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JAMES' PERSONAL WRITINGS: SLOVING
JAMES' MOST STRATEGIC POSTS: *****
MUCH OF MY POSTING WAS ON FACEBOOK: STARTLOVING1

6.25.2010

"The Rich Young Man Parable - NOT about Money, but Not Loving the Neediest." SL

"The Rich Young Man Parable -
NOT about Money, but Not Loving the Neediest."  SL

"God and Good - "Oh," is the Only difference." SL

"God and Good - "Oh," is the Only difference."  SL

"A few make huge contributions to the needy; Most make Excuses." SL

"A few make huge contributions to the needy;
Most make Excuses."  SL

US Fear Factory kills free speech

From: Irish <iristulip@gmail.com>
To: gazafriends <gazafriends@lists.riseup.net>; Free Gaza Coordinators <FG-Coordinators@googlegroups.com>; FG free for all discussion group <FG-Discussions@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, June 23, 2010 10:43:10 AM
Subject: [GazaFriends] US Fear Factory kills free speech

By Yvonne Ridley
 
AMERICA is still embarrassed by the infamous McCarthy Hearings which ruined the lives of thousands of innocents during the Fifties.Anyone then, suspected of being linked to communism was arrested, interrogated and either imprisoned or forced to give names of others suspected of communist tendencies.
 
And so the fear and intimidation spread like a great plague across the USA.
 
Names were blacklisted, careers and lives ruined as the authorities ruthlessly traded on peoples' fears, paranoia and weaknesses.
With little or no evidence people were found guilty and anyone daring to question any of the actions and the wild accusations also had suspicion cast upon them.
 
But hey folks, that was back in the Fifties and various administrations resolved the same insane hysteria, hatred and fears would never again cast a dark shadow across the Land of the Free.
 
Sadly, the Salem-style witch hunts have returned, but
the new villains are no longer communists. The Red Scare has been replaced by those who shout Viva Palestina!
 
From the very highest law-makers right down to ordinary John Doe there is an irrational fear so great that it holds many of them hostage in their homes, workplaces and schools.
Their vision has become so skewed they are unable to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
 
And so when they're told that heavily armed Israeli soldiers shoot peace activists at near point blank range because they are defending themselves, few dare to question.
 
When they see babies dying on the Gaza Strip because of lack of medical equipment because of the Israeli-enforced blockade, they remain silent.
 
And even fewer dare to criticize Israel.
 
Millions upon millions of Americans wake up frightened, go to sleep frightened while others feed on the hatred and bile spewed out by politicians, preachers, academics and the media who tell them Israel is good and Palestine is bad.

There are some politicians who want to see the heroic Americans who boarded the Free Gaza Movement boats, joined the Viva Palestina convoys and the recent Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla prosecuted as terrorists.
 
Today I trolled through some of the pages in the American media and there, among the column inches, are stories that perfectly illustrate the Zionist Fear Factory in operation.
 
The 
Los Angeles Times reveals that UC Irvine has told its university students that the Muslim Student Union will be suspended for one year because it dared to criticize Israel and protested during a speech given by the Israeli Ambassador. So there you have it – freedom of speech is now banned.

The unprecedented action also sends out a chilling message to students across the USA who might consider demonstrating, rallying or protesting against the Zionist state and its supporters. Free speech, it seems, is a thing of the past in Barack Obama's America.                                                                     
And should you be in any doubt, read a story about the latest decision to emerge from the US Supreme Court. In a majority 6-3 ruling it becomes virtually impossible for anyone to put food into the mouths of malnourished babies in Gaza or to give money to a charity to do the humanitarian act for you.                             
Insane as it sounds, it is now a crime in America to work for peace and human rights in Gaza because the day-to-day running of The Strip is carried out by the democratically-elected Hamas government. Therefore it would be virtually impossibly to bypass Hamas to operate in Gaza.                                           
 In an astonishing McCarthy-like ruling any American who even offers advice to banned organizations like Hamas, including legal assistance and information on conflict resolution, will be prosecuted as terrorists. Be afraid, be very afraid … this is happening in the USA, here and now.                                                        
Barack Obama's barmy administration reckons that even giving advice intended for peaceful purposes will amount to "material support" for terrorism.                                                                
 "The supreme court has ruled that human rights advocates, providing training and assistance in the nonviolent resolution of disputes, can be prosecuted as terrorists," said David Cole, a Georgetown university law professor who argued the case before the court. In the name of fighting terrorism, the court has said that the first amendment [on free speech] permits congress to make it a crime to work for peace and human rights. That is wrong."                           
 The ruling is designed to intimidate Palestinian supporters and their fundraising activity. Some have already been prosecuted and jailed for raising cash for social groups dealing with issues such as housing and welfare in Gaza.                                               
The government's case was enthusiastically argued in February by Elena Kagan, who is now the Obama administration's nominee to the supreme court. She said: "Hizb'Allah builds bombs. Hizb'Allah also builds homes. What Congress decided was when you help Hizb'Allah build homes, you are also helping Hizb'Allah build bombs. That's the entire theory behind the statute."                                                     
Well if that's the case an interesting legal situation looms on the horizon – unless all of this legislation is purely designed for Palestinian supporters.                            
A Congressional subcommittee, led by Representative John F. Tierney, Democrat of Massachusetts, has uncovered evidence showing US tax dollars are funding the Taliban.                          
The source is a Pentagon-issued $2.1 billion dollar contract called Host Nation Trucking, which pays for the movement of food and supplies to some 200 American bases. It appears Afghan security firms have been extorting as much as $4 million a week and then funneling the spoils to warlords and the Taliban in return for a safe passage. In short, the US is financing the enemy and undermining international efforts to stabilize the country.                                 
Hmm, isn't this material support for terrorism? I think we need to have the Commander in Chief charged with immediate affect.
* Journalist Yvonne Ridley is one of the founders of Viva Palestina and European President of the international Muslim Women's Union. She presents the current affairs weekly show The Agenda and co-presents Rattansi & Ridley both for Press TV.


--
Greta Berlin, Co-Founder
witnessgaza.com
www.freegaza.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freegaza




URGENT: Diane Wilson in On Taiwan TV - Badly Behaved?

Well Behaved (like Jesus).  May do the same.

7:06
Formosa Taiwan Busted (5) by Shrimper Captain Diane Wilson and Friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9GlbdwYKQ

"Nothing is so deadly as holding ourselves to lower standards than we hold others." SL

"Nothing is so deadly as holding ourselves
to lower standards than we hold others."  SL

6.20.2010

Two Gaza-bound aid ships request approval to set sail from Lebanon

Two Gaza-bound aid ships request approval to set sail from Lebanon

Anti-Apartheid Picket at Oakland Docks Stops Unloading of Israeli Zim Line Ship

Sun Jun 20 2010 Anti-Apartheid Picket at Oakland Docks Stops Unloading of Israeli Zim Line Ship
Labor and Community Picket of an Israeli Zim Line Ship Unions, labor federations and other organizations around the world have condemned Israel's deadly attack against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31. Nine people were killed and dozens seriously injured in the Israeli commando attack in international waters on ships attempting to bring humanitarian cargo to the suffering and blockaded people of Gaza. Six people aboard the ships are still missing and presumed dead.

In response on June 20th, a labor and community picket of an Israeli Zim Lines ship was called for the Port of Oakland. In San Francisco in 1984, a picket line and refusal to unload cargo of a ship carrying South African cargo was a key event in mobilizing the anti-apartheid movement worldwide. The Oakland picket has already succeeded in shutting down the port for the morning shift, after the ILWU refused to cross the picket line. Activists have promised to return today at 4:30pm to stop the next shift from unloading the Zim lines ship when it arrives from Monterey this afternoon.

The picket is sponsored by the Labor / Community Committee in Solidarity with the People of Palestine: Arab American Union Members Council, ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), Palestine Youth Network, US Palestine Community Network, Al Awda- Right to Return Coalition, Arab Youth Organization, MECA-Middle East Children's Alliance, Students for Justice in Palestine, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, International Solidarity Movement, San Jose Peace and Justice Center, International Socialist Organization, Peace and Freedom Party - SF, Transport Workers Solidarity Committee and many labor activists in the Bay Area.

And you? Jimmy Buffett plans free concert on Alabama beach AP


Nations rethink drilling in wake of BP oil spill AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jEXHhvqTkq9PaHlVC4eS1Pp-ejYAD9GF87I00
We must capitalize on this moment.  Will you?


FRIENDS, UP THE PRESSURE: Rahm Emanuel: 'Moment of Opportunity' to make Mid East Peace


"FATHER'S DAY: My dad was the most Unconditionally Loving person I've ever known...." SL

Just now I had the most extraordinary Facebook dialog(below)  with two young Friends.
It was sparked by my profile picture:



SS:  Although you seem to never smile, you always seem like the happiest
person wherever you are. I met you once, that is saying something.

CH:  he neednt smile, his eyes are always smiling for him.

SS:  exactly.

SL:  SS, CH - you couldn't possibly know how nice your comments are for
me, on Father's day.  Well, my Father, my dad, is the most Unconditionally,
Universally Loving person I've ever met.  Hmmm, you're bringing tears to
my eyes now.  :-)  Not that it matters, but he's been dead 20 years now. 
What you are noticing about me rarely smiling, this was true of him too! 
But further, you notice the Joy that is ALWAYS in my eyes.  THIS WAS
TRUE OF HIM, TOO!!!!  No one has ever spoken to me of noticing this before. 
Now, maybe you know how very nice for me are your comments. 
Your Loving brother,  Start