And this from GREG is OZ-Land

Katter chatter - gay marriage and politics

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 11:28 PM

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What a hoot!
Today our parliament considers gay marriage, ....waiting on the news, but not holding breath for half a second, we've a long way to go here in Oz yet for that to happen.

But, you may recall Gary and I mentioned our red-neck politician Bob Katter and his hateful words etc, well it turns out that his half brother is ....wait for it...GAY!!!

What's more he is working with StandUp to get things changed.

http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/marriage-equality/carlkatter/call-your-mp?t=dXNlcmlkPTEwMTkzOTMsZW1haWxpZD0zMTA=

Cheers,
Greg

Homophobia Alive and Well Down-Under

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 11:44 PM

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G'day JustinO,

 

The other day I sent you a link to a GetUp story about homophobia in Oz politics, in particular a quote from independent MP Bob Katter who said that the idea of legalizing gay marriage deserves to be ridiculed and laughed at. Bob's brother Carl, who is gay, has a different view, and has spoken out in public against his brother's homophobic hatred. After you watch Carl's video, watch him interviewed by veteran interviewer George Negus on national television.

 

http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/marriage-equality/carlkatter/call-your-mp?t=dXNlcmlkPTU4MTkwOCxlbWFpbGlkPTMwOA==

 

Gary

Yearning . . . .

A yearning for things lost

A tip of the hat to Andrew Sullivan for directing us to this lovely passage from a recent essay by Tony Woodlief at Image Journal:

We are god-obsessed because we have lost God or we are running from God or we are hopelessly seeking Him, and maybe all of these at once.

We are god-obsessed the way a child snatched from his mother will always have his heart and flesh tuned to her, even after he forgets her face. Cover the earth with orphans and you will find grown men fashioning images of mothers and worshipping strong women and crafting myths about mothers who have left or were taken or whose spirits dwell in the trees.

And at the edges of their tribal fires will stand the anthropologist and the philosopher, reasoning that all this mother-talk is simply proof that men are prone to invent stories about mothers, which is itself proof that no single story about a mother could be true, which is proof that the brain just evolved to work that way.

Richard sent this along. . ..some news of the finale of Carnivale 2011. . . enjoy!  ;-))

Notes from Land's End: Aug. 22 :: Parties :: Provincetown.com
Source: provincetown.com

Just in time, the skies cleared, bringing sunshine and light to this years glorious Cant Stop the Music Carnival Parade . . .

THE NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

News, Analysis, Opinion On Gay Rights And Marriage Equality

Hate Crime: 19-Year Old Kicked, Beaten To Death As Anti-Gay Slurs Hurled

by David Badash on August 22, 2011

in Bigotry Watch,Discrimination,Hate Crimes,News

A 19-​year old teen, Marcellus Andrews, was kicked and beaten to death early Friday morning in Waterloo, Iowa, as anti-​gay slurs were hurled by as yet unknown assailants. The teen was taken off life support Saturday after spending the night in the hospital. Andrews had been waiting at a friend’s house when a group drove up in a truck and hurled anti-​gay slurs at the teen. No one knows why the mob attacked Andrews, but it is apparent they new him as they knew his name.
Via the WCF Courier:

“Officers and paramedics said they found Andrews unconscious with severe head injuries in the early morning hours Friday.
“Andrews, who was slated to start studying interior design at Hawkeye Community College, spent part of Thursday practicing with members of the Crusaders, a drill team sponsored by Union Missionary Baptist Church. He led the step team for the group, which was days away from competing in March Against Darkness.
“[A witness] said the problems started at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when she and Tudia Simpson, her cousin, went for a walk down the street. Andrews opted to stay behind, waiting on the enclosed porch, she said.
“The two women hadn’t made it as far as Adams Street a block away when they heard yelling back at the house. They ran back and found a truck stopped in the street, and the occupants were taunting Andrews, calling him “faggot” and “Mercedes,” a feminization of his first name, Simpson said.”
“I tried to help him up, and then this boy ran back and kicked him in his face,” Nakita Wright said.
“After the brawl ended, she tried helping Andrews to his feet. He appeared dazed. She grabbed one arm and coaxed him as she lifted. He pushed up with his other arm, but then gave up.
“Nakita Wright dialed 911.”

A Facebook page has been set up in his memory.
(Hat tip: Towleroad)

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Scott_Rose 50p · 3 hours ago

Now let's see - who went running around Iowa recently, fanning the flames of anti-gay hatred? Could it have been NOM's Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown, along with Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, and Rick Santorum? Did this hate crime victim not die in Michele Bachmann's hometown?

MYSTERY RESOLVED

Gaddafi Found Running for Republican Nomination

Monday, August 22, 2011 6:57 PM

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G'day JustinO,

CONCORD, NH (The Borowitz Report) – The mystery surrounding Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s whereabouts was resolved today as the dictator announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in a town hall meeting in Concord, New Hampshire.

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

Gary

OBAMA and DEPORTATION CASES

US will undertake case-by-case review of deportation cases

The Obama administration said yesterday that they will indefinitely delay deporting many illegal immigrants who don't have criminal records and will offer them a chance to apply for a work permit. Deportation efforts will instead focus on convicted criminals and those who might be a national security or public safety threat.

AZcentral.com:

The policy change will mean a case-by-case review of approximately 300,000 illegal immigrants facing possible deportation in federal immigration courts, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.... "...From a law enforcement and public safety perspective, DHS enforcement resources must continue to be focused on our highest priorities," Napolitano wrote a group of senators involved in supporting immigration legislation. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter.
"Doing otherwise hinders our public safety mission -- clogging immigration court dockets and diverting DHS enforcement resources away from the individuals who pose a threat to public safety."

The New York Times says that the new policy is expected to help thousands of illegal immigrants who came to the United States as young children, graduated from high school and want to go on to college or serve in the armed forces.:

Under the new policy, the secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, can provide relief, on a case-by-case basis, to young people who are in the country illegally but pose no threat to national security or to the public safety. The decision would, through administrative action, help many intended beneficiaries of legislation that has been stalled in Congress for a decade. The sponsor of the legislation, Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, has argued that “these young people should not be punished for their parents’ mistakes.”

Directives given to agents will give authorities the chance to keep some cases from even reaching the court system.
AZcentral.com:

The message to agents in the field, the official said, would be "you do not need to put everyone you come across in the system...." ...In June, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent a memo to agents outlining when and how they could use discretion in immigration cases. That guidance also covered
The memo from John Morton also suggested that agents consider how long someone has been in the United State, whether that person's spouse or children are U.S. citizens and whether or not that person has a criminal record.
A senior administration official said delaying deportation decisions in cases for some noncriminals would allow the quicker deportation of serious criminals. The indefinite stay will not give illegal immigrants a path to legal permanent residency, but will let them apply for a work permit.