July 2010 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Pakistan: 102 Honor Killings in Punjab in 6 Months, Nearly 3,000 Women Victimized

The Pakistan Daily Times reports on 2,909 women victimized over 6 month (January through June 2010) in Punjab, including 102 “honor killings.”

— Pakistan Daily Times reports – on report from January to June 2010 “8 Out of 2,690 cases reported, 913 were abductions, 381 murders, 102 honour killings, 377 rapes and gang rapes, 166 suicides”
— “The aforementioned facts have been taken from the first bi-annual report on incidents of violence against women, titled ‘Situation of Violence Against Women in Punjab’, compiled by Aurat Foundation in collaboration with the Violence Against Women (VAW) Watch Group.”
— “Out of the 2,690 cases reported, there were 913 cases of abductions, 381 murders, 102 honour killings, 377 rape and gang rape and 166 cases of suicide.”
— “Geographically, 1,141 cases had been reported in the urban areas and 1,546 in the rural areas, while the area could not be identified in three cases. According to the status of first information reports, 2,353 cases had been registered in the police stations concerned, 96 were not registered anywhere, while there was no information regarding the registration of FIRs in 241 cases. Out of the total 3,066 victims of violence, 1,535 female victims were unmarried, 1,217 were married, 48 were widows, 39 divorcees, while no information was available for the remaining 227 victims. Almost 467 of the victims were under 18 years of age, 185 women were aged between 19 and 36, 58 female victims were above the age of 36, while in 2,356 cases, no information was available about the victims’ ages.”
— “Maximum incidents: According to the report, the 12 districts where a maximum number of cases of violence against women were reported were Lahore with 458 cases, followed by Faisalabad with 393, Sargodha 161, Sheikhupura 157, Rawalpindi 139, Okara 134, Kasur 116, Sialkot 114, Sahiwal 88, Gujranwala 87, Jhang 76 and Multan with 71 reported cases of violence.”
— “The six-month picture of the current year reveals that out of 2,690 various types of offences committed against women, abduction tops with 33 percent women and girls abducted in Punjab, followed by murder and rape and gang rape at 14 percent, suicide six percent and domestic violence four percent. Interestingly, the report also reflects the relationship of the accused with the victims, as the accused in all 2,690 cases had been found to be close relatives such as husbands, fathers, brothers, cousins, in-laws, besides local influentials, police or neighbours.”
— “The cases of violence against women were collected from local sources of information, mainly local and regional newspapers, individuals and shelter homes, the report says.”

Why the ADL is Wrong in Rejecting Mosque Construction in NYC

In a posting on the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) web site under civil rights, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement on the planned Islamic Community Center at 45-51 Park Place, New York City. Beginning in June 2010, opponents have sought to block efforts to expand their facility at 45-51 Park Place.

In its July 28, 2010 statement, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joins those who oppose the development of the planned Islamic Community Center. While ADL states that is supports freedom of religion, the ADL states “this is not a question of rights, but a question of what is right.” The ADL statement concludes: “In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain – unnecessarily – and that is not right.”

As Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has pointed out Muslims have held prayer services at the 45-51 Park Place location since December 2009. 45 Park Place is a good two blocks away from “Ground Zero,” or as one person has calculated about 600 feet (that’s roughly about two American football fields). In the dense concrete jungle of New York City, two blocks might as well be a mile away in terms of visibility.

Individuals and groups may have a rainbow of subjective opinions about what is “right” or “wrong,” which they are entitled to have. But America as a nation, and for the human beings around the world, ensuring justice and fair treatment for all is not based primarily on our subjective opinions on what we like and what we don’t like, but on our objective guarantees for freedoms for all Americans and all human beings.

America’s Constitution provides objective guarantees for our freedom of religion under the 1st Amendment, which were freedoms defended by America’s founding fathers long before the passage of the Bill of Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, created after the horror of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, was a unified message to say “Never Again” by seeking to objectively defend everyone’s right to freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) mandate is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike.” Without supporting our universal human rights, there cannot be justice and fair treatment to anyone, anywhere. To those in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Tennessee, who seek to gain legitimacy for protests against mosques by flying the Israeli flag or claiming their protests are based on their views on Israel, they do not represent American Jews, but they represent simply those who seek to deny human rights to others.

There have been many American Jews, including NYC Mayor Bloomberg who understand the importance of defending our objective guarantees of our Constitutional and human rights, for all people.

The Associated Press reported on the astonishment by many American Jews and Jewish groups on the ADL statement, reporting “Its position on the mosque was met with shock and condemnation by several groups. Jeremy Ben-Ami, head of J Street, the dovish, pro-Israel group, said he would hope ADL would be at the forefront in defending the freedom of a religious minority, ‘rather than casting aspersions on its funders and giving in to the fear-mongerers.'”

On July 30, 2010, the Jewish activist group J Street’s President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following press release:

— “The principle at stake in the Cordoba House controversy goes to the heart of American democracy and the value we place on freedom of religion. Should one religious group in this country be treated differently than another? We believe the answer is no.”
— “As Mayor Bloomberg has said, proposing a church or a synagogue for that site would raise no questions. The Muslim community has an equal right to build a community center wherever it is legal to do so. We would hope the American Jewish community would be at the forefront of standing up for the freedom and equality of a religious minority looking to exercise its legal rights in the United States, rather than casting aspersions on its funders and giving in to the fear-mongerers and pandering politicians urging it to relocate.”
— “What better ammunition to feed the Osama bin Ladens of the world and their claim of anti-Muslim bias in the United States as they seek to whip up global jihad than to hold this proposal for a Muslim religious center to a different and tougher standard than other religious institutions would be.”

The AP also stated that the “Rev. Welton Gaddy, head of the Interfaith Alliance, a Washington advocacy group, said he read the ADL statement ‘with a great deal of sorrow.’ ‘As an organization that for nearly 100 years has helped set the standard for fighting defamation and securing justice and fair treatment for all, it is disappointing to see the ADL arrived at this conclusion,” Gaddy said.”

The growing coast-to-coast, anti-mosque, anti-Islam campaign in America must be defied organizations and individuals that are willing to stand up consistently for our universal human rights. On July 30, 2010, in Temecula, California, protesters against a mosque there showed up with a dog and signs such “No more mosques in America” to harass worshipers during the Muslim Friday worship services.

There are other international groups that recognize this anti-mosque campaign in America as a human rights disgrace, including those who have been victims of attacks by radical extremists.

A year after a mob of 20,000 came to burn down Christian homes and churches in Gojra, Pakistan, and weeks after Pakistan Christians were gunned down on courthouse steps for apocyrphal “blasphemy” charges, The Pakistan Christian Post published “‘Mosque’ ado about nothing. by Parvez Ahmed,” which condemns the NYC mosque protests. In India, Hindus have suffered for many, many decades of endless terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai terrorist attacks that left the city in flames. However, on July 29, The Hindu published ‘Refudiate’ Palin’s bigotry, condemning the protests against mosques in America, stating “Opposition to the project remains strong and vocal, fueled by a mix of prejudice, paranoia, and misinformation… It would be a great pity if the most liberal-minded of American cities joins the list of places that suffer from Islamophobia.”

For a human rights groups, it is always a question of defending our human rights, including the objective, universal human right for “everyone” of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship.

Those who consistently support our universal human rights don’t support calls to block the construction of any house of worship, of any faith, anywhere.

Our universal human rights and American Constitutional freedoms are not just for those we like or who are like us. We stand with NYC Mayor Bloomberg, we stand with J Street, we stand with interfaith groups, we stand with Hindu groups, we stand with Christian groups, and we stand with all those Americans and our brothers and sisters in humanity with the courage to consistently support our universal human rights for all people.

We urge all to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

California Mosque Protest: Protesters Call for “No More Mosques in America”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception. We reject protests against houses of worship.

On July 30, 2010, in Temecula, California a group protested outside the current facilities being used by the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley, while the Islamic Center is planning to build a mosque in Temecula, where it purchased land in 2005. As previously reported, the facility is a business warehouse where area Muslims go to worship. According to KABC news, “The existing Islamic center has been operating in Temecula out of an industrial building for almost 10 years.”

The Islamic Center of Temecula is currently holding religious services in a warehouse (Photo: Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times) — The Islamic Center of Temecula has held worship services in an industrial building for nearly 10 years (Photo: Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times)

Those opposed to the planned mosque went outside the existing Islamic Center facilities during the Friday worship services to protest “no more mosques in America.”

The protesters with loudspeakers and signs, denounced the right of the Islamic Center or any Muslims to their freedom of religion to hold worship services in mosques, with signs such as “No More Mosques in America,” “Mosques are Monuments to Terrorism,” “No Rights for Mosques,” and “Stop Taqiyya – Lies to Non Muslims to protect and spread Islam.”

California: Anti-Mosque Protesters in Temecula (Photo 1 Reuters, Photo 2 YouTube, Photo 3 Press-Enterprise, Photo 4 KABC, Photo 5 KPCC, Photo 6 KABC)

The Southwest Riverside News Network (SWRN) reported that there were about 35 anti-mosque protesters. SWRN reported that “Using a bullhorn, the protesters shouted anti-Islamic slogans as Muslim families came to worship Friday afternoon. ‘Go back home’ and ‘We don’t want you here,’ the protesters said.”

Temecula, California Anti-Mosque Protesters (Photo: Press-Enterprise, Terry Pierson)

According to the Valley News, “many of the mosque foes equated Muslims to ‘terrorists’,” and that “Ernie White, who described himself as a possible candidate for Temecula City Council in November, was among the most outspoken critics of the mosque plan.” Ernie White is an activist with a California Tea Party group in the Riverside, California area.

Tea Party Activist Ernie White at Anti-Mosque Protest in Temecula, California (Photo: Press-Enterprise, Terry Pierson)

The Temecula anti-mosque protest was publicized online by the national Tea Party Patriots web site, by a group called the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group. The event was publicized by a Tea Party activist, Diana Serafin. R.E.A.L. was told by news media sources in California that while Diana Serafin had posted the promotion of the event, she was not actively organizing it. But the Press-Enterprise news media interviewed Tea Party activist Diana Serafin at the Temecula anti-mosque protest on July 30, 2010.

Tea Party Activist Diane Serafin at Anti-Mosque Protest in Temecula (Photo: Still from Press-Enterprise Video) — Tea Party Activist Diana Serafin at Anti-Mosque Protest in Temecula (Photo: Still from Press-Enterprise Video)

The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group had planned to “pack the house” to reject the Temecula mosque at a government hearing scheduled for August 18, but Temecula officials have postponed the hearing to November.

On Diana Serafin’s posting at the national Tea Party Patriots web site, she described the anti-mosque protest as “Silent Majority Silent No More! We will not be Submissive! An Islamic Mosque is planned to be built in Temecula. We are holding a Singing – Praying – Patriotic rally on Friday on the side of the road on Rio Nedo in Temecula. Bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voice on Friday to let everyone know we are a Christian community and will not tolerate Sharia law and radical behavior.”

On July 29, 2010, R.E.A.L. reported in an interview with California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne that she believed that some California Tea Party activists rejected the mosque protest. R.E.A.L. has publicized an online petition for Tea Party activists to sign to publicly support freedom of religion and disassociate themselves with protests against houses of worship. To date, it has just one signature by one Tea Party activist – Shellie Milne.

The Valley News reported that “The anti-mosque rally was largely publicized via a July 18 electronic newsletter that was distributed to newspapers and local conservative political activists. The rally notice was listed among opinion pieces and upcoming activities planned by Republican and Tea Party activists.”

Another one of the protesters, Zorina Bennett of Temecula, was one of the mosque protesters, who told the Los Angeles Times that Muslims “are known terrorists.” Zorina Bennett brought her dog Meadow to the protest in the belief that many Muslims view the saliva of dogs as impure, when going to pray. According to the Valley News, Zorina Bennett “carried a sign fashioned in the shape of a cross. ‘This is America. This is a Christian country, not a Muslim country.'”

Other anti-mosque protesters speaking to the press included: Mano Bakh of Wildomar with a sign “No More Mosques in America, according to SWRN’s report;” Cynthia Daum (Cynthia Don?) with a sign “No Allah’s Law Here” who told KPCC “I do no want them here just like I do not want the illegal Hispanic people here, I don’t want ’em.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, “One of the most heated moments came around 12:20 p.m. when Fred Carlson, a heavy equipment operator from Temecula, drove his pickup truck past the Islamic Center twice, calling Muslims ‘pedophiles’ and hurling a few curse words.”

KPCC Southern Public Radio Network news reported that local Calvary Baptist Church pastor Bill Rench had sent out an open letter to parishioners stating that “We certainly find ample cause to oppose the spread of Islam.”

According to the Valley News, “The protesters were outnumbered by mosque supporters – some from as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego – who carried signs and gave speeches of their own. Many of them sat under a shade awning in front of the Islamic Center and wore lapel tags with the word ‘Friend’ printed upon them.”

KABC Video of Temecula Mosque Protest

Press-Enterprise News Video of Temecula Mosque Protest

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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths, including the freedom of religion supported under Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

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Previous R.E.A.L. Postings:

— California Tea Party Activist Denounces Temecula Mosque Protest

— California: Temecula Mosque Protest for July 30 Promoted on National Tea Party Web Site

— Temecula: Tea Party Anti-Islam Mosque Protest Planned for July 30

— California: Anti-Islam Tea Party Group Protests Temecula Mosque Plans

— Tea Party and Islam Postings

Other Media Reports:

— KABC News: Protesters denounce planned mosque in Temecula

— Valley News: Proposed Temecula mosque sparks heated emotions for, against plan

— Southwest Riverside News Network: Both sides air opinions in verbal battle over Temecula mosque proposal

— Southwest Riverside News Network: Opponents, supporters of Temecula mosque square off in shouting match

— KPCC Southern California Public Radio: Conservative protestors target Temecula Islamic Center

— Press-Enterprise: Temecula mosque plan sparks protest

— Los Angeles Times: Small group protests the building of a mosque in Temecula

— New York Times: Across Nation, Mosque Projects Meet Opposition

— Illume: Jummah Tea Party Protest Against Temecula Mosque

Pakistan Hindu Post: 7 in Family Killed in Balochistan

7 of a family killed in Jaffarabad firing in Balochistan, Pakistan

By Gopinath Kumar (Executive Editor)
Friday, July 30, 2010

(Photo : Hindus in Balochistan during Hinglaj Mela at 2008)

QUETTA : A man and his wife and five children were killed in an incident of firing in Suhbatpur tehsil of Jaffarabad district in Balochistan, police said on Tuesday. The family was killed when they got caught in a gun battle between two factions of the Bugti tribe. Talking to Daily Times, Jaffarabad District Police Officer Javed Iqbal said the incident took place when an exchange of fire broke out between two armed groups of the Bugti tribe in the early hours of Tuesday.

Ten people of a family were sleeping outside their hut in Ghot Jarwar, bordering Dera Bugti, when they came under attack.

As a result, Shankar, his wife and their five children, Mashooq, Badal, Kezo, Amlon and Makri died on the spot, while three others, identified as Asif, Akash and Mahe Heran were injured.

The DPO said the deceased were members of the Hindu community and were residents of Bakhshpur town of Sindh.

Police rushed to the spot soon after being informed about the incident and moved the bodies to Suhbatpur Civil Hospital. The police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the culprits. Meanwhile, Hindus in the area held a protest demonstration on the national highway, blocking it with the bodies of the deceased. They chanted slogans against the administration for its failure to protect the lives and property of the people.

Interfaith Alliance Rejects ADL View on NYC Islamic Center Construction

Interfaith Alliance in Washington said it was disappointed in the ADL.

Interfaith Alliance Expresses Disappointment in ADL Statement on Islamic Center

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ari Geller – Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications 202-265-3000

1212 New York Ave, NW • Suite 1250
Washington, DC 20005

The Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.

Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, expressed his disappointment today about a statement released by the Anti-Defamation League on the proposed Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan near the site of Ground Zero.

It was with a great deal of sorrow that I read the carefully constructed statement from the Anti-Defamation League on the proposed mosque in lower Manhattan. As an organization that for nearly 100 years has helped set the standard for fighting defamation and securing justice and fair treatment for all, it is disappointing to see the ADL arrived at this conclusion.

The Interfaith Alliance’s work is driven by the fundamental principle that protecting religious freedom is most critical in times of crisis. And those who claim to defend religious freedom can not turn their back on it when faced with controversy. It is unfair to prejudge the impact this center can have on reconciliation before it is even built. And we must remember that just because someone prays in a mosque, that does not make them any less of a citizen than you or me.

We agree with the ADL that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center. At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.

We must never bow to bigotry within the US, just as we would never bow to tyranny from the outside.

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The Interfaith Alliance is promoting a 9/11 Unity Walk in Washington DC on Sunday, September 12
2010 Unity Walk – Sunday, September 12
http://www.911unitywalk.org/

The web page states: “We are looking for enthusiastic and open-minded high school-aged youth to participate. If you would like to get involved or learn more, please contact Meg Poole, 9/11 Unity Walk at mpoole@meridian.org “

Anti-Islam Hate Pastor Promotes Qur’an Burning on CNN

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions.

Anti-Islam hate pastor Dr. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center appeared on CNN’s national broadcast on July 29, 2010 to promote his views in calling for an “International Burn A Koran Day,” as R.E.A.L previously reported on July 14, 2010.

July 29, 2010: Anti-Islam Hate Group Dove World Outreach Center Pastor Jones Interviewed on CNN on "Burn A Koran Day" Plans (Photo: CNN Video Snip)

The CNN video is shown online. Excerpts from the interview follow. Hate pastor Terry Jones came on CNN to state that “Islam is of the Devil,” and to promote his right to burn the Qur’an. Terry Jones stated that as the Qur’an “is not sacred to… in doing this action… on burning the Qur’an on 9/11, what we are saying is stop to Islam.” Terry Jones stated that the group viewed that “Islam is of the Devil.” Jones also said that Muslims have “right to worship,” and the CNN interviewer made no comment about Dove World Outreach’s support of protests against mosques, including its July 4 protest of a mosque in Gainesville, Florida.

The CNN interviewer asked Terry Jones “why would you sound or do something as hateful as to burn their most sacred book?” Terry Jones’ reply was “Because we believe that the times call for it. It calls for radical times. If we do not stand up, if we do not do something, if we do not… this church and other churches call people to stand up, do you know what is going to happen to us? We are going to end up like Europe… A true Muslim is a believer in the Qur’an…in Sharia law…” Terry Jones ended by asking “Is that a religion we want in America?”

See this link to the complete CNN interview.

The Independent also has a report on this topic.

The Dove World Outreach Center promotes a sign in front of their Florida-based church that reads “Islam is of the Devil,” with campaign shirts with the same message, and a book with the same name. The Dove World Outreach Center led a July 4, 2010 protest march against a Muslim mosque in Gainesville, Florida. The Dove World Outreach Center has allied itself with the anti-Semitic hate group Westboro Baptist Church, and has been a long-time supporter of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group. SIOA supporters have called for support of the “Burn A Koran Day” on the SIOA Facebook page and have called for financial support for the Dove World Outreach Center.

Dove World Outreach Anti-Islam Hate Campaigns: "Burn A Koran Day," Protest Against Florida Mosque, Partners with Westboro Baptist Church (Photos: Facebook)

Dove has appeared at events led by the Executive Director of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group, and photos of Dove members with their “Islam is of the devil” has appeared on that Executive Director’s website.

Dove World Outreach at November 2009 Columbus Protest Led by Current Executive Director of the SIOA (Photo 2: AtlasShrugs)

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We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

Remember Women’s Struggle for the Vote: Suffering Suffragettes

Suffering Suffragettes material below provide from JoAnna London, a supporter of the League of Women’s Voters (LWV)

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This is the story of our Grandmothers & Great Grandmothers who lived only 90 years ago.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.�
Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden’s blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of ‘obstructing sidewalk traffic.’

(Lucy Burns)
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.
(Dora Lewis)

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the’Night of Terror’ on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson’s White House for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women’s only water came from an open pail. Their food–all of it colorless slop–was infested with worms.

(Alice Paul)

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.
So, refresh my memory. Some women won’t vote this year because–why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn’t matter? It’s raining?

(Mrs. Pauline Adams in the prison garb she wore while serving a sixty-day sentence.)

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO’s new movie ‘Iron Jawed Angels.’ It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

(Miss Edith Ainge, of Jamestown , New York )

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.

(Berthe Arnold, CSU graduate)

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women’s history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was–with herself. ‘One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,’ she said. ‘What would those women think of the way I use, or don’t use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just�
younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.’ The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her ‘all over again.’

HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn’t our usual idea of socializing,
but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.

(Conferring over ratification [of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution] at [National Woman’s Party] headquarters, Jackson Pl [ace] [ Washington , D.C. ]. L-R Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, Anita Pollitzer, Alice Paul, Florence Boeckel, Mabel Vernon (standing, right))

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn’t make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: ‘Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.’
Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party – remember to vote.

(Helena Hill Weed, Norwalk , Conn.�

�

Serving 3 day sentence in D.C. prison for carrying banner, ‘Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.’) History is being made.

George Washington Quoted on Religious Liberty and Tolerance

During a visit to Newport, R.I., in 1790, a year before the Bill of Rights was ratified, President George Washington received a letter from Moses Seixas, warden of the Touro Synagogue. President Washington replied, in part, to the the Touro Synagogue to state that:

— August 1790 – George Washington: “The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent national gifts. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”

…

— “May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.”

United States President George Washington - 1789 - 1797 — United States President George Washington - President: 1789 - 1797

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Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

The Big Lie of the Protocols of Elders of Zion Shows How Hate Kills

Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel stated “the Holocaust began with words.”

There were words that sought to promote hate to Jews and to other minorities in Nazi Germany. Among the first of these was the apocryphal anti-Semitic screed promoted in Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and in Hitler’s speeches from 1921 forward, viewing “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion,” an apocryphal claim of a plot for Jews to control the world, as factual.

Originally created by forgers in Tsarist Russia, the anti-Semitic “Protocols of Elders of Zion” fraudulently claims of an organized Jewish plot to take over the world. Where this hate screed has been sold in book form, its cover shows a hate image of a snake with the Star of David all over its body encircling the world. This image was part of Henry Makow’s recent article, re-posted by a NYC blogger, promoting the “Protocols” as fact. (It should give pause to many that this NYC blogger also promotes protests against Muslim mosques in America.)

UnitedStatesAction.com has captured on the Internet, the 1921 London Times articles proving “The Protocols” are a forgery. It provides a transcript of Philip Graves’ articles published in the London Times, August 16 to 18, 1921, entitled “The Protocols of Zion – An Exposure.” Philip Graves’ articles go into detailed historical analysis to prove the apocryphal nature of the hoax documents.

But despite their exposure as a total fraud and forgery, Adolf Hitler continued to use the apocryphal, anti-Semitic screed the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” as a rationale to exterminate Jews. When Adolf Hitler came to power, the Nazis made “The Protocols” required reading for German students. In The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry 1933–1945, Nora Levin states that “Hitler used the Protocols as a manual in his war to exterminate the Jews.”

Words of hate kill.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum reports: “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is the most notorious and widely distributed antisemitic publication of modern times. Its lies about Jews, which have been repeatedly discredited, continue to circulate today, especially on the Internet. The individuals and groups who have used the Protocols are all linked by a common purpose: to spread hatred of Jews. The Protocols is entirely a work of fiction, intentionally written to blame Jews for a variety of ills. Those who distribute it claim that it documents a Jewish conspiracy to dominate the world. The conspiracy and its alleged leaders, the so-called Elders of Zion, never existed.”

But the apocryphal “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” did not just fade away with Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. The Protocols have also been republished throughout the Middle East and Arab world in contemporary times. In January 2010, Egyptian television station Al-Faraeen broadcast a television series promoting the apocryphal “Protocols” as factual and owner Tawfiq Okasha defended this. (Responsible for Equality And Liberty replied and condemned such promotion of hate screeds.)

The charter of the Foreign Terrorist Organization Hamas explicitly refers to the Protocols of Elder of Zion as factual, and it is referenced in Article 32 of the Hamas Charter.

The apocyrphal “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” have also been widely promoted in Europe and the United States, as well as a wide spread appearance on the Internet. In Turkey, the “Protocols” remains one of the most popular books. In the 1920s, American automobile tycoon Henry Ford published 500,000 copies of the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” to be distributed across America.

There have been contemporary books that have addressed the apocryphal nature of this book such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s (SWC) Stephen L. Jacobs “Dismantling the Big Lie: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” and Will Eisner’s “The Plot: The Secret History of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”

But we should not believe that the anti-Semitic apocryphal hate screed “the Protocols” is limited to history, conspiracy theorists, the Middle East, or Nazi supporters. Hate has no expiration date, no borders, no races, and no single religion. Like a virus, hate can spread from the worst to the best of us, and hate can contaminate and destroy us all.

My own personal contact with the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” came with what I would have thought to be an unlikely source – the U.S. mainstream church, the Presbyterian Church (USA) or PCUSA. This was my first contact with the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” other than reading about it in history books. Back in 2004, I learned that a PCUSA group supported by the Presbyterian Peacemakers held an event at Wooster College where the “Protocols” was promoted as fact and the Israeli flag was show morphed into a swastika. Regardless of your views on Israeli politics or foreign policy, there remains no question that the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” is an anti-Semitic forgery and hate screed.

As a Christian, I felt the responsibility to speak out to members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on this subject. Therefore, I reached out to hundreds and hundreds of PCUSA leaders, members, and pastors on this issue. I purchased and sent copies of Professor Stephen Jacob’s book “Dismantling the Big Lie,” to Presbyterian leaders, including the individual who organized the conference where “The Protocols” was presented as fact.

Later, I traveled to Ohio’s Wooster College myself to speak as a Christian to other Christians on the need to reject such anti-Semitic hate, where Professor Stephen Jacobs spoke to assembled Presbyterians at the Wooster College. It was clear that some were still not persuaded, and as I stood in the doorway of the exit speaking to one of the leaders of the pro-Protocols conference, I knew that he too was not convinced. Nor was there any apology coming from representatives of the Presbyterian Peacemakers at the Wooster College that I met. While the Wooster College apologized for the incident, over six years later, I have never seen a public apology by the PCUSA for a PCUSA-sponsored group holding an event promoting of the “Protocols of Elders of Zion” as factual.

So when you think that promotion of such hate screeds are limited to conspiracy theorists, bigots, and extremists, think again. To those who think that standing up against anti-Semitic hate is just a “Jewish” responsibility and does not affect other religious, racial, and minority groups, also think again. As Professor Jacobs concludes in his book “The Big Lie,” “because there is no sense of internal logic to either prejudice or hatred, it remains quite possible that those who hate the Jews as well as these other group will tomorrow adapt such notions to them. The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion will remain within the arsenal of those who specifically hate the Jews, but it is equally possible that the false and malicious arguments of the Protocols will be adapted to meet other needs and other agendas.”

Professor Jacobs also states that “People need to see the lies for themselves and the refutation of the lies…we must educate the young people the world over to be textually analytical and discriminating when it comes to materials which make startling and/or grandiose claims that serve to divide the human community from itself even further than it has been in the past or which challenge the legitimacy of group or subgroup.”

And to those who think that apocryphal hate screeds such as the anti-Semitic “Protocols of Elders of Zion” have no impact on American society, think again.

This week, in America’s nation’s capital (and my home) in the Washington DC area, once again a Jewish synagogue, in a DC area Maryland suburb, has been defaced with swastikas, slurs, and even death threats.

Hate is alive in America.

But so is Love.

We can choose which one that will be the compass for our lives and our interactions with other people.

The motto of the Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) group is:

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

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NOTE: After Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the united nations of the world gathered to develop a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was its own way of stating “Never Again.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls for freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship – for EVERYONE.

Article 18 reads: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

NYC: Anti-Mosque Blogger Promotes Anti-Semitic “Protocols of Elders of Zion”

A New York City news blogger, “Eyes for You” that frequently promotes protests against mosques, the efforts of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group, and demonizing of Muslims, has now moved on to promoting the apocryphal screed “The Protocols of Elders of Zion.” He quotes verbatim from an article by Canadian conspiracy theorist Henry Makow. On Henry Makow’s blog, referenced in the “Eyes for You” article, Makow has the image of a “Jewish snake” with a man’s head and the Star of David repeatedly shown over the snake’s body – and the snake encircling the world. The image is with the referenced Makow blog article promoting “The Protocols of Elders of Zion.”

“Eyes for You” is the author of posts such as:

— This Man Is Building An International Alliance Against Islam
— Tempers Flare at Community Meeting Over Proposed Mosque in Staten Island
— Muslims in NYC Planning to Build Second, Smaller Mosque Near Ground Zero ‘LA ILLAH ILLA ALLAH’
— The Coming Caliphate A Mosque At Ground Zero?
— The Man Who Would Stop the Ground Zero Mosque
— Ground Zero is American Holy Ground. No Mosque Near Ground Zero
— No Mosque at Ground Zero
— Praising SIOA’s efforts in ‘Anti-Islamic’ Bus Ads Appear in Major Cities

New York City news blogger, “Eyes for You” is now promoting the Anti-Semitic apocryphal hate screed, the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” in a posting “‘Protocols of Zion’– Damage Control.”

In the posting, New York City news blogger, “Eyes for You” states:
— “Mankind is slipping into a permanent coma according to a diabolical plan that has been public knowledge for over a century.”
— “When The Protocols of the Elders of Zion were leaked in the 1890’s, Masonic Jewish bankers did effective damage control.”
— “They tricked the gullible goyim into believing it was a ‘forgery’ written by ‘anti-Semites.'”
— “The bankers couldn’t exactly admit the truth, that they were enslaving humanity, could they? ( Their whole system is based on deception and secrecy.)”
…
— “The “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” repays constant rereading because it eerily described one hundred years ago what is happening today.”

UnitedStatesAction.com has captured on the Internet, the 1921 London Times article proving “The Protocols” are a forgery. It provides a transcript of Philip Graves’ articles published in the London Times, August 16 to 18, 1921, entitled “The Protocols of Zion – An Exposure.”

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” was part of the Anti-Semitic campaign used by Adolf Hitler in his book, Mein Kampf. When Adolf Hitler came to power, the Nazis made “The Protocols” required reading for German students. In The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry 1933–1945, Nora Levin states that “Hitler used the Protocols as a manual in his war to exterminate the Jews.”

The apocryphal “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” has also been republished throughout the Middle East and Arab world in contemporary times. The charter of the Foreign Terrorist Organization Hamas explicitly refers to the Protocols of Elder of Zion as factual, and it is referenced in Article 32 of the Hamas Charter.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights, including our universal human right of dignity, and our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

We condemn the promotion of hate against identity groups and religions, and we reject attacks against houses of worship as seeking to intimidate and spread fear among those seeking their universal human rights of freedom of worship. We call upon all those who hate to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate, Love Wins.