I am so excited for Sarah and her family. I hope she can get the medical attetion she seriously needs, and that perhaps Iran will realize that to get the goodwill intentions they yearn for at the UN General Assembly, they will need to release ALL of the hikers.
Iran's intelligence minister said on Sunday he had no doubt three U.S. citizens arrested last July near the Iraq border are spies and called on Washington to propose a prisoner swap to secure their release.
I was randomly watching Animal Planet the other day.. and I saw this video. It almost makes me cry everytime, how awesome is that dog?!
.. and then I see video like this, and I just get mad. Really?!
The other day, Octavia Nasr from CNN tweated (@OctaviaNasrCNN) this article, about the Niqāb (aka: Burqa). I thought it was really interesting.. check it out!
From Times Online July 21, 2009The niqab, fact v fiction
How much do you really know about the niqab?
An insider guide to common misconceptions
Fatima Barkatulla 185 Comments
Recommend? (69)
1.The niqab is a symbol of female subjugation.
None of the niqab-wearing women who I know, wear it because they have been forced to. They see it as an act of devotion to their Creator: the culmination of a spiritual journey. In fact most of them are women who were born and brought up in the UK; many are White or Afro-Caribbean Muslim converts to Islam who have chosen to observe it. The hijab, niqab and abaya are outer garments and are worn only when outdoors or in the presence of men who are not close relatives and so, contrary to popular belief, underneath their robes, in family and female-only settings Muslim women are often very fashion conscious and outgoing. They dress in everyday clothing; they get their hair done, go on holiday and even buy lingerie!2. Women who wear the niqab cannot possibly contribute to society
People are surprised to hear that niqab-wearers come from varied vocational backgrounds. They include doctors, teachers, dentists, authors, social workers, university graduates, lecturers and more. They usually prefer to work in a female environment and so would not wear the face-veil all the time. Other women say that wearing the niqab actually makes them feel more comfortable when they are working with men. It is ironic that the very women who are the subject of debate are far from being a burden on society: they don’t get drunk and disorderly, don’t smoke and are likely to be very good citizens. Many of them are full-time mothers who take pride in raising well-educated children who will be an asset to British society.
3. The niqab isn’t in the Qur’anThe Qur’anic worldview presents a complete system of living, which permeates the daily lives of observant Muslims....
Today is a good day.
Today we have gotten just a little closer to where I think we should be.
Closer to a place where maybe this healthcare bill, can set us free.
Yay for Friday! What are you doing this weekend?
haha, I kid, I kid..
I haven't REALLY written about politics for awhile, because, frankly, it gives me a headache. I truly believe in our President, I do. And I believe that most people in Washington, are really there to make a difference, and to change things. Perhaps its not how I think it should be done, but I think their hearts are in the right place. Maybe that just makes me seem idealistic, or naive or something, but that's how I feel.
However, what is going on with the no-communication, no-Bipartisanship stuff? I don't think its just one party's fault either, I think all of Washington right now is to blame. I have to say, I wanted the Democrats to use their majority, I wanted them to do what I feel is right, and pass the health care bill. But I also see that they went about it all wrong, and now we have to live with those consequences. Nevertheless, they're not the only ones that are guilty. This "say no" political party of tea-partying Republicans is driving me completely crazy! I heard someone say that they'll just say no for 3 years, until Obama's gone, because they don't want to help the Democrats get anything done. Seriously?! If that's the case, and all we care about is winning the election in 3 freakin' years, then maybe our government is truly broken.
On a slightly different note, did you see that Ron Paul won the Straw Poll at the CPAC Convention this weekend? Really! RON PAUL?! I'll have to leave that rant for a different day.
Today is President's Day. And President Barack H Obama is my President, he's the first, and only President that I have ever really believed in. I voted for him twice, once to choose him to be the Democratic candidate, and once to choose him to become this nation's President. Is he perfect? Absolutely not. Has he done everything he needs to? Not yet.
Do I believe that he's doing the best he can, and that his heart is in the right place?
Most Definitely.
Amir Sadeghi was arrested in Tehran by Iranian Security Forces.
Iranian security forces arrested one of our Photographers, "Amir Sadeghi"
at the office of Farhang-e-Ashti newspaper in tehran.
The number of journalists arrested in Iran has reached to 55 persons.
With hope for freedom of all prisoners.
As many of you know, I've been sick this past week. I wasn't sure why, until I watched the coverage about this special lady, that I can't stand, and it ALL made sense.
Can you believe she had to have notes on her hand? HER HAND?! For a Q&A session, done right after she mocked President Obama for using a teleprompter at speeches.
Sigh.. I got in trouble for that, writing on my hand that is, in oh ya know, 4th grade.
Even Robert Gibbs mocked her.
I LOVE Bill Clinton.. and I wish he would have had a son, instead of Chelsea.. because seriously, I think we'd be meant to be.
I believe in democracy, I do.. I believe in voting, and that everyone should do it. But, I really wish that the republican craze hadn't taken over Massachusetts. I'm pissed. And, I'm sure Teddy is too! My hope now is that, as some reports said today, that they might attempt to just pass the Senate Health care Bill through the House, before Sen-Elect (I already hate him) Brown of Massachusetts shows up in Washington.
Teddy Kennedy was one of my very favorite politicians. I love him.. and, I'm scared to death today that Massachussetts is going to turn its back on him, and everything he stood for. They made him one of the longest serving Senators. Ever. One would assume he adequately represented them, and their beliefs. So what changed?
So here's to Teddy, and to keeping Teddy's fight for Health care alive. I pray that Massachussetts will do that today. Because if not, that just makes my stomach hurt with anxiety.
So...
Today is World Aids Day. It has been TWENTY FIVE , 25! years since HIV/AIDS first reared its ugly head. 25 years. The world of science has brought us very far, people that were once sentenced to death once they were diagnosed with HIV, are now able to live long, normal lives. At least in the modern Western world.
I personally get very angry when I think about how not fair it is for people in underdeveloped countries don't get the same benefits as those in this country. I get very angry when I think about how the pharmaceutical companies raise their prices higher and higher each year, inadvertently causing the deaths each year.
However, there are organizations out there, like the (RED) Campaign, the ONE campaign, and WorldVision, that are able to provide help to those people. Did you know that many people with HIV die of Tuberculosis? TB! A disease that in the United States, barely even exists.
So please, on this World AIDS Day, take a minute to listen to the 2 videos below. Listen to Bono talk about the (RED) campaign, and perhaps make a donation. The really cool thing about (RED) is you can make a donation, through buying merchandise you already want. Like my (RED) campaign Ipod, for example. Click here for more information on The (RED) Campaign: joinred.com, you can also check out the (RED) blog here.
(Bono's message is for the UK.. so he speaks of pence (pennies), and the chemist (the pharmacy).. so don't let that ruin his message).
And Princess Kasune Zulu, of Zambia, urges you to call your Congressional representatives this World AIDS Day. Let them know that AIDS is NOT a political disease, and the world does not have time to play political games. The United States must keep its promise. We all must keep our promise, why were you lucky enough to be born in a well developed country? Why was I? And why wasn't she? I don't understand the answer to why... but I sincerely believe that EVERYONE needs to do their part, to end such calamities. On this, the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day, let's do our part, and think of how cool it will be, to not have to celebrate the 40th Anniversary: because we won't need it.
PS: Starbucks is also helping out today, so if you get a chance stop by a Starbucks! They're donating 5¢ to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa for every hand-crafted beverage sold (meaning that it excludes ready-to-drink beverages and Ethos® Water), so basically any coffee or hot chocolate that they MAKE for you will be applicable! Do it!!
Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua FattalI'm mad. I'm so annoyed at Rep Matheson of Utah! He has already come out to say he will not be voting for the House Bill tomorrow. Oh ya know the big important one that would be life changing in a GOOD way for Americans. We are the only big powerful country that does not provide health care equally to everyone. We don't even try. Totally pisses me off, and makes me sad for having elected him to where he is ~ blue dog = hurl.
PS: Swine flu makes me irritable!
Read more...
Holiday today. Today is Guy Fawkes Day! So we must remember, remember the 5th of November.. if none of you crazies know what I'm talking about, and I know PinkNic knows, because I borrowed her celebratory picture for Guy Fawkes Day, which hopefully doesn't make her crazy and go blow up Parliament. (that's what Guy and his friends attempted). I think that in my swineyness.. I'm going to watch V for Vendetta today. Since that's the only way for me to celebrate, in England they get fireworks and sparklers, and yummy food. Yeah.. not in Sandy Utah, but I love V for Vendetta.Last week, when I heard that there were American hikers under Iranian custody, I got nervous. I'm still nervous. Isn't it sad the way that in these big International problems, somehow private citizens always get caught in the middle? I vote for former President Bill Clinton to go over and talk to Ahmadinejad about these hikers and getting them released. It worked with Kim Jong Il right? Speaking of which, the footage of Laura Ling and Euna Lee coming home, and seeing their families after so long, made me sob. Little Hana Lee would not let go of her mom. Good job Bill! I knew when I heard he was going to North Korea that he would be bringing the journalists home. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here for a slide show).
The following is the Huffington Post's article, released this morning, that the United States' government has confirmed that Iran does have the American's in custody. As if Iran/American relations couldn't get any more complicated..
.. Here's sending good vibes and prayers to Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal.
Hikers In Iranian Custody, Government Confirms
The Americans strayed into Iran while hiking in the mountains of Kurdish territory in neighboring Iraq.
President Barack Obama's national security adviser, James Jones, said that as of Sunday morning, the Iranian government has confirmed it has them in custody.
U.S. and Kurdish officials say the Americans accidentally entered Iran across the poorly marked border on July 31.
Reports from Iran have said Tehran was looking into whether the three were spying for the United States. But until Jones' comment, there had not been any official Iranian government confirmation that the three were in custody.
Jones spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press."
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| 08/ 9/09 09:36 AM |
WASHINGTON — The White House says Iran has confirmed it has three American hikers in custody.