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Abstinence-only funding

To the Editor

As a taxpayer, I have personally and publicly thanked Gov. Ted Strickland for his decision not to reapply for federal grants that support “abstinence-only” programs.  According to a poll released earlier this week by Quinnipiac University, I am not alone.  Fifty-three percent of respondents who have children in public school also support this decision.

  We can all agree that any sex education curriculum should be abstinence based, but it cannot be abstinence only. When asked if sex education programs should focus “mainly on the value of abstinence,” “mainly on the value of condoms and contraception use,” or “on both equally” 71 percent said it should focus on both equally. Only 18 percent said “mainly on abstinence.”

Obviously, Ohioans realize that the best way to protect our teens from sexually transmitted disease and unintended pregnancy is to teach medically accurate, age appropriate information about contraception while encouraging them to remain abstinent. 

Giving the voters "poisoned food" to "nourish" democracy

"My report on Being a Poll Worker in Ohio in the May 8, 2007 Election

First I want to say that poll workers are not the problem in our Ohio elections. Of course there may be an incompetent, or sloppy, or even dishonest one here and there. Or one undertrained. But by and large, poll workers are volunteers for Democracy, paid about $100 for 15 or more hours of work, either boring, tedious work or chaotic work, depending upon how popular the particular election is at one's polling location. The poll workers I have seen are dedicated to making sure every registered voter gets to vote and working hard to ensure that everyone's vote will count.

Hell-E-Tubby

http://mattbors.com

For five years we've called it blood for oil

And we've been right. The first of the five "benchmarks" in the war funding bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 10 requires Iraq to pass an oil law.

The law has long been drafted, and it opens up two-thirds of Iraq's oil to ownership by foreign corporations (widely expected to be dominated by U.S. corporations). Congress Members who voted against the bill, including Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Rep. Lynn Woolsey are speaking out against this as theft of Iraq's oil:

If that sounds familiar, it's because the peace movement has been saying it for five years. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win.

Oil workers in Iraq are threatening to strike over this proposed law. And the Iraqi government is listening.

We have a chance to listen too, because from June 4 to June 29, Iraqi labor leaders will be touring the United States to talk about this issue.

The labor movement in the United States is supporting our brothers and sisters in Iraq. Here's an explanation of how the draft oil law privatizes the oil: PDF.  This summary was prepared by U.S. Labor Against the War.

We're making history in Duncan Falls

Duncan Falls, OH. The fifth grade classes at Duncan Falls Elementary School will hold a Solar Cooking Festival on May 22, 2007 from 2:30 PM to 3:15 PM. Over 150 solar unique homemade ovens will be on display and cooking nachos (provided there is enough sunshine). This is the world’s largest display of homemade solar ovens (they are waiting to hear if the solar oven category qualifies for the Guinness Book of World Records). The solar oven project was made possible with the support of Blue Rock Station, Zukebox Pizza, the Muskingum County Community Foundation, and the Muskingum County Master Gardeners.

Teams of students will have created amazing salsa recipes and the atmosphere will be “ripe” with Mexican music as everyone waits for the unveiling of the new permanent solar cooker designed and built just for the school by Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station. Salad fixings, also grown by the fifth graders will be available to accompany the nachos and salsa. Guests should plan to arrive no later than 2:30 PM for the taste testing with the unveiling of the oven will taking place at 3:00 PM.

U.S. space first strike program well underway

In the House of Representatives last week Democratic Party Congress members lead the way to approve money for Star Wars research and development programs in the fiscal year 2008 budget.

Rejecting the recommendations of a sub-committee, Representatives Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and John Larson (D-CT) restored $150 million to Pentagon boost phase missile defense programs, $48 million for future missile defense systems, including space sensors, $12 million more for sea-based sensors and language to allow $160 million for a highly controversial European missile defense site.

Joyfully cheering these moves to ensure continuation of space weapons research and development programs, a pro-space warfare organization called Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) reported in an email that, "This shift of priorities from last week's initial Strategic Subcommittee's markup shows a bipartisan movement accepted by a Democratic Majority to put forward systems to address future threats and to continue to invest into our countries most advanced boost phase missile defense system, the Air Borne Laser."

Can BLUE GRIT win in 2008?

The Democrats think they can smell victory in 2008. A failed war, a polarized economy and a bumbling, unelected White House autocrat---what could bode better for a change of power?

But there's a deeper question, importantly asked by radio talk host Laura Flanders in her book BLUE GRIT ( http://www.lauraflanders.com/ ). Are the Democrats---and the left---savvy, concerned and hip enough to recapture young and working Americans? Can they generate the excitement and commitment to win back national power in a way that can also bring meaningful change?

Or will they remain stuck in what Flanders calls "the penthouse party way of doing things?"

From her popular perch at Air America, Flanders has been demanding that the Democratic Party return to its roots. Her BLUE GRIT cuts to the class core of a party that's been smug, bloated and out of touch. "Democrats and national advocacy groups share a habit of thinking that centralizing money and then shipping out last-minute organizers works. It doesn't."

Gulf War 1 Vet, Tim Coil, arrested for objecting to military recruiting at an Ohio public library - needs our support

Gulf War 1 veteran and conscientious objector, Tim Coil, was arrested for what he considered to be Free Speech in an Ohio public library. Tim and Yvette Coil peacefully objected to military recruiters conducting the business of recruiting in Stow Monroe Falls public library in Stow, Ohio. Believe it or not, the library director called the police and Tim Coil ended up getting arrested!

Tim and Yvette need your support. Yvette is a full-time college student and her husband Tim is on disability. Read detailed background to this whole story at Motherspeak or contact Yvette directly at coilptsd@gmail.com or 330-554-6457

Tim Coil's court date is June 5 at 8:30 am on the second floor of the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court, 2310 2nd St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.

If after reading this, it motivates you to contribute to Tim's legal fees please go to the website donate.

Viewing sin the way it is: source of moral transgression

  Charles Mercieca, Ph.D.
President, International Association of Educators for World Peace
Dedicated to United Nations Goals of Peace Education,
Environmental Protection, Human Rights & Disarmament
Professor Emeritus, Alabama A&M University

The New Webster Dictionary of the English Language describes sin as moral depravity, iniquity, wickedness, offence, and voluntary departure from divine law or command. The same dictionary describes transgression as the breaking or violation of any law. The one involved with such violation is called transgressor, which means an offender or an evildoer. Since sin is generally associated with the divine law, it is viewed as a source of moral aggression.

Divine Law in Perspective

Exclusive: Rep. Maxine Waters speaks out for impeachment

Congresswoman and House Judiciary Committee Member Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) has spoken up in support of impeaching President Bush and Vice President Cheney.  Waters said she advocates impeaching Cheney first, which is the same approach taken by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D., Ohio) in his bill, H. Res. 333.  Waters has not yet cosponsored that bill.

Audio of Rep. Waters' statement:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/watersimpeach.mp3

Rush Transcript:

"I was a member of Congress and I experienced the attempt by the opposite side of the aisle to impeach President Clinton.  President Clinton's impeachment was attempted because of the affair supposedly with Monica Lewinsky.  And if in fact they could bring together articles of impeachment against the President of the United States because of infidelity, certainly we must understand that that pales in comparison to what this President has done.

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