Sarah Palin’s INDEPENDENCE speech

Contributed by: Juliann Barbato

“I will support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the right reasons, and I don’t care what party they’re in or no party at all. Inside Alaska—or outside Alaska.”

 

(Quit your political party NOW. In doing so, we—the PEOPLE—regain the power. And tell all the naysayers and detractors to go to hell! Sarah beats to her own drum, and I like the tune. Think outside the confines of the narrow box that houses the criminals—Left and Right!—who are destroying our Republic, who are corrupt, thieving self-serving pigs. Band together. Put aside social issues that are not germane to the cause of restoring the country to what the greatest generation—the FOUNDERS—envisioned. Go to the nonpartisan site www.goooh.com and help rid the House of Representatives of the scum that now inhabits it. This Independence Day has the most palpable meaning it’s ever had in our lifetimes. Take your cues from Sarah Palin and declare independence from politics as usual! Happy Fourth! –Juli)

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Hi Alaska,

I appreciate speaking directly to you, the people I serve, as your governor.

People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved Alaska. Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.

I want Alaskans to grasp what can be in store for our state. We were purchased as a territory because a member of President Abe Lincoln’s cabinet, William Seward, providentially saw in this great land, vast riches, beauty, strategic placement on the globe, and opportunity. He boldly looked “North to the Future”. But he endured such ridicule and mocking for his vision for Alaska, remember the adversaries scoffed, calling this “Seward’s Folly”. Seward withstood such disdain as he chose the uncomfortable, unconventional, but right path to secure Alaska, so Alaska could help secure the United States.

People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved Alaska.

 

Alaska’s mission – to contribute to America. We’re strategic in the world as the air crossroads of the world, as a gatekeeper of the continent. Bold visionaries knew this – Alaska would be part of America’s great destiny.

Our destiny to be reached by responsibly developing our natural resources. This land, blessed with clean air, water, wildlife, minerals, and oil and gas. It’s energy! God gave us energy.

So to serve the state is a humbling responsibility, because I know in my soul that Alaska is of such import, for America’s security, in our very volatile world. And you know me by now, I promised even four years ago to show my independence… no more conventional “politics as usual”.

And we are doing well! My administration’s accomplishments speak for themselves. We work tirelessly for Alaskans.

We aggressively and responsibly develop our resources because they were created to be used to better our world… to help people… and we protect the environment and Alaskans (the resource owners) foremost with our policies.

Here’s some of the things we’ve done:

We created a petroleum integrity office to oversee safe development. We held the line for Alaskans on Point Thomson – and finally for the first time in decades – they’re drilling for oil and gas.

We have AGIA, the gasline project – a massive bi-partisan victory (the vote was 58 to 1!) – also succeeding as intended – protecting Alaskans as our clean natural gas will flow to energize us, and America, through a competitive, pro-private sector project. This is the largest private sector energy project, ever. This is energy independence.

And ACES – another bipartisan effort – is working as intended and industry is publicly acknowledging its success. Our new oil and gas “clear and equitable formula” is so Alaskans will no longer be taken advantage of. ACES incentivizes new exploration and development and jobs that were previously not going to happen with a monopolized North Slope oil basin.

We cleaned up previously accepted unethical actions; we ushered in bi-partisan Ethics Reform.

We also slowed the rate of government growth, we worked with the Legislature to save billions of dollars for the future, and I made no lobbyist friends with my hundreds of millions of dollars in budget vetoes… but living beyond our means today is irresponsible for tomorrow.

We took government out of the dairy business and put it back into private-sector hands – where it should be.

We provided unprecedented support for education initiatives, and with the right leadership, finally filled long-vacant public safety positions. We built a sub-Cabinet on Climate Change and took heat from Outside special interests for our biologically-sound wildlife management for abundance.

We broke ground on the new prison.

And we made common sense conservative choices to eliminate personal luxuries like the jet, the chef, the junkets… the entourage.

And the Lt. Governor and I said “no” to our pay raises.

So much success in this first term – and with this success I am proud to take credit… for hiring the right people! Our goal was to achieve a gas-line project, more fair oil and gas valuation, and ethics reform in four years. We did it in two. It’s because of the people… good public servants surrounding the Governor’s office, with servants’ hearts and astounding work ethic… they are Alaska’s success!

We are doing well! I wish you’d hear more from the media of your state’s progress and how we tackle outside interests – daily – special interests that would stymie our state. Even those debt-ridden stimulus dollars that would force the heavy hand of federal government into our communities with an “all-knowing attitude” – I have taken the slings and arrows with that unpopular move to veto because I know being right is better than being popular. Some of those dollars would harm Alaska and harm America – I resisted those dollars because of the obscene national debt we’re forcing our children to pay, because of today’s Big Government spending; it’s immoral and doesn’t even make economic sense!

Another accomplishment – our Law Department protected states’ rights – two huge U.S. Supreme Court reversals came down against that liberal Ninth Circuit, deciding in our state’s favor over the last two weeks. We’re protectors of our Constitution – federalists protect states’ rights as mandated in 10th amendment.

But you don’t hear much of the good stuff in the press anymore, do you?

Some say things changed for me on August 29th last year – the day John McCain tapped me to be his running-mate – I say others changed.

Let me speak to that for a minute.

Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I’ve been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations – such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.

Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn’t been cheap – the State has wasted thousands of hours of your time and shelled out some two million of your dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money not going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” … Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn’t cost them a dime so they’re not going to stop draining public resources – spending other peoples’ money in their game.

It’s pretty insane – my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with this instead of progressing our state now. I know I promised no more “politics as usual,” but this isn’t what anyone had in mind for Alaska.

If I have learned one thing: life is about choices!

And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose not to tear down and waste precious time; but to build up this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!

Life is too short to compromise time and resources… it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: “Sit down and shut up”, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”.

Nah, only dead fish “go with the flow.”

No. Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time… to build up.

And there is such a need to build up and fight for our state and our country. I choose to fight for it! And I’ll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and life… I’ll work for and campaign for those proud to be American, and those who are inspired by our ideals and won’t deride them.

I will support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the right reasons, and I don’t care what party they’re in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or outside Alaska.

But I won’t do it from the governor’s desk.

I’ve never believed that I, nor anyone else, need a title to do this – to make a difference… to help people. So I choose, for my State and my family, more “freedom” to progress, all the way around… so that Alaska may progress… I will not seek reelection as governor.

And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it”. I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it.

It’s not what is best for Alaska.

I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is unconventional and not so comfortable.

With this announcement that I am not seeking re-election… I’ve determined it’s best to transfer the authority of governor to Lieutenant Governor Parnell; and I am willing to do so, so that this administration – with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future – can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success.

My choice is to take a stand and effect change – not hit our heads against the wall and watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain in this new environment. Rather, we know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time, on another scale, and actually make a difference for our priorities – and so we will, for Alaskans and for Americans.

Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me – sports… basketball. I use it because you’re naïve if you don’t see the national full-court press picking away right now: A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket… and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And I’m doing that – keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities – smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom! And I know when it’s time to pass the ball – for victory.

I have given my reasons candidly and truthfully… and my last day won’t be for another few weeks so the transition will be very smooth. In fact, we will look to swear Sean in – in Fairbanks at the conclusion of our governor’s picnics.

I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you trust me with this decision – but it’s no more “politics as usual”.

Some Alaskans don’t mind wasting public dollars and state time. I do. I cannot stand here as your Governor and allow millions upon millions of our dollars go to waste just so I can hold the title of Governor. And my children won’t allow it either.

Some will question the timing. Let’s just say, this decision has been in the works for awhile…

In fact, this decision comes after much consideration and, finally, polling the most important people in my life – my children (where the count was unanimous… well, in response to asking: “Want me to make a positive difference and fight for ALL our children’s future from outside the Governor’s office?” It was four “yes’s” and one “hell yeah!” The “hell yeah” sealed it – and someday I’ll talk about the details of that… I think much of it had to do with the kids seeing their baby brother Trig mocked by some pretty mean-spirited adults recently.) Um, by the way, sure wish folks could ever, ever understand that we all could learn so much from someone like Trig – I know he needs me, but I need him even more… what a child can offer to set priorities right – that time is precious… the world needs more “Trigs,” not fewer.

My decision was also fortified during this most recent trip to Kosovo and Landstuhl, to visit our wounded soldiers overseas, those who sacrifice themselves in war for our freedom and security… we can ALL learn from our selfless troops… they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that life is short so they choose to not waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than self… and to build up their families, their states, our country. These Troops and their important missions – those are truly the worthy causes in this world and should be the public priority with time and resources and not this local / superficial wasteful political blood sport.

May we all learn from them!

*((Gotta put First Things First))*

First things first: as Governor, I love my job and I love Alaska. It hurts to make this choice but I am doing what’s best for Alaska. I’ve explained why… though I think of the saying on my parents’ refrigerator that says “Don’t explain: your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.”

But I have given my reasons… no more “politics as usual” and I am taking my fight for what’s right – for Alaska – in a new direction.

Now, despite this, I don’t want any Alaskan dissuaded from entering politics after seeing this real “climate change” that began in August… no, we need hardworking, average Americans fighting for what’s right! And I will support you because we need you and you can effect change, and I can too on the outside.

We need those who will respect our Constitution where government’s supposed to serve from the bottom up, not move toward this top down big government take-over… but rather, will be protectors of individual rights – who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed and are willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it’s time so the team can win! And that is what I’m doing!

Remember Alaska… America is now, more than ever, looking North to the Future. It’ll be good. So God bless you, and from me and my family – to all Alaska – you have my heart.

And we will be in the capable hands of our Lieutenant Governor, Sean Parnell. And Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will assume the role of Lieutenant Governor. And it is my promise to you that I will always be standing by, ready to assist. We have a good, positive agenda for Alaska.

In the words of General MacArthur, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”

–Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, July 3, 2009

Sarah Palin Steps Down

Why?

She had no problem telling you exactly why! In true Sarah Palin honest fashion this true grit Lady is no politics as usual Lady.

 She came out swinging, She wants to do what is best for her great state. In her speech she clearly maintains her Independence.

 In a great Independence Day Eve move, she says she is doing what is best for Alaska. She wants to take the fight for Alaska in a different direction.  I am so proud of this beautiful lady as she  says she was spending 80% of her time defending herself  against bogus attacks  which are preventing her from full time governing. How could she effectively govern when she was forced to constantly defend herself against false ethics complains which by have all been thrown out.  15 ethics complains costing Alaska and her family time and money.

Please note- that they cut away before she was even done with her speech. Then Crystal and others said she had been spouting a self centered, rambling, complaining, poor me speech! Huh? Thes jackasses call this complining?  I call it coming out swinging- no holes barred. 

As women we must unite and make sure that this never happens again, there is a pattern here – it’s clear- women who dare to run for high office will be pilloried and their family will be fair game. Her baby was recently plastered all over the internet as a facially disfigured baby. She and her entire family has been ridiculed and harassed in far greater measure than any man has ever endured in a run for public office.

I submit- we must all stand up for Sarah Palin as this has risen to heights that will set a new precedent for how we treat female candidates. We either beat this back now or watch it escalate even further beyond our wildest nightmares.

I sure hope that was her opening speech for her presidential campaign someday! She sounds tired of the old boys politics as usual club and so am I- how about you?

We still hold these truths to be self evident

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration
of the thirteen united
States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

July 11 – DC Rally: Equality And Liberty Day – Lincoln Memorial

July 2, 2009

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
Contact: Jeffrey Imm, realpublic@earthlink.net

http://www.realcourage.org/2009/07/july-11-rally/

On Saturday, July 11 from 1 to 4 PM ET at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool steps, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) will be holding a public awareness event in support of our universal human rights of equality and liberty, seeking to have day on the week after July 4 recognized as “Equality And Liberty Day.”    The goal of “Equality and Liberty Day” is to remember these essential universal human rights and to gauge our progress in realizing these in America and around the world.   For details – see “Event Logistics” below.

We will be promoting equality and liberty by the use of orange ribbons.  We will encourage individuals to wear orange or to wear orange ribbons for the event as a sign of your support for our universal human rights of equality and liberty.

Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

At this Responsible for Equality And Liberty public awareness event, we will be addressing key areas that continue to be challenges for our true realization of equality and liberty in America and around the world:

1.  Equal Rights for All Women and an End to Misogyny. Our universal human rights for equality and liberty demands equal rights for all women.  In America, this demands the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.) to ensure full Constitutional equality for all women.  The E.R.A. still has not yet been ratified by 15 states:

– Alabama
– Arizona
– Arkansas
– Florida
– Georgia
– Illinois
– Louisiana
– Mississippi
– Missouri
– Nevada
– North Carolina
– Oklahoma
– South Carolina
– Utah
– Virginia

It is past time for American to act on this!  We seek to raise public awareness on this essential women’s rights issue, and join organizations seeking to fight the battle for women’s rights.  We will raise public awareness about the Facebook website of ERA NOW, which provides individual Facebook sites for individuals seeking to work together getting the E.R.A. approved for the unratified states.  We will ask the public to also sign the petition in support of the E.R.A. online.

Regarding misogyny, or the hate and/or contempt of women, we have seen that violence against women around the world continue.  We view first and foremost that hate against women should be viewed as a true “hate crime,” and that violence targeting women around the world must no longer be accepted as merely traditional “crime.”  This requires a greater acceptance of our Responsibility for Equality And Liberty for all human beings.   The hate crime of misogyny is the largest hate crime against humanity; misogynists call for hate, oppression, and violence – literally against half of humanity itself.   The continuation of such misogynist hate shows how far we have yet to go in obtaining human equality and liberty.

2. Liberty for Those Oppressed by Totalitarianism. We have just passed the 20th anniversary since Communist China’s brutal repression of the Tiananmen Square protests for democracy, and we continue to see Communist China, Communist North Korea, and Communist Vietnam continuing to oppress over 1 billion human beings every day.  We defy such totalitarianism and we defend the mutuality of universal human rights and dignity for all of our fellow human beings.   We cannot be responsible for equality and liberty and ignore the thousands of forced labor camps in Communist China, the forced abortions in Communist China, the trafficking in human bodies parts in Communist China; we cannot ignore the 1 billion in China who continue to be forced to live under Communist oppression that denies their liberty, and that imprisons those who seek to exercise freedom of conscience.   We cannot ignore Communist North Korea’s own concentration camps, where two U.S. journalists have recently been sentenced to be imprisoned.  We cannot ignore that Communist North Korea has starved to death 2 to 3 million of its own people.  We cannot ignore Communist Vietnam’s continuing efforts to oppress those who seek democracy and freedom.   Unlike some political leaders, those of us responsible for equality and liberty must make our universal human rights A PRIORITY – and that means challenging those who would deny such liberty through totalitarian hate of our fellow human beings.

3.  Challenging the Resurgence of Racial Supremacism. While America and the world has progressed in pushing back the blight of racial supremacism, it has recently begun to grow once again.  We have seen the growth of up over 900 hate groups in America alone.  We have seen racial supremacist and Neo-Nazi murders continue in America’s capital and around the nation.  We have seen racial supremacist and Neo-Nazi plots to murder hundreds of black Americans and Barack Obama.  As a people responsible for equality and liberty, we must stand against this racial supremacist hate and violence throughout America and the world.

4. Challenging the Ideology of Islamic Supremacism’s War on Women, Homosexuals, Non-Muslims, and Other Muslims. It is impossible to honestly ignore the serious global problem of the ideology of Islamic supremacism and its threat to those who refuse to accept it.   We see a regular series of attacks by Islamic supremacists on women by oppression, by so-called “honor killings” and stonings, and by treating women as less than human beings. Islamic supremacism constitutes an institutionalized misogynist ideology against women as shown by a continuous war on women in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and around the world – where hate and violence against women is legitimized by Islamic supremacist authorities.  We see a war against homosexuals by Islamic supremacists who seek to have homosexuals imprisoned, oppressed, beaten, and murdered in the most gruesome and vicious ways, including so-called “honor killings” against homosexuals as well, including public calls in the West for the “stoning” of homosexuals.   We see a regular series of attacks against non-Muslims – denying their human rights, seeking their oppression, calling for violence against them, and killing them.  Moreover, we also see a consistent effort by Islamic supremacists even to deny the human rights of fellow Muslim sects around the world.   As a people responsible for equality and liberty, we cannot ignore when the human rights of women, of homosexuals, of non-Muslims, and of Muslims are oppressed by Islamic supremacists whose ideology defies the very universal human right of human equality.

Where Our Universal Human Rights Apply…

5. Why All of These Issues of Equality And Liberty Are Interrelated

An assault on human rights and human dignity anywhere – is an assault everywhere.  An attack on women in one place is an attack on women everywhere.  Those anti-freedom ideologies that attack human rights in one place – are attacking human rights everywhere, including your human rights.  An attack on one race is an attack on your race.  Those supremacists who say that some people, because of their gender, their religion, or their conscience, do not deserve the universal human right of equality – deny such equality for all people everywhere.

That is what UNIVERSAL human rights are all about.  The very universality of this issue – makes every one of these struggles for human rights – the SAME struggle. They are not segmented struggles by geography, race, ethnicity, gender, etc. They are all the same struggle, because they are all the same universal human rights.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Therefore, our support for human equality and liberty is not limited to only these categories above, but is part of our support for universal human rights for all humanity.  In this public awareness event, Responsible for Equality And Liberty seeks to make the public aware of these four major challenges to human equality and liberty today.  We don’t suggest that these are the only challenges to our universal human rights, but these are major global challenges that are literally life and death issues for our fellow human beings.

We challenge each of those aspects that defy equality and liberty, not merely as random violence, not merely as aspects of the world that we would like to change – but as INSTITUTIONALIZED HATE that consciously and deliberately stands AGAINST the universal human rights of equality and liberty.

July 11 Lincoln Memorial Event Logistics:
Our event will be held from 1 to 4 PM ET on Saturday July 11, at the reflecting pool steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial (not the Lincoln Memorial steps).  We are recommending that attendees take public transportation via the Washington subway to either the Foggy Bottom metro stop and walk south to the Lincoln Memorial, or the Smithsonian metro stop and walk west along the National Mall and 17th street to Lincoln Memorial (see details below).

Important note – the reflecting pool steps where our event will be located is on the east side of the 23rd street that goes between the Lincoln Memorial itself and the reflecting pool in front of it.

 

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Steps Location for Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) Event

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC is on the far end of the National Mall and bisects 23rd Street (see PDF of map).  It can be reached from Constitution Avenue from Henry Bacon Drive and from Independence Avenue from Henry French Drive.  Limited parking may be available on Independence Avenue or Madison Avenue near the National Mall, or at the Jefferson Memorial.  However, parking in Washington DC is scarce, and using public transportation is strongly recommended.

DC Subway and Walking Directions

Walking from Foggy Bottom subway stop to Lincoln Memorial
– Map in walking from Foggy Bottom to Lincoln Memorial
* Exit station using main exit
* Walk approx. 7 blocks S on 23rd St NW. (stay on 23rd Street essentially until you get within visual range of Lincoln Memorial)
* Turn right on Lincoln Memorial Circle SW.
* Walk a short distance W on Lincoln Memorial Circle SW.

Walking from Smithsonian subway stop to Lincoln Memorial
* Exit station using 12TH & JEFFERSON (THE MALL) exit
* Walk approx. 2 blocks W on Jefferson Dr SW.
* Turn right on 14th St NW.
* Walk approx. 1 block N on 14th St NW.
– Map in walking from Smithsonian subway to Washington Monument (en route)
* Keep walking past Washington Monument west in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial
* Cross 17th Street going west
* Walk past National World War II Monument west in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial
* Continue to walk down Washington Mall in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial

* NOTE: that our rally will be on the side of the reflecting pool nearest the Lincoln Memorial

 

Lincoln Memorial Information Center
23rd Street, NW
202-426-6841

National Park Web Site Directions to the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. The memorial stands in West Potomac Park, near the convergence of numerous roads from throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In terms of placement, the memorial occupies a highly symbolic and important position as the western “bookend” of the National Mall, while the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial provides the eastern component at the foot of Capitol Hill, two miles to the east.

Car
Interstate 395 provides access to the Mall from the South. Interstate 495, New York Avenue, Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and the Cabin John Parkway provide access from the North. Interstate 66, U.S. Routes 50 and 29 provide access from the West. U.S. Routes 50, 1, and 4 provide access from the East.

Public Transportation
There are several Metro train and bus routes from the suburban areas surrounding the city. In addition to Washington, D.C. public transportation, adjacent state and commonwealth transportation authorities offer train service from area cites to the Nation’s Capital. Consult the Public Transportation link for additional details.

Parking
General visitor parking is available along Ohio Drive, SW between the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials. Bus parking is available primarily along Ohio Drive, SW near the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials and along Ohio Drive, SW in East Potomac Park. See the Maps section for a detailed understanding of these areas.

There is limited handicapped parking at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and World War II Memorials and near the Washington Monument and the Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean War Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials; otherwise, parking is extremely scarce in Washington, D.C.

Note:

Please see our list of planned events and petitions designed to defy totalitarians and supremacists and let them know that we plan to stop their attack on equality and liberty.

For more information on how you can help, email us at realpublic@earthlink.net

Violet Socks it to Vanity Fair

Cross posted from the reclusive leftist http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2009/07/01/what-we-can-learn-from-the-vanity-fair-hit-piece-on-sarah-palin/

Don’t miss this terrific piece by By Dr. Violet Socks.

JULY 1ST, 2009

What we can learn from the Vanity Fair hit piece on Sarah Palin

 

Relevant to defending Sarah:

If you want to send a letter to the editor at Vanity Fair to complain about the hit piece that Todd Purdum wrote, you can send it using this form:

Send a Letter to the Editor (Vanity Fair)

or fax it here: 212-286-4324 Note that VF states that your submitted letter becomes “their property”.

This is the 6 page hit piece, p.1:

It came from Wasilla

Using Twitter

Twitter has been in the spotlight for its role in post-election Iran. It has allowed people within the country to communicate with each other and helped those protesting spread their story around the world. As Iran’s brutal government crackdowns continue, the flow of information has slowed considerably for multiple reasons. Yet Twitter has added to its list of uses, a tool of protest and possibly of revolution.

While Twitter grows at a remarkable rate there are still some holdouts. So here’s a guide to how and why using Twitter can be used particularly if one is interested in blogging and/or politics.

1. It helps people find others with similar interest, and quickly relays information to them.

2. Used right it can be an excellent source of information. Follow interesting people and organization and the your page will be filled with interesting information (tweets) daily.

3. It aids in drawing attention to your site, blog, or event.

Here are a few basic steps…

Sign up at Twitter / Write a descriptive, interesting Bio / Pick or create a background / Upload an avatar.

Start tweeting – regularly post updates on what you are doing, what you find interesting, and post useful information you would like to share. All information is public (unless otherwise designated) so tweet appropriately.

Learn the Lingo – There are a handful of ‘terms’ that will help you communicate and spread your message. The most basic of which are listed below.

RT – Retweet. This is done when re-posting information from another user. This helps others get their message out, it shows what you think is important, and it spreads useful information. Re-tweeting is a significant part of what makes Twitter a community, and not just a bunch of singular data feeds.

@ – Use the at sign to address a tweet to a particular person. For instance if you want to ask me a question about this article, your tweet would look something like this, “@kmorrison Why are you trying to get me to use Twitter?” Tweets addressed to you in this manner can be found via a link on your main page ‘@yourusername’ . @ is also used to refer to another used on twitter, and is included in RT’s to let people know where a tweet originated.

Search out people to follow – Use Twitter’s ‘Find People,’ or use other sites that search bio’s, tweets, or indexes users (like Twellow) to help you find those with similar interests.

Follow topics of interest – There in the menu of Twitter showing ‘Trending Topic.’ This is what people are tweeting about the most at this very moment. Click on these if the topic if of interest to you, and if you tweet on this topic others following this topic will also see your tweets. Use search to find topics of interest. Hit refresh when you want to see the newly posted tweets.

Hash Tags are a popular way on Twitter to follow particular topics as well. These are keywords preceded by #. For instance #IranElection has been the keyword / hashtag that has condensed tweets into a continuous flow of information on Iran over the last several weeks. There are groups and sites that use hashtags to publish topical tweets to their sites, and they are frequently used to organize the information coming through Twitter by topic. Check out HashTags.org for more information.

People use Twitter for different uses and have different styles of tweeting. It is a source of both news and gossip, so like anything on the internet a critical eye is needed when looking for good info. I highly recommend taking a look at #IranElection to see what is currently being discussed. Also, retweeting cited information (be careful to only retweet accurate info) is a good way of keeping the spotlight on Iran at least on Twitter. Also, many news organizations and news personalities are on Twitter so dropping them a note that about their coverage (or lack there of) can’t hurt.

The more you use Twitter it becomes clearer and clearer how this tool can be used effectively for a variety of uses. Give it a try. If you’d like you can start by following my tweets @kmorrison – I almost always follow back.

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Twitter Being Used for Protest, Politics, and More

News From Iran

Large scale arrests of protesters, reporters, and even British emissaries has raised serious concerns about the treatment of those detained. The lack of cause for detention is also troubling. From around the web the following sources relay some of the pressing issues/concerns in Iran.

Radio Free Europe addresses what happens to people arrested in Iran. What Will Happen To Those Arrested In Iran? I Can Tell You

By official count, some 450 people have been arrested in opposition protests against Iran’s presidential election results. Many sources inside Iran put the count in the thousands. To those arrested 10 years ago, in Iran’s last great wave of student demonstrations, what the new detainees face next is already clear. Ali Fathi (a pseudonym) was one of those students arrested in 1999. This is his story.

What will happen to the people who have been arrested in the protest rallies in Iran? I can tell you.

I was arrested during the 1999 student demonstrations in Tehran, exactly 10 years ago.

What I did was as trivial in terms of real crime as what the protesters in Iran have done now by expressing rage over the presidential election results.

But the punishment I received was so out of proportion to my actions – and so truly criminal – that I had to flee my homeland and seek political asylum in Europe.

World News Argyf reports Battle for Iran shifts from the streets to the heart of power

The power struggle inside Iran appears to be moving from the streets into the heart of the regime itself this weekend amid reports that Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani is plotting to undermine the power of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rafsanjani’s manoeuvres against Khamenei come as tensions between the speaker of the parliament, Ali Larijani, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also appeared to be coming to a head.

Please take a look at NYT’s original Hierarchy of Power in Iran graphic as it is very informative. The NYT has been one of few traditional American news sources that has consistently followed the story in Iran and published substantive information.

From the NYT

The Guardian UK also deserves a hat tip for its coverage. The Guardian is asking for information about those “dead or detained” in Iran. They report Iran has most journalists in jail.

The press freedom organisation said it feared for the safety of those imprisoned in Iran. “Several witness accounts make us fear that torture and ill-treatment are being systematically inflicted on prisoners who have demonstrated against the regime,” RSF added.

“Several journalists and bloggers were brutally treated by the guards and by men employed by the state prosecutor, Saaed Mortazavi.”

Amnesty International today called for the Iranian authorities to release the journalists arrested since the elections. Journalists are at risk of torture in detention, the human rights organisation said, adding that the location of most remained unknown.

“It is shocking that journalists whose job it is to provide information to others are being detained, on top of all the other draconian measures the authorities have taken to restrict the free flow of information about what is really happening in Iran,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the deputy director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa programme.

“Rather than trying to investigate alleged abuses, the only message the authorities are sending is that they are seeking to hide the truth, both from their own citizens and the rest of the world.”

From the Sydnet Morning Herald – Iran police out in force as election result upheld.

The head of the Guardians Council, Ayatollah Ahmad Janati, concluded that “the majority of the objections were not deemed infringements or fraud and were only minor irregularities that occur in each election,” the station reported on Monday.

Mousavi’s supporters had boycotted the partial recount of the vote carried out by the council following the complaints of the defeated candidates.

The opposition had demanded a complete rerun and has staged massive public demonstrations in a dispute that has shaken the foundations of the Islamic regime, with unprecedented criticism of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to the official results, Ahmadinejad won by a thumping majority of 63 per cent against just 34 per cent for Mousavi, a gap of 11 million votes.

Witnesses said hundreds of policemen and Basij militiamen carrying sticks were deployed in Tehran’s main public squares to prevent any recurrence of the opposition protests over the conduct of the election that have broken out since the June 12 poll.

They said security forces were also randomly checking the boots of cars and vehicles, and checking the identification cards of drivers.

Western governments meanwhile expressed outrage at the continued detention by the Iranian authorities of four locally hired staff of the British embassy in Tehran.

Earlier in the day, Iran freed five of the nine embassy staffers it had initially detained, but British prime minister Gordon Brown slammed the arrests as “unacceptable, unjustified and without foundation” and demanded the immediate release of the other four.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton described Iran’s treatment of the British embassy staff as “deplorable” and said Washington was following the situation “with great concern”.

Speaking after talks with Brown in London, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso expressed his “full solidarity” with Britain over the arrests.

“Intimidation and harassment are unacceptable and they will be met with a strong collective European response,” he warned.

Similarly CNN reported that the official “recount” had no effect on the the results of the election.

Iran’s election authority: Partial recount shows election valid

Kadkhodaei acknowledged that some ballot boxes may have contained more ballots than the number of voters in a given area, but said that did not necessarily mean there were irregularities. Voters were not restricted to polling places in their home town, so the extra votes could have come from travelers, he said.

Charges of vote buying also were investigated, and “we didn’t find that to be true,” he said.

This absurdity of the government’s logic was noted this weekend on KPFK Digital Village Radio when stating that Ahmedinejad is claiming victory with 135% percent of the vote.

From Ahmedinejad, major complaints about the West, in a feable attempt to place blame for the massive protests on outside sources…

Yahoo AP – Iran pledges ‘crushing’ response to US critiques

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Saturday to make the U.S. regret its criticism of Iran’s postelection crackdown and said the “mask has been removed” from the Obama administration’s efforts to improve relations.

Ahmadinejad — with his internal opponents virtually silenced — all but dared Obama to keep calling for an end to repression of demonstrators who claim the hardline leader stole re-election through massive fraud.

“You should know that if you continue the response of the Iranian nation will be strong,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech to members of Iran’s judiciary, which is directly controlled by the ruling clerics. “The response of the Iranian nation will be crushing. The response will cause remorse.”

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Note: Please continue to ask media sources to cover the Iran election.

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News and Headlines Out of Iran

Hillary silenced 2 days

Her Name is Neda

The Globe Opinion June 23, 2009- She lies in the Tehran street with her headscarf half-off. Scarlet blood gushes from her nose and mouth and courses across her pale face. Men and women scream in horror as they realize she is dying. Read more…

Jul 01, 2009 at 02:14 PM

For Iran Freedom, Democratic Change Join to MarchJuly 11, 2009 11:00AM Download July 11th Flyer

According to Fox News Hillary was prevented from speaking out for 2 days because Obama wanted to wait. I did not need them to tell me that- she has been prevented from doing and saying a lot of things she would like to say – we have her track  record over the course of 35 years ‘as proof of her stand on human rights. She stood up in China and said Women’s rights are Human Rights”

Sadly we also have his record and his own words on how he would rather play nice while women are murdered in the streets. And all he had to say in Cairo was Women has a right to cover their faces but not mention they have a right not to- the coward!

But lately, his can’t-we-all-just-get-along approach has run into serious trouble. Last Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, blasted Obama’s moderate response to the government crackdown after the disputed presidential election in Iran. “The president of the United States is supposed to lead the free world, not follow it,” Graham said on ABC’s This Week. “He has been timid and passive more than I would like.”

Obama has dealt with the criticism in typically genial fashion. At his White House news conference Tuesday, he denied that his response to the government crackdown in Iran was tepid. He said he has taken a balanced approach—between supporting reformers and, on the other hand, not meddling in Iranian affairs, which he fears could backfire and inflame anti-American sentiment in Iran and throughout the Mideast. and added: “I strongly condemn these unjust actions.”

It’s not Just Fox and the conservatives now – no Hillary may yet speak out and the Democrats may yet realize they  have seats coming up for election soon or maybe just maybe their consciences may bother them . Or maybe their constituents might get off their asses and start calling in and telling them to act like representatives for a change? Ya think? Instead of keeping us busy with all these promises that none of these folks even read before he shoves them through.

Democrats in Congress would like him to take a stronger stand on his signature initiatives—specifically to clarify which provisions of an emerging health-care overhaul he will insist on and which ones he will refuse to accept. He is similarly faulted for letting fellow Democrats in Congress take the lead in fashioning energy legislation, immigration bills, spending priorities, and other high-priority measures without much clear direction from him, the critics say.

Is this what we really bargained for the ramming through of a bunch of unread bills and the ignoring of details while the whole world collapes around us and women are totally ignored? Our SOs is made less and less signifcant and CZAR’s who are held accountable to no one mounting by the dozens.

Rise Hillary Rise- this time we will march with you for justice and democracy and to have our votes count and to be heard! Rise!

Women’s Groups AWOL again!

“WHERE IS NOW & THE OTHER National Women’s Groups on this LATEST Palin Attack? An 11 page negative article on her in Vanity Fair.

We are defending women kind from vicious attacks ladies remember? But no instead we are in the business of WHAT? You cut off your nose to spite your faces imposing politics is a quick way to make many feel unwelcome. It’s very easy to fall into the divisive trap of politics even the newer groups have fallen into the same damned trap. NOT The Majority United- we will not succumb.

Tell me what the hell good are women’s groups if they do not defend women who are under sexist attack for no other reason than they are women? And what good are women’s groups who play politics? Such seems to be the case with the current front runners N.O.W., The New Agenda, and Women Count to name the top three. The Majority United again is calling for these three to hit the airwaves in defense of Sarah Palin or stop calling themselves National Women’s organizations FOR women. Either speak for women from all parties or advertise yourselves as the partisan organizations that you are.

Kim Gandy, outgoing president of N.O.W. was out again yesterday attacking conservatives and defending Democrats namely Judge Sotomayor and Justice Ginsberg for their affirmative action positions against hard working white guys who worked hard- studied and put in their time and qualified and deserved their promotions and were reinstated by the supreme court after having been denied them by Judge Sotomayor in a lower court.

Are we now to take any stand unjust or not for affirmative action for dems and against conservatives just because of who they are? I can’t help but remember how a 35 year experienced white female stellar candidate was passed up – better yet pushed aside- in order to make way for a less experienced younger black male. So now we have a historic black president instead of a more qualified historic female president. No- I have had about all the affirmative action I can take thank you very much.

But I digress, these other so called women’s groups are shouting about the Democratic politically correct issues – but not a word in defense of yet another sexist/misogynist attack on Sarah Palin AGAIN! Time and time again – I have had to call them out on this. Why? Time and time again – I have given them hours of opportunity to step up. Why can’t they hit the airwaves immediately? N.O.W. certainly has the ability to get media coverage, TNA brags about their media savvy and I just got a letter from Women Count boasting their exponential growth this year.

I don’t have to tell you about what they have done to Sarah and her family- I am sure you know – If you are a Dem- perhaps you don’t care – but you should! Our little girls don’t know conservative from liberal they see a woman out there and they see her daughters and they see sexism and misogyny that’s what they see- and they see you doing nothing about it and the media and the government and the world sees you doing nothing about it!

Damned it – DO SOMETHING- Join the majority United and stop it Now!

Vanity Fair has long been a must-read magazine for liberal elites so it’s no real surprise that they spent a lot of ink on a recently published hit piece by Todd S. Purdum

on Sarah Palin. http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=4186

When you title your article “It came from Wasilla” it’s pretty much a given that you’re trying to insult – so it seems Palin Derangement Syndrome is alive and well at Vanity Fair! In a just published 10,000-word article on Sarah Palin, author Todd Purdum mocks, smirks, and seemingly lusts after her, all the while reporting numerous “anonymous” friends and campaign workers for Senator John McCain who trash the Governor of Alaska – even calling her “A Little Shop of Horrors.”

Ok, I read the manifesto article so you wouldn’t have to! And yes. It is a fairly stunning piece of work that, regardless if you have disagreements on policy points with Sarah Palin, you cannot help but see the blatant sexism, the snippy elitisms and snobbery, and the contempt and condescension felt for not just Palin but for average, everday Americans.

Here’s just one example of many of the ridiculous sexism in the article:

“As Palin makes her way slowly across the crowded ballroom—dressed all in black; no red Naughty Monkey Double Dare pumps tonight—she is stopped every few inches by adoring fans.”

What?? Can smart political women not wear high heels? Does she need wear uber-liberal Birkenstocks to be taken seriously? Maybe you do need to read it for yourself!

Look. Sarah Palin is strong. Remarkably so. She has been living in a Fishbowl since last August when she became John McCain’s running mate. She, along with her family, is still one of the few political figures who must endure both the scrutiny of international political media including the rabid left in this country and the celebrity/entertainment venues such as Entertainment Tonite and People Magazine. She has millions of devoted fans and incredibly angry enemies. This Vanity Fair article on Sarah Palin is the most recent example of that fact.

Chants from the Roof Tops in Iran

The chanting of “Allah Akbar,” ‘God is Great’ in Farsi, has been steadily chanted from the rooftops in Iran since the election more than two weeks ago. The video above is reportedly from June 29th. The video below is from the 19th the night before the June 20th Saturday protests. The chanting and accompanying poem show the energy and concern that came the night before peaceful protester were met by brutal government oppression.

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Chants of Protest Continue from the Rooftops of Iran