#cory cardinal

[aziebites]

Void World refs (part 1)

[whatisonthemoon]

Cardinal Sin, the Catholic Church, & the Unification Church: Partners in Organized Anti-Communist Violence

▲ Pictured: Cardinal Sin and Rev. Kwak

Background on Cardinal Sin

As soon as the CIA ushered the Unification Church’s forces into the Philippines in 1986, members, supporters, and leaders of the Moon networks met with both President Aquino, the newly installed president who was seen at the time as a champion of the people, and Cardinal Sin, the foremost leader of the largest religious tradition in the Philippines.

From Tyler Hendricks in the Unification News in 1996:

As President of the Unification Church of America, I greet Your Excellency as the leader of a country for which I have a great deal of affection. I spent a week in the Philippines in 1986 as a Director of the Religious Youth Service. The RYS brought young people representing many religions for a summer of interreligious education and social work. In the course of the orientation week we had two special audiences, one with President Aquino and the second with Cardinal Sin. Then the young people spent the summer doing service projects.

They built a bridge between Catholic and Muslim communities in Cavite, Dasmari, as. A second team dug sixteen wells in Aphalite, Pompanga, together with the Aphalite Christian Community. The third team built a university medical center on Iloilo, and planted 10,000 mahogany trees for financial support of the school on the nearby island of Guimenes (I hope the spelling is correct). Since then the RYS has carried on a follow-up project in Pompanga and three other projects, including one to foster religious harmony in Mindanao.

The RYS is an organization co-sponsored by the International Religious Foundation and the International Relief Friendship Foundation, both of which are United Nations NGO's, and both of which were established by Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

According to RYS leader John Gehring, "The participants, coming from such diverse traditions as Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Unificationism, Confucianism, Taoism, and others, were warmly welcomed on their first day by Cardinal Sin, the head of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, at his residence. He offered words of blessing and encouragement, stressing that RYS could help bind the religious communities of the Philippines together. Rev. Kwak addressed the Cardinal, describing the purpose and vision of RYS, and Ron Jordan, representing all the participants, thanked the Cardinal for his enthusiastic support."

Even prior to Marcos ousting through the People Power Revolution in February 1986, Cardinal Sin had made political connections to the Unification Church through the now defunct Washington Institute for Values in Public Policy, a Moon-linked organization. 

From Today's World, August 1985:

On May 28, 1985, the Washington Institute for Values in Public Policy hosted a luncheon for Jaime Cardinal Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, Philippines. Cardinal Sin is the highest-ranking representative of the pope and the Catholic Church to the Philippines and the Filipino people. Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak, Mr. Neil Albert Salonen, and Dr. Richard Rubenstein enjoyed an extensive private meeting with His Eminence prior to his presentation at the luncheon of his paper entitled "The Changing Role of the Church in the Philippines Today." 

Cardinal Sin went into the need for the Church to support the people of the Philippines in their aspirations for self-determination, in being seen as an equal in the international community, and in being a third way between the leftist guerilla warfare of the New Peoples Army and the bureaucratic, corrupt system, insinuated to be the government under Marcos. Prior to 1985 and the ultimate ousting of Marcos, the Unification Church and its networks had a positive relationship with Marcos and his administration. As the CIA's thinking around the Marcos' rule began to change, as did the Moonies. 

Negative media and reports on Chun Doo-Hwan's violent rule in South Korea also pushed the UC to frame Marcos as the anti-communist right going too far. Some Moonies framed Marcos’ administration as the enforcement of righteousness (anti-communism) without humanity and principled love. Chun Doo-hwan was framed to be an anti-communist who ruled more democratically, was not brutal like Marcos, despite his vital role in arresting, torturing, and even massacring countless activists, students, workers, etc. The Moonies did what they could to use the Washington Times and its other media outlets and NGO connections to push these narratives.

As the People Power Revolution descended upon the Philippines, the Unification Church sought to frame the religious forces as those championing liberation, despite their decades of not just compliance with fascist power, but outright partnership and participation in Philippine fascism, feudalism, bureaucrat capitalism, and semi-colonialism.

John Gehring wrote in 2014 about the time, "While tensions rose and the fear of violence grew, the Roman Catholic Prelate, Cardinal Sin, worked hard to keep the movement and the government from openly fighting.” Though there were progressive elements in the Catholic Church who supported the ousting of Marcos, many of these figures joined the movement only after the broad and wide masses were in favor of it. 

Cardinal Sin’s legacy from this time, along with the Unification Church’s legacy, cannot be separated from his vocal support of vigilante violence.

From David Kowalewski in Cultism, Insurgency, and Vigilantism in the Philippines:

The Aquino administration encouraged the formation of "Civilian Volunteer Self Defense Organizations" of "vigilantes" as a form of "people power" to defeat the deviance. The Department of Local Government (DLG) and the military were charged with mobilizing, supporting, and controlling the groups. The program to civilianize counterinsurgency was strongly encouraged -- initiated according to some -- by the United States State Department and Central Intelligence Agency as well as private United States organizations (e.g., World Anti-Communist League) supporting the Reagan administration's "low-intensity conflict" strategy against Third World insurgencies. By the end of 1987 some 200 groups with 30,000 members had formed. 

The state was joined in its sponsorship of vigilantism by the church establishment. Cardinal Jaime Sin, head Philippine prelate, whose radio broadcasts were greatly influential in Aquino's victory over Marcos, strongly supported the new President. The Cardinal endorsed the vigilantes for their "concern with the welfare of the suffering poor". Joining the Cardinal's endorsement was the Rey. Sun Myong Moon's Unification Church. The "Moonies" were widely criticized by opposition parties, student groups, and other sectors for their intimate relations with the CIA and Reagan's counterinsurgency strategy through its political arm, CAUSA, headed by South Korean Lt. Col. Bo Hi Pak. The Unification Church endorsed vigilantism in the Philippines by means of several seminars and conferences and forged close links with vigilante leaders.

[mariacallous]

For a decade, the husband of Michelle Bulang, a 44-year-old mother of four, made her life hell. He drank and gambled, failing to provide for her or their four children, even as he forbade her to work. He was also regularly abusive “physically, emotionally, verbally, and sexually,” Bulang said, choking back tears. Once, he poured boiling water all over her—her back and legs still bear the scars.

Bulang has since escaped the relationship and not seen her abuser in years, but on paper she is still married to him. The overwhelming power of the Catholic Church in the Philippines means divorce is not legal. That might be about to change. A divorce bill has passed the House of Representatives and faces the Senate, as the power of the church wanes.

“There are two policies which are seen as a litmus test of Catholic influence. The first is abortion, which is forbidden in the Constitution. And the second is divorce,” said Manolo Quezon III, a former speechwriter for Philippine President Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. There are only two countries in the world where divorce is still not legal—the Vatican City and the Philippines. Other heavily Catholic nations legalized the practice long ago, such as Ireland in 1995 and Spain in 1981. But the lingering influence of the church in a country where nearly 80 percent of the population is Catholic is proverbial.

Yet, from 1917 to 1949, divorce was legal in the Philippines. The right was only abolished in 1949 as U.S. control ended and the anti-clerical legacies of the Philippine Revolution faded. Under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the church became a locus for democratic opposition—even as the president was rumored to keep a divorce bill in his desk to brandish at bishops during meetings when he wanted to keep them in line.

The 1986 People Power Revolution that saw the end of Marcos also saw the peak of church authority. The revered Cardinal Jaime Sin, archbishop of Manila, called people to the streets to protest a rigged election. The Philippines faced a potential Tiananmen moment as tanks rolled. But they stopped as nuns praying the rosary knelt in front of the troops and crowds linked their arms behind them. Marcos fell and fled into exile. The new President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, known for her devotion, inaugurated a new constitution that enshrined democracy, banned abortion, and committed to preserving the family.

Those days are fading. “There is a realization that the Philippines is a secular state, and it should not be subscribing to church principles or doctrines, which we respect but not must not control the policymaking processes,” said Rep. Edcel Lagman, who has helped spearhead the divorce bill. On May 22, the bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives with 131 votes in favor, 109 against, and 20 abstaining.

Under the current system, Muslims, who make up about 5 percent of the country’s population, are allowed to divorce. For Christians, their options are to either having their marriage annulled through a civil court, modeled on the Catholic process—reasons including bigamy, psychological incapacity at time of marriage, or use of fraud or threats—or filing for separation—reasons including physical abuse, adultery, abandonment, homosexuality, and drug addiction and alcoholism. The new bill would allow people who currently seek separation for these reasons to now simply seek divorce.

The inadequacies of this system are well understood. It is both extremely expensive and very slow-moving, leaving victims, usually women, trapped in marriages to monsters. Stella Sibonga, a 47-year-old mother of three, has had nothing to do with her husband for decades. Dug out of hiding and marched to the altar after he got an 18-year-old Sibonga pregnant, he took his vows drunk and proceeded to abuse Sibonga and the children she bore. Out of despair, she twice attempted suicide. Later, he tried to kill her and her children with a machete.

In 2005, at age 27, Sibonga left him, and in 2012 she initiated legal proceedings to have her marriage declared null on the grounds of her husband’s “psychological incapacity.” In 2017, a judge ruled in her favor, but the Office of the Solicitor General, charged by the government with upholding marriage, appealed and won in 2019. The case is still ongoing. Sibonga estimates that it has cost her around 300,000 pesos—over $5,000—to pursue the case. This more than most Filipinos will earn in a year. Her experience of the court system is not unusual.

Those who would reform this system smell victory but are treading carefully, keen to reassure the potentially uncertain. “We sympathize with the concern of some of the conservatives as some states have given divorce a bad name. So they don’t want us to have a Las Vegas type of divorce,” said Paul Roxas, an activist with the Divorce Pilipinas Coalition. A recent poll showed that that exactly 50 percent of Filipinos supported divorce among irreconcilably separated couples, with 31 percent opposed and 17 percent undecided.

Navigating the Senate will be tricky. A divorce bill previously passed the House in 2018 but languished in the Senate. So far, at least seven of the Philippines’s 24 senators have are thought to be in favor of the bill. But four have voiced opposition to the bill, and another 8 have previously made statements against divorce. Still, Roxas is optimistic: “A significant proportion of the senators are sort of fence-sitting.” The Divorce Pilipinas Coalition is lobbying hard those they feel are persuadable and has staked out fall back concessions like only allowing people to divorce once in their lifetimes.

Should the bill pass, it will be the fourth big defeat the Catholic Church has faced in 12 years. In 2012, the Philippine government legalized contraception in the face of furious opposition from the church. In 2016, the presidency was won by Rodrigo Duterte, a man who cursed the pope during his campaign. Church condemnations of the man and the extrajudicial killings that took place in his “war on drugs” failed to dent his enormous popular support. And in 2022, the church all but openly opposed the candidacy of Ferdinand ��Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the former dictator. Nonetheless, backed by Duterte, he romped home to victory.

With each defeat, wariness of church power seems to have faded. “In the Philippines, there is no Catholic vote—in other words, we should not be afraid of any reprisal from the Church during the elections,” Lagman said. Indeed, he claims that private polling shows that congresspeople who endorse the divorce bill actually stand to receive a bump in support.

Father Jerome Secilliano, rector of the EDSA Shrine built to commemorate the People Power protests, says things very different from 1986. “People were already exasperated with the government” when cardinal sin made the call, he says. Now, according to Seciliano, people are “exasperated” with a church they don’t feel is doing enough for them. “Let’s admit it we don’t have the resources to provide for the people,” he said. “We are a poor country, there are so many poor people, and poor people expect too much from you.” Instead, they turn to politicians who can offer patronage, cash, and practical solutions. “And people have more practical needs than the Mass.”

Cultural change is also part of the story. Gone are the days of Seciliano’s boyhood when he would press his forehead to the hand of elders and all heard the Angelus toll at 6 o’clock every evening. “When we talk about LGBT in the 1980s, perhaps people will still believe us. But now it’s 2024—because of the many different opinions offered, it’s now very politically incorrect to even call him homo or gay.” Indeed, the Philippines is already strikingly accepting of homosexuality for a Catholic country, and polling shows that young Filipinos are among the most likely to support the divorce bill.

Not all the cultural change is necessarily inimical to the church. Pentecostal and born-again Christians are making big inroads among the Philippines. Theological differences between Catholics and these groups that once caused bloody wars now fade as these churches make common cause on promoting socially conservative Christian values. One prominent opponent of the divorce bill, Sen. Emmanuel Villanueva, is the son of Eddie Villanueva, a former politician who founded The Jesus Is Lord evangelical megachurch.

Still, it’s not always so simple as that says Joseph Bonifacio, a former pastor with Victory Church, another evangelical megachurch. These non-Catholic churches are less monolithic in their attitudes. “This allows for other voices, including more liberal ones.” A recent statement by the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches expressed opposition to the divorce bill, stating a preference instead for expanding grounds for annulment to dissolve the marriage. Given that the grounds for annulment are, with some caveats, close the grounds on which the current bill would grant divorce, the differences seem largely cosmetic.

The Catholic Church is trying to regroup. “The church needs to become a church of the poor,” Father Tito Caluag said. As the man who gives the evening Mass on ABS-CBN, the Philippines’s largest media conglomerate, he is perhaps the closest the Catholic Church has to a celebrity priest. Caluag is trying to take on this task himself reorganizing the church’s charitable efforts talking about professionalization, data analysis, and new fundraising that reduces reliance on single ultrawealthy donors. Notably past polls suggest the working poor are among those most likely to support divorce. Yet it is hard not to notice that the interview is taking place in the Village, one of Manila’s ultraexclusive gated neighborhoods. Caluag explains it was donated by a pious socialite, now deceased, and wryly accepts the irony.

Other tensions will be hard to solve, too. The church must also be a listening church, Caluag says, invoking the words of Pope Francis. “And we must genuinely listen. Because I’ve heard young people say we’ve talked our so-and-so, and he listened, but at the end of it all, he said was the same thing like nothing had happened.”

But he remains opposed to divorce—as doctrine requires all Catholic priests must be. For stories like Sibonga’s and Bulang’s, however, the church seems to have few answers.

[eretzyisrael]

by Meghan Blonder

The head of the New York City public school system testified to Congress that he recognizes the "urgency of addressing" and "rooting out" anti-Semitism. Just weeks prior, he held an event alongside an anti-Semitic Democratic fundraiser who has promoted Holocaust denial and runs a pro-Hamas Facebook group.

Chancellor David Banks testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday to address the New York City public school system's response to rising anti-Semitism. He told the committee that his schools are "focused" on being a "candle in the darkness" in the fight against Jew hatred.

"At New York City Public Schools, we are focused on our charge to fight hate and foster inclusion through safety, engagement, and education," Banks said. "We’re working hard and we have a long way to go. There’s always more to do. I hope in New York we can be a candle in the darkness."

Less than a month before, on April 11, Banks and New York elected officials held an Arab American Heritage celebration which featured anti-Semitic Democratic fundraiser Maher Abdel-qader, who has promoted Holocaust denial and online content that describes Jews as "Satanic." Banks posed for a photo with Abdel-qader, who also is the founder and administrator of a Facebook group called "Palestinian American Congress" where members have posted anti-Semitic content and cheered Hamas terrorists.

In 2018, Abdel-qader shared a video that said Ashkenazi Jews are "not true Jews," accused Israeli Jews of "identity theft," and cast doubt on the validity of the Holocaust. "The Jews in Israel are not true Jews, they are Khazars Ashkenazi Jews, identity theft," the video said alongside a photo of a Jewish man wearing a ski mask to cover his face. "Research the truth about the Holocaust, and you’ll definitely start to question what you thought you knew," the video’s narrator says. In another post, Abdel-qader compared Israel to ISIS and accused the Jewish state of running "concentration camps."

In a 2017 post that echoed an anti-Semitic trope of Jews controlling the government, Abdel-qader claimed Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.) was a "foreign agent."

"Our US Congress is full of ass-kissing Israeli defenders. A few of them are actually unregistered foreign agents. Ben Cardin is one of them. He is convincing the rest of the lowlifes in Congress to throw away our rights to free speech, and kowtow to the illegal so-called 'state' of 'Israel,'" Abdel-qader said.

In the days after Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, members of Abdel-qader's Facebook group cheered the terrorist group's fighters.

An Oct. 12, 2024, post in Abdel-qader’s Facebook group read, "We don't want to throw you in the sea ... we want you to ride it back from where you came," accompanied by a photo of a Hamas terrorist with an elderly Israeli hostage. Another post commended the "achievements" of "resistance" fighters after they killed Israeli soldiers.

NYC Public Schools posted a photo online of Banks speaking at the event, with the caption: "Today we hosted our inaugural Arab American Heritage Month celebration!"

The revelation comes as other Democratic members of Congress also embraced Abdel-qader around the same time. "Squad" members Jamaal Bowman (D., N.Y.), Cori Bush (D., Mo.), Summer Lee (D., Pa.), Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.)—many of whom face a pro-Israel primary challenger—embraced Abdel-qader at an April 18 Washington, D.C., event.

Abdel-qader served as Tlaib’s finance committee chair during her first congressional bid in 2018 and has donated thousands of dollars to her campaign. Tlaib repeatedly thanked him for his help multiple times during her 2018 campaign. In November, he advertised a fundraiser for Lee and Tlaib, saying the "Squad" members "wholeheartedly" support the "just cause for Palestine."

In one photo from the event, Abdel-qader stands front and center displaying a special document, flanked by Banks and other leaders.

The celebration included a "showcase" of Arabic cuisine, music, handmade artistry, and cultural exhibits. The event also "honored" Abdel-qader and a Palestinian New York City police officer who spoke about the importance of the "Palestinian cause" for their "coordination and contributions to making the event both unique and enlightening," Arab America reported. Banks "commended their hard work and leadership,"according to the report. Abdel-qader was listed as a contributor to the article.

A New York City Department of Education spokesman distanced Banks from Abdel-qader.

"At our Arab American Heritage event we had only two honorary speakers: NYPD captain Filastine Srour and New York state assemblyman Nader Sayegh. We did not invite this individual to our event, nor was he honored, and the chancellor neither knows this man nor endorses his views," the spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon. Abdel-qader did not return a request for comment.

Banks during his testimony indicated that both Jewish and Muslim students have experienced hardship since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, and the school system is working to accommodate both groups.

"Our classrooms are not insulated from the global stage. Since October 7, our students and staff—Jewish and Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian—have suffered immensely," Banks said.

[faerie-hideaway]

U.S. users email your representatives this, and make sure to include your zip code:

I am your constituent. I am strongly in favor of defunding Israel. I want my opinion logged on every single one of these pieces of legislation. It is an atrocity that the USA is sending our taxpayer dollars, weaponry, and other support to Israel in order to aid in the genocide of the Palestinian people. It does not reflect the will of your constituents, and I demand that you correct this by voting for/against the following bills, resolutions, and legislation.

To be frank, I will be basing my vote for you in upcoming elections on this issue. I will be watching closely to see how you vote on issues regarding funding to Israel. I will not vote for you in the next election if you vote to send any money, support, or weaponry to Israel. I will be voting for you if you vote to block money, support, and weaponry to Israel.

This is the current legislation I am for, and the current legislation I am against. I would like your office to record my opinion for each bill, and I would like you to take this into consideration when you vote.

I am FOR the following, and expect you to vote for this and co-sponsor, either now or when matching legislation reaches your office.

H.Res. 786: by Rep. Cori Bush

H.Res. 388 by Rep. Rashida Tlaib

H.R. 3103 by Rep. Betty McCollum

I am against Joe Biden’s proposal to spend billions of dollars on Israel via a package for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and the US border. Biden is asking for $100 BILLION for this package and it is only 1 YEAR'S worth of funding. This is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable, and I am against you voting for ANY bill that spends even $1 on Israel. I do not care what else is in the bill. If it gives money to Israel, I am against it.

I am AGAINST the following, and expect you to vote against this and not co-sponsor, either now or when matching legislation reaches your office.

S. 3083 by Sen. Bill Hagerty [R-TN]

S.Res. 417 by Sen. Charles “Chuck” Schumer [D-NY]

H.Res. 797 by Rep. Cory Mills [R-FL7]

S. 3081 by Sen. Steve Daines [R-MT]

H.Res. 796 by Rep. Ernest “Tony” Gonzales [R-TX23]

S.Res. 413 by Sen. Marco Rubio

H.R. 552 by Rep. Lance Gooden

H.R. 5959 by Thomas Tiffany

S. 3081 by Sen. Steve Daines

H.Res. 789 by Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

H.Res. 771 by Rep. Michael McCaul

H.R. 5932 by Rep. David Schweikert

H.Res. 768 by Rep. Michael McCaul

H.Res. 770 by Rep. Zachary (Zach) Nunn

H.Res. 701 by Rep. Bradley “Brad” Schneider

H.Con.Res. 61 by Rep. Janice “Jan” Schakowsky

S. 2587 by Sen. Jon Tester

H.Res. 606 by Rep. Andrew Ogles

S. 2413 by Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez

S. 2438 by Sen. Christopher Coons

H.R. 4709 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer

S.Con.Res. 14: by Sen. Tom Cotton

H.Con.Res. 57 by Rep. August Pfluger

H.R. 4665 by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

S. 2265 by Sen. Dan Sullivan

S. 2226 by Sen. John F. “Jack” Reed

H.Res. 581 by Rep. Gregory Steube

S. 2240 by Sen. Christopher Coons

H.R. 4564 by Rep. Claudia Tenney

H.R. 4365 by Rep. Ken Calvert

H.R. 4076 by Rep. Chris Pappas

H.R. 3932 by Rep. Michael Turner

H.R. 3907 by Rep. Lois Frankel

S. 1802 by Sen. Gary Peters

H.R. 3792 by Rep. Joe Wilson

S. 1777 by Sen. Jacky Rosen

H.R. 3393 by Rep. Carlos Gimenez

H.Res. 409 by Rep. Carlos Gimenez

S. 1637 by Sen. Marco Rubio

H.R. 3266 by Rep. Brad Sherman

S. 1504 by Sen. Tom Cotton

H.R. 3099 by Rep. Michael Lawler

S.Res. 188 by Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez

H.Res. 346 by Rep. Randy Weber

H.R. 2973 by Rep. Cathy Anne McMorris Rodgers

S. 1334: by Sen. Jacky Rosen

S. 1300 by Sen. Benjamin Cardin

H.Res. 311 by Rep. Ann Wagner

H.R. 2670 by Rep. Mike Rogers

H.R. 2531 by Rep. Bradley “Brad” Schneider

S. 1143 by Sen. Jerry Moran

H.R. 1777 by Rep. Joe Wilson

H.R. 1218 by Rep. August Pfluger

H.R. 1102 by Rep. Chip Roy

S. 510 by Sen. Tom Cotton

S. 489 by Sen. Rick Scott

S. 430 by Sen. James Risch

S. 431 by Sen. James Risch

H.R. 987 by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

H.Res. 92 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer

H.Res. 76 by Rep. Max Miller

H.R. 687 by Rep. Gregory Steube

H.R. 211 by Rep. Gregory Steube

S. 224 by Sen. Tom Cotton

S. 189 by Sen. Marco Rubio

I am against any legislation that allows troops to deploy to the Middle East in support roles for Israel, as proposed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

I am against Netanyahu’s ground invasion of Gaza, which will inevitably lead to mass killings of Palestinian civilians and escalate violence. If there are any future bills supporting this, you need to vote against them and not co-sponsor.

The U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Act stipulate that only Congress can authorize the president to use military force in a foreign war, except in cases of self-defense. Previous administrations from both parties have ignored this, with unauthorized strikes in places like Syria and Libya. I want you to stand against ANY use of military force that supports Israel or hurts Palestine.

And of course, I am against the usual funding of $3.8 billion PER YEAR to Israel. This 10-year agreement began in 2016. I do not want a renewal in 2026, and in the next election, I will vote for representatives who WILL NOT VOTE TO FUND ISRAEL. I will be keeping track of how you vote now, and I will not vote for you if you decide to fund Israel in any way.

I am a single-issue voter for this. I want you to defund Israel. I do not want a single dollar spent on supporting Israel. I will be paying attention to how you vote in the upcoming weeks and months, and if you vote to fund or provide weapons, troops, or intelligence to Israel, I will NOT vote for you in the next election.

We are paying attention to the budget. We know when you're giving aid to a country committing genocide instead of helping your constituents in the USA. Both myself and tens of thousands of other constituents have spent years saying that we don’t want our hard-earned taxpayer dollars going to Israel. The lack of willingness to fund anything for American citizens, but the quickness with which you take action for Israel is telling. It is unacceptable.

As an elected official, you have the opportunity to listen to the public and stand against genocide. Israel is currently committing war crimes against Palestine. You can stop this by defunding Israel. THOUSANDS of Palestinian people have been killed, 1/3 of them children, in just a couple of days. One child every 15 minutes is being killed. YOU can prevent this by refusing to send additional weapons and funding to Israel.

We are currently spending BILLIONS of dollars EVERY YEAR on Israel. I do not want my money going towards the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians. Not a dollar more.

[oceangirl24]

Find the word…Red and Blue edition! (And a quick update)

IRL hasn't relented much yet and I'm still struggling to find the energy to write so the next update will likely take another 7-8 weeks to get out. Hopefully not. Hopefully the ongoing situation in my neighborhood will be resolved before then.

I was able to get in a little drawing (see the new Aud sketch above). Yay! 🎉

Also my favorite niece, @axolotlsupremacyowo, tagged me in her new Find the Word game.

Here we go!

Words for me:

Sky, Ocean, Blueberry, Sapphire, Denim

Words for you:

Ruby, Ladybug, Cardinal, Holly, Bricks

Tagging: @stealing-your-kittens @the-orion-scribe @winterlovesong1 @justanotherpersonwhowrites @violetrose-art

Open tag too if you'd like to join the fun.

Also if you want to be tagged, let me know and I'll add you. If you did, let me know and I missed you, throw something at me. It's been awhile since I've done these. 😅

Sky

Another flash of lightning cracked through the sky. As the thunder subsided, the doorbell rang. Cautiously, Shawn approached the front door. He pushed the curtain of the narrow window to the right of the door to the side just enough so he could see out. It was dark. The porch lamps were no match against the stormy night; darkness swallowed any light they cast.

Lightning tore through the sky once again. In its radiance, he could see the shadow of the Boogeyman at his door.

-Saudade: Preparations

Ocean

Shawn started to move again-this time he ran. As he did, thoughts of his father's drunken fits chased him. He swore he could hear Chet roaring in fury just behind him. He panicked and raced faster, desperate to get to the safety of the apartment and Jon. But memories of his father pursued him. The taunts and the insults echoed like the bellowing of the ocean in his ears reminding him of how worthless he was, how useless, how much easier life would be without him. He felt the sharp, painful sting of an open palm against his cheek.

-The Return: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Blueberry

With the mood dampened, Shawn and Julia busied themselves by going over the menu. Certain foods were off limits due to Audrey's altered taste thanks to her pregnancy. Bacon was an absolute no-go as the smell exacerbated her all-day sickness.

Instead of bacon, Julia made sausage patties the way Audrey taught her to make them from scratch while Shawn made blueberry pancakes the way she had taught him.

As he dropped pancake batter on the skillet, he glanced at his sister and asked, "How old were you when Mom taught you to cook?"

-Saudade: "I Never Sang for My Father"

No sapphire. 🤔

Denim

Audrey looked so frail and young and even more so next to guys like Harley Kiner, who had also taken a liking to her. If it had been up to Jonathan, he would have assigned her to a class at the elementary school. It was easy to picture her in a denim jumper with her hair tied back at the nape of her neck surrounded by kids who no doubt would brighten to see her each day.

-Autumn in Philadephia: Cory and Shawn's Miracle Soap

[gothic0wboy]

Two paper craft fishes for two of my friends!

Panda cory + pajama cardinal

[spidermilkshake]

The bookshelf-shaped standard tank that fits 35x12x12 that I wanted is shipping, along with the added cat tree that mom's always wanted for a while to make four in their greenhouse... so... hopefully when it arrives mother will not be Proper Controlling despite be having all the stuff already and such.

It's only a 24 gallon long, with a lil sponge filter and pump as well as some good sandy substrate with a bit of added Stoney River pebble as well, which should be fine for eventual corys and/or bristlenose pleco. Following schools will depend on after plants and bottom-feeders arrivals, of course. If I end up with breeding shrimp or possibly smaller fish like dwarf oto catfishes and endler guppies (my two limited species for the 10 gal) I could move excess of those to the big one, and excess shrimps to a small one I've yet to have if I slip in a cheap 2.5 or something later.

I have all the substate for the new one, as well as some anacharis which will work nicely, and eventually a new banana plant. The other plants I want I will need to be on the lookout for since I would like to try to aquascupt a tank which has only North American native plants as part of the environment for the varying fish/inverts (I want pearl weed, a cardinal plant, and a micromeria (Creeping Charlie) as well as Jungle Val for it along with some Azolla and other plants!.

[the-everqueen]

For the new year fanfic asks, 5,6, and 9 👀

5. which WIP is first on your list to complete this year? will you post a snippet? the postdoc werewolf (aka Coriwolf: Origins) fic is the thing i am [thisclose] to finishing and just haven't gotten there yet. odds are it WILL be the first thing i complete this year but watch it be the LA guard dog sequel instead lmao. pero a snippet:

An hour before sunset, Dream lights candles at the cardinal points of the rune circle. He directs Cori to lay at the center. Naked, of course. Cori opens his mouth to make a quip about his dick—something to alleviate the suffocating quiet of this moment—and finds no words will come out. He goes to touch his mouth and his hand won’t move, either, all his limbs anchored to the floor as if held with restraints. That’s when the panic starts. He bucks against the invisible bind—or tries, anyways. His muscles tense, but his body doesn’t so much as arch off the floor. His throat clicks as he swallows. Stop, he wants to say, to shout, no, I don’t want this, I never wanted this— Dream straddles him. Cori feels himself get half-hard, his dick responding to a warm body even if the rest of him can’t. Dream is talking, murmuring the ritual words, and Cori flagged his translation errors so he knows what’s being said, or he should, but it’s all a dull roar, nothing for his brain to latch onto. Then Dream raises the knife and the wolf goes berserk.

6. which yet-to-be-started fic is first on your list? final girl au! i need to knuckle down and sketch out the timeline for my own sake first and that has been the biggest barrier to entry but once i've finished this wereverse fic and maybe LA guard dog pt. 2 i want to prioritize my final girl.

9. short-term goals: what do you hope to complete this week or in January? by end of January i want to post the wereverse fic...also possibly another chapter of gay coworkers (i know what happens next i just gotta write it). realistically both of those aren't gonna happen just because i also need to start this book proposal for my irl work, but a notgirl can dream.

[goalhofer]

2024 New York Yankees Famous Relations

#57 Nick Burdi: Brother of former Oklahoma City Dodgers P Zach Burdi. #43 Jonathan Loáisiga: Son of Nicaragua national baseball team coach Stanley Loáisiga and brother of Gigantes De Rivas 2B Mike Loáisiga. #45 Gerrit Cole: Brother-in-law of St. Louis Cardinals SS Brandon Crawford. #19 Jon Berti: Son of former Lakeland Tigers 2B Thomas Berti. #95 Oswaldo Cabrera: Son of former professional volleyball player Leobardo Cabrera. #14 Jahmai Jones: Son of former Detroit Lions LB the late Andre Jones and brother of former New York Giants WR T.F. Jones & former Albany Empire WR Malachi Jones. #22 Juan Soto; Jr.: Brother of DSL Nationals LF Elian Soto. Manager Aaron Boone: Descendant of pioneer the late Daniel Boone, grandson of former Boston Red Sox scout the late Ray Boone, son of former Cincinnati Reds manager Bob Boone, brother of former Victoria Seals manager Bret Boone & former GCL Reds 3B Matt Boone and husband of former model Laura Boone. Bullpen coach Mike Harkey: Father of Buffalo Bills assistant special teams coach Cory Harkey. 3B/outfield coach Luis Rojas: Son of former San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou and half brother of former New York Mets LF Moisés Alou-Rojas.

[laresearchette]

Monday, October 21, 2024 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: WHITSTABLE PEARL (Acorn TV) CARVED (Disney + Star) BARNEY'S WORLD (Treehouse) 9:40am THE NEIGHBORHOOD (Global) 8:00pm POPPA’S HOUSE (Global) 8:30pm WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (FX Canada) 10:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA LOL: LAST ONE LAUGHING GERMANY HALLOWEEN SPECIAL PRIME MONDAY NIGHT HOCKEY – TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS / TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING WEAKEST BEAST

CRAVE TV BORN HUNGRY

DISNEY + STAR CARVED

NETFLIX CANADA MIGHTY MONSTERWHEELIES

MLB BASEBALL (SN/SN1) 8:00pm: Mets vs. Dodgers - Game 2

MURDOCH MYSTERIES (CBC) 8:00pm: Crabtree and Effie's celebration of Charles Dickens' birthday is upended when the host winds up mysteriously dead.

WILD ROSE VETS (APTN) 8:00pm: Dr. Cori does emergency surgery on Bijoux, a tiny shih tzu puppy in a life-or-death situation; Dr. Allison brings her veterinarian skills to help a small northern Saskatchewan Cree community with the health of their pets.

NFL FOOTBALL (TSN/TSN3) 8:15pm: Ravens vs. Buccaneers (TSN4/TSN5) 8:45pm: Chargers vs. Cardinals

HORSE WARRIORS (APTN) 8:30pm: Old Sun is invited to compete at the Calgary Stampede: The greatest outdoor show on earth. Is their rider Justin ready to ride in the big show? Tensions are high when River Cree meets to re-evaluate their team.

PLAN B (CBC) 9:00pm: Suspended from duty, Mia's determination to prevent a sexual assault leads her down a path of vigilante justice, blurring the lines between her police work and her personal vendetta.

PARIS HAS FALLEN (CTV Drama) 9:00pm: Pearce gives Juliette a deadline, but an investigative breakthrough puts Zara and Vincent back on top; Zara and Vincent must decide who they are willing to harm to capture Pearce; Pearce asks himself who he is willing to sacrifice.

TIKTOK STAR MURDERS (Slice) 9:00pm: Popular TikTok creator Ali Abulaban and his beautiful wife Ana seem like they have it all, but behind the picture-perfect life portrayed online is a relationship filled with domestic violence that falls apart when the abuse takes a deadly turn.

THE TRAITORS CANADA (CTV) 10:00pm: As the player count shrinks, the remaining guests meet for a tumultuous breakfast where accusations are on the menu; the players find themselves divided and facing judgement at the mission, while allegiance amongst the Traitors begins to waver.

TOP CHEF CANADA (Food Network Canada) 10:00pm: The chefs go back to basics in a Skills Race, featuring Top Chef Canada finalist Wallace Wong; while cooking at Judge Janet Zuccarini, the chefs showcase their culinary styles by creating a dish inspired by a major first in their life.

ACTING GOOD (CTV Comedy) 10:00pm/10:30pm (SEASON PREMIERE): The Keemootch Room/Babby Daddy Games

[micro961]

Luca Amoroso - Il nuovo album “Gli Angeli Torneranno A Prenderci”

Il delicato rapporto fra gli uomini e le loro religioni

L’eclettico e prolifico musicista e cantautore Luca Amoroso pubblica il suo nuovo album “Gli Angeli Torneranno A Prenderci”, disponibile dal 4 ottobre 2024 sugli stores digitali. I temi centrali sono il rapporto degli esseri umani con le religioni e le guerre combattute a loro nome: questi conflitti hanno come conseguenza la distruzione degli ideali e dell’anima di ognuno. L’album è un viaggio verso la morte e la rinascita, influenzato dalla Bibbia e dalle sue passioni positive e negative, che indeboliscono lo spirito. Coloro che si salveranno dall’Apocalisse verranno salvati all’ultimo dagli Angeli: da questa affermazione, il titolo! Un viaggio spirituale ed autentico, pronto a fare breccia nel cuore degli ascoltatori con le sue brillanti undici tracce.

Ascolta l’album

Track by track

CROCIFIGGETEMI: l’album ha inizio, la storia prende inizio dal rituale della Crocifissione, evento cardine della Bibbia, inteso come sofferenza e rinascita. Dopo il grande dolore provato, è il momento della resurrezione fisica e spirituale.

GLI STESSI GIORNI: dopo la resurrezione serve una guida, altrimenti lo spirito umano ha l’abitudine di farsi incatenare nelle solite routine che finiscono per chiuderlo in un recinto. A quel punto si costruisce un monumento al dolore ed è difficile uscirne. Sono proprio questi “gli stessi giorni”, tutti uguali e di sofferenza, sperando di riuscire a rompere il lucchetto del recinto.

VECCHI CORI BARBARI: l’anima riesce ad uscire dal recinto e comincia a vivere di nuovo facendo delle cose belle che appartenevano alla vecchia vita, prima che il dolore e la tristezza la colpisse.

I MIEI ULTIMI DUE PACCHETTI DI MUNIZIONI: in questa fase del viaggio l’anima si rimette in contatto con il suo angelo custode e riesce a dialogare con Dio, che mostra all’anima la terra che ha inesorabilmente avviato il suo processo di distruzione a causa degli abitanti e l’anima ricorda con malinconia alcuni episodi della sua vita affettiva. L’anima ha un passo in più rispetto alle persone, in quanto lei già si è purificata attraverso la “Crocifissione”.

DOLORE, COMPRENSIONE E SANGUE: vera e propria anatomia dell’episodio biblico avvenuto sul monte Golgota, vi salì Gesù per essere crocifisso accanto a due peccatori. La canzone evidenzia come anche nel dolore e nel peccato esista sempre un riscatto. Chi nega a se stesso il riscatto, ha finito per diventare un serpente, simbolo del Diavolo, mentre chi ci concede al perdono, sale nei cieli come Gesù nella pace e nella grazia.

NON STACCATE I MIEI PETALI: la canzone rappresenta un importante scorcio sull’infanzia umana. In questa casa un’infanzia felice che nel tempo è diventata tragica. A questo punto si ricorda con gioia un passato che non tornerà più e si riflette sul presente, improntato sulla malinconia dell’esistenza.

L’INFERNO È VUOTO: la canzone parla degli eventi successivi alla morte di Gesù. Le persone che lo amavano lo hanno atteso ai piedi della croce per poi prenderne delicatamente il corpo. Alla stessa maniera l’anima prega affinché al momento della sua dipartita le persone amate saranno ai piedi della croce intente ad accudire e a baciare il corpo di chi ha sofferto.

IL TUO ROSSETTO SUL PARABREZZA: in questo punto dell’album si analizza quello che è l’amore tossico. I due protagonisti non fanno altro che litigare e farsi del male in quanto questo amore non può funzionare, ma non se ne rendono conto fino alla dipartita di uno dei due componenti. Nella canzone viene a mancare una figura femminile, che è al centro dell’amore tossico tra due persone. A volte facciamo fatica a comprendere, serve un evento cardine per farci capire l’entità delle cose.

LA LAMENTELA DELLE QUATTRO E UN QUARTO: la canzone tratta il tema del tradimento e di tutte quelle paure che ne scaturiscono da esso. Il tradimento è un tema fondamentale che troviamo sin dai miti antichi e nella Bibbia. Il tradimento assume diverse sfumature, nella canzone ad essere tradita è una donna, che affronta le sue paure ricercando nella sua mente elementi che possano aiutarla a confutare la sua ansia, ma che trova solo ombre di conferme e ulteriori paure ed insicurezza. Alla fine del tradimento si rimane senza forze o autostima in se stessi e negli altri, in quanto si verificano dei sospetti oppure ci si rende conto di aver sopravvalutato e dato troppo ad una persona che non lo meritava. Ricollegandoci alla metafora della Bibbia, questo ci ricorda il caso di Giuda.

A CUMA: prima dell’ultimo capitolo, si riflette sulla dipartita delle persone ed esseri viventi che amiamo. Anche se non ci sono più ci accompagneranno per sempre nelle nostre vite terrene, sotto altre spoglie, quelle spirituali. La canzone è un epicedio per un cane che si chiama Cuma, che è venuto a mancare.

APOCALISSE 18:33: la chiusura dell’album. Alla fine del percorso che affronta i temi spirituali e biblici si chiude l’album come si chiude la Bibbia: con l’Apocalisse. Le lezioni e gli esempi vissuti sono stati consegnati al mondo. Chi ha colto gli insegnamenti resusciterà, chi si rifiuta di coglierli rimarrà per sempre vittima dell’apocalisse spirituale e terrena.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/misunne?utm_medium=copy_link

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luca.amoroso.581

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-saFmNg7sS6OPu_MYEFAEw

[lboogie1906]

Pastor Congresswoman Cori Anika Bush (July 21, 1976) is a politician, registered nurse, pastor, and activist serving as the Representative for Missouri’s 1st congressional district. The district includes all of the city of St. Louis and most of northern St. Louis County.

She was born in St. Louis and graduated from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School. Her father, Errol Bush, is an alderman in Northwoods, Missouri, and served as mayor.

A member of the Democratic Party, on August 4, 2020, she defeated 10-term incumbent Lacy Clay in a 2020 House of Representatives primary election viewed as a historic upset, advancing to the November general election in a solidly Democratic congressional district. She is the first African-American woman to serve in the House of Representatives from Missouri. She ran in the Democratic primary for the district in 2018 and the 2016 Senate election in Missouri. She was featured in Knock Down the House, which covered her first primary challenge to Clay.

She studied at Harris–Stowe State University for one year before earning a graduate diploma in nursing from the Lutheran School of Nursing.

She established the Kingdom Embassy International Church in St. Louis. Her interest in politics began after the 2014 Ferguson unrest, during which she worked as a triage nurse and organizer. She said she was assaulted by the police, as she was hit by an officer, but was not arrested. She is a Nonviolence 365 Ambassador with the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

She has two children and has been married twice. She married Cortney Merritts (2023) a security specialist and Army veteran. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[alledherlu-q-pereon]

Alaska - Lisa Murkowski / Dan Sullivan

Hawaii - Brian Schatz / Mazie Hirono

Washington - Patty Murray / Maria Cantwell

Oregon - Ron Wyden / Jeff Merkley

California - Alex Padilla / Laphonza Butler

Arizona - Kirsten Sinema / Mark Kelly

Nevada - Catherine Cortez Masto / Jackie Rosen

New Mexico - / Ben Ray Lujan

Colorado - Michael Bennet / John Hickenlooper

Utah - Mike Lee / Mitt Romney

Wyoming - Jon Barasso / Cynthia Lummis

Idaho - / Jim Risch

Montana - Jon Tester / Steve Daines

North Dakota - John Hoeven / Kevin Cramer

South Dakota - John Thune / Mike Rounds

Nebraska - Deb Fischer / Pete Ricketts

Kansas - / Roger Marshall

Oklahoma - James Lankford /Markwayne Mullin

Texas - Jon Cornyn / Ted Cruz

Minnesota - Amy Klobuchar / Tina Smith

Iowa - Chuck Grassley / Joni Ernst

Missouri - Josh Hawley / Eric Schmitt

Arakansas - / Tom Cotton

Louisiana - / John Neely Kennedy

Tennessee - Marsha Blackburn / Ben Haggerty

North Carolina - Tom Tillis / Ted Budd

South Carolina - Lindsey Graham / Tim Scott

Kentucky - Mitch McConnell / Rand Paul

Alabama - Tommy Tubberville / Katie Britt

Mississippi - / Cynthia Hyde-Smith

Georgia - Jon Ossoff / Raphael Warnock

Florida - Marco Rubio / Rick Scott

Illinois - Dick Durbin / Taamy Duckworth

Michigan - Debbie Stabenow / Gary Peters

Wisconsin - Ron Johnson / Taamy Baldwin

Indiana - Todd Young / Mike Braun

Ohio - Sherrod Brown / J. D. Vance

Pennsylvania - Bob Casey, Jr. / John Fetterman

New York - Chuck Schumer / Kirsten Gillibrand

New Jersey - Bob Menendez / Cory Booker

Maryland - Ben Cardin / Chris van Hollen

Delaware - Tom Carper / Chris Coons

Virginia - Mark Warner / Tim Kaine

West Virginia - Joe Manchin / Shelly Moore Capito

Connecticut - / Chris Murphy

Rhode Island - Jack Reed / Sheldon Whitehouse

Massachusetts - Elizabeth Warren /

Vermont - Bernie Sanders / Peter Welch

New Hampshire - Jeanne Shaheen / Maggie Hassan

Maine - Susan Collins / Angus King

i have genuinely one of the weirdest skills to be able to brag about

[hannah-montana-itl]

Echoes of EDSA: Takeaways from Reliving the Spirit of People Power

REFLECTION

The essence of the EDSA People's Revolution is deeply anchored in the collective exhaustion with dictatorship, the unified leadership of the Church and politicians, and the mobilization of the masses. During the "Reliving EDSA" talk, several key insights emerged, shedding light on why EDSA happened and its implications beyond that historical moment.

Firstly, EDSA happened because people were exhausted with the oppressive dictatorship. The sentiment of "tama na, sobra na, panahon na" (enough, it's too much, it's time) epitomized the tipping points leading to the revolution. From massive election cheating to the courageous acts of figures like Enrile and Ramos turning against Marcos, the people were driven by courage, faith, and sheer numbers—the embodiment of people power.

Moreover, the unity between the Church and political figures like Cardinal Sin, Enrile, Ramos, and Cory Aquino played a pivotal role in mobilizing the masses. Their call to action resonated deeply, transcending socio-economic boundaries and fostering a sense of community akin to a fiesta spirit. This unity and mobilization culminated in what was described as an "extra-parliamentary" revolution—a parliament of the streets.

However, the question arises: why did it take so long, and do we need another EDSA? The speakers emphasized the imperative of preventing another dictatorship, intensifying democratic leadership, and revitalizing grassroots democracy. Father Karel S. San Juan, one of the speakers, highlighted the need for continuous organization and mobilization to sustain the spirit of EDSA.

The insights shared by various speakers, including Emilio Javier's firsthand experience during EDSA, Ma’am Ortiz's experience of giving birth during Marcos' martial law, and the perspective of a Gen Z represented by Ms. Cristobal, underscore the diverse perspectives that contribute to understanding the essence of EDSA.

As a political science student, these discussions resonate deeply. EDSA serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the power of collective action in the face of oppression. It highlights the importance of safeguarding democracy, nurturing democratic leadership, and empowering grassroots movements.

In conclusion, the essence of EDSA lies not only in its historical significance but also in its enduring lessons. As Filipinos, it is crucial to reflect on the spirit of EDSA and its relevance today. By preventing dictatorship, intensifying democratic leadership, and revitalizing grassroots democracy, we honor the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and democracy on the streets of EDSA.

[blogofbigshoulders]

The Nativity Scene at the Cardinal's Mansion on the Gold Coast - Cory Steinberg