Crimes Against Humanity

If there was somebody out there who led a group that backed raping children and promoted actions that were proven to cause death, then it would seem that humanity might want to do something.  And now, it seems that somebody is doing something.  A 16,500 word document outlining the charges has been submitted to the International Criminal Court at the Hague.  (The New Civil Rights Movement)

And just who is facing the charges of these crimes against humanity?  That would be - Pope Benedict XVI.  He is being charged for his "part in the Vatican’s pedophile priests molestation and rape scandals, and the Vatican’s 'adherence to a fatal forbiddance of the use of condoms, even when the danger of HIV-Aids infection exists'".


The Pope said in his end of year message to Cardinals that pedophilia wasn't considered an "absolute evil."  Did anybody ask the kids if it was?   And in light of the global AIDS crisis, "the behavior of the church has been immoral and irresponsible."


Benedict has a few issues with same-sex marriages, too, although he doesn't see marriage as a God-given right.  He just thinks that same-sex marriages are 'penalizing' opposite-sex marriages.  AmericaBlog’s Joe Sudbay thinks that "Catholic leaders in America...should start worrying about the crimes committed by their boss."


Catholics in America are a part of humanity, too.

Out of Balance

Mother Jones has some interesting graphs out today.  Something about the difference between the haves and the have nots.  "The richest 10% controls 2/3 of America's net worth."  (MotherJones.com)


What it is, what we think it is and what we wished it was.

It looks a lot out of balance...

The GOP vs The Women

It has been a rough season for women.  House Republicans have proposed to cut Title X funds, which provided - among other things - family planning.  WSJ.com)And the other things?   Well, there is also cancer screenings to help prevent breast and cervical cancer and HIV counseling.  The Title X program was signed into law in 1970 by Richard Nixon, who proclaimed that "no American woman should be denied access to family planning assistance because of her economic condition."  Now, American women can just forget it.


So, the GOP doesn't want to 'fund' family planning.  Thank Goodness they haven't given up entirely on birth control issues, though.  "A Republican representative has introduced a spending bill amendment aimed at promoting the use of contraception – by horses. (Politico.com) They want to do this instead of gathering and penning the animals to keep them from over-populating.


Condoms for horses?  Interesting concept.  Then again, penning up men who sexually assault might be more effective then Planned Parenthood ever could be.

Sombody stopped reading...

It does say in the OLD Testament things about homosexuality. 

Leviticus 18:22 (New International Version, ©2010)
Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable


And this man decided to have it posted on his arm:

But what this guy didn't do, was continue reading the Book of Leviticus.

Leviticus 19:28 (New International Version, ©2010)

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.


Hate only goes to Chapter 18... didn't have to go all the way to Chapter 19...

What is Bad for Society?

In the current atmosphere, it could be lack of jobs or lack of money.  In Wisconsin it seems to be collective bargaining.  But, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, single mothers are what's ruining America.  (HuffingtonPost.com)

2,691 adults were also asked about gay and lesbian couples, unmarried couples raising children, mothers of young children who work outside the home, inter-racial unions, and mothers choosing not to have children.  But it was the single moms that an overwhelming number of people still believe are bad for society.


There are some children out there who were raised by a single mom that probably were bad.  Billy the Kid, Saddam Hussein, Adolph Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Manson to name a few. 

But there have to be others who were 'successfully' raised by a single parent.  There are two I know of who both are successfully in college... and what about this list:

Alexander Haig Jr., Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Julia Roberts and Angelina Jolie.


Now, of the 2,691 adults, those that had the bad feelings for single mothers were more religious, tended to be more Republican and more conservative in their political views.  That makes sense, considering the House Republicans voted this past week to defund Planned Parenthood, which could have helped prevent some single mothers.  (WashingtonPost.com)

That's bad for society.

It's Not what is Said

It's really just who says it.  And if Michelle Obama says anything, be sure that Sarah Palin will step up and loudly disagree with her.  But this time, good Ol' Sarah should have read her own previous statements before disagreeing with Ms. Obama.


Back in 2007, as Governor of Alaska, Ms. Palin stated that the government has a "vested interest in protecting and promoting breastfeeding as a means of preventing infant malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality."   This past week, Ms. Obama said "Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive measures mothers can take to protect their children's and their own health."  (HuffingtonPost.com)


Sort of sounds the same.  Protecting childrens' health would help prevent mortality.  But at a gathering of business officials on Thursday, Palin took a shot at the First Lady's breastfeeding initiative, saying it was only the high price of milk that should compel women.  (HuffingtonPost.com)


A few questions come up with this.  Like, was there really a time that the Mama Grizzly thought that "big government" should be in the middle of a family?  Or how about, why is she talking to business officials about breastfeeding?


The biggest question, though... How much did they pay her to talk to them about it??

You Can Google That

Google is a very powerful tool.  And with its PageRank option it is able to rank the popularity of things on the web.  The more hyperlinks to a page the more important that page is and the higher it appears on the list of Google results.  And when you are looking for something, it is best to have the most important things first.


Now, if you are planning on running for president in say the next two years, it would be very important to have your Facebook page, your campaign page or some articles about your presidential run pop up first.  But, if you have pissed off a columnist with a wide readership, you might be in a little bit of trouble.


Rick Santorum is in that little bit of trouble.  Santorum, a former Pennsylvania Senator, is planning a run in 2012.  But back in 2003 he compared homosexuality to bestiality and pedophilia.  Dan Savage, a gay, syndicated sex columnist took offense and started a contest to "memorialize the scandal" and asked his readers for suggestions for slang terms.  And the term that won:  "the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex."  (MotherJones.com)

So, Savage launched a website describing Santorum as the "frothy mixture" and it rose in Google rankings when bloggers linked to it.  Ahhh, the power of an algorithm.  Now, this website usually outdoes Santorum's own campaign site in search results. (SpreadingSantorum.com)

Gonna make it a bit tough to get the straight, conservative vote...

What's a Bieber?

That is a good question.  And one of the scariest headlines today?  "Bieber talks sex, politics and puberty." (CNN.com)  He was born in 1994, so of those three, the only thing he might be able to talk about is puberty, although he ain't out of it yet.  He's also unimpressed with the American health care system. (FoxNews.com)

His fans are barely out of elementary school, but they send out hateful tweets when this Bieber thing doesn't win a Grammy.  "Congrats u ppl! U just crushed a 16yr old boys dreams...hope ur proud of urselves! -_- #JustinDeservedIt" (Pop2it) A 16yr old boy??  Or maybe it is a girl talking about a 16yr old boy?


Well, Ozzy still has the best question.  "What's a Bieber?" And maybe, just have to give this Bieber thing some credit... He did respond with "I don't know, but it kind of looks like a girl." (MTV.com)

Good Answer

Justifiable

"Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong?"  This statement is probably directed at capital punishment more than anything.  But the outright killing of any living, walking human being is wrong.  There are some who think that killing any fetus for any reason is wrong, too.  But, abortion currently is a federally protected right - a choice.


Now, in South Dakota, things might be changing.  "A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of 'justifiable homicide' to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus."  (MotherJones.com)  So, killing abortion providers would be legal in South Dakota.  And not just the woman getting the abortion would be justified.  Theoretically, a "woman's father, mother, son, daughter, or husband to kill anyone who tried to provide that woman an abortion—even if she wanted one."


South Dakota already has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S.  There are no local providers there since 1994.  And Planned Parenthood has flown in providers from out of state once a week to help the women of South Dakota.


Amazing where this conservative slant of life is leading this country.  Someday, bartenders might be justifiably shot for DUI related deaths, and fastfood restaurants for deadly diabetes or heart attacks.

The Truth is Out There

Well, maybe... Recently Us Weekly quoted Sarah Palin demanding that Christine Aguilera be deported for her horrible rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl.  But, poor Sarah never said that.  She says she actually told people to "back off" of their critisism.  Us Weekly apologized saying "Oopsies... our bad!"  (FoxNews.com)

In another falsehood, "Sarah Palin" showed up at the Conservative Political Action Committee meeting.  But poor Sarah said she wasn't going to CPAC this year, and although this woman looked and dressed like the "famous Republican" Sarah didn't go.  [A] staff member escorting the woman around confirmed that, despite her similarity, this was not the real former governor. (MSNBC)


Former Governor.  The truth is today is Ms. Palin's birthday.  And a blogger at HillBuzz.com had to wish a "Happy 47th Birthday to Our 45th President: Sarah Palin."  All throughout the post - and in the comments - Sarah was referred to as "Governor" and the "Next President". (HillBuzz.org)


Definitely, no truth in either of those...

Does Anybody Get To Be a Hero??

There are certain people who probably should not be lauded on license plates.  Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden probably wouldn't make it on the tail end of some cars.  But, the State of Mississippi and the Sons of Confederate Veterans think that the former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard should have his place on state license plates.  NYDailyNews.com

"Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, notorious for leading a massacre of black Union soldiers and leading the KKK in its early days, would appear on the plates in 2014."  And the state's chapter of the NAACP doesn't agree.  And like Hussein and bin Laden, they think the KKK is a terrorist group.


Wonder if the Sons of Confederate Veterans realize that a 100 year old dead man can't run for president... (note the bumper sticker)

There is an APP for that

Really, there is almost an App for everything these days.  This new one is good though.  It is a "Confession" app.  No more sitting in the darkened confessional, spewing the act of contrition to the priest. 


"Confession: A Roman Catholic App" offers check boxes for sins, guides through the Ten Commandments and then gives sample text for telling a real-life priest (which is required for real absolution of the sins).  But, the Vatican doesn't like it. 

The Vatican doesn't think that a computer should be used as a confessor.  "I must stress to avoid all ambiguity, under no circumstance is it possible to 'confess by iPhone'," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said. (HuffingtonPost)

Well, for many, getting the sins out in under 140 characters might be tough...

4give me Fr 4 I hv sinned... ROFLMAO at friends.

Really?

It is truly amazing how this family takes over the airwaves.  The National Enquirer is reporting that Todd is involved in an extramarital sex scandal with a prostitute.  Sarah told the Christian Broadcasting Network that the President missed the 3am phone call regarding Egypt.  She and her daughter both want to trademark their names.


That might give daughter Bristol something to write about.  Well, that and some dancing thing and being an unwed mother.  But, really?  Bristol Palin is going to write a memoir??  Yep. The "Untitled Bristol Palin Memoir" has a release date set for June 21 and it’s priced at $17.15. (TheCelebrityCafe)  She won't even turn 21 until October this year.  What could she possibly have to write about?


Oh, and the 20 year old also told E News she "probably" will run for office some day. (CNN)  That's scary. Thankfully, at 20 - or even 21 by 2012 - the only office she could run for is Alaska state representative.  The Alaska governor must be at least 30 years old. (City-Data.com)


That gives the world nine years before that could happen.  And 14 years before she could run for president, or Sarah's VP.


Really??

Intellectual Property?

The United States Patent and Trademark Office offers protection for intellectual property.  One of those protections is the trademark.  A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. Having the trademark allows the owner to use it and to bring action concerning it in federal court.  (USPTO.gov)

But what about trademarking your name?  It would allow the use of the little R in circle.  (Although if your name was LISA it would become LISAR).  "A trademark allows a person to take legal action against anyone using a name for a gain without permission, which is why many celebrities do it. (PersonalMoneyStore.com)


Rarely do politicians do it.  So, the question is out there.  Is Sarah Palin really a politician?  Palin recently filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark her name.  She obviously is selling herself and has developed the "Sarah Palin" brand.  They are also trademarking Bristol, who's become something of a celebrity brand in her own right.  But she is definitely more "celebrity" than "politician".   (Yahoo.com)


So, is Sarah(R) a celebrity or a politician?  Is she a presidential hopeful or more the Levi Strauss pair of jeans? 

And really, intellectual Property??

Well, Then Ward and June Would Be Safe

Let's go back to a time when a woman's place is in the home, honoring her husband, keep the institution of marriage safe.  Let's not move forward with money being spent to protect these women from domestic violence in order to preserve and restore marriage.


Well, that is somebody's opinion, anyway.  Phyllis Schlafly is an American politically conservative activist and author who founded the Eagle Forum. (Wikipedia.org)  She is also an anti-feminist.  She thinks that the 1994 Violence Against Women Act that provides $1.6 billion to increase investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women should not be re-authorized.


Because, it is better that marriage is protected instead of any woman who is being beat up by her husband.


But, who is Phyllis Schlafly?  This is the woman who "abandoned her own family to pursue her anti-feminist/conservative career." (LezGetReal)  And as can be seen by her photo, she is older than dirt.

There must be some other things that could be cut out of the national budget besides the protection of abused women.  How about $345 billion that is currently being spent in Afghanistan? (CostofWar)

But marriage is more important than that, right?  Just ask Ward...

A test of faith

Many right wing, ultra-conservative, bible thumpers believe that it is the gay people who are attacking the children.  Why, even homophobic activist Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality declared to Martha Kleder of Concerned Women for America that pedophilia is a "subset of the larger deviancy" of homosexuality.  RightWingWatch.org

But really, is it?  Aren't there others out there who take advantage of children for their own pleasure?  Well, of course there are.  And in just the last week, these "men of faith" - bible readers if not thumpers at the very least - have proven that point.  JoeMyGod

New York: Pastor Michael Clare charged with first degree rape of 12 year-old girl.

Texas: Pastor Larry Gene Martin charged with aggravated sexual assault on a 12 year-old girl.

New Brunswick: Father Albert LeBlanc charged with 40 counts of sexual assault on boys between the ages of seven and eleven.

Florida: Pastor Jason Allen Roberts charged with felony child molestation.

New York: Santeria priest Miguel Leon convicted of child molestation.

Indiana: Father Wayne Wigglesworth sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted molestation of a 15 year-old boy.

Wisconsin: Pastor Travis Gandy pleads no contest to possession of child pornography.

Utah: Pastor Aaron Witcher pleads guilty to two counts of raping a minor.

Michigan: Father Herbert Richey is still working for the Detroit Archdiocese despite having been defrocked for child molestation.


Sort of sounds like pedophilia and molestation are somewhat the "subset" of some Christian deviants, too. 

That's not why priests can't marry though...