I blame the schools & colleges, particularly those involved, for not doing a better job of educating their students, setting firm punishment for bullying, and enacting a student force to report questionable texts/emails/wall postings on facebook/and tweets which are abusive. Some schools outright ignore complaints about kids being bullied for being Gay, and others downplay it as kids being kids, or blame the kids for being Gay, or appearing in questionable attire which 'asks' for it. Also, many teens have spent the summer at youth camps organized by churches, and we all know how a lot (not all) of churches treat being GLBT, and those sermons and classes the kids have listened to all summer are showing themselves.

I believe if the people on Dharun Ravi's tweet list had been educated about harassment properly, ONE of them would have reported his bullying last week, or confronted him by asking why he didn't just ask for a different roommate if he was so offended?

Driven to suicide by bullying in just the past 2 weeks due to bullying from students either at school, heading home from school, or through cyber-bullying. School should be a place where a kid or teen is safe, not bullied to death. RIP guys...





Bullies Flourishing with Christian Support, says Hodge

Candace Chellew-Hodge, one of my favorite 'listens' on podcasts, because she is a Christian who is Gay, is the founder/editor of Whosoever: An Online Magazine for GLBT Christians and currently serves as the pastor of Jubilee! Circle United Church of Christ in Columbia, S.C. She is also the author of Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatch... /

She had this to say about the role religion is playing in bullying, and Focus on the Family's actions regarding congressional legislation ---

(snip)
In her CNN appearance, Cushman swore that Focus believes "every child should be protected from bullying" but they, and other Christian groups, continue to fight against anti-bullying measures that would specifically target bullying against gay and lesbian students. Even though studies show that specific policies are more effective than general anti-bullying policies, Focus and their cohorts continue to fight it because they believe it demonizes Christians and gives special status to gays and lesbians.

Instead of being concerned for the actual lives of gay and lesbian children (or those perceived as gay and lesbian), Focus' true motive is to continue its political and religious agenda at the expense of these children. Their own position paper on the subject accuses groups like the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network or GLSEN, which advocate for the gay-specific bullying policies, of using the policies to create diversity training, "evade parental rights" and "circumvent traditional marriage laws."

While it's true that teaching children to value each other no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity may lead to more tolerant people -- it's disgusting to see an organization put its morality politics over the lives of children.

I was at the post office standing bored in a line of a whopping 20 people, and my friend called me to talk about the idiots ramming the car with the Obama sticker. I knew I was in the post office, and didn't raise my voice above a 2 (out of 10), which means a very gentle tone that is hard to hear more than 3 feet away. Well, in front of me standing slightly out of line was a very jovial older man, and about 3 feet directly in front of me was a Palinite. I didn't know she was one until I said, "we can't have those kids with pre-existing conditions getting coverage darnit, we're gonna ram your cars if we can tell your for the bill to prevent it."

She immediately started swinging her head violently left to right, and turned around and said, with eyes bulging, "that's just not true! they aren't going to get coverage! I just saw they're saying that isn't accurate."

I ignored her, realizing she was a nut, and said to my friend, "yeah, the GOP is gonna be hurting when those young adults who are at home helping a single mom survive, start getting health care and the votes keep coming in for Obama". Again, the lady turned around and said, "those things just aren't true, you couldn't even have read the bill, they kept everything secret until they shoved it through!".

I paused, and apologized to my friend then said, "I'm sorry ma'am, but I'm talking very low and I don't appreciate you interrupting me, it's no different if my friend was standing here right next to me talking about this as we wait in line, and you stop me to tell me what I'm saying is wrong". She said, "there's so much in that bill that you just don't know about, and you'll see how bad it is in time". I said, "I'm sure Palin has told you that it's a horrible bill, but she is just stirring the pot to make money off of people." She said, "she's a good woman, and her views make sense! It's a wasteful bill."

I retorted, still quietly and not overly emotional, with, "well, elections have consequences - your party lost horribly the last go round, and frankly, they created the mess we're in, so I'm glad we're getting some major changes to help get health care to tens of millions of people who suffer without it. Teabaggers complain about government waste - unless it's being spent on them - and that's the problem - they're selfish and that's why we see so many of them acting out violently". She then said, "Representative Cantor's office was shot at - Democrats do it too, just go look at the news, CNN is reporting it.". I told her, "That is a trumped up accusation by the GOP to distract from the repeated threats and attacks on Democrats the past few weeks, but, we needn't speak another word because your turn is up at the counter - good day!"


The funny thing is, the elderly gentleman between the two of us was holding his comments and gently swaying back and forth as the terse yet volume controlled argument finished, and as she picked up her packages off the lobby counter to go up to the clerk, he said in a thick striking Haitian accent, "the problem with those people is they don't like people different than themselves - they say they are Christian - I am certain with the actions they do, they are nothing of the sort and do not care for others. Why then would it be surprising to see them so violent over people getting medical care."


HA!
I smiled at the nice man (about 70 years old, very warn and tired, yet very warm eyes!) and said, "You are so right! Jesus said, they will be know by their fruit. And their fruit is poisoned."



I always laugh when others post their random right-winger stories, and my last one was the lady in the BMW SUV calling the cops on me for helping bandage the legs of the homeless lady back a couple years ago because it "only encourages them to stay here" (on the beach), so it was my turn for another encounter with one of 'em! I'm sure they'll be plenty more, I just hope no one is hurt by these whack jobs. And I will say, thank God that the nice man was there in line with me to say some words of wisdom as she picked up her packages to go to the front.


Just though I'd share my story.

Most of us know that if everyone allows this to take the course it's been running for months with the Congress & the White House, it's going to lead to the health insurance industry coming out smelling like a f*cking rose to investors - meanwhile - the people will be forced to take coverage from these crooked death-panel insurance firms who care nothing about our lives!

I know because I used to work for one when I was young and paid medical claims in the 90's. I remember how harshly the medical review staff was on claims and learned eventually that they were being squeezed by the higher-ups to save $$$. I tried paying everything I could, and only regret not paying for one claim that I still wish I went against the rule on, but point is - these companies only care about profit - not health.

Dr Dean is standing up for the people who are suffering to even get by, and God forbid they have any medical crisis come up. It seems like the lobbyists and big campaign donations have those in Congress & the WH bought & paid for, before we even cast our 'Change' votes.

When I look into their pain-filled eyes and hear their words saying they HOPE that they'll be able to either, - find a job, get over their physical or mental illness that's kept them from working, or simply be able to go back home to their family that rejects them, I often look to the other people around us to help me deal with the emotional overload - and I don't see you Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Liz Cheney, Michelle Malkin, Michael Savage, or matter of fact, any of your loud-mouthed backers.

In fact, when I talk to the people who I've been around that were being nice or helping people in need - they're all liberal in thought. The hyper-cynical haters of humanity are nowhere to be found, and yet, these screamers of lies who say we should only have private charities and remove public spending from those 'leeches who live off our taxes', well, I just can't seem to find them.

When I had my arm around a lady named, "Precious", who I met in a hospital who had no one with her while she was going through her chemo, and she was coughing up and in pain and thanked me for taking the time to talk to her, I wondered where those great charitable GOPers like Sen. Coburn were at, to help "individually as neighbors" share the community burden of this woman who was all alone? You'd think there'd be 10 or 15 Republicans there with this lady in a county that is heavily Republican, right? Maybe I'm wrong. (cough cough)

When I helped a 400 pound woman named, "Laura", with food & a blanket, who wasn't even allowed to ride city buses because of complaints of the smell, I didn't see any 'freedom fighters' of the right, there helping her with me (only a rich lady in a $70K SUV calling the cops on me and saying 'you only encourage her to stick around here').

When I look around at these other volunteers who are helping those in need - I see merciful, and compassionate souls who are extremely progressive in thought. But, I apologize, I do know there are certainly a decent percentage of Republicans who give their time to those in need, and more so, just like all people, who give donations instead of time, even if I meet so very few of them. And we all know about the pronouncements of people like Rush giving a million dollars to charity for Sen Reid's condemnation letter, but it's not more so the money that matters (and the ensuing media press and tax write-offs), it's the time given in applying the care-giving and the listening to these people's horrible pains that matters most.

Extreme conservatives don't want to believe, or want us to believe, that anyone is on government support who truly deserves it. Yesterday, I received a wet-behind-the-ears rebuke email from an old conservative friend. He told me I was a pie-in-the-sky dreamer for thinking there are people who actually want off state & gov't support. He says they all have nicer electronics than he does, and they feign illness or say there's nothing out there. It was disgusting to read, and I let him know of 3 stories of people that I know of first hand, with details, and told him, I help people when I can and see their actions and motivations, and yes, there are many who are users and don't want help, but there are certainly more than the 1% he cited who want to work and make a living, and he'd find that out if he got out from time to time and put himself in uncomfortable situations to try and help even one person change their life, or at the least, know that they're not alone.

So to all the Coulters, Cheneys and Savages out there, in regards to never seeing you or other hard-conservatives DOING charitable and compassionate acts, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and say, I must have missed you when you were there...

and all attacked for being kooks, weirdos, odd-balls, or worse, but they don't back down - and you may not agree with everything they say or where they go, but they certainly cannot be faulted for trying to fight for rights for whomever they feel led to stand up to support. It's a lot more than many of those who attack them in our society could ever say.

Don't back down - from standing up! They inspire, with their actions, the masses who would hear them to stand up for rights. I don't think there's anyone more brave in politics than Frank, Kucinich, or Sheehan for the stands they've taken in public (or in front of B*sh's ranch!).

So, I commend former Rep. Cynthia McKinney for risking her life to try to bring medical aid to the Palestinians during the Israeli bombings, and that action inspires me to keep doing the things I do to help others even when I'm yelled at for helping. Remember, as John Edwards said about PE Obama, "Every time he speaks out for change, every time I fight for change, the forces of status quo are going to attack -- every single time."

People like those I mentioned are attacked for standing up for others - and they aren't perfect, but the ultimate cause they fight for is righteous. I'd rather we lift them up for rocking the boat, than just cheer on others in the boat who don't want to risk offending the few in the boat who fear it will be capsized if we treat all equally.

If you're in support, please silent kick. We are being persecuted in our lives, everywhere we go, for being "in the way" because of how we were made, and having the audacity of hope to believe we are worthy of equal rights.

1. Rush Limbaugh: "I tell people don't kill all the liberals. Leave enough so we can have two on every campus – living fossils – so we will never forget what these people stood for."

2. Senator Phil Gramm: "We're going to keep building the party until we're hunting Democrats with dogs."

3. Rep. James Hansen on Bill Clinton: Get rid of the guy. Impreach him, censure him, assassinate him."

4. John Derbyshire intimated in the National Review that because Chelsea Clinton had "the taint," she should "be killed."

5. Ann Coulter: "We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too."

6. Ann Coulter: "My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times building."

7. Bill O'Reilly: "ll those clowns over at the liberal radio network, we could incarcerate them immediately. Will you have that done, please? Send over the FBI and just put them in chains."

8. Clear Channel radio host Glenn Beck said he was "thinking about killing Michael Moore" and pondered whether "I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it," before concluding: "No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong?"


That's just SOME of the spewed filth of the hundreds of incidents where they've advocated violence towards liberals/Democrats, and these are just SOME of the better known repubs doing it - there's hundreds smaller swine of the GOP who've said the same.


There's plenty more of them out there, and even if you can just recall the discussion put it on this thread so we can see it as some people 100% don't believe this goes on, even people on this board.

Here's some other hate -

1. Mel Gibson on Frank Rich: "I want to kill him. I want his entrails on a stick. I want to kill his dog."

2. Fresno City Council Member Jerry Duncan in 2003 wrote in an email that police should "Cap" members of the Human Relations Commission and wrote, "If I had one dirty bomb and I could eliminate all the liberals in Fresno at once." When his comments became public, Duncan said "The response I have gotten from the public on this has been 100% supportive."

3. World Socialist newsletter about how "Republican Right prepares for violence"
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/nov2000/...

4. Shooter/Murderer wanted to "kill liberals who are ruining the country", had books of Hannity and other right wing GOPers who told they were doing such - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Knoxvill...

5. Right winger backer and often a TV guest, Ted Nugent calling for violence -
http://vyan.blogspot.com/2007/08/nugent-ca...
(some info obtained from http://www.preemptivekarma.com/archives/20... )

McLame/McSame/McWar & more (Pro-Obama) at - www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

for giving a blanket to a homeless lady here in FL with bad circulation, that I had met a week ago. She had said back then that the wind cut through her at night, and even though it was pretty nice out (60's) it felt horrible to her. So I gave her my extra blanket when I saw her on the bus bench tonight and began talking to her in detail about her situation of being where she's at now.

She had said the hospital had tried to put her inpatient so they could help her stop the infection that was growing on her leg. And I encouraged her to trust them and promised if she goes in, that I'd come see her in 2 days if she's there. I noticed someone staring at me (you know the feeling), so, I turn to my right, outside the expensive grocery store (Publix) where you typically have money to shop or you'd go to Winn-Dixie, or any of the other lower priced alternatives, and I see this fancy Mercedes SUV idling with a lady about 60 inside of it giving me a horrible scowl. I ignore her and continue to encourage this lady, who is very large and needs care, to put faith in this very good hospital we have here (best in the county). Her Cherokee face was warming up and holding her blanket I gave her, and she said if I said they were that good maybe she'd go back. She started asking me questions about my brother I mentioned, that I said I care give for, and as I answered her, I looked up and the lady in the SUV was STILL there about a minute later. I said excuse me to the homeless woman, and walked over to the SUV slightly smiling and said, "can I help you?".

She growled, "are you bothering her?" (which is funny because of what she said afterwards), and I said, no, I'm giving her a blanket and giving her ----- and was about to say giving her strength to trust the hospital so she can get better and get into an assisted living facility, since she's been on the streets here for nearly a month now --- but before I could, the lady yelled at me, "don't give them ANYTHING! you just don't do that, ever! If you want to help her, call the cops!".

I said, do you live here? And she said yes, and I responded quickly with,
then you've seen her repeatedly also for a few weeks? She said yes. Then I said, so I take it you've called the cops to help her then, so mind your own business, I have nothing further to say to you."

Well that set her off, she yelled that what I was doing was wrong and she was calling the cops on me. I said, "your behavior clearly implies that you have something mentally unhinged upstairs if you really think giving a blanket to a homeless person is wrong, now go meddle somewhere else."

She gassed it around the side of the store and parked her Mercedes GLK (whatever that thing must cost) and sat there calling while I continued talking to this sweet lady who shares Cherokee blood just like me. Anyhow, I ignored her and finished up and told her that angels will be with her in the hospital if she would go, and that I'd call and see if she's there and come visit. So I got in my car and pulled away and as I passed the SUV the lady was getting out and going inside - sitting in the front of the store with her hatchback door up, SUV running with the lights on, and no one inside and went inside the store to get whatever item she wanted to put in the back --- I was hoping one of the homeless guys nearby would jump in and drive off.

Driving away I could not imagine why there are people out there that would rather see people dead than encourage them to get help, if it is within someone to feel it is their call to approach someone. I had met her at the 7/11 last week, and knew she was alert, intelligent and sweet. She asked for nothing last week when I saw her.

There is no way to describe how cold and uncivil, uncaring, and emotionally dead inside one must be - not that the Mercedes lady had to stop and help this lady ever - no - that she actually stopped and tried to stop ME from giving her a blanket, and didn't even get a chance to hear I was trying to encourage her to go to the hospital where they offered her help if she'd let them. She was to busy being the devil in person...


I just had to get this out, if you read this, bless you. If anything it's healthy to type out my disgust with the lady in the SUV. How sad her life must be.

If you want to send up positive vibes, or prayers to the Lord or to your God for the woman I was trying to encourage - her name is Laura, from Jonesboro, Illinois, and circumstance have led her to where she is today. May she get the help she needs.

And may that other lady have an awakening...

I am so peeved. PLEASE recommend this thread, and go comment on "his" video he made about the bridge tragedy and b*sh rushing to their aid - this loon has to be a freeper, because just ONE look at his homepage on youtube will make you think the Statue of Liberty took a dump on it. He's terribly obsessed with b*sh and Fred Thompson! (ImwithFred.com on his page)

I made a montage of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, I also chose a song that was very personal to me from years ago and this nutjob crazy loon downloaded my video that I spent my time making the day after it happened, and added audio of shrub talking and then used my same song in its entirety and in so doing made the video longer, but the sick point is he asks us to pray for the VICTIMS ----

WHILE REMOVING THE IMAGES OF THE VICTIMS AT THE END OF MY VIDEO AND REPLACING THEM WITH AN EXTENDED IMAGE OF DER FUHRER AFTER HE 'RUSHED' TO THE SCENE!

EXCUSE ME WHILE I VOMIT.

It's not that anyone would copy this video that offends me, I could care LESS, it's that a neocon would take it and manipulate it like he did - and remove the video producer's name at the end.

"His" video --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0CaVC1tnrg
His youtube page - http://www.youtube.com/user/republicanUSA


My original video from the day before that includes the real victims - not the faux victim he includes at the end - George W. Bush.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-iC_sN9Rmo

My homepage -
http://www.youtube.com/user/password


I hope you'll write him and share here what you wrote, I'm sure DU'ers can come up with some DUzies for him!

Here's what I wrote him ---

"by REPUBLICAN USA" - except it was stolen from the video archive of Youtube's 'PASSWORD' and horribly mangled at the beginning & end with edits of bush blabbing 3 days later when he "rushed" to the scene (a couple days ahead of Katrina even!) - and in typical rethuglican fashion you blab about praying for the victims WHILE REMOVING THE IMAGES OF THE DEAD AND REPLACING IT WITH AN EXTENDED IMAGE GEORGE W. BUSH!

AGAIN, YOU STOLE MY VIDEO, THAT IS BEYOND PATHETIC - MAKE YOUR OWN VIDEO! Anyone can go to my page and see my untainted video from the day before, oh, and again, nice job removing the victims.

Source: FOX 35 ORLANDO


State House Rep. Arrested
Last Edited: Wednesday, 11 Jul 2007, 5:38 PM EDT

Bob Allen, a Republican, represents District 32 of the State House of Representatives. The district spans parts of Brevard and Orange counties. Allen was first elected to the office in 2000.
Titusville police say they have arrested Florida State Rep. Robert "Bob" Allen, of Merritt Island, on second degree misdemeanor charges for solicitation for prostitution.

Allen, 48, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at Veteran's Memorial Park on East Broad St. in Titutsville. The park was under surveillance by a detail of undercover police officers.

Officers say they noticed Allen acting suspicious as he went in and out of the men's restroom 3 times. Minutes later, he solicited an undercover male officer inside the restroom, offering to perform oral sex for $20. Officers realized he was a public figure after the arrest.



Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Ho...

---

The person that wrote the above article missed a TON of "T"'s in the text, so I corrected it. That's Fox for you.

Allen's not a giant fish in the pond, but big enough, so add this to the armchairsubversives.com list of Republicans busted, amazing he'd do this right after Vitter being in the news -

and yes, it's a GAY sex bust - fitting. FL is full of these Right Wing Self Haters, here me in Miami? (cough cough, inside joke)
This is breaking in Orlando...

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<--- top '08 items & antib*sh stickers!

send to all your Repub friends and people on the fence (secretly if you have to!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8aOiMmekGk

The former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO tells us in no uncertain terms that Bush was on a march 5 years ago to take down all the bad guys in the mid-east and took his eyes off Afghanistan and Saddam to our peril!

This video is kick ass, and inspires unlike anything I've seen Wes do so far!

Unfortunately, millions are watching John Hagee preach his lovely brand of Christofascist hate.


"The United Nations is the united nothing!" to applause from the warmongering "Christian" sheeple in the pews.

John said there are over a billion Islamics, but...... "there are over 200 million Islamofascists".

He is going on a terror of his own, not even claiming that he's preaching peace, but instead he's preaching that the US military "do everything they can" to "CONQUER" the enemy.

I am ashamed, as a Christian, to have this man associated with my Faith... he is nothing that a Christian should be, he isn't humble, he's gluttonous, and he's vitriolic and spiteful.

Oh, how did he finish off before I changed the channel? "if you read the papers or watch FOX News", and to mass applause, "for 8 years Bill Clinton didn't do a bit of good", "when he hit a few sand dunes" bombing the empty terror camp.

Yet, so many sit there like sheeple, instead of standing up for what's right and walking out, as I've done many times in churches or functions that I found fraudulent, and the lovers of war continue to foam at the mouth while the hatred and warmongering is preached! He should be preaching about how Christ can save your soul, not preaching politics.

John Hagee says, as one of the highest paid TV evangelists at a million or more a year, "I deserve every dime I'm getting." He has been under federal investigation for his finances, but of course the sheeple continue to pump millions into his coffers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hagee (maybe someone that could add a controversy section could put his bullshit "preaching" from today in there).

JOHN HAGEE, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION.

I gave them a rebuke at: support@jhm.org

I ask every DU'er to please say thank you to Keith Olbermann for Countdown's #1 story tonight, "Special Comment". It was a very eloquent presentation directed to, and about, Donald Rumsfeld's Nazi-like attack on those who question the sitting government.

Keith, we have your back, and you make us proud to be citizens when people of your courage speak up on national television and slam the government's actions. The hateful words used by the current Secretary of Defense, calling us intellectually & morally challenged, are an offense to democracy and the right to question one's government.

THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US BELOW...

See or read it, below:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240 /
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/08/30/k... /
"V"

http://video.yahoo.com/video/group?gid=g_9...
I found myself losing it! The video poses a good question about b*ush, "what does it DO, this thingamabob? it's the CrAzIeSt thing that we ever saw!"

I'd love to play this for my republican Aunt... of course, she'd never speak to me again. hmmmm.. (ponders)