Kim English "Unspeakable Joy"

I'm not going to rant about the ongoing and perilous Cancer of Ignorance that
strangles this country from sea to sea....

I'm not going to bash and give more attention to extremist nutso pastors who
don't even know the God they proclaim to speak for....

I'm not even going to question what they are putting in the water in North
Carolina, honey....

I'm just going to sit back and let Miss Kim English do her thang and sing
that song and feel joy....as she talks about real spirituality and real depth
and real love.

If only it were contagious.

Peace, love, respect, and long-and-prosperous-life to all of you, my brothers
and sisters. Don't let the fools and the fanatics alter your day!

************************************************************

The End of the World as We Know It

The President's statement in support of gay marriage was an immense
decision. He had been on the fence about taking action, conceivably to
try and politically placate both sides of the argument. (Why certain people
are even involved in the matter and determined to create an argument
is another day's story.)

Roberts with the President for his interview

There were several contributing factors that came together to serve
as impetus for the declaration; Vice President Biden's strident and
supportive weekend comments in favor of allowing gay marriage,
an upcoming fundraiser in Hollywood where gay influence and
liberal intent is prime, ongoing pressure from all sides to make a
declarative statement on his position, and the just-passed anti-gay
marriage amendment in North Carolina (on Tuesday.)
 (A decision, by the way, with much further-reaching problems for
more than just gays and lesbians, and of course setting a precedent,
making it easier for other states to follow suit.)


Some will say he is pandering to his base, but it was the riskiest
of moves. I'm afraid I don't share my fellow Queers glowing delight
at this announcement. Proud as I am of the action, the timing may
be devastating for the greater good.

(Too little, too late?)

Homosexuality causes the most rancor and debate and division
over any other topic or civil rights issues today; it is still social
suicide, though opponents would paint a different picture of our
world, as one of liberalism run amok and Bible-lovers being
discriminated against and hard lined. Nothing could be further
from the truth.

There is a cancer of social conservatism and totalitarianism
threatening to overtake our country. Opposition to treating we
homosexuals fairly (and well) may be the foot they use to get in
the door more fully.

The Latino voter base, Black voters, older voters, and religious
voters are all predominantly vehemently anti-gay, and this 'topic'
is of the make-it-or-break-it variety.

Conflict of Interest

This is an issue of dark hatred for many. Churches still preach of
hellfire and brimstone and utter contempt for homosexuals, labeling
it as everything from demon possession to fallen men and women
to being unclean. This pathological intensity to interpret the world
through a supposedly moral lens of unflinching certainty and 'moral
superiority'  is a troubling one. These are the people, of course, who
engage in--and excuse--all manner of 'sin' and 'immorality' of their
own, but still see fit to try and condemn and regulate others as their
personal business.

They want the world to be stuck in the superstitious and frightened
lack of progressive thinking they have been subjected to.



The swing looks good on paper...but paired with a black liberal,
will pro-gay rights be the death knell for Obama?

Being anti-gay and openly, ardently opposed to gay marriage is what won Bushie Jr. his 2004 're' election. Forget the war, forget
the fuck-ups, forget the economy, forget everything; being anti-gay
was the polarizing force that pulled all his noncommittal and non-
plussed pseudo-supporters to the polls in throngs, ready for '4 more
years.' 

"Can't let them gays marry; it'd be the end of the world."


Yes, it is just that clear-cut and insane for these people.

So, too, will all doubting Thomases in the Republican--and Romney
and conservative and evangelicals--camp now be consolidated behind
Little Mitt. He's now their 'Savior-appointed' godsend to turn back
the tide of the liberal and immoral Democrats...as they see it. These
folks really believe in all this righteousness and warfare baloney.

(Silly me; I thought marriage was about love.
Don't see much love in the opposition's anti-gay stances.)

The big issue will be seeing if all the progressive young liberals who
are registered as Independent or who were thinking of voting for
Ron Paul or whatever other Indy candidate may run on the ticket
can shift their consciousness in the next few months.

They intend to idealistically use their votes to promote the unlikeliest
underdog of candidates to send a message and open the door for
future support of these reforms. But that isn't what it'll do.


I agree with taking a stand. I also agree that Obama is in many ways
'just another politician' and a part of a broken system.


He's also the far better alternative to a religious fanatic/conservative
Republican stooge who hasn't stayed the course on anything in all
his years in public office; a billionaire who has made a living destroying
businesses and eliminating jobs and living a blue-blood high life completely
disconnected from reality. A corporate thug. Romney would be a
disaster for this country, and a vote for an independent candidate will
only take away from a vote for defeating Romney; it'll be the Nader
disasters all over again.
 

Romney responded Wednesday to the president's comments by stating
that he believes personally that marriage is only between a man and a
woman. He was very casual, almost matter-of-fact, as if this is just a
meaningless thought and he isn't actually intending to impose the
obliterating of gay marriage with a vengeance.

Well, he didn't need to be condemning or vocal of the president; the
shit storm from nut bag evangelicals will be like nothing this country
has ever seen. From Fox News to talk radio to CBN and every church
in this nation, this is the new Hot Button.

Oh, and Mitt also added that his position "has never changed" (To which
he smartly added "In the campaign!" Meaning of course that Mitt did in
fact previously offer full support on the issue of gay marriage, since the
only thing he has ever done consistently is flip-flop on every major issue--
gun control, gay rights, abortion, health care, bailouts, etc.)

(Reaction to North Carolina's new amendment on Tuesday)

Can we get people to understand the severity and danger of a police
state in this country? Can we motivate people to stop being apathetic
about the Powers That Be? The ones who want to run things already
have the money, the power, the influence to get big numbers to the poll.
Because they aren't satisfied with the control they have--they want to
impose their will on everything. Minds. Schools, Actions, Rights.
Bedrooms. Words. Eradicating difference wherever they find it.

(Fox Nation's website image post-statement;
since reworded. Mm-hmm!)

Yes, there are six more months in the campaign. But many will never
hear another word on another argument after the president's proclamation
supporting equal rights. They will be fervently opposed for the duration.
Because clearly, if you're not familiar, Baby Jesus was known through-
out that Judeo-Christian Bible for telling his 'followers' to get riled up
about the personal doings of others, implementing laws for the masses
that reflect the opinion of the few, imposing religious beliefs on others,
advocating prejudice and judgement and discrimination, etc.


(These are also the same folks that go on and on about having 'less
government,' right? Hmmnnn.)
 
Somebody tell me again why people are more worked up about gay
sex and relationships than they are any other subject matter?

North Carolina's Amendment One

Here's the latest frightening letter from Adam Bink of the

Courage Campaign.

Anyone can respond to this, so here it is in its entirety.

Click on the links for more info.

This is an important report on reprehensible behaviors

of those out to take this country backwards.

Fore-warned is fore-armed.

Don't despair; take action!

********************************************************

Robert: late last night, confidential memos by the National Organization for Marriage to its Board of Directors were published -- and they're disgusting(1).
In them, NOM's leaders pledge to:

"Drive a wedge between gays and blacks" by pushing these communities to fight over the language of "civil rights";


"Develop side issues to weaken pro-gay marriage political leaders" such as "protection of children," pornography and religious liberty;

"Find, train and equip young leaders" to become a "next generation of elites" working to defeat marriage equality; and

Emphasize "the consequences of gay marriage for parental rights."

But the most important part of this: NOM trumpeted their plans to dump millions of dollars into state-level campaigns while avoiding disclosure. In fact, they just reported a $50,000 contribution to pass Amendment One in North Carolina(2).

We're fighting back -- yesterday's launch of a nationwide moneybomb raised over $30,000 across ActBlue to defeat Amendment One, including over $10,000 from Courage members. Will you chip in on ActBlue to fight back against NOM's nauseating tactics and match their contribution in North Carolina?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Robert:

On May 8th, North Carolina will vote on Amendment One, which bans marriage equality and any other form of recognition for same-sex couples. Polls show the public increasingly against Amendment One, but our opponents just began running an ad this weekend that spreads lies about same-sex families and urges a Yes vote on Amendment One. Our side has ads of its own, but we need the money to get them on the air.


That's why Courage Campaign is joining with the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families to launch a nationwide $50,000 moneybomb and help the campaign hit its $1 million goal to get its first ads on the air. Will you chip in on ActBlue to help get our response up?

Robert, we can win this campaign. This month's Elon University poll showed 56.9% of North Carolinians oppose or strongly oppose an amendment that would ban civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples(3). That poll is one in a long string of polls showing increasing percentages of North Carolinians opposed to Amendment One.

We know what that means -- the more North Carolinians learn about how Amendment One harms same-sex families and their children, the more they're opposed to it. Our message is winning, Robert: now we just need the resources to get that message on the air. That's where you come in.

Please, chip in $15, $25 or more to help raise $50,000 on ActBlue this week so the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families can respond to anti-gay ads and get our message on the air. We can beat this, with your help.


Amendment One harms families, especially children. It will hurt businesses and the economy when families decide to move out of a state that treats them as second-class citizens. Whether you identify as LGBT or are a straight ally, Amendment One will hurt North Carolina. President Obama knows this -- that's why he publicly denounced Amendment One on March 16th. Courage members like us have to tell that story to the rest of the state and we've got just over a month to do it.


Thank you for doing your part to beat Amendment One,

Adam Bink
Director of Online Programs, Courage Campaign

 (1) "Top 10 Highlights From NOM's Race-Wedging, Donor-Hiding, Victim-Playing Confidential Strategies," Think Progress, March 27, 2012, http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/03/27/452430/top-10-highlights-from-noms-race-wedging-obama-smearing-donor-hiding-victim-playing-confidential-strategies/

(2) "Independent Expenditure Report: National Organization for Marriage" North Carolina State Board of Elections, February 27, 2012, http://www.ncsbe.gov/

 (3) "New Poll Shows Increasing Opposition to Amendment One," Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families, March 9, 2012, http://www.protectncfamilies.org/press/new-poll-shows-increasing-opposition-amendment-one

To support our efforts to defeat Amendment One, click here to chip in on ActBlue: