This is the language from HB 1143 that was courageously vetoed by Governor Crist today:
"requiring that an ultrasound be performed on any woman obtaining an abortion; specifying who must perform an ultrasound; requiring that the ultrasound be reviewed with the patient prior to the woman giving informed consent; specifying who must review the ultrasound with the patient; requiring that the woman certify in writing that she declined to review the ultrasound and did so of her own free will and without undue influence; providing an exemption from the requirement to view the ultrasound for women who are the victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking or for women who have a serious medical condition necessitating the abortion; revising requirements for written materials; requiring ultrasounds for all patients; requiring that live ultrasound images be reviewed and explained to the patient; requiring that all other provisions in s. 35 390.0111, F.S., be complied with if the patient declines to view her live ultrasound images;"
This is the complete language from Senator George Lemieux's website today:
"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) today called on Governor Charlie Crist to sign the Florida State Legislature’s HB 1143 – a bill to prohibit federal and state tax dollars from going to pay for abortions.
Senator LeMieux said:
“Florida’s families should not be forced to pay for elective abortions. The federal health care bill Democrats passed in Congress creates a system where federal taxpayer dollars, for the first time in 33 years, could be used for insurance plans that pay for abortions. HB1143 makes absolutely clear that Floridians’ tax dollars will not be used for elective abortions and I urge the governor to sign the bill. Florida has never offered taxpayer funded elective abortion, and now is not the time to start.”
BACKGROUND: The State of Florida has never offered taxpayer funded elective abortion. Exceptions for cases of rape or incest, or situations where the life of the mother is in danger are specifically provided for in both the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding of abortions, and HB 1143. Additionally, the bill provides a procedure to assure that women seeking an abortion receive an opportunity to view sonogram images before consenting to the procedure."
Why does Senator Lemieux have to lie? Why can't he just state the truth? What is the truth, Senator Lemiuex, do you even know? Or are you just trying to hurt your old friend Governor Crist?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The "Teaparty" Believes Women Only Have Rights Before They Are Born!
Apparently, the "Teaparty" believes that women only have rights when they are a fetus. Once they are born, they lose all their rights, perhaps even their right to live. Following is "Teaparty" Candidate and alleged Libertarian Rand Paul's position on a woman's right to choice:
"I will always vote for any and all legislation that would end abortion or lead us in the direction of ending abortion. I believe in a Human Life Amendment and a Life at Conception Act as federal solutions to the abortion issue. I also believe that while we are working toward this goal, there are many other things we can accomplish in the near term. It is unconscionable that government would facilitate the taking of innocent life. I strongly oppose any federal funding for abortion and will stop the flow of tax dollars to groups like Planned Parenthood, who perform or advocate abortions. In addition, I believe we may be able to save millions of lives in the near future by allowing states to pass their own anti-abortion laws. If states were able to do so, I sincerely believe many -- including Kentucky -- would do so tomorrow, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Before 1973, abortion was illegal in most states. Since Roe v. Wade, over 50 million children have died in abortion procedures. I would strongly support legislation restricting federal courts from hearing cases like Roe v. Wade. Such legislation would only require a majority vote, making it more likely to pass than a pro-life constitutional amendment. I would support legislation, a Sanctity of Life Amendment, establishing the principle that life begins at conception. This legislation would define life at conception in law, as a scientific statement. As your Senator, there are many ways I can help end abortion. I will fight for each and every one of them."
So....a leading "Teaparty" candidate wants to ban all abortions for all women in all cases including rape, incest, life of the mother. I guess the "Teaparty" doesn't believe that women have any rights after they are born, only before they are born.
Perhaps even more shocking than this alleged "libertarian" trying to impose his personal beliefs, and those of less than 20% of the population, on all women in this country, is his plan to alter the very foundation of our nation, the separation of powers. Apparently he and his deluded followers think it is a good idea to "support legislation restricting Federal courts from hearing cases like Roe v. Wade." So he wants to pass a law that prohibits the courts from exercising their judicial power to review the law. Sounds like a legislative dictatorship!
Does Rand Paul realize that the definition of libertarian is: "one who believes in maximizing individual liberty and minimizing lack of governmental regulation and oversight?" Does he realize that government intrusion into the most personal and private decisions a woman makes is not the definition of libertarian? Does he care?
"I will always vote for any and all legislation that would end abortion or lead us in the direction of ending abortion. I believe in a Human Life Amendment and a Life at Conception Act as federal solutions to the abortion issue. I also believe that while we are working toward this goal, there are many other things we can accomplish in the near term. It is unconscionable that government would facilitate the taking of innocent life. I strongly oppose any federal funding for abortion and will stop the flow of tax dollars to groups like Planned Parenthood, who perform or advocate abortions. In addition, I believe we may be able to save millions of lives in the near future by allowing states to pass their own anti-abortion laws. If states were able to do so, I sincerely believe many -- including Kentucky -- would do so tomorrow, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Before 1973, abortion was illegal in most states. Since Roe v. Wade, over 50 million children have died in abortion procedures. I would strongly support legislation restricting federal courts from hearing cases like Roe v. Wade. Such legislation would only require a majority vote, making it more likely to pass than a pro-life constitutional amendment. I would support legislation, a Sanctity of Life Amendment, establishing the principle that life begins at conception. This legislation would define life at conception in law, as a scientific statement. As your Senator, there are many ways I can help end abortion. I will fight for each and every one of them."
So....a leading "Teaparty" candidate wants to ban all abortions for all women in all cases including rape, incest, life of the mother. I guess the "Teaparty" doesn't believe that women have any rights after they are born, only before they are born.
Perhaps even more shocking than this alleged "libertarian" trying to impose his personal beliefs, and those of less than 20% of the population, on all women in this country, is his plan to alter the very foundation of our nation, the separation of powers. Apparently he and his deluded followers think it is a good idea to "support legislation restricting Federal courts from hearing cases like Roe v. Wade." So he wants to pass a law that prohibits the courts from exercising their judicial power to review the law. Sounds like a legislative dictatorship!
Does Rand Paul realize that the definition of libertarian is: "one who believes in maximizing individual liberty and minimizing lack of governmental regulation and oversight?" Does he realize that government intrusion into the most personal and private decisions a woman makes is not the definition of libertarian? Does he care?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Republicans Believe in Government So Small It Fits Between a Woman's Legs!
Republicans claim to be the party of small government. Republicans claim to be against government intrusion into our private lives. Republicans also claim to oppose government interfering between a patient and their doctor. Guess what? Republicans are none of these things.
We live in a civilized society. Is it asking too much that we act civilized? On the issue of abortion, civilized people should agree that while some people believe that a woman should has a right to choose; there are others who believe that abortion should be banned, with various shades of opinion in between these two positions. Civilized people should also agree that if someone supports one position or another, they have the right to engage in debate and enact laws that support their position. However, what we should agree on is that in those situations where you cannot get laws passed that reflect your position, you should not support laws that result in pain and humiliation, impose mental and physical suffering, and cause financial hardship for those "on the other side."
In the past week, Republicans in Oklahoma overrode the veto of the Democratic governor of that state and enacted a new law that requires any woman seeking an abortion, including victims of rape or incest, to be forced to have an ultrasound and have the results of that procedure shown to them on a monitor and described to them in detail verbally. If necessary, depending on the status of their pregnancy, the ultrasound must be administered with a vaginally-inserted probe. There is no age limit. The law also makes it impossible to sue a doctor if the doctor lies to the patient about the status of their pregnancy, that is, unless the mother dies because of the lies. Another recently-passed law in Oklahoma, that is on the books, requires that all women who seek an abortion answer 34 questions including: how many times they have been pregnant, how many miscarriages, their marital status, their race, how many abortions they have had, how many children they have, and the town they live in. This information is then posted on the internet (using an alias name). It is believed that the names of women who live in small towns in Oklahoma will be easily identifiable from the information that is posted by the State. A great example of small-government Republicans staying out of our personal lives!
So, it is now the law in Oklahoma that a 13-year old rape or incest victim may be required to have a probe inserted into her vagina, have an ultrasound procedure whether her doctor thinks it is necessary or not, and, even though she has been victimized already, be subjected to visual and verbal descriptions of the abortion while it is being conducted. I would guess the next law these "believers in small government" will pass will require a video be made of the child while she is hysterically screaming and crying and begging that the probe be removed from her body, and that the video (with her face blocked out, of course) be required viewing for all future victims of this Republican-imposed "small government" intrusion into the body of a young girl who requests a procedure that the Supreme Court has ruled legal for 36 years.
So you won't think that there are just a bunch of crazies in Oklahoma, yesterday the Florida Legislature passed a similar law, by a vote of 23-16 in the Senate and 76-44 in the House on an almost strict party-line vote (to his credit, Dr. Ed Homan (R), a physician from Tampa, voted against this abomination). The Florida bill was introduced, and passed, in the last two days of the session as an amendment to a health care bill, with virtually no review and no opportunity for public comment. The Florida law does exempt women who have been raped or the victims of domestic abuse, so it only covers women who have had sex voluntarily (wow, aren't Republicans in Florida so much more enlightened than those in Oklahoma?). The Florida law does go one step beyond Okalahoma's, it requires the woman to pay for the medically unnecessary procedure she does not want and her doctor did not prescribe. It is hoped by the Republicans that the $100-300 charge will stop poor women from seeking abortions. The law requires a sonogram to be administered even in the first trimester when many abortions are conducted by means of a pill. The Florida law also makes it illegal for any business in Florida that receives any tax credits from the State to provide insurance to their employees that pays for abortions. During the brief debate on the bill, Representative Alan Hays (R) invoked a comparison to the "holocaust." I am sure glad that Republicans in Florida are staying out of the personal lives of the people!
Republicans in Oklahoma and Florida have now mandated that women, and teenage girls, who choose to have an abortion for any reason MUST have an ultrasound even when their physician believes that it is NOT medically necessary and the woman does NOT want one. Ultrasound is not a risk-free medical procedure. An ultrasound machine sends vibrations into the body and gains information from the echoes that "bounce" back. Not all of the energy bounces back; some is absorbed in the body. This causes heat and can result in tissue damage and the formation of bubbles from trapped gas (known as cavitation). So Republicans in these two states have now made it the law that women are required to have a medical procedure, against their will, against the advice of their doctor, that may cause them physical harm and they have to pay for it.
This is what happens when small pockets of extremists in a few states take control of the legislative process. This is why it is important that the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade be maintained (although the 4 "conservatives" now on the Supreme Court appear to have no respect for "stare decisis") since a woman's right to decide what happens to her body may have no other protection as some state legislatures become more and more extreme. This is also why you need to contact Governor Crist in Florida and let him know how important it is that he veto
HB 1143. It is another example of why it is vital that Alex Sink be elected Governor of Florida rather than Bill McCollum since the governor is the last hope to stop the extremist Republicans from wrecking public education and depriving women of the right to make their own medical decisions.
Following is an article from a conservative site that shows how the facts presented above regarding Florida HB 1143 can be distorted into a misleading argument:
http://www.lifenews.com/state5099.html
We live in a civilized society. Is it asking too much that we act civilized? On the issue of abortion, civilized people should agree that while some people believe that a woman should has a right to choose; there are others who believe that abortion should be banned, with various shades of opinion in between these two positions. Civilized people should also agree that if someone supports one position or another, they have the right to engage in debate and enact laws that support their position. However, what we should agree on is that in those situations where you cannot get laws passed that reflect your position, you should not support laws that result in pain and humiliation, impose mental and physical suffering, and cause financial hardship for those "on the other side."
In the past week, Republicans in Oklahoma overrode the veto of the Democratic governor of that state and enacted a new law that requires any woman seeking an abortion, including victims of rape or incest, to be forced to have an ultrasound and have the results of that procedure shown to them on a monitor and described to them in detail verbally. If necessary, depending on the status of their pregnancy, the ultrasound must be administered with a vaginally-inserted probe. There is no age limit. The law also makes it impossible to sue a doctor if the doctor lies to the patient about the status of their pregnancy, that is, unless the mother dies because of the lies. Another recently-passed law in Oklahoma, that is on the books, requires that all women who seek an abortion answer 34 questions including: how many times they have been pregnant, how many miscarriages, their marital status, their race, how many abortions they have had, how many children they have, and the town they live in. This information is then posted on the internet (using an alias name). It is believed that the names of women who live in small towns in Oklahoma will be easily identifiable from the information that is posted by the State. A great example of small-government Republicans staying out of our personal lives!
So, it is now the law in Oklahoma that a 13-year old rape or incest victim may be required to have a probe inserted into her vagina, have an ultrasound procedure whether her doctor thinks it is necessary or not, and, even though she has been victimized already, be subjected to visual and verbal descriptions of the abortion while it is being conducted. I would guess the next law these "believers in small government" will pass will require a video be made of the child while she is hysterically screaming and crying and begging that the probe be removed from her body, and that the video (with her face blocked out, of course) be required viewing for all future victims of this Republican-imposed "small government" intrusion into the body of a young girl who requests a procedure that the Supreme Court has ruled legal for 36 years.
So you won't think that there are just a bunch of crazies in Oklahoma, yesterday the Florida Legislature passed a similar law, by a vote of 23-16 in the Senate and 76-44 in the House on an almost strict party-line vote (to his credit, Dr. Ed Homan (R), a physician from Tampa, voted against this abomination). The Florida bill was introduced, and passed, in the last two days of the session as an amendment to a health care bill, with virtually no review and no opportunity for public comment. The Florida law does exempt women who have been raped or the victims of domestic abuse, so it only covers women who have had sex voluntarily (wow, aren't Republicans in Florida so much more enlightened than those in Oklahoma?). The Florida law does go one step beyond Okalahoma's, it requires the woman to pay for the medically unnecessary procedure she does not want and her doctor did not prescribe. It is hoped by the Republicans that the $100-300 charge will stop poor women from seeking abortions. The law requires a sonogram to be administered even in the first trimester when many abortions are conducted by means of a pill. The Florida law also makes it illegal for any business in Florida that receives any tax credits from the State to provide insurance to their employees that pays for abortions. During the brief debate on the bill, Representative Alan Hays (R) invoked a comparison to the "holocaust." I am sure glad that Republicans in Florida are staying out of the personal lives of the people!
Republicans in Oklahoma and Florida have now mandated that women, and teenage girls, who choose to have an abortion for any reason MUST have an ultrasound even when their physician believes that it is NOT medically necessary and the woman does NOT want one. Ultrasound is not a risk-free medical procedure. An ultrasound machine sends vibrations into the body and gains information from the echoes that "bounce" back. Not all of the energy bounces back; some is absorbed in the body. This causes heat and can result in tissue damage and the formation of bubbles from trapped gas (known as cavitation). So Republicans in these two states have now made it the law that women are required to have a medical procedure, against their will, against the advice of their doctor, that may cause them physical harm and they have to pay for it.
This is what happens when small pockets of extremists in a few states take control of the legislative process. This is why it is important that the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade be maintained (although the 4 "conservatives" now on the Supreme Court appear to have no respect for "stare decisis") since a woman's right to decide what happens to her body may have no other protection as some state legislatures become more and more extreme. This is also why you need to contact Governor Crist in Florida and let him know how important it is that he veto
HB 1143. It is another example of why it is vital that Alex Sink be elected Governor of Florida rather than Bill McCollum since the governor is the last hope to stop the extremist Republicans from wrecking public education and depriving women of the right to make their own medical decisions.
Following is an article from a conservative site that shows how the facts presented above regarding Florida HB 1143 can be distorted into a misleading argument:
http://www.lifenews.com/state5099.html
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wouldn't It Be Funny If Christianity was Really Right....
I know plenty of good Christians, folks who don't wear it on their sleeve, and who live good lives that Jesus would be proud of. The following commentary is reserved not for them, but for those other guys - I refer to them as Christians In Name Only (CINO).
Wouldn't it be funny if Christianity was really right? Because if it was, many CINOs would be surprised when they find themselves spending eternity in a fiery hell. You see, Christianity actually has many fine points, but the problem is that a significant number of people who call themselves Christians are anything but. The Bible says "judge not lest ye be judged," yet the judging often starts before these CINOs even leave the parking lot of the church each Sunday morning. It starts in the parking lot, but that is just the beginning. These folks spend so much time judging others during the week it is surprising they have much time left for anything else. When they are not judging, they go on to engage in their number one, favorite activity, that is, thinking they are superior to just about everyone they know and a whole lot of folks they haven't even met yet. One of the main tenets of Christianity is that you can be forgiven. But if you receive the precious gift of forgiveness, there is nothing much worse you can do than to continue committing the same sins over and over again. You see, it doesn't work that way. Even a small child who misbehaves knows that he or she might be able to apologize once, or even twice, for misconduct, but he or she knows they can't apologize every day for the same bad behavior, and expect to be forgiven. When someone tries to distort the Christian faith into some kind of perpetual "get out of jail free card," they have committed the ultimate sin. I am not sure why we were put on this earth, but I know if there is a God above, he did not put us here to judge others, or to feel superior to our neighbors. These two sins, perhaps more than any others, lead to war and hate and evil and suffering. On top of everything else, these CINOs seem to have a real problem with that "respect your elders" thing, since they are so busy wallowing in their own self importance and feelings of superiority. No big deal, it is just one of the Ten Commandants. Wonder what happens when someone ignores that one?
I just can't get the picture out of my mind of the looks on their faces when they get to the pearly gates and think they are going to heaven, then they learn the real price of their sins....priceless.
References:
Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not lest ye be judged."
Exodus 20:12 - "Honor thy father and thy mother (respect your elders)"
Wouldn't it be funny if Christianity was really right? Because if it was, many CINOs would be surprised when they find themselves spending eternity in a fiery hell. You see, Christianity actually has many fine points, but the problem is that a significant number of people who call themselves Christians are anything but. The Bible says "judge not lest ye be judged," yet the judging often starts before these CINOs even leave the parking lot of the church each Sunday morning. It starts in the parking lot, but that is just the beginning. These folks spend so much time judging others during the week it is surprising they have much time left for anything else. When they are not judging, they go on to engage in their number one, favorite activity, that is, thinking they are superior to just about everyone they know and a whole lot of folks they haven't even met yet. One of the main tenets of Christianity is that you can be forgiven. But if you receive the precious gift of forgiveness, there is nothing much worse you can do than to continue committing the same sins over and over again. You see, it doesn't work that way. Even a small child who misbehaves knows that he or she might be able to apologize once, or even twice, for misconduct, but he or she knows they can't apologize every day for the same bad behavior, and expect to be forgiven. When someone tries to distort the Christian faith into some kind of perpetual "get out of jail free card," they have committed the ultimate sin. I am not sure why we were put on this earth, but I know if there is a God above, he did not put us here to judge others, or to feel superior to our neighbors. These two sins, perhaps more than any others, lead to war and hate and evil and suffering. On top of everything else, these CINOs seem to have a real problem with that "respect your elders" thing, since they are so busy wallowing in their own self importance and feelings of superiority. No big deal, it is just one of the Ten Commandants. Wonder what happens when someone ignores that one?
I just can't get the picture out of my mind of the looks on their faces when they get to the pearly gates and think they are going to heaven, then they learn the real price of their sins....priceless.
References:
Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not lest ye be judged."
Exodus 20:12 - "Honor thy father and thy mother (respect your elders)"
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Homeless, But Not Invisible
Well, my friend disappeared. I call him Ron the Homeless Guy (Ron is his first name, I just don't know his last name). When I first started staying in the Arlington, Virginia area in 2006, I occasionally noticed Ron amongst the many homeless folks in the area. He was African-American, about 40 years old, and always wore a heavy coat, even in the summer. His trademark, though, was the black hat he wore at all times. It looked like the hat from the Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat, except it was black. Ron never bothered anyone, he just stayed in the background. This changed for me on the evening of September 28, 2006 while I was watching the news in my apartment. I saw an incredible person, John-Michael Keyes, talking about the murder of his 16 year old daughter, Emily Keyes. Emily had been taken hostage at Platte Canyon High School in Colorado along with 6 other students by a gunman (this site will always try to avoid publishing the names of criminals in an effort to make sure they don't receive any notoriety). Emily managed to send a text from her cellphone to her family from inside the room when the gunman looked away - "I love u guys." As the crisis wore on, the gunman released several of the students, then told hostage negotiators that he would release no more and gave an indication he would kill the two girls remaining in the room. When the police entered the room, the gunman used Emily as a human shield, then shot her in the back of the head, killing her instantly. As I watched Emily's father talking on the news, I was floored by his words, "I challenge everyone listening to me to commit a random act of kindness in honor of Emily." I left my 8th floor apartment, went outside, and found Ron huddled in an alley on the side of the building. I asked him if he needed some help, and gave him a little money for food. (BTW, the Keyes family also formed a foundation in Emily's memory that can be found on the internet at: http://iloveuguys.org )
Over the next few years, I saw Ron almost every day I was in the DC area. I got to know him and his story. He fixed cars, but had not had any work in a long time. He had lived with his mother, but she died and he had nowhere to stay, so he stayed on the street. He talked to some local churches, and they sometimes gave him a meal, but they told him they would only help him longterm if he "accepted Jesus as his savior." Ron said he didn't feel that he could do that, so he continued living on the street. He had a kindness about him that is hard to describe. I helped Ron whenever I saw him, and we always had conversations about things like the weather (his favorite topic since he was so close to it).
One day during this past harsh winter, I had had a particularly difficult day. When I saw Ron that evening as I walked home to my apartment, I stopped and asked him if I could buy him dinner. Ron thanked me as I gave him a few dollars, and as I walked away, he called to me. I stopped and turned around. Ron had a look on his face like he understood the down mood I was in. He asked, "How was your day today?" I couldn't help but smile, and replied, "It just got a whole lot better, Ron." As I walked home I couldn't stop smiling, and also feeling a little ashamed at the self-pity I had been immersed in just a few minutes before.
Another shared experience I had with Ron related to his smoking. I often caught him smoking those little cigarellos I hadn't seen in years. Whenever I did, I would always say, "Ron, you need to quit smoking, those things will kill you." Ron always came back with the same reply, "That's the idea, Dave." Then we would both have a little chuckle.
As I said, this was a particularly harsh winter in DC. Not only was it very cold, but we had 3 blizzards with more than a foot of snow. I got very sick for the better part of 5 months. Whenever I saw Ron, I could tell that he was having a hard time with the weather. The last time I saw Ron, in January, he seemed to be doing okay. I gave him a CVS gift card, and wished him well. I wasn't around much for the next two months due to illness. When I returned to my normal routine in March, I never saw Ron again. This was very unusual since I had seen him almost every day for the past 4 years.
A few days ago, I finally bumped into the Arlington police officer who does foot-patrol in the Mall where Ron often hung out. I asked him about Ron, described him, and he said he had no idea who I was talking about. I realized that the police officer never had Ron on his radar, because he did not make any trouble. Ron was invisible to the police, and to many others. My last hope was the security guard at the bank in the back of the Mall. I saw him yesterday and described Ron to him. He said, "I know that guy, I help him out when I can." But he said he hadn't seen him since January either.
So, it seems that Ron has either passed away, or moved away. Interesting, and a little sad, that homeless people can be almost invisible in our society. But they still matter, and can have an impact on others, just like Ron did with me. I hope that he is okay, and finally got to a place with a little warmer weather. Good luck, Ron!
Over the next few years, I saw Ron almost every day I was in the DC area. I got to know him and his story. He fixed cars, but had not had any work in a long time. He had lived with his mother, but she died and he had nowhere to stay, so he stayed on the street. He talked to some local churches, and they sometimes gave him a meal, but they told him they would only help him longterm if he "accepted Jesus as his savior." Ron said he didn't feel that he could do that, so he continued living on the street. He had a kindness about him that is hard to describe. I helped Ron whenever I saw him, and we always had conversations about things like the weather (his favorite topic since he was so close to it).
One day during this past harsh winter, I had had a particularly difficult day. When I saw Ron that evening as I walked home to my apartment, I stopped and asked him if I could buy him dinner. Ron thanked me as I gave him a few dollars, and as I walked away, he called to me. I stopped and turned around. Ron had a look on his face like he understood the down mood I was in. He asked, "How was your day today?" I couldn't help but smile, and replied, "It just got a whole lot better, Ron." As I walked home I couldn't stop smiling, and also feeling a little ashamed at the self-pity I had been immersed in just a few minutes before.
Another shared experience I had with Ron related to his smoking. I often caught him smoking those little cigarellos I hadn't seen in years. Whenever I did, I would always say, "Ron, you need to quit smoking, those things will kill you." Ron always came back with the same reply, "That's the idea, Dave." Then we would both have a little chuckle.
As I said, this was a particularly harsh winter in DC. Not only was it very cold, but we had 3 blizzards with more than a foot of snow. I got very sick for the better part of 5 months. Whenever I saw Ron, I could tell that he was having a hard time with the weather. The last time I saw Ron, in January, he seemed to be doing okay. I gave him a CVS gift card, and wished him well. I wasn't around much for the next two months due to illness. When I returned to my normal routine in March, I never saw Ron again. This was very unusual since I had seen him almost every day for the past 4 years.
A few days ago, I finally bumped into the Arlington police officer who does foot-patrol in the Mall where Ron often hung out. I asked him about Ron, described him, and he said he had no idea who I was talking about. I realized that the police officer never had Ron on his radar, because he did not make any trouble. Ron was invisible to the police, and to many others. My last hope was the security guard at the bank in the back of the Mall. I saw him yesterday and described Ron to him. He said, "I know that guy, I help him out when I can." But he said he hadn't seen him since January either.
So, it seems that Ron has either passed away, or moved away. Interesting, and a little sad, that homeless people can be almost invisible in our society. But they still matter, and can have an impact on others, just like Ron did with me. I hope that he is okay, and finally got to a place with a little warmer weather. Good luck, Ron!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
It Is Not Okay to Advocate Overthrowing the Government - In Fact It Is a Crime
It is a crime to commit sedition, or to advocate the overthrow of the Government. Following is the text of these two Federal crimes punishable by 20 years in prison. I will be conducting analysis of comments made by Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and others to see if they have violated these laws. Of course, in the case of the above-named, since the statute requires that the person make their statements "knowingly and willfully," they may be able to defend themselves from criminal prosecution by claiming diminished mental capacity. More to follow...
Title 18, United States Code, § 2384. Seditious conspiracy
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
Title 18, United States Code, § 2385. Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
Title 18, United States Code, § 2384. Seditious conspiracy
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
Title 18, United States Code, § 2385. Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Words Do Matter!
Former President Bill Clinton made some insightful comments about the rising level of political discourse in the country, which is good, but cautions against losing the notion of those comments being offered without retaining a sense of responsiblity. The following summary comes from the AP:
Clinton alludes to 1995 bombing, says words matter
Apr 16, 7:04 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton warned of a slippery slope from angry anti-government rhetoric to violence like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, saying "the words we use really do matter."
The two-term Democratic president insisted he wasn't trying to restrict free speech, but in remarks Friday he said incendiary language can be taken the wrong way by some Americans. He drew parallels to words demonizing the government before Oklahoma City.
On April 19, 1995, an anti-government conspiracy led by Army veteran Timothy McVeigh exploded a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people.
"What we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or that we should reduce our passion for the positions we hold - but that the words we use really do matter, because there's this vast echo chamber, and they go across space and they fall on the serious and the delirious alike. They fall on the connected and the unhinged alike," he said.
"One of the things that the conservatives have always brought to the table in America is a reminder that no law can replace personal responsibility. And the more power you have and the more influence you have, the more responsibility you have."
Clinton made the remarks at events sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund on the upcoming anniversary of the bombing.
He mentioned the rancorous fight over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Passage of the law elicited threats against some lawmakers.
"I'm glad they're fighting over health care and everything else. Let them have at it. But I think that all you have to do is read the paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply, deeply troubled," he said.
He also alluded to the anti-government tea party movement, which held protests in several states Thursday. At the Washington rally, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota railed against "gangster government."
Clinton argued that the Boston Tea Party was in response to taxation without representation. The current protesters, he said, are challenging taxation by elected officials, and the demonstrators have the power to vote them out of office.
"By all means keep fighting, by all means, keep arguing," he said. "But remember, words have consequences as much as actions do, and what we advocate, commensurate with our position and responsibility, we have to take responsibility for. We owe that to Oklahoma City."
Clinton alludes to 1995 bombing, says words matter
Apr 16, 7:04 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton warned of a slippery slope from angry anti-government rhetoric to violence like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, saying "the words we use really do matter."
The two-term Democratic president insisted he wasn't trying to restrict free speech, but in remarks Friday he said incendiary language can be taken the wrong way by some Americans. He drew parallels to words demonizing the government before Oklahoma City.
On April 19, 1995, an anti-government conspiracy led by Army veteran Timothy McVeigh exploded a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people.
"What we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or that we should reduce our passion for the positions we hold - but that the words we use really do matter, because there's this vast echo chamber, and they go across space and they fall on the serious and the delirious alike. They fall on the connected and the unhinged alike," he said.
"One of the things that the conservatives have always brought to the table in America is a reminder that no law can replace personal responsibility. And the more power you have and the more influence you have, the more responsibility you have."
Clinton made the remarks at events sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund on the upcoming anniversary of the bombing.
He mentioned the rancorous fight over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Passage of the law elicited threats against some lawmakers.
"I'm glad they're fighting over health care and everything else. Let them have at it. But I think that all you have to do is read the paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply, deeply troubled," he said.
He also alluded to the anti-government tea party movement, which held protests in several states Thursday. At the Washington rally, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota railed against "gangster government."
Clinton argued that the Boston Tea Party was in response to taxation without representation. The current protesters, he said, are challenging taxation by elected officials, and the demonstrators have the power to vote them out of office.
"By all means keep fighting, by all means, keep arguing," he said. "But remember, words have consequences as much as actions do, and what we advocate, commensurate with our position and responsibility, we have to take responsibility for. We owe that to Oklahoma City."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
