Greater Gospel Temple Aoh
2408 E 83rd St
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 231-6068
http://www.aoh.com/officers.
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact and Boycott the Parade Sponsors register a complaint against
sponsoring bigotry and exclusion:
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
Telephone 203-582-8200 203-582-8200
Admissions and Financial Aid: 800-462-1944 800-462-1944
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/
Manhattan College
Visa
Irish Connections Visa
Empire City Yonkers Raceway
http://www.yonkersraceway.com/
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
MANHATTAN COLLEGE
Group Photos, Inc.
Ireland Calls Radio Show
Pride of Irish Heritage
The Irish Examiner
Tourism Ireland
Turtle Wax
Budweiser
Sponsor links here:
http://nyc-st-patrick-day-
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
TAKE ACTION: Protest Homophobic Discrimination This Saturday at NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
TAKE ACTION: Protest NYPD and Homophobic Discrimination This Saturday
at the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Take action and pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
-by Tommy News Thomas and Irish Queers
"Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade is Homophobic Discrimination!
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Protest
Sat. March 17 @ 11am to end of Parade, about 4 PM
Fifth Ave. between West 56th and 57th St, New York City
Protest NYPD, Mayor Bloomberg, City and Church sanctioned homophobia
This Saturday!
Take Action: NYC Saint Patricks Day Parade sends Message of Hatred and
Intolerance
Recently, Irish President Mary McAleese turned down an invitation to
be the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade. Irish
Central, the Irish Voice's website, says it was because of the
parade's explicit anti-gay stance. The parade now represents the same
intolerance and bigotry that the Irish immigrants have fought for over
two centuries.
A 1995 conservative U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed the private
sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade to exclude a group of
gays and lesbians.
The 9-0 SCOTUS decision said that parades are a “form of expression”
protected by the First Amendment and that organizers could not be
compelled to include groups whose messages they did not favor. A
second, inclusive parade will take place in Boston, following
a mile behind the first parade.
In New York, gays have again been banned from marching in the parade
on the 17th.
For over 20 years the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and NYC SAINT
PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, Inc. which organizes the
parade, have barred LGBT and Irish gay groups from marching. They
claim the parade is a private, religious procession "Traditional
Family Values"? in
order to to justify keeping LGBT groups out.
New York Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has compared
homosexuality to alcoholism, has expressed his disapproval of marriage
equality and "homosexuals". He has pledged to fight Marriage Equality
in New York and in places out of his jurasdiction.
In the parade, public employees such as on duty uniformed police and
firefighters, public school employees and students, and many
secular groups participate in the parade. Public funds are used for
setup, cleanup, security, etc. A private parade, can’t take public
money or allow public employees to participate.
Therefore, we must protest not only the discriminatory exclusion of
LGBT groups from the parade, but also the use of public funds and
public employees. Any event that discriminates against people because of who
they are should not be publicly supported.
The inclusive St. Patrick’s Parade in Queens, held before
St. Patrick's Day is the only one in the city that allows gay groups
to march openly. The other parades should be boycotted and protested.
Staten Island Pride was banned from the Staten Island St. Pat's parade
again this year, and gay groups such as Irish Queers are again banned
from marching the big parade on Fifth Avenue this week.
We must protest as long as these homophobic and discriminatory
policies continue. Openly lesbian New York City Speaker Christine
Quinn said: "'Don't Ask Don't Tell' has been repealed. The military is
no longer
discriminating against LGBT people, but yet parades in New York City
are. It baffles the mind."
We insist the NYPD, NYFD, public schools, public agencies and
accomodation, sanitation, The Mayor and all New Yorkers immediately stop
participation in the NYC St. Patrick’s Parade and any other such
explicitly anti-gay event. We protest.
From Irish Queers http://irishqueers.blogspot.com/
On Saturday, March 17, the NYPD takes off the mask.
BE THERE TO PROTEST NYPD HOMOPHOBIA!!!
Separate church and state… Separate bigots and public servants!
Sat. March 17 @ 11am to end of Parade, about 4 PM
Fifth Ave. between West 56th and 57th St @ The St. Patrick’s Day parade
This Saturday, tens of thousands of cops will march in an explicitly
anti-gay parade of hate – Mayor Bloomberg, too. The NYC St. Patrick’s
Day parade, once a celebration of Irish New York, is now a “solemn
procession” of the religious right. It was redesigned so that anti-gay
bigots could parade using the church’s special right to discriminate.
The parade officially sends an “anti-gay message” – and the NYPD is
its biggest participant.
How much does the NYPD support religious anti-gay bigots? The NYPD
actively fought to keep Irish queers out of the parade, fought queers'
right to protest the parade, and now sends thousands of officers to
march in NYPD contingents. Most recently, when a dozen queer rights
and immigrant/cultural groups joined forces to tell NYPD Commissioner
Kelly that police endorsement exacerbates anti-queer violence, and to
demand that the NYPD pull out of the parade, Commissioner Kelly didn’t
even bother to respond.
PROTEST NYPD HOMOPHOBIA and ANTI-QUEER VIOLENCE!
Separate church and state… Separate bigots and public servants!
Sat. March 17 @ 11am
Fifth Ave. between West 56th and 57th St
More:
http://irishqueers.blogspot.com/
Write, Email, and Call The Parade Organizers Here:
NYC SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
St Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration Committee
P.O. Box 295 Woodlawn Station,
Bronx, NY 10470
Phone Number: 718-231-4400 718-231-4400
Fax: 718-231-4401
Web Site: NYCStPatricksParade.Org
Web Site Information: HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org
General Info:Information@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Chairman: Chairman-NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Scholarship: Scholarship@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Chairman of Bands: Band@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
FAQ or Information requests
please contact
Hilary Beirne
HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg here:
http://www.mikebloomberg.com/
Phone: (212) 639-9675
Fax: (212) 788-2460
City of New York City
1 Centre Street
New York City, NY 10007-1200
Contact New York Governor Andrew Cuomo here:
http://www.congress.org/
Albany Office:
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 486-4623
Fax: (518) 486-4170
Contact NBC and other Media here:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=org_pages&org_id=559
Website: www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112
Contact the Ancient Order of Hibernians Here:
Greater Gospel Temple Aoh
2408 E 83rd St
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 231-6068
http://www.aoh.com/officers.html
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact and Boycott the Parade Sponsors:
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
Telephone 203-582-8200 203-582-8200
Admissions and Financial Aid: 800-462-1944 800-462-1944
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/
Manhattan College
Visa
Irish Connections Visa
Empire City Yonkers Raceway
http://www.yonkersraceway.com/
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
MANHATTAN COLLEGE
Group Photos, Inc.
Ireland Calls Radio Show
Pride of Irish Heritage
The Irish Examiner
Tourism Ireland
Turtle Wax
Budweiser
Sponsor links here:
http://nyc-st-patrick-day-parade.org/links.aspx
A Letter To the Editor from Irish Queers :
The New York St. Patrick's Day still excludes queers - and in fact,
the organizers say that the message of their parade is explicitly
anti-gay, and religious ("Luck's Forever Dublin," by Winnie McCroy,
Mar. 6-12). In spite of the city's anti-discrimination laws, uniformed
police, firefighters, and other city officials march under this
message. By contrast, the St. Pat's for All parade March 2 in Queens
was a safe space for celebration of LGBT people's important place in
Irish communities.
There, just about everyone who was asked signed pledge cards affirming
their boycott of the Fifth Avenue parade. Signers included Irish and
Irish-American community activists, labor leaders, and some elected
officials, as well as LGBT people of every stripe.
But we were disturbed to find some marchers at St. Pat's for All,
including some elected officials, who planned to march in the
homophobic parade too. Electeds like Mayor Bloomberg have frequently
joined in both - claiming to support queers in Queens, and then
marching in the anti-gay - and much more public - Manhattan parade
alongside conservative, religious-right homophobes. It's a shameful
trick, but it works for them as long as queers only notice what
happens in Queens, and homophobes focus on Fifth Avenue.
That's why it's so important for us to confront homophobia where it
still marches, at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan. The
parade is a major political and cultural event, broadcast nationally.
The message of hate it carries matters very much. At least three queer
youth have already been killed this year by other kids who were taught
to fear them, and religious vitriol is gaining acceptance around the
country. To challenge the systemic homophobia that's still wreaking
violence on our communities, we have to leave our safe spaces and
confront homophobes in the spaces they control.
All are welcome to join Irish Queers in protest at the NYC St.
Patrick's Day parade - March 17th, 11a.m. at 57th Street and Fifth
Avenue.
Emmaia Gelman
JF Mulligan
For Irish Queers
More:
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19388570&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_i\
d=569329&rfi=6
Take action and pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
at the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Take action and pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
-by Tommy News Thomas and Irish Queers
"Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade is Homophobic Discrimination!
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Protest
Sat. March 17 @ 11am to end of Parade, about 4 PM
Fifth Ave. between West 56th and 57th St, New York City
Protest NYPD, Mayor Bloomberg, City and Church sanctioned homophobia
This Saturday!
Take Action: NYC Saint Patricks Day Parade sends Message of Hatred and
Intolerance
Recently, Irish President Mary McAleese turned down an invitation to
be the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade. Irish
Central, the Irish Voice's website, says it was because of the
parade's explicit anti-gay stance. The parade now represents the same
intolerance and bigotry that the Irish immigrants have fought for over
two centuries.
A 1995 conservative U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed the private
sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade to exclude a group of
gays and lesbians.
The 9-0 SCOTUS decision said that parades are a “form of expression”
protected by the First Amendment and that organizers could not be
compelled to include groups whose messages they did not favor. A
second, inclusive parade will take place in Boston, following
a mile behind the first parade.
In New York, gays have again been banned from marching in the parade
on the 17th.
For over 20 years the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and NYC SAINT
PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, Inc. which organizes the
parade, have barred LGBT and Irish gay groups from marching. They
claim the parade is a private, religious procession "Traditional
Family Values"? in
order to to justify keeping LGBT groups out.
New York Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has compared
homosexuality to alcoholism, has expressed his disapproval of marriage
equality and "homosexuals". He has pledged to fight Marriage Equality
in New York and in places out of his jurasdiction.
In the parade, public employees such as on duty uniformed police and
firefighters, public school employees and students, and many
secular groups participate in the parade. Public funds are used for
setup, cleanup, security, etc. A private parade, can’t take public
money or allow public employees to participate.
Therefore, we must protest not only the discriminatory exclusion of
LGBT groups from the parade, but also the use of public funds and
public employees. Any event that discriminates against people because of who
they are should not be publicly supported.
The inclusive St. Patrick’s Parade in Queens, held before
St. Patrick's Day is the only one in the city that allows gay groups
to march openly. The other parades should be boycotted and protested.
Staten Island Pride was banned from the Staten Island St. Pat's parade
again this year, and gay groups such as Irish Queers are again banned
from marching the big parade on Fifth Avenue this week.
We must protest as long as these homophobic and discriminatory
policies continue. Openly lesbian New York City Speaker Christine
Quinn said: "'Don't Ask Don't Tell' has been repealed. The military is
no longer
discriminating against LGBT people, but yet parades in New York City
are. It baffles the mind."
We insist the NYPD, NYFD, public schools, public agencies and
accomodation, sanitation, The Mayor and all New Yorkers immediately stop
participation in the NYC St. Patrick’s Parade and any other such
explicitly anti-gay event. We protest.
From Irish Queers http://irishqueers.blogspot.
On Saturday, March 17, the NYPD takes off the mask.
BE THERE TO PROTEST NYPD HOMOPHOBIA!!!
Separate church and state… Separate bigots and public servants!
Sat. March 17 @ 11am to end of Parade, about 4 PM
Fifth Ave. between West 56th and 57th St @ The St. Patrick’s Day parade
This Saturday, tens of thousands of cops will march in an explicitly
anti-gay parade of hate – Mayor Bloomberg, too. The NYC St. Patrick’s
Day parade, once a celebration of Irish New York, is now a “solemn
procession” of the religious right. It was redesigned so that anti-gay
bigots could parade using the church’s special right to discriminate.
The parade officially sends an “anti-gay message” – and the NYPD is
its biggest participant.
How much does the NYPD support religious anti-gay bigots? The NYPD
actively fought to keep Irish queers out of the parade, fought queers'
right to protest the parade, and now sends thousands of officers to
march in NYPD contingents. Most recently, when a dozen queer rights
and immigrant/cultural groups joined forces to tell NYPD Commissioner
Kelly that police endorsement exacerbates anti-queer violence, and to
demand that the NYPD pull out of the parade, Commissioner Kelly didn’t
even bother to respond.
PROTEST NYPD HOMOPHOBIA and ANTI-QUEER VIOLENCE!
Separate church and state… Separate bigots and public servants!
Sat. March 17 @ 11am
Fifth Ave. between West 56th and 57th St
More:
http://irishqueers.blogspot.
Write, Email, and Call The Parade Organizers Here:
NYC SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
St Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration Committee
P.O. Box 295 Woodlawn Station,
Bronx, NY 10470
Phone Number: 718-231-4400 718-231-4400
Fax: 718-231-4401
Web Site: NYCStPatricksParade.Org
Web Site Information: HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.
General Info:Information@NYC-St-
Chairman: Chairman-NYC-St-Patrick-Day-
Scholarship: Scholarship@NYC-St-Patrick-
Chairman of Bands: Band@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-
FAQ or Information requests
please contact
Hilary Beirne
HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg here:
http://www.mikebloomberg.com/
Phone: (212) 639-9675
Fax: (212) 788-2460
City of New York City
1 Centre Street
New York City, NY 10007-1200
Contact New York Governor Andrew Cuomo here:
http://www.congress.org/
Albany Office:
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 486-4623
Fax: (518) 486-4170
Contact NBC and other Media here:
http://www.congress.org/
http://www.congress.org/
Website: www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112
Contact the Ancient Order of Hibernians Here:
Greater Gospel Temple Aoh
2408 E 83rd St
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 231-6068
http://www.aoh.com/officers.
New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.
Contact and Boycott the Parade Sponsors:
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
Telephone 203-582-8200 203-582-8200
Admissions and Financial Aid: 800-462-1944 800-462-1944
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/
Manhattan College
Visa
Irish Connections Visa
Empire City Yonkers Raceway
http://www.yonkersraceway.com/
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
MANHATTAN COLLEGE
Group Photos, Inc.
Ireland Calls Radio Show
Pride of Irish Heritage
The Irish Examiner
Tourism Ireland
Turtle Wax
Budweiser
Sponsor links here:
http://nyc-st-patrick-day-
A Letter To the Editor from Irish Queers :
The New York St. Patrick's Day still excludes queers - and in fact,
the organizers say that the message of their parade is explicitly
anti-gay, and religious ("Luck's Forever Dublin," by Winnie McCroy,
Mar. 6-12). In spite of the city's anti-discrimination laws, uniformed
police, firefighters, and other city officials march under this
message. By contrast, the St. Pat's for All parade March 2 in Queens
was a safe space for celebration of LGBT people's important place in
Irish communities.
There, just about everyone who was asked signed pledge cards affirming
their boycott of the Fifth Avenue parade. Signers included Irish and
Irish-American community activists, labor leaders, and some elected
officials, as well as LGBT people of every stripe.
But we were disturbed to find some marchers at St. Pat's for All,
including some elected officials, who planned to march in the
homophobic parade too. Electeds like Mayor Bloomberg have frequently
joined in both - claiming to support queers in Queens, and then
marching in the anti-gay - and much more public - Manhattan parade
alongside conservative, religious-right homophobes. It's a shameful
trick, but it works for them as long as queers only notice what
happens in Queens, and homophobes focus on Fifth Avenue.
That's why it's so important for us to confront homophobia where it
still marches, at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan. The
parade is a major political and cultural event, broadcast nationally.
The message of hate it carries matters very much. At least three queer
youth have already been killed this year by other kids who were taught
to fear them, and religious vitriol is gaining acceptance around the
country. To challenge the systemic homophobia that's still wreaking
violence on our communities, we have to leave our safe spaces and
confront homophobes in the spaces they control.
All are welcome to join Irish Queers in protest at the NYC St.
Patrick's Day parade - March 17th, 11a.m. at 57th Street and Fifth
Avenue.
Emmaia Gelman
JF Mulligan
For Irish Queers
More:
http://www.gaycitynews.com/
d=569329&rfi=6
Take action and pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
Friday, February 17, 2012
ACTION ALERT: Protest the Elevation to Cardinal of New York Arch-Homophobe Timothy Dolan This Weekend
ACTION ALERT:
Protest the Elevation to Cardinal of New York Arch-Homophobe Timothy
Dolan This Weekend
Please take action and pass this on to everyone in your address book.
-By Tommy News
Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who has led the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of New York for nearly three years, will be named a
cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, at the Vatican on Saturday morning.
Sunday masses will then celebrate this elevation of church sanctioned hatred
and homophobia against gays, womens rights, and against full civil
rights equality including same-sex civil marriage. Dolan has even gone
so far as to petition the President of The United States to take
anti-gay action. We must protest.
From our friend Tif:
Timothy Dolan is the chief architect of the Pope's anti-gay crusade in America.
He arrived in NYC spewing homophobia rhetoric, and was quickly
rewarded with an appointment as President of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) which is leading the political
campaign against us.
He has broken every basic social compact - by taking his church's
views into the political arena. He has violated the basic tenet of
creating a safe space for all of us - all people and all religions -
in America.
From Truthdig:
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan is a man of the world in some
senses, showing his love of cigars and beer in this “60 Minutes
Overtime” clip, but he’s all about strict adherence to Catholic
doctrine when it comes to some hotly contested issues: gay marriage,
female priests, abortion.
Here, he takes up a disappointingly common rhetorical tool to explain
the church’s aversion to gay marriage, asking Morley Safer, “Where
would, then, the tampering stop? I mean, I love my mom. I don’t have
the right to marry her.” Sigh. —KA
Video Here:
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/ny_archbishop_compares_gay_marriage_20110324/
From The New York Times:
Archbishop Dolan Condemns "Sexual Immorality" in Sunday Homily
Archbishop and Cardinal-to-be Timothy Dolan gave a stern homily on
morality on Sunday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, telling church
attendees that sex outside of marriage is still a sin, despite what
popular culture would have society believe.
"The one who, with God's grace and mercy, tries his or her best to be
pure and chaste is often thought of not as a hero, not a saint, but as
a freak in our culture today," Archbishop Timothy Dolan said at St.
Patrick's, reported the Daily News. "The biblical teaching on sexual
responsibility is countercultural,"
Dolan continued to say that teaching abstinence is countercultural.
Those who try to live according to the teachings of the bible
including devout Catholics, he said, will face "ridicule and
criticism."
Dolan called on priests to do a better job in guiding their parishes
to live a virtuous life. He linked societal crimes, such as violence,
sex crimes, disease and broken homes and divorce to "sexual
immorality," reported the Daily News.
"The church has at times in the past, sadly, come across as, as some
naysaying, puritanical nag, always giving a big 'no, no, no' to one of
life's greatest joys," he said.
Dolan is set to become cardinal in a ceremony on Feb. 18, 2012 in Rome.
More:
http://newyork.ibtimes.com/articles/282462/20120116/archbishop-dolan-condemns-sexual-immorailty-sunday-homily.htm
The Pope has called gay people "intrinsically disordered", and his
misguided homophobia works to surpress gays and women. Jesus never
once mentioned homosexuality, and may have been gay or bi himself. In
fact, Jesus said that gays as opressed persecuted people are Blessed!
The Pope and Arch-Homophobe Dolan really need to read their Bibles.
This is the word of Jesus, from the Sermon on The Mount.
MATTHEW 5:10-13 Blessed are they which are persecuted
5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
5:13 You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its
savour, with what shall it be salted? it is thereafter good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
That is the word of Jesus.
The Archdiocese of New York is widely considered the spiritual heart
of the American church. It counts about 2.6 million Catholics in a
sprawling jurisdiction that includes includes Manhattan, the Bronx,
Staten Island and several suburban counties.
Timothy Dolan opposes Marriage Equality in New York, and has pledged to work
to oppose marriage equality, persecute and opress gays in New York and in places
out of his jurisdiction. This direcly contradicts the teachings of Jesus.
The Pope and Timothy Dolan must learn what great harm is caused by
thier homophobia, which is defined as the irrational fear of, aversion to,
animus or discrimination against gays, homosexuality or homosexuals.
However, anti-gay hate speech leads directly to animus, bullying, hate
crimes, depression, confusion, low self esteem, and suicide. We must
protest. Now is the time.
Ways to Protest:
1- Occupy The Church
The message is simple, yet loud; Equal Rights for All.
Get out over the weekend and go to your church. Make signs, bring
whistles, pots and pans. Bring friends and
family. Those in New York City can do this at Saint Patrick's
Cathedral on 5th Avenue at 51st Street. Even one or two people, or a
small group can do this with great effect.
Sign suggestions:
LET US BE
Stop The Hate
Let Gays Marry
Church Homophobia Must End!
Cardinal Dolan Hates Gays
Gays are God's Children Too
Blessed Are The Gays
Jesus Loves Me Too
Vote For Civil Rights
2- Write, call, email, weform and Fax your elected representatives,
newspapers and media outlets, and pass this message on to everyone in
your address book.
Get contact information here: http://www.congress.org/
3- Write, call, email, weform and Fax your clergy, friends, and family
4-Write, call, email, weform and Fax Pope Benedict and
Cardinal-elect Timothy Dolan
Timothy Dolan's Office
1011 First Ave
New York, NY 10022
Contact: Timothy Dolan
Phone: 212-371-1000
email https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=timothy.dolan@archny.org or https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=t.dolan@archny.org
More Here:
http://www.archny.org/departments/
The Pope’s regular mailing address is:
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
email the Pope at https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=benedictxvi@vatican.va (English) or
https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=benedettoxvi@vatican.va (Italian)
Call The Vatican Basilica Switchboard + 39 06 6982
More Here:
http://saintpetersbasilica.org/contacts.htm
MEDIA CALLING DOLAN “GAY HATING” &
HIS PROMOTIONS FOR ANTI-GAY ACTIVISM
http://www.towleroad.com/2012/01/gay-hating-ny-archbishop-timothy-dolan-to-be-elevated-to-cardinal.html
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-york-anti-gay-archbishop-timothy.html
More from Tif:
Timothy Dolan TIMELINE:
FEB 23, 2009: DOLAN APPOINTED ARCHIBISHOP OF NY – St. Patricks Cathedral.
NOV 16, 2010: DOLAN PROMOTED TO PRESIDENT OF USCCB (vote 128-111)
JUNE 2011: DOLAN LEADS CAMPAIGN AGAINST NY MARRIAGE EQUALITY
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2011/06/dolan-gay-marriage-bill-an-ominous-threat/
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/06/archbishop-timothy-dolan-were-working-with-gov-cuomo-but-we-still-oppose-gay-m
AUG 2011: DOLAN ON 60 MINUTES (i.e. anti-equality media campaign).
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20044758-10391709.html
SEPT 22, 2011: DOLAN WARNS PRESIDENT OBAMA of “a national conflict
between church and state of enormous proportions" if he supports DOMA
repeal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/timothy-dolan-issues-letter-to-obama-about-gay-marriage_n_976788.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-23/gay-marriage-bishop/50528104/1
NOV 2011: DOLAN PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE PUBLIC POLICY FIGHTS
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/us/bishops-renew-fight-on-abortion-and-gay-marriage.html
NOV 2011: DOLAN ANNOUNCES ANTI-ME FIGHT IN OTHER STATES
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/11/26/NY_Archbishop_Claims_Deception_Plans_to_Fight_Marriage_Equality_in_Other_States/
NOV 2011: DOLAN MEETS WITH OBAMA – OPPOSING MARRIAGE EQUALITY
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/11/15/369413/archbishop-timothy-dolan-met-with-obama-to-discuss-preserving-religious-liberties-other-concerns/?mobile=nc
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/obama-dolan-dialogue_n_1093679.html
JAN 6, 2012: DOLAN NAMED CARDINAL BY POPE (Ceremony Feb 18, Rome).
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/archbishop-dolan-to-become-cardinal/
(Here is what the Chicago folks did last week with their Cardinal
Francis George:
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=36115 )
Please take action and pass this on to everyone in your address book.
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Protest the Elevation to Cardinal of New York Arch-Homophobe Timothy
Dolan This Weekend
Please take action and pass this on to everyone in your address book.
-By Tommy News
Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who has led the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of New York for nearly three years, will be named a
cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, at the Vatican on Saturday morning.
Sunday masses will then celebrate this elevation of church sanctioned hatred
and homophobia against gays, womens rights, and against full civil
rights equality including same-sex civil marriage. Dolan has even gone
so far as to petition the President of The United States to take
anti-gay action. We must protest.
From our friend Tif:
Timothy Dolan is the chief architect of the Pope's anti-gay crusade in America.
He arrived in NYC spewing homophobia rhetoric, and was quickly
rewarded with an appointment as President of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) which is leading the political
campaign against us.
He has broken every basic social compact - by taking his church's
views into the political arena. He has violated the basic tenet of
creating a safe space for all of us - all people and all religions -
in America.
From Truthdig:
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan is a man of the world in some
senses, showing his love of cigars and beer in this “60 Minutes
Overtime” clip, but he’s all about strict adherence to Catholic
doctrine when it comes to some hotly contested issues: gay marriage,
female priests, abortion.
Here, he takes up a disappointingly common rhetorical tool to explain
the church’s aversion to gay marriage, asking Morley Safer, “Where
would, then, the tampering stop? I mean, I love my mom. I don’t have
the right to marry her.” Sigh. —KA
Video Here:
http://www.truthdig.com/
From The New York Times:
Archbishop Dolan Condemns "Sexual Immorality" in Sunday Homily
Archbishop and Cardinal-to-be Timothy Dolan gave a stern homily on
morality on Sunday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, telling church
attendees that sex outside of marriage is still a sin, despite what
popular culture would have society believe.
"The one who, with God's grace and mercy, tries his or her best to be
pure and chaste is often thought of not as a hero, not a saint, but as
a freak in our culture today," Archbishop Timothy Dolan said at St.
Patrick's, reported the Daily News. "The biblical teaching on sexual
responsibility is countercultural,"
Dolan continued to say that teaching abstinence is countercultural.
Those who try to live according to the teachings of the bible
including devout Catholics, he said, will face "ridicule and
criticism."
Dolan called on priests to do a better job in guiding their parishes
to live a virtuous life. He linked societal crimes, such as violence,
sex crimes, disease and broken homes and divorce to "sexual
immorality," reported the Daily News.
"The church has at times in the past, sadly, come across as, as some
naysaying, puritanical nag, always giving a big 'no, no, no' to one of
life's greatest joys," he said.
Dolan is set to become cardinal in a ceremony on Feb. 18, 2012 in Rome.
More:
http://newyork.ibtimes.com/
The Pope has called gay people "intrinsically disordered", and his
misguided homophobia works to surpress gays and women. Jesus never
once mentioned homosexuality, and may have been gay or bi himself. In
fact, Jesus said that gays as opressed persecuted people are Blessed!
The Pope and Arch-Homophobe Dolan really need to read their Bibles.
This is the word of Jesus, from the Sermon on The Mount.
MATTHEW 5:10-13 Blessed are they which are persecuted
5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
5:13 You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its
savour, with what shall it be salted? it is thereafter good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
That is the word of Jesus.
The Archdiocese of New York is widely considered the spiritual heart
of the American church. It counts about 2.6 million Catholics in a
sprawling jurisdiction that includes includes Manhattan, the Bronx,
Staten Island and several suburban counties.
Timothy Dolan opposes Marriage Equality in New York, and has pledged to work
to oppose marriage equality, persecute and opress gays in New York and in places
out of his jurisdiction. This direcly contradicts the teachings of Jesus.
The Pope and Timothy Dolan must learn what great harm is caused by
thier homophobia, which is defined as the irrational fear of, aversion to,
animus or discrimination against gays, homosexuality or homosexuals.
However, anti-gay hate speech leads directly to animus, bullying, hate
crimes, depression, confusion, low self esteem, and suicide. We must
protest. Now is the time.
Ways to Protest:
1- Occupy The Church
The message is simple, yet loud; Equal Rights for All.
Get out over the weekend and go to your church. Make signs, bring
whistles, pots and pans. Bring friends and
family. Those in New York City can do this at Saint Patrick's
Cathedral on 5th Avenue at 51st Street. Even one or two people, or a
small group can do this with great effect.
Sign suggestions:
LET US BE
Stop The Hate
Let Gays Marry
Church Homophobia Must End!
Cardinal Dolan Hates Gays
Gays are God's Children Too
Blessed Are The Gays
Jesus Loves Me Too
Vote For Civil Rights
2- Write, call, email, weform and Fax your elected representatives,
newspapers and media outlets, and pass this message on to everyone in
your address book.
Get contact information here: http://www.congress.org/
3- Write, call, email, weform and Fax your clergy, friends, and family
4-Write, call, email, weform and Fax Pope Benedict and
Cardinal-elect Timothy Dolan
Timothy Dolan's Office
1011 First Ave
New York, NY 10022
Contact: Timothy Dolan
Phone: 212-371-1000
email https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=timothy.dolan@archny.org or https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=t.dolan@archny.org
More Here:
http://www.archny.org/
The Pope’s regular mailing address is:
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
email the Pope at https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=benedictxvi@vatican.va (English) or
https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1adkgghtnly4l/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=benedettoxvi@vatican.va (Italian)
Call The Vatican Basilica Switchboard + 39 06 6982
More Here:
http://saintpetersbasilica.
MEDIA CALLING DOLAN “GAY HATING” &
HIS PROMOTIONS FOR ANTI-GAY ACTIVISM
http://www.towleroad.com/2012/
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/
More from Tif:
Timothy Dolan TIMELINE:
FEB 23, 2009: DOLAN APPOINTED ARCHIBISHOP OF NY – St. Patricks Cathedral.
NOV 16, 2010: DOLAN PROMOTED TO PRESIDENT OF USCCB (vote 128-111)
JUNE 2011: DOLAN LEADS CAMPAIGN AGAINST NY MARRIAGE EQUALITY
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/
http://www.nydailynews.com/
AUG 2011: DOLAN ON 60 MINUTES (i.e. anti-equality media campaign).
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-
SEPT 22, 2011: DOLAN WARNS PRESIDENT OBAMA of “a national conflict
between church and state of enormous proportions" if he supports DOMA
repeal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/
NOV 2011: DOLAN PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE PUBLIC POLICY FIGHTS
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/
NOV 2011: DOLAN ANNOUNCES ANTI-ME FIGHT IN OTHER STATES
http://www.advocate.com/News/
NOV 2011: DOLAN MEETS WITH OBAMA – OPPOSING MARRIAGE EQUALITY
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
JAN 6, 2012: DOLAN NAMED CARDINAL BY POPE (Ceremony Feb 18, Rome).
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.
(Here is what the Chicago folks did last week with their Cardinal
Francis George:
http://www.
Please take action and pass this on to everyone in your address book.
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
My Valentine To You: Some Poems
My Valentine To You: Some Poems
*My Valentine To You: Some Poems*
With Love from Tommy
Read these out loud to your special someone
*The Rose in the Deeps of his Heart*
by William Butler Yeats
All things uncomely and broken,
all things worn-out and old,
The cry of a child by the roadway,
the creak of a lumbering cart,
The heavy steps of the ploughman,
splashing the wintry mould,
Are wronging your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.
The wrong of unshapely things
is a wrong too great to be told;
I hunger to build them anew
and sit on a green knoll apart,
With the earth and the sky and the water,
remade, like a casket of gold
For my dreams of your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.
*How Do I Love Thee?*
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
*Sonnet CXVI*
by William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love,
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests.. and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love is not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out.. even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
*To a Stranger*
by Walt Whitman
Passing stranger! you do not know
How longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking,
Or she I was seeking
(It comes to me as a dream)
I have somewhere surely
Lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other,
Fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
You grew up with me,
Were a boy with me or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become
not yours only nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes,
face, flesh as we pass,
You take of my beard, breast, hands,
in return,
I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you
when I sit alone or wake at night, alone
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again
I am to see to it that I do not lose you.
*Hyacinth*
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
I am in love with him
To whom a hyacinth is dearer
Than I shall ever be dear.
On nights when the field-mice
Are abroad, he cannot sleep.
He hears their narrow teeth
At the bulbs of his hyacinths.
But the gnawing at my heart...
He does not hear.
*So We'll Go No More A-roving*
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
So, we'll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving
And the moon be still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath
And the soul wears out the breast
And a heart must pause to breathe
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was made for loving
And the day returns too soon,
Yet, we'll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.
*My True Love Has My Heart*
by Philip Sidney
My true-love hath my heart and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other given;
I hold his dear and mine he cannot miss;
There never was a better bargain driven.
My true-love hath my heart and I have his,
His heart in me keeps him and me in one;
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides;
He loves my heart for once it was his own,
I cherish his because in me it bides.
My true-love hath my heart and I have his,
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
*My Valentine To You: Some Poems*
With Love from Tommy
Read these out loud to your special someone
*The Rose in the Deeps of his Heart*
by William Butler Yeats
All things uncomely and broken,
all things worn-out and old,
The cry of a child by the roadway,
the creak of a lumbering cart,
The heavy steps of the ploughman,
splashing the wintry mould,
Are wronging your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.
The wrong of unshapely things
is a wrong too great to be told;
I hunger to build them anew
and sit on a green knoll apart,
With the earth and the sky and the water,
remade, like a casket of gold
For my dreams of your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.
*How Do I Love Thee?*
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
*Sonnet CXVI*
by William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love,
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests.. and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love is not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out.. even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
*To a Stranger*
by Walt Whitman
Passing stranger! you do not know
How longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking,
Or she I was seeking
(It comes to me as a dream)
I have somewhere surely
Lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other,
Fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
You grew up with me,
Were a boy with me or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become
not yours only nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes,
face, flesh as we pass,
You take of my beard, breast, hands,
in return,
I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you
when I sit alone or wake at night, alone
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again
I am to see to it that I do not lose you.
*Hyacinth*
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
I am in love with him
To whom a hyacinth is dearer
Than I shall ever be dear.
On nights when the field-mice
Are abroad, he cannot sleep.
He hears their narrow teeth
At the bulbs of his hyacinths.
But the gnawing at my heart...
He does not hear.
*So We'll Go No More A-roving*
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
So, we'll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving
And the moon be still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath
And the soul wears out the breast
And a heart must pause to breathe
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was made for loving
And the day returns too soon,
Yet, we'll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.
*My True Love Has My Heart*
by Philip Sidney
My true-love hath my heart and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other given;
I hold his dear and mine he cannot miss;
There never was a better bargain driven.
My true-love hath my heart and I have his,
His heart in me keeps him and me in one;
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides;
He loves my heart for once it was his own,
I cherish his because in me it bides.
My true-love hath my heart and I have his,
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
ACTION ALERT: Stop SOPA, PIPA, and Oppose Internet Censorship and Regulation
ACTION ALERT: Stop SOPA, PIPA, and Oppose Internet Censorship and Regulation
Pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would
censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.
Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the
Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would
censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business.
Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and
PIPA.
The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how
you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and
SOPA before it is too late.
STOP INTERNET CENSORSHIP
Email your Representative and Senators.
Tell them you don’t support SOPA/PIPA or the politicians who do.
Take Action Here, Sign The Petition:
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/
Take Action Here, Write Members of Congress:
http://house.gov/htbin/findrep
Take Action Here, Write US Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Take Action, Pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would
censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.
Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the
Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would
censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business.
Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and
PIPA.
The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how
you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and
SOPA before it is too late.
STOP INTERNET CENSORSHIP
Email your Representative and Senators.
Tell them you don’t support SOPA/PIPA or the politicians who do.
Take Action Here, Sign The Petition:
https://www.google.com/
Take Action Here, Write Members of Congress:
http://house.gov/htbin/findrep
Take Action Here, Write US Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/
Take Action, Pass this message on to everyone in your address book.
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)