In his recent speech in Cairo, Obama expressed his views on the Israeli- Palestinian problems speaking about his hopes for an independent Palestine, the first time an American President used the term Palestine rather than a state for the Palestinian people. He put down people i.e Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran who is a holocaust denier. He also talked about the wrongness of oppressed people to try to solve their problems through violence directed at innocents. He said the only approach was to continue to directly voice ones opinions and continue on squarely confronting those who are seen as the enemy of freedom. These are my words not his but they are paraphrasing his thoughts. If one uses the analogy which Obama did of African Americans under slavery, I would have to disagree with this peaceful premise. The slave revolts were a good thing in my view. Of course, I am not sure we have an equivalent situation in Palestine and I think the fact that Israel has offered land for peace at various time shows that if both sides really compromised, peace could be at hand.
Obama expects both sides to come to the negotiating table but I wonder who is Israel supposed to deal with in these encounters. Hamas, the political party Israel abhors, seems to be in charge of the Palestinian government along with Abbas the President of Palestine who has little power to make a lasting peace. Hamas, the government entity and the party in power in Palestine would have to accept that Israel is a sovereign state and would have to stop the violent wing of its own party from wartime activities it directs against Israel i.e. suicide bombings, killings, and agitation of its young followers against Israel. It seems a bit naive on Obama's part to act as though there are two clearly equal parties that could make any kind of peace deals. Short of the U.S.A. going in with the help of Israel, and some Arab countries, which is far fetched to say the least to build a nation state in their own images and then saying look what we built for you, now move in and shut up and make nice with Israel. See! Israel has helped to make a nice place for you but you can't have any guns or gunpowder so to speak or an army that can defend itself. The other possibiity is getting Hamas and the PLO and other groups in Palestine to really want to make an all out effort to build a Palestine with some land from Israel instead of eyeing what is mostly now Israel as their only Palestine. That (overthrowing Israel) is out of the question so what is left to do except those possibilities. It is hard to see how either side can agree to anything that realistically leads to a real peace. I hope Obama has something better than what I have proposed in mind.
Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
P.S. I don't claim to be an expert on any level concerning Middle East concerns. I am voicing my fears and concerns as an interested party who is a Peace Now kind of person living in USA.
Monday, June 08, 2009
U.S. Supreme Court Turns Down Challenge on "don't ask, don't tell"
CBS/Fox 12 News
Supreme Court Turns Down 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Challenge
June 8, 2009 at 1:19pm
I
This leaves it up to Obama to make a decision on "Don't Ask, don't Tell". Let's hope he comes up with a positive decision for us soon. It appears Obama wants the Pentagon to come up with a report on the standing policy before he makes his decision. I have no trust that the Pentagon will change its mind though there are some top officials and former top officials who seem to be leaning in our direction i.e. General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State who said no to Clinton when Clinton tried to change course and ended up with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which meant anyone who "came out' could be thrown out and many have been from the military. I have my doubts and worry there will be another compromise in the making. If Obama doesn't come up with a sweeping decision pro Gay Rights in the military, I will lose more faith in him. HIs fan appeal among Gays is diminishing day by day because he looks weak on our issues.
The problem is there is no alternative and the Republicans are worse on this issue. Obama in general looks weak on liberal issues. He seems entrenched in fighting both Wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) and now is expanding his reach into border areas in Pakistan which may or may not be the right thing to do. I have my doubts there too. He claims he is pulling out of Iraq gradually but the progress seems too slow. I know this is not a Gay issue but many LGBT folks are anti-war so it all seems a big package and hard to bear.
Supreme Court Turns Down 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Challenge
June 8, 2009 at 1:19pm
I
in national news:The Supreme Court has turned down a challenge to the pentagon policy forbidding gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, granting a request by the Obama administration.The court said Monday it will not hear an appeal from a former army captain, who was dismissed under the military's ``don't ask, don't tell'' policy.
This leaves it up to Obama to make a decision on "Don't Ask, don't Tell". Let's hope he comes up with a positive decision for us soon. It appears Obama wants the Pentagon to come up with a report on the standing policy before he makes his decision. I have no trust that the Pentagon will change its mind though there are some top officials and former top officials who seem to be leaning in our direction i.e. General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State who said no to Clinton when Clinton tried to change course and ended up with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which meant anyone who "came out' could be thrown out and many have been from the military. I have my doubts and worry there will be another compromise in the making. If Obama doesn't come up with a sweeping decision pro Gay Rights in the military, I will lose more faith in him. HIs fan appeal among Gays is diminishing day by day because he looks weak on our issues.
The problem is there is no alternative and the Republicans are worse on this issue. Obama in general looks weak on liberal issues. He seems entrenched in fighting both Wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) and now is expanding his reach into border areas in Pakistan which may or may not be the right thing to do. I have my doubts there too. He claims he is pulling out of Iraq gradually but the progress seems too slow. I know this is not a Gay issue but many LGBT folks are anti-war so it all seems a big package and hard to bear.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Message I received re Dr. George Tiller's Murder: Please Read
I have known about this man for many years and the bravery he has shown in his service to women. I wanted to pass this info along to you. Mina
I am writing today to share my deep, personal sadness and that of the entire Planned Parenth ood family about the murder of Dr. George Tiller this morning in Kansas.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those close to him who are suffering a personal tragedy.
Dr. Tiller was the epitome of high quality medical care underscored by deep compassion for his patients. While he was not a Planned Parenthood provider, Dr. Tiller provided critical reproductive health care services, including abortion services, to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances. He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career - his clinic was burned down, he was shot by a health center protestor, and he was recently targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago.
None of this stopped George Tiller from his commitment to providing women and their families with compassionate care that others were unwilling to offer.
His death is an enormous loss for the patients who relied on him, his dedicated staff, and the medical community. And it is also a loss for each of us for whom Dr. Tiller represented courage against unbelievable adversity.
Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
I am writing today to share my deep, personal sadness and that of the entire Planned Parenth ood family about the murder of Dr. George Tiller this morning in Kansas.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those close to him who are suffering a personal tragedy.
Dr. Tiller was the epitome of high quality medical care underscored by deep compassion for his patients. While he was not a Planned Parenthood provider, Dr. Tiller provided critical reproductive health care services, including abortion services, to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances. He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career - his clinic was burned down, he was shot by a health center protestor, and he was recently targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago.
None of this stopped George Tiller from his commitment to providing women and their families with compassionate care that others were unwilling to offer.
His death is an enormous loss for the patients who relied on him, his dedicated staff, and the medical community. And it is also a loss for each of us for whom Dr. Tiller represented courage against unbelievable adversity.
Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Video link of Gay Protest March (Prop 8 Decision ) in Long Beach May 26, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8n0pJH1CKA&feature=email
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Ted Olson and David Boies Team Up for Law Suit Supporting Gay Marriage which could go all the way to The U.S. Supreme Court
It appears that former Solicitor General of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton lawyer David Boies are teaming up to take the decision made by the California Supreme Court on Gay Marriage which they oppose to the federal courts. The case could go all the way to the Supeme Court of the United States. Both men, Boies, a determined Democrat, and Olson a died in the wool Republican and well known Conservative believe the California Supreme Court made a terrible error by accepting the legitimacy of Proposition 8 which denies Gay people the right to marry, although the court did allow the 18,000 alredy married same sex married in California to stand. Boies and Olson believe a State proposition cannot legally take away rights already agreed upon and codified by the State Court into law.
Gay experts lawyers and leaders have stated several times in the press and media that now (in the present or near fture) is not the time to take anything as controversial as Gay Rights' Marriages in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. For more detail go to website listed below. It is not clear what kind of reaction the LGBT community has to this latest court suit filed by two of the most successful and powerful legal minds in the country. I personally think it is great Boies and Olson are on our side and hope they win without jeopardizing our future chances of winining this kind of case. It appears it is too soon to know what all the repercussions will be regarding this novel move by these two attorneys.
The surprising part about this turn of events is that one would ever see these two men on the same side of a legal argument and the fact they are getting together on this Gay Marriage issue and that Olson, an arch conservative, would see our issue as legitimate is really wonderful news. Let us hope as some are saying that this is a new trend that may turn the corner on the Gay Marriage issue and civil rights in general for LGBT folks making significant progress in our direction. It has also been noted that Olson's position makes Obama's views on LGBT issues and Gay Marriage in particular look lame. The Dems have a long way to go to catch up on this one.
Go to http://lawdork.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/federal-prop-8-challenge-filed/
www.equalrightsfoundation.org (news conference held by Boies and Olson)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grllk_nt63q2NPIotyM9xpL4hwkwD98EO6UG0
Gay Groups call Boies,Olson suit premature.
Gay experts lawyers and leaders have stated several times in the press and media that now (in the present or near fture) is not the time to take anything as controversial as Gay Rights' Marriages in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. For more detail go to website listed below. It is not clear what kind of reaction the LGBT community has to this latest court suit filed by two of the most successful and powerful legal minds in the country. I personally think it is great Boies and Olson are on our side and hope they win without jeopardizing our future chances of winining this kind of case. It appears it is too soon to know what all the repercussions will be regarding this novel move by these two attorneys.
The surprising part about this turn of events is that one would ever see these two men on the same side of a legal argument and the fact they are getting together on this Gay Marriage issue and that Olson, an arch conservative, would see our issue as legitimate is really wonderful news. Let us hope as some are saying that this is a new trend that may turn the corner on the Gay Marriage issue and civil rights in general for LGBT folks making significant progress in our direction. It has also been noted that Olson's position makes Obama's views on LGBT issues and Gay Marriage in particular look lame. The Dems have a long way to go to catch up on this one.
Go to http://lawdork.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/federal-prop-8-challenge-filed/
www.equalrightsfoundation.org (news conference held by Boies and Olson)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grllk_nt63q2NPIotyM9xpL4hwkwD98EO6UG0
Gay Groups call Boies,Olson suit premature.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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My Reactions to California Supreme Court Decision on Gay Marriage
MAY 26, 2009
We waited somewhat nervously for the decision that came this morning. Actually I got up and checked my e-mail and the internet way earlier this morning than the time the decision actually cam e out, some time after ten am. It was as expected, our marriages that happened between June and before Nov. 4 are still valid. Mina and I married Aug. 24th. 2008. The irony that we can have our marriages and no other Gay or Lesbian same sex couple in California can get married is a real low mark in the history of our fight for the legitimacy of same sex marriages in California. Of course, I also wish we could have other rights that related to the federal level of recognition i.e. social security for my spouse and long term care benefits that appear to be federally regulated but that seems a way off yet.
I look at what happened re Prop 8 as a big defeat for our side. The fact a slim majority can decide our fate by voting on an initiative i.e. prop 8 goes against the basic notion of civil rights and freedom of expression and the right to happiness described in our Bill of Rights by the founding fathers. What will they uphold next, the right to discriminate against people who are non believers. I think this has been proposed before, keep them from being citizens, well, that could include me. I know the next step is to introduce an intiative on our side in 2010 hoping by then the majority has come to its senses. But legally I don't like using the intiative process to secure our rights. It should come from the legislature and that should be that.
Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
Top Story)
California court upholds marriage ban; existing unions still legal
The California Supreme Court today upheld a ballot measure that amended the state Constitution to deny marriage rights to lesbians and gays. But the ruling did confirm the legality of 18,000 California marriages that were conducted between the time of a previous judicial order and the November election. Los Angeles Times (5/26) , ABC News (5/26) , San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (5/26
We waited somewhat nervously for the decision that came this morning. Actually I got up and checked my e-mail and the internet way earlier this morning than the time the decision actually cam e out, some time after ten am. It was as expected, our marriages that happened between June and before Nov. 4 are still valid. Mina and I married Aug. 24th. 2008. The irony that we can have our marriages and no other Gay or Lesbian same sex couple in California can get married is a real low mark in the history of our fight for the legitimacy of same sex marriages in California. Of course, I also wish we could have other rights that related to the federal level of recognition i.e. social security for my spouse and long term care benefits that appear to be federally regulated but that seems a way off yet.
I look at what happened re Prop 8 as a big defeat for our side. The fact a slim majority can decide our fate by voting on an initiative i.e. prop 8 goes against the basic notion of civil rights and freedom of expression and the right to happiness described in our Bill of Rights by the founding fathers. What will they uphold next, the right to discriminate against people who are non believers. I think this has been proposed before, keep them from being citizens, well, that could include me. I know the next step is to introduce an intiative on our side in 2010 hoping by then the majority has come to its senses. But legally I don't like using the intiative process to secure our rights. It should come from the legislature and that should be that.
Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
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