22 December 2012. Senator Daniel Inouye… A Man of Honour, A Man of Respect… and A Principled Man Thirsty for Justice

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Vigilance abroad doesn’t require us to abandon our ideals or the rule of law at home. On the contrary, without our principles and without our ideals, we’ve little that’s special or worthy to defend.

Daniel Inouye

US Senator (D-HI)

President pro tempore of the US Senate

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We remember a man who inspired all of us with his courage, and moved us with his compassion, that inspired us with his integrity and who taught so many of us… including a young boy growing up in Hawaii… that America has a place for everyone. May God bless Daniel Inouye. May God grant us more souls like his.

Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

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I remember introducing my children to [Inouye] and telling them, “I wish I could be more like that man. He’s a better man than I am”. I think his physical courage was matched by his moral courage. I don’t know anybody else that I can say that of.

Joseph Biden

Vice President of the United States of America

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Daniel Inouye advocated for the rights of all Americans… regardless of the colour of their skin, or where their parents were born, or what their religion was. He was blessed. He had work to do here amongst us, and he stayed until that work was done. As Ecclesiastes says, there’s “a time to every purpose”, and this was Dan’s time. The 24th Psalm asks, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart”. That’s Daniel Inouye… pure of heart, clean of hand.

During his 1968 convention speech, Dan taught the nation that “aloha” doesn’t just mean “hello”, and it doesn’t just mean “goodbye”. It also means, “I love you”. “Aloha” was Dan’s last word. So, I say to my friend in return, “Daniel Ken Inouye, aloha. I love you… and goodbye until we meet again”.

Harry Reid

US Senator (D-NV)

Majority Leader of the US Senate

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Senator Inouye devastated the loudmouthed liar Oliver North at the Iran-Contra hearings with simple truth and decency. I wonder why Fox News didn’t tell you that about their “news star?” Senator Inouye had a love of fairness, truth, and justice… that led him to be leftist on social issues, but strong on military preparedness and law-and-order, too. That is, leftists aren’t only patriots, but also strong and heartfelt patriots, much more so than the rightwing loudmouths who send their money abroad to avoid legit taxation, who send jobs abroad to fatten their profits, and who refuse to serve in the wars that they advocate so stridently.

The rightwing lies have to cease… but they won’t. I’ve come to the conclusion that the teabaggers and greedsters are beyond the reach of rational discussion… the only thing that decent people can do is to oppose them at every juncture, with all that God has given us in the way of talent. We must face them down at the barricades… that’s what Senator Inouye would’ve done… and show them no quarter until their evil programme lies in the dust, dead and gone… the good Senator would’ve done that too. That’s how we can honour Senator Dan’s legacy… and I’m NOT alone in thinking that way.

Jonathan del Arco wrote in the HuffPost (don’t lecture me about del Arco being gay… I know it… what of it? The truth’s the truth, no matter who speaks it):

The nation has no idea yet what a great leader and cornerstone of our democracy we’ve lost this week. As it was also his style not to call too much attention to himself, he tended to flow under the radar of DC politics. Rest in peace, Senator. You were a great man for all the ages, and I hope we can carry your example of bravery, integrity, and patriotism.

Truer words were never spoken… there’s nothing to add to that. Aloha, Senator Dan… may God receive you.

BMD

22 November 2012. RIA-Novosti Infographics. Thanksgiving Day Tradition and History

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Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. The history of this holiday goes back to one of the first English settlements in America in 1620. Escaping from religious persecution, a group of English Puritans known as “Pilgrims” set off on a dangerous journey, they hoped to find long-awaited freedom in the New World. Their first year in their new homeland was very severe. The settlers had to endure hunger, cold, misery, and disease. After a harsh winter, during which about half of the group died, they learned from neighbouring Indians how to grow corn and other crops adapted to local conditions, to distinguish edible from poisonous plants, which springs had drinkable water, and where the best hunting trails and fishing spots were. In autumn 1621, the colonists gathered a good crop for which they have decided to thank the Lord with a festive meal. This was the first-ever Thanksgiving Day. For a long time, it was an unofficial holiday. However, in 1789, the first US President, George Washington, proclaimed Thanksgiving Day a national holiday, and he requested the Congress to set a date, 26 November, a Thursday. Later, the date of the holiday changed, but one thing remains unchanged… the respect and consideration that Americans give to a date that’s closely connected with their faith and history.

22 November 2012

RIA-Novosti

http://en.rian.ru/infographics/20121122/177670617.html

 

21 April 2012. Here’s How to Support Halki…

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A friend sent me this:

Christ is Risen!

Please take a few minutes and study this e-mail to support the re-opening of Halki! We need 5,000 letters in order for the President and our Congress to take us seriously. We have two weeks to get these letters in the mail so please distribute this link to as many as possible. Here’s the link:

http://hellenicleaders.com/ OpenHalki

Please, join me, and many others, in support of Religious Freedom for the Church of Constantinople. This link,  http://hellenicleaders.com/ OpenHalk will empower you to send a letter directly to President Obama asking him to insist on the reopening of Halki Seminary. Send this to lots of your friends and fellow clergy, and maybe put something in it in the Bulletin. How wonderful would it be to see this successful!

Yours in Christ,

Olenka Zharsky

18 January 2012. I SUPPORT This… OPPOSE the Republican Rape of the Internet and Your Personal Freedom!

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I just received this in my inbox:

Today, Mozilla is joining the virtual strike against Internet censorship… along with others like Wikipedia and Google… to raise awareness of US Congress legislation that could fundamentally alter the Internet we know and love. This harmful legislation, called the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate, will be voted on as early as 24 January in the Senate. If you live in the USA, there’s still time to help stop these bills from becoming law. Please visit mozilla.org/sopa for information on the bill, and on ways you can reach out to your senators. What makes this legislation so bad? Here’s how it’d change the Web:

• Communication platforms… from YouTube to Facebook to Amazon… could be shut down if a single rights holder alleges a violation.
• It’d make the Web less stable and less secure.
• Social networking sites, like Twitter or Facebook, could be forced to track and control user behavior, stunting innovation and undermining free expression.
• Your Internet provider could be required to inspect all of your traffic and browsing.

Visit mozilla.org/sopa right now for information… and make your voice heard before it’s too late. Please, join today’s strike, and help protect the Internet.

Sincerely,

Jane & Winston

Editors

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There’s nothing to add, save to remind you to register to vote as soon as possible, make sure that your ID’s up to date (the GOP pigs intend to question all ID’s this November in an attempt to minimise votes for President Obama), and get out and VOTE AGAINST THE GOP this November. Otherwise, you’ll have a dictatorship of the affluent, for the affluent, by the affluent. After all, Mitt Romney only pays 15 percent of his income in taxes, now… if he wins, it’ll be significantly less. Where’s the money to run the government to come from? From YOU, of course… you don’t deserve a living wage, you don’t deserve healthcare, and you don’t deserve a free internet… the Republican Party says so.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED! I will… what about YOU?

BMD