MikeSpeaksOut!

Anti Tobaco

Took a picture if this human brain while watching a presentation against big tobacco. Very interesting.

Remembering Heroes...

As a supporter of human rights and civil liberties, I have been intrigued by what happens when people come to the "tipping point" (to quote the title of a famous book).  You know, that moment when they say....I am not going to take this anymore.  WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WRONG!  Throughout history, each era has hit its share of heroes.  We remember those of the civil rights movement (King, Kennedy, Johnson); we remember Susan B. Anthony for the suffrage movement, Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War (in America)...the list goes on.... we remember all those individuals -- and groups of individuals that have made a difference.

I have spoken frequently on World War II on my blog -- and its implications to modern times.  I have discussed how gays and lesbians suffered, I have discussed my friends who were survivors of WWII.  Obviously, I have a great respect for the heroes that have supported and molded this country.

While I (personally) believe that America is engaged in what will be our next "Civil Rights Movement" for gay and lesbian rights, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.  In America, we refer to it as Veteran's Day.  As the son of a step-mother and a father who both served in the US Army -- my dad was a paratrooper...HOW COOL....I always thought my dad was the coolest because he jumped out of airplanes...but I digress....I feel that Veteran's Day is an important event.  I was saddened that I had to attend school today (as a teacher).  ((Que the Rant)).  There was a time that we were off during Veteran's Day.  Heck, I remember a time in elementary school when they tried to hold school on Veteran's Day (due to Hurricane David) and my father REFUSED to let me go to school.  Refused!  That was of the 6 days EVER that I missed school from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (the other 5 were because I was hit by a truck on a moped....ouch).

So....I remember the Heroes of all wars today.  While Veteran's Day (I actually prefer to call it Armistice Day...like most of the World) recognizes that on the 11th Day...of the 11th Month...at the 11th Hour in 1917.....the "War to End All Wars" ended....we should celebrate all those who keep us free.

As a teacher....I cannot let this go without noting the historical significance of the end of World War I.  (1)  We (the allied forces) were very harsh on Germany at the end of WWI...many think that some demands on Germany were too harsh.....eventually, some speculate leading to the heightened nationalism in Germany that would lead to WWII; (2) We learned that War is costly, painful, and devastating; and (3) It would seem that a focus on a cause that the American pubic believes in has always been the key to American success.  It is my hope that President-Elect Barack Obama keep true to his mission to restore faith in both the United States and our military.  Our veterans and their families -- now more than ever deserve our support and respect. 

DO WHAT'S RIGHT...

God Bless our soldiers...past and present....and God Bless America!

For more info...see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day

Tempered Jubilation...

Amazing!  It was an interesting (a little less than) 2 years.  I am still amazed at how we elect our President -- but that is a totally different conversation.  I spent about 2 weeks trying to use the election as a "teachable moment".  I explained to my students how the electoral college worked, how it was set up to insure that "all voices were heard".  It took a WHOLE HECKUVA lot of time to explain how most of the map could be one color and yet the other color could win.  Thank goodness CNN had an interactive map online (replete with electoral college numbers and a way to try different scenarios).  

When BOB won (as I called him) .. I wept.  I tried to get Kerry AND Gore elected and was unsuccessful.  But BOB was different.  My happiness AND sadness was two-fold....explained further below.  I truly think that for the first time in 8 plus years we have an opportunity to get things right!  WE DO!

Indulge me a few moments more....afterall, this is MY blog.  If you (like I) are confused as to how this election process works...look at this map I extracted from the Washington Post!  It shows votes by county.  As a teacher, what is TOTALLY cool about this is that it totally amplifies how population by county (in any given state) can sway a vote!  Notice How President-Elect Obama won Florida by capturing Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange (Disney World) and Hillsborough (Tampa) Counties.  Look at how huge the LA voters ROCKED THE VOTE!

SEE MORE OF THESE MAPS HERE:  http://politicalmaps.org/maps-of-the-2008-us-presidential-election/

The LGBT Community Loss Major BATTLES this Election.....BUT THE WAR IS AHEAD!

Those for "Amendment 2" in Florida (this picture from the PRO2 site shows a lovely ((hired)) couple showing what marriage should be)  used deception to pass a bill that will forever INSCRIBE HATE into the Constitution of the Great State of Florida!  The so-called Gay Marriage Amendment in Florida has passed.  I do not wish to speak about it further at this moment.  It is enough to say that I am heart broken.  In Florida:  (1)  LGBT people can't adopt; (2) Can't marry (affirmed in 1997 and again by amendment to our constitution in 2008).

As I have mentioned before, the "3G" (Guns, God, and Gays) Policy has won....THE BATTLE...but...NOT THE WAR!

The LGBT community has lost ground in several states this cycle -- other than Florida, PROP 8 in California (another gay marriage amendment) also was confirmed....Adoption by gay couples was banned in yet another state.  As I have said...THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS NEITHER RELIGOUS...NOR RIGHT.

PERHAPS AMENDMENT 1 OF THE NEXT CYCLE SHOULD BE AN ANTI-DIVORCE AMENDMENT?  If marriage is so sacred ... we should prohibit divorce?  Sound far fetched?  Google "Covenant Marriage" in Louisiana.  With 50% of marriages ending in divorce.......well.......you figure it out.

Interestingly enough...in the major urban centers (Palm Beach, Broward, etc.) Amendment 2 was defeated.  

I have Tempered Jubilation.  The Honorable Barack Obama, Senator from Illinois will, on January 20, become MY..NO...OUR PRESIDENT.

  

My Wishes...VOTE FLORIDA!

Tomorrow Americans go to the polls to elect our next President.  What an honor we have of being a country in which the people have the precious right to elect its representatives.  For more than 230 years, Americans have had the honor of freedom and a participatory democracy.

At its heart, a participatory democracy (which is what we are) means that you must....well...participate.  We have suffered for 8 years (in my opinion and the opinion of more than 70% of all Americans) under an administration that fails to react to the needs of its people.  BUT IF YOU FAIL TO GO TO THE POLLS TOMORROW....you fail yourself.

My first wish is that Barack Obama will become the next President of the United States of America.

GAY MARRIAGE AND IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WEDGE ISSUE!  IT IS ILLEGAL IN MOST OF THE COUNTRY.  WITH THIS ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS....IS IT REALLY WORTH SPENDING TIME, MONEY AND EFFORT DISCUSSING IT?  THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WANTS TO DISTRACT YOU.  DON'T BE FOOLED BY "SHINY OBJECTS".

IF AMENDMENT 2 PASSES IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN FLORIDA STATE HISTORY THAT WE HAVE WRITTEN DISCRIMINATION INTO OUR CONSTITUTION!!!!!!!!

My next wish comes in the form of hoping that Florida voters realize what a farce amendment 2 is!  This veiled attempt at discrimination is being called the "Gay Marriage Amendment".  Keep in mind that (1) gay marriage is already forbidden in Florida and (2) if this passes ALL partnerships that are not marriages between a man and a woman will be null and void.  Hmmm.....Sounds okay, right?  Well, what about those older individuals who chose to get domestic partnerships rather than remary -- whether it be to save their pension or retirement income -- will be stripped of all rights given to them through domestic partnership registries throughout the state.  THIS INCLUDES the stripping of insurance offered by companies that offer DP coverage.

Read more at:  SayNo2.Com

Here is some political cartoon cometary on the topic.

AND THIS