I have none. Hahahaa. My biggest hope is that the dry hack phase of this getting well thing is over very soon so that I can sleep again. (Any time that I get a respiratory infection, I get over the illness and then enter a dry hack phase for an aching eternity.)
I make goals for myself, shift them as needed, negotiate and compromise with myself, and add to or delete from them as I see fit throughout the year. It is a fluid process that has nothing to do with any particular date on the calendar.
Have a happy one, all, and don't let *your* balls drop.
Freedom to Be Me: The meanderings of a freed mind.
Wednesday 31 December 2014
Monday 22 December 2014
Monday 15 December 2014
Shut It Down: Black Day of Silence on Social Media
Black Day of Silence
(post below image)
We had No Black Friday. We have Shut It Down all over the country. Now we are being asked to participate in Black Day of Silence on social media From Sunday 14 December to Monday 15 December (see #BlackDayOfSilence on social media). Those who choose to take this minimal action are requested to black out their profile photos and post nothing on those two days.
There is a marathon of the series "The African Americans" on PBS on Saturday 13 December. This is the very day before the social media blackout of 14- 15 December.
If you cannot make it to the National March Against Police Violence, perhaps educating yourself about the deep historical roots of racial injustice in the States would be a nice second option.
In Memoriam "Hashtags"
#TrayvonMartin, #RenishaMcBride, #AiyanaJones, #MichelleCusseax, #EricGarner, #OscarGrant, #CeCeMcDonald, #IslanNettles, #MichaelBrown, #DeshawndaBradley, #DeAndreJoshua, #ShawnGray, #AngeliaMangum, #TjhishaBall
Sunday 14 December 2014
Wednesday 10 December 2014
Shut It Down: Black Day of Silence on Social Media
Black Day of Silence
(post below image)
We had No Black Friday. We have Shut It Down all over the country. Now we are being asked to participate in Black Day of Silence on social media From Sunday 14 December to Monday 15 December (see #BlackDayOfSilence on social media). Those who choose to take this minimal action are requested to black out their profile photos and post nothing on those two days.
There is a marathon of the series "The African Americans" on PBS on Saturday 13 December. This is the very day before the social media blackout of 14- 15 December.
If you cannot make it to the National March Against Police Violence, perhaps educating yourself about the deep historical roots of racial injustice in the States would be a nice second option.
In Memoriam "Hashtags"
#TrayvonMartin, #RenishaMcBride, #AiyanaJones, #MichelleCusseax, #EricGarner, #OscarGrant, #CeCeMcDonald, #IslanNettles, #MichaelBrown, #DeshawndaBradley, #DeAndreJoshua, #ShawnGray, #AngeliaMangum, #TjhishaBall
Sunday 7 December 2014
Send Help
A couple of us non-mainstream Shia Muslims have been sobbing on each other's shoulders lately - at least, as much as we can do half a world away from each other using Facebook. We have been struggling with a sense of losing faith. We feel as tough we are losing touch with symbols of faith like salat or modesty which have meant a lot to us. We've been hurting because of the huge injustices that we see in the world and what we perceive to be out inability too do anything real to help. We feel as though we are falling, but we are in so much pain, and so weary and stretched thin, that we cannot possibly pick ourselves up and start over again.
We've basically turned to each other because we don't really have anyone else. Progressive Sunni Muslims, and their Sunni-normative "just Muslim" counterparts, have various progressive leaders and even Imams throughout the world to whom they can turn. However, I don't know of any Shia Imam out there who is gender-equal and LGBTIQ-affirming. We have no-one to whom we can turn with concerns that if we dress or act in certain ways which are particular to Shia Islam or which have unique textual histories in Shia Islam, we might be attacked by anti-Muslim extremists. For all that our progressive Sunni leaders love us and would try to help us, the fact is that they don't know what Mafatih al Jinan or the Prayer's Almanac is or why we need that little clay tablet so badly. If we were to turn to mainstream Shia Muslim leaders, we would be derided on account of our gender or sexual identities, or we would be chastised for our "immodest" behaviour with others.
We've been left figuring out everything from how to bend fiqh or even whether some aspects of fiqh can or should be bent at all to regain a sense of spirituality from the brokenness that is our lives without leadership or guidance from a religious leader who understands where we are coming from as Shia Muslims. And that is why this one new discussion group on Facebook was formed.
But we still have no religious guide.
It is absolutely imperative that some of our progressive Shia siblings take up the yoke, go to college for pastoral studies or divination, become clerics, and HELP US.
Monday 1 December 2014
Help Your Community
Assalam-o-alaikum! Various community members who are either part of the progressive Muslim movement or somehow connected to it need your help! Keep reading to learn how.
1. The LGBTIQ Muslim Retreat needs your help. This educational and community-building week-end full of workshops and sessions has been successful in edifying participants, linking people together, guiding people to resources, and generally saving lives - literally. Save a life today, and donate as you are able.
In addition, two community members need help raising money to take care of their personal needs. A link for Sarah and Faisal is below, along with images.
3. Help Sarah Go To Harvard!
4. Seeking Your Support & Love (for Faisal)
Thank you all for your love and support!
1. The LGBTIQ Muslim Retreat needs your help. This educational and community-building week-end full of workshops and sessions has been successful in edifying participants, linking people together, guiding people to resources, and generally saving lives - literally. Save a life today, and donate as you are able.
In addition, two community members need help raising money to take care of their personal needs. A link for Sarah and Faisal is below, along with images.
4. Seeking Your Support & Love (for Faisal)
Thank you all for your love and support!
Thursday 13 November 2014
Image: Hugging in the Rain
Hug Vibes
I like this photo of two people hugging in the rain. It speaks to me of love that comforts, as well as an equality of giving and receiving.
Wednesday 5 November 2014
You've Made Your Bed. Now Sleep in It.
Dear Democrats:
Guess what happens when you don't get up off your lazy asses and vote in a midterm. I almost hope that we get a Republican president in 2016 so that you learn to stop sitting this shit out. Idiots. Uff.
Sincerely,
-Me
Guess what happens when you don't get up off your lazy asses and vote in a midterm. I almost hope that we get a Republican president in 2016 so that you learn to stop sitting this shit out. Idiots. Uff.
Sincerely,
-Me
Saturday 1 November 2014
We the Sanguine Feminine
We - The Sanguine Feminine - are the daughters of those whom you didn't manage to burn at the stake.
Image: above text in Chiller and French Script fonts, very light purple colour on very dark purple matting. Woman with darker skin and brown hair bound to two wooden pillars on a burning pyre with a cat and a newspaper at the base. Background is purple twilight with waning crescent moon punctuated by dark trees. Footer text: "Image adapted from art by FrenchFox - http://frenchfox.deviantart.com." Freedom to Be's logo superimposed at bottom right corner. Text inspired by an article at http://www.salon.com/2013/10/31/what_witches_have_to_do_with_womens_health.
Image: above text in Chiller and French Script fonts, very light purple colour on very dark purple matting. Woman with darker skin and brown hair bound to two wooden pillars on a burning pyre with a cat and a newspaper at the base. Background is purple twilight with waning crescent moon punctuated by dark trees. Footer text: "Image adapted from art by FrenchFox - http://frenchfox.deviantart.com." Freedom to Be's logo superimposed at bottom right corner. Text inspired by an article at http://www.salon.com/2013/10/31/what_witches_have_to_do_with_womens_health.
Thursday 30 October 2014
Sciency Pick-Up Lines
more will be added to this list
1. You're so hot you denature my proteins.
2. Honey you're as sweet as 3.141592653689792...
1. You're so hot you denature my proteins.
2. Honey you're as sweet as 3.141592653689792...
Saturday 25 October 2014
Difference Between Flags?
Try to tell me the difference between these two flags. Keep trying.
[Image: Two flags on white background, with text as cited above. First flag white with red heart in centre. Second flag is a Canadian flag.]
Wednesday 22 October 2014
Monday 20 October 2014
Birds Sing
Birds Sing
Image: Arcus cloud rolling over rural farmland with quote superimposed.
"Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?"
-Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1974
p 496, TIMES TO REMEMBER (Garden City, NY: Doubleday)
p 21, THE DICTIONARY OF MODERN PROVERBS, ed Charles Clay Doyle et al, (Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2012)
Biography of RFK at http://books.google.com/books?id=dbEgALKEw8IC
Monday 13 October 2014
Sunday 12 October 2014
"With Heart and Voice," Playing my Faves
John Rutter raises the roof with his very Anglican/Episcopalian descant on "O God, Our Help in Ages Past;" and With Heart and Voice graced our ears with it again this Sunday morning.
Follow the show around the radio and hear it for yourself:
* WFIU2 at 11 am EDT (M3U stream here.)
* WYSU at 4 pm EDT (M3U stream here.)
Saturday 11 October 2014
Coming Out Day Post for 11 October 2014
Coming Out Day Post for 11 October 2014
Hey, everyone, don't be shy! Tell us - when did you realise that you are straight? What was it like to tell your parents that you were straight? Any problems at school because of it?
But on a more serious note - *are* you sure about your sexual orientation? Depending on who is reading this post, you might think of yourself as straight, or gay, or lesbian. Are you, though? Those brave enough to do so, check out the (NSFW!!) image at http://beautifuldecay.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bloomers5.jpg and have a think about it. Please also note that after this point, anatomically explicit language is used.
Some of you understand yourselves as loving women. Do you love women?
Are you attracted to all kinds of women? Or just the ones with breasts
and vulvas?
Some of you understand yourselves as loving men. Do you love men? Are you attracted to all kinds of men? Or just the ones with penises and flat, hairy chests?
Think about it. So what does it mean to be straight? Gay? Lesbian? Bisexual? Pansexual?
The photo linked above in this post is from an article in "Beautiful Decay" entitled "Compelling Nude Bodies Walk The Line Between Ordinary and Strange." Here is an excerpt from the article: "Dutch photographers Anuschka Blommers and Niels Schumm depict both sexes simultaneously in a series entitled Best of Both. ... The images feature nude male and female figures posed in different yoga-esque positions on the same gray carpet, with one half a man and the other a woman."
The photos are not safe for work and show nudity. The article is at http://beautifuldecay.com/2014/07/17/nude-bodies/?view=true. Try to think about gender, biological sex, and how bodies and minds work between these two identities.
Some of you understand yourselves as loving men. Do you love men? Are you attracted to all kinds of men? Or just the ones with penises and flat, hairy chests?
Think about it. So what does it mean to be straight? Gay? Lesbian? Bisexual? Pansexual?
The photo linked above in this post is from an article in "Beautiful Decay" entitled "Compelling Nude Bodies Walk The Line Between Ordinary and Strange." Here is an excerpt from the article: "Dutch photographers Anuschka Blommers and Niels Schumm depict both sexes simultaneously in a series entitled Best of Both. ... The images feature nude male and female figures posed in different yoga-esque positions on the same gray carpet, with one half a man and the other a woman."
The photos are not safe for work and show nudity. The article is at http://beautifuldecay.com/2014/07/17/nude-bodies/?view=true. Try to think about gender, biological sex, and how bodies and minds work between these two identities.
Sunday 5 October 2014
Help Members of Our Community! (Four Charity Opportunities)
Assalam-o-alaikum! Various community members who are either part of the progressive Muslim movement or somehow connected to it need your help! Keep reading to learn how. This post has fourlisted parts.
1. The LGBTIQ Muslim Retreat needs your help to tie things up from Retreat 2014 and to start things off for 2015. This educational and community-building week-end full of workshops and sessions has been successful in edifying participants, linking people together, guiding people to resources, and generally saving lives - literally. Save a life today, and donate as you are able.
In addition, three community members need help raising money to take care of their personal needs. Links for Sarah, Faisal, and Michele are below, along with images.
2. Michele and her family are struggling with a difficult housing situation which is putting their health at risk They need your help to make their house safe and healthful for living again.
3. Help Sarah Go To Harvard!
4. Seeking Your Support & Love (for Faisal)
Thank you all for your love and support!
1. The LGBTIQ Muslim Retreat needs your help to tie things up from Retreat 2014 and to start things off for 2015. This educational and community-building week-end full of workshops and sessions has been successful in edifying participants, linking people together, guiding people to resources, and generally saving lives - literally. Save a life today, and donate as you are able.
In addition, three community members need help raising money to take care of their personal needs. Links for Sarah, Faisal, and Michele are below, along with images.
4. Seeking Your Support & Love (for Faisal)
Thank you all for your love and support!
Friday 3 October 2014
Tuesday 23 September 2014
When You Are No Longer "Democratic"
You know that you have utterly failed in your identity as "democratic" when you start telling women how to dress.
A posting to the Facebook discussion group "British Muslims for Secular Democracy" of the Standard (UK) news article "Camden School Bans Muslim Teenager from Taking A-Levels Because She Wears the Niqab" evoked a variety of responses. Some were supportive of a woman's right to choose how she dresses her body. Some stated that legal bans are less desirable than pressure to abandon face coverings from within the Muslim community. Most, however, completely lost sight of the fact that it is women and women alone who should be deciding what to do with their bodies - and that includes clothing - and supported legal bans of face coverings for women.
Leighton Evans: "My opinion is this. It's not compulsory so she cant claim religious discrimination and should work to to the rules of the college. Fit in or f off."
Yay. Plurality Fail.
Marina Mahbub: "Thats true there are muslim schools so she could have gome there. Its not practical to wear niqab for things like exams"
Abz Hassan: "It's a good idea to impose the ban, she could be wearing google glass or anything under that covering. She knew what the dress code was, but was hoping the school would buckle and provide special treatment I guess. Doesn't work like that. Not in this country anyway."
A very typically patriarchal response: "Oooooo, she could be wearing ANYTHING under that (or nothing all)!" Also, nation as a monolith.
Imogen Louise Rahman: "Leighton it's not an obligation. Sunnah is not obligatory but is important"
Leighton Evans: "I must try wearing a balaclava and demanding only males speak to me next time I have an interview. Quite rightly I'd be told to fuck off."
And an example of the oh-so-endearing "Why can't men have special privileges, too?" whine. Yay patriarchy.
Leighton Evans: "My opinion is this. It's not compulsory so she cant claim religious discrimination and should work to to the rules of the college. Fit in or f off."
Yay. Plurality Fail.
Marina Mahbub: "Thats true there are muslim schools so she could have gome there. Its not practical to wear niqab for things like exams"
Abz Hassan: "It's a good idea to impose the ban, she could be wearing google glass or anything under that covering. She knew what the dress code was, but was hoping the school would buckle and provide special treatment I guess. Doesn't work like that. Not in this country anyway."
A very typically patriarchal response: "Oooooo, she could be wearing ANYTHING under that (or nothing all)!" Also, nation as a monolith.
Imogen Louise Rahman: "Leighton it's not an obligation. Sunnah is not obligatory but is important"
Leighton Evans: "I must try wearing a balaclava and demanding only males speak to me next time I have an interview. Quite rightly I'd be told to fuck off."
And an example of the oh-so-endearing "Why can't men have special privileges, too?" whine. Yay patriarchy.
Monday 22 September 2014
The Politics of Compassion: Human Rights and Religion
The Politics of Compassion: Human Rights and Religion
In the Atlanta, Georgia area? Interested in the relationship between religion and public health with an eye on human rights? Come see and hear this panel discussion by erudite scholars of religion and public health.
In the Atlanta, Georgia area? Interested in the relationship between religion and public health with an eye on human rights? Come see and hear this panel discussion by erudite scholars of religion and public health.
Emma Watson Calls for Men as Advocates for Gender Equality
REDACCIÓN: BBC ha imprimido algunas de las palabras de Emma, traslado al español. Haz click en http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/noticias/2014/09/140922_feminismo_emma_watson_en.
Emma Watson speaks powerfully for feminism as a natural force which innately holds gender equality as the ideal situation. She asks, "If not me, then who? If not now, then when?
Emma Watson speaks powerfully for feminism as a natural force which innately holds gender equality as the ideal situation. She asks, "If not me, then who? If not now, then when?
Help Members of Our Community! (Four Donation Opportunities)
Assalam-o-alaikum! Various community members who are either part of the progressive Muslim movement or somehow connected to it need your help! Keep reading to learn how. This post has four listed parts.
1. A member of the community needs an affordable roommate situation. Follow the links below to help.
In addition, two community members need help raising money to take care of their personal needs. Links for both Sarah and Faisal are below the image.
2. Help Sarah Go To Harvard!
3. Seeking Your Support & Love (for Faisal)
4. And finally, the LGBTIQ Muslim Retreat needs your help to tie things up from Retreat 2014 and to start things off for 2015. This educational and community-building week-end full of workshops and sessions has been successful in edifying participants, linking people together, guiding people to resources, and generally saving lives - literally. Save a life today, and donate as you are able.
Thank you all for your love and support!
1. A member of the community needs an affordable roommate situation. Follow the links below to help.
Post by Freedom Toobe.
In addition, two community members need help raising money to take care of their personal needs. Links for both Sarah and Faisal are below the image.
3. Seeking Your Support & Love (for Faisal)
4. And finally, the LGBTIQ Muslim Retreat needs your help to tie things up from Retreat 2014 and to start things off for 2015. This educational and community-building week-end full of workshops and sessions has been successful in edifying participants, linking people together, guiding people to resources, and generally saving lives - literally. Save a life today, and donate as you are able.
Thank you all for your love and support!
Sunday 21 September 2014
"With Heart and Voice" Knocks It out of the Park Again
So much emotion on today's show, which ends on an enormous and powerful swell. Good job, Peter DuBois! Well-selected end to the show.
"Let Peace then Still the Strife" by Mack Wilberg is a tune which conveys majesty. Carried here by a full choir with an orchestra featuring strings, chimes, and brass, the piece begins quietly and peacefully, moving towards a boisterous finish which speaks clearly of grandeur and strength. The descant soars at the end, lifting the listener to ethereal heights.
Follow the show around the radio today:
* WABE2 at 10 am EDT (M3U stream here.)
* WFIU2 at 11 am EDT (M3U stream here.)
* WYSU at 4 pm EDT (M3U stream here.) .
Friday 19 September 2014
♪ ♫ "Open Arms" ♫ ♪
Oops.
We sailed on together. We drifted apart. And here you are by my side. So now I come to you, with open arms, nothing to hide, believe what I say. So here I am with open arms hoping you'll see what your love means to me: open arms.
We sailed on together. We drifted apart. And here you are by my side. So now I come to you, with open arms, nothing to hide, believe what I say. So here I am with open arms hoping you'll see what your love means to me: open arms.
Thursday 18 September 2014
Wednesday 17 September 2014
Tuesday 16 September 2014
Monday 15 September 2014
"Smile for Me, Baby!"
Question: Who has rights over another woman's body?
Answer: No-one.
You have no right to touch a woman. You have no grounds to demand that a woman smile for you or otherwise perform for you. You have no right to silence a woman. You have no right to tell a woman how to dress. You have no right to tell a woman what to do with her body. You have no right to tell a woman with whom she can or cannot associate.
You aren't God.
Buzz off.
Answer: No-one.
You have no right to touch a woman. You have no grounds to demand that a woman smile for you or otherwise perform for you. You have no right to silence a woman. You have no right to tell a woman how to dress. You have no right to tell a woman what to do with her body. You have no right to tell a woman with whom she can or cannot associate.
You aren't God.
Buzz off.
Sunday 14 September 2014
Wednesday 10 September 2014
Things I Don't Have Time For: These Spiders
TW: arachnophobia
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.
.
So this happened today.
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.
.
.
In the bathroom.
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So this happened today.
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In the bathroom.
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Tuesday 9 September 2014
Some Corporations want the FCC to Restrict Internet Access
"Cable companies want to slow down (and break!) your favorite sites, for profit. To fight back, let's cover the web with symbolic 'loading' icons, to remind everyone what an Internet without net neutrality would look like, and drive record numbers of emails and calls to lawmakers."
https://www.battleforthenet.com/sept10th
Friday 5 September 2014
Thursday 31 July 2014
Monday 21 July 2014
Wednesday 4 June 2014
Nothing Here But Pain
A poem about a flashback and the pain of loss. A note that I defy assumptions, so don't make any.
an excerpt:
Not born of me,
But melded to me:
Flesh of my spirit,
Bone of my soul.
an excerpt:
Not born of me,
But melded to me:
Flesh of my spirit,
Bone of my soul.
Wednesday 14 May 2014
Segregation Is Not a Moral Value
There are plenty of religious leaders with values out there. We don't need to resort to following bigots who favour segregation and compare love to beastiality.
Friday 9 May 2014
This Mother's Day
1. Happy Mother's Day to all of the fine mothers out there. You've brightened my world and shown me the Face of God/the sunshine up above, directly as well as through the brilliance that is your children. Thank you.
2. To those of you who have loved and lost, whoever you are, whomever it is that you've loved and lost, {{{huggg}}}. *slips kleenex into your hand*
3. To all of us, a reminder, or some reminders. Don't assume. Don't assume that others have had wonderful childhoods and owe their mothers anything on this or any other day. Don't assume that someone who is childless now hasn't ever had children, or didn't want children, or did want them, or has never been pregnant. Don't assume that only people who have had miscarriages have lost children. Don't assume that all women have uteruses. And don't ask, either. Don't assume that all men don't have uteruses. And don't ask. Don't assume that those without uteruses, male or female, have never mothered a child. Don't assume that this is a Happy Day for everyone. Be ready to offer comfort, or not, as best fits the situation and the person in question. Embrace all - literally or figuratively, as best fits the situation and the person in question. Pour love into the universe, without filtering for mothers. Just pour it out there, for everyone.
2. To those of you who have loved and lost, whoever you are, whomever it is that you've loved and lost, {{{huggg}}}. *slips kleenex into your hand*
3. To all of us, a reminder, or some reminders. Don't assume. Don't assume that others have had wonderful childhoods and owe their mothers anything on this or any other day. Don't assume that someone who is childless now hasn't ever had children, or didn't want children, or did want them, or has never been pregnant. Don't assume that only people who have had miscarriages have lost children. Don't assume that all women have uteruses. And don't ask, either. Don't assume that all men don't have uteruses. And don't ask. Don't assume that those without uteruses, male or female, have never mothered a child. Don't assume that this is a Happy Day for everyone. Be ready to offer comfort, or not, as best fits the situation and the person in question. Embrace all - literally or figuratively, as best fits the situation and the person in question. Pour love into the universe, without filtering for mothers. Just pour it out there, for everyone.
Tuesday 6 May 2014
Tuesday 18 February 2014
Sunday 12 January 2014
Strengthening Anti-Slavery Laws in the United Kingdom
An exciting new law has been proposed in the United Kingdom which would increase penalties for slaveholders.
Before continuing, a note about modern slavery. While slavery falls within the milieu of labour rights abuses, it is not the same thing as the situation endured by, for example, Walmart workers. The authors of Enslaved: True Stories of Modern Day Slavery stated it very succinctly: "They are not simply underage workers or sweatshop workers. They are forced to work for no pay under the threat of violence."
In addition, Kevin Bales offers a very clear definition of modern slavery which clearly distinguishes it from capitalistic labour rights abuses. The following is from his Modern Slavery: A Beginner's Guide.
About the UK Law
From the BBC:
Another news article describes the measure as an anti-trafficking bill. It is important to note that some anti-slavery activists, including Kevin Bales, distinguish between slavery and trafficking.
("Trafficking in Persons in the United States")
Legal Recommendations
The BBC news article goes on to explain a potential limitation of this news law in terms of its reach:
Take Action
Learn more. Sign petitions. Donate. Volunteer. Follow the links below.
• Petition: "Support Scotland Proposal For Model Anti-Slavery Law"
•Who is "Walk Free": "Gates Helps Australia's Richest Man in Bid to End Slavery," Elisabeth Behrmann, Bloomberg, 14 April 2013
•What Walk Free has done: "India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria on Slavery's List of Shame, Says Report," Tim Hume, CNN, 17 October 2013
•book: Modern Slavery: A Beginner's Guide, Kevin Bales
•anti-slavery organisation: Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
•anti-slavery organisation: Tahirih Justice Center
•Underground Railroad, in Saginaw, MI - an anti-domestic violence organisation which also assists survivors of slavery and trafficking
•United Methodist Women
•Presbyterian Women
•T'ruah
Before continuing, a note about modern slavery. While slavery falls within the milieu of labour rights abuses, it is not the same thing as the situation endured by, for example, Walmart workers. The authors of Enslaved: True Stories of Modern Day Slavery stated it very succinctly: "They are not simply underage workers or sweatshop workers. They are forced to work for no pay under the threat of violence."
In addition, Kevin Bales offers a very clear definition of modern slavery which clearly distinguishes it from capitalistic labour rights abuses. The following is from his Modern Slavery: A Beginner's Guide.
About the UK Law
From the BBC:
The Modern Slavery Bill aims to consolidate the offences used to prosecute those who enslave others into a single act. The draft Modern Slavery Bill aims to increase the maximum custodial sentence for offenders from 14 years to life. The new bill would also provide for automatic life sentences for offenders with prior convictions for very serious sexual or violent offences. ("Life sentences planned for slavery offenders," BBC News, 16 December 2013, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25389760)Distinction Between Slavery and Trafficking
Another news article describes the measure as an anti-trafficking bill. It is important to note that some anti-slavery activists, including Kevin Bales, distinguish between slavery and trafficking.
("Trafficking in Persons in the United States")
Legal Recommendations
The BBC news article goes on to explain a potential limitation of this news law in terms of its reach:
The bill - which the Home Office says will be the first of its kind in Europe - will only apply specifically to England and Wales but ministers said they wanted it to have the 'broadest UK-wide effect.' A consultation will be held in Northern Ireland on the way forward while the UK and Scottish governments have agreed to work together while ensuring Scotland's 'distinctive approach' to the issue is maintained.In this regard, Kevin Bales's organisation has already made it clear how important it is to co-ordinate among federal, regional, and urban authorities in order to combat slavery, stating that the US President should "work with state and local law enforcement associations to mobilize state and local law enforcement attention on anti-trafficking measures" (Recommendations for Fighting Human Trafficking in the United States and Abroad).
Take Action
Learn more. Sign petitions. Donate. Volunteer. Follow the links below.
• Petition: "Support Scotland Proposal For Model Anti-Slavery Law"
•Who is "Walk Free": "Gates Helps Australia's Richest Man in Bid to End Slavery," Elisabeth Behrmann, Bloomberg, 14 April 2013
•What Walk Free has done: "India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria on Slavery's List of Shame, Says Report," Tim Hume, CNN, 17 October 2013
•book: Modern Slavery: A Beginner's Guide, Kevin Bales
•anti-slavery organisation: Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
•anti-slavery organisation: Tahirih Justice Center
•Underground Railroad, in Saginaw, MI - an anti-domestic violence organisation which also assists survivors of slavery and trafficking
•United Methodist Women
•Presbyterian Women
•T'ruah
Always with You
I wish that I could be there instead of here. I really do. Please know, though, that I am with you in spirit.
We recognise that there is a bit of the Divine in each of us whenever we greet each other with Namaste (see p 136 of Sacred Sanskrit Words). In so doing, we affirm that there is a bit of the Divine everywhere. So it is that we are indeed there for each other wherever we might be.
We recognise that there is a bit of the Divine in each of us whenever we greet each other with Namaste (see p 136 of Sacred Sanskrit Words). In so doing, we affirm that there is a bit of the Divine everywhere. So it is that we are indeed there for each other wherever we might be.
Facebook Knows Best, Dear (random public settings)
Good Morning, Lovelies!
Facebook has once again decided that it knows what is best for us all. It has been switching people's privacy settings to "public" so that all of their posts have gone public.
This means that 1. everything that you've been saying recently is visible to the entire world and 2. anything that others do in response (liking, commenting) is broadcast wily-nilly to their respective contacts.
What to do about it:
1. Check your posts for a little globe which indicates a public setting. If you see that little globe on your posts, go to https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=privacy and "limit past posts" to friends only.
2. Before you submit your next post, click the options next to the "post" button and set it to "friends." Doing so will change the setting for that post and all future posts until you change it again.
Facebook has once again decided that it knows what is best for us all. It has been switching people's privacy settings to "public" so that all of their posts have gone public.
This means that 1. everything that you've been saying recently is visible to the entire world and 2. anything that others do in response (liking, commenting) is broadcast wily-nilly to their respective contacts.
What to do about it:
1. Check your posts for a little globe which indicates a public setting. If you see that little globe on your posts, go to https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=privacy and "limit past posts" to friends only.
2. Before you submit your next post, click the options next to the "post" button and set it to "friends." Doing so will change the setting for that post and all future posts until you change it again.
Thursday 9 January 2014
Facebook Privacy (or not)
Facebook doesn't care about our privacy. It's time that we started to care about each other, then.
Any time that anyone interacts with a public post on Facebook, it shows up in the "news" feed of that person's contacts. No-one has any control over any aspect of this any longer.
Interactions include the following:
* Commenting on a post.
* Liking a post.
Public posts effectively include the following:
* Posts made from personal profiles which are set to "friends-of-friends" or "public."
* Any post on a Page, even those which show up as "customised."
* Any post in an open group.
* Possibly also pinned posts in closed groups.
In the case of commenting, a person's comment is displayed, as well as the post to which the comment was made. Because of this, it is important that people know that their privacy settings impact other people - not just themselves.
It is also worth a person's time and effort to learn how tagging and the privacy of tagged posts and photos impacts one's own privacy.
Any time that anyone interacts with a public post on Facebook, it shows up in the "news" feed of that person's contacts. No-one has any control over any aspect of this any longer.
Interactions include the following:
* Commenting on a post.
* Liking a post.
Public posts effectively include the following:
* Posts made from personal profiles which are set to "friends-of-friends" or "public."
* Any post on a Page, even those which show up as "customised."
* Any post in an open group.
* Possibly also pinned posts in closed groups.
In the case of commenting, a person's comment is displayed, as well as the post to which the comment was made. Because of this, it is important that people know that their privacy settings impact other people - not just themselves.
It is also worth a person's time and effort to learn how tagging and the privacy of tagged posts and photos impacts one's own privacy.
Publicly Shaming Children Teaches Bullying as Normative
Spotted in the blogosphere:
"Destroying Your Child's Heart – One FB Picture At A Time"
by Heidi Stone
"Destroying Your Child's Heart – One FB Picture At A Time"
by Heidi Stone
Public shaming is awful and is nothing less than societally sanctioned parental bullying. This is not funny or classy. It is brutal and base. Not even a little bit funny.
1. Bully your kids and they will learn to fear you. As in be afraid of you. Cringing in your presence and hiding their lives from you.
5. They will think they are a joke, not to be taken seriously. Their pain the only commodity to sell.
6. They will treat you as you have treated them.
Tuesday 7 January 2014
Love Is
 |
| Angels Among Us |
* five fluffy pillows
* citrus-coriander lotion
* breakfast in bed
* "Relax, enjoy. Think of it as a vacation."
* "How are you, Jaanu?"
* "And what about my friend Freedom?"
Love is a loop of communication. A roof over the head, food in the belly. A hundred-plus miles in a blizzard over ice and through snowdrifts.
Love is the gift of life, bestowed unblinkingly and without reservation.
There are angels and heroes among us. They walk with us every day. Pay it forward. Pour Love into the universe.
Juro a mi Dios Altísimo que tengo al besti más extraordinariamente y fantásticamente impresionante
(y el más bello) en el mundo. Adonai yibarach at ha yadahim ha manikim hayim. Además tengo a una
héroe como prima.
אלוהים יברך את הידיים המעניקים חיים
(A note that this is a public post. Please go here to discuss specifics of what happened out there.)
(y el más bello) en el mundo. Adonai yibarach at ha yadahim ha manikim hayim. Además tengo a una
héroe como prima.
אלוהים יברך את הידיים המעניקים חיים
(A note that this is a public post. Please go here to discuss specifics of what happened out there.)
Monday 6 January 2014
From a Distance
That moment when a non-Muslim lends vital assistance to a Muslim more than a hundred miles away after a Muslim not even ten miles away declines to help.
Or, if you will, how to gain my undying loyalty.
Pour love out into the universe. Pay this one forward.
Sunday 5 January 2014
Let It Go. Let It Flow.
It's not fair. There's nothing that I can do about it. Even so, my heart is there and I am here.
"Let go and let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. Everything's gonna work out right, ya know."
Let go, and let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. Just let go.
"Let go and let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. Everything's gonna work out right, ya know."
Let go, and let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. Just let go.
Thursday 2 January 2014
Sara Bareilles - Brave (embedded YouTube)
"Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days you can let the light in.
Show me how big your brave is. Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out. Honestly I wanna see you be brave."
Show me how big your brave is. Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out. Honestly I wanna see you be brave."
Wednesday 1 January 2014
Fix It, Facebook
Social Fixer's "New Year's Resolutions" wish list for Facebook.
Social Fixer advises Facebook to listen to its users: "Yes, we are the product being sold. But unless you keep users happy, you will soon have no one left to advertise to. Users don’t pay you the money, but they are your customers too."
Among the things that Social Fixer is asking for:
* Fix the damned news feed: "We're not stupid. We know you're just manipulating the content in order to charge Pages and advertisers for their posts to actually be visible to users. And let's face it – your algorithms are terrible. Everyone I talk to is becoming disenchanted with their news feed."
* Stop with the ceaseless changes already: "We like continual improvement, but not constant random tinkering. We don't have time to re-learn how to use Facebook every 2 weeks. It's really annoying."
* Give us more control over privacy. No, more: "You want users to share more and tag more and like more and comment more, because it lets you harvest more data. ... With each update to the privacy settings, you make it more complicated and more difficult to communicate only with those people you wish to. Instead of gathering better personal data by reducing default privacy, you are making people afraid to say anything of substance because they are never sure who will see it."
Leaving 2013 Behind
Good-bye, 2013. And good riddance.
There comes a time when we could all make a change. So just let go and let it flow.
Some kind of magic
Happens late at night
When the moon smiles down at me
And bathes me in its light
I fell asleep beneath you
In the tall blades of grass
When I woke the world was new
I never had to ask
It's a brand new day
The sun is shining
It's a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know, I'll be ok
Happens late at night
When the moon smiles down at me
And bathes me in its light
I fell asleep beneath you
In the tall blades of grass
When I woke the world was new
I never had to ask
It's a brand new day
The sun is shining
It's a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know, I'll be ok
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