Immigration Outrage - Has Our Society Really Become This Low?

Image this scenario. It's 1991 and the Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. The resulting turmoil and independence movements in the Soviet Republics becomes very dangerous, especially if you happen to work for the Soviet government. One young family, a husband, who was a police officer, his wife and infant son are forced to flee the Soviet Republic of Armenia in fear for their lives shortly after protesters burn their home to the ground. The husband goes to America and applies for asylum, and is joined a couple of years later by his wife and son, who had been forced to seek refuge in Russia.

Fast forward to 2008. The infant is about to graduate from high school in Fresno, California. However, he is not just graduating - he has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian of his high school. He has been accepted to the University of California, Davis where he plans to major in chemistry with a career goal of either being a dentist or pharmacist. That is, unless the U.S. Government deports him, his parents, and, for all practical purposes, his 12 year old brother who is a natural born citizen of the United States. Having exhausted their final appeals, the family has been ordered out of the United States on June 20.

It boggles the mind the level of callousness and sheer stupidity on the part of the government that decides it is in the best interest of our society to evict a family that is working, paying taxes and raising model children. Can someone explain how our economy is assisted by booting out future medical professionals? How are we made safer by sending a family back to a hostile society? How can the government justify forcing an American Citizen out of this nation by evicting his entire family?

In New York Harbor a rather large, green statue stands. This statue is holding a tablet that reads, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." For those of you unfamiliar with what should be basic knowledge, that big green statue is the Statue of Liberty. The Golden Door, however, has been slammed shut with a "Go Away" sign firmly attached.

The kid in this drama is named Arthur Mkoyan. Arthur and his family's last chance is for a Private Bill to be passed in the Congress granting them the right to stay in the United States. His family has been in contact with California Senator Diane Feinstein's office to do just that. Private bills, however, are rare, and don't usually pass. As such, it is vital that concerned citizens express their views to Congress in this matter.

If you are in California, please take the time to contact Sen. Feinstein and Sen. Boxer. Fresno area residents should also contact their Representative, which would be Rep. George Radanovich or Rep. Jim Costa. Contact information is at the end of the blog. Emails would be great - phone calls would be even better - both would be fantastic. Make sure these individuals understand that the voters of their district expect them to do the right thing in this matter. If you live outside of California, it would still be helpful to contact your Congressional delegation, as this private bill will come up for a vote.

Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
Email Link

Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
(202) 224-0454 fax
Email Link

Rep. George Radanovich
2367 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.4540
Fax: 202.225.3402
Email Link

Rep. Jim Costa
1314 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone:202-225-3341
Fax: 202-225-9308
Email Link

Gay Marriage Opponets Rapidly Becomming A Minority

On June 3rd USA Today released the results of a Gallup Poll on marriage attitudes in the United States. The results of this poll are very encouraging for the supporters of freedom and equality, and are sure to cause despair to those who seek to re-establish the Dark Ages in America.

When asked if same sex marriage was a private matter between two people or if the government should have the right to pass legislation regarding it 63% of respondents stated that it was a private matter, with only 33% saying the government should have the right to regulate marriage in this area.

Why the major change in public opinion? Simple. Gay marriage opponents made all sorts of dire predictions of massive harm to society and families should gay marriage be legalized. After 4 years of legal gay marriage in Massachusetts, as well as legal gay marriage in our northern neighbor Canada exactly ZERO of these dire predictions have come true. In other words, the religious right, as usual, was full of shit.

As Andrew Sullivan in his June 5th column writes regarding gay marriage, "It is becoming a non-issue. Which means: we win."

Another Victory in California - Gay Marriages Begin June 17th.

"The request to stay the effective date of the decision of the court filed on May 15, 2008, until after the November 2008 election is denied.

The decision filed on May 15, 2008 will become final on June 16, 2008 at 5 PM"

In another important decision the California Supreme Court declined to deny gay couples their rights under the Constitution of the State of California pending the uncertain outcome of the ballot initiative that out of state religious groups managed to buy ballot space for.

This was a vitally important victory for freedom. Moderate voters who may have been inclined to oppose gay marriage on theoretical grounds are not going to be as likely to cast a ballot that directly impacts the happy couples they are going to see this summer on their televisions. Only the most hard hearted person would cast a ballot to destroy another person's marriage.

O'Reilly, of all people, wipes the floor with a gay marriage opponent.

Wow... You know your case is weak when even Bill O'Reilly can make you look like a fool.

Enemies of Gay Marriage Reveal Their Strategy

Sun Tsu wrote, “Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.” With that in mind, I have found it is best if our community keeps tabs on what the opposition is up to, and, as such, I read all manner of email newsletters and websites spit out by our opponents.

One organization, the "Campaign for Children and Families" has been encouraging people to call various public officials to try and pressure them into ignoring the rule of law and refusing to carry out the California Supreme Court ruling. Their plan can be found here: http://www.savecalifornia.com/getactive/alertmain.php?alid=201.

It is important that those of us on the other side counter this tactic by using it ourselves. I would encourage everyone to contact the officials listed on that page and, in the case of the Governor, thank him for his support, and in the case of the others, remind them that you expect them to uphold the rule of law and carry out the Court's ruling. It is also vital that letters be written to the members of the California Supreme Court to ensure that they do not stay this ruling.

Armed Gays Don't Get Bashed

"Thirty-one states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible."

--Jonathan Rauch, Salon Magazine, March 13, 2000

The issue of hate crimes has been on my mind of late. Given the desperation of the lunatic fringe of the Christian church, it is very likely that some in that camp will turn the political fight over gay marriage into their own personal jihad. As Pascal said, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."

With this in mind, to not prepare for an increase in violent hate crimes against the gay community would be, in my mind, foolish. Perhaps Mr. Rauch is on the right track - arming the gay community most definitely would give a moment of pause to those who wish to do us harm.

Victory in California

"Accordingly, in light of the conclusions we reach concerning the constitutional questions brought to us for resolution, we determine that the language of section 300 limiting the designation of marriage to a union 'between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples." - From the California Supreme Court ruling handed down today.

Export the gays?

Wow... Just Wow... These people have no shame and no respect for the ideals of liberty and justice this nation was based on. Mr. Sprigg, homosexuality isn't destructive to society - rabid fundamentalism is.

Sally Kern - Exposing the Homosexual Agenda

This is my first video blog ever, so I hope you all enjoy it. For those interested, it was built using Adobe Flash CS3.

Does Osama play World of Warcraft?

In an unclassified report released by the U.S. Government detailing data mining activities of U.S. intelligence services, an interesting program appeared. This program, called Reynard, is designed to investigate and try to weed out "suspicious behavior" in online gaming worlds.

Personally, I am all in favor of this. I, for one, am sick of the constant spamming of the chat channels of people looking for groups to commit terrorism. Hell, just the other day some night elf rogue was spamming Shattrath for 30 minutes with "LF2M for heroic Mana Tombs followed by a suicide bombing of Orgrimmar" To top it off, we also have the problem of the gnomish intifada in Ironforge. Honestly, why cant those hyperactive little midgets just clean out the lepers from their own hometown and move back?

This new program is going to have it's greatest effect on PvP (player vs. player) worlds, however, where I expect a sudden outbreak of civility and an end to noob ganking. Because of this, most people will take a moment of pause to decide if ganking that lowbe in Stranglethorn Vale is really worth it. After all, he could be CIA and your ass could wind up in Gitmo.

In all seriousness, I can't figure out whether this is the brain child of some would be big brother bent on watching every move every one of us makes, or a cleaver scheme by government employees to play computer games on the taxpayer's dime...

Is this what Fundamentalists mean when they preach about protecting family values?

One of the states where the fascists... er.. fundamentalist Christians have managed to do the most evil is Florida. The article below demonstrates why anything less than full marriage rights for gays and lesbians is unacceptable, harmful and discriminatory.

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Dying Lesbian's Partner Denied Access To Her

(Miami, Florida) Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond had planned to take their three children on a family cruise. The Olympia, Washington couple had been together 18 years and with their children were looking forward to the holiday.

But just as they were about to depart on the cruise from Miami, Florida. Pond, a healthy 39-year-old, suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami with Langbehn and the children following close behind.

But once Langbehn and the children arrived at the hospital the hospital refused to accept information from her about Ponds’s medical history.

Langbehn says she was informed that she was in an antigay city and state, and she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family.

A doctor finally spoke with Janice telling her that there was no chance of recovery.

Other than one five minute visit, which was orchestrated by a Catholic priest at Langbehn’s request to perform last rites, and despite the doctor’s acknowledgement that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither she nor her children were allowed to see Pond until nearly eight hours after their arrival.

Soon after Pond'’s death, Langbehn tried to get her death certificate in order to get life insurance and Social Security benefits for their children. She was denied both by the State of Florida and the Dade County Medical Examiner.

With the help of Lambda Legal Langbehn has notified Jackson Memorial Hospital that she intends to file a lawsuit.

"There is nothing that can make up for what my children and I endured that day,” Langbehn says of the day Pond died. “We only want the hospital to take responsibility for how they treated us and ensure that it doesn’t happen to another family.”

In accordance with Florida law, Lambda Legal is waiting for the hospital to respond to the notice of intent to sue before formally filing a complaint with the court.

"The treatment that Janice and her children received was unethical and discriminatory," said Beth Littrell, Staff Attorney for Lambda Legal.

"This letter puts them on notice that we are advocating for justice for Janice and her children."

"Don't Ask Don't Tell" harms families as well.

The following piece was written by Dana Rudolph who is the publisher of mombian.com, a blog and resource site for LGBT parents. I was also published in Bay Windows, an LGBT newspaper. This story is very powerful and I hope it will leave as much of an impression on you as it did on me. Serving in the military is a major sacrifice. For this family it is an even greater one. It is shameful that we allow petty political squabbles to so drastically impact eh family of someone who puts their life on the line to defend us.

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Family under fire
by Dana Rudolph
contributing writer
Wednesday Jan 9, 2008

Five-year-old William and three-year-old Ryan are the children of decorated U.S. Army officer Cheryl Parker. Like other children of service members, they have dealt with cross-country moves and months without their mother while she was deployed in Iraq. Unlike the others, however, they must forgo many benefits, conveniences and support services offered to military families, or risk revealing that they have another mother, Donna Lewis. This could lead to Parker’s dismissal under the military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy, even in LGBT-friendly Massachusetts. (Note: Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the family.)

In the close-knit community of an army base, there is a strong chance the young children will inadvertently out their mothers. "When I tried to put William in on-base daycare," explains Parker, "he would talk about having two moms. A lot of the daycare workers are spouses of military personnel. I don’t need somebody’s wife saying ’What’s the deal with William Parker?’" The same applies to the other activities provided by the Army family centers, such as kiddie gym classes. "The questions start and then the lying begins, and it’s just too complicated."

The couple is adamant, however, that however much they must lie to protect their family, they will never have their children do so. Lewis explains "We can’t take them to the commissary together anymore. One of the boys will say ’Mom? Not you, my other mom.’ We can’t tell him, ’Don’t say that,’ because he’s going to say, ’Why?’ The best way to deal with it is just not to put them in that situation."

The "situations" are often ones children would relish. "They had this humongous playground on one base that William absolutely loved," says Lewis. "But if there were a lot of kids around, we couldn’t go, because he might say ’That’s my mom, my other mom’s at home.’ That’s what kids do. They introduce themselves. If he was going to play by himself, which really sounds sad, then it was okay for him to go to the playground." She adds, "He’s dying to play soccer, and they have on-base teams for younger kids. We have to find a team off base, away from the area. William can’t go to the swimming pool, he can’t go to movie day, the things other kids are allowed to do."

Parker says holidays are especially hard. "We had a Thanksgiving function where all the other officers brought their spouses and children. The children were running amok in this big banquet area. I can’t bring my kids to these wonderful things because I’m afraid of what they could say. It would cost me my job."

They also stayed away from the kids’ holiday party on base, complete with Santa and gifts for each child. "We thought ’It’s just not worth it.’ We’ll take them to the mall again to see Santa if we have to," Parker says. They found another alternative, in an off-base organization that has Santa "deliver" a gift that you drop off with them in advance. "We still had to sanitize our house and take down pictures," recalls Parker, "because God forbid, Santa would be Colonel So-and-So’s retired brother or whatever." Lewis reflects, "It’s very hard to explain to the children that you hid a picture. That is the saddest part, that even in our own home, we have to hide."

They cannot ever live on base, where they could get free housing, but where neighbors would be more likely to question Donna’s constant presence and note the boys call her "Mom." Parker says there are more than financial benefits here. "Living on base, you’re safer, you don’t have the same kind of traffic, you have the medical clinic, the commissary, the PX. Everything’s right there and convenient."

Instead of spending time on base, the family often finds itself at a local mall that has a play area; momentary fun, but not a place to build lasting friendships. The worries don’t stop at the base gate, however. Parker reflects "You can be at the carnival and say something, and the person behind you could be somebody from your office."

When the family socializes, it is most often with non-military, same-sex families. "We show them the other moms so they grow up thinking this is normal and this is great." Lewis worries, however, that this means less exposure to straight families, a view of the world as limiting as the other way around.

As their children grow older, they will miss out on even more. "Some installations have secondary schools," says Parker, "that often don’t have the issues with drugs and gangs that you have on the outside. If someone is misbehaving, you’re going to know about it a lot quicker. It’s almost like sending your child to a private school for free." In order to attend school there, the boys would have to lie about their family. The same is true for a base’s teen center, an after-school hangout that also offers field trips and dance nights. "There are not a lot of opportunities like that off base that I know would be as safe," Parker observes.

Parker would pay for such opportunities, but she observes a big advantage to being with other children of military personnel: "Their dads and moms are at war, too. If nothing else, the boys would have a bond because those kids know what it is to be scared. I’ll be gone a lot before I retire. My kids aren’t going to have that support. In a non-military setting, the kids don’t understand. This war is something they read about in the news. It doesn’t affect them."

Discrimination impacted their family right from the start. When Parker was trying to get pregnant with William, the Army refused to pay for her artificial insemination because she was not married. It cost them thousands of dollars. When Lewis was pregnant (with insemination again paid for out of pocket), she had to go on welfare to get the insurance coverage for Ryan’s birth.

The couple then had to pretend Parker was a single mom of two. She couldn’t do a second-parent adoption of Ryan because adoption papers, showing Lewis as the other mom, would be a matter of public record. (The same is true for marriages.) Instead, they filed paperwork to give Parker guardianship. She explains, "The Army only recognizes Ryan as a dependent, a ’custodial child,’ not as my son. He’s my son," she says with conviction. "I don’t fight it because he still has all the rights and privileges as William. If I fight that battle, then I’ll lose the war. My job is what provides for my family."

If the boys get sick, Parker must leave work to take them to the free on-base hospital, because the Army does not see Lewis as having any standing to dictate their medical care. "Not that I can’t stop what I’m doing," Parker says, "but it’s so unfair if Donna wants to do those things, and other stay-at-home moms get to waltz right in and get their kids seen."

Each time Parker is transferred, they have to pay Lewis’s relocation expenses, whereas the Army pays for legal spouses. "If I have to pay $1500 for Donna’s move," Parker says, "that’s $1500 I could have spent on my kids’ education or some other way that would benefit them."

The financial and practical hardships are tough, but the couple struggles most with the emotional ones. When Parker’s unit returned from Iraq, Lewis and the boys did not attend their homecoming parade. Parker will soon have a promotion ceremony, which for married officers involves their spouse and children. The boys will stay home with Lewis that day, unable to see their mother rewarded for her work and commitment. When Parker retires, her children will not see Lewis presented with a bouquet and a retirement certificate signed by the President of the United States like other spouses, a gesture of appreciation for her role in caring for the family during Parker’s years of service.

Parker and Lewis know a few other military same-sex couples with children, but not enough to form a support network in the shifting world of deployments and postings. In an email, Victor Maldonado of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network says it is impossible to tell how many such families there are, for the law prevents them from identifying themselves.

Parker expresses the feelings of many LGBT service members when she asks "How do I fight for the rights of others when mine are so restricted? They’re taking convicted felons into the military, but I’m beneath a convicted felon." The worst part is, she says, "Because of that, my kids have to suffer."

Parker knows people will ask "Why doesn’t she just quit?" She gives a soldier’s answer: "I’ve known I was gay since I was probably five years old. I’ve known I wanted to be in the military since I was ten, when I saw the marching band go by. This is something that’s been in my blood. It’s easy for people when things get tough just to quit and move on to something else, but I refuse to let them take away my dream. I’ll go out kicking and screaming. It should be your right to defend your country, with no strings attached."

She wants her children to have a positive view of the military, too. "All I want them to know right now is that the military gives me a good job, it benefits them. They won’t know that I have to live in such fear and secrecy until they absolutely have to. I’m hoping by the time they get old enough, things will be different. I’m being optimistic, but it could happen."

Lewis adds "We want them to be honest, and we want them to be themselves. We’ve already talked about it - if that means they out us and we lose everything, then to us, that’s God’s will. I am not going to try and teach my babies to be good, upstanding citizens and in the same breath say ’Lie.’ I can’t. It doesn’t work."

That’s a sense of values the military should be proud to embrace.

Things That Make You Go "Hmmmmmmmmm..."

As anyone who notices what time most of my blogs go up can tell you, I am a night owl. Frequently, as I am working, the normal TV programming ends and the get right scheme infomercials pop up hoping to find some sucker or Ron Paul supporter to send them money.

All of these schemes make claims that you can quit your job and make millions in about 5 minutes of work today. And, to help you do so, they all promise you that, as part of the purchase price of their program, you can call their "advisors" at any time for six months or a year or whatnot. Now, logically, it would seem that these advisors would definitely be experts in how to make yourself a millionaire in 5 minutes a day, after all, they would need to be knowledgeable in the system to be able to help out the unwashed, and probably undereducated masses who call.

Of course, that begs the question, if, by using this program, you can quit your job and become a millionaire in 5 minutes a day, then why are the experts working some lame ass late night telemarketing job?

The world may never know... I would write more, but I have to watch this program on how to lose hundreds of pounds by drinking chocolate milkshakes!

Words Of "Wisdom" from Ron Paul - Race Relations

The following are excerpts from newsletters sent out by Ron Paul from 1978 that have been dug up by The New Republic and show the man's true colors. If any Ron Paul supporters want to try to defend this, by all means, leave a comment.

Ron Paul on the LA Riots: "Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks three days after rioting began. ... What if the checks had never arrived? No doubt the blacks would have fully privatized the welfare state through continued looting. But they were paid off and the violence subsided."

Ron Paul on MLK Jr.:

From a Dec 1990 newsletter: MLK was "a world-class adulterer," he "seduced underage girls and boys" and he "replaced the evil of forced segregation with the evil of forced integration."

From a Jan 1991 newsletter: MLK was a "a "flagrant plagiarist with a phony doctorate" and he was a "world-class philanderer."

In October 1990 Ron Paul suggested the following as potential new names for New York City: "Welfaria," "Zooville," "Rapetown," "Dirtburg," and "Lazyopolis" and suggested that, rather than protesting at the Statue of Liberty, black activists like Rev. Al Sharpton should, instead, "hold that demonstration at a food stamp bureau or a crack house."

The lunacy doesn't end there - there is more to come.

God Hates Ireland - Film at 11!

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Alrighty then... I really don't think there is anymore I can add...

What The Huck?!

The Huckster does it again! Either he is still the most uninformed man in politics, or he has adopted the ease for lying that the last man from Hope had.

Early in the day on Wednesday, Huckabee expressed complete support of the Writer's Guild of America strike when he said, "I support the writers, by the
way. Unequivocally, absolutely. They’re dead right on this one. I don’t think anybody supports the producers on this one. Maybe the producers support the producers, but I think everybody in the business and even the general public supports the writers.”

Wednesday afternoon, however, Huck appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This show, which is owned by NBC, is currently a target of the WGA strike.
When questioned on why he crossed the picket lines, especially after giving the WGA absolute support, Huck responded that he thought there was some special agreement with late night shows. When he was informed that there was not, he responded, "Oh."

Of course, Huck may have noticed the picket line if, as is being reported on Deadline Hollywood, he had not snuck onto the NBC lot via the unpicketed Telemundo gate. I wonder why he used that gate...

Westboro Baptist Church Supports Gay Marriage - Kinda....

From Margie Phelps' Blog:

"The fags are 100% right when they ask what business you so-called Christians have telling them they can’t marry – and thereby pervert the institution of marriage as God established it (one man, one woman, one life) – when you do the same yourselves every single day! How many of you columnists for The Conservative Voice are divorced-and-remarried? How many of the false prophets in the whore houses posing as churches are divorced-and-remarried? You know the answer is LOTS!"

So I guess it's not quite a ringing endorsement, but she does make a valid point about hypocrisies in the fundamentalist community - with all the colorful language we would expect from a Phelps piece...

As the Good As You blog points out regarding Margie's Blog, "How can we say both 'Thanks for sticking up for us by calling out hypocrisy!' and 'Holy mother of divine insanity, how does your heart not collapse under the weight of such hate?' in the same breath?"

Westboro Baptist Church on 20/20

The WBC was on 20/20 recently after having a massive judgment delivered against them. For those unfamiliar with the lunacy of this group, which is the kook fringe of the religious right, be prepared to be shocked.

Be sure to pay attention 7:00 into the video when a Phelpsling declares, "I guess you could say a fag is a Jew pretty much." It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic...

Does Huck Think We Are All Stupid?

Mike Huckabee has decided to run a positive campaign, and to prove it, he will show you negative ads that he could be running if he wasn't going to run a positive campaign.

Monday afternoon the Huckster had a press conference scheduled to unveil his newest attack ad. Apparently, so he claims, he had a change of heart and decided that "Enough is Enough" (so said the banner behind him) and that the people of Iowa deserved a clean campaign. So, in a room full of press, as well as anti-Romney signs, Huck decided to prove his new found desire to run a clean campaign by showing the press the attack ad that he would run if he wasn't running his clean campaign. To drive the point home to the press, he reminded them that this was the only chance to see it, ensuring that not only would they take notes - but would give his secret lots and lots of free press.

Tactics like this are not uncommon among politicians. However, Huck, who would have us believe that he has a weekly conference call with Jesus, mentions Christianity and his Cristian credentials more than Rudy mentions 9/11 or John Kerry mentioned his 3 Purple Hearts. As such, shouldn't we expect him to demonstrate more integrity than the average politician? Tell us Rev. Huckabee, would Jesus do the same if He was running?