Year: 2010

Robertson: Haiti ‘Cursed’ By ‘Pact To The Devil’ (Video and Text)

Posted on by TL

For your consideration, without commentary, from the January 13 edition of Christian Broadcasting Network’s The 700 Club:

PAT ROBERTSON: And, you know, Kristi, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, "We will serve you if you will get us free from the French." True story. And so, the devil said, "OK, it’s a deal."

And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti; on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, et cetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I’m optimistic something good may come. But right now, we’re helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.

KRISTI WATTS (co-host): Absolutely, Pat.

Source: Media Matters for America

Gay Teen Worried He Might Be Christian

Posted on by TL

From our dear, dear friends at The Onion:

At first glance, high school senior Lucas Faber, 18, seems like any ordinary gay teen. He’s a member of his school’s swing choir, enjoys shopping at the mall, and has sex with other males his age. But lately, a growing worry has begun to plague this young gay man. A gnawing feeling that, deep down, he may be a fundamentalist, right-wing Christian.

"I don’t know what’s happening to me," Faber admitted to reporters Monday. "It’s like I get these weird urges sometimes, and suddenly I’m tempted to go behind my friends’ backs and attend a megachurch service, or censor books in the school library in some way. Even just the thought of organizing a CD-burning turns me on."

Added Faber, "I feel so confused."

The openly gay teen, who came out to his parents at age 14 and has had a steady boyfriend for the past seven months, said he first began to suspect he might be different last year, when he started feeling an odd stirring within himself every time he passed a church. The more conservative the church, Faber claimed, the stronger his desire was to enter it.

"It’s like I don’t even know who I am anymore," the frightened teenager said. "Keeping this secret obsession with radical right-wing dogma hidden away from my parents, teachers, and schoolmates is tearing me apart."

Love The Onion.

Read more of this heart-rending tale at The Onion.

I Will NOT Vote for T.J. Somer for Judge, No Way, No How

Posted on by TL

I received an email this evening from the Bloom Township Democrats.

I want to make it clear: I will NOT vote for T.J. "Turncoat" Somer for judge.

No way. No how.

I can’t believe George Scully and Linzey Jones, who are ostensibly Democrats, are putting their names on literature with T.J. Somer, a life-long Republican, who recently became a Democrat so he could have a better chance at getting elected to office.

No way. No how.

I don’t even know if I’ll vote for Scully and Jones. This is just too low a move for them.

Somer is a Republican, and all Democrats should remember that. Somer is an ideological Republican.

Don’t vote for him, whatever you do with the others on the ballot.

Here’s a slogan for you: Anyone But Somer for Judge.

Chicago Tribune Endorses Toni Preckwinkle … For Reform; I’m Listening

Posted on by TL

I was persuaded by Dorothy Brown, but I am fearful that she is just too much part of the old pseudo-Democratic order: Those Who Just Want To Be Elected.

I’m intrigued by the Chicago Tribune’s endorsement of Toni Preckwinkle for Cook County Board President.

Hmmmmm.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Most of the Illinois Democrats who endorsed Stroger in 2006, from Congress to state government to City Hall, wriggled away long ago. They’re frantic to forget that they wholly own Stroger and his reign — even if they didn’t formally sign off on his Friends and Family Hiring Extravaganza, that felonious steakhouse busboy included.

This year’s primary gives Democrats a do-over. We hope they dump Stroger and instead nominate the honorable and no-nonsense Chicago alderman — yes, there are some — who offers her party its best hope of redemption after the Stroger humiliations.

Toni Preckwinkle, a University of Chicago-educated history teacher turned South Side politico, isn’t a household name in much of Cook County. But she has built an impressive city-suburban alliance of African-American, Latino and white supporters. And on the signature issue in this campaign for many voters, yes, she says she would retire the second half of the 2008 sales tax increase that Stroger engineered.

We think Preckwinkle has the best potential of the three Democrats challenging Stroger to deliver on his badly broken promises for a streamlined and modernized County Building. Appearing before our editorial board, she was the only one of the four to say she would fully protect the independence of the panel that now runs the county’s health care system. That’s crucial: Keeping that system out of the mitts of County Board members, the board president and other bosses is the only hope that patients and taxpayers have for good health services delivered economically.

Interesting.

Read the rest here at the Trib.

Interesting.

Chicago’s Center On Halsted to Host Men’s and Women’s ‘Speed Dating’

Posted on by TL

Chicago, IL– Center on Halsted will host an evening of SPEED DATING for lesbians on Thursday, February 11 and gay men on Thursday, February 25, 2010. Not finding that special spark across the Internet? Long, wasted evenings with those just-not-happening blind dates? It’s time for some real-time, fun-time SPEED DATING at Center on Halsted located at 3656 N. Halsted Street in Chicago.

SPEED DATERS should arrive between 6:45pm -7pm. The first round of SPEED DATING will begin at 7:15pm. Rounds will continue until everyone has had a chance to meet, or until 8:45pm, whichever comes first. Be sure to bring your agenda book! “Like to get together for coffee” cards will be matched after the last round ends.

Tickets for SPEED DATING at Center on Halsted are $12 at the door, and $10 if you purchase in advance. A cash bar will open at 6:45pm. To purchase tickets in advance, please email [email protected] or call 773/661-0763.

For more information about Center on Halsted, please visit our website, www.centeronhalsted.org.

Center on Halsted is the most comprehensive Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and Allies community center in the Midwest. View an art exhibit, see a theatrical performance, use the free WI-FI or take part in one of our social services programs. Perhaps just relax with a cup of coffee in the glass lobby of the Center’s “green” certified building. Find YOUR Center at Center on Halsted. www.centeronhalsted.org, 773.472.6469, open 8am – 10pm daily.

State Department 800 Number for Americans with Family in Haiti

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This information is current as of today, Tuesday, January 12 2010, 22:14:37 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time).

Washington, D.C.– The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording).

The State Department says the United States embassy is still in the early stages of contacting American Citizens through our Warden Network. Communications are very difficult within Haiti at this time.

American Red Cross Releases $200,000 Aid to Areas Affected by Haiti Earthquake

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Washington, D.C.–January 12, 2010. The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by today’s earthquake in Haiti, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

“Initial reports indicate widespread damage in Port au Prince, with continuing aftershocks,” says Tracy Reines, director of international disaster response for the American Red Cross. “As with most earthquakes, we expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.”

The American Red Cross has made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama which would provide for basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. In addition, it is deploying a disaster management specialist to Haiti, and has additional disaster specialists on standby if needed.

The American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross, which is expected to lead the Red Cross response to the earthquake.

The American Red Cross has staff on the ground in Haiti who provide ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster preparedness programs. At this time, all the three American Red Cross staff in Haiti have all been reported safe.

The Haitian Red Cross was founded in 1932 and is one of the primary organizations in the country responding to disasters. Although earthquakes are less common, Haiti is frequently impacted by hurricanes including those in 2008, and the Haiti Red Cross has developed experience in disaster response due those disasters.

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

Source: redcross.org

Mercy Corps Sends Emergency Response Team to Haiti

Posted on by TL

Portland, OR–January 12, 2010. Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to Haiti in the wake of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the island nation earlier today. The team will assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors.

“Initial reports indicate that the quake has caused extensive damage, and we fear that casualties could be widespread,” explained Randy Martin, Mercy Corps director of Global Emergency Operation. “Our team will quickly assess what the most pressing needs are in earthquake-affected areas.”

The earthquake exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Plagued by hunger and political instability, the quake is likely to dramatically increase the needs of many impoverished Haitian families.

Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year.

HOW TO HELP:
Mercy Corps
Haiti Earthquake Fund
Dept NR
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
www.mercycorps.org
1-888-256-1900

Source: mercycorps.org