#Faith and Freedom Coalition

[justinspoliticalcorner]

David Smith at The Guardian:

God’s army is on the march. And many of its foot soldiers are wearing “Make America great again” regalia, sensing that their unlikely standard-bearer, former US president Donald Trump, is once again close to the promised land. “I do not believe that America can survive another four years of Joe Biden,” Ralph Reed, founder and chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, told a gathering of the religious right in Washington on Friday. “I haven’t felt this way since Jimmy Carter was president.” The audience burst into knowing laughter. Reed promised they would knock on 10m doors of Christian and conservative voters in every battleground state, make 10m phone calls, send 25m text messages and put 30m voter guides in 113,000 churches, producing “the biggest turnout of Christian voters in American history”. The election result will be clear, he added. “This time there aren’t gonna need to be any lawsuits. We’re not going to have to go to court and we’re not going to have to wait until 2.30 in the morning for Donald Trump to declare victory. He’s going to do it at 9 o’clock at night!”

With Trump running ahead of Biden in many swing state polls, religious right voters scent a historic opportunity to impose a radical agenda that could ban abortion nationwide, curb LGBTQ+ rights and blur the separation of church and state. At Friday’s conference, speaker after speaker framed it as righteous crusade and the only way to resist a tide of liberal secularism sweeping America. Ben Carson, a former housing secretary in Trump’s first term, praised Republican-dominated Louisiana for becoming the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every government school classroom. “Aren’t you glad that yesterday the governor of Louisiana signed into law – put the Ten Commandments back in the schools?” he said to cheers and applause before warning of a 60-year communist project to change America by taking over schools, churches and Hollywood and removing God from the public square.

Josh Hawley, a Republican senator for Missouri, warned of a “radical anti-faith agenda” gripping the country. He said: “Who’s dividing America is the radical left and that’s why I say to you we don’t need less Christian influence in our society, we don’t need less Christian witness in our society; we need more in every part of government, in every part of society.” To approving roars from the audience, Hawley added: “We ought to take the Pride flag out of schools and put the Bible back in. You know what? We ought to take the trans flag down from all of our federal buildings and over every federal building in America write the words: ‘In God we trust.’ In God we trust. Amen.”

The couching of an Armageddon election, in which religious truth itself is at stake, with victory representing divine providence and defeat spelling total catastrophe, was crystallised by Monica Crowley, a rightwing political commentator and former assistant secretary of the treasury. She described the election as a “hinge moment” comparable to the American revolution, American civil war, second world war and September 11 terrorist attacks. She spoke of a “war” against “the enemy within” that has spent nearly half a century “infiltrating, undermining and destroying” America with “godless philosophies”. Crowley lamented that Hollywood no longer produces “patriotic films” like those of John Wayne and, extraordinarily, defended the communist witch-hunts of the 1950s. “Senator Joe McCarthy was right, and he was trying to ring the bell in the 1950s about communist infiltration in our government and the same deep state that is now going after Donald Trump,” he said.

[...] Religious conservatives’ pact with Trump appears to be holding. Some were sceptical about the thrice-married reality TV star when he first ran for president in 2016 but the concerns were assuaged by his running mate, born-again evangelical Christian Mike Pence, and by a first term that saw him shift the judiciary to the right. Not even Trump’s conviction in New York last month on 34 felony counts in a trial involving hush-money payments to an adult film star has shaken his grip on this constituency. Many who complain that their faith is under siege regard him as a blunt instrument with which to fight back against the radical left. They often rationalise their vote by saying they are choosing a president, not a pastor. Some evangelicals have likened him to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who, according to the Bible, enabled Jews to return to Israel from their exile in Babylon.

Why is the religious right sticking behind Donald Trump, who is not a sincere Christian and has been charged with 34 felonies? They view him as an useful instrument to push their wicked far-right agenda into law: eroding the separation of church and state, abortion bans, and anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

These same folks were all “character counts” when Bill Clinton was facing sex scandals, but jettisoned them when Trump has done the same and a lot more.

[makingdonalddrumpfagain]

[whatisonthemoon]

Freedom, Faith & Family Coalition

This was highlighted in the Ex-Moonie facebook group recently but for those who didn’t see it, this organization is affiliated with Hyung Jin’s Sanctuary Church movement. https://freedomfaithandfamily.org/ From their website: The Freedom, Faith and Family Coalition works together with concerned citizens and parents to host educational events about threats to our freedoms and how to effectively defend the Judeo-Christian foundation of our constitutional republic. It sponsors an annual conference and mobilizes patriots to advocate for pro-family, pro-natural marriage and pro-fatherhood policies that incentivize strong families, communities as well as a strong nation.

[nesiacha]

Letter of Madame Chalabre to Robespierre

I found something interesting on the excellent site amis-robespierre.org. It was mentioned in posts I saw on Tumblr about Madame Chalabre, a great admirer of Robespierre, who was supposedly arrested after his execution. According to Vandeplas, Bernard on the same site, some accused her of being an informant for Robespierre. Joke aside, I wonder if Stanisława Przybyszewska might be the reincarnation of Madame Chalabre.

But when you read the letter she sent to Robespierre, it’s much more than admiration; it shows a political spirit. When I see this, I think once again that some French revolutionaries, including Robespierre, missed the boat by refusing to make women equal to men.

Here is Robespierre’s speech from January 2, 1792:   "... War is good for military officers, for the ambitious, for speculators who trade in such events; it is good for the court, it is good for the executive power whose authority, popularity, and influence it increases; it is good for the coalition of nobles, intriguers, and moderates who govern France..." He continues: "... The most extravagant idea that can be born in the head of a politician is to believe that it suffices for a people to invade a foreign people to make them adopt its laws and constitution. No one loves armed missionaries..." "... Our victories by our generals would be more disastrous than our defeats..."

Here is Madame Chalabre’s response, which shows a good reasoning spirit: "No, I cannot find words to express to the admirable Robespierre the surprise and emotion caused by reading his interesting and useful speech in the latest Revolution of Paris. The patriots were right to include it, because this journal is widely read and goes everywhere. We cannot hurry enough to warn true Frenchmen against the execrable trap of war. But alas! I fear it is a foregone conclusion in the National Assembly, for the deputy Ramond (de Carbonnières) announces to us a long and beautiful report from the diplomatic committee whose conclusions will undoubtedly be for war. Just heavens! What betrayals! Unfortunate homeland. False guides still divert you from the right path with new ruses finer than those of the moderates. They do not have such a marked character of falsehood and are therefore more dangerous. Patriots are said to be misguided if they do not want war. Ah! Let us continue to be thus misguided to stifle it and save the homeland. Another speech at the Jacobins Monday played by the cruel war partisans who persist like ravens on their prey. If so, let us despair of the homeland’s salvation. Victorious even with the enemy’s power is to be defeated. That is the solution to the whole question but as you say, they always want to be beside the point. How with even a little judgment can one fall into such a trap? It seems incredible to me; instead of following nature, they prefer to reason against it. Shame, shame on eloquence in this case. Weak humans who boast of your enlightenment, the instinct of animals is far superior to your fine minds, for it never deceives them.

{} I cannot resist the feeling of gratitude inspired by the virtuous conduct and wise writings of the faithful Robespierre, despite his own advice to us not to give in too much to these transports. His touching modesty will produce the opposite effect judging by myself but it will not be dangerous for freedom, the noblest emulation will be the fruit. Greetings, friendship, Chalabre."

Thus, beyond admiration, Madame Chalabre shows great lucidity on the issue of war. I would love to know more about this character.

This makes me all the more furious about the films of the French Revolution that portray women as passive, too gentle, and groupies according to macho standards (yes, I have my eye on Heffron's films, the horrible movie "The Passion of Camille and Lucile Desmoulins," and even very good films like "La Terreur et la Vertu" by Stellio Lorenzi).

PS: I looked for Tumblr posts about this letter specifically and an analysis but did not find one. If it is already there, I sincerely apologize to the author. The goal is not to plagiarize.

[qqueenofhades]

I hate hate HATE the fact that putin probably has this shit eating grin on his face w all this denial of ukraine aide. I know there are a couple of other packages where congress can piecemeal it in the future but still. Fuck!!!!!!!! HOW is it all so obvious AND so badly done by the Rs lol

It just illustrates the extent to which the GOP has become the Group of Putin on pretty much every level. There are many reasons for this and they are all equally important to understand:

They love Putin anyway because of all the pro-Trump election interference in 2016, and they're hanging their hat on it being just enough to squeak Trump back in for 2024.

They hate Ukraine to start with because a) it was the cause of Trump's first impeachment (the failed extortion of Zelenskyy) and b) it's central to their current flailing and failing attempts to portray Biden as doing some kind of crime in Hunter's business interests there (in Burisma).

They also loathe the idea of democracy in general and think autocrats, especially their buddy Putin, should have the right to do whatever they want, as well as subscribing to the isolationist America Only xenophobia that was also prevalent in the late 1930s right before WWII. So any noble appeals to maintain Ukraine's democracy and freedom hold no water with them, when they're busy trying to destroy those things here in America as well.

They're heavily influenced by Russian dark money and Russian propaganda, which is part of the larger nexus of Russian influence that operates within and enables the European and American far-right in a creating an anti-Western illiberal fascist theocratic far-right global coalition. If you're interested in this topic, I recommend this (excellent but extremely depressing) book.

As such, yes, the growing anti-Ukraine sentiment in the Treason Caucus is giving plenty of unfortunate credence to Putin's hypothesis that if he can just hang on in Ukraine until 2024, the Republicans will get elected/into full power and instantly be able to cancel all US support for Ukraine. Which they would probably do, and which would be an unmitigated calamity for Ukraine, America, and the world, because that's how the Group of Putin likes to roll.

The Kremlin talking heads are thrilled about this entire development, because obviously of course they are.

The budget resolution to keep the government open for the next 45 days doesn't directly affect aid to Ukraine -- at least for now. The previously agreed-upon financial and military assistance will continue to be paid out, and since a new package will have to be negotiated soon anyway, it's highly likely that Ukraine aid will be included either in that one or a separate bill beforehand.

The Senate Republicans, aside from the usual suspects, are generally supportive of aid to Ukraine. To give -- choke, ugh, wheeze -- Mitch Fucking McConnell 0.2% of credit, he has consistently held the old-fashioned anti-Russia pro-Ukraine line against the crass Putin-smoochin' of his comrades, and made sure to appear jointly with Schumer during Zelenskyy's recent visit to DC. However, he is toadstool slime who may well attempt to price in Ukraine support by trying to cut other American domestic programs or Biden accomplishments. So. Mixed bag.

Lindsey Graham, of all people, has also emerged as a high-profile Senate GOP voice for Ukraine support. However, he is a spineless paramecium who will ultimately do whatever Trump tells him, so let's likewise not put too much faith in that.

Biden has already issued a firm statement insisting that US aid can't be disrupted in any circumstances, and there has been a bipartisan Senate statement as well. So there is existing pressure to get a new package done quickly, and an extra $300 million funding for Ukraine (a resolution, however, not a binding legislation) was approved with 300+ votes in the House just a few days ago. So there is still the ability to do it.

The main question is Kevin Fucking McCarthy. He has issued tepid and conditional statements of support for Ukraine (with the usual "we should be spending this money on our southern border!!!" Republican bullshit) and is under pressure to put a new funding bill on the floor quickly, but since the crazies oppose it and also him, he could easily be his usual brand of spineless and delay doing so. He may also try to strip Ukraine aid out of the next full-year budget resolution, which is already going to be enough of a clusterfuck, but he's going to face far more opposition from Democrats who voted for the 45-day funding package to keep the government open for now, but won't accept anything long-term without money for Ukraine.

Anyway. Republicans the worst, McCarthy sucks, Putin sucks, film at 11.

[straynoahide]

Oct 7, 2024

I don't usually post in these tags and I didn't intend to make this blog about I/P politics, but today is different.

Today is the first anniversary of the Simchat Torah Massacre, Oct 7, one of the darkest days in Jewish and Israeli history.

It is not a day for silence. Not for Western silence, especially not when Iran boasts of the pain it has caused and wants yet to cause, and weak leaders cave in to pressures and opportunism.

People who devised the spilling of blood, from the river to the sea, succeeded. And this shiva will take more than a year to sit - it has no clear good ending. Peace and a full victory are still not in sight.

This day of Jewish and Israeli grief should extend to all humanity, a day to remember immeasurable loss and pain. More than lives were lost when so many hopes shattered in front of our eyes, in hours.

A year ago, innocent people in the kibbutzim of Kfar Aza, Be'eri, Nir Oz, among other communities, and in the Nova Music Festival, became victims of opportunity to Gazan militiamen harangued by jihadist groups dressed as a liberation movement.

Men welcomed in the safer offices of Doha and Teheran, running a regime with no free elections, sat out the ugly parts while they ordered 2M people to hallow death in the name of the destruction of Israel.

At the same time, they planned one of the greatest campaigns of disinformation and lawfare. All, so the aligned interests of Iran, dressed in progressive language, stoked the ageless antisemitism, left-wing and right-wing, and made western societies more unstable, divided and devoid of their liberal democratic principles - in all fronts and to all consequences, which transcend I/P.

And in the end, this is not just about ideals. Performative activism means nothing. This is about warfare- the economic dimension is critical, in whose ability to attack and defend is funded by supposed allies of democracy, progressive values and peace.

We can't have good societies if we don't believe in our own capacity for goodness and abandon the very principles that made us universal-hearted and freedom-loving in the first place.

Neither thoughts nor prayers in any Abrahamic religion could have stopped Hezbollah from killing Druze, Iran from killing Bedouin and Palestinian Arabs. No, that takes the infrastructure of a society built to protect lives and not end them, but it costs to maintain, and an international community brave enough to stand up to Iran.

Due to personal reasons, involving some folk I hold dear, it was on Oct 7 I began the spiritual journey that made me who I am today and although I am not part of Am Yisrael, I'm involved with the Israeli community.

As a transcultural person with universal values and as a Hebrew-speaking Christian, I will always defend my Jewish cousins worldwide; no matter their religion, country or life choices. I always say that Ukraine's struggle made me feel Western, and ironically, Israeli Jews made me connect more with Christianity than my own national heritage ever could.

You are right to feel the West has failed you, and I believe the same. There is an undeniable darkness. I want you to hear this from me as a Jewish ally, especially if you are from Israel - your pain is seen and your grievances are heard. Western nations, governments, even societies. Entire political parties and political families. You are right to feel like you don't have anyone.

But, you do. You have allies and you always will. And, this is not final. Despair is their weapon, too. So it must be an inflexion point instead. As it is always darkest before dawn - it is always worse before it gets better. We must organize, build bridges and coalitions, empathize and understand each other. We must together change the world, in our similarities and differences, and I have a deep faith that in the future, antisemitism has no place.

We will be there when it matters. There is no future for humanity without Jewish self-determination, sovereignty and security in the ancestral homeland.

Believe it, because I do, and our will is stronger than the will of our enemies, whoever takes up that path to nowhere.

If you need to hear it, hear it: your allies understand the assignment, never again is now; and that it means never again is now. We will never go on without you again.

For every single life lost in Oct 7, for those who can't fulfill the dream, we owe them to try and dig the world out of this hole, and we will, united. This is the best homage. Bear witness.

Sincerely, a random soul from Sefarad who loves you very much

May their memories be a blessing.

Am Yisrael Chai

[mojave-pete]

Bravest politician we know his wisdom is needed in our great lands! @realDonaldTrump

[worldofpamyst]

Species of Pamyst - Elves, Part 3: Moonkissed

What if dark elves were about spiders for more than just vibes?

Once upon a time, the infamous Ilumara were known in Pholodelas as the Moonkissed Elves in honor of the goddess Elpispes, patron deity of the deep elves and the moons. The descendants of Auvantéara driven into The Gloom by the War of the Giants, the Ilumara were thought to have been tricked by a wicked spider goddess known only as the Mother of Shadows into breaking L’ancien Accord and becoming her mortal slaves until being freed by Elpispes, the goddess of hope and illusion, and Sham, the god of luck and greed, with a bargain known as The Masquerade. With this new agreement, the Ilumara were granted a taste of the immense telepathic powers their conqueror possessed and the means to survive without The Mother’s foul influence by allowing them to feast upon the monsters and moss of The Gloom. This accord granted unprecedented freedom to the formerly enslaved elves, who quickly splintered to find new lives. As most Ilumara with an interest in the surface world were Daughters of the Song, most land-walkers only knew the friendliest and most faithful of Elpispes’ followers.

This romantic reputation was shattered by the outbreak of the Dark Insurgency, when a despotic empire of Ilumara sworn to the Mother of Shadows known as The Clutch launched a surprise war of eradication on the surface world during the midst of the Quincentennial War. The brutality and treachery displayed by the mightiest Ilumaran society shocked Pholodelas and forever stained the rose-tinted view of those now dubbed the Dark Elves even as countless rebellions fought alongside the surface against the darkness. In the centuries since, Ilumara are still often looked upon with a degree of suspicion due to their telepathic natures and complex, borderline incomprehensible honor code that frightens the paranoid and illinformed. Though they can and do find success just about anywhere in Pholodelas, a significant portion are most at ease in The Conglomerate or so-called Low Crown member-states of the Sixty Crowns Coalition where their talents are more properly appreciated. Ilumara are famously friends with Dwarves dating back to the times even before the Dark Insurgency, leading them to be among the most technologically savvy of Pholodelasian Elves and a welcome sight in Dwarven guildhalls.

Physically, Moonkissed Elves tend to have darker skin tones that vary between shades of purple, grey, or deep blue, often contrasted by stark white hair. Their skin often turns somewhat translucent in old age, sometimes even becoming nearly fully transparent in their final years. They have four eyes consisting of two standard humanoid eyes and two slightly smaller eyes just above them, granting them considerable visual acuity even in the depths of The Gloom. Unlike all other Elves, the Ilumara do not possess vocal cords and do not verbally communicate except with their telepathy. Their limbs are also slightly longer than other Elves, increasing their resemblance to spiders even further, and females are notably larger than the males.

If you want to use the Ilumara in your DND games, they are reflected mechanically below - minding once again that Pamyst species are a fair bit more powerful than PHB offerings!

Age. Ilumara are the second-longest lived elves, regularly living three-quarters of a millenia.

Size. Ilumara are generally tall, but females are notably larger than males. Male Ilumara average 6 feet whilst females average 8 feet. Your size is Medium.

Name. Ilumara have three names: their familial name, their public name, and their true name. Their familial name is what their friends and family call them growing up while their public name is how they allow themselves to be addressed by most other people. An Ilumara’s true name is known only to them and those they trust most deeply, typically decided on once they have come of age. Knowledge of your true name can be dangerous because of Ilumaran honor codes and old magics that can exploit the power of a soul’s true name, so keeping it closely guarded is important. Consider both your true and public names.

Improved Darkvision. Your Darkvision has a range of 120 feet. Additionally, you can see in full color in the dark.

Telepathic. As natural telepaths and telekinetics, Ilumara have powerful psionic abilities. You have 30 feet of telepathy, and do not need to share a language with the target to communicate intent. Complex ideas, however, require a shared language.

Ilumara cannot physically speak, merely projecting telepathic messages outward to communicate. For the purposes of verbal components in spells and the effects of Silence, your telepathy counts as speech. 

Psionic Sorcery. Additionally, Ilumara psionics can be used for utility or offense. You learn the Mage Hand cantrip, and for you, the hand is invisible and can be controlled as a bonus action. At 3rd level, you learn the spell Dissonant Whispers. At 5th level, you also learn the spell Detect Thoughts. You can cast each of these spells once without expending a spell slot, and must complete a long rest to do so again. You cast these spells with your choice of Charisma, Intelligence or Wisdom, deciding which stat to use at 1st level.

Bonus Languages. You are natively fluent in Mentalese, and also learn how to read, write, and sign Silavarin (Dwarven). Silavarin are unaffected by Moonkissed telepathy and thus cannot “hear” them speak otherwise, leading to the development of a shared sign language between the cultures.

Suggested bonuses: +2 CHA, +1 INT

[ramrodd]

Bible Prophecy #The 8: The Job Description of the Messiah--Has Anyone Ev...

COMMENTARY:

Jimmy, my problem with your academic career is that your focus on that David Koresh prophecy/eschatology bullshit is teaching people to use the Hebrew Bible and Revelation like a Ouija board, but without the safeguards of the Kabbalah and the Holy Spirit. What I cannot entirely decide whether you are doing this on purpose or you are so intent on avoiding military service has totally perverted your judgement. Given your concern for the genocide in the Gaza, you should be   sensitive to the appearance of Biblical prophecy regarding Abdullah II and Jimmy Carter warning of the price for a generation of Netanyahu's bad faith in regards to the Oslo Accords and the terrorism of the Likud, This is where the Post Modern Historic Deconstruction fails as a reliable method of social navigation, You Jesus Seminar debunkers and Pro-Life solo scriptura are different sides of the same  Pro-Life Calvinism coin This is where a personal exercise of the Philosophy in your Ph, D actually be employed in your alleged agenda free scholarship.,  Yo adopted the method of the anti-war/civil rights liberal coalition versus the white supremacist pro-war conservatives, especially the Young Americans for Freedom, This was an on-campus Hitler Youth program to protect white privile in the manner of William F. Buckley at the Cambridge Union in 1965, I went to Vietnam on the basis of James Baldwin's proposition baed on what has become Critical Race Theory and the white and woke Biden voter. You were working for the Resistance between 68 and 79, As a combat crazed Vientam vet, I identify entirely with Phaedrus in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, What her ran into at the University of Chicago is exactly what I ran into when I got back from Vietnam and tried toget a life. The economics of the University of Chicago is the Fresh Water white supremacist economics defined in George Gilder's Wealth and Poverty, the manifesto for Suplply Side economics of Movement Conservatives who came to town with Rea gan. Oishi boards are dangerous, Bell, Book and Candle, And a black cat, for good luck. What you are in contact with is the experience John the Baptizer endured to produce Revelation, I'v had enough experience with it to not to have anything to do with it. Scientology uses a similar technology to go "Clear". And that's how you have been teaching people to read the Bible. The Shema of Moses is incomplete, epistemologically, It is a thre-legged stool, missing an element with heart, soul and strength, This is theologically wobbly, Jesus adds Platon with His version of heart, soul, mind and strength, This is the core value of Pauline Theology,  It is 4 Square with the Earth, like the Shinning City on the Hill of Revelation with 12 gates, Washington DC is surveyed, 4 Square to the Earth, on the diagonal of the Rose Compass. It has to do with the Mason Lodge #22 in Alexandria VA, In the ontology of the Bible, Jesus is the only one of the 7 elements with a Pucker Factor. This Pucker Factor is what connects Jesus to Kant's Categorical Imperative and cognitive theory, You've gone as far as you can with David Koresh, Renounce your endorsement of the Marxist axiom that harmonization is the enemy of the Truth. Harmonization and Truth are one,

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Ben Blanchet at HuffPost:

Former President Donald Trump backed an idea for a “migrant league” similar to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in remarks to Christian conservatives at a Faith & Freedom Coalition conference on Saturday. “Why don’t you set up a migrant league of fighters and have your regular league of fighters and then you have the champion of your league, these are the greatest fighters in the world, fight the champion of the migrants,” said Trump, who claimed he pitched the idea to UFC President and CEO Dana White. He continued, “I think the migrant guy might win, that’s how tough they are.” The presumptive GOP presidential candidate, who once compared asylum-seekers to UFC fighters in 2019, added that White didn’t like the concept “too much.”

“But actually, it’s not the worst idea I’ve ever had,” said Trump. “These are tough people, these people are tough and they’re nasty, mean.” White, in remarks to reporters at a UFC event, confirmed Trump shared the idea. “It was a joke, it was a joke,” said White, a friend of the former president. “I saw everybody going crazy online. But yeah, he did say it.” Trump would later bring up his “new migrant fight league” idea again at a rally in Philadelphia. “You know, these are tough cookies coming into our country, coming with prisons and mental institutions,” he said.

Just another braindead idea from Donald Trump. America must reject him at the ballot box this fall!

[catdotjpeg]

Thank you to [Islamic Leadership Council of New York] for standing with [Within Our Lifetime] organizers and our chair, Nerdeen Kiswani, after we faced extreme violence and repression from the NYPD on the third day of Eid.

-- Within Our Lifetime, 14 Apr 2024

(New York, NY – 4/13/2024) As the collective voice of the Muslim community in New York, Majlis Ash-Shura of New York is deeply disturbed by the recent account of NYPD officers forcibly removing the hijab of Palestinian activist and organizer Nerdeen Kiswani during an arrest. This reported action is not only a violation of individual rights but an affront to the dignity and religious freedom that we, as a community and a nation, hold dear.

We at Majlis Ash-Shura cannot remain silent in the face of such indignity and discrimination. This reprehensible act serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive Islamophobia and racism that continue to plague the NYPD. Coming in the shadow of a recent class-action lawsuit settlement (STOP-S.T.O.P.) that addressed similar breaches of rights by the NYPD, this incident is particularly alarming. It demonstrates a failure to learn from past mistakes and to respect the legal and moral obligations to uphold the rights of all New Yorkers.

We demand justice with immediate accountability and a transparent investigation into this matter, and an end to the targeting of Muslims and people of color. We urge the NYPD to reinforce its commitment to respecting religious practices and to safeguard the rights of those it is sworn to protect. Policies must not only change on paper but also in the attitudes and actions of every officer. We stand with Nerdeen Kiswani, and all those who have been victims of police brutality in the last six month while protesting against the US-funded genocide in Palestine by the Israeli regime. To the affected individuals, know that Majlis Ash-Shura of New York supports you. We are here to amplify your voice and to fight for the dignity you are owed. We call on our community members and allies to stand with us in this demand for justice and respect for religious freedoms.

In times of injustice, silence is not an option; hence, the Majlis Ash-Shura of New York has joined the Strike4Gaza Coalition, a coalition of 23+ national Palestinian and Muslim-led organizations across the US, to call upon all Muslims and allies in the US (including workers, business owners, service providers, parents, students, etc.) to join a national strike and lawful action on Tax Day, April 15th, in solidarity with Palestinians, especially those in Gaza. We will continue to strive for a just and respectful society for all, regardless of faith or background.

For Respect, Dignity, and Justice, Abdelhafid Djemil, PhD President Majlis Ash-Shura of NY Islamic Leadership Council of NY abdelhafid.djemil@shuranewyork.org

-- "Official Statement on the Recent NYPD Incident Involving the Forcible Removal of a Muslim Woman’s Hijab" by Abdelhafid Djemil, PhD for Majlis Ash-Shura, 13 Apr 2024

[beardedmrbean]

Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A coalition of 13 religious leaders filed suit Thursday to overturn Missouri's abortion ban, saying the ban unconstitutionally imposes one narrow religious doctrine on all Missouri residents and violates separation of church and state.

The suit comes on what would have been the 50th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, which guaranteed abortion rights until it was overturned last year.

Thirteen clergy from six different denominations represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) and the law firm Arnold & Porter are the plaintiffs.

"The people of Missouri have the absolute right to live free from the religious dictates of others," the lawsuit begins. "The Missouri Constitution protects that right by ensuring a strict separation of church and state. But this fundamental guarantee of religious freedom for all is under attack: In a years-long crusade against abortion access, state officials have weaponized their religious beliefs to control the bodies and deny the autonomy of women and all who can become pregnant, jeopardizing their health, lives, and futures."

The clergy plaintiffs said in the suit that Missouri's abortion ban violates the separation of church and state and the suit asked the court to hold that the abortion ban provisions "are unconstitutional establishments of religion that cannot be enforced."

"My God is a God of choice. In the United Church of Christ, we believe that God intended people to have autonomy over their lives and bodies, and to have authority to make complex decisions, including whether to have an abortion," said the Rev. Traci Blackmon, association minister of justice and local church ministries for the United Church of Christ.

"The people of this State, through their Constitution, have spoken loud and clear: We each have the right to decide for ourselves whether and what to believe and practice when it comes to matters of faith," the suit said. "In enacting and enforcing the Challenged Provisions, legislators imposed their preferred religious doctrine on everyone, forcing the citizens and taxpayers of this State to fund the establishment of that doctrine and to obey it regardless of their own faith and beliefs, and irrespective of the resulting grave harms to those seeking abortion care."

RELATEDSouth Carolina's 6-week abortion ban ruled unconstitutional

Missouri bans abortions except in medical emergencies. Medical providers who perform abortions can be sent to prison for 5-15 years and lose their medical licenses.

The thirteen religious leaders suing Missouri are:

Rev. Traci Blackmon of the United Church of Christ

Rev. Barbara Phifer, a United Methodist minister

Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis

Rev. Molly Housh Gordon of the Unitarian Universalist Church

The Right Reverend Bishop Deon K. Johnson, Eleventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Rabbi James Bennett of St. Louis

Rev. Holly McKissick of Peace Church United Church of Christ

Rev. Krista Taves. minister of Congregational Life at Eliot Unitarian Chapel

Rev. Cynthia S. Bumb of United Church of Christ.

Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis

Rabbi Andrea Goldstein of Congregation Shaare Emeth

Rev. Janice Barnes

Rabbi Douglas Alpert of Congregation Kol Ami

[petervintonjr]

"We, the people. It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that 'We, the people.' I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in We, the people. Today I am an inquisitor. An hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution." --from Barbara Jordan's opening remarks to the House Judiciary Committee on July 24, 1974, regarding the impeachment of Richard Nixon

Today, June 1, kicks off Pride Month (and also incidentally marks the third anniversary of the start of this series), and I thought it appropriate to examine the amazing accomplishments of Texas civil rights leader, attorney, and Congresswoman Barbara Charline Jordan.

Born in a poor Houston neighborhood in 1936, Jordan discovered an early aptitude for languages and oration, and also debate. She graduated from Texas Southern University in 1956, then obtained her LL.B. from Boston University School of Law in 1959. She was admitted to both the Massachusetts and Texas bars in 1960, then began practicing law in Houston --at the time only the third African American woman to be so licensed. An outspoken supporter of John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, she herself entered politics and unsuccessfully ran for state representative in 1962 and again in 1964. Two years later her fortunes changed, however, and in 1966 she became the first African American elected to the Texas Senate in 1966.

Jordan's standing as a fellow Texan Democrat endeared her to then-President Lyndon Johnson and in many respects she became LBJ's protégée. In 1972 Jordan ran for Congress for Texas's 18th District, and unseated the incumbent Republican, becoming the first woman --of any race-- elected to Congress from that state.

Jordan's political career accomplishments extend far beyond this biography's available space, but among the high points include her aggressive sponsorship of the Voting Rights Act of 1975 (an extension of the more famous 1965 measure), and the Equal Rights Amendment in 1977. Also significantly she served on the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment hearings, and her speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention is widely regarded as one of the best keynote speeches in modern history; her presence in many ways even eclipsing that of the party's nominee, Jimmy Carter. (She would return as a keynote speaker for the 1992 Democratic National Convention.)

Jordan retired from politics in 1978 and became a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. In 1993 Jordan was the first recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights. A year later she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton for her trailblazing work. That same year Jordan was also named the chair of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform. Jordan died from complications from pneumonia in January of 1996, and is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin --significantly breaking barriers even in death as the first-ever black woman to be interred there. While Jordan never explicitly acknowledged her personal sexual orientation in public, she was open about her life partner of nearly 30 years, educational psychologist Nancy Earl.

Her legacy continues through the Jordan Rustin Coalition (named for her and for Civil Rights organizer Bayard Rustin --see Lesson #05 in this series): a non-profit advocacy group working to empower Black same-gender loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and families; and to promote equal marriage rights and to advocate for fair treatment of everyone without regard to race, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Full text of Jordan's July 24, 1974 remarks: https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/impeachment/my-faith-constitution-whole-it-complete-it-total

A truly absorbing 1976 article about Jordan's life and career by William Broyles, indexed at: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-making-of-barbara-jordan-2/

[mariacallous]

But the work in front of us is not just what we’re against, it’s about what we’re for.  What kind of world do we want to build? We need to take the strength and capacity of this coalition and apply it to lifting up — lifting up the lives of people everywhere, improving health, growing prosperity, preserving the planet, building peace and security, treating everyone with dignity and respect. That’s our responsibility.  The democracies of the world have to deliver it for our people. As we gather tonight, the world, in my view, is at an — at an inflection point.  The decisions we make over the next five years or so are going to determine and shape our lives for decades to come. That’s true for Americans.  It’s true for the people of the world. And while decisions are ours to make now, the principles and the stakes are eternal.  A choice between chaos and stability.  Between building and destroying.  Between hope and fear.  Between democracy that lifts up the human spirit and the brutal hand of the dictator who crushes it.  Between nothing less than limitation and possibilities, the kind of possibilities that come when people who live not in captivity but in freedom.  Freedom.

Freedom.  There is no sweeter word than freedom.  There is no nobler goal than freedom.  There is no higher aspiration than freedom.  Americans know that, and you know it.  And all that we do now must be done so our children and grandchildren will know it as well. Freedom. The enemy of the tyrant and the hope of the brave and the truth of the ages. Freedom. Stand with us.  We will stand with you.

Let us move forward with faith and conviction and with an abiding commitment to be allies not of darkness, but of light.  Not of oppression, but of liberation.  Not of captivity, but, yes, of freedom.

May God bless you all.  May God protect our troops.  And may God bless the heroes of Ukraine and all those who defend freedom around the world.

Thank you, Poland.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you’re doing.    God bless you all.

From Biden's speech in Poland (2-21-2023)

[bighermie]

MUST SEE: Ashli Babbitt's Mother and J6 Activists Ask Top Republicans and Presidential Candidates if They will Free J6ers if Elected - Watch Their Responses, Chris Christie and Perry Johnson Most Revealing (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hoft | 2